WO2004016330A2

WO2004016330A2 - Fixing device with integrated catching means

Info

Publication number: WO2004016330A2
Application number: PCT/FR2003/002334
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques Quellais; François Girard
Original assignee: Salomon S.A.
Priority date: 2002-08-08
Filing date: 2003-07-23
Publication date: 2004-02-26
Also published as: EP1526900A2; AU2003284978A1; NO327570B1; AU2003284978A8; FR2843311A1; FR2843311B1; WO2004016330A3; NO20051156L

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for fixing a boot to a sports equipment, comprising a member (18) for being linked to the boot which is mobile relative to the sports equipment between a low position and a high position, and comprising elastic means (22, 122) for returning the linking member (14) to its low position. The invention is characterized in that the linking member (14) includes a lock (23) mobile between an open position and a closed position wherein the lock co-operates with an anchoring means (24) linked to the boot for catching the boot (11) on the linking member (14), and in that the lock (23, 123) is brought back in standard manner to its closed position by the elastic return means (22, 122) of the linking member (14) to its low position.

Description

FIXING DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED LOCKING

The invention relates to a device for attaching a shoe to a sports article.

The invention may be applied in particular to devices for attaching a boot to a ski. It can in particular be implemented for the design of cross-country ski bindings, alpine ski touring, Nordic ski touring or Telemark ski. It can also be used for the design of ice skate, roller skate or racket attachments.

An example of such a type of attachment is described in patent application WO00 / 13755 to which reference will usefully be made for a global understanding of the operation of such a attachment. A device of the same kind, more specifically dedicated to alpine hiking and Telemark is described in patent application EP-A1 -890,379.

The principle of these devices is to allow a fixation of the boot on the ski which is perfectly rigid in torsion but which allows free lifting of the heel of the boot. The device described in document WO00 / 13755 is an improvement on the binding systems currently used, for example in cross-country skiing or in ski touring in which the boot is articulated by its front end around an axis transverse to the ski. In fact, the movement of the foot relative to the ski, when the heel is raised, is a movement which is no longer a simple rotation and which is as close as possible to the natural movement of the foot. The invention may also be implemented in the context of a fixing device of the type described in document O96 / 37269.

In all cases, the shoe is no longer attached to the sporting article by one or more fixed points, but it is attached (and secured) to a connecting member which, for its part, can move relative to sports article. This displacement can be a simple rotation but, in the examples cited above, it is rather a complex displacement mixing rotational and translational movements.

In all cases, these types of fastening may include elastic return means which bring the connecting member back to its low position which corresponds to the position which it occupies when the shoe to which it is linked is in contact with the front and back on the ski. Such elastic return means will for example be very useful when the binding device is intended for the practice of cross-country skiing, ice skating, roller skating.

In documents WO00 / 13755 and WO96 / 37269, it is not described how the shoe is intended to be hung on the connecting member.

In fact, when it is desired that the shoe can be detached from the sporting article, provision must be made for the attachment and detachment maneuver to be carried out in the simplest possible way for the user. The attachment mechanism must therefore be both simple, reliable and light, and in particular it must include a minimum of parts to remain compact and inexpensive to produce. To this end, the invention provides a device for attaching a shoe to a sporting article, of the type comprising a member for connecting to the shoe which is capable of moving relative to the sporting article between a low position. and a high position, and of the type comprising elastic return means of the connecting member to its low position, characterized in that the connecting member comprises a latch which is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the lock cooperates with an anchoring means linked to the shoe to ensure the attachment of the shoe on the connecting member, and in that the lock is returned elastically to its closed position by the elastic return means of the connecting member to its low position. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, as well as on seeing the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in section along the indicated longitudinal and vertical plane II in Figure 2, a fixing device according to the teachings of the invention, illustrated in the lower position; - Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the fixing device of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in which the fastening device is illustrated in the low position, with a shoe being hooked on the device; Figure 4 is a figure similar to that of Figure 3 in which the shoe is hung on the device; Figure 5 is a figure similar to that of Figure 5 in which the. shoe has driven the device to its upper position; Figures 6, 7, 8 are views similar, respectively, to Figures 1, 3 and 5 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention. The fastening device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a base 12 which is intended to be fixed to a sports article (not shown), but which could also be directly integrated into the latter. The fastening device 10 also includes a connecting member 14 on which the shoe is intended to be hung.

This attachment, object of the invention, is preferably a "step-in" type system in which the attachment of the shoe to the connecting member 14 takes place automatically, by simple contact between the two. Dropping out will require manual user action.

As described in document WOOO / 13755, the connecting member 14 is designed to be fixed under the front part of the shoe and to switch between a low position illustrated in FIG. 4 (the connecting member is then substantially horizontal) and a high position illustrated in FIG. 5 when the user's heel is raised relative to the ski.

In the embodiment shown, the connecting member 14, of longitudinal orientation, is linked to the base by a link 16 which is mounted for rotation about two axes transverse Al and A2 on the one hand on a stud 13 of the base 12, and on the other hand on the connecting member 14. The rod 16 is also of longitudinal orientation

In the example illustrated, the link 16 is articulated by its rear end (relative to the longitudinal direction of the sports article) on the base 12 and by its front end on the front end of the connecting member 14 so that, in the low position, the link 16 and the connecting member 14 are nested one inside the other.

For this, one can for example provide that, as illustrated in Figure 2, the connecting member 14 is in fact made up of two parallel longitudinal elements 15 offset transversely and joined by spacers, the rod 16 then being received between the two parallel elements. The link 16 illustrated in FIG. 3 is also designed in the form of two parallel longitudinal elements 17 braced.

It is also possible to provide for the link 16 to be made up of two parallel elements arranged on either side of the connecting member 14. It is also possible to implement the invention by placing the link in front of the connecting member. , that is to say by articulating it by its front end on the base and by its rear end on the front end of the connecting member.

In the low position, the connecting member 14 is supported, directly or indirectly, on the base 12 by its rear end 18.

During the heel lifting movement, when the connecting member 14 passes from its low position to its high position, the connecting member 14 is supported on the base by its front end which has, on at least part , a curved profile 20. By an optimal design of the curved profile 20, and by a judicious choice of the length and the initial angle of the rod 16, the relative movement of the connecting member 14 is conditioned relative to the 'base 12 during the heel lifting phase. In the example illustrated, it can be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5 that the angular movement of the link 16 is small, for example of the order of 10 to 20 degrees when the connecting member 14 swivels by an angle of the order of sixty degrees, and that, taking into account the initial angle of the link, it results in a small but real forward displacement of the axis A2. It will be noted that the heel lifting movement is carried out by means of a rolling movement with sliding of the curved profile 20 on the base 12.

The fastening device 10 also comprises means for elastic return of the connecting member 14 to its low position.

In the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the elastic means comprise a compression spring 22 which is linked to the connecting member 14 and which is actuated by a lever 24 articulated on another element of the device 10. In this example, the compression spring 22 is a helical steel wire spring, but it could also be produced in any other equivalent manner, for example in the form of a pad made of elastic material. Similarly, in the figures, the spring 22 is a single spring, but provision can be made for the spring to be produced in the form of several elements mounted in parallel. The compression spring 22 is linked to the connecting member 14 so as to follow all its movements. In the lower position of the connecting member, the spring extends in a substantially horizontal longitudinal direction. As will be explained in more detail below, a front longitudinal end of the spring 22 is supported on a latch 23 of the connecting member while its rear end is designed to cooperate with the lever 24. In the example illustrated, the lever 24 is produced in the form of two parallel longitudinal elements which are offset transversely on each side of a longitudinal and vertical plane of symmetry of the device 10 so as to frame the spring 22, and which are joined at their rear end by a transverse element 30 on which the spring bears. The spring 22 and the latch 23 are mounted on a guide rod 26, integral with the connecting member 14, so as to be able to slide and slide freely on the rod. The latch 23 can therefore move between a (advanced) closed position and a (retracted) open position. The guide rod 26 makes it possible in particular to prevent the spring 22 from being deformed excessively in buckling. The guide rod 26 is here rectilinear, but it could also be curved (in the longitudinal and vertical plane of the figure). Note that, in the illustrated embodiment, the rod 26 has a shoulder 25 which limits forward the possibility of movement of the latch 23, therefore the possibility for the spring 22 to relax.

In the example illustrated, the lever 24 is articulated, by its front end, on the base around the axis Al, that is to say the axis of articulation of the rod 16 on the base 12 However, it can also be provided that the lever 24 is articulated on the base around another transverse axis or that it is articulated on another element of the device. Thus, the lever 24 could be articulated on the link 16 around a transverse axis arranged between the axes A1 and A2. The rear end 30 of the lever 24 is slidably mounted on the guide rod

26 and is supported on the rear end of the spring 22. Operating clearances are provided to prevent any jamming of the mechanism. Thus, when the connecting member moves between its high and low positions, it carries with it the rear end 30 of the lever. As the only possible movement for the lever 24 is a rotational movement around the axis A1, a movement which is therefore different from that of the connecting member (which follows a rotational movement around the axis A2, which is a movable axis as a function of the angular position of the connecting member), there therefore appears a differential movement between the rear end of the lever 24 and the connecting member 14. This differential movement therefore results in a trajectory of the rear end of the lever along the guide rod 26 From the geometry of the parts, it can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 that, when the connecting member 14 passes from its low position to its high position, the the rear end 30 of the lever 24 approaches the abutment surface 25, compressing the spring 22 (the bolt 23 being pressed forward). It can be seen that the front end of the rod 26 forms a T, the transverse part of which performs the function of an articulation rod of axis A2 between the connecting member 14 and the connecting rod 16. In this way, it can be seen that the pushing force exerted by the spring 22 on the connecting member is always directed towards the axis A2. It can also be seen that this force tends to create, on the link / connecting member assembly, a torque relative to the axis Al which forces the ramp 20 to bear against the base 12, whatever the angular position from the whole.

By reaction, the rear end of the spring creates on the lever 24 a torque around the axis A1 which forces the rear end of the lever down. As the rear end of the lever 24 is linked to the connecting member 14 by means of the guide rod 26, the lever 24 forces the rear end of the connecting member to bear against the base 12. This design of the elastic return means is particularly interesting by its compactness.

We will now describe in more detail the means which ensure the attachment of the shoe on the connecting member.

In the example illustrated, the shoe 11 comprises two anchoring means 31, 32 which are arranged in the sole of the shoe so as to be flush with the latter. Anchoring means 31, 32 of this type are described in patent applications EP-A-913.102 and EP-A-913.103 to which reference will usefully be made for more details. Thus, these are two cylindrical bars of revolution arranged across a longitudinal groove arranged in the underside of the sole. The front bar 31 is for example located at the front end of the sole and the rear bar 32 is offset backwards by about 50 millimeters. However, the invention could be implemented with anchoring means having another geometry.

The connecting member comprises, at its front end, a fixed hook 34 which delimits a groove 36 open longitudinally towards the rear and which is designed to receive the front cylindrical bar 31 of the shoe. The hook 34 is arranged above the upper face of the connecting member 14. The lock 23 also has a hook shape, but it delimits a groove 38 open towards the front. The upper face of the lock 23 has a pan 40 inclined downward and forward.

At rest, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the spring 22 pushes the latch 23 bearing forwards against the abutment surface 25. This abutment surface is positioned so that, when the bar is engaged front of the shoe in the front hook 34, the rear bar 32 is just below the latch 23 (see Figure 3). In this way, when the rear bar is lowered vertically downwards, by pivoting around the front bar 31, the rear bar comes to bear against the inclined face 40 and causes the lock 23 to recede relative to the connecting member. 14, by compressing the spring 22, until the lock is completely removed. The rear bar is then opposite the groove 38 and the bolt can again advance under the return action of the spring 22 until the rear bar is locked in the groove. The bar can no longer be lifted upwards relative to the connecting member 14. Preferably, the rear bar 32 is then blocked longitudinally towards the rear not only by the bottom of the groove 38 of the bolt, but also by a blocking surface 42 arranged on the connecting member. Thus, the longitudinal rearward locking is done by a mechanical stop, independently of the force of the spring 22. In this position, the front bar 31 is therefore also blocked at the bottom of the groove 36 of the hook 34. From the so, the two bars being locked, the shoe 11 is perfectly hooked on the connecting member 14. To unhook the shoe, one can for example provide that a zipper (not shown) is linked to the lock 23 to urge it towards the 'rear against spring 22; thus allowing firstly the release of the rear bar 32, vertically upwards, and secondly the release of the front bar 31, longitudinally rearward.

The hanging system thus designed is particularly simple and uses a limited number of specific parts. In addition, with this design, it can be seen that, when the heel is detached, that is to say when the connecting member 14 is tilted in the high position, the force exerted by the spring on the latch 23 tends to increase in the meaning of a lock confirmation.

A second embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 which incorporates most of the elements previously described, which are not described again and use the same reference numbers. However, in this second version, the latch 123 is no longer movable in translation but in rotation relative to the connecting member 14, and the return spring 122 is a simple tension spring. In this embodiment, the lever 24 and the guide bar 26 are not provided.

Indeed, it can be seen that the lock 123 can pivot on the connecting member 14 about a transverse axis A3 between an open position illustrated in FIG. 7 and a closed position illustrated in FIG. 8. The tension spring 122 is hung on the one hand on the base 12, for example at the axis Al, and on the other hand on the latch 123 so as to rotate it in the direction of its closed position. It is noted that, in the same way as for the first embodiment, the connecting member 14 includes a stop 125 against which the lock comes to bear when the shoe is not hung on the fastening device. The lock is then in a waiting position, ready to cooperate with the rear bar 31 of the shoe.

We find, in this second embodiment of the invention, the same advantages of simplicity of the attachment mechanism, namely that one uses a single elastic energy source to ensure on the one hand the recall of the connecting member to its low position and on the other hand the return of the lock to its closed position. The invention may of course also be implemented when the elastic means are designed differently from the two examples above. Indeed, these elastic means can also be produced in the form of an angular action spring arranged between the connecting member and the link, around the axis A2. Other alternative embodiments can also be designed without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the two exemplary embodiments described above use a front hook 34 which is fixed. However, the front restraint system could be designed differently, and it could in particular include a lock provided with an opening system, which would allow the shoe to be released by opening the front restraint system.

Claims

1. Device for fixing a shoe to a sporting article, of the type comprising a connecting member (14) to the shoe which is capable of moving relative to the sporting article between a low position and a high position , and of the type comprising elastic return means (22, 122) of the connecting member (14) to its low position, characterized in that the connecting member (14) comprises a latch (23) which is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the lock cooperates with an anchoring means (32) linked to the shoe to ensure the attachment of the shoe (11) on the connecting member (14), and in this that the latch (23, 123) is returned elastically to its closed position by the elastic return means (22, 122) of the connecting member (14) to its low position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member (14) is connected to the sports article (12) by at least one link (16).

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting member (14) is supported on the sports article by a convex surface (20), and in that, when the connecting member (14) moves between its high and low positions, the connecting member performs a rolling movement with sliding relative to the sporting article.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latch (23) is slidably mounted on the connecting member (14).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the latch (123) is articulated on the connecting member (14).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return means comprise a tension spring (122), one end of which is connected to the lock (123) and biases the latter towards its closed position .

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the return means comprise a compression spring (22) which is linked to the connecting member

(14), which is compressed between, on the one hand, the latch (23) and, on the other hand, one end of a lever (24) whose opposite end is articulated on the device.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the return means (22, 122) are arranged so that the force which they exert on the latch (23, 123) in the direction of its closed position increases as the connecting member (14) moves away from its low position towards its high position.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe (11) comprises two anchoring means (31, 32), one of which (31) is engaged in a housing (36) of the connecting member (14) and a second one (32) of which cooperates with the latch (23) of the fixing device which, in the closed position, keeps the two anchoring means (31, 32) in position on the fixing device fixation.