WO1995033534A1

WO1995033534A1 - Binding for snowboard allowing fast fitting and removal

Info

Publication number: WO1995033534A1
Application number: PCT/FR1995/000742
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rémi FINIEL
Original assignee: Finiel Remi
Priority date: 1994-06-07
Filing date: 1995-06-07
Publication date: 1995-12-14
Also published as: FR2720655B1; JPH10500876A; EP0764041A1; FR2720655A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a binding device for a snowboard which facilitates fitting and removal operations. The engagement and desengagement of said binding are done at the rear portion thereof, while a rigid rear support is provided for the user when snowboarding. The binding device is comprised of a base (1) fixed to a snowboard, a rear support means (2) movable about an axis (6) and linked to the base (1), an instep maintaining means (30) which is rigidly secured to the rear support means along the axis (7) offset with respect to the axis (6) so that there is a large space for fitting through the rear portion with the rear support means (2) in a tilted position, while providing for simultaneous tightening of the instep when the rear support means (2) is substantially brought back to a vertical position. A locking device (4', 5') is also provided to lock the rear support means (2) in said vertical position.

Description

"Fastening device for snowboard with quick release and release"

The present invention aims to facilitate the operations of putting on and taking off a shoe on a snowboard, while ensuring effective support of the shoe.

We know that the practice of snowboarding combines two types of bindings. There are, on the one hand, bindings for rigid boots such as ski boots and, on the other hand, bindings for flexible boots of the boot type.

The former generally use footpegs blocking the boot on the snowboard thanks to an easy-to-operate locking lever. Thus, the operations of putting on and taking off are easy. In the case of bindings for flexible shoes, the boot is strapped in a binding composed of a base fixed on the snowboard and a rear support (called "spoiler") coming to hold the bottom of the calf, fixed perpendicular to the rear of the base. Straps attached to the base keep the boot on the snowboard.

The practice of snowboarding with soft shoes is doomed to a strong development in the coming years because it brings an impression of freedom and better sensations on the snowboard.

However, putting on and taking off the boot is tedious. Indeed, you must first spread the straps to introduce the boot into the fixing by a movement back and forth along the axis of attachment, the boot coming to bear on the rear support means. You must then fold the straps over the boot and tighten them with hooks. These operations require a certain amount of time and good flexibility for the practitioner, who must bend to activate straps and hooks at the level of his shoes.

The same applies to heaving. Generally, the practitioner must sit on the snow to operate more comfortably. When the operation takes place on a slope, the practitioner must lean downstream and is often in an unstable position.

The present invention aims to improve the current technique to make putting on and taking off quicker and easier, while ensuring good rear support.

We also know, in the ski area, the so-called "rear entry" shoes having a recognized shoeing ease. However, their structure is complex and cannot be adapted as in the field of snowboarding.

Document FR-A-2,631,843 also discloses a ski boot comprising a rear support means and a front support means connected by a bent lever. This system is not satisfactory as a ski boot. In fact, no means of blocking the assembly is provided. If the skier exerts a force on the rear support means, the assembly pivots towards the rear, the bent lever driving the front support means upwards, which eliminates the maintenance of the kick. 3 Furthermore, the direct application of this system to a flexible boot is not possible for the same reasons.

One could think of a means for closing the rear support means using a strap provided with a locking system similar to those used in the ski boot technique, which would be arranged on the top of the upper. of the shoe. This would require a high and rigid front shell, which is not part of the primary objectives of the present invention. In addition, even in this hypothesis, the rearward forces would be taken up by the top of this front shell. However, the natural flexibility of such a shell would cause poor rigidity of the rear support which would loosen by means of the bent lever the front support.

The present invention aims to provide, in addition to the putting on and taking off facilities, a real rigid rear support necessary for the practice of snowboarding. The present invention has, firstly, the object of providing a binding capable of being used in particular with booties, and which can be fitted from the rear while providing the practitioner with excellent rear support. This objective is achieved in accordance with the invention with a fixing device for snowboarding intended to hold the foot of a snowboarding practitioner thereon, characterized in that it comprises: a rear support means intended to bear against the rear of the ankle, at the Achilles tendon and at the bottom of the calf,

a base on which said rear support means is articulated, around a first axis and allowing it to rotate substantially from the rear to the front,

a means for holding the kick mounted articulated on the rear support means, around a second axis, offset with respect to said first axis, so that the rotation of the rear support means towards the front of the foot causes the latter to be tightened backwards and downwards, against said rear support means and against the base,

a locking device cooperating with the rear support means, on the one hand, and the base, on the other hand, for blocking with respect to the base, the rear support means in a position called " "substantially vertical" closure, thereby providing said back support. Thanks to these provisions, the aforementioned objectives are achieved because, firstly, the rearward pivoting of the rear support means and the high position of the resulting kick-holding means allows easy insertion of the boot by the back of the binding, thanks to a rearward movement towards the front along the axis of the binding, similar to that made for fitting a hoof.

In addition, once the boot is engaged, it suffices to raise the rear support means in a vertical position to simultaneously obtain the rear support of the boot on the rear support means and the tightening of the boot by the kick holding means secured to the rear support means, the kick holding means passing from a high position to a low position preset in support on the boot at the kick.

This is obtained by means of a suitable offset from the axis of attachment of the means for maintaining the kick on the rear support means with respect to the pivot axis of the rear support means. Secondly, the locking device keeps the rear support means substantially vertical and the pressure of the kick holding means, so as to allow the use of the snowboard. Thus, the force towards the rear of the bottom of the calf exerted on the rear support means is fully transmitted to the base and therefore to the snowboard, by means of the locking device. Support of the same quality as that conferred by the rear support of the "spoiler" type used in bindings for booties of the current state of the art mentioned above, is provided to the practitioner.

Correlatively, the unlocking of the locking device allows pivoting towards the rear of the rear support means and the simultaneous loosening of the boot for heaving.

The fitting operations are therefore simplified, since after inserting the boot into the binding, it suffices to manually raise the rear support means until the latter automatically locks. Ci, to properly immobilize the boot on

1 base.

To take off the shoes, all you have to do is unlock the rear support means and extract the boot from the rear, this movement causing the rear support means to tilt and loosen the kick holding means. For these operations, the practitioner can remain standing on his snowboard. He just has to bend down to maneuver his fixing devices by hand. The fastening or fastening device for snowboarding and quick heaving has the advantage of a more comfortable position for the practitioner during shoeing-heaving operations, the latter no longer having to sit down; but standing on his snowboard, he only has to bend down to manually activate his bindings.

Finally, by tilting the rear support means towards the front of the base in a substantially horizontal position, a minimum size of the binding is obtained, suitable for storing the snowboard in a cover for transport.

Advantageously, the base is not necessarily mounted directly on the snowboard, but can be mounted on the latter via an adjustment device, such as that which is the subject of PCT application FR 91.00919 published under the number WO 92/09339.

According to preferred arrangements, possibly combined: - at least one of said first and second axes is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base;

- Said rear support means comprises a shell adapted to wrap a part of the back of the ankle of said practitioner, in particular at the level of the Achilles heel and the bottom of the calf;

- The kick holding means comprises a shell adapted to wrap part of the kick and the ankle;

- The means for maintaining the kick comprises at least one strap;

- Said rear support means is capable of pivoting forwards beyond the closed position; - The kick holding means has, at the front, a mounting portion on the base which is adapted with the latter, to allow sliding of the mounting portion so that in the open position of the means back support, there is loosening of the front part of the foot and in the closed position, there is a tightening of the front part of the foot;

- The front of the kick holding means has two sliding lugs, while grooves are arranged on the base; - The front of the kick holding means has two sliding grooves, while pins are arranged on the base.

The present invention also relates to a boot assembly and fastening device. The fixing device has the same characteristics as those recalled above. But, in addition, the boot may have means and forms particularly suitable for the fastening device of the present invention, so that the operations of putting on and taking off are even more simplified and that the maintenance of the boot by fixing is improved, offering a precision to the practitioner particularly favorable to competition, for example. However, care will be taken to keep the initial comfort characteristics of the boot so that it can be used as an "après-ski".

Other features and benefits of

1 invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a partial elevational view of a first embodiment of a fastening for snowboarding with quick putting on and taking off, in the unlocked position, its rear support means being tilted back, and which is ready the introduction of booties; - Figures 2.a and 2.b are schematic sectional views of Figure 1 specifying the positioning of the pivot axis of the rear support means relative to the base of this attachment;

- Figure 3 is an elevational view of the binding of Figure 1, in the intermediate fitting position, that is to say after pivoting of the rear support means relative to the position of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is an elevational view of the fixing of Figure 1, in the locked position of the rear support means; - Figure 5 is an elevational view of the fixing of Figure 1, in the locked position of the rear support means, equipped with a complementary clamping hook; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastening for putting on and taking off quickly according to the present invention, in the unlocked position of the rear support means and ready for putting on; - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the fastening to shoes and quick heaving illustrated in Figure 6, in the locked position of the rear support means; Figure 8 is an elevational view with partial cutaway of the locking device of the shoe attachment and quick release;

- Figure 9 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the locking device of the fastening shoeing and quick heaving; - Figure 10 is an elevational view of the binding illustrated in Figure 1 with another locking device;

- Figure 11 is a detail view of the clamping hook of Figure 5, along an arrow marked III in Figure 5;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fastening to shoes and quick heaving illustrated in Figure 6, in the unlocked position of the rear support means; and - Figure 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the binding illustrated in Figure 12, in the locked position of the rear support means.

According to the embodiment chosen and shown in FIG. 1, a binding comprises a base 1 fixed to the snowboard, hatched in this figure. A rear support means 2 is linked to the base 1 by two pivots, only one of which, marked 60 is visible in FIG. 1, along an axis 6 around which it can pivot by sweeping a sector of 180 ° above the base 1. A means for maintaining the kick 3, in this case a strap, is fixed by means of rear support 2 by two other pivots of which only one, marked 70 is visible in FIG. 1, according to a axis 7 eccentric with respect to axis 6. The rear support means 2 comprises a shell 2 ′ adapted to wrap part of the rear of the practitioner's ankle, in particular at the level of the Achilles heel and the bottom of the calf.

A complementary strap 3 'is fixed to the front of the base 1 to hold the front of a boot 10 (see FIG. 4).

A device for locking the rear support means 2 relative to the base 1 is here constituted by two pistons secured to the rear support means 2, of which only one, marked 4, is visible in FIG. 1, and two stops integral with the base 1, only one of which, marked 5, is only visible in FIG. 1. This locking device and other locking solutions are developed below, with reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. 11 Note that the second pivots, the second piston and the second stop, not visible in Figure 1, are arranged on the fastening, symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal median plane of the latter. In this regard, reference may be made to the pivots 60 'and 70', to the piston 4 'and to the stop 5' of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The binding as shown in Figure 1 is in the unlocked position: the rear support means 2 is tilted backwards, ready to put on. It can be noted that the means for maintaining the kick 3 is in the high position.

Thus, the positions of the rear support means 2 and the kick holding means 3 leave a large open space on the rear of the binding to allow the introduction of the boot 10 shown in dotted lines. When putting on, the boot 10 engages in the binding from the rear along the arrow marked I, the front of the boot 10 coming to wedge in the complementary strap 3 '. Figures 2.a and 2.b are sections specifying the positioning of the axis 6 relative to the base 1. Figure 2a is a section through a vertical plane passing through the axis 6 of the binding illustrated in figure 1. It can be seen that, in this plane, the axis 6, along which the rear support means 2 rocks relative to the base 1, can make an angle of up to 40 ° on either side of the horizontal middle position. Figure 2b is a horizontal section through the axis 6 of the attachment illustrated in Figure 1. The axis 6 can be inclined, from 60 ° to 120 ° for example, relative to the longitudinal axis 11 of the base 1. In addition, the axis 7 along which the means for maintaining the kick 3 is linked to the rear support means

2 can be offset parallel to the axis 6, but can also make a certain angle with respect thereto. Finally, these two axes can be intersecting or not.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the binding illustrated in FIG. 1, in the intermediate fitting position, that is to say after having pivoted the rear support means 2 relative to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, towards the boot 10, the latter being fully introduced.

It can be noted that the upward movement of the rear support means 2 lowers the axis 7 and consequently the means for maintaining the kick 3 in the direction of the boot 10.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the binding illustrated in Figure 1, in the locked position. The rear support means 2 is in the position of use: it is substantially vertical. It is then held back by the operating locking device.

The pistons 4 have been pushed back into their housings by the upper shape of the stops 5 and then descended behind them (see FIG. 8). The means for maintaining the kick 3 has reached its low point; he then presses on the kick of the boot 10 while holding it firmly on the base 1 and against the rear support means 2 where its rear face can bear.

We can follow the heaving by taking the figures in reverse order from 4 to 1, except Figures 2a and 2b. After pulling ascending on the pistons 4 of the locking device, they escape the stops 5 and release the rear support means 2 allowing it to pivot backwards, simultaneously releasing the pressure of the kick-holding means 3 (Figures 4 and 3).

In FIG. 1, the rear support means 2 is in a horizontal position and the released boot 10 can escape from the attachment from the rear along the arrow marked II. It should be noted that the complementary strap 3 ′ as well as the means for maintaining the kick 3 are provided with means for pre-adjusting their length, making it possible to adapt them exactly to the size of the boot 10 which may differ according to the models. and sizes. This initial adjustment having been carried out, it can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 that only the movement of the rear support means 2 maintains the boot 10 without it being necessary, as for known bindings, to carry out the tightening individual straps for each fitting operation.

However, in FIG. 5, it can be seen that it is possible to equip the means for maintaining the kick 3 with a complementary bi-position tightening lever 8 allowing, if necessary, to easily modify the pressure on the boot 10 by tilting and lifting the lever 8. FIG. 11 is a detailed view of this lever or hook according to the arrow marked III in FIG. 5. The closed position is shown in solid lines while the open position is in dotted lines. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastening for putting on and taking off shoes quickly according to the present invention.

We find the essential elements: the base 1, the rear support means 2 movable around two pivots 60 and 60 'along the axis 6, the locking device which comprises, in this embodiment also, two pistons and the corresponding stops (a single piston, marked 4 'and a single stop, marked 5', being, here too, only visible). The means for maintaining the kick 30, still connected to the rear support means 2 by two pivots 70 and 70 'along the axis 7, on the other hand, also acts as an additional strap and is connected to the base 1 at its part acting as a complementary strap, by pivots 90 and 90 ′ along an axis 9. The means for holding the complementary toe kick-strap forms a semi-rigid shell 30 shown in FIG. 6 and the pivots 90 and 90 'are slidably mounted in guides 12 and 12' respectively. In another embodiment, we can keep the two independent straps 3 and 3 'and connect the pivots 70 (resp. 70') and 90 (resp. 90 ') by rigid rods. Thus the displacement of axis 7 will be directly transmitted to axis 9 which will evolve in the same way in the guides 12 and 12 'at the front of the base 1.

The guides 12 and 12 ′ have shapes such that when the axis 7 is in the high position, at the time of putting on for example, the axis 9 is also in the high position, and when the axis 7 is moved downwards by the rear support means 2, the axis 9 is also moved towards the 15 down, in the guides 12 and 12 ′, to effect the tightening of the front end of the foot via the front part of the means for maintaining the kick acting as a complementary strap. In an alternative embodiment (see Figures 12 and 13), one can also consider replacing the guides 12 and 12 'with two pins, only one of which, marked 900 is visible in Figures 12 and 13, integral with the base 1 and to replace the pivots 90 and 90 ′ by two grooves or slots, only one of which, marked 100 is visible in FIGS. 12 and 13. Thus, the grooves or slots slide on the pins to obtain the same result as above. A similar assembly with two grooves integral with the base 1 and two sliding lugs integral with the means for maintaining the kick 30 is also possible.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the attachment illustrated in Figure 6, in the locked position.

When the rear support means 2 is raised, it drives the means for holding the kick 3 down over a larger area, than in the case of the first embodiment, against the boot 10 and allows simultaneous tightening suddenly and forefoot. In addition, the movement of the complementary strap or front strap allows easier fitting, the space receiving the boot 10 being more extensive.

Figure 8 is a partial cutaway view of the locking device identified 4 and 5 or 4 'and 5' in Figures 1 and 3 to 7. This device consists of a piston 4 extended by a rod 40 sliding in a housing or cage integral with the rear support means 2. An elastic device 11, here represented by a spring, tends to push the piston 4 out of the cage, but it is retained by the rod 40 provided with a ring 12 serving stop and allowing the piston to be actuated 4. The stop 5 integral with the base 1 has a ramp 5 "of suitable profile for pushing the piston 4 into its cage during the raising of the rear support means 2. At the end stroke, the piston 4 escapes the ramp 5 "and engages behind the stop 5, under the effect of the elastic device 11 which relaxes. A traction on the ring 12 fixed on the rod 40, allows, it, unlocking. An identical locking device is provided symmetrically on the other side of the base 1. It is also planned to connect the two rings 12 of the locking devices by a strap or a cable allowing in a single upward pull to unlock the means d 'rear support 2. This is also sketched in Figures 6, 7 and 8 by a cord 17. Figure 9 shows, by way of example, a variant of the locking device which uses, a pawl 14 oscillating around the pivot 70 along the axis 7 and provided with an elastic device 15, here represented by a return spring, and with a ring 16. The pawl 14 is pushed by the ramp of the stop 13 before engaging behind that here when the rear support means 2 is in a substantially vertical position. Upward traction on the ring 16, against the return spring 15, makes it possible to unlock the assembly. An identical device is provided symmetrically on the other side of the base 1. From the same as above, provision is made to connect the two rings 16 of these two locking devices by a strap or a cable.

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the attachment illustrated in Figure 1 with another locking device. It is composed of two links 200 and 300. An identical device is provided symmetrically on the other side of the base 1 with two other links. The rod 200 is connected, on the one hand, to the pivot 70 secured to the rear support means 2 and, on the other hand, to a pivot 17 common to the rod 300, which is itself connected at its other end to a pivot 18 secured to the base 1.

A bi-stable locking device with three articulations is thus obtained which is in neutral when the three pivots 70, 17 and 18 are aligned.

The locked position is shown in solid lines in Figure 10. The pivot 17 comes, in this position, to abut against the snowboard, hatched in this figure, thus preventing pivoting of the rear support means 2 rearward.

To take off, it suffices to carry out an upward traction on the pivot 17. The latter, after having passed the neutral position, rises forward. It can also be provided to connect the two pivots 17 of the two symmetrical locking devices by a strap or a cable. The movement of the rods allows the pivoting of the rear support means 2 and therefore the heaving. The rods 200 and 300 shown in dotted lines correspond to the tilted position of the rear support means 2 (unlocked position). Finally, a holding means (not shown and that a person skilled in the art will be able to produce on the basis of the description given above) of the pivots 17 in the low position can be provided to prevent any untimely triggering of the device following vibrations.

It will also be noted, as regards FIG. 10, that, for the sake of clarity, the means for maintaining the kick 3 has not been shown on the latter.

Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments chosen and shown, but on the contrary encompasses all variants.

It will be possible in particular to produce a boot assembly and fastening device with a fastening device as set out above, while the boot will be advantageously adapted to the fastening device, so as to further simplify the operations of putting on and taking off and provide even better support for the boot.

As mentioned above, such an assembly, the contours of which are already sketched in the figures, makes it possible in particular to offer a precision to the practitioner particularly favorable to competition, for example.

Claims

1. Attachment device for snowboarding intended to hold the foot of a snowboarding practitioner thereon, characterized in that it comprises: - a rear support means (2, 2 ') intended to wear against the back of the ankle, at the Achilles tendon and at the bottom of the calf,

a base (1) on which said rear support means (2, 2 ′) is articulated, around a first axis (6) and allowing it to rotate substantially from the rear to the front,

a means for maintaining the kick (3; 30) mounted articulated on the rear support means (2, 12 ′), around a second axis (7), offset with respect to said first axis (6), so that the rotation of the rear support means (2, 2 ') towards the front of the foot causes the clamping of the latter backwards and downwards, against said rear support means (2, 2') and against the base (1),

- a locking device (4, 5; 4 ', 5'; 13-15) cooperating with the rear support means (2, 2 ') on the one hand, and the base (1), on the other part, to block, relative to the base (1), the rear support means (2, 2 ') in a position known as "substantially closed", thereby providing said practicing rear support.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said first and second axes is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base (1).

3. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that said rear support means (2, 2 ') comprises a shell (2') adapted to wrap part of 1 rear of the ankle of said practitioner, in particular at the level of the Achilles heel and the bottom of the calf.

4. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the kick holding means comprises a shell adapted to wrap a part of the kick and the ankle.

5. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for maintaining the kick comprises at least one strap.

6. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said rear support means (2, 2 ') is capable of pivoting forwards beyond the closed position.

7. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the kick holding means has, at the front, a mounting portion on the base (1) which is adapted with this, to allow sliding of the mounting portion so that in the open position of the rear support means (2, 2 '), there is loosening of the front part of the foot and in the closed position, it there is a tightening of the front part of the foot.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the front of the means for maintaining the kick comprises two sliding lugs, while grooves are arranged on the base (1).

9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the front of the means for maintaining the kick (3) comprises two sliding grooves (100), while lugs (900) are arranged on the base (1 ).

10. Boot and fastening device assembly for snowboarding, characterized in that the fastening device conforms to any one of claims 1 to 9.