WO1992009339A1

WO1992009339A1 - Adjustable bindings for snow surfboard

Info

Publication number: WO1992009339A1
Application number: PCT/FR1991/000919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rémi FINIEL; Guy Kinzinger; Nathalie Michel; Frédéric PASTORE
Original assignee: Finiel Remi
Priority date: 1990-11-21
Filing date: 1991-11-20
Publication date: 1992-06-11
Also published as: FR2669237B1; EP0558608A1; FR2669237A1

Abstract

The surfboard binding device disclosed comprises a torsional safety fitting. Release of the safety system produces a rearward movement of the rear yoke (15, 16, 17, 18) which releases the boot when one or both feet apply torsion. This rotation is controlled by the adjustable safety unit (8, 9, 10, 11). The link between the base (2) and the cover (3) is of the swivel type which gives three adjustment possibilities: transverse tilting of the foot, forward tilting of the foot, positioning of feet with respect to the longitudinal centre line of the board. The bindings are mounted on the board by means of a system comprising two excentric components (2, 3) enabling the spacing of the feet to be adjusted. A linkage (20, 21, 22) between the two bindings ensures their synchronous release.

Description

Adjustable bindings for snowboarding The present invention relates to adjustable safety bindings making it possible to fix, in a triggerable manner, the surfer's shoes. Ski bindings have been the subject of numerous studies and are currently very effective. They consist of two jaws (one front and one rear) attached to the ski, each of the two skis being equipped with its own binding. The threshold for triggering the jaws is chosen so that the binding is triggered before reaching the threshold for mechanical strength of the user's leg, thus avoiding any fracture.

The forces exerted by the skier on the ski are essentially anteroposterior along the longitudinal axis of the ski. Thus, the arrangement of the anterior and posterior jaws makes it possible to efficiently resume the significant anteroposterior stresses.

Snowboarding is a new board sport. Unlike a monoski, on a surfboard, the two feet are placed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the board. Depending on the user, there are two different positions: "Gooffy" (right foot in front) or "Regular" (left foot in front). We cannot adapt traditional ski bindings on the board for several reasons:

on the one hand, the forces exerted on the board are very different from those of skiing: the transverse position of the feet leads to forces parallel to the axis of the surf,

- On the other hand, the practice of snowboarding (inclination of surfing in turns) significantly limits the overshoot of the bindings relative to the board, which requires a compact binding integrated under the shoe. Currently, snowboards are generally equipped with bindings of the "toe clip" type without any security, which proves to be very dangerous in the case of violent shocks applied to the bindings. Frequently, the bindings tear off the board after a sudden fall. Surveys provided by ski resorts show that the knees and hips are the most affected body parts in snowboarding falls. The mechanical characteristics of the fixings and the positioning adjustments evolve and become more precise. According to testers interviewed, an angular adjustment of the positioning of each foot over a range of 15 ° to 20 ° of amplitude is considered essential.

This setting must be precise at 2 °. The possibility of a lateral inclination of the support surface of the foot is also considered essential (6 ° to 7 °) to replace the current oblique wedges. Adjusting the heel height under the feet is considered very useful and corresponds to an inclination of the upper of the shoe from 3 ° to 4 °. A maximum limitation of space is considered essential because of the tendency to shrink the surfboards.

In terms of safety, two requirements appear: the binding must trigger during a torsional force in the plane of the surf and the two bindings must open simultaneously.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the shortcomings of current bindings, by providing effective means providing real security and better comfort for the user of snowboarding. To meet these constraints, a first solution (Figure 2) is defined by the following characteristics.

Each attachment is installed on the surf 14 by a shouldered circular flange 1 of axis 01 using screws arranged in a star. The base with convex spherical bearing 2

LOCATION SHEET axis 0 is eccentric in its rotational connection ^' with the circular flange. The angular indexing of this base 2 will allow the adjustment of the longitudinal position of the binding (see paragraph adjusting the spacing of the feet in Figure 3). The base 2 receives a cap 3 having a concave spherical bearing in its lower part. The connection between the base 2 and the cap 3 then realizes a ball joint locked by the screw 4. This screw 4 has its bearing surface of homothetic spherical shape to that of the base 2. This ball joint connection makes it possible to obtain simultaneously three functions: a) a transverse inclination of the shoe b) a forward inclination of the shoe, c) an angular adjustment which defines the orientation of the feet of the surfer relative to the longitudinal axis of the surf (see paragraph angular adjustment figure 4).

On the cap 3, the sole 6 can rotate in a plane parallel to that defined by the above settings. On this sole are fixed at the front the fixed bracket 7 and at the rear the sliding bracket 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 (Figures 2 and 5). It is the link pivot 13 which will synchronize the recoil of the sliding bracket. During a torsional action of value greater than a triggering threshold managed by the device 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, the retaining member 19 is retracted from its stable position p1 towards the position p2. In its rotation about the axis Δ Δ 'the link pivot 13 drives the sliding stirrup backwards and causes the release.

To keep the binding elastically in the locked position, the safety box comprises a compression spring 9 compressed on a flat part of the connecting rod pivot 13 and elastically indexes the latter in the longitudinal axis of the binding. The trigger threshold is preset by screw 8 which compresses the spring.

To synchronize the release of the two fixings, the two link pivots 13 and 13 'receive respectively a lever arm 10 and 10 '. In order not to diminish the flexibility characteristics of the surf, the two arms 10 and 10 ′ are connected together by a flexible system: sheath-rod 20, 21, 22 which makes it possible to push and pull them. We obtain a synchronized rotation of the two pivot rods 13, 13 'which drive the two sliding stirrups backwards.

The flexible sheath-rod system 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 in FIG. 5, receives an adjustment device 23, 26 to cancel the clearances in the connection of the two arms 10 and 10 'respectively secured to the two pivot rods 13, 13' .

The sheath making a loop on the surf and being held by a single keyboard 22 where it can slide freely, does not undergo the stresses due to the deformations of the surf.

To facilitate the escape of the shoe from the front stirrup, the rear stirrup is secured to a pivoting base 17 relative to the sliding plate 18 along the axis 02. The connection is made by a shouldered washer 16 fixed to plate 18 by three screws. In a torsional safety triggering phase, while reversing, the rear stirrup 15 can pivot around the axis 02 to facilitate the erasure of the shoe from the front stirrup. Figure 3 shows the flange 1 installed on the board by six screws. In its center, the base 2 comprising the convex sphere in elevation (hatched) is free to rotate during adjustment. The sphere being eccentric in its connection in rotation with 1, it moves of the length 2 xe along the axis of the surf (Δ) when 2 makes a half turn (e being the eccentricity of the sphere compared to its axis of rotation).

The sphere is in the axis of the leg under the binding, its longitudinal movement on the surf will therefore allow to adjust the interval between the feet, playing

LOCATION SHEET on the possible positions of the two eccentric parts. Once the adjustment has been made, the screw V located in 1 comes up against a groove fitted in 2 and blocks the latter in rotation. By playing on one and the other of the bindings, we obtain three possible intervals between the feet: figure 3.1: average interval (I average) figure 3.2: maximum interval (I average + 2e) figure 3.3: minimum interval (I average -2e). Angular adjustments

In Figure 4.1., Parts 2, 3 and 4 are shown schematically on the plane of the surf. The base with convex spherical bearing 2 and the cap 3 which supports the sole can be angularly indexed on the surf. Once these angles have been chosen, the ball joint is fixed by tightening the screw 4. The head of the screw 4, by its spherical shape S2 with the same virtual center as S1 (at 0), achieves perfect support during tightening, whatever be the angles chosen. In addition, the shape of the sphere portion S1 ensures, during tightening, a "wedging" effort, for optimum blocking.

Finally, as shown in Figure 4.2, the sphere system ensures the angular adjustment of the binding along the three axes of space.

Triggering the recoil of the rear caliper finds another solution according to FIG. 6. The sliding rear caliper assembly 15, 16, 17, 18 has its false plate 18 which completely covers the cap 3. The retaining member 19 is resting on the top of the double cam produced in the cap 3; it is kept in this stable position thanks to the safety block 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 which exerts an action opposite the top of the cam. This block is secured in translation of the sole 18 by the screws and the rings 13, 14. This action is carried out by a compression spring 10 which pushes a finger 8 which bears on the concave cap B in this area. This "heart shape" B makes it possible not to have untimely triggers, that is to say that during a torsional action of reduced amplitude, there is no triggering of the system. On the other hand, the double cam produced in the cap 3, by its shape C makes it possible to drive the pin 19 backwards when the soleplate 18 starts to rotate, and to reset the safety.

All the angular adjustments of the support base 6, FIG. 7, find another solution by deformation of an elastomer 7 sandwiched between the fixing plate 3, implanted in the surf 1 by the screws 2, and the base 6, this elastomer being adhered to the two parts mentioned above.

This deformation is obtained by acting on the three headless screws positioned at 120 ° HC 4 screwed into the shouldered rings 5 fitted into the base 6, their action tending to tilt the base at the desired angles. Three CHC screws 9 anchored at 120 ° in the shouldered rings 8 integral with the plate 3 limit the deformation of the elastomer during surfing. The adjustment of these screws makes it possible to leave slight angular amplitudes between the base 6 and the plate 3, tightened to the maximum, they cancel any freedom between the two parts.

This elastomer 7 produces an anti-vibration pad and reduces the tearing forces of the screws 2. The adjustments are made by the holes made in the washer 10 assembling the base 6 and the sole 12.

To optimize the reduction of vibrations, the tampon can be of a lameled design (figure 8). A steel strip 13 adhered to these layers is inserted between two layers of elastomer 7 and 7 ′. This allows better control of the deformations of the elastomer.

These blades can be of concave shape (figure

9) in order to approximate the characteristics of the mechanical ball joint connection while considerably reducing the vibrations.

To improve the exhaust of the shoe in

The front stirrup (FIG. 10), this stirrup 32 is pivotally mounted relative to the sole 6. The pivoting of the stirrup is controlled by means of a link 31 secured to the pivot 33 forming a block with the stirrup.

This link 31 comprises a toothed sector meshing with the notched crown 30 itself secured to the cap 3. The pivot rod 13 of the safety block also comprises a toothed sector which meshes with this same notched crown 30; the two toothed sectors and the crown have the same module.

During a torsional action of value greater than the triggering threshold managed by the device 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, the sole 6 is rotated around the axis 0 of the cap 3. This rotation simultaneously generates the pivoting of the two toothed sectors. The first sector, secured to the link 31, makes the front stirrup pivot, the second sector, secured to the link pivot 13 drives in its rotation the retaining member 19 from the stable position p1 to the position p2 which results in a back of the rear caliper assembly.

The exhaust of the front caliper (Figure 11) is improved by tilting it forward. The front stirrup 33 is pivotally mounted at the end of the sole 6 by means of the supports 36, 36 'receiving the hinge pin 34. The connection of the supports is carried out by the screws 37, 37'. The stirrup is held in a stable position under the action of the rod 31 sliding in a groove made in the sole 6 and comprising a pin 30 at one end. The pin 30 finds its housing in a circular groove made in the fixed cap 3. When the safety trigger is triggered, the sole 6 rotating around the cap 3 drives the pin 30 in the circular groove of center 03 and it implies a recoil, of maximum value d1, likewise causing the link 31 which releases the tilting stirrup 33. The link 31 is held in the linear groove of the sole 6 by the screw 32 housed in an oblong hole allowing the recoil of the link.

When the fixing is reset, the link 31 resumes its position and its locking action on the front stirrup 33.

The device (FIG. 12) provides a safety fastener with synchronous opening by means of plates

3 and 3 'receiving the shoes maintained thanks to the stirrups

2, 2 '. The entire assembly (shoe + intermediate plate) of the rear foot is then locked to the board in a 4 + 7 binding fitted with security: torsional opening on the front stop 7 and rocker opening on the rear stop for the foot. behind. The entire front leg is locked between the stop 7 and the stop 8. The innovation lies in that the stop 7 simultaneously achieves torsional safety on both feet since it acts as a front stop for the foot of back and rear stop function for the front foot. The threshold for torsional triggering of the stop 7 is managed by the hardness of the compression springs 9 and 9 'acting on the flats of the central pivot 10. The hardness of the springs is adjusted by the screws 11, 11'.

REPLACEMENT SHEET

Claims

1. Binding for removable mounting of a boot on a snowboard, characterized in that it comprises on the one hand, a base (2) intended to be mounted on the board, and a cap (3) linked to removable means for holding the shoe, the base (2) having a spherical bearing complementary to a spherical bearing of the cap, so as to produce a ball-type connection which allows relative angular adjustment of the base and of the cap according to the three angular degrees of freedom and, on the other hand, a securing means (4) of the base and the cap.

2. Attachment according to claim 1, characterized in that the spherical bearing of one base is convex while that of the cap is concave.

3. A binding according to any one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that the scope of the base is circumferentially continuous.

4. Attachment according to any one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that the bearing surface of the cap is circumferentially continuous.

5. Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spherical bearing of the base is arranged on a circular sole, the axis of revolution of this spherical bearing being eccentric relative to the geometric center of the circular sole, while fixing means (1) of the sole on the surf are provided and are adapted to allow angular adjustment of said sole with respect to a predetermined axis such as the longitudinal axis of the surf.

6. Binding according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing marks of said sole include a circular flange (1), capable of allowing the rotation of the sole, this flange being mounted on the surf.

REPLACEMENT SHEET

7. Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a sole called "main" (6) arranged on the cap (3), the latter receiving a fixed front bracket (7 ) and a rear caliper (15) which can adopt a triggered state (rear reversing) when a retaining member (19) is retracted from its stable position (p1) towards the position p2) during a torsional action (rotation of the sole (6) on the cap (3)) of value greater than a triggering threshold managed by the elastic flat device (8, 9, 11, 12, 13).

8. A binding according to claim 7, characterized in that the trigger retaining member is produced by a pivot-link (13) comprising a flat receiving the action of a spring (9) pre-adjusted by a screw ( 8).

9. A fastener according to claim 8, characterized in that a connecting device (10, 21) grafted to the lower part of each pivot-link (13) of the two fasteners performs the synchronous triggering of the two fasteners.

10. Attachment according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the rear bracket (15) is integral with a second pivoting base (17) relative to a sliding plate (18), this rotation at the level rear caliper favoring when it tends to take the triggered position, the escape of the shoe of the front caliper.

11. Attachment according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the flexible connection (Figure 5) sheath-rod (20, 21, 22, 23, 24). Between the lever arms (10) and ( 10 ') assisted by a backlash system (26) ensures interaction in the rotations of the pivot-links (13) and (13'), the rotations of the pivot-links being interdependent cause the simultaneous triggering of the two fixings.

12. Fastening according to claims 10, 11, characterized in that (Figure 6) the sliding plate (18)

LOCATION SHEET completely covers the cap (3), the retaining member (19), resting on the top of the double cam produced in the cap (3) being maintained in this stable position thanks to the elastic flat device (10, 11, 12) which exerts an action opposite the top of the cam by means of a finger (8) pushed by an elastic means (10), the finger (8) thus taking support on the cap, of concave shape (B) in this zone and, thus being positioned angularly, the shape (C) of the double cam being adapted to drive the pin (19) backwards when the second sole plate (18) rotates.

13. Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the connection (Figure 7) of the support base (6) to the fixing plate (3) is formed by an elastomer (7) adhered to this, which makes it possible to obtain the inclination of the feet in the transverse plane of the shoe and in the longitudinal plane (heel raiser), the inclinations being obtained by means of the three pushing screws (3), the deformation of 1 elastomer being limited by the three retaining screws (9), the adjustment of the screws (9) allowing slight angular amplitudes of the base (6) relative to the plate (3) and in that while leaving play around the screws (9) at the holes in the base (6), for example oblong holes, there is also a slight freedom in rotation when initiating turns, the elastomer attenuating vibrations, and, associated with the adjustments mentioned above, giving more comfort in driving surfing, the elastomer decreasing a ussi the tearing forces of the fixing screws (2) and allowing to have a very low fixing.

14. Fastening according to claim 13, characterized in that the elastomer of laminated design (FIG. 8) comprising at least one steel strip (13) inserted between layers of elastomer adhered thereto, these strips being of flat or spherical in shape (Figure 9).

LOCATION SHEET

15. A set of bindings according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the escape of the shoe (Figure 10) from the front stirrup, is facilitated by the pivoting thereof when the safety block of 1 "rear caliper while during rotation of the sole (6) relative to the cap (3) there is synchronization of the pivoting of the front caliper and the recoil of the rear caliper thanks to a crown notched (30) integral with the cap (3) on which meshes: - on the one hand, the toothed sector of the link

(31) which controls the pivoting of the front caliper (32), on the other hand, the toothed sector of the rod pivot (13) triggering the recoil of the rear caliper (15).

16. Fastening assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that

The escape of the shoe (FIG. 11) from the front stirrup is facilitated by the tilting of the latter (33) when the safety block of the rear stirrup is triggered while during the rotation of the sole (6 ) relative to the fixed cap (3) in which a circular center groove (03) is practiced, the pin (30), housed in this groove, integral with the link (31), is made to move back and releases the front caliper (33) which can then tilt and in that there is synchronization of the tilting of the front caliper and the recoil of the rear caliper and in that the resetting of the fastening relocks in stable position the front caliper .

17. Set of safety fasteners (Figure 12), characterized by two first fasteners (2, 2 ') locking the two shoes respectively on the intermediate plates (3, 3') locking themselves respectively in two second fasteners (4 , 7) and (7, 8) provided with safety: torsional opening of the common stop (7) and rocking opening of the stops (4 and 8), and in that there is interaction between the two plate assemblies- shoe when one of them is triggered.

LOCATION SHEET