Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.

A movement assistance device comprising a first element for rigidly connecting the device to one foot of a user and transmitting a thrust force to said foot; and a second element linked to the first element by link means and intended to be in contact with the ground; the device further comprises means for transmitting a force from an exogenous energy source, to the first element and/or to the second element, in order to separate them from each other.

The invention relates to a cross-country or ski touring binding for connecting a boot to a ski in an articulated manner, comprising a binding base body with a standing surface for a sole of the boot and a ski contact surface for at least indirect contact with the ski. The binding has a holding device comprising a receiving element which allows the boot to and a holding element for holding the boot on the receiving element. The holding element moves between a closed position holding the boot on the receiving element and an open position releasing the boot. The binding also has an actuating element with a rotating handle for switching the holding element from the closed to the open position, comprising a substantially disk-shaped, eccentrically mounted force-transmission element received in a recess of the holding element.

The invention relates to an automatic front unit for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, wherein the automatic front unit comprises a first retaining means and a second retaining means for retaining a ski boot in the toe region of the ski boot. This automatic front unit has a first retaining configuration, in which the two retaining means are in a retaining position, in which the two retaining means are at a first distance from one another, wherein the two retaining means can cooperate with the ski boot in the retaining position such that the ski boot is retained at the automatic front unit so as to be pivotable about an axis oriented horizontally in a transverse direction of the ski. Furthermore, the automatic front unit has a step-in configuration, in which the two retaining means are in a step-in position, in which the two retaining means are at a second distance from one another, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein the ski boot is released from the two retaining means in the step-in position of the two retaining means, wherein the automatic front unit is adjustable from the step-in configuration into the first retaining configuration and back again. The two retaining means, in order to be adjusted from their step-in position into their retaining position and back again, are mounted so as to be movable in translation relative to one another along an adjustment path, wherein a region of the adjustment path that adjoins the retaining position of the two retaining means is oriented substantially horizontally.

A front jaw for a touring ski binding, includes a base and at least one recess or transit opening in the base. Lateral sole retainers lie opposite each other in relation to a longitudinal axis of the front jaw each include a boot retainer pin and, in a pivoted-in state, co-operate with bearings formed on a ski boot, defining a pivoting axis for the boot extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the front jaw, and are adjustable between the pivoted-in state, where the bearings of the boot engage the boot retainer pins, and a pivoted-away state where the bearings of the boot are not engaged with the boot retainer pins; spring elements for tensioning the lateral sole retainers; a tensioning lever for moving the sole retainers from the pivoted-in state to the pivoted-away state to release the ski boot from a downhill skiing position or a walking position.

An apparatus for holding a footwear heel to a snow travel aid is provided. The apparatus comprises a mountable base connected to a generally vertical post and an upper portion having at least one forward connector for connecting the upper portion to the heel. The upper portion is rotatable on the post between a downhill position and at least one touring position and comprises at least one part which travels over a prominence at a fixed location relative to the upper portion during rotation from the downhill position to the touring position. The at least one part becomes engageable with a depression adjacent the prominence when the upper portion is in the touring position to resist rotation from the touring position back to the downhill position. The post comprises a feature that provides clearance for the at least one part to travel over the prominence or which functions as the prominence and depression. Also provided are posts for use as a part in such an apparatus.

A front jaw for a touring ski binding, includes a base and at least one recess or transit opening in the base. Lateral sole retainers lie opposite each other in relation to a longitudinal axis of the front jaw each include a boot retainer pin and, in a pivoted-in state, co-operate with bearings formed on a ski boot, defining a pivoting axis for the boot extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the front jaw, and are adjustable between the pivoted-in state, where the bearings of the boot engage the boot retainer pins, and a pivoted-away state where the bearings of the boot are not engaged with the boot retainer pins; spring elements for tensioning the lateral sole retainers; a tensioning lever for moving the sole retainers from the pivoted-in state to the pivoted-away state to release the ski boot from a downhill skiing position or a walking position.

The present invention relates to a front unit (10) for a touring binding, which front unit is to be mounted on a sliding board and has a mounting surface pointing in the direction of a sliding board surface, which mounting surface defines a sliding board plane (E), the front unit (10) being adjustable between a downhill configuration and a climbing configuration, comprising a first holding device (20) which is designed to fix a front portion of a sliding board boot for downhill travel with the touring binding, in the downhill configuration of the front unit (10), the first holding device (20) being adjustable between an active position and a passive position, and the first holding device (20) being set into the active position in the downhill configuration of the front unit (10), and being set into the passive position in the climbing configuration of the front unit (10), and a second holding device (40), which is designed to secure a toe portion of the sliding board boot for ascent with the touring binding in the climbing configuration of the front unit (10), in such a way that the sliding board boot is pivotable about a hinge pin that is substantially in parallel with the sliding board plane (E) and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L) of the sliding board, the first holding device (20) being arranged closer to the sliding board plane (E) in the passive position than in the active position. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a touring binding comprising the front unit (10), which touring binding further comprises a heel unit and optionally a brake assembly.

The present invention relates to an attachment mechanism for a shoe, the attachment mechanism comprising at least two pins (1), one on each side of the shoe, where the pins (1) are arranged in their respective guides (3), the pins (1) being designed to cooperate with a complementary retaining means (12). The attachment mechanism is, inter alia, characterised in that the attachment mechanism further comprises forcing means that are designed to force the pins (1) outwards into engagement with the complementary retaining means (12), and inwards out of engagement with the complementary retaining means (12).

A ski binding with a binding element mounted displaceably on a slide rail arranged on a ski and which can be fixed in different positions by a latching device, wherein the latching device has latch elements which engage in each other in a blocking position on the binding and ski sides, and the binding-side latch element has a pivotable lever element, that in a displacement position the latch elements are not in engagement with each other, wherein the binding element has an operating element with an oblique run-on surface which is can be transferred between open and closed positions, wherein the operating element, upon transfer of the operating element to the open position, cooperates with an oblique contact surface of the lever element such that the lever element is moved out of the blocking position.