A ski binding reduces a likelihood of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the tibia is accomplished by absorption in the binding to limit loads transmitted through the boot-binding interface. Release based on an injury threshold includes a binding response tower attached to the ski and adapted for selective engagement with the ski, such that the binding response tower permits biased vertical and lateral horizontal displacement, prior to a release threshold. The binding is in communication with the boot heel and is adapted for slideable engagement in response to vertical and lateral forces exerted from the boot heel. The binding response tower adapted to disengage, or release upon reaching at least one a predetermined lateral displacement or a predetermined vertical displacement, such as when the boot heel is forced sufficiently sideways or upwards due to skier movement that would tend to cause an ACL injury.

A heel unit for a touring binding includes a base for mounting on a sliding board and coupling means to engage a heel portion of a sliding board boot in a downhill position of the touring binding to retain the sliding board boot on the touring binding. A release mechanism holds the coupling means so as to be moveable relative to the base and releasable from the sliding board boot, in the downhill position, in an event of action of a force exceeding a predetermined release force. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the touring binding between the downhill position and a walking position in which the coupling means are remote from and do not engage the sliding board boot. The adjustment mechanism comprises an actuation assembly manually actuatable to lock or unlock the adjustment mechanism substantially without an actuation force or with an actuation force less than the predetermined release force.

A heel unit for a downhill or a combined downhill and alpine touring ski binding has a vertical-release functional group with a tensioning device with a first spring assembly for holding a ski boot downhill, and a horizontal-release functional group with a base plate to be positioned on the ski and a slide that deflects laterally opposing the ski longitudinal direction against the force of a second spring assembly, on which the vertical-release functional group is arranged, as well as with a compression spring assembly acting on the horizontal-release functional group. The vertical-release functional group rotates on the horizontal-release functional group around an axis running vertically towards the top of the ski or towards the vertical, such that, after a limited lateral deflection of the slide, the vertical-release functional group rotates against the force of the second spring assembly to release of the ski boot into the respective lateral-release direction.

A heel unit for a downhill or a combined downhill and alpine touring ski binding has a vertical-release functional group with a tensioning device with a first spring assembly for holding a ski boot downhill, and a horizontal-release functional group with a base plate to be positioned on the ski and a slide that deflects laterally opposing the ski longitudinal direction against the force of a second spring assembly, on which the vertical-release functional group is arranged, as well as with a compression spring assembly acting on the horizontal-release functional group. The vertical-release functional group rotates on the horizontal-release functional group around an axis running vertically towards the top of the ski or towards the vertical, such that, after a limited lateral deflection of the slide, the vertical-release functional group rotates against the force of the second spring assembly to release of the ski boot into the respective lateral-release direction.

A heel unit for a touring binding includes a base for mounting on a sliding board and coupling means to engage a heel portion of a sliding board boot in a downhill position of the touring binding to retain the sliding board boot on the touring binding. A release mechanism holds the coupling means so as to be moveable relative to the base and releasable from the sliding board boot, in the downhill position, in an event of action of a force exceeding a predetermined release force. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the touring binding between the downhill position and a walking position in which the coupling means are remote from and do not engage the sliding board boot. The adjustment mechanism comprises an actuation assembly manually actuatable to lock or unlock the adjustment mechanism substantially without an actuation force or with an actuation force less than the predetermined release force.

Rear holding element for a ski boot comprising a heel grip (11), a lever (6) and a fitting pedal (7), characterized in that the fitting pedal (7) is mobile relative to the heel grip (11).

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.

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.

A heel unit apparatus for a ski touring binding is disclosed which comprises a body mounted on a support, the body being rotatable relative to the support on a vertical axis. The body comprises a resilient element movable within the body which when pre-loaded under compression or tension, exerts forces in opposing directions. The body also comprises at least one forward connector moveable between resting and release positions for releasably connecting the body to the heel of a footwear and a My linkage between the resilient element and the at least one forward connector configured such that force exerted in one of the opposing directions resists movement of the at least one forward connector from the resting position to the release position. The resilient element, the at least one forward connector and the My linkage cooperate to resist forward release. The body further comprises a Mz linkage between the resilient element and a resting surface on the support configured such that the force in the other of the opposing directions presses against the resting surface to resist rotation of the body about the support. The resilient element, the Mz linkage and the body cooperate to resist lateral release. Shocks independently affecting the My and the Mz linkages do not significantly lessen resistance to Mz and My release, respectively.

A heel unit apparatus for a ski touring binding is disclosed which comprises a body mounted on a support, the body being rotatable relative to the support on a vertical axis. The body comprises a resilient element movable within the body which when pre-loaded under compression or tension, exerts forces in opposing directions. The body also comprises at least one forward connector moveable between resting and release positions for releasably connecting the body to the heel of a footwear and a My linkage between the resilient element and the at least one forward connector configured such that force exerted in one of the opposing directions resists movement of the at least one forward connector from the resting position to the release position. The resilient element, the at least one forward connector and the My linkage cooperate to resist forward release. The body further comprises a Mz linkage between the resilient element and a resting surface on the support configured such that the force in the other of the opposing directions presses against the resting surface to resist rotation of the body about the support. The resilient element, the Mz linkage and the body cooperate to resist lateral release. Shocks independently affecting the My and the Mz linkages do not significantly lessen resistance to Mz and My release, respectively.