BRAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR A TOURING BINDING

Abstract

A brake arrangement for a touring binding adjustable between a braking position and a sliding position, including: a base having a fastening arrangement; a pedal; at least one brake arm mounted on the base and on the pedal; at least one first resilient element to preload the brake arrangement into the braking position; a locking element that is linearly displaceable along a longitudinal direction of the ski to adjust between an active position, which locks the brake arrangement in the sliding position, and a passive position; and an actuating element mounted on the brake arrangement pivotable about a pivot access, the actuating element adjustable between a locking position, where the locking element is set into the locking position, and a release position, where the locking element is set into the passive position, and wherein a pivoting movement of the actuating element causes a linear movement of the locking element.

Claims

1. A brake arrangement for a touring binding, wherein the brake arrangement is adjustable between a braking position and a sliding position, the brake arrangement comprising: a base having a fastening arrangement for fastening to one or more of a ski or the touring binding; a pedal comprising a step surface for a shoe on a side of the pedal facing away from the ski; at least one brake arm mounted on the base and on the pedal; at least one first resilient element to preload the brake arrangement into the braking position; a locking element, wherein the locking element is adjustable between an active position and a passive position and, when in the active position, locks the brake arrangement in the sliding position, wherein the locking element is linearly displaceable along a longitudinal direction of the ski for adjustment between the active position and the passive position; and an actuating element, wherein the actuating element adjustable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the actuating element is mounted on the brake arrangement, so as to pivot about a pivot axis and, wherein: when the actuating element is set into the locking position, the locking element is set into the active position, and when the actuating element is set in the release position, the locking element is set into the passive position, and a pivoting movement of the actuating element about the pivot axis causes a linear movement of the locking element in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

2. The brake arrangement of claim 1, further comprising at least one second resilient element to preload the locking element into the active position.

3. The brake arrangement of claim 2, wherein the second resilient element provides a spring force for preloading the brake arrangement into the braking position.

4. The brake arrangement of claim 3, wherein the second resilient element is a tension spring coupled to the pedal and the locking element.

5. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pedal is pivotably mounted on the base.

6. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a hook to engage the pedal in the active position of the locking element to block a movement of the pedal such that the brake arrangement is locked in the sliding position.

7. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the locking element and the actuating element are configured such that a pivoting movement of the actuating element from the release position into the locking position transfers the locking element into the active position.

8. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the locking element and the actuating element are configured such that a pivoting movement of the actuating element from the locking position into the release position transfers the locking element into the passive position.

9. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein, in the release position of the actuating element, the actuating element has a first contour which is designed to hold the locking element in the passive position.

10. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein, in the locking position of the actuating element, the actuating element has a second contour which is designed to hold the locking element in the active position.

11. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the actuating element comprises an actuating lever pivotably mounted on the base, wherein the actuating lever comprises at least one lever arm pivotably mounted on the base, and an actuating portion.

12. The brake arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first contour is formed on an insert element, wherein the insert element is inserted into a recess on the lever arm.

13. The brake arrangement of claim 10, wherein the second contour is formed on an insert element, wherein the insert element is inserted into a recess on the lever arm.

14. A unit for a touring binding, comprising a brake arrangement, comprising: a base having a fastening arrangement for fastening to one or more of a ski or the touring binding; a pedal comprising a step surface for a shoe on a side of the pedal facing away from the ski; at least one brake arm mounted on the base and on the pedal; at least one first resilient element to preload the brake arrangement into the braking position; a locking element, wherein the locking element is adjustable between an active position and a passive position and, when in the active position, locks the brake arrangement in the sliding position, wherein the locking element is linearly displaceable along a longitudinal direction of the ski for adjustment between the active position and the passive position; and an actuating element, wherein the actuating element adjustable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the actuating element is mounted on the brake arrangement, so as to pivot about a pivot axis, wherein: when the actuating element is set into the locking position, the locking element is set into the active position, and when the actuating element is set in the release position, the locking element is set into the passive position, and a pivoting movement of the actuating element about the pivot axis causes a linear movement of the locking element in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

15. The heel unit of claim 14, wherein the heel unit and the actuating element are configured such that, in the release position of the actuating element, a coupling of a shoe to the heel unit is possible and, in the locking position of the actuating element, a coupling of the shoe to the heel unit is not possible.

16. The heel unit of claim 15, wherein the shoe comprises a heel portion of a ski boot.

17. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the shoe comprises a heel portion of a ski boot.

18. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the actuating element is mounted on the base of the brake arrangement.

19. The brake arrangement of claim 5, wherein a pivot axis of the pedal is guided so as to be longitudinally displaced in an elongate hole provided on the base.

20. The brake arrangement of claim 11, wherein the at least one lever arm comprises two lever arms.

Description

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a braking position;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the braking position;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the braking position;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the brake arrangement from FIG. 3;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a transition position between the braking position and a sliding position;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the sliding position;

[0033] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the sliding position;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of the brake arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the sliding position; and

[0035] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the brake arrangement from FIG. 8.

[0036] In FIG. 1 to 9, a brake arrangement according to the invention in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated overall by the reference sign 10. The brake arrangement 10 adjustable between a braking position and a sliding position is shown in the braking position in FIG. 1 to 4, in a transition position between the braking position and the sliding position in FIG. 5 and in the sliding position in FIG. 6 to 9.

[0037] The brake arrangement 10 comprises a base 20 having a fastening arrangement 22 for fastening to a ski (not shown) and/or to a touring binding (not shown), in particular a to heel unit of a touring binding, a pedal 30, at least one brake arm 40 mounted on the base 20 and on the pedal 30, in the present embodiment, two brake arms 40 arranged substantially symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the ski, and at least one resilient element 50 which is designed to preload the brake arrangement 10 into the braking position shown in FIG. 1 to 4.

[0038] In the braking position, the brake arms 40 protrude in a horizontal width direction of the ski on the left side of the ski and on the right side of the ski, and end portions of the brake arms 40 project in a vertical direction past the ski downwards, in order to engage with the ground, in particular snow or ice. If only one brake arm 40 is provided, it protrudes either on the left side of the ski or on the right side of the ski. In the sliding position described further with reference to FIG. 6 to 9, the brake arms 40 are lifted in a vertical direction to a level above the ski surface, so that the brake arms 40, in particular exposed ends of the brake arms 40, can no longer engage with the ground. The first resilient element 50 can be, for example, a tension spring 50 which is coupled to the pedal 30 and the base 20 such that a braking force is transmitted to the brake arm 40 or the brake arms 40 via the pedal, which forces down the ends of the brake arms 40 in the vertical direction in order to engage with the ground in the braking position.

[0039] The brake arrangement 10 also comprises a locking element 60 which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position and, in the active position, is designed to lock the brake arrangement 10 in the sliding position, the locking element 60, for adjustment between the active position and the passive position, being linearly displaceable along a longitudinal direction of the ski. Furthermore, the brake arrangement 10 comprises an actuating element 80 which is adjustable between a locking position and a release position, the actuating element 10 being mounted on the brake arrangement 10, in the present embodiment on the base 20, so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 82. When the actuating element 80 is set into the locking position, the locking element 60 is set into the active position. When the actuating element 80 is set into the release position, the locking element 60 is set into the passive position. The locking element 60 and the actuating element 80 are configured such that a pivoting movement of the actuating element 80 about the pivot axis 82 causes a linear movement of the locking element 60 in the longitudinal direction of the ski. A pivoting movement of the actuating element 80 is thus converted into a linear movement of the locking element 60, as a result of which the brake arrangement 10 can be locked in the sliding position.

[0040] In the present embodiment, a fastening or mounting of the base 20 to the ski can take place by placing a downward-facing support surface of the base 20 on an upward-facing surface of the ski, and the base 20 is fastened to the ski by means of screws which are guided through drill holes 22 provided in the base 20 and are screwed into the ski surface. As an alternative to a screw connection of the base 20 to the ski, the base 20 can also be fastened to the ski in a different way. As already mentioned above, it is also possible for the base 20 to be fastened to a touring binding (not shown), for example likewise by screws or by a plug connection, another form-fitting connection, by bolts, by gluing, or in some other way. Fastening to the ski and additionally to a touring binding is also possible. The base 20 can in particular be made of a metallic material, for example a sheet steel or aluminium, or a plastics material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), glass fibre reinforced polyamide (PA), or another cold-resistant plastics material.

[0041] The pedal 30, on the side thereof facing away from the ski, has a step surface 32 for a shoe (not shown), in particular for a heel portion of a ski boot. If a user steps on the step surface 32 of the pedal 30 in order to couple his shoe to a touring binding, in particular to the heel unit of a touring binding, the brake arrangement 10 is moved from the braking position into the sliding position against the spring force of the resilient element 50. In this state, the sliding position is also referred to as the moving position. The sliding position or moving position is shown in FIG. 6 to 9. The pedal 30 can in particular be made of a plastics material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), glass fibre reinforced polyamide (PA), or another cold-resistant plastics material. In the preferred embodiment, the pedal 30 can be pivotably mounted on the base 20 and comprise a pivot axis 36 which can protrude laterally from the pedal 30 and can be guided so as to be longitudinally displaced in an elongate holes 26 provided on the base 20.

[0042] The brake arm(s) 40 can be mounted in a central part on a receptacle 24 formed on the base 20 and in a front portion on a receptacle formed on the pedal 30. The brake arm(s) 40 can in particular be made of a metallic material, such as steel, aluminium, titanium or various alloys.

[0043] In the present embodiment, two tension springs 50 can be provided. Each spring 50 may be provided with a rear bent end on a rear spring leg and a front bent end on a front spring leg and spring coils located therebetween. The rear bent end of the tension springs 50 can be fastened to the base 20 and the front bent end of the tension springs 50 can be fastened to the pedal 30. Thus, the resilient element 50 or the tension spring(s) 50 act(s) between the base 20 and—via the pedal 30—the brake arm 40 and preload(s) the brake arrangement 10 into the braking position.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the brake arrangement 10 can furthermore comprise at least one second resilient element 70 which is designed to preload the locking element 60 into the active position. In the present embodiment, the second resilient element 70 can provide a spring force for preloading the brake arrangement 10 into the braking position, as a result of which the spring action of the first resilient element 50 can be supported by the second resilient element 70. In particular, the second resilient element 70 can be a tension spring 70 which is coupled to the pedal 30 and to the locking element 60. As can be seen, for example, in FIG. 2, the tension spring 70 can be fastened to the pedal 30 at one end. In particular, the pivot axis 36 can be provided on the pedal 30, on which pivot axis one end of the spring 70 can be suspended. At an opposite end, the tension spring 70 can be fastened to the locking element. In particular, a tab 64 can be provided on the locking element 60, on which tab the opposite spring end can be suspended. As a result, the tension spring 70 acts between the pedal 30 and the locking element 60, preloads the locking element 60 into the active position and, at the same time, provides a spring force for preloading the brake arrangement 10 into the braking position.

[0045] The locking element 60 can comprise a hook 62 which is designed to engage the pedal 30 in the active position of the locking element 60 in order to block a movement of the pedal 30 such that the brake arrangement 10 is locked in the sliding position. As can be seen for example in FIG. 2, a pin 34 can be formed on the pedal 30 in the preferred embodiment. Which can engage with the hook 62 of the locking element 60. As can be seen, the hook 62 and the pin 34 are disengaged in the braking position shown in FIG. 1 to 4.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the brake arrangement 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the transition position between the braking position and a sliding position. If a user steps on the step surface 32 of the pedal 30 in order to couple his shoe to a touring binding and to adjust the brake arrangement 10 from the braking position to the sliding position, the pin 34 hits an inclined surface of the hook 62. The pedal 30 can move forwards along the elongated holes 26 against the spring force of the spring 70 in the longitudinal direction of the ski, while the locking element 60 can also move backwards in the longitudinal direction of the ski against the spring force of the spring 70. As a result, the pin 34, as shown for example in FIG. 7, can snap into a recess in the hook 62 and the brake arrangement 10 is set into the sliding position, which is shown in FIG. 6 to 9.

[0047] In the preferred embodiment, the locking element 60 and the actuating element 80 can be configured such that a pivoting movement of the actuating element 80 from the release position into the locking position transfers the locking element 60 into the active position. In particular, this can be done backwards in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In addition, the locking element 60 and the actuating element 80 can be configured such that a pivoting movement of the actuating element 80 from the locking position into the release position transfers the locking element 60 into the passive position. In particular, this can be done forwards in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In this position of the actuating element 80, the locking element 60 has already been set into the active position by the spring force of the second resilient element 70; however, if the spring force of the second resilient element 70 is not sufficient to transfer the locking element into the passive and/or the active position, it is advantageous if the locking element 60 is transferred from the locking position into the release position into the passive position and vice versa by an adjustment movement of the actuating element 80.

[0048] For this purpose, in the release position of the actuating element 80, the actuating element 80 can have a first contour which is designed to hold the locking element 60 in the passive position. In the present embodiment, a contour of this type can in particular be in the form of a projection 90a, which can hold a counter-shaped projection 66 or the like of the locking element 60 such that the locking element 60 remains in the release position. In addition, in the locking position of the actuating element 80, the actuating element can have a second contour which is designed to hold the locking element 60 in the active position. A contour of this type can in turn be in particular in the form of a projection 90b, which can hold a counter-shaped projection 68 or the like of the locking element 60 such that the locking element 60 remains in the locking position. The actuating element 80 can be an actuating lever 80 which is pivotably mounted on the base 20 and which comprises at least one lever arm 84a, 84b pivotably mounted on the base 20 and an actuating portion 86. In particular, the actuating lever 80 can comprise two lever arms 84a, 84b, the actuating portion 86 connecting both arms 84a, 84b. For example, lateral wing-like portions can be provided on the actuating portion 86 in order to facilitate operation of the actuating portion 86.

[0049] The first contour can be formed on an insert element 90a which is inserted into a recess on the lever arm 84a, in particular on a first lever arm 84a. In addition, the second contour can be formed on an insert element 90b which is inserted into a recess on the lever arm 84b, in particular on a second lever arm 84b.

[0050] In the preferred embodiment, the projections 90a and 90b can each be formed on an arm 84a or 84b of the actuating element 80 designed as a lever 80, which arm is mounted on the pivot axis 82. In particular, slot-like recesses can be provided at the ends of the lever arms 84a and 84b, into which sheet metal inserts 90a, 90b are inserted, on which in turn the first and second contours could be provided in the form of the projections for holding the locking element 60 in the passive and active positions. The counter-formed projections 66 and 68 formed on the locking element 60 can be provided, for example, in that the locking element 60 is designed as a bent sheet metal part and is bent at corresponding points such that projections 66 and 68 are formed which can interact with the projections 90a and 90b on the lever arms 84a and 84b.

[0051] In this way, the first projection 90a formed on the first lever arm 84a, in particular in the form of a sheet metal insert, can interact with the projection 66 formed on the locking element 60 such that, in the release position of the actuating lever 80, the locking element 60 is held in the passive position. Conversely, the second projection 90b formed on the second lever arm 84b, in particular also in the form of a sheet metal insert, can interact with the projection 68 formed on the locking element 60 such that, in the locking position of the actuating lever 80, the locking element 60 is held in the active position.