Bearing structure with a pronounced upward arch

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of a downhill binding or downhill ski binding, in particular a front jaw of the downhill binding, and a ski boot. The ski boot (10) comprises a rigid ski boot shell (11) and a sole (1) of the ski boot comprising a front end (1b) of the sole, a rear end of the sole, an upper side (1a) of the sole and a lower side (1c) of the sole. The downhill binding comprises a front jaw (20) and a rear jaw, wherein the downhill binding comprises a bearing structure (2) for the sole (1) of the ski boot. The bearing structure (2) has an apex (5) which has a distance (X1), in the longitudinal direction (X), from the front end (1b) of the sole held in the downhill binding of at least 28 mm and at most 34 mm, and wherein the apex (5) exhibits a perpendicular distance (Y2) from the upper side (1a) of the sole of the ski boot held in the downhill binding of 19 mm±2 mm in at least one point.

Claims

1. A combination of a downhill binding or downhill ski binding and a ski boot comprising: (a) a ski boot which comprises a rigid ski boot shell and a sole of the ski boot comprising a front end of the sole, a rear end of the sole, an upper side of the sole and a lower side of the sole, and (b) a downhill binding which comprises a front jaw and a rear jaw, (c) wherein the downhill binding comprises a bearing structure for the sole of the ski boot, (d) the bearing structure having an apex, wherein the apex exhibits a perpendicular distance from the upper side of the sole of the ski boot held in the downhill binding of 19 mm±1 mm in at least one point, (e) wherein the apex has a distance, in the longitudinal direction, from the front end of the sole held in the downhill binding of at least 28 mm and at most 34 mm, (f) wherein an upper side of the bearing structure is not in contact with the lower side of the sole of the ski boot behind the apex in the skiing direction, and a free space is formed between the upper side of the bearing structure and the lower side of the sole, and (g) wherein the free space exhibits a distance (Y1) from a lower side of a planar sole of the ski boot according to DIN ISO 5355 of at least 5 mm at a distance (X2) behind the apex in the skiing direction of 20 mm±1 mm.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal distance is 32 mm±2 mm.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal distance is 32 mm±1 mm.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein a front attaching region of the ski boot comprises a bearing region in the lower side of the sole, via which the ski boot lies on the apex of the bearing structure.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the bearing region comprises a two-dimensional recess, and the ski boot held in the downhill ski binding lies on the apex of the bearing structure in the region of the two-dimensional recess.

6. A front jaw of a downhill binding, wherein the downhill binding is a downhill binding according to claim 1.

7. The front jaw according to claim 6, wherein the apex is embodied centrically or in a region of the bearing structure which is a front region in the skiing direction, or the apex forms an end region of the bearing structure which is a rear end region in the skiing direction.

8. The front jaw according to claim 6, wherein the bearing structure comprises an arch which is formed from a first region having a first radius or a substantially straight line and a second region having a second radius or a substantially straight line.

9. The front jaw according to claim 8, wherein the second radius is larger than the first radius.

10. The front jaw according claim 8, wherein the arch is concave.

11. The front jaw according to claim 6, wherein the bearing structure is connected to the front jaw such that the bearing structure can move relative to the front jaw when the ski binding is released transversely.

12. The front jaw according to claim 6, wherein the binding also comprises a base structure, and a guide for a guide element formed by the base structure is formed or integrated in a base of the bearing structure.

13. The front jaw according to claim 12, wherein the guide is formed or integrated in the region of the bearing structure which is a rear region in skiing direction.

14. A bearing structure for connecting to a front jaw of a downhill binding, wherein the bearing structure is the bearing structure according to claim 1.

15. The bearing structure according to claim 14, wherein the bearing structure is a solid body, or a hollow body made of a metal or a plastic, or made of a metal and a plastic.

16. The bearing structure according to claim 15, wherein the bearing structure is a reinforced hollow body.

17. The bearing structure according to claim 14, wherein a surface of the bearing structure is at least embodied as a sliding surface for the sole of the ski boot in the region of the apex.

18. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the perpendicular distance is 19 mm±1 mm.

19. The combination according to claim 18, wherein the perpendicular distance is 19 mm±0.3 mm.

20. A bearing structure for connecting a front of a ski sole of a ski boot to a front jaw of a downhill binding, characterized in that the bearing structure has an apex which has a distance, in the longitudinal direction, from the front end of the sole held in the downhill binding to the apex of at least 28 mm and at most 34 mm, and wherein the apex exhibits a perpendicular distance from the upper side of the sole of the ski boot held in the downhill binding and at least one point of the apex of 19 mm±2 mm, wherein an upper side of the bearing structure is not in contact in skiing direction with the lower side of the sole of the ski boot behind the apex, and a preferably two-dimensional free space is formed between the upper side of the bearing structure and the lower side of the sole, and in that the free space exhibits a distance from a lower side of a planar sole of the ski boot to the upper side of the bearing structure according to DIN ISO 5355 of at least 5 mm at 20 mm±1 mm in the skiing direction behind the apex (5).

Description

(1) FIG. 1 shows a combination of a ski binding, in particular a downhill ski binding, and a ski boot 10. Only the front jaw 20 of the binding and the front attaching region of the ski boot 10 is shown.

(2) The ski boot 10 comprises a preferably rigid ski boot shell 11 and a sole 1 of the ski boot comprising an upper side 1a, a front end 1b and a lower side 1c. The front jaw 20 comprises a sole retainer 21 and a base structure 22. The base structure 22 comprises two guide elements 23.

(3) In the example embodiment shown, the binding or the front jaw 20 comprises a bearing structure 2. The bearing structure 2 has a concavely arched shape featuring a base 3 which comprises a guide portion 4 at each of its two ends transverse to the skiing direction. The bearing structure 2 also comprises a bearing interface which forms an apex 5 of the bearing structure 2. In the example embodiment, the bearing structure 2 is mounted, such that it can move, in the base structure 22 of the front jaw 20.

(4) A front attaching region of the ski boot 10 has a recess 8 in the lower side 1c of the sole, wherein the recess 8 encompasses the point, line or area of contact between the ski boot 10 and the apex 5 of the bearing structure 2.

(5) FIG. 2 shows the bearing structure 2 of FIG. 1, separated from the front jaw 20, in a sectional view parallel to an imaginary longitudinal axis of a ski which is connected to the front jaw 20 of FIG. 1. The bearing structure 2 comprises a base 3 via which it can be connected to the base structure 22 of the front jaw 20.

(6) At each of a front and rear end 2a of the bearing structure 2 in the skiing direction, the base 3 comprises a guide portion 4 which, together with the guide elements 23 indicated in FIG. 1, forms a guide joint for the bearing structure 2. In the example embodiment, the arch of the bearing structure 2 is shaped as a circular segment and features an apex 5 of the circular segment which forms a bearing interface for a ski boot 10.

(7) In the example embodiment, the bearing structure 2 is a body made of a solid material. The material can be a metal or a suitable plastic which exhibits the appropriate properties such as elasticity, strength, thermal stability, etc. The bearing structure 2 can alternatively also be embodied as a hollow structure, with or without reinforcing ribs.

(8) FIG. 3 shows another example embodiment of a bearing structure 2 in accordance with the invention. This bearing structure 2 has an arched shape which consists of two regions 2b, 2c which are arched to differing degrees. Each of the two regions 2b, 2c is formed from a circular segment. The circular segment of the first region 2b exhibits a first radius, and the circular segment of the second region 2c exhibits a second radius, wherein in the example embodiment, the second radius is larger than the first radius.

(9) The apex 5 is formed at an outer point or line of contact between the two regions 2b, 2c, i.e. in a surface point or surface line in which the two regions 2b, 2c contact each other. In the example embodiment shown, this means that the apex 5 of the arch is formed in a part of the bearing structure 2 which is a front part in the skiing direction.

(10) The base 3 of the bearing structure 2 comprises a guide portion 4 and a guide 6. While the guide portion 4, which is a front guide portion in the skiing direction, forms an end 2a of the bearing structure 2 as in the case of the bearing structure 2 of FIG. 2, the guide 6 is incorporated or integrated into the base 3 in the second region 2c of the bearing structure 2.

(11) FIG. 4 substantially corresponds to FIG. 3. In this figure, a free space 7 has been additionally indicated which is formed between the apex 5 and an end of the bearing structure 2 which is a rear end in the skiing direction and the lower side 1c of the sole of a ski boot 10 held in the front jaw 20. The representation shows that the lower side 1c of the sole is not in contact with the bearing structure 2 in the second region 2c of the bearing structure 2, but that the ski boot 10 or, respectively, the lower side 1c of the sole instead only stands upright on the ski or on the base structure 22 of the front jaw 20 behind the bearing structure 2 in the skiing direction. The shape of the lower side 1c of the sole does not follow the shape of the bearing structure 2 behind the apex 5, such that a two-dimensional free space 7 is formed. The free space 7 starts at the apex 5 and has a clear distance Y1 between a lower side of a planar sole 1 of the ski boot according to DIN ISO 5355 and a surface of the bearing structure 2 which points away from the ski or the corresponding surface of the base 3 of the bearing structure 2 or an upper side of the ski of at least 5 mm at a distance X1 of about 20 mm behind the apex 5 in the skiing direction. This ensures that the lower side 1c of the sole rests on the bearing structure 2 only in the apex 5. Unlike for example a slot-shaped free space, the two-dimensional free space 7 prevents deposits of snow from clogging the free space 7.

(12) FIG. 5 illustrates both a front jaw 20 of a ski binding, together with a rear jaw 24 of the ski binding.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(13) 1 sole of the ski boot 1a upper side 1b front end 1c lower side of the sole 2 bearing structure 2a end 2b first region 2c second region 3 base 4 guide portion 5 apex 6 guide 7 free space 8 recess 10 ski boot 11 ski boot shell 20 front jaw 21 sole retainer 22 base structure 23 guide element X direction, longitudinal direction Y direction, vertical direction X1 distance X2 distance Y1 distance Y2 distance 24 rear jaw