SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A release mechanism is provided for releasably connecting a strap to sports equipment. The strap is secured at a first end to the sports equipment and at a second end to the release mechanism. The release mechanism has a fastening part releasably connected to an engagement element. The engagement element interacts with a fastening part bail element that is pivotable about a pivot axle between a release position and an engaged position with the engagement element. The bail element can be secured in the engaged position by a securing element. The securing element and bail element are secured to the fastening part such that the distance between the pivot axle of the bail element and the securing element changes when a tensile load is applied to the bail element. The securing element releases the bail element when a defined release tensile force is exerted on the bail element.

Claims

1. A piece of sports equipment that has a device for attaching an object or a person to the sports equipment, which device has a strap that is secured at its first end to the body of the sports equipment, which strap has a second end that is releasably secured to the body by means of a release mechanism, which release mechanism has a fastening part and an engagement part, which can be releasably connected to one another, wherein one of the two parts is fastened to the body, and the other of the two parts is fastened to the end of the strap, wherein the engagement part has an engagement element that interacts in a form fitting manner with a bail element of the fastening part, wherein the bail element can be pivoted on the fastening part about a pivot axle between an open position that releases the engagement element and an engaged position that engages with the engagement element, wherein the engaged position of the bail element can be secured in place by a securing element, wherein the securing element as well as the bail element are secured to the fastening part, wherein one of the two elements is secured to the fastening part via a spring mechanism, such that the distance between the pivot axle of the bail element and the securing element changes when a tensile load is applied to the bail element, wherein the securing element is in a securing position on the bail element such that it releases the bail element when a defined release force exerted on the bail element has been exceeded.

2. The sports equipment according to claim 1 wherein the spring force of the spring mechanism, and thus the release force, can be adjusted via an adjustment mechanism.

3. The sports equipment according to claim 1 wherein the securing element can be moved between a receiving position and at least one securing position, in which the release mechanism is activated.

4. The sports equipment according to claim 3 wherein the securing element can be secured in a first secured position that deactivates the release mechanism, as well as in a second secured position that activates the release mechanism.

5. The sports equipment according to claim 1 wherein the fastening part has an oblong housing that has a lower fastening region and an upper engagement region, which supports the pivot axle of the bail element, wherein the housing receives the spring mechanism and supports the securing element.

6. The sports equipment according to claim 5 wherein the pivot axle of the bail element is supported in the housing in first oblong holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

7. The sports equipment according claim 5 wherein the spring mechanism comprises at least one spring that is secured in the fastening region of the housing by means of a mount, and wherein the spring element is connected to the pivot axle of the bail element in the engagement region of the housing, in particular encompassing it.

8. The sports equipment according to claim 7 wherein the spring force of the spring mechanism, and thus the release force, can be adjusted via an adjustment mechanism and wherein the adjustment mechanism is formed in the region of the mount.

9. The sports equipment according to claim 8 wherein the adjustment device comprises an adjustment axle transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing that is connected to the lower end of the spring element, wherein the position of the adjustment axle can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

10. The sports equipment according to claim 9 wherein the adjustment axle is inserted in the housing in second oblong holes, and retained on a U-shaped carrier, which supports a threaded bolt that passes through a cross web located on the lower end of the housing and bears thereon with an adjustment nut, wherein the position of the adjustment axle can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the housing via actuation of the adjustment nut.

11. The sports equipment according to claim 1 wherein a mounting hinge is attached to the body, the first half of which is secured to the body, and its second half, which can be pivoted in relation to the first half, has a releasable connection for securing the fastening part, in particular the housing thereof, or the engagement part.

12. The sports equipment according to claim 11 wherein the connection is formed by a form fitting snap-lock system, which interacts with a side wall of the housing.

13. The sports equipment according to claim 5 wherein the housing is in the form of an oblong rectangular or cylindrical metal or composite fiber housing, wherein the spring element extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

14. The sports equipment according to claim 1 wherein the strap is formed by a rigid element, which can be integrated in a coating or a molded element of an object that is to be secured to the body of the sports equipment.

15. The sports equipment according to claim 1 wherein both ends of the strap are secured by means of the release element to the body of the sports equipment.

16. A device for attaching an object or a person to an article of sports equipment having an article body, the device comprising a strap secured at its first end to the article body and a second end that is releasably secured to the article body by a release mechanism, the release mechanism having a fastening part releasably connected to an engagement part, wherein a first of the fastening part and the engagement part is fastened to the article body and a second of the fastening part and the engagement part is fastened to the second end of the strap, wherein the engagement part has an engagement element that interacts in a form fitting manner with a bail of the fastening part, wherein the bail element is pivotable on the fastening part about a pivot axle between an open position that releases the engagement element and an engaged position that engages with the engagement element, wherein the bail element can be secured in the engaged position by a securing element wherein the securing element and the bail element are secured to the fastening part, wherein one of the engagement element or the bail element is secured to the fastening part via at least one spring, such that the distance between the pivot axle of the bail element and the securing element changes when a tensile load is applied to the bail element, wherein the securing element is released from the bail element when a defined release force exerted on the bail element has been exceeded.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the fastening part has a housing that has a lower fastening region and an upper engagement region which supports the pivot axle of the bail element, wherein the housing receives the at least one spring and supports the securing element, and the pivot axle of the bail element is supported in the housing in a first set of oblong holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one spring that is secured in the fastening region of the housing and the at least one spring is connected to the pivot axle of the bail element in the engagement region of the housing.

19. The device according to claim 16 wherein the spring force of the spring, and thus the release force, can be adjusted via an adjustment mechanism comprising an adjustment axle transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing that is connected to a lower end of the at least one spring, wherein the position of the adjustment axle can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

20. The device according to claim 19 wherein the adjustment axle is inserted in the housing in a second set of oblong holes in the housing, and retained on a U-shaped carrier which supports a threaded bolt that passes through a cross web located on the lower end of the housing and bears thereon with an adjustment nut, wherein the position of the adjustment axle can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the housing via actuation of the adjustment nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention shall be described below based on the schematic drawings, in which:

[0025] FIGS. 1 to 3 show three perspective views of a device for fastening an object or a person to a piece of sports equipment,

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the fastening part and the engagement part of a device according to any of the claims 1 to 3, with a housing of the fastening part shown as transparent,

[0027] FIGS. 5 and 6 show two perspective views of the fastening part in the engaged position with a secured bail element, which engages behind the engagement element of the engagement part,

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the fastening part shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, from above,

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the fastening part shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, from below,

[0030] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a side view of the fastening part shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 from two different sides, and

[0031] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the fastening part shown in FIG. 10 in a partial cutaway exposing the spring mechanism and the adjustment mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a section of a piece of sports equipment 10, e.g. a surfboard, with a body 12, on which a device 14 for fastening a person's foot thereto is located. The device 14 has a strap 16, the first end 18 of which is secured with a mounting plate 20 to the body 12. On the second end 22, the strap 16 has an engagement part 24 comprising an engagement element 26 in the form of a rectangular torus. This engagement element 26 interacts with a bail element 28 located on a fastening part 30, which is secured by means of its housing 32 to the second half 34 of a mounting hinge 36, which is attached to the body 12 of the sports equipment 10 at its first half 38.

[0033] The engagement part 24 and the fastening part 30 collectively form a release mechanism 15, which functions such that when a high tensile force acts on the strap 16, the connection of the engagement part 24 and the fastening part 30 is released. The fastening part 30 can pivot about the pivot axle 40 of the mounting hinge 36 and can therefore follow the pulling direction of the strap 16, such that the force acting on the bail element 28 via the engagement element 26 is always directed axially, resulting in defined release forces. The bail element 28 is mounted on the fastening part 30 such that it can pivot about a pivot axle 42 between an open position, in which the engagement element 26 is released, and the depicted engaged position, which is secured by a bail-like securing element 44, hereinafter referred to as a securing bail. The housing 32 of the fastening part encompasses a spring mechanism 46, such that the pivot axle 42 of the bail element 28 can move in the longitudinal direction of the housing 32. The bail element 28 thus moves to a greater or lesser extent out of the securing bail 44 when different tensile forces are applied to the strap 16, such that the bail element 28 is released when a critical release force is reached, and thus pivots upward into its open position, at which point the engagement element is released, and releases the strap such that the person or object is released from the body of the sports equipment. The pivot axle 42, as can be better seen in FIG. 2, is inserted into first oblong holes 48 formed in the longitudinal direction I in opposing side walls of the housing 32. The spring mechanism 46 is formed by a helical spring 50 in this example, which encompasses the pivot axle 42 of the bail element. When a tensile force is applied to the strap 16, the pivot axle 42 is deflected upward in the first oblong hole 40, counter to the force of the spring mechanism, until the bail element 28 is released from the securing bail 44, pivots upward, and thus releases the engagement element 26.

[0034] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the components of the engagement part 24 and the fastening part 30, and their interaction in greater detail from different perspectives. The housing 32 of the fastening part 30 is transparent in FIG. 4, and in FIGS. 5 and 6 the two opposing side walls of the housing 32 are not shown. The engagement element 26 of the engagement part 24 is in the form of a rectangular torus, through which the bail element 28 in the form of a double bail 28a, 28b engages, such that the engagement part 24 and thus the first end 18 of the strap 16 is secured in place on the body 12 of the sports equipment 10, particularly such that it cannot tilt.

[0035] The securing element 44 is in the form of a rectangular securing bail, which encompasses the oblong, cuboid housing 32 on three sides, and is pivotally supported on a fastening axle 66. The bail can be secured in two securing positions by means of a securing pin 74, wherein the securing pin 74 passes through a bushing 72 in the housing 32 in each of these securing positions, thus retaining the securing bail 44 precisely in the predefined pivotal position. The securing bail is pivoted slightly upward in the first securing position shown therein. In this position, it encompasses the pivot bail 28 independently of the tensile forces acting on the engagement element 26. Even when the pivot axle 42 is deflected into the highest position in the first oblong hole 48, the securing bail 44 secures the pivot bail in the engaged position, such that the connection between the engagement part 24 and the fastening part remains intact independently of the forces acting thereon. The release mechanism 15 is basically deactivated here. In the second securing position (not shown), in which the securing pin 74 engages in the bushing 72 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the securing bail is pivoted somewhat further downward. In this position, the pivot bail 28 is released from the securing bail 44 when the tensile force to the engagement element 26 exceeds the releasing tensile force. Lastly, the securing bail 44 can be pivoted downward to a receiving position, in order to encompass the pivot bail 28 when connecting the engagement part and fastening part. It is subsequently pivoted upward into the first or second securing position, and secured therein with the securing pin 74.

[0036] The pivot axle 42 of the bail element 28 is supported in the first oblong holes 48 in opposing side walls of the housing such that it can move in the longitudinal direction I of the housing 32. The pivot axle 42 is encompassed by an upper end of the spring element 50, while the lower end of the spring element 50 encompasses an adjustment axle 52 that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing, which is inserted in a second oblong hole 54 in the opposing side walls of the housing 32 such that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing by means of an adjustment mechanism 51. The adjustment axle 52 is encompassed by a U-shaped carrier profile 56, which has a central hole 58 in which a threaded bolt is non-rotatably retained.

[0037] The threaded bolt 60 extends downward from the carrier profile 56 toward the base 62 of the housing, and the central hole passes through a cross web 68 located just above the base of the housing, which is supported in the side walls of the housing. An adjustment nut 64 is screwed onto the end 70 of the threaded bolt 60 extending from the base 62 of the housing above the cross web 68, which then bears on the cross web 68. The releasing force is adjusted by turning the adjustment nut 64, such that the threaded bolt 60 is pulled downward toward the base 62 of the housing to a greater or lesser extent, and the spring element 50 is tensioned accordingly. As a result, the releasing force can be set in a defined manner. The adjustment mechanism 51 thus comprises the adjustment axle 52, the second oblong holes 54 for the adjustment axle 52, the carrier profile 56, the threaded bolt 6, the cross web 68, and the adjustment nut 64.

[0038] The securing bail 44 encompasses the second securing position of two legs 28a, b of the bail element 28 at their lower ends, such that they are released when the tensile force exerted by the engagement element 26 on the bail element 28 deflects the pivot axle 42 far enough upward in the first oblong hole 48 that when the defined releasing force has been reached, the free ends of the double bail 28a, 28b are released from the securing bail 44, such that the bail 28 pivots upward and the releases the engagement element 26.

[0039] The following FIGS. 7 to 11 show the release mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 with the engagement part 24 and fastening part 30 from different perspectives and in side and plan views.

[0040] As a matter of course, the engagement element 26 can also be attached to the body 12 of the sports equipment 10, while the fastening part 30 is attached to an end of the strap 16. It is also possible, as a matter of course, for both ends 18, 22 of the strap, or foot strap 16, to be attached to the body 12 of the sports equipment by means of a release mechanism 15.

[0041] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown herein, but can also be varied arbitrarily. By way of example, the bail element 28 can be in the form of a single bail instead of the double bail described herein, and the engagement element 26 and the securing element can have the form of a ring-torus. The housing 32 is preferably also cylindrical.

[0042] The strap or belt 26 can also be rigid or integrated in a larger object, e.g. a snowboard boot or ski boot.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0043] 10 sports equipment [0044] 12 body of the sports equipment [0045] 14 device for attaching a foot to the sports equipment [0046] 15 release mechanism composed of an engagement part and a fastening part [0047] 16 strapflexible fastening elementbeltfoot strap [0048] 18 first end of the strap [0049] 20 mounting plate [0050] 22 second end of the strap [0051] 24 engagement part [0052] 26 engagement element [0053] 28 bail element [0054] 30 fastening part [0055] 32 housing for the fastening part [0056] 34 first half of the mounting hinge for supporting the fastening part [0057] 36 mounting hinge [0058] 38 second half of the mounting hinge for attachment to the body of the sports equipment [0059] 40 pivot axle of the mounting hinge, e.g. a film hinge [0060] 42 pivot axle for the bail element [0061] 44 securing element [0062] 46 spring mechanism [0063] 48 first oblong holes in the side walls of the housing for the pivot axle [0064] 50 spring elementhelical spring [0065] 51 adjustment mechanism [0066] 52 adjustment axle [0067] 54 second oblong holes in the side walls of the housing for the adjustment axle [0068] 56 U-shaped carrier profile for connecting the spring element and threaded bolt [0069] 58 central hole in the carrier profile for receiving the threaded bolt in a non-rotatable manner [0070] 60 threaded bolt [0071] 62 base of the housing [0072] 64 adjustment nut for the adjustment mechanism, bearing on the cross web [0073] 66 fastening axle for pivotal support of the securing bail on the housing [0074] 68 cross web [0075] 70 end of the threaded bolt facing the base of the housing [0076] 72 bushing in housing for receiving the securing pin [0077] 74 securing pin for securing the two securing positions