Brake arrangement for a touring binding

Abstract

A brake arrangement for a touring binding, adjustable between a braking position and a sliding position. The brake arrangement includes a base having a fastening arrangement for fastening to one or more of a ski or the touring binding, a pedal having 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 configured to preload the brake arrangement into the braking position, and a locking element that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The locking element, in the engaged position, is designed to lock the brake arrangement in the sliding position. The locking element may be preloaded into the engaged position. The brake arrangement may include a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position and a release position.

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 having 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, wherein the brake arrangement is preloaded into the braking position; a locking element that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein, in the engaged position, the locking element is configured to lock the brake arrangement in the sliding position, and wherein the locking element is preloaded into the engaged position; and a blocking element that is adjustable between (A) a blocking position, in which the blocking element engages with the locking element in the sliding position of the brake arrangement when the locking element is in the engaged position, and (B) a release position, in which the blocking element does not engage with the locking element, wherein the blocking element is mounted on the brake arrangement, so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a ski plane such that the blocking element moves in a plane that is substantially parallel to the ski plane during an adjustment between the blocking position and the release position, wherein the blocking element is rotatable independently of the brake arrangement.

2. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the blocking element in the blocking position thereof is configured to block the brake arrangement in the sliding position.

3. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the blocking element comprises at least one actuating portion configured to move substantially in a transverse direction of the ski during an adjustment of the blocking element between the blocking position and the release position and during an associated rotation of the blocking element about the axis of rotation in the plane that is parallel to the ski plane, wherein the transverse direction of the ski is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the ski.

4. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pedal comprises the locking element, and wherein the brake arrangement is configured to be locked in the sliding position by an engagement between the pedal and the blocking element when the blocking element is in the blocking position.

5. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein one or more of (a) the locking element is arranged on an underside of the pedal pointing in a direction of a ski surface, or (b) the locking element is mounted on the pedal so as to be pivotable about an axis.

6. The brake arrangement of claim 5, wherein pointing in the direction of the ski surface comprises protruding downwards from the underside of the pedal.

7. The brake of claim 1, wherein the locking element is provided in a form of a hook and is configured to engage with a contour of the blocking element in the engaged position of the locking element when the blocking element is in the blocking position.

8. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the locking element is preloaded into the engaged position by a resilient element.

9. The brake arrangement of claim 8, wherein the resilient element is a leg spring that is coupled to the pedal and to the locking element.

10. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the locking element is arranged on the pedal, and wherein the locking element is configured to interact with the blocking element when the blocking element is in the blocking position during an adjustment of the brake arrangement from the braking position into the sliding position and during an associated movement of the pedal and the locking element in a direction of a ski surface such that the locking element, in a transition position of the brake arrangement between the braking position and the sliding position, initially moves from the engaged position against the preloading force into the disengaged position, and returns into the engaged position upon a further movement of the pedal and the locking element in the direction of the ski surface due to the preload.

11. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the step surface for the shoe comprises a step surface for a heel portion of the shoe.

12. The brake arrangement of claim 1, wherein the blocking element is mounted on the base.

13. A touring binding, comprising a braking arrangement, adjustable between a braking position and a sliding position, the braking arrangement comprising: a base having a fastening arrangement for fastening to one or more of a ski or the touring binding; a pedal having a step 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, wherein the brake arrangement is preloaded into the braking position; a locking element configured to lock the brake arrangement in the sliding position, wherein the locking element is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and a blocking element adjustable between (A) a blocking position, in which the blocking element engages with the locking element, and (B) a release position, in which the blocking element does not engage with the locking element, wherein the blocking element cannot be brought into the blocking position in the moving position of a heel unit, wherein the blocking element is mounted on the brake arrangement, so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a ski plane such that the blocking element moves in a plane that is substantially parallel to the ski plane during an adjustment between the blocking position and the release position, wherein the blocking element is rotatable independently of the brake arrangement.

Description

(1) 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:

(2) FIG. 1a is a top view of a heel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention in a walking position and of a brake arrangement according to the embodiment of the present invention in a braking position;

(3) FIG. 1b is a sectional view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 1a;

(4) FIG. 2a is a side view of the heel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention in the walking position and of the brake arrangement according to the embodiment of the present invention in a transition position between the braking position and a sliding position;

(5) FIG. 2b is a sectional view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 2a;

(6) FIG. 3a is a side view of the heel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention in the walking position and of the brake arrangement according to the embodiment of the present invention in the sliding position;

(7) FIG. 3b is a sectional view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 3a;

(8) FIG. 4a is a detail of a perspective view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 2a;

(9) FIG. 4b is a detail of a perspective view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 3a;

(10) FIG. 5a is a side view of the heel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention in a moving position and of the brake arrangement according to the embodiment of the present invention in the braking position;

(11) FIG. 5b is a sectional view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 5a;

(12) FIG. 6a is a plan view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement of FIG. 5a; and

(13) FIG. 6b is a detail of a perspective view of the heel unit and the brake arrangement from FIG. 5a.

(14) In FIG. 1a to 6b, a brake arrangement according to the embodiment of the present invention is generally designated by the reference sign 10, and a heel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is generally designated by the reference sign 100.

(15) The heel unit 100 is adjustable between a moving position and a walking position. The moving position is shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b, while the walking position is shown in the remaining FIG. 1a to 4b. In the moving position, the heel unit 100 is designed to engage a heel portion of a ski boot in order to couple it to the heel unit 100 for downhill skiing, whereas in the moving position the heel unit 100 is designed to release the heel portion so that the heel portion can be lifted from the heel unit 100 for uphill skiing.

(16) The heel unit 100 comprises a binding base 120. In the embodiment according to the invention, the binding base is in the form of a binding slide 120 which is fastened to a binding plate 15 and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The binding plate 15 can in particular be fastened to a ski by means of screws. The heel unit 100 further comprises a binding body 130 which is mounted on the binding base 120 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation X2 that is substantially perpendicular to a ski plane in order to adjust the heel unit 100 between the moving position and the walking position. In the preferred embodiment, this mounting consists of a radial bearing 122 formed on the binding base 120 and a complementary radial bearing 132 formed on the binding body 130, which can be designed circumferentially, but in particular only in partial portions such as in a longitudinal direction of the ski at the front and rear.

(17) The heel unit 100 further comprises engagement means 140 protruding from the binding body 130, in particular in the form of protruding pins 140. In the moving position, the engagement means 140 engage with a heel portion of a ski boot and point forwards in a direction of travel. In the walking position, the engagement means 140 point in a direction that differs from the direction of travel. In the preferred embodiment, in the walking position, the engagement means 140 point backwards, counter to the direction of travel, in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

(18) The brake arrangement 10 is adjustable between a braking position and a sliding position. The braking position is shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b and the sliding position is shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4b. A transition position between the braking position and the sliding position is shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 4a. In the braking position, the brake arrangement 10 is designed to brake a ski in the event of a decoupling of the touring binding and ski boot, whereas in the sliding position the brake arrangement 10 is designed not to brake the ski.

(19) The brake arrangement 10 comprises a base 20. In the embodiment according to the invention, the base is provided in the form of a slide 20 which is fastened to the binding plate 15 and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In addition, in the embodiment described, the slide 20 can be coupled to the binding slide 120 in order to connect the brake arrangement 10 and the heel unit 100 to one another.

(20) The brake arrangement 10 further comprises a pedal 30 having a substantially upward-facing step surface 32 for a sole portion of a ski boot. For the purpose of braking the ski, the brake arrangement 10 further comprises at least one brake arm 40; in the preferred embodiment of this invention, two brake arms 40 formed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ski are provided. The brake arms 40 are mounted on the base 20 at central portions thereof and are mounted on the pedal 30 at front portions in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In addition, a resilient element is provided which preloads the brake arrangement 10 into the braking position so that the brake arms 40 can engage with the ground in order to brake the ski. The resilient element can be a spring in the conventional sense but can also be provided as a resiliently flexible bracket or the like. In particular, it can act on the brake arm(s) 40 or on the pedal 30.

(21) The brake arrangement 10 further comprises a locking element 60 which is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The locking element 60 is preloaded into the engaged position and, in the engaged position, locks the brake arrangement 10 in the sliding position. The locking element 60 can preferably be arranged on an underside 34 of the pedal 30 and protrude downwards therefrom. It can be mounted on the pedal 30 so as to be pivotable about an axis 64. The locking element 60 can be preloaded into the engaged position by a second resilient element 66. In the preferred embodiment, the second resilient element 66 can be a leg spring 66 which is coupled to the pedal 30 and to the locking element 60. In particular, the locking element 60 can have a hook shape, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1b. Such a hook 62 engages with another part of the brake arrangement 10 in the engaged position of the locking element 60 in order to lock the brake arrangement 10 in the sliding position.

(22) The brake arrangement 10 further comprises a blocking element 70 which is adjustable between a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position, the blocking element 70 engages with the locking element 60 in the sliding position of the brake arrangement 10 when the locking element 60 is in the engaged position. In the release position, the blocking element 70 does not engage with the locking element 60. As a result, the blocking element 70 in the blocking position thereof can block the brake arrangement 10 in the sliding position. This can be done in that the locking element 60, in particular in the form of the hook 62 in the engaged position, engages with a contour 74 of the blocking element 70 when the blocking element 70 is in the blocking position.

(23) The blocking element 70 can be mounted on the brake arrangement 10, in particular on the base 20, so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation X1 which is substantially perpendicular to a ski plane. As a result, the blocking element 70 can move in a plane that is substantially parallel to a ski plane during an adjustment between the blocking position and the release position. It can also comprise at least one actuating portion 72 and, in the preferred embodiment, comprises an actuating portion 72 on both sides on the left and right in the width direction of the ski, as can be seen, for example, in FIGS. 1a and 6a. The actuating portions 72 can move substantially in a transverse direction of the ski during an adjustment of the blocking element 70 between the blocking position and the release position and an associated rotation of the blocking element 70 about the axis of rotation X1 in the plane that is parallel to the ski plane, which transverse direction of the ski is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the ski. They can be pulled or pressed by a user in order to adjust the blocking element 70. As a result of the rotatable mounting of the blocking element, they move on a circular path, but a relatively large radius of this circular path compared to a width of the brake arrangement 10 in the width direction of the ski results in an almost linear movement in a transverse direction of the ski. The actuating portions 72 may be arranged outside to the left and right with respect to the brake arrangement 10 in the width direction of the ski.

(24) Overall, as can be seen in FIG. 1a, among other things, the blocking element 70 can be designed to be substantially T-shaped, wherein the rotatable mounting about the axis of rotation X1 can be provided on a distal end portion of a longitudinal web and the two actuating portions 72 can be provided on both sides on end portions of a transverse web. The contour 74 of the blocking element 70, with which the locking element 60, in particular in the form of the hook 62, can engage, can be arranged on the transverse web between the two actuating portions 72 and can, for example, be a front edge 74 of the transverse web. A recess 75 can also be provided on the transverse web, into which recess the locking element 60 can protrude so as not to engage with the blocking element 70 when the blocking element 70 is in the release position.

(25) An above-described step-in function of the brake arrangement 10 will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1b, 2b and 3b. In these drawings, the blocking element 70 is shown in the blocking position. During an adjustment of the brake arrangement 10 from the braking position (see FIG. 1b) into the sliding position (see FIG. 3b), for example when a user steps on the step surface 32 of the pedal 30 with his ski boot, in order moves the pedal 30 and thus the locking element 60 or the hook 62 in the direction of a ski surface, a slope of the hook in the transition position (see FIG. 2b) initially strikes the front edge 74 on the transverse web of the blocking element 70. Against the preloading force of the leg spring 66, the hook 62 rotates about the axis of rotation 64 away from the transverse web. In the case of a further movement of the pedal 30 and the locking element 60 in the direction of the ski surface, the hook 62 snaps under the transverse web, returns to the engaged position due to the spring preload and thus locks the brake arrangement in the sliding position (see FIG. 3b).

(26) FIG. 4a shows what happens when the blocking element 70 is set into the release position. The hook 62 then passes through the recess 75 during the above-described movement of the pedal 30 in the direction of the ski surface and can therefore not engage with the blocking element 70. In FIG. 4b, in which the blocking element 70 is shown in the blocking position, it can be seen, however, that the hook 62 is locked under the transverse web 74 and is covered thereby.

(27) An interaction of the heel unit 100 and the brake arrangement 10 is explained below with reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b.

(28) The blocking element 70 and the binding body 130 are designed such that the blocking element 70 cannot be brought into the blocking position in the moving position of the heel unit 100 due to an interaction between the blocking element 70 and the binding body 130. This can be achieved in that a lip 132 can be provided on the binding body 130 at the front in the direction of travel, which lip has a contact portion 138, and in that an extension 76 can be provided on the blocking element 70, which extension has a contact portion 78, wherein these two contact portions 78, 138 rest against one another in the moving position of the heel unit 100 and form a common stop. This common stop can prevent an adjustment of the blocking element 70 into the blocking position when the heel unit 100 is set into the moving position and the lip 132 and the contact portion 138 of the binding body 130 point forwards in the direction of travel. If, on the other hand, the heel unit 100 is set into the walking position, the contact portion 78 on the extension 76 of the blocking element is spaced apart from the binding body 130, since the portion on which the lip 132 is provided is rotated away, and the blocking element 70 can be moved into the blocking position.