Heel unit for a downhill or combined downhill and alpine touring ski binding

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heel unit for a downhill ski binding or a combined downhill and cross - country ski binding for a snowboard, comprising: a vertical release function group, a horizontal release function group, and a compression spring assembly acting on the horizontal release function group. The vertical release function group has a tensioning device with a sole retainer and a first spring assembly for holding the ski boot in the downhill position. The horizontal release function group has a base plate that can be positioned on the snowboard and a slider that can be laterally deflected relative to the longitudinal direction of the snowboard against the force of a second spring assembly and is provided with the vertical release function group. The vertical release function group can rotate around an axis on the horizontal release function group, and the axis extends vertically towards the top side of the snowboard or extends at an angle of at most 5° towards the vertical line of the top side of the snowboard, such that after a limited lateral deflection of the slider, the vertical release function group rotates against the force of the second spring assembly to release the ski boot in the corresponding lateral release direction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a heel unit for a downhill binding or a combined downhill and alpine touring binding for a snowboard, the heel unit having a vertical-release functional group and also having a horizontal-release functional group, the vertical-release functional group having a tensioning device with a sole retainer and a first spring assembly for holding a ski boot in a downhill position, the horizontal-release functional group having a base plate which can be positioned on the snowboard and a slide member which can be deflected laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of the snowboard against the force of a second spring assembly, the vertical-release functional group being arranged on the slide member.

[0002] Such a heel unit is known, for example, from EP 2 762 211 B1. The heel unit is provided for a combined downhill and alpine touring binding for a snowboard and the heel unit comprises a vertical-release functional group, a lateral-release functional group and a locking mechanism having a locking lever which optionally locks the heel unit in a skiing position or a walking position firmly attached to a guide rail on the snowboard. A spring assembly (effective in the case of lateral release) is fixed in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard and impinges on a roller which engages in the center of a recess on the slide member in the downhill position. The slide member is mounted in a deflectable manner on a guide of the base plate, exactly transversely to the longitudinal direction of the snowboard and held in this position by the above-mentioned spring assembly. In the case of a lateral release of the heel unit, the slide member together with the vertical-release functional group moves transversely to the longitudinal direction of the snowboard on the base plate, where the spring assembly is compressed and the locking on the guide rail is released, such that the horizontal-release functional group together with the vertical-release functional group on the base plate moves backwards in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard, thereby releasing in this way a ski boot inserted in the snowboard binding. If a high level of pressure relative to the release force (usually independent of the set release force) acts on a fixed ski boot, the ski boot can clamp up and the release of the ski boot can be impeded or blocked. In addition, in the case of a lateral release, after the locking mechanism has been actuated and the locking lever has been released from its lock on the guide rail firmly attached to the snowboard, it is necessary to relock the base plate manually after a lateral release.

[0003] A heel unit with the possibility of lateral and vertical release, especially in combination, is particularly advantageous for reducing the potential risk of serious knee injuries (such as ligament tears or strains when twisting and falling backwards). The release characteristics of the heel unit with lateral release and with combined horizontal and vertical release should contribute to largely avoiding such injuries that may occur in the case of a skier falling backwards. In addition, the heel unit should also ensure comfortable actuation when entering and leaving the heel unit and after release. In particular, in order to ensure the most comfortable entry into the ski binding, there is no need to clumsily operate the heel unit to restore the entry position (especially after falling in deep snow or on steep terrain).

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a heel unit whose release characteristics are designed in such a way that the heel unit can reduce the risk of knee injuries even more than hitherto, without the risk of the ski boot being clamped in the binding.

[0005] According to the present invention, this set task is achieved by the vertical release functional group being rotatable about an axis on the horizontal release functional group, which axis extends vertically towards the top side of the ski or extends at an angle of at most 5° towards the vertical line on the top side of the ski, in such a way that after the slide member has undergone a limited lateral deflection against the force of the second spring assembly, the vertical release functional group rotates to a limited extent to release the ski boot in the corresponding lateral release direction.

[0006] Thus, the heel unit according to the present invention can ensure a safe and especially "ergonomic" release of the ski boot inserted into the binding in the case of lateral release or a combination of lateral and vertical release, since the movement of the ski boot during lateral release actually occurs in the direction of the acting force in an optimal manner. This is achieved in particular by carrying out the lateral release in two "phases". In the first phase, the "skiing phase", the slide member is deflected laterally against the force of the second spring assembly; if the lateral deflection remains limited, the impact is absorbed and the heel unit is reset in such a way that the ski boot has not yet been released. When a certain level of lateral deflection (i.e., the first phase) has been exceeded, the second phase follows. In the second phase, with respect to the deflection slide member of the horizontal release functional group, the vertical release functional group undergoes a rotational movement, and the ski boot is released from the binding in a substantially unhindered and safe manner.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the vertical release functional group can rotate against the action of the second spring assembly or against the action of another spring assembly. This measure provides a reasonable possibility for the "automatic" reset of the horizontal release functional group and the vertical release functional group after the ski boot has been released due to lateral release or a combination of lateral and vertical release.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment, the vertical release function group includes a bearing part rotatably mounted on the slide of the horizontal release function group, at which bearing part the tensioning device of the vertical release function group is rotatably mounted about a laterally extending axis. As a result, there is a particularly compact and functionally effective connection of the vertical release function group to the horizontal release function group.

[0009] Preferably, the horizontal release function group further includes a slide guide which interacts with the control element of the bearing part in such a way that the vertical release function group for releasing the ski boot in the respective release direction can be rotated to a limited extent. By this embodiment, the rotational movement of the vertical release function group relative to the horizontal release function group can be controlled in a simple and functionally reliable manner and can be limited in a desired way.

[0010] Another measure for a compact and functionally effective embodiment of the heel support unit is that the bearing part includes a rotating part which is rotatably arranged on the slide, wherein an axis which extends vertically towards the top side of the ski or extends at an angle of at most 5° towards the vertical line on the top side of the ski passes through the rotating part.

[0011] High levels of force generally act on the heel unit, which requires a stable design of certain components, in particular the bearing part is burdened. According to a corresponding advantageous embodiment, the rotating part includes two parts, specifically two circular disk-shaped parts which are firmly connected to each other by extending through an opening in the slide, wherein one part is rotatably mounted on a circular or partially circular extending guide notch on the top side of the slide, and the other part is rotatably mounted on such a guide notch on the underside of the slide.

[0012] In the case of a preferred alternative embodiment, a return spring acts between the rotating part and the slide, which return spring provides support for resetting the vertical release function group relative to the horizontal release function group, and the return spring is preferably a helical compression spring inserted into the area of the guide notch of the slide, the ends of which return spring respectively bear on the rotating part and the slide in the initial position of the heel unit.

[0013] Another particularly advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the slide on the base plate together with the vertical release function group can be deflected laterally along at least one circular arc path, the center point of each circular arc path being in the area of the toe unit of the ski binding.

[0014] As already mentioned, the lateral deflection of the slide is preferably against the force of the second spring assembly. The effective connection between the slide and the second spring assembly is now realized in a particularly compact and functionally reliable manner by inserting the second spring assembly of the horizontal release functional group into the base plate and supporting it at its end on a spring support, each spring support being caught on the outside by a bracket provided on the slide, such that in the case of a lateral deflection of the slide, one bracket carries one spring support therewith, thereby compressing the second spring arrangement, and the second spring support remains supported on the base part.

[0015] Advantageously, one spring support for adjusting the preload of the second spring assembly is arranged in an adjustable manner relative to the base plate by means of an adjusting screw.

[0016] The slide guide is designed in a special way with sections or section parts so as to be able to perform the first stage "lateral deflection" and the second stage "rotation" in a desired manner by means of a control element of a rotating part of the bearing part, which realizes the release. Preferably, the slide guide respectively includes a base section as an outer first section, which extends along a common circular arc path, wherein the center point of the circular arc path is located in the area of the toe unit of the ski binding, and the control element of the bearing part of the vertical release functional group abuts against this base section in the downhill position of the heel unit. As long as the control element moves along the base section in the case of a lateral acting force, the rotational movement of the bearing part and thus the rotational movement of the vertical release functional group are not yet possible.

[0017] The "rotation" stage is preferably made possible by other sections of the slide guide, namely by the release sections, each of which extends at an angle to the transverse direction and abuts against the base section, such that the control element of the vertical release functional group enters one of the release sections according to the direction of the lateral deflection, releasing the functional group to perform a rotational movement in the corresponding lateral release direction.

[0018] As described above, this rotational movement is limited; a particularly convenient and advantageous measure is that the stop elements respectively abut against the release sections on the inside in the direction towards the central longitudinal axis of the heel unit, and this stop section prevents the rotation from continuing by preventing the further movement of the control element, wherein, under the action of the second spring assembly or a further additional spring assembly, the horizontal release functional group is reset to the downhill position after the lateral release.

[0019] Therefore, the slide guide is preferably formed on a control cam member located on the top side of the base plate, and the control cam member is firmly connected to the base plate or is designed to be a single piece with the base plate. This measure also supports the compact design of the heel unit.

[0020] Preferably, the second spring assembly, together with the sliding guide and the control element, is designed in such a way that, in the case of the set reference measurements Ref 1.1 and Ref 1.5 according to ASTM F504, the following applies for the torque ratio C around the tibial axis:

[0021]

[0022] where, for C, depending on the DIN Z number set according to ISO 9462, the following applies: 0.8 ≤ C ≤ 1.5.

[0023] The invention also relates to a safety ski binding having a toe unit and a heel unit according to the invention, the ski binding being a ski binding designed as a downhill binding or a downhill and alpine touring combination binding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of the drawings, which show exemplary embodiments of the heel unit of a safety ski binding. The drawings illustrate:

[0025] Figure 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the heel unit according to the invention,

[0026] Figure 2 is a side view of the heel unit in the downhill position,

[0027] Figure 3 is a top view of the heel unit in the downhill position,

[0028] Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the heel unit along the cutting plane indicated by line IV-IV in Figure 3 ,

[0029] Figure 5 is a sectional view according to the cutting plane indicated by line V-V in Figure 2 ,

[0030] Figure 6 is a sectional view according to Figure 2 the section indicated by line VI-VI in

[0031] Figure 7 is a view of the top side of the base plate and the components of the longitudinal adjustment system,

[0032] Figure 8 is a view of the underside of the base plate,

[0033] Figure 9 is a view of the underside of the slide with other components of the heel unit,

[0034] Figure 10 is a longitudinal section through the heel unit that is released vertically and is similar to Figure 4 and passes through the heel unit.

[0035] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the heel unit in a certain position during a lateral release according to arrow P1.

[0036] Figure 12 and Figure 13 and are shown in sectional views similar to Figure 5 and Figure 6 to illustrate two consecutive stages during the lateral release.

[0037] The heel unit according to the present invention is an integral part of a safety snowboard binding, which has a second front retaining element, a toe unit, and the heel unit holds a ski boot inserted into the safety snowboard binding together with it. The safety snowboard binding can be a snowboard binding designed as a downhill / race binding or a combined downhill and alpine touring binding.

[0038] In the description and the patent claims, to explain the position of the components, reference is made to the heel unit mounted on the snowboard. Terms such as the "top side" or "bottom side", "forward" or "backward", "upper" or "lower" of the components refer to the orientation of the relevant components relative to the snowboard or the top of the snowboard, the longitudinal direction of the snowboard, the lateral direction, or the tip or end of the snowboard. The lateral direction is understood to be a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the snowboard; the lateral direction is the lateral direction or a direction slightly deviating from the lateral direction, for example, due to an arc shape. For the sake of clarity, the illustration of the snowboard is omitted.

[0039] Now, the main components of the heel unit and their mutual configuration will be explained in more detail based on Figures 1 to 9 The heel unit has a plurality of functional groups, and a plurality of components belong to these functional groups respectively, and three of these functional groups are described in more detail below, namely the vertical release functional group, the horizontal release functional group, and the longitudinal adjustment functional group. The vertical release functional group is operably connected to the horizontal release functional group, which will still be described.

[0040] The vertical release functional group includes a tensioning device having a two-part housing 2, the housing 2 having a first housing part 2a and a second housing part 2b. The first housing part 2a is provided with a sole retainer 5 and a tread spur 6, and in particular these two parts are designed as a single piece. The second housing part 2b acts in a reinforcing manner, includes a ski pole recess and together with the first housing part 2a houses a first spring assembly 7 (one or two helical compression springs), and is arranged or slid onto the first housing part 2a from above and is connected to the first housing part 2a via a bolt 9 and a snap element, the bolt 9 passing through a bearing part 10 which projects into the interior of the housing 2. The bearing part 10 consists of a rotating part 11 and a control part 12, the rotating part 11 being preferably oriented parallel to the top side of the ski, and the control part 12 projecting upward from this rotating part into the interior of the housing 2. The rotating part 11 includes two control elements 17 which project downward in the direction towards the top side of the ski and are located on the lower side, edge of the rotating part 11 and are positioned diametrically opposite to each other, and their function will be described below.

[0041] One end of the spring assembly 7 is supported inside the housing part 2a on a spring support 14 which can be adjusted relative to the housing part 2a by means of an adjusting screw 13, such that the preload of the spring assembly 7 can be adjusted in a known manner. The second end of the spring assembly 7 strikes a piston valve 15 which is sleeve-shaped such that the spring assembly 7 projects into the interior of the piston valve 15. The piston valve 15 is mounted in the housing 2 in a longitudinally displaceable manner and is supported on a control tip 8 which is formed on the outside of the control part 12 of the bearing part 10. Thus, the housing 2 can be pivoted towards the bearing part 10 via the bolt 9 against the force of the spring assembly 7, where the control tip 8 slides along a control cam 16 of the piston valve 15 under compression of the spring assembly 7. The control cam 16 is designed in such a way that in the case of a vertical release and in the case of any opening of the heel unit to disengage the binding, the housing 2 always pivots completely into the open position. Thus, the components of the vertical release functional group are responsible for the vertical release of the heel unit, as well as for any opening of the heel unit for leaving and entering the heel unit.

[0042] Shown in Figure 10 is the fully open position of the heel unit after vertical release or after arbitrarily opening the heel unit by depressing the housing 2.

[0043] The horizontal release functional group includes a slide 3 and a base plate 1 as main components. The base plate 1 is located firmly attached to a track or a binding plate of the ski (not shown); its position is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski by means of a longitudinal adjustment functional group. On the lower side of the base plate 1, usingFigure 1 and Figure 8 the guide element 25 shown, which ensures a high degree of low-friction guidance of the substrate 1 when firmly attached to a ski guide (not shown).

[0044] The slider 3 is substantially a plate-shaped part and is mounted on the substrate 1 parallel to the top side of the ski, which will still be described. The effective connection of the vertical release function group and the horizontal release function group is achieved by the slider 3, which includes a circular opening 3a( Figure 1 ). The rotating part 11 consists of two circular disk-shaped parts, which extend through the opening 3a in the slider 3 and are firmly connected to each other, with one part rotatably mounted on the guide notch 4( Figure 1 ), which extends circularly around the opening 3a on the top side of the slider 3; the other part is rotatably mounted on the guide notch 4( Figure 9 ), which extends circularly around on the lower side of the slider 3. In this way, the bearing part 10 and thus the vertical release function group can rotate relative to the slider 3 about the axis 1a, which passes through the center point of the rotating part 11 and extends vertically towards the top side of the ski. As will still be described, the degree of rotational movement is limited by the control element 17, which projects downward through the opening 3a into the area of the substrate 1. The connection of the two parts of the rotating part 11 is carried out in a force-locking, positive-locking, firmly bonded or frictionally engaged manner.

[0045] In Figure 1 the optional embodiment shown, the guide notch 4 includes a receiver 4a for a return spring 4b( Figure 1 , Figure 4 ), in the exemplary embodiment shown, the return spring 4b is a helical compression spring with a low level of preload, the ends of which are respectively supported on the rotating part 11 in the initial position of the heel unit( Figure 1 ), and one (half) is particularly supported on the slider 3 on the frame, here in the area of the guide notch 4. The return spring 4b can also be another type of spring (e.g., a leg spring), which provides support for the reset of the deflected vertical release function group through a corresponding component similar to a helical compression spring.

[0046] In particular, the second spring assembly 20, the slide rail element 18 for the slider 3 and the control cam member 29 are among the other components of the horizontal release function group. The substrate 1 includes a recess 19 extending in the transverse direction on its top side, and a spring assembly 20 composed of at least one spring (in particular a helical compression spring) is inserted into the recess. In particular, as Figure 1 in combination with Figure 5 andFigure 6 As shown, one end of the spring assembly 20 is supported on the spring support 21, which abuts against the substrate 1 in the region of one end of the recess 19. The second end of the spring assembly 20 is supported on an adjustable support structure, which includes a nut 22a having a pointer element 22b, where these two parts form the second spring support 22. The adjusting screw 23 (on which the nut 21 is screwed) allows the pre-compression of the spring assembly 20 to be set in a known manner and thus the release force to be set in the case of a lateral release, which will be described below. The adjusting screw 23 is provided with a circumferential collar 23a, which holds the sleeve 24, which is arranged on the substrate 1 at the second end of the recess 19 and receives the end of the adjusting screw 23, such that it is possible to adjust the spring preload from the outside.

[0047] One of the slide rail elements 18 extending in the transverse direction along the width of the substrate 1 is attached (e.g., by snap connection) at the front and rear ends of the substrate 1 ( Figure 7 ). The slide rail elements 18 are bent into an arc shape in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the heel unit, where the common center point of the arcs is in the region of the toe unit (not shown) of the ski binding, and the order of magnitude of the arc radius of the front slide rail element among the two slide rail elements 18 is approximately 305 mm (type A base test sole according to ISO 9838:2008, section 3.5); the arc of the rear slide rail element 18 is based on a circle having a radius that is approximately greater than the distance between the two slide rail elements 18. As Figure 9 shown, the slider 3 is pushed onto the two slide rail elements 18 (i.e., by the correspondingly designed slide rail guides 3b formed on the lower side of the slider). There is a certain clearance between each slide rail guide 3b and the associated slide rail element 18, where there is a larger clearance between the rear slide rail guide 3b and the associated slide rail element 18, where clamping or tilting of the slider 3 is avoided in the case of lateral movement. Thus, the slider 3 can be deflected laterally along the entire circular arc path towards the substrate 1 together with the vertical release functional group. This lateral deflection of the slider 3 is only possible against the force of the spring assembly 20 (i.e., compressing it), which will still be described in detail.

[0048] For example, as Figure 9 shown, the slider 3 includes a bracket 28 on each lateral longitudinal side between the slide rail guides 3b on its lower side towards the rear of the opening 3a. One bracket 28 contacts the spring support 21 of the spring assembly 20 from the outside, and the second bracket 28 contacts the sleeve 24 of the adjustable support structure from the outside.

[0049] The aforementioned control cam member 29 ( Figure 1 , Figure 6 andFigure 7 ) is an oblong component which is inserted in the transverse direction, extends towards the rear of the recess 19 and the spring assembly 20 on the top side of the substrate 1, and is firmly fixed in place. In an alternative embodiment, the control cam member 29 and the substrate are designed as a single piece. The control cam member 29 has a sliding guide 30 along its rear edge. According to Figure 6 and Figure 12 , the sliding guide 30 is designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the heel unit, and in a top view, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the sliding guide 30 includes two V-shaped sliding guide section parts 30a which are adjacent to each other at the middle, at the aforementioned longitudinal axis n, wherein the V-shaped tips point forward. Thus, looking from the outside towards the inside towards the longitudinal axis, each sliding guide section part 30a consists of a release section 30a1 and a second inner stop section 30a2. The release section 30a1 extends towards the transverse direction at an acute angle α of from 35° to 70°, and the second inner stop section 30a2 extends at an obtuse angle β ( Figure 12 ) up to here. A base section 30b extending in the direction of the side edge region of the substrate 1 abuts the release section 30a1, and the base section 30b extends along an arc-shaped path, wherein the center point of the circle of the arc-shaped path corresponds to the center point of the circle of the circular rail element 18 ( Figure 7 ). The control element 17 of the bearing part 10 of the vertical release function group is located on the base section 30b in the downhill position of the heel unit, for example as Figure 6 shown.

[0050] Figure 1 and Figure 8 Specifically show exemplary embodiments of the above longitudinal adjustment function group. This function group includes a rod 26 with teeth which is axially or radially connected to a control rod 27 in a force-locking, positively locking, firmly engaging or frictionally engaging manner. The control rod 27 projects above the heel unit at the rear side and can engage or disengage with the teeth on a guide rail (not shown) in a known manner. Two compression springs 32 are parallel to each other and are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and are supported on a support 31 provided on the control rod 27. The compression springs 32 accordingly support with their second ends on the lower side of the substrate 1.

[0051] The heel unit also includes a braking device function group not shown in detail, and the braking device function group has a ski brake (not shown) designed in a known manner. For example, in Figure 1In this case, only the ski brake housing 33 is shown from this functional group, which is connected to the base plate 1 and, where applicable, is also designed as a single piece with the base plate 1. The connection between the ski brake housing 33 and the base plate 1 can be established by snap connection in a force-locking or friction-locking manner.

[0052] Now, based on Figures 11 to 13 The release of the heel unit in the case of releasing a ski boot by a force acting in the lateral direction or by forces acting in the lateral and vertical directions will be described in more detail below. The initial position (which also corresponds to the downhill position), for example, in Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 is shown. Through Figure 12 and Figure 13 The basic movement sequence of the components involved in the lateral release can be best determined and explained by the cross-sectional views in. The first stage of the lateral release is as shown in Figure 12 . In the case where the force acting on the sole holder 5 of the vertical release functional group by the inserted ski boot in the direction of the arrow P1 in Figure 12 is relatively large, the sliding member 3 deflects laterally, where the spring assembly 20 is compressed by the lower bracket 28 of the sliding member 3 in Figure 12 . The vertical release functional group arranged on the sliding member 3 moves together with the sliding member 3. In this case, the control element 17 of the rotating part 11 starts to slide along the base section 30b of the sliding guide 30 according to the lateral release direction.

[0053] Figure 13 Each stage of the lateral release is shown, where the spring assembly 20 is further compressed by the sliding member 3 rotating further along the slide rail element 18 of the base plate 1, and Figure 13 the lower control element 17 has passed through the edge between the base section 30b and the release section 30a1 and, in the adjacent sliding guide section part 30a, reaches the V-shaped tip of the sliding guide section part and stops here. When the above-mentioned edge is exceeded, the rotating part 11 is released so as to perform a rotational movement along the direction of the arrow P2 in Figure 13 ; the ski boot is released. The spring assembly 20 is further compressed a little until the stop position is reached (the relevant control element 17 of the bearing part 10 stops at the stop section 30a2), and the continued rotational movement of the vertical release functional group is prevented. During the rotational movement of the rotating part 11, the relatively weak return spring 4b is also compressed or preloaded more. The components of the heel unit participating in this movement sequence are designed or matched with each other accordingly. Therefore, Figure 13Shows the final position of the lateral release. After the ski boot is released, under the action of the spring assembly 20, the slider 3 and accordingly the horizontal release functional group and the vertical release functional group are reset to the initial position. The return spring 4b provides support for the reset of the vertical release functional group relative to the horizontal release functional group.

[0054] Of course, the lateral release can be combined with the vertical release, depending on the torque and force exerted by the ski boot on the heel unit. In the case of vertical release, when the ski boot is reinserted, the heel unit or the vertical release functional group moves to the downhill position.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the heel unit described and shown. For example, the control element on the rotating part can be provided with a rotatable roller or consist of a rotatable roller. In addition, the vertical release functional group can rotate against the force of another spring assembly and is preferably reset under the action of this spring assembly.

[0056] List of reference numerals

[0057] 1: Substrate

[0058] 1A: Vertical axis

[0059] 2: Housing

[0060] 2a, 2b: Housing parts

[0061] 3: Slider

[0062] 3a: Opening

[0063] 3b: Slide rail guide

[0064] 4: Guide notch

[0065] 4a: Receiver

[0066] 4b: Return spring

[0067] 5: Sole retainer

[0068] 6: Sole convex wall

[0069] 7: Spring assembly

[0070] 8: Control tip

[0071] 9: Bolt

[0072] 10: Bearing part

[0073] 11: Rotating part

[0074] 12: Control part

[0075] 13: Adjusting screw

[0076] 14: Spring support

[0077] 15: Piston valve

[0078] 16: Control cam

[0079] 17: Control element

[0080] 18: Slide rail element

[0081] 19: Recess

[0082] 20: Spring assembly

[0083] 21: Spring support

[0084] 22: Spring support

[0085] 22a: Nut

[0086] 22b: Indicator element

[0087] 23: Adjusting screw

[0088] 23a: Collar

[0089] 24: Sleeve

[0090] 25: Guide element

[0091] 26: Rod

[0092] 27: Control rod

[0093] 28: Bracket

[0094] 29: Control cam member

[0095] 30: Slide guide

[0096] 30a: Slide guide section part

[0097] 30a1: Release section

[0098] 30a2: Stop section

[0099] 30b: Base section

[0100] 31: Support

[0101] 32: Compression spring

[0102] 33: Snowboard brake housing

[0103] α, β: Angles

[0104] P1, P2: Arrows

Claims

1. A heel unit for a downhill ski binding or a combined downhill and cross - country ski binding of a snowboard, the heel unit having a vertical release function group, also having a horizontal release function group, and having a compression spring assembly acting on the horizontal release function group. The vertical release function group has a tensioning device with a sole holder and a first spring assembly (7) for holding a ski boot in a downhill position. The horizontal release function group has a base plate (1) that can be positioned on the snowboard and a sliding member (3) that can be deflected laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of the snowboard against the force of a second spring assembly (20), and the vertical release function group is arranged on the sliding member (3). Characterized in that, the vertical release function group can rotate on the horizontal release function group about an axis (1a) that extends vertically towards the top side of the snowboard or extends at an angle of at most 5° relative to the vertical line on the top side of the snowboard, such that after the sliding member (3) is deflected laterally to a limited extent against the force of the second spring assembly (20), the vertical release function group rotates to release the ski boot in a corresponding lateral release direction. Wherein the vertical release function group includes a bearing part (10) rotatably mounted on the sliding member (3) of the horizontal release function group, and the tensioning device of the vertical release function group is rotatably mounted on the bearing part about a laterally extending axis.

2. The heel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that The vertical release function group can rotate against the force of the second spring assembly (20) or another spring assembly and can be reset under the action of this spring assembly.

3. The heel unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The horizontal release function group includes a sliding guide (30) that interacts with a control element (17) of the bearing part (10) such that the vertical release function group can rotate to a limited extent to release the ski boot in a corresponding lateral release direction.

4. The heel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bearing part (10) includes a rotating part (11) that is rotatably arranged on the sliding member (3), wherein the axis (1a) that extends vertically towards the top side of the snowboard or extends at an angle of at most 5° relative to the vertical line on the top side of the snowboard passes through the rotating part (11).

5. The heel unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The rotating part (11) consists of two disk - shaped parts that extend through an opening (3a) in the sliding member (3) and are firmly connected to each other, wherein one part is rotatably mounted on a circular or partially circular extending guide notch (4) on the top side of the sliding member (3), and the other part is rotatably mounted on such a guide notch on the lower side of the sliding member (3).

6. The heel unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, Between the rotary part (11) and the slide member (3), a return spring (4b) acts, which supports the resetting of the vertical release function group relative to the horizontal release function group, and the return spring is a helical compression spring inserted into the area of the guide notch (4) of the slide member (3), and the ends of the return spring are respectively supported on the rotary part (11) and the slide member (3) in the initial position of the heel unit.

7. The heel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide member (3) together with the vertical release function group on the substrate (1) can be laterally deflected along at least one circular arc path, wherein the center point of each circular arc path is located in the area of the toe unit of the ski binding.

8. The heel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second spring assembly (20) of the horizontal release function group is inserted in the lateral direction, extends into the substrate (1), and the ends of the second spring assembly (20) are supported on spring supports (21, 22), and each spring support is grasped by a bracket (28) provided on the slide member (3) on the outside, in such a way that in the case of the lateral deflection of the slide member (3), one bracket (28) carries one spring support (22), thereby compressing the second spring assembly (20), and the other spring support (21) remains supported on the substrate (1).

9. The heel unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The one spring support (22) for adjusting the preload of the second spring assembly (20) is arranged in an adjustable manner relative to the substrate (1) by an adjusting screw (23).

10. The heel unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The slide guide (30) respectively includes a base section (30b) as an outer first section, and the base section (30b) extends along a common circular arc path, wherein the center point of the circular arc path is in the area of the toe unit of the ski binding, and the control element (17) of the bearing part (10) of the vertical release function group is located on the base section (30b) in the downhill position of the heel unit.

11. The heel unit according to claim 10, characterized in that, The slide guide (30) respectively includes a release section (30a1) adjacent to the base section (30b), and each release section extends at an angle to the lateral direction, in such a way that the control element (17) of the vertical release function group entering one of the release sections (30a1) releases the function group to perform a rotational movement in the corresponding lateral release direction.

12. The heel unit according to claim 11, characterized in that, The stop section (30a2) respectively adjoins the release section (30a1) inwardly in the direction towards the central longitudinal axis, in such a way that the rotational movement of the vertical release function group is stopped, and the second spring assembly (20) or other additional spring assemblies reset the horizontal release function group to the downhill position after the lateral release.

13. The heel unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The slide guide (30) is formed on a control cam member (29), and the control cam member (29) is located on the top side of the substrate (1), firmly connected to the substrate (1), or is designed to be a single piece with the substrate (1).

14. The heel unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second spring assembly (20) together with the sliding guide (30) and the control element (17) is designed in such a way that, in the case of the set reference measurements Ref 1.1 and Ref 1.5 according to ASTM F504, the following applies for the torque ratio C about the tibia axis: wherein, for C, depending on the DIN Z number set according to ISO 9462, the following applies: 0.8 ≤ C ≤ 1.

5.

15. A safety ski binding having a toe unit and a heel unit according to any one or more of claims 1 to 14, the ski binding being a ski binding designed as a downhill binding or a ski binding designed as a combined downhill and alpine touring binding.

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