Heel unit with climbing aid and braking arrangement

Abstract

Heel unit (10) for a touring binding, comprising: a binding body (16) which is suitable for holding a heel section (18) of a touring boot (20) in a downhill position of the heel unit (10) and for releasing the heel section (18) of the touring boot in a touring position of the heel unit (10) so that the touring boot (20) can lift off the heel unit (10), a climbing aid (24) which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein in the touring position of the binding the climbing aid (24) in its active position supports a heel section (18) of the touring boot (20) at a predetermined height above a gliding board plane (E), and a brake arrangement (22) comprising a brake element (52) which is movable between a brake position for braking an associated sliding board and a driving position without braking the sliding board, and an actuating element (50) which is designed for actuation by a sole of the touring shoe (20), characterized in that, in the touring position of the heel unit (10), the climbing aid (24) is engaged in its active position with the brake arrangement (22) in order to hold the brake element (52) in the driving position, and that the climbing aid (24) comes into contact with the actuating element (50) of the brake assembly (22) in the braking position during its movement from the passive position to the active position and that the climbing aid (24) carries the brake assembly (22) with it as it continues its movement towards the active position and moves it into the driving position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a heel unit for a touring binding according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Touring bindings, in particular touring ski bindings but also bindings for splitboards or the like, have been known in the art for a long time and comprise a front unit on which a suitable touring boot or a frame holding the touring boot is pivotally held about a transverse axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the gliding board, and comprises a heel unit, in particular a heel unit of the type mentioned at the outset, with which a heel section of the touring boot can be held in the downhill position and released in the touring position.When climbing uphill, the touring binding is set to the touring position. On a gentle climb, the climbing aid can remain in the passive position, allowing the touring boot to descend relatively far towards the gliding board level. On a steeper climb, the climbing aid can be adjusted to the active position, positioned between the gliding board level and the heel section of the touring boot, and supporting the touring boot at a predetermined height above the gliding board level. The known heel unit further comprises a braking arrangement, which is required for the downhill position to prevent the free gliding board from sliding down in the event of a fall and decoupling of the boot from the gliding board (binding release). The basic functional principle of such a braking arrangement corresponds to that of the ski brake found on alpine bindings.

[0003] In the downhill position, the brake assembly is held in the riding position by the touring boot, which is held close to the gliding board plane, so that it exerts no braking effect. Since the touring boot lifts off the gliding board plane with each step in the touring position, the brake assembly must be locked in the riding position in the touring position. In the conventional heel unit, the brake assembly includes an additional locking element that moves with the brake element and which, when the binding body is moved from the downhill position to the touring position, is engaged by the binding body and held in a position corresponding to the riding position. In this way, the brake element is also locked in the riding position.

[0004] The known locking system has the disadvantage that it requires an additional locking element, which creates an engagement between the two elements, the brake assembly and the binding body, which are normally arranged at a distance from each other. Furthermore, this locking principle is limited to use with a specific adjustment mechanism of the binding body, in which the heel unit is adjusted between the touring position and the downhill position by rotating the binding body relative to the gliding board around a vertical axis of rotation.

[0005] In addition, both WO 2009 / 105 866 A1 and WO 2012 / 024 809 A each disclose a heel unit for a touring binding according to the preamble of claim 1. DE 10 2011 082 612 A1 and EP 0 199 098 A2 represent further prior art.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a heel unit of the type mentioned at the outset which enables the locking of the brake arrangement in the touring position with a structurally simple mechanism and which can be easily adapted for use with different types of binding bodies.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a heel unit for a touring binding according to claim 1.

[0008] According to an important feature of the present invention, the locking of the brake assembly in the riding position is not achieved by a special movement of the binding body or the use of a locking element that interacts with the rotational movement of the binding body, but rather by engagement between the climbing aid and the brake assembly. Since the brake assembly is usually arranged below the sole of the touring boot and at least parts of the climbing aid are naturally located in this area or are designed to move into this area, the inventive principle results in a structural simplification and, where appropriate, a weight reduction. In particular, additional components for overcoming a gap between the brake assembly and the binding body can be largely dispensed with.

[0009] In principle, the climbing aid could be attached to a suitable base body that is to be secured to the gliding board and could be movable between a passive position outside the influence of the touring boot and an active position to support the heel section of the touring boot. However, the preferred alternative is the provision of a climbing aid that is movably attached to the binding body between the active and passive positions, so that the climbing aid and binding body can share common attachment means, for example, a common base.

[0010] In particular, the idea is to mount the climbing aid on the binding body so that it can pivot about an axis running essentially parallel to the gliding board plane. The climbing aid can then be folded forward, for example, about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the gliding board's longitudinal axis into an active position to support the touring boot and backward into a passive position outside the touring boot's sphere of influence. Such movement of the climbing aid can be largely independent of any intended movement of the binding body between the touring position and the downhill position, or similar.

[0011] The climbing aid can be adjustable between a first passive position in which it is arranged outside the sphere of influence of the touring boot and releases the braking arrangement for movement into the braking position, a second passive position in which the climbing aid is also arranged outside the sphere of influence of the touring boot but is engaged with the braking arrangement to hold the braking element in the riding position, and an active position in which the climbing aid supports the heel section of the touring boot at the predetermined height above the gliding board plane and is also engaged with the braking arrangement to hold the braking element in the riding position.This embodiment allows the locking of the brake assembly in the riding position not only in the active position of the climbing aid, but also in the second passive position, in which the heel section of the touring boot can also be lowered below the predetermined height of the climbing aid (mode for flatter terrain).

[0012] Although the embodiment described above allows greater flexibility of the heel unit with regard to the level of support of the touring boot in the touring position, it requires a certain additional design effort to provide the second passive position, for example the provision of a locking element which is connected to the climbing aid and locks the brake arrangement in the riding position in the second passive position without the tread section of the climbing aid being arranged below the heel section of the touring boot.A comparatively simpler design, and thus particularly lightweight, is provided in that the climbing aid is engaged with the brake assembly in its active position to hold the braking element in the riding position, and is disengaged from the brake assembly in its passive position to release the braking element for movement into the braking position. This variant is suitable when the predetermined height of the climbing aid is relatively low and is thus also suitable for flatter terrain, since with this design, when the heel unit is in the touring position, the climbing aid is preferably always set to its active position to lock the braking assembly in the riding position.To still allow for the possibility of adjusting the heel unit for different terrain gradients, the described embodiment can preferably comprise at least one additional climbing aid, which is adjustable between an active and passive position and can support the touring boot in the active position at a height different from the height of the first-mentioned climbing aid. Furthermore, the climbing aid of this embodiment could itself be adjustable in terms of its height.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the brake assembly is pretensioned into the braking position by an elastic element and that the brake assembly has an actuating element which is coupled to the brake element in a movement-transmitting manner and is designed to be held down in the downhill position by a touring boot held on the binding body in order to hold the brake assembly in the riding position against the force of the elastic device, wherein the climbing aid can be brought into engagement with the actuating element in order to block a movement of the actuating element into the braking position.In this embodiment, the actuating element can have an advantageous dual function as an actuating element for actuation by the touring boot on the one hand and as a blocking element for engagement with the climbing aid to block the brake arrangement in the riding position on the other hand, so that the design effort can be reduced and the number of components can be reduced.

[0014] In the aforementioned embodiment, the actuating element and the climbing aid can be pivotally mounted about mutually parallel axes, in particular about pivot axes running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the gliding board. This allows the use of pivot bearings for the movable mounting of the climbing aid and actuating element, which are low-wear and operate essentially independently of external influences such as moisture, snow, and ice.

[0015] According to the invention, the climbing aid comes into contact with the actuating element of the brake assembly in the braking position during its movement from the passive position to the active position, and the climbing aid, as it continues moving toward the active position, carries the brake assembly with it and moves it into the riding position. The climbing aid is thus used not only to lock the brake assembly in the riding position, but also to move the brake assembly from the braking position to the riding position, particularly when adjusting the heel unit from the downhill position to the touring position. Operation of the heel unit is thus simplified.

[0016] A particularly simple way of locking the brake assembly in the driving position by engagement between the climbing aid and the actuating element is seen in the actuating element in the driving position and the climbing aid in the active position being canted or latched together in order to prevent the brake assembly from returning to the braking position. Canting can occur, in particular, without special additional engagement means or coupling means or the like, simply by suitable selection of the movement paths of the actuating element and the climbing aid. Latching can occur alternatively or additionally by providing at least one projection and / or at least one recess on one of the two elements consisting of the actuating element and the climbing aid.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the climbing aid is a first climbing aid which, in its active position, is designed to support a heel portion of a touring boot at a predetermined first height above the gliding board plane, and the heel unit comprises a second climbing aid which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein the second climbing aid, in its active position, supports a heel portion of the touring boot at a second height above the gliding board plane that is different from the first height. In this way, the height of the support of the touring boot in the touring position can be adapted to the incline of the terrain.In particular, the first climbing aid can provide support at a first height for relatively flat terrain, and the second climbing aid can provide support at a second height greater than the first height for steeper terrain. Likewise, if necessary, a third climbing aid or additional climbing aids with different support heights could be provided, and / or the heel unit could include at least one climbing aid whose predetermined height is adjustable.

[0018] In a heel unit equipped with at least two climbing aids, the second climbing aid preferably rests on the first climbing aid in its active position, so that it can provide a second height that is greater than the first height without the second climbing aid having to extend from the second height to a lower support point, for example, a base of the heel unit. The second climbing aid can thus be manufactured with a low overall height.

[0019] In principle, the binding body and the brake assembly can be attached separately to a gliding board. This also allows the use of conventional brake assemblies (e.g., a brake assembly of a conventional alpine binding), particularly in conjunction with the simple locking of the brake assembly by the climbing aid according to the invention. However, to ensure a precise relative position between the binding body and the brake assembly and to further reduce the effort required for fastening, it is preferred that the heel unit has a base configured for attachment to a gliding board, with the binding body and the brake assembly being attached to the common base.

[0020] The heel unit of the present invention can be advantageously used with a coupling system for touring ski bindings known per se, if the binding body has two coupling projections which, in the downhill position, project forward in the direction of a gliding board longitudinal axis and which are designed to engage in matching recesses on a heel portion of a touring boot.

[0021] The present invention is also applicable to so-called frame bindings, in which the touring boot is not pivotally mounted on a binding directly at its front section, but is held on a binding plate which is pivotally mounted on the touring binding and can be engaged on the heel unit. The term "heel section" of the touring boot, as used in the present disclosure, refers to the rear part of a boot or, in the case of a frame binding, the rear part of a frame or a binding plate. Since, in frame bindings, the binding plate is firmly connected to the actual boot body, such a binding plate can be considered part of the touring boot for the purposes of the present disclosure.

[0022] The present invention will be explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a side view of a heel unit according to the embodiment of the invention in a downhill position together with a touring ski boot, wherein the touring ski boot is detached from the heel unit, Fig. 2 a view of the heel unit in the downhill position according to Fig. 1, but in a state in which the touring ski boot is held at the heel unit, Fig. 3 a representation of the heel unit of the embodiment in a front view, Fig. 4 a side view of the heel unit of the embodiment in a first touring position, Fig. 5 a side view of the heel unit of the embodiment in a second touring position, and Fig. 6 a sectional view of the heel unit of the embodiment according to a section line VI-VI in Fig. 3, but for a tour position accordingly Fig. 4.

[0023] A heel unit 10 of the exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a base 14 to be fastened to a gliding board, in particular a touring ski 12, a binding body 16 which is designed to hold a heel section 18 of a touring ski boot 20 in a downhill position of the heel unit 10, a braking arrangement 22 which brakes the ski 12 in the downhill position when the boot 20 is decoupled from the heel unit 10, and a first climbing aid 24 which can be positioned below the heel section 18 of the boot 20 in the touring position of the heel unit 10 in order to support the heel section 18 at a predetermined height.

[0024] The base 14 has fastening means (not shown in the drawings) for attachment to the ski 12, for example, fastening holes for fixing by means of screws. The fastening means define a gliding board plane E, which corresponds to a surface of the ski 12 and is referred to as a horizontal plane in the context of the present disclosure. An X-direction of the coordinate system of the heel unit 10 runs parallel to the gliding board plane E in the direction of a gliding board longitudinal axis L (direction of travel). A Y-direction also runs parallel to the gliding board plane E, but points in a lateral direction, i.e., perpendicular to the X-direction. A Z-direction of the coordinate system of the heel unit 10 runs vertically upwards and thus perpendicular to both the X-direction and the Y-direction.

[0025] The binding body 16 is carried on the base 14 and comprises two coupling pins 261, 26r projecting in the X-direction, which are adapted to engage in a matching coupling recess 28 on a rear side of the heel portion 18 of the shoe 20 in order to Fig. 2, the heel section 18 is firmly coupled to the binding body 16.

[0026] Preferably, the coupling pins 26l, 26r are movably mounted on the binding body 16 to provide a release mechanism which, in the event of the action of a force exceeding a predetermined release force between the shoe 20 and the heel unit 10, ensures that the coupling between the shoe 20 and the binding body 16 is released. In the exemplary embodiment, the release mechanism operates according to the model of a type known from DE 10 2011 082 612 A1 and comprises a guide element 32 pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 30 extending in the Y direction, having a left guide slot 34l and a right guide slot 34r through which the left coupling pin 26l and the right coupling pin 26r, respectively, pass.The coupling pins 26l, 26r are pivotally mounted on bearing sections 36 on the binding body 16, so that the front ends 38 of the coupling pins 26l, 26r can move along a V-shaped path in a plane orthogonal to the X-direction, with the front ends 38 moving away from each other during an upward movement (upward in the Z-direction). The left and right guide slots 34l, 34r extend in a corresponding V-shape (. Fig. 3), so that they force the coupling pins 26l, 26r onto the corresponding V-shaped movement path. At the same time, during this V-shaped movement, radial projections 40l, 40r of the coupling pins 26l, 26r slide along guide surfaces 42l, 42r of the guide element 32, such that when the coupling pins 26l, 26r move obliquely outwards and upwards, the guide element 32 is moved in the reverse direction, i.e., is pivoted in the reverse direction about the pivot axis 30. This reverse movement of the guide element 32 occurs against the resistance of a tension spring 44, so that the movement of the coupling pins 26l, 26r outwards and upwards occurs against an elastic restoring force.

[0027] In the downhill position, the front ends 38 of the coupling pins 26l, 26r engage in associated locking recesses (not shown) in the coupling recess 28 of the touring ski boot 20. When a force exceeding a predetermined release force acts on the boot 20 in the Z direction, the boot 20 lifts the coupling pins 26l, 26r against the resistance of the tension spring 44. Corresponding to the guide links 34l, 34r, the distance between the coupling pins 26l, 26r increases, causing them to emerge from the locking recesses in the coupling recess 28 of the boot 20. Since the coupling recess 28 is open towards the sole 46 of the shoe 20, the coupling pins 26l, 26r can then slide downwards out of the coupling recess 28 after exiting the locking recesses, and the shoe 20 is consequently released from the binding body 16.If a front unit of the touring binding (not shown) also releases, the ski is completely separated from the boot 20.

[0028] It should also be noted that there is an entry actuating section 48 which is connected to the guide element 32 and has an inclined surface on which the heel section 18 of the shoe 20 can slide during a downward movement for entering the binding, in order to move the binding body in the backward direction against the force of a spring element 106 to be described in more detail, until the coupling pins 26l, 26r in the Fig. 2 enter the locking recesses of the coupling recess 28.

[0029] Alternatively, the binding body 16 and the release mechanism used can also be constructed according to the model of the type described in EP 199 098 A2 or use another suitable coupling principle or release principle.

[0030] The heel unit 10 of the exemplary embodiment of the invention can further comprise an Mz release mechanism, which releases the heel section 18 of the touring ski boot 20 in a lateral direction upon the action of a force acting transversely to the gliding board's longitudinal axis L (torque about the Z-axis). For this purpose, the binding body 16 can be held on a bearing arrangement 90 so as to be rotatable relative to the base 14 about an axis extending in the Z-direction. The bearing arrangement 90 can comprise a bearing pin 92, which is inserted into an associated recess 94 of the binding body 16 (see FIG. Fig. 6).

[0031] The pivot bearing of the binding body 16 on the bearing pin 92 is preferably preloaded into a normal position, in which the coupling pins 26l, 26r point forward in the X direction. To preload the binding body 16 into the normal position, a known Mz release mechanism can be provided, which is described, for example, in EP 0 199 098 A2. The details described in EP 0 199 098 A2 regarding the rotatable mounting of a binding body with coupling pins on a pin extending in the vertical direction, as well as the spring arrangement acting between these elements, are intended to be fully incorporated into the present disclosure by reference.For example, a cam surface 96 can be provided on the outer surface of the bearing pin 92, off which a cam follower 98 slides upon relative rotation between the binding body 16 and the bearing pin 92. The cam follower 98 is guided on the binding body 16 and is preloaded into contact with the cam surface 96 by the force of an Mz release spring 100. The Mz release spring 100 can be supported on the one hand by a preload adjustment element 102, which is attached to the binding body 16 in an adjustable position that is fixed during normal operation, and can be supported on the cam follower 98. The preload adjustment element 102 can be a screw, so that by adjusting the screw, the distance between the two support points of the Mz release spring 100 and thus the preload of the Mz release spring 100 can be adjusted.

[0032] The contour of the cam surface 96 is selected such that the binding body 16 is preloaded into the normal position, in which the coupling pins 26l, 26r point forward in the X direction. Furthermore, the cam surface 96 is shaped such that upon rotation of the binding body 16, the cam follower 98 is urged toward compressing the Mz release spring 100, thus counteracting the pivoting movement of the binding body 16 from the downhill position. If this force exceeds a predetermined Mz release force, for example if a heel section of the touring ski boot 20 is pressed in the lateral direction (Y direction) in the event of a fall or twisting of the skis, the force of the Mz release spring 100 is overcome and the binding body 16 rotates sideways together with the coupling pins 26l, 26r, so that the engagement of the touring ski boot is released.

[0033] The bearing assembly 90, with which the binding body 16 is mounted on the base 14, additionally comprises a spring bearing, which allows a spring movement of the binding body 16 and thus of the coupling pins 26l, 26r in the X direction. In the illustrated variant, the bearing pin 92 is provided on a carriage 104, which is held on the base 14 so that it can be displaced in the X direction and is preloaded in the forward direction (toward the ski boot 20) by the action of a spring element 106.

[0034] The carriage 104 can be guided by a rail guide. The forward movement of the carriage 104 in the X direction is preferably limited by a stop 107, which is held stationary with respect to the base 14 during normal operation. The carriage 104 can hit this stop 107 if no force acts on the binding body 16 in the X direction (e.g., when the touring ski boot 20 is decoupled). In the exemplary embodiment, the spring element 106 is accommodated in a recess 108 of the carriage 104 that is open towards the gliding board plane E, and its front end is supported on a front boundary wall of the recess 108, while the rear end of the spring element 106 rests against a spring bearing 110, which is held stationary with respect to the base 14 during operation and preferably also forms the stop 107.

[0035] Furthermore, the spring bearing 110 can be adjustable in its position relative to the base 14 in order to be able to adjust the unloaded position of the carriage 104 along the X-direction. For this purpose, the spring bearing 110 can be provided as a threaded nut through which a threaded screw 112 extending in the X-direction threadably engages. The threaded screw 112 can be mounted at its end remote from the spring bearing 110 on a bearing section 114 of the base 14 such that the screw 112 can rotate about its longitudinal axis but cannot move in the X-direction. To adjust the threaded screw 112, it can have a screw head 116 with a tool engagement section. The spring element 106 is preferably designed as a helical spring such that the threaded screw 112 passing through the spring bearing 110 can penetrate smoothly into the interior of the helical spring.

[0036] The above-described mounting of the binding body 16, which can be displaced in the X-direction under the action of the spring element 106, takes over the task of dynamically compensating for ski deflection when negotiating uneven ground during a valley descent in the downhill position, so that the binding body 16 can always be held in secure engagement and in close contact with the heel section 18 of the touring boot 20 during the descent.

[0037] The brake assembly 22 comprises an actuating element 50, which is designed for actuation by the sole 46 of the touring ski boot 20 and is movably mounted on the base 14. The actuating element 50 can be coupled in a manner known per se to a braking element 52, which in the Fig. 1 shown braking position is lowered below the ski 12 in order to engage with the ground in a braking manner, and which in Fig. 2, is arranged above a running surface 54 of the ski 12 to allow the ski 12 to slide. Preferably, a total of two braking elements 52 are located on laterally opposite sides of the ski 12, which move in unison with one another.

[0038] Preferably, the (at least one) braking element 52 is designed in a rod-shaped manner, so that it is adapted at one end for engagement with the ground, is pivotally coupled to the actuating element 50 at its opposite end, and is pivotally mounted on the carriage 104 in an intermediate section about a pivot axis 56 preferably extending in the Y direction.

[0039] The brake assembly 22 is biased toward the braking position by a brake spring 58. The brake spring 57 preferably acts between the carriage 104 and the actuating element 50. In the exemplary embodiment, the brake spring 57 is designed as a torsion spring whose axis of rotation 59 extends in the Y direction and is arranged on the carriage 104. One leg 58 of the brake spring 57 extends from the axis of rotation 59 to the actuating element 50 and is supported there, while a second leg (not shown) of the brake spring 57 is supported on the carriage 104.

[0040] The first climbing aid 24 can be pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 60 extending in the Y-direction, so that it can be folded back and forth. The pivot axis 60 is preferably arranged on the binding body 16. In a Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, which is suitable for the downhill position of the heel unit 10, the climbing aid 24 is arranged outside the pivoting range of the touring ski boot 20, so that the heel section 18 can be lowered without being hindered by the climbing aid 24 until the coupling pins 26l, 26r engage with the coupling recess 28. The first climbing aid 24 can be folded forward into an active position in a touring position of the heel unit 10, which in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The climbing aid 24 is then located below the heel section 18 of the touring ski boot 20 and provides a support surface 62 (tread section) at a predetermined height H1 above the gliding board plane E, on which the sole 46 of the boot 20 can rest. In the exemplary embodiment, the height H1 corresponds approximately to the height of the coupling pins 26l, 26r. The height H1 can alternatively be higher than the height of the coupling pins 26l, 26r.

[0041] In its active position, the climbing aid 24 of the exemplary embodiment engages with the brake assembly 22 to lock the brake assembly 22 in the driving position. For this purpose, the climbing aid 24 can have an engagement portion 64, which engages with an associated counter-engagement portion 66 of the actuating element 50 of the brake assembly 22. In particular, it can be seen in the drawings that the climbing aid 24 has a projection 68 on its engagement portion 64, which is designed to slide behind or under a rear edge portion 70 of the actuating element 50 in the active position of the climbing aid 24. The climbing aid 24 can thus be clamped or tilted behind the actuating element 50 in its active position, so that an upward and rearward pivoting movement of the actuating element 50 is blocked.

[0042] A canting between the first climbing aid 24 and the actuating element 50 is further assisted by the fact that the pivot axis 60 of the climbing aid 24 is arranged above the pivot axis 56 of the braking element 52 carrying the actuating element 50 and is also offset in the rearward direction. The essentially circular movement path of the actuating element 50 thus intersects the circular movement path of the engagement section 64 of the climbing aid 24 at a relatively large angle, so that in the locked position according to Fig. 4 the direction of the pressure force F, which is introduced into the climbing aid 24 by the actuating element 50 due to the tension of the brake spring 57, has no component in the direction of a rotation of the climbing aid 24 towards the passive position, but at most points towards the pivot axis 60 of the climbing aid 24.

[0043] The heel unit 10 further comprises a second climbing aid 72, which in an active position ( Fig. 5) can support the touring ski boot 20 at a second height H2 above the gliding board plane E, which is different from the height H1 of the first climbing aid 24. Preferably, the second climbing aid 72 is pivotally attached to the binding body, in particular to a pivot axis 74 running in the Y direction. In the present embodiment, both climbing aids 24, 72 can be held on the guide element 32.

[0044] The climbing aid 72 of the described embodiment can be moved backwards into a passive position ( Fig. 4) and can be moved forward into an active position ( Fig. 5). In the active position, the second climbing aid 72 can rest on the first climbing aid 24, in particular on the boot support surface 62 of the first climbing aid 24. In this way, an extension of the second climbing aid 72 measured in the Z direction in the active position can be significantly smaller than the height H2, in particular only correspond to the height difference H2-H1. Preferably, the pivot axis 74 of the second climbing aid 72 is also arranged above the pivot axis 60 of the first climbing aid 24. The second climbing aid 72 has, on its side facing upwards in the active position, a second boot support surface 76, on which the sole 46 of the touring ski boot 20 can rest.

[0045] On its side which comes into contact with the first climbing aid 24 in the active position, the second climbing aid 72 can further comprise a locking element 78, for example a locking projection, which can lock into a complementary counter-locking element (not shown) on the upper side of the first climbing aid 24 in order to lock the second climbing aid 72 in the active position and, for example, to prevent the second climbing aid 72 from lifting off the first climbing aid 24 when the shoe 20 is lifted off if snow or moisture adheres to the sole 46.

[0046] The following describes the functionality of the heel unit of the embodiment in more detail.

[0047] In a downhill position according to Fig. 2, the heel portion 18 of the touring ski boot 20 is held by the coupling pins 26l, 26r, and the sole 46 presses the actuating element 50 downward against the force of the brake spring 57, so that the brake element 52 is held in the riding position. In this state, the binding is ready for a normal descent. In the event of a fall, the movably held coupling pins 26l, 26r release the heel portion 18 of the boot 20 upward against the force of the tension spring 44, whereupon the brake assembly 22 is adjusted to the braking position by the force of the brake spring 57 ( Fig. 1). The ski 12, which may then also be detached from the boot 20 at the front unit, is braked and cannot slide down the mountain independently.

[0048] To adjust the heel unit 10 to the touring position, the binding body 16 is manually adjusted so that the coupling pins 26l, 26r release the heel section 18 of the touring ski boot 20. The binding body 16 used in the exemplary embodiment can be actuated for this purpose, for example, using a ski pole to displace the binding body backward against the force of the spring element 106, so that the coupling pins 26l, 26r are moved back sufficiently far so that the heel section 18 can be released from engagement with the binding body 16.

[0049] The heel section 18 is then pivoted upwards far enough that the first climbing aid 24 can be moved forward from its passive position toward the active position. In this way, a driving surface 80 of the climbing aid 24 strikes the actuating element 50 of the braking arrangement 22, which has been adjusted to its upper position. Upon further pivoting movement of the climbing aid 24 toward the active position, the first climbing aid 24 then takes the actuating element 50 with it, with the driving surface 80 of the climbing aid 24 sliding along the rear edge section 70 of the actuating element 50. The driving surface 80 merges into the engagement section 64 of the climbing aid 24, in particular the projection 68, so that upon reaching the active position, the rear edge section 70 engages the engagement section 64, in particular the projection 68 of the climbing aid 24 slides behind or below the rear edge section 70.As a result, the brake assembly 22 has reached its driving position and the first climbing aid 24 has reached its active position and the brake assembly 22 and the first climbing aid 24 are locked together.

[0050] In this position, the heel unit 10 can be used for climbing on flatter terrain, with the first climbing aid 24 supporting the heel section 18 of the shoe 20 at a relatively low height H1. For use on a steeper climb, the second climbing aid 72 can also be folded forward to support the shoe 20 at the higher height H2.

[0051] To return the heel unit 10 to the downhill position, the second climbing aid 72 is folded back into the passive position if necessary, and then a downward pressure force is exerted on the actuating element 50. A slight amount of play in the brake assembly 22 in the downhill position allows the actuating element 50 to be moved slightly downward against the force of the brake spring 57, far enough to release the engagement between the engagement portion 64 of the climbing aid 24 and the counter-engagement portion 66 of the actuating element 50, so that the climbing aid 24 can be folded back into the passive position. The pressure force on the actuating element 50 can then be released, so that the brake assembly 22 returns to the braking position.

[0052] It should also be noted that in the present embodiment, the binding body 16 can have a relatively simple and stable structure, since no special adjustment mechanism is required to position the coupling pins 26l, 26r outside the pivoting range of the touring ski boot 20 in the touring position. Instead, in the touring position, the first climbing aid 24 is always moved into its active position and ensures that the sole 46 of the boot 20 is always supported above, but at most at the level of, the coupling pins 26l, 26r.

Claims

[1] Heel unit (10) for a touring binding, comprising: a binding body (16) which is suitable for holding a heel section (18) of a touring boot (20) in a downhill position of the heel unit (10) and for releasing the heel section (18) of the touring boot in a touring position of the heel unit (10) so that the touring boot (20) can lift off the heel unit (10), a climbing aid (24) which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein in the touring position of the binding the climbing aid (24) in its active position supports a heel section (18) of the touring boot (20) at a predetermined height above a gliding board plane (E), and a brake arrangement (22) with a brake element (52) which is movable between a braking position for braking an associated gliding board and a driving position without braking the gliding board, and an actuating element (50) which is designed to be actuated by a sole of the touring boot (20), characterized by that in the touring position of the heel unit (10), the climbing aid (24) is engaged in its active position with the brake arrangement (22) in order to hold the brake element (52) in the driving position, and that the climbing aid (24) comes into contact with the actuating element (50) of the brake arrangement (22) placed in the braking position during its movement from the passive position to the active position, and that the climbing aid (24) takes the braking arrangement (22) with it and moves it into the driving position during its continued movement towards the active position. [2] Heel unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the climbing aid (24) is movably attached to the binding body (16) between the active and passive positions. [3] Heel unit (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by that the climbing aid (24) is pivotally mounted on the binding body (16) about an axis running substantially parallel to the gliding board plane (E). [4] Heel unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the climbing aid (24) is engaged with the braking arrangement (22) in its active position in order to hold the braking element (52) in the driving position, and is disengaged from the braking arrangement (22) in its passive position in order to release the braking element (52) for movement into the braking position. [5] Heel unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the brake arrangement (22) is pretensioned into the braking position by an elastic element (57) and in that the brake arrangement (22) has an actuating element (50) which is coupled to the brake element (52) in a movement-transmitting manner and is designed to be held down in the downhill position by a touring boot (20) held on the binding body (16) in order to hold the brake arrangement (22) in the riding position against the force of the elastic device (57), wherein the climbing aid (24) can be brought into engagement with the actuating element (50) in order to block a movement of the actuating element (50) into the braking position. [6] Heel unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that the actuating element (50) and the climbing aid (24) are pivotally mounted about mutually parallel axes. [7] Heel unit (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized bythat the climbing aid (24) comes into contact with the actuating element (50) of the brake arrangement (22) in the braking position during its movement from the passive position to the active position, and that the climbing aid (24) takes the brake arrangement (22) with it and moves it into the driving position during continued movement towards the active position. [8] Heel unit (10) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by that the actuating element (50) placed in the driving position and the climbing aid (24) placed in the active position cant or lock together in order to block a return of the braking arrangement (22) to the braking position. [9] Heel unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the climbing aid (24) is a first climbing aid (24) which, in its active position, is designed to support a heel section (18) of a touring boot (20) at a predetermined first height above the gliding board plane (E), that the heel unit (10) comprises a second climbing aid (72) which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein the second climbing aid (72), in its active position, supports a heel section (18) of the touring boot (20) at a second height above the gliding board plane (E) which is different from the first height. [10] Heel unit (10) according to claim 9, characterized by that the second climbing aid (72) in its active position is supported on the first climbing aid (24). [11] Heel unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bya base (14) adapted for attachment to a gliding board, wherein the binding body (16) and the brake assembly (22) are attached to the base (14). [12] Heel unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the binding body (16) has two coupling projections (26l, 26r) which, in the downhill position, project forward in the direction of a gliding board longitudinal axis (L) and which are designed to engage in matching recesses on a heel section (18) of the touring boot (20).

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