ADJUSTABLE FOREJECTION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a toe piece of a ski binding comprising a housing, a first sole holder connected to the housing by a first pivot joint, a second sole holder connected to the housing by a second pivot joint, and a clamping device that clamps the first sole holder and the second sole holder towards each other. The first sole holder has an inner first side wall, and the second sole holder has an inner second side wall. The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall face each other with a clear horizontal distance. The toe piece further comprises an adjustment device for adjusting the horizontal distance between the facing inner side walls.

[0002] As the trend towards ski rentals continues, it is in the interest of rental companies to provide ski bindings suitable for various types of ski boots. Ski bindings compatible with different types of ski boots are also in demand among users who ski both off-piste and downhill, so-called freeriders. Common types of ski boots include the so-called "ski boots for piste skiing" according to DIN ISO 5355, whose specifications are regulated for both adult ski boots (Type A) and children's ski boots (Type C). DIN ISO 9523 further regulates "touring ski boots for adults." The newly added standard DIN ISO 23223 specifies "alpine ski boots with improved outsoles (commercially known as "GripWalk" soles). DIN ISO 23223 also distinguishes between adult (Type A) and children's ski boots (Type C).To ensure the greatest possible compatibility between ski bindings and standardized ski boot types, manufacturers employ various adjustment systems. This means, for example, that the toe piece of a ski binding is designed so that it can accommodate either a ski boot conforming to DIN ISO 9523 for ski touring or a ski boot conforming to DIN ISO 5355 for downhill skiing. This can be achieved by adjusting the height of a contact plate for the underside of the ski boot sole or by adjusting the height of the toe piece itself. Most toe pieces, when the contact plate is positioned for ski boots conforming to DIN ISO 5355, also achieve compatibility with ski boots conforming to DIN ISO 23223 through a special design of the contact plate.

[0003] Experts are therefore constantly searching for solutions to adapt a binding to as many different types of ski boots as possible, in order to serve both the rental market and the market for less specialized users. Numerous examples of ski binding toe pieces exist in the prior art, featuring height-adjustable contact plates for the front end of the ski boot sole, allowing the use of ski boot soles of varying thicknesses in the same binding. Such a toe piece is known, for example, from AT 517430 A1.

[0004] DE 10 2012 217 867 B3 relates to a toe piece of a ski binding in which a retaining device for the front end of a ski boot sole can be locked into a base plate in two positions, in a first position for a ski boot with an alpine sole and in a second position for a ski boot with a touring sole.

[0005] US Patent 3,194,574 A discloses an adjustable toe piece of a safety binding for a ski, in which the distance between the free ends of the sole holders can be adjusted by means of adjusting screws. AT 515,264 B1 relates to a safety ski binding with a vertically adjustable toe piece. Another toe piece of a ski binding is disclosed in US Patent 4,155,569 A.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a toe piece for a ski binding that can be easily adjusted to accommodate ski boots with different ski boot soles. The invention further relates to a ski binding with such a toe piece. This object is achieved by claim 1.

[0007] One aspect of the invention relates to a toe piece for a ski binding, such as an alpine binding, a touring binding, or a freeride binding. The toe piece can be connected directly or via a base to the ski, or arranged together with a heel piece on a plate or frame. The toe piece comprises a housing, a first sole holder connected to the housing by a first pivot joint, a second sole holder connected to the housing by a second pivot joint, and a clamping device that clamps the first sole holder and the second sole holder together.

[0008] The first sole holder has an inner first side wall, and the second sole holder has an inner second side wall. The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall face each other with a clear horizontal gap.

[0009] The front jaw also includes an adjustment device for adjusting the horizontal distance between the inner side walls facing each other.

[0010] The first sole holder of the front jaw can comprise a sole holder housing and a sole holding element with the first inner side wall. The second sole holder of the front jaw can comprise a sole holder housing and a sole holding element with the second inner side wall.

[0011] The sole retaining element of the first or second sole holder can be mounted in the sole holder housing of the respective sole holder. Preferably, the sole retaining element can be moved within or relative to the sole holder housing from a first position, in which the opposing inner side walls, or the opposing outer top surfaces, have a first clear horizontal distance, to a second position, in which the opposing inner side walls, or the opposing outer top surfaces, have a second clear horizontal distance. This distance is defined as the distance between any point on the first inner side wall and a point on the second inner side wall that is mirrored with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the front jaw.The distance between different pairs of points defined by the reflection can vary. The sole retaining element is mounted in the sole retainer housing in such a way that when the horizontal distance between the side walls is adjusted, the sole retaining element performs a linear and / or rotational movement relative to the sole retainer housing.

[0012] The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall preferably have a contoured surface. The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall may be curved in certain areas, include indentations, for example at the edge or at a corner, or be shaped in some other way.

[0013] The first inner side wall and the second inner side wall are preferably mirror images of each other with respect to a mirror plane with a mirror axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the front jaw.

[0014] The adjustment device may include a locking mechanism that locks the first sole holder or first inner side wall and the second sole holder or second inner sole wall into a first locking position at the first distance and / or into at least a second locking position at the second distance.

[0015] The adjusting device may, for example, comprise at least one thread, a threaded element such as a nut, or a through hole formed or arranged in the sole holder housing and / or the sole retaining element, into which a screw body can be screwed or a cotter pin can be inserted to adjust and / or fix the clear horizontal distance between the first sole holder or the first inner side wall and the second sole holder or the second inner side wall.

[0016] The adjustment device can be a shaft, with a shaft head forming a first or upper end of the shaft facing away from the ski surface, and a shaft foot forming a second or lower end of the shaft facing the ski surface, and an eccentric section arranged between the shaft head and the shaft foot.

[0017] The wave head and wave foot can be rotatably mounted in the first and second sole holders or the corresponding sole holder housing. The eccentric section is arranged in a through-opening formed in the sole holder element, which is essentially vertical, i.e., orthogonal to the ski surface.

[0018] The adjusting device, designed as a shaft, can be adjusted or rotated from a rest position, in which the sole retaining element is in the first position or 0° position, by substantially 180°, preferably by more than 180°, in order to move the sole retaining element into the second position or 180° position. The adjusting device can act as a toggle lever or in a toggle-lever-like manner, so that when the adjusting device is moved or the shaft is rotated about the shaft axis by more than 180°, a locking effect of the adjusting device in the second position is achieved by overextension.

[0019] To secure the adjusting device or to provide additional security in the overextension position, a locking mechanism for the shaft, particularly by frictional and / or positive locking, can be provided at least in the second position. For example, the shaft head can include a detent element such as a detent lug or detent notch that engages with a counter-detent element formed in or on the sole holder housing when the adjusting device or shaft is in the second position.

[0020] According to the invention, the adjustable device allows the clear horizontal distance between the facing inner side walls to be changed from a first clear horizontal distance of 69 ± 2 mm to a second clear horizontal distance of 62 ± 2 mm. The first distance of 69 ± 2 mm corresponds to the value specified in DIN ISO 5355 (May 2020) or DIN ISO 23223 (July 2020) for the width of the toe end of a ski boot sole for an adult ski boot (Type A). A touring ski boot according to DIN ISO 9523 can also be accommodated in this configuration. The second distance of 62 ± 2 mm corresponds to the value specified in DIN ISO 5355 (May 2020) or DIN ISO 23223 (July 2020) for the width of the toe end of a ski boot sole for children's ski boots (Type C).

[0021] This means that the aforementioned toe piece is flexibly adjustable. The ski binding can, in effect, "grow" with the user, from children's ski boots to adult ski boots. This is particularly advantageous not only for private use but also for rental skis, as a ski with such an adjustable toe piece can be rented in one configuration for children and in a second configuration for adults. The adjustment can be made quickly, safely, and easily by service personnel in front of the customer.

[0022] According to the aforementioned standard, ski boots for adults and children not only have different widths at the front of the boot sole, but also different distances between the top of the front of the boot sole and the contact area of ​​the boot in the toe box. DIN ISO 5333 and DIN ISO 23223 (Type A) for adults specify a vertical distance of 19 ± 1 mm between the top of the front of the boot sole and the contact area of ​​the boot, while for children's boots (DIN ISO 5355 and DIN ISO 23223 Type C) the distance is 16.5 ± 1.5 mm. Touring ski boots according to DIN ISO 9523 require a larger vertical distance, which differs from the dimensions mentioned above, but this is not specified by the standard.

[0023] The toe piece can therefore further include a contact surface for the front end of a ski boot sole held in the toe piece. The contact surface can be vertically adjustable or height-adjustable. For example, the contact surface can be a contact plate that can be moved relative to the toe piece housing in and against the skiing direction on a ramp. By moving the contact plate, the distance of the upper surface of the contact plate facing away from the top of the ski is changed vertically, i.e., increased or decreased. Preferably, the contact plate can have a first position for ski boots according to DIN ISO 5333 or DIN 5333.The base plate can assume two positions: DIN ISO 23223 Type A, in which the vertical distance between the underside of the ski boot sole resting on the base plate and a free upper surface of the front end of the ski boot sole is 19 ± 1 mm; and a second position, for ski boots according to DIN ISO 5333 or DIN ISO 23223 Type C, in which the vertical distance between the underside of the ski boot sole resting on the base plate and a free upper surface of the front end of the ski boot sole is 16.5 ± 1.5 mm. Furthermore, the base plate can assume a third position for ski boots according to DIN ISO 9523, the position of which differs from the two previously mentioned positions.

[0024] The sole retaining element can be a molded part made of a plastic or a light metal such as aluminum. The molded part can be machined from a block of material or manufactured using, for example, injection molding, sintering, or another rapid prototyping method such as 3D printing.

[0025] The sole retention element may comprise a guide section, the inner sidewall connected to the guide section, and a wall section projecting substantially orthogonally inward from the vertical upper end of the inner sidewall furthest from the ski top. The guide section engages, for example, with the sole retention housing and is guided in engagement with it. When a ski boot is held in the toe piece, the inner sidewall rests laterally against a front end of the ski boot sole, and the orthogonally projecting wall section covers and / or rests upon a portion of the free upper surface of the front end of the ski boot sole.

[0026] A second aspect concerns a ski binding with a toe piece and a heel piece as described above, and optionally a ski brake. The toe and heel pieces can be connected directly to a ski or via a base, or they can be connected to a frame or plate that can be attached to a ski.

[0027] Another aspect concerns a ski with a ski binding as described in the second aspect. If the ski binding includes the frame or plate, this can be connected to the ski at its front end, facing the ski tip, via a pivot joint with a pivot axis that is essentially perpendicular to the ski's longitudinal axis. This allows the frame or plate to pivot relative to the ski along this axis, for example, during touring while ascending. The rear end of the frame or plate can be detachably locked to the ski, so that when the lock is released, the frame / plate can lift off the ski surface (touring, ascent), and when locked, it is firmly connected to the ski surface (descent, alpine skiing).

[0028] For the sake of simplicity, ski boots according to DIN ISO 5355 Type A, ski boots according to DIN ISO 23223 Type A, and touring ski boots according to DIN ISO 9523 will be collectively referred to as "adult ski boots." Ski boots according to DIN ISO 5355 Type C and ski boots according to DIN ISO 23223 Type C will be referred to as "children's ski boots."

[0029] It goes without saying that the terms "children's ski boot" and "adult ski boot" are not limited to ski boots conforming to the aforementioned relevant standards, but also include ski boots whose specifications are comparable to those of the relevant standards. These specifications include, in particular, the width of the front end of the ski boot sole and the vertical distance between the top of the front end of the ski boot sole and the contact surface for the ski boot.

[0030] Another aspect concerns a method for adjusting a toe piece with a first sole holder and a second sole holder from a first configuration, in which the toe piece can accommodate an adult ski boot, to a second configuration, in which the toe piece can accommodate a child's ski boot. To adjust the second configuration, a tool is used to move a sole holder element, movably mounted in a first sole holder housing, out of the first sole holder housing in the direction of the ski's longitudinal axis. Using the same tool, a sole holder element, movably mounted in the second sole holder housing, is also moved out in the direction of the ski's longitudinal axis. A contact plate for the front of the ski boot sole is then adjusted vertically for the second configuration. The same procedure applies, mutatis mutandis, to adjusting the toe piece from the second configuration to the first.

[0031] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of a previously described front jaw is explained in more detail with reference to the figures. The figures show, in detail: Figure 1: Toe piece from below with adult ski boot. Figure 2: Section AA through the sole holder of the toe piece. Figure 1 Figure 3: Toe piece from below with child's ski boot. Figure 4: Perspective view of the toe piece of the Figure 3 Figure 5: Front cheeks of the Figure 3 Figure 6 (view from below): Horizontal and vertical section through the sole holder of the front jaw. Figure 3Figure 7: Toe piece with first alternative securing of the sole retaining element in the sole holder housing in three sketches. Figure 8: Toe piece with second alternative securing of the sole retaining element in the sole holder housing in three sketches. Figure 9: Sole holder housing in two views. Figure 10: Sole retaining element in two views. Figure 11: Adjustment device in two views. Figure 12: Ski binding with toe and heel pieces mounted on a frame / plate.

[0032] The Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a bottom view of an adult ski boot 100 held in the toe piece 1 of a ski binding. The toe piece 1 has a housing 11, a first sole holder 2, and a second sole holder 3. The first sole holder 2 and the second sole holder 3 are clamped together by a clamping device 7 to hold the ski boot 100 and its front end, respectively. The clamping device 7 is in the form of a spring.

[0033] The first sole holder 2 is connected to the housing 11 by a first pivot joint 21. A pivot axis of the first pivot joint 21 runs essentially orthogonal to a surface of a ski (not shown) to which the toe piece 1 can be connected. The second sole holder 3 is connected to the housing 11 by a second pivot joint 31. A pivot axis of the second pivot joint 31 runs essentially parallel to the pivot axis of the first pivot joint 21.

[0034] The first sole holder 2 comprises a first inner side wall 22 ( Figure 2 ), which rests against an outer side of the ski boot sole 101 of the ski boot 100 when the ski boot 100 is held in the toe piece 1. The second sole holder 3 comprises a second inner side wall 32 ( Figure 4), which rests against an outer side of the ski boot sole 101 of the ski boot 100 when the ski boot 100 is held in the toe piece 1. The first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 face each other with a first clear horizontal distance A1, wherein the horizontal distance A1 preferably corresponds to a dimension of an international standard for adult ski boots (e.g. DIN ISO 5355 of May 2020: 69±2 mm).

[0035] The first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 can be adjusted from a first position, which the Figure 1 shows, in a second position (see Figure 3 ) can be adjusted.

[0036] In the position shown, the toe piece 1 has a first configuration in which the sole holder 1 can accommodate an adult ski boot 100.

[0037] The Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the first sole holder 2, exactly one section along AA from Figure 1 through the first sole holder 2 in the area of ​​the adjustment device 6. The sole holder 2 of the illustrated embodiment comprises a sole holder housing 25 and a sole holding element 26 with the first inner side wall 22.

[0038] Shown are the housing 11 of the front jaw 1, the sole holder housing 25, the sole retaining element 26 with the first inner side wall 22 and the adjusting device 6 in the first position, in which a rear side of the first inner side wall 22 rests against the sole holder housing 25.

[0039] The sole retaining element 26 engages with a guide section 27 ( Figure 10 ) into an opening 29 ( Figure 9) of the sole holder housing 25. The guide section 27 is connected to or formed together with the first inner side wall 22. That is, when the guide section 27 is moved, the first inner side wall 22 moves at the same speed in the same direction. The sole retaining element 26 is guided by the guide section 27 such that it performs a linear movement and / or a rotational movement relative to the sole holder housing 25 when changing between the two positions.

[0040] The adjusting device 6 is a shaft body with a shaft head 61 and a shaft foot 62, which are rotatably mounted in the sole holder housing 25 about a common axis of rotation D. The shaft head 61 has a engagement for a tool, and the shaft foot 62 is secured in the sole holder housing 25 by a rivet in the exemplary embodiment.

[0041] Between the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62, the adjusting device 6 forms an eccentric section 63 with a rotation axis D1 that is horizontally offset from the common rotation axis D of the shaft head 61 and shaft foot 62. The rotation axes D and D1 run parallel to each other.

[0042] The Figure 3 shows the sole holder 1 of the Figure 1 with a child's ski boot 200 held inside. In contrast to the sole holder 1 of the Figure 1 The first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 now have a distance A2 from each other that is smaller than the distance A1. Preferably, the second horizontal distance A2 corresponds to a dimension for the children's ski boot 200, in particular to the dimension of an international standard for ski boots of type C (e.g. DIN ISO 5355 of May 2020: 62±2 mm). In the Figure 3The first inner side wall 22 rests against one side of a ski boot sole 201 of the child's ski boot 200, the second inner side wall 32 rests against an opposite side of the ski boot sole 201 of the child's ski boot 200 in order to connect the child's ski boot 200 to a ski not shown during alpine skiing and / or ski touring.

[0043] In the Figure 4 The sole holder 1 is shown in a perspective view, with the reference symbols identical to the reference symbols of the Figure 1 and the Figure 2 are.

[0044] Figure 1 and Figure 4differ only in that the sole retaining element 26 with the first inner side wall 22 relative to the sole retaining housing 25 and the sole retaining element 36 with the second inner side wall 32 relative to the sole retaining housing 35 were moved by means of the respective adjusting device 6 from the first position, in which the mutually facing inner side walls 22, 32 have the clear horizontal distance A1 to each other, to a second position, in which the mutually facing inner side walls 22, 32 have the clear distance A2 to each other.

[0045] The sole retaining element 26 and the sole retaining element 36 have reinforcing ribs 40 on their upper surface facing away from a ski surface (not shown). These ribs reinforce, in particular, a wall section 28, 38 projecting orthogonally inwards from the first and second inner side walls 22, 32, respectively. The reinforcing ribs 40 can also form guide elements that are guided in, for example, groove-shaped guides 23, 33 in the sole retainer housing 26, 36.

[0046] To set the second position, the adjusting device 9 was rotated by at least 180° using a tool. The shaft head 61 includes an indicator in the form of an arrow, the tip of which is in the Figure 4The marking points to a mark encompassed by the sole holder housing 25. This mark is "GC" for "Child," which, when rotated 180°, indicates that the sole holder 1 is configured to accommodate only children's ski boots 200. Opposite the "C" mark is a second mark, "A," which stands for "Adult." With the arrow pointing towards the "A" at 0°, this mark indicates to the user that the sole holder 1, in this configuration, can only securely connect adult ski boots 100 to a ski.

[0047] The shaft head 61 of the adjusting device 6 comprises a nose 64 which, together with detent elements 24 formed on the sole holder housing 25, 35, Figure 9) the adjusting device 6 can be fixed in at least one end position. Preferably, the adjusting device 6 is latched in the second position so that the first inner side wall 22 and the second inner side wall 32 are not moved from the second position to the first position during an alpine descent or during an ascent when high lateral forces occur.

[0048] The Figure 5 This is a view from a low angle of toe holder 1 of the Figure 4 . The Figure 4 The figure shows more clearly the wall section 28 of the first inner side wall 22 and the wall section 38 of the second inner side wall 32. With the ski boot 100, 200 held in the toe piece, the wall sections 28, 38 rest on a free surface of the ski boot sole 101, 201 facing away from the ski surface in order to secure the ski boot 100, 200 in the toe piece 1.

[0049] The Figure 6 shows two sectional views of the sole holder 2.

[0050] The Figure 6.1 shows a horizontal section through the sole holder 2 with an opening 20 ( Figure 9 ), which forms part of the pivot joint 21 in which the sole holder 2 is connected to the housing 11, the sole holder housing 25, the sole retaining element 26 with the first inner side wall 22, and the adjusting device 6.

[0051] The sole retaining element 26 has an elongated hole 50 in the guide section 27, which extends essentially parallel to a central longitudinal axis L of the front jaw 1.

[0052] The elongated hole 50 is a through-hole in which only the eccentric section 63 of the adjusting device 6 is mounted. Its width perpendicular to the length of the elongated hole 50 essentially corresponds to the diameter of the adjusting device 6 in the area of ​​the eccentric section 63.

[0053] The Figure 6.2Figure 1 shows a vertical section through the sole holder 2 with the sole retaining element 26 in the second position. The adjusting device 6 is rotatably mounted with the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62 in a substantially vertical through-opening 60, which is oriented transversely to the substantially horizontal opening 29 that receives the guide section 27. In the exemplary embodiment, the through-opening 60 has two circular sections of different diameters, the two sections sharing the common axis of rotation D, which is offset horizontally from the axis of rotation D1 of the eccentric section 63 and runs parallel to the axis of rotation D1. The eccentric section 63 rests with its lower end, facing a ski surface and projecting radially beyond the shaft foot 62, on a stop surface 70 formed by the sole holder housing 25. The sole retaining element 26 forms a stop 71 for the end 66 of the shaft foot 62 facing away from the ski surface.

[0054] In summary, the Figures 2 and 6.1 or 6.2 it becomes clear that by rotating the adjusting device 6 by essentially 180° the sole retaining element 26 inevitably moves out of the first position ( Figure 2 ) into the second position ( Figure 6.2 ) is moved. In the first and second positions, the adjusting device 6 is secured against loss in the sole holder housing 25 by the interaction of the stops 70, 71 with the lower end 65 of the eccentric section 63 and the upper end 66 of the shaft foot 62. If the diameters of the eccentric section 63 and the shaft foot 62 are essentially the same, as in the illustrated embodiment, the adjusting device 6 can be inserted from above into the sole holder 2 through the elongated hole 50 into the opening 60 when the arrow in the shaft head 61 is in the 90° or 270° position.

[0055] The Figure 7Figure 1 shows a first alternative adjustment device 9 in three images for connecting a sole retaining element 26* with a sole retainer housing 25* in the first position and in the second position. The front jaw 1 of the Figure 7 Except for the adjustment mechanism, it corresponds to front jaw 1 of the Figure 1 .

[0056] Figure 7.1 Figure 1 is an exploded view showing the individual parts of the adjusting device 9. The adjusting device 9 consists of a screw body 99, which has at least one threaded section 92, 93 ( Figure 7.3) in the sole retaining body 25*, in particular into at least one mating thread formed in the sole retaining body 25*. The screw body 99 passes through a substantially vertical through-opening 91 in the sole retaining element 26*. The diameter of the through-opening 91 corresponds substantially to the diameter at a lower free end 96 of the screw body 99, i.e., the end facing away from the screw head 95. To secure the sole retaining element 25* in the first position and in the second position, the sole retaining element 25* of the exemplary embodiment comprises two adjacent, spaced-apart through-openings 91.

[0057] The threads 92, 93 can be located either adjacent to or near the screw head 95, or the threads 92, 93 can be located near or at the free end 96 of the screw body 9. The screw head can also have both threads 92, 93. The mating thread(s) 97, 98 ( Figure 7.2 ) are arranged or formed accordingly in the sole holder housing 25*.

[0058] The Figure 7.2 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for adult ski boots 100 with the sole retaining element 26* in the first position, in which the two facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A1 to each other.

[0059] The Figure 7.3 Figure 1 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for children's ski boots 200 with the sole retaining element 26* in the second position, in which the two facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A2 to each other.

[0060] The Figure 8 Figure 3 shows a further alternative adjustment device 8 for connecting a sole retaining element 26** with a sole retainer housing 25** in the first position and in the second position. The front jaw 1 of the Figure 8 Except for the adjustment mechanism, it corresponds to front jaw 1 of the Figure 1 .

[0061] The Figure 8.1 Figure 1 shows the front jaw 1 and the sole holder 2 in their individual parts. The sole holder 2 comprises a sole holder housing 25**, a sole retaining element 26**, a screw element 82 and a nut 85 into which the screw element 82 with a threaded section 88 can be screwed.

[0062] The sole holder housing 25** has a substantially horizontal opening 83, open on one side, into which the sole retaining element 26** or a guide section 27 of the sole retaining element 26** can be inserted. The side opposite the open side of the opening 83 has a bore 87 with a diameter that substantially corresponds to the diameter of the threaded section 88 of the screw element 82.

[0063] The sole retaining element 26** comprises the inner side wall 22, the guide section 27, and a receptacle 86 formed in the guide section 27, in which the nut 82 can be arranged in a rotationally fixed and axially immovable manner. To adjust the sole retaining element 26** from the first position to the second position, the screw element 82 with its threaded section 88 is screwed into the nut 85. By turning the screw element 82, the nut 85, and thus the sole retaining element 26**, is moved into or out of the sole retainer housing 25**.

[0064] The Figure 8.2 shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for adult ski boots 100 with the sole retaining element 26** in the first position, in which the two facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A1 to each other.

[0065] The Figure 8.3shows the toe piece 1 in the configuration for children's ski boots 200 with the sole retaining element 26** in the second position, in which the two facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a clear horizontal distance A2 to each other.

[0066] With regard to the preceding figures, it should be noted that all features described for only one of the sole holders 2, 3 also apply to the sole holder 2, 3 not shown. This applies in particular to the features of the corresponding sole holder housings 25, 35; 25*, 35*; 25**, 35** and the features of the corresponding sole retaining elements 26, 36; 26*, 36*; 26**, 36**.

[0067] The Figure 9 The two images show only the sole holder housing 25 of the sole holder 2 of the Figures 1 to 6The sole holder housing 25 is preferably formed in one piece, for example from a light metal such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy or magnesium, or a plastic with or without reinforcement. Suitable methods include, among others, injection molding, rapid prototyping or machining with cutting tools.

[0068] The sole holder housing 25 has a partially skeletal structure, with struts that can optimally absorb pre-calculated forces in strength and direction.

[0069] How Figure 9.1 As shown, the sole holder housing 25 includes a first vertically extending through-opening 20 for an axis that pivotably connects the sole holder housing 25 to the housing 11 of the front jaw 1 in the pivot joint 21. A second vertically extending through-opening 60 rotatably supports the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62 of the adjusting device 6.

[0070] The Figure 9.2Figure 1 shows that the sole holder housing 25 has a first horizontally extending through-opening 12, which receives one end of the clamping device 7. A second horizontally extending through-opening 29 is formed in the sole holder housing 25, which receives the guide section 27 of the sole holding element 26. The guides 23 for the reinforcing ribs 40 on the sole holding element 26 are also visible.

[0071] The Figure 10Figure 26 shows, in two images, only the sole retaining element 26, which can be inserted into the through-opening 29 of the sole retainer housing 25, is guided in this through-opening 29, and can be moved into a first position and a second position by the adjusting device 6. The sole retaining element 26 comprises the guide section 27, the inner side wall 22 with the wall section 28 projecting orthogonally inwards. The wall section 28 has reinforcing ribs 40 on its upper surface, which can be used as guides to guide the sole retaining element 26 in the sole retainer housing 25 during movement in the through-opening 29.

[0072] The Figure 10.1 and the Figure 10 . 2 The sole retaining element 26 is shown in two views, one from above ( Figure 10.1 ) and with a view to the inner side wall 22 ( Figure 10.2). The sole retaining element 26 has the elongated hole 50 in the guide section 27, which runs in the vertical direction and is aligned with the through opening 60 in at least one position of the sole retaining element 26 in the through opening 29 of the sole holder housing 25, so that the adjusting device 6 can be positioned in the sole holder 2.

[0073] The Figure 11 The adjusting device 6 of the front jaw 1 shows Figures 1 to 6 The adjusting device 6 is a shaft body that can be rotated by means of a tool.

[0074] The shaft body has a first end, forming the shaft head 61, and a second end, forming the shaft foot 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62 share a common axis of rotation D. The shaft head 61 and / or the shaft foot 62 can be rotatably mounted in a receptacle formed in the sole holder housing 25. A engagement for a tool is formed in the shaft head 61. A locking lug 64 is formed on the shaft head 61, which, to secure the adjusting device 6 in at least one position, preferably an end position of the rotation, interacts with a locking element 24, 34 formed on the sole holder housing 25 to fix the adjusting device 6 in this position by positive and / or frictional engagement.

[0075] Between the shaft head 61 and the shaft foot 62, the adjusting device includes the eccentric section 63, which interacts with the shoe retaining element 26 to adjust the distance A1 or distance A2 when the adjusting device 6 is rotated by essentially 180°. Furthermore, by rotating the adjusting device 6 into the second position by more than 180°, the toggle lever effect provides self-locking of the adjusting device 6 in the second position.

[0076] The fact that the adjusting device 6 is secured, particularly in the second position where the facing inner side walls 22, 32 have a distance A2 for children's ski boots 200, results from the fact that in the configuration with a distance A1 for adult ski boots 100, the inner side walls 22, 32 are held in the first end position by the front end of the ski boot sole 101, where the rear sides of the facing inner side walls rest against the sole holder housing 25. An additional securing mechanism for the adjusting device 6 in the first position is therefore unnecessary.

[0077] The adjusting device 6 can be made of metal, for example steel, zinc, or a light metal alloy such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Magnesium or a plastic, with or without reinforcement, are also possible. The adjusting device 6 is preferably formed in one piece. The adjusting device 6 can be machined from a solid body, particularly on an automatic lathe, or manufactured using a rapid prototyping process. Other suitable methods include, among others, die casting or machining with cutting tools.

[0078] The Figure 12 shows a frame touring binding 300 with a frame 301, a toe piece 302 connected to the frame 301, and a heel piece 303 connected to the frame 301.

[0079] The frame 301 is connected at a forward end (in the direction of skiing) in a pivot joint 305 to a base 306 or directly to a ski. The frame binding 300 shown includes a locking lever 310, which can be moved from a first position, as shown in the Figure 12 As shown, the frame can be moved into a second position. In the first position, the locking lever 310 connects the frame 301 to the ski, so that the frame 301 cannot move relative to the ski. In the second position, the locking lever 310 releases the frame 301, so that the rear end of the frame 301 lifts off the ski and the front end can pivot in the swivel joint 305, for example, for climbing with the ski.

[0080] While the rear jaw 303 can be moved on the frame 301 in and against the direction of skiing in order to use the binding 300 for ski boots of different sizes, the front jaw 302 has a height-adjustable support plate 311 for the front end of a ski boot sole.

[0081] The one in Figure 12 The fact that a frame binding of 300 is shown does not mean that it belongs to the Figures 1 to 11 The described toe piece 1 is only suitable for this type of binding. The toe piece and the heel piece can also be connected directly to the ski or via a base. For switching from an adult ski boot 100 to a child ski boot 200, it is advantageous if the heel piece is attached to the base or to the ski in such a way that it can be adjusted relative to the toe piece in and against the direction of skiing.

Claims

1. A front jaw of a ski binding, the front jaw (1) comprising: 1.1 a housing (11); 1.2 a first sole retainer (2) which is connected to the housing (11) in a first rotary joint (21); 1.3 a second sole retainer (3) which is connected to the housing (11) in a second rotary joint (31); 1.4 a tensing device (7) which tenses the first sole retainer (2) and the second sole retainer (3) towards each other, 1.5 wherein the first sole retainer (2) comprises a first inner side wall (22) and the second sole retainer (3) comprises a second inner side wall (32), and the first inner side wall (22) and the second inner side wall (32) face each other at a clear horizontal distance (A1; A2); 1.6 and an adjusting device (6) for adjusting a horizontal distance (A1; A2) between the mutually facing inner side walls (22; 32), characterised in that 1.7 the clear horizontal distance (A1; A2) between the mutually facing inner side walls (22; 32) is variable from a first clear horizontal distance (A1) of 69 ± 2 mm to a second clear horizontal distance (A2) of 62 ± 2 mm, wherein the first distance (A1) corresponds to the specifications for the width of a front end of a ski boot sole for adult ski boots (100) and the second distance (A2) corresponds to the specifications for the width of a front end of a ski boot sole for children's ski boots (200).

2. The front jaw according to claim 1, wherein the first sole retainer (2) comprises a sole retainer housing (25) and a sole retaining element (26) comprising the first inner side wall (22), and the second sole retainer (3) comprises a sole retainer housing (35) and a sole retaining element (36) comprising the second inner side wall (32).

3. The front jaw according to the preceding claim, wherein the sole retaining element (26; 36) is mounted in the sole retainer housing (25; 35) and can be moved in the sole retainer housing (25; 35) from a first position, in which the mutually facing side walls (22; 32) have a first clear horizontal distance (A1), to a second position in which the mutually facing side walls (22; 32) have a second clear horizontal distance (A2).

4. The front jaw according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting device (6) comprises at least one thread (8) or threaded element (85) which is formed or arranged in the sole retainer housing (25; 35) and / or the sole retaining element (26; 36) and into which a screw body (99) can be screwed in order to determine the clear horizontal distance (A1; A2).

5. The front jaw according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting device (6) is a shaft comprising a shaft tip (61) and a shaft base (62) and an eccentric portion (63), wherein the eccentric portion (63) is arranged between the shaft tip (61) and the shaft base (62).

6. The front jaw according to the preceding claim, wherein the shaft tip (61) and the shaft base (62) are rotatably mounted in the sole retainer housing (25; 35), and the eccentric portion (63) is arranged in a transit opening (60) in the sole retaining element (26; 36).

7. The front jaw according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the adjusting device (6) can be adjusted from a resting position, in which the sole retaining element (26; 36) is in the first position, by substantially 180° and preferably more than 180°, in order to move the sole retaining element (26; 36) into the second position, wherein the adjusting device (6) preferably forms a toggle lever which achieves a latching effect by hyperextension when the adjusting device (6) is adjusted by more than 180°.

8. The front jaw according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front jaw (1) further comprises a bearing area for the front end of the lower side of a ski boot sole which is held in the front jaw (1), wherein the bearing area can be adjusted in the vertical direction.

9. The front jaw according to any one of the preceding seven claims, wherein the sole retaining element (26; 36) comprises a guide portion (27; 37), the inner side wall (22; 32) which is connected to the guide portion (27; 37), and a wall portion (28; 38) which protrudes substantially orthogonally inwards from the vertical upper end of the inner side wall (22; 32), wherein the guide portion (27; 37) engages the sole retainer housing (25; 35) and wherein, when a ski boot is held in the front jaw (1), the inner side wall (26; 36) rests laterally against a front end of a sole of the ski boot and the orthogonally protruding wall portion (28; 38) covers a region of the upper side of the front end of the sole of the ski boot.

10. A ski binding comprising a front jaw according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a rear jaw (303).

11. The ski binding comprising a front jaw according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is suitable for alpine skiing and touring, comprising a frame (301) which is arranged in the front region such that it can be pivoted upwards about a pivot joint (305) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and on which the front jaw (302) and a rear jaw (303) are fastened in order to hold a ski boot (100, 200), wherein the frame (301) can be fixed on a ski in its rear region via at least one latch element.