HORSE IRON

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a crampon which consists of a sheet formed in one piece and is designed for detachable coupling to a pin toe piece of a touring ski binding, is pivotable about a pivot axis defined at the coupling point by a hinge pin of the crampon, has a footplate which comes into contact with the top of the ski under the action of a ski boot and two side parts projecting from the footplate and provided with teeth for engaging the ground, wherein a protrusion with a crown area forming the bearing surface for the ski boot sole is formed on the footplate and wherein the protrusion has a central section extending in the transverse direction of the ski and two edge sections.

[0002] Crampons are used in ski touring when traversing hard or icy snowy terrain and the standard climbing skins lose their effectiveness. When the ski boot, inserted into the touring ski binding, presses down on the footplate, the crampons dig into the snow. As the heel of the ski boot lifts off the ski during the walking motion, the crampon pivots upwards around its axis, either until it touches the sole of the ski boot or until the sides of the crampon no longer extend beyond the ski's gliding surface.

[0003] A crampon of the type mentioned above is known from US 9,597,578 B2. This crampon has a footplate with a shaped projection designed as a U-shaped bracket spanning the footplate and open in the longitudinal direction of the ski. This known design lacks torsional rigidity and stability. EP 2 754 469 B1 discloses a crampon with a pivotally attached support element at the rear end of the footplate, which can be pivoted by hand from its position below the top of the footplate to a position above the top of the footplate. It is also doubtful whether this design provides the necessary stability under the loads encountered.US 2016 / 199722 A1 shows a crampon with tooth-like elements projecting from the top of the footplate, against which a stirrup mounted on the touring binding can be supported if necessary. US 2017 / 252636A1 shows a crampon with an apparently welded L-shaped support element on the top of the footplate, which tends to deform under load from the ski boot. EP 2 327 457 A2 shows a crampon with a body formed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a footplate, from which the serrated side sections are bent downwards along lines parallel to the ski. The crampon has a hinge pin that can be detachably engaged in groove-like recesses at the rear end of a baseplate of a pin toe piece of a touring ski binding.The pin toe piece features laterally pivoting retaining jaws, on the opposing inner surfaces of which pins are attached. These pins are designed to engage in holes on the lateral sides of the ski boot sole. Since the pins are positioned higher than the top of the ski and the pivot axis of the crampon, the position of the ski boot sole in a touring binding relative to the crampon's footplate is unfavorable. This prevents the skier from moving the boot downwards far enough for the crampon teeth on the sides to engage optimally with the snow.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a crampon that has high stability and torsional rigidity and ensures that it provides better grip on the ground when ski touring by pressing the spikes on the side parts further into the ground under the influence of the ski boot on the footplate when walking.

[0005] The problem set out in the invention is solved by the fact that the center or the highest point of the apex area is located at a distance of 7.00 mm to 12.00 mm in the vertical direction relative to the pivot axis of the crampon, wherein the middle section, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the ski, has two side flanks extending towards each other in a saddle-roof shape and connected to each other by the apex area.

[0006] The raised section on the footplate provided according to the invention therefore permanently reduces the distance between the footplate and the ski boot sole, so that when ski touring, the ski boot is able to press the side plates with their crampons significantly deeper into the ground. Even when using climbing aids, crampons designed according to the invention advantageously remain functional.

[0007] In a preferred design, the raised section extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski and across at least part of the width of the footplate. This creates a particularly stable contact point for the ski boot sole.

[0008] The apex of the central section is preferably at a constant height, while the outer sections consist in particular of several surfaces that slope down from the apex towards the top of the tread plate. This design is also advantageous for the stability of the elevation.

[0009] The ski boot sole can be supported particularly well on the elevation if the apex area extends in the ski transverse direction from 20.00 mm to 80.00 mm, especially up to 50.00 mm.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment, the apex area is designed as a plateau which, when the crampon is in contact with the ski, runs parallel to the top of the ski or is slightly inclined towards the hinge pin, in particular at an angle of up to 3° relative to the top of the ski. Designing the apex area as a plateau allows the ski boot sole to rest on a flat surface against the raised area.

[0011] In alternative designs, either the apex is rounded, particularly as a curve running in the transverse direction of the ski, or the entire middle section of the elevation is rounded, or the elevation itself is entirely rounded, for example, dome-shaped. Such designs allow for good support of differently designed ski boot soles, so that these crampons can be used with the usual types of ski boots.

[0012] In this context, it is also advantageous if, in the case of crampons coupled with the pin front jaw, the center or the highest point of the apex area of ​​the elevation is located at a distance of 55.00 mm to 90.00 mm, in particular 60.00 mm to 85.00 mm, determined in the longitudinal direction of the ski, from the tips of the pins.

[0013] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1 an oblique view of a crampon coupled with a front jaw, Fig. 2 a side view of crampons and toe pieces in one position during attachment and detachment of the crampons and Fig. 3 a side view of the crampon coupled to the toe piece, with part of a ski boot inserted into the toe piece.

[0014] In the description and claims, terms such as "vertical" and "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "ski longitudinal direction", "ski transverse direction" and the like refer to a toe piece positioned on the ski (not shown) and coupled with a crampon; terms such as "front", "back", "transverse" and the like refer to positions with respect to the ski tip or the ski tail.

[0015] The figures show a crampon 4 and a toe piece suitable for attaching the crampon 4, shown in the figures as an example. This toe piece is a pin-type toe piece of a touring ski binding suitable for both ski touring and downhill skiing. The toe piece has a base part 1, which can be attached, for example, by means of screws (not shown) to the top of a ski (not shown), and two laterally pivotable retaining jaws 2, each with a pin 3, actuated by springs. The two pins 3 are designed to connect the toe piece to a ski boot inserted into the touring ski binding, or rather to the sole of the ski boot, and engage in openings formed laterally in the front area of ​​the ski boot sole. When engaged with the ski boot, the two pins 3 define an axis around which the ski boot, held in the toe piece, can be pivoted, raised, and lowered in a known manner during ski touring.The two retaining jaws 2 can be brought into a laterally pivoted open position in which the two pins 3 are spaced so far apart that there is no interference with the ski boot.

[0016] How Figs. 1 to 3 The crampon 4 comprises a body formed in one piece from a sheet, in particular steel or aluminum sheet, and has a footplate 7 and two side parts 8 extending at a right angle to it and parallel to each other. The footplate 7 has two lateral extensions 7a extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski at its front end, the ends of which are connected to each other via a hinge pin 6, so that the section of the hinge pin 7 extending between the two extensions 7a fits into a groove-shaped receptacle 5 of suitable length, extending in the transverse direction, and in this example consisting of several parts ( Fig. 1) can be locked into place at the rear end of the base part 1. When the crampon 4 is locked in place, the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin 7 forms the pivot axis s ( Fig. 2 , Fig. 3 ) of the crampon 4.

[0017] The individual parts of the groove-shaped receptacle 5 are open upwards to such an extent that the hinge pin 6 of the crampon 4 remains in its essentially vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2 As shown, the crampon 4 can be locked into place from above and, when no longer needed, can be removed by pulling it out of the groove-shaped receptacle 5. An alternative design features a one-piece groove-shaped receptacle 5 of a corresponding length.

[0018] The side pieces 8 of the crampon 4 point in the active position ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 3The crampon 4 has backward-facing spikes 8a. When the crampon is coupled to the toe piece, the side pieces 8 extend downwards laterally over the ski and beyond the ski's gliding surface. Each side piece 8 has three spikes 8a of different lengths, with the foremost spike 8a being the shortest and the rearmost spike 8a being the longest. This design of the spikes 8a causes the crampon 4 to buoyancy as the ski glides. A serrated design of the side pieces 8 is common and ensures that the crampon 4 can penetrate hard or icy snow effectively.

[0019] A raised section 9 is formed on the footplate 7, and a correspondingly shaped depression is located on the underside of the footplate 7. The raised section 9 extends in the ski transverse direction over a large part of the width B (greatest width). Fig. 1The footplate 7 comprises a central section 10 and two peripheral sections 11. The central section 10 has two side flanks 10a that slope towards each other like a saddle roof and are connected by a top section 10b designed as a plateau, a flat surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the plateau is equilateral trapezoidal and extends 15.00 mm to 25.0 mm in the longitudinal direction of the ski and 20.00 mm to 80.00 mm, particularly up to 50.00 mm, in the transverse direction. The plateau may be slightly inclined towards the hinge pin 6. The top section 10b forms the bearing point for the ski boot sole and is located at a constant vertical distance h of 7.00 mm to 12.00 mm relative to the pivot axis s of the crampon 4. The two edge sections 11 are formed by surfaces sloping down towards the top of the step 7.

[0020] In an alternative design, the apex area 10b is shaped as a curve running in the ski transverse direction.

[0021] Fig. 3 Figure 12 shows the front section of a ski boot 12 inserted into the pin toe piece, with a sole thickened in the ball of the foot area. The sole is in contact with the protrusion 9 and presses the crampon 4 downwards; in this position, the footplate 7 would be in contact with the top of the ski. For optimal effect of the protrusion 9 when using standard ski boots, the center of its apex 10b is positioned as follows: Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a distance a of 55.00 mm to 90.00 mm, in particular 60.00 mm to 85.00 mm, determined in the longitudinal direction of the ski, from the tips of the pins 3. In a rounded version, the distance a is determined to the highest point of the apex area 10b or to the highest point of the elevation 9.

[0022] When the ski tourer's weight is off the ground, the footplates 7 of the crampons 4 are loosely in contact with the ground and can be easily pulled forward over the surface, snow or ice. When weight is applied, the ski boot presses them into the ground with the skier's weight. The raised section 9 ensures that the ski boot sole, which is in contact with the pins 3 and is in a raised position relative to the footplate 3, allows the crampons 8a to penetrate deeper into the ground than would be the case without the raised section.

[0023] The crampon 4 is designed in such a way that, in a typical design of the teeth 8a of the side parts 8, the longest tooth 8a penetrates approximately 15.00 mm deeper than in designs without a protrusion 9.

[0024] Further alternative configurations of the elevation 9 are possible, for example with an overall rounded middle section, or as an overall rounded or dome-shaped feature. The elevation 9 can also extend across the entire available width B of the crampon 4.

[0025] Another rib-like design of the footplate 7, as shown in the figures, increases the overall stability of the crampon 4. Reference symbol list

[0026] 1 Base part 2 Retaining jaws 3 Pin 4 Crampon 5 Mount 6 Hinge pin 7 Footplate 7a Extension 8 Side part 8a Toe pick 9 Raise 10, 11 Sections of the raising 10a Side flank 10b Apex area 12 Ski boot a Distance h Height s Pivot axis

Claims

1. Ski crampon (4) that consists of a sheet formed in one piece and is provided for releasable coupling to a pin front jaw of a touring ski binding, is pivotable about a pivot axis (s) defined at the coupling point by a hinge pin (6) of the ski crampon (4), has a tread plate (7), which comes into contact with the upper side of the ski under the action of a ski boot, and two side parts (8), which protrude from the tread plate (7) and are provided with spikes (8a), for engaging in the ground, wherein an elevation (9) with an apex region (10b), which forms the point of contact for the ski boot sole, is formed on the tread plate (7), and wherein the elevation (9) has a central section (10) extending in the transverse direction of the ski and having the apex region (10b), and two edge sections (11), wherein the centre or the highest point of the apex region (10b) is located at a distance (h), determined in the vertical direction, of 7.00 mm to 12.00 mm from the pivot axis (s) of the ski crampon (4), wherein the central section (10), as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the ski, has two side flanks (10a) which extend in a saddle-roof-like manner with respect to one another and are connected to one another by the apex region (10b).

2. Ski crampon (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the elevation (9) extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski and over at least a part of the width (B) of the tread plate (7).

3. Ski crampon (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the apex region (10b) extends in the transverse direction of the ski over 20.00 mm to 80.00 mm, in particular up to 50.00 mm.

4. Ski crampon (4) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the apex region (10b) is a plateau which runs parallel to the upper side of the ski or is inclined in the direction of the hinge pin when the ski crampon rests on the ski.

5. Ski crampon (4) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the apex region (10b) is rounded, in particular designed as a rounding running in the transverse direction of the ski.

6. Ski crampon (4) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the central section (10) of the elevation (9) is rounded.

7. Ski crampon (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the elevation is overall rounded, for example rounded in the shape of a dome.

8. Ski crampon according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that in the case of a ski crampon (4) coupled to the pin front jaw, the centre or the highest point of the apex region (10b) of the elevation (9) is located at a distance (a), determined in the longitudinal direction of the ski, of 55.00 mm to 90.00 mm, in particular 60.00 mm to 85.00 mm, from the tips of the pins (3).