Ski brake

Abstract

Braking device (1) for a sliding board (2), comprising: a base (10) intended to be fixed to the sliding board; a braking element (11) adapted to pivot, relative to the base, about a first axis of rotation (Y111) substantially transverse to the sliding board, the braking element comprising at least one spade (112) and an activation section (114) extending along a second axis (Y114) substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation and located in front of it; a pedal (12) comprising a guide housing (122) adapted to receive the activation section (114), the latter being capable of sliding and pivoting in the guide housing (122); a lever (15) adapted to pivot, relative to the base, about a third axis of rotation (Y15), said third axis being positioned in front of said first axis; and an elastic means (13) acting on the activation section (114);said lever and said pedal being connected, so that the pedal is able to pivot relative to the lever around a fourth axis of rotation (Y12) which is parallel.;

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a braking device for binding a sliding board such as a ski. The invention is more particularly intended for ski touring. Ski touring involves two distinct phases. The "downhill" phase and the "uphill" phase. During the first phase, the "downhill" phase, the boot is held on the ski by the binding means without any possible movement relative to each other. This phase is similar to downhill alpine skiing. The boot can be detached from the ski either following a voluntary action by the user or during a fall. In both cases, the braking device must be able to deploy.Therefore, during the downhill phase, the ski must be continuously operational, that is, it is retracted when the boot is attached to the ski and it deploys as soon as, for one reason or another, the safety binding releases the boot. Once deployed, the brake is able to hinder the ski from sliding and thus stop it. In general, braking devices include a support pedal energized by a spring which controls the deployment of the brake: When the boot is in place in the binding, the pedal is constrained by the boot and the brake is retracted so as not to hinder the glide. As soon as the boot is no longer in place, the constraint on the pedal is released and the brake is deployed. In the second phase, "the uphill phase", the braking device must be inhibited so that the brake remains permanently retracted, even when the skier lifts the heel of his boot.

[0002] Document EP 3135350 describes a braking device in which a braking element capable of pivoting, relative to a base fixed to the ski, is actuated by means of a pedal, itself mounted to pivot relative to the base. The device further comprises a lever also mounted to pivot, relative to the base. The lever comprises two arms mounted to pivot on the base at their proximal end and a transverse portion which connects the two arms at their distal end. The lever can move between two positions. In the first, the lever does not interfere with the operation of the brake and the latter can deploy and retract in response to the pivoting of the pedal. In the second, the transverse portion hinders the raising of the pedal and consequently the deployment of the brake. This position is called the locking position of the braking device.

[0003] This braking device is not satisfactory insofar as it can unlock unexpectedly. Indeed, too strong a strain on one of the branches, at least of the braking element, can be sufficient to raise the pedal and pivot the lever. However, it often happens that, when the user is climbing, the branches of the braking element come up against rocks or pieces of ice.

[0004] This braking device is also not satisfactory for use in ski mountaineering. This competitive practice requires high-performance, reliable, optimized and, above all, as light as possible equipment. Under these conditions, having a braking device entirely independent of the shoe retention means is disadvantageous. Document US5158317A discloses a braking device according to the preamble of the independent claim.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to propose an improved braking device.

[0006] One aim is to provide a reliable and secure braking system.

[0007] Another goal is to reduce the number of parts that make up the braking system and to reduce its weight.

[0008] Another aim of the invention is to propose a braking device which is better integrated with the shoe retention means and in particular with the rear heel piece.

[0009] The objective of the invention is solved by providing a braking device for a sliding board, comprising: a base intended to be secured to the sliding board, a braking element capable of pivoting, relative to the base, around a first axis of rotation substantially transverse to the sliding board, the braking element comprising at least one spade and an activation section extending along a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation, said second axis being located forward relative to said first axis; a pedal comprising a guide housing capable of receiving the activation section, the latter being capable of sliding and pivoting in the guide housing, a lever capable of pivoting, relative to the base, around a third axis of rotation, which is parallel to the two previous ones, said third axis of rotation being positioned forward relative to said first axis of rotation an elastic means acting on the activation section, and wherein said lever and said pedal are connected, so that the pedal is able to pivot relative to the lever around a fourth axis of rotation which is parallel to the three previous ones,

[0010] Preferably, the lever has a general U-shape with two branches extending substantially longitudinally and connected to each other by their front end by a gripping bar and in that it can pivot between two angular positions; a first position called the “unlocking position” in which the gripping bar is located forward relative to said third axis of rotation and a second position called the “locking position”, in which the gripping bar is located rearward relative to the same gripping axis.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, in the unlocked position the lever is substantially horizontal and the pedal is able to pivot around the fourth axis of rotation while in the locked position, the lever stands up relative to the base and the pedal is immobilized.

[0012] The braking device of the invention can be associated with a heel piece on which the lever rests when the device is in the locking position.

[0013] Preferably, the heel piece comprises two rods designed to cooperate with cavities provided in the heel of a ski boot and, when in the locking position, the lever comes into abutment against these two rods.

[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings illustrating, according to non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be implemented, and in which: There [ Fig. 1 ] is a front perspective view of the rear retaining device for a boot on a ski associated with a braking device according to a first embodiment of the invention, in braking configuration during the “descent” phase; The [ Fig. 2 ] is a longitudinal sectional view along the median plane of the devices of the figure 1 , in the same configuration; The [ Fig. 3 ] is a top view of the braking element; The [ Fig. 4 ] is a side view of the devices of the figure 1 in sliding configuration, during the “descent” phase The [ Fig. 5 ] is a perspective view of the rear restraint device and the braking device of the figure 1 in locked configuration during the “ascent” phase; The [ Fig. 6 ] is a longitudinal sectional view along plane XZ32 in the same configuration as that of the figure 5 ; There [ Fig. 7 ] is a schematic view of the four pivots of the retaining device in the configuration of the figure 1 and the figure 2 ; There [ Fig. 8 ] is a schematic view of the four pivots of the retaining device in the configuration of the figure 4 ; There [ Fig. 9 ] is a schematic view of the four pivots of the retaining device in the configuration of the figure 5 and of the figure 6 . There [ Fig. 10 ] is a perspective view of a braking device according to a second embodiment of the invention, in sliding configuration. The [ Fig. 11 ] is a perspective view of the device of the figure 10 in locked configuration. The [ Fig. 12 ] is a partial top view according to a third embodiment of the invention

[0015] The invention is illustrated through a first embodiment shown of the figure 1 and until the figure 6 . It relates to a braking device 1 assembled on a ski 2, for example, a ski. In the present case, the braking device is associated with a binding of a boot 4 on the ski. The binding comprises a front retaining device, called a “stop”, not shown, and a rear retaining device 3, called a “heel piece”, illustrated in figure 1 and to the figure 2 The front and rear retaining devices are intended to secure the front and rear of the shoe to the sliding device respectively. In the "downhill" phase, both retaining devices cooperate with the shoe. In the "uphill" phase, only the front retaining device cooperates with the shoe.

[0016] In the remainder of the description, use will be made of terms such as "horizontal", "vertical", "longitudinal", "transverse", "upper", "lower", "high", "low", "front", "rear", "anterior", "posterior". These terms must in fact be interpreted relatively in relation to the normal position that the braking device occupies on a ski, and the normal direction of advancement of the ski. For example, "longitudinal" is understood in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

[0017] A reference frame will also be used whose longitudinal, front / back or anterior / posterior direction corresponds to the X axis, the transverse or right / left direction corresponds to the Y axis and the vertical or up / down direction corresponds to the Z axis. The axes parallel to the X axis, respectively Y or Z, will be named with the letter X, respectively Y or Z, associated with a reference number.

[0018] The braking device 1 comprises a base 10 intended to be secured to the sliding board. Thus, when the base is assembled on the ski, the base is fixed relative to the ski. Alternatively, the base can be mounted to slide longitudinally, relative to the ski, to allow longitudinal adjustment of its position. Once adjusted, the base is then immobilized longitudinally to make it integral with the ski. In the embodiment described here, the rear retaining device 3 of the boot is directly fixed to the base 10.

[0019] In a known manner, the rear retaining device 3 comprises in particular a main body 33 and two parallel rods 31, 32 which are oriented in a direction which is both substantially longitudinal and horizontal. The front ends 311 and 321 of the two rods 31 and 32 project relative to the main body 33 in such a way that they can cooperate with a plate (not shown) fixed to the rear part of the sole of the ski boot.

[0020] In the embodiment, the braking device 1 comprises a braking element 11. This braking element, shown alone in the figure 3 , is made of a folded metal wire with a diameter of between 1 and 5 mm, preferably between 1.5 and 3.5 mm. The braking element has a symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis X and comprises two spades 112a, 112b intended to project under the surface of the ski when the braking device is in the braking configuration as in figure 1 and to the figure 2 .

[0021] The braking element 11 also comprises a cylindrical central portion 111, extending along a first axis of rotation Y111. This central portion is in fact made up of two sections 111a, 111b coaxial with each other and each of which is adjacent to one of the spades 112a, 112b, making with the latter an angle substantially equal to 90°.

[0022] Finally, the braking element comprises an activation portion 114 which extends along the second axis Y114 parallel to the first axis Y111 and which is connected to the two sections 111a and 111b by internal sections 113a and 113b.

[0023] The braking element 11 is assembled to the base 10 at its central portion 111 by a double pivot-type connection. The base 10 thus comprises two bearings, each receiving one of the two sections 111a and 111b. These bearings make it possible to guide the braking element in rotation around the axis Y111. To produce these bearings, the base may comprise an upper part 10b and a lower part 10a, and it is the assembly of these two parts which makes it possible to produce the bearings.

[0024] The braking element 11 and the base 10 are arranged relative to the ski so that the spades are spaced from the lateral edge of the ski. Thus, when the braking branch rotates about its axis Y111, in a first direction S1, the spades 112a, 112b tilt so that their free end protrudes downwards from the sole of the ski to grip the snow. This configuration of the braking device is referred to as the braking configuration. To improve grip, the free ends may be equipped with tips (not shown). Furthermore, when the braking branch rotates about its axis Y111, in a second direction S2, opposite to the first direction S1, the spades 112a, 112b return to a retracted position, upwards, relative to the sole of the ski. In this configuration of the braking device, called the sliding configuration, no part of the braking branch protrudes from the sole of the ski.The braking device does not hinder the movement of the ski.

[0025] The rotation of the braking element is controlled by the pedal 12, which cooperates with the activation portion 114 of the braking element. The pedal 12 extends in a longitudinal direction between a base 124 and a rear end 125. It comprises a guide housing 122 which is traversed by the activation portion 114 of the braking element 11. This guide housing 122 is in the form of an oblong cavity extending in the longitudinal direction of the pedal. The height of the guide housing is slightly greater than the diameter of the activation portion and the latter can slide longitudinally inside the guide housing. The position of the activation portion within the guide housing is constrained toward the rear end 125 of the pedal by an elastic means 13. The elastic means consists of a spring 131 and a piston 132 which serves as an interface between the spring and the activation portion 114.

[0026] The braking device further comprises a lever 15 which is pivotally mounted on the base 10. The lever 15 has a general U-shape with two branches 151a, 151b extending substantially longitudinally and connected to each other by their front end by a gripping bar 152. The rear end of each of the branches 151a, 151b is fixed to the base 10 by means of a shaft 103 in order to constitute the pivot connection between the lever 15 and the base 10. The lever 15 pivots about the second axis of rotation Y15 between two extreme positions. The first of these positions is called the unlocking position. It is illustrated in figures 1, 2 , 4 , 7 et 8 The second, called the locking position, is illustrated in figures 5, 6 And 9 .

[0027] The pedal 12 and the lever 15 are two separate parts, but they are connected to each other so as to allow relative rotational movement. This connection is made at the base 124 of the pedal 12 which is fixed to the front ends of the branches 151a, 151b near the grip bar 152. This is a pivot connection which allows the pedal to rotate around the fourth axis Y12 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and parallel to the axes Y111, Y114 and Y15. In the chosen embodiment this pivot connection is made with a shaft 126 visible at figure 6 .

[0028] During the "downhill" phase, the braking device can be placed in two configurations: the "sliding" configuration and the "braking" configuration. The device in the "sliding" configuration is visible at figure 4 and schematically to the figure 8 . In this configuration, a ski boot is held by the binding device. The rear part of its sole 4, shown in the figure 4 by a dotted line, rests on the pedal and forces it to pivot around the axis Y12 until the rear part of the pedal is as close as possible to the upper surface of the ski. Judiciously, the lever 15 and the base 10 have recesses which allow the pedal 12 to retract almost entirely between the two branches of the lever as can be seen in figure 4 . During the rotation of the pedal 12, and as the latter descends, the braking element 11, the activation portion 114 of which is integral with the pedal because it is captive in the guide housing 122, is also driven in a rotational movement until it is placed in the substantially horizontal position of the figure 4 . In this position, the braking element remains above the ski / snow contact plane 21 and sliding is not hindered by the braking device. However, to allow rotation of the braking element, it is necessary for the activation portion 114 to move inside the guide housing 122. It does so by moving closer to the base 124 of the pedal 12 and thus contributes to compressing the elastic means 13. The “sliding” configuration will be maintained as long as the boot is in place in the retaining means and exerts pressure on the pedal. This pressure exerted by the boot is represented by the arrow 4 at figure 8 .

[0029] As soon as the boot is no longer held on the ski, for example in the event of a fall with triggering of the heel piece or in the event that the user voluntarily opens the retaining means, no more pressure is exerted on the pedal and the relaxation of the elastic means 13 pushes the activation portion 114 into the guide housing 122 towards the rear end of the pedal. At the end of the movement, the braking device is in the “braking” configuration, as shown in figure 1 , to the figure 2 and schematically to the figure 7 . In this configuration, the spades 112a, 112b are projected under the ski / snow contact plane 21 and are capable of gripping the snow and hindering sliding. In this configuration, the angle β12 that the pedal 12 makes in relation to the lever 15 is at its maximum, it is between 10° and 60°.

[0030] In the “descent” phase, whatever the configuration in which the braking device is located; sliding or braking, the lever 15 remains in the same position which is called the “unlocking” position (cf. figures 1, 2 And 4 ). This position of the lever corresponds, in fact, to the unlocking of the braking device and to the possibility for the pedal to pivot around the Y12 axis and the braking element around the Y11 axis.

[0031] The braking device according to the invention is a device which is intended to be used with ski touring equipment, that is to say equipment which allows not only downhill skiing but also to be able to climb snowy slopes without the aid of ski lifts. To do this, the user must release the rear retaining means of the boot to keep only the front retainer in order to allow a forward tilting movement of the boot. This is what is called the "ascent" phase.

[0032] To move from the “downhill” phase to the “uphill” phase, the user uses lever 15 to neutralize the braking device. Indeed, it is then important that at each step, when the shoe tilts forward and the sole of the shoe is no longer in contact with the pedal, the braking device is not activated and the spades do not come into contact with the snow. The user grips the grip bar of the lever to pivot it and bring it to the “locking” position shown in figure 5 , to the figure 6 and schematically to the figure 9 . In this position, the lever 15 performs three distinct functions. Firstly, it neutralizes the braking device by raising the spades 112a, 112b of the braking element without it being necessary for the shoe to be in contact with the pedal. Then, it neutralizes the rear retaining means. In fact, the lever comes into abutment against it. More particularly, in the chosen embodiment, the lever covers the free ends 311, 321 of the rods 31, 32, thus preventing them from being able to engage in the rear plate of the shoe. Finally, thanks to a support surface 155 provided on the gripping bar, the lever acts as a climbing wedge.

[0033] Advantageously, in the locking position, the pedal is reversed, that is to say that its rear end 125 is placed further forward than its base 124. Given that the rear end of the pedal is where the axis Y114 is located, which ensures the pivot of the activation portion 114 of the braking element, this makes it possible to make the tilting of the latter irreversible.

[0034] The schematic figures of the figure 7 and of the figure 9 demonstrate the kinematics of the braking device according to the invention. The two axes Y111 - pivot of the braking element 11 relative to the base - and Y15 - pivot of the lever 15 relative to the base - are fixed because they are linked to the base 10, itself fixed on the ski. The axis of the lever, also called the third axis Y15, is placed in front of the first axis Y111. This relative position of the axes Y15 and Y111 is maintained in all operating phases. On the other hand, the fourth axis Y12 - pivot of the pedal 12 relative to the lever 15 - and the second axis Y114 - pivoting and sliding connection between the braking element 11 and the pedal 12 - have positions which change in the different phases and / or configurations.In the descent phase, as long as the shoe 4 exerts pressure on the rear end of the pedal at the axis Y114, the braking element 11 is forced into rotation in the direction S2 and its ends remain above the ski / snow contact plane 21. This is the “sliding” configuration, illustrated in . figure 8 . From the moment the pressure exerted by the shoe disappears, the release of the constraint of the elastic element of the pedal contributes to moving the Y114 axis away from the Y12 axis. This generates the rise of the rear end of the pedal and the tilting in the S1 direction of the braking element. At the end of the process, we are in the "braking" configuration illustrated in figure 7 , in which the braking element is deployed under the ski / snow contact plane. In the descent phase, whatever the configuration of the device, sliding or braking, the fourth axis Y12 is positioned forward relative to the third axis Y15 and also forward relative to the second axis Y114. Only the position of the second axis Y114 changes between the “sliding” configuration and the “braking” configuration, the latter being higher in the braking position.

[0035] The transition to the locked configuration of the device to move into the “up” phase is done by a voluntary rotation, i.e. performed by the user, of the lever around the Y15 axis. This rotation is interrupted when the lever is in abutment against the heel piece 3 (illustrated by an arrow) and it generates the rotation of the braking element in the direction S2. This is the configuration illustrated in figure 9 . Rotating the lever has the effect of changing the position of the fourth axis Y12. The latter then passes behind the third axis Y15, and also behind the second axis Y114.

[0036] A second embodiment is described in figure 10 and to the figure 11 . In the unlocked position, the braking device 1 does not present any essential differences with the device of the first embodiment of the invention. On the other hand, in the locked position, the gripping bar 152 of the lever comes to bear directly on the rear portion of the base 10. Thus, the lever always rests in a virtually horizontal position, whether in the locked position or in the unlocked position. In this embodiment, the operation of the braking device is completely independent of the heel piece 3. This has the advantage of being able to mount this braking device with any heel piece. The characteristics of the kinematics of the first embodiment are still present in this embodiment. Indeed, in the descent phase ( fig. 10 ), the fourth axis - pivot of the lever relative to the pedal - is positioned in front of the third axis - pivot of the lever relative to the base. In the ascent phase, the fourth axis is positioned behind the third axis. On the other hand, the third axis is placed on the base in front of the first axis - pivot of the braking element relative to the latter.

[0037] A third embodiment is described in figure 12 . In this embodiment, the braking element has a slightly different shape from that in the other two embodiments. More precisely, it is the cylindrical central portion of the braking element which is no longer made up of two sections coaxial with the axis of rotation Y111, but of sections 111a and 111b which each make an angle, α, with the axis of rotation Y111 of the braking element. The bearings provided in the base, of which only the lower part 10a is shown in the figure 12, have the same orientation as the sections 111a and 111b which they receive. The angle α is relatively small, preferably less than about twenty degrees. This alternative construction of the braking element can be applied to both of the previous embodiments. Since the axis of rotation Y111 of the braking element and the axes of the bearings Y111a and Y111b are not exactly coaxial, this results in internal stresses in the braking element which will tend to assist in the deployment of the spades to move into the braking configuration from the sliding configuration. On the other hand, with adequate geometry of the braking element, this construction can also allow the retraction of the spades when the braking element is in the sliding configuration, as well as in the ascent phase.We speak of spade retraction to describe a movement of the spades directed towards the longitudinal axis and which consequently prevents them from protruding in the transverse direction.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described but extends to all embodiments covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Braking device (1) for a gliding board (2), comprising: - a base (10) designed to be secured to the gliding board, - a braking element (11) that is able to pivot, with respect to the base, about a first axis of rotation (Y111) substantially transverse to the gliding board, the braking element comprising at least one spade (112) and an activation section (114) extending along a second axis (Y114) parallel to the first axis of rotation, said second axis (Y114) being situated in front of said first axis (Y111); - a pedal (12) comprising a guide housing (122) that is able to receive the activation section (114), the latter being able to slide and pivot in the guide housing (122), - a lever (15) that is able to pivot, with respect to the base, about a third axis of rotation (Y15), said third axis of rotation being parallel to the two preceding ones; - an elastic means (13) acting on the activation section (114), - said lever and said pedal being connected, such that the pedal is able to pivot with respect to the lever about a fourth axis of rotation (Y12) that is parallel to the three preceding ones; the device being characterized by the fact that said third axis of rotation (Y15) is positioned in front of said first axis of rotation (Y111).

2. Braking device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lever has the overall shape of a U with two branches (151a, 151b) extending substantially longitudinally and connected to one another at their front end by a gripping bar (152) and in that it can pivot between two angular positions; a first position referred to as "unlocking position" in which the gripping bar is situated in front of the third axis of rotation (Y15) and a second position referred to as "locking position" in which the gripping bar is situated behind the same third axis of rotation (Y15).

3. Braking device (1) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the unlocking position the lever is substantially horizontal and in the locking position the lever stands up with respect to the base.

4. Braking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the locking position the pedal is immobilized and in the unlocking position the pedal is able to pivot about the fourth axis of rotation (Y12).

5. Device for retaining a boot on a gliding board having a heel piece (3) and a braking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when it is in the locking position the lever bears against said heel piece.

6. Retaining device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heel piece comprises two rods (31, 32) designed to cooperate with cavities provided in the heel of a ski boot and in that the lever comes to abut against these two rods when it is in the locking position.

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