Front unit for a touring binding, comprising a wear-reducing element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a front unit (10) for a touring binding, which is to be mounted on a ski board, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between a release position, a downhill position and a walk position, and wherein the front unit (10) comprises a base body (12) which is configured to be attached to a ski board surface, a left and a right bearing section (16) which are configured to engage lateral counter-bearing sections of a ski board boot in the walk position and in the downhill position and to release them in the release position, a locking lever (28) which has an operating section (32) and a detent section (34), wherein the locking lever (28) is configured to adjust the bearing sections (16) between the downhill position and the walk position, and wherein the locking lever (28) is further configured tothe locking section (34) of the locking lever (28) interacts with a counter-locking section (14) provided on the base body (12) to lock the bearing sections (16) in the walking position, and comprises a wear-reducing element (50) which is arranged to be positioned between the locking section (34) of the locking lever (28) and the counter-locking section (14) of the base body (12) in the walking position of the front unit (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a front unit for a touring binding, which is to be mounted on a gliding board, wherein the front unit is adjustable between a release position, a downhill position and a walking position, and wherein the front unit comprises a base body which is designed to be attached to a gliding board surface, a left and a right bearing section which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing sections of a gliding board shoe in the walking position and in the downhill position and to release them in the release position, and a blocking lever which has an operating section and a locking section, wherein the blocking lever is designed to adjust the bearing sections between the downhill position and the walking position, and wherein the blocking lever is further designed toto cooperate on the locking portion of the blocking lever with a counter-locking portion provided on the base body in order to block the bearing portions in the walking position.

[0002] The front units discussed in the present disclosure are, in particular, front units of touring bindings that are to be mounted on skis. However, splitboards (longitudinally divisible snowboards whose halves can be used as touring skis) or the like are equally suitable as gliding boards to which a front unit according to the present invention is to be attached, so that the invention also relates to front units for bindings of such gliding boards, although the following will primarily focus on touring bindings without limiting the subject matter of the invention.

[0003] It is further noted that, for the purposes of this disclosure, terms such as "top," "bottom," "above," "below," "front," "back," "in front of," "behind," "side," "next to," "vertical," "horizontal," "height direction," "width direction," "length direction," and the like refer, for ease of illustration, to the view of a user whose shoe is coupled to the front unit mounted on the gliding board, with the gliding board disposed in a horizontal plane (the gliding board plane).

[0004] A generic front unit of the type described above is known, for example, from EP 2 309 596 A2. The front unit disclosed in EP 2 309 596 A2 comprises two lateral, inwardly facing bearing pins as bearing sections, which engage in corresponding lateral counter-bearing sections in the form of holes in a front section of a gliding board shoe in order to hold the gliding board shoe pivotable about a gliding board transverse axis for walking. The bearing pins are arranged at distal ends of respective arms, wherein the arms are pivotable against a spring force about axes running parallel to the gliding board longitudinal axis in order to move the bearing pins between the release position, the downhill position, and the walking position. In the release position, the distance between the bearing sections is sufficiently large that the gliding board shoe is released.In the downhill position, the counter-bearing sections are engaged by the bearing sections and can be released when a certain force is exceeded by moving the arms and thus the bearing sections away from each other. In the walking position, such movement is blocked by a blocking lever, whereby a locking section of the blocking lever interacts with a counter-locking section provided on a base body to block the movement of the arms and lock the front unit in the walking position. Both the blocking lever and in particular the locking section of the blocking lever as well as the base body and in particular the counter-locking section of the base body are made of plastic for reasons of lightweight construction, which plays a particularly important role in touring bindings.However, the forces acting on the locking section of the blocking lever and the counter-locking section of the base body when the front unit is locked in the walking position are relatively high.

[0005] In practical use, it has been found that the strong friction caused by these high forces between the locking section of the locking lever and the counter-locking section of the base body leads to increased wear on both components. After a certain period of operation, the locking lever or even the base body often has to be replaced, as the severe wear on at least one of the locking section and the counter-locking section severely impairs the functionality of the front unit.

[0006] Against this background, it was an object of the present invention to further develop a generically known front unit for a touring binding in such a way that the problems defined above can be eliminated and wear in the area of ​​the contact surfaces between the base body and the blocking lever can be minimized, whereby in particular wear-related costs can be reduced and an extension of the product life of the front unit is made possible.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the above-formulated inventive object is achieved by a generic front unit for a touring binding, which further comprises a wear-reducing element which is designed to be arranged in the walking position of the front unit between the locking section of the blocking lever and the counter-locking section of the base body.

[0008] An important feature of the invention is therefore to provide a further component in the form of the wear-reducing element, which has wear-reducing properties. Such properties can be embodied in particular by certain material properties, but wear-reducing properties can also be achieved through design measures, such as flattening or rounding. A core of the invention is therefore a reduction in friction between the base body and the locking lever and / or the use of harder, more wear-resistant materials in this area.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bearing sections can be provided on a left or right arm, respectively, wherein at least one of the two arms is pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to a gliding board longitudinal direction. Even more preferably, both arms can be pivotally mounted in order to be able to change a distance between the bearing sections for adjusting the front unit. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for at least one, preferably both, of the arms to be pivotable about an axis substantially orthogonal to the gliding board longitudinal direction in order to be able to change the distance between the bearing sections.

[0010] In this case, the bearing sections can be journals that protrude from the distal ends of the arms toward each other. Alternatively, it is also possible, conversely, for the bearing sections to be formed by recesses, and the counter-bearing sections to be formed by projections or journals that can be engaged by the recesses.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the bearing sections can be prestressed towards each other and / or away from each other by at least one elastic element in order to be able to securely hold or release the counter-bearing sections of the gliding board shoe.

[0012] In addition, the bearing sections can pass a dead center during an adjustment between the release position and the downhill position or the walking position, for example by at least one of the bearing sections being spring-loaded by at least one elastic element in such a way that the bearing sections are pre-tensioned into the release position and, after overcoming a dead center position, at least one of the bearing sections is pre-tensioned into the downhill position or the walking position. With such a structurally advantageous arrangement, the bearing sections, which can in particular be provided at distal ends of pivotably mounted arms, can be moved past the dead center by actuating a locking lever or the like. By overcoming a particularly unstable dead center position by one or both of such arms, the bearing sections can be reliably held in the downhill or walking position.The walking position on one side and the release position on the other side can be ensured. For example, a joint can be provided between free ends of two inwardly directed ends of the arms, which are opposite the distal ends, and at least one spring can be arranged between the second end of each arm and the joint.

[0013] Preferably, the distance between the bearing sections can be greater in the release position than in the downhill position, and optionally greater in the downhill position than in the walking position, in order to hold the counter-bearing sections of the gliding board shoe in place by means of the bearing sections in the downhill position and in the walking position and to release them in the release position. Optionally, the distance between the bearing sections can be the same in the downhill position as in the walking position.

[0014] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operating portion may be provided at a distal end of the blocking lever and the locking portion may be provided at an end of the blocking lever opposite the operating portion.

[0015] It is also particularly conceived that a shape of the wear-reducing element is substantially adapted to a shape of the counter-locking section on the base body, in particular wherein the wear-reducing element can bear substantially against a facing surface of the base body with substantially an entire surface facing in the direction of the gliding board surface. This means that a surface of the wear-reducing element facing in the direction of the gliding board surface can essentially assume a mirrored shape of the base body, in particular of the counter-locking section. Thus, the wear-reducing element can improve the wear resistance of the front unit in an area of ​​interaction between the base body and the blocking lever, without the shape of the counter-locking section having to be significantly changed.In this way, wear in the area of ​​the contact surfaces between the base body and the blocking lever can be minimized in a particularly simple manner.

[0016] Furthermore, the counter-locking section can preferably be designed as at least one projection which is provided on the base body and projects away from the base body in the direction away from a gliding board surface and which can cooperate with the locking section of the blocking lever in order to block the bearing sections in the walking position. Such a projection can in particular be formed by a curvature upwards away from the gliding board plane. Conversely, however, it is also possible for the counter-locking section to be formed by a recess in the base body in the direction of the gliding board surface, which recess can cooperate with a projection on the locking section of the blocking lever in order to block the bearing sections in the walking position.

[0017] Furthermore, the locking portion of the blocking lever can be configured as at least one projection, which is provided at one end of the blocking lever and is configured to point substantially toward the gliding board surface when the front unit is in the walking position. In particular, it is contemplated that the locking portion is formed by a plurality of projections in the form of locking projections and locking notches located between the locking projections, wherein the locking notches can interact with the counter-locking portion of the base body such that the front unit is locked or locked in the walking position.

[0018] Furthermore, the wear-reducing element can advantageously be connected to the base body, in particular by means of a molded coupling or by means of a positive fit. Alternatively, the base body and wear-reducing element can also be connected to one another in other ways, such as by gluing, screwing, etc. It is also possible for the wear-reducing element to be connected to the blocking lever instead of to the base body, again for example by a molded coupling, by gluing, screwing, etc. In this case, the counter-locking section can be provided in the form of a locking contour on the base body, which can interact with the wear-reducing element provided on the locking section of the operating lever to lock the front unit in the walking position.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wear-reducing element can be made of a metallic material. Such a metallic material can be, for example, steel, aluminum, titanium, or an alloy thereof. Metallic materials provide the wear resistance required in this area.

[0020] In this case, the wear-reducing element can, in particular, be a bent sheet metal part whose thickness is in the range of approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, preferably in the range of approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 1.0 mm, in particular approximately 0.5 mm. A bent sheet metal part is comparatively simple and cost-effective to manufacture and simultaneously provides the wear-reducing properties desired for the present invention.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the object of the invention formulated at the outset is achieved by a touring binding comprising a front unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, a heel unit and optionally a brake arrangement.

[0022] The invention will be explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. In detail: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front unit according to the preferred embodiment in a downhill position, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base body of the front unit according to the preferred embodiment, with other components of the front unit hidden, Figure 3 is a front view of the front unit according to the preferred embodiment in the downhill position, Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line EE in Figure 3 , Figure 5 a detailed view of the Figure 4area marked H, Figure 6 a sectional view along the line FF in Figure 3 , Figure 7 a detailed view of the Figure 6 area marked G, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front unit according to the preferred embodiment in a walking position, Figure 9 is a plan view of the front unit according to the preferred embodiment in the walking position, Figure 10 is a sectional view along the line AA in Figure 9 , Figure 11 a detailed view of the Figure 10 area marked C and Figure 12 a detailed view of the Figure 10 area marked D.

[0023] With reference to Figure 1 A front unit for a touring binding is generally designated 10. Figure 1shows a perspective view of the front unit 10 in a downhill configuration. A mounting surface of the front unit 10 facing toward a gliding board surface of a gliding board to which the front unit 10 is to be mounted defines a gliding board plane. Furthermore, an X-axis running along a gliding board longitudinal axis (gliding board longitudinal direction or x-direction), which is oriented in the direction of travel of the gliding board, a Y-axis running orthogonal to the X-axis and parallel to the gliding board plane E (gliding board transverse direction or y-direction), and a Z-axis running orthogonal to the gliding board plane E (vertical direction or z-direction) are defined here.

[0024] The front unit 10 comprises a base body 12, which can be attached to a gliding board directly or via a base 11, for example, using the screws shown. The front unit is adjustable between a release position, a downhill position, and a walking position.

[0025] Furthermore, the front unit 10 comprises two lateral bearing sections 16, which are arranged on a transverse axis running substantially orthogonal to the x-direction and parallel to the y-direction and which are configured to engage lateral counter-bearing sections of a gliding board shoe in the downhill position and in the walking position in order to hold the gliding board shoe pivotably about the transverse axis. In the downhill position and in the walking position, the bearing sections 16 have a distance designed for engagement with the counter-bearing sections. In the release position, the bearing sections 16 have a distance that is greater than in the downhill and walking positions, so that the shoe can be inserted between or removed from the bearing sections 16.Optionally, the distance between the bearing sections 16 can be greater in the downhill position than in the walking position to facilitate release of the gliding board shoe in the event of a fall or the like and to hold the shoe even more securely in the walking position. The downhill position is in the . Figures 1 to 7 shown and the walking position is shown in the Figures 8 to 12 The release position is not shown in the figures.

[0026] The front unit 10 further comprises a movement device 18, 26, 28 for moving the bearing sections 16 between the release position, the downhill position, and the walking position. This movement device 18, 26, 28 can consist of two lateral arms 18, a tensioning lever 26, and a blocking lever 28. The arms can be pivotably mounted on the base body 12 about an axis 20. Each of the arms 18 can have a first leg 18-1, at the distal end of which one of the bearing sections 16 is arranged. The arms 18 can be held on the base body 12, in particular, via a pivot axis 20 running parallel to a gliding board central axis X, so that the arms 18 can be pivoted about the pivot axes 20. The first leg 18-1 can project upwards with respect to an XY gliding board plane defined by the gliding board (the plane in which a running surface of the gliding board lies), ieextending approximately in the height direction z orthogonal to the gliding board plane XY. Furthermore, each arm 18 can comprise a second leg 18-2 extending from the first leg 18-1 toward the gliding board center axis X of the gliding board and being oriented approximately parallel to the gliding board plane XY.

[0027] The movement device 18, 26, 28 can be designed to convert a movement of a closing actuating section 24 of the tensioning lever 26 directed towards the sliding board plane into an approach movement of the bearing sections 16 in order to move the bearing sections 16 from the release position into the Figures 1 to 7 to move to the downhill position shown. Such a movement of the closing actuation section 24 can be triggered in particular by stepping on the closing actuation section 24 with a front sole section of a gliding board shoe.

[0028] With reference to Figure 6Distal ends (ends remote from the pivot axes 20) of the second legs 18-2 of the arms 18 can be extended toward the gliding board center axis by at least one pin arranged on each of the second legs 18-2. The pins can be inserted into end caps 62 with their ends pointing toward the gliding board center axis, wherein the pin of one arm 18 can be inserted into a first end cap 62 and the pin of the other arm 18 can be inserted into a second end cap 62. A spiral spring 60 can be wound around each of the pins, wherein each of the spiral springs 60 can be supported on the one hand on the distal end of the arm 18 and on the other hand on the end cap 62 in order to pretension the end caps 62 in a direction away from the arms 18, ie in the direction of approach of the two end caps 62, so that the end caps 62 abut one another and are pressed against one another. Figure 7shows in detail the area of ​​the counter-locking section 14 of the base body 12.

[0029] For example, in the Figures 1 , 3 and 4 As can be seen, distal ends of the first legs 18-1 can each have one of the bearing sections 16. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bearing sections 16 can in particular be present as bearing pins 16, which each protrude inward from the first leg 18-1, ie, toward the gliding board's central axis X, and taper to a conical point at their protruding ends. The tips of the bearing pins 16 can thus point approximately toward one another.

[0030] As again in Figure 6As can be seen, one or both of the arms 18 can be spring-loaded by at least one elastic element 60, which can be embodied in particular by the spiral springs 60, and the bearing sections 16, in particular in the form of the bearing pins 16, can be prestressed into the downhill position or into the release position by overcoming a dead center position of one or both arms 18.

[0031] The tensioning lever 26 can, in particular, be designed with two arms and can be pivotably mounted on the base body 12 about a tensioning lever pivot axis 27 extending substantially in the y-direction. A first tensioning lever arm 26-1 of the tensioning lever 26 can extend from the tensioning lever pivot axis 27 to the end caps 62 of the arms 18 and engage around the end caps 62 with an end portion. The end portion can have the closing actuation portion 24, which extends in the form of a first plate portion from the first tensioning lever arm 26-1 a short distance beyond the end caps 62. A pivoting movement of the tensioning lever 26 about the tensioning lever pivot axis 27 can thus be motion-coupled with a pivoting movement of the arms 18 about the pivot axes 20 in order to adjust the front unit 10 between the release position and the down position.

[0032] An adjustment of the front unit 10 between the Figures 1 to 7shown departure position and the one shown in the Figures 8 to 12 The walking position shown is achieved by means of the blocking lever 28 by pulling on an operating section 32. This creates contact between the locking section 34 of the blocking lever 28 and the counter-locking section 14 provided on the base body 12. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front unit 10 according to the preferred embodiment in the walking position and Figure 9 is a plan view of the front unit 10 according to the preferred embodiment in the walking position.

[0033] The blocking lever 28 is pivotally mounted on a distal end portion of the tensioning lever 26, which extends forward in the gliding board longitudinal direction x, about a blocking lever pivot axis 30 extending substantially parallel to the y-direction. A second tensioning lever arm 26-2 can extend from the tensioning lever pivot axis 27 substantially in the opposite direction to the first tensioning lever arm 26-1 and can be connected at its distal end to the blocking lever 28, in particular by means of the blocking lever pivot axis 30. The blocking lever 28 has the operating portion 32 and the locking portion 34, which can extend in different directions from the blocking lever pivot axis 29.

[0034] The front unit 10 further comprises a wear-reducing element 50, which is arranged in the walking position of the front unit 10 between the locking section 34 of the blocking lever 28 and the counter-locking section 14 of the base body 12.

[0035] With reference to the Figures 10 to 12 and 4 and 5, which show sectional views in an XZ plane of the front unit 10 and detailed views thereof, the wear-reducing element 50 and its operation are explained in more detail.

[0036] The wear-reducing element 50 can, for example, be positively connected to the base body 12. In the Figures 5 and 12 It can best be seen that in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the wear-reducing element 50 in the form of a web 52 engages under a projection 15 which can be formed on the locking portion 14 of the base body 12.

[0037] Preferably, a shape of the wear-reducing element 50 is substantially adapted to a shape of the counter-locking section 14 on the base body 12. This means that the wear-reducing element 50 bears with a substantially entire surface facing in the direction of the gliding board surface essentially against a facing surface of the base body 12 on the locking section 14. A surface of the wear-reducing element 50 facing in the direction of the gliding board surface can thus essentially assume a mirrored shape of the base body 12, in particular of the counter-locking section 14.

[0038] The wear-reducing element 50 can be made of a metallic material, for example, steel, aluminum, titanium, or alloys thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wear-reducing element 50 can be a bent sheet metal part 50 with a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.

[0039] In addition, the locking portion 34 of the blocking lever 26 can be formed as at least one projection which is provided at one end of the blocking lever 26 and is configured to point substantially in the direction of the gliding board surface in the walking position of the front unit 10. As best shown in Figure 8As can be seen, in particular two such projections can be provided as fork-like distal lever ends of the functional section 34 of the blocking lever 28, in particular wherein the two fork projections can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the XZ plane. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each locking section 34 can be formed from a plurality of projections in the form of locking projections and locking notches 35 located between the locking projections, wherein the locking notches 35 interact with the counter-locking section 14 of the base body 12 in such a way that the front unit 10 is blocked in the walking position or that the locking section 34 locks into the counter-locking section 14.

[0040] How best in Figure 2can be seen, in which the base body 12 is shown and other components are hidden, the counter-locking section 14 can be designed as at least one projection which is provided on the base body 12 and protrudes from the base body 12 in the direction away from a gliding board surface. As mentioned, the counter-locking section 14 cooperates with the locking section 34 of the blocking lever 28 in order to block the bearing sections 16 and thus the front unit 10 in the walking position. The counter-locking section 34 can be formed by a curvature upwards away from the gliding board plane, in particular by two curvatures 14-1, 14-2 (see for example Figures 2 and 7 ), which can be symmetrical with respect to the gliding board center plane XZ.

[0041] The operation of the front unit 10 of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 12explained. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the described operations of the front unit 10 are intended to be merely exemplary.

[0042] A user can step into the front unit 10 with the gliding board shoe when the arms 18 are in the release position of the front unit 10, in which the end caps 62 with the end section 24 are moved into the upper position and the bearing pins 16 are pivoted outward accordingly. The bearing sections or bearing pins 16 can then be spaced far enough apart that a sole section of a gliding board shoe can be inserted with as little clearance as possible between them. A running surface of the sole section can be placed on the closing actuation section 24 and supported from above on the closing actuation section 24.Due to the closure actuation section 24 being widened in the gliding board width direction and thus a wider support surface for the running surface of the sole section, the user is provided with an orientation aid when getting in, which helps to correctly align the gliding board shoe with respect to the front unit for coupling the bearing sections with the counter bearing sections.

[0043] The end section 24 can then move toward the gliding board by exerting a force directed toward the gliding board through the gliding board shoe on the closing actuation section 24 (or / and by manually pivoting the blocking lever 28). The end section 24 can thereby entrain the end caps 62 and pivot the arms 18 about the pivot axes 20. Accordingly, the bearing pins 16 can approach one another and move toward the gliding board shoe. This movement can occur against the resistance of the coil springs 60, since a contact point between the end caps 62 in the release position can lie above a connecting line between the pivot axes 20. Accordingly, an approach of the contact point to the connecting line can mean a reduction in the respective distances between the end caps 62 and the arms 18 and thus a compression of the coil springs 60.

[0044] When the end caps 62 are approximately level with the connecting line, the movement device can reach a dead center, at which the resistance of the coil springs 60 to the approach of the end caps 62 to the connecting line switches into an acceleration of the end caps 62, caused by the force of the springs 60, in the direction of further approach to the sliding board. The force of the coil springs 60, which in this case can always push the end caps 62 away from the connecting line, can thus cause the movement device to switch at the dead center and automatically push the arms 18 toward a closed position, in which the bearing pins 16 are preloaded toward mutual approach.

[0045] At the latest when passing through the dead center, the closing actuating section 24 can have a height above the sliding board which positions the sliding board shoe supported on the closing actuating section 24 at a correct height with respect to the bearing pins 16, so that bearing holes of the sliding board shoe are located approximately at the same height as the bearing pins 16, so that during the further movement of the movement device into the closed position, the bearing pins 16 can securely engage in the bearing holes.

[0046] In the downhill position, the arms 18 can be stably pre-tensioned by the above-described action of the coil springs 60. However, in order to improve the load-bearing capacity of the front unit 10 and to reliably prevent the arms 18 from pivoting into the release position due to a force acting on the bearing pins 16 from the gliding board shoe, the blocking lever 28 can additionally be pivoted into a blocking position in which the locking section 34 at the distal end of the blocking lever 28 rests below the blocking lever pivot axis 30 on the counter-locking section 14 of the base body 12, so that a movement of the second arm 26-2 of the tensioning lever 26 toward the gliding board and thus an upward movement of the end section 24 is blocked. This means that the locking section 34 and the counter-locking section 14 cooperate to block or lock the front unit 10 in the walking position.The wear-reducing element 50 is used at the contact points between the locking section 34 and the counter-locking section 14 in order to effectively minimize friction and wear at these points.

[0047] To open the front unit 10, the blocking lever 28 can first be pivoted back from the walking position so that the locking section 34 is released from contact with the counter-locking section 14 of the base body 12. The blocking lever 28 can then be grasped at the operating section 32 and moved towards the gliding board so that the tensioning lever 26 pivots and the end section moves upward. The movement device can counteract this opening movement with the resistance of the coil springs 60 until the end caps 32 again pass through the dead center at the level of the connecting line between the pivot axes 20. The springs 60 can then automatically push the end caps 32 further upward toward the release position and ultimately hold the arms 18 in the release position. The bearing pins 16 can thereby disengage from the bearing holes and the gliding board shoe can finally be pulled out of the front unit 10.

Claims

1. A front unit (10) for a touring binding, which is to be mounted on a gliding board, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between a release position, a downhill position, and a walking position, and wherein the front unit (10) comprises: a base body (12) which is designed to be attached to a gliding board surface, a left and a right bearing section (16) which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing sections of a gliding board shoe in the walking position and in the downhill position and to release them in the release position, and a blocking lever (28) which has an operating section (32) and a locking section (34), wherein the blocking lever (28) is designed to adjust the bearing sections (16) between the downhill position and the walking position, and wherein the blocking lever (28) is further designed toto cooperate on the locking portion (34) of the blocking lever (28) with a counter-locking portion (14) provided on the base body (12) in order to block the bearing portions (16) in the walking position, , characterized by a wear-reducing element (50) which is designed to be arranged in the walking position of the front unit (10) between the locking section (34) of the blocking lever (28) and the counter-locking section (14) of the base body (12).

2. Front unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing sections (16) are provided on a left or a right arm (18), wherein at least one of the two arms (18) is pivotable about an axis (20) substantially parallel to a sliding board longitudinal direction (x).

3. Front unit (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the bearing sections (16) are bearing pins (16) which project from distal ends of the arms (18) towards each other.

4. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing sections (16) are prestressed towards each other and / or away from each other by at least one elastic element (60).

5. Front unit (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the bearing sections (16) exceed a dead point when adjusted between the release position and the downhill position or the walking position.

6. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance between the bearing sections (16) is greater in the release position than in the downhill position and optionally is greater in the downhill position than in the walking position.

7. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe operating portion (32) is provided at a distal end (32) of the blocking lever (28) and the locking portion (34) is provided at an end (34) of the blocking lever (28) opposite the operating portion (32).

8. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shape of the wear-reducing element (50) is substantially adapted to a shape of the counter-locking section (14) on the base body (12), in particular wherein the wear-reducing element (50) bears substantially against a facing surface of the base body (12) with a substantially entire surface facing in the direction of the gliding board surface.

9. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe counter-locking portion (14) of the base body (12) is formed as at least one projection (14) which is provided on the base body (12) and projects from the base body (12) in a direction away from a sliding board surface.

10. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking portion (34) of the blocking lever (28) is designed as at least one projection (14) which is provided at one end of the blocking lever (28) and is adapted to point substantially in the direction of the sliding board surface in the walking position of the front unit (10).

11. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wear-reducing element (50) is connected to the base body (12), in particular by means of a molded coupling to the base body (12).

12. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe wear-reducing element (50) is made of a metallic material.

13. Front unit (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the wear-reducing element (50) is a bent sheet metal part (50) whose thickness is in the range from approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, preferably in the range from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 1.0 mm, in particular approximately 0.5 mm.

14. Touring binding, comprising a front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, a heel unit and optionally a brake arrangement.

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