Front unit for a gliding board binding and gliding board

Abstract

A front unit (10) for a gliding board binding, in particular for a ski touring binding, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, comprising: - a base (11) with a fastening arrangement (12) for attachment to a gliding board (1), - two lateral bearing elements (15) which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing elements of a boot in order to hold the boot pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis (Q), wherein the bearing elements (15) have a distance in the open position which is greater than in the closed position, so that the boot can be inserted between the bearing elements or removed from the front unit (10), and - two holding levers (13) for moving the bearing elements (15), wherein at least one holding lever (13) is held on the base (11) so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis (D), wherein each holding lever (13) has a first leg (14),at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements (15) is arranged, and a pivoting movement of the at least one holding lever (13) enables a relative movement of the bearing elements (15) from the open position into the closed position, wherein the holding levers (13) are operatively connected to one another via a spring device (16), characterized in that the spring device (16) is simultaneously a bearing (17) for the two holding levers (13).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a front unit for a gliding board binding, in particular for a ski touring binding, and to a gliding board according to the preambles of the independent claims.

[0002] Various gliding board bindings, and in particular, front units for gliding board bindings, are already known from the state of the art. In addition to ski and ski touring bindings, there are also other binding types for gliding boards, such as cross-country bindings, telemark bindings, snowboard and splitboard bindings, and waterski bindings, which perform different functions and whose binding bodies can be designed accordingly.

[0003] In skiing, a distinction is usually made between piste bindings and touring bindings. Gliding board bindings for skiing typically comprise at least two binding bodies: a heel unit and a toe unit to engage a boot in the downhill position and lock it onto the gliding board. Piste bindings are used for downhill skiing and / or skiing on ski lifts.

[0004] Gliding board bindings for ski touring, on the other hand, are usually adjustable in two positions: a downhill position, similar to conventional ski bindings, and a touring or ascent position. Touring bindings are primarily used for ascents with the aid of skins attached to the gliding boards.

[0005] In a downhill position, a boot should be reliably locked between the toe unit and the heel unit. The gliding board binding should release when a defined force is applied to prevent injury, for example, in the event of a fall. At the same time, however, it must ensure that the boot is not released by an increased force caused by an impact or slipping, unintentionally releasing during the descent, and in the worst case, provoking a fall.

[0006] Especially when touring, a boot must be easy to put on, even in difficult terrain or extreme weather conditions. This should be comfortable, error-free, and effortless.

[0007] EP 0 199 098 A2 discloses a touring ski binding comprising a front mount of a touring ski binding for pivotally supporting a ski boot during touring. The front mount has two pivotally mounted and opposing clamping parts that are spring-loaded via retaining levers and can be snapped into their locked and rest positions by overcoming a dead center position.

[0008] EP 3 219 368 A2 discloses a front unit for a gliding board, wherein a joint arrangement comprising three joints is provided between the holding sections, which control the pivoting movement relative to each other. The distance between the two outer joints changes during the transition from the holding state to the release state. These are rotary or solid-state joints.

[0009] EP 2 392 388 A1 discloses a front unit with two bearing sections configured to engage a boot. Finding the correct entry position for the ski boot is simplified by a longitudinal positioning section. The longitudinal positioning section is adjustable between a step-in position and a touring position to prevent collision between the longitudinal positioning section and the pivoting boot.

[0010] The disadvantage of conventional front units is that they are complex to design and manufacture. Accordingly, the material used and thus production costs are high, and the binding is heavy. The complex construction also makes the binding inflexible and prone to failure - especially in difficult conditions. Any repair or adjustment is made more difficult. In addition, safe entry requires a lot of practice and patience and, in difficult conditions, particularly on steep and / or uneven terrain, presents significant challenges even for experienced users. Furthermore, the entry and release force of the front unit are the same and / or not adjustable. Either a great deal of force must be overcome to enter, or there is a risk that the gliding board binding will inadvertently release during the descent. As a result, many gliding board users block the release of the front unit during the descent.

[0011] The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a front unit for a gliding board binding and a gliding board are to be provided that minimizes material usage and thus costs and guarantees reliable engagement of a boot by the gliding board binding. Ease of use is to be maximized while simultaneously increasing the level of safety. Manufacturing costs are to be reduced through easily and simply adjustable and / or replaceable binding components.

[0012] This object is achieved by the front units and the gliding board defined in the independent patent claims. Further embodiments are disclosed in the dependent patent claims.

[0013] A front unit according to the invention for a gliding board binding, in particular for a ski touring binding, is adjustable between an open position and a closed position. The front unit comprises a base with a fastening arrangement for attachment to a gliding board. The front unit has two lateral bearing elements which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing elements of a boot. This holds the boot pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis. In the open position, the bearing elements have a distance that is greater than in the closed position. This allows the boot to be inserted or removed between the bearing elements of the front unit. The front unit also comprises two retaining levers for moving the bearing elements. At least one retaining lever, preferably both retaining levers, is held on the base so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis.Each retaining lever has a first leg, at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements is arranged. A pivoting movement of the at least one retaining lever enables a relative movement of the bearing elements from the open position to the closed position. The retaining levers are operatively connected to one another via a spring device. The spring device also serves as a bearing for the two retaining levers.

[0014] The term "gliding board" and related terms such as "boot," "binding," "plane," "longitudinal axis," and the like can refer to skis, but also to splitboards, snowshoes, or similar boards for walking and / or gliding on snow and ice. Gliding boards for water and / or sand surfaces are also conceivable, although this list is not exhaustive.

[0015] A bearing element is understood, in particular, to be a pin that, in a closed position, is designed to be in contact with a counter-bearing element in the front area of ​​the boot, allowing the boot to pivot around a gliding board's transverse axis. This makes the front unit particularly suitable for use in a ski touring binding.

[0016] The closed position of the front unit is the position in which the front unit can hold a boot in place using the bearing elements. This applies to both the downhill and touring positions of the gliding board binding.

[0017] In the open position, the gliding board shoe is released or insertion of the gliding board shoe is permitted.

[0018] A spring assembly comprising a bearing has the advantage of reducing the number of parts comprising the front unit. This reduces the weight and cost of the front unit, as well as the susceptibility to errors during manufacturing and assembly, and minimizes wear. Safety and operating comfort are increased.

[0019] The bearing element can be cylindrical or conical. However, it can also have any other geometric shape that can come into contact with a corresponding counter-bearing element of a shoe.

[0020] At least one of the retaining levers can be spring-loaded by the spring device. The bearing elements can be preloaded into the closed position or the open position by overcoming a dead center position of at least one of the retaining levers.

[0021] Thanks to the pre-tensioning of the retaining levers, the front unit is not accidentally moved from an open to a closed position, or from a closed to an open position. The boot can be reliably engaged in a closed position. A safe and comfortable ascent and / or descent is ensured. At the same time, the closed position is only triggered when specifically desired. Operating comfort is noticeably increased.

[0022] The bearing can be formed by a slotted sleeve.

[0023] The sleeve is preferably made of spring steel. However, an elastomer is also conceivable. Spring steel 1.7103 in accordance with DIN EN 10089 (2003) is preferably used for this purpose, whereby the sleeve can have a diameter in the range of 6.0 mm to 16.0 mm, preferably 8.0 mm to 14.5 mm, particularly preferably 10 mm to 13.0 mm, and a wall thickness of between 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably 0.75 mm and 2.5 mm, particularly preferably 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. The slot width is between 0.5 mm and 6.0 mm, preferably between 2.0 mm and 5.5 mm, particularly preferably between 3.5 and 5.0 mm. The sleeve can have a length of 5.0 to 15.0 mm, preferably 8.0 to 13.0 mm, particularly preferably 10.0 to 12.0 mm.

[0024] Slotted sleeves have the advantage that they can not only serve as connecting elements, but also absorb impact and shock forces thanks to their spring properties. They can exert continuous pressure on the retaining levers and permanently preload them into the open or closed position. They are also easy to install and therefore easy to replace if they become worn. Installation and maintenance costs are low.

[0025] In addition to a slotted sleeve, it is also conceivable to use a different spring or a closed sleeve. The spring element does not have to have a circular cross-section; other shapes are also conceivable, such as oval, elliptical, triangular, square, or other polygons.

[0026] A single, discrete spring element can be formed between the retaining levers. By forming a single spring element, the design of the front unit can be significantly simplified. This makes the construction more robust and less prone to failure. A discrete spring element is an element that exhibits a spring property. For example, it is a spring element made of an elastomer, spring steel, or another suitable elastic material.

[0027] The holding lever can be angled, with a second leg forming an angle of 90° ± 15° with the first leg. The first leg has the bearing element at its distal end. The angle is measured between a straight line running along the outer side of the first leg and a second straight line running along the side of the second leg facing the gliding board.

[0028] The length of the second leg can correspond to at least half the distance between the two bearing elements in the closed position. By dimensioning the length of the second leg as large as possible compared to the first leg, a large force can be achieved on the first leg and thus the clamping force in the closed position with a comparatively low preload force of the spring device. The length of the leg is measured from the rotational axis of the retaining lever to its distal end.

[0029] A further aspect of the present invention is a front unit for a gliding board binding, preferably as described above. The front unit is particularly suitable for a ski touring binding. It is adjustable between an open position and a closed position and comprises a base with a fastening arrangement for attachment to a gliding board. It further comprises two lateral bearing elements which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing elements of a boot. This allows the boot to be pivoted about a gliding board transverse axis. In the open position, the bearing elements have a distance that is greater than in the closed position. The boot can thus be inserted between the bearing elements or removed from the front unit. The front unit also comprises two holding levers for moving the bearing elements, wherein at least one holding lever is held on the base so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis.Each of the retaining levers has a first leg, at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements is arranged. A pivoting movement of the at least one retaining lever enables a relative movement of the bearing elements from the open position to the closed position. The retaining levers are operatively connected to one another via a spring device. The front unit additionally has a longitudinal positioning element for positioning the shoe. The longitudinal positioning element can be pivoted and fixed on an axis vertical to the base plane.

[0030] For the purposes of this application, a vertical axis is understood to be an axis that is approximately perpendicular to the gliding board plane. The vertical axis can deviate from the vertical by up to 20°, preferably less than 10°, and particularly preferably less than 5°.

[0031] Thanks to a longitudinal positioning element, the boot can be carefully and precisely positioned in the front unit, ensuring positioning accuracy within the range of the diameter values ​​of the bearing and counter-bearing elements. The longitudinal positioning elements significantly reduce the demands on the user when putting on the boot. Even under difficult conditions such as steep terrain, snow-covered front units, or extreme weather conditions, the boot can be securely engaged by the binding. This makes putting on the boot much easier, faster, and more comfortable, especially for less experienced users and / or in difficult external conditions. By avoiding failed attempts, potential wear on the front unit and thus the service life of the gliding board binding is increased.

[0032] The gliding board binding preferably has two longitudinal positioning elements. However, a single, three, or more longitudinal positioning elements are also conceivable, depending on the design and construction.

[0033] The longitudinal positioning element can be fixed to the base by means of a fastening arrangement. The fastening arrangement can preferably comprise a screw thread and a screw. This has the advantage that after loosening the fastening arrangement, the distance from the bearing elements to the longitudinal positioning element can be adjusted to the shoe model or the degree of wear of the shoe or gliding board. After adjusting the distance, the longitudinal positioning element can be fixed immovably to the base again using the fastening arrangement. Fixing the longitudinal positioning elements to the base has the advantage that, in addition to the longitudinal positioning element with fastening arrangement, no additional elements are required for adjustment; simple pivoting around the vertical axis is sufficient. Using commercially available screws, the longitudinal positioning element can be easily adjusted.

[0034] The longitudinal positioning element may comprise a pin and / or be formed substantially by a pin.

[0035] The material-saving design of the longitudinal positioning element is advantageous, as it reduces weight and manufacturing costs.

[0036] The longitudinal positioning element can also be a plate or have other geometric shapes.

[0037] The front unit may have a locking lever that is adjustable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, movement from the closed position to the open position is possible, whereas in the locked position, movement from the closed position to the open position is blocked.

[0038] In the locked position, the locking lever is in an active position. The advantage is that the locking mechanism prevents any transition from a closed position to an open position. This prevents the boot from accidentally being released from the front unit, for example, during a climb.

[0039] The closing actuation lever can be operatively connected to at least one of the retaining levers in such a way that it can force a movement from the closed position to the open position and / or from the open position to the closed position. This allows for a targeted opening and / or closing of the binding. The bearing elements can thus be deliberately and controlledly brought into engagement with the counter-bearing elements of a boot.

[0040] A further aspect of the present invention is a front unit for a gliding board binding, in particular as described above. The gliding board binding is particularly suitable as a ski touring binding. The front unit is adjustable between an open position and a closed position and comprises a base with a fastening arrangement for attachment to a gliding board. The front unit further comprises two lateral bearing elements which are configured to engage lateral counter-bearing elements of a boot. The boot is thereby held pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis. The bearing elements have a distance in the open position that is greater than in the closed position. The boot can thus be inserted between the bearing elements or removed from the front unit.The front unit also comprises two retaining levers for moving the bearing elements, wherein at least one retaining lever, preferably both retaining levers, is pivotably mounted on the base about a rotational axis. Each of the retaining levers has a first leg, at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements is arranged. A pivoting movement of the retaining lever enables a relative movement of the bearing elements from the open position to the closed position. The retaining levers are operatively connected to one another via a spring device. A preload of the retaining levers in the open position differs from a preload in the closed position.

[0041] As a result, the force required to overcome a dead center from the open position to the closed position is smaller than from the closed position to the open position.

[0042] The retaining levers are preloaded at least by the spring mechanism. Additional forces are possible.

[0043] The fact that a lower force must be overcome from the open position to the closed position than from the closed position to the open position simplifies operation and increases safety. Blocking the front unit in the closed position using a closing mechanism in a downhill position to prevent accidental activation during descent is not necessary, and a safety release is guaranteed in an emergency. At the same time, the force required to engage the boot is low.

[0044] The force can be adjustable. Under this condition, different configurations are conceivable. In at least one configuration, the force from the open position to the closed position must be smaller than the force from the closed position to the open position. However, configurations are also conceivable in which the force can be the same or greater.

[0045] The preload of the retaining levers can be the resultant force from the force of the spring device and a second superimposed force. The second superimposed force can vary depending on the position of the retaining levers.

[0046] In a central position of the retaining levers, when the spring mechanism is centered on the connecting line between the two rotation axes of the retaining levers, the spring load is greatest. This position corresponds to the dead center. From here, the retaining levers can pivot into the closed or open position.

[0047] The closer the holding levers are to the dead center, the lower the total entry or release force.

[0048] With the help of a connecting mechanism between the gliding board and the spring device, the position of the spring device can be adjusted relative to the gliding board plane.

[0049] The second superimposed force can be defined by a connecting mechanism between the base and the spring device. The connecting mechanism can comprise at least one connecting rod and an elastic element. The connecting rod can act on the elastic element and the spring device. Such a connecting mechanism with an additional elastic element allows the superimposed force to be deliberately directed in one direction, for example, to support a movement toward the closed position and counteract a movement toward the open position.

[0050] The elastic element can be located in the base of the front unit. Using an adjusting element, such as a screw, the tension of the elastic element, which acts on the connecting rod and thus on the spring device, can be adjusted.

[0051] Another object of the present invention relates to a gliding board with a front unit as described above.

[0052] The base and / or the retaining levers of the front unit can be made of a metal. The metal can be selected from the group comprising precious metal, steel, spring steel, and / or aluminum, as well as alloys thereof. Plastic-based and / or fiber-reinforced materials are also conceivable. A design of the front unit without plastic is also conceivable.

[0053] The advantage of choosing metal is that the gliding board binding can withstand greater forces and increases its durability. Accordingly, the gliding board binding, including all individual components, can be recycled at the end of its life.

[0054] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures which merely represent exemplary embodiments. They show: Figure 1: a side view of a gliding board with a gliding board binding comprising a front unit and a heel unit, Figure 2: a perspective view of the front unit according to Figure 1 in an open position, Figure 3: a front view of the front unit according to Figure 2 , and Figure 4: a cross-section in the longitudinal direction of a gliding board through the front unit according to a further embodiment.

[0055] Figure 1shows a side view of a gliding board 1 with a gliding board binding 2, which has a front unit 10 and a heel unit 20. The gliding board binding 2 is particularly suitable as a binding for ski touring skis. The binding 2 is in a downhill position. The front unit 10 and the heel unit 20 are attached to the gliding board 1 along a gliding board longitudinal axis L. A base 11 of the front unit 10 and a base 21 of the heel unit 20 are arranged on the gliding board 1 and serve to mount the two binding units. The base 11 has a base plane E and the base 21 has a base plane F. The front unit 10 and the heel unit 20 are mounted on the side opposite the gliding surface G of the gliding board 1. A gliding board plane H coincides with the base planes E and F.

[0056] Figure 2 shows a perspective view and Figure 3 in a front view of the front unit 10 according to Figure 1in an open position. The front unit 10 according to the invention is adjustable into an open and a closed position. The front unit 10 is attached to the gliding board 1 by means of its base 11 by means of a fastening arrangement 12. In the present embodiment, the fastening arrangement 12 is formed by a screw hole, which enables the front unit 10 to be mounted on the gliding board 1 via the base 11 and the base plane E by means of screws (not shown).

[0057] The front unit 10 has two lateral retaining levers 13 with a first leg 14 and a second leg 14'. A bearing element 15 in the form of a pin is attached to the distal end of each retaining lever 13. The bearing elements 15 are arranged substantially parallel to a gliding board transverse axis Q and orthogonal to the first legs 14. In the closed position (not shown), the bearing elements 15 can engage lateral counter-bearing elements 54 of a shoe 50. The shoe 50 is thus held pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis Q. In the open position shown, the distance K between the pins 15 is greater than the distance I between the counter-bearing elements 54 of the shoe 50.

[0058] The two retaining levers 13 are spring-loaded by a spring device 16 and interact with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring device 16 is a slotted sleeve made of spring steel. The slotted sleeve also serves as a bearing 17 for the two retaining levers 13. The retaining levers 13 are preloaded into the illustrated open position by the spring device 16. The retaining levers 13 are mounted on the base 11 so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis D.

[0059] By overcoming an unstable dead center position of the two retaining levers 13, the bearing elements 15 can be preloaded from the open position to the closed position and engage the shoe 50 for ascent or descent. The distance K between the two bearing elements 15 then essentially corresponds to the distance between the counter bearings 54 of the shoe 50. The force required to overcome the dead center position depends on the position of the retaining levers 13. The closer the retaining levers are to the dead center, the lower the force required to overcome the dead center. Of course, the force required to overcome the dead center also depends on the design and dimensioning of the spring device 16.

[0060] The illustrated front unit 10 also includes two longitudinal positioning elements 100, which are designed as pins. The longitudinal positioning elements 100 are fixed to the base 11 of the gliding board 1 by means of a fastening arrangement 101. In the embodiment shown, the fastening arrangement 101 comprises a screw for mounting the longitudinal positioning elements 100 to the base 11. By loosening the fastening arrangement 101, the longitudinal positioning elements 100 can be pivoted about an axis V4, V5 perpendicular to the base plane E. The longitudinal positioning elements 100 enable precise positioning of the shoe 50 in the front unit 10. The position of the longitudinal positioning elements 100 can be adapted to a shoe model and / or wear of the shoe 50, so that the positioning accuracy of a shoe 50 lies in the range of the diameter values ​​of the bearing elements 15 and the counter-bearing elements 54.The shoe 50 can be easily and safely positioned and engaged between the bearing elements 15 even under difficult conditions.

[0061] The front unit 10 further comprises a closing actuating lever 18, which interacts with an adjusting section 19. The closing actuating lever 18 is adjustable between an unlocked position, in which the movement of the adjusting section 19 is not impeded, and a locked position, in which the adjusting section 19 is blocked in a locked position. The adjusting section 19 is in direct operative connection with the bearing 17 and / or the second legs 14' of the holding levers 13. In the locked position, the movement of the holding levers 13 is also blocked, so that a safety release of the front unit 10 is blocked. In a touring position, which is preferably set during ascents, the closing actuating lever 18 is usually in this locked position. During descents, the closing actuating lever 18 is preferably used in the unlocked position.The actuating section 19 is not obstructed, and the movement of the bearing 17 and / or the second legs 14' is not impaired. In the event of a large force, a safety release is possible.

[0062] In the illustration according to Figure 3 The position of the spring device 16 is slightly higher than the dead center relative to a vertical axis. At the dead center, the bearing 17 would be centered on the connecting line between the two rotation axes D of the holding levers 13. The preload of the spring device 16 is greatest at the dead center.

[0063] By pressing with the shoe 50 onto the adjusting section 19 in the direction of the base plane E, the second legs 14' and the bearing 17 can be displaced in the direction of the base plane E. The dead center is overcome and the bearing elements 15 engage with the counter-bearing elements 54 of the shoe 50. The distance K between the bearing elements 15 then essentially corresponds to the distance between the counter-bearing elements 54 of the shoe 50. The spring device 16 accordingly pre-tensions the holding levers 13 into the closed position so that the shoe 50 is held in place. Since the bearing 17 is already close to the dead center in the open position, only a small amount of force is required to overcome the dead center.

[0064] As in Figure 3As shown, the holding lever 13 has an angle α of 80° between the first leg 14 and the second leg 14'. The length of the second leg 14' is greater than the length of the first leg 14. The length of the shanks is measured from the axis of rotation D of the holding lever 13 to the distal end of the first or second leg 14, 14'. The length LS' of the second leg 14' is greater than the distance K between the two bearing elements 15 in the open position.

[0065] Figure 4 shows a cross-section in the longitudinal direction L of a gliding board through the front unit 10 according to another embodiment. The front unit 10 is shown in the open position and essentially corresponds to the front unit 10 according to Figure 2. In addition, the front unit 10 has an additional element that influences the preload of the holding levers 13. Schematically shown is a connecting mechanism 90, which acts as a second superimposed force on the preload of the holding levers 13. The connecting mechanism 90 is arranged between the base 11 and the spring device 16 and can be adjusted. A connecting rod 91, as part of the connecting mechanism 90, acts on the spring device 16 and on an elastic element 92, which is connected to the base 11. By means of the connecting mechanism 90, the position of the spring device 16 relative to the base plane E and thus also to the dead center can be adjusted. A distance between the spring device 16 and the base plane E, and thus the distance to the dead center, can be adjusted, for example, by means of a screw 93.Furthermore, the force of the elastic element 92, which acts on the connecting rod 91 and thus on the spring device 16, is adjusted by means of the screw 93.

[0066] Instead of an additional element, another spring element, such as a sleeve with a larger wall thickness, can be used to adjust the preload.

Claims

1. A front unit (10) for a gliding board binding (2), in particular for a ski touring binding, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, comprising: - a base (11) with a fastening arrangement (12) for fastening to a gliding board (1), - two lateral bearing elements (15) which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing elements (54) of a boot (50) in order to hold the boot (50) pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis (Q), wherein the bearing elements (15) have a distance (K) in the open position which is greater than in the closed position, so that the boot (50) can be inserted between the bearing elements (15) or removed from the front unit (10), and - two holding levers (13) for moving the bearing elements (15), wherein at least one holding lever (13), preferably both holding levers (13), are pivotably mounted on the base about a rotation axis (D). (11) is held,wherein each holding lever (13) has a first leg (14), at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements (15) is arranged, and a pivoting movement of the at least one holding lever (13) enables a relative movement of the bearing elements (15) from the open position into the closed position, wherein the holding levers (13) are operatively connected to one another via a spring device (16), , characterized in that the spring device (16) is at the same time a bearing (17) for the two holding levers (13).

2. Front unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the holding levers (13) is spring-loaded by the spring device (16) and the bearing elements (15) are pretensioned into the closed position or into the open position by overcoming a dead center position of at least one of the holding levers (13).

3. Front unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bearing (17) is a slotted sleeve (17').

4. Front unit (10) according to claim 3, wherein the slotted sleeve (17') is made of a spring steel and has a diameter in the unloaded state of 6.0 mm to 16.0 mm, preferably 8.0 mm to 14.5 mm, particularly preferably 10 mm to 13.0 mm.

5. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a single discrete spring element is arranged between the holding levers (13).

6. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding lever (13) is angularly designed, wherein a second leg (14') forms an angle (α) of 90° ± 15° with the first leg (14).

7. Front unit (10) according to claim 5, wherein a length of the second leg (14') corresponds to at least half the distance (K) between the two bearing elements (15) in the closed position.

8. A front unit (10), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, for a gliding board binding (2), in particular for a ski touring binding, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, comprising: - a base (11) with a base plane (E) and a fastening arrangement (12) for fastening to a gliding board (1), - two lateral bearing elements (15) which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing elements (54) of a boot (50) in order to hold the boot (50) pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis (Q), wherein the bearing elements (15) have a distance (K) in the open position which is greater than in the closed position, so that the boot (50) can be inserted between the bearing elements (15) or removed from the front unit (10), and - two holding levers (13) for moving the bearing elements (15), wherein at least one holding lever (13), preferably both holding levers (13),is pivotally mounted on the base (11) about a rotational axis (D), wherein each retaining lever (13) has a first leg (14), at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements (15) is arranged, and a pivoting movement of the at least one retaining lever (13) enables a relative movement of the bearing elements (15) from the open position to the closed position, wherein the retaining levers (13) are operatively connected to one another via a spring device (16), wherein the front unit has a longitudinal positioning element (100) for positioning the shoe (50), wherein the longitudinal positioning element (100) is pivotable and fixable on an axis (V4, V5) vertical to the base plane (E).

9. Front unit (10) according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal positioning element (100) comprises a pin.

10. Front unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front unit (10) has a closing actuating lever (18) which is adjustable between an unlocking position in which adjustment from the closed position to the open position is possible, and a locking position in which adjustment from the closed position to the open position is blocked.

11. Front unit (10) according to claim 10, wherein the closing actuating lever (18) is operatively connected to at least one of the holding levers (13) in such a way that an adjustment from the closed position to the open position and / or from the open position to the closed position can be forced thereby.

12. A front unit (10) for a gliding board binding (2), in particular for a ski touring binding, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, comprising: - a base (11) with a fastening arrangement (12) for attachment to a gliding board (1) - two lateral bearing elements (15) which are designed to engage lateral counter-bearing elements (54) of a boot (50) in order to hold the boot (50) pivotably about a gliding board transverse axis (Q), wherein the bearing elements (15) have a distance (K) in the open position which is greater than in the closed position, so that the boot (50) can be inserted between the bearing elements (15) or removed from the front unit (10), and - two holding levers (13) for moving the bearing elements (15), wherein at least one holding lever (13), preferably both holding levers (13),is held on the base (11) so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (D), wherein each holding lever (13) has a first leg (14), at the distal end of which one of the bearing elements (15) is arranged, and a pivoting movement of the at least one holding lever (13) enables a relative movement of the bearing elements (15) from the open position into the closed position, wherein the holding levers (13) are operatively connected to one another via a spring device (16), , characterized in that a preload of the holding levers (13) is different in the open position and in the closed position, such that a force for overcoming a dead center from the open position to the closed position is smaller than from the closed position to the open position.

13. Front unit (10) for a gliding board binding (2) according to claim 12, wherein the preload of the holding levers (13) is the resultant force from the force of the spring device (16) and a second superimposed force, wherein the second superimposed force changes depending on the position of the holding levers (13).

14. Front unit (10) for a gliding board binding (2) according to claim 13, wherein the second superimposing force is defined by a connecting mechanism (90) between the base (11) and the spring device (16), the connecting mechanism (90) comprising at least one connecting rod (91) and one elastic element (92), the connecting rod (91) acting on the elastic element (92) and the spring device (16).

15. Gliding board (1), characterized in that the gliding board (1) comprises a front unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

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