Ski Heel Binding With Straight Guide Tracks for Lower Entry Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touring ski bindings face challenges in providing adjustable release values without compromising entry comfort, especially with higher Z-values, which often require strenuous effort to step into the heel clamp.
Innovation Solution
A ski binding design with a heel holder featuring separate or integrated retaining elements guided by angled tracks, allowing for adjustable pivot axes and lever ratios to reduce the entry force relative to the release force, enhancing comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the release force is increased to provide higher Z-values for safety, then the release safety is improved, but the entry force becomes more strenuous and entry comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism is divided into two independent retaining elements (first and second retaining elements) that can be adjusted separately. Each retaining element has its own engagement portion, bearing portion, and coupling portion, allowing independent adjustment of pivot axes and lever ratios to optimize both safety and entry comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The binding system incorporates adjustable pivot axes and variable lever ratios that can be dynamically modified by the user. The coupling portions can be positioned at different locations along the retaining elements, enabling dynamic adjustment of the mechanical advantage to balance entry force and release safety based on user needs
2Adaptability or versatility
If the release force is increased to accommodate heavier users, then the adaptability to different user weights is improved, but the entry force increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows changing of critical parameters including pivot axis position, lever arm lengths, and coupling portion locations. By adjusting these parameters, the binding can be tuned to different user weights and abilities, optimizing both the release force for safety and the entry force for comfort
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design improves entry comfort by reducing the force required to engage the binding while maintaining safety, allowing for adjustable release values to suit different user weights and abilities.
Implementation Method 1
the first holding element and the second holding element move along straight guideways, which at least in sections point diagonally downwards away from one another to the sides, transversely to the longitudinal direction
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~6
AI summary
Ski binding with a toe holder which, in a top view of the ski binding, defines a pivot axis transverse to a longitudinal direction of the ski binding for a ski boot held by the toe holder, and a heel holder with a base, a heel holder housing projecting from the base, a first retaining element and a second retaining element, each having an engagement section for a holding engagement with a ski boot heel and a bearing section, a support device which receives the retaining elements in the area of the respective bearing section, a pretensioning device against whose pretensioning force the retaining elements can be moved out of the holding engagement, a first guide track which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction in a top view and guides the first retaining element in a guide engagement transversely to the longitudinal direction, and a second guide track,which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction in the top view and guides the second retaining element in a guide engagement transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein the guide tracks are each straight or composed of straight guide track sections over their extension in the guide engagement and each point obliquely downwards away from each other at least sectionally transversely to the longitudinal direction.