Ski Binding Heel Unit with Pivoting Climbing Aid

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ski touring bindings have manufacturing and assembly costs increased due to multiple climbing aids, risk of incorrect support height adjustment, limited support positions, and user-friendliness issues, compromising safety and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A heel unit for ski touring bindings with a single climbing aid that pivots between two positions, allowing four different support heights, integrated with a brake assembly to prevent accidental activation, and a tapered design for reduced weight and material use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple climbing aids are used to provide multiple support heights, then adaptability to different terrain gradients is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport height adjustmentVSAvoidnumber of climbing aids

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The climbing aid is divided into multiple segments or positions that can be selectively activated. The single climbing aid structure includes multiple support positions (first support position and second support position) that can be engaged depending on the terrain gradient, allowing one component to perform the function of multiple separate climbing aids would provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single climbing aid is designed to perform multiple functions by providing different support heights for various terrain conditions. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate climbing aids for each support height, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different terrain gradients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple climbing aids are installed, then support height options are increased, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport height optionsVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple climbing aid functions are merged into a single integrated climbing aid structure. This consolidation reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing and assembly costs while still providing multiple support height options through the single unified structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If climbing aids are pivotably mounted on the same axis, then compact design is achieved, but risk of inadvertent adjustment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structureVSAvoidsupport height stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inadvertent adjustment function is extracted or removed from the system by providing distinct mounting arrangements for each climbing aid position. The first and second climbing aids are mounted on different axes or with different mounting mechanisms that prevent inadvertent activation, ensuring that only the intended climbing aid position is active at any given time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If a single climbing aid is used, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but precision of support height adjustment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costsVSAvoidsupport height precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The single climbing aid structure incorporates locally optimized features at different positions to ensure precise support height adjustment. Each support position (first and second support positions) is designed with specific local characteristics that enable precise height control, maintaining manufacturing precision despite using a single integrated component rather than multiple separate aids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4574222A1Heel unit for a gliding board binding and gliding board

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 WEHRLI MASCHINENBAU AG

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A heel unit (20) for a gliding board binding (2) is adjustable between a downhill position and at least one touring position. The heel unit (20) comprises a base (21) with a fastening arrangement (22) for attachment to a gliding board (1), a binding body (23) which has holding means (24) for engaging the heel section (51) of the boot (50) and is mounted on the base (21) for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation (V1), and a climbing aid (30) which can be positioned in at least one active position and one passive position by rotating the binding body. The climbing aid (30) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (S) from 0° to 80° relative to the sliding board longitudinal axis (L), wherein the climbing aid (30) is designed such that by pivoting the climbing aid (30) about the pivot axis (S), the climbing aid (30) can be moved between at least two positions S1, S2.