Gliding Board Heel Unit with Pivoting Retaining Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gliding board bindings, particularly ski touring bindings, face issues with suboptimal control of safety releases in the forward direction, limited adjustability of release forces, high weight, and inefficient power transfer, leading to potential accidents and reduced riding comfort.

Innovation Solution

A heel unit for gliding board bindings with adjustable retaining elements that pivot relative to each other, allowing precise control of safety release forces, lightweight design, and direct power transfer from the boot sole to the board, featuring a base with a rotatable binding body and a transmission mechanism for pretensioning the retaining elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single retaining element is used for holding the boot, then the structure is simple, but the safety release in the forward direction cannot be optimally controlled and may be incorrectly triggered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidsafety release control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element is divided into two separate retaining elements (first and second retaining elements) that can independently pivot and engage with the boot. This segmentation allows each element to be controlled separately, enabling precise control of the safety release force and preventing incorrect triggering while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the retaining elements are fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but the distance between retaining elements cannot be adjusted for different boot sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidadjustability for different boots

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining elements are designed to be movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the distance between them. This enables adaptation to different boot sizes and shapes while maintaining structural stability through controlled movement within defined limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If the force on retaining elements is high in overload, then the holding strength is sufficient, but the force required for release is excessive and control is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding strengthVSAvoidrelease force control

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the pivotable retaining elements automatically adjust their engagement force based on the applied load. When overload occurs, the elements pivot to reduce the force transmitted to the boot, providing self-regulating feedback that maintains holding strength while enabling controlled release at appropriate force levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Strength

If the binding body is heavy, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the overall weight of the gliding board binding increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidbinding weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The binding body is constructed using composite materials that combine lightweight properties with sufficient structural strength. This allows the binding to maintain the necessary strength for reliable boot holding and safety release while minimizing the overall weight, achieving an optimal balance between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides enhanced safety, stability, and comfort by ensuring controlled safety releases, minimizing false triggers, reducing weight, and improving power transfer, thus enhancing user safety and riding experience.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastic pretensioning element for generating a pretensioning force and at least one transmission mechanism for transmitting the pretensioning force to the holding means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4574224A1Heel unit for a gliding board binding and gliding board

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 WEHRLI MASCHINENBAU AG

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AI summary

A heel unit (20) for a gliding board binding is adjustable between a downhill position, in which it holds a heel portion of a boot, and at least one touring position, in which it releases the heel portion of the boot. The heel unit (20) comprises a base (21) with a fastening arrangement for attachment to a gliding board (1), a binding body (23) which is mounted on the base (21) for rotation about a vertical axis (V1), and two holding means (24) for holding a boot in a heel portion of the boot. The holding means (24) are movable relative to one another in a plane parallel to the base plane (F), whereby the distance (B) between the holding means (24) is variable. A pivot bearing is formed in a central region of each holding means (24), wherein the holding means (24) are mounted for pivoting about a vertical axis around the pivot bearing.