Ski Binding Heel Unit Torsion Spring Frontal Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heel units for snowboard bindings require multiple components for force transmission, leading to increased friction, weight, and cost, making them inefficient and costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
The use of torsion springs to generate torque and prepare coupling pins for departure, eliminating the need for additional components to direct spring force, resulting in a more direct power transmission with less friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compression springs and wedge elements are used for force transmission in the frontal release mechanism, then the release function can be achieved, but the number of components increases, leading to higher friction, weight, and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the wedge elements from the force transmission system, using only compression springs to directly preload the coupling pins. This removes unnecessary intermediate components while maintaining the essential frontal release function through direct spring-to-pin force transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the force transmission function into a single integrated system where compression springs directly act on the coupling pins without separate wedge elements. This merging of functions reduces the component count from multiple parts (springs + wedges) to a simplified spring-direct-actuation system.
2Reliability
If multiple components (wedge elements and compression springs) are used for force transmission, then the frontal release mechanism can function, but friction increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes wedge elements that create friction interfaces, allowing compression springs to directly preload the coupling pins. This extraction eliminates the friction-generating wedge-surface interactions while preserving the force transmission function through direct spring-to-pin contact.
3Reliability
If multiple components are used in the force transmission device, then the release mechanism can be implemented, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates wedge elements from the assembly, reducing the total component mass. The simplified system using only compression springs and coupling pins directly reduces weight while maintaining the essential release functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the force transmission into fewer components, eliminating redundant parts. This consolidation reduces the overall mass of the heel unit by removing unnecessary intermediate elements while preserving structural integrity and function.
4Reliability
If multiple components are used in the force transmission device, then the release mechanism can be implemented, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes wedge elements from the assembly, reducing the bill of materials and assembly steps. This extraction simplifies manufacturing by eliminating complex wedge-shaped components and their associated precision machining requirements, thereby reducing production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines functions into fewer components, reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing steps. The simplified design with fewer parts requires less assembly time, fewer fasteners, and reduced quality control steps, all contributing to lower manufacturing costs.
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
This solution reduces the number of components, minimizing friction and weight, while also lowering production costs and enabling a more compact design with adjustable preload for enhanced safety and user customization.
Implementation Method 1
at least one torsion spring (20), which provides tensioning force for the front release assembly (18, 20, 22, 24)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heel unit (10) for a ski-mount binding, comprising a base (12) with a fastening arrangement (14) for attachment to a ski-mount surface, a binding body (16) mounted on the base (12), two coupling pins (18) arranged substantially side by side for engaging in recesses of a heel section of a boot to fix the boot to the heel unit (10), wherein the coupling pins (18) project from the binding body (16) in a ski-mount position in a ski-mount longitudinal direction (X), in particular in a forward direction, and at least one of the coupling pins (18) is movable relative to the other coupling pin (18) between a ski-mount position and a front release position, and a front release arrangement (18, 20, 22, 24) which is configured to move the at least one of the coupling pins (18) to its To pre-tension the departure position,wherein the frontal release arrangement (18, 20, 22, 24) comprises at least one torsion spring (20) which provides tension force for the frontal release arrangement (18, 20, 22, 24).