Lowerable Retaining Jaw Touring Binding Front Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front units for touring bindings have issues with unnatural walking feel and increased torque during climbing due to elevated shoe position and larger lever arm, which affects user comfort and stability.
Innovation Solution
A front unit with an adjustable first holding device that moves closer to the gliding board plane in ascent configuration, allowing the second holding device to be positioned similarly, reducing standing height and torque, and featuring pivotable clamping jaws and a deflection mechanism for secure engagement and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the second holding device is positioned above the first holding device in known front units, then the gliding board shoe can be pivotally mounted for ascent, but the shoe position is significantly elevated creating unnatural walking sensation and greater torques
Solution Approach 1:
The first holding device is made movable between an active position for downhill configuration and a passive position for ascent configuration. This dynamic positioning allows the first holding device to be lowered out of the way during ascent, enabling the second holding device to engage the shoe at a lower, more natural position while maintaining downhill functionality when the first holding device is in its active, elevated position
2Adaptability or versatility
If the second holding device is positioned above the first holding device in known front units, then pivotable mounting for ascent is achieved, but greater torques are generated due to increased lever arm
Solution Approach 1:
By making the first holding device movable between active and passive positions, the system dynamically adjusts the vertical arrangement of holding devices. During ascent, when the first holding device is lowered to its passive position, the second holding device can engage at a lower position, reducing the lever arm and consequently the torque generated during climbing movements
3Reliability
If the first holding device is fixed in an elevated position, then optimal downhill fixation is achieved, but it interferes with low-position engagement for ascent
Solution Approach 1:
The first holding device is designed to move between an active position that provides optimal downhill fixation and a passive position that lowers it out of the way for ascent engagement. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to maintain reliable downhill fixation when needed while enabling low-position engagement for ascent by simply changing the position of the first holding device
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the functions of downhill fixation and ascent engagement by using two distinct holding devices. The first holding device handles downhill fixation when in its active position, while the second holding device handles ascent engagement when the first holding device is in its passive, lowered position, allowing both functions to operate optimally without interference
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a front unit (10) for a touring binding, which is to be mounted on a ski board and has a mounting surface facing towards a ski board surface, defining a ski board plane (E), wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between a downhill configuration and an uphill configuration, comprising a first retaining device (20) which is configured to fix a front section of a ski board boot for downhill skiing with the touring binding in the downhill configuration of the front unit (10), wherein the first retaining device (20) is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, and wherein the first retaining device (20) is in the active position in the downhill configuration of the front unit (10) and in the passive position in the uphill configuration of the front unit (10), and a second retaining device (40) which is configured toIn the ascent configuration of the front unit (10), a toe section of the ski boot is held in place for ascent with the touring binding in such a way that the ski boot is pivotable about an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the ski platform plane (E) and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L) of the ski platform, wherein the first holding device (20) is arranged closer to the ski platform plane (E) in the passive position than in the active position. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a touring binding comprising the front unit (10), which also includes a heel unit and optionally a braking arrangement.