Pivoting Ski Binding Housing for Upward Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ski binding shoe holder units do not provide sufficient safety during atypical falls, particularly in backward torsional falls, as they lack effective upward release mechanisms, which can lead to increased risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
The shoe holder unit is designed with a housing that can pivot about a transverse axis near the ski boot sole's edge, allowing for enhanced upward release and incorporating double-armed levers to facilitate vertical and sideways release, utilizing a combination of helical compression springs and adjustable triggering mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is made fixed and stable, then the binding structure is stable and reliable, but the upward release capability is insufficient during atypical falls
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic one by enabling it to pivot about a transverse axis. This allows the housing to tilt upward when subjected to vertical forces during atypical falls, providing automatic release capability while maintaining stability during normal skiing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The release behavior is achieved by changing the structural parameter of the housing from fixed to pivotable. The pivot axis position and spring pre-load force are carefully selected to ensure the housing remains stable under normal conditions but can pivot upward when subjected to excessive vertical forces, thus changing the operational parameters based on loading conditions.
2Reliability
If the housing is made pivotable to enable upward release, then the safety during atypical falls is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is segmented into a base portion and a shoe holder portion that can pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the upward release function to be isolated to a specific component, simplifying the overall design compared to making the entire binding structure complex.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring element acts as an intermediary between the fixed base and the pivotable shoe holder. The spring provides the necessary counter-force to maintain stability during normal use while allowing controlled pivoting during release, simplifying the interaction between fixed and movable parts.
3Ease of operation
If the pivot axis is positioned far from the sole edge, then the housing has greater freedom of movement, but the release triggering becomes less precise
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot axis is positioned at a specific location near the transverse edge of the housing, close to where the sole enters. This localized positioning provides optimal leverage for precise release triggering while maintaining sufficient freedom of movement. The local geometric relationship between the pivot axis, spring, and sole holder creates the precise release condition.
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 design significantly enhances skier safety by enabling easy release of the ski boot sole in both upward and sideways directions, even under forceful atypical falls, by allowing the housing to tilt and the sole holders to pivot, ensuring secure locking and quick release.
Implementation Method 1
which grip around or over an edge region of a housing-side end of a ski boot sole inserted into the shoe holder unit from the side and above and interact with a spring arrangement arranged in the housing. which clamps the sole holders in their clamping positions
Implementation Method 2
the housing can be pivoted against spring force about a transverse axis which is arranged in or below a contact plane of the ski boot sole
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Shoe holding unit comprises a housing (7) pivoting about a transverse axle against a spring force. The axle is arranged in or below a contact surface of a sole of a ski shoe close to the transverse edge of the sole on the housing side. Preferred Features: The housing is arranged on a plate which pivots on a ski. The sole holder (16) impinges the sole edge from above and form the side on linear contact zones.