Rotating Base Plate Ski Binding Toe Piece

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rigid connection between the base plate and the ski binding in traditional toe pieces causes loss of surface contact between the ski boot sole and the base plate when the ski bends, leading to suboptimal power transmission, especially with sharply edged skis.

Innovation Solution

The base plate is designed to rotate along a concavely curved path in the longitudinal direction of the ski, with an ideal axis of rotation located within the sole holder arms, allowing the ski boot to tilt and maintain contact with the base plate, ensuring continued power transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the base plate is rigidly connected to the ski binding, then structural stability is improved, but surface contact between the ski boot sole and base plate is lost when the ski bends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidsurface contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base plate is designed to rotate relative to the binding body along a curved path when the ski bends, transforming the rigid connection into a dynamic one. This rotation allows the base plate to maintain surface contact with the ski boot sole while accommodating the flexing motion of the ski, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural stability and surface contact reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the base plate is rigidly connected to the ski binding, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but power transmission is reduced when the ski bends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidpower transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable base plate mechanism maintains effective power transmission by adapting its position during ski flexing. The curved rotation path ensures that the base plate remains in contact with the boot sole throughout the bending motion, preventing power loss while adding only moderate complexity to the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate follows a curved rotation path defined by a cylindrical surface during ski flexing. This curvature allows the base plate to maintain optimal contact geometry with the boot sole throughout the motion, ensuring continuous power transmission without requiring complex mechanical linkages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If the base plate is rigidly connected to the ski binding, then device complexity is reduced, but contact surface retention is lost when the ski bends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcontact surface retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base plate is designed with rotational mobility relative to the binding body, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position along a curved path during ski flexing. This single degree of freedom provides the necessary adaptability to maintain contact surface retention without significantly increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The curved cylindrical surface acts as an intermediary guide that defines the rotation path of the base plate. This geometric constraint simplifies the mechanism by providing a natural guide for the base plate's motion, ensuring contact surface retention without requiring complex control systems or additional components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2907556B1Front jaw for a safety ski-binding
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 TYROLIA TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP2907556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2907556B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2907556B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The toe piece (1) of a safety ski binding comprises a housing (2) accommodating a release mechanism, at least one pair of sole-holding arms (4a) which engage the front end region of the sole edge of a ski boot, and a base plate (3) on which a stand plate (6) is arranged for supporting the front section of a ski boot sole. The stand plate (6) is movably arranged on the base plate (3) along a track that is concavely curved in the longitudinal direction of the ski with respect to the upper surface of the ski.