Ski Binding Heel Unit Segmentation for Reduced Climbing Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ski-tour bindings require a significant amount of force for climbing due to their solid construction, which is particularly burdensome for freeride bindings with heavy construction, compromising the balance between safety release and ease of climbing.
Innovation Solution
The automatic heel unit is designed to remain on the ski in both downhill and climbing positions, allowing the ski boot to be arrested or freed, reducing the force needed for climbing by maintaining a constant weight and incorporating a safety mechanism for forward safety release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ski-tour bindings are constructed solidly to ensure safety release, then reliability is improved, but climbing effort increases due to heavy construction
Solution Approach 1:
The binding is divided into two independent parts: the automatic heel unit (arresting means) that remains fixed on the ski, and the movable ski boot carrier that can be pivoted. This segmentation allows the heavy arrestor to stay stationary while only the lighter carrier and boot are moved during climbing, reducing the force required.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the entire binding assembly including the heavy automatic heel unit during climbing, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the heel unit fixed and only moving the ski boot carrier. This reverses the conventional design where the whole binding moves, thereby reducing climbing effort.
2Ease of operation
If the automatic heel unit is moved during climbing, then ease of operation is improved, but weight of moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic heel unit (arresting means) is extracted from the moving parts and kept fixed on the ski. Only the essential climbing components (ski boot carrier and boot) are moved, eliminating the unnecessary movement of the heavy heel unit and reducing the weight of the moving object.
3Force
If the automatic heel unit remains fixed on the ski, then weight of stationary object increases, but climbing effort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The binding system is segmented into fixed and movable components. The heavy automatic heel unit is designated as the stationary component anchored to the ski, while the lighter ski boot carrier becomes the movable component. This segmentation accepts increased stationary weight in exchange for reduced climbing effort.
Data Source
AI summary
A ski binding comprises a sole element, a front retaining device, for retaining a toe of the ski boot, and an automatic heel unit, for retaining the heel of the ski boot. The sole element is pivotally mounted and is oriented transverse of the ski. The automatic heel unit allows release in the forward direction. The ski binding has a downhill position, in which the sole element is oriented parallel to the ski, and a climbing positions, in which the sole element can be pivoted. The automatic heel unit, both in the downhill and climbing positions, is arranged on the ski, with the heel region of a ski boot retained in the ski binding. In the climbing position of the ski binding, the heel can be freed, as a result of which the ski boot, can be pivoted about the pivot axis together with the sole element.