Ski Binding Heel Unit Ribs Prevent Finger Pinching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heel piece designs for ski bindings pose a risk of finger pinching during configuration changes due to large openings that allow fingers to pass through, and they are not reliable or economical, especially for children, as they can lead to jamming and disrupt the reading of visual indicators.
Innovation Solution
The actuating lever of the rear retention device features one or more ribs that divide the opening into small windows, preventing finger passage while maintaining visibility of the visual indicator, thus avoiding pinching and ensuring clear reading without additional costly components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a large opening is provided in the actuating lever to clear the visual indicator, then the reading of the visual indicator is facilitated, but the risk of finger pinching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening in the actuating lever is divided into multiple smaller sub-openings by adding partition walls (ribs). This segmentation maintains sufficient light transmission for reading the visual indicator while reducing the opening size below the threshold that allows finger insertion, thereby eliminating the pinching hazard.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a transparent cover is added to close the opening, then the finger pinching risk is prevented, but the cost increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls (ribs) are integrated directly into the actuating lever as a unitary structure, eliminating the need for separate transparent covers or additional parts. This merging approach prevents finger pinching while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and component reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating lever itself provides the safety function by incorporating ribs that automatically create safe opening dimensions. The structure serves its primary actuation function while simultaneously providing finger protection, eliminating the need for separate safety components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the opening area is reduced to prevent finger passage, then the finger pinching risk is reduced, but the reading of the visual indicator becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing the total opening area, the opening is segmented into multiple smaller passages. The cumulative open area remains sufficient for light transmission and indicator reading, while individual passage widths are reduced below finger insertion threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the dimensional constraint by adding a new dimension (vertical ribs/partition walls) to the opening structure. This creates a three-dimensional configuration that maintains two-dimensional light transmission area while reducing one-dimensional passage width to safe levels.
Data Source
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AI summary
Rear retention device (1) for a shoe (3) attachment on a sliding device (2), comprising: - a frame (11) intended to be secured to the sliding device; - a retaining jaw (12) for a heel of the shoe, the jaw being movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position; - a release mechanism (14), housed in the frame and cooperating with the jaw so as to allow the jaw to tilt from its engaged position to its disengaged position when the jaw is subjected to a force beyond a determined threshold, according to a release direction (D), the release mechanism comprising: • adjustment means (143) allowing the determined threshold force to be modified, and • a visual indicator (144) visible from an upper face (111) of the frame;- an actuating lever (13) adapted to cooperate with the jaw so as to tilt the jaw from its engaged position to its disengaged position, the actuating lever comprising an opening (131) delimited by a front face (1311), a rear face (1312) and two lateral faces (1313, 1314), the opening being arranged opposite the visual indicator, when the actuating lever is in a configuration for which the jaw is in its disengaged position. The actuating lever comprises one or more ribs (132) each connecting two faces of the opening, the rib(s) being dimensioned and arranged so as to divide the opening into several windows (133) all having a maximum width (W133) of less than 0.85 centimeters.