Ski Binding Adjustment Mechanism for Boot Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ski bindings are complex, bulky, and laborious to adjust, often requiring special equipment and skilled personnel, making them difficult for inexperienced users and costly to produce and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A ski binding with a sliding toe and heel binding mechanism that uses a blocking and adjusting mechanism operable by a simple lever, allowing for easy manual adjustment and assembly, featuring sliding seats on the ski and a blocking and adjusting rod with toothed surfaces for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional ski bindings use fixing screws inserted into threaded holes directly in the ski, then the toe binding and heel binding can be securely connected to the ski, but the structure of the ski is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate component (adjusting plate or heel piece) that mediates between the binding and the ski. This intermediary element distributes the mechanical loads across multiple attachment points and prevents concentrated stress on the ski structure, thereby maintaining ski integrity while achieving secure binding connection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adjusting plates are used to avoid structural weakening of the ski, then the ski structure is maintained substantially integral, but the position adjustment of toe binding and heel binding becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adjusting plate with the heel piece into a single integrated component. This combination eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to adjust binding positions and preserving ski structure integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heel piece serves multiple functions: it acts as both the mounting component for the binding and the adjustment mechanism for positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device while maintaining adjustment capabilities.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex blocking and adjusting mechanisms are used for precise positioning, then the toe binding and heel binding can be securely fixed at various positions, but the adjustment operations become laborious and require special equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic spring-loaded mechanism that automatically engages with positioning holes at different locations. The spring force provides the necessary engagement pressure to secure the binding at the selected position, while the automatic engagement feature eliminates the need for complex manual adjustment operations or special tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded blocking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock into the positioning holes without requiring external intervention or special equipment. The system serves itself by using the spring force to maintain engagement, reducing the need for laborious manual operations.
4Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for blocking and adjustment, then the binding can be securely fixed, but the overall structure becomes bulky and difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (adjusting plate, heel piece, blocking mechanism) into integrated assemblies. This merging reduces the total number of discrete parts, simplifying assembly while maintaining the reliability of the fixing function through the coordinated action of the integrated components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Ski binding (1) comprising a toe binding (2) and a heel binding (3), configured to be operatively associated to a ski (100) at a upper surface (101) of said ski, and a blocking and adjusting mechanism (4), reversibly actuatable by the user, by means of an operation lever, between a blocking position, at which said toe binding and said heel binding are solidly connected to said ski in a fixed position, and a release position, at which said toe binding and said heel binding are free to slide with respect to said ski.