Ski Binding Plate Heel Pivot Mechanism for ACL Injury Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ski bindings are inadequate in addressing injuries caused by Combined Valgus and Internal Rotation (CVIR) and Boot Induced Anterior Drawer (BIAD) due to their focus on rotational release mechanisms, which fail to effectively absorb forces resulting from backweighting and aerial maneuvers that can lead to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) damage.
Innovation Solution
A ski binding plate that interfaces with conventional bindings to provide an alternate release mechanism, detecting backweighting and excessive forces by relative displacement of the toe and heel, allowing the heel to pivot outward and absorbing energy through a mechanical system with a flat or inversely progressive force vs. displacement curve, thereby reducing the risk of ACL injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ski bindings use fixed rotational release mechanisms at the toe, then the binding can release the boot in response to twisting forces, but the binding fails to absorb forces from backweighting and aerial maneuvers that cause ACL injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The binding plate transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic system with multiple degrees of freedom. The heel pivot mechanism allows the binding plate to rotate dynamically in response to backweighting forces, while the toe pivot allows rotation in response to twisting forces. This dynamic adaptability enables the binding to respond appropriately to different types of injurious forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The binding system is segmented into distinct functional components: the binding plate, heel pivot mechanism, and toe pivot mechanism. Each segment handles specific force types independently, with the heel pivot absorbing backweighting forces and the toe pivot handling twisting forces, thereby improving overall injury prevention capability.
2Reliability
If conventional bindings use spring-based release mechanisms with progressive force curves, then the release threshold can be set, but the engagement threshold becomes excessively high requiring excessive force to initiate release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional spring-based progressive force curve by using a mechanical system with a flat or inversely progressive force vs. displacement curve. This inversion allows the engagement threshold to be set lower while maintaining an appropriate release threshold, eliminating the excessive engagement force problem of conventional spring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The force-displacement characteristics of the release mechanism are changed from a progressive curve to a flat or inversely progressive curve. This parameter change in the force curve shape allows for lower engagement forces while maintaining reliable release threshold control through the mechanical design of the pivot mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the binding plate allows lateral rotation about a pivot point to absorb energy, then ACL injury forces are reduced, but the binding structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The binding plate serves multiple functions: it provides the mounting surface for the binding, acts as a lever arm for force absorption, and enables rotational movement about the heel pivot to absorb backweighting forces. By making the binding plate multi-functional, the design avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel pivot acts as an intermediary element between the binding plate and the ski, mediating the transmission of forces. This intermediary allows the binding plate to rotate and absorb energy without requiring complex direct connection mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure while achieving ACL protection.
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
The ski binding plate effectively reduces the incidence of ACL injuries by absorbing harmful forces and releasing the boot from the ski when injurious loads are detected, providing a safer skiing experience by setting a lower engagement threshold and maintaining lower release forces compared to conventional spring-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
Backweighting is sensed by relative displacement of the toe to the heel, and movement beyond a threshold resistance force releases the heel
Implementation Method 2
The inversely progressive curve continues displacement at a lower force than that required to initiate displacement
Data Source
AI summary
A ski binding device having a plate adapted to engage the ski binding, in which the plate has a heel end and a toe end, and a heel absorption mechanism is adapted to absorb excessive lateral pivoting force from the heel of a ski boot. A restrictor biases the heel into engagement with a heel receptacle. A dual pivot engages the toe end of the plate for permitting both downward movement of the heel end and lateral movement of the heel end out of alignment with the ski. The lateral pivoting force corresponds to release of potentially harmful forces. The restrictor is responsive to upward force from the toe end, as results from disproportionate backweighting of a skier. The restrictor disengages the heel end from the heel receptacle based on a predetermined release force, and permit lateral outward displacement of the heel end upon disengagement of the heel.