Ski Binding Toe Piece with Movable Abutment for Boot Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ski touring bindings face difficulties in easily engaging ski boots due to the need for precise longitudinal positioning, which is complicated by the size of ski boots and small clamping lugs, and existing solutions are either complex or ineffective, especially on slopes.
Innovation Solution
A ski touring toe piece with two face-to-face clamping pieces and a movable abutment that tilts between active and retracted positions, linked to the clamping parts, facilitating easier boot engagement by positioning the boot's pivot axis relative to the clamping lugs and allowing for a slight offset, thus simplifying the fitting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If precise longitudinal positioning of the shoe is required for engagement, then the engagement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is pre-formed in the boot sole to guide the clamping lugs during engagement. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for manual alignment, allowing the boot to be simply placed onto the binding while the groove automatically guides the lugs into the correct position, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing engagement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The groove acts as an intermediary element between the clamping lugs and the boot's lateral hollow parts. It provides a physical guide path that mediates the positioning process, ensuring precise longitudinal alignment while requiring minimal user effort to achieve proper engagement
2Measurement precision
If retractable stops are used to position the shoe longitudinally, then the positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is extracted from the complex retractable stop mechanism and integrated directly into the groove structure of the boot sole. This eliminates the need for separate retractable stops and their associated pivot mechanisms, locking levers, and translation systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning precision
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal positioning function is merged with the engagement groove itself. The groove simultaneously serves as both the positioning reference and the engagement guide, combining multiple functions into a single structural element and eliminating the need for separate positioning components
3Device complexity
If fixed lateral stops of small sizes are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates on slopes
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is pre-formed in the boot sole to provide automatic guidance for the clamping lugs during engagement. This preliminary structural preparation ensures reliable longitudinal positioning without requiring complex active stopping mechanisms, and the groove's geometry is designed to maintain effectiveness under gravitational loading on slopes
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from using small lateral stops acting in the lateral dimension to a groove structure that provides guidance in the longitudinal dimension. This dimensional shift allows for more effective positioning with a simpler structure that is inherently more reliable under gravitational forces acting along the slope
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 solution enables easier and more precise engagement of ski boots, reducing the complexity of the fitting process and maintaining normal pivoting during ascent, even on slopes, by using a bistable elastic mechanism and a movable stop that adjusts its position based on the clamping lever movement.
Implementation Method 1
two face-to-face clamping pieces, each bearing at one end a clamping lug, the two clamping parts being movable, relative to each other, between a clamping position of a front end of a shoe in which the clamping lugs are brought together so as to cooperate with corresponding lateral housings
Implementation Method 2
bistable elastic mechanism and a movable stop that adjusts its position based on the clamping lever movement
Implementation Method 3
movable abutment between an active position in which the movable abutment is intended to come into contact with a portion of the front end of the shoe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a front stop (3) of a sliding device (1) comprising - two opposing clamping pieces (7a; 7b), each carrying at one end (11a; 11b) a clamping lug (13a; 13b), the two clamping pieces (7a; 7b) being movable, relative to each other, between a clamping position of a front end (31) of a boot (25) in which the clamping lugs (13a; 13b) are brought together so as to cooperate with corresponding lateral housings (23a; 23b), provided, directly or indirectly, in the boot (25) in order to form a pivot axis of the boot (Y13), and an open position in which the clamping lugs (13a;13b) are moved apart so as to release the shoe (25) from the tightening pieces (7a, 7b), - a movable stop (27) between an active position in which the movable stop (27) is intended to come into contact with a portion of the front end (31) of the shoe (25) in order to position longitudinally the lateral housings (23a; 23b) of the shoe substantially at the level of the tightening lugs (13a; 13b), and a retracted position in which the movable stop (27) is positioned so as not to disturb the normal pivoting of the shoe during the ascent phase, the movable stop (27) being in an active position when the two tightening pieces (7a; 7b) are in an open position. The movable stop (27) is directly linked to the clamping parts (7a; 7b) so that a relative displacement between the clamping parts (7a; 7b) causes the movable stop (27) to tilt between its active position and its retracted position.