Ski Binding Toe Locking Mechanism for Accidental Release Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touring ski bindings face issues with accidental false releases due to impacts, leading to increased accident risk, and current solutions are either complex and expensive or lack safety features.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, cost-effective automatic front end with pin-like holding means that are displaceable along a horizontal adjustment path, reducing the likelihood of unintentional releases by requiring a greater force to move from the holding to the entry position, and incorporating a safety release mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spring-loaded angled levers with pins are used to allow easy entry and exit, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to accidental false releases from impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The binding requires preliminary intentional action (actuating the release mechanism) to transition from holding to entry configuration, preventing accidental transitions caused by impacts during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates a locking mechanism that applies preliminary anti-action against unintended release movements, counteracting the spring force that would otherwise cause automatic transition to entry configuration during impacts
2Reliability
If complex safety mechanisms are added to prevent false releases, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety locking mechanism is merged with the existing lever and spring system, integrating the anti false-release function into the current structure rather than adding separate independent safety components
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism serves multiple functions: it prevents accidental releases, maintains holding configuration under load, and works with the spring-loaded lever system already present in the binding design
3Volume of moving object
If the holding means are positioned close together for compact design, then volume is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in inserting ski boots
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means are dynamically positioned - close together in the holding configuration for compactness, but can be moved apart in the entry configuration to facilitate ski boot insertion, with the spring mechanism enabling this dynamic adjustment
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a toe-locking device (1) for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, wherein the toe-locking device (1) comprises a first retaining element (4.1) and a second retaining element (4.2) for holding a ski boot in the toe area of the ski boot. This toe-locking device (1) has a first retaining configuration in which the two retaining elements (4.1, 4.2) are in a holding position in which the two retaining elements (4.1, 4.2) are at a first distance from each other, wherein the two retaining elements (4.1, 4.2) can interact with the ski boot in such a way that the ski boot is pivotably held on the toe-locking device (1) about an axis oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski. Furthermore, the toe-locking device (1) has an entry configuration in which the two retaining elements (4.1, 4.2) are in an entry position in which the two retaining elements (4.1, 4.2) are2) are located at a second distance from each other, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and the ski boot being released from the two retaining devices (4.1, 4.2) in the entry position, the toe piece (1) being adjustable from the entry configuration to the first retention configuration and back. The two retaining devices (4.1, 4.2) are mounted to be slidably relative to each other along an adjustment path for moving from their entry position to their retention position and back, a portion of the adjustment path adjoining the retention position of the two retaining devices (4.1, 4.2) being substantially horizontal.