Ski Binding Toe Piece Radial Bearing Lateral Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski binding toe pieces face challenges in achieving optimal lateral safety release while maintaining a compact design, as their energy absorption is influenced by external forces and the construction is often bulky.
Innovation Solution
A toe piece design featuring a radial bearing with a pivot axis, an elastic element, and impact elements arranged around the radial bearing, allowing the holding element to pivot and absorb energy independently of external forces, while maintaining a compact structure through the use of a coupling element that ensures consistent force application to the radial bearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the holding part, intermediate piece and housing are moved relative to the contact part during pivoting, then the toe piece can absorb energy during lateral impact, but the energy absorption is influenced by external forces and the construction becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The toe piece is divided into functionally independent segments: the holding element that pivots during lateral impact, and the base element with the radial bearing that remains stationary. This segmentation allows the holding element to absorb energy through controlled pivoting while the base element provides stable mounting, eliminating the need for complex interconnected moving parts found in prior art.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the contact part move relative to the holding part during pivoting (as in prior art), this invention inverts the approach by having the holding element pivot relative to a stationary base element. The radial bearing enables this reversed motion relationship, allowing the holding element to rotate while the base remains fixed, simplifying the overall construction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the holding element is mounted to pivot about the pivot axis with a radial bearing, then lateral safety release is enabled, but the structure requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The radial bearing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables the holding element to pivot during lateral impact for safety release, provides precise rotational support, and maintains a compact structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms that would otherwise be required to achieve these functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial bearing integrates the pivot axis functionality directly into the base element structure, combining the mounting function and the rotational support function into a single integrated component. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts while maintaining all necessary functions for lateral safety release.
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
This design enables an optimally controlled lateral safety release that is independent of external forces and achieves a compact construction, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the ski binding's energy absorption capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element, at least two impact elements, which are arranged around the radial bearing
Implementation Method 2
the first of the at least two impact elements can be pressed in the direction of the radial bearing by the first elastic element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a toe piece (1) for a ski binding (100), comprising a base element, a radial bearing with a pivot axis arranged in a vertically oriented plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski, an elastic element (11.1, 11.2), two impact elements (12.1, 12.2) arranged around the radial bearing, and a retaining element (2) for holding a ski boot tip, wherein the retaining element (2) is pivotably mounted on the base element about the pivot axis by means of the radial bearing, and wherein the retaining element (2) is pivotable to both sides, thereby enabling a lateral safety release. This toe piece (1) comprises a coupling element (7) which is oriented perpendicular to the pivot axis and is radially movable relative to the radial bearing, wherein the two impact elements (12.1, 12.2) are coupled to each other via the coupling element (7), wherein a first of the two impact elements (12.1, 12.2)2) is mounted so as to be movable along the coupling element (2) relative to the coupling element (2) and radially to the radial bearing and can be pressed in the direction of the radial bearing by the first elastic element (11.1, 11.2), whereby the two impact elements (12.1, 12.2) are pressed against the radial bearing with an equal force, and wherein the radial bearing and at least one of the two impact elements (12.1, 12.2) are shaped and interact in such a way that the retaining element (2) can be pressed to the retaining position by a force generated by the first elastic element (11.1, 11.2) and acting against the radial bearing by the impact elements (12.1, 12.2).