Ski Binding Toe-Piece Lever Automates Brake Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski mountaineering bindings require manual activation of the braking lever to switch the braking portion between active and non-active positions, which complicates usage and can lead to safety risks due to accidental unhooking during descents.
Innovation Solution
The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding simplifies use by automating the activation of the braking portion through the blocking lever, allowing a single lever operation and ensuring the braking portion is always in a non-active position during descents, thus eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate braking lever is provided to manually activate the brake, then the brake can be controlled independently, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the blocking lever and braking lever into a single integrated lever system. The blocking lever is configured to simultaneously perform both the blocking function (preventing accidental unhooking) and the braking function (activating the brake). This merging of functions eliminates the need for a separate braking lever, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable brake activation through the unified lever mechanism.
2Reliability
If a separate braking lever is provided to manually activate the brake, then the brake can be controlled independently, but ease of operation worsens due to multiple levers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the blocking and braking functions into a single lever operation. The blocking lever is designed to activate the brake when moved to its blocking position, eliminating the need for a separate braking lever. This reduces the number of manual operations required and simplifies the user interface while ensuring reliable brake activation through the integrated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking lever is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a blocking mechanism (to prevent accidental unhooking) and as a braking mechanism (to activate the brake). This universal lever performs multiple functions that were previously separated, improving ease of operation by reducing the number of controls the user must manage while maintaining reliable performance of both functions.
3Reliability
If the braking portion remains in the braking position during unhooking, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation worsens due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by configuring the blocking lever to automatically activate the brake before the unhooking process completes. When the blocking lever is moved to the blocking position, it simultaneously activates the braking portion, ensuring the brake is applied in advance. This preliminary braking action maintains safety during unhooking while eliminating the need for manual intervention, as the system automatically manages the braking state throughout the unhooking sequence.
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 enhances user safety by automatically managing the braking position, reducing the risk of accidental unhooking and simplifying the skiing process, as the blocking lever ensures the braking portion is always above the snow surface during use, preventing interference.
Implementation Method 1
first elastic means acting on the first jaw, on the second jaw, on the joint and on the activating lever
Implementation Method 2
second elastic means acting on the braking portion, for exerting a force tending to bring the braking portion into the braking position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A toe-piece of a ski mountaineering binding (1) is described, comprising: a activating lever (4); a joint (5); a blocking lever (6); a brake (7) for a ski (9) which: comprises a braking portion (13A) which is movable to assume a braking position (PF), and a non-active position (PD1). The toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1) is also designed to assume following configurations: a configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A), an intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B) reachable starting from the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A) by hooking the ski boot (3) in the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding (1); a blocking ski boot configuration (C), reachable starting from the intermediate configuration of inserted ski boot (B) by activation only of the blocking lever; a ski descent configuration (D) reachable starting from the configuration of ski boot blocking (C) by returning the blocking lever (6) into the unblocked position (PS). In a case of unhooking of the ski boot, the braking portion (13A) automatically reaches the braking position (PF).