Alpine Ski Binding Toe-Piece Jaw Hinge Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Alpine ski bindings have a complex design with numerous components, leading to difficult assembly, maintenance, and increased weight, which is impractical for competitive sports.
Innovation Solution
A simplified toe-piece design with a reduced number of components, featuring a single jaw with elastic means and guide pins, and a main lever with a fork-shaped end, along with a safety lever, to facilitate easier assembly and maintenance while reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high number of components are used in the toe-piece, then the engagement and disengagement functions are achieved, but the assembly complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components into integrated structures. The elastic means are integrated directly into the jaw structure, and the guide pins are combined with the jaw bodies. This reduces the total component count while maintaining the engagement and disengagement functions through the simplified integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaws are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide the engagement interface with the ski boot toe-piece, incorporate the elastic means for automatic engagement, include guide pins for movement guidance, and serve as structural elements of the binding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
2Reliability
If a high number of components are used in the toe-piece, then the engagement and disengagement functions are achieved, but the maintenance and replacement operations become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the elastic means and guide pins into the jaw structures, the patent reduces the number of separate parts that need to be disassembled, handled, and reassembled during maintenance. The integrated design allows for simpler maintenance operations while preserving the reliable engagement function.
3Reliability
If a high number of components are used in the toe-piece, then the engagement and disengagement functions are achieved, but the overall weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of multiple functions into fewer components directly reduces the total material required and thus the weight. The elastic means are incorporated into the jaw structure rather than being separate components, and the guide pins are combined with the jaw bodies, eliminating the need for additional fasteners and mounting structures.
4Device complexity
If a simplified design with reduced components is used, then the weight and assembly complexity are reduced, but the structural integrity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction where the jaws are formed from materials that combine strength with the integrated elastic means. The integration of functional elements into the jaw structure allows for optimized material distribution that maintains structural integrity while reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic means incorporate curved and flexible elements that provide both the necessary mechanical compliance for engagement and the structural strength to withstand forces. The curved geometry of the elastic components allows them to function as both structural and functional elements.
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 simplified design results in a lighter, easier-to-maintain toe-piece with improved structural integrity, enhancing performance for competitive skiing by reducing assembly time and weight.
Implementation Method 1
two springs arranged between the relative internal end and the relative central body
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2~2A
AI summary
A toe-piece (1) for an Alpine ski binding, comprising: a plate (2); a first jaw (3) and a second jaw (4), each comprising an external end (30, 40), an internal end (31, 41), and a central body (32, 42); the central body (32) of the first jaw (3) is hinged to the plate (2) with respect to a first hinge axis (X), and the central body (42) of the second jaw (4) is hinged to the plate (2) with respect to a second hinge axis (Y); the internal end (31) of the first jaw (3) and the internal end (41) of the second jaw (4) are hinged to one another with respect to a hinge axis (H), in such a way that the first jaw (3) and the second jaw (4) are mobile such as to define two end configurations, open (O) and closed (C); the second jaw (4) comprises: elastic means (5) arranged between the relative internal end (41) and the relative central body (42); and at least a guide pin (7) for supporting the elastic means (5), such that during the movement of the second jaw (4) from the open configuration (O) to the closed configuration (C), the internal end (41) is mobile along a guide pin (7), determining a variable distance between the second hinge axis (Y) and the central hinge axis (H); and wherein the first jaw (3) constitutes a rigid element which develops from the relative external end (30) to the relative internal end (31), wherein the distance between the first axis (X) and the central hinge axis (H) remains constant during the movement of the first jaw (3) from the open configuration (O) to the closed configuration (C).