Ski Boot Coupling Element Arm Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ski boot coupling elements face increased wear and potential loosening or breaking due to higher release threshold requirements in skiing, especially in racing, where high peak loads can lead to unintentional release and increased wear, despite attempts to strengthen them with larger screws or materials.
Innovation Solution
A coupling element with a fundamentally changed shape and arrangement of fastening points, featuring arm sections extending laterally to provide additional attachment points outside the central area, allowing for a more stable distribution of forces and reducing wear, while maintaining secure attachment to the ski boot even under high loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If larger screws or stronger materials are used to strengthen the coupling element, then the strength is improved, but the installation space is exceeded and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element transitions from a conventional planar metal plate to a three-dimensional structure with arm sections extending laterally outward from the central plane. This dimensional change allows attachment points to be positioned in space outside the pin constraint area, distributing forces more effectively without requiring larger screws or more complex fastening mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is divided into a central section and multiple arm sections that extend laterally. Each arm section provides separate attachment points, segmenting the force distribution across multiple locations rather than concentrating forces at central attachment points, thereby reducing wear and increasing strength without adding overall complexity
2Reliability
If higher release threshold values are used to prevent unintentional release, then reliability is improved, but wear and loosening of the coupling element increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the coupling element have different structural properties - the central section provides stable mounting while the extended arm sections provide leverage and force distribution. The arm sections are positioned to optimize force distribution away from high-wear areas, allowing high release thresholds to be maintained without excessive wear at critical attachment points
Solution Approach 2:
By extending attachment points laterally in three-dimensional space beyond the pin constraint area, the coupling element creates longer moment arms that distribute high loads across a broader spatial distribution, reducing stress concentration and wear at any single point while maintaining the required release threshold
3Device complexity
If attachment points are positioned within the pin constraint area, then device complexity is reduced, but force distribution is insufficient leading to increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The solution maintains simplicity by using a single integrated coupling element structure rather than multiple separate components. The arm sections extend laterally in three-dimensional space to position attachment points outside the pin constraint area, achieving superior force distribution without increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element incorporates multiple arm sections with separate attachment points distributed in space. This segmentation of attachment locations allows forces to be distributed across multiple distant points rather than concentrated at central locations, reducing wear while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Data Source
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Figure 5~9
AI summary
The invention provides a coupling element (16) for a ski boot (10), comprising fastening means (18l, 18r, 20) for attaching the coupling element (16) to a heel area of a ski boot (10), two contact sections (30l, 30r) arranged on either side of a vertical boot center plane (E) extending in the longitudinal direction of the boot, against which pins (31l, 31r) projecting forward from a heel piece of a ski binding bear in a downhill position of the ski binding, and from which the pins (31l, 31r) slide off in the event of a fall release of the ski binding (10) after overcoming a release force acting on the ski boot, wherein the fastening means (18l, 18r, 20) comprise a central attachment point (20) which is arranged between the two contact sections (30l, 30r), wherein the fastening means (18l, 18r, 20) further comprise two outer attachment points (18l, 18r) which are located laterally outside the attachment sections (30l, ) with respect to the shoe midplane (E).30r) are arranged, and that the coupling element (16) has two laterally outwardly extending arm sections (26l, 26r) with respect to the shoe's central plane (E), each extending towards the outer attachment points (18l, 18r).