Ski Brake Locking Bolt for Low-Force Brake-Pin Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski brakes require manual effort to press and hold the pedal against a spring force to lock the brake pins to the side of the ski, making the operation inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A ski brake design featuring a rotatable locking bolt with torsion springs, allowing the locking lever to be raised and then locked into position using minimal manual force, and subsequently engaging the brake pins to the side of the ski with the pedal pressed down by a boot, eliminating the need for manual pedal pressing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pedal is pressed down and held by hand to lock the brake pins, then the brake pins can be fixed to the side of the ski, but the operation requires significant manual effort and is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The brake support with its knob-like projection serves itself by automatically engaging the locking bolt when the pedal is pressed down by the boot. The system uses the boot's natural movement to trigger the locking mechanism without requiring separate manual intervention to hold the pedal or operate the locking lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking lever is raised in advance to the locked position before the pedal is pressed down by the boot. This preliminary positioning of the locking lever ensures that when the boot presses the pedal, the locking bolt is already in the correct orientation to engage the knob-like projection, enabling automatic locking.
2Ease of operation
If the locking lever is raised by hand or ski pole, then the locking lever can be positioned for locking, but additional manual effort is required compared to automatic engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bolt is designed to be rotatable relative to the locking lever, allowing it to dynamically change its engagement orientation. This rotational capability enables the locking bolt to engage the knob-like projection at the appropriate moment during the pedal depression cycle, providing automatic locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable locking bolt acts as an intermediary element between the locking lever and the knob-like projection. It translates the rotational movement of the locking lever into the appropriate engagement position, enabling automatic locking without requiring complex mechanical linkages or additional actuators.
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
Enables convenient operation of the ski brake with reduced manual effort, allowing the locking lever to be easily raised and locked, enhancing user convenience and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
at least one torsion spring is arranged on the locking bolt in such a way that in order to establish the fixed position of the brake pins, in a first phase with the pedal raised, the locking lever can be raised while also turning the locking bolt and in a second phase by pressing down the pedal the knob-like projection of the brake support turns the locking bolt against the force of the torsion spring relative to the locking lever
Data Source
AI summary
A ski brake having two brake pins which can be moved from a non-fixed position to a fixed position in which the brake pins are held in a position to the side of the ski, including a brake housing, a pedal, a lever-like brake support which has a knob-like projection, and having a locking lever rotatably mounted on the brake housing and which can be moved into a lowered and a raised position. The locking lever is arranged on a locking bolt which is rotatably mounted on the brake housing and which can be rotated to a limited extent relative to the locking lever, on which at least one torsion spring. To establish the fixed position of the brake pins, the locking lever can be raised and in a second phase the locking bolt holds the brake support via the knob-like projection.