Ski Binding Flexor Unit Segmentation for Cold Weather Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cross-country and touring ski bindings face difficulties in changing flexor units, especially in cold temperatures, as traditional compressible flexors become rigid and hard to compress, requiring specialized tools and expertise, making it challenging to remove and replace them without additional tools or expertise.
Innovation Solution
A flexor unit design featuring a base element with a snap-fit connector and a separate flexor element, allowing for easy attachment and detachment from the ski binding without deforming the flexor, using materials that remain flexible in cold temperatures, and incorporating wing portions and a boot plate for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional compressible flexors are used in ski bindings, then they provide resilient return force to the ski boot, but they become extremely rigid and inflexible at cold temperatures (around or below 0°C), making it extremely difficult to remove the flexor from the ski binding by hand compression
Solution Approach 1:
The flexor system is divided into two separate components: a flexor element that provides the resilient return force and a base element that interfaces with the ski binding. The flexor element can be detached from the base element, allowing the resilient flexor to be removed without requiring compression of the entire assembly. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy removal while preserving the resilient properties of the flexor element.
2Reliability
If spring based flexors are used to provide resistive force, then they induce the ski boot back into the normal position, but they require specialist tools in order to change the resistive force they apply
Solution Approach 1:
The invention allows for changing the resistive force parameter by replacing the flexor element with one having different spring characteristics. The base element remains unchanged and provides standardized interfaces, while the flexor element can be swapped to adjust the resistive force. This resolves the contradiction by enabling parameter adjustment through simple component replacement rather than requiring specialist tools to modify the spring itself.
3Force
If flexors are designed to be extremely resilient for professional or semi-professional skiers, then they provide strong return force, but even when warm, this can be extremely difficult to compress and remove from the ski binding
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the high-force flexor element from the binding interface base element, the invention allows professional-grade resilient flexors to be installed and removed without requiring compression of the entire assembly. The flexor element can be detached from the base element in its uncompressed state, resolving the contradiction between providing strong return force and enabling easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexor element is extracted as a separate removable component from the binding system. This allows the high-resilience flexor to be removed from the ski binding by simply detaching it from the base element, without requiring compression or special tools, thus resolving the contradiction between strong return force and ease of removal.
4Stability of the object's composition
If flexors form an integral part of the binding, then they provide structural integration, but they are extremely difficult to change and require return to a ski outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the traditionally integral flexor-binding structure into two separate elements: the base element that remains with the ski binding and the flexor element that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation maintains structural integration during use while enabling easy replacement of the flexor element without requiring return to a ski outlet or specialist intervention.
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 easy exchange of flexor units in ski bindings without additional tools or expertise, even in cold conditions, ensuring secure attachment and improved skiing performance by maintaining flexibility and resistance characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a base element (30) designed such that it can removably interact and attach with a ski binding (2)
Implementation Method 2
a flexor element (10) comprising a single piece double section element with a front flexor portion (11) and a rear flexor portion (12)
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
A flexor unit 1 for a ski binding 2, in particular a cross country or touring ski binding, comprising: a flexor element 10 which is attached, attachable or integrally formed with a base element 30 for interaction and attachment with the ski binding 2 in a removable manner, the flexor element 10 comprising a single piece double section element with a front flexor portion 11 and a rear flexor portion 12, the flexor element 10 further comprising a pin receiving slot 13 between the front 11 and rear 12 flexor portions, the pin receiving slot 13 being sized and shaped to receive a rotation pin of a ski boot.