T.m.c., Inc.

Gertsch Ag

Josef Svoboda

Erwin Krob

Karl Stritzl

Erwin Weigl

Axel R Kubelka

Rupert Hofbauer

Heinz Wittmann

Gottfried Schweizer

Emilie Szabo

Friedrich Leichtfried

Theodor Nitschko

Gerhard Oberleitner

Radko Pavlovec

Herbert Wuerthner

Alois Himmetsberger

Engelbert Spitaler

Helmut Bauer

Franz K Edinger

Wilfried Riss

Jaroslav Knotek

Rossler Ernst

Frank Hrachowitz

Non-sole dependent ski binding

A safety ski binding includes a bearing block having an axle thereon, a sole holder pivotally supported on the axle, and a spring housing supported on the bearing block for pivotal movement about an axis which is generally parallel to the axle. A slide member is movably supported in the spring housing and is biased by a release spring into engagement with a control surface on the sole holder in the downhill skiing position of the binding. The axle is closer to the tail of the ski than the axis, and the control surface on the sole holder includes a cam which engages the slide member in the region between the axle and axis. The slide member has a control recess therein and the axle extends through the control recess, pivotal movement of the spring housing causing the axle to engage an inclined surface of the slide member and move the slide member away from the sole holder against the urging of the release spring.

Safety ski binding

A safety ski binding includes a releasable jaw having a pivotally supported holding mechanism which is adapted to engage a ski shoe. The jaw includes first and second cylinders with fluid actuated pistons therein, and a fluid channel interconnects the cylinders. A check valve in the fluid channel resists fluid flow from the first cylinder to the second, and a solenoid controlled valve in the fluid channel, when open, creates a bypass around the check valve. A mechanism is provided for applying forces to the piston of the second cylinder to pressurize the first cylinder via the check valve causing the piston of the first cylinder to itself be urged against or to urge another member against a locking track in a manner which maintains the jaw in a closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the cylinders are provided on the holding mechanism and the locking track is fixed to the ski. Sensors responsive to forces exerted on the holding mechanism by the ski shoe drive a control unit which, when the forces exceed a predetermined threshold, actuates the solenoid controlled valve to release the jaw.

A ski brake includes a holding plate mountable on a ski, a first pedal part having one end supported on the holding plate for pivotal movement about a stationary first axle and the other end pivotally coupled to one end of a second pedal part. The other end of the second pedal part is pivotally supported on a second axle which extends normal to and is supported for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. A helical spring has one end supported on the first axle and the other end supported on the second axle and urges the second axle to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two braking arms are rotationally supported on the second pedal part, are rotationally biased by torsion springs, and have extensions engageable with surfaces on the holding plate to effect rotation of the braking arms in response to movement of the second pedal part.

Ski brake

A heel holder includes a base plate mountable on the ski, a sole holder supported for vertical and transverse horizontal movement relative to the base plate, a first locking mechanism for yieldably resisting upward movement of the sole holder away from a closed position adjacent the base plate, and a second locking mechanism which prevents transverse horizontal movement of the sole holder until it has moved upwardly a predetermined distance away from the base plate. The second locking mechanism includes cooperating locking parts on the base plate and the sole holder, one locking part being vertically movably supported on the associated one of the base plate and sole holder and being resiliently urged toward the other locking part. One of the locking parts has a vertical recess which receives the other locking part in the closed position of the sole holder.

Ski binding

An adjusting mechanism for a jaw of a ski binding. The adjusting mechanism includes a holding plate which is fixedly secured to the upper surface of a ski. A base plate for the ski binding component is slidably disposed on the holding plate with locking means being provided to lock the base plate to the holding plate. That is, structure is provided for preventing the base plate from lifting off from the holding plate and locking structure is provided to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

Adjusting mechanism

A safety ski binding includes a cross-country plate having a front jaw and heel holder thereon and pivotal about an axis extending transversely of the ski. Two W-shaped bar parts of different lengths are pivotally supported thereon and movable to positions between the plate and ski. Each bar part includes two spaced outer legs, two spaced inner legs therebetween, two support webs connecting adjacent outer and inner legs, and an inner web connecting the two inner legs. A respective pin extends through the inner legs of each bar part and is secured in the outer legs thereof, and portions of a sleeve are provided on the pin between each outer leg and the adjacent inner leg and between the inner legs. A further pin is preferably secured in the outer legs of one bar part and engages the inner web thereof. Damper elements are preferably provided on the support webs of each bar part.

Device for cross-country skiing

A heel holder includes a sole holder which is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on a support member and has a control surface. A locking lever pivotally supported on the support member has a nose engageable with the sole holder control surface. A spring housing having a release spring therein is pivotal about the sole holder pivot axis, and a slide member movably supported in the spring housing is biased by the release spring against a side of the lever opposite the nose thereof when the spring housing is in an initial position. A centering spring is cooperable with the spring housing and with the sole holder or the support member and, after pivotal movement of the spring housing away from its initial position, urges the spring housing back toward such position.

A heel holder of a ski binding is mounted on a guide plate which is in turn supported on a ski for movement longitudinally thereof. A biasing mechanism yieldably urges the guide plate forwardly with respect to the ski. A ski brake mounted on the ski just ahead of the heel holder includes a pedal which is supported for pivotal movement and two braking mandrels operatively coupled to the pedal, pivotal movement of the pedal effecting movement of the braking bars between a braking and a retracted position. An inclined surface is provided on either the free end of the pedal or the forward end of the guide plate, and at least one roller engageable with the inclined surface is provided on the other of the pedal and guide plate. The biasing mechanism, through engagement of the roller and inclined surface, urges the pedal and braking mandrels toward the braking position. When a ski shoe is releasably secured in the heel holder, a small space preferably exists between the roller and the inclined surface.

A ski brake has a base plate secured to the upper side of a ski which pivotally supports a braking arm carrier for movement between a braking position and a retracted position about a first axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two wire braking arms are pivotally supported in the braking arm carrier, each braking arm having a free end which is spaced from the braking arm carrier and from the pivot axis of the braking arm. Means are provided for pivoting the braking arms as the braking arm carrier pivots between braking and retracted positions, and springs urge the braking arm carrier toward the braking position. A first member is supported on the base plate for pivotal movement about a second axis, and a second member is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the first member and to the braking arm carrier at the ends thereof remote from the second and first axes, respectively. The second member and braking arm carrier define a toggle-joint.

A safety ski binding for cross-country and downhill skiing includes a cross-country plate which is divided into two pivotally connected parts. A sole holder for a ski shoe includes a hold-down means and a pin secured thereon, the pin being movably supported in a recess in the front part of the cross-country plate. The hold-down means engages the upper side of the front end of the ski shoe sole. An operating member is operatively coupled to the sole holder and, in response to upward movement of the rear part of cross-country plate and/or downward movement of the tip of the ski shoe sole, effects generally downward movement of the hold-down means so that it remains in engagement with the top of the ski shoe sole. A spring cooperable with the sole holder or the operating member is effective to yieldably urge the hold-down means generally upwardly.

A safety ski binding includes a first jaw which is fixedly mounted on a ski and a second jaw which is supported movably on the ski and includes an electrically activated release mechanism. A piezoelectric sensor is provided on each jaw, the sensor in the first jaw being wired to a signal-processing circuit provided in the ski and powered by a battery provided in the ski. An electromagnetic coupling is provided to couple the circuitry in the ski with and to provide power to the release mechanism and sensor in the second jaw. Signals from the sensor in the second jaw are transmitted to the signal-processing circuit through the electromagnetic coupling. The signal-processing circuit evaluates the signals received from both sensors and, when a release is required, sends a signal through the electromagnetic coupling to activate the release mechanism.

A ski binding part with a sole holder for ski boots, which can be automatically adjusted to provide the proper hold-down force for different height ski boot soles or ski boot heels by a torque limiting coupling and a bolt which, when the ski binding is mounted on the ski, stands substantially perpendicular with respect to the upper side of the ski.

Ski binding part

A safety ski binding having a pair of sole holders pivotally secured to a base plate. Structure is provided for damping the movement of the sole holders to the ski boot releasing position. The damping mechanism includes a chamber having a fluid therein and a member movable in the chamber. The movable member in the chamber is connected through linkage to the sole holders and moves in response to a movement of the sole holders. The fluid on one side of the movable member will flow in a restricted manner to the other side thereof in response to sudden movements of the sole holders. The initial movement of the movable member is, therefore, restricted due to the fact that the fluid on the aforesaid one side of the movable member is restricted in its flow to the other side. Upon the movable member reaching a critical point in the chamber, fluid will then be permitted to pass through a bypass opening to facilitate an unrestricted flow of fluid around the movable member thereby permitting the sole holders to move in an unrestricted manner to the released condition thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Schwechat, Austria

Josef Svoboda