초록 ▼

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot and preferably for telemark skiing. The binding includes a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski and a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of the base, and disposed laterally on either side of the base. The la

A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot and preferably for telemark skiing. The binding includes a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski and a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of the base, and disposed laterally on either side of the base. The lateral side members may be tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged. The pair of boot support members are biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said pair of boot support members being biased to

1. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a cross bar disposed transversely between the pair of boot support members for engaging the front top of the boot sole; and a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; said cross bar disposed over the front top of the boot sole so that the center of said cross bar receives the most forward portion of the toe box of the boot with the ends of the cross bar extending rearwardly therefrom to engage outer portions of the boot sole. 2. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; and a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; wherein said base has a pressure plate on a front top surface that firmly engages an underside of the boot. 3. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pressure plate is slightly elevated above the rest of the top surface of the base and includes securing pins engageable in holes in the boot for retaining the boot in place.4. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of stop posts associated respectively with the pair of support members.5. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; and a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; wherein the member that releases the pair of support members includes a latch pin that extends through the base retained at its front end at the release lever and having a back end that engages and locks the pair of support members. 6. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 5 including a cross piece extending between the lateral support members for engagement with the back end of the latch pin, said latch pin being tapered at its back end so as to displace when the lateral support members move downwardly yet lock with the cross piece when fully engaged.7. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 6 including a spring for biasing the latch pin toward a backward position, said base having a front to back passage for receiving said latch pin.8. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 7 wherein said base comprises an outer metal shell and an inner plastic core that has the passage therein.9. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 5 wherein said release lever is supported from said base by means of a pivot pin, said release lever held by said pivot pin and supported at the front end of said latch pin.10. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; and a ski brake integrated into the base and having wings that extend through the pair of lateral support members. 11. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 10 including at least one spring disposed in the base for biasing the brake and for urging the lateral support members away from the locked position.12. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot for telemark skiing, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said boot support members being tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; a ski brake integrated into the base, releasable when the boot is disengaged, and constructed and arranged to urge the lateral support members from the locked position to the released position; and wherein the ski brake has opposite legs that engage with respective boot support members. 13. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot for telemark skiing, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said boot support members being tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; and a ski brake integrated into the base, releasable when the boot is disengaged, and constructed and arranged to urge the lateral support members from the locked position to the released position; wherein said base has a pressure plate on a front top surface that firmly engages an underside of the boot, and wherein the pressure plate is slightly elevated above the rest of the top surface of the base. 14. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot for telemark skiing, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members pivotally supported from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said boot support members being tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; and a ski brake integrated into the base, releasable when the boot is disengaged, and constructed and arranged to urge the lateral support members from the locked position to the released position; wherein the member that releases the pair of support members includes a latch pin that extends through the base retained at its front end at the release lever and having a back end that engages and locks the pair of support members.15. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 14 including a cross piece extending between the lateral support members for engagement with the back end of the latch pin, said latch pin being tapered at its back end so as to displace when the lateral support members move downwardly yet lock with the cross piece when fully engaged, a spring for biasing the latch pin toward a backward position, said base having a front to back passage for receiving said latch pin.16. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 12 including a cross bar disposed between the pair of boot support members for engaging the front top of the boot and a pair of stop posts associated respectively with the pair of support members.17. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a pair of boot support members mounted from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said boot support members adapted to receive and guide the ski boot as it is received; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever mounted at the front of said base, readily accessible to the skier and including a release member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot released position upon activation of said release lever; a series of upright engagement pins on the base for engaging similarly disposed holes in the boot sole; and a cross bar between and stationary relative to the pair of boot support members, disposed overlying said engagement pins and for engaging the front top of the boot sole. 18. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 17 including a ski brake integrated into the base, and constructed and arranged to urge the boot support members from the locked position to the released position.19. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 17 wherein said boot support members are tapered inwardly toward the front so as to receive and guide the ski boot as it is to be engaged.20. A step-in binding as set forth in claim 17 including two additional crossbars that are used to unify the boot support members.21. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a pair of boot support members mounted from a front side of said base, and disposed laterally on either side of said base; said boot support members adapted to receive and guide the ski boot as it is received; said pair of boot support members being biased to a boot released position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the pair of boot support members, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever mounted at the front of said base, readily accessible to the skier and including a release member that releases the pair of boot support members from the locked position to the boot released position upon activation of said release lever; and three crossbars that are used to unify the boot support members. wherein the crossbars include a front bar that forms a hinge, a second bar across the top of the boot that holds the boot in place, and a rear bar that locks the boot support members down. 22. A step-in binding for receiving a ski boot, comprising:a base constructed and arranged to be secured to the ski; a boot support member supported from a front side of said base and including a pair of separate boot support members each for supporting and guiding opposite sides of the boot sole; said boot support member being biased to a boot receiving position and further having a locked position that is assumed once the boot is received, engages the boot support member, and is cantilevered downwardly into the locked position; a release lever arranged at the front of said base readily accessible to the skier and a member that releases the boot support member from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of said release lever; a ski brake integrated into the base, and constructed and arranged to urge the support member from the locked position to the released position; at least one cross bar connected between said boot support members, that is disposed over the base and that engages the front top of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the binding; and a common pivot that interconnects the front of the pair of boot support members and that forms both a pivot for the boot support members as well as defining the spacing between the boot support members. 23. A binding for receiving and mounting a ski boot to a ski, comprising:a base adapted for securing to the ski; a boot support carriage that is pivotally supported from said base and that is adapted to receive the sole of the ski boot; said boot support carriage having locked and released positions; said boot support carriage including; a pair of separated boot support members that each have a guide surface for guiding the lateral position of the boot and a support surface for supporting a side of the sole of the boot, and at least one cross member that extends between said boot support members, that is disposed over the base and that engages the front top of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the binding; and a common pivot that interconnects the front of the pair of boot support members and that forms a pivot for the boot support members, defines the spacing between the boot support members and arranges the boot support members for motion at the sides of said base. 24. A binding as set forth in claim 23 wherein said boot support members each further include an upright surface that extends beside the base when the binding is in a locked position.25. A binding as set forth in claim 23 wherein the center of said cross member receives the most forward portion of the toe box of the boot with the ends of the cross member extending rearwardly therefrom to engage outer portions of the boot sole.26. A binding as set forth in claim 23 wherein said base has a pressure plate on a front top surface that firmly engages an underside of the boot.27. A binding as set forth in claim 23 further including a ski brake integrated into the base, releasable when the boot is disengaged, and constructed and arranged to urge the lateral support members from the locked position to the released position.28. A binding as set forth in claim 27 wherein the ski brake has opposite legs that engage with respective boot support members.29. A binding as set forth in claim 23 further including an engagement plate on the base for engaging the undersurface of the boot sole, and wherein the cross member is stationary relative to the pair of boot support members, disposed overlying said engagement plate and for engaging the front top of the boot sole.30. A binding for receiving and mounting a ski boot to a ski, comprising:a base adapted for securing to the ski; a pair of separated boot support members that are pivotally supported from said base at sides thereof, and that are adapted to receive the sole of the ski boot; said boot support members having locked and released positions; and a plurality of cross members that interconnect the pair of boot support members to maintain a fixed spacing therebetween and including an overlying member that is disposed over the base and that engages the front top of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the base in the released position, and a cross member, forward of the overlying member, and forming the pivot for the boot support members. 31. A ski binding as set forth in claim 30 wherein the base comprises an upright member, and said boot support members comprise separately disposed members that each include a bottom section that is adapted to pass, respectively, against opposite sides of the upright member when the boot support members are pivoted to a locked position.32. A ski binding as set forth in claim 31 wherein the pair of boot support members each have a guide surface for guiding the lateral position of the boot and a support surface for supporting a side of the sole of the boot.33. A ski binding as set forth in claim 32 wherein the support surface is disposed orthogonal to both the guide surface and the bottom section.34. A ski binding as set forth in claim 30 wherein said overlying member comprises a cross bar and the center of said cross bar receives the most forward portion of the toe box of the boot with the ends of the cross bar extending rearwardly therefrom to engage outer portions of the boot sole.35. A ski binding as set forth in claim 30 wherein said base has a pressure plate on a front top surface that firmly engages an underside of the boot.36. A ski binding as set forth in claim 30 wherein said base receives a latch device that releases the boot support members from the locked position to the boot receiving position upon activation of a release lever.37. A ski binding as set forth in claim 30 further including a series of upright engagement pins on the base for engaging similarly disposed holes in the boot sole, and wherein the overlying member comprises a cross bar that is stationary relative to the pair of boot support members, disposed overlying said engagement pins and for engaging the front top of the boot sole.38. A binding for receiving and mounting a ski boot to a ski, comprising:a base adapted for securing to the ski at a fixed position on the ski; a pair of boot support members that are respectively disposed at opposed sides of said base and that are adapted to receive the sole of the ski boot; said boot support members having locked and released positions; a common pivot that intercouples a front of the pair of boot support members with the base and that forms a pivot for the boot support members to enable the boot support members to move in unison between locked and released positions; an overlying member that pivots with the pair of boot support members, is disposed over the base and engages a top surface of the sole of the ski boot when the ski boot is inserted into the pair of boot support members; said boot support members and overlying member, upon receiving said boot, being cantilevered downwardly from a released position to a locked position wherein the sole of the ski boot is clamped by the overlying member against the fixed position base. 39. A ski binding as set forth in claim 38 wherein said base is an upright base and said boot support members have respective boot support surfaces for receiving respective sides of the boot sole, said respective boot support surfaces being cantilevered downwardly adjacent the opposed sides of the upright base.40. A ski binding as set forth in claim 39 wherein said boot support members each include a bottom section that is adapted to pass, respectively, against the opposed sides of the upright base when the boot support members are pivoted to a locked position.41. A ski binding as set forth in claim 40 wherein the pair of boot support members each have a guide surface for guiding the lateral position of the boot.42. A ski binding as set forth in claim 41 wherein the boot support surface is disposed orthogonal to both the guide surface and the bottom section.43. A ski binding as set forth in claim 38 wherein said base has a pressure plate on a front top surface that firmly engages an underside of the boot sole.44. A ski binding as set forth in claim 38 wherein said base includes boot engagement means for the engagement with the underside of the boot sole, said overlying member urging the duckbill of the sole against the engagement means to hold the boot in place as the boot support members are cantilevered to the locked position.45. A ski binding as set forth in claim 44 wherein said engagement means comprises pins.