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A device for binding a boot to a cross-country ski, the device fixing the front of the boot to the ski while allowing the rear of the boot to move relative to the ski between a low position and a high position. The device includes an elastic return system for applying an elastic return force to retu

A device for binding a boot to a cross-country ski, the device fixing the front of the boot to the ski while allowing the rear of the boot to move relative to the ski between a low position and a high position. The device includes an elastic return system for applying an elastic return force to return the boot to the low position, and an elastic abutment operable at the end of travel of the boot toward the high position.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A device for binding a cross-country ski boot to a cross-country ski, said binding device comprising: a retaining system adapted to connect a front of the boot to the ski, the binding device allowing a rear of the boot to be moved in relation to the ski between a low po

The invention claimed is: 1. A device for binding a cross-country ski boot to a cross-country ski, said binding device comprising: a retaining system adapted to connect a front of the boot to the ski, the binding device allowing a rear of the boot to be moved in relation to the ski between a low position and a high position; an elastic return system for applying an elastic return force to the boot to move the rear of the boot toward the low position during skiing; and an elastic abutment which operates to oppose movement toward the high position only after the rear of the boot has moved away from the ski through a predetermined lifting angle. 2. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic abutment provides an elastically compressible abutment effect and an elastic return force for the boot additional to said elastic return force of said elastic return system. 3. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic abutment comprises an elastically compressible buffer. 4. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic abutment cooperates directly with the boot. 5. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic abutment cooperates with a portion of the retaining system. 6. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic return system comprises an elastic member and a mechanism for adjusting a stiffness of the elastic member. 7. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic abutment is positioned at a front end portion of the binding device, spaced apart from said elastic return system, and, when the boot is engaged in the binding device, in front of the boot. 8. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic abutment is positioned at a front end portion of the binding device and spaced from a front of the boot when the boot is engaged in the binding device in the low position. 9. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein: the elastic return system comprises a component adapted to be connected, during connection of the front of the boot to the ski, to a part of the boot spaced forwardly from a rear end of an external sole of the boot to apply said elastic return force of the elastic return system to said part of the boot. 10. A binding device according to claim 9, wherein: the elastic return system comprises a component adapted to be connected, during connection of the front of the boot to the ski to the retaining system, to a part of the boot corresponding to a metatarso-phalangeal articulation zone of a user's foot to apply said elastic return force of the elastic return system to said part of the boot. 11. A binding device according to claim 10, wherein: said elastic return force of the elastic return system is applied substantially perpendicularly downward relative to a lower surface of an external sole of the boot. 12. A binding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a guiding ridge adapted to engage in a longitudinally extending groove in a sole of the cross-country boot. 13. A binding device according to claim 12, wherein: the elastic return system comprises an elastic member; and the elastic member is integrated into a housing inside the guiding ridge. 14. A binding device for binding a cross-country ski boot to a cross-country ski, said binding device comprising: a retaining system adapted to connect a front of the boot to the ski, the binding device allowing a rear of the boot to be moved in relation to the ski between a low position and a high position; an elastic return system for applying an elastic return force to the boot to move the rear of the boot toward the low position during skiing; and an elastic abutment which operates to oppose movement toward the high position only after the rear of the boot has moved away from the ski through a predetermined lifting angle; the retaining system being independent of the elastic return system; and the elastic return system comprising at least one substantially inextensible flexible linkage. 15. A device for binding a cross-country ski boot to a cross-country ski, said binding device comprising: a retaining system adapted to connect a front of the boot to the ski, the binding device allowing a rear of the boot to be moved in relation to the ski between a low position and a high position; an elastic return system for applying an elastic return force to the boot to move the rear of the boot toward the low position during skiing; an elastic abutment which operates to oppose movement toward the high position only after the rear of the boot has moved away from the ski through a predetermined lifting angle; said elastic abutment is operably connected to said elastic return system via the boot, the elastic abutment applying an elastic return force to the front the boot and the elastic return system applying an elastic return force to a part of the boot rearward of the front of the boot and forward of the rear of the boot. 16. A binding device according to claim 15, wherein: said elastic abutment comprises an elastically compressible abutment. 17. A binding device according to claim 15, wherein: said elastic return force of the elastic return system is applied substantially perpendicularly downward relative to a lower surface of an external sole of the boot. 18. A binding device according to claim 15, wherein: the elastic return system comprises a component adapted to be connected, during connection of the front of the boot to the ski to the retaining system, to a part of the boot corresponding to a metatarso-phalangeal articulation zone of a user's foot to apply said elastic return force of the elastic return system to said part of the boot perpendicularly downward relative to a lower surface of an external sole of the boot. 19. A binding device according to claim 15, wherein: the elastic return system comprises at least one substantially inextensible flexible linkage. 20. A device for binding a cross-country ski boot to a cross-country ski, said binding device comprising: a retaining system adapted to connect a front of the boot to the ski, the binding device allowing a rear of the boot to be moved in relation to the ski between a low position and a high position; an elastic return system for applying an elastic return force to the boot to move the rear of the boot toward the low position during skiing; and a limit abutment positioned to cooperate directly with the boot, or to cooperate with a portion of the retaining system for the boot, only after the retaining system has allowed the boot to move away from the ski through a predetermined lifting angle, said limit abutment being effective to end movement of the boot in a direction away from the ski. 21. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment is an elastic abutment. 22. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment is a rigid abutment. 23. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment is a rigid abutment which operates to oppose movement away from the ski only at a predetermined lifting angle of the boot at the end of the travel of the boot. 24. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment cooperates directly with the boot. 25. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment cooperates with a portion of the retaining system. 26. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment is positioned at a front end portion of the binding device, spaced apart from said elastic return system, and, when the boot is engaged in the binding device, in front of the boot. 27. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the limit abutment is positioned at a front end portion of the binding device and spaced from a front of the boot when the boot is engaged in the binding device in the low position. 28. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the elastic return system comprises a component adapted to be connected, during connection of the front of the boot to the ski, to a part of the boot spaced forwardly from a rear end of an external sole of the boot to apply said elastic return force of the elastic return system to said part of the boot. 29. A binding device according to claim 28, wherein: the elastic return system comprises a component adapted to be connected, during connection of the front of the boot to the ski to the retaining system, to a part of the boot corresponding to a metatarso-phalangeal articulation zone of a user's foot to apply said elastic return force of the elastic return system to said part of the boot. 30. A binding device according to claim 29, wherein: said elastic return force of the elastic return system is applied substantially perpendicularly downward relative to a lower surface of an external sole of the boot. 31. A binding device according to claim 20, wherein: the elastic return system comprises at least one substantially inextensible flexible linkage. 32. A binding device according to claim 20, further comprising: a guiding ridge adapted to engage in a longitudinally extending groove in a sole of the cross-country boot when the sole is supported by an upper surface of the ski. 33. A binding device according to claim 32, wherein: the elastic return system comprises an elastic member; and the elastic member is integrated into a housing inside the guiding ridge.