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(11) | EP 3 782 707 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A TOE-PIECE OF A SKI BINDING FOR SKI MOUNTAINEERING |
| (57) A toe-piece of a ski binding (1) for Ski Mountaineering, comprising an elastic element
(14) which is interposed between a ski and an activating lever (10). The toe-piece
of the ski binding (1) is designed to assume following stable configurations: a configuration
ready to receive the ski boot (B), on which the elastic element (14) is abutted by
the activating lever (10), and exerts an elastic force which determines the positioning
of the joint (11) at a first distance from the ski; a blocking ski boot configuration
(D), on which the elastic element (14) is abutted by the activating lever (10), and
is elastically deformed so that the joint (11) is arranged at a third distance from
the ski, which is shorter than the first distance. The elastic element can be a leaf
spring or a plate or a compression spring.
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[0001] The present invention relates to the technical sector of ski bindings, with particular reference to a toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering.
[0002] A first type of toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering is known, see for example EP2815794, EP2659940 and EP2347807, which comprises: a base which is fixable to a ski; a first jaw and a second jaw which face one another and which are rotatable with respect to the base; a first pin which is borne by the first jaw for inserting in a first lateral hole made in a tip of a ski boot; a second pin which is borne by the second jaw for inserting in a second lateral hole made in the tip of the ski boot, opposite the first lateral hole; an activating lever which is rotatable with respect to the base; a joint borne by the activating lever, which is interposed between the first jaw and the second jaw, and which is coupled to the first jaw and to the second jaw; a blocking lever which is rotatably coupled to the activating lever; elastic means.
[0003] The toe-piece of the ski binding is designed to assume following stable configurations:
a first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), wherein the elastic means act on the first jaw and on the second jaw to maintain the jaws splayed and to maintain the first pin and the second pin moved away from one another;
an inserted ski boot configuration, wherein: the first pin is inserted in the first lateral hole of the ski boot; the second pin is inserted in the second lateral hole of the ski boot; and the elastic means act on the first jaw and on the second jaw in order to near the first pin and the second pin to one another and to near the joint to the ski;
a blocking ski boot configuration, wherein: the first pin is inserted in the first lateral hole of the ski boot; the second pin is inserted in the second lateral hole of the ski boot; the blocking lever is in a blocking position which generates a blocking torque acting on the activating lever in order to near the first pin and the second pin to one another and to near the joint to the ski.
[0004] To insert the ski boot in the toe-piece of the ski binding it is necessary that the toe-piece of the ski binding is in the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot: with a pressure of the tip of the ski boot on the joint the toe-piece of the ski binding can reach the inserted ski boot configuration (C). In the inserted ski boot configuration the blocking lever is in an unblocking position and it is possible to ski downhill. In the event of a fall or stresses on the toe-piece of a ski binding, the toe-piece of the ski binding can automatically disengage the ski boot, by unhooking it, and move into the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot.
[0005] If, starting from the inserted ski boot configuration the skier wishes to newly return into the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot, with the aim of manually disengaging the ski boot from the toe-piece of the ski binding, then it is necessary to act on the blocking lever, inducing a rotation of the activating lever, in order to distance the joint from the ski and consequently to move the jaws away from each other (splaying the jaws).
[0006] When preparing for uphill travel, the toe-piece of the ski binding can be moved into the blocking ski boot configuration: starting from the inserted ski boot configuration, it is sufficient to rotate the blocking lever from the unblocking position to the blocking position. At this point, to disengage the ski boot, and return into the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot, it is necessary to move the blocking lever into the unblocking position and then, acting again on the blocking lever, to induce a rotation of the activating lever, in order to distance the joint from the ski and consequently to move the jaws away from each other.
[0007] During the use of the toe-piece of a ski binding, for example following a fall during a downhill skiing run, it can occur that the toe-piece of the ski binding can be in a jaws-neared configuration in which: the ski boot is disengaged from the toe-piece of the ski binding; and the elastic means act on the first jaw and on the second jaw in order to near the first pin and the second pin to one another and to near the joint to the ski. In this jaws-neared configuration, the pins are at a mutual distance that is smaller than or at most identical to the distance that the pins assume when the toe-piece of the ski binding is in the inserted ski boot configuration. Starting from the jaws-neared configuration, in order to insert the ski boot it is necessary to bring the toe-piece of the ski binding into the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot, by acting on the blocking lever and thus inducing a rotation of the activating lever, to move the joint away from the ski and consequently to move the jaws away from each other.
[0008] A second type of toe-piece of a ski binding is also known, which differs from the toe-piece of the ski binding of the first type, described in the foregoing, due to the fact that it does not have the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot: in this case, if, starting from the inserted ski boot configuration the skier wishes to disengage the ski boot from the toe-piece of the ski binding, then the skier must act on the blocking lever, inducing a rotation of the activating lever, in order to distance the joint from the ski and to move the jaws away from each other and, at the same time, the skier must extract the ski boot from the toe-piece of the ski binding. Once the ski boot is disengaged from the toe-piece of the ski binding and the blocking lever is released, the elastic means bring the toe-piece of the ski binding into the jaws-neared configuration. If, starting from the jaws-neared configuration, the skier wishes to insert the ski boot into the toe-piece of the ski binding, then the skier must newly act on the blocking lever, in order to move the jaws away from each other and, at the same time, the skier must insert the ski boot by positioning the relative tip above the joint, between the pins, so that once the blocking lever is released, the first pin is inserted in the first lateral hole of the ski boot and the second pin is inserted in the second lateral hole of the ski boot.
[0009] In recent years a ski boot has been widely available on the market that comprises: a first pin guide which is arranged at the first lateral hole to guide a first pin of a toe-piece of the ski binding towards the first lateral hole; and a second pin guide which is arranged at the second lateral hole to guide a second pin of a toe-piece of the ski binding towards the second lateral hole. This ski boot has the peculiarity of being able to insert into the toe-piece of the ski binding even when the ski binding is in the jaws-neared configuration: in this case, during the sliding of the first pin along the first pin guide and of the second pin along the second pin guide both the jaws temporarily splay to enable the tip of the ski boot to insert between the jaws. This is convenient because, following a fall during a descent and on a steep snowy surface, and therefore in awkward conditions, with the toe-piece of the ski binding in the jaws-neared configuration the skier is no longer obliged to manually activate the blocking lever, but can simply apply an inserting force with the ski boot on the pins, so as to bring the toe-piece of the ski binding into the inserted ski boot configuration: in this case it is possible to define the jaws-neared configuration as the "second configuration ready to receive the ski boot" in the case of the toe-piece of the ski binding of the first type, and as the "first configuration ready to receive the ski boot" in the case of the toe-piece of a ski binding of the second type.
[0010] However, the advantageous functionality discussed above of this ski boot is not easily utilisable with a ski binding of the first type or of the second type as described in the foregoing, due to the fact that in order to reach the inserted ski boot configuration, starting from the jaws-neared configuration, it is necessary to apply, using the ski boot and by means of the first pin guide and the second pin guide, a strong insertion force on the pins for a sufficiently long insertion time so that the jaws splay and the pins couple with the lateral holes of the ski boot. If the skier is in difficult conditions, for example on a steep snow-covered surface, it is almost impossible to succeed in applying such a strong insertion force on the pins for a sufficiently long insertion time. In these cases the skier runs the risk of losing balance and falling, without in any case succeeding in reaching the inserted ski boot configuration.
[0012] The above aim is attained by a toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering according to claim 1.
[0013] In claim 1, the configuration ready to receive the ski boot corresponds to the configuration named above as the "jaws-neared configuration" and corresponds to the second configuration ready to receive the ski boot for the toe-piece of the ski binding of the first type and to the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot for the toe-piece of the ski binding of the second type.
[0014] The presence of the elastic element limits the possibility of the joint to move towards the ski in the configuration ready to receive the ski boot: in fact the joint and ski are at a first distance. In a toe-piece of known type the distance between the joint and the ski is instead zero or in any case smaller than the first distance. Therefore, in the configuration ready to receive the ski boot the distance between the pins is greater than in the prior art. As a consequence, and advantageously, in order to bring the toe-piece of the ski binding from the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (defined in the foregoing, with reference to the toe-pieces of the prior art, as "jaws-neared configuration") to the inserted ski boot configuration, the jaws have to perform a shorter travel with respect to the prior art, and therefore also the insertion time is shorter and acceptable for a skier who is in difficult conditions, for example on a steep snow-covered surface. The necessary insertion force is also smaller than that of the prior art.
[0015] Further and advantageously when the toe-piece of the ski binding is in the blocking ski boot configuration, the elastic element is deformed and the joint can move to a third distance from the ski that is shorter than the first distance, so that the tensions and the deformations of the material of which the toe-piece of the ski binding is constituted remain the same with respect to the toe-pieces of known type, which enables easily adaptation of a toe-piece of a ski binding without any need to make a new design.
[0016] With the toe-piece of the ski binding of the invention it is advantageously also possible to use a ski boot that is not provided with pin guides.
[0017] Specific embodiments of the invention will be described in the following part of the present description, according to what is included in the claims and with the aid of the appended tables of drawing, in which:
- figures 1, 2 respectively illustrate a plan view and a perspective view from above of a toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering, object of the present invention, according to a first embodiment and in a first operating configuration;
- -figure 3 is a view according to section plane III-III of figure 1;
- - figure 4 is a view according to section plane IV-IV of figure 1;
- figure 5 is a view of detail K1 of figure 4 in direction X;
- figures 6, 7 are respectively a plan view and a perspective view from above of the toe-piece of a ski binding of figures 1, 2 but in a second operating configuration;
- figure 8 is a view according to section plane VIII-VIII of figure 6;
- figure 9 is a view according to section plane IX-IX of figure 6;
- figure 10 is a view of detail K2 of figure 9 in direction X;
- figures 11, 12, 13 are respectively a plan view, a perspective view from above and a perspective view from below of a toe-piece of the ski binding of figures 1, 2 but in a third operating configuration;
- figure 14 is a view according to section plane XIV-XIV of figure 11;
- figure 15 is a view according to section plane XV-XV of figure 11;
- figure 16 is a view of detail K3 of figure 15 in direction X;
- figures 17, 18, 19 are respectively a plan view, a perspective view from above and a perspective view from below of a toe-piece of the ski binding of figures 1, 2 but in a fourth operating configuration;
- figure 20 is a view according to section plane XX-XX of figure 17;
- figure 21 is a view according to section plane XXI-XXI of figure 17;
- figure 22 is a view of detail K4 of figure 21 in direction X;
- figures 23, 24 are respectively a plan view and a perspective view from above of the toe-piece of a ski binding of figures 1, 2 but in a fifth operating configuration;
- figure 25 is a view according to section plane XXV-XXV of figure 23;
- figure 26 is a view according to section plane XXV-XXV of figure 23;
- figure 27 is a view of detail K5 of figure 26 in direction X;
- figures 28, 29 are respectively a plan view and a perspective view from above of a toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering, object of the present invention, according to a second embodiment and in an operating configuration which in comparison to the first embodiment corresponds to the first operating configuration;
- figure 30 is a view according to section plane XXX-XXX of figure 28;
- figure 31 is a view according to section plane XXXI-XXXI of figure 28;
- figures 32, 33 are respectively a plan view and a perspective view from above of the toe-piece of a ski binding of figures 28-29 in an operating configuration which in comparison to the first embodiment corresponds to the fourth operating configuration;
- figure 34 is a view according to section plane XXXIV-XXXIV of figure 32;
- figure 35 is a view according to section plane XXXV-XXXV of figure 32;
- figures 36, 37 are respectively a plan view and a perspective view from above of a toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering, object of the present invention, according to a third embodiment and in an operating configuration which in comparison to the first embodiment corresponds to the first operating configuration;
- figure 38 is a view according to section plane XXXVIII-XXXVIII of figure 36;
- figure 39 is a view according to section plane XXXIX-XXXIX of figure 36;
- figures 40, 41 are respectively a plan view and a perspective view from above of the toe-piece of a ski binding di figure 36, 37 and in an operating configuration which is comparison to the first embodiment corresponds to the fourth operating configuration;
- figure 42 is a view according to section plane XXXXII-XXXXII of figure 40;
- figure 43 is a view according to section plane XXXXIII-XXXXIII of figure 40.
[0018] With reference to the tables of drawings, reference numeral (1) denotes a toe-piece of a ski binding for ski mountaineering, object of the present invention, comprising: a base (2) which is fixable to a ski (not illustrated); a first jaw (3) and a second jaw (4) which face one another and which are rotatable with respect to the base (2); a first pin (5) which is borne by the first jaw (3) for inserting in a first lateral hole (7) made in a tip of a ski boot (9); a second pin (6) which is borne by the second jaw (4) for inserting in a second lateral hole (8) made in the tip of the ski boot (9), opposite the first lateral hole (7); an activating lever (10) which is rotatable with respect to the base (2); a joint (11) borne by the activating lever (10), which is interposed between the first jaw (3) and the second jaw (4), and which is coupled to the first jaw (3) and to the second jaw (4); a blocking lever (12) which is rotatably coupled to the activating lever (10); elastic means (13); an elastic element (14) which is interposed between the base (2) or the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski, on one side, and the first jaw (3) or the second jaw (4) or the joint (11) or the activating lever (10), on the other side. The toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is designed to assume following stable configurations:
a configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), wherein: the elastic means (13) act on the first jaw (3) and on the second jaw (4) in order to near the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) to one another and to near the joint (11) to the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski; the elastic element (14) is abutted by the first jaw (3) and/or by the second jaw (4) and/or by the joint (11) and/or by the activating lever (10), and exerts an elastic force which determines the positioning of the joint (11) at a first distance from the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski;
an inserted ski boot configuration (C), wherein: the first pin (5) is inserted in the first lateral hole (7) of the ski boot (9); the second pin (6) is inserted in the second lateral hole (8) of the ski boot (9); the elastic means (13) act on the first jaw (3) and on the second jaw (4) in order to near the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) to one another and to near the joint (11) to the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski; the joint (11) is arranged at a second distance from the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski, which is greater than or equal to the first distance;
a blocking ski boot configuration (D), wherein: the first pin (5) is inserted in the first lateral hole (7) of the ski boot (9); the second pin (6) is inserted in the second lateral hole (8) of the ski boot (9); the blocking lever (12) is in a blocking position (H1) which generates a blocking torque acting on the activating lever (10) in order to near the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) to one another and to near the joint (11) to the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski; the elastic element (14) is abutted by the first jaw (3) and/or by the second jaw (4) and/or by the joint (11) and/or by the activating lever (10), and is elastically deformed so that the joint (11) is arranged at a third distance from the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski, which is smaller than the first distance and the second distance.
[0019] The first jaw (3) can be rotatable with respect to a first axis of rotation (R1), while the second jaw (4) can be rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation (R2) (see for example figure 3). The first axis of rotation (R1) and the second axis of rotation (R2) can be parallel to one another and to the axis of the ski when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is fixed to the ski.
[0020] The activating lever (10) can be rotatable with respect to a third axis of rotation (R3) which is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation (R1) and to the second axis of rotation (R2).
[0021] The blocking lever (12) can be rotatable with respect to a fourth axis of rotation (R4) which is parallel to the third axis of rotation (R3).
[0022] According to a first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1-27, the base (2) is provided with a first through-opening (15) so that when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski then the first jaw (3) and/or the second jaw (4) and/or the joint (11) and/or the activating lever (10) face the ski; the elastic element (14) is arranged in the first through-opening (15) so that when it is deformed at least a part of the elastic element (14) is comprised in the volume of the first through-opening (15).
[0023] It is advantageously possible thus to minimise the third distance, which can be zero if the elastic element (14), once deformed, is entirely comprised within the volume of the first through-opening (15).
[0024] The toe-piece of a ski binding (1) preferably comprises a support (17) which is solidly constrained to the base (2), which is arranged in the first through-opening (15) and which in turn comprises a second through-opening (16); the elastic element (14) is borne by the support (17) and is arranged in the second through-opening (16) so that when it is deformed at least a part of the elastic element (14) is comprised in the volume of the second through-opening (16).
[0026] The first through-opening (15) is preferably arranged so that when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski then the activating lever (10) faces the ski; the elastic element (14) is arranged in the first through-opening (15) so as to be abutted by the activating lever (10). The following will make further reference to the first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1-27, which corresponds to a toe-piece of a ski binding (1) of the first type (in accordance with the definition provided in the foregoing in the description of the prior art).
[0027] Figures 1-5 illustrate the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) in the configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), which in the description of the prior art was also referred-to as the "jaws-neared configuration". In this case, the configuration corresponds to the second configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), as will clearly emerge, and will be thus denominated in the following part of the description.
[0028] The ski boot (9) comprises: a first pin guide (18) which is arranged at the first lateral hole (7) in order to guide the first pin (5) towards the first lateral hole (7); and a second pin guide (19) which is arranged at the second lateral hole (8) to guide the second pin (6) towards the second lateral hole (8). As already specified, it is also possible to use a ski boot (9) that is not provided with the pin guides.
[0029] According to figures 1-5 the tip of the ski boot (9) is about to urge the first jaw (3) and the second jaw (4), with the aim of splaying them, respectively by means of the first pin (5) and the second pin (6).
[0030] The elastic element (14) (leaf spring) is abutted by the activating lever (10) and exerts an elastic force which counterbalances the force of the elastic means (13) which tend to move the joint (11) towards the ski. Figures 11-16 illustrate the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) in the inserted ski boot configuration (C).
[0031] In order to pass from the second configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), figures 1-5, to the inserted ski boot configuration (C), figures 11-16, it is possible to press, with the tip of the ski boot (9) on the first pin (5) and second pin (6), see figures 6-10 which illustrate an instant in which the first jaw (3) and the second jaw (4) splay with respect to one another, until the first pin (5) inserts in the first lateral hole (7) of the ski boot (9) and the second pin (6) inserts in the second lateral hole (8) of the ski boot (9). In the inserted ski boot configuration (C) the blocking lever (12) is in an unblocking position (H2) and it is possible to ski downhill.
[0032] When facing an uphill climb, the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) can be moved into the blocking ski boot configuration (D), see figures 17-22: starting from the inserted ski boot configuration (C), it is sufficient to rotate the blocking lever (12) from the unblocking position (H2) to a blocking position (H1).
[0033] Figures 23-27 on the other hand illustrate a first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A), wherein the elastic means (13) act on the first jaw (3) and on the second jaw (4) to maintain the jaws splayed and to maintain the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) moved away from one another. Starting from the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A), the inserted ski boot configuration (C) can be reached by pressing with the tip of the ski boot (9) on the joint (11).
[0034] With the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) in an inserted ski boot configuration (C), in the case of a fall or stresses on the toe-piece of a ski binding (1), the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) can automatically disengage the ski boot (9), by unhooking it, and can move into the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A). If, starting from the inserted ski boot configuration (C) the skier wishes to newly return into the first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A), with the purpose of being able to manually disengage the ski boot (9) from the toe-piece of the ski binding (1), then it is necessary to act on the blocking lever (12), inducing a rotation of the activating lever (10), in order to distance the joint (11) from the ski and consequently to move the jaws away from each other (splaying the jaws).
[0035] According to a second embodiment, illustrated in figures 28-35, the elastic element (14) comprises a plate fixed to the base (2). The plate can be made of metal.
[0036] The elastic element (14) is preferably arranged so as to be abutted by the activating lever (10).
[0037] Figures 28-31 illustrate the second configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), wherein the elastic element (14) (plate) is abutted by the activating lever (10) and exerts an elastic force which counterbalances the force of the elastic means (13) which tend to move the joint (11) towards the ski.
[0038] Figures 32-35 illustrate the blocking ski boot configuration (D), in which the deformation inflicted on the plate (figure 35) can be observed.
[0040] The first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A) and the inserted ski boot configuration (C) are alike to the configurations already illustrated for the first embodiment, so they are not illustrated. According to a third embodiment, illustrated in figures 36-43:
the base (2) is provided with a first through-opening (15) so that when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski then the first jaw (3) and/or the second jaw (4) and/or the joint (11) and/or the activating lever (10) face the ski; the elastic element (14) is arranged in the first through-opening (15) so that when it is deformed at least a part of the elastic element (14) is comprised in the volume of the first through-opening (15);
the elastic element (14) comprises a compression spring.
[0041] The compression spring, as in the illustrated case, can be independent of the base (2), and be inserted in the first through-opening (15) only when the toe-piece of a ski binding (1) is being mounted on the ski.
[0042] The first through-opening (15) is preferably arranged so that when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski then the activating lever (10) faces the ski; the elastic element (14) is arranged in the first through-opening (15) so as to be abutted by the activating lever (10).
[0043] Figures 37-40 comprise a second configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), wherein the compression spring is abutted by the activating lever (10) and exerts an elastic force which counterbalances the force of the elastic means (13) which tend to move the joint (11) towards the ski.
[0044] Figures 41-43 illustrate the blocking ski boot configuration (D), in which the deformation inflicted on the compression spring (figure 43) can be observed.
[0046] The first configuration ready to receive the ski boot (A) and the inserted ski boot configuration (C) are alike to the configurations already illustrated for the first embodiment, so they are not illustrated.
a base (2) which is fixable to a ski;
a first jaw (3) and a second jaw (4) which face one another and which are rotatable with respect to the base (2);
a first pin (5) which is borne by the first jaw (3) for inserting in a first lateral hole (7) made in a tip of a ski boot (9);
a second pin (6) which is borne by the second jaw (4) for inserting in a second lateral hole (8) made in the tip of the ski boot (9), opposite the first lateral hole (7);
an activating lever (10) which is rotatable with respect to the base (2);
a joint (11) borne by the activating lever (10), which is interposed between the first jaw (3) and the second jaw (4), and which is coupled to the first jaw (3) and to the second jaw (4);
a blocking lever (12) which is rotatably coupled to the activating lever (10);
elastic means (13);
characterised in that:
it comprises an elastic element (14) which is interposed between the base (2) or the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski, on one side, and the first jaw (3) or the second jaw (4) or the joint (11) or the activating lever (10), on the other side;
the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is designed to assume following stable configurations:
a configuration ready to receive the ski boot (B), wherein: the elastic means (13) act on the first jaw (3) and on the second jaw (4) in order to near the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) to one another and to near the joint (11) to the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski; the elastic element (14) is abutted by the first jaw (3) and/or by the second jaw (4) and/or by the joint (11) and/or by the activating lever (10), and exerts an elastic force which determines the positioning of the joint (11) at a first distance from the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski;
an inserted ski boot configuration (C), wherein: the first pin (5) is inserted in the first lateral hole (7) of the ski boot (9); the second pin (6) is inserted in the second lateral hole (8) of the ski boot (9); the elastic means (13) act on the first jaw (3) and on the second jaw (4) in order to near the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) to one another and to near the joint (11) to the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski; the joint (11) is arranged at a second distance from the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski, which is greater than or equal to the first distance;
a blocking ski boot configuration (D), wherein: the first pin (5) is inserted in the first lateral hole (7) of the ski boot (9); the second pin (6) is inserted in the second lateral hole (8) of the ski boot (9);
the blocking lever (12) is in a blocking position (H1) which generates a blocking torque acting on the activating lever (10) in order to near the first pin (5) and the second pin (6) to one another and to near the joint (11) to the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski;
the elastic element (14) is abutted by the first jaw (3) and/or by the second jaw (4) and/or by the joint (11) and/or by the activating lever (10), and is elastically deformed so that the joint (11) is arranged at a third distance from the ski, when the toe-piece of the ski binding (1) is coupled to the ski, which is smaller than the first distance and the second distance.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description