Ski binding plate & housing

Description

Background

[0001] Cross-country or touring skiing is both very popular as a pastime and a competitive sport. In such skiing, the sports practitioner walks or skis along the flat or slightly sloped course in skis. Several techniques are known in this regard, from simply moving the skis forward whilst maintaining them parallel with each other, or using a technique more similar to ice skating, wherein the skis are pushed out to the side and angled, such that the sports practitioner is moved forward.

[0002] In order to allow the sports practitioner to move efficiently whilst cross-country skiing, it is typical for the ski boot or shoe of the practitioner to be held in a rotatable manner. Most commonly, the ski boot or shoe of the practitioner is provided with a fixing means, often a holding bar or pin forming part of the front or sole of the ski boot or shoe, which is clipped into part of the ski binding. In this way, the ski boot or shoe is held only in one place by means of this holding bar or pin, and can thus rotate around the fixing portion provided on the ski binding. In general, the fixing point is provided at the front of the ski boot or shoe, and the heel of the ski boot or shoe can be lifted off the surface of the ski.

[0003] When setting up the skis, the sports practitioner will adjust the position of the binding housing relative to the binding plate in order to accommodate their boot size correctly. This is often an awkward and time-consuming process, requiring the use of tools sometimes including specialist tools, or even requires the expertise of a professional ski manufacturer or reseller. Additionally, should the user be required to replace the binding housing, this can again pose problems which may only be rectifiable by a certified technical expert.

[0004] Particularly poignant with regard to cross-country and telemark skiing is the issue of ensuring that the heel-end of the user's ski boot correctly realigns with the corresponding binding housing within which the toe-end of the boot is attached. Should the boot fail to correctly realign with its associated binding housing, disastrous results could effect causing damage to the skiing equipment or even injuring the sports practitioner.

[0005] In order to alleviate the burden of these problems, it is an objective of the present invention to overcome the problems described above, concerning the repair and maintenance of skiing equipment.

[0006] WO 2006/072812 is considered to be the closest prior art, and describes a binding plate according to the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides a ski binding plate and ski binding housing in accordance with the independent claims. Further preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

[0008] The claimed invention can be better understood in view of the embodiments of the ski binding plate and ski binding housing described hereinafter. In general, the described embodiments describe preferred embodiments of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0009] In particular, the present disclosure relates to providing a ski binding plate and ski binding housing which afford the sports practitioner the ability to quickly and easily relocate the elements of the binding, thus providing easy adjustment of the ski binding. The binding itself is anticipated to essentially be a regular ski binding, albeit one with additional features in and around the binding housing area. More specifically, these features are binding housing recesses and a snap-in flap, a combination of studs and recesses, or a series of protrusions and grooves, all of which may act to permit the secure adjustment of the binding housing. Complimentary adjustment means are found in the corresponding binding plate. Furthermore, the binding housing may include "wings" which guide the heel of the user's ski boot back on to the surface of the ski in a correct and controlled manner.

[0010] The adjustability of the binding housing and binding plate serve to further provide the benefit of easy binding replacement, to manufacturer, reseller and user, since all parts can easily be decoupled from each other.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] 

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a ski and binding plate.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of an alternative ski and binding plate.

Figure 3 shows a top elevation of different shaped binding plates.

Figure 4 shows a top elevation of alternative binding plates.

Figure 5 shows a top elevation of binding plate and binding housing with a snap-in flap arrangement.

Figure 6 shows a top and side elevation of a flexible binding plate.

Figure 7 shows a top and side elevation of a flexible binding plate under flex.

Figure 8 shows a front elevation of two skis with alternative binding attachments.

Figure 9 shows a front elevation of a binding housing and ski boot attachment arrangement.

Figure 10 shows a front elevation of an alternative binding housing and ski boot attachment arrangement.

Figure 11 shows a front elevation of a binding housing and binding plate attachment arrangement.

Figure 12 shows a front elevation of an alternative binding housing and binding plate attachment arrangement.

Figure 13 shows a top elevation of a binding plate with ski boot guiding wings.

Figure 14 shows a side elevation of a ski and binding plate with a shock-absorbing layer disposed therebetween.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0012] The following invention relates generally to the housing 20 for a ski-binding, more specifically to the housing 20 for telemark and/or cross-country ski-binding, wherein the toe end of the user's ski boot 5 is rotatably attached to the binding, leaving the heel of the user's ski boot 5 to both contact and leave the surface of the binding housing 20 as required by the user.

[0013] The following configurations of ski-binding housing 20 are adapted to interact with the 'top surface' of a ski 1, i.e. the user side 2, not the mountain side 3 of the ski 1 during normal use, specifically adapted to interact with a binding plate 10 situated between the user side 2 of the ski 1 and the ski-binding housing 20. In the preferred embodiment, the ski-binding housing 20 is mounted on a plate 10, which in turn is mounted on to the user side 2 of the ski 1.

[0014] The ski-binding plate 10 must be relatively thin so that no energy is lost between the user and the ski 1. Any energy absorbed by the binding plate 10 could significantly decrease the amount of control that the user is able to exercise over the ski 1. The binding plate 10 must also be flexible so as not to affect the run of the ski 1. A binding plate 10 which is stiff and rigid in the longitudinal direction of the ski 1 could prevent the ski 1 itself from flexing, thereby reducing any shock absorbing element that a flexible ski 1 may provide. The typical thickness of the binding plate 10 is preferably less than 5mm, more preferably less than 2mm thick.

[0015] The binding plate 10 must be lightweight, strong, durable and workable, i.e. easy to manufacture, easily replaceable and cheap to produce. A material which exhibits these properties is plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic of choice for the binding plate 10 is polyoxymethylene, which is known for its wear-resistant, low friction and light-weight properties.

[0016] The binding plate 10 may exist as a single plate which is at least the length of the user's ski boot 5. Alternatively, the binding plate 10 may exist as a plurality of individual pieces 10a, 10b, which are positioned at least beneath the relevant sections of the ski binding housing 20a, 20b.

[0017] The plate 10 is fixed to the user side 2 of the ski 1 by at least one of welding, gluing or by a series of studs 30 and recesses 32. Other methods of securing a binding plate 10 to the user surface of a ski 1 which are customary practice are anticipated in the present disclosure. Concerning the studs 30 and recesses 32 arrangement, in the preferred embodiment the studs 30 are protruding from the underside (mountain side 14) of the binding plate 10, the protruding studs 30 being accommodated by appropriately sized recesses 32 provided on the user side 2 of the ski 1.

[0018] As mentioned above, the ski binding plate 10 may exist as a single structure or as a plurality of individual segments 10a, 10b, which together constitute the binding plate 10 with which the binding housing 20 interacts. Each of these design options are considered in turn herein below.

[0019] Concerning the binding plate 10 which exists as a single structure, several possibilities exist for its shape and composition. As described above, it is of critical importance that the binding plate 10 does not influence the run of the ski 1 or affect its flexibility. Having regard for these criteria, the binding plate 10 must be designed in such a way so as to exhibit a certain degree of flexibility. One option is to construct the ski-binding plate 10 out of two types of material, for example plastics, which have different hardness and flexibility properties. The distal ends 16a, 16c of the binding plate 10 could be constructed from a hard plastic, suitable for mounting a binding housing 20 or binding unit thereto. The central portion 16b of the binding plate 10 could comprise a softer plastic which demonstrates certain elastic deformation properties upon experiencing an external force, i.e. the force of a flexing ski 1 which is caused to bend by, for example, a mogul or other such feature on a mountain piste. The softer, central portion 16b of plastic would absorb and accommodate the bending force before returning to its original shape, thereby having little or no impact on the run of the ski 1 or the control which the user has over the ski 1. The distal ends 16a, 16b of the binding plate 10, composed of the relatively hard plastic, do not bend under the force of a flexing ski 1 but remain rigid and hold the attached binding housing 20 firmly in place.

[0020] An alternative single construction binding plate 10 is one constructed from a single type of semi-flexible material, for example a plastic, wherein the binding plate 10 is not uniform in its width along its longitudinal cross-section. More specifically, when viewed from either above or below, i.e. the user side 12 or the mountain side 14, the end portion of the binding plate 10 tapers inwards towards the longitudinal centre of the plate 10. This tapering of the distal ends of the plate 10 provides a shape which is narrower in width B around the longitudinal centre of the binding plate 10 compared with the non-tapered ends A, C. This particular shape of binding plate 10 is advantageous since the plate 10 uses less raw materials in its manufacture, providing an economical binding plate 10 in terms of both cost and weight, whilst the thinner central section B of the plate 10 offers the correct amount of flexibility in order to allow the ski 1 to be used without the hindrance of a rigid, non-bendable component.

[0021] As described earlier, rather than constructing the binding plate 10 as a single piece, several sections or segments of the binding plate 10 could be affixed to the user side 2 of the ski 1. A minimum of two binding plate segments 10a, 10b is required: one to which a binding element or housing 20 is attached, usually near to the toe end of the user's ski boot 5 during normal operation; the second piece usually being situated towards the heel area of the user's ski boot 5 during normal operation, which acts to support the user's ski boot 5 and also to guide the ski boot 5 into the correct position via one or more of a number of mechanisms, i.e. preventing the ski boot 5 from deviating from its intended orientation, discussed in detail later on.

[0022] The benefits which are a direct result of using a plurality of binding plate segments 10a, 10b include cheaper manufacturing costs due to the need for less material and a significant reduction in weight, affording the user to expend less energy in lifting, repositioning and generally using the ski 1.

[0023] The one or more binding plate segments 10, 10a, 10b can take many different forms and shapes. For example, the plates 10, 10, 10b may take the form of a quadrangle, particularly that of a square or rectangle. With a shape of this kind, it is preferred that the binding plate 10 does not extend over the lateral edges of the ski 1, but is contained on the user side surface 2 of the ski 1. Once again, in an effort to economise both the cost and weight of the binding plates 10, the corners from a quadrangular binding plate 10 could be cut away such that the plate 10 resembles an irregular hexagon. It is important not to remove too much of a given binding plate 10 since less material could prove difficult to attach to the user side surface 2 of the ski 1, and the desired effect of correctly aligning the user's ski boot 5 in the binding may not be achieved. Alternative shapes to those mentioned above but which still provide the desired effects are anticipated by the disclosure of the present invention.

[0024] On the user side surface 12 of the binding plate 10, one or more sections of binding housing 20 are attached. It is the binding housing 20 which accommodates the actual ski binding mechanism which operates to secure the user's boot 5 to the ski 1. The binding housing 20 may have any of the shapes described above, preferably corresponding to the underlying binding plate 10.

[0025] In telemark and cross-country skiing, it is usually only the toe end of the user's ski boot 5 which interacts with the binding 20. The heel is generally free. As the user raises the heel end of their ski boot 5 in order to glide on the skis 1 in a skating-like motion, the toe end of the user's ski boot 5 rotates within the binding 20, thus causing the heel end of the ski boot 5 to lose contact with the surface 22 of the binding housing 20. As the user's weight shifts during the skating-like skiing motion, the toe end of the ski boot 5 again rotates within the binding 20, causing the heel end of the boot 5 to regain contact with the user side surface 22 of the binding housing 20. In order to ensure that the boot 5 is correctly aligned on the ski 1, one or more grooves 62, 64 and corresponding protrusions 60, 66 can exist between the user's ski boot 5 and the user side surface 22 of the binding housing 20. For example, a protrusion 60 which runs along part or all of the longitudinal length of the binding housing 20 can interact with a correspondingly sized longitudinal recess 62 formed in the sole of the user's ski boot 5. Upon replacing their ski boot 5 onto the binding housing 20, the longitudinal recess 62 in the sole of the boot 5 engages the corresponding protrusion 60 on the binding housing 20, thus ensuring that the boot 5 is properly aligned with the ski 1, ready for the next skating-like skiing motion of the user. In a somewhat analogues manner, the longitudinal recess and longitudinal protrusion could be interchanged, i.e. the protrusion 66 be formed in the sole of the ski boot 5 whilst the recess 64 could be formed in the user side surface 22 of the binding housing 20. The same effect of correctly aligning the ski boot 5 with the ski 1 could be achieved.

[0026] As an alternative to the above described arrangement of longitudinal recesses and grooves, the binding housing 20 could, preferably along its longitudinal edges, comprise 'wings' which act to guide the user's ski boot 5 to the user side surface 22 of the binding housing 20, and into the correct position. The wings 70 would preferentially extend vertically upwards out of the plane of the user side 22 of the binding housing 20. Preferentially, in order to account for any minor deviations in the ski boot's path as it returns to the user side surface 22 of the binding housing 20, the distal ends 72 of the wings 70 may be slightly tilted away from one another, at an angle which is preferably less than 45° relative to the vertical normal. A wing arrangement 70 of this type is advantageous since many different types of ski boot 5 can safely and correctly operate with a binding housing 20 of this type. Ski boots manufactured with recessed grooves, tracks or protrusions are no longer necessary, since the wings 70 achieve the technical effect of correctly aligning the ski boot 5 with the ski 1. This arrangement is similar to the above described groove and protrusion combination, although in this case the groove is provided by the wings 70 and is the entire width of the binding housing 20, whilst the corresponding protrusion is the sole of the ski boot 5 in its entirety.

List of Components and Reference Numerals

[0027] 

Reference numeral	Component	Reference numeral	Component
1	Ski	22	User-side surface of binding housing
2	User-side surface of ski	24	Mountain-side surface of binding housing
3	Mountain-side surface of ski	30	Studs
5	Ski boot	32	Recesses
6	Sole of ski boot	50	Indentations
10	Binding plate	52	Snap-in flap
10a, 10b	Binding plate segments	36, 38 & 60, 66	Protrusions
12	User-side of binding plate	4, 34, 40 & 62, 64	Grooves
14	Mountain-side of binding plate	70	Wings
16a, 16c	Distal ends of binding plate	72	Distal ends of wings
16b	Central portion of binding plate	74	Proximal ends of wings
20	Binding housing	80	Impact-dampening layer
20a, 20b	Binding housing segments

Claims

1. A binding plate (10), adapted to interact with the user-side surface (2) of a ski (1), characterised in that: the distal ends (16a, 16b) of the binding plate (19) are constructed from a hard plastic material, in particular a plastic material suitable for mounting a binding housing (20) thereto, and the central portion (16b) of the binding plate comprises a relatively softer plastic material.

2. A kit made of a binding housing (20), and the binding plate (10) of claim 1, wherein the binding housing (20) is interacting with the user-side surface (12) of the binding plate (10).

3. The binding plate (10) of claim 1 or the binding housing (20) of claim 2, wherein the binding plate (10) or binding housing (20) is adapted to interact with a ski boot (5).

4. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) has a user-side (12) to mountain-side (14) thickness of 5 millimetres or less.

5. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) has a user-side (12) to mountain-side (14) thickness of 2 millimetres or less.

6. The binding plate (10) of claim 1, wherein the plastic is polyoxymethylene.

7. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) is affixed to the user-side surface (2) of a ski (1) by at least one of welding, gluing, or by the interaction of one or more studs (30) and recesses (32).

8. The binding plate (10) of claim 7, wherein the studs (30) are protruding from the mountain-side surface (14) of the binding plate (10) and the recesses (32) are formed in the user-side surface (2) of the ski (1).

9. The binding plate (10) of claim 7, wherein the studs (30) are protruding from the user-side surface (2) of the ski (1) and the recesses (32) are formed in at least the mountain-side surface (14) of the binding plate (10).

10. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal width (B) at the centre of the binding plate (10) is narrow relative to the width of the distal ends (A, C) of the binding plate (10).

11. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) is at least quadrangular in shape.

12. The binding plate (10) of claim 11, wherein the binding plate (10) is square in shape.

13. The binding plate (10) of claim 11, wherein the binding plate (10) is rectangular in shape.

14. The binding plate (10) of claim 11, wherein the binding plate (10) is hexagonal in shape.

15. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) is slidably engageable with the binding housing (20).

16. The binding plate (10) of claim 15, wherein the binding plate (10) comprises a longitudinal groove (34) running along at least a part of the length of the user-side surface (12) of the binding plate (10).

17. The binding housing (20) of claim 16, wherein the binding housing (20) comprises a longitudinal protrusion (36) running along at least a part of the length of a mountain-side surface (24) of the binding housing (20).

18. The binding plate (10) of claim 15, wherein the binding plate (10) comprises a longitudinal protrusion (38) running along at least a part of the length of the user-side surface (12) of the binding plate (10).

19. The binding housing (20) of claim 18, wherein the binding housing (20) comprises a longitudinal groove (40) running along at least a part of the length of the mountain-side surface (24) of the binding housing (20).

20. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) comprises one or more indentations (50) on its user-side surface (12).

21. The binding housing (20) of claim 20, wherein the binding housing (20) comprises a snap-in flap (52) on its mountain-side surface (24).

22. The binding housing (20) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding housing (20) comprises a ski-boot guiding longitudinal protrusion (60) running along at least a part of the length of a user-side surface (22) of the binding housing (20).

23. The ski boot (5) of claim 3, wherein the ski boot (5) comprises a ski-boot guiding longitudinal recess (62) running along at least a part of the length of the sole (6) of the ski boot (5).

24. The binding housing (20) of any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the binding housing (20) comprises a ski-boot guiding longitudinal recess (64) running along at least a part of the length of the user-side surface (22) of the binding housing (20).

25. The ski boot (5) of claim 3, wherein the ski boot (5) comprises a ski-boot guiding longitudinal protrusion (66) running along at least a part of the length of the sole (6) of the ski boot (5).

26. The binding housing (20) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding housing (20) comprises ski-boot guiding wings (70) protruding from a longitudinal edges of the user-side surface (22) of the binding housing (20).

27. The wings (70) of claim 26, wherein the distal ends (72) of the wings (70) are spaced further apart than the proximal ends (74) of the wings (70), relative to the user-side surface (22) of the binding housing (20).

28. The wings (70) of claim 27, wherein the angle of the wings (70), relative to the vertical normal, is no more than 45°.

29. The binding housing (20) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding housing comprises one or more individual segments (20).

30. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the binding plate (10) comprises one or more individual segments (10, 10a, 10b).

31. The binding plate of claim 30, wherein the individual binding plate segments (10a, 10b) are located directly beneath the individual binding housing segments 20 (20a, 20b) of claim 29.

32. The binding plate (10) of any of the preceding claims, wherein an impact-dampening layer (80) of shock-absorbing material, such as foam rubber or the like, is sandwiched between the mountain-side surface (14) of the binding plate (10) and the use-side surface (2) of the ski (1).

33. The ski (1) of claim 1, further comprising a groove (4), wherein the groove (4) is sized such that a binding plate (10) sits flush within the user-side surface (2) of the ski (1).

34. The ski (1) of claim 1, wherein the ski (1) comprises a binding plate (10) as an integral part of the user-side surface (2) of the ski (1).

35. The ski (1) of claim 34, wherein the integral binding plate (10) runs along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the ski (1).

36. The ski (1) of claim 34 or 35, wherein the integral binding plate (10) comprises a raised central section on its user-side surface (12), adapted to slidably interact with the mountain-side surface (24) of the binding housing (20).

Ansprüche

1. Bindungsplatte (10), welche eingerichtet ist, mit der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von einem Ski (1) zu interagieren, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass: die distalen Enden (16a, 16b) von der Bindungsplatte (19) ein hartes Kunststoffmaterial umfassen, insbesondere ein Kunststoffmaterial, welches zum Einrichten von einem Bindungsgehäuse (20) hieran geeignet ist, und der Mittenabschnitt (16b) von der Bindungsplatte ein relativ nachgiebiges Kunststoffmaterial umfasst.

2. Ausrüstung, umfassend ein Bindungsgehäuse (20) und die Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) mit der benutzerseitigen Fläche (12) von der Bindungsplatte (10) interagiert.

3. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 1 oder Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) oder das Bindungsgehäuse (20) eingerichtet ist, mit einem Skischuh (5) zu interagieren.

4. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) zwischen einer Benutzerseite (12) und einer Bergseite (14) eine Dicke von 5 mm oder weniger hat.

5. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) zwischen einer Benutzerseite (12) und einer Bergseite (14) eine Dicke von 2 mm oder weniger hat.

6. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Kunststoff Polyoxymethylen umfasst.

7. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) durch Verschweißen, Verkleben und/oder durch Interaktion zwischen einem oder mehreren Vorsprüngen (30) und Aussparungen (32) an der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von einem Ski (1) angebracht ist.

8. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Vorsprünge (30) von der bergseitigen Fläche (14) von der Bindungsplatte (10) vorragen und die Aussparungen (32) in der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von dem Ski (1) ausgebildet sind.

9. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Vorsprünge (30) von der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von dem Ski (1) vorragen und die Aussparungen (32) zumindest in der bergseitigen Fläche (14) von der Bindungsplatte (10) ausgebildet sind.

10. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die längsgerichtete Breite (B) an der Mitte von der Bindungsplatte (10) in Relation zur Breite der distalen Enden (A, C) von der Bindungsplatte (10) schmal ist.

11. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) wenigstens viereckig ist.

12. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) quadratisch ist.

13. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) rechteckig ist.

14. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) hexagonal ist.

15. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) und das Bindungsgehäuse (20) verschiebbar in Eingriff genommen werden können.

16. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 15, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) eine längsgerichtete Nut (34) umfasst, welche wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von der benutzerseitigen Fläche (12) von der Bindungsplatte (10) verläuft.

17. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach Anspruch 16, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) einen längsgerichteten Vorsprung (36) umfasst, welcher wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von einer bergseitigen Fläche (24) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) verläuft.

18. Bindungsplatte (10) nach Anspruch 15, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) einen längsgerichteten Vorsprung (38) umfasst, welcher wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von der benutzerseitigen Fläche (12) von der Bindungsplatte (10) verläuft.

19. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach Anspruch 18, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) eine längsgerichtete Nut (40) umfasst, welche wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von der bergseitigen Fläche (24) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) verläuft.

20. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) an ihrer benutzerseitigen Fläche (12) eine oder mehrere Vertiefungen (50) umfasst.

21. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach Anspruch 20, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) an seiner bergseitigen Fläche (24) eine Einschnapp-Lasche (52) umfasst.

22. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) einen längsgerichteten Vorsprung (60) zur Skischuh-Führung umfasst, welcher wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von einer benutzerseitigen Fläche (22) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) verläuft.

23. Skischuh (5) nach Anspruch 3, wobei der Skischuh (5) eine längsgerichtete Aussparung (62) zur Skischuh-Führung umfasst, welche wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von der Sohle (6) von dem Skischuh (5) verläuft.

24. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 21, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) eine längsgerichtete Aussparung (64) zur Skischuh-Führung umfasst, welche wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von der benutzerseitigen Fläche (22) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) verläuft.

25. Skischuh (5) nach Anspruch 3, wobei der Skischuh (5) einen längsgerichteten Vorsprung (66) zur Skischuh-Führung umfasst, welcher wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der Länge von der Sohle (6) von dem Skischuh (5) verläuft.

26. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse (20) Flügel (70) zur Skischuh-Führung umfasst, welche von längsgerichteten Kanten von der benutzerseitigen Fläche (22) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) vorragen.

27. Flügel (70) nach Anspruch 26, wobei die distalen Enden (72) der Flügel (70) in Relation zur benutzerseitigen Fläche (22) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) weiter vorragen als die proximalen Enden (74) der Flügel (70).

28. Flügel (70) nach Anspruch 27, wobei die Flügel (70) in Relation zur Normale einen Winkel von nicht mehr als 45° einschließen.

29. Bindungsgehäuse (20) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Bindungsgehäuse ein oder mehrere einzelne Segmente (20) umfasst.

30. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bindungsplatte (10) ein oder mehrere einzelne Segmente (10, 10a, 10b) umfasst.

31. Bindungsplatte nach Anspruch 30, wobei die einzelnen Bindungsplatte-Segmente (10a, 10b) direkt unterhalb der einzelnen Bindungsgehäuse-Segmente (20, 20a, 20b) nach Anspruch 29 angeordnet sind.

32. Bindungsplatte (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine stoßdämpfende Schicht (80) aus einem stoßabsorbierenden Material, wie beispielsweise Schaumgummi oder dergleichen, zwischen der bergseitigen Fläche (14) von der Bindungsplatte (10) und der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von dem Ski (1) zwischengefügt ist.

33. Ski (1) nach Anspruch 1, ferner umfassend eine Nut (4), wobei die Nut (4) derart bemessen ist, dass eine Bindungsplatte (10) innerhalb der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von dem Ski (1) dicht eingepasst ist.

34. Ski (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Ski (1) eine Bindungsplatte (10) als einen integralen Teil von der benutzerseitigen Fläche (2) von dem Ski (1) umfasst.

35. Ski (1) nach Anspruch 34, wobei die integrale Bindungsplatte (10) wenigstens abschnittsweise entlang der längsgerichteten Länge von dem Ski (1) verläuft.

36. Ski (1) nach Anspruch 34 oder 35, wobei die integrale Bindungsplatte (10) auf ihrer benutzerseitigen Fläche (12) eine erhöhte Mittensektion umfasst, welche zur verschiebbaren Interaktion mit der bergseitigen Fläche (24) von dem Bindungsgehäuse (20) eingerichtet ist.

Revendications

1. Plaque de fixation (10), adaptée à coopérer avec la surface côté utilisateur (2) d'un ski (1), caractérisée en ce que les extrémités distales (16a, 16b) de la plaque de fixation (19) sont construites d'une matière plastique dure, en particulier d'une matière plastique appropriée pour monter sur celle-ci un boîtier de fixation (20), et la portion centrale (16b) de la plaque de fixation comprend une matière plastique relativement plus tendre.

2. Assortiment, constitué d'un boîtier de fixation (20) et de la plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le boîtier de fixation (20) coopère avec la surface côté utilisateur (12) de la plaque de fixation (10).

3. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 1, ou boîtier de fixation (20) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle/lequel la plaque de fixation (10) ou le boîtier de fixation (20) est adapté(e) à coopérer avec une chaussure de ski (5).

4. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) a une épaisseur depuis le côté utilisateur (12) jusqu'au côté terrain (14) égale à 5 mm ou moins.

5. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) a une épaisseur depuis le côté utilisateur (12) jusqu'au côté terrain (14) égale à 2 mm ou moins.

6. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la matière plastique est du polyoxyméthylène.

7. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) est fixée sur la surface côté utilisateur (2) d'un ski (1) par au moins une méthode parmi le soudage, collage, ou par coopération d'un ou plusieurs plots (30) et d'évidements (32).

8. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle les plots (30) sont en projection depuis la surface côté terrain (14) de la plaque de fixation (10) et les évidements (32) sont formés dans la surface côté utilisateur (2) du ski (1).

9. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle les plots (30) sont en projection depuis la surface côté utilisateur (2) du ski (1) et les évidements (32) sont formés au moins dans la surface côté terrain (14) de la plaque de fixation (10).

10. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la largeur longitudinale (B) au centre de la plaque de fixation (10) est étroite par rapport à la largeur des extrémités distales (A, C) de la plaque de fixation (10).

11. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) a une forme au moins quadrangulaire.

12. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) a une forme carrée.

13. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) a une forme rectangulaire.

14. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) a une forme hexagonale.

15. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) est capable d'être engagée en coulissement avec le boîtier de fixation (20).

16. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 15, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) comprend une gorge longitudinale (34) s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur de la surface côté utilisateur (12) de la plaque de fixation (10).

17. Plaque de fixation (20) selon la revendication 16, dans laquelle le boîtier de fixation (20) comprend une projection longitudinale (36) s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur d'une surface côté terrain (24) du boîtier de fixation (20).

18. Plaque de fixation (10) selon la revendication 15, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) comprend une projection longitudinale (38) s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur de la surface côté utilisateur (12) de la plaque de fixation (10).

19. Plaque de fixation (20) selon la revendication 18, dans laquelle le boîtier de fixation (20) comprend une gorge longitudinale (40) s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur de la surface côté terrain (24) du boîtier de fixation (20).

20. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) comprend un ou plusieurs creux (50) sur sa surface côté utilisateur (12).

21. Boîtier de fixation (20) selon la revendication 20, dans laquelle le boîtier de fixation (20) comprend un volet à encliquetage (52) sur sa surface côté terrain (24).

22. Boîtier de fixation (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le boîtier de fixation (20) comprend une projection longitudinale (60) pour guidage de chaussure de ski, s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur d'une surface côté utilisateur (22) du boîtier de fixation (20).

23. Chaussure de ski (5) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle la chaussure de ski (5) comprend un évidement longitudinal (62) pour guidage de chaussure de ski, s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur de la semelle (6) de la chaussure de ski (5).

24. Boîtier de fixation (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 21, dans lequel le boîtier de fixation (20) comprend un évidement longitudinal (64) pour guidage de chaussure de ski, s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur de la surface côté utilisateur (22) du boîtier de fixation (20).

25. Chaussure de ski (5) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle la chaussure de ski (5) comprend une projection longitudinale (66) pour guidage de chaussure de ski, s'étendant le long d'une partie au moins de la longueur de la semelle (6) de la chaussure de ski (5).

26. Boîtier de fixation (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le boîtier de fixation (20) comprend des ailettes (70) pour guidage de chaussure de ski, qui se projettent depuis des bordures longitudinales de la surface côté utilisateur (22) du boîtier de fixation (20).

27. Ailettes (70) selon la revendication 26, dans lesquelles les extrémités distales (72) des ailettes (70) sont espacées plus loin que les extrémités proximales (74) des ailettes (70), par rapport à la surface côté utilisateur (22) du boîtier de fixation (20).

28. Ailettes (70) selon la revendication 27, dans lesquelles l'angle des ailettes (70), par rapport à la normale verticale, ne dépasse pas 45°.

29. Boîtier de fixation (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le boîtier de fixation comprend un ou plusieurs segments individuels (20).

30. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la plaque de fixation (10) comprend un ou plusieurs segments individuels (10, 10a, 10b).

31. Plaque de fixation selon la revendication 30, dans laquelle les segments individuels (10a, 10b) de la plaque de fixation sont situés directement au-dessous des segments individuels du boîtier de fixation (20, 20a, 20b) selon la revendication 29.

32. Plaque de fixation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle une couche d'amortissement d'impacts (80), en un matériau absorbant les chocs comme de la mousse de caoutchouc ou similaire, est prise en sandwich entre la surface côté terrain (14) de la plaque de fixation (10) et la surface côté utilisateur (2) du ski (1).

33. Ski (1) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre une gorge (4), dans lequel la gorge (4) a une taille telle qu'une plaque de fixation (10) est logée en affleurement avec la surface côté utilisateur (2) du ski (1).

34. Ski (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le ski (1) comprend une plaque de fixation (10) à titre de partie intégrale de la surface côté utilisateur (2) du ski (1).

35. Ski (1) selon la revendication 34, dans lequel la plaque de fixation intégrale (10) s'étend le long d'une portion au moins de la longueur longitudinale du ski (1).

36. Ski (1) selon la revendication 34 ou 35, dans lequel la plaque de fixation intégrale (10) comprend une section centrale dressée sur sa surface côté utilisateur (12), adaptée à coopérer en coulissement avec la surface côté terrain (24) du boîtier de fixation (20).

Drawing