Ski Brake

Such a ski brake is known, for example, from EP 3 750 604 A1. In this known embodiment, the locking lever has a section by means of which it is pivotally connected to the brake housing and a further bow-shaped section which is lowered in the non-fixed position (entry position and downhill position) of the brake pins. The section of the locking lever mounted on the brake housing is provided with a notch which is arranged in such a way that in the entry position and the downhill position of the ski binding as well as when a ski boot inserted into the ski binding comes free, a knob-like extension of the brake support can move freely when the pedal is lowered and raised. To lock the ski brake in order to fix the brake pins in a position to the side of the ski, the pedal must be fully depressed by hand such that the brake support with its knob-like projection comes into a position in which the locking lever engages the knob-like projection of the brake support and thereby holds the brake pins of the ski brake in a position to the side of the ski.

It is therefore necessary to press down and hold the pedal against the force of the spring element that pushes the pedal into the raised position, in order to then establish the locked position, a position with the brake pins fixed to the side of the ski, by raising the locking lever.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a ski brake having two brake pins which can be moved from a non-fixed position to a fixed position in which the brake pins run in a position to the side of the ski, which includes a brake housing, a pedal, a lever-like brake support which is pivotally mounted on the pedal and on the brake housing, presses the pedal into the raised position by means of a spring element and has a knob-like projection, and having a locking lever rotatably mounted on the brake housing and which can be moved into a lowered and a raised position.

The object of the invention is to be able to move the brake pins of a ski brake of the type mentioned in the introduction into the fixed position to the side of the ski in a substantially more convenient manner, above all it should no longer be necessary to press and hold the pedal by hand in order to actuate the locking lever.

This object is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the locking lever is arranged on a locking bolt which is rotatably mounted on the brake housing and which can be rotated to a limited extent relative to the locking lever, on which at least one torsion spring is arranged in such a way that in order to establish the fixed position of the brake pins, in a first phase with the pedal raised, the locking lever can be raised while also turning the locking bolt and in a second phase by pressing down the pedal the knob-like projection of the brake support turns the locking bolt against the force of the torsion spring relative to the locking lever until it passes the locking bolt, wherein the locking bolt then turns back via the torsion spring and holds the brake support via the knob-like projection.

The invention makes it possible to first move the locking lever into its raised position and then, by pressing down the pedal, in particular by means of the ski or touring boot inserted into the toe piece of the binding, to move the locking bolt into a position in which it holds the knob-like extension of the brake support and thus the brake support in its lowered position and thereby the brake pins to the side of the ski. Swinging the locking lever up by hand or using a ski pole requires only a small amount of force. In the second phase, the pedal is pressed down comfortably, preferably by the boot, which has already been inserted into the toe piece positioned for touring.

In one preferred embodiment, at each end of the locking bolt a support element is formed, which cooperates with one respective stop surface on the locking lever in order to prestress the torsion spring(s).

Another embodiment is particularly preferred in which the locking bolt has a notch in the centre for receiving the knob-like projection of the brake support in the lowered position of the locking lever, such that the brake support and the pedal can move freely in this position of the locking lever.

In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the ski brake, the locking lever is releasably snapped into place in both its lowered and raised position on the brake housing, preferably respectively in a recess of the brake housing. The locking lever preferably has a central part connecting the side parts, which is provided with a recessed section by means of which the locking lever is releasably snapped into recesses of the brake housing. This design ensures that the locking lever retains its position in both the lowered and raised positions. “Fixing” the locking lever in the raised position is particularly important during the second phase.

The stop surfaces cooperating with the support elements of the locking bolt are expediently formed on the side parts of the locking lever, in particular the stop surfaces are formed within openings of the side parts which receive the support elements.

Two torsion springs, which are torsion coil springs, are preferably arranged on the locking bolt, one end of which is in each case suspended on the locking bolt and the second end of which, in each case with the locking bolt, projects through the brake housing and is held in the side part of the locking lever located there such that a functionally reliable and expedient design and arrangement of the springs is ensured.

A compact design of the ski brake is supported by the fact that the side parts of the locking lever are received in lateral formations of the brake housing.

In a further advantageous embodiment, on each side part a tab is attached, from which an extension projects, which in the lowered position of the locking lever points towards the top of the ski. This embodiment makes it possible to move the locking lever into the raised position by means of a ski pole, in particular by means of a ski pole handle, a further measure which supports convenient operation of the ski brake.

The description and claims refer to a ski brake coupled to a heel clamp arranged on a ski, wherein the ski is not shown. The following terms referring to the ski are used:

Longitudinal direction of the ski: the longitudinal direction of the ski as seen from above.

Transverse direction: a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ski and parallel to the top of the ski when viewed from above.

Median plane of the ski: the plane running centrally in the longitudinal direction of the ski and perpendicular to the top of the ski.

Direction and position information or related terms such as “top” or “bottom” of components, “forwards or “backwards, “up” or “down” refer to the orientation of the components in question with respect to the ski, the top of the ski, the longitudinal direction of the ski, the transverse direction or the ski tip or the ski end.

The term “fixed position of the brake pins” means the fixed position of the brake pins on the side of the ski.

The term “non-fixed position of the brake pins” means a position in which the pedal is pressed or can be pressed into the raised position by spring force.

The heel clampshown intogether with a coupled ski brakeis arranged in particular in a manner known per se on a guide railfastened to the ski (not shown) and can be releasably fixed thereon in different longitudinal positions. The heel clampshown is one of the two binding clamps of an alpine downhill binding with safety release suitable for touring. The toe piece (not shown) is a piece suitable for touring, which can be moved to a position further forward for touring such that the ski boot can be lifted unhindered on the heel side.

The heel clamp, which is designed for a safety release, has a sole holderan opening leverand a base housinghaving a base part, which projects forward beyond the sole holdersuch that a brake housingof the ski brakecan be positively but detachably connected to the base part in front of the sole holderby means of engagement elements (not shown). Alternatively, the brake housingis connected to the base housingby means of screws.

The main components of the ski brakeare, as shown for example inand, in addition to the aforementioned brake housing, a pedal, two brake pins, a rod-like brake supportand a locking lever. The two brake pinsare designed in particular in a manner known per se and have bearing sectionsby means of which they are pivotally mounted on the brake housing. The brake pinsare hinged to the underside of the pedalwith end sections running in the transverse direction. In an alternative embodiment, the brake pinsare components of a one-piece brake arm, which is mounted with a U-shaped arm section on the underside of the pedal.

The brake supportis pivotally connected at one end to the rear of the end sections of the brake pinsand centrally to the underside of the pedalby means of a bolt oriented in the transverse direction (not shown in the figures), while at its second end, the brake supportis pivotally connected to the brake housingby means of a boltoriented in the transverse direction. A indentation formed centrally in the brake housingaccommodates the brake supportwhen the pedalis depressed. A spring element() which is bent in the form of a bow and has a bent section and two lateral sections in the embodiment shown, a torsion spring in the example, presses the pedalaway from the brake housingand is supported in a sliding manner on the underside of the pedal, surrounds the boltwith windings and is supported by end sections on the brake housing.

The design of the locking leveris explained in detail with reference to. The locking leveris designed in the shape of a bow and has two lateral, preferably plate-shaped, side partswhich are oriented in particular perpendicular to the top of the ski, and a central partconnecting them, which is provided with a recessed sectionin the centre. A locking bolt, which is rotatably mounted on the brake housingto the rear of the bolt, connects the two side partsand thus ensures a rotatable mounting of the locking leveron the locking bolt.

On each side partof the locking lever, a tabis attached, which points in the direction of the respective adjacent ski side and from which a short extensionprotrudes, which in the non-fixed position of the brake pinsof the ski brake() points in the direction of the top of the ski. Each extensionallows the locking leverto be grasped and pivoted upwards by means of the handleof a ski pole. For this purpose, as shown in, the handleof the ski poleis provided at its outer end with a gripping projectionhaving a groovesuch that the outer end of the extensionengages in the grooveand the locking levercan be raised. Alternatively, the locking levercan be raised manually.

As shown, for example, inin conjunction with, the locking boltpasses with its ends laterally through the brake housingand then through the side partsof the locking leverand is seated with one support element, respectively, which is semicircular in plan view of the side partsas an end section in an outer openingof each side partThe support elementhas a flat boundary surface along the “chord of the circle”, which forms a support surfaceEach openingis delimited by an inner wall which, in plan view extends from the side partover a circular section of, for example, approximately 300° adapted to the support element, such that the inner wall ends at a flat stop surfaceadapted to the support surfaceand an end surfacedelimiting the freedom of movement of the support elementwithin the opening. In an alternative embodiment, the stop surfaceis formed on a web or the like projecting from the inner wall. The embodiments of the support elementand the openingare coordinated with one another in such a way that, when the locking boltis rotated and the locking leveris actuated, as will be described later, the support elementis supported with its support surfaceon the stop surface

In the non-fixed position () of the brake pinsof the ski brakeand in the downhill position with the ski boot inserted and the pedalpressed down, formations on the brake housingensure that the locking leverdoes not protrude beyond the top of the brake housing. The side partsof the locking leverare located in lateral formations of the brake housing, the central partis located in further formations formed on the brake housing. As the sectional view inshows, the recessed sectionformed on the central partof the locking leveris, in the non-fixed position, releasably snapped into a recesson the brake housingadapted to the recessed sectionIn its raised position (), the locking leversnaps releasably into a further recessformed in front of the recesson the brake housingand adapted to section

On the inside of each side partof the locking lever, one respective torsion coil springis arranged under pretension on the locking bolt, one end of which, located on the inside of the bolt, is suspended on the locking boltand the second end of which projects with the locking boltthrough the brake housingand is supported on the inner edge of an indentationformed on the outer circumference of the respective side part

As shown, for example, inand the sectional views in, the locking bolthas a central sectionwhich in the example has a larger diameter than the adjoining sections, on which a notchis formed, which forms a clearance on the circumference of the locking boltand interacts with a knob-like projectionon the lower or rear end region of the brake supportin a manner yet to be described. The knob-like projectionis formed at the level of the boltof the brake supportand points backwards when the pedalis pivoted up () and upwards when the pedalis lowered ().

In the non-fixed position of the brake pinsof the ski brakeshown in, the notchfaces the knob-like projectionwhich is located outside the indentation. The support surfacesof the support elementsof the locking boltlie on the stop surfacesWhen the pedalis pressed down and the brake supportis accordingly lowered, for example by a ski boot inserted into the ski binding, the position of the locking boltremains unchanged and the knob-like projectionmoves freely within the notch. This ensures that the pedalcan be pressed down without hindrance. If the ski boot comes free from the ski binding, for example as a result of a fall or by opening the heel clamp, the pedalcan return to the raised position under the action of the spring elementand the brake pinscan take effect.

For touring, the toe piece of the ski binding is moved to its more forward position such that the heel clamp does not hinder the movement of a ski or touring boot() inserted into the toe piece.

The brake pinsof the ski brakeare fixed for touring in two phases. In the first phase, the locking leveris raised or swung upwards by hand or by means of a ski pole handle, as described, while the pedalis still raised. The locking boltrotates with the support of its support surfaceon the stop surfacethere is no relative movement between the locking boltand the locking lever, the torsion coil springsretain their preload. However, when pivoting upwards, the snap connection between the locking leverand the brake housing(recess) is released, wherein after a rotation of, for example, around 75°, the locking leversnaps into the recessof the brake housing. This position is shown, for example, in. As a result of the locking boltrotating, the position of the notchon the central sectionof the locking bolthas changed relative to the knob-like projectionof the brake support, such that the knob-like projectionof the brake supportcan no longer move past the central section

In the second phase, the pedaltogether with the brake supportis pressed down with the sole of the ski or touring boot inserted in the toe piece, whereby the knob-like projectionof the brake supportengages the locking boltwithin the notch(shows this intermediate position), the locking boltin the position according torotates slightly clockwise—for example, by around 35°—and with a brief increase in the tension of the torsion coil springs, finally snaps over the one outer edge of the indentation, wherein the locking boltsubsequently rotates back to its position after the end of the first phase under the effect of the torsion coil springsrelaxing again and the locking boltengages the knob-like projectionfrom the side below and thereby fixes the brake support(), such that the brake pinsare located in their fixed position to the side of the ski. At the end of the second phase, the support surfacesare again in contact with the stop surfacesand the torsion coil springsare again preloaded as originally.shows the position of the ski brakewith the brake pinsin their fixed position, wherein the heel part of a ski or touring bootis also shown.

To release the fixed position of the brake pinsof the ski brake, the locking leveris pressed into its lowered position by hand or with a ski pole handle, wherein the stop surfacesengage the support surfacesand rotate the locking boltuntil the knob-like projectionand thus the brake supportare released, whereby the pedalis returned to its raised position under the action of the spring element.