Abstract: The invention relates to a sports shoe with an outer shell of injection moulded plastic, comprising a front foot shell for accommodating the front foot and an adjoining shoe cuff for stabilising the lower leg portion of a user, and with a relatively flexible inner shoe at least partially accommodated in the shell. Disposed in the outer shell is at least one elastically flexible portion which is provided as a means of reducing pressure points from the inner shoe on a user's foot when subjected to compression stress. The elastically flexible portion is provided in the form of at least one membrane element which is designed to vary the volume or width which the shell can accommodate as a function of compression stress due to its slackness or ability to deflect relative to the surrounding part-portions of the shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a top layer (10) constituting a layer (6) of a gliding device (1), which top layer (10) comprises an external face (18) and an internal face (24) directed towards a core (9) of the gliding device (1). The top layer (10) is provided with at least one hole (20) extending between the external face (18) and the internal face (24). Prior to making the hole (20) through the top layer (10), an adhesive layer (23) is applied to it on the internal face (24) facing away from the external face (18), at least in the region where the hole (20) is to be made, and the hole (20) is made jointly both through the top layer (10) and through the adhesive layer (23).

Abstract: The invention relates to a ski or a snowboard in the form of a board-like sliding device (1), comprising a multi-layered sliding board body and at least one board-like force-transmitting element (13) supported on the top side (7) of the sliding board body, the upper side of which force-transmitting element is provided for supporting a binding device (3) for a potentially releasable connection with a sports shoe. In at least one of the two lateral upper edge sections (21, 22) of the sliding board body running in the longitudinal direction of the sliding board body at least one interlocking coupling means (17, 18) is formed. Said at least one interlocking coupling means (17, 18) is formed by at least one physically independent strip or profile-like coupling element (19, 20), which is arranged between the board-like force-transmitting element (13) and the sliding board body and is provided for forming an interlocking connection between the board-like force-transmitting element (13) and the sliding board body.

Abstract: The invention describes a ski binding with guide elements for a front and a rear binding piece body oriented in the binding longitudinal direction, which binding piece bodies are designed to retain the front respectively rear end portion of a sports shoe. This ski binding comprises a first coupling element connected to the front binding piece body and a second coupling element connected to the rear binding piece body, and mutually facing end portions of these coupling elements co-operate with a positioning and fixing mechanism disposed between the binding piece bodies in order to adjust and retain the binding piece bodies by reference to the binding longitudinal direction. The positioning elements of the first and second coupling elements are respectively disposed on the left-hand and/or right-hand side faces of the two coupling elements lying one above the other by reference to the standing plane and by reference to the binding longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning mechanism (1) for releasably fixing at least one position of a positioning means (3) which can be displaced more or less linearly relative to positioning means (2) fixedly connected to a structure (45), e.g. a shoe, which provides a mount for at least one displaceable coupling means (9) which engages under the action of a spring system (39) in a female coupling part (20) of the positioning means (2) connected to the structure (45) in a position which fixes the position of the positioning means (2, 3) relative to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a flat facing material (6) with a gliding surface (5) for a running sole of a winter sports device, whereby a base structure (7) is produced from a continuously open-pored plastic material (8) with an initial thickness (10). At least one additive (13) is introduced into the pores (9) of the base structure (7). The base structure (7) together with the additive (13) is then reduced from its initial thickness (10) by am amount within a lower limit of 20% and an upper limit of 90% in a hot pressing operation. The invention further relates to a facing material (6) produced by the method and a winter sports device with such a facing material (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a toe binding (1) of a safety ski binding. The toe binding (1) comprises a housing (2) for mounting at least partly at least one release spring determining the safely release values and at least one sole holder (5) loaded directly or indirectly by the force of the release spring, which when an upper force threshold is exceeded releases the front section of a boot secured by the safety ski binding at least in lateral direction relative to the boot longitudinal axis (32).

Abstract: The invention relates to an end piece (2, 2?) for the front or rear end of a ski (1) or snow-board, which end piece (2, 2?) has at least a first and a second portion (6, 7). A distance (10, 10?) between mutually adjacent zones (8, 9) of the first and second portion (6, 7) or a width or length measurement of at least one of the zones (8, 9) can be varied. Alternatively, the first and second portion (6, 7) are connected to one another in the mutually adjacent zones (8, 9) by means of an articulated joint and/or an elastically stretchable and rebounding bridging element and/or an elastically deformable middle portion (12) and the zones of the first and second portion (6, 7) remote from the mutually adjacent zones (8, 9) can be respectively connected to oppositely lying side edges of a ski (1) or snowboard by articulated joints and/or with an interconnected elastic deformation zone. This positively influences the performance of a ski (1) or snowboard with a variable geometry or size.

Abstract: The invention describes a binding mechanism (1) for providing a pivotably moving connection of a sports shoe (2) to a board-type gliding device (3), in particular to a ski (4). The binding mechanism (1) comprises a first or front retaining element (5) for retaining the front toe-end portion of a sports shoe (2), a second or rear retaining element (6) for retaining the rear heel-end portion of a sports shoe (2) and an elongate connecting element (9) of variable shape between the first and the second retaining element (5, 6). This connecting element (9) extends underneath the sole (10) of a sports shoe (2) inserted in the binding mechanism (1).

Abstract: The invention describes a ski binding (1), with guide elements (8, 9) which can be mounted or pre-fitted on a ski (3) in the binding longitudinal direction (10), for a front and a rear jaw body (4, 5). A first coupling element (15) is connected to the front jaw body (4) and a second coupling element (16) is connected to the rear jaw body (5). Mutually facing end portions (17, 18) of these coupling elements (15, 16) co-operate with a positioning and fixing mechanism (14) disposed between the jaw bodies (4, 5) in order to adjust and retain the jaw body (4, 5) as necessary. An overlap width (19) between the two coupling elements (15, 16) can be varied to make an individual adjustment for different jaw distances (12). At least one coupling element (15, 16) is provided with at least two mutually parallel rows (21, 22, 23) of positioning elements (20), and these positioning element-rows (21, 22, 23) are disposed offset from one another in the binding longitudinal direction (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting device (1) between a boot (2) and a board-like type of sports equipment (3), in particular a ski binding. The connecting device comprises a toe or front binding fixture (5) that can be associated with the tip (4) of the boot, and a heel or rear binding fixture (7) that can be associated with the heel area (6) the boot (2). The binding fixtures each have a sole holder (8,9) for engaging the boot (2). The boot is clamped between the sole holders with a pre-tensioning force that is applicable via a pre-tensioning spring (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a sports boot (1) for walking or cross-country skiing, with a flexible shaft (2) receiving the foot, and a reinforcement (5) surrounding the shaft (2) on its external side by sections and being connected with the outsole (3). The shaft (2) is formed in this connection by a cushioned inner boot (6), and a coat (8) of fabric o some other material compatible with the skin. The reinforcement (5) is formed by a latticed or net-like support structure (12) for the inner boot (6), and composed of flexible ribbon elements (13) having, however, the highest possible tensile strength, and being made of plastic or textiles, said ribbon elements resting against external part sections of the inner boot (6), or surrounding the inner boot (6) on its external side within part sections. In this connection, the latticed or net-like support structure (12) is variable with respect to its delimiting or receiving volume as required by means of a lacing system (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device (1) between a sports shoe (2) and sports device (3), with a toe piece (5) and a heel piece (6) and a brake device (7) mounted between the latter for the sports device (3), with a longitudinal guide (9, 10) mounted on the surface (8) of the sports device (3) for the heel piece (6), in which the heel piece (6) is guided laterally and vertically in dimensions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The brake device (7) is provided with guiding elements (14, 15) that can engage in the guiding track (12, 13) of the longitudinal guide (9, 10) and between the brake device (7) and the heel piece (6), a longitudinal coupling device (19) is arranged for mobile connection with the heel piece (6) and the brake device (7) is guided in a play-free manner exclusively by the guiding track (12, 13) in all dimensions running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guiding track (12, 13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a board-like gliding device (1), in connection with which strength-related and decorative layers (2, 3, 4) are joined together to form a one-piece composite body (6) in a hot compression molding cycle by means of a heated-platen compression molding device (5), whereby a cover layer (10) and/or a coating (11) of the gliding surface are selected from at least partly transparent plastic material, and the side (15) of the cover layer (10) and/or coating (11) of the gliding surface facing the core (9) of the composite body (6), is joined by means of a transparent adhesive layer (17) with a background layer (16) forming the visual background of the cover layer (10) and/or coating (11) of the gliding surface.

Abstract: A binding unit for a snowboard that permits an individual adjustment of angular position relative to the snowboard, includes, for fixing it to the snowboard, a substantially circular retaining disc, as seen in plan view, for a base plate of relatively large surface area. Coupling parts are mounted directly or indirectly on the base plate to provide a connection to a snowboard shoe which is releasable from the snowboard when the coupling parts are inactive or deactivated. At least one slide element on the retaining disc is displaceable between an extracted position, in which the at least one slide element at least partially covers the base plate, a portion of the slide element or elements projecting from a circular circumferential region of the retaining disc in the extracted position, and an inserted position, in which the at least one slide element does not at least partially cover the base plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sports shoe (1), in particular a ski shoe (2), consisting of a shoe bottom part (3) comprising a sole (4) and a shell part (5) with a cuff part (7) pivotably connected to the shoe bottom part (3), and a lock mechanism (16) incorporating at least one locking means (17) displaceable between the shell part (5) and the cuff part (7), as well as an actuator drive (29) for the locking means (17). The actuator drive (29) is conductively connected to an energy store and/or an energy source (42) disposed in the shoe bottom part (3) or in the cuff part (7) and a switch means (44) is connected upstream of the actuator drive (29) to supply the actuator drive (29) with power from the energy source (42) and/or the energy store.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ski in which bonding portions join non-metal side members (20) and a metal sheet (18) to form a cap preform section. The cap preform section is pressed downward against the top surface of a core (14) and heat is applied to bond the cap preform section to the core (14). The bonding portions include bonding strips (22) formed of a thermoplastic material that becomes adhesive when subjected to pressure and heat at a sufficiently high temperature.

Abstract: The invention describes a pivotable binding system (1) for mounting between a sports device (2) and a tread surface (5) for a user's foot, in which the tread surface (5) is pivotable about an axis extending more or less parallel with the ankle joint of the foot and is displaceable, at least in a part region assigned to the toes, to a position closer to the sports device (2), and can be joined to the sports device by at least one binding element (11). The binding element (11) is flexible and is resiliently deformable in a vertical plane (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a lacing system (2) for a shoe (1), in particular for an inner shoe, with a cord-type or lace-type tensioning means (12) and looping means (11) for the tensioning means (12) arranged on oppositely lying wall regions (8, 9) of a shoe cut-out (5) extending from an entry opening (3) approximately to as far as an ankle region (4) and having at least one fixing means (18) for the tensioning means (12).

Abstract: A mechanism for braking a ski (1) released from a sports boot and for holding together skis (1) placed back to back with one another by their runner surfaces (2) if necessary. Catch elements (23, 24) are provided respectively on mutually facing inner sides and an oppositely lying outer sides of the brake arms (10) and a catch element (23) dispersed at least on the inner sides can be moved into a positive connection with at least one co-operating catch element (24) disposed on the outer sides in order to produce a higher resistance to counteract mutually crossing assembled brake arms (10) of two brake mechanisms (3) from sliding apart from one another.