Abstract: A ski boot comprises a shell, a part hinged to the shell, means for closing the hinged part to the shell, a foot-retaining system located between the shell and the skier's foot to enable the skier to immobilize his foot in the boot after he has placed his foot therein. The invention is characterized in that the foot-retaining system is caused to bear against the foot by the hinged part when the latter is moved to be secured to the shell by the closing means.

Abstract: Polystyrene (copolymer) foam is produced by forming a polystyrene (copolymer) solution in an hermetically sealed container using a solvent having a high vapor pressure and a low boiling point, and progressively releasing the thus formed solution under temperature and pressure conditions allowing rapid evaporation of the solvent.

Abstract: The binding comprises two moveable lateral jaws connected to a slide adapted to move longitudinally upon the ski. The slide is urged into the retracted position by a release spring. In the release position, with the jaws open, the slide is locked by means of hooks associated with a pedal cooperating with recesses in the slide. The binding permits a "step-in" refitting operation.

Abstract: A ski binding comprises two lateral jaws hinged to a slide arranged upon the longitudinal axis of the ski and subjected to the action of a release spring; a second set of links hinged to a fixed baseplate is also hinged to the jaws. This type of binding locks the boot by its side edges.

Abstract: The safety binding comprises a vertical pivot integral with a base mounted to the ski, a binding rotating upon the pivot and carrying means for retaining the boot, a locking system ensuring that the boot is maintained in a specific position upon the ski, and a compensating mechanism acting upon the locking system to cause a lateral retention force applied to the boot to vary inversely to a vertical retention force. The compensating mechanism includes a first part mounted to pivot about an axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ski, and a second part mounted in the binding and movable relative to the first part; this second part cooperate, through a system of ramps, with the boot-retaining means to oppose the lifting of the boot.

Abstract: The device comprises two jaws hinged about an axle and subjected to the restoring action of a spring towards the closed position of these jaws onto a boot; a stop, integral with each jaw is adjacent its dead point in relation to the axle and is located on the other side of the longitudinal axis of the device. This arrangement reduces friction and permits effective return to the operative position whenever a load is insufficient to cause the boot to be released.

Abstract: A ski brake comprising an elastic system of two springs acting in the same direction on a braking blade wherein one spring is an auxiliary spring of low strength acting alone on the blade until the blade attains a critical intermediate position, the second spring being a main spring of high strength acting on the blade conjointly with the first spring during a portion of the remainder of the travel of the blade from the critical intermediate position to the active position in which the blade is forcibly embedded into the snow.

Abstract: A safety binding for ski boots comprising: a first holding element, mobile in relation to a ski about a vertical axis, for retaining one end of the boot; a second holding element, releasable under the action of an abnormally high vertical load, for retaining the other end of the boot; a connecting element for connecting the boot to the ski, comprising a resilient element restoring the boot to its axial position upon the ski. One end of this connecting element is secured to the ski by means of the mobile element. The binding has the special advantage of allowing the binding to release under the action of a lateral load, while keeping the boot permanently connected to the ski.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for providing resilient recoil in a binding in response to the stresses arising during skiing. The device comprises at least two springs arranged in series in a housing on baseplate on which a binding is mounted. A rod runs along the axis of the springs, and a head of the rod takes the thrust from the binding; one spring bears against the baseplate and a stop separates the two springs. This system acts to absorb stresses not intended to affect the release mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety binding providing automatic recentering of the boot on the longitudinal axis of the ski and comprises a retaining element for one end of the boot, the element consisting of a catch cooperating with a slope and adapted to move, in relation to the ski, between two positions. The end of the boot also comprises, above the slope which cooperates with the catch, a sliding surface pointing in a downward direction and also cooperating with the catch when the latter rocks from the first to the second position. The binding allows the skier to put his skis on while he is standing up and without having to look at the boots.