Abstract: A ski binding includes a step-in lever or latch for releasably clamping a ski boot to a sole plate. The latch is pivotally mounted on the bight of a U-shaped bail having ends pivoted within the sole plate. As the ski boot is stepped downwardly, the latch is rotated and translated upwardly by camming action of an arcuate undersurface eccentrically located with respect to the bight. A wedge surface interconnecting the arcuate undersurface and an opposed surface frictionally engages the ski boot and continues pivoting of the latch until an opposed latching surface moves from one side of the bail to the other in order to provide an over-center toggle action to cause the latching surface to overlie the ski boot heel extension.

Abstract: In a ski binding including a toe release unit, a heel retainer unit, a sole plate adapted to be received between and releasably retained by the units, and securing devices on the sole plate whereby the sole plate may be attached to a ski boot, the improvement including structure at the interface of the sole plate and the heel retainer unit for releasably capturing the sole plate in the heel retainer unit upon the application of force to the sole plate in a direction tending to align the heel retainer unit and the sole plate to allow a skier having the sole plate attached to a ski boot to step into the toe release and heel retainer unit on a ski on which they may be mounted.