Abstract: A part for a ski binding comprising a carriage slidably attached to a base plate. One end of the base plate is fastened to the ski with fasteners, while its other end rests freely on the bottom of a U-shaped clamp, also fastened to the ski with fasteners. Attachment of the carriage to the base plate is accomplished by carriage structural features that retain the carriage in the clamp, and further carriage structural features that prevent the carriage from being vertically disengaged from the part of the base plate adjacent to the base plate's fastened end. However, such features allow the carriage to be moved horizontally back and forth relative to the base plate along the longitudinal axis of the ski. The ski binding part disclosed prevents a substantial amount of the vertical forces ordinarily experienced during skiing from being transmitted to the ski through the base plate, allowing the base plate to be made of lightweight construction.

Abstract: A continuously energized switch having only stationary parts for application to electronic sports equipment is disclosed. The switch connects and disconnects the electronic circuitry of the sports equipment to and from its power supply in response to the application of predetermined non-invasive external influences.

Abstract: A heel piece for a safety ski binding is provided comprising a support member in the form of a slide member on which is pivotally mounted a sole holder having a pedal, a sole engaging portion and an interior cam surface configured to cooperate with a bearing member or cam follower which engages the cam surface. The cam follower is supported by a bearing lever having an axis of rotation near the upper surface of the ski, and a connecting member. The cam surface has an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediate critical portion, and the binding opens when the soleholder is driven upwardly so that the critical portion passes the cam follower. An opening lever for manually opening the binding is rotatably attached to the connecting member, and is pivotally mounted on the soleholder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a front piece for safety ski-bindings. The front piece comprises a supporting member which can be pivoted sideways. Linked to the support member are side clamps for engaging the toe of a ski boot in order to hold the ski boot in the front piece of the safety ski-binding. The side clamps are releasable when a predetermined force is applied to the side of the ski binding. The binding of the present invention will automatically reset after the side clamp is released and the boot is free from the binding. An advantage of the mechanism of the present invention is that internal friction is minimized during the release/reset operation. This is achieved in part by the side clamps being designed such that they are extended beyond their respective points where they are pivotally attached to the supporting member.

Abstract: A toe piece for a safety ski binding having a pivotable rearwardly facing soleholder for releasably engaging the sole of a ski boot, a pedal having a series of ramps inclined towards opposite sides of the binding and joined by flattened junctures and engageable by lower support elements when the pedal is subjected to downward and sidewise forces for receiving forces which offset the frictional forces resulting from the engagement of the boot and the pedal. The tow piece further includes a second set of transverse ramps engageable by upper support elements when the pedal is subjected to upward and sidewise forces for receiving forces which offset the frictional forces resulting from the engagement of the boot and the pedal.

Abstract: A step-in ski electronic binding having a housing for engaging a ski boot, the housing being moveable between ski boot releasing and latching positions, releasable latching means for releasably latching the housing in its latching position and cocking means for cocking an electrically controlled release actuator when the housing is moved to its latching position.

Abstract: A screw retainer for retaining a screw in a first member which is to be attached to a second member, including a bore in the first member having longitudinally spaced elastic projections extending into the path of the screw head to capturing the screw head to retain the screw in the bore before the first and second members are attached.

Abstract: A step-in heel piece for a safety ski binding which yields, in its latching position, away from the sole plate of the binding in response to the influence of external forces. The yielding heel piece improves skier comfort and accommodates various ski boot heel sole thicknesses without mechanical adjustment.

Abstract: A safety ski binding having a release member actuable in response to forces or moments exceeding a threshold value, a carriage biased forwardly by a carriage spring, a sole holder mounted on the carriage and biased to an open position, a locking lever mounted on the carriage for releasably locking the sole holder in the open position, a locking lever spring biasing the locking lever to the position for opening the sole holder and for biasing the carriage rearwardly, a locking pawl for controlling the condition of the locking lever, and a connecting mechanism responsive to actuation of the release member for actuating the locking pawl to effect rearward movement of the carriage under the influence of the locking lever spring without overcoming the force of the carriage spring.

Abstract: A transducer for responding electrically to forces and torques applied to the transducer including a force-variable impedance element engaged by force members which are retained in bearing relationship with the impedance element by an annular retainer and which transmit applied forces to the impedance element.

Abstract: An electronic ski binding incorporating a capacitor for generating actuating signals to a release circuit, and a recharging circuit for recharging the capacitor from an energy source according to the energy level of the capacitor. A charge measuring circuit is provided for measuring the charge of the energy source according to the time required to recharge the capacitor.

Abstract: A safety ski-binding having force transmitting surfaces which are inclined at an angle which corresponds substantially to the angle of friction. The force component acting in the direction of release of the sole plate created by the additional load compensates for the friction, so that the release resistance is not influenced even for a heavy load from the ball of the skier's foot even for the purely rotary fall load. These inclined surfaces are preferably provided on a rearward tongue which is disposed between the base plate and a rearward guide rail, the rearward tongue comprising an upper surface in substance in the shape of a flat M whose upper tips are flattened to abut in the normal position supporting elements depending from the guide rail.

Abstract: An electronic ski binding incorporating an induction coil and a magnet movable relative to the coil to induce signals in the coil when a skier steps into the binding, to generate control signals to an electronic switch to connect an energy source to an electrical load.

Abstract: An indicator in a grasping piece of a safety ski binding for indicating the setting of an adjustable operating characteristic, including a window and an elongated indicating member operatively connected at one end to the operating characteristic adjusting means, the opposite end of the indicating member bearing on the window, the indicating member being supported intermediate its ends.

Abstract: A release mechanism for safety ski bindings activated by a magnetic release system and movable between a cocked and a release condition. In its release condition, the mechanism releases a ski binding from a closed to an open condition. The mechanism has a holding lever movable between a holding and a releasing position, with the holding lever abutting a connecting lever which, along with a handle lever and a release lever, forms a spring retaining mechanism. The release lever is spring biased from a cocked to a releasing condition.

Abstract: A pedal-actuated ski brake which is biased into the braking position. The ski brake may be easily released from the biasing device so as to permit the ski brake to be released into a non-braking position permitting free access to the sides and bottom of the ski.

Abstract: An indicator in a grasping piece of a safety ski binding for indicating the setting of an adjustable operating characteristic of the grasping piece, including a window in a part of the grasping piece, a sliding indicator visible through the window and a flexible connection connected at one end to the operating characteristic adjusting means and at the opposite end to the sliding indicator to move the sliding indicator in response to adjustment of the operating characteristic.

Abstract: A pedal-actuated ski brake biased into the braking position and having a means for holding the brake prong inboard of the ski when in the skiing position. The ski brake may also have a means for biasing the brake prong outboard of the ski when in the braking position. When the ski brake is used with a turntable ski binding, the pedal is received inside an opening in the turntable and there is also a means for engaging the heel retainer so as to hinder unwanted movement.