Abstract: A rear ski-binding element comprises a heel-holding member carried by a plate pivoted about an axis at right angles to the top ski face. Lateral flanges formed on the pivotal plate are each adapted to carry a lateral packing member. Each packing member has a resilient inner wall which is capable of outward elastic deformation under the action of engagement of a ski boot. The rear ski-binding element is thus automatically adaptable to ski boots having different widths.

Abstract: A ski binding for cross-country skiing comprises a locking lever provided with a nose for locking the toe end of the ski shoe in position and also with an extracting appendage. During disengagement of the ski shoe from the binding, the extracting appendage exerts an upwardly directed thrust beneath the toe end of the ski shoe, thus facilitating the disengagement operation.

Abstract: The cross-country skiing assembly comprises a ski shoe and a ski binding for fixing the shoe on a ski. A toe block at the front end of the shoe has a fastening contour which is capable of cooperating with a complementary fastener on a shoe-retaining stirrup of the ski binding. A spring-loaded locking and releasing lever of the ski binding permits automatic positioning of the ski shoe by downward engagement. The shoe-retaining stirrup is pivotally mounted on a cross-pin which is adjacent to the front end face of the toe block.

Abstract: A pivotal control flap carried by the top section of one ski-braking arm is connected to an identical flap carried by the other braking arm by means of a top arcuate member. Each flap has two separate bores forming swivel-bearings respectively for the top section of the corresponding arm and for the respective leg of the arcuate connecting member. The angle made by the bores with respect to each other is such that the pivotal displacement of the two flaps under the pressure of the ski boot produces a movement of relative inward withdrawal of the bottom sections of the braking arms when they are in the raised position.

Abstract: The device comprises a locking lever having a bearing surface adapted to cooperate with a complementary bearing surface formed on a heel-gripping member. The angle of slope of the two surfaces is such that the resultant force of the bearing force and the friction force passes through the axis of rotation of the locking lever.

Abstract: The toe abutment member of a ski binding is adapted to cooperate with a ski boot provided with a sole having a truncated front end and a toe-cap extension in overhung relation to the truncated front end. The abutment member comprises a feeler element placed directly beneath the toe-cap extension of the ski boot in close proximity to the toe-cap extension under normal skiing conditions. In the event of a forward fall, the feeler element undergoes a vertical displacement in the downward direction under the thrust exerted by said extension while producing a reduction in inherent stiffness of release of the toe abutment member.

Abstract: The control ends of two pivotal braking arms have elbowed extensions rotatably mounted in bearings provided on or within an operating pedal. In the active braking position of the pivotal arms, the axes of the elbowed extensions form a V having a downwardly-directed point and the braking ends of the pivotal arms are outwardly displaced with respect to each other on each side of the ski. In the withdrawn position, the braking ends are close together and set back with respect to the sides of the ski. However a tension spring tends to produce a pivotal displacement of the operating pedal with respect to the pivotal arms to an angular position such that the braking ends are spaced at a sufficient distance to pass on each side of the ski.

Abstract: A ski brake is provided with two braking arms pivotally mounted in bearings disposed transversely with respect to the ski. The braking arms are downwardly inclined towards the interior of the ski and joined together by means of a resilient stirrup-piece located above the ski and capable of undergoing resilient flexural deformation in its own plane. The stirrup-piece is connected to the braking arms by means of pivot-pins in the form of rivets, the axes of which are located at right angles to the plane of the stirrup-piece.

Abstract: In addition to a boot-retaining jaw unit controlled by a spring having an adjustable degree of stiffness, the safety ski binding is fitted with a force transducer for detecting the effort exerted by the spring on the jaw unit and delivering a signal which is a function of the effort thus detected to an electronic display device of the digital type. The display device is supplied via a normally-open circuit comprising a manually actuated switch.

Abstract: A ski brake comprising two pivotal arms having intermediate elbowed portions pivotally mounted in fixed bearings about an axis transverse to the ski, an operating pedal and a spring for restoring the pivotal arms to their braking position. A flexible and resilient metallic strip provides a connection between the control ends of the braking arms, is secured to an operating pedal actuated by the ski boot and is subjected to the action of a restoring spring and traction member. The ends of the resilient strip are fixed in cylindrical sleeves which are rotatably mounted on the control ends. When a boot is in position within the safety ski binding and the ski brake is therefore in a standby position of withdrawal above the ski, the resilient strip has a flat configuration and is located in practically the same plane as the traction member, thus preventing the appearance of a parasitic stress which would otherwise be liable to interfere with the operation of the ski binding.

Abstract: Under normal skiing conditions, two lateral arms of a jaw unit cooperate with the toe end of a ski boot in order to maintain the boot in the axis of the ski and are held in position with a force designated as the inherent stiffness of release. When an excessive twisting effort is exerted on the skier's leg, the arms both move in a transverse direction with respect to the ski in order to permit lateral disengagement of the boot. A toe abutment feeler member is in contact with the front end of the boot and cooperates with a spring-loaded piston unit in order to reduce the inherent stiffness of release as well as resistance to torsional disengagement in the event of a forward fall of the skier and/or of an axial thrust exerted by the boot, thus achieving considerably enhanced safety.

Abstract: This toe-fitting for safety ski binding is of the type intended for operating in conjunction with a boot supporting device and includes a boot supporting plate movable across the ski and adapted, during its movement, to cause through a cam mechanism the translation along the ski axis of a slide controlling the release spring in order to reduce the resistance thereof to the ski boot release movement, the release threshold being thus kept to a substantially constant value notwithstanding the presence of dirt, mud or other unevennesses on the bottom surface of the boot sole.

Abstract: A retractable ski brake includes a pair of pivoted brake arms disposed symmetrically on either side of the ski and freely journaled on the ski top surface in bearings, the operative ends of the brake arms being adapted to be raised and retracted inwards of the ski so as not to protrude from the side edges thereof when inoperative. The opposite ends of these arms are interconnected by hinge means through a flexible, suitably shaped portion of the same metal wire constituting the brake arms. A strap fastened to clamps rotating about these opposite ends forms a control pedal, and the hinge means is anchored to one end of resilient return means normally urging the brake arms to their operative position and the control pedal to its raised position, these positions being obtained when the ski boot is lifted off the ski.

Abstract: This ski brake comprises two pivoting brake arms disposed symmetrically on either side of the ski and having each an operative portion movable between a lower braking position and a raised retracted inoperative position, the opposite ends of the brake arms carrying a control pedal hinged to bent extensions of the opposite ends of the brake arms. When the pivoting brake arms are in their retracted inoperative position above the ski top and the pedal is pressed against the ski top, the axes of the bent extensions form an obtuse angle having its vertex directed away from the brake shoes carried by the operative portions of the brake arms. These brake arms are on the other hand so shaped that when inoperative the brake shoes are retracted inwards of the ski edges, above the ski top. When the ski boot is lifted off the brake control pedal, the latter is urged by spring means to its raised position while both brake shoes are divaricated and lowered to their operative position clear of the ski edges.

Abstract: The toe abutment member comprises a jaw unit pivotally mounted on the ski and consisting of two lateral arms adapted to cooperate with the front portion of the ski boot in order to maintain the boot in the axis of the ski, and a resilient device housed within the body of the abutment member for locking the arms in the boot-retaining position with a predetermined stiffness of release. The toe abutment member essentially comprises in addition a feeler member placed in contact with the front portion of the ski boot and adapted to cooperate with the resilient device to reduce the stiffness of release at the time of a forward-fall position and/or when an axial thrust is exerted on the ski boot.

Abstract: A ski brake fitted on the heel-retaining unit of a ski binding has two rotatable arms actuated by a battery-powered reversible electric motor which is engaged with an arm-actuating mechanism. A double-throw contactor associated with the actuating mechanism co-operates with a spring-loaded pusher. When the ski boot is inserted in the ski binding, the pusher is moved away from the contactor and the motor produces a pivotal displacement of the arms to their inactive position. When the boot becomes detached from the binding, the pusher spring applies the pusher against the contactor, the motor is started-up and produces a pivotal displacement of the arms to their active braking position.