Patents Assigned to TMC Corporation
  • Patent number: 5029890
    Abstract: A safety ski binding for a sports item, the binding including first and second units, each unit for retaining a ski shoe therein, each unit comprising a holder for holding a ski shoe in a predetermined position and including a toe part and a heel part, a part of the holder being movable between a locked position for holding a ski shoe in the predetermined position and an unlocked position for releasing a ski shoe from the predetermined position. An unlocking device is provided for unlocking the holder to thereby release a ski shoe from the predetermined position, the unlocking device including a movable locking pin for selectively engaging a part of the holder. A releasing device is connected to at least one of the toe part and the heel part for releasing a ski shoe from the predetermined position when the holder is in the locked position, the releasing device for releasing a ski shoe in response to a force exerted thereon through the ski shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Pfaffenbichler, Tibor Szasz
  • Patent number: 5028069
    Abstract: A ski binding front jaw has a ski-fixed housing, and two toggle levers which are rotatable about vertical axles, which have longer lever arms engageable with a ski boot, and which have shorter lever arms engageable with a slide member guided for movement in the housing and biased by a spring. A vertical bolt is provided between the two toggle levers, the bolt being supported in two prongs of the housing, the housing being forked at its end facing the ski boot, the bolt movably supporting a swingable sole down-holding part which may be biased by a compression spring. To ensure a reliable return of the sole down-holding part to its center position in this front jaw the sole down-holding part is yieldably maintained in its center position by a U-shaped leaf or wire spring serving as a return spring, a web of the spring being divided into two sections by a curved section, and the spring having its web facing the sole down-holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Janisch, Johann Zotter, Herbert Kurtschak
  • Ski
    Patent number: 5016901
    Abstract: The invention comprises a ski having at least one lower cover, at least one upper cover, a core disposed between the upper cover and the lower cover, the core including recessed grooves in a side thereof proximate the upper cover and strip-shaped receiving parts disposed in the grooves. The receiving parts include at least two layers, one of the two layers including metal, and the other of the at least two layers including an elastomeric material, and spacer sleeves extending through the elastomeric material layer and including distal ends which extend beyond the upper cover. The distal ends are for bearing a base plate thereon and the spacer sleeves are for receiving fastening screws to connect the base plate with the receiving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Bernhard Mayr
  • Patent number: 5004261
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for a safety ski binding comprising a jaw having catches and abutments for supporting a detent arrangement holding a sole retainer in a detent position. To be able to construct a device of this type in such a way, if possible, that there is hardly any possibility of a successful unauthorized manipulation which does not impair the function of the binding proper, there is provided a blocking arrangement (100) having a blocking position in which a member coupled with an abutment (102, 21) or a catch (10, 11) is retained in its position corresponding to the open or release position of the binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Klaus Holzl
  • Patent number: 5002303
    Abstract: This touring binding has a sole plate, which can be pivoted about a pivot pin, fixed to the ski, and on which there are arranged a heel holder, a toe holding unit and a ski brake with two multiply angled-off brake spikes. In this arrangement there are provided in the sole plate, between the pivot pin and the heel holder, two bearings for the transversely running sections of the same, forming the pivot axis of the brake spikes.In order to make a simple exchanging of the ski brake (10) possible in the case of this touring binding (2), the invention provides that each bearing is of split design in vertical direction, the lower bearing half (8g) being hollowed out as a depression in an upwardly open recess (8e) of the sole plate (8), and the upper bearing half (10d) being hollowed out in a bearing shell (10c), which can be inserted into the recess (8e) and can be fastened in the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Hubert Wurthner, Karl Stritzl, Egon Brunnhuber
  • Patent number: 4993742
    Abstract: A ski binding for attachment to a ski and for retaining a ski boot having a hook element extending therefrom, comprises a support structure for disposition on the upper surface of a ski, a horizontal transverse pin attached to the support structure, a pivoting part having a first end, a second end, and a mid-portion disposed between the first and second ends, the first end including a pivot pin disposed thereon, the second end having at least one locking pin extending therefrom, and the mid-portion being pivotably connected to the horizontal transverse pin, an elastic element disposed on the support structure for contacting the pivoting part to resist pivotal movement of the pivoting part about the transverse pin, a boot retaining shell pivotably mounted about the transverse pin for movement between an opened position and a closed position and having a recess disposed therein, the locking pin for projecting through both the recess and the hook element of a ski boot when the retaining shell is in the closed po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Roland Erdei, Klaus Holzl
  • Patent number: 4986562
    Abstract: This ski binding has a guide plate which is pivotable about a pivot pin fixed to the ski and on which a sled carrying a toe unit is displaceably guided and on which a heel unit is located. The guide plate is provided with a recess which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof and the longitudinal sides of which carry rows of teeth in which the teeth of a locking member engage.In order to accomplish an automatic compensation of the length tolerances of the ski boot in this ski binding, the invention provides that the sled (11) has a recess (11c) and a downward-pointing rectangular angle piece (11a) on which one end of at least one compression spring (18) is supported, and that the other end of the compression spring (18) bears against the locking member designed as an insertion piece (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Hubert Wurther, Karl Stritzl, Egon Brunhuber
  • Patent number: 4974869
    Abstract: A toe unit for a safety ski binding for disposal on a horizontal surface of a ski includes a base adapted to be mounted on the ski, a bolt having a lower end and an upper end, and a mounting portion for mounting the lower end of the bolt to the base. The mounting portion permits axial movement of the bolt between a first position and a second position, and secures the bolt substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface of the ski when the bolt is in the first position. The mounting portion also permits pivotal movement of the bolt about a location on the base when the bolt is in the second position. The toe unit also includes a sole contact portion attached to the bolt for retaining a sole of a boot and for moving the bolt axially from the first position to the second position in response to a predetermined force exerted by the boot in a direction away from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhard Muhlberger, Johann Zotter, Helmut Wladar, Andreas Janisch, Hubert Wurthner, Alois Himmetsberger
  • Patent number: 4973072
    Abstract: This ski brake (1) has two wire brake arms (7) which are pivotally mounted on a base plate (2) and whose end sections (7d) are linked together by a connecting spring (8), whereby the ski brake (1), in its standby position, is held against the top of the ski by an actuating treadle (5) pressed down against the force of at least one mounting spring (6), and whereby the free ends (7a) of the wire brake arms (7) are swung in toward the longitudinal axis of the ski (10).In order in this ski brake (1) to improve, during the pressing down of the actuating treadle, the flux of force from the base plate (2) onto the wire brake arms (7), the invention provides that there is hinged to the end sections (7d) a connecting link (9) comprised of a cylindrical sleeve (9a) with an extension (9b) joined thereto, with the latter being braced in the standby position against a supporting surface (2f) of the base plate (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Stritzl, Andreas Riegler, Hubert Wurthner, Franz Luschnig, Henry Freisinger, Johann Zotter, Friedrich Leichtfried, Andreas Janisch, Helmut Wladar
  • Patent number: 4960289
    Abstract: An endpiece for a safety ski binding attached to a ski, the endpiece comprising an elongated housing for disposition on the ski in the longitudinal direction of the ski; a lever pivotably mounted to the housing, the lever including a first end having a bolt opening and a second end; a sole holder for exerting a downward force on the sole of a ski boot, and having a portion disposed beneath the lever, the sole holder also having an elongated bore extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski; a bolt extending through the bolt opening and the bore, the sole holder vertically slidable on the bolt; a first spring disposed between the housing and the sole holder for urging the sole holder toward the ski; and a second spring for exerting a force on the second end of the lever for resisting rotational movement of the first and of the lever away from the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Stritzl, Kurt Hoffmann, Henry Freisinger, Andreas Janisch, Egon Brunnhuber, Johann Zotter, Egelbert Spitaler, Helmut Wladar, Reinhard Muhlberger, Karl Dapeci
  • Patent number: 4957305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heel-holder for a safety ski binding, the heel-holder comprising a snap-in device and a sole-holder vertically pivotable about a cross-pin disposed in a housing. The housing is horizontally pivotable about a raised pin formed on a base plate which is mounted on a ski. The snap-in device is loaded by a spring. The snap-in device includes a snap-in rocker pivotably mounted on the housing and a control member pivotably mounted on the snap-in rocker. The snap-in rocker engages a control cam formed on the sole-holder, and the control member engages an extension of the base plate. The spring loads the snap-in device and applies a force for releasing the binding. The snap-in device reduces the spring force required for releasing the binding during both the vertical pivoting of the sole-holder and the horizontal pivoting of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Karl Stritzl, Franz Luschnig
  • Patent number: 4955633
    Abstract: An adjustment device for a ski binding comprises a slide mounted on a ski, where the slide includes a plurality of legs and a base. A locking member, which has a plurality of teeth, is pivotably mounted on the base on a pivot axis. A guide plate which has a plurality of prongs and a strip including a plurality of teeth guides the slide. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the slide relative to the guide plate. The adjustment means is actuated for bringing the teeth of the locking member into engagement with the teeth of the strip and for bringing one of the prongs of the guide plate into frictional engagement with one of the legs of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Stritzl, Henry Freisinger, Hubert Wurthner, Andreas Riegler
  • Patent number: 4919448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heel-piece for a safety ski binding, the heel-piece being released when the load on the binding exceeds a specified limit. A link mechanism is mounted on the heel-piece for connecting the sole-holder to the binding plate of the ski. The link mechanism is engaged by two spindles, which in the operational position of the heel-piece are transverse to the ski and parallel to its surface. The sole-holder is connected by the link mechanism to the binding plate and to the spindles, these components being mutually engaged by a spring-loaded detent/detent-track. In order to achieve compensation for defective settings of the heel-holder, the invention provides that the sole-holder is connected to the binding plate only by the link mechanism. Further, one of the components of the detent/detent-track system is connected with one of the binding plate and the sole-holder and the other component of the detent/detent-track is connected with the other of the binding plate and the sole holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nowak, Alfred Winter, Hans P. Morbitzer, Rudolf Theuer, Klaus Kruschik
  • Patent number: 4917399
    Abstract: A cross-country ski binding provided with a holding device for holding, optionally with elastic resiliency, an extension of a ski boot which is to be held in the binding, or of the sole of said boot, and with a heel plate. In order to make it possible in a binding of this kind to display the steps made or the push-off force applied, provision is made to provide in a manner known per se a measurement transducer (30) which responds to forces and produces electrical signals and which is connected to an evaluation circuit (31) controlling a display device (33), the measuring transducer being disposed in the holding device (10) or in or beneath the ball plate (7) or the heel plate in order to protect is against damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Klaus Holzl
  • Patent number: 4907353
    Abstract: A cross-country ski boot sole having a toe end and heel end, the sole comprising a first section including a portion substantially disposed at the toe-end of the sole, the first section formed of hard plastic, a second section substantially formed of plastic material softer than the first section, connecting surfaces connecting the first section and the second section, a hook disposed in and extending from the toe end of the first section for engagement with a cross-country ski binding, and support surfaces disposed on the periphery of the sole for interaction with a cross-country ski binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Karl Stritzl, Franz Luschnig, Robert Stanzl, Alois Himmetsberger
  • Patent number: 4900053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heel-holder for a safety ski binding, the heel-holder comprising a snap-in device and a sole-holder vertically pivotable about a cross-pin disposed in a housing. The housing is horizontally pivotable about a raised pin formed on a base plate which is mounted on a ski. The snap-in device is loaded by a spring. The snap-in device includes a snap-in rocker pivotably mounted on the housing and a control member pivotably mounted on the snap-in rocker. The snap-in rocker engages a control cam formed on the sole-holder, and the control member engages an extension of the base plate. The spring loads the snap-in device and applies a force for releasing the binding. The snap-in device reduces the spring force required for releasing the binding during both the vertical pivoting of the sole-holder and the horizontal pivoting of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Karl Stritzl, Franz Luschnig
  • Patent number: 4896896
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety ski binding having a foot plate that can be swivelled but not lifted, wherein the foot plate in the rear area is held in a running position by a locking member that can be moved against the tension of a spring, the locking member engaging in a holding member. The mounting of the foot plate on a pivot enables a slight displacement in vertical direction.According to the invention, the foot plate is provided on a section extending between the pivot and a heel grip with a guide element a bent terminal area of which extends into a locating point of a mounting plate affixed to the ski. Another essential element of the invention is the fact that the front area of the foot plate bearing a front jaw is coupled to a guide plate which can be moved, in guide rails of a base plate, in the direction of the ski axis but cannot be lifted vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Riegler, Karl Stritzl, Hurbert Wurthner
  • Patent number: 4892326
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety ski binding and, in particular, to a heel support having a base plate supporting a vertical pivot and fastened to the upper side of a ski. The heel support is equipped with a sole support and with a pivotable support plate, along the heel area of the ski boot. The support plate is pushed into a central position by a spring. In order to shift the axis of rotation of the ski boot in such a ski binding to be substantially in alignment with the extension of the shinbone and to simplify the construction of the ski binding as well, the invention provides that the pivot is disposed between front jaw and heel support of the ski binding. The support plate is pivotably mounted at the pivot and the spring is extended in the longitudinal direction of the ski in the skiing position. The spring acts on a roller. The axle of the roller is guided in a slot in the support plate and anchored in the bearing block of the heel support. A cam is rigidly fastened to the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Radko Pavlovec
  • Patent number: 4880252
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a ski safety binding including an electronic analyzer connected to force pickups that emit electrical signals. An electric power supply such as a battery is provided. An electromechanical release element controls a locking mechanism for acting on a heel holder or piece. The electromechanical release element has at least one stop member. To assure high reliability even in the severe weather conditions, the present invention mounts the electromechanical release member inside a well sealed housing. A drive control member is positioned in sealed manner through the wall of the housing. The drive control member includes a shaft and controls the locking mechanism that acts on the heel piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nowak, Klaus Kruschik, Hans P. Morbitzer, Rudolf Theuer, Alfred Winter
  • Patent number: 4878687
    Abstract: The invention concerns a ski brake consisting of a two-part wire bail of which the individual bail pieces are bent or angled off several times, comprising also two wire brake-arms, said ski brake pivoting against the force of at least one erecting spring from a braking position into a ready position wherein the free ends of the two wire brake-arms are pivoted toward the longitudinal ski axis, i.e. are retracted above the top side of the ski or pivoted-in. The ski brake includes an actuation pedal which is depressed by a ski boot and of which the lower side forms at least in part a guide for segments of both bail pieces, the two mutually facing segments of the wire brake-arms supporting a connecting spring. In the invention, the connecting spring (7) comprises a cross-rod (7c) whereby it rests on or in a guide path (2e) of the base plate (2). In the braking position, the connecting spring (7c) rests at least in part against the front limit wall (4h) of a passage (4b) of the actuation pedal (4 ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Stritzl, Franz Luschnig, Andreas Riegler, Hubert Wurthner, Henry Freisinger