Patents Assigned to TMC Corporation
  • Patent number: 4500106
    Abstract: A heel holder of a ski binding is mounted on a guide plate which is in turn supported on a ski for movement longitudinally thereof. A biasing mechanism yieldably urges the guide plate forwardly with respect to the ski. A ski brake mounted on the ski just ahead of the heel holder includes a pedal which is supported for pivotal movement and two braking mandrels operatively coupled to the pedal, pivotal movement of the pedal effecting movement of the braking bars between a braking and a retracted position. An inclined surface is provided on either the free end of the pedal or the forward end of the guide plate, and at least one roller engageable with the inclined surface is provided on the other of the pedal and guide plate. The biasing mechanism, through engagement of the roller and inclined surface, urges the pedal and braking mandrels toward the braking position. When a ski shoe is releasably secured in the heel holder, a small space preferably exists between the roller and the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4500107
    Abstract: A ski brake has a base plate secured to the upper side of a ski which pivotally supports a braking arm carrier for movement between a braking position and a retracted position about a first axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two wire braking arms are pivotally supported in the braking arm carrier, each braking arm having a free end which is spaced from the braking arm carrier and from the pivot axis of the braking arm. Means are provided for pivoting the braking arms as the braking arm carrier pivots between braking and retracted positions, and springs urge the braking arm carrier toward the braking position. A first member is supported on the base plate for pivotal movement about a second axis, and a second member is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the first member and to the braking arm carrier at the ends thereof remote from the second and first axes, respectively. The second member and braking arm carrier define a toggle-joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Emilie Szabo
  • Patent number: 4496167
    Abstract: A heel holder includes a ski brake, a bearing block which is arranged on a base plate, and a housing which is supported swingably on the bearing block, wherein the housing carries a sole hold-down member which is under the influence of a spring, and is held in the skiing position by a locking lever or a pawl, and wherein braking mandrels of the ski brake, with respect to their swivelling movement to the braking position, are controlled by the housing. In order to permit an opening of the heel holder and a swivelling of the ski brake into the braking position in a simple manner when only the front jaw of the ski binding has released, the ski brake is provided with a stepping plate and is operatively connected through a coupling or operating member to the locking lever or the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Krob, Friedrich Leichtfried, Helmut Bauer
  • Patent number: 4482168
    Abstract: In safety ski bindings with electronic evaluation and release circuits, which can be supplied from a voltage source through a switching device and which activate, in case of risk of injury, a release mechanism for the release of a ski boot held in the binding, there exists the problem that the control circuit is supplied with voltage even when the skier stands still with attached skis or travels on a chairlift, which results in an unnecessary current consumption. To solve this problem, a selectively activatable acceleration responsive device is provided in the switching device, which acceleration responsive device is connected to an electronic switching element through a time circuit and, if desired, through a threshold switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Gerhard Oberleitner
  • Patent number: 4475742
    Abstract: A safety ski binding has a bearing block with a locking projection, and a sole holder is supported on the bearing block for pivotal movement between a downhill skiing position and a released position. A locking part pivotally supported on the sole holder has a cam which engages the locking projection and has a surface on the opposite side thereof. a spring housing has one end pivotally supported on the bearing block and has an opening in the opposite end. A piston slidably supported in the spring housing has a piston rod which extends through the opening and slidably engages the surface on the locking part. A spring disposed in the spring housing urges the piston toward the locking part, thereby urging the cam against the locking projection. A mechanism is provided to obstruct sliding movement of the piston rod along the locking part surface from a first location thereon to a second location in which the effect of the spring on the locking part is reduced or absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Helmut Bauer, Erwin Krob
  • Patent number: 4475743
    Abstract: A heel holder for a ski binding includes a guide rail, a base plate movably supported on the guide rail, and an abutment which can be releasably secured to the guide rail. A thrust spring urges the base plate forwardly relative to the abutment. A sole holder and spring housing are pivotally supported on the base plate, the sole holder pivotally supporting a pawl and the spring housing supporting a release spring which biases the pawl against a control surface provided on the base plate. An upwardly projecting control part provided on the abutment, when the thrust spring moves the base plate forwardly with the sole holder in a closed position, cooperates with a cam provided on the spring housing and pivots the spring housing, thereby interrupting the force exerted by the release spring on the pawl so that a spring cooperable with the sole holder can move it into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Heinz Wittmann
  • Patent number: 4468048
    Abstract: A safety ski binding for cross-country and downhill skiing includes a cross-country plate which is divided into two pivotally connected parts. A sole holder for a ski shoe includes a hold-down means and a pin secured thereon, the pin being movably supported in a recess in the front part of the cross-country plate. The hold-down means engages the upper side of the front end of the ski shoe sole. An operating member is operatively coupled to the sole holder and, in response to upward movement of the rear part of cross-country plate and/or downward movement of the tip of the ski shoe sole, effects generally downward movement of the hold-down means so that it remains in engagement with the top of the ski shoe sole. A spring cooperable with the sole holder or the operating member is effective to yieldably urge the hold-down means generally upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4465294
    Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a jaw for releasably holding a ski boot sole, which jaw has strain sensors which produce electrical signals in response to forces exerted on the jaw and an electrically operated release mechanism. A plug board provided in the jaw behind a protective cover is connected electrically to a control circuit which is responsive to the strain sensors and controls the release mechanism. A replaceable plug-in unit insertable in the plug board determines the release characteristics of the jaw on the basis of the skier's ability level and personal characteristics. In one embodiment, the plug-in unit contains fixed circuit components which define the ability level and variable circuit components adjustable to define the personal characteristics. In another embodiment, the plug-in unit contains a program storage or a micro-processor which defines the ability level and personal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Englebert Spitaler, Gerhard Oberleitner, Theodor Nitschko
  • Patent number: 4456281
    Abstract: A heel holder of a ski binding includes a base plate supported on a ski, a housing pivotally supported on the base plate, and a release lever pivotally supported on the housing by a horizontal axle. The release lever has a cam and a locking member movably supported in the housing is urged against the cam by a release spring. A connecting member has a slotlike opening in one end through which a transverse axle provided on the release handle extends. A unit having a stepping spur and sole hold-down is pivotally supported on the opposite end of the connecting member. A compression spring disposed in a blind hole in the release lever and cooperable with the first end of the connecting member urges it outwardly, and torsion springs provided on the transverse axle urge the unit to swing upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Theodor Nitschko, Engelbert Spitaler
  • Patent number: 4453731
    Abstract: A ski brake has a base plate and has a stepping plate which is hinged to the base plate by means of a transverse axle and is biased by an erecting spring, in which stepping plate or on which stepping plate are pivotally supported two braking mandrels by their support sections. Pivotal movement of each braking mandrel occurs either by means of a coarse thread provided on its support section which operatively engages an internal thread of a structural part fixed on the stepping plate or movable relative to the stepping plate, or by means of a helical slot which guides the transversely extending section of the braking mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Erwin Krob
  • Patent number: 4449730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a jaw, in particular a front jaw for safety ski bindings including a support member having at least two bolts therein symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal center plane of the jaw and oriented perpendicularly with respect to the upper side of the ski. About each bolt is pivotally supported a two-arm sole holder, one arm of which engages the sole of a ski shoe and the other arm of which extends laterally inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the ski and engages a part which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski against the force of a spring. The spring is supported at its one end on the support member and at its other end on an abutment which can be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Oberleitner, Theodor Nitschko
  • Patent number: 4449729
    Abstract: A ski brake having a pair of braking legs, which ski brake is pivotal by a force applied by a ski boot or by a sole plate to a pedal about an axle which extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski in a mounting member which is secured to the ski, between a braking position against a spring force into a retracted position. Each braking leg has a braking mandrel with a bent segment therein which extends from the braking mandrel toward the longitudinal axis of the ski. The braking leg is held totally above the upper surface of the ski and within the width of the ski in the retracted position of the ski brake by the pedal which is stepped down upon by the ski boot or by the sole plate. In the braking position of the ski brake, the braking mandrel is held lying next to the ski edge and the braking leg projects below the running surface of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Krob, Helmut Bauer
  • Patent number: 4444414
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating an adjusting of the position of a front and/or rear jaw of a ski binding. The apparatus has a guide rail which is adapted to be secured on the upper surface of a ski with the jaw being movable along the guide rail. One of the guide rail and the jaw is provided with a toothed bar which extends perpendicularly with respect to the upper surface of the ski. The other of the guide rail and the jaw has a tooth detent arranged movably in a transverse direction of the ski. A spring is provided for biasing the tooth detent into engagement with the toothed bar. The tooth detent is provided at the end of a single lever pivotally supported on an axle which extends in longitudinal direction of the ski on the side surface of the housing of the jaw, which side surface is adjacent the toothed bar of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Helmut Bauer, Erwin Krob
  • Patent number: 4444411
    Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a first jaw which is fixedly mounted on a ski and a second jaw which is supported movably on the ski and includes an electrically activated release mechanism. A piezoelectric sensor is provided on each jaw, the sensor in the first jaw being wired to a signal-processing circuit provided in the ski and powered by a battery provided in the ski. An electromagnetic coupling is provided to couple the circuitry in the ski with and to provide power to the release mechanism and sensor in the second jaw. Signals from the sensor in the second jaw are transmitted to the signal-processing circuit through the electromagnetic coupling. The signal-processing circuit evaluates the signals received from both sensors and, when a release is required, sends a signal through the electromagnetic coupling to activate the release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Gerhard Oberleitner
  • Patent number: 4441733
    Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the position of a ski binding jaw on a ski includes a guide rail which is secured to a ski and which has a pair of spaced guideways and a serrated strip therebetween extending parallel to the ski. The base plate of the binding is longitudinally movably supported on the guideways and has two longitudinally spaced extensions which extend downwardly between the guideways. A spring and a locking element having a recess and a tooth system thereon are provided between the guideways and between the base plate extensions, the locking element being supported for transverse movement between a first and second position in which its tooth system is respectively engaged with and free of engagement with the serrated strip on the guide rail. The spring urges the locking element toward the first position. The base plate has an opening which is substantially aligned with the recess in the locking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Engelbert Spitaler
  • Patent number: 4438948
    Abstract: A sole-support plate for a release ski binding is supported on the upper side of a ski by a pivot bearing and cooperates with a resilient restoring arrangement. The restoring arrangement includes an opening provided in the sole-support plate, which plate is made of an elastic material, the opening weakening the sole-support plate in the area of the pivot bearing so that it can be swung laterally through elastic deformation of the region having the opening and will thereafter return automatically to its original position through the resilience of this region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Gertsch
  • Patent number: 4436322
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a safety ski binding for cross-country skiing and for downhill skiing, namely a so-called cross-country skiing binding. A cross-country plate is provided for carrying in its rear area a heel holder. A bearing block is provided on the heel holder and swingably supports a two-arm release lever. A locking element is arranged on the ski, which locking element can be locked to or unlocked from the cross-country plate by the release lever and permits an adjustment of the cross-country binding to the different ski shoe lengths. The locking element is constructed as a slide piece which is movably guided on a ski-fixed rail, which slide piece moves in a channel in the cross-country plate and can be engaged with or disengaged from a slide member which is movably guided on the edge of the channel by means of the release lever which can be operated preferably manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Vladimir Konwitza
  • Patent number: 4434997
    Abstract: A front jaw for a safety ski binding includes a support member mounted on a ski having a hold-down cooperable with a ski shoe sole supported for vertical movement, a pair of centering levers cooperable with the sides of the ski shoe sole supported for pivotal movement about vertical axes, and a compensating lever supported for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis. One end of the compensating lever engages the top of the sole hold-down and the other end engages the centering levers. A spring urges the centering levers inwardly, and the centering levers in turn urge the compensating lever pivotally so that it urges the hold-down downwardly. When the sole hold-down is moved upwardly during a fall, it causes pivotal movement of the compensating lever which in turn causes pivotal movement of the centering levers outwardly away from the ski shoe sole against the force of the spring. Upward movement of the sole hold-down is limited by a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Theodor Nitschko
  • Patent number: 4431210
    Abstract: A ski binding front jaw has a support member and a slide member which are independently supported for movement longitudinally of the ski. The support member has a pair of two-arm sole holder levers supported for pivotal movement about vertical axes, a first arm of each sole holder being adapted to engage a ski boot and the second arm engaging the slide member. A spring engages the support member and slide member and urges them rearwardly and forwardly, respectively, the slide member in turn urging the sole holders pivotally so that the second arms thereof are urged against the ski boot. Respective stops limit forward and rearward movement of the slide member and support member, respectively. A forward force exerted on the support member moves it forwardly relative to the slide member against the force of the spring, so that the first arms of the sole holders become spaced from the slide member and the second arms of the sole holders can pivot freely outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Theodor Nitschko
  • Patent number: 4428597
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heel holder for a safety ski binding, in particular for a safety ski binding for use in both cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. The heel holder has a bearing block fixedly oriented relative to the ski and a housing which carries a sole holder. The housing is supported for an upward pivoting movement about a transversely extending axis provided on the bearing block and against the force of a spring. A spring is arranged in a chamber provided on the housing. One end of the spring is supported on a housing-fixed part and the other end is supported on an adjustable abutment pivotally supported on the bearing block. A two-arm release lever is hingedly connected to the bearing block for effecting a switching between a cross-country mode and a downhill mode of skiing as well as a release of the ski boot from the binding. A control bolt exists on the housing and is guided along a control cam surface arranged on the two upstanding sidewalls of the bearing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Vladimir Konwitza