Patents Assigned to TMC Corporation
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Patent number: 4278268Abstract: A ski brake having a pedal which is pivotally secured to a mounting member fixedly secured to the upper surface of the ski. The pedal has a pair of elongated and parallel openings extending therethrough along the length of the pedal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. The pedal is biassed to an upright position by a torsion spring wound around an axle to which the pedal is pivotally secured. Additional torsion springs are provided in the openings in the pedal and brake members are received in the opening and through the central portion of these additional torsion springs therein. These additional torsion springs bias the brake arms so that the brake legs are positioned over the upper surface of the ski and laterally inside of vertical planes containing the side edges of the ski. An operating member, such as a flexible strand, is wound around the brake arms with one end thereof being secured to the brake arms.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1979Date of Patent: July 14, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Tibor Szasz
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Patent number: 4277083Abstract: A safety release ski binding mounted in association with a sole plate construction which is pivotally secured to the upper surface of a ski for movement about a vertical axis. The locking structure for holding the sole plate construction in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski also effects a holding of the jaw plate and associated front jaw in a fixed position to effectively hold the ski boot in engagement with the bindings associated with the sole plate construction. The sole plate, while being pivotally secured to the ski, remains with the ski even after a release of the ski boot from engagement therewith. Upon the occurrence of a sufficient force causing the sole plate to be pivoted beyond a predefined limit, the locking structure associated with the jaw plate is released so that the front jaw is freely movable away from the ski boot to permit a release of the ski boot from engagement therewith.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1979Date of Patent: July 7, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Alois Himmetsberger, Heinz Wittmann
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Patent number: 4274653Abstract: A safety release ski binding mounted in association with a sole plate construction which is pivotally secured to the upper surface of a ski for movement about a vertical axis. The locking structure for holding the sole plate construction in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the ski also effects a holding of the jaw plate and associated front jaw in a fixed position to effectively hold the ski boot in engagement with the bindings associated with the sole plate construction. The sole plate, while being pivotally secured to the ski, remains with the ski even after a release of the ski boot from engagement therewith. Upon the occurrence of a sufficient force causing the sole plate to be pivoted beyond a predefined limit, the locking structure associated with the jaw plate is released so that the front jaw is freely movable away from the ski boot to permit a release of the ski boot from engagement therewith.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1979Date of Patent: June 23, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Alois Himmetsberger, Heinz Wittmann
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Patent number: 4272099Abstract: A ski brake for preventing the runaway of a ski following a release of the ski boot from engagement with the ski bindings on the ski. The ski brake includes a spring wire bar having a plurality of bends therein, one of the bends forming a stationary axle about which the entirety of the ski brake pivots. Another portion of the bar has a bend therein defining a movable axle. Both the stationary and the movable axles are mounted on a support plate. The position of the support plate relative to the ski binding component is selectively adjustable by a detent bar. As the ski brake is pivoted from the braking position wherein the braking mandrels project beneath the lower surface of the ski to a retracted position wherein the braking mandrels are located alongside the ski binding component, the movable axle is moved closer to the stationary axle to decrease the force required to hold the ski brake in the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1978Date of Patent: June 9, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Josef Svoboda, Erwin Krob, Erwin Weigl
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Patent number: 4269431Abstract: A safety ski binding with a sole plate having structure facilitating a connection of a ski boot thereto. The two ends of the sole plate each engage a ski-fixed holding part and, through the provision of a locking mechanism prevents the sole plate from rotating and lifting off from the ski in the area of the ends of the sole plate. The sole plate is rotably supported approximately in its center about a ski-fixed pin which extends perpendicularly with respect to the upper surface of the ski and the pin is received in a recess in the sole plate and has structure for preventing removal of the sole plate. A sleeve is provided between the exterior surface of the pin and the interior wall of the recess in the sole plate, which sleeve is movable telescopically along the wall of the recess, and the maximum path of movement of the sleeve in the recess is fixed by stops.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1979Date of Patent: May 26, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Erwin Weigl
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Patent number: 4268060Abstract: A ski brake having at least one braking leg, which 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. The 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. The braking leg is pivotal about a swivel shaft which extends in longitudinal direction of the ski.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1979Date of Patent: May 19, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Josef Svoboda
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Patent number: 4268064Abstract: A device for engaging and holding a sole of a ski boot, which device includes a sole holder which is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the ski by means of an adjusting screw and is connected to a ski binding part which is associated therewith. The adjusting screw is secured to the ski binding part and is prevented from lifting off in a vertical direction from the ski while at the same time is swivelably supported on a base plate. The sole holder can, during an automatic release operation (safety release) be swung slightly upwardly from the ski on a side of the ski facing the release side. The sole holder performs a normal pivotal movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski or a combined pivotal and swivel movement about differing pivot axes. Structure is provided for urging the sole holder into a normal ski boot holding position.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1979Date of Patent: May 19, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Josef Svoboda
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Patent number: 4268062Abstract: A sole support plate for ski bindings, which can be releasably fixed on a ski-fixed base plate, bottom plate or the like of a ski binding part and which has a recess on its underside, which recess rests with its bottom surface on the upper side of the base plate, bottom plate or the like and which has on each of two opposite and vertically extending side surfaces a groove, by means of which the sole support plate can be mounted on corresponding guideways of the base plate, bottom plate or the like and can be locked in an offset part of the latter, wherein in the area of the recess there is provided a cavity, which can engage or disengage from the offset part of the base plate, bottom plate or the like, and wherein in the mounted condition of the sole support plate, fastening screws of the base plate, bottom plate or the like are covered up.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1979Date of Patent: May 19, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Heinz Wittmann
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Patent number: 4266806Abstract: A safety ski binding mounted on a member movable with respect to the ski but fixedly secured thereto. A release of the ski boot from engagement with the ski binding is initiated by forces applied to the heel holder. The heel holder is movable about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis so that it is responsive to not only vertical and horizontal applied forces by the ski boot but also diagonally applied forces. A connecting lever-like element is movably secured to the housing for the heel holder and has one end thereof connected to a piston reciprocally movable in an open-sided cylinder on the housing. Thus, a reciprocal movement of the piston will initiate a pivotal movement of the connecting element. The other end of the connecting element is pivotally attached to a lock so that the lock is movable in response to a pivotal movement of the connecting element. The lock has a protuberance which projects over a lip on the heel holder to hold the heel holder in the boot holding position.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1979Date of Patent: May 12, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Erwin Weigl, Karl Stritzl
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Patent number: 4266802Abstract: A ski brake having at least one braking leg, which 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. The braking leg has a bent segment therein which extends from the snow engaging portion of the braking leg 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 leg is held lying next to the ski edge and the braking leg projects below the running surface of the ski. The braking leg is pivotal about a swivel shaft which extends in longitudinal direction of the ski.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1979Date of Patent: May 12, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Josef Svoboda
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Patent number: 4266803Abstract: A ski brake arrangement having a U-shaped spring wire member pivotally secured to the upper surface of a ski about an axis which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Each leg of the U-shaped spring wire has a braking blade thereon. The pivotal support for the U-shaped spring wire is composed of a block having a shaft member thereon, which shaft extends parallel to the aforementioned axis and is received in an opening of a two-arm toggle lever pivotally secured to the ski about a further axis which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. The innermost arm of the toggle lever is operatively engaged with a pedal pivotally secured to the ski so that during a downward movement of the pedal, the toggle lever will be pivoted about its pivotal support to cause an upward and inward movement of the block member.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1979Date of Patent: May 12, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Alois Himmetsberger
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Patent number: 4263806Abstract: A device for measuring the release force of ski bindings mounted on a ski having a first device for fixedly holding the ski and a second device for adjustably loading through an output member the ski boot. The ski boot is connected to the fixed ski through the safety ski binding. A plate assembly is provided for initially receiving the ski boot thereon. The plate assembly has a first part which is movably supported against the force of a spring. A translating mechanism is connected to the movable first part of the plate assembly, and indicates during the testing procedure the centerpoint or a mark on the ski boot or the ski. The translating mechanism also effects an automatic proportional adjustment of the second device relative to the mark. The measured values are generated by at least one wire strain gauge and fed to an electronic measuring-, balancing-, indicating device for evaluation, comparison with stored desired values and meaningful interpretation by the issuance of a signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1979Date of Patent: April 28, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Josef Svoboda, Rupert Hofbauer
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Patent number: 4251090Abstract: A sole plate construction for a ski. The sole plate is pivotally secured to the ski about a centrally located pivot axis with respect to the sole plate. Front and rear holding parts are provided on the ski to hold the sole plate in a fixed position relative to the ski during a normal downhill skiing position of use. One of the holding parts incorporates a locking element which yieldingly holds the sole plate in a longitudinally aligned relationship relative to the ski. In order to minimize the number of fastening elements required to hold the components to the ski, the holding parts are secured to centering plates, each of which has an elongated slot therein receiving the pivotal support part pivotally holding the sole plate to the ski. Any flexing of the ski will cause the centering plates to shift with respect to one another and to the pivotal support part. A single fastening element serves to secure each centering plate to the ski.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1979Date of Patent: February 17, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Erwin Weigl
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Patent number: 4245851Abstract: A ski brake made of spring wire and pivotally secured to a mounting plate which is in turn secured to the upper surface of a ski. The spring wire contains multiple bends therein with the spring wire being pivotally secured to the mounting plate about two axes which are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski. One of the pivot axes is centrally located on the mounting plate and movably supports the spring wire therein for movement toward the tip and tail of the ski. The other pivot axis of the ski brake is defined by a pair of laterally spaced axles which are located forwardly from the first-mentioned pivot axle and each are housed in bearing structures which will facilitate a pivoting of the axle about a vertical axis. This pivotal movement about the vertical axis can be by either making the axle housing the spring wire therein loose or by mounting the spring wire in a member which is in turn pivotally secured to the upper surface of the mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1979Date of Patent: January 20, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Erwin Krob, Josef Svoboda
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Patent number: 4244598Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for facilitating an adjustment of the relative position between a ski binding part and a sole support. The ski binding part and the sole support are mounted on separate guide structures. The sole support is movable laterally of the longitudinal axis of the support structure therefor to facilitate a desired positioning thereof relative to the ski binding part.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1978Date of Patent: January 13, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Josef Svoboda, Erwin Krob
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Patent number: 4243245Abstract: A safety ski binding having a sole holder pivotally secured to a base member. The sole holder is held in condition of use by a locking member, which locking member is engaged by a locking part. The locking part is urged into engagement with the locking member by a spring. The locking part is guided in a limited manner in a guideway provided on a support part, which support part is pivotally secured to the base. The support part carries the spring which controls the force necessary to effect a release of the binding. A release lever is pivotally secured to the housing by means of two axially spaced and separate axles. A bolt, which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, is provided for blocking the free upward travel of the housing when the release lever is in the normal position of use for facilitating downhill skiing. A movement of the release lever to the release position will permit the housing to freely move relative to the bolt.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1979Date of Patent: January 6, 1981Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Erwin Krob
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Patent number: 4239256Abstract: A ski brake mechanism for preventing the runaway of a ski after the release of same from a ski boot which is held on the ski by a ski binding. The ski brake includes an approximately U-shaped braking bar which is provided with braking arms which lie on both sides of the ski and are pivotally supported about an axis which lies at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski. The braking bar can be swung, loaded by a spring, with downwardly projecting arms into the braking position and can be swung into the ready position above the upper surface of the ski when the ski boot is inserted into the ski binding by means of a stepping plate. The spring is an approximately U-shaped spring bar which is bent from spring wire and is supported in a mounting plate on the ski and spaced longitudinally a distance from the braking bar. The braking bar and the spring bar are pivotally connected by interpositioning of the stepping plate through carrier parts.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1979Date of Patent: December 16, 1980Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Erwin Krob, Erwin Weigl
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Patent number: 4234206Abstract: A ski brake for use on a ski having a mounting structure adapted to be mounted on the ski and a pedal structure pivotally secured to the mounting structure. The pedal structure includes a pair of laterally spaced and elongated guideways opening outwardly in a bottom surface thereof opposing the upper surface of the ski. The guideways each have at least a pair of angled segments. A pair of ski brake arms is pivotally secured to the mounting structure for movement about a universal type pivot joint with the ends remote from the snow engaging ends having angled guide segments received in the respective one of the guideways in the pedal. There is an operative connection between the pedal and the guide segments on the ski brake arms for preventing a separation of these members during use. Resilient structure is provided for continually urging the pedal to an upright position to effect a positioning of the snow engaging ends of the ski brake arms beneath the bottom surface of the ski.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1978Date of Patent: November 18, 1980Assignee: TMC CorporationInventors: Rupert Hofbauer, Friedrich Leichtfried, Josef Svoboda
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Patent number: 4229020Abstract: A safety strap storage construction wherein a base plate is secured to the ski and a support plate is releasably coupled to the base plate. A ski boot is adapted to be mounted onto the support plate and remains in engagement with the ski boot during a release of the ski boot from engagement with the ski. A safety strap is provided in a cavity between the base plate and the support plate and is secured at one end thereof to the base plate and at the other end thereof to the support plate. A safety strap tensioning construction is mounted on the base plate to keep the safety strap taut while stored in the cavity between the base plate and the support plate. The mechanism for maintaining the safety strap in a taut condition can be a shiftable disk resiliently biassed to maintain the safety strap wound therearound in a taut condition or a plurality of clips or the like can be fixedly attached to the base plate with the safety strap being threaded therearound.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1978Date of Patent: October 21, 1980Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Josef Svoboda
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Patent number: 4227715Abstract: An improvement in an attachment for release ski bindings, enabling the skier to selectively decide the mode of skiing, namely, downhill skiing or cross-country skiing. The attachment includes a sole plate which holds the ski boot onto the ski. The sole plate has a connecting piece which is pivotally secured to the front end thereof and is adapted to cooperate with a base plate for holding the toe binding. The connecting piece is pivotal between a position wherein it is adapted to be operatively connected to the base plate for the toe binding and a position overlying the front end of the sole plate. Structure is provided for maintaining the connecting piece in the overlying position on the sole plate during downhill skiing. The sole plate is a two-part construction, each part being pivotally attached to the other about a pivot axis separate from the pivot axis connecting the front end of the sole plate to the connecting piece.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1978Date of Patent: October 14, 1980Assignee: TMC CorporationInventor: Gustav Kirchmeyr