Patents by Inventor Andreas Fritschi

Andreas Fritschi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11338192
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic front unit for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, wherein the automatic front unit comprises a first retaining means and a second retaining means for retaining a ski boot in the toe region of the ski boot. This automatic front unit has a first retaining configuration, in which the two retaining means are in a retaining position, in which the two retaining means are at a first distance from one another, wherein the two retaining means can cooperate with the ski boot in the retaining position such that the ski boot is retained at the automatic front unit so as to be pivotable about an axis oriented horizontally in a transverse direction of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FRITSCHI AG—SWISS BINDINGS
    Inventors: Stefan Ibach, Theo Eggimann, Andreas Fritschi
  • Publication number: 20190344153
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic front unit for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, wherein the automatic front unit comprises a first retaining means and a second retaining means for retaining a ski boot in the toe region of the ski boot. This automatic front unit has a first retaining configuration, in which the two retaining means are in a retaining position, in which the two retaining means are at a first distance from one another, wherein the two retaining means can cooperate with the ski boot in the retaining position such that the ski boot is retained at the automatic front unit so as to be pivotable about an axis oriented horizontally in a transverse direction of the ski.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Fritschi AG - Swiss Bindings
    Inventors: Stefan IBACH, Theo EGGIMANN, Andreas FRITSCHI
  • Patent number: 9901806
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a ski binding, in particular a ski-touring binding, comprising a heel retainer, for retaining a ski boot in a heel area of the ski boot, and a heel retainer support on which the heel retainer is mounted so as to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the heel retainer support. The automatic heel unit has a holding configuration in which the heel retainer is located in a holding setting and the heel retainer can interact with the heel area of the ski boot held in the ski binding in such a way that the heel area of the ski boot is held in a lowered position. Furthermore, the automatic heel unit has a walking configuration in which the heel retainer is located in a walking setting and the heel area of the ski boot held in the ski binding is freed from the heel retainer and can be lowered toward the ski without being locked by the heel retainer in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FRITSCHI AG—SWISS BINDINGS
    Inventor: Andreas Fritschi
  • Publication number: 20170209769
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a ski binding, in particular a ski-touring binding, comprising a heel retainer, for retaining a ski boot in a heel area of the ski boot, and a heel retainer support on which the heel retainer is mounted so as to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the heel retainer support. The automatic heel unit has a holding configuration in which the heel retainer is located in a holding setting and the heel retainer can interact with the heel area of the ski boot held in the ski binding in such a way that the heel area of the ski boot is held in a lowered position. Furthermore, the automatic heel unit has a walking configuration in which the heel retainer is located in a walking setting and the heel area of the ski boot held in the ski binding is freed from the heel retainer and can be lowered toward the ski without being locked by the heel retainer in the lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Fritschi AG - Swiss Bindings
    Inventor: Andreas FRITSCHI
  • Patent number: 9526973
    Abstract: An automatic front unit for a ski binding comprises two levers which, seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski are arranged laterally opposite each other, each having means for holding the toe of a ski boot. The two levers each pivot in such a way that pivoting movement of the levers moves the holding means in a transverse direction of the ski. The front unit has a release position, in which the two holding means are at a first distance from each other and a securing position, in which the two holding means are at a smaller second distance from each other. The front unit comprises a positive control device, on which the two levers are jointly pivotable within a dynamic region in the transverse direction of the ski and the two holding means are thereby jointly moved at the second distance from each other in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: FRITSCHI AG-SWISS BINDINGS
    Inventors: Stefan Ibach, Andreas Fritschi, Theo Eggimann
  • Patent number: 8833793
    Abstract: A ski binding comprises a sole element, a front retaining device, for retaining a toe of the ski boot, and an automatic heel unit, for retaining the heel of the ski boot. The sole element is pivotally mounted and is oriented transverse of the ski. The automatic heel unit allows release in the forward direction. The ski binding has a downhill position, in which the sole element is oriented parallel to the ski, and a climbing positions, in which the sole element can be pivoted. The automatic heel unit, both in the downhill and climbing positions, is arranged on the ski, with the heel region of a ski boot retained in the ski binding. In the climbing position of the ski binding, the heel can be freed, as a result of which the ski boot, can be pivoted about the pivot axis together with the sole element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fritschi AG-Swiss Bindings
    Inventors: Andreas Fritschi, Stefan Ibach
  • Patent number: 8827302
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a ski binding or touring ski binding, having a base element and a carriage which is mounted on the base element to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski. This automatic heel unit has at least one climbing position in which the carriage is situated in a rear position and a downhill position in which the carriage is situated further forward than in the climbing position. It comprises an adjusting lever for adjusting the automatic heel unit from the downhill position into the climbing position and back. This adjusting lever is mounted on the carriage to be pivotable about a pivot axle. Furthermore, the automatic heel unit comprises a lever element which is mounted on the base element to be pivotable about a first axle and mounted on the adjusting lever to be pivotable about a second axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fritschi AG-Swiss Bindings
    Inventors: Andreas Fritschi, Stefan Ibach, Theo Eggimann
  • Publication number: 20140070519
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a ski binding or touring ski binding, having a base element and a carriage which is mounted on the base element to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski. This automatic heel unit has at least one climbing position in which the carriage is situated in a rear position and a downhill position in which the carriage is situated further forward than in the climbing position. It comprises an adjusting lever for adjusting the automatic heel unit from the downhill position into the climbing position and back. This adjusting lever is mounted on the carriage to be pivotable about a pivot axle. Furthermore, the automatic heel unit comprises a lever element which is mounted on the base element to be pivotable about a first axle and mounted on the adjusting lever to be pivotable about a second axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: FRITSCHI AG - SWISS BINDINGS
    Inventors: Andreas FRITSCHI, Stefan IBACH, Theo EGGIMANN
  • Publication number: 20130334796
    Abstract: A ski binding comprises a sole element, a front retaining device, for retaining a toe of the ski boot, and an automatic heel unit, for retaining the heel of the ski boot. The sole element is pivotally mounted and is oriented transverse of the ski. The automatic heel unit allows release in the forward direction. The ski binding has a downhill position, in which the sole element is oriented parallel to the ski, and a climbing positions, in which the sole element can be pivoted. The automatic heel unit, both in the downhill and climbing positions, is arranged on the ski, with the heel region of a ski boot retained in the ski binding. In the climbing position of the ski binding, the heel can be freed, as a result of which the ski boot, can be pivoted about the pivot axis together with the sole element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: FRITSCHI AG - SWISS BINDINGS
    Inventors: Andreas FRITSCHI, Stefan IBACH
  • Publication number: 20130181427
    Abstract: A heel piece for a ski binding, particularly a touring ski binding, comprises a base element for installing the heel piece on the ski upper face and a slide mounted on the base element, on which slide is arranged a heel holder having at least one retaining means for retaining the heel of a ski boot. Said heel piece has a downhill position, in which the retaining means locks the ski boot in a lowered position. Said heel piece also has at least one uphill position, in which the heel region of the ski boot retained in the ski binding is released. In the downhill position, the slide can be moved together with the heel holder relative to the base element in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: FRITSCHI AG - SWISS BINDINGS
    Inventor: Andreas Fritschi
  • Patent number: 7938432
    Abstract: A device comprising a supporting device as climbing aid for a ski. The supporting device has at least two supporting positions, in which it prevents a boot held in a ski binding from being lowered below a climbing angle between the boot and the ski associated with the respective supporting position. The device comprises an adjusting device, which is actively connected to the supporting device and can be directly or indirectly actuated by a user and which can move the supporting device from a first into a second supporting position. The adjusting device includes an operating element for actuation of the adjusting device and an intermediate store for storing the actuation, wherein, in an adjusting process, the adjusting device moves the supporting device from said first into said second supporting position after a time delay, the adjusting process being initiated with the time delay in relation to the actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Fritschi AG—Swiss Bindings
    Inventors: Andreas Schlegel, Urs Weilenmann, Andreas Fritschi
  • Publication number: 20100001491
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device comprising a supporting device as a climbing aid for a ski, the supporting device having at least two supporting positions, in which the supporting device prevents a boot that is held in a ski binding from being lowered below a climbing angle between the boot and the ski that is associated with the respective supporting position. It also comprises an adjusting device, which is actively connected to the supporting device and can be directly or indirectly actuated by a user. The device is distinguished by the fact that the adjusting device is formed in such a way that, in an adjusting process, it can move the supporting device from a current supporting position into a new supporting position, the adjusting process being initiated with a time delay in relation to an actuation of the adjusting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Fritschi AG-Swiss Bindings
    Inventors: Andreas SCHLEGEL, Urs WEILENMANN, Andreas FRITSCHI
  • Patent number: 5735541
    Abstract: A ski binding with a front jaw (1) is described, which is connected to a rear jaw (2) by a carrier (3), the rear jaw being arranged on the carrier adjustably in the direction of the longitudinal extension thereof, and comprises a laterally pivotal device (10) for holding down the sole, the device being supported against lateral pivoting by a pressure element (13) which is displaceably mounted in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the carrier and is biased by at least one spring (14). To enable such a ski binding to be pivoted about a front transverse axis (6), it is proposed that the carrier (3), which is pivotal with the front jaw (1) about a transverse axis (6) in the range of the front jaw (1), consists of a hollow section (4), the hollow section receiving the biasing spring (14) for the pressure element (13) and the spindle (41) of a screw drive (40) for adjusting the rear jaw (2) displaceably guided on the hollow section (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Fritschi AG Apparatebau
    Inventors: Andreas Fritschi, Tilo Riedel
  • Patent number: 5344179
    Abstract: A binding unit (1) for gliding boards, such as snowboards, is composed of two support plates (2) and (3) which can be independently telescoped along the longitudinal axis of a boot. Each support plate is slidingly guided along this longitudinal axis in a guide element (4 and 5, respectively). Sole-holding shackles (7 and 9) are held laterally. The support plates are form-lockingly held in a position set to the boot length by starting from a central fixing element (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Fritschi Ag. Apparatebau
    Inventors: Andreas Fritschi, Christian Fritschi