Abstract: A sports boot, especially for cross-country skiing or walking, including an upper, a reinforcement extending at least vertically upwardly on each side of the heel, and a rigid collar encircling at least the ankle, and connected by its sides to the reinforcement, by two anchoring systems located on each corresponding side of the foot, and enabling the rotation of the collar along a substantially transverse axis with respect to the upper of the boot. At least one of the anchoring systems is effective for varying the position of the corresponding side of the collar with respect to the reinforcement, for enabling the inclination of the collar with respect to the median vertical plane of the boot and/or the rotation of the collar around a substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: A sports boot, especially for cross-country skiing or walking, including an upper, a reinforcement extending at least vertically upwardly on each side of the heel, and a rigid collar encircling at least the ankle, and connected by its sides to the reinforcement, by two anchoring systems located on each corresponding side of the foot, and enabling the rotation of the collar along a substantially transverse axis with respect to the upper of the boot. At least one of the anchoring systems is effective for varying the position of the corresponding side of the collar with respect to the reinforcement, for enabling the inclination of the collar with respect to the median vertical plane of the boot and/or the rotation of the collar around a substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: Cross country ski binding, of the type comprising an elastic device constituted by a pair of flexion bars extending the length of the ski, in lateral grooves provided therein. According to the invention, there is provided at the rear a shoe control mechanism which is connected to the movable latching element provided in the front to block the tip of the shoe, the linkage between the element and the mechanism being formed by the flexion bars themselves, which are for this purpose translationally movable along the axis of the ski.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for linking a ski pole to a hand of a skier. The apparatus has a hand cover that is placed over the hand of said skier. The hand cover includes a strap for transmitting forces of the skier to the ski pole. First and second connections secure the hand of the skier to a handle of the ski pole.

Abstract: The process consists in embedding two longitudinal ends (23, 24) of an assembly component (21) making up the binding mechanism into stationary parts (16) or parts unitary with the ski (27a). According to one embodiment, the locking system of the ski boot is composed of a locking piece (2) which slides longitudinally, and the assembly component is constituted by this movable locking piece (21). The device also comprises a toggle joint system which draws the locking piece (21) into the boot-locking position, and one of the fulcrum members (27a) of the toggle joint system is anchored on the ski so as to produce the vertically-oriented recessed housing of one end (24) of the assembly component (21).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for linking a ski pole to a hand of a skier. The apparatus has a hand cover that is placed over the hand of said skier. The hand cover includes a strap for transmitting forces of the skier to the ski pole. First and second connections secure the hand of the skier to a handle of the ski pole.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably attaching a toe member of a boot to a binding member on the upper surfaces of a ski having a longitudinal median plane includes complementary latching parts on the members which are relatively movable in a longitudinal direction to an operative position at which the latching parts complementarily engage each other. The apparatus further includes a base for mounting on the upper surface of the ski, and an abutment element movably mounted on the base and adapted to engage the toe member of the boot when the members are in operative position. Finally, a resilient element or device acting on the abutment element resiliently maintains the members in operative position.

Abstract: A guidance apparatus for a cross-country ski and shoe includes a guidance rib on the ski for cooperation with a complementary groove on the shoe to provide lateral guidance of the shoe. The front portion of the guidance rib is widened to define a support and bearing surface for a journal pin on the shoe. The ribs on the shoe that define the groove are wider at their rear portions to provide support on the ski and for walking.

Abstract: A cross-country ski shoe having a journal axle to allow the shoe to be journalled on a cross-country ski. A support surface on the shoe is adapted to contact an elastic element on the binding which exerts a return force on the shoe when it is pivoted upwardly about the journal axle. The journal axle is positioned beneath and to rear of the elastic element so that forces from the elastic element are not transmitted to the journal axle, giving the skier better control of the ski.

Abstract: A cross-country ski binding member for releasably attaching the toe of a boot member to a ski includes cam elements on the members cooperable during downward movement of the boot member relative to the binding member in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the ski for effecting forward displacement of the boot member relative to the binding member until the sole of the boot member seats on the ski. A movable stirrup on the binding member is resiliently biased to a neutral position. Mutual engagement elements are provided on the stirrup and on the boot member. During cooperation of the cam elements, the engagement elements engage for affecting resilient displacement of the stirrup from its neutral position during initial forward displacement of the boot member. During final displacement of the boot member, the stirrup is resiliently displaced towards its neutral position and serves to retain the boot member to the ski.

Abstract: A cross-country ski binding that includes a first axis about which a shoe rotates in relation to the ski and a second axis of rotation for a retention or bridling stirrup that acts on the front end of the shoe. An elastic member biases the stirrup in the direction of bridling the shoe and also exerts a return force on the shoe when it is lifted from the upper surface of the ski. A transmission plate is journalled to the ski at a lower end and at the upper end to a connecting rod that is in turn journalled to the stirrup. The transmission plate transmits the forces of the elastic member to the stirrup.

Abstract: A "step-in" binding for cross-country skis. The binding includes a latching element, directly biased into an attachment position, which is pivotably mounted to a stirrup element, which is pivotable mounted to a linkage element, the linkage element being indirectly biased to the attachment position. These three elements are associated with a biasing assembly to create an over-center device to urge the latching element toward the attachment position. The binding can be arranged so that the over-center device is bi-stable to thereby urge the latching element toward a release position. In one form of the invention, the front portion of the ski boot is supported for rotation on a journal surface of the binding which coincides with the axis of rotation of the linkage element to provide a less complex and relatively light-weight assembly.

Abstract: A cross-country ski binding arranged to improve the ability of a skier to keep the skis in the tracks and to permit the skier to perform skating steps. The binding includes a cylindrical pin mounted in a bearing surface, such as an upper longitudinal rib of the ski, and having at least one portion complementary with at least one portion of the sole of a ski boot whereby the portion of the binding and the portion of the boot are engaged when the boot is affixed to the ski by the binding. At least one compressible member is associated with the pin so that as the pin and the boot connected thereto rotate, a return moment is created as the heel is lifted from the ski during cross-country skiing which compresses the compressible member thereby urging the boot towards the position whereby the boot is substantially flat on the ski.