Patents by Inventor Heinz Wittmann

Heinz Wittmann 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: 5746016
    Abstract: A ski boot comprising a shell (1), a movable toe cap (2) and a shaft (3), having a recess (5) in the pivoting area of the toe cap (2), which is closed off by a cover (6) of the toe cap (2). The cover (6) grips under the instep area of the shell (1) and is, viewed in the longitudinal cross section of the ski boot, spherically curved with a radius corresponding to the distance from the imaginary pivot axis of the toe cap (2). At the free edge of the cover (6) and also of the recess (5) on the instep side, there are provided raised beads (7, 8) directed against one another with hooklike formed undercuts, which form-lockingly engage one another in the flat position of the sole (4) and the toe cap (2). A tongue (9) of the cover (6) being in the longitudinal center of the ski boot, is associated with a lock (10, 10') guided transversely with respect to the tongue, which lock as a variable stop releases, limits or prevents a clearance for movement of the toe cap (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Heinz Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5553401
    Abstract: A sports shoe, in particular a ski boot, which is designed with a front instep, and the sole and the upper part of which are formed of plastic, and which has two pressure-distributing plates in the instep area, with each of these pressure-distributing plates extending from the toe area of the shoe over the instep area and, bent upwardly, along the front side of the shaft of the shoe. The pressure-distributing plates are supported for movement in a transverse direction of the shoe and for movement in a longitudinal direction of the shoe and with respect to the upper part in the fore-foot area of the upper part by means of flaps extending in transverse direction of the shoe. The two pressure-distributing plates overlap one another in the closed state of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Francesco Caeran, Martin Elsner
  • Patent number: 5553400
    Abstract: A sports shoe, in particular a ski boot, which has a sole and an upper part formed of plastic and which has two pressure-distributing plates arranged on the outside of the upper part in the front instep area, which plates extend from the toe area of the shoe over the instep area and, bent upwardly, along the front side of the shaft of the shoe, and which are supported in the fore-foot part of the upper part for movement in a longitudinal direction of the shoe relative to the upper part and in transverse direction of the shoe, and overlap one another in the closed state of the shoe. At least one of the pressure-distributing plates is mounted in the instep area with one or several hinges on the upper part of the shoe, which hinges enable a swinging movement of this pressure-distributing plate away from the other pressure-distributing plate for opening wide the instep area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Francesco Caeran, Martin Elsner
  • Patent number: 5526588
    Abstract: A ski boot having a shell and a shaft hinged to the shell for the support of the skier's leg. The shell consists of a lower part enclosing the foot and of a raised shell part. The ski boot has furthermore a device for controlling the pivotal resistance during pivoting of the shaft of the boot relative to the lower part of the shell. The device includes a spacer arranged in a slot on the raised shell part. This spacer is hinged according to the invention slidingly movably on the load arm of a rotatable crank axle arranged in the shaft of the ski boot. The axle includes a power arm carrying an operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Heinz Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5338052
    Abstract: A safety ski binding release and reset mechanism having a housing, a releasable jaw mechanism mounted on the housing and having at least one sole holding member movable between a ski boot holding position and a ski boot releasing position and for releasably engaging a ski boot when in the ski boot holding position. A first spring is provided on the housing, the sole holding member being retained in the ski boot holding position by a two-part holding device. A first part of the two-part holding device is movable against an urging of a first spring supported on the housing and determining a holding force for holding the ski boot in the ski boot holding position. A second part of the two-part holding device engages the sole holding member. The first and second parts are releasably connected with one another by a rotatable coupling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: HTM Sport - und Freizeitgeraete Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry Freisinger, Heinz Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5207447
    Abstract: A ski binding which includes a front jaw and a heel holder and a connecting element connected to and extending between the front jaw and the heel holder. In order to reduce the space needed for packaging the above type of ski binding, the invention provides that the connecting element is composed of first and second parts. The first part has a plastic coating having a recess therein extending in longitudinal direction of the connecting element. The first part also has two bolts with enlarged heads thereon, said bolts being received in keyhole-like recesses provided in the second part associated with the heel holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Roland Erdei, Henry Freisinger, Heinz Wittmann, Johann Zotter
  • Patent number: 5190309
    Abstract: A ski binding for a cross country or touring ski. The ski binding includes a swivel part (40) and a holding cup (50), both pivotal in unison about a transversely extending axle against the force of an elastic element and also with respect to one another. The swivel part (40) is a two-arm toggle lever and carries a locking pin on a first lever arm thereof and an axle for a lock part (60) on a second lever arm (43) thereof. The second lever arm (43) of the swivel part (40) extends downwardly and forwardly. The elastic element includes a spring (5) arranged in an elongated recess (33) in the base plate (31) of the bearing block (30) and directly stresses the second lever arm (43) of the swivel part (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: HTM Sport-und Freizeitgeraete Gesellschaft m.b. H.
    Inventors: Engelbert Spitaler, Heinz Wittmann, Roland Erdei
  • Patent number: 5149124
    Abstract: A front jaw having a housing in which is housed a release spring and through which extends a pull rod acting through an opening in a crosspart onto two toggle levers holding the front end of the sole of the boot. The housing has at its rear end two vertical contact surfaces for a bearing part having a pair of axles thereon for pivotally supporting the two toggle levers. The two toggle levers include structure functioning as a sole down-holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Karl Stritzl, Andreas Janisch
  • Patent number: 5078419
    Abstract: A sole support device having a support member and an endless band movably supported and guided on the support member between two edge structures extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ski and projecting upwardly adjacent the side edges of the band. In order to avoid in such a device any damage to the band while stepping into a ski binding with a ski boot, the band consists of an endless support section and plural spaced elevations on the support section, which elevations project beyond or above the edge structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Henry Freisinger, Egon Brunnhuber, Tibor Szasz, Hubert Wurthner, Karl Stritzl, Alois Himmetsberger, Klaus Holzl, Helmut Wladar, Robert Stanzl, Andreas Janisch
  • Patent number: 5076604
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating a mounting of ski bindings onto skis. The apparatus includes a plate and a jaw member fastened to the plate. The plate is releasably fastened by fastening elements to the upper side of a ski. Two or more receiving parts are provided for receiving the ends of the fastening elements, which ends are on a side of the plate which is remote from the ski binding, the receiving parts being built into the body of the ski. Each receiving part includes an elliptic slotted hole or an elongated T-shaped recess, each being provided with at least one undercut step. Each fastening element is arranged on the jaw member or the plate and has a locking member at an end region thereof remote from the jaw member or the plate. The locking member has a larger dimension in one direction compared with the recess or the slotted hole of the individual receiving parts, and engages the undercut step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Roland Erdei
  • 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: 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: 4872272
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for detachably fastening a ski boot to a ski binding fixable on the ski, the ski boot comprising a hook element extending in its longitudinal direction. In manner known per se the hook element consists of a wire material which is bent several times and of which the cross rod is located at a distance from the front ski boot end, and where legs joining the cross rod are anchored by bent, free wire segments in the front end of the ski boot sole. In the invention, the free wire segments (6,7) of each leg (4,5) of the hook element (2) are additionally bent by an angle (alpha) toward the cross rod (3), whereby improved anchoring of the hook element (2) and improved force spreading between the hook element and the ski boot (1) is achieved. In further essence of the invention, the individual legs (4,5) are divided into at least three wire segments assuming directions deviating from the preceding and/or following wire segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Roland Erdei, Tibor Szasz
  • Patent number: 4681339
    Abstract: A ski binding part, in particular a front jaw, having a guide rail adapted to be fastened to the upper side of a ski and on which is arranged a jaw unit movable in a longitudinal direction of the ski and is secured on a base plate. A housing is provided and a locking mechanism for locking the jaw unit in predetermined sliding positions on the guide rail. The locking mechanism has a locking part which is movably held on the jaw unit and which can be moved by a spring into a form-locking engagement selectively with a complementary locking recess on the guide rail. An operating member is adapted to engage the locking part for effecting a disengagement of the locking part from the complementary locking recess. The operating member is supported on the locking part and is provided with at least two surfaces defining an angle with one another and of which each lies at a different distance from a support point and thus determines the engaged or disengaged position of the locking part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Alois Himmetsberger, Radko Pavlovec, Heinz Wittmann, Hubert Wuerthner, Tibor Szasz, Kurt Liedl, Roland Erdei
  • Patent number: 4662648
    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. 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: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Heinz Wittmann
  • Patent number: 4629209
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety ski binding, in particular a heel holder, comprising a sole holder, which is pivotal about a transversely extending axis on a bearing block, which sole holder is held in the downhill skiing position by a locking rocker arm which is pivotally supported on a sole holder, which locking rocker arm has on the one side a locking projection which, in the downhill skiing position, grips under a locking nose arranged on the bearing block, and on the other side is provided with a locking notch, into which is received a locking member biased by a release spring at least in the downhill skiing position, which locking member is supported in a pivotal spring housing which is movable relative to the bearing block and is, to a limited extent, movable in guideways provided therefor, whereby for the voluntary opening of the sole holder a release lever which is pivotally supported on the sole holder is provided through the operation of which the spring housing will be swung up and the locking m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Bettstein Lorenz, Friedrich Leichtfried, Tibor Szasz, Heinz Wittmann, Karl Stritzl
  • Patent number: 4607859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety ski binding, in particular a heel holder, comprising a sole holder which is pivotal about a transverse axle supported on a bearing block secured to a base plate. The sole holder is under the influence of an opening spring which urges it into its opened position. The sole holder is held in the downhill skiing position by a locking rocker arm pivotally supported on the sole holder. The locking rocker arm has on the one side thereof a locking projection which, in the downhill skiing position, grips under a control-cam member arranged on the bearing block and on the other side thereof a locking notch into which is received a locking member at least in the downhill skiing position urged by at least one spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Wittmann, Friedrich Leichtfried, Emilie Szabo, Tibor Szasz
  • Patent number: 4508361
    Abstract: A heel holder includes a sole holder which is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on a support member and has a control surface. A locking lever pivotally supported on the support member has a nose engageable with the sole holder control surface. A spring housing having a release spring therein is pivotal about the sole holder pivot axis, and a slide member movably supported in the spring housing is biased by the release spring against a side of the lever opposite the nose thereof when the spring housing is in an initial position. A centering spring is cooperable with the spring housing and with the sole holder or the support member and, after pivotal movement of the spring housing away from its initial position, urges the spring housing back toward such position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Theodor Nitschko, Heinz Wittmann
  • 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