Patents by Inventor Jean-Francois Merino

Jean-Francois Merino 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).

  • Publication number: 20010038193
    Abstract: The invention relates to an element for retaining a boot on a ski including a body and a retaining jaw that are generally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal and vertical median plane, the jaw being biased by a return spring housed in the body, the return spring being connected to the jaw by an anchor having two lateral arms, a central strap and a central fork having two teeth, the spring elastically maintaining the arms of the anchor in support against two retaining pins affixed to the body, the jaw having a median pin engaged between the two teeth of the fork. At least one of the elements of the anchor, which are the arms, the strap and the fork, is asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal and vertical median plane defined by the body and the jaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: SALOMON S.A
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Merino, Philippe Miette, Daniel Soldan, Gilles Renaud-Goud, Pascal Thomas
  • Publication number: 20010026061
    Abstract: An element for retaining a boot on a ski provided to releasably retain one of the ends of a boot by means of a jaw movable laterally on either side of a centered position aligned with a longitudinal and vertical median plane of the retaining element, and a compensating mechanism acting on the jaw or its return mechanism so as to further facilitate its opening, where the compensating mechanism includes two active elements, either of which are biased as a function of the side where the jaw moves with respect to the vertical and longitudinal median plane. The two active elements are asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal and vertical median plane, such that the compensating mechanism is more or less active depending on the active element biased as a function of the side on which the jaw moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: SALOMON S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Merino
  • Publication number: 20010010422
    Abstract: An assembly for retaining a boot on a gliding or walking apparatus including a boot and an interface device provided to receive the boot, and to be assembled to the gliding apparatus, the device having an elongated base defining a longitudinal direction provided to support the boot and having, in its upper portion, a device for retaining the boot, and in its lower portion, a device for assembly to the gliding apparatus. The retaining device of the assembly includes retaining members, located along a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the base, or set back with respect to the ends of the base along a longitudinal direction, which cooperate with complementary members for attaching the boot, and the assembly device including a non-releasable release mechanism with automatic return.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Merino, Jean-Pierre Rigal
  • Patent number: 5722681
    Abstract: A retention element of a boot on a gliding board, particularly an alpine ski including a body, a base, a jaw for retaining the boot, likewise including a compensation mechanism to lower the return force that the spring exerts on the jaw. The support plate is movable to rock laterally around a longitudinal rocking axis, the support plate being supported on each side of the rocking axis on movable linkage assembly with the compensation mechanism, the rocking axis of the plate being movable along a vertical direction over a limited amplitude, and an elastic return device elastically returns the plate to the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Merino, Pierre Desarmaux, Pascal Thomas
  • Patent number: 5551721
    Abstract: A ski brake designed to slow the travel of a ski. The brake comprises two brake arms (2, 3) incorporating two functional braking segments (4, 5) movable in rotation between a functional braking position and a non-functional resting position around a substantially transverse pin (10, 11) borne by a base (20), two actuators (12, 13) of the brake arms which extend beyond the transverse hinge pin, and a return spring (35). The brake arms (2, 3) are independent, the return spring (35) is independent of the brake arms, and this spring incorporates laterally two devices (36, 37) for connection to the actuators (12, 13) belonging to the brake arms, and, in its central area, a loop (40) extending downward toward the support and whose lower base (41) rests against the upper surface of this support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Gilles Renaud-Goud, Pierre Szafranski, Jean-Francois Merino
  • Patent number: 5344180
    Abstract: Safety ski binding designed to hold releasably in position the front portion of a boot (2) mounted on the ski (3), comprising a forward fall-compensation mechanism comprising a pedal (12) forming a forward fall sensor. The front end (12a) of the pedal (12) is, in the pedal rest position, positioned at a distance (d) above a moveable control element (9) which approximates the standard tolerance for the thickness of the sole (6) of the boot, i.e., by a distance between accepted maximum and minimum thicknesses of the sole (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Lancon, Pierre Desarmaux, Jean-Francois Merino