Abstract: A ski boot, and a binding for binding the ski boot onto the ski. The boot is provided with blocking means which prevents its attachment by bindings other than those which should properly be used with the specific boots. The binding itself however is capable of use with any standardized boot, whether or not it has blocking means. This assures that boots requiring specially modified bindings will not be used otherwise, but nevertheless permits the use of such boots with bindings used with standardized boots having no blocking means.

Abstract: A ski binding adapted to releasably hold the front of a ski boot on a ski. The front of the boot includes front-end zone spaced from the lateral edges of the boot. The binding includes a jaw, a support, and a support zone on the jaw. The jaw is adapted to hold the front of the boot and adapted to laterally pivot in response to pivoting of the boot. The support, which is mounted on the ski, includes two upwardly converging lines of support which converge at a convergence point. The jaw is adapted to laterally pivot around either one of these upwardly converging lines of support. The support zone which is positioned on the jaw supports the front-end zone of the boot when the boot is held by the jaw. The median vertical height of the support zone is substantially at the same vertical height as the convergence point.

Abstract: The anti-friction plate is guided by vertical and longitudinal guidance apparatus allowing for a free lateral movement. The free lateral extent of plate 1 is limited by the play of the lateral ramps of an opening 22 which is laterally movable with the anti-friction plate 1 and in which a spur 26 affixed to jaw 6 penetrates. Spur 26 assures the recentering of plate 1 when the jaw 6 returns to the centered position, and frees the plate when the jaw is pivoted.

Abstract: A ski binding adapted to be displaced between a boot retaining and boot releasing position. The binding includes a jaw and two lateral arms pivotally connected at one end to the ski around a first transverse axis and pivotally connected at their other end to the jaw around a second transverse axis passing through a journal. Also provided is an elastic element for biasing the jaw against pivoting around the second transverse axis, and a retractable support. The support supports the jaw, the arms and the journal when the support is in its active position. The support is also retractable to an inactive position in which the jaw, the arms, and the journal are unsupported by the support. When the support is retracted into this inactive position the jaw, the arms, and the journal can be displaced around the first transverse axis to release the boot from the binding without substantial pivoting around the first transverse axis, and therefore without pivoting against the bias of the elastic element.

Abstract: A ski binding adapted to releasably hold the front of a ski boot on a ski. The front of the boot includes front-end zone spaced from the lateral edges of the boot. The binding includes a jaw, a support, and a support zone means on the jaw. The jaw is adapted to hold the front of the boot and adapted to laterally pivot in response to pivoting of the boot. The support, which is positioned on the ski, includes two upwardly converging lines of support. The jaw is adapted to laterally pivot around either one of these upwardly converging jaw lines of support. The support zone means which is positioned on the jaw supports the front-end zone of the boot when the boot is held by the jaw. As a result, when the boot experiences a torsional force and a frontward force on the boot, the boot laterally pivots and the front of the boot is pressed downward against the ski and against the support zone means.

Abstract: A display apparatus and method for displaying the value of the release threshold to which a ski binding is adjusted. The display apparatus is an electronic display means for electronically displaying the release threshold of the binding.

Abstract: A ski binding adapted to releasably hold the front of a ski boot on a ski. The front of the boot includes front-end zone spaced from the lateral edges of the boot. The binding includes a jaw, a support, and a support zone on the jaw. The jaw is adapted to hold the front of the boot and adapted to laterally pivot in response to pivoting of the boot. The support, which is mounted on the ski, includes two upwardly converging lines of support which converge at a convergence point. The jaw is adapted to laterally pivot around either one of these upwardly converging lines of support. The support zone which is positioned on the jaw supports the front-end zone of the boot when the boot is held by the jaw. The median vertical height of the support zone is substantially at the same vertical height as the convergence point.

Abstract: A ski boot, and a binding for binding the ski boot onto the ski. The boot is provided with blocking means which prevents its attachment by bindings other than those which should properly be used with the specific boots. The binding itself however is capable of use with any standardized boot, whether or not it has blocking means. This assures that boots requiring specially modified bindings will not be used otherwise, but nevertheless permits the use of such boots with bindings used with standardized boots having no blocking means.

Abstract: A ski binding for compensating for friction between a ski boot and a ski during a frontward and torsional fall. The binding includes a front abutment and a plate positioned under the boot. The plate includes first means for transmitting longitudinal displacement of the plate to the front abutment, and second means for transmitting lateral pivoting of the front abutment to the plate. These two means are distinct from one another so that they can be positioned at different positions. As a result, the first means can be positioned as close as possible to the rotational axis of the front abutment and the second means can be positioned a distance from the rotation axis of the front abutment so that the longitudinal axis of the boot and plate coincide during lateral pivoting of the boot and plate.

Abstract: A binding having a jaw is adapted to pivot laterally around two converging support lines on a support against the bias of an elastic mechanism. The binding also includes two lateral wings for receiving a front end of the boot, and a support zone positioned between the wings. The support zone is adapted to contact the front end zone of the boot along a line which intersects a transverse plane passing through the support lines above their convergence point. As a result, when a torsional fall is combined with a frontward fall, the torsional component of the fall causes the boot to apply lateral pressure to one of the wings, thereby providing a torque or moment on the jaw. The frontward component of the fall causes the boot to apply frontward pressure on the support zone, thereby increasing the torque experienced by the jaw in the direction of the torque resulting from the torsional component of the fall.

Abstract: A ski binding adapted to releasably hold the front of a ski boot on a ski. The front of the boot includes front-end zone spaced from the lateral edges of the boot. The binding includes a jaw, a support, and a support zone on the jaw. The jaw is adapted to hold the front of the boot and adapted to laterally pivot in response to pivoting of the boot. The support, which is positioned on the ski, includes two upwardly converging lines of support. The jaw is adapted to laterally pivot around either one of these upwardly converging jaw lines of support. The support zone which is positioned on the jaw supports the front-end zone of the boot when the boot is held by the jaw. As a result, when the boot experiences a torsional force and a frontward force on the boot, the boot laterally pivots and the front of the boot is pressed downward against the ski and against the support zone means.

Abstract: A release mechanism for assisting a binding to resist pivoting about an element fixed to the ski. The mechanism includes an adjustable mechanical release mechanism for producing an initial release retention force, and a hydraulic pneumatic or mechanical assistance mechanism controlled by an electronic control, for increasing the initial release retention force. The initial release retention force is produced by a spring biasing a piston against the element fixed to the ski. The assistance mechanism increases the initial release retention force in response to a signal received by sensors on the binding indicating that the boot is attached to the binding. When shocks are sensed by the sensors, a signal is produced reducing the release retention force added by the assistance system. In the event that the electronic control fails, the binding still experiences the initial release retention force produced by the mechanical release mechanism.

Abstract: A safety ski binding releasably holding a boot on a ski. The binding includes a jaw adapted to hold the boot and to pivot laterally, and an elastic mechanism biasing the jaw against lateral pivoting. When vertical stress acts on the binding, friction is generated which further biases the jaw against lateral pivoting, thereby preventing lateral release of the boot when dangerous lateral stress acts on the boot. To counteract this friction, a compensation mechanism is provided which counteracts the increased biasing against lateral pivoting both in the event upward vertical stresses act on the boot and in the event downward vertical stresses act on the boot. In one embodiment the compensation mechanism includes a pair of toggles which reduce the bias of the elastic mechanism in response to the upward pivoting of the jaw so that a constant bias against lateral pivoting is maintained on the jaw when vertical stress acts on the binding.