Patents by Inventor Josef Svoboda

Josef Svoboda 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: 4892326
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety ski binding and, in particular, to a heel support having a base plate supporting a vertical pivot and fastened to the upper side of a ski. The heel support is equipped with a sole support and with a pivotable support plate, along the heel area of the ski boot. The support plate is pushed into a central position by a spring. In order to shift the axis of rotation of the ski boot in such a ski binding to be substantially in alignment with the extension of the shinbone and to simplify the construction of the ski binding as well, the invention provides that the pivot is disposed between front jaw and heel support of the ski binding. The support plate is pivotably mounted at the pivot and the spring is extended in the longitudinal direction of the ski in the skiing position. The spring acts on a roller. The axle of the roller is guided in a slot in the support plate and anchored in the bearing block of the heel support. A cam is rigidly fastened to the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Radko Pavlovec
  • Patent number: 4804202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety ski binding and in particular, a heel support having a base plate supporting a vertical pivot, the heel support being fastened to the upper side of the ski. The heel support includes a sole support being upwardly pivotable against detachable locking and a support plate for the heel of the ski boot, which can be pivoted about a vertical axle. The support plate is pushed by a spring into its central position along the ski. To shift in such a ski binding the axis of rotation for the ski boot is essentially an extension of the shinbone of the skier. Thus, the pivot is located between the front jaw and the heel support and the support plate is pivotally mounted at the pivot. The heel support is opened in a horizontal release process by a control mechanism formed by a roller and a cam. The roller is mounted in the base plate by means of its axle extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Radko Pavlovec
  • Patent number: 4552378
    Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a bearing block having an axle thereon, a sole holder pivotally supported on the axle, and a spring housing supported on the bearing block for pivotal movement about an axis which is generally parallel to the axle. A slide member is movably supported in the spring housing and is biased by a release spring into engagement with a control surface on the sole holder in the downhill skiing position of the binding. The axle is closer to the tail of the ski than the axis, and the control surface on the sole holder includes a cam which engages the slide member in the region between the axle and axis. The slide member has a control recess therein and the axle extends through the control recess, pivotal movement of the spring housing causing the axle to engage an inclined surface of the slide member and move the slide member away from the sole holder against the urging of the release spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4545598
    Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a releasable jaw having a pivotally supported holding mechanism which is adapted to engage a ski shoe. The jaw includes first and second cylinders with fluid actuated pistons therein, and a fluid channel interconnects the cylinders. A check valve in the fluid channel resists fluid flow from the first cylinder to the second, and a solenoid controlled valve in the fluid channel, when open, creates a bypass around the check valve. A mechanism is provided for applying forces to the piston of the second cylinder to pressurize the first cylinder via the check valve causing the piston of the first cylinder to itself be urged against or to urge another member against a locking track in a manner which maintains the jaw in a closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the cylinders are provided on the holding mechanism and the locking track is fixed to the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Engelbert Spitaler, Gerhard Oberleitner, Josef Svoboda, Theodor Nitschko, Wilfried Riss
  • Patent number: 4544177
    Abstract: A ski brake includes a holding plate mountable on a ski, a first pedal part having one end supported on the holding plate for pivotal movement about a stationary first axle and the other end pivotally coupled to one end of a second pedal part. The other end of the second pedal part is pivotally supported on a second axle which extends normal to and is supported for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. A helical spring has one end supported on the first axle and the other end supported on the second axle and urges the second axle to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two braking arms are rotationally supported on the second pedal part, are rotationally biased by torsion springs, and have extensions engageable with surfaces on the holding plate to effect rotation of the braking arms in response to movement of the second pedal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4531758
    Abstract: A heel holder includes a base plate mountable on the ski, a sole holder supported for vertical and transverse horizontal movement relative to the base plate, a first locking mechanism for yieldably resisting upward movement of the sole holder away from a closed position adjacent the base plate, and a second locking mechanism which prevents transverse horizontal movement of the sole holder until it has moved upwardly a predetermined distance away from the base plate. The second locking mechanism includes cooperating locking parts on the base plate and the sole holder, one locking part being vertically movably supported on the associated one of the base plate and sole holder and being resiliently urged toward the other locking part. One of the locking parts has a vertical recess which receives the other locking part in the closed position of the sole holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Erwin Krob, Helmut Bauer
  • Patent number: 4524990
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a jaw of a ski binding. The adjusting mechanism includes a holding plate which is fixedly secured to the upper surface of a ski. A base plate for the ski binding component is slidably disposed on the holding plate with locking means being provided to lock the base plate to the holding plate. That is, structure is provided for preventing the base plate from lifting off from the holding plate and locking structure is provided to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Alois Himmetsberger, Emilie Szabo
  • Patent number: 4513988
    Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a cross-country plate having a front jaw and heel holder thereon and pivotal about an axis extending transversely of the ski. Two W-shaped bar parts of different lengths are pivotally supported thereon and movable to positions between the plate and ski. Each bar part includes two spaced outer legs, two spaced inner legs therebetween, two support webs connecting adjacent outer and inner legs, and an inner web connecting the two inner legs. A respective pin extends through the inner legs of each bar part and is secured in the outer legs thereof, and portions of a sleeve are provided on the pin between each outer leg and the adjacent inner leg and between the inner legs. A further pin is preferably secured in the outer legs of one bar part and engages the inner web thereof. Damper elements are preferably provided on the support webs of each bar part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • 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: 4500107
    Abstract: A ski brake has a base plate secured to the upper side of a ski which pivotally supports a braking arm carrier for movement between a braking position and a retracted position about a first axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two wire braking arms are pivotally supported in the braking arm carrier, each braking arm having a free end which is spaced from the braking arm carrier and from the pivot axis of the braking arm. Means are provided for pivoting the braking arms as the braking arm carrier pivots between braking and retracted positions, and springs urge the braking arm carrier toward the braking position. A first member is supported on the base plate for pivotal movement about a second axis, and a second member is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the first member and to the braking arm carrier at the ends thereof remote from the second and first axes, respectively. The second member and braking arm carrier define a toggle-joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Emilie Szabo
  • Patent number: 4500106
    Abstract: A heel holder of a ski binding is mounted on a guide plate which is in turn supported on a ski for movement longitudinally thereof. A biasing mechanism yieldably urges the guide plate forwardly with respect to the ski. A ski brake mounted on the ski just ahead of the heel holder includes a pedal which is supported for pivotal movement and two braking mandrels operatively coupled to the pedal, pivotal movement of the pedal effecting movement of the braking bars between a braking and a retracted position. An inclined surface is provided on either the free end of the pedal or the forward end of the guide plate, and at least one roller engageable with the inclined surface is provided on the other of the pedal and guide plate. The biasing mechanism, through engagement of the roller and inclined surface, urges the pedal and braking mandrels toward the braking position. When a ski shoe is releasably secured in the heel holder, a small space preferably exists between the roller and the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • 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
  • Patent number: 4444411
    Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a first jaw which is fixedly mounted on a ski and a second jaw which is supported movably on the ski and includes an electrically activated release mechanism. A piezoelectric sensor is provided on each jaw, the sensor in the first jaw being wired to a signal-processing circuit provided in the ski and powered by a battery provided in the ski. An electromagnetic coupling is provided to couple the circuitry in the ski with and to provide power to the release mechanism and sensor in the second jaw. Signals from the sensor in the second jaw are transmitted to the signal-processing circuit through the electromagnetic coupling. The signal-processing circuit evaluates the signals received from both sensors and, when a release is required, sends a signal through the electromagnetic coupling to activate the release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Gerhard Oberleitner
  • Patent number: 4373742
    Abstract: A ski binding part with a sole holder for ski boots, which can be automatically adjusted to provide the proper hold-down force for different height ski boot soles or ski boot heels by a torque limiting coupling and a bolt which, when the ski binding is mounted on the ski, stands substantially perpendicular with respect to the upper side of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4372574
    Abstract: A safety ski binding having a pair of sole holders pivotally secured to a base plate. Structure is provided for damping the movement of the sole holders to the ski boot releasing position. The damping mechanism includes a chamber having a fluid therein and a member movable in the chamber. The movable member in the chamber is connected through linkage to the sole holders and moves in response to a movement of the sole holders. The fluid on one side of the movable member will flow in a restricted manner to the other side thereof in response to sudden movements of the sole holders. The initial movement of the movable member is, therefore, restricted due to the fact that the fluid on the aforesaid one side of the movable member is restricted in its flow to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Franz K. Edinger
  • Patent number: 4371187
    Abstract: A ski brake has a base plate secured to the upper side of a ski which pivotally supports a braking arm carrier for movement between a braking position and a retracted position about a first axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the ski. Two wire braking arms are pivotally supported in the braking arm carrier, each braking arm having a free end which is spaced from the braking arm carrier and from the pivot axis of the braking arm. Means are provided for pivoting the braking arms as the braking arm carrier pivots between braking and retracted positions, and springs urge the braking arm carrier toward the braking position. A first member is supported on the base plate for pivotal movement about a second axis, and a second member is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the first member and to the braking arm carrier at the ends thereof remote from the second and first axes, respectively. The second member and braking arm carrier define a toggle-joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Emilie Szabo
  • Patent number: 4362314
    Abstract: A structure for securing one end of a safety strap to a ski or to a component fixedly mounted on the ski. The other end of the safety strap is presumed to be secured to the skier by any conventional means. The structure by which the safety strap is secured to the ski structure enables the strap to hold the ski to the skier should the ski become disconnected from the skier while travelling on a chairlift or at slow speeds. However, this same structure will facilitate a release of the strap from engagement with the ski structure should the ski be pulled away from the skier with a sufficient magnitude of force, such as will occur during falls at high speeds. The thereafter released ski will be stopped by, for example, a ski brake mechanism mounted on the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4361345
    Abstract: A structure for securing one end of a safety strap to a ski or to a component fixedly mounted on the ski. The other end of the safety strap is presumed to be secured to the skier by any conventional means. The structure by which the safety strap is secured to the ski structure enables the strap to hold the ski to the skier should the ski become disconnected from the skier while travelling on a chairlift or at slow speeds. However, this same structure will facilitate a release of the strap from engagement with the ski structure should the ski be pulled away from the skier with a sufficient magnitude of force, such as will occur during falls at high speeds. The thereafter released ski will be stopped by, for example, a ski brake mechanism mounted on the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Svoboda
  • Patent number: 4352506
    Abstract: A ski brake having at least one braking leg, which is pivotal by a force applied by a ski boot or by a sole plate to a pedal about an axle, which extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski in a mounting member which is secured to the ski, from a braking position against a spring force into a retracted position. The braking leg is pivotal about a swivel shaft which extends in longitudinal direction of the ski when the ski brake is in the retracted position. The braking leg has a sliding segment thereon which slidingly engages during the swing of the ski brake from the retracted position into the braking position a ski binding part to thereby positively effect a driving of the braking mandrel about the axis of the swivel shaft laterally outwardly beyond the lateral edges of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Josef Svoboda, Friedrich Leichtfried
  • Patent number: 4352507
    Abstract: A sole-support mechanism having a stepping plate for the heel of a ski boot which is urged by a spring-loaded ski binding part, in particular by a heel holder, toward a front jaw which forms a ski-fixed support in longitudinal direction of the ski, and is supported on a guide plate, which plate is movable in longitudinal direction of the ski through the force of at least one thrust spring over a holding rail or the like, wherein the upper side of the sole-support mechanism consists, if desired, of a material which has a low friction coefficient or has a layer of such a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: TMC Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Krob, Josef Svoboda