Abstract: A ski brake for use on a ski having a mounting structure adapted to be mounted on the ski and a pedal structure pivotally secured to the mounting structure. The pedal structure includes a pair of laterally spaced and elongated guideways opening outwardly in a bottom surface thereof opposing the upper surface of the ski. The guideways each have at least a pair of angled segments. A pair of ski brake arms is pivotally secured to the mounting structure for movement about a universal type pivot joint with the ends remote from the snow engaging ends having angled guide segments received in the respective one of the guideways in the pedal. There is an operative connection between the pedal and the guide segments on the ski brake arms for preventing a separation of these members during use. Resilient structure is provided for continually urging the pedal to an upright position to effect a positioning of the snow engaging ends of the ski brake arms beneath the bottom surface of the ski.

Abstract: A safety strap storage construction wherein a base plate is secured to the ski and a support plate is releasably coupled to the base plate. A ski boot is adapted to be mounted onto the support plate and remains in engagement with the ski boot during a release of the ski boot from engagement with the ski. A safety strap is provided in a cavity between the base plate and the support plate and is secured at one end thereof to the base plate and at the other end thereof to the support plate. A safety strap tensioning construction is mounted on the base plate to keep the safety strap taut while stored in the cavity between the base plate and the support plate. The mechanism for maintaining the safety strap in a taut condition can be a shiftable disk resiliently biassed to maintain the safety strap wound therearound in a taut condition or a plurality of clips or the like can be fixedly attached to the base plate with the safety strap being threaded therearound.

Abstract: A spring locking device for preventing unauthorized adjustment of the spring force subsequent to an adjustment conducted by a person having skill in the art. The spring locking device is composed of a seal which is positioned in a blocking relation with respect to the adjusting member and will be either totally destroyed if an effort is made to adjust the force of the spring or at least reflect that the adjustment has been tampered with. The seal can be in the form of a member which is press fit into an opening adjacent the adjusting member or it can be cast or poured in a liquid form and subsequently solidified in the opening adjacent the adjusting member. In addition, the seal can have an identification indicia placed thereon to reflect the last skilled person to make the adjustment to the spring force.

Abstract: A ski brake mechanism having braking arms on which are provided structure for facilitating a connection of two skis together in a position wherein the running surfaces thereof engage one another at the tips and tails thereof. The structure on the arms of the ski brake is a projection which is received into a crevasse or notch on the opposite side thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection projects laterally inwardly of the arms and the crevasse is provided on the laterally outside thereof.

Abstract: A ski brake pivotally secured to a base plate which in turn is secured to the upper surface of a ski. The ski brake is composed of a brake member having a pair of braking arms and a pair of holding arms. The holding arms are interconnected via a slide piece, on the one hand, or both a slide piece and a crossbar on the other hand. The holding arms are prespring-tensioned into a position diverging away from one another with the slide piece being slidably disposed on the holding arms. The slide piece has a pair of openings therein which receive the holding arms therethrough. Thus, as the slide piece slides along the holding arms, the spacing between the holding arms will be varied in accordance with the position of the slide piece thereon. The slide piece can, if desired, be pivotally secured to the holding plate and the pivot axis therefor located on one side of the pivotal support for the brake member.

Abstract: A U-shaped ski brake made of spring wire wherein intermediate the legs of the U, the spring wire is bent to form laterally extending axles to define a pivotal support for the ski brake. The intermediate portion of the length of the spring wire extending between the axles is also U-shaped and is connected to the inner ends of the axles. The legs of the holding bars are prestressed so that they extend, when the ski brake is in the braking position, at an angle which is greater than 90.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the axles. A slide is mounted on the holding arms and is reciprocal along the length thereof. The spacer has holes receiving the holding arms therein so that as the slider moves along the holding arms, the resiliency of the spring wire will cause the brake arms to move laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the outer edges of the ski. The spacer is pivotally secured through a lever arm to a mounting plate, the same plate to which the spring wire is pivotally secured.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for testing the sliding characteristics of the soles of ski boots. The testing apparatus includes a lever arm for applying a downwardly directed force onto an upwardly facing boot sole adjacent structure engaging either the toe or heel of the ski boot. A drive mechanism is utilized to draw the member which is applying the downwardly directed force laterally of the ski boot. A measuring device is provided for detecting the sliding characteristic of the member which applies the downwardly directed force onto the upwardly facing boot sole.

Abstract: A structure for a use in either an anti-crossing device for skis or a ski brake. A torsion spring is utilized to urge a projection member to an upright position on the ski. In the anti-crossing device for skis, the resilient projection member will prevent movement of a ski to the crossed position in one direction while simultaneously permitting movement of the ski in the opposite direction by flexing the resilient projection downwardly onto the upper surface of the ski. In the ski brake environment, the ski boot effects a resilient flexing of the projection member down onto the upper surface of the ski when the ski boot is mounted between the ski bindings. The resilient projection member has extension members which project below the lower surface of the ski when the resilient projection member is in the upright position.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement over the structure illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,730. The ski binding includes a pair of pivoted sole holders pivotal about axles which are fixed to the ski. The sole holders each have two arms, one of which engages the ski boot adjacent the toe thereof and the other arm engaging a structural part which is under spring tension, which spring tension must be overcome in order to effect a release of the ski boot from the ski. Structure is provided to interrupt the transfer of force of the ski boot acting on the spring intermediate the travel of the particular sole holder so that a decrease in the force resisting movement of the ski boot occurs and the ski boot can be freely removed from engagement with the ski.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for holding the rear end of a sole plate on which is mounted a ski boot to the upper surface of a ski. A lock is provided for securing the rear end of the sole plate to the ski, which lock is nonmovable in the position of use of the sole plate and during occurrences of a safety release of the sole plate from engagement with the ski but, on the other hand, is manually movable against the force of a spring.

Abstract: A lock mechanism for releasably securing an anti-crossing device for skis to the upper surface of a ski so that the member which is affixed to the ski does not have any dangerous projections thereon once the anti-crossing device has been removed from the ski. The anti-crossing device cooperates with a fastening plate secured to the ski, which fastening plate has slots therein into which are received pins mounted on the anti-crossing device. A locking pin is reciprocally movable on the anti-crossing device and is received into an opening in the fastening plate and is resiliently held in position to maintain the pins in engagement with the slots.

Abstract: A structure for a use in either an anti-crossing device for skis or a ski brake. A torsion spring is utilized to urge a projection member to an upright position on the ski. In the anti-crossing device for skis, the resilient projection member will prevent movement of a ski to the crossed position in one direction while simultaneously permitting movement of the ski in the opposite direction by flexing the resilient projection downwardly onto the upper surface of the ski. In the ski brake environment, the ski boot effects a resilient flexing of the projection member down onto the upper surface of the ski when the ski boot is mounted between the ski bindings. The resilient projection member has extension members which project below the lower surface of the ski when the resilient projection member is in the upright position.

Abstract: In a type of safety ski binding having if desired a plate fixed to the boot and releasably fixed to a ski, there is provided structure for lightening the boot construction, particularly the sole thereof, including the provision of structure for gripping the heel of the boot for holding same against such plate. Such structures extend around the heel a distance at least equal to one-third of the radius of the boot sole measured from and extending rearwardly from points on the sides of the ski boot where a plane perpendicular to the longitudinally central plane of the ski boot and containing the center point of the radius intersects the side walls of the ski boot. Reinforcement of the heel of the ski boot may be provided by utilizing a trough-shaped insert around the bottom of the boot which may, if desired, be interrupted at the ball of the foot for facilitating walking. Thin tension straps extend under the sole of the boot for reinforcing same and preventing slippage.

Abstract: A safety ski binding for use with a ski boot having an ankle cuff which is pivotally secured for movement about a transverse axis to the remaining shell portion of the ski boot. The rear side of the ankle cuff of the ski boot has a reinforcing member defining a shoulder or the like. The shoulder of the reinforcing member is engaged by a binding part mounted on the ski binding and has a surface thereon adjustably supported for movement in a vertical direction to control the location of engagement between the shoulder and the surface.

Abstract: A brake device for skis wherein a pair of levers are pivotally mounted on a bracket mounted on the upper surface of the ski. Each of the levers is composed of two arms wherein one arm functions as a brake wing and the other arm functions as a control element. Projections are provided on the ski binding which cooperate with the lever arms functioning as the control elements to control the movement of the levers during a pivotal movement of the ski binding to the ready or cocked position. As a result, the ski brake is held in the cocked or ready position by the ski binding mechanism rather than directly by the ski boot.

Abstract: A ski brake for preventing the runaway of a ski. A pair of brake legs are pivotally mounted at each side of the ski for alternately occupying an inactive position alongside of and parallel with the ski or an active position projecting downwardly from the ski. A generally U-shaped member is connected to the brake legs and lies against the upper surface of the ski and under the ski boot when the latter is in position on the ski. The U-shaped member is so arranged as to be subjected to tension when pressed down against the ski by the ski boot with such tension being relieved when same is permitted by removal of the ski boot to spring up away from the ski and to move the brake legs into the abovementioned active position. A stepping plate and a lever are pivotally connected to each other and cooperate with the U-shaped member to effect the aforementioned movement toward the ski when the ski boot is placed in position on the ski between the ski bindings.

Abstract: A ski brake for skis utilizing a spring construction such as is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,563. The spring is composed of a U-shaped portion having a pair of generally parallel legs and a connecting cross-part. The heel holder of a ski binding has a projection thereon which cooperates with the U-shaped part to effectively hold down the ski brake in the cocked or ready position without requiring a direct engagement of the ski boot with the U-shaped part.

Abstract: A heel holder for a safety ski binding having a sole plate which is secured to the ski by a locking member which is movable against the force of a spring. The locking member engages a holding member and the sole plate is secured adjacent its frontmost end against a vertical movement relative to the ski. In addition, the sole plate is pivotal approximately in the center thereof about a vertical axis which is fixed relative to the ski. The locking member engages a flange which cooperates with a locking element in overlapping relationship with the holder. The holder is supported for movement about a universal type joint.

Abstract: A buckle device for a safety strap for use with skis. The buckle device is comprised of a housing having a cavity therein and a slotlike opening providing communication to the cavity. The upper wall of the cavity is defined by a resilient tab having a push button or the like thereon to facilitate a flexing of the tab downwardly into the cavity. A catch part having generally the thickness corresponding to the width of the slotlike opening in the housing is adapted to be slid through the slotlike opening in the housing so that the free end of the catch part becomes positioned within the cavity in the housing. The catch part has a flexible tab thereon forming a barb or hook which, upon entry into the cavity, will engage a projection in the cavity to prevent a removal of the catch part from the cavity. A depressing of the push button will effect an engagement between the upper wall of the cavity and the barb or hook to locate the barb or hook in alignment with the slotlike opening.

Abstract: A safety ski binding having a reinforcing member on a ski boot, which ski boot has a shaft portion which is pivotal about a transverse axis. The reinforcing member has a shoulder thereon which is engageable with a removable support to limit the backward pivoting movement of the shaft portion but permit a desired amount of frontward movement. A lever is provided which is movable into and out of supporting engagement with the shoulder to facilitate entry of the ski boot into the ski binding.