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.

Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a holding jaw and a jaw which can be released electrically under control of a control circuit. The holding jaw includes two movable sole holders having thereon pistons movable in respective, fluid-filled chambers. The holding jaw also includes a movable stepping plate, and the stepping plate and one sole holder can each flex respective membranes of a further fluid-filled chamber. Each of the three chambers communicates with a respective piezoelectric element which is connected to the control circuit. Forces applied to the holding jaw by a ski boot can increase the pressure in the various chambers and the piezoelectric elements each produce a signal proportional to such pressure, the control circuit electrically releasing the other jaw if the forces exceed predetermined values.

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.

Abstract: A safety ski binding includes a jaw for releasably holding a ski boot sole, which jaw has strain sensors which produce electrical signals in response to forces exerted on the jaw and an electrically operated release mechanism. A plug board provided in the jaw behind a protective cover is connected electrically to a control circuit which is responsive to the strain sensors and controls the release mechanism. A replaceable plug-in unit insertable in the plug board determines the release characteristics of the jaw on the basis of the skier's ability level and personal characteristics. In one embodiment, the plug-in unit contains fixed circuit components which define the ability level and variable circuit components adjustable to define the personal characteristics. In another embodiment, the plug-in unit contains a program storage or a micro-processor which defines the ability level and personal characteristics.

Abstract: A heel holder of a ski binding includes a base plate supported on a ski, a housing pivotally supported on the base plate, and a release lever pivotally supported on the housing by a horizontal axle. The release lever has a cam and a locking member movably supported in the housing is urged against the cam by a release spring. A connecting member has a slotlike opening in one end through which a transverse axle provided on the release handle extends. A unit having a stepping spur and sole hold-down is pivotally supported on the opposite end of the connecting member. A compression spring disposed in a blind hole in the release lever and cooperable with the first end of the connecting member urges it outwardly, and torsion springs provided on the transverse axle urge the unit to swing upwardly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a jaw, in particular a front jaw for safety ski bindings including a support member having at least two bolts therein symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal center plane of the jaw and oriented perpendicularly with respect to the upper side of the ski. About each bolt is pivotally supported a two-arm sole holder, one arm of which engages the sole of a ski shoe and the other arm of which extends laterally inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the ski and engages a part which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski against the force of a spring. The spring is supported at its one end on the support member and at its other end on an abutment which can be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw.

Abstract: A front jaw for a safety ski binding includes a support member mounted on a ski having a hold-down cooperable with a ski shoe sole supported for vertical movement, a pair of centering levers cooperable with the sides of the ski shoe sole supported for pivotal movement about vertical axes, and a compensating lever supported for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis. One end of the compensating lever engages the top of the sole hold-down and the other end engages the centering levers. A spring urges the centering levers inwardly, and the centering levers in turn urge the compensating lever pivotally so that it urges the hold-down downwardly. When the sole hold-down is moved upwardly during a fall, it causes pivotal movement of the compensating lever which in turn causes pivotal movement of the centering levers outwardly away from the ski shoe sole against the force of the spring. Upward movement of the sole hold-down is limited by a stop.

Abstract: A ski binding front jaw has a support member and a slide member which are independently supported for movement longitudinally of the ski. The support member has a pair of two-arm sole holder levers supported for pivotal movement about vertical axes, a first arm of each sole holder being adapted to engage a ski boot and the second arm engaging the slide member. A spring engages the support member and slide member and urges them rearwardly and forwardly, respectively, the slide member in turn urging the sole holders pivotally so that the second arms thereof are urged against the ski boot. Respective stops limit forward and rearward movement of the slide member and support member, respectively. A forward force exerted on the support member moves it forwardly relative to the slide member against the force of the spring, so that the first arms of the sole holders become spaced from the slide member and the second arms of the sole holders can pivot freely outwardly.

Abstract: A ski binding front jaw has a cylindrical sleeve supported on a ski-fixed housing for axial movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski in response to movement of ski boot engaging sole holders. An adjusting screw has an end portion rotatably and axially slidably supported in the sleeve, a threaded portion spaced from the end portion which threadedly engages an abutment, and a central portion of lesser diameter than the end portion adjacent thereto. A hollow cylinder is rotatably and axially slidably supported on the sleeve coaxial therewith by a first inner surface and has a second inner surface of greater diameter than the first surface adjacent thereto. The sleeve has a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial openings, and a spherical ball is disposed in each opening. The radial distances between the screw central portion and cylinder first surface and the screw end portion and cylinder second surface substantially equal the diameter of the balls.

Abstract: A front jaw or a rear jaw for use in a ski binding arrangement. The jaw utilizes a support member which has a ski boot sole engaging structure for releasably holding the ski boot onto the ski. The ski boot holding structure facilitates a movement of the ski boot relative to the ski during a release operation in both the horizontal and vertical directions as well as solely in the vertical direction and solely in the horizontal direction. The support member supporting the ski boot holding members is guided for movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski and is urged into engagement with the ski boot by a spring which is separate from the release spring.