Ski binding with improved lateral stability

Abstract

A ski binding adapted for telemark and alpine touring comprises a cable retention system between the toe assembly and a heel carriage retention structure that includes an elongated plate on which the heel carriage is adapted to slide, and an adjustment carriage. A portion of the cable defines a truss configuration pivotable along the transverse axis of the binding. The heel carriage is tensioned forward by means of a biased connection extending between the adjustment carriage and the heel carriage. A heel assembly includes dual pivot points and a cam arrangement to provide a selective release set point for the heel of the boot.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to alpine touring and telemark ski bindings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The bindings used on alpine touring and telemark skis permit movement of the boot heel up off of the ski, e.g. to permit propulsion and gliding of alpine touring skis and to permit turning of telemark skis. However, as the heel of the boot is typically not secured to the ski, the boot and the foot tend to twist out of alignment with the ski such that it is generally difficult to achieve edge control.

[0003] The problem of maintaining torsional stability, i.e. resistance to lateral twisting, in such bindings is known. The most common approach to providing some such stability is by use of a cable binding in which a latch-tensioned cable extends from the toe piece to wrap around the heel of the boot or around a heel carriage. Such arrangements are intended mainly to retain the boot in the toe piece and they provide only a relatively small measure of torsional stability.

[0004] It is also known in the prior art to provide torsional stability by means of a thin plate of semi-rigid material connected to the toe piece and which passes beneath the boot sole and clips to the boot heel, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,622 to Miller.

[0005] The Skyhoy (registered trademark of Fritschi AG Swiss Bindings) binding system achieves lateral stability by means of a torsionally rigid central rail extending the length of the boot Dual hinges are provided to permit the boot to flex in the vertical plane.

[0006] The semi-rigid material and the rigid rail system described in the preceding two paragraphs do not provide optimum flexing of the boot of the user. In addition, when the binding undergoes torsion, the rigidity of the systems means that they are prone to significant wear.

[0007] One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a ski binding suitable for telemark skiing that allows natural flexing of the boot in the vertical plane, but has improved lateral stability in relation to prior art cable bindings. A cam arrangement allows the heel release tension to be adjusted while also adjusting the torsional stability of the binding. The invention can also be easily adjusted to accommodate boots of different sizes.

[0008] In the binding according to the invention, the heel can be selectively and easily locked down to accommodate alpine-style turning. The heel arrangement allows easy mounting of the heel and selective tensioning of the release set point.

[0009] Various aspects of the invention address these objects, but not all aspects of the invention necessarily address all such objects simultaneously. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to the invention, a heel carriage assembly is attached to the toe assembly by means of a cable that is threaded between them in a truss-like configuration to improve lateral stability of the binding when the boot is mounted in the binding. The portion of the cable defining a truss configuration is pivotable along the transverse axis of the binding. Such an arrangement allows complete flexibility in the vertical plane while resisting twisting of the boot in the horizontal plane.

[0011] A heel carriage retention structure includes an elongated plate on which the heel carriage is adapted to slide, and an adjustment carriage. The heel carriage is tensioned forward by means of a biased connection extending between the adjustment carriage and the heel carriage. An adjustable spring pre-tensioning arrangement associated with the heel assembly accommodates personal preferences in flexural stiffness (during the telemark turn or hiking) and is unaltered with position changes for boot length/size.

[0012] The heel carriage is designed in one embodiment to act as a step-in binding for ease of entry. The elongated heel plate on which the heel carriage is adapted to slide may also be selectively secured to the ski by way of a latch to convert the binding to downhill skiing mode. The heel carriage includes dual pivot points and a cam arrangement to provide a selective release set point for the heel of the boot.

[0013] In one embodiment, a cam is used to selectively pre-load the binding for more or less resistance to flexing of the boot.

[0014] In one of its aspects, the binding of the invention comprises a toe assembly, a heel carriage retention structure and a heel carriage arranged in the order stated along a longitudinal axis of the binding. The toe assembly is attachable to a ski and receives the toe end of a ski boot. The heel carriage receives the heel end of a ski boot, while the heel carriage retention structure operatively associates the heel carriage with the toe assembly. A first length of flexible cabling extends diagonally across the longitudinal axis between part of the heel carriage retention structure on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a part of the toe assembly on a second side of the longitudinal axis. A second length of flexible cabling extends between a part of the heel carriage retention structure on the second side of the longitudinal axis and a part of the toe assembly on the first side of the longitudinal axis. The first and second lengths of flexible cabling define an X configuration about the longitudinal axis. The heel carriage is biased toward the retention structure but is displaceable in relation thereto.

[0015] In another aspect, the first and second lengths of flexible cabling are each part of a single flexible cable. The flexible cable has two ends, one of these ends is retained on one side of either the heel carriage retention structure or the toe assembly and the other of these ends is retained on an opposite side of the heel carriage retention structure or toe assembly. The first and second lengths of flexible cable extend in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of the binding when the lengths of cable are in tension.

[0016] In another aspect, the toe assembly comprises a cable guide for maintaining a first portion of the cable below the boot when a toe end of the boot is engaged in the toe assembly. In addition, there are two support surfaces rearward of the cable guide for supporting a second portion of the cable in the plane when the cable is in tension. The second portion of the cable is at a higher elevation than the first portion.

[0017] In another aspect, the flexible cable has two ends, a first end retained on one side of, and a second end retained on another side of, the heel carriage retention structure. When in tension, the first and second lengths of flexible cable extend in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of the binding. The toe assembly comprises a cable guide for maintaining a portion of the cable below the level of the first and second lengths of flexible cable and below the level of the boot when the toe end of the boot is engaged in the toe assembly. The cable guide defines a path that extends substantially around the base of the toe assembly. The toe assembly further comprises two support surfaces rearward of the cable guide for supporting the first and second lengths of flexible cable.

[0018] In another aspect, the first end of the cable of the binding extends forward toward the toe assembly, travelling over the first support surface, along the cable guide and substantially around the toe assembly where it then passes over the second support surface and back toward where it first started from. The cable then travels through a passageway in the retention structure toward the second end of the cable. From there, the cable travels toward and over the first support surface, along the cable guide substantially around the toe assembly, over the second support surface and longitudinally to the second end of the cable.

[0019] In another aspect, the retention structure of the binding of the invention comprises an elongated plate extending generally along the longitudinal axis of the binding.

[0020] In another aspect, the binding of the invention further comprises an adjustment carriage selectively securable to the plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions and having at least one solid member extending from the plate to the heel carriage.

[0021] In another aspect, the solid member is U-shaped, with the legs of the U slidably extending through the adjustment carriage. A spring is mounted on each of the legs.

[0022] In another aspect, biasing is by means of a spring, and the solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on the solid member to selectively compress the spring.

[0023] In another aspect, the heel carriage of the binding of the invention comprises a heel mount, and a heel throw. The heel mount receives the bottom portion of the heel of a boot and has a first pivot point making it selectively pivotable in the vertical plane. The heel throw is mounted on an upper portion of the heel mount and has a second pivot point such that it is also pivotable in the vertical plane.

[0024] In another aspect, the heel mount is selectively securable so as to prevent it from pivoting.

[0025] In yet another aspect, the heel throw has a heel throw tongue projecting forward from it. The heel throw tongue engages a groove on the heel of a boot when the boot is placed in the binding.

[0026] In another aspect, the solid member has a cam associated with it. The cam is actuatable between a first position or a second position. The first position is one in which the spring is less compressed, while the second position is one in which the spring is more compressed.

[0027] In another aspect, the binding of the invention comprises a toe assembly, a heel carriage, and an elongated plate. The toe assembly is adapted to receive fasteners for fastening it to a ski. The heel carriage receives the heel end of a ski boot. The elongated plate extends between the toe assembly and the heel carriage and all three are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the binding. A first length of flexible cabling extends diagonally across the longitudinal axis between the plate and the toe assembly. A second length of flexible cabling extends diagonally across the longitudinal axis between the plate and the toe assembly, such that the first and second lengths of cabling are arranged in an X configuration about the longitudinal axis and in a horizontal plane. The heel carriage is mounted on the plate so as to be slidable in relation to the plate along the longitudinal axis of the binding and is biased in the direction of the toe assembly.

[0028] In another aspect, the heel carriage is located rearward along the longitudinal axis in relation to the adjustment carriage.

[0029] In another aspect, a ski binding according to the invention comprises a toe assembly and a heel carriage arranged along a longitudinal axis of a the binding. The heel carriage has a heel mount and heel throw. The heel mount is for receiving the bottom portion of the heel of a boot and has a first pivot point such that it is pivotable in the vertical plane. The heel throw also has a pivot point and is pivotable in the vertical plane. The heel throw is mounted on the heel mount with the pivot point for the heel throw forming the connection between the two.

[0030] In another aspect the binding further comprises a latch attachable to a ski rearward of the toe assembly. The heel carriage is selectively securable to the latch.

[0031] In another aspect the binding further comprises an elongated plate extending between the toe assembly and the heel carriage.

[0032] In another aspect the heel carriage is mounted on the plate so as to be slidable in relation thereto along the longitudinal axis of the binding and is biased in displacement toward the toe assembly.

[0033] In another aspect the solid member is slidably retained in the adjustment carriage or in the heel carriage, and is biased by a spring to urge the heel carriage and the adjustment carnage toward abutment with one another.

[0034] Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention will be described by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the drawings thereof in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the binding of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the use of the heel carriage and also showing a cam used to selectively pre-load the heel carriage against the adjustment carriage; and

[0040] FIG. 5 is a horizontal section view of a spring rod configuration according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the binding 10 according to the invention generally comprises a toe assembly 12, a heel carriage 14, a heel plate 16 and flexible cable 18 retaining the heel plate and its associated heel carriage to the toe assembly 12. Cable 18 is arranged in a truss configuration to resist lateral movement of the heel carriage in relation to the toe assembly.

[0042] Toe assembly 12 comprises a toe sleeve 20 for receiving the toe of the boot. Toe sleeve 20 includes an apertured cowl 22 for retaining the upper portion of the toe of the boot, and a base 24 for supporting the sole.

[0043] Toe sleeve 20 is mounted on a shim 26 by means of mounting screws 28, 30, 32 and 34. Shim 26 is in turn secured to the ski by mounting screws 36, 38, 40 and 42. A hydrophobic plastic insert may be provided to cover the mounting screws 28, 30, 32 and 34.

[0044] Shim 26 includes a cable guide 44 about the outer periphery of the plate. Guide 44 accommodates a horizontal juxtaposition of two sections of the cable 18 in rearward lateral portions 46, 48 of the shim and a vertical arrangement of two sections of the cable in the forward portion 50 of the shim. At the front tip of the shim, guide 44 extends as a passageway 55 through the shim.

[0045] In the forward portions of the shim, guide 44 is inferior to base 24. The rear portion of the shim is provided with a shoulder 56 for constraining the portions of cable 18 that extend rearwardly of the shoulder to be in the horizontal plane. The cable arrangement will be described in more detail below.

[0046] Heel plate 16 includes a narrow elongated portion 58 extending forward from a rear end 60 to a pair of laterally spaced arms 61, 62 extending from a neck 64. Neck 64 includes a passageway 66 extending between arms 61, 62 and adapted to receive cable 18 therethrough. Each of arms 61, 62 accommodates a ferrule 68 associated with the cable 18 for retaining one end of cable 18, and an opening 70 in communication with passageway 66.

[0047] The heel plate 16 acts as part of a retention structure for the heel carriage 14. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, heel carriage 14 depends from the heel plate by tensioned engagement with adjustment carriage 73 (described below) which is in turn mounted on heel plate 16. Heel carriage 14 is also engaged on heel plate 16 through slide 84 (described below) which slides along the heel plate.

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 2, a spring 72 is held in place by a threaded spring rod 80 which is in turn slidingly retained in an adjustment carriage 73. Adjustment carriage 73 (and its associated spring rod 80 and spring 72) is adapted to slide along heel plate 16. A pivoting latch 74 is provided on the adjustment carriage 73 to engage in one of a plurality of slots 75 formed in heel plate 16. This allows the adjustment carriage 73 to be secured to one of several positions on heel plate 16 to accommodate different ranges of boot sizes.

[0049] Spring rod 80 is generally U-shaped. From its ends, it extends rearwardly through the rear of adjustment carriage 73 to loop through slide 84 forming part of the heel carriage 14. The ends of the spring rod 80 are threaded to adjustment bolts 83. Slide 84 is adapted to slide along heel plate 16. Turning bolts 83 against spring rod 80 acts to tension the spring 72. As the spring rod 80 loops through the slide 84, turning the bolts 83 tensions the slide 84 in relation to the adjustment carriage 73. Slide 84 is part of the heel carriage 14. When the adjustment carriage 73 is secured to the heel plate 16 by latch 74, adjustment of the bolts 83 therefore acts to tension the heel carriage 14 as a whole against the adjustment carriage 73.

[0050] Heel carriage 14 comprises slide 84, a heel mount 86 pivotally mounted on slide 84, a heel mount latch 88 mounted forwardly of slide 84, and a heel throw 90 pivotally mounted on the uppermost portion of heel mount 86. Heel throw 90 is provided with a forwardly extending tongue 89 to engage in a corresponding groove 91 in a user's boot.

[0051] The cable configuration will now be described by reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. For the purposes of doing so, the shoulder 56 is defined as comprising a first shoulder side 98 and a second shoulder side 100. When the cable is in tension and the binding is seated against the ski, the portions of cable 18 not retained in guide 44 extend straight forward (in the plane parallel to the plane of the ski) from arm 61 to shoulder 98. From shoulder 98, the cable extends down the forward side of the shoulder, along guide 44, through passageway 55, and up and over shoulder 100. From shoulder 100, the cable extends diagonally toward arm 61 and enters passageway 66. The cable exits passageway 66 adjacent arm 62 and extends diagonally to shoulder 98, along guide 44, back into passageway 55, over shoulder 100 and to arm 62.

[0052] It is contemplated that other cable configurations will be satisfactory provided that two portions of the cable cross diagonally between shoulders 61 and 62 and arms 46 and 48 to form an X in the horizontal plane. For example, rather than being anchored in ferrule 68 in arms 61 and 62, the cable ends could be anchored in shoulders 46 and 48.

[0053] When under tension, this cable configuration provides good torsional stability; i.e. it resists lateral twisting of the heel plate in relation to the toe piece. Since the truss arrangement of the portions of the cable not retained in the guide 44 is defined solely in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of the binding, the cable is unconstrained in the vertical plane, allowing the boot to bend and flex. The use and operation of the binding will now be described.

[0054] Before use, latch 74 is engaged in one of the slots 75 in the heel plate 16 to secure the adjustment carriage 73 in position on the heel plate 16. The position is selected such that when the heel carriage abuts the adjustment carriage 73 and cable 18 is taught, the heel carriage 14 will rest slightly shorter than a boot's length with the toe of the boot inserted into sleeve 20. The binding may be supplied with an extra long heel plate 16 that may be cut at its rear end 60 (typically by the vendor or outfitter) once the approximate size of the user's boot has been determined.

[0055] Until the boot is loaded into the heel carriage 14, the slide 84 is retained in abutment with the adjustment carriage 73 by the bias of spring 72 acting on spring rod 80 and cable 18 is relatively untensioned.

[0056] The user places the toe of the boot into toe sleeve 20 and presses the heel of the boot downward onto heel mount 86. Heel mount 86 is thereby pivoted downward about pin 87 and heel throw tongue 89 engages groove 91 on the boot. At the end of the downward movement of the heel mount 86, an engagement tang 93 on heel mount 86 engages heel mount latch 88 to secure the heel mount 86 in the down position. While the heel mount 86 pivots downward about pin 87, the slide 84 is forced backward on heel plate 16 and backward in relation to the adjustment carriage 73, thereby adding to the tension of spring rod 80 and exerting a rearward tension on cable 18.

[0057] The heel throw 90 pivots about pin 85 on heel mount 86. It is through the movement of the heel throw that release of the boot, either intentional or unintentional (i.e. in a fall) is achieved. In order to manually release a boot from the binding, the user must exert sufficient downward force on the top of the heel throw. Through the pin 85, the downward force is translated to a rearward force exerted on the heel carriage and an upward force on tongue 89 and the heel of the boot. Once the heel carriage is forced backwards, and the tongue pivoted upwards, a sufficient distance, the heel of the boot is released. After the boot is released, the heel mount 86 may be manually released from latch 88.

[0058] The shape of the heel throw 90, curved from an upper peak rearward of the toe assembly to the lower more forward position of heel mount 86, is such that a boot may be inserted into the binding even when the heel throw 90 is secured in the down position. The user places the toe of the boot into toe sleeve 20 and presses the heel of the boot downward onto the heel throw. As the heel of the boot exerts pressure on the curved surface of the heel throw, the heel carriage 14 is forced rearward such that slide 84 moves backward on heel plate 16 and backward in relation to adjustment carriage 73. Forwardly extending tongue 89 is rounded such that when the heel of the boot comes into contact with it, the downward motion is translated into backward force exerted against the heel carriage 14. Once the boot has been pressed into the appropriate position, the heel carriage is drawn forward by the tension of spring rod 80, drawing tongue 89 into groove 91 of the boot.

[0059] It will be appreciated that the invention allows the retention of the ski boot in toe sleeve by means of the tension exerted by the spring rod 80. That tension tends to urge the heel carriage forward and urges the cable rearward. Thus the cable is tensioned.

[0060] Bolts 83 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the tension retaining the heel carriage 14 toward abutment with the adjustment carriage 73. A high tension will tend to convey any rearward displacement of the heel carriage preferentially to cable 18 to provide greater overall rigidity to the binding.

[0061] When the cable is tensioned, the diagonal segments of the cable act to resist any lateral twisting motion of the boot or of the heel plate in relation to the toe assembly more effectively than the cable bindings of the prior art, while still allowing movement of the heel plate in the vertical plane.

[0062] As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the shoulder 56 is located rearward of and below the level of the toe sleeve 20. When cable 18 is tensioned, this provides a certain measure of resistance to movement of the heel plate in the vertical plane, while still allowing such movement to occur. This is due to the bending moment created by the cable bending about shoulder 56. The boot pivots within apertured cowl 22, whereas the pivot point for the cabling and the aft portion of the binding is below and rearward of the boot pivot point It will be appreciated that by adjusting the tension in the spring rod 80, and therefore in the cable 18, more or less resistance to movement in the vertical plane can be achieved.

[0063] The binding according to the invention may be adjusted by means of latch 74 to accommodate different sizes of boots, but the design is tolerant of a gross approximation of the boot size due to the use of the spring rod arrangement.

[0064] In order to convert the binding to use in alpine-style turning, a latch 95 is mounted to the ski to engage and hold down the rearmost portion of the heel plate 16. Upon doing so, the heel carriage is constrained to remain bound to the ski to accommodate alpine-style turning.

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a cam 103 is provided in association with the heel carriage and the spring rod 80 to selectively bias the spring rod 80 in one of 2 positions. Cam 103 is associated with the cross-leg of the U-shaped spring rod to urge it rearward when the cam has been set. The cam pivots about the spring rod and is dimensioned such that its radius about the spring rod increases from a first position to a second position. The cam remains in abutment with the heel carriage. By using the cam, the spring rod is therefore urged rearward in relation to the heel carriage a distance equal to the difference between the radius of the cam in first and second positions. This increases the tension on the spring rod and on cable 18 and provides enhanced resistance to lateral and vertical movement of the heel plate. In the preferred embodiment, the cross-leg of the U-shaped spring rod passes through the cam, allowing the cam to pivot about the spring rod. However, in alternative embodiments, the cam could be fixedly connected to the heel carriage.

[0066] When latch 95 is in use, such that the binding is being used for alpine skiing, the cam can be used to quickly adjust between settings for the releasable heel. The cam, in concert with the adjustability of the spring rod 80 allows the spring tension to be adjusted for the desired upward resistance of the boot heel prior to heel release. For example, in the event of a fall, if sufficient upward force is exerted on the heel carriage, the boot will be released. This occurs when the upward forces acting on heel throw tongue 89, translated to rearward force through pin 85, are sufficient to force slide 84 backward on heel plate 16 and backward in relation to adjustment carriage 73 the required distance to release the boot. By increasing the spring tension (by use of the cam or the spring rod), the upward force required for heel release is increased.

[0067] In addition, by engaging the cam at a high tension setting, the user is thereby provided with additional resistance to lateral and vertical movement of the heel plate (and boot). This allows a user to convert from telemark style skiing to alpine touring type of turning by engaging the cam. The cam therefore allows the user increased flexibility with respect to the type of turning to be performed.

[0068] In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the cross-leg of the spring rod may be dispensed with, thereby providing two straight spring rods. Each spring rod then extends rearwardly and through a portion of the slide 84 to engage the slide by suitable means. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, each spring rod 101 is threaded to a bolt 105, which may be turned to adjust the tension on the rods.

[0069] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preferred and alternative embodiments have been described in some detail but that certain modifications may be practiced without departing from the principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A ski binding comprising:

a toe assembly, attachable to a ski, for receiving the toe end of a ski boot, a heel carriage for receiving the heel end of a ski boot, and a heel carriage retention structure for operatively associating said heel carriage with said toe assembly;

said toe assembly, heel carriage retention structure and heel carriage being arranged in the order stated along a longitudinal axis of said binding;

a first length of flexible cable extending diagonally across said longitudinal axis between a part of said heel carriage retention structure on a first side of said longitudinal axis and a part of said toe assembly on a second side of said longitudinal axis;

a second length of flexible cable extending between a part of said heel carriage retention structure on said second side of said longitudinal axis and a part of said toe assembly on said first side of said longitudinal axis;

said first and second lengths of flexible cabling defining an x configuration about said longitudinal axis; and

said heel carriage being biased toward said retention structure but being displaceable in relation thereto.

2. The binding of claim 1 wherein said first and second lengths of flexible cable are each part of a single flexible cable.

3. The binding of claim 2 wherein said flexible cable has two ends, one of said ends being retained on one side of either said heel carriage retention structure or said toe assembly and the other of said ends being retained on an opposite side of said heel carriage retention structure or toe assembly.

4. The binding of claim 2 wherein said first and second lengths of flexible cable extend in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of the binding when the lengths of cable are in tension.

5. The binding of claim 4 wherein said toe assembly comprises a cable guide for maintaining a first portion of said cable below said boot when a toe end of said boot is engaged in said toe assembly and further comprises two support surfaces rearward of said cable guide for supporting a second portion of said cable in said plane when the cable is in tension, said second portion of said cable being at a higher elevation than said first portion of said cable.

6. The binding of claim 2 wherein:

said flexible cable has two ends, a first end being retained on one side of said heel carriage retention structure and a second end being retained on another side of said heel carriage retention structure;

said first and second lengths of flexible cable extend in a plane that encompasses the transverse axis of said binding, when said lengths are in tension;

said toe assembly comprises a cable guide for maintaining a portion of said cable below the level of said first and second lengths of flexible cable and below the level of said boot when a toe end of said boot is engaged in said toe assembly, said cable guide defining a path that extends substantially around the base of said toe assembly; and

said toe assembly further comprising two support surfaces rearward of said cable guide for supporting said first and second lengths.

7. The binding of claim 6 wherein said cable extends from said first end forward toward said toe assembly, over a first one of said support surfaces, along said cable guide substantially around said toe assembly, over a second one of said support surfaces toward said first end of said cable, through a passageway in said retention structure toward said second end of said cable, toward said first one of said support surfaces, along said cable guide substantially around said toe assembly, over said second one of said support surfaces and longitudinally to said second end of said cable.

8. The binding of claim 1 wherein said retention structure comprises an elongated plate extending generally along the longitudinal axis of said binding.

9. The binding of claim 8 further comprising an adjustment carriage selectively securable to said plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions and having at least one solid member extending from said plate to said heel carriage.

10. The binding of claim 9 wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage or in said heel carriage, and is biased to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.

11. The binding of claim 9 wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage and is biased by a spring to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.

12. The binding of claim 11 wherein said solid member is U-shaped, with the legs of the U slidably extending through said adjustment carriage, and wherein a spring is mounted on each of said legs.

13. The binding of claim 10 wherein said biasing is by means of a spring, and said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.

14. The binding of claim 13 wherein said abutment surface is formed by a bolt threaded onto said solid member.

15. The binding of claim 12 wherein said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.

16. The binding of claim 1 wherein said heel carriage comprises:

a heel mount for receiving the bottom portion of the heel of a boot, said heel mount having a first pivot point and being selectively pivotable in the vertical plane; and

a heel throw mounted on an upper portion of said heel mount, said heel throw having a second pivot point and being pivotable in the vertical plane.

17. The binding of claim 16 further comprising a latch attachable to a ski rearward of said toe assembly, said elongated plate being selectively securable to said latch.

18. The binding of claim 17 wherein said heel mount is selectively securable so as to prevent pivoting thereof.

19. The binding of claim t8 wherein said heel throw has a heel throw tongue projecting forward from the heel throw, said heel throw tongue engaging a groove on the heel of a boot, when said boot is placed in said binding.

20. The binding of claim 14 or 15 wherein said solid member has a cam associated therewith, said cam being actuatable between a first position or a second position, said first position being one in which said spring is less compressed and said second position being one in which said spring is more compressed.

21. A ski binding comprising:

a toe assembly adapted to receive fasteners for fastening said toe assembly to a ski, a heel carriage for receiving the heel end of a ski boot, an elongated plate extending between said toe assembly and said heel carriage, said toe assembly, heel carriage and plate being arranged along a longitudinal axis of said binding;

a first length of flexible cabling extending diagonally across said longitudinal axis between said plate and said toe assembly, and a second length of flexible cabling extending diagonally across said longitudinal axis between said plate and said toe assembly, such that said first and second lengths of cabling are arranged in an X configuration about said longitudinal axis and in a horizontal plane;

said heel carriage being mounted on said plate so as to be slidable in relation thereto along the longitudinal axis of said binding and being biased in the direction of said toe assembly.

22. The binding of claim 21 farther comprising an adjustment carriage securable to said plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions, and at least one solid member extending between said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage.

23. The binding of claim 22, wherein said heel carriage is located rearward along said longitudinal axis in relation to said adjustment carriage.

24. The binding of claim 22 wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage or in said heel carriage, and is biased to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.

25. The binding of claim 22 wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage and is biased by a spring to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.

26. The binding of claim 25 wherein said solid member is U-shaped, with the legs of the U slidably extending through said adjustment carriage, and wherein a spring is mounted on each of said legs.

27. The binding of claim 22 wherein said biasing is by means of a spring, and said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.

28. The binding of claim 27 wherein said abutment surface is formed by a bolt threaded onto said solid member.

29. The binding of claim 26 wherein said solid member includes an abutment surface adjustable on said solid member to selectively compress said spring.

30. A ski binding comprising:

a toe assembly;

a heel carriage comprising a heel mount and a heel throw;

said toe assembly and said heel carriage being arranged along a longitudinal axis of said binding;

said heel mount being for receiving the bottom portion of the heel of a boot;

said heel mount having a first pivot point and being pivotable in the vertical plane;

said heel throw having a second pivot point and being pivotable in the vertical plane;

said second pivot point being the location of mounting of the heel throw to an upper portion of said heel mount;.

31. The binding of claim 30 further comprising a latch attachable to a ski rearward of said toe assembly, said heel carriage being selectively securable to said latch.

32. The binding of claim 31 wherein said heel mount is selectively securable so as to prevent pivoting thereof.

33. The binding of claim 32 wherein said heel throw has a heel throw tongue projecting forward from the heel throw, said heel throw tongue engaging a groove on the heel of a boot when said boot is placed in said binding.

34. The binding of claim 33 further comprising an elongated plate extending between said toe assembly and said heel carriage.

35. The binding of claim 34 wherein said heel carriage is mounted on said plate so as to be slidable in relation thereto along the longitudinal axis of said binding and is biased in displacement toward said toe assembly.

36. The binding of claim 35 further comprising an adjustment carriage securable to said plate at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions, and at least one solid member extending between said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage.

37. The binding of claim 36 wherein said solid member is slidably retained in said adjustment carriage or in said heel carriage, and is biased by a spring to urge said heel carriage and said adjustment carriage toward abutment with one another.

38. The binding of claim 37 wherein said solid member has a cam associated therewith, said cam being actuatable between a first position or a second position, said first position being one in which said spring is less compressed and said second position being one in which said spring is more compressed.

39. The binding of claim 38 further comprising a flexible cabling connecting said heel carriage to said toe assembly, said cabling defining an X configuration about said longitudinal axis.