Filed Aug. 15 1955 2 Sheets—Sheet 1 10
United States Patent Office

Patented Jan. 6 1959
so that the skier's person is protected from injury. The binding that I have provided may be the same for each ski right or left and in the drawings I have illustrated the typical ski X utilizing the binding of the present
5 invention which involves generally a toe binding Y and a heel binding Z. The boot 10 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is secured to the central portion of the ski X by means of the bindings Y and Z. The bindings Y and Z are held in place on the ski X by means of screw fasteners
10 11 or the like and a suitable sole plate 12 may be provided to occur between the bindings Y and Z as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
The toe binding Y that I have provided involves gen-
erally a housing A a horizontal cam B a vertical cam C
This invention relates to a safety ski binding : and is 15 a cam follower D operating the cams B and C a pres-
particularly concerned with a boot or foot releasing . sure exerting means E an adjusting means F and a toe
mechansim for skis it being a general object of the in- lug G. The pressure exerting means E is a variable

SAFETY SKI BINDING
Gaffron D. Mueller Los Angeles Calif.
Application August 15 1955 Serial No. 528 200
5 Claims. (CL 280—1L35)
vention to provide an adjustable apparatus for application to skis in order to bind the boot or foot to the ski so that it is releasable when excessive strains are applied.
The sport of skiing is widespread and various devices and systems have been provided to release the boot or foot of the skier from the ski when excessive strains are encountered. However such devices are apparently not altogether satisfactory since injury to persons still occur when using such devices. The devices referred to are not universal in action and therefore release the boot or foot only under certain conditions. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a ski binding having universal action. That is a binding that is sensitive to release in a horizontal as well as in a vertical plane.
Another object of this invention is to provide a toe binding that is adjustable to release at the desired pressure and in a horizontal as well as vertical plane. For example the binding provided by this invention releases the toe of the boot from either side of the ski and from the top thereof.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a heel binding that is adjustable to release at the desired pressure in a vertical plane. For example the heel binding releases the boot so that it is free to move upwardly from the top of the ski.
The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective drawing of a typical ski and the bindings provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed plan view of the bindings and the ski shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by line 3—3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4—4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure taken as indicated by line 5—5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6—6 on Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 7—7 on Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 8—8 on Fig. 6 and Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views illustrating the toe and heel fittings that I have provided and which are applied to the boot of the skier and which cooperate with the binding elements that are applied to the skis in accordance with the invention.
The present invention has to do with releasably securing the boot or foot of the skier to the ski in a manner that is safe in that the boot is automatically released from the ski at a set predetermined pressure. With the binding that I have provided the mechanisms in the toe and heel of the boot are individually adjustable and can be set to release at a point which is below the danger point
means and is under control of the adjusting means F and the toe lug G is adapted to be secured to the boot 10
20 at the toe thereof to project forwardly therefrom and to be engaged with the cams B and C.
In Fig. 9 of the drawings I have illustrated a typical toe lug G that involves a forwardly projecting vertically disposed circular wall 25 engageable with the cam B and
25 a top horizontally disposed fiat wall 26 engageable with the cam C. Suitable laterally extending ears 13 are provided on the lug G and are provided with openings 14 to receive screw fasteners or the like for securing the lug G to the toe of the boot 10.
30 The housing A of the binding Y may vary widely in size and proportioning and as shown is generally triangular in plan configuration having a vertically disposed rear wall 15 forwardly converging side walls 16 and a bottom 17. A cover plate 18 fits over the top of the
35 housing A. As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings a chamber 19 is established within the walls of the housing for enclosing the mechanism of the binding Y and suitable flanges 10 are provided with openings 21 to receive the fasteners 11 for securing the binding Y to the ski X. In
40 practice the binding Y is secured to the ski so that the
rear wall 15 thereof is at the toe end of the boot 10.
In accordance with the invention the binding Y is adapted to release the boot 10 under pressure in a horizontal plane. In Figs. 6 7 and 8 of the drawings
45 I have illustrated the horizontal cam B that is pivotally carried by the housing A on a vertical axis to swing in a horizontal plane. A vertically disposed pivot pin 22 projects from the bottom 17 and rotatably carries the cam B that projects rearwardly from the housing
50 A to engage with the wall 25 of the lug G. The cam
B is provided with an arcuately shaped concave recess 24 to fit with the lug G and it will be apparent that the cam is free to rotate in a horizontal plane to the end that the lug is shiftable from side to side and en-
55 gages in the recess 24.
In accordance with the invention the binding Y is
adapted to release the. boot 10 under pressure in a
vertical plane. In Figs. 6 7 and 8 of the drawings
I have illustrated the vertical cam C that is pivotally
60 carried by the housing on a horizontally disposed axis
to swing in a vertical plane. A horizontally disposed
pivot pin 23 is carried by the housing A preferably
by the plate 18 thereof and rotatably carries the cam
C that projects rearwardly from the housing to engage
6u with the wall 26 of the lug G. The cam C is provided
with a downwardly faced shoulder 27 engageable with
the wall 26 of the lug and it will be apparent that the
cam C is free to rotate in a vertical plane to the end
that the lug G is shiftable vertically and engages with
70 the shoulder 27.
The. cams B and C above described project from the
€67 44'7
3 4
othe housing A to extend from the chamber 19 to the exterior and foot of the skier directly to the lug G' and to the
        housing through slots 28 and 29 respectively that binding mechanism that is secured to the ski.
are provided in the walls of the housing. The housing A' of the binding Z has vertically dis-
        The cam follower D that I have provided to operate posed side walls 116 a bottom 117 and a top 118. The
the cams B and c is shiftable -longitudinally of the side walls 116 are spaced parallel walls while the bottom
housing A and is carried in the chamber 19. As illus- 117 is a flat horizontally disposed element supported by
heated the follower D is guided in the chamber 19 and the ski X. The top 118 may be arcuate as shown to
is provided with ears 30 that are slidably engaged in extend rearwardly and downwardly where it joins with
_ g ideways 31 so that the follower D is free to shift the bottom 117: In the preferred form of the invention
forwardly and rearwardly in the housing. The follower 10 the bottom 117 has a forward extension 120 provided
D is characterized by a flat vertically disposed cam with spaced side ears 121 for laterally positioning the
engaging face 32 that faces rearwardly. heel of the boot 10. In practice the binding Z is secured
        As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings to the ski X by the fasteners 11 so that the forward end
the cam B has a pair of follower engaging lobes 34 and of the housing A' is at the heel end-of the boot 10.
35 and the cam C has a follower engaging lobe 36. 15 In accordance with the invention the binding Z is
The cam lobes 34 35 and 36 are at the forward sides adapted to release the boot 10 under pressure in a vertical
of the cams and have flat faces 37 38 and 39 respec- plane. In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings I have illustrated
lively engageable with the follower face 32 to normally the vertical cam C' that is pivotally carried by the housing
_position the parts as shown throughout the drawings. A' on a horizontal axis to swing in a vertical plane. A
The lobes 34 and 35 occur one at each side of the cam 20 horizontally disposed pivot pin 123 is carried by the
B with the faces 37 and 38 joined together at the center housing A' between the side walls 116 thereof and -rota-
of the cam to form a straight line so that with the faces tably carries the cam C' which projects forwardly from
37 and 38 engaged with the face 32 the parts are the housing A' to engage with the wall 226 of the _lug
positioned as shown in Fig. 7. The lobe 36 occurs at G'. The cam C' is provided with -a forwardly opening
the top of the cam C above the pivotal axis thereof 25 _recess 127 engageable with the wall 226 of -the lug G'.
with the face 39 engaged with the face 32 when the It will be apparent that the cam C' is free to rotate in
parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 6. From the fore- ac vertical plane on a horizontal axis and engages the cam.
going it will be apparent that the lateral or upward The cam C' projects from the open front end of the
movement of the lug G will tend to rotate the cams housing A'.
B or C to cause the follower D to shift forward by 30 - The cam follower D' is provided to operate the cam action of the lobes 34 35 and 36 on the follower face c and is shiftable longitudinally of the body A' and is
32. carried in a chamber 119 within the housing. As illus-
        The pressure exerting means E is provided to bias trated the follower D' is rectangular in cross sectional
the follower D in order to yieldingly urge the follower configuration and occupies the chamber 119 to engage
into pressure engagement with the lobes of the cams 35 with parallel portions of the top and bottom walls there-
B and C. The means E is preferably a spring means of to be guided thereby. The follower D' is characterized
and as shown involves a compression spring 40 carried by a flat vertically disposed cam engaging face 132 that
on a guide 41 that projects forwardly from the follower faces forwardly and as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the
D. A suitable spacer 42 establishes the desired initial drawings the cam C' has two adjacent lobes134 and 135
spacing tension as circumstances require. 40 each with a flat follower engaging face 137 and 138 re-
The adjusting means F is provided to set the pressure spectively. The lobe 135 is related to the recess 127
exerting means E and is preferably a simple screw means or is positioned diametrically opposite the recess 127
involving a shiftable abutment 45 in the form of a to hold the said recess in a down position when engaged
screw threaded into the housing A at the forward end with the follower (as; shown) while the lobe 134 isposh. thereof. The abutment 45 has a rear end face 46 that 45 boned above the lobe 135 so that when the lobe 134 is
acts to stop and position the forward end of the spring engaged by the follower D' the recess .127 is in an up
40. The abutment 45 is threaded into an opening 47 position. With the . faces 137 and 138 related as shown
in the housing A and has an operator 48 accessible at there is a raised portion between the lobes of the cam
the exterior of the housing so that it is engageable by C' that resists movement of the cam between the two pothe skier to adjust the mechanism to the desired releas- 50 sitions above referred to.
ing pressure. The pressure exerting means E' and the adjusting
The heel binding Z that I have provided involves means F' may be identical with the means E and F here-
generally a housing A' a vertical cam C' a cam fol.. inabove described.
lower D' operating the cam C' a pressure exerting In addition to the foregoing elements the binding Z means E and adjusting means F' and a heel lug G'. 55 may also involve a follower shifting cam 90 and a
The elements A' C' D' E' F' and G' of the hind- manually operable lever 91. The cam 90 is rotatably
ing Z correspond generally with the elements A C carried between the walls 116 of the housing and has a
D E F and G above described in connection with -lobe 92 engageable with a projection 93 on the follower
the binding Y. However since the binding Z is applied D' so that when the cam 90 is rotated the lobe acts
to the opposite end of the boot 10 variations are em- 60 against the projection 93 to shift the follower D' rear-
ployed in order to gain the desired features of wardly and away from the cam C'. A keyed or polyg-
operation. onal opening 94 extends through the cam 90 and the
In Fig. 10 of the drawings I have illustrated a typical lever 91 is provided with a keyed or polygonal shaft 95
heel lug G' that involves a rearwardly projecting part -that extends through the cam so that when the lever is
with a horizontally disposed circular wall 226 engage lifted or depressed as the case may be the cam is rotated
able with the cam C'. The lug G' is shown carried by to shift the follower D'. It will be apparent that the
a band 227 that extends around the rear of the heel shaft 92 inay be inserted through the cam 90 from either
of the boot 10 there being ears 213 provided with open- side thereof in order to provide both right and left hand installations of the lever.
tags 214 to receive screw fasteners or the like for 70 From the foregoing it will be apparent that I' have

securing the lug G' to the heel of the boot 10. The provided 227 is also provided with openings 215 to receive which has 'as an universal rnal action simple in ple that t and th reliable ski binding he boot-li) of -the skier
straps 216 that may be employed to extend over the is releasable both at the toe and heel thereof and in
top of the boot to hold the boot down (see Pig. .1). It both horizontal and vertical planes. With the structure ill be observed that the straps 246 :anchor the boot 70 described; pressure of the boptand-lugs against :thehind-
5
ing mechanisms does not affect the releasing characteristics thereof. The toe and heel of the boot are individually releasable at any desired predetermined pres-
sure depending upon the setting of the pressure exerting boot a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the means that I have provided. In practice the cams of 5 housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess
the binding Y are tightly engaged by the follower in order engaged with the lug and having a lobe and a spring to eliminate play. However the cam of the heel bind-
ing may be held spaced from the follower in order to establish the desired amount of play allowing the heel of the boot to be raised slightly from the ski. When it is desired to release the boot or foot from the binding it is merely necessary to operate the cam 90 so that the cam C' is free to rotate. As the lug G' leaves the heel binding the cam C' may be left in a position with the lobe 134 engaged with the follower 132 to the end that the recess is in an up position to again receive the lug G' when the skier wishes to re-enter the binding.

io heel of the boot in position on the ski.
3. A binding for releasably securing a boot to a ski
6
for releasably securing the heel of the boot to the ski and including a heel lug projecting from the boot a housing carried by the ski adjacent the heel end of the
biased follower with a flat face engaged with said lobe to resist turning of the cam said lobe being engaged by the follower to normally position the cam to retain the
including a lug projecting from the boot a housing
carried by the ski adjacent one end of the boot a cam
rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpen-15 dicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug
and a spring biased follower with a flat face and operat-
ing the cam said cam having laterally spaced lobes
That is the skier merely steps into the binding by first with straight aligned faces engaging said follower face placing the toe lug G in place and then putting his weight
on the heel lug G'.
Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:
Having described my invention I claim:
1. In combination a toe binding for releasably secur- with a recess engaged with the lug each cam having a
ing the toe of a boot to a ski and including a toe lug lobe and a spring biased follower with a flat face en-projecting from the boot a housing carried by the ski 30 gaged with said lobes to resist turning of the cams.
adjacent the toe end of the boot a horizontally disposed 5. A binding for releasably securing a boot to a ski
cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical per- including a lug projecting from the boot a housing
pendicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug carried by the ski adjacent the end of the boot a ver-
and a spring biased follower with a flat face and operat- tically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing ing the cam said cam having laterally spaced lobes with 35 on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged
straight aligned faces engaging said follower face to nor- with the lug a horizontally disposed cam rotatably car-
mally position the recess to retain the toe of the boot in ried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and
position on the ski and a heel binding for releasably with a recess engaged with the lug and a spring biased
securing the heel of the boot to the ski and including follower with a flat face and operating the cams each of a heel lug projecting from the boot a housing carried 40 said cams having lobes engaging said follower face to
by the ski adjacent the heel end of the boot a vertically normally position the cams to retain the boot in position
disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a on the ski.
horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with
the lug and a spring biased follower with a flat face References Cited in the file of this patent
engaged with the cam said cam having a lobe with a 45 UNITED STATES PATENTS
to normally position the recess to retain the boot in 20 position on the ski.
4: A binding for releasably securing a boot to a ski
including a lug projecting from the boot a housing
carried by the ski adjacent the end of the boot a ver-
tically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing
25 on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged
with the lug a horizontally disposed cam rotatably car-
ried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and
face engaging said follower face to normally position the recess to retain the heel of the boot in position on the ski. 2. In combination a toe binding for releasably secur- ing the toe of a boot to a ski and including a toe lug projecting from the boot a housing carried by the ski 50
adjacent the toe end of the boot a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with the lug a horizontally disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and with a recess 55 engaged with the lug each cam having a lobe and a spring biased follower with a flat face engaged with said lobes to resist turning of the cams and a heel binding
2 573 955 Cubberley Nov. 6 1951
2616 714 Cubberley Nov. 4 1952
2 676 813 Beyl Apr. 27 1954
2 705 150 Hansen Mar. 29 1955
        FOREIGN PATENTS
846 997 France June 19 1939
925 155 France Mar. 24 1947
1 101 741 France Apr. 27 1955
17 165 Norway Aug. 25 1906
241 681 Switzerland Aug. 16 1946
259 478 Switzerland June 16 1949
281 158 Switzerland June 3 1952