Telemark binding assembly

Abstract

A binding assembly is provided for an elongate ski. The binding assembly receives a boot having a toe portion and a heel portion. The assembly comprises a toe piece mountable to the ski for receiving at least a portion of the toe portion of the boot. A heel piece is spaced from the toe piece with the heel piece for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot. A spring mechanism connects the heel piece to the toe piece. A cam member is rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with the heel portion of the boot with the cam member releasably retaining the boot within the heel piece wherein upon the heel portion contacting and rotating the cam member, the spring mechanism releasably secures the heel portion within the heel piece.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A binding assembly for an elongate ski, the binding assembly receiving a boot having a toe portion and a heel portion, the assembly comprising: 
 a toe piece mountable to the ski for receiving at least a portion of the toe portion of the boot;    a heel piece spaced from the toe piece, the heel piece for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot;    spring means for connecting the heel piece to the toe piece; and    a cam member rotatably mounted to the heel piece and contactable with the heel portion of the boot, the cam member releasably maintaining the boot within the heel piece;    wherein upon the heel portion contacting and rotating the cam member, the spring means releasably secures the heel portion within the heel piece.    
     
     
         2 . The binding assembly of  claim 1  wherein the toe piece inhibits the toe portion from moving transversely relative to the ski.  
     
     
         3 . The binding assembly of  claim 1  wherein the spring means includes a first spring member having a first end and a second end and a second spring member having a first end and a second end.  
     
     
         4 . The binding assembly of  claim 3  wherein the first end of the first spring member and the first end of the second spring member are pivotally secured to the toe piece.  
     
     
         5 . The binding assembly of  claim 3  wherein the second end of the first spring member and the second end of the second spring member are attached to the heel piece.  
     
     
         6 . The binding assembly of  claim 3  wherein the first spring member and the second spring member include a first rod secured to the toe piece and a second rod secured to the heel piece, and further includes an encased spring securing the first rod to the second rod.  
     
     
         7 . The binding assembly of  claim 1  wherein the heel piece includes a heel aperture and the cam member includes a cam aperture alignable with the heel aperture, and further comprising: 
 a pin receivable within the heel aperture and the cam aperture allowing rotation of the cam member about the pin relative to the heel piece.  
 
     
     
         8 . The binding assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cam member includes a heel receiving slot sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot upon insertion of the heel portion of the boot.  
     
     
         9 . The binding assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 biasing means for biasing the cam member in an unloaded, first position.    
     
     
         10 . A method for mounting a boot within a binding system on a ski, the method comprising: 
 providing a toe piece;    mounting the toe piece on the ski;    providing a heel piece spaced from the toe piece;    rotatably mounting a cam member to the heel piece;    connecting the heel piece to the toe piece with spring means;    inserting a toe portion of the boot into the toe piece;    contacting the cam member with the heel portion of the boot;    rotating the cam member with the heel portion of the boot until the heel portion of the boot is seated into the heel piece; and    tensioning the spring means to releasably securely maintain the boot between the toe piece and the heel piece.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the spring means includes a first spring member having a first end and a second end and a second spring member having a first end and a second end, and further comprising: 
 pivotally connecting the first end of the first spring member and the first end of the second spring member to the toe piece; and  
 attaching the second end of the first spring member and the second end of the second spring member to the heel piece.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first spring member and the second spring member further comprise: 
 a first rod secured to the toe piece;  
 a second rod secured to the heel piece; and  
 an encased spring securing the first rod to the second rod.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , and further comprising: 
 forming a heel aperture in the heel piece;    forming a cam aperture in the cam member    aligning the heel aperture with the cam aperture;    inserting a pin within the heel aperture and the cam aperture thereby allowing rotation of the cam member about the pin relative to the heel piece.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , and further comprising: 
 forming a heel receiving slot in the cam member, the heel receiving slot sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot upon insertion of the heel portion of the boot.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , and further comprising: 
 biasing the cam member in an unloaded, first position.    
     
     
         16 . A binding system for skiing activities, the binding system comprising: 
 a toe piece mountable to the ski;    a free heel piece spaced from the toe piece;    cam means rotatably mounted to the heel piece for releasably maintaining a boot within the heel piece;    means for connecting the heel piece to the toe piece and tensioning the heel piece in a general direction toward the toe piece.    
     
     
         17 . The binding system of  claim 16  wherein the spring means includes a first spring member having a first end and a second end and a second spring member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first spring member and the first end of the second spring member are pivotally secured to the toe piece and the second end of the first spring member and the second end of the second spring member are attached to the heel piece.  
     
     
         18 . The binding system of  claim 17  wherein the first spring member and the second spring member include a first rod secured to the toe piece and a second rod secured to the heel piece, and further includes an encased spring securing the first rod to the second rod.  
     
     
         19 . The binding system of  claim 16  wherein the heel piece includes a heel aperture and the cam member includes a cam aperture alignable with the heel aperture, and further comprising: 
 a pin receivable within the heel aperture and the cam aperture allowing rotation of the cam member about the pin relative to the heel piece.  
 
     
     
         20 . The binding system of  claim 16  wherein the cam member includes a heel receiving slot sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the heel portion of the boot upon insertion of the heel portion of the boot.