Nordic ski boot support and attachment structure

Abstract

A Nordic ski boot support and attachment mechanism ( 100 ) having a toe piece 102 that slidably engages a ski 90 , a lever ( 106 ) that is pivotably attached to the toe piece, a rigid forefoot support 110 that is fixedly attached to the lever, a heel support ( 120 ) that is pivotably attached to the forefoot support, and an ankle support ( 130 ) that is pivotably attached to the heel support. The lever engages the toe piece at the left and right side, including a moment arm therebetween that is at least one half inch long. The lever may include a recess 107 that engages a rearward projection on the toe piece. A heel piece ( 140 ) is also slidably disposed on the ski providing a second projection ( 141 ). The heel support includes an engagement member ( 122 ) that engages the second projection when the lever is in the down position.

1 . A Nordic ski boot support structure and attachment mechanism comprising: 
 a toe piece that is adapted to engage a ski, the toe piece having a right boss, and a left boss that is separated a distance from the right boss;    a lever pivotably connected to the toe piece to pivot about a first pivot axis, the lever engaging the left boss and the right boss such that the lever is pivotable between an up position and a down position;    a rigid forefoot support having a base portion and left and right sidewalls, the forefoot support being fixed to the lever;    a heel support having left and right sidewalls that are pivotably attached to the left and right sidewalls of the forefoot support such that the heel support is pivotable with respect to the forefoot support about a second pivot axis;    an ankle support pivotably attached to the left and right sidewalls of the heel support such that the ankle support is pivotably with respect to the heel support about a third pivot axis.    
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the toe piece further comprises a rear portion defining an upwardly-extending first projection, and the lever further comprises a recess adapted to engage the first projection when the lever is in the down position.  
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the toe piece is adapted to slidably and adjustably engage the ski.  
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising a heel piece defining a second upwardly-extending projection, and further comprising an engagement member extending downwardly from the heel support, wherein the engagement member engages the second projection when the lever is in the down position.  
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the engagement member defines a channel that slidably engages the second projection such that the engagement member and second projection can move longitudinally relative to each other.  
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the heel piece is adapted to slidably and adjustably engage the ski.  
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the left boss is spaced a distance of at least one half inch from the right boss.  
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid forefoot support is formed from one of a rigid composite material and an injection molded plastic.  
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the lever is formed from a lightweight metal.  
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis and the third pivot axis are all approximately horizontal.  
     
     
         11 . A Nordic ski boot support structure and attachment mechanism comprising: 
 a toe piece that is adapted to engage a ski, the toe piece having a right boss, and a left boss that is separated a distance from the right boss;    a rigid forefoot support having left and right sidewalls, the forefoot further comprising a transverse member that engages the right boss and the left boss of the toe piece;    a heel support having left and right sidewalls that are pivotably attached to the left and right sidewalls of the forefoot support such that the heel support is pivotable with respect to the forefoot support about a second pivot axis;    an ankle support pivotably attached to the left and right sidewalls of the heel support such that the ankle support is pivotably with respect to the heel support about a third pivot axis.    
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the toe piece further comprises a rear portion defining an upwardly-extending first projection, and the lever further comprises a recess adapted to engage the first projection when the lever is in the down position.  
     
     
         13 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the toe piece is adapted to slidably and adjustably engage the ski.  
     
     
         14 . The mechanism of  claim 13 , further comprising a heel piece defining a second upwardly-extending projection, and further comprising an engagement member extending downwardly from the heel support, wherein the engagement member engages the second projection when the lever is in the down position.  
     
     
         15 . The mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement member defines a channel that slidably engages the second projection such that the engagement member and second projection can move longitudinally relative to each other.  
     
     
         16 . The mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the heel piece is adapted to slidably and adjustably engage the ski.  
     
     
         17 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the left boss is spaced a distance of at least one half inch from the right boss.  
     
     
         18 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid forefoot support is formed from one of a rigid composite material and an injection molded plastic.  
     
     
         19 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis and the third pivot axis are all approximately horizontal.