Coupling element for a ski boot and ski boot

Abstract

The invention provides a coupling element ( 16 ) for a ski boot ( 10 ), comprising fastening means ( 18 l, 18 r , 20 ) for fastening the coupling element ( 16 ) to a heel region of a ski boot ( 10 ) and two contact portions ( 30 l, 30 r ) arranged either side of a vertical boot center plane (E) extending in the longitudinal direction of the boot, against which contact portions pins ( 31 l, 31 r ) projecting forwards from an automatic heel mechanism of a ski binding bear in a downhill position of the ski binding and out of which the pins ( 31 l, 31 r ) slide in the event of fall release of the ski binding ( 10 ) once a release force acting on the ski boot has been overcome, the fastening means ( 18 l, 18 r , 20 ) comprising a central fastening point ( 20 ), which is arranged between the two contact portions ( 30 l, 30 r ), the fastening means ( 18 l, 18 r ) further comprising two outer fastening points ( 18 l, 18 r ), which are arranged laterally outside the contact portions ( 30 l, 30 r ) with regard to the boot center plane (E), and the coupling element ( 16 ) comprising two arm portions ( 26 l, 26 r ) extending laterally outwards with regard to the boot center plane (E), which arm portions each extend towards the outer fastening points ( 18 l, 18 r ).

1 . A coupling element ( 16 ) for a ski boot ( 10 ), comprising
 fastening means ( 18   l ,  18   r ,  20 ) for fastening the coupling element ( 16 ) to a heel region of a ski boot ( 10 ),   two contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ) arranged either side of a vertical boot center plane (E) extending in the longitudinal direction of the boot, against which contact portions pins ( 31   l ,  31   r ) projecting forwards from an automatic heel mechanism of a ski binding bear in a downhill position of the ski binding, and off which the pins ( 31   l ,  31   r ) slide in the event of fall release of the ski binding ( 10 ) once a release force acting on the ski boot has been overcome,   the fastening means ( 18   l ,  18   r ,  20 ) comprising a central fastening point ( 20 ), which lies between the two contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ),   characterized in that   the fastening means ( 18   l ,  18   r ,  20 ) further comprises two outer fastening points ( 18   l ,  18   r ), which are arranged laterally outside the contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ) with regard to the boot center plane (E), and   the coupling element ( 16 ) comprises two arm portions ( 26   l ,  26   r ) extending laterally outwards with regard to the boot center plane (E), which arm portions each extend towards the outer fastening points ( 18   l ,  18   r ).   
     
     
         2 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling element ( 16 ) comprises a central portion ( 24 ), on which the central fastening point ( 20 ) is arranged, the arm portions ( 26   l ,  26   r ) extending out from the central portion ( 24 ) substantially in mutually opposing directions. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 ,  claim 2 , characterized in that the coupling element ( 16 ) comprises a central portion ( 24 ), on which the central fastening point ( 20 ) is arranged, the contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ) being arranged on opposing lateral edge portions of the central portion ( 24 ) and each comprising a groove ( 30   l ,  30   r ) for accommodating a pin ( 31   l ,  31   r ) of the automatic heel mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the arm portions ( 26   l ,  26   r ) extend outwards in the manner of wings above the contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ). 
     
     
         5 . The coupling element as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the outer fastening points ( 18   l ,  18   r ) are arranged in widened end portions ( 42   l ,  42   r ) of the arm portions ( 26   l ,  26   r ), preferably in downwardly widened end portions ( 42   l ,  42   r ) of the arm portions ( 26   l ,  26   r ). 
     
     
         6 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the fastening means comprise a through opening at least one of the fastening points ( 18   l ,  18   r ,  20 ). 
     
     
         7 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling element ( 16 ) has a substantially arcuate shape conformed to a heel region of a ski boot ( 10 ). 
     
     
         8 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a distance (y) between the outer fastening points ( 18   l ,  18   r ) is greater than roughly 20 mm, preferably greater than roughly 40 mm, particularly preferably greater than roughly 60 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling element ( 16 ) comprises at least one peg ( 36   l ,  36   r ) projecting on the boot side, which peg is inserted or insertable into a hole in the heel region of the ski boot ( 10 ) on fastening of the coupling element ( 16 ) to the ski boot ( 10 ). 
     
     
         10 . The coupling element as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling element is held at the central fastening point by means of a screw fastening and is held at the outer two fastening points only by in each case at least one projecting peg, which is inserted into a hole in the ski boot, or in that the coupling element is held at the central fastening point only by at least one peg projecting on the boot side, which is inserted into a hole in the ski boot, and is held at the outer two fastening points in each case by means of a screw fastening. 
     
     
         11 . The coupling element ( 16 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling element ( 16 ) is made from a metal casting and has a thickness at least in the region of its contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ) and/or above the contact portions which is greater than roughly 2.5 mm, preferably between roughly 3.5 mm and roughly 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A ski boot ( 10 ), which comprises an upper portion ( 12 ) and a sole portion ( 14 ), wherein a coupling element ( 16 ) according to  claim 1  is fastened to the sole portion ( 14 ) in a heel region of the sole portion ( 14 ). 
     
     
         13 . The ski boot ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , characterized in that coupling holes ( 48   l ,  48   r ) are provided in the heel region of the ski boot ( 10 ), in alignment with the two contact portions ( 30   l ,  30   r ) of the coupling element ( 16 ), in which holes there engage pins ( 31   l ,  31   r ) projecting forwards from an automatic heel mechanism of a ski binding and bearing on the contact portions ( 301 ,  30   r ).