Binding for the practice of skiing

Abstract

The invention relates to a binding for a boot on a ski, including a toe-piece, a connection member having a front end secured to the ski and a rear end, the connection member being provided with a hook-engagement structure, a rear base adapted to be attached to the ski and a hooking mechanism associated with the rear base. The hooking mechanism includes a gripping member which is movable with respect to the rear base and is capable of moving into a first position in which it engages the hook-engagement structure of the connection member so as to limit a vertical movement of the rear end of the connection member, and a first return member exerting a force on the gripping member so as to move the latter toward the toe-piece. The binding also includes a heel-piece connected to the rear portion of the connection member. The longitudinal position of the heel-piece in relation to the connection member is adjustable.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A binding for a boot on a ski, the binding comprising:
 a toe-piece;   a connection member comprising a front end to be secured to the ski and a rear end, the connection member being provided with a hook engagement structure;   a rear base to be fixed to the ski;   a hooking mechanism associated with the rear base, the hooking mechanism comprising:
 a gripping member movable in relation to the rear base and structured and arranged to be placed in a first position in cooperation with the hook-engagement structure of the connection member so as to limit vertical displacement of the rear end of the connection member; 
 a first return member exerting a force on the gripping member so as to move the gripping member toward the first position; 
   a heel-piece connected to a rear portion of the connection member;   a longitudinal position adjustment mechanism to enable longitudinal position adjustment of the heel-piece in relation to the connection member.   
     
     
         17 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the longitudinal position-adjustment mechanism comprises an elastic member located between a body of the heel-piece supporting a mechanism for retaining the boot and a fastening element longitudinally affixed to the connection member;   the elastic member exerting a return force on the body of the heel-piece, in a direction of the toe-piece, along an axis substantially longitudinal to the connection member.   
     
     
         18 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an adjusting device structured and arranged to adjust the return force of the elastic member.   
     
     
         19 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first return member exerts a compensating force on the hook engagement structure of the connection member, in the direction of the toe-piece, along an axis substantially longitudinal to the ski.   
     
     
         20 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an adjusting device structured and arranged to adjust the compensation force of the first return member.   
     
     
         21 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 a force on the gripping member moves the first return member toward the first position.   
     
     
         22 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the toe-piece is structured and arranged to be pivotally mounted about an axis transverse to the ski.   
     
     
         23 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the toe-piece is structured and arranged to be fixed in relation to a front base fixed to the ski.   
     
     
         24 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the connection member is structured and arranged to be flexible in movement about an axis transverse to the ski.   
     
     
         25 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the gripping member is positioned in an area of the heel-piece or between the heel-piece and the toe-piece.   
     
     
         26 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the gripping member comprises at least two hooks arranged on respective sides of a median plane of the rear base;   the hooks being structured and arranged to cooperate with at least one fitting of the connection member, the fitting forming the hook engagement structure.   
     
     
         27 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the gripping member is mounted to slide longitudinally in relation to the rear base between first and second positions;   the gripping member fixing the connection member to the rear base in the first locking position and releasing the connection member relative to the rear base in the second unlocking position.   
     
     
         28 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the hooking mechanism comprises:
 a retaining member affixed to the rear base, the retaining member being movably mounted between first and second positions relative to the rear base; 
 the retaining member having an actuation surface structured and arranged to be manipulated by a user in order to move the retaining member from the first position to the second position; 
 the first position of the retaining member freeing passage of the gripping member from the second position to the first position; 
 the second position of the retaining member retaining the gripping member in the second position; 
 a release member having an actuation surface structured and arranged to be manipulated by the user, the actuation surface having an axial bias driving the gripping member toward the second position. 
   
     
     
         29 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a second return member biasing the retaining member toward the second position.   
     
     
         30 . A binding for a boot on a ski according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a retractable stop retaining the gripping member in the first position in the absence of bias of the release member, and freeing the sliding of the gripping member from the first position to the second position when an axial force is applied to the actuation surface of the release member.