Heel unit with climbing aid for an alpine touring binding

Abstract

A heel unit for an alpine touring binding, comprising a binding body which is suitable for holding a heel portion of an alpine touring shoe in a downhill position of the heel unit and for releasing the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe in an alpine touring position of the heel unit, such that the alpine touring shoe can lift off the heel unit, and a climbing aid which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein, while in the active position, the climbing aid supports the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe at a predetermined height above a sliding board plane in the alpine touring position of the heel unit, wherein the climbing aid is biased over the entire path of movement thereof into the active position by means of a flexible element and can be locked in the passive position.

1 . A heel unit for an alpine touring binding, comprising:
 a binding body configured for holding a heel portion of an alpine touring shoe in a downhill position of the heel unit and for releasing the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe in an alpine touring position of the heel unit, wherein the alpine touring shoe can lift off the heel unit; and   a climbing aid which is adjustable between an active position and a passive position, wherein, while in the active position, the climbing aid supports the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe at a predetermined height above a sliding board plane in the alpine touring position of the heel unit, and wherein the climbing aid is biased over the entire path of movement thereof into the active position by means of a flexible element and can be locked in the passive position.   
     
     
         2 . The heel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the climbing aid is pivotably mounted on the heel unit. 
     
     
         3 . The heel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the climbing aid is arranged on the heel unit so as to be linearly displaceable. 
     
     
         4 . The heel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the climbing aid is a first climbing aid and the heel unit further comprises a second climbing aid
 wherein the second climbing aid is adjustable between a second climbing aid active position and a second climbing aid passive position; and   wherein, while in the second climbing aid active position, the second climbing aid supports the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe at a second predetermined height above the sliding board plane in the alpine touring position of the heel unit, wherein the second predetermined height is higher than the predetermined height of the first climbing aid.   
     
     
         5 . The heel unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the second climbing aid is mounted on the first climbing aid. 
     
     
         6 . The heel unit according to  claim 4 , wherein first climbing aid can be locked in the passive position by the second climbing aid. 
     
     
         7 . The heel unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the first climbing aid is configured to transfer the second climbing aid into a standby position during the adjustment of the first climbing aid from the passive position into the active position, the standby position being located between the second climbing aid passive position and the second climbing aid active position. 
     
     
         8 . The heel unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the flexible element provides a spring force both for the first climbing aid and for the second climbing aid. 
     
     
         9 . A heel unit for an alpine touring binding, comprising:
 a binding body configured for holding a heel portion of an alpine touring shoe in a downhill position of the heel unit and for releasing the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe in an alpine touring position of the heel unit, such that the alpine touring shoe can lift off the heel unit;   a first climbing aid which is adjustable between a first climbing aid active position and a first climbing aid passive position, wherein, while in the first climbing aid active position, the first climbing aid supports the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe at a first predetermined height above a sliding board plane in the alpine touring position of the heel unit; and   a second climbing aid which is adjustable between a second climbing aid active position and a second climbing aid passive position, wherein, while in the second climbing aid active position, the second climbing aid supports the heel portion of the alpine touring shoe at a second predetermined height above the sliding board plane in the alpine touring position of the heel unit, wherein the second predetermined height is higher than the first predetermined height, wherein the first climbing aid is configured to transfer the second climbing aid into a standby position during the adjustment of the first climbing aid from the first climbing aid passive position into the first climbing aid active position, the standby position being located between the second climbing aid passive position and the second climbing aid active position.   
     
     
         10 . The heel unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the first climbing aid is pivotably mounted on the heel unit. 
     
     
         11 . The heel unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the first climbing aid is mounted on the heel unit so as to be linearly displaceable. 
     
     
         12 . The heel unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the second climbing aid is mounted on the first climbing aid. 
     
     
         13 . The heel unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the first climbing aid is biased into the active position by means of a flexible element over the entire path of movement thereof and can be locked in the passive position. 
     
     
         14 . The heel unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the flexible element provides a spring force both for the first climbing aid and for the second climbing aid. 
     
     
         15 . The heel unit according to either  claim 13 , wherein the first climbing aid can be locked in the passive position by the second climbing aid. 
     
     
         16 . The heel according to  claim 1 , wherein the climbing aid is pivotably mounted on the binding body. 
     
     
         17 . The heel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the climbing aid is arranged on the binding body, so as to be linearly displaceable. 
     
     
         18 . The heel unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the flexible element is configured to transfer the second climbing aid into a standby position during the adjustment of the first climbing aid from the passive position into the active position, the standby position being located between the second climbing aid passive position and the second climbing aid active position.