Safety mechanism for use with snow sport boot and binding system

Abstract

An apparatus for charge-assisted release of a ski binding includes an explosive material, a battery, an electrical circuit, and a processor. The explosive material is mounted on or in a ski, a ski boot, and/or a ski binding. The apparatus also includes The electrical circuit extends from the explosive material to the battery, the electrical circuit including a switch having a connected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically connected through the switch and a disconnected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically disconnected. The processor is electrically coupled to the switch and configured to generate an output signal that transitions the switch from the disconnected state to the connected state in response to an input signal from one or more sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating a charged-induced release of a ski binding, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor-based controller, sensor data from a plurality of sensors disposed on a skier;   in the processor-based controller, evaluating the sensor data to determine a state of the skier;   when the processor-based controller determines that the skier is in a fallen state, generating an output signal, with the processor-based controller, to activate an explosive device mounted on or in a ski, a ski boot, and/or a ski binding of the skier; and   generating a force with the explosive device to release the ski binding.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the sensor data comprises comparing the sensor data to a model of the skier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the explosive device comprises changing a state of a switch from a disconnected state to a connected state, the switch electrically coupling a battery to the explosive device in the connected state. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inflating an expandable device with gas generated from the explosive device to generate the force. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising pressing on a sole of the ski boot and the ski with the expandable device when the expandable device is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 filling a first chamber with a gas generated when the explosive device is activated, the first chamber disposed in a cylinder having a moveable internal wall that defines the first chamber and a second chamber;   generating a pressure in the first chamber with the gas;   translating the moveable internal wall towards the second chamber with the pressure, the moveable internal wall attached to a first end of a rod or wire.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 pulling on a second end of the wire that is attached to the ski; and   using the first end of the wire to lift the ski boot out of the ski binding.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 pressing a second end of the rod onto a toe piece of the ski binding, and   pushing a heel of the ski boot onto a heel piece of the ski binding to release the ski binding.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising pressing a second end of the rod onto the ski to release the ski binding.