RETRACTABLE SKI BINDING

摘要

This invention relates to safety-type ski bindings which permit the boot and ski to separate when the force applied exceeds a safe level, and which incorporate an automatic boot-to-ski return capability. It is common practice to couple a ski boot to a ski with a safety binding that allows the boot to separate from the ski upon the application of a force which would otherwise pose a risk of injury A wide variety of bindings has been provided, including a type which represented a substantial improvement over conventional ski binding design, in that an extensible-retractable cable serves both as a link between the boot and the ski, and as a ski-retaining leash. However, there is a need for a ski binding similar to this invention, but having simpler construction and a lower cost. The present invention fills this need by providing an improved binding which permits safety separation of the boot and ski and which has an automatic boot-to-ski return capability. A soleplate for detachably mounting the ski boot is connected to the ski by an elongated, elastic leash that stretches to permit their separation and elastically contracts to draw them back together. Rigid links on the ends of the leash form portions of the force-applying link between the boot and ski and engage cooperating structure on the soleplate such that the retention force between the boot and ski is higher when they are in close proximity to one another than when they have separated.