Did you fill out a survey about ski binding design? Check it out

CTD

CTD

Active member
So a while back i made a post asking to fill out a survey for my Industrial Design Thesis project. im no where near done with the stuff for the class, but i just finished up (mostly) the model, and was pretty stoked on it. Im gonna post full pics of the end presentation and stuff, but thought id get some opinions and share the initial images.

a little about it:

the binding itself is all metal, and has releases in all directions. the Heel assembly is a track, that allows the boot lug to stay fully engaged for 30mm of elastic travel before flicking the boot out. the wings allow for lateral ejection at any point in the release.

the red switch on the toe (and heel) act to bump up (or down) the DIN for on the go adjustments, and the toe switch disengages the upward release when its bumped up. the mounting pattern is 5 screws each, all under the boot for zero dead zones.

im gonna post a vid of everything in motion when i get it done, but i just wanted to share the first images.

[IMG/]http://media.nscdn.com/uploads/member/pictures/1243468037top.jpg
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crazy idea, i think im understanding what you've come up with so far. i kn ow you rlooking for comments, and feedback, but you should prolly keep your designs private. releasing your designs could void any possibility of patent.
 
wow triple post. I filled out the survey and glad to see a design. those are some weird lookin things. but cool non the less.
 
looks like a really well thought-out concept. I would be more cautious about putting this designs on the internet however because like someone said it COULD completely in-validate any future patent. I get stoked when i see NSer's ski related designs. Keep it up man!
 
yeah thanks. i hear ya on the patent stuff. This project is strictly conceptual, ands its pretty much made public regardless for the show, so im not too worried about NS.
 
I filled out the survey.

That system is crazy!! so inovative, if that shit goes into production you will save ACL's and knees and such. great job man looks so sick too.

Hopefully you can get some funds to make a prototype
 
took the survey, those look ill as fuck

how does the back work, like wut holds your boot in place besides those little things on the side
 
theres two spring packs in the heel. the top one pushes out on the rails, so as it ejects, it gets compressed, creating a downward clamping pressure. the lower spring pack controls the lateral wings in a fairly normal fashion, and together they act as pivots to control the travel path of the heel. im gonna try to get an animation figured out in the next day or two...
 
you should make there be 2 switches to change the din. like in order to change it, both switches must be engaged so as to ensure no accidental raising or lowering. or somehow ensure that doenst happen
 
looks very different and interesting. i'm excited to see more from this project. very, very impressive so far. haha, and you picked EPs to use in the models too. you know NS all too well.
 
very true. unless you already have this problem worked out on the binding. that would be the worst having your din change on accident
 
Yay! stoked to see you guys dig um, they were aimed directly towards NS. Good call on the switch idea. the mechanism used would have to be pretty burly, so theyd need pressed/switched pretty firmly. thered be a good ol' mechanical clank to let ya know. plus, the DIN is displayed in big bright numbers, so you can actually see it, lessing the chance of not knowing what your DINs at.

Oh, and check this out, theyre on EPs right now, but for my presentation, they are getting rendered on pow and park skis with custom graphics containing all the developmental sketches and models, and printed in life size, like theyre leaning against the wall.
 
damn they look pretty lightweight and unique. the only thing is when i look at them they seem to light and small to withstand the large impacts. there's always something to improve on though, nothings perfect

and get this patented, you never know it might turn into something, even if you dont think much of it now. you could be living off one design ;)
 
good luck man. it seems like every year there are a dozen new ski companies popping up, offering new innovations and whatnot. its good to see somebody taking a whack at updating binding design.
 
Looks really nice. I think a rendering with a ski boot would be nice so we could get a idea of height better then we do now but it looks really professional. i really hope to see this binding in the future. the only thing is with the screws under foot could pull outs happen from torque coming from the ski flexing?
 
Gnarly. the design looks pretty low profile. The travel you describe seems perfect, and all metal is nice.

Are you worried about having tiny parts break down? simplicity is always a good selling point, having lots of moving clanking parts can be a huge hinderance. Great idea, a movement towards new binding tech is always awesome. We need it big time.
 
One thought is that something could get caught on the little arms down there on the heel piece, which could lead to the ski releasing.
 
I love the look but i would like to see the heel a little better as lame and backwords it seems i still like the fks heel
 
Those look sick as hell, I would buy those in a second if they do half the things I wanted in the survey. If you end up making any I would gladly test em out
 
Thats a sick design man. Nose piece looks sick as fuck. I could see a problem with the heel piece when trying to step or pole out of your bindings. The bars could bend down after excessive use and there isnt much room for a pole tip. (but who rides with poles these days...)

 
Nice, and I agree with someone elses q. - As they are all metal, i'm sure it's hard to know, but whats the weight looking to be?
 
Agree, also take into account every boot has a different shell shape and that might play into those arms sticking out too much, if you hit a large enough patch of snow, they might just eject on you.

Def sick though, can't wait to see em in motion.
 
i think people worry wayyyy too much about their bindings releasing/not releasing.

cool that you made a binding, but i think that we should look at the fact that the most sought after bindings (fks, solly 916) are bindings that have been in production with little to no changes for decades. if changes needed to be made in this fashion, if they were marketable, they would be made by now.

i think i speak for quite a few when i say that im sticking to simple, metal bindings. ill keep my dins at 14 and keep knowing how to fall properly, and i think ill be ok.
 
god this pisses me off.

there is ALWAYS room for improvement.

where would society be if everyone thought like you?

 
Are you going to make the brakes more durable by any method? that is the main problem i have with any binding. If so, please get them made! they sound amazing and look equally good too!
 
But FKS and 916s both have massive defects. The FKS has poor heel stability (which is why racers don't use them) and terrible brakes. The 916s springs last about 2 months and then they turn into a heavy pair of 910s. There is clearly room for improvement.

I see the reason that old bindings are so popular is that, unlike current bindings, they weren't designed for a mass market of tourists who are ready to sue if a binding doesn't release when it should.
 
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