Safety binding

1. Safety binding for retaining a boot of a user on a gliding board, said binding comprising:

a detector to detect forces to which the boot is subjected, said detector generating an analog signal proportional to said forces;

a converter to convert said analog signal into digital information;

a processor to process said digital information according to a release-controlling algorithm that is a function of duration of said forces and a function of parameters determined by at least one of the following: characteristics of the user, snow conditions, and type of sports practice, said processor thereby generating a control signal;

an actuator to create a mechanical actuation controlled by said control signal, transmission of said control signal to said actuator placing the binding in a release mode to release the boot from the binding;

a mechanical mechanism structured and arranged to apply a threshold retention force to the boot to retain the boot on the gliding board;

said mechanical mechanism further structured and arranged to release the boot, independent of said control signal, upon exertion of a release force by the boot greater than said threshold retention force.

2. Safety binding according to claim 1 , wherein:

said detector comprises a detection module;

said converter and said processor are integrated within a decision module;

said actuator comprises an actuation module.

3. Safety binding according to claim 2 , wherein:

said binding comprises at least one releasable retaining element;

said detector comprises a first sensor-equipped substrate attached at one surface to said releasable retaining element and attached at a second surface to said gliding board.

4. Safety binding according to claim 2 , wherein:

said binding comprises a front stop and a heel piece;

said detector comprises a first sensor-equipped substrate, attached at a first surface to said front stop and at a second surface to said gliding board, and a second sensor-equipped substrate attached at a first surface to said heel piece and at a second surface to said gliding board.

5. Safety binding according to claim 2 , wherein:

said binding comprises binding elements constituted by a front stop and a heel piece;

said detector comprises sensors attached directly within a structure of said binding.

6. Safety binding according to claim 1 , wherein:

said actuator comprises a pneumatic source of energy.

7. Safety binding according to claim 1 , wherein:

the actuator comprises a mechanical source of energy.

8. Safety binding according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an interface module comprising a structure for displaying and enabling a modification of parameters of the digital information processor.

9. Safety binding according to claim 8 , wherein:

said interface module comprises a display and at least one manipulable input device.

10. Safety binding according to claim 8 , wherein:

said interface module comprises a potentiometer.

11. Safety binding according to claim 8 , wherein:

said interface module comprises a transmitter/receiver.

12. Safety binding according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a mechanism to reset said actuator.

13. Safety binding according to claim 2 , wherein:

said binding comprises a front stop and a heel piece;

said detector comprises a first sensor-equipped substrate, attached at a first surface to said front stop and at a second surface to said gliding board.

14. Safety binding according to claim 2 , wherein:

said binding comprises a front stop and a heel piece;

said detector comprises a first sensor-equipped substrate, attached at a first surface to said heel piece and at a second surface to said gliding board.

15. Safety binding according to claim 1 , wherein:

said mechanical mechanism comprises a spring for applying said threshold retention force.

16. Safety binding according to claim 1 , wherein:

said mechanical mechanism includes a part movable, to release the boot, in a first direction having a horizontal component or a vertical component;

said release mode placed by said actuator controlled by said control signal, to release the boot, consists of movement in a second direction different from said first direction.

17. Safety binding according to claim 16 , wherein:

said first direction is an upward movement and said second direction is a longitudinal translation.

18. A safety binding for retaining a boot of a user on a gliding board, said binding comprising:

a releasable retaining element adapted to engage a portion of the boot to retain the boot on the gliding board;

a first release arrangement comprising a mechanical mechanism for applying a threshold retention force to the releasable retaining element and for placing the binding in a release mode upon exertion of a release force by the boot greater than said threshold retention force;

a second release arrangement for placing the binding in a release mode by means of a mechanical actuation controlled by a digital electronic release algorithm, said second arrangement comprising:

a force-detection mechanism to detect forces to which the boot is subjected, said detection mechanism generating an analog signal proportional to said forces;

an analog-digital mechanism to convert said analog signal into digital information;

a digital processing mechanism to process said digital information and to generate a control signal according to a release-controlling algorithm, said algorithm being a function of the following: a force applied to binding, an amount of time a force is applied, and additional parameters comprising at least one of the following: characteristics of the user, snow conditions, and type of sports practice;

a mechanical-actuation mechanism to create a mechanical actuation controlled by said control signal, said mechanical actuation allowing release of the boot from the binding.

19. A safety binding according to claim 18 , wherein:

said mechanical mechanism of said first release arrangement comprises a spring for applying said threshold retention force.

20. A safety binding according to claim 18 , wherein:

said first release arrangement is a mechanical release arrangement for placing the binding in a release mode not controlled by the digital electronic release algorithm.

21. A safety binding according to claim 18 , further comprising:

an interface module comprising a structure for displaying and enabling a modification of parameters of the digital information processor.

22. A safety binding according to claim 18 , wherein:

said releasable retaining element includes a part movable, for release of the boot by the first release arrangement, in a first direction having a horizontal component or a vertical component;

said mechanical actuation created by said mechanical-actuation mechanism of the second release arrangement consists of a second direction of movement of said part of said releasable retaining element, said second direction being different from said first direction.

23. A safety binding according to claim 22 , wherein:

said first direction is an upward movement and said second direction is a longitudinal translation.

24. A safety binding for retaining a boot of a user on a gliding board, said binding comprising:

a detector to detect forces to which the boot is subjected, said detector generating an analog signal proportional to said forces;

a converter to convert said analog signal into digital information;

a processor to process said digital information according to a release-controlling algorithm that is a function of duration of said forces and a function of parameters determined by at least one of the following: characteristics of the user, snow conditions, and type of sports practice, said processor thereby generating a control signal;

an actuator to create a mechanical actuation controlled by said control signal, transmission of said control signal to said actuator placing the binding in a release mode to release the boot from the binding;

a mechanical mechanism structured and arranged to apply a threshold retention force to the boot to retain the boot on the gliding board;

said mechanical mechanism further structured and arranged to release the boot, independent of said control signal, upon exertion of a release force by the boot greater than said threshold retention force;

an interface module comprising a structure for displaying and enabling a modification of parameters of the digital information processor;

said mechanical mechanism including a part movable, to release the boot, in a first direction having a horizontal component or a vertical component;

said release mode placed by said actuator controlled by said control signal, to release the boot, consisting of a second direction different from said first direction.

25. A safety binding according to claim 24 , wherein:

said first direction is an upward movement and said second direction is a longitudinal translation.