Device for adjusting the position of the bootleg with respect to the shell, particularly for ski boots

Abstract

A device for adjusting the position of the bootleg with respect to the shell, particularly for ski boots.

Description

The present application relates to a device for adjusting the position of the bootleg with respect to the shell, particularly for ski boots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional ski boots, the problem is widely felt of being able to obtain only a limited rearward oscillation of the bootleg during sport practice and at the same time a free oscillation of the same bootleg once the sport is finished in order to achieve an optimal gait for the user.

Thus U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,150 is known in which a ski boot is disclosed that is comprised of a shell to which a bootleg is pivoted, to the rear of the bootleg a lever being associated the actuation of which enables the activation of a bar that has a threaded end which interacts with a counter-threaded bush which can be arranged on an adapted abutment coupled to the shell.

Such solution makes it possible to vary the flexibility of the bootleg with respect to the shell, thus allowing for example the optimal positioning of the latter during skiing.

Such a solution however has drawbacks in that manual intervention is required from the user for its activation, but it is not possible to achieve an optimal walking motion since the bootleg is not able to oscillate freely with respect to the shell even with the device deactivated.

Other devices are also known, of which some are provided, at the bootleg, with, for example, adapted elements, which can be activated for example by way of adapted levers that can be gripped by the user and selectively positioned so as to allow the free oscillation of the bootleg or limit the oscillation thereof, by way of their interaction with adapted projecting parts at and outside of the shell. Such projections however constitute a further drawback, given that they impair the aesthetic form of the boot as well as making it heavier.

Moreover, activation of the conventional devices is not always easy, given that the skier is usually wearing gloves and thus finds it difficult to grip levers and other devices especially in conditions of low temperatures.

Such conventional devices are very often not activated because the skier forgets them or, not perceiving the correct operation thereof, utilizes them in an incorrect manner.

Also known is EP0940096 in which a device is disclosed for adjusting the position of the bootleg with respect to the shell, particularly for ski boots, constituted by at least one lever, composed of a first and a second arm, mutually and rotatably associated at one end by means of an adapted first pivot arranged transversely and to the rear of the shell.

The first arm is positioned in a region that lies above the heel of the shell. The lever has a first end that interacts with a coupling, which is coupled to a ski, in contrast with at least one first elastically deformable element and a second end that selectively interacts, in abutment or otherwise, with the bootleg.

Although such a solution is undoubtedly valid, it has a drawback owing to the fact that the bootleg and the shell have, in the region in which the device is located, a protrusion that increases the size of the boot, impairing the overall shape thereof.

Moreover there is a construction-related complication, although limited, both regarding the provision of the female mold part and regarding the assembly of individual parts that require a certain care in assembly.

Finally in such a solution it is possible for snow to be deposited and ice to form between the first arm and the first seat in which the first spring is accommodated, which can render the activation of the device more difficult.

Also known are EP0085026, EP0521283, EP0582803, E0664969 and FR2647649 which all exhibit a high structural complexity and considerable encumbrances, as well as the necessity for a manual activation by the user.

Also known is EP0664969 which, although allowing an activation when the boot is anchored to the ski binding, still has a considerable encumbrance at the rear of the bootleg, which moreover extends in a lower region almost to the sole, as well as a high structural complexity and an operation that requires high precision for achieving for example the optimal interaction between the tab and the seats, where it is possible for them to stick and thus thwart the operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and thus solve the technical problems set out, by devising a device that enables the user to obtain the free oscillation of the bootleg in order to walk or a limitation of such oscillation in order to be able to ski, the assembly being provided with a structural shape that is simple and of contained size.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to enable the skier to achieve such two different conditions for the oscillation of the bootleg with respect to the shell automatically and thus without having to operate directly on adapted devices applied at the boot itself and irrespectively of the possible presence of snow or ice on the boot.

Another object is to provide a device that in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics also is relatively low-cost and enables an abatement of the overall costs, including a reduction in the provision of molds and for the mounting of the device on the boot.

Another object is to provide a device the activation of which, for skiing, and the deactivation of which, for walking, can be obtained without any direct intervention of the skier on the boot.

This aim and these and other objects which will become more evident hereinafter are achieved by a device for adjusting the position of the bootleg with respect to the shell, particularly for ski boots, characterized in that the first end of a blade is associated internally and at the rear with respect to said bootleg, said blade interacting selectively, at the second end, with a tooth of a slider, which is arranged adjacent to the heel and movable axially with respect to said shell in contrast with an elastically deformable element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a specific, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of a boot with the device in the condition that allows skiing;

FIG. 2 is a view of a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of the boot with the device in the condition that allows walking;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein a condition of automatic rearming of the device is shown;

FIG. 6 is a first view from the rear of the boot;

FIG. 7 is a second view from the rear of the boot;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the slider and the blade;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are views from above of a cross-section, taken along an axial and lateral line, of the slider in the uncompressed condition;

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are views from above of a cross-section, taken along an axial and lateral line, of the slider in the compressed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiments that follow, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

Moreover, it should be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures and considering that they are illustrative of some specific embodiments and are to different scales and that in them individual reference numerals correspond to elements that are the same or equivalent, the reference numeral 1 designates a ski boot constituted by a shell 2 to which, by way of adapted bosses 3, a bootleg 4 is pivoted.

The reference numeral 5 designates the device for adjusting the position of the bootleg 4 with respect to the shell 2, such device being constituted by a blade 6, a first end 7 of which is associated, preferably by means of an adapted rivet 8, internally and to the rear with respect to the bootleg 4.

The first end 7 of the blade 6 is adjacent to the lower perimetric edge 9 of the bootleg 4 in a region that lies above the inner lateral edge 10 of the shell 2.

The blade 6 is directed toward the underlying heel 11 of the boot and is locked to the bootleg 4 so that it cannot oscillate with respect to the rivet 8. For example, the locking occurs at the first end 7 by the partial bending and interpenetration thereof in the thickness of the bootleg 4.

The blade 6 is thus caused to pass through an adapted opening 30 defined in the shell 2 and thus arranged adjacent to the inner lateral surface 12 of the shell 2, and has a second end 13 that extends so as to affect partially a recess 14 provided in the heel 11. At the second end 13 a first longitudinal slot 15 is provided which acts as a seat for temporary interconnection with a tooth 16.

Advantageously the tooth 16 is frustum-shaped with the vertex directed toward the outside of the shell 2 and the first slot 15 is shaped complementarily thereto.

The tooth 16 protrudes axially with respect to a slider 17 movable axially with respect to a box-like body 18 which is embedded in or associated with the lower end of the shell in a region that is adjacent to the flat surface 19 of the heel 11 which interacts with a jaw 20 of a coupling 21 which is coupled to a ski 22.

In the inactive condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slider 17 is connected to the blade 6 and protrudes outside the box-like body 18 and also outside the shell 2 to be able to thus interact with the jaw 20, once the boot has been associated with the ski.

The slider 17 has, in a transverse cross-section, the shape of an inverted T the stem 23 of which slides within a seat 24 and the wings 25a, 25b of which slide within complementarily shaped guides 26a, 26b provided at the sides of the box-like body 18.

Advantageously a transverse pin 27 connects the wings 25a, 25b and whose ends protrude outside the box-like body 18 at adapted second slots 28a, 28b formed on the sides of the box-like body 18.

The transverse pin 27 is arranged approximately halfway along the length of the box-like body 18, so as to create a space, in the opposite direction with respect to the slider 17, which acts as a seat for an elastically deformable element 29, such as a cylindrical helical compression spring, the function of which is to force the slider 17 toward the outside of the shell 2.

This cross-member 27 acts as a stroke limit for the slider 17.

A counter 31 is provided which is arranged inside the shell 2 and has a rear surface 32 which faces the blade 6 and a lower surface 33 which is arranged above the box-like body 18 and is associated with the shell 2 by means of a screw 34 which operates on a vertical rib 35 of the shell 2 or of a platform located in a region that is adjacent to the recess 14.

One or more sealing gaskets can be present, which are arranged for example between the slider 17 and the shell 2 or between the box-like body 18 and the shell 2 so as to prevent any penetration of water into the heel 11.

The box-like body 18 is fixed to the shell 2 at the end that lies opposite the one provided with the slider 17 by means of a pair of second screws 36a, 36b which engage adapted holes 37a, 37b provided in a pair of tabs 38a, 38b that protrude laterally to the box-like body 18.

The operation of the invention is as follows: during skiing the system is in the condition shown in FIG. 1, in which the jaw 20 forces the slider 17 to position the tooth 16 within the first slot 15 of the blade 6. Thus the rearward oscillation of the bootleg 4 is prevented, although a slight bending forward of the bootleg 4 is permitted if the length of the first slot 15 is greater than the encumbrance of the tooth 16.

When the skier releases the boot from the rear coupling 21, the spring 29 pushes the slider 17 outward until the tooth 16 is disengaged from the blade 6. At this point the blade 6 is free to move, supporting the forward or rearward movement of the bootleg 4.

FIG. 5 shows a condition in which the second end 13 of the blade 6 can be positioned within the recess 14. Once the coupling 21 is fitted on again, upon the first bending of the skier the interconnection between the blade 6 and the tooth 16 will occur again.

In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the above-mentioned set aim and objects, a device having been obtained that enables the user to obtain the free oscillation of the bootleg in order to walk or a limitation of such oscillation in order to be able to ski, the assembly being provided with a structural shape that is simple and of contained size.

Moreover the skier can achieve such two different conditions for the oscillation of the bootleg with respect to the shell automatically upon engagement and upon release of the coupling even in the presence of snow or ice on the boot.

The device moreover has a small number of components which makes it possible to achieve construction-related simplification.

Obviously the materials used as well as the dimensions constituting the individual components of the invention can be more pertinent to specific requirements.

The various means for effecting certain different functions shall not in any way coexist only in the illustrated embodiment, but may be present in many embodiments per se, even if not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, advisable or similar, may also be missing or substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2011A000006 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the position of the bootleg with respect to the shell, for ski boots, comprising a slider which is arranged adjacent to the heel of the boot and movable axially with respect to the shell in contrast with an elastically deformable element, and a blade, a first end whereof is associated internally and at a rear region of the bootleg, said blade interacting selectively, at a second end thereof, with a tooth of said slider.

2. The device of claim 1, constituted by the blade, the first end of which is associated, by way of a rivet, internally and at the rear region of the bootleg, said first end being adjacent to a lower perimetric edge of the bootleg, in a region that lies above an inner lateral edge of the shell.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said blade is directed toward the underlying heel of the boot and is locked to the bootleg so that it cannot oscillate with respect to said rivet, the locking occurring at said first end by partial bending and interpenetration thereof in a thickness of the bootleg.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said blade passes through an adapted opening, which is provided in the shell and is thus arranged adjacent to an inner lateral surface of the shell and has the second end that extends so as to affect partially a recess provided in the heel, a first longitudinal slot, which acts as a seat for temporary connection to the tooth, being formed at said second end.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said tooth is frustum-shaped, with a vertex directed toward the outside of the shell, and said first slot is shaped complementarily thereto, said tooth protruding axially with respect to the slider movable axially with respect to a box-like body which is embedded in or associated with a lower end of the shell in a region that is adjacent to a flat surface of the heel which interacts with a jaw of a coupling which is coupled to a ski.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein in the inactive condition said slider is connected to said blade and protrudes outside said box-like body and also outside the shell so as to be able to thus interact with said jaw, once said boot has been associated with the ski.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said slider has, in a transverse cross-section, a shape of an inverted T, the stem of which slides within a seat and wings of which slide within complementarily shaped guides provided at sides of said box-like body, a transverse pin connecting said wings and having ends which protrude outside said box-like body at adapted second slots formed on the sides of said box-like body.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said transverse pin is arranged substantially halfway along a length of said box-like body, so as to create a space, in the opposite direction with respect to said slider, which acts as a seat for an elastically deformable element, such as a cylindrical helical compression spring, the function of which is to force said slider toward the outside of said shell.

9. The device of claim 8, comprising a counter which is arranged inside the shell and has a rear surface which faces said blade and a lower surface which is arranged above said box-like body and is associated with the shell by way of a screw which operates on a vertical rib of the shell or of a platform located in a region that is adjacent to said recess.

10. The device of claim 9, comprising one or more sealing gaskets which are arranged between said slider and the shell or between said box-like body and the shell so as to prevent any penetration of water into the heel, said box-like body being fixed to the shell at an end that lies opposite the one provided with said slider by way of a pair of second screws which engage adapted holes provided in a pair of tabs that protrude laterally to said box-like body.