Patent Application
20250072552
The invention relates to the field of skiing. More specifically, the invention relates to a ski boot.
When it comes to alpine skiing and ski boots in particular, there are a number of constraints that often make skiing uncomfortable. Ski boot technology has evolved little over the years, offering only slight comfort for the feet, whereas participating in the sport requires greater comfort for skiers. At present, ski boots are made of relatively rigid plastic and comprise two rigid articulated parts. The vertical part of the ski boot receives part of the shin and calf, while the horizontal part receives the foot itself. In addition, for the comfort of the wearer, a comfort foam is generally interposed between the foot and/or calf and the rigid shell forming the boot.
This type of ski boot has a multitude of disadvantages. On the one hand, the forces exerted by the skier are not transmitted directly, unless the boot is very tight, which results in total discomfort and makes it difficult to ski for several hours. What's more, very little attention is paid to morphology, depending on whether the foot is thin or strong, whether the instep is pronounced or the ankle is thin, prominent or not. The rigid, waterproof shell also forms a closed volume from which it is very difficult to evacuate the moisture generated by the foot's natural perspiration. Another major drawback is the weight of such rigid-shell footwear, due to the large volume of plastic used to make up the shell, plus the weight of the clamps and foams.
One area of the foot is particularly subject to mechanical stress, in the area of the talus, which is compressed during flexion movements. During these forward movements, the upper part of the hull comes to rest on the hull stem, exerting considerable pressure on the talus, as a result of the shell being crushed, and on the shin, with an uneven distribution of forces. Similarly, pressure on the malleoli can chafe skin and cause localized heating. Depending on the skier's morphology and boot profile, during flexion, pressure can also be concentrated at the top of the area around the lower leg, causing discomfort.
In order to overcome these various drawbacks, a solution has been devised in the form of a connecting device between the lower leg of a skier comprising a tibial connection with at least one rigid rod comprising means of attachment to the lower leg and a lower end comprising a pivot connection along an axis with respect to said footwear assembly, the connecting device comprising articulation means having at least one degree of freedom, interposed between the upper end of said at least one rigid rod and the means of attachment to the lower leg. This solution is illustrated in application WO2021/209376.
In this solution, the skier's foot is housed in a lightweight boot resting on a sole of the linking device, while the lower leg is secured to the linking device via the attachment means. This solution gives skiers greater control over their flexion and foot movements, and reduces the forces transmitted to the shin for a given bending moment by increasing the length of the lever part arm, thus avoiding the need for a rigid shell to rub against the shin. What's more, the different degrees of freedom of the attachment means in relation to the rigid rod mean that forces are distributed evenly over the contact surfaces, eliminating peak forces and improving comfort. In addition, shock-absorbing means are provided to further improve the skier's control of the skis during use, and in particular during descent. While this solution is satisfactory from a performance point of view, it does have its drawbacks in terms of ergonomics, aesthetics, and scaling up for production.
This is because the rigid rod is a complex, rigid piece that wraps around the skier's entire shin. Inserting the skier's foot into this part to position it on the sole is a complex task, not least because of the particular shape of this rigid part. Furthermore, this shape makes it unsuitable for basic industrial production, and requires complicated and costly molding processes. What's more, it needs to be adapted to the morphology of each skier's calf. Finally, it is not very attractive.
There is thus a need for a solution that incorporates all the advantages of the known solution, while providing solutions to each of the identified drawbacks. The present invention is placed in this context and aims to meet this need.
To these ends, the invention has as its object a ski boot comprising a base sole designed to accommodate a boot of a skier and a connecting device for connection to the lower leg of the skier, said connecting device having a fastening member designed to be fastened to the leg of the skier, characterized in that it comprises:
As in the known solution, the lever part is mounted so that it can pivot relative to the sole, giving the skier's leg considerable freedom of movement during bending movements. The linking device allows at least one degree of freedom, selected between translation and rotation, of the fastening member via which the skier's lower leg is secured to the ski boot. The lever part can then pivot and/or move in translation relative to this fastening member, which is thus not loaded relative to the lower leg during the skier's bending movements. The combination of connecting rod and deformable member absorbs the considerable forces associated with pivoting the lever part, and further improves skier control of the skis during use, particularly downhill. Finally, given the positioning of the lever part and the use of a connecting rod, it is possible to avoid the use of an enveloping part and opt for a simple design of the lever part. In this way, the skier can be equipped with a lightweight boot that can be positioned without difficulty on the sole, and in particular without having to insert his foot into such an enveloping part. This lever part has little aesthetic impact and can be easily integrated into a gaiter. Lastly, this lever part plays no role in calf support, so it can be standardized and its shape chosen to be easily to industrially produce, as the ski boot's adjustment to the skier's calf can be carried out at the linking device and/or at the connecting rod.
Advantageously, the linking device can be mounted at an upper end of the lever part. Preferably, the fastening member may comprise at least one elastic band or Velcro system to secure the skier's lower leg to the ski boot.
In one example embodiment of the invention, the sole has a receiving zone intended to receive said skier's boot, and the lever part is a rear lever part attached, via said pivot connection, to the sole behind the receiving zone. If required, the fastening member can extend in front of said rear lever part, and the connection between the connecting rod and the sole can be located in front of the connection between the connecting rod and the rear lever part. Alternatively, the lever part can be attached to the sole in the receiving zone, for example at the skier's malleolus, or in front of the receiving zone.
If desired, the rear lever part can be arranged to extend only to the rear of a skier's calf when the skier's boot is positioned at the sole receiving zone and when the skier's lower leg is secured to the fastening member. For example, the rear lever part can have a half-shell shape open towards the front of the ski boot. Preferably, the rear lever part is injection-molded or extruded, for example from plastic or a composite material, notably carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.
Advantageously, the lever part, in particular a lower end of the lever part, can be mounted on the sole so as to be able to pivot about a transverse axis, in particular substantially horizontal and perpendicular to an overall direction of the receiving zone of the skier's boot and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the skier's ankle. For example, the sole may comprise an arm extending to the rear of the receiving area, the lever part being pivotably mounted on said arm.
Advantageously, the connecting rod is pivotably mounted on the sole or on the lever part about an axis of rotation passing through the first point and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the lever part relative to the sole.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second link and/or the deformable member is arranged to allow the lever part to rotate, in particular about an axis of rotation defined by the pivot link between the sole and the lever part, between an angle of at least 15°, in particular 30°, and an angle of at least −30°, in particular at least −55°, on either side of the rest position. This ensures that the ski boot is suitable for use in a wide range of skiing activities, including ski touring. In the context of the present invention, a negative deflection of the lever part corresponds to a rotation of the lever part towards the rear of the ski boot, while a positive deflection corresponds to a rotation towards the front of the ski boot.
In one embodiment, the other of the sole and the lever part comprises a slideway, and the second point of the connecting rod is slidably mounted in said slideway. Preferably, the slideway can extend in a direction substantially identical to the direction of extension of the other of the sole and lever part. In other words, the slideway defines the start and end positions of the second point of the connecting rod, and therefore of the lever part in relation to the sole.
Advantageously, the slideway can be provided on the lever part and the connecting rod can be connected at its first point, possibly a lower point, by the first connection, to the sole and connected at its second point, possibly an upper point, by the second connection, to the lever part, the second point being slidably engaged in the slideway.
In one variant, the slideway can be provided on the sole and the connecting rod can be connected at its first point, possibly an upper point, by the first connection, to the lever part and connected at its second point, possibly a lower point, by the second connection, to the sole, the second point being slidably engaged in the slideway.
Advantageously, the connecting rod has a frame comprising two uprights arranged on either side of the lever part and connected by a transverse spacer passing through the slideway. The portion of said spacer engaged in the slideway thus forms the second point. For example, the spacer could be an upper spacer connecting two upper ends of the connecting rod uprights, said spacer being slidably mounted in a slideway of the lever part.
Preferably, the connecting rod may comprise two lugs each extending transversely from one of the connecting rod uprights, in particular from a lower end of said upright, said lugs being inserted into a cylinder of the sole, for example positioned below the receiving area or above the receiving area of the sole. The portions of the lugs engaged in the cylinder thus form the first point. In one variant, each lug can be engaged in a dedicated hole in the sole, said holes being provided on either side of the receiving zone. In another variant, the connecting rod can be fitted with a lower spacer connecting two lower ends of the connecting rod uprights, said lower spacer being pivotably mounted in said cylinder.
If required, the connecting rod can be fitted with a device for adjusting the distance between the connecting rod uprights. For example, the spacer may be formed by two cylinders each extending from the upper end of one of the connecting rod uprights, one of the cylinders being slidably inserted into the other of the cylinders, one or each cylinder being equipped with one or more means of locking the relative position of said cylinders, such as a retractable pin provided on one cylinder and holes provided on the other cylinder.
In another example, the connecting rod may comprise a single post arranged on one side of the lever part and featuring a lug or piston engaged in the slideway.
In one embodiment, the deformable member comprises a resiliently deformable member arranged to return the second point to its rest position.
Advantageously, the deformable member comprises a spring, in particular a compression spring, mounted in the slideway and fastened, on the one hand, to the second point of the connecting rod and, on the other hand, to the other of the sole and the lever part.
Preferably, the connecting rod and/or spring comprises a member for disengaging the spring and the second point of the connecting rod. For example, the connecting rod can be fitted with a hook at the second point, and the spring can be fitted with a pin inserted into said hook when the connecting rod is engaged on the spring. Other disengagement members may be provided, for example by fitting the connecting rod with a piston which engages in the slideway and cooperates with the spring, the armature of the connecting rod and the piston being fastened to each other by removable attachment means, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Alternatively, the deformable member may comprise a torsion spring arranged at the pivot connection between the sole and the lever part, and attached to said sole and said lever part.
In a further embodiment, the connecting rod can be arranged to surround the other of the sole and lever part, and the second point of the connecting rod can be connected to the other of the sole and lever part by an elastic forming said deformable member.
In yet another example embodiment, the deformable member may comprise a spring mounted on the connecting rod.
Alternatively or cumulatively, the deformable member may comprise a damper arranged to exert a force against the movement of the second point of the link in a given direction. For example, the deformable member may comprise one or more actuators, provided in the slideway or on the connecting rod.
In one embodiment of the invention, the linking device comprises a member for holding the fastening member, said holding member being connected to the lever part by a sliding connection. For example, the lever part may comprise a slideway in which part of the holding member slides.
According to one example, the fastening member is connected to the holding member by a pivot connection, in particular along an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the lever part with respect to the sole.
Advantageously, the securing member and the holding member are provided with means for releasably securing the securing member to the holding member, such as snap-fastening means.
Alternatively, or cumulatively, the retaining member may comprise a ball joint pivotably and slidably mounted in a slideway of the lever part.
Advantageously, the holding member comprises an arch provided with two opposing lugs, the fastening member being fastened to each of said lugs, and the holding member comprises a member for adjusting the spacing of said lugs.
In one embodiment of the invention, the ski boot features a gaiter attached to the sole and/or lever part. The gaiter can form a watertight, tubular envelope with a shaft, a lower opening, an upper opening and a boot opening. Advantageously, the gaiter may comprise an insulating layer, either as a fixed bonded lining or as a removable lining for the watertight envelope.
Another subject of the invention is a boot assembly comprising a ski boot according to the invention and a lightweight boot designed to receive a skier's foot, the lightweight boot being designed to be received on the base sole of the ski boot.
If desired, the lightweight boot comprises a rigid sole provided with a first portion of removable attachment means, the second part of these removable attachment means being carried by the base sole. For example, the removable attachment means can be screws, snap-on fasteners, sliding fasteners or similar, at the front and rear of the sole.
The present invention is now described with the aid of examples that are purely illustrative and in no way limiting on the scope of the invention, and based on the attached drawings, wherein the various figures show:
In the following description, identical elements, by structure or function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references. Furthermore, the terms “front” and “rear” must be interpreted in the context of the orientation of the ski boot as shown, corresponding to the orientation of a ski boot mounted on a ski attachment.
[
The boot 1 comprises a base sole 2 provided with a receiving zone 21 for a lightweight boot 10 worn by a skier.
In the example described, the lightweight boot 10 can be a boot for a sport other than skiing, such as a running boot or a cycling boot. To this end, the boot 10 may comprise a rigid sole fitted with means of attachment to the sole 2 (not shown).
The sole comprises an arm 22, extending on either side of the receiving zone 21 towards the rear of this receiving zone 21.
The boot 1 also features a lever part 3, a lower end of which is pivotably mounted on arm 22. In the example described, the lower end of lever part 3 comprises a pair of side pins 31 engaging holes 23 in a slot in the arm 22 accommodating this lower end. The side pins 31 and the holes 23 thus form a pivot connection between the arm 22 and the lever part 3 around an axis Y1-Y1 transverse to the boot 1. In the example shown, this pivot connection is located at the rear of the receiving area 21, so that the lever part 3 is a rear lever part 3. The Y1-Y1 axis is perpendicular to an X-X axis of extension of the receiving zone 21, defining the front-rear orientation of the boot 1, and therefore parallel to the axis of rotation of the skier's ankle. Other types of pivot connection between the arm 22 and the rear lever part 3, and in particular other arrangements of the lever part 3 in relation to the sole 2, in front of zone 21 or at the level of this zone 21, can be designed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the example described, the rear lever part 3 is a beam extending exclusively to the rear of the skier's calf when the skier's boot 10 is positioned at the receiving zone 21. The rear lever part 3 can be designed in other shapes, in particular a half-shell shape open to the front or rear and designed to receive the skier's calf, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The rear lever part 3 features a first, transverse slideway 32, formed by a slot passing through the rear lever part 3 from one side face of this part 3 to the other. The rear lever part 3 features a second, front-facing slideway 33 formed by a groove, in this case not a through groove, in a front face of the part 3.
The boot 1 comprises a linking device 4 for connecting the skier's lower leg J to the boot 1, the linking device 4 being mounted at an upper end of the rear lever part 3, opposite the lower end.
To this end, the linking device 4 comprises a fastening member 41 designed to be attached to this lower leg J. In the example shown in [
The linking device 4 comprises a member 42 for holding the fastening member 41 to the rear lever part 3 and allowing the fastening member 41 to slide and pivot with respect to this rear lever part 3.
To this end, the holding member 42 comprises a hoop 43 provided with two opposing lugs 43a, the fastening member 41 being fixed to each of said lugs 43a by a pivot connection, these pivot connections defining an axis of rotation Y2-Y2 of the fastening member substantially parallel to the axis Y1-Y1. Note that the fastening member 41 is attached to the lugs 43a by removable attachment means, such as clips. In this way, the skier can first equip himself with the fastening member 41 and then put on the rest of the ski boot 1.
In particular, the lugs 43a may be arranged so as to be movable relative to one another, so that their spacing is adjustable, and the hoop 43 comprises a locking device for this spacing.
The retaining member 42 also features a pin 44 slidably mounted in the slideway 33 of the rear lever part 3.
The boot 1 features a connecting rod 5 linking the sole 2 to the rear lever part 3.
In the example described, the connecting rod 5 is formed by a frame comprising two uprights 51 extending on either side of the rear lever part 3. The upper ends of the uprights 51 are connected by a transverse spacer 52. The connecting rod 5 also features two lugs 53, each extending transversely from a lower end of one of the uprights 51.
Each of the lugs 53 engages in a transverse cylindrical tube 24 beneath the sole 2, so that the connecting rod 5 can pivot relative to the sole 2 about a transverse axis Y3-Y3. The lugs 53 and tube 24 thus form a pivot connection between the connecting rod 5 and the sole 2.
Alternatively, as shown in [
The spacer 52 is slidably mounted in the slideway 32 of the rear lever part 3.
The slideway 32 thus defines the start and end positions of travel of the spacer 52 in the slideway, and thus delimits the minimum and maximum angles of deflection of the rear lever part 3 with respect to the sole 2, as it rotates about the axis Y1-Y1.
The boot 1 features an elastically deformable member 6, formed in the example described by a compression spring 6 mounted in the slideway 32. This spring 6 is attached on the one hand to the rear lever part 3, above the slideway 32, and on the other hand to the spacer 52 of the connecting rod 5. This spring 6 is thus designed to return the connecting rod 5 to a rest position.
In the example described, the connecting rod 5, slideway 32 and spring 6 are dimensioned so that the rear lever part 3 can deflect towards the front of the boot 1 at a maximum angle of 30° from this rest position, and towards the rear of the boot 1 at a maximum angle of 55° from this rest position.
As shown in [
As an alternative to the embodiment shown in [
The assembly formed by the sole 2, the rear lever part 3, the linking device 4 and the connecting rod 5 associated with the spring 6 thus assumes the mechanical functions of a ski boot, ensuring comfort for the skier in terms of the forces he transmits to the ski, via the lever part 3, without these forces causing friction or overheating at his shin, and allowing him significant control of the skis, including for flexion movements of great amplitude. This ski boot 1 can be fitted with a gaiter (not shown), for example attached to the sole 2 and/or rear lever part 3, to provide the insulation and waterproofing functions of a conventional ski boot.
The preceding description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives it has set, and in particular by proposing a ski boot combining a lever part pivotably mounted on a sole, opposite a zone for receiving a skier's boot, on which is movably mounted, with at least one degree of freedom, a device for connecting to the skier's lower leg, the sole and the lever part being connected together by a connecting rod and a spring. This ski boot retains the advantages of modern ski boots, while improving ergonomics and fit, making it easier to integrate the ski boot into an aesthetic model, and improving the industrial scaling-up of the ski boot.
In any case, the invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to any equivalent means and to any technically operative combination of these means. In particular, other ways of mounting the linking device on the lever part may be envisaged, for example by means of a ball joint pivotably and slidably mounted in a slideway of the lever part. A torsion spring, an elastic, or a cylinder can also be used as a resiliently deformable member or as a damper to oppose movement of the lever part from its rest position.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2200084 | Jan 2022 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/050183 | 1/5/2023 | WO |
