SKI BOOT

Abstract

Ski boot comprising: substantially rigid foot-casing, which is adapted to accommodate the foot of the user; a substantially rigid cuff, which is adapted to surround the lower part of the leg of the user, and is hinged on the foot-casing so as to be able to swing about a transversal rotation axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the boot midplane; an oblong-shaped tongue, which is arranged longitudinally to close the upper part of the foot-casing; and a foot-casing closing assembly, which is adapted to close/tighten the upper part of the foot-casing on the foot of the user and comprises: a first fairlead member, which is located on the hinge that connects the cuff to the foot-casing; a plurality of second fairlead members, which are arranged along a first major longitudinal edge of the tongue, in part integral with the foot-casing and in part integral with the tongue; and a cable winding winch, which is located on the cuff or on the tongue and is provided with a flexible cable, which comes out from the cable winding winch itself, engages in freely slidable manner and in succession said first and said second fairlead members, and has the distal end fastened to the tongue or to the foot-casing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102023000017130 filed on Aug. 10, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ski boot.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a ski-mountaineering or Telemark ski boot. Use to which the following disclosure will make explicit reference without however losing generality.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, ski mountaineering boots currently on the market comprise: a rigid foot-casing generally made of plastic or composite material, which is shaped substantially in the form of a shoe so as to accommodate/enclose the user's foot, and has the lower part specifically structured so as to be firmly fixed on the back of a downhill ski or similar by means of a special ski binding device; a rigid cuff generally made of a plastic or composite material, which is shaped so as to embrace the lower part of the user's leg from behind, and is hinged to the foot-casing so as to be able to freely rotate about a transversal reference axis that is substantially perpendicular to the boot vertical midplane and is also locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle; and a manually-operated cuff locking mechanism, which is generally located on the rear part of the cuff, straddling the boot vertical midplane, and is structured so as to selectively rigidly lock the cuff to the foot-casing in a given downhill position.

In addition, the ski mountaineering boots also comprise: a protective inner-boot with a soft and thermal-insulating structure, which is removably fitted into the foot-casing and cuff, and is shaped so as to accommodate and protect both the user's foot and leg, roughly up to calf height; a manually-operated foot-casing closing assembly, which is located on the upper part of the foot-casing and is adapted to close/tighten the foot-casing over the user's foot, so as to immobilise the user's foot inside the protective inner-boot; and a manually-operated cuff closing assembly, which is located on the upper part of the cuff and is adapted to close/tighten the cuff on the user's leg, so as to immobilise the user's leg inside the protective inner-boot.

In patent application EP3725175 A1, the foot-casing closing assembly comprises: a semi-rigid lateral strap, made of plastic material, which has the proximal end firmly fixed to the inner lateral side of the foot-casing, at the hinge connecting the foot-casing and the cuff, and extends obliquely along the inner lateral side of the foot-casing, so as to arrange the distal end thereof resting on the semi-rigid longitudinal tongue that covers the anterosuperior part of the foot-casing, immediately above the instep of the user's foot; a series of fairlead members that are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the outer longitudinal edge of the tongue, and are rigidly fixed to the foot-casing or tongue beneath; and a small manually-operated cable winding winch, which is rigidly fixed to the distal end of the semi-rigid strap, and is provided with an inextensible cable which comes out from the base of the cable winding winch, engages in a through and freely slidable manner the various fairlead members, passing from one side to the other of the outer longitudinal edge of the tongue, and finally has the distal end rigidly anchored to the longitudinal tongue, near the tip thereof.

Unfortunately, although working very well, the foot-casing closing assembly the described above is unpopular with some users, because it has a limited capability to retain the heel of the user's foot in abutment against the rear part of the foot-casing, or rather the rear part of the protective inner-boot.

In addition, according to some users, the semi-rigid lateral strap and the cable winding winch are in a position which is poorly protected from impacts, with the problems that this entails. In fact, while skiing, it often occurs that the edges of the ski violently impact against the inner side of the boot, in some cases succeeding to damage or even completely sever the semi-rigid strap.

Similarly, the cable winding winch is often subject to shear hits that can affect the structure or operation thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to realize a foot-casing closing assembly that can overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In accordance with these aims, according to the present invention there is provided a ski boot as defined in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims depending thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which show a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ski boot made according to the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the inner side of the ski boot shown in FIG. 1, with parts removed for the sake of clarity; while

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the outer side of an embodiment variation of the ski boot illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with parts removed for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, number 1 denotes, as a whole, a ski boot that can be advantageously used to practice ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing.

The ski boot 1 firstly comprises: a substantially rigid foot-casing 2, which is shaped substantially in the form of a shoe and is adapted to accommodate/enclose the user's foot; and a substantially rigid cuff 3, which is shaped so as to embrace the lower part of the user's leg, and is pivotally joined to the foot-casing 2 so as to freely swing about a transversal rotation axis A, which is locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical midplane of the ski boot, and is preferably also substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the user's ankle.

Preferably, the foot-casing 2 moreover has the lower part specifically structured/shaped to couple/engage in a rigid and stable, though easy releasable manner, to a ski binding device of known type (not illustrated), or rather to a ski mountaineering or Telemark binding device, which in turn is stably fixed to the back of a generic downhill ski or similar equipment.

In more detail, the lower part of the foot-case 2 is preferably provided with a front tip 4 and a rear heel 5.

The front tip 4 is preferably structured so as to couple/attach, in a stable though easily releasable manner, with the toe-piece (not shown) of a ski binding device that, in turn, is stably fixed to the back of a generic downhill ski or similar. The rear heel 5, on the other hand, is preferably structured so as to couple/attach, in a stable though easily releasable manner, with the heel-piece (not shown) of a ski binding device that, in turn, is stably fixed to the back of a generic downhill ski or similar.

Preferably, the lower part of the foot-case 2 moreover has a treaded profile so as to grip on snow and/or ice and, and thus allow the user to walk on snow and ice in relative safety.

The cuff 3, in turn, is preferably pivotally joined to the foot-casing 2 so as to able to swing freely back and forth while remaining on a swinging plane orthogonal to the rotation axis A and substantially coincident with the boot vertical midplane.

With reference to FIG. 2, in addition the ski boot 1 preferably also comprises a manually-operated cuff locking mechanism 6, which is preferably at least partially located on the rear part of the cuff 3, advantageously substantially straddling the boot vertical midplane, and is structured so as to selectively rigidly lock the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2 in a given downhill position, wherein the cuff 3 is tipped forward with respect to the vertical by a predetermined angle advantageously ranging between 5° and 25°.

In more detail, the cuff locking mechanism 6 is preferably structured so as to be able, on choice and alternatively, to rigidly connect the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2 in the above-mentioned downhill position, or to completely unlock/release the cuff 3 from the foot-casing 2, so as to allow the cuff 3 to freely swing back and forth on the foot-casing 2 about the rotation axis A, while remaining on the boot midplane.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in particular the foot-casing 2 preferably comprises: a substantially rigid shell 7 shaped roughly like an oblong vessel, which is preferably made of plastic and/or composite material, and is shaped so as to accommodate/contain the user's foot, preferably roughly up to ankle height; and advantageously also a sole 8 made of vulcanised rubber or other elastomeric material with a high coefficient of friction, which preferably has a treated profile, and is firmly fixed to the bottom wall of the shell 7 preferably by gluing.

In addition, the foot-casing 2 preferably also comprises a rigid front insert 9 and optionally also a rigid rear insert (not visible in the figures).

The rigid front insert 9 is preferably made of metal material, is firmly embedded/incorporated in the bottom wall of shell 7 approximately at the tip 4 of the foot-casing 2. The rigid front insert 9, in addition, is preferably structured so as to surface/emerge outside of the shell 7 on opposite sides of tip 4, advantageously in a substantially specular position with respect to the boot midplane, so that it can couple/engage in known manner with the toe-piece (not illustrated) of the ski-mountaineering binding device.

The rigid rear insert, in turn, is preferably made of metal material, and is recessed in shell 7 at the heel 5, so as to surface/emerge outside of the shell 7 and couple/engage in known manner to the heel-piece (not illustrated) of the same ski-mountaineering binding device.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cuff 3 on the other hand preferably comprises a substantially rigid supporting body 10 roughly shaped like a saddle, which is preferably made of plastic and/or composite material, and is shaped so as to embrace the upper part of the foot-casing 2, or rather of the shell 7, and at the same time cover the rear part of the user's leg, from the ankle substantially up to the height of the calf.

The lower part of supporting body 10 is preferably fixed in free rotatable manner to the foot-casing 2, or rather to the shell 7, by means of a pair of connecting hinges 11 advantageously made of metal material, which are placed on the inner and outer lateral sides of the foot-casing 2 and of the cuff 3, aligned along the rotation axis A. In addition, the upper part of supporting body 10 is preferably provided with two oblong and flexible protruding lateral flaps 10a, which extend forward on opposite sides of the boot vertical midplane, and are C-bent one towards the other so as to embrace the user's leg more or less at calf height, and advantageously form a substantially tubular structure surrounding the user's leg more or less at calf height.

With reference to FIG. 2, the cuff locking mechanism 6, in turn, preferably comprises: a movable arm 12 with a rigid and oblong structure, which is butt-hinged or rocker-hinged to the back of the cuff 3, or rather to the back of supporting body 10, so as to be able to freely rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the transversal axis A, to and from a lowered or locking position in which the movable arm 12 extends downwards, while locally substantially grazing the outer surface of the cuff 3, and engages/couples its distal end in a rigid a stable, though easy releasable manner, to a fastening structure 13 that is integral or anyway rigidly fixed to the foot-casing 2; and advantageously also an elastic assembly (not visible in the figures), which is structured so as to bring and maintain the movable arm 12, in elastic manner, in the above-mentioned lowered or locking position.

Being a component already well known and readily available on the market, the cuff locking mechanism 6 won't be further described.

With reference to FIG. 1, moreover, the ski boot 1 preferably also includes a protective inner-boot 14 advantageously with a soft and/or thermo-insulating structure, which is placed inside the foot-casing 2 and preferably also the cuff 3, and is shaped/structured so as to accommodate inside itself the foot and preferably also the lower part of the user's leg.

In more detail, the protective inner-boot 14 is preferably made of polymeric material foam, and is adapted to prevent the foot and preferably also the leg of the user from coming into direct contact with the foot-casing 2 and with the cuff 3, respectively, advantageously in order to minimise outwards heat loss.

Preferably, the protective inner-boot 14 is also inserted in manually removable manner inside the foot-casing 2 and advantageously also the cuff 3.

In the illustrated example, in particular, the protective inner-boot 14 is preferably shaped substantially in the form of a boot, and is dimensioned so as to accommodate and protect the foot and the lower part of the user's leg, advantageously up to the top of the cuff 3 and beyond.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in addition the ski boot 1 is also provided with a large longitudinal tongue 15 oblong and flattened in shape, which preferably has a monolithic and/or semi-rigid structure, and is adapted to close the upper part of the foot-casing 2, or rather the upper part of shell 7, so as to prevent snow and ice from penetrating inside the boot.

In more detail, the tongue 15 is preferably made of plastic and/or composite material, and is adapted to substantially entirely cover a large longitudinal slit, which extends in a roughly sagittal direction along the upper part of foot-casing 2, or rather of shell 7, while remaining above the instep of the user's foot and preferably also straddling the boot midplane.

The longitudinal tongue 15, in addition, is preferably separate and distinct from the foot-casing 2, or rather from the shell 7, and is arranged resting on the upper part of the foot-casing 2, or rather on the upper part of the shell 7, substantially straddling the boot vertical midplane.

In words, other the oblong tongue 15 extends longitudinally grazing the upper part of foot-casing 2, or rather the upper part of shell 7, so that its two major longitudinal edges, hereinafter indicated with the numbers 15a and 15b, are arranged resting on the foot-casing 2, or rather on the shell 7, on opposite sides of the longitudinal slit of foot-casing 2 and of the boot midplane.

In more detail, the longitudinal edge 15a of tongue 15 is adapted to rest on the outer side of foot-casing 2, while the longitudinal edge 15b is adapted to rest on the inner side of foot-casing 2. Clearly, the longitudinal edges 15a and 15b are opposite one to the other.

Preferably the oblong tongue 15 is moreover stably fixed to the foot-casing 2, or rather to the shell 7, with the capability of turning forward, optionally also while moving laterally towards the outer or inner side of the foot-casing 2.

In the illustrated example, in particular, the oblong tongue 15 is preferably substantially L-bent, and is structured SO as to elastically flex preferably substantially only at the elbow of the L.

Furthermore, the oblong tongue 15 is preferably arranged resting on the upper part of the foot-casing 2, or rather on the upper part of the shell 7, so that the front part of the tongue 15 substantially entirely covers the longitudinal slit of the foot-casing 2.

Preferably, the rear part of tongue 15, on the other hand, extends cantilevered upwards grazing the protective inner-boot 14, advantageously up to reach and optionally slip below the cuff 3, or rather below the two protruding lateral flaps 10a of the supporting body 10, for covering and protecting the front part of the user's leg.

In addition, the front part of tongue 15 is preferably firmly fixed to the anterosuperior part of foot-casing 2, or rather of shell 7, so that the tongue 15 can turn forward, preferably while remaining straddling a reference plane that is oblique (i.e., non-perpendicular and non-parallel) with respect to the boot midplane.

In the illustrated example, in particular, the oblong tongue 15 is preferably attached to the anterosuperior part of the foot-casing 2, so as to be able to tilt forward moving laterally towards the inner side of the foot-casing 2.

In more detail, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front part of tongue 15 is preferably rigidly and stably fixed to the foot-casing 2, or rather to the shell 7, via a series of anchoring screws 16 that are located along a section of the inner longitudinal edge 15b of the tongue 15.

Preferably, the tongue 15 additionally has, behind the anchoring screws 16, a transversal fold line f, which is structured so as to allow the rest of the tongue 15 to rotate freely forwards. Preferably the fold line f moreover extends along the body of oblong tongue 15 obliquely (i.e., non-perpendicular and non-parallel) to the boot midplane.

Clearly, in a different embodiment, the front part of oblong tongue 15 may be firmly fixed to the anterosuperior part of foot-casing 2, or rather of shell 7, via a normal hinge.

In addition, the ski boot 1 is also provided with a foot-casing closing assembly 17 and advantageously also with a cuff closing assembly 18, preferably both manually operated.

The foot-casing closing assembly 17 is structured so as to selectively close/tighten the upper part of the foot-casing 2 against the user's foot, so as to immobilise the user's foot inside the foot-casing 2, or rather inside the inner-boot 14.

The cuff closing assembly 18, in turn, is structured so as to selectively close/tighten the upper part of the cuff 3 against the user's leg, so as to immobilise the user's leg inside the cuff 3, or rather inside the inner-boot 14.

With reference to FIG. 1, moreover, the foot-casing closing assembly 17 comprises: a first fairlead member 20, which is located on the hinge 11 that connects the outer side of the cuff 3, or rather of the supporting body 10, to the outer side of the foot-casing 2, or rather of the shell 7; a plurality of second fairlead members 21, which are arranged along a section of the outer longitudinal edge 15a of tongue 15, in part integral with the foot-casing 2 and in part integral with the tongue 15; and a manually-operated cable winding winch 22, which is located on the cuff 3 and is provided with a flexible cable 23 that comes out from the same cable winding winch 22, engages in a freely slidable manner first the fairlead member 20 and then the various fairlead members 21, and finally has the distal end rigidly fastened to the tongue 15 or to the foot-casing 2.

In more detail, the cable winding winch 22 is structured so as to allow the user to tension and keep tensioned the flexible cable 23, and is preferably located on the outer side of the cuff 3, spaced above the hinge 11 that connects the outer side of the cuff 3 to the outer side of the foot-casing 2.

Even further in detail, the cable winding winch 22 is preferably structured so as to selectively wind the flexible cable 23 inside itself, lock the flexible cable 23, and finally unwind the flexible cable 23.

The flexible cable 23, in addition, preferably has a substantially inextensible structure, and extends between/engages the various fairlead members 21, passing at least once from one side to the other of the outer longitudinal edge 15a of the tongue 15.

In more detail, with reference to FIG. 1, the distal end of the flexible cable 23 is preferably rigidly anchored to the tongue 15 or to the foot-casing 2, near the front end of the tongue 15.

The fairlead members 21, on the other hand, are preferably arranged alternately on opposite sides of the outer longitudinal edge 15a of the tongue 15, and are rigidly fixed to the foot-casing 2 or to the tongue 15 immediately beneath, respectively.

In turn, the flexible cable 23 engages the various fairlead members 21 preferably passing alternately from one side to the other of the outer longitudinal edge 15a of the tongue 15.

The cable winding winch 22 is a component already widely known and used in the sports shoe industry, thus it won't be further described.

With reference to FIG. 1, the fairlead member 20, in turn, preferably includes a small idler pulley 24, which is pivoted in free rotatable manner on the hinge 11 that connects the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2, advantageously so as to be locally substantially coaxial to the cuff rotation axis A. The flexible cable 23 that comes out from the cable winding winch 22 is then partially wound around the idler pulley 24.

Preferably, the idler pulley 24 is moreover made of metal material, and is advantageously fitted in free rotatable manner on a small extension of the central pin of the hinge 11 that connects the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2.

The fairlead members 21, in turn, are preferably made of plastic, and are preferably distributed along the starting section of the outer longitudinal edge 15a of tongue 15 according to a substantially quincunx distribution, so that the section of flexible cable 23 engaging the same fairlead members 21 extends substantially in a zig-zag way straddling the outer longitudinal edge 15a of tongue 15.

Finally, the distal end 23a of flexible cable 23 is preferably anchored on the body of the oblong tongue 15 at the front end of the oblong tongue 15, more or less aligned to the transversal fold line f and/or to the anchoring screws 16.

With reference to FIG. 2, preferably the foot-casing closing assembly 17 is moreover provided also with locking means adapted to prevent the transversal movement/sliding of the tongue 15.

In more detail, the foot-casing closing assembly 17 preferably also comprises at least one locking tooth 25, which protrudes from the upper part of the foot-casing 2, or rather of the shell 7, on the opposite side of the longitudinal slit of foot-casing 2 with respect to the fairlead members 21, and is adapted to engage a corresponding coupling opening advantageously complementary in shape, which is realized on the body of the tongue 15, near the inner longitudinal edge 15b of the latter.

With reference to FIG. 1, in turn, the cuff closing assembly 18 preferably comprises: at least one manually-operated lever closing buckle 26, which is located straddling the two protruding lateral flaps 10a of the supporting body 10, so as to selectively pull the same flaps 10a one towards the other, so as to tighten the upper part of the cuff 3 on the user's leg; and optionally also a hook-and-loop fastener tightening belt 27, which is looped around the top of the cuff 3, or rather of the supporting body 10, so as to selectively close/tighten the top of the cuff 3 against the calf of the user's leg.

General operation of ski boot 1 is easily inferable from the foregoing and does not require further explanation.

The advantages connected with the special structure of the foot-casing closing assembly 17 are noteworthy.

The positioning of the fairlead member 20 directly on the hinge 11 that connects the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2 allows the cable winding winch 22 to be placed on the cuff 3, in a position which is more protected from impacts, while preventing the normal swings of the cuff 3 with respect to the foot-casing 2 from varying the tension acting on the flexible cable 23.

In addition, the foot-casing closing assembly 17 allows the heel of the user's foot to be retained more effectively on the rear part of the foot-casing 2, or rather on the rear part of the protective inner-boot 14.

It is finally clear that modifications and variations may be made to the ski boot 1 without however departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the cable winding winch 22 may be placed on the rear part of cuff 3, or rather of the supporting body 10, advantageously above the cuff locking mechanism 6.

In a different embodiment of the foot-casing 2, moreover, the tongue 15 may be made in a single piece with the foot-casing 2, or rather with the shell 7, so as to cover the longitudinal slit of the foot-casing 2 in an overlapping configuration.

In other words, one side of the oblong tongue 15 is seamlessly joined/connected to the foot-casing 2, or rather to the upper part of shell 7, at the side of the longitudinal slit of the foot-casing 2, while the rest of oblong tongue 15 climbs over the longitudinal slit and overlaps the foot-casing 2, or rather the upper part of the shell 7, on the opposite side of the same longitudinal slit.

The oblong tongue 15 thus would have solely the outer longitudinal edge 15a.

With reference to FIG. 3, in a less sophisticated embodiment, moreover, the cable winding winch 22 is rigidly fixed directly to the oblong tongue 15, advantageously close to the cuff 3 and/or straddling the boot vertical midplane.

In more detail, the cable winding winch 22 is preferably positioned on the oblong tongue 15 close to the elbow of the L.

In addition, instead of comprising an idler pulley 24 pivoted in free rotatable manner on the hinge 11 that connects the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2, the fairlead member 20 can include an advantageously oblong and preferably semi-rigid and/or ribbon-like arm 30, which is advantageously made of plastic material, and is butt-pivoted in free rotatable manner to the hinge 11 that connects the cuff 3 to the foot-casing 2, advantageously so as to freely swing about the cuff rotation axis A.

The distal end of arm 30, furthermore, is structured so as to be engaged in a pass-through and freely slidable manner by a section of the flexible cable 23 coming out from the cable winding winch 22.

In other words, the distal end of arm 30 preferably incorporates a fairlead device adapted to be engaged in pass-through and freely slidable manner by a section of the flexible cable 23 coming out from the cable winding winch 22.

Clearly, the arm 30 with fairlead device on the distal end can be used also when the cable winding winch 22 is placed on the cuff 3, or rather on the outer side of the cuff 3.

Claims

1. Ski boot (1) comprising: a substantially rigid foot-casing (2) which is adapted to accommodate the foot of the user; a substantially rigid cuff (3) which is adapted to surround the lower part of the leg of the user, and is hinged on the foot-casing (2) so as to swing about a first transversal rotation axis (A) that is substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; an oblong-shaped tongue (15) that is arranged longitudinally to close the upper part of the foot-casing (2); a protective inner-boot (14) which is located inside the foot-casing (2) and is shaped/structured so as to accommodate and protect at least the foot of the user; and a foot-casing closing assembly (17) which is adapted to close/tighten the upper part of the foot-casing (2) on the foot of the user; the ski boot (1) being characterized in that the foot-casing closing assembly (17) comprises: a first fairlead member (20) which is located on the hinge (11) that connects the cuff (3) to the foot-casing (2); a plurality of second fairlead members (21) which are arranged along a first major longitudinal edge (15a) of the tongue (15), in part integral with the foot-casing (2) and in part integral with the tongue (15); and a manually-operated cable winding winch (22) which is located on the cuff (3) or on the tongue (15) and is provided with a flexible cable (23) that comes out from the cable winding winch (22) itself, engages in freely slidable manner and in succession said first (20) and said second (21) fairlead members, and has the distal end fastened to the tongue (15) or to the foot-casing (2).

2. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein said second fairlead members (21) are arranged alternately on opposite sides of said first major longitudinal edge (15a) of the tongue (15) and are rigidly fixed, respectively, to the foot-casing (2) or to the tongue (15).

3. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the flexible cable (23) is fastened rigidly to the tongue (15) or to the foot-casing (2), in proximity of the front end of the tongue (15).

4. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein said first fairlead member (20) comprises an idler pulley (24) that is pivoted in freely rotatable manner on the hinge (11) that connects the cuff (3) to the foot-casing (2).

5. Ski boot according to claim 4, wherein said idler pulley (24) is substantially coaxial to said transversal rotation axis (A).

6. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein said first fairlead member (20) comprises a movable arm (30), which is butt-pivoted on the hinge (11) that connects the cuff (3) to the foot-casing (2), and has the distal end structured so as to be engaged in pass-through and freely slidable manner by a section of the flexible cable (23) that comes out from the cable winding winch (22).

7. Ski boot according to claim 6, wherein said movable arm (30) is butt-pivoted on the hinge (11) that connects the cuff (3) to the foot-casing (2), so as to be able to freely swing about said transversal rotation axis (A).

8. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein said first major longitudinal edge (15a) of the tongue (15) is adapted to rest on the outer side of the foot-casing (2), and wherein said first fairlead member (20) is located on the hinge (11) that connects the outer side of the cuff (3) to the outer side of the foot-casing (2).

9. Ski boot according to claim 8, wherein the cable winding winch (22) is located on the outer side of the cuff (3), spaced above the hinge (11) that connects the outer side of the cuff (3) to the outer side of the foot-casing (2).

10. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein said ski boot additionally comprises a manually-operated cuff locking mechanism (6), which is at least partially located on the rear part of the cuff (3) and is structured so as to selectively rigidly lock the cuff (3) to the foot-casing (2) in a given downhill position.

11. Ski boot according to claim 10, wherein the cable winding winch (22) is located on the rear part of the cuff (3), above said cuff locking mechanism (6).

12. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the tongue (15) has the front end firmly fixed onto the anterosuperior part of the foot-casing (2), with the capability of turning forward.

13. Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the cable winding winch (22) is located on the tongue (15) close to the cuff (3) and/or straddling the boot vertical midplane.