Patent Application
20140151981
This application is based upon French Patent Application No. 12/02259 and French Patent Application No. 12/03261, filed Nov. 30, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties, and the priorities of which are claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates particularly to a boot or, more generally, to a footwear element adapted to be reversibly retained to a sports apparatus, and relates more particularly to the field of winter sports.
Elements of the aforementioned type, including boots, can be used in fields such as those involving cross-country skis, telemark skis, snowshoes, and apparatuses fitted with rollers.
2. Background Information
A boot from the aforementioned family includes an outer sole assembly, an upper, and a fastening element, the latter being adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism, itself adapted to be affixed to the apparatus. The fastening element and locking mechanism form a fastening assembly that is often provided to retain the boot reversibly on the apparatus.
For example, in cross-country skiing, each locking mechanism is typically capable of retaining or releasing a boot, thereby enabling the user to selectively operate the skis, with boots attached, or to walk, with boots freed from the skis.
The retaining device 3 comprises a base 4 carrying a reversible locking mechanism 5, an elastic return mechanism 6, and a longitudinal guiding rib 7. For example, it is possible to affix the locking mechanism 5, the return mechanism 6, and the guiding rib 7 to the base 4, so that the retaining device 3 is coherent, i.e., the individual components are integrated into a single device. As a matter of background, further information relating to exemplary devices of this type, including the components thereof, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,050 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,947, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties.
The boot 1 comprises an outer sole assembly 12 and an upper 13.
The boot 1 further comprises a fastening element 25 adapted to cooperate with the retaining device 3, the retaining device itself adapted to be affixed to the ski 2. The fastening element 25 cooperates with the locking mechanism 5 and the elastic return mechanism 6.
The sole assembly 12, shown in more detail in a bottom view in
The connecting surface 19 is used to affix the sole assembly 12 to the remainder of the boot, for example by gluing.
The fastening element 25 is connected to the outer sole assembly 12, so that it can selectively be affixed thereto, or separated therefrom.
As explained in the document FR 2 968 898 and in family member US 2012/0151801, the fastening element 25, and the rods and pins 26, 27 can be disassembled and reassembled, as desired, for example to replace it or to change its position in relation to the sole assembly 12.
A first drawback is that of the longitudinal flexibility of the boot along a transverse axis thereof. This flexibility is inherent in the manufacture of the boot and cannot be adjusted as needed by the user.
In addition, a second drawback with a boot of this type, and, in general, with known boots, is their inability to adapt to various types of equipment. In particular, there are two large families in the field of cross-country skis, namely, the NNN® (“New Nordic Norm”) family and the SNS® (“Salomon Nordic System”) family. A boot provided with structures for connection to skis from one of the two aforementioned types cannot be used for the other type, thus requiring that the user possess two different pairs of boots if he/she wishes to freely use both types of skis. The same problem arises with other types of interfaces of apparatuses or skis.
The invention discloses a bending base for a footwear element, such as a boot or a liner or innerboot, such element being adapted for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus, for example skis or snowshoes, comprising a mechanism for removably fixing the footwear element, for example the upper of a boot, in relation to the base or blade, which has flexibility along a direction of extension of the foot, i.e., the length of the foot, and a mechanism for removably fixing, against this base or blade, at least one element for fastening to the apparatus.
The base may be planar or flat, or substantially planar or flat, or may further comprise two substantially vertical lateral walls, and possibly a stiffener-forming portion for supporting the rear portion of a footwear element.
In a non-limiting fashion, the stiffener is an outer subdivision of the boot.
In an alternative embodiment, the base may further comprise a shell for covering at least the lower portion of the footwear element, for example the upper of the boot or a liner.
In particular embodiments of the invention, the base includes structures for fixing thereto, using screws, slides, snap-fasteners or any other expedients, at least the element for fastening to the apparatus.
Removable structures may further be provided to vary the flexibility of the base, for example one or more inserts and/or one or more rods and/or one or more plates or blades to be inserted into, or against, or in the vicinity of such blade.
Not only is it a fastening element that can be removably fixed against the base, or against at least a front portion thereof, but possibly is also a heel, the base therefore comprising a structure for removably fixing such heel.
The invention also relates to a footwear element, for example a boot, adapted for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus, such as skis or snowshoes, in which the heel of the boot is free during movement of the foot, this footwear element comprising a flexion blade of the type described above.
For example, the footwear element is a boot and comprises a sole assembly and an upper.
The invention also relates to a footwear element, for example a boot, adapted for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus, such as skis or snowshoes, an activity in which the heel the footwear element is free during movement of the foot while the front end of the footwear element is connected to the apparatus by a fastening element, as well as a flexion blade of the type described above, the fastening element, and/or possibly the heel, being capable of being removably fixed in relation to the blade or base, in order to adapt the footwear element to a first type of contact interface of the apparatus, or to a second type of contact interface of the apparatus, different from the first type of contact interface.
Such a footwear element can comprise the fastening element and a heel, which may or may not be affixed to one another.
The first type of contact interface can comprise a single longitudinal rib, the fastening element and/or possibly the heel each comprising a longitudinal groove adapted to receive at least a portion of the single longitudinal edge.
The second type of contact interface can comprise two longitudinal ribs, the fastening element and/or possibly the heel each comprising two longitudinal grooves, each groove being adapted to receive at least a portion of one of the two longitudinal ribs.
At least one contact interface can comprise at least one transverse rib and/or at least one stud, the fastening element and/or possibly the heel comprising at least one longitudinal groove or at least one opening, each groove or each opening being adapted to receive a transverse rib or a stud.
At least one contact interface can comprise a surface of the apparatus itself, the fastening element and/or possibly the heel comprising at least one longitudinal groove.
Each groove can have a width substantially equal to the width of the apparatus.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention can be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention may be embodied, and in which:
The embodiments of the invention described here relate more particularly to boots for the practice of cross-country skiing, ski touring, telemark skiing, and snowshoeing. However, the invention applies to other fields, such as ice skating and roller skating, for example.
To better understand the invention, a boot or a liner is also shown, the upper 13 of the boot extending lengthwise from a rear end, or heel 14, to a front end, or tip 15, and a widthwise between a lateral side 16 and a medial side 17. The upper 13 comprises a lower portion 20, provided to surround the foot, and possibly an upper portion 21, provided to surround and extend above the ankle. The upper can comprise only the lower portion.
The upper 13 can be positioned upon, or into, a portion called the base 200, which has a certain longitudinal flexibility along a transverse axis of the boot or liner. In this case, the base 200 is a flexion blade, or flexion plate. When assembled with the upper, as shown in
These two elements, the upper 13 and the base 200, can therefore be assembled to one another, but removably, so that it is possible to swap the base 200 with another base, i.e., blade or, while keeping the same blade/base, to change the upper 13. Removability, therefore, differs from non-removability and differs from permanence.
More specifically, the upper 13 comes to rest on the upper surface 219 of the blade 200.
The reference numeral 210 designates a collar provided with a strap 211 for holding the boot or the liner. The strap 211 can be opened or closed using any of a number of structures, such as hook and loop surfaces (such as Velcro®), for example.
Elements forming the base of the assembly, and in particular one or more removable elements 25, 140, can be positioned on the lower surface 218 of the base 200.
On the side of the heel, the blade 200 can be provided with two substantially vertical walls 201 (lateral wall) and 203 (medial wall), which make it possible to maintain the rear portion of the upper 13 and, more particularly, to block possible twisting of the foot. Both vertical walls may be separated or, conversely, extended rearward by a portion (rear stiffener) which joins the rear portions of the walls and stops the boot toward the rear by substantially assuming the shape of the rear portion of the upper. In a non-limiting fashion, the stiffener here is an outer portion of the boot. The walls 201, 203, can extend along the longitudinal direction of the foot, over a length L, which can reach 70% or 75%, for example, of the length of the boot or of the liner, or of the total length of the blade 200; this corresponds substantially to the position of the metatarsals. When the boot or the liner is inserted onto, or into, the base or blade 200, two openings 202, 204 make it possible to insert an insert articulation structure or elements, such as rivets or screws, which can cooperate with corresponding openings of the boot and corresponding openings of the collar 210 to retain the assembly, or to assist in retaining the assembly. A retaining strap 211′ may also be positioned/attached at the front portion of the blade; this strap may be opened or closed using expedients such as hook and loop surfaces, for example. The upper can also be held in or on the blade by glue, screws, or rivets.
When the user wishes to remove the upper from the base, he/she releases the retaining elements 211, 211′ and, possibly the structure inserted in the openings 202, 204.
A particular shape of the base 200 has been described above with reference to
However, the removable base can have any of a plurality of other shapes.
In an alternative embodiment, the base does not comprise walls 201, 203, or a stiffener, and therefore forms a surface blade or plate that is substantially flat or extends in two dimensions and is adapted to be fixed, also removably, against a base of a boot or against a liner. Therefore, it can be planar and affixed to the upper with screws or rivets, for example. An example of such an embodiment is shown in
According to another embodiment, shown in
Structure in the form of a contact interface with a ski or a snowshoe can include one portion, two portions, or more.
In any case, such structure comprises a fastening element 25, adapted to cooperate with the retaining device 3 (shown in
As explained above with reference to
By way of example, a single element adapted to be pressed against the base can be made. This element is shown in
The connecting element 120 has a forward extension, which is limited in order not to interfere with the connector pins or rods 26, 27 adapted to cooperate with the retaining device 3.
The base 200, like the blade 120, has a certain longitudinal flexibility along a transverse axis of the boot or of the liner. It can be bent or flexed to accompany the movements of the foot and the boot, such as the rolling of the foot and boot as the heel is alternately raised and lowered. However, it may be necessary to adapt or modify this flexibility. This can be done by changing the first blade or the first base and selecting a second blade or a second base having a different flexibility (more rigid or more flexible than the first). A base having an adjustable or adaptable flexibility can also be provided.
To this end, the invention provides reinforcement structure such as inserts or rods that can be inserted into openings extending longitudinally or substantially or predominantly longitudinally in the base or blade, as shown in
The connecting structure, which connects the fastening element 25 to the blade 200, 200a, 200b, as well as the removable heel, enables adaptation of the boot to any type of ski.
As can be understood with reference to
In
In
In
In
In
In all of the embodiments that have been described, the front and rear elements to be attached to the outer surface of the base are compatible with the NNN® family or SNS® family.
However, the invention also relates to other retaining devices or other types of equipment.
For example, there can be n parallel edges (n>2).
In all of the cases described above, the fastening structure comprises one or two wires or rods. However, as has been stated, other types of fastening structures can be implemented.
In any case, the positioning of the front portion (fastening element) or of the rear portion (heel), respectively, of the adaptation structure, has a longitudinal extension that extend as far as 30%, 35%, or 40% of the length of the blade, measured from the front or rear end, respectively, of the latter.
The teachings described above, in particular in the case of a ski, can be transposed to snowshoes.
In any case, the invention is made from materials and according to implementation techniques known to one with ordinary skill in the art. The front and rear portions of the adaptation structure are made with a reduced number (2-4) of molds, compared to the number (8-15) of molds used to make the soles of currently known boots. From an economic point of view, the advantage is considerable, because it requires an investment between about 10 and 40 kC= (approximately $13,500-$54,000) to make each mold.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and includes all technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.
But in any case, the bending base or blade, for a footwear element adapted for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling device, in which the heel is free during movement of the foot, comprises structure for removable fixing the footwear element in relation to the base or blade, which has flexibility along a direction of extension of the foot, and structure for removably fixing, against the front portion of the base, in the direction of extension of the foot, at least one element for fastening to such apparatus.
At least because the invention is disclosed herein in a manner that enables one to make and use it, by virtue of the disclosure of particular exemplary embodiments of the invention, the invention can be practiced in the absence of any additional element or additional structure that is not specifically disclosed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 03259 | Nov 2012 | FR | national |
| 12 03261 | Nov 2012 | FR | national |
