Structural element for a sports shoe, such as a ski boot, snowboarding boot, trekking boot, or such like

Abstract

A structural element for a sports shoe provided with a casing able to be selectively configured between a first rigid condition and a second flexible condition. The structural element comprises a tongue, shaped and provided at least with a first segment, or lower segment, attached to the casing, and a second segment, or upper segment, pivoted to the first segment, so as to be selectively taken to a first operating position in which the second segment is rigidly aligned with the first segment, and a second operating position in which the second segment is free to incline with respect to the first segment and substantially follows the movement of the tibial zone of the user's leg.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of the structural element according to the present invention applied to a ski boot, in a first operating condition;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the structural element in a second operating condition;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a detail of the structural element according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a structural element 10 according to the present invention is applied to a ski boot 11 of the type having at least a casing 12, equipped with a front aperture 13 able to be selectively closed by means of closing mechanisms 15 disposed in specific zones of the boot 11 in order to guarantee a sufficient closing of the latter with respect to the user's foot.

The casing 12 is able to be selectively configured between a first rigid condition usable, for example but not only, during downhill skiing, and a second flexible condition able to render the ski boot 11 more comfortable during walking, for example during activities such as ski mountaineering or suchlike.

The structural element 10 according to the present invention comprises a rigid protective tongue 17 consisting of a first lower segment 19 and a second upper segment 20 pivoted to one end of the first segment 19 and disposed substantially as an extension thereof.

In this case, the second segment 20 is pivoted to the first segment 19 by means of two rivets 18, of which only one is visible in the drawings, disposed in corresponding lateral zones of the two segments 19 and 20. It cannot be excluded that the pivoting can be effected according to different techniques, for example with brackets, screws, pins or other, also made directly on one or both of the two segments 19 and 20.

The first segment 19 of the rigid tongue 17 is substantially shaped like an L-shaped tile, it is disposed above the front aperture 13 in correspondence with a tarsal and metatarsal zone of the foot, so as to prevent water, snow or other from penetrating inside the boot 11, and is attached to the casing 12 with a first end in a zone of the casing 12 where the front aperture 13 is not present.

The second segment 20 of the rigid tongue 17 is transversely pivoted, by means of a pin, a plug or other, to the first segment 19 in correspondence with a second end, so that said second segment 20 is disposed in correspondence with a substantially tibial zone of the user's leg.

In this case, the pivoting of the first segment 19 and the second segment 20 is effected so that, in a first operating position, the second segment 20 partly overlaps the first segment 19 and rests, with an overlapping surface 21, against a rear surface 22 of the first segment 19.

In this first operating condition, the two segments 19 and 20 are rigidly aligned with respect to each other and support the possible thrust of the tibia which is normally applied by the skier on the tongue 17 during the downhill skiing step.

In this case, the second segment 20 comprises at the front part a transverse rib 23, functioning as a shoulder, able to rest, in this first operating condition, on an upper edge 25 of the first segment 19, so as to improve the supporting conditions thereof and to further stiffen the condition of alignment between the two segments 19 and 20 of the tongue 17.

The pivoting of the first segment 19 and the second segment 20 allows the latter, in a flexible condition of the casing 12, to incline freely with respect to the first segment 19 and to follow substantially the movement of the tibia, in particular during the natural walking movements made, for example, during uphill ascent in ski mountaineering, substantially without knocking against the user's tibia.

It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the structural element 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide one or more temporary clamping means able to selectively consolidate the positioning of the second segment 20 at least in the first operating condition. The temporary clamping means, according to some variants, can comprise one or more snap-in or pressure buttons, Velcro® tapes disposed respectively on the surfaces 21 and 22, or other.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of structural element for shoes, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. A structural element for a sports shoe provided with a casing able to be selectively configured between a first rigid condition and a second flexible condition, the structural element comprising a shaped tongue, which is provided at least with a first segment, or lower segment, attached to the casing, and a second segment, or upper segment, pivoted to said first segment, so as to be selectively taken to a first operating position in which said second segment is rigidly aligned with said first segment, and to a second operating position in which said second segment is free to incline with respect to said first segment and is able to substantially follow the movement of the tibial zone of the user's leg.

2. A structural element as in claim 1, wherein said second segment is disposed substantially as an extension of said first segment.

3. A structural element as in claim 1, wherein said second segment at least partly overlaps said first segment.

4. A structural element as in claim 1, wherein said second segment is transversely provided with a rib functioning as a shoulder and able to rest on an upper edge of said first segment.

5. A structural element as in claim 1, wherein said first segment is disposed substantially in correspondence with the tarsal and metatarsal zone of the user's foot.

6. A structural element as in claim 1, wherein said second segment is disposed substantially in correspondence with the tibial zone of the user's leg.