Structure for limiting movements of the leg-piece of a motorcycle boot

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6725577
  • Patent Number
    6,725,577
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 18, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 27, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
Structure, associated with a motorcycle boot, which is designed to restrict, in the event of accidental falls followed by contact at high speed with the ground, the movements of the leg-piece (12) of the boot with respect to the axis of a heel-piece (14). First hinge (16) which are angularly movable in a substantially unlimited manner and axially movable between two stops and second hinge (18) which are movable only angularly in a restricted manner. Alternatively, the first and second hinges can be formed by elements (176, 178) made of elastomeric materials.
Description




The present invention relates to a structure intended for restricting the movements in the main directions, i.e. longitudinal, rotary and torsional directions, of the leg-piece of an a boot with respect to the axis of an associated heel-piece in order to protect a motorcyclist's lower limbs.




The dangers of severe injuries deriving from accidental impacts and falls are well known by people who practise motorcycling. The injuries can often involve the lower limbs, in particular the feet, and result from seemingly trivial manoeuvres or accidents, like setting a foot on the ground while the vehicle is travelling at high speed. In these circumstances the foot is subjected to severe stresses and, if it were not protected, quite severe consequences, such as fractures or other damages to the bones, and tearing of the Achilles tendon or of the ligaments in the region of malleoli would take place.




A need therefore exist of preventing, or at least limiting as far as possible, the said injuries which is satisfied by conventional boots comprising a rigid shell, enclosing the foot, and a leg-piece which is also rigid—enclosing the leg and hinged on the shell. During an accident these parts are obviously positioned between the limb to be protected and the obstacles encountered with the result of dampening the impacts and deflecting their action.




Even if motorcycle boots of this type are already available which greatly limit the possibility of bone fractures in the leg and foot and, when they are designed so as to surround at a sufficient extent the limb, are suitable for the protection against excessive torsional angles, no structure is presently available which is capable of restricting certain relative movements of the foot and leg during a motorcycling accident that lead to excessive bending angles between the foot and the leg, either in the forward or backward direction.




The main object of the present invention is therefore to disclose a structure for the use in a motorcycle boot which is capable of restricting the relative movements, especially the rotary movements, between the foot and the leg to be protected.




The above mentioned object is achieved by a structure according to the present invention comprising: at least one leg-piece, close to and hinged on at least one heel-piece forming part of a rigid shell, characterized in that, close to the heel and between the leg-piece and the heel-piece first hinging means are provided which are angularly movable at a substantially unlimited extent as well as axially movable between two stopping means, and second hinging means which are permitted only a restricted angular movement.











The other characterizing features of the invention will be found in the appended subclaims. All the features and the consequent advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of some embodiment thereof and from the attached drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is a side elevation view of the protective part of a boot according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is similar to

FIG. 1

but refers to a second embodiment;





FIG. 3

is similar to

FIGS. 1 and 2

but refers to a third embodiment;





FIGS. 4 and 5

also refer to the said third embodiment and illustrate respectively a partial perspective view of the structure and a partial cross-sectional view of a bridge-piece, formed in the heel-piece, which is suitable to receive an arched tongue, connected to the leg-piece of the second hinging means;





FIG. 6

is similar to

FIGS. 1

to


3


but refers to a fourth embodiment;





FIG. 7

also refers to the said fourth embodiment and is a partial cross-sectional view of a tongue and pocket assembly, having a spherical shape, to realise the second hinging means thereof; and





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment in which use is made of hinging means of elastomeric materials.











In the embodiment of

FIG. 1

a structure


10


, to be associated with a motorcycling boot (not shown), consists of a leg-piece


12


connected to a heel-piece


14


by means of first rear hinging means


16


and second front hinging means


18


. The said first hinging means


16


consist of a fastening stud


20


having a shank


22


, an outer enlarged head


24


and an inner enlarged head


26


, the shank


22


passing through an axially elongated eyelet


28


provided in the leg-piece


12


. The second hinging means


18


comprise a front lug


30


in the lowermost portion of the leg-piece


12


, an associated lug


32


in the heel-piece


14


and a stud


34


, basically similar to the already mentioned stud


20


, which has a narrow shank (not shown), an outer enlarged head


36


and an inner enlarged head (also not shown). The shank of the stud


34


passes through two holes, one in the lug


32


of the heel-piece


14


and another hole


38


in the lug


30


of the leg-piece


12


. While the hole in the heel-piece


14


has substantially the same diameter as the shank of the stud


34


, the hole in the leg-piece


12


is decidedly bigger than the same shank, although smaller than the outer enlarged head


36


. As a consequence a movement is permitted of the lug


30


of the leg-piece


12


with respect to the lug


32


of the heel-piece


14


within the limits set by the mentioned difference in diameter between the hole


38


and the shank of the stud


34


.




It shall be appreciated that due to the first hinging means


16


any relative angular movement is allowed between an axis of the leg-piece


12


and an axis of the heel-piece


14


but only an axial movement (namely along the longitudinal axis of the leg-piece


12


) is possible within the limits set by the elongated eyelet


28


provided in the leg-piece


12


to the travel of the shank


22


of the stud


20


. The relative angular movement between the axes of the leg-piece


12


and the heel-piece


14


is restricted by the said second hinging means


18


which only permit the shank of the stud


34


to move in the backlash between the same and the edges of the hole


38


provided in the lug


30


of the leg-piece


12


. Any relative movements in a radial direction between the first hinging means


16


and the second hinging means


18


is substantially prevented by the stud


20


which secures the heel-piece


14


to the leg-piece


12


. In this manner, in case of impacts, only restricted relative opening and closing movements of the leg-piece


12


and the heel-piece


14


are permitted, thus reducing the risk of the worst injuries which might occur to the Achilles tendon, the malleolar joints and their ligaments.




In the second embodiment, as illustrated in

FIG. 2

, a structure


50


to be associated with a motorcycle boot (not shown) consists of a leg-piece


52


connected to a heel-piece


54


by means of first rear hinging means


56


and second front hinging means


58


. The first rear hinging means


56


are the same as in the preceding embodiment, namely consist of a fastening stud


60


with a shank


62


, an outer enlarged head


64


and an inner enlarged head


66


, the shank


62


passing though an axially elongated eyelet


68


provided in the leg-piece


52


. As regards the second hinging means


58


, the front lug


70


in the lowermost portion of the leg-piece


52


, the associated lug


72


in the heel-piece


54


, the stud


74


, which has a narrow shank (not shown), an outer enlarged head


76


and an inner enlarged head (also not shown) also are the same as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.


1


. Anyhow, of the two holes which are passed by the shank of the stud


74


, the hole provided in the lug


72


of the heel-piece


54


substantially has the same diameter as the shank of the stud


74


, while the second hole


78


, which is provided in the front lug


70


of the leg-piece


52


and has the shape of an oblong eyelet with the shape of an arc having a radius R and an amplitude α, is longer than the said diameter. As a consequence, the second hinging means


58


allow a movement of the leg-piece


52


with respect to the heel-piece


54


along the arched hole


78


.




It shall be appreciated from

FIG. 2

that due to the first hinging means


56


can allow any relative angular movement is allowed between an axis of the leg-piece


52


and an axis of the heel-piece


54


but only an axial movement (namely along the longitudinal axis of the leg-piece


52


) is possible within the limits set by the oblong eyelet


68


to the travel of the shank


62


of the stud


60


. The relative angular movement between the axes of the leg-piece


52


and of the heel-piece


54


is restricted by the second hinging means


58


which restrict the travel of the shank of the stud


74


to the angle α along the arched hole


78


provided in the lug


70


of the leg-piece


52


. Movements in the radial direction are completely prevented because the shape of the hole


78


prevents variations in the radius R of the arch A. This second embodiment of the invention proves even more effective than the first embodiment as to the limitation of the injuries which might occur to the Achilles tendon, the malleolar joints and their ligaments.




With reference now to

FIGS. 3

,


4


and


5


which illustrate a third embodiment of the invention, a structure


90


, to be associated with a motorcycle boot, consists of a leg-piece


92


connected to a heel-piece


94


by means of a first rear hinging means


96


and a second front hinging means


98


. As in both embodiments already described, the first hinging means


96


consist of a fastening stud


100


having a shank


102


, an outer enlarged head


104


and an inner enlarged head


106


, the shank


102


passing through an axially elongated eyelet


108


provided in the leg-piece


92


. However, the second hinging means


98


, positioned between a lug


110


of the leg-piece


92


and an underlying lug


112


of the heel-piece


94


, consist of an arched tongue


114


, of a mean radius R, connected to the lug


110


by two abutments


116


and passing under a bridge-piece


118


obtained by an upraised portion of the heel-piece


94


, as is shown in detail in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. The bottom end


120


of the arched tongue


114


, which is thicker, prevents the tongue


114


from coming out of the bridge-piece


118


. The shape and the length of the tongue


114


allow a movement of the leg-piece


92


with respect to the heel-piece


94


along the mean line A of the tongue


114


which is restricted at the top by the abutments


116


and at the bottom by the thicker end


120


.




It shall be appreciated that in the third embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 3

,


4


and


5


the hinging means


96


allow any relative angular movement between an axis of the leg-piece


92


and an axis of the heel-piece


94


but only an axial movement (namely along the longitudinal axis of the leg-piece


92


) restricted by the travel of the shank


102


in the elongated eyelet


108


formed in the leg-piece


92


. The relative angular movement between the axes of the leg-piece


92


and the heel-piece


94


is restricted by the hinging means


98


which limit the travel of the arched tongue


114


to the length of the mean line A, of a radius R, defined between the shoulders


116


and the thicker zone


120


. Movements in the radial direction are completely prevented since the shape of the tongue


114


under the bridge-piece


118


prevents any variation of the said radius R. The efficiency of the third embodiment of the invention is substantially the same as the efficiency of the second one, illustrated in

FIG. 2

, as regards the limitation of the injuries which may occur to the Achilles tendon, the malleolar joints and their ligaments. However, the elimination of studs in the hinging means


98


—which may penetrate into the foot or the leg—bears the additional advantage of making the structure even safer in the event of impacts which cause the deformation of the leg-piece


92


or the heel-piece


94


.




With reference to

FIGS. 6 and 7

illustrating a fourth embodiment of the invention, a structure


130


, to be associated with a motorcycle boot, consists of a leg-piece


132


connected to a heel-piece


134


by means of first rear hinging means


136


and second front hinging means


138


. As in the previously described three embodiments, the first hinging means


136


consist of a fastening stud


140


with a shank


142


, an outer enlarged head


144


and an inner enlarged head


146


, the shank


142


passing through an axially elongated eyelet


148


provided in the leg-piece


132


. However, the second hinging means


138


, positioned between a lug


150


of the leg-piece


132


and an underlying lug


152


of the heel-piece


134


, are formed by an arched tongue


154


, of a mean radius R, which can be joined to the lug


150


by two widened zones


156


and inserted in a pocket


161


, which is formed inside the lug


152


of the heel-piece


134


by two adjacent walls


158


and


160


joined in a zone


162


so as to form the bottom of a pocket, as is shown in detail in FIG.


7


.




It shall be appreciated from

FIGS. 6 and 7

that the hinging means


136


allow any relative angular movement between an axis of the leg-piece


132


and an axis of the heel-piece


134


but only an axial movement (namely along the longitudinal axis of the leg-piece


132


) restricted by the travel of the shank


142


in the elongated eyelet


148


provided in the leg-piece


132


. The relative angular movement between the axes of the leg-piece


132


and heel-piece


134


is restricted by the hinging means


138


provided that during closing the travel of the arched tongue


154


is restricted to the length of the mean line A, of a radius R, defined between the two widened zones


156


and the bottom


162


of the pocket


161


of the heel-piece


134


and during opening the travel is dampened owing to the spherical curved shape of the tongue


154


which rubs against adjacent walls


158


and


160


. Movements in the radial direction are completely prevented because the shape of the tongue


154


inside the pocket under the bridge-piece


118


prevents any variation of the radius R. This embodiment of the invention is substantially as effective as the third one, illustrated in

FIGS. 3

,


4


and


5


, as regards the limitation of the injuries which may occur to the Achilles tendon, the malleolar joints and their ligaments. In addition, the dampened angular travel during opening of the arched tongue


154


entails a gradual resistance to the opening movement instead of a harsh stop as provided by the thicker bottom end


120


of the arched tongue


114


in the previous embodiment.




In a final embodiment of the invention, illustrated in

FIG. 8

, which is notable because of its simplicity, a structure


170


, to be associated with a motorcycle boot, consists of a leg-piece


172


connected to a heel-piece


174


by means of first rear hinging means


176


and second front hinging means


178


. Both the rear and front hinging means


176


and


178


consist of moulded parts made of elastomeric materials to realize the connection between the leg-piece


172


and the heel-piece


174


in the region of the heel and of the inner side of the ankle joint. The restrictions to axial and angular movements of the two hinging means


176


and


178


are ensured by the physical characteristics of the elastomeric materials chosen for their construction since they able to offer a sufficient protection against injuries involving the Achilles tendon, the malleolar joint and ligaments. This construction is also remarkable for a decidedly lower cost than the four embodiments illustrated in

FIGS. 1

to


7


.




Moreover, it should be noted that the use of hinging means


176


and


178


made of elastomeric materials has the further advantage of not requiring any additional thicker zone on the leg-piece


172


and heel-piece


174


. Consequently, the fifth embodiment of the invention allows simplifications in the design of an inner shoe, to be positioned between the structure


170


, the leg and foot.




It is finally to remark that the above described embodiments of the invention shall not be considered in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined only by the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A structure associated with a motorcycle boot having a heel region and a malleolus region, comprisingat least one leg-piece hingedly connected with at least one heel-piece so that the at least one leg-piece is axially and angularly movable relative to the at least one-heel piece, a first hinge provided between the at least one leg-piece and the at least one heel-piece and positioned close to the heel region, said first hinge defined by a first opening provided on said at least one leg-piece and a second opening provided on said at least one heel-piece, one of said first and second openings being elongated and having first and second limits, and a first stud that is secured between said first and second openings along a first axis and that is movable within said elongated opening between said first and second limits, and a second hinge provided between the at least one leg-piece and the at least one heel-piece and positioned close to the malleolus region, said second hinge defined by a third opening provided on said at least one leg-piece and a fourth opening provided on said at least one heel-piece, one of said third and fourth openings being elongated and having third and fourth limits, and a second stud that is secured between said third and fourth openings along a second axis and that is movable within said elongated opening between said third and fourth limits, wherein the first hinge limits axial movement but does not restrict annular movement of the at least one leg-piece relative to the at least one heel-piece, wherein the second hinge restricts angular movement of the at least one leg-piece relative to the at least one heel-piece, and wherein the first axis of the first stud is perpendicular to the second axis of the second stud.
  • 2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the first and second studs have first and second shanks respectively, and wherein each of the non-elongated openings has a dimension that is consistent with the dimension of its respective shank, while each of the elongated openings has a dimension that is larger than the dimension of its respective shank to permit movement of its respective shank within said elongated openings.
  • 3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein the elongated opening of the second hinge is an oblong eyelet with the shape of an arc which is centered on the first hinge in the malleolus region of the boot to permit angular movement of the at least one leg-piece relative to the at least one heel-piece along an arc centered on the first hinge.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
MI2000A1137 May 2000 IT
Parent Case Info

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP01/05284 filed May 9, 2001.

PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/EP01/05284 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO01/89335 11/29/2001 WO A
US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
3303584 Werner et al. Feb 1967 A
3945134 Ramer Mar 1976 A
4062133 McGee et al. Dec 1977 A
4563825 Tesser Jan 1986 A
4602443 Spademan Jul 1986 A
4615128 Borsoi Oct 1986 A
4882858 Signori Nov 1989 A
4918842 Lederer Apr 1990 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
0813825 Dec 1997 EP
2656776 Jul 1991 FR
2800976 May 2001 FR
9831247 Jul 1998 WO