Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6270089
-
Patent Number
6,270,089
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, December 22, 199825 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 7, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Swann; J. J.
- McClellan; James S.
Agents
- Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 280 1122
- 280 1127
- 280 1128
- 280 1131
- 280 1133
- 280 113
- 280 1124
- 036 115
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A boot/sport article assembly wherein the boot has at least one locking member, the sport article has at least one associated locking device complementary to the locking member to define at least one locking system, respectively, and at least one element of each locking system is elastically displaceably mounted in the vertical direction so as to block the boot against the sport article by traction in the vertical direction during the locking operation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for rapidly linking a boot to a sport article, especially a gliding sport article, such as an ice skate, roller skate, or in-line roller skate.
2. Description of Background and Material Information
Conventional linking systems consist of straps, arranged in the area of the instep girth and the metatarso-phalangeal articulation, that are tightened on the boot. Such linking systems have the drawback of causing excessive pressures and painful spots in the tightening areas without providing, however, a definite clearance-free assembly of the boot to the gliding member.
Different solutions have been envisioned in order to obtain such assemblies, without creating painful tightening spots for the user, from complementary linking systems provided in the boot sole and on the upper portion of the gliding member.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 908,536 provides a method for linking the boot to the gliding member (in this case, an ice skate blade) with a bayonet system. In a particular embodiment, two bayonet systems are provided in the longitudinal direction at the front, whereas a bayonet system perpendicular to the previous ones is provided at the rear.
Such a system imposes a pivoting movement of the rear portion whereas the front portion is already fixed and therefore requires substantial clearances for locking the boot.
Such clearances are incompatible with a good transmission of forces. Based upon Canadian Patent Publication No. 2,141,360, it is known to assemble a boot to an in-line roller skate frame through a buckle fastening at the rear on one of the sole edges. Such a system requires having a sole, on the one hand, extremely rigid, since it is what ensures the linkage to the frame through each of the ends, and that it is therefore subject to substantial forces of compression in the longitudinal direction and, on the other hand, overlapping with respect to the boot upper.
Obviously, such a boot is not well adapted for walking. A similar assembly system is disclosed in French Patent Publication No. 2,720,286 and is subject to the same drawbacks.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,675 discloses a principle for assembling a boot to a frame for an ice skate or roller skate using two pairs of wedge linkages at the front and at the rear, respectively, each wedge linkage having a double gradient in the vertical and transverse direction, respectively.
Such a linkage system requires a very rigid sole and is extremely difficult to achieve, given the existence of double ramps. Indeed, if the conical portions do not correspond or if they correspond incorrectly, a clearance harmful to a rigid and solid assembly will occur. Further, even if the ramps are adjusted correctly, such a system is very sensitive to vibrations and can very easily loosen itself, especially when roller skating which, in particular, causes vibrations.
In any case, the removability the boot is achieved at the expense of the rigidity and accuracy of the boot/gliding member assembly.
Moreover, the known assembly principles are all more or less complicated and require using two hands and the help of tools, especially for screwing. In addition, they are incompatible for using the boot as a walling shoe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and especially to provide a system for assembling and rapidly linking a boot to a gliding member allowing a rigid assembly, and clearance-free in all directions, so as to guarantee a perfect transmission of forces and steering accuracy while being compatible with a boot sole that is relatively flexible and/or adapted for walking.
This object is achieved in the boot/sport article assembly according to the invention in that the boot has at least one locking member, that the sport article has at least one locking device complementary to the locking member to define at least one locking system, and that at least one element of each locking system is elastically displaceably mounted in the vertical direction so as to block the boot against the sport article by traction in the vertical direction during the locking operation.
Indeed, the elastic displacement in the vertical direction of at least one of the locking members allows guaranteeing a clearance-free linkage of the boot to the sport article by traction of the boot against the sport article. The assembly of the boot to the article by a traction in the vertical direction, instead of a compression in the longitudinal direction as with normal assembly embodiments, furthermore allows conserving a relative sole flexibility, compatible with the walking function of the boot, since it is the sport article against which the boot is pressed which will provide the required rigidity.
According to a preferred embodiment, the boot/sport article assembly has two locking systems arranged substantially along the longitudinal axis of the boot, and means for backlash elimination in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, respectively, are associated with at least one locking system.
The linkage thus obtained is completely free of clearance in the three directions and furthermore allows compensating for manufacturing tolerances when the boot has one part made of molded plastic in the assembly zone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in light of the following description and the attached drawings that illustrate, in a non-restrictive embodiments, how the invention can be constructed, and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view showing a part of the boot and a part of the sport article before assembly;
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view along the line II—II of
FIG. 1
of a locking member of the boot;
FIG. 2A
is a view similar to
FIG. 2
according to an alternative embodiment;
FIG. 3
is a schematic view showing the assembly method for the parts of the boot and of the sport article of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3A
is a detailed view of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view along the line IV—IV of the front locking system of
FIG. 2
, after introduction of the locking member of the boot;
FIG. 5
is, on an enlarged scale, a view similar to
FIG. 4
, at the beginning of the locking;
FIG. 6
is a view similar to
FIG. 5
in a locking position;
FIG. 7
is a top view of the rear locking system in an unlocked position;
FIG. 8
is a view similar to
FIG. 7
in a locking position;
FIG. 9
is a partially cut top view of the two locking devices of the frame according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 10
is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a boot according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 11
is a cross-sectional view along the line XI—XI of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 12
is a view similar to
FIG. 5
of the rear locking system in an unlocked position, according to a second embodiment; and
FIG. 13
is a view similar to
FIG. 12
in a locking position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENON
FIG. 1
shows an assembly
1
constituted of a boot
10
and a sport article
20
according to the invention, and applied to roller skating. That is, the sport article
20
comprises the chassis of an in-line roller skate.
Only the frame of the boot
10
is shown, the latter being constituted of a low portion or cradle
11
, preferably made of synthetic material, bearing two locking members
15
arranged along the longitudinal axis
2
of the assembly, and of a top portion or collar
12
extending upwardly from the cradle
11
to surround the user's ankle.
The construction of the boot
10
will not be described further, since the sleeve portion
12
could be omitted for a boot with a low upper, or could be built as an independent portion articulated on the cradle, etc.
Likewise, the cradle portion
11
could be made differently, the essential being that it is capable of receiving the locking members
15
to allow locking the boot
10
to the sport article
20
.
In this case and as shown especially in
FIG. 2
, the locking members
15
are in the form of studs, each constituted of one part in the form of a cylindrical rod
16
projecting downwardly from the lower surface
11
a
of the cradle and ending in an elongated cap
17
, extending in a “T” substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis
2
, at a distance d from the lower surface
11
a
of the cradle. The peripheral edge of this cap is provided with a chamfer
18
.
Furthermore, each locking member
15
is slidably mounted through its rod
16
into an associated hole
11
c
of the cradle and is fixed therein by a base
19
in the form of a disk, for example, assembled in a known manner (screw, rivet) in
19
a
on an internal, relatively flexible sole
13
of the cradle, the sole being fixed on the latter by screws, rivets, etc.,
13
a
. A compressible washer
14
made of an elastomeric material, for example, is inserted between the sole
13
and an associated housing
11
d
provided in the bottom
11
b
of the cradle
11
. As a result, each locking member
15
is mounted with a possibility for clearance with an elastic return in the vertical direction with respect to the cradle
11
, so as to eliminate the possible backlashes in this direction, as described below. The elastic washer
14
also allows ensuring the sealing of the boot with regard to the exterior.
In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2
a
, the elastic washer
14
is eliminated and the elastic displacement of the locking member
15
occurs through the elastic displacement alone of its base
19
and of the internal sole
13
.
A direct mounting of each locking member
15
onto the cradle
11
could also be envisioned, the latter providing the elasticity necessary for the elastic vertical displacement of the locking member
15
.
Each locking member
15
is adapted to cooperate with an associated locking device
30
,
40
, respectively, of the sport article by constituting a front
15
,
30
and rear
15
,
40
locking system, respectively.
Only the frame
20
of this sport article is shown in the drawing and, in this case, it is constituted of two parallel flanges
21
linkedby two horizontal bridges
22
,
23
, respectively. Wheels (not shown in the drawing) are adapted to be fixed via holes
24
provided at the lower ends of the two flanges
21
. Each bridge
22
,
23
is bored with a similar through hole
22
a
, substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis
2
.
As
FIGS. 4-6
show more particularly, the front locking device
30
of the frame
20
is constituted of a casing
31
fixed on the front bridge
22
and confining a piece shaped like a circular bell constituting a fixed lock
32
. This fixed lock
32
has, in its upper wall
33
, a slot
34
having substantially the same shapes and dimensions as the cap
17
of the locking member
15
so as to allow passage of the latter, and the slot is arranged along the longitudinal axis
2
, i.e., along an angle α equal to 90° with respect to the cap
17
of the associated locking member
15
.
On the inside, the lock
32
defines a cylindrical cavity
35
constituting a housing capable of receiving the cap
17
of the locking member during a rotation thereof. As
FIGS. 5 and 6
show more particularly, the lower edge of the slot
34
defines a transverse ramp
36
and the bottom
35
a
of the housing
35
is at a distance d′ from the upper surface
31
a
of the casing
31
which is greater than the distance d mentioned previously (see FIG.
5
).
The functioning of the front unlocking system is shown more particularly in FIG.
3
. First of all, the boot
10
is placed on the frame
20
along a direction P perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
2
of the assembly, so that the cap of the locking member
15
is aligned with the slot
34
of the fixed lock
32
and can engage into the housing
35
thereof (see the position in dotted lines in FIG.
3
).
Next, it suffices to pivot the boot one quarter of a turn, i.e., the value of the angle α, along the arrow T in
FIG. 3
, in order for the cap
17
of the locking member
15
to be blocked in the lock in the position shown in solid lines in FIG.
2
.
During this pivoting, the cap
17
descends along the ramp
36
and, due to the difference between the distances d and d′, compresses the elastic washer
14
, thus eliminating any vertical clearance between the locking member
15
and the lock
32
. It is noted that this compression is also allowed through a corresponding flexion of the internal sole
13
.
Thus, a first blocking of the boot
10
with respect to the frame
20
is obtained in the vertical direction, but also in the transverse direction through the cooperation of the longitudinal edges
34
a
of the slot
34
with the rod
16
of the locking member (see FIG.
3
). The hole
22
a
of the bridge
22
allows removing dirt that can be found on the locking member
15
during the locking.
This first blocking of the boot
10
is achieved with a clearance L in the longitudinal direction (along the longitudinal axis
2
) so as to compensate for the differences of the center distances of axes between the locking members
15
resulting from manufacturing constraints.
This longitudinal clearance L is shown in
FIG. 3
a
and is defined by the cap
17
abutting with the circular bottom of the housing
35
.
In fact, this clearance depends on the diameter of the housing
35
and, in this case, is selected so as to be greater than the tolerance of the center distances of axes between the locking members
15
during manufacture of the boot.
Other means could be provided to preserve this longitudinal clearance before the locking of the rear locking system
15
,
40
.
The front locking system
15
,
30
could also be provided so that it occurs only after a pivoting α, of about 45° or less of the boot, for example, so as to have a more ergonomical movement. In this case, it suffices to provide a corresponding angular offset α between the slot
34
and the front locking member
15
.
The second locking device
40
has a functioning substantially identical to that of the locking device
30
. Like the latter (see FIGS.
7
and
8
), it has a casing
41
fixed on the rear bridge
23
, a lock
42
in the shape of a circular bell, confined in the casing
41
and having, in its upper wall, a slot
44
for the passage of the cap
17
of the associated locking member
15
, a cylindrical cavity
45
capable of receiving the cap
17
, as well as a ramp
46
transverse to the slot
44
, the bottom of the housing
45
being at a distance d′ from the upper surface of the casing
41
, which is greater than the distance d.
The differences consist in that the slot
44
is arranged asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis
2
, and opens laterally on the side of the lock
42
, in that the casing
41
is also provided with an associated slot
41
a
, similar to the slot
44
and opening laterally on the side of the casing, and in that the lock
42
is rotationally mounted in its casing and is provided with a lever
47
for its actuation. Two abutments
48
,
49
are also provided in the casing
41
to cooperate with the lever
47
and limit its pivoting between an unlocking position, shown in
FIG. 7
, where the two slots
41
a
and
44
are aligned and are perpendicular to the cap
17
of the locking member, and a locking position, shown in
FIG. 8
, where the two slots
41
a
and
44
are perpendicular one to the other.
This locking device
40
comes into play once the locking of the first locking system
15
,
30
has occurred. The boot has then pivoted from the position I shown in
FIG. 3
to the position II, and it is aligned with the longitudinal axis
2
, the rear locking member
15
being engaged in the slots
44
and
41
a
of the lock and casing. At the end of this pivoting movement, the rod
16
of the rear locking member is pressed against the front edge
41
b
of the slot
41
a
, thus achieving a first locking in the longitudinal direction. It then suffices to pivot the lever
47
of the lock
42
until it abuts against the abutment
49
in a locking position to definitely lock the locking member
15
in the associated housing.
During this pivoting, the bottom
44
a
and the sides
44
b
of the slot
44
of that of the lock are pressed against the rod
16
of the locking member
15
and perform a locking in the transverse direction of the rod
16
.
As mentioned previously, this locking also occurs with compression of the elastic washer
14
in the vertical direction whereby eliminating any clearance between the locking member
15
and the lock
42
.
Therefore, a blocking is obtained both in the longitudinal direction, through the cooperation of the edge
41
b
of the slot
41
a
with the rod
16
, in the transverse direction though the cooperation of the sides
44
b
of the slot
44
with the rod
16
, and in the vertical direction through the convression of the elastic washer
14
.
Since the front locking system
15
,
30
is also locked in the transverse and vertical direction, an assembly is obtained free of clearance, in all the vertical, transverse and longitudinal directions, from the boot to the frame, which allows guaranteeing a perfect linkage, similar to a non-removable linkage, and an accurate transmission of all the forces from the boot to the frame, and from the frame to the boot.
It is noted that the compensation of the clearance in the longitudinal direction is particularly interesting in compensating the differences of positions in the longitudinal direction between the locking members
15
which can result from the manufacturing and molding tolerances, for example. Furthermore, this assembly method does not require a rigid sole, is completely compatible with a relatively flexible sole and is appropriate for walking.
The invention is not limited to the particular described embodiment. Thus, the front
15
,
30
and rear
15
,
40
locking systems could be reversed, for example. As explained previously, the slot of the locking system with a fixed lock could also be provided along a different angle α so as to allow an easier introduction of the boot in the first locking system.
It is also noted that this double locking system is particularly simple to use, does not require any tools and can be done with only one hand, once the boot is on the foot, since what is needed then is to engage the slot of the front locking device of the frame on the associated locking member
15
along an angle α of 45° to 90° (or other), depending on the case, to pivot the frame by engaging the slot of the movable lock on the second locking member, and then to pivot the movable lock to obtain the final locking and assembly.
FIGS. 9-13
show another embodiment in which the identical or similar elements are designated by the same references, increased by
100
. The essential difference with respect to the preceding embodiment is that the slots
144
,
141
a
of the rear lock
142
and of the corresponding casing
141
do not open and are centered on the longitudinal axis
2
so that the rear locking member
115
is engaged in the slots in the vertical direction, after a slight flexion of the cradle
111
/sole and after the front locking member
115
is locked.
Moreover, as shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
, each locking member
115
is mounted on the bottom of a longitudinal groove or recess
103
demarcated, on the one hand, by the exterior surface of the cradle
111
and, on the other hand, by a peripheral edge
104
constituted, for example, of rubber and forming a wear sole. Such a construction requires a cradle
111
and a sole
104
sufficiently flexible to be capable of being bent and introduced in the vertical direction. This construction has the advantage that the locking members
115
are protected by the peripheral edge
104
.
Depending on the sport article on which the boot is fixed, the longitudinal groove can be advantageous for cooperating with a guiding system of the associated longitudinal rib type. Such a groove can also be advantageously replaced by mere, substantially cylindrical cutouts, provided in the walking sole
104
around each locking member
115
, this embodiment yet allowing a better protection of the locking members.
Furthermore, the peripheral edge
104
has a more appropriate surface for walking. Therefore, a boot is obtained that is compatible for walking and also capable of being appropriately fixed to the frame.
The present invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples, but covers all similar or equivalent embodiments with the object of overcoming the same problems.
Thus, other means for obtaining blockings in the transverse and longitudinal directions could be envisioned without leaving the scope of the present invention.
The instant application is based upon the French priority patent application No. 97 16746 filed Dec. 23, 1997, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 USC 119.
Claims
- 1. An assembly comprising:a boot comprising at least one locking member and sport article comprising at least one associated locking devise complementary to said locking member of said boot, said locking member of said boot and said locking device of said sport article define a locking system, said locking system having a locking operation to lock said boot to said sport article and an unlocking operation to unlock said boot from said sport article; said locking system comprising at least one elastically displaceable element mounted for movement in a direction having a vertical component during said locking operation to block said boot with regard to said sport article by a traction force in said direction; each of said at least one locking member comprising a projecting part comprising a substantially T-shaped cap; and each of said at least one locking device comprising a lock configured to cooperate with a respective one of said at least one locking member.
- 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said elastically displaceable element of said locking system is constituted by said at least one locking member of said boot.
- 3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:at least one said lock is rotatable.
- 4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein:said rotatable lock is provided with one passage slot for said cap of a respective one of said at least one locking member, said passage slot being mounted for rotation and displacement by means of a lever from an unlocking position, said slot being substantially parallel to a direction in which said cap extends in said unlocking position, to a locking position, said slot being substantially perpendicular to said direction in which said cap extends in said locking postion.
- 5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein:each of said at least one locking member further comprises a rod extending from said cap; said rotatable lock further comprises a fixed casing having an edge configured for being pressed against said rod of said at least one locking member for locking in a longitudinal direction of said rod.
- 6. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein:said rotatable lock comprises a circular bell provided with said one passage slot for said cap of a respective one of said at least one locking member.
- 7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:at least one said lock is fixed.
- 8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein:said fixed lock comprises a housing configured to receive said cap of a respective one of said at least one locking member during a rotation of said one locking member along a predetermined angle, said housing being closed at an upper end and provided with an engagement slot for said cap oriented along an angle with respect to an orientation of said cap.
- 9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said locking system comprises a first locking system; said at least one locking member comprises a second locking member and said at least one associated locking device comprises a second associated locking device, said second locking member and said second associated locking device defining a second locking system; said first locking system is adapted to be positioned in an area of metatarsal bones of a user's foot and said second locking system is adapted to be positioned in an area of a heel of a user's foot.
- 10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:each of said at least one locking member is elastically displaceably mounted with respect to said boot in said direction.
- 11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein:said boot further comprises a bottom, said bottom having a through hole; each of said at least one locking member further comprises a rod extending from said cap, said rod being slidably mounted within said through hole; and an elastic element is positioned around said rod.
- 12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein:said bottom of said boot further comprises a cradle and a wear sole, at least one recess being demarcated by an external surface of said cradle and by said wear sole; each of said at least one locking member projects into said at least one recess.
- 13. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:each of said at least one locking member and an associated one of said at least one lock being configured for relative rotation during said operation; and each of said at least one lock comprises at least one ramp configured for exerting a vertically directed traction force on a respective one of said locking members during said relative rotation.
- 14. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:each of said at least one locking defines abutments in a transverse direction.
- 15. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said locking system comprises a first locking system; said at least one locking member comprises a second locking member and said at least one associated locking device comprises a second associated locking device, said second locking member and said second associated locking device defining a second locking system; said first locking system is adapted to be positioned in an area of metatarsal bones of a user's foot and said second locking system is adapted to be positioned in an area of a heel of a user's foot; said lock of one of said first and second locking systems comprises a rotatable lock and said lock of a second of said first and second locking systems comprises a fixed lock.
- 16. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said sport article comprises a chassis of an in-line roller skate.
- 17. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said at least one locking member comprises two locking members and said at least one associated locking device comprises two associated locking devices; said boot and said sport article are connected together only by means of said two locking members and said two associated locking devices.
- 18. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said sport article comprises a chassis of a skate.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
97.16746 |
Dec 1997 |
FR |
|
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2141360 |
Jul 1996 |
CA |
2720286 |
Dec 1995 |
FR |