DE29723911U1 - Blocking device - Google Patents

Description

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12 March 1999 Salomon S.A. S28796GBMT1 AL/bb

Documents on which the registration of the utility model is based

Blocking device

The present invention relates to a passing/blocking device for shoe laces or the like, which is particularly intended for lacing a shoe.

A shoe traditionally consists of a sole and an upper provided with an opening for the foot to pass through and with an arrangement of loops or passes on either side of this opening for one or more laces designed to close this opening when pulled.

These loops generally consist of hooks, but these hooks do not hold the lace back when it is loosened, or of eyelets through which the laces pass, passing alternatively above and below the level of each eyelet.

A major problem encountered in all known loop systems is the increased friction generated between the lace and its loop, such that simply pulling on the free ends of the lace is not sufficient to achieve effective tightening over the entire length of the lacing and that a pull must be exerted on each lace strand located between two loops in order to achieve effective and homogeneous tightening over the entire lacing area, including the toe.

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This problem is particularly critical for shoes made of relatively stiff material, e.g. mountain boots made of thick leather or sliding shoes which have a shell made of relatively rigid plastic, for which an effective tightening up to the tip of the foot is desired.

This friction problem is further exacerbated by the length of the lacing area required to reach the toes.

On the other hand, the friction or poor sliding of the lace is necessary to a certain extent, since the resulting braking effect counteracts any backward movement, which facilitates tightening and, in particular, the final formation of a loop or knot.

To solve this problem, it is known to use lace clamps or locking devices, different from loops, which are either fixed to the edge of the upper or mounted so as to slide on the lace. In the latter case, they are bulky and not necessarily easy to handle due to their mobility.

From WO 96/24269 a passing-Z-blocking system for shoelaces is known, which consists of a ring movable in relation to a housing, which, depending on the position it assumes in relation to the housing, allows the sliding of a shoelace or, conversely, serves as a blocking device for the shoelace.

Such a pass-blocking device certainly has advantages, but also shortcomings, and in particular represents a costly construction made up of many elements and materials. In particular, the efficiency of a

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Such a system is not optimal in its function as a passing device, since the laces pass through either side of the lacing plane, which results in annoying friction.

The effectiveness of such a blocking device depends largely on the diameter of the lace to be clamped between the housing and its movable ring.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the mentioned deficiencies and to provide an improved passing/blocking device which has a minimum price and space requirement and which reconciles the two opposing requirements of improving the efficiency of the clamping and of offering a clamping function at the end of the clamping.

The pass-Z blocking device according to the invention should also be ergonomic and easy to operate.

This aim is achieved in the device according to the invention in that it comprises a sliding portion which defines a passage path for a shoelace oriented along a direction corresponding substantially to the direction of pull on the shoelace, and a clamping portion arranged in continuation of the sliding portion and oriented along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of pull and corresponding to the blocking direction.

The fact that the clamping section is in continuation of the sliding section allows an immediate clamping effect at the end of the

The actual tightening process - i.e. the process in which a pulling force is exerted on the lace strands - can be achieved as soon as the strands are guided across the pulling direction in order to form the knot.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding portion and the clamping portion are substantially coplanar, and the median plane of the sliding portion and the clamping portion is substantially coplanar with the lacing plane. In this way, an optimal tightening efficiency is guaranteed, since the lace always remains substantially in the same lacing plane and friction is thereby reduced to a maximum.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics of the invention will become clearer with the help of the following description with reference to the schematic attached drawing illustrating exemplary, non-limiting preferred embodiments, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shoe illustrating the operation of the passing device during the pulling process on the lace,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the operation of the passing device during the clamping process of the shoelace,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 is a side view of a passing/blocking device according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Fig. 3,

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Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a passage blocking device according to a second embodiment.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the operation of a passing/blocking device 10 according to the invention, which is arranged at the upper end of a lacing area 9 of a shoe 1, wherein the lacing area 9 has a multiplicity of loops 8 which are arranged on either side of an opening 6 of the shoe and through which a shoelace 7 passes.

As shown in particular in Figs. 3 to 5, the passing/blocking device 10 consists first of a fastening tab 11 on the shoe, which enables a seam or rivet connection. Of course, any other type of fastening on the shoe can also be provided.

The functional part of the passing/blocking device 10 essentially consists of two sections, i.e. a first sliding section 20 and a second clamping section 30.

The sliding portion 20 essentially consists of a substantially cylindrical chamber, the diameter of which is slightly larger than that of the lace before sliding in the passing device 10, and which defines a passing path 21 for the lace, which is oriented along a direction "T" corresponding to the pulling direction of the lace (cf. arrows "T" in Figs. 1 and 3) and is aligned substantially parallel to the general direction of the lacing area 9.

The passageway 21 is laterally limited by an outer wall 22, which runs essentially curvilinearly in the transverse direction, but extends essentially

parallel to the pulling direction "&Tgr;" in the longitudinal direction, and by an inner wall 23, i.e. located on the side of the lacing area, with a substantially curvilinear shape in the longitudinal direction and with two entry and exit areas 24, 25. It is also limited at the top and bottom by two rounded walls 26, 27.

The passage 21 thus defined allows optimal sliding of the lace thanks to its rounded sections and its general orientation. This passage 21 defines a movement path of the lace whose central plane is always located in the same plane J?", which is that of the lacing area, without protruding on either side of this plane. This results in an even improved sliding of the lace and therefore an optimal tightening efficiency due to the suppression of annoying friction associated with the protrusion of the lace on either side of the lacing plane, typical of classic passage systems.

The clamping portion 30 is arranged in extension of the sliding portion 20 at the level of the end of the exit of the sliding portion 20, and its median plane coincides with the median plane "P" of the sliding portion and is oriented along a direction "3" substantially perpendicular (i.e. at an angle "α" between substantially 45° and 90°) to the pulling direction "T" and corresponding to the blocking direction.

This clamping section 30 is defined on the side of the lacing area by a cylindrical wall 31, which results from the extension of the wall 25 of the sliding section 20, and at the top and bottom by two essentially horizontal walls 32, 33.

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The portion 30 is not closed on the side opposite the lacing area, so that the lace 7 can be folded from its sliding position shown in dot-dash lines along the direction "T" in Fig. 3.

The two walls 32 and 33 are retracted in relation to the adjacent walls 26, 27 of the sliding section 20 and thus delimit a passing section with a height "Ji" which is reduced in relation to the height "H" of the passing section of the track 21 (cf. Fig. 4).

This reduction in the passing height allows the achievement of an initial clamping effect on the lace 7.

Preferably, the ratio "h/H" is between about 0.3 and 1.

To improve the clamping effect, the walls 32, 33 are also provided with teeth 34.

These teeth are preferably inclined along an angle "α" of approximately 45 ^° with respect to the blocking direction "B" indicated in Fig. 3.

These teeth can also be straight and, for example, parallel to the direction of the wall 22.

Each tooth 34 has a first section 34a in the form of a rising ramp and a relatively straight second section 34b in the blocking direction "B".

to facilitate the clamping of the lace through the ramp effect and to hold the lace in the clamping position through the wall effect of its straight section 34b.

According to another embodiment shown in Fig. 6, for which the same elements are provided with the same reference numerals, each tooth 34 has a ramp profile 34c which widens from the bottom 31 of the clamping section 30 to the free ends of this section, forming an angle "ß" of between approximately 0° and 15°, preferably 6°, with the wall 32, 33 in order to provide an additional clamping effect.

The passing/blocking device 10 according to the invention is very simple and easy to handle.

Its sliding section allows the desired tightening force to be applied very easily by simply pulling along "T" on each strand of the shoelace (see Fig. 1).

Once the desired tightening tension has been achieved, it is sufficient to fold the lace strands inwards along the direction "3", which corresponds exactly to the movement required to form a knot, in order to clamp the lace strands 7 in the section 30 of the passing/blocking device and thus prevent any accidental loosening. The knot can then be finished without the risk of accidental loosening and consequently a loss of tension in the lace.

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Moreover, even in this position (the lace is locked in the notches 34), the tightening tension can be readjusted by simply pulling on the lace, as it will automatically unlock due to the ramps 34a and the angle "α" of the teeth 34.

The realization of the knot is greatly facilitated since it can be effected on strands which are freed from any tension due to the blocking achieved.

It is noted that the passage/blocking device is particularly simple and easy to use, since the movements required for the pulling action or the blocking action correspond exactly to those that are made naturally.

In particular, the blocking does not cause the lace to be diverted to a lower level, as is the case with the passing/blocking device of WO 96/24269, and the blocking is therefore more practical in its application.

Reference is also made to the simplicity of unlocking, which is also achieved by the effect of the natural removal of the laces.

Finally, such a passing/blocking device can be realized very easily since it does not contain any moving element, in a single piece by molding from a suitable plastic material, and it can therefore be realized in a cost-effective manner.

Claims (10)

-1- 12 March 1999 Salomon S.A. S28796GBMT1 AL/bb Claims 1. Guiding and blocking device of a shoelace (7) for a sports shoe article, comprising: a sliding portion (20) defining a passageway (21) for guiding a shoelace sliding through the passageway, the portion being oriented in a guiding direction (T) substantially corresponding to the direction of the tensile force exerted to place the shoelace under tension during tightening; a clamping portion (30) arranged along a blocking direction (B) to hold the shoelace in a blocking position, the clamping portion being arranged in continuation of the sliding portion, characterized in that the blocking direction is aligned in the same plane (P) as the guiding direction according to the continuous passage of the lace in the two sections (20, 30), and that the blocking direction forms an angle other than zero in relation to the guide direction in order to cause the lace to be blocked in the clamping section. 2. Guiding and blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding portion (20) in the guide direction (T) -2- on the one hand by a substantially straight wall (22) and on the other hand by a curved wall (23). 3. Guide and blocking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping section (30) and the sliding section (20) are continuously delimited by two parallel walls (26, 27; 32, 33) between which the common plane (P) of the guide direction (T) and the blocking direction (B) is arranged. 4. Guiding and blocking device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the clamping section (30) has a cross-section with a height (h) that is reduced in relation to the height (H) of the sliding section (20). 5. Guide and blocking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping section (30) has teeth (34, 34c) which are inclined by a certain angle (α), in particular by 45° or 90°, in relation to the blocking direction. 6. Guiding and blocking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the teeth (34c) have an inclination (ß) in relation to the parallel walls (32, 33). 7. Guiding and blocking device according to claim 6, characterized in that the size of the angle of inclination (ß) is between 0 and 15°. -3- 8. Guide and blocking device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is formed in one piece from a plastic material. 9. Shoe with a guiding and blocking device according to one of claims 1 to 8. 10. Sports shoe with a plurality of loops (8) arranged on either side of an opening (6), characterized in that it has two devices according to one of claims 1 to 8, the devices being arranged on either side of the opening (6) at the upper end of the lacing area (9) of the shoe.