EP0407336B1 - Rear-entry ski boot - Google Patents

Abstract

The boot is of the rear-entry boot type and comprises an articulated upper consisting of two parts (3, 4) and equipped with a first lever-tensioner (6) acting on a cable of which one end is connected to a second tensioner (9) connected permanently to the front part (3) of the upper. When the first tensioner (6) is closed, the opening of the second tensioner (9) ensures sufficient relaxation of the upper to permit a rest position and easy walking. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a ski boot with rear boot, comprising a shell surrounding the foot and the heel and a rod articulated on this shell, rod consisting of a front part and a rear part tiltable backwards. for opening the shoe and carrying a first tensioning device acting on a cable, one end of which is anchored on one of the sides of the front part of the upper and the other end is subject to a second tensioning device fixed on the on the other side of the front part of the rod for tightening the rod around the ankle, the second tensioning device being shaped so that it can be relaxed from the tight position of the rod.

Such a shoe is known from document EP-A-0 229 274. In this shoe, the second tensioning device consists of a cable head attached to a knurled screw whose rotation makes it possible to modify the tension at the anchoring point of the cable on the side of the shoe. The rotary drive by hand of such a knurled screw is not easy in the tightened position, cable taut, and the actuation of this screw does not allow instant tightening relaxation to be obtained. Its actuation also results in the loss of the tightening adjustment. Such a tensioning device is therefore unsuitable for use as a relaxation device.

Documents FR-A- 2,559,358 and 2,564,326, shoes are also known, in which the second tensioning device consists of a loop hooking into one of the notches of a rack fixed on the anterior part of the rod and forming a lever.

To close and tighten the shoe, the user first hooks the buckle on the side of the upper, then lowers the tensioning lever located at the rear of the shoe. There is no provision for a relaxation position, that is to say a position in which the boot is still closed, but the tightening of the upper released, so that the skier can rest or walk without difficulty. The side loop is difficult to open and if the user manages to open it, this loop tends to come loose.

Document EP-A-0 300 955 discloses a tensioning lever provided with an auxiliary relaxation device making it possible to release the tension on the cable. This tensioning lever is essentially intended for tightening the instep and forefoot, the relatively reduced relaxation which can be obtained by means of the auxiliary device being sufficient to loosen the tightening of the foot and allow the blood to circulate more freely in the veins of the foot.

The present invention aims to allow instant and sufficient relaxation of the tightening of the upper of the shoe to ensure a good rest position and allow easy walking, without however that the shoe is completely open or that a loop may be pick up. The adjustment of the clamping force must not be lost during relaxation.

The ski boot according to the invention is defined in claim 1.

The second tensioning device can be produced in the form of a simple tensioning lever articulated on the part front of the rod and connected at an intermediate point to the cable.

The second tensioning device may also consist of a part articulated by its front part, by means of at least one arm, to the front part of the rod and moving substantially in a translational movement. The part therefore occupies the same position pressed against the shoe, relative to the rear part of the upper, in the tight position and in the relaxation position, so that the part never forms a pronounced projection on the shoe.

The second tensioning device may be constituted by a lever acting simultaneously on the end of a cable for tightening the foot, so that simultaneously with the relaxation of the tightening of the ankle, there is also a relaxation of the tightening of the foot.

• La figure 1 représente une chaussure selon une première forme d'exécution en position serrée.
• La figure 2 représente la même chaussure en position de relaxation.
• La figure 3 représente la même chaussure en phase de serrage.
• La figure 4 représente une chaussure selon une deuxième forme d'exécution en position serrée.
• La figure 5 représente la chaussure de la figure 4 en position de relaxation.
• La figure 6 représente une chaussure selon une troisième forme d'exécution en position serrée.
• La figure 7 représente un détail de la chaussure selon la figure 6, en position de relaxation.
• La figure 8 représente le même détail en phase de serrage.
• La figure 9 représente, partiellement, une quatrième forme d'exécution, en position serrée.
• La figure 10 représente cette quatrième forme d'exécution en position de relaxation.
• La figure 11 représente une chaussure selon une cinquième forme d'exécution, proche de la troisième forme d'exécution.
• La figure 12 est une vue en perspective du second levier-tendeur utilisé dans la cinquième forme d'exécution, en position partiellement ouvert.
• La figure 13 est une vue en coupe axiale du levier-tendeur représenté à la figure 12, en position complètement ouverte.
• La figure 14 représente le même levier-tendeur en position partiellement ouverte ou fermée.
• La figure 15 représente le même levier-tendeur en position fermée.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, five embodiments of the invention.

• Figure 1 shows a shoe according to a first embodiment in the tight position.
• Figure 2 shows the same shoe in the relaxed position.
• Figure 3 shows the same shoe in the tightening phase.
• Figure 4 shows a shoe according to a second embodiment in the tight position.
• Figure 5 shows the shoe of Figure 4 in the relaxed position.
• Figure 6 shows a shoe according to a third embodiment in the tight position.
• Figure 7 shows a detail of the shoe according to Figure 6, in the relaxed position.
• Figure 8 shows the same detail in the tightening phase.
• Figure 9 shows, partially, a fourth embodiment, in the clamped position.
• FIG. 10 represents this fourth embodiment in the relaxation position.
• FIG. 11 represents a shoe according to a fifth embodiment, close to the third embodiment.
• Figure 12 is a perspective view of the second tension lever used in the fifth embodiment, in the partially open position.
• Figure 13 is an axial sectional view of the tensioning lever shown in Figure 12, in the fully open position.
• Figure 14 shows the same tension lever in partially open or closed position.
• Figure 15 shows the same tension lever in the closed position.

The shoe shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a shell 1 surrounding the foot and the heel and on which is articulated by means of rivets 2 a rod consisting of a front part 4 which can tilt backwards to allow the introduction of the foot in the shoe. The shoe further comprises an inner liner 5 of known design.

On the back of the rear part 4 of the rod is mounted a tension lever 6 articulated around an axis 7 and to which is attached a cable 8, one end of which is anchored on the left side of the front part 3 of the rod, while that its other end is attached to a second tensioning device 9 consisting of a massive piece, of generally rectangular shape, articulated on a base 10 by means of two connecting bars formed by the arms 11 of a U-shaped piece crossing the piece 9 (FIG. 3).

The boot being in the tightened position, as shown in FIG. 1, if the skier wishes to release the tightening, it suffices to move aside the part 9 of the boot by pulling on the front end from the side and towards the rear. The part 9, by a movement corresponding practically to a translation, comes to rest again against the shoe in a relaxed position, as shown in FIG. 2. The amplitude of the relaxation is given by the length of the arms 11.

When the skier wishes to ski again, he just has to push forward piece 9 by pressing on it with the palm of his hand as shown in Figure 3. For this purpose, piece 9 is curved and has a rough surface, for example streaked transversely. When the part 9 is again applied against the shoe, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction of the tensile force of the cable 8 on the articulation axis 12 of the arms 20 on the part 9 passes between the axis d 'articulation 13 of the arms 11 on the base 10 and the rod 3, so that there is a toggle effect keeping the device in the tight position. In the case where the clamping force of the rod is very large, it is of course possible to first open the tensioner 6 before pushing the part 9 forward.

The tensioner 6 can of course be equipped with a device for adjusting the tension of the screw-nut type, as shown and described for example in patent FR 2,564,326.

In the second embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, there is the shell 1, the parts 3 and 4 of the rod, the rear tensioner 6 and the cable 8 of the first embodiment. The second tensioning device here consists of a tensioning lever 14 articulated around an axis 15 on a base 16 fixed on the front part 3 of the upper of the shoe. The cable 8 is attached to this tensioner 14 by means of a bar 17 articulated on the tensioner lever 14 by means of an axis 18. In the clamped position, shown in FIG. 4, the tensioner lever 14 is folded towards the forward against the rod. To move into the relaxed position, it suffices to move the tensioning lever 14 away from the upper and this lever is folded back against the upper of the shoe by releasing the tension on the cable 8.

The third embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8 is a development of the second embodiment. There is a tensioner lever 19 similar to the tensioner lever 14. This tensioner lever 19 is articulated around an axis 20 on a base 21 fixed to the front part 3 of the upper of the shoe. The cable 8 is provided with a cylindrical cable head 20 articulated in a cutout of the tensioner lever 19 around an axis 22. The tensioner 19 is further provided with a rod 23, in the shape of a stirrup, the ends of which are articulated at two points 24 and 25 on the tensioning lever 19, between the axes 20 and 22. In the transverse part of the stirrup 23 is articulated a nut 26 around an axis 27. This nut 26 is crossed by a cable 28, the end of which is secured to a threaded cylindrical stud screwed into a threaded sleeve 29 resting on the nut 26 and the end 30 of which is in the form of a button for driving in rotation. The cable 28 passes through the front part 3 of the rod through a hole 31, descends in the direction of the articulation 2, passes over a return means 32 inside the shell, then passes over a pressure distributor 33 located on the instep, the other end of the cable being anchored on the other side of the shell at a point 34.

When the tensioning lever is folded forward against the shoe, it simultaneously exerts both tension on the cable 8 and on the cable 28, the latter clamping the foot in the shoe in a known manner. By folding the tensioning lever 19 backwards, there is not only a relaxation of the cable 8, but also a relaxation of the cable 28, because the nut 26 approaches the hole 31. This second relaxation is favorable since in the position of rest and for walking, it is not necessary that the foot is tight in the shoe as for a ski descent.

When the tensioning lever 19 is pushed forward, as shown in FIG. 8, the link rod 23, kept pressed against the shoe by the residual tension on the cable 28, is pushed towards the front of the foot due to the rotation of the axis 24 around the axis 20 and a tension is exerted on the cable 28. When the tensioner lever 19 is folded back into the position shown in FIG. 1, the foot is again tightened as it was before relaxation.

To take off, the tensioner lever 6 is raised while the tensioner lever 19 is in the relaxed position, which makes it possible to open the shoe, as in the previous embodiments. The tensioning lever 19 is therefore a lever with two functions, since it ensures, on the one hand the tightening of the ankle and, on the other hand, the tightening of the foot. In this case, when putting on, we will start by pre-tightening by means of the tensioning lever 6 and then tightening the ankle and the foot by means of the tensioning lever 19. The tightening of the foot can be adjusted by means of the button 30.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the link 23 consists of two metal arms articulated on an axis coaxial with the axis 22 and connected by a bar rotatably mounted on which the threaded bush 30 rests.

It is also possible to use a tensioner according to the first embodiment to simultaneously ensure the tightening of the foot. An exemplary embodiment is shown in Figures 9 and 10.

The shoe is equipped with a part 35 similar to part 9 of the first embodiment. This part 35 is articulated by a U-shaped bar between the cheeks 37 and 38 of a stirrup fixed to the front part 3 of the upper of the shoe. As in the previous embodiment, the end of a cable 28 is subjected to the part 35 by means of a socket 39 internally threaded and into which is screwed a threaded cylindrical stud to which the end of the cable 28 is fixed. The socket 39 is housed in a cutout of the part 35 and rests on this part 35. The part 35 is used like part 9 of the first embodiment and the cable 28 is relaxed as in the previous embodiment.

In the two previous embodiments, in which the second tensioning lever acts on a cable for tightening the foot, the end of this tightening cable is pulled forward, which is why the cable enters the shoe in a point behind the tensioner lever joint or very close to this joint and the cable undergoes a sudden change of direction at this point of penetration. However, the flexibility of a metal cable is limited and sudden changes of direction constitute points of resistance and friction which oppose an easy and regular sliding of the cable, which is felt particularly during the relaxation of the cable. The resistance is all the greater if there is no pulley or at least rounded guide. It is possible to eliminate this point of resistance using a construction and an arrangement as shown in FIGS. 11 to 15 which illustrate a fifth embodiment. This also has other advantages which will be emphasized during the description.

In its general design, the shoe shown in Figure 11 is similar to the shoe shown in Figure 6. For the sake of simplification, the elements identical to those of Figure 6 have the same references and will not be described again.

This fifth embodiment differs essentially from the third embodiment by the embodiment of the second tensioning device. This consists of a tensioning lever 40 articulated at an intermediate point, around an axis 41, on a base 42, more precisely between two arms 43 and 44 of this base.

These two arms 43 and 44, slightly arched to match the curvature of the upper of the shoe, are secured to a base 45 bent twice and engaged by this bent part in a slot 46 in the front part 3 of the upper, so that the end 45a comes to hang on the inner wall of the rod. The rest of the base 45 is embedded in a counterbore 47 of the part 3 of the rod, so that the transverse edge 45b of the base 45 abuts against the end of the counterbore 47 (FIG. 13). As in the third embodiment, the cable 8 is provided with a cable head 20 articulated in a cutout of the tensioner 40 by means of an axis 22.

At the end of the tensioning lever 40 opposite the articulation axis 22 relative to the axis 41, is articulated around an axis 48, one of the ends of a connecting piece 49 also slightly bent so as to match the curvature of the upper of the shoe. This connecting piece 49 carries a socket 50, slightly barrel-shaped, rotatably mounted in the connecting piece 49. The socket 50 is provided with an internal thread 51 with which is engaged a cylindrical threaded stud 52 constituting the head of the cable 28 for clamping the foot. As can be seen in the drawing, the sleeve 50 protrudes slightly from the connecting piece 49 so that it can be rotated by hand to adjust the tension of the cable 28.

It can be seen that the cable 28 for clamping the foot extends in the direction of the front of the shoe, in the extension of the connecting piece 49 (FIG. 11). The cable 28 enters the shoe at a point 53 located in front of the tensioner lever 40 when the latter is in closed position. The cable 28 forms a first harmonious loop of slight curvature in the direction of the inside of the shoe, the left side for the right shoe shown in FIG. 11. It then passes over a reference 32 ′ formed on the inside of the shell 1 , then on the pressure distributor 33 to finally come to anchor at a point 34 ′ on the opposite inner wall of the shell 1. When entering the shoe, the cable 28 therefore does not undergo any significant and abrupt change of management. The friction is reduced to a minimum and the sliding of the cable is carried out as best as possible.

In Figure 13, the tensioning lever 40 is shown in the fully open position. The tightening of the foot by the cable 28 is completely released and the partially relaxed cable 8 allows the standing station and walking. The base 42 and the connecting piece 49 conform to the curvature of the rod, forming a minimum projection.

When closing the tensioner lever 40, its end carrying the articulation 48 immediately abuts against the upper 3 of the shoe, but the method of fixing the base 42 and the elasticity of the plastic material of the shoe allows 'aside the base 42 of the shoe as shown in Figure 14. Once the straight line connecting the hinge pins 41 and 48 has exceeded the perpendicular to the rod 3, the elastic deformation of the plastic tends to fold the tensioning lever 40 against the shoe, thus facilitating its closing. The tensioning lever 40 finally occupies the closed position shown in FIG. 15, position in which the tensioning lever, the connecting piece and the base form a compact assembly in which the connecting piece 49 and the sleeve threaded 50 are perfectly integrated into the tensioning lever.

The entry point of the cable 28 into the shoe does not have to be close to the tensioning lever 40, but the cable 28 could penetrate the shoe at a point located in the vicinity of the vertical median plane of the shoe or even of the other side of the shoe.

The invention is of course susceptible of numerous variant embodiments. The tensioner lever 6 could in particular be replaced by a rotary drum tensioner or by a rack-and-pinion device. The tensioner lever 6 or the equivalent means used could simultaneously ensure the clamping of the foot inside the shell.

In the case of the third embodiment, the loop 19 could be provided with a second stirrup 23 acting on an additional cable for clamping the front part of the foot.

Claims (11)

1. A rear-fitting ski boot, comprising a shell (1) surrounding the foot and the heel and an upper hinged on this shell, upper consisting of a front part (3) and a rear part (4) which can be tilted towards the rear in order to open the boot and which carries a first tensioning device (6) acting on a cable (8), one end of which is anchored on one of the sides of the front part of the upper and the other end of which is secured to a second tensioning device (9; 14; 19; 35; 40) connected to the other side of the front part of the upper so as to clamp the upper around the ankle, said second tensioning device being formed so as to be able to be slackened from the clamped position of the upper, characterized by the fact that said second tensioning device comprises an operative member (9; 14; 19; 35; 40) able to be operated by pushing and pulling by hand and able to occupy only two stable positions, a clamped position and a relaxation position.
2. The boot as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said operating member consists of a part (9; 35) fixed to the end of the cable (8) and hinged on the front part of the upper by means of at least one bar (11; 36), the hinging axis (12) of which on the said part is situated, in the clamped position of the upper, in front of its hinging axis (13) on the front part of the upper and such that the said part (9; 35) performs approximately a movement in translation and that the direction of the pulling force on the hinging point of the bar on the said part passes between the upper and the hinging point of the bar on the upper.
3. The boot as claimed in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the said part (9; 35) has, externally, a curved and rough surface and is hinged with the upper by a U-piece (11; 36), the lateral arms of which are positioned on either side of the curved part in the clamped position of the upper.
4. The boot as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said operating member consists of a tensioning lever (14; 19; 35; 40) hinged on the front part (3) of the upper, the cable (8) being secured to this tensioning lever by means of a part (17; 20; 49) hinged on this tensioning lever.
5. The boot as claimed in claim 4, comprising, inside the shell, means for clamping the foot comprising a clamping cable (28), one of the ends (34; 34') of which is anchored on one side of the shell and the other end of which is secured to a tensioning device, characterized by the fact that the other end of the foot clamping cable is attached to the said tensioning lever (19; 35; 40) such that a pulling force is exerted on this foot clamping cable when the tensioning lever is closed.
6. The boot as claimed in claim 5, characterized by the fact that the said clamping cable (28) passes through the front part (3) of the upper in the vicinity of the hinging point of the tensioning lever (19) and wherein the end of the said clamping cable is attached to the end of a rocker link (23) hinged on the side of the tensioning lever facing the upper, in the clamped position, about an axis (24) parallel to the hinging axis of the tensioning lever, such that the end of this rocker link is pushed towards the front of the boot when the tensioning lever is closed, exerting a pulling force on the foot clamping cable.
7. The boot as claimed in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the end of the foot clamping cable attached to the tensioning lever, is provided with a cable end-piece in the form of threaded cylinder accommodated in a rotating threaded sleeve (29) supported on a boss (26) hinged with the end of the said rocker link (23).
8. The boot as claimed in claim 5, characterized by the fact that the tensioning lever (40) is hinged at an intermediate point (41) on a base (42), wherein the foot clamping cable (28) is attached, by means of a connecting part (49), to the end of the tensioning lever (40) opposite to the securing point (22) of the cable (8) clamping the upper relative to the hinging point (41) of the said tensioning lever on the base and wherein the foot clamping cable (28) passes through the front part (3) of the upper at a point situated in front of the said tensioning lever (40), if necessary on the opposite side of the boot.
9. The boot as claimed in claim 8, characterized by the fact that the base (42) is fixed to the boot by its end opposite to the hinging point (41) of the tensioning lever, such that the part of the base with the hinging point of the tensioning lever can be separated from the boot or may be folded down against the boot owing to the elastic deformation of the material of the boot.
10. The boot as claimed in one of the claims 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that the end of the foot clamping cable (28) attached to the said connecting part (49) is provided with a cable end-piece in the form of a threaded cylindrical stud (52) engaged inside a sleeve (50) threaded internally and mounted rotatably on the said connecting part (49).
11. The boot as claimed in one of the claims 2 or 3, comprising inside the shell, means for clamping the foot comprising a clamping cable (28), one of the ends of which is anchored on one side of the shell and the other end of which is secured to a tensioning device characterized by the fact that the part of the foot clamping cable extending towards the tensioning device, passes through the front part (3) of the upper in the vicinity of the hinging point (37, 38) of the said part (35) for clamping the upper and that its end is secured to the said part (35) by means of a cable end-piece in the form of a threaded cylinder accommodated in a rotating threaded sleeve (39) accommodated in a recess in the said part and resting on the said part.

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