EP0468171A1

EP0468171A1 - Front and/or rear support adjustment device, particularly for ski boots

Info

Publication number: EP0468171A1
Application number: EP91109173A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mariano Sartor
Original assignee: Nordica SpA
Current assignee: Nordica SpA
Priority date: 1990-06-15
Filing date: 1991-06-05
Publication date: 1992-01-29
Also published as: JPH04231902A; IT223048Z2; IT9059357V0; IT9059357U1

Abstract

A front and/or rear support adjustment device, particularly for ski boots composed of at least one quarter (3) associated with a shell (2). The device has the peculiarity of being constituted by at least one slider (7) which can move axially with respect to the at least one quarter and has at least one inclined plane (8). The slider furthermore interacts with at least one supporting element (5) for the calf and/or tibia which is articulated above the at least one quarter.

Description

The present invention relates to a front and/or rear support adjustment device, particularly for ski boots.
The problem of having a ski boot which allows to maintain not only an optimum securing of the skier's leg but also an optimum support for said leg, both while skiing and while walking, is currently strongly felt.
As a partial solution to this problem, US patent, No. 3,729,841, discloses a ski boot provided with an element which protrudes above the rear end of the quarter and is pivoted laterally thereto; this solution, however, has an element which is simply oscillating, so that it performs the mere function of following the skier's leg during the flexing and extension movements.
Therefore, this solution does not solve the problem of the adaptability of the boot for example to the particular morphological configurations of the athlete's calf, and can thus be uncomfortable or painful in use.
US patent, No. 4,203,235, discloses a boot provided with a rear supporting element for the calf which is made of two mutually articulated parts between which a band, provided with internal transverse wedges, is removably inserted.
This solution allows to adjust the inclination of the upper part of the element, but has the disadvantage of being very awkward, since there is the possibility of losing the band when it is not used, i.e. when no inclination of the element is required; in this case too, the element is merely forward-oscillating, with the disadvantages described for the preceding case.
Secondly, only two degrees of inclination of the element can be obtained, depending on whether the band is used or not.
As a partial solution to these disadvantages, this same Applicant filed January 8, 1987, EPA No. 87100151.7, disclosing a support adjustment device for ski boot quarters which, although it allows to vary the inclination of a shaped body which embraces the rear part of the skier's leg, has the disadvantage of being structurally complicated and expensive.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by providing a device which allows to achieve, for the skier, an optimum support for the calf or for the tibia.
Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a device wherein the skier can achieve the optimum adaptation of the calf and/or tibia in a rapid and easy manner.
Another important object is to provide a device which allows to customize the degree of comfort of the boot according to the specific requirements.
Still another object is to provide a device in which it is possible to achieve a wide range of adjustments which can be activated by the skier in a rapid and simple manner.
Another object is to provide a device which associates with the preceding characteristics that of being structurally simple, of being easy to industrialize and of having low manufacturing costs.
Not least object is to provide a device which associates with the preceding characteristics that of being reliable and safe in use.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a support adjustment device, particularly for ski boots composed of at least one quarter associated with a shell, characterized in that it comprises by at least one slider which can move axially with respect to said at least one quarter and has at least one inclined plane which interacts with at least one supporting element, for the calf and/or tibia, which is associated with said at least one quarter.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a side sectional view, taken along a longitudinal median sectional plane, of a ski boot, according to the invention;
figure 2 is a partial rear view of the boot;
figures 3 and 4 are partial side sectional views of the ski boot showing in detail the device and respectively showing the supporting element with the greater inclination allowed and with no inclination.

With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a ski boot constituted by at least one quarter 3 associated with a shell 2; the quarter may be monolithic or composite in order to allow the rear entry of the foot.
A supporting element 5 for the calf and/or tibia of the skier is preferably laterally articulated to the upper perimetric edge 4 of the quarter 3.
Said supporting element can thus be arranged in front and/or behind the quarter 3.
In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting element 5 externally embraces the quarter 3 and protrudes above the perimetric edge 4 thereof.
A recess 6 may be provided at the perimetric edge 4 of the quarter 3 in the rear region thereof in order to achieve a considerable forward inclination of the supporting element 5.
The device for adjusting the front and/or rear support of the skier's leg is furthermore constituted by at least one slider 7 which can move axially and selectively with respect to the quarter 3.
The slider 7 has in fact a polygonal configuration which has, in a transverse cross-section, the shape of a right-angle trapezoid with the acute angle directed toward the perimetric edge 4 of the quarter 3 and the inclined plane 8 interposed between the internal surface 9 of the supporting element 5 and the rear surface 10 of the quarter 3.
The longer side 11 of the slider 7 can therefore slide at an adapted seat 12, axially defined at the back of the quarter 3, and at least one projection 13 protrudes downward from said side and therefore toward the seat 12, and can be selectively arranged at one or more adapted holes 14 defined on said seat 13.
The operation of the device is therefore as follows: by acting on the slider 7, the skier can move the inclined plane 8 and therefore modify its interaction with the supporting element 5, forcing said element into a more or less steep inclination.
This leads to an optimum adjustment of the placement of the supporting element 5 which allows optimum adaptation of the skier's leg.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a front and/or rear support adjustment device for ski boots having been obtained which allows the skier to rapidly and easily achieve optimum support both for the calf, or optionally, for the tibia, the device being structurally very simple and therefore easy to industrialize.
The use of the slider allows to customize the degree of comfort of the boot according to the specific requirements.
Structural simplicity furthermore entails very low manufacturing costs.
The materials and the dimensions which constitute the individual elements of the device, according to the invention, may naturally be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A support adjustment device, particularly for ski boots composed of at least one quarter (3) associated with a shell (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one slider (7) which can move axially with respect to said at least one quarter and has at least one inclined plane (8) which interacts with at least one supporting element (5) for the leg of the skier, said supporting element being associated with said at least one quarter.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one supporting element (5) for the leg of the skier is associated at the upper perimetric edge (4) of said at least one quarter.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one slider (7) has a polygonal configuration with, in a transverse cross-section, the shape of a right-angle trapezoid with the acute angle directed toward a perimetric edge (4) of said quarter and an inclined plane (8) interposed between the internal surface (9) of said supporting element and the rear surface (10) of said quarter.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the longer side (11) of said slider can slide at an adapted seat (12) defined rearward and axially with respect to said quarter, at least one projection (13) protruding downward from said side toward said seat, said projection being selectively arrangeable at adapted holes (14) defined on said seat.

5. Structure according to claim 2, characterized in that said supporting element at least partially embraces said quarter and protrudes above said perimetric edge, a recess (6) being provided at said perimetric edge and being adapted to allow a steep forward inclination of said supporting element.