EP0562315A1

EP0562315A1 - Ski boot

Info

Publication number: EP0562315A1
Application number: EP93103406A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giancarlo Foscaro; Massimo Foffano; Faustino Lucchetta
Original assignee: Nordica SpA
Current assignee: Nordica SpA
Priority date: 1992-03-23
Filing date: 1993-03-03
Publication date: 1993-09-29
Also published as: IT229229Y1; ITTV920018U1; JPH06233702A; ITTV920018V0

Abstract

The ski boot includes a rear quarter (103) and a front quarter (104) articulated to a shell (102). Stop members (107) for stopping the backward tilting of the front quarter are formed at lateral wings (105) of the shell. It is thus possible to achieve optimum rear support while freeing the foot instep region and thus increasing the comfort of the boot.

Description

The present invention relates to a ski boot of the type comprising a rear quarter and a front quarter articulated to a shell.
Among the several problems encountered in rear-entry ski boots, one in particular relates to the rear support of the leg of the skier and consequently to the limitation which must be imposed on the backward rotation of the front quarter during extension, in order to ensure the necessary support to the leg.
Several solutions are currently known in this regard and can essentially be classified in two types: a first type provides for the execution, at the front perimetric edge of the front quarter in the foot instep region, of a tooth or abutment which engages at an abutment which is formed in the underlying shell.
This solution, although effective in itself, has the problem of requiring the provision of teeth or abutments in the foot instep region. These abutments have a considerable thickness and therefore are scarcely deformable and cause pain to the skier during forward flexing of the leg.
In a second type of ski boot the tilting of the front quarter is limited by providing the rear quarter, at the lower perimetric edge which is adjacent to the heel region, with a stop element which abuts at an adapted tooth which protrudes from the shell.
This solution, too, has problems due to the fact that the abutting region of the rear quarter is very small and this fact causes the deformation of the components in the course of time. It also causes deformations of the quarter due to the lateral components of the forces which act during rearward flexing of the leg.
One aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above in conventional boots by providing a ski boot which has optimum rear support during the rearward extension of the leg.
Within the scope of the above aim, an object is to provide a boot wherein the rear support can be obtained with an optimum distribution of the forces involved.
Another object is to provide a ski boot which allows to achieve rear support, freeing the foot instep region from any engagement or abutment devices, so as to allow a reduction in the thickness of the shell in this region and consequently increase the comfort of the boot.
A further object is to provide a boot which is effective and safe in use and has low manufacturing costs.
This aim and these objects, as well as others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a ski boot comprising a rear quarter and a front quarter articulated to a shell, characterized in that at least one stop member for limiting the backward tilting of at least said front quarter is formed at the sides of said shell.
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 an exploded view of the ski boot;
figure 2 is a view of the ski boot in the condition in which the front quarter interacts with the stop members formed on the shell;
figure 3 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the condition in which the front quarter does not interact with the stop members;
figure 4 is a side view of a ski boot according to a second aspect of the invention;
figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the ski boot of figure 4;
figure 6 is a front perspective view of the shell of the boot of figures 4 and 5;
figure 7 is an enlarged side view of a detail of the stop member of the ski boot of figure 4;
figure 8 is an enlarged sectional top view according to line VIII-VIII of figure 7;
figure 9 is a side view of a ski boot according to a third aspect of the invention, in the skiing position; and
figure 10 is a view similar to the preceding one showing the boot in the walking or rest position.

With reference to figures 1-3, the reference numeral 1 designates the ski boot including a rear quarter 3 and a front quarter 4 articulated to a shell 2.
The shell 2 has, proximate to the lateral wings 5a and 5b, in the region 6 overlying the malleoli, a stop member for stopping the tilting of the front quarter 4.
In this particular embodiment, the stop member is constituted by a step 7 which protrudes approximately at right angles from the lateral surface 8 of the lateral wings 5a and 5b and extends in a continuous manner starting approximately from the region overlying the studs 9 up to the vicinity of the upper perimetric edge 10 of the shell 2.
The step 7 can be formed not only by adding material to the shell but also by providing a recess which partially embraces the upper region of the shell, so as to achieve thereat a reduction in its thickness, increasing comfort for the user.
The facing lateral perimetric edge 11 of the front quarter 4 thus abuts at the step 7 during the rearward extension of the leg.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a ski boot having been provided wherein optimum rear support is achieved during the rearward extension of the leg, because the lateral perimetric edges of the front quarter 4 abut at the steps 7 formed on the lateral wings 5a and 5b of the shell 2.
This arrangement also allows to uniformly distribute the forces, thus preventing any warping of the quarter. A larger abutment surface is in fact affected in a position which is more favorable for the forces involved, because it is closer to the point where the front quarter is anchored to the rear quarter.
Furthermore, this arrangement allows on one hand to lower the shell at the foot instep region, so as to make it more similar to the anatomical shape of the foot, and on the other to free the foot instep region from any stop devices, such as teeth or abutments, so as to avoid unpleasant contacts with thick shell parts during flexing.
This arrangement of the steps 7 also allows to lighten the shell in the foot instep region in order to facilitate its extraction from the mold.
Figures 4-8 show a ski boot 101, according to a second aspect of the invention, having a front quarter 104 and a rear quarter 103 pivotally coupled to a shell 102.
The shell 102 has two rear projecting wings 105, provided at the region 106 of the malleoli.
Each rear projecting wing 105 has a step, or ridge, 107 which is adapted to engage the front quarter 104 preventing its backward tilting.
Figures 9-10 illustrate a ski boot 201, according to a third aspect of the invention, having a front quarter 204 and a rear quarter 203 pivotally coupled to a shell 202.
The stop members comprise two rear projecting wings 205, formed on the shell 202, at the region of the malleoli.
Each wing 205 has a slot 208 and a slider 207 arranged therein. Slider 207 has at least two positions in the slot 208: a first skiing position and a second walking position.
In the skiing position, slider 207 is adapted to engage a short dent 210 formed on the front quarter 204; in the walking position, slider 207 is adapted to engage a long dent 211 formed on the front quarter 204. As clearly illustrated in the drawings, in the skiing position, the slider 207 keeps the quarters bent forward (figure 9), while in the walking, or rest, position, the long dent 211 allows a backward tilting of the quarters (figure 10).
Therefore, the skier may set the inclination of the quarters for skiing or for walking and resting, by simply moving the slider in the appropriate dent without any further operation.
The materials and the dimensions which constitute the individual components of the invention may 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

Ski boot, comprising a rear quarter (3,103,203) and a front quarter (4,104,204) articulated to a shell (2,102,202), characterized in that at least one stop member (7,107,207) for limiting the backward tilting of at least said front quarter is formed at the sides (6,106) of said shell.
Ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said stop member is constituted by a step (7) which protrudes approximately at right angles to the lateral surface of said sides of said shell, in the region of the malleoli.
Ski boot according to claim 2, characterized in that said step (7) lies starting approximately from the region overlying the articulation studs (9) of said front quarter (4) up to the vicinity of the upper perimetric edge (10) of said shell (2).
Ski boot according to claim 2, characterized in that said step is formed by providing a recess which partially embraces the upper region of said shell, said recess limiting the thickness at least in the foot instep region.
Ski boot, according to claim 1, characterized in that said shell (102,202) comprises at least two rear projecting wings (105,205), each provided at each of said sides (106), each of said wings having at least one of said stop member (107,207).
Ski boot, according to claim 5, characterized in that said stop member is constituted by a step (107), adapted to engage said front quarter (104).
Ski boot, according to claim 5, characterized in that said stop member comprises a slot (208), formed at said wing (205); a slider (207) adapted to slide in said slot; at least two dents (210,211) formed on said front quarter (204): a first short dent (210) and a second long dent (211); said slider having at least two positions: a skiing position, wherein said slider is at said short dent (210), said front quarter being tilted forward; a rest position, wherein said slider is at said long dent (211), said front quarter being tilted backward.