EP0577926A1 - Ski boot closure device - Google Patents

Abstract

Alpine ski boot including rear support take-up (recovery) means (10) of the upper (3) and tightening means of a collar (4) over a lower leg, consisting of a link (9) forming a double circuit and of a lockable lever/tensioner (11). The flexible link (9) describes a circuit having, as origin, a flange (coupling) (6) of the collar (4) constituting a movable attachment point (12) of one end (9a) of the link (9) which is then freely connected to the lever/tensioner (11) via which it passes in order to then be fastened by its other end (9b) on a part of the collar (4) constituting a fixed attachment point (14), from which the intermediate lever/tensioner (11) exerts a traction on the other end (9a) of the link (9) simultaneously giving rise to a tightening action on the said flange (6) and a locking action of the rear support take-up member (10), and vice versa. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an alpine ski boot with central entry and / or from the front comprising a shell base surmounted by a rod having at least one collar-shaped part articulated on said shell base in the region of the malleoli around a pivoting link, this collar comprising at least one flange provided with a closure means intended to simultaneously ensure the tightening of said collar on the lower leg of the skier and its pivoting locking relative to the hull base at least in the antero-posterior direction, that is to say in the direction of the rear supports of said lower leg on the collar.

Such means acting both in clamping on a part of the shoe and on a blocking or recovery of rear support are known from French patent application No. 2,657,235.

In this application, a device is described, including a support member, articulated on an axis of the rear cover and intended to be supported on a support portion of the shell base, when the boot is closed. This support member is driven in the working position by the end of a tensioning lever during its movement towards a closed position of the shoe.

This device has a certain number of drawbacks, in particular with regard to the positioning of the elements which requires a rigorous adjustment between them because the support member is driven by the free end of the tensioning lever. Furthermore, since it is the free end of the tensioning lever that immobilizes the support member on the shell base, said lever can no longer be grasped in the usual way, that is to say by its end but over a portion of its length.

It is also known from French patent application No. 2,661,076, a device for simultaneously controlling a loop for closing a collar on a leg base and a rocker disposed at the rear of the rod. the shoe and capable of cooperating with a stop of the shell base to immobilize or release said rod relative to the latter.

In this type of device, the control loop is located on the upper of the shoe and it is by loosening said loop that the upper is simultaneously released from its stop on the shell base. Such a rod release is particularly advantageous when the skier wishes to relax and / or walk. However, by the very fact that the control loop is located on a flap of the rod, a certain number of drawbacks are revealed when skiing, and in particular when using ski clothing which has either leggings intended to cover said rod, or leggings which are intended to be introduced into said rod. Indeed, in the first case, which is the most common, it is necessary to disengage the leggings to access the control loop and in the second case, the control loop is no longer protected from external agents and can be hung , hit, ..... see even being opened and causing untimely release of the rocker from where the rod. In any event, regardless of the ski clothing used, when the control loop of such a device is in the open position, it occurs largely indoors on the lateral outside of the rod, which has as a consequence of increasing the risks of catching, and in particular the risk of seeing said loop disconnect from the flap which it controls.

Furthermore, since the closure loop is located on the upper in a lateral zone while the rocker is in the heel zone, it is necessary to provide connecting means which extend between them inside the shoe at least partially in the volume called "footwear" which can affect comfort.

Also known from French Patent No. 1,448,831 is a shoe with a one-piece upper comprising a flap with two tongues, one upper, the other lower, the latter being subjected to the action of a tensioning lever by the 'Intermediate of a flexible link exerting traction on said tongue as well as on a covering part of the instep consisting of a buttonhole. In this case, the release of the link simply has the effect of allowing rapid release of the buttonhole, and therefore of the foot, without producing even partial release of the upper of the shoe, for example for walking; in fact, in such a boot, it is necessary to release the upper tongue to allow a certain movement of the lower leg of the skier and thus facilitate the use of this type of ski boot for walking.

However, the present invention not only aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, but also poses a problem encountered in ski boots having a collar articulated on a bottom of the shell.

Indeed, in this type of shoe, a problem lies in the fact that there is too great a spacing of the overlap zones starting from the closure tabs, with hooks for example, and which require having to re-initiate the crocheting at the time of closing because it is released during opening.

The object of the invention is to remedy all these drawbacks by proposing a device for simultaneous control of loosening of the rod with pivoting release of the latter which is simple, accessible on any occasion whatever the type of ski clothing used. and located in an area protected from knocks or risks of snagging while skiing or walking.

Another object is to make the operation of the device more reliable and in particular to prevent untimely unlocking of the upper of the boot during skiing or its locking during walking.

The present invention makes it possible to solve these problems and for this purpose relates to an alpine ski boot with central entry and / or from the front comprising a shell base surmounted by a rod having at least one part in the form of a collar articulated on said shell base and which covers at least the areas corresponding to the lower leg and the flexion fold of the skier's ankle. This collar, split vertically in its front part, is closed by means of two flaps which extend transversely to the slot and which join in mutual overlap, thus determining an internal flap and an external flap. According to the invention, the collar is lockable in pivoting relative to the shell base at least in the anteroposterior direction and its outer flap ensures its closure on the areas of the lower leg and the bending fold using 'at least one closure means connecting it with the inner flap; these closing means make it possible to bring the flaps more or less together and thus tighten the collar on the lower leg and on the bending fold; the outer flap has for this purpose a flange which extends over said zone of the bending fold and which is provided with a corresponding closure means. According to one embodiment, the collar is adjustable around the lower leg of the skier by means of two flanges which extend the outer flap and which are respectively provided with a closure means, one upper, in the upper part of said collar corresponding substantially to the lower leg and the other lower in the zone of junction with the upper edge of the shell base corresponding substantially to the fold of bending of the skier's ankle, the latter being controlled by means of at least one flexible and inextensible link actuated in traction by a tensioning lever constituting the closure means. The shoe is characterized in that the flexible link describes a circuit originating from the lower flange of the collar to be ordered closed, constituting a movable point of attachment of one end of the link which is then freely connected to the tensioning lever by which it transits to then be fixed by its other end to a part of the collar constituting a fixed point of attachment, from which the tensioning lever, placed in intermediate, exerts traction on the other end of the link connected to the flange, and in that the tensioning lever of the lower flange directly controls a locking member for pivoting the collar at least in the antero-posterior direction. In this way, a clamping action of said flange is caused simultaneously on the bending fold and a clamping action of the collar by a rear support recovery member during the operation of the tensioning lever in closing, and conversely a simultaneous release. of the bending fold and of the movement of the collar during opening.

According to another characteristic, the member for pivotally locking the collar consists of a piece angularly articulated in its central part to form a rocker defining an upper arm and a lower arm and capable of assuming at least two positions corresponding to the locking and to the unlocking of the collar on the shell base, under the rotary action of a cam on the upper arm of the rocker in contrast to the thrust of a return spring on the lower arm of said rocker, said cam being arranged at the end of the tensioning lever opposite its free gripping end and centered on the axis of articulation of the tensioning lever, and its profile develops along generatrices parallel to the axis of articulation of said lever, the latter acting simultaneously traction on the flexible link connected to the lower flange of the collar and on the upper arm of the rocker via the cam. In the collar locking position, the tensioning lever is lowered until it rests on the wall of the rear part of the collar and its cam emerges from the upper arm of the rocker; the latter, under the thrust effect of the return spring, pivots and engages on a flange or support spoiler obtained on the shell base by means of its lower arm thus achieving a stop at least in the direction an anteroposterior pivot for the collar. In the unlocking position of the collar, the tensioning lever is raised angularly by a value corresponding at least to the clearance of the lower arm of said rocker from the support flange of the shell base. This minimum angular value is determined in correlation with the release of the tightening of the bending fold made using the lower clamp closure flange so that the tensioning lever is held in this unlocking position simply by the residual tension see the relative stiffness of the flexible link made sensitive due to the release of said lower flange which relaxes; this minimum unlocking position of the collar in which the lower strap is released is suitable for walking and relaxation because the skier can straighten his lower leg which is no longer angularly blocked relative to the shell base.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tensioning lever is provided with an elongated opening through which the flexible link passes, which bears on the one hand on the end of the lumen closest to the axis of articulation said lever in the closed position and secondly, on the end of the light furthest from said hinge pin in the position of maximum lifting of the tensioning lever. In cooperation with this elongated light, flexible link references are arranged between the lower flange and the rear part of the collar where the tensioning lever is articulated so that in the position of maximum lifting of the latter, the end of the light the most distant from its articulation is located opposite said references. This arrangement of the references and the light of the tensioning lever makes it possible to obtain a constant release of the flexible link in full opening of the collar, regardless of the position of the end of the light closest to the articulation of said tensioning lever which end constitutes the bearing zone of the link for its tensioning. It is understood that the support zone can also be constituted by another means such as a slide adjustable in position along the lumen to adjust the active length of the flexible link.

It emerges from the structure described that the tensioner lever / locking member / lower flange assembly is very stable in the closed position because a simple impact on the tensioner lever is not enough to unlock the collar; in fact, the latter being kept blocked using the rocker under the action of the return spring, it is necessary to make said tensioning lever pass through a relatively large pivoting before releasing the lower arm of the rocker from its support on the hull base which can only happen through voluntary maneuvering.

To summarize, and as will be better understood from the description which follows, the arrangement of the link is such as to be able to release, without releasing it, the lower strap of the collar so as to give the instep and the bending fold, the range of motion necessary for walking, without requiring the loosening of the upper strap. In addition, during the complete release of the lower flange, during opening or removal, the latter is never completely released, but only has a degree of freedom obtained by loosening the link which constitutes a controlled retention of the outer flap of the collar, hence the inner flap. As is obvious, the permanent connection of the link with the lower flange makes it possible to easily close the bottom of the rod and, thereby, to induce a partial tightening of the top of said rod, allowing the upper flange to be easily re-started. to its closing means after said rod has been opened.

• La figure 1 est une vue de côté d'une chaussure de ski comportant un dispositif de serrage de la tige et de reprise d'appui arrière de celle-ci selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un collier pouvant équiper la chaussure de la figure 1 muni du dispositif conformément à l'invention.
• Les figures 3, 4 et 5 sont des vues de côté de la chaussure de la figure 1 représentant respectivement le dispositif et le collier de la figure 2 en position d'ouverture, en position marche, et en position de fermeture.
• La figure 6 est une vue partielle agrandie du profil de la came du dispositif de reprise d'appui arrière.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics thereof will be highlighted with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, illustrating, by way of nonlimiting example, how the invention can be performed and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a side view of a ski boot comprising a device for tightening the upper and for taking up its rear support according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a collar that can equip the shoe of Figure 1 provided with the device according to the invention.
• Figures 3, 4 and 5 are side views of the shoe of Figure 1 respectively showing the device and the collar of Figure 2 in the open position, in the on position, and in the closed position.
• Figure 6 is an enlarged partial view of the profile of the cam of the rear support recovery device.

By way of nonlimiting illustrative example, FIG. 1 the shoe 1 designated as a whole, is of the type with front and / or central entry and comprises a shell base 2 surmounted by a rod 3 having at least one part in the form of a collar 4, articulated on said shell base 2 in the region of the malleoli around a pivoting link 5. In known manner, this collar 4 is adjustable around the lower leg of the skier by means of two straps or tongues 6,7 of which the lower one 6 is located in the junction zone with the upper edge of the shell base 2 corresponding substantially to the flexion fold of the skier's ankle, while the other upper 7 is located in the upper part of the collar 4 and comprises closing means which are specific to it and which consist of a hook 8, symbolically represented, as known per se.

Said second lower flange 6 comprises, according to the invention, a closure means which is constituted by a flexible and inextensible link 9 which is connected to a rear support recovery member 10 of the collar 4 on the shell base 2 and which is controlled in traction by a tensioning lever 11, placed in the middle, acting simultaneously on the link 9 and on the member 10.

9 the flexible link describes a dual circuit 9A-9B originating from the flange 6 of the collar 4 constituting a mobile attachment point 12 of end 9 has a portion 9A of the dual circuit closed by the link 9, wherein link is then freely connected to the tensioning lever 11 by a hole 13 from which it passes to be then fixed by its other end 9b of a branch 9B of the circuit, on a part of the collar 4 to constitute a fixed point of attachment 14, from which the intermediate tensioning lever 11 exerts traction on the other end 9 a of the circuit 9A of the link 9 connected to the flange 6. In this way, the lever 11 simultaneously exerts a clamping action on the flange 6 and an action in locking of the rear support recovery member 10.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the link 9 describes a double circuit 9A-9B, passing on either side of the collar 4, its passage on the external side of the collar ending in the point of attachment 12 on the flange 6 and its passage on the internal side of the collar ending at a fixed attachment point 14 located on said internal side substantially at the same height as the reference 19 '.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the fixed attachment point 14 is located on the external flank of the collar 4 after having bypassed the internal flank of the latter and its anterior opening zone. This arrangement appreciably improves the quality of the tightening of the collar 4 on the lower leg but requires a release of link 9 clearly greater than in the construction method of FIG. 2 to allow optimum opening of said collar for putting on and taking off.

In fact, the flexible link 9 is mounted in a non-removable manner according to a predetermined length suitable for ensuring partial release of the collar 4 via the flange 6.

This partial release defined by the position F1 of the tensioning lever 11 is suitable for walking as illustrated in FIG. 4. Usefully in this case, the upper strap 7 can remain closed to maintain a certain hold on the lower leg without requiring the release of the leggings from the ski clothing, for example.

A greater release defined by the position F2 of the tensioner (FIG. 3) associated with the opening of the upper strap 7 is suitable for footwear-heaving. In this position F2, the link 9 coming from the double circuit 9A-9B is placed in abutment on the end of the light 21 most distant from the articulation 15 of the tensioning lever 11, substantially opposite the references 19-19 'of said link 9 on the rear part of the collar 4. This arrangement makes it possible to obtain constant release of the flexible link 9 at the opening of the collar 4 and independently of the position of support of said link 9 on the end of the lumen 21 closest to the articulation 15 of said lever and / or on a slide 22 for adjusting the active length. To obtain this result at the opening of the collar 4, it is necessary that the references 19-19 ′ and the end of the lumen 21 furthest from the articulation 15 are opposite as explained above. ; this implies that the transverse axis of articulation 15 of the tensioning lever 11 is located on the rear part of said collar at a distance "r" from the references 19-19 'equivalent to the distance "r" separating it from the end of the light 21 closest to the joint 15. In the case where the flexible link 9 coming from the lower flange 6 is too low, which is verified in the example of FIGS. 2 to 5, it is obvious that one will use a reference or guide to raise said link 9 to the correct height.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear support recovery member 10 is constituted by a piece angularly articulated in its central part 16 to form a rocker defining an upper arm 10A and a lower arm 10B and capable of taking at least two positions corresponding to locking F and unlocking F1-F2 of the collar 4 relative to the shell base 2, under the rotary action of a cam 17 acting on the upper arm 10A of the rocker 10, said cam 17 being formed centered on the articulation 15 at the end 11A of the tensioning lever 11 opposite the free end 11B for gripping.

Furthermore, a return spring 18 is interposed between the lower arm 10B of the rocker 10 and a rear part 4A of the collar 4 to ensure the automatic return of said rocker 10 to the locked position when it is no longer stressed by the cam 17 of the tensioning lever 11.

Finally, the lower arm 10B of the rocker 10 is capable of bearing, in a locking position F, against a rear flange 29 of the shell base 2, constituting the support recovery.

It goes without saying that the rear support recovery member 10 of the collar 4 can be provided to also block the pivoting of said collar 4 in the postero-anterior direction. In an example of such a construction, not shown, the lower arm 10B of the rocker has a spout directed towards the shell base wall 2 which is then extended beyond the flange 29 described above, and said wall is provided with 'a fitting notch corresponding to said spout. In this way, when the tensioning lever 11 is brought into the low position, the lower arm 10B of the rocker 10 is pushed by the spring 18 against the wall of the shell base 4 and engages by its beak with the notch. By providing a tight fit of the spout with the notch, the total pivoting locking of the collar 4 is thus obtained relative to the shell base 2. On the other hand, by producing a vertically elongated notch, that is to say revealing a certain space between the spout and the two vertical ends of said notch, the collar 4 will be susceptible to a certain possibility of pivoting, the amplitude of which is determined by this space.

With reference to FIG. 6, the description of the cam profile 17 will be carried out below, simultaneously with the mode of actuation of the rocker 10.

• une première zone comprise entre, d'une part un point A projeté perpendiculairement à l'axe longitudinal XX' du lever 11 à partir du centre O de son axe d'articulation 15, et selon une valeur a déterminée, lequel point A n'a pas d'influence sur le bras supérieur 10A de la bascule 10 qui se trouve alors, par son bras inférieur 10B, en position de verrouillage F contre la butée 29 de reprise d'appui sur la base de coque 2, sous l'action du ressort de rappel 18, et d'autre part, un point B situé sur l'axe longitudinal XX' du lever 11, sécant au segment OA pour former un segment OB d'une valeur b supérieure à la valeur a du segment OA, de manière à ce que lorsque ledit point B se trouve en contact avec le bras supérieur 10A de la bascule 10 pour une position de déverrouillage F1 ledit bras 10B est repoussé d'une valeur sensiblement correspondante à l'engagement du bras inférieur 10B sur la butée 29 de la base de coque 2 avec mise en compression du ressort de rappel 18.
• une seconde zone comprise entre le point B et un point C diamétralement opposé au point A par rapport au centre O, ladite zone BC ayant un rayon de courbure sensiblement constant $\text{R=OB}$
  
  , lequel point C, lorsqu'il est en contact avec le bras supérieur 10B de la bascule 10, correspondant à une position d'escamotage complet du levier tendeur 11 dans une position de déverrouillage F2.

The cam profile 17 of the tensioner lever 11 comprises:

• a first zone comprised between, on the one hand, a point A projected perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XX 'of the lever 11 from the center O of its articulation axis 15, and according to a determined value, which point A n' has no influence on the upper arm 10A of the rocker 10 which is then, by its lower arm 10B, in the locking position F against the stop 29 for resuming support on the shell base 2, under the action of the return spring 18, and on the other hand, a point B located on the longitudinal axis XX 'of the lever 11, intersecting with the segment OA to form a segment OB with a value b greater than the value a of the segment OA, so that when said point B is in contact with the upper arm 10A of the rocker 10 for an unlocking position F1 said arm 10B is pushed back by a value substantially corresponding to the engagement of the lower arm 10B on the stop 29 of the shell base 2 with compression of the return spring 18.
• a second zone between point B and a point C diametrically opposite point A relative to the center O, said zone BC having a substantially constant radius of curvature $\text{R = OB}$
  
  , which point C, when in contact with the upper arm 10B of the rocker 10, corresponding to a fully retracted position of the tensioning lever 11 in an unlocked position F2.

Claims (10)

Alpine ski boot (1) with central entry and / or from the front comprising a shell base (2) surmounted by a rod (3) having at least a collar-shaped part (4) articulated on said base shell (2) in the region of the malleoli around a pivoting link (5), this collar (4) being adjustable around the lower leg of the skier by means of two flanges (6,7) provided with closure means , a lower one (6) in the junction zone with the upper edge of the shell base (2) corresponding substantially to the flexion fold of the skier's ankle, and the other, upper (7), in the part upper of said collar (4), the means for closing the lower flange being connected to a rear support recovery member (10) of the collar (4) on the shell base (2) by means of at least a flexible and inextensible link controlled in traction by a tensioning lever (11), characterized in that the flexible link (9) describes a circuit originating a flange (6) of the collar (4) to be closed, constituting a movable attachment point (12) of one end (9 a ) of the link (9) which is then freely connected to the tensioning lever (11) by which it passes through to be then fixed by its other end (9 b ) on a part of the collar (4) constituting a fixed attachment point (14), from which the tensioning lever (11) placed in intermediate, exerts a traction on the other end (9 a ) of the link (9) connected to the flange (6) when it is tilted in closing or in position F, so as to simultaneously cause a clamping action on said flange (6) , and a locking action of a rear support recovery member (10) by direct control of a cam 17 which it is provided with respect to a stop (29) located on the shell base (2). Shoe according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the flexible link (9) is fixedly mounted for a predetermined length, such as to ensure partial release of the collar (4) for an unlocking position F1 of the tensioning lever (11) and consequently a constant connection between the different elements of the circuit, such partial release being particularly suitable for walking. Shoe according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the link (9) describes a double circuit (9A, 9B) passing on either side of the collar (4) to form a loop around it, closing on itself so as to impart a uniform tightening of said collar (4) on the lower leg. Shoe according to claim 1 or 3 characterized in that the link (9) is connected by one of its ends (9 a ) to the lower flange (6) of the collar (4) while the upper flange (7) is provided with hooking means (8) totally releasable, to allow putting on and taking off. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tensioning lever (11) is pivotally disposed on a rear part of the collar (4) by means of a transverse articulation axis (15), a position high F2 of said lever (11) producing a constant maximum release of the lower strap (6), particularly suitable for putting on and taking off shoes. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear support member (10) consists of a piece angularly articulated in its central part (16) to form a rocker defining an upper arm (10A) and a lower arm (10B) and susceptible take at least two locking positions F and unlocking F1-F2 of the collar (4) relative to the shell base (2), under the rotary action of the cam (17) acting on the upper arm (10A) of the rocker (10), said cam (17) being formed at the end (11A) of the tensioning lever (11) and centered on the articulation 15 of the latter opposite the free end (11B) of gripping. Shoe according to claim 6 characterized in that a return spring (18) is interposed between the lower arm (10B) of the rocker (10) and a rear part (4A) of the collar (4). Shoe according to claim 6 characterized in that the lower arm (10B) of the rocker (10) is capable of bearing, in a locking position F, against a rear flange (29) of the shell base (2), constituting the support stop. Shoe according to claim 6 characterized in that the lower arm (10B) of the rocker (10) has a spout intended to engage in a corresponding notch obtained in the wall of the shell base (2). Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cam profile (17) of the tensioning lever (11) comprises: - A first zone lying between, on the one hand, a point A projected perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX 'of the lever (11) from the center O of its articulation axis (15) and according to a determined value (a) , which point A has no influence on the upper arm (10A) of the rocker (10) which is then, by its lower arm (10B), in the locking position F against the stop (19) of recovery bearing on the shell base (2), under the action of the return spring (18), and on the other hand, a point B located on the longitudinal axis XX 'of the lever (7) intersecting the segment OB by a value (b) greater than the value (a) of the segment OA, so that when said point B is in contact with the upper arm (10A) of the rocker (10), for an unlocking position F1, said arm (10B) is pushed back by a value substantially equal to OB-OA causing its release from said stop (19).

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