EP0663154B1 - Skiboot with variable flex of the cuff - Google Patents

Abstract

The boot has a rigid shell (5) and a leg (2) with a front (3) and back part (4). The back part pivots backwards and forwards on the shell, and is locked in position or released by a cylindrical plate (11) which is moved angularly in a corresponding recess (12) in the back (5a) of the shell. The plate is set radially around with holes (13A). A finger (14) on the leg engages in one hole, being moved by a lever (15) on the outside of the boot. The position of the plate is adjusted by a tool (20) which engages in a central slot (21).

Description

The present invention relates to an alpine ski boot comprising a rigid shell base surmounted by a rod which has an anterior part and a posterior part obtained in one or several pieces, the rear part of said rod being at least partially pivotable in the postero-anterior and / or antero-posterior direction relative to the shell base and comprising a locking and unlocking device relative to the shell base.

Such a device is accessible from the outside of the shoe via a control, the locking position of the latter, corresponding to an initial advancing position of adjustable reference, from which the rod is capable of angularly struggling according to a predetermined amplitude relative to the shell base.

French patent application No. 2,020,726 teaches to obtain such an angular adjustment of the rod relative to the shell base thanks to a metal tongue, fixed on the rod, and the end of which free is provided with an anchoring tooth intended to cooperate with the choice of any one of several housings produced in a plate attached to the external face of the shell base.

According to this patent, three successive housings corresponding to the anchoring tooth are arranged on the insert vertically and substantially in the median axis thereof ; so depending on whether the tooth anchor is inserted in a more or less high housing, the upper of the shoe tilts more or less forward, i.e. its initial forward position relative to the hull base is more or less important. Still according to this patent, the three successive housings are located between two oblong housings, or lateral grooves, also produced on the plate and also intended for receive the anchor tooth; thus, when the skier wishes a certain freedom of pivoting of the rod, especially for walking, it engages the anchor tooth in one of these housings oblong.

In this device, the metal actuating tongue and the plate are arranged at the outside of the stem and the shell base, and constitute unsightly prominences. Moreover, when unlocking the tongue to facilitate walking, in particular by placing the tooth anchoring in one of the oblong lateral housings, nothing allows the skier to find automatically the initial advance position of the rod before unlocking.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing means of adjustment of the rod advance, simple and effective, offering positive positions to it, and him also allowing to find a chosen position, automatically in case of unlocking, then successive unlocking.

It has also been sought by the invention to obtain an adjustment device in which the means that it implements are both irremovable and captive as well as easily accessible, in view of their adjustment by a single piece.

To this end, the invention relates to a shoe of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the position locking and unlocking device consists of a position member multiples capable of being angularly displaced around a longitudinal axis of the hull base in a corresponding co-axial housing formed in the rear part thereof, and comprising   a plurality of holes eccentrically radially with respect to its virtual center according to values of different radii, so that one of these holes, chosen according to the advancing angle desired initial of the rod, can be brought in a vertical axis to coincide with a finger locking integral with the rod, and capable of being actuated from the outside through the wall of the latter by the control member to cooperate positively with said selected hole of the position member multiples in an active phase of skiing or being separated from it in a rest phase or walking.

Preferably, this device is arranged in the lower zone of the posterior part of the upper corresponding to the heel, so as to leave the upper part thereof free for others functions.

According to another advantage of the invention, the locking and unlocking device allows both front bending of the rod from the chosen adjustment point and rear support.

Other particular embodiments according to the invention are set out in claims 2 to 10.

La figure 1 est une vue de côté d'une chaussure de ski dont une partie, en coupe verticale, montre des moyens de réglage de l'avancée de la tige, selon l'invention, représentés en position de verrouillage.

Les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues à plus grande échelle et en coupe partielle d'une chaussure selon la figure 1, montrant respectivement la tige de celle-ci verrouillée selon des positions d'avancée maximum et minimum.

La figure 4 est une vue en coupe partielle d'une chaussure selon les figures 1 à 3, dont la tige déverrouillée est ouverte par basculement de sa partie postérieure vers l'arrière.

Les figures 5, 6, 7, représentent un organe de réglage du dispositif de verrouillage et de déverrouillage selon trois positions de réglage d'avancée de la tige respectivement maximum, intermédiaire et minimum.

La figure 8 est une vue de détail, en perspective éclatée, de l'organe de réglage, montrant son montage sur la partie postérieure de la base de coque.

La figure 9 est une vue de détail, en perspective éclatée, de l'organe extérieur de commande en verrouillage-déverrouillage de la tige.

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:

Figure 1 is a side view of a ski boot, part of which, in vertical section, shows means for adjusting the advance of the rod, according to the invention, shown in the locked position.

Figures 2 and 3 are views on a larger scale and in partial section of a shoe according to Figure 1, respectively showing the upper thereof locked in positions of maximum and minimum advance.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of a shoe according to Figures 1 to 3, the unlocked rod is opened by tilting its rear part towards the rear.

Figures 5, 6, 7 show an adjusting member of the locking and unlocking device according to three positions of advance adjustment of the rod respectively maximum, intermediate and minimum.

Figure 8 is a detail view, in exploded perspective, of the adjusting member, showing its mounting on the rear part of the shell base.

FIG. 9 is a detail view, in exploded perspective, of the external locking-unlocking control member of the rod.

According to the invention, the ski boot 1 comprises a rod 2 having a part front 3, and a rear part 4 or rear cover, and a shell base 5 to which the part posterior 4 of rod 2 is connected by rivets 6, the front part 3 of rod 2 being constituted by the extension of the sides of the rear part 4 which overlap. It is obvious that the front part can also consist of a cuff as is known in slippers with traditional rear entry, the rear part 4 then constituting the hood back of rod closure.

A system for tightening and closing the rod 2 on the lower leg of the skier comprises, in a manner known per se, a tensioning lever 8 which subjects in tension a traction element such as a   cable loop 9 partially surrounding the rod 2 at its front part 3 to be energized by said lever 8 fixed for example on the lateral wings coming from the rear cover 4.

In accordance with the invention, the locking and unlocking device 10, designated overall, is constituted by a multi-position member 11 capable of being moved angularly around a longitudinal axis XX 'of the shell base 5 in a corresponding housing co-axial 12 formed in the rear part 5a thereof, and comprising a plurality of holes 13A, 13B, 13C, offset radially with respect to its virtual center "0" according to values of radii r, r1, r2, different (visible in FIGS. 5 to 7), so that one of these holes 13A, 13B, 13C, chosen according to the desired initial advance of the rod 2, can be brought into an axis vertical Y, Y 'to coincide with a locking finger 14 integral with the rod 2, and being able to be actuated from the outside through the wall thereof by the control member 15 to cooperate positively with said selected hole 13A, 13B, 13C, of the multi-position member 11 in a phase active in skiing or being separated from it during a rest or walking phase.

According to this embodiment, the multi-position member 11 is a shaped plate cylindrical capable of freely journalling in the housing 12 of the shell base 5, of shaped corresponding.

The plate 11 has a peripheral shoulder 16 defining with a counter plate reported 17 a groove 18 able to cooperate with a collar of corresponding shape 19 bordering the housing 12 of the shell base 5. Thus, the plate 11 is made integral with the shell base 5 in its direction longitudinal and therefore captive.

As shown in Figure 2, the rotary actuation of the plate 11 for its adjustment angular is obtained in this embodiment by means of a tool 20, such as a blade screwdriver engaged in a central slot 21 of said plate 11.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the plate 11 comprises means indexing 22 according to a chosen position, constituted by an elastic member 23 disposed in a peripheral recess 24 of its housing 12, and by a boss 25 which, acting tangentially, is able to cooperate with at least one corresponding recess 26 formed on the periphery of said plate 11, so that each of the holes 13A, 13B, 13C can be located in turn in the vertical axis YY 'to coincide with the locking finger 14 according to a selected position I, II, III.

According to the present example, the plate 11 has three recesses 26 determining three points indexing arranged at 120 ° from each other and corresponding to three adjustment positions I, II, III, the rod 2, given by the three adjustment holes 13A, 13B, 13C, also arranged at 120 ° from each other others, but offset by 60 ° with respect to said indexing points.

According to an improvement of the invention, each of the advancing positions I, II, III, of the rod 2 by relative to the hull base 5 is materialized by marks 27, 28, 29, practiced thereon, as illustrated schematically in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Thus, for maximum advance of the rod 2 according to position I, with respect to its vertical axis, the lower edge 4 a of the rear part 4 of the rod 2 is opposite the reference 27, the finger 14 then being in the locked position in the hole 13A located in the vertical axis Y, Y ', of the part 11, that is to say the one furthest from its virtual center 0 (fig 2 and 5).

Similarly, for an advance of the rod 2 according to position II, the lower edge 4 a of the rear part 4 of the rod 2 is located, opposite the reference 28, the finger 14 then being in the hole 13B brought into the vertical axis YY '(fig 6) after having rotated the plate 11 by 120 ° around its axis XX' by means of the tool 20.

Finally, for a minimum advance of the rod 2, according to position III, the lower edge 4 a of the rear part 4 of the rod 2 is located opposite the reference 29, the finger 14 then being in the hole 13C brought into the vertical axis YY '(fig 3, 7), after rotation of the plate 11 by 120 ° around its axis XX' by means of the tool 20.

Of course, each of the settings which have just been listed, according to positions I, II, or III to obtain, is carried out after unlocking the finger 14 by means of lifting 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 in particular, the locking finger 14 is linked and articulated with the lift 15 by means of a hinge pin 30 crossing both transverse holes correspondents 31 and 32, lever 15, and finger 14.

The axis 30 is articulated by its ends 30 a and 30 b in two housings 33 and 34 produced on the lateral cheeks 35, 36, of a yoke 37 made integral by any known means such as screws, glue, etc. , from the rear part 4 of the rod 2.

The yoke 37 has a central hole 38 opposite which the hole 13A is placed in coincidence, 13B, 13C, chosen from the aforementioned plate 11, so as to make said finger 14 penetrate therein after having passed through a hole 39 in the rear part 4 of the rod 2.

Furthermore, the control member 15 of the locking finger 14 includes return means in the active position I, II, or III, chosen before a rest or walking phase, allowing return to said active position, automatically by locking action on the control member 15 and pivoting of the upper 2 of the shoe to bring said finger 14 opposite the hole 13A, 13B, or 13C, located in the vertical axis Y-Y '.

In this embodiment, the return means of the control member 15 are constituted by springs 40 acting permanently on the locking finger 14.

These return springs 40 are housed in the housings 33 and 34 of the yoke 37, in this case blind oblong openings on the outside, with however a through mounting opening, so that said springs 40 are trapped therein and exert an elastic restoring force on the ends 30 a and 30 b of the axis 30 housed on either side of these slots 33 and 34.

In this way, when after an active ski phase (fig 2 or 3) the user unlocks the rod 2 by tilting the lever 15 (fig 4) to walk or rest, it will follow, after having brought back the lever 15, an automatic reset of the finger 14 in the hole 13A, 13B or 13C, located at this moment there in the vertical axis YY ', corresponding to the last position I, II or III, of the rod 3, and this by the action of the springs 40 on the axis 30 of the finger 14, along the longitudinal axis XX '. It follows from this operation that the device according to the invention stores the last active position.  

Of course, many variant embodiments can be imagined while remaining within the same inventive concept. Thus, for example, the multi-position member could be a square plate which can be positioned around the longitudinal axis X'-X by rotations successive 90 °, or triangular by rotation of 120 ° around the same axis. In these two construction cases envisaged, it is obvious that the housings made in the hull base will be of corresponding shape.

Claims (10)

1. Alpine ski boot comprising a rigid shelf base (5) overlaid by an upper (2) which has a front portion (3) and a rear portion (4) obtained in one or several pieces, the rear portion (4) of said upper (2) being at least partially pivotal in the rear-to-front and/or front-to-rear direction with respect to the shell base (5) and including a device for latching and unlatching the upper (2) with respect to the shell base (5), accessible from the exterior of the boot (1) via a control member (15), the latched position of the latter, corresponding to an initial adjustable reference advance position, from which the upper (2) is capable of an angular clearance along an amplitude predetermined with respect to the shell base (5),
      characterized in that the latching and unlatching device (10) is constituted by a multiposition member (11) capable of being displaced angularly about a longitudinal (XX') of the shell base (5) in a corresponding co-axial housing (12) arranged in the rear portion (5a) of the latter, and comprising a plurality of orifices (13A, 13B, 13C) radially off-centered with respect to its virtual center (0), according to different radius values (r, r1, r2), such that one of these orifices (13A, 13B, 13C), chosen as a function of the desired initial advance of the upper (2), can be brought into a vertical axis (YY') in order to coincide with a latching finger (14) affixed to the upper (2), and can be activated from the exterior through the wall of the latter by the control member (15) in order to cooperate positively with said chosen orifice (13A, 13B, 13C) of the multi-position member (11) during an active phase of skiing or separated therefrom during a resting or walking phase.
2. Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the multi-position member (11) is a cylindrical plate adapted to swivel freely in the housing (12) of the shell base (5), of a corresponding form.
3. Boot according to claim 2, characterized in that the plate (11) comprises a peripheral shoulder (16) defending, together with an attached counterplate (17), a groove (18) adapted to cooperate with a flange (19) of a corresponding from bordering the housing (12) of the shell base (5), in such a way that it is affixed to the latter in a longitudinal direction and therefore cannot be lost.
4. Boot according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the rotational movement of the plate (11) in view of its angular adjustment is obtained via a tool (20) engaged in a central slit (21) of said plate (11).
5. Boot according to claim 2-4, characterized in that the plate (11) comprises indexation means (22) according to a chosen position, constituted by a elastic member (23) located in a peripheral recess (24) of its housing (12), and by a bump (25) that, acting tangentially, is adapted to cooperate with at least one corresponding recess (26) arranged on the periphery of said plate (11), such that each of the orifices (13A, 13B, 13C) can be located in turn in the vertical axis (YY') to coincide with the latching finger (14) according to a chosen position (I, II, III).
6. Boot according to claim 5, characterized in that the plate (11) comprises three indexation points determined by three recesses located 120° from one another, corresponding to three adjustment positions (I, II, III) of the upper (2), provided by the three adjustment orifices (13A, 13B, 13C) also located 120° from each other, but offset by 60° with respect to said indexation points.
7. Boot according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching device is located in the lower zone of the rear portion (4) of the upper (2).
8. Boot according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the advance positions (I, II, III) of the upper (2) with respect to the shell base (5) is denoted by reference marks (27, 28, 29) carved into the latter.
9. Boot according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control member (15) of the latching finger (14) comprises return means (40) in the active position (I, II, or III) chosen prior to a resting or walking phase, allowing resumption of said active portion automatically by a latching action on the control member (15).
10. Boot according to claim 9, characterized in that the return means (40) of the control member (15) are constituted by return springs acting in a permanent manner on the latching finger (14).