EP0732966B1 - Support plate for a shoe, particularly a ski boot - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe support plate, particularly a support plate associated with a downhill ski boot binding element. In the cross-section area, the support plate presents a medial region (7) with lateral regions (8, 9) on either side. The plate is characterized in that the central region is relatively rigid and the lateral regions are elastically deformable. The regions are covered with a flexible plate of anti-friction material (10).

Description

The invention relates to a support plate for a shoe, in particular a shoe used in board sports such as skiing.

These sports are practiced with gliding boards on which the skier's shoes are retained in support by retaining elements. In addition, each shoe rests on a surface support specially designed to receive it. Usually the shoe rests on two plates support respectively located towards the front end and the rear end of the shoe.

For the support plates associated with a triggering element for retaining the boot, it is important to reduce as much as possible the sliding friction between the shoe and its support. This friction can indeed delay the release of the shoe. To this end, some plates are coated with a film or plate of anti-friction material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene. Such a plate is known from the patent application in France published under the number 2 150 314.

Other support plates have the distinction of having a top surface mounted so oscillating around a longitudinal articulation axis. Thus, the French patent application published under the number 2 656 225 describes a support plate with an upper plate pivotally mounted around of a longitudinal axis with respect to a lower plate. Blocks of shock absorbing material also maintain the upper part in a nominal horizontal position. These measures improves the skier's comfort. It is also believed that such a device contributes to the protection of the skier in certain fall configurations, in particular so-called pre-twist falls. It is believed in fact that such a device facilitates the release of the boot and prevents the skier's knees from being affected by serious injuries.

One of the drawbacks of this construction is its relative complexity. Indeed, it implements two upper and lower plates connected together by a hinge pin. In addition, this construction has many gaps into which snow and dirt can penetrate and thus block its operation.

The invention aims to improve such a device. Thus, one of the aims of the invention is to propose a support plate of this type whose construction is particularly simple.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support plate which offers better protection against snow and ice.

These objects are achieved by the support plate as defined in claim 1. This support plate has two or three solid zones juxtaposed, a central zone and one or two side areas. The middle zone is relatively rigid, to support the shoe, and at least one lateral zones is elastically deformable to collapse under the effect of a stress in lateral tilting of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support plate which generates only reduced friction for the shoe in the event of lateral release.

A secondary aim of the invention is to propose a support plate whose manufacture is relatively simple.

These secondary goals are achieved by the backing plate as defined in the claims attached to claim 1.

This object is achieved according to the invention by making the lateral zones by overmolding on the zone central.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge during the description which follows.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and to the drawings in annex which form an integral part thereof.

Figure 1 shows by way of illustration of the invention a support plate associated with an element front binding for alpine skiing.

Figure 2 shows in section through a vertical and transverse plane a support plate according to a non-limiting implementation of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the support plate of FIG. 2.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment.

Figures 5 to 8 show other alternative embodiments.

By way of nonlimiting illustration of the invention, FIG. 1 represents a front fixing element 1. This element is of a known type and will not be described in detail. It has a jaw 2 of retention of the shoe carried by a body 3. The body is mounted on a base 4 which is intended to be united to skiing. The base is extended rearward by a support plate 5 on which the shoe sole comes to rest. Generally, the backing plate is located a little behind the jaw, and it's a standardized area of the front of the shoe sole that rests on it.

Figures 2 and 3 show a cross section of the support plate 5 according to a first mode of implementing the invention. In these figures, the line 6 has schematically represented the sole of a shoe.

According to this embodiment, the support plate has three zones juxtaposed according to a transverse direction, that is to say a central zone 7 bordered by two lateral zones 8 and 9.

The middle zone 7 is here located towards the middle of the width of the shoe. Each side area extends from one side of the middle zone to the extreme edge of the support plate.

The middle zone is formed by a rod of rigid material.

The two lateral zones are made of an elastically deformable material.

The three zones are full, i.e. they do not leave an opening or void where the snow and dirt could penetrate.

The width of the middle zone and the stiffness of the material are chosen so that the middle zone is able to support the weight of the skier which is transmitted at this level by the shoe sole. As well as this is illustrated in Figure 2, the middle area may have a substantially larger upper surface domed.

The bar is oriented in the longitudinal direction defined by the fixing element. he can however be slightly inclined with respect to this direction. In addition, its lateral flanks 7a, 7b, can be parallel or convergent or divergent. In a longitudinal direction, the surface upper of the bar on which the shoe rests can be flat or curved.

The hardness of the material of the lateral zones is chosen so that the zone in question collapses under the effect of a lateral twist of the shoe. This is illustrated in Figure 3.

The hardness of the material of the lateral zones can be identical or different for the two zones.

In the case of a lateral twist, the shoe rocks around its central part which is supported by the middle area of the support plate, and its part towards the outside is lowered. The form convex of the median bar 7 facilitates the tilting of the shoe, and in any case avoids a tilting around a sharp edge.

It is believed that such a possibility of movement of the shoe facilitates its release in certain fall configurations, in particular a pre-twist fall with a twist of the shoe in its fixation, and that the protection of the skier's knees is thus improved.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the median and lateral zones are covered with a film of anti-friction material 10, for example polytetrafluoroethylene. This plate forms a kind of flexible skin on the upper surface of the support plate.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment, the median and lateral zones of the wafer are carried by a base 11 which has lateral flanges 12 rising along the edges of the lateral zones over part of their thickness. These edges in particular prevent creep of the material deformable towards the outside when a lateral zone collapses.

The assembly between the different elements of the support plate 5 is carried out by any means appropriate. Advantageously, the median bar and the material of the lateral zones are compatible, that is to say that the material of the lateral zones is overmolded on the bar 7 of the central zone, and the anti-friction plate is assembled during the vulcanization or polymerization of the material of the lateral zones. For example, the median bar is made of a material known as the trade name "Delrin", or polyamide filled with glass fibers, for example a polyamide known under the trade name "Rilsan", and the lateral zones are made of thermosetting rubber.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment according to which the middle zone is produced according to a bar 13 of elastically deformable material, of greater hardness, however, than the hardness of lateral zones 14 and 15. The material of the median bar may also have characteristics shock absorbing.

In this way, in addition to the possibility of lateral tilting, the support plate has a relative flexibility in a vertical direction, and where appropriate damping properties vertical.

Advantageously, the material of the median bar 13 and that of the lateral zones 14 and 15 are compatible, that is to say that the lateral zones are formed by overmolding on the central bar. For example, the middle zone and the two lateral zones are formed in two times by two successive moldings or injections.

For example, the median bar is made of thermosetting rubber of high hardness, and the lateral zones are made of thermosetting rubber of lower hardness.

FIG. 5 represents an alternative embodiment according to which the bar 16 which forms the zone median is also rounded on its lower surface. The collapse of a lateral zone leads to in this case the bar to pivot on itself on a low amplitude.

FIG. 6 represents another variant according to which the median bar 18 is extended so continues to one of the edges of the support plate. On the other side is a side area 19 relatively less hard than the bar 18.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment. According to this variant, the median bar 21 is significantly wider, and it occupies an off-center position relative to the median longitudinal axis of the fixing element. For example, the bar 21 is offset towards the inside of the foot. The lateral zone 23 is therefore narrower than the other lateral zone 22. Thus, the tilting of the foot towards the outside is easier than inward. As shown in Figure 7, the bar 21 may have a inclined upper surface.

Figure 8 shows in cross section a support plate according to a variant of implementation work of the invention.

According to this variant, the base 25 and the central zone 26 are in one piece.

The base has on each lateral edge a flange 27, 28, which rises over part of the height of the backing plate.

The flanges 27, 28 have in their upper part a fold 29, 30, which extends inwards.

On each side of the central zone 26 is a lateral zone 27, 28, occupied by two blocks of elastically deformable material. This material is for example a rubber thermosetting.

These blocks are for example placed on the bottom of the base. They can also be assembled at the base by bonding or mechanical means.

The support plate has in its upper part a plate 32 which covers the different zones.

Advantageously, along its lateral edges, the plate 32 has flanks 33 and 34 which descend and engage under the folds 29 and 30. The sides ensure the assembly of the plate to support.

The plate is made of a flexible material. Preferably, it is present in the region of middle zone 26 of the thin fold lines 36 which are oriented longitudinally.

These lines facilitate bending of the insert at this level when one or other of the zones lateral collapses.

A film of anti-friction material 40 is assembled on the upper surface of the wafer, by any suitable means, for example by bonding.

This film deforms with the bending of the wafer.

The invention is not limited to the various embodiments which have been described, and many other variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

In particular, the device which has just been described can be associated with any support device before or rear of a shoe, in particular to a feeler or a pedal for actuating a mechanism, for example example a compensation mechanism.

Claims (9)

1. Support plate for a binding element, especially, but not exclusively, for an alpine ski, providing, at its upper surface, a support surface for a shoe, the surface being capable of rocking laterally under the effect of a lateral rocking of the shoe, the support plate having a median zone (7, 13, 16, 18, 21) edged by one (19) or two (8, 9, 14, 15, 22, 23) lateral zones, the median zone being relatively rigid and capable of supporting the shoe along a vertical direction, and the lateral zones being elastically deformable under the effect a lateral rocking of the shoe,
      characterized in that the median zone and the lateral zones are solid and juxtaposed, and that they are covered by a flexible skin (10) provided to serve as a support to the shoe.
2. Plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the median zone is a relatively rigid bar (7).
3. Plate according to claim 2, characterized in that the lateral zones (8, 9) are obtained by overmolding of the rigid bar.
4. Plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the median zone (13) and the lateral zones (14, 15) are made of elastically deformable materials with different densities.
5. Plate according to claim 4, characterized in that the materials of the median zone (13) and of the lateral zones (14, 15) are compatible materials that can be overmolded on one another.
6. Plate according to claim 1 taken in its alternative where the median zone is edged with a lateral zone, on each side, characterized in that one (23) of the lateral zones is smaller than the other (22).
7. Plate according to claim 1 taken in its alternative where the median zone is edged with a lateral zone, on each side, characterized in that one of the lateral zones is less rigid than the other.
8. Plate according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is covered with a flexible strip (10) made of antifriction material.
9. Plate according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each elastically deformable zone is edged laterally with a rigid edge (12).

Images