EP0753269B1 - Sportshoe for sliding - Google Patents

Abstract

The boot has a supple boot (2) with a leg (5) and a sole (4). This has a transversal slot (7), under the arch of the foot. A stud under the sole cooperates with a binding on the board. A rigid stirrup (4) passes through the slot and goes up on either side of the leg and is inclined backwards. A back part (15) surrounds the back of the leg and its base (17) is articulated on the stirrup, at the level of the ankles and its inclination backwards is limited. The stud is on the lower surface of the stirrup.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of shoes used during the practice of sliding sports, especially on snow.

In the following, we will endeavor to describe the application of the invention snowboarding while keeping in mind that transposing to a other sliding sport, such as cross-country skiing or alpine skiing is obvious for the skilled person.

Previous techniques

As we know, there are several techniques for practicing snowboarding. We can cite in particular a first form called "alpine surfing" which is practiced on downhill ski slopes traditional, on groomed snow. Besides, we know also a second form called "artistic surfing" which takes place on particular tracks forming semi-cylindrical valleys, generally dug to order, and commonly known as the English expression of "half pipe". Finally, we also know that surfing is practiced on powder snow slopes.

It is obvious that each of these modes of use requires a certain number of qualities at the level of the articulation between the user's leg and the board, especially with regard to the bending forwards and supports backwards.

Chronologically, three different types of shoe have been proposed, to be associated with corresponding fixings also different.

First, the first shoes used to practice surfing were downhill ski boots, i.e. with a shell rigid, allowing a limited inclination of the leg forward. These shoes fit on bindings with two elements, namely a fixed stirrup in which the heel of the shoe fits, and a hinged front stop in the shape of a stirrup, suitable for hooking the front portion of the tip of the shoe. Obviously, this type of shoe proves too rigid, especially in disciplines requiring large angulations of the tibia in relation to the foot, such as the practice in "half pipe ". In addition, this type of shoe proves to be difficult for walking.

Subsequently, it was proposed to use flexible shoes, the most generally in the form of a boot, advantageously practical for market. Unfortunately, given this flexibility, it was necessary to make evolve the fasteners to enable them to take hold of the supports the back. Thus, we have developed a number of fasteners with a platform on which the shoe is fixed by several straps, and which has a rigid rear tile fixed substantially perpendicular to the board and which goes up towards the calf. Unfortunately, although satisfactory, this type of attachment constitutes a particularly complex molding part to produce, bulky and troublesome for transport. In addition, it does not allow footwear automatic.

In an embodiment derived from the shoe family flexible, it has been proposed, in particular in document EP 0 646 334 incorporate into a shoe with a flexible upper, a rigid frame and articulated allowing the taking of the supports backwards.

However, the shoes as described in this document are essentially flexible and require the use of a fixing suitable for keep the shoe in relation to the board thanks to a plurality of straps having the aforementioned drawbacks, namely including the impossibility of an automatic boot.

In addition, regardless of the tightening force of the straps holding the shoe, there is a slight capacity for movement of the shoe by compared to the fixing given its realization in a flexible material. The transmission of forces is therefore affected.

Finally, we know a third type of attachment, combining a platform fixed on the board and which cooperates with fittings complementary, advantageously retractable, integral with the shoe. We are dealing in this case with a relatively rigid shoe, or close to a traditional ski boot, either having a sole made of hard material and a rigid rear rod to allow rear supports. Thus, we see that the use of this advantageous type of binding requires the use of a rigid shoe, therefore having disadvantages for walking and not making it possible to obtain the optimal performance when surfing.

Brief description of the invention

The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to combine the use of a flexible boot giving qualities of comfort to the user, with a rigid frame allowing the grip back support.

• une tige entourant le bas de la jambe et le pied de l'utilisateur,
• une semelle présentant un dégagement transversal au niveau de la voute plantaire,
• et un plot disposé sous la semelle, destiné à coopérer avec des moyens complémentaires de la fixation solidaire du dessus de la planche.

Thus, the invention relates to a shoe for practicing a sliding sport by means of a board of the type consisting of a flexible boot comprising:

• a rod surrounding the user's lower leg and foot,
• a sole with transverse clearance at the level of the arch of the foot,
• and a stud disposed under the sole, intended to cooperate with means complementary to the fastening secured to the top of the board.

• un étrier rigide monobloc passant sous la semelle, dans la partie médiane de celle-ci, et remontant de chaque côté de la tige selon une direction inclinée vers l'arrière et entourant l'arrière de la tige au niveau du calcanéum,
• et une gouttière entourant l'arrière de la jambe de l'utilisateur, le bas de cette gouttière étant articulé sur l'étrier rigide monobloc au niveau des malléoles, l'inclinaison de la gouttière étant limitée vers l'arrière, et en ce que la face inférieure de la portion de l'étrier rigide située sous la semelle reçoit le plot de coopération avec la fixation.

This shoe is characterized in that it comprises:

• a rigid monobloc stirrup passing under the sole, in the middle part thereof, and rising on each side of the upper in a direction inclined towards the rear and surrounding the rear of the upper at the level of the calcaneus,
• and a gutter surrounding the rear of the user's leg, the bottom of this gutter being articulated on the rigid monobloc stirrup at the malleoli, the inclination of the gutter being limited towards the rear, and in that the underside of the portion of the rigid stirrup located under the sole receives the pin for cooperation with the binding.

In other words, the shoe combines a flexible boot structure to prioritize the user's feelings of comfort with a rigid frame and articulated only towards the front.

The invention consists in using a reinforcement in two parts, of which the lower part includes the attachment stud. So the stirrup is, by its location, firmly attached to the shoe while ensuring the attachment to the board. In this way, the sensations and the efforts are directly transmitted, which improves the handling of the gliding board.

In other words, unlike all other types of existing shoes, the invention combines a flexible structure thus allowing easy walking with a rigid structure allowing taking the supports backwards and hooking them to the fixing.

In an advantageous embodiment, the stud and the stirrup rigid form a one-piece assembly directly from the molding. In this way, the invention solves in a simple way the problem of effective attachment of the stud on the shoe.

Indeed, on all known types of shoes, the studs are generally reported under the sole, which requires special arrangements such as riveting or screwing.

In an advantageous form, the rigid stirrup passes in the release of the arch of the foot.

In a form of execution allowing to solve the problem effective anchoring of the gutter joint, the boot has a lower portion including the sole and rising laterally up to the level of the malleoli, the articulation of the gutter and the air rigid being integral with this lower portion of the boot. In other words, the lower part of the upper includes the foot and is made of a semi-rigid material on which the bracket is fixed to its upper end. Thus, the articulation carried by the top of the stirrup is supported and is anchored in this semi-rigid portion of the boot, which ensures a effective maintenance. In this way, the articulation of the gutter is improved.

In another embodiment, the caliper-gutter assembly presents means capable of authorizing its temporary uncoupling of the boot. Otherwise, when the user no longer needs the articulated rigid structure, it can be detached from the rod to find a simple and flexible boot that is particularly suitable for walking. Thus, the advantage is solved problem of combining a comfortable shoe for the step and a shoe with technical arrangements rigid.

In a practical embodiment, the stirrup has a slot at the Achilles tendon, intended to allow the spacing of stirrup arm and its decoupling from the boot. In other words, the stirrup constitutes an insert which is easily extractable by simple spacing and sliding of its two lateral parts.

In order to improve the transmission of forces between the leg and the surf, the gutter and the stirrup have straps for tighten the bottom of the leg on the top of the rod. Of this way, the leg is firmly attached to the gutter and therefore the stirrup and so of the fixing.

In a more sophisticated form of execution, the means intended to limit backwards the inclination of the gutter are disengageable. In this way, it is possible for the gutter to tilt strongly backwards, you can get rid of backward stiffness of the armature for the operating phases.

Brief description of the drawings

La figure 1 est une vue de côté d'une chaussure conforme à l'invention, l'armature rigide étant solidaire de la botte.

La figure 2 est une vue de côté de la chaussure conforme à l'invention dans laquelle l'armature rigide a été désolidarisée.

La figure 3 est une vue de côté de l'armature rigide dans lequel le collier est déboitable.

La figure 4 est une vue en perspective sommaire de l'armature conforme à l'invention, dans sa version déboitable.

The manner in which the invention is implemented in its application to snowboarding as well as the advantages which result therefrom will emerge clearly from the description which follows, in support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe according to the invention, the rigid frame being integral with the boot.

Figure 2 is a side view of the shoe according to the invention in which the rigid frame has been separated.

Figure 3 is a side view of the rigid frame in which the collar is removable.

Figure 4 is a summary perspective view of the frame according to the invention, in its removable version.

Way of realizing the invention

The surf boot (1) according to the invention, shown in the Figure 1, includes two separate subsets, namely a boot (2) and a rigid frame (3).

The boot (2) conventionally consists of a sole (4) on which is attached a rod (5). The sole breaks down into three juxtaposed areas, namely a heel (6), a transverse clearance (7) corresponding to the arch of the foot, and a front part (8) formed of a skate. Advantageously, the lower surfaces of the heel (6) and the front pad (8) are located in the same horizontal plane. Ledges the tops of this sole (4) are connected to the upper (5). The upper (5) of this boot includes a lower part (9) which encompasses the heel up to the level of the calcaneus as well as the malleoli and is extended forward by a portion of low height which forms substantially rising edges to mid-height of the toes. This lower part of the stem is made of semi-rigid plastic material or leather synthetic, slightly deformable but having rigidity sufficient to receive the rigid reinforcement (3).

On this lower part (9) of the rod (5), a upper portion is sewn (10) consisting of two lateral sides (11), surrounding the rear part leg, a lacing area (12) located forward at the level of the tibia as well as the upper front end of the rod forming a toe protection.

This rod is of classic design in the field of surf shoes so there is no need to describe it here in detail.

The essence of the invention resides in the addition to this boot (2), a rigid articulated structure (3).

In the illustrated form of the invention, this rigid frame is breaks down into two distinct sub-assemblies, namely a stirrup (14) and a gutter (15). The stirrup (14) has a certain symmetry in a vertical, longitudinal plane of the shoe. He is in contact with the sole at the level of the clearance (7) corresponding to the arch plantar. This lower portion (21) extends on each side of the shoe by two arms (20) curved towards the calcaneus in passing over the malleoli.

In this embodiment, the stirrup is connected to the lower part of the boot (9) by sewing for example.

In a first embodiment (14), the two arms are related to the level of the calcaneus. In this way, the stirrup surrounds the part back of the shoe at the heel and is therefore firmly tied to the shoe.

In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the two arms (20) of the stirrup (14) are independent at the level of the tendon Achilles, which allows to separate the rigid reinforcement (3) from the shoe at will. In practice, the two arms (20) are separated by a vertical straight slot (22). In an advantageous arrangement, the slot will be locked with a hook-and-loop fastener known under the trademark VELCRO or any means of Similar solidarity. This provision is particularly advantageous when you want to use the surf shoe as walking boot.

Advantageously, the armature is snapped on, then fixed on the boot. For this purpose, the stirrup and the gutter have straps for secure the frame and the boot.

As already said, the lower part (21) of the stirrup (14) which is located in the clearance corresponding to the arch of the foot, receives a stud (19) intended to cooperate with the fixing. In a known manner, this stud (19) can take any form allowing effective attachment with fixation, i.e. a partially frustoconical shape or trapezoidal or even a form of groove having an axis transverse or longitudinal or finally a localized rib comprising an axis projecting from said rib.

Of course, the invention covers other variants of the stirrup arrangement. One could cite in particular a provision not shown in which the stirrup passes, not in the clearance arch, but directly under the heel (6).

This stirrup (14) has two axes at the malleoli articulation (16) directed towards the outside of the shoe.

The second part of the rigid reinforcement consists of a gutter (15) whose lateral portions (17) are articulated on said axis (16) provided for this purpose on the stirrup. These two lateral portions (17) are connected to a posterior zone (18) bearing on the rear of the rod (5) from the top of the calcaneus to the top vicinity of the boot.

One of the objectives of the invention is to allow support to be taken rearward. For this purpose, the assembly consisting of the gutter and the stirrup has means for limiting its inclination rearward.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the gutter has a lever at the lower portion of its rear edge articulated (30), the lower part (34) of which looks at the upper part of the caliper (14), when the lever is at rest.

Advantageously, this lever (30) is equipped with a spring (32) disposed between the upper part (31) of the lever (30) and the rear of the gutter (15). In the rest position, the spring (32) pushes the part upper (31) of the lever (30) so that the lower part (34) of the lever (30) is found in contact with the stirrup (14) and prevents rearward articulation of the gutter. However, when the user presses the part high (31) of the lever (30), the spring compresses and the lever pivots around the axis (33) located in the lower part of the gutter (15). At this moment, the lower part (34) of the lever (30) disengages from the stirrup (14) and therefore allows the gutter (15) to tilt backwards.

In the variants illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the gutter (14) is detachable from the stirrup (15) by spacing its lateral portions. The engagement and the maintenance in position is carried out so known to the skilled person.

For the sake of clarity of the drawings, the various straps that can connect the lateral parts of the gutter at the level of the lower leg, or join the arms (20) of the stirrup to the level of the instep.

As can be seen, the surf shoe according to the invention has multiple advantages.

On the one hand, it combines a rigid frame with a boot flexible. In this way, this shoe jointly performs functions techniques allowing a sporting practice of surfing as well as comfort function particularly appreciated when walking.

On the other hand, on the boot, and especially its lower extension by the attachment pin to the attachment allows efficient transmission support and effort between the shoe and the surf.

Of course, this description and the advantages which emerge from it can be easily transferred to alpine or cross-country skis, and more generally in all board sports.

Claims (9)

1. A shoe (1) for the practice of a gliding sport using a board, of the type consisting of a flexible boot (2), including:

   an upper (5) enclosing the user's lower leg and foot,

   a sole (4) having a transverse recess (7) level with the arch of the foot,

   and a block (19), arranged under the sole and intended to interact with complementary means on the binding secured to the top of the board, which shoe also includes:

   a monobloc rigid stirrup piece (14) passing under the sole (4) in the median part of the latter and rising on each side of the upper (5) along a rearwardly inclined direction and enclosing the rear of the upper level with the calcineus,

   and a spoiler (15) enclosing the back of the leg of the user, the bottom (17) of this spoiler being articulated to the monobloc rigid stirrup piece (14) level with the malleoli, the inclination of the spoiler being limited toward the rear,
   and wherein the lower face (21) of that portion of the rigid stirrup piece (14) located under the sole (4) receives the block (19) for interacting with the binding.
2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block (19) and the rigid stirrup piece (14) form a monobloc assembly directly produced by molding.
3. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid stirrup piece (14) passes through the recess (7) for the arch of the foot.
4. The shoe as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the boot (2) has a bottom portion (9) surrounding the sole (4) and rising laterally to the level of the malleoli, the articulation (16) of the spoiler (15) and of the rigid stirrup piece (14) being located level with the malleoli.
5. The shoe as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stirrup-piece/spoiler assembly (14, 15) has means capable of allowing it to be temporarily decoupled from the boot.
6. The shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stirrup piece has a slot (22) level with the Achilles tendon, intended to make it possible to move apart the arms (20) of the stirrup piece (14) and to decouple it from the boot (2).
7. The shoe as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spoiler (15) has means capable of allowing it to be temporarily decoupled from the stirrup piece (14).
8. The shoe as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spoiler and/or the stirrup piece include straps intended to grip the lower leg at the top of the upper.
9. The shoe as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means intended to limit the inclination of the spoiler toward the rear are disengageable.

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