EP0829208B1 - Sportsshoe comprising energising means - Google Patents

Abstract

The ski boot has an external sole (11) and an upper (10) with a rigid rear part (12) on which a collar (13) is articulated around the users lower leg. This extend upwards from its side articulation (14). The collar is able to pivot rearwards around its articulation against an energised return (15) interposed between the collar and the upper. The return has an upper semi-circular branch (18) anchored laterally by its ends onto the collar. A lower part (16,17) connected to the upper branch abuts against a lower stop (21) of the upper. The lower part comprises first (16) and intermediate (17) branches.

Description

The present invention relates to a sports shoe intended for the practice of a sport and in particular a sliding sport, such as cross-country skiing or even skating, of the type consisting of a outer sole and a rod provided with a rear buttress on which is articulated a rigid collar which extends upward from the joint, which is intended to surround the lower leg.

In the practice of skating in cross-country skiing, when a skier finishes his propulsion on one of the skis, he transfers its weight to the other ski and brings the first ski back to the level of the second.

• la vitesse (donc le pas utilisé). En effet, plus la vitesse est faible, plus la fréquence de patinage est élevée et donc moins le skieur a de temps pour ramener son ski. C'est pourquoi, plus la vitesse est faible moins les skis sont ramenés parallèles, et plus le skieur garde une divergence importante entre les deux skis,
• la pente rencontrée. En effet, le skieur doit ramener son ski le plus parallèlement possible par rapport à la pente afin de ne pas trop le soulever. L'inclinaison du ski durant le ramené dépend donc de la pente rencontrée, ce qui rend le ramené particulièrement exigeant et difficile dans les fortes pentes.

This brought back is different according to:

• the speed (therefore the step used). In fact, the lower the speed, the higher the frequency of skating and therefore the less time the skier has to bring back his ski. This is why, the lower the speed the less the skis are brought back parallel, and the more the skier keeps a significant divergence between the two skis,
• the slope encountered. Indeed, the skier must bring his ski as parallel as possible to the slope so as not to lift it too much. The inclination of the ski during the return therefore depends on the slope encountered, which makes the return particularly demanding and difficult on steep slopes.

The study of the movement actually reveals that when the ski is released, the front end or tip of it catches the snow, which causes the problem residing in the longitudinal angular control skiing in an almost static phase, that is to say in the air. The same problem arises in other sports of slides such as ice skating, roller skating or inline skating where the athlete must avoid hitting the ground with the sliding element, during the brought back phase.

It has also been previously noted that another disadvantage consists for the skier, having to increase the contraction of the anterior leg to raise the ski and avoid catching the tip in the snow during the skiing phase. This contraction generates fatigue which is all the more harmful for the skier as he should on the contrary take advantage of this phase to relax the affected leg muscles as much as possible, as this is a phase rest and not motor.

The Applicant has already remedied these disadvantages by proposing through its patent application previous French n ° 2 492 668, a shoe of the aforementioned type endowed with energized means of longitudinal angular control of the ski in the air relative to the sole of the boot during the phase brought back from the ski.

It also provided by its French patent application No. 2,697,728 to make the said means energized inactive in the pushing phase so as not to create additional fatigue.

One of the energized means of longitudinal angular control described in the patent application French n ° 2 697 728, consists of a simple return pin anchored at the axes of lateral articulation of the collar comprising two semicircular branches arranged in V and in support on the one hand against the bottom of the collar, and on the other hand against a stop formed on the rear buttress of the stem.

Such means, if they effectively remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, pose by elsewhere comfort problems at the rear of the shoe and do not offer the possibility to obtain a lateral clearance on the collar relative to the rod. Indeed, the putting into action of the means energized is carried out via the rear part of the collar pressing on the branch upper pin and causes overpressure problems and discomfort at this level. Otherwise, the provision of a lateral play of the articulation of the collar causes a delayed entry into play and not desirable pin anchored on said joint.

Such play is however necessary for the skier to adapt the upper of the shoe to the axis of his lower leg compared to the seat of his foot, and allow him to practice his sport while respecting the natural movements of the foot relative to the leg.

The present invention overcomes these latter drawbacks while retaining the advantages obtained by the constructions of the previous patent applications, that is to say with energized means acting in a longitudinal direction during the brought back movement.

This object is achieved in the sports shoe according to the invention which is of the type made from an outer sole and comprising a rod provided with a rigid rear part on which is articulated laterally a collar intended to surround the lower leg of a user, and which extends upwards from its lateral articulation, the collar being able to pivot backwards around its articulation against energized return means interposed between said collar and the rod, characterized in that the return means comprise a substantially semicircular upper branch and anchored laterally by each of its ends on the collar, and a lower part connected to the upper branch and in abutment against a lower abutment of the rod.

The fact that the return means are anchored laterally on the collar allows actuation by these lateral anchors of said return means and therefore makes it possible to avoid the problems of overpressure linked to actuation by the lower rear part of the collar of known return means.

• une première branche inférieure de forme sensiblement demi-circulaire et coopérant par sa partie centrale avec la butée de la tige,
• une seconde branche intermédiaire de forme sensiblement demi-circulaire reliée, d'une part à la branche inférieure par ses extrémités latérales en formant un V double ouvert vers l'arrière de la chaussure et dont chacun des sommets A est relié à un axe de l'articulation latérale inférieure du collier, et, d'autre part, à la branche supérieure par sa partie centrale en formant un second V double ouvert vers l'avant de la chaussure et dont le sommet B est défini par les parties centrales des deux branches et s'étend à distance de la tige.

Advantageously, the sports shoe is characterized in that the lower part of the return means comprises:

• a first lower branch of substantially semi-circular shape and cooperating through its central part with the stop of the rod,
• a second intermediate branch of substantially semicircular shape connected, on the one hand to the lower branch by its lateral ends by forming a double V open towards the rear of the shoe and each of the vertices A of which is connected to an axis of l 'lower lateral articulation of the collar, and, on the other hand, to the upper branch by its central part by forming a second double V open towards the front of the shoe and whose apex B is defined by the central parts of the two branches and extends away from the rod.

In this way a first lower pin is constituted constituting the first means energized, longitudinal angular control and a second upper pin constituting second energized means of lateral angular control.

The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which will follow and which should be considered in isolation or in all their combinations possible techniques.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une chaussure de ski de fond de type skating, montée sur un ski et pourvue de moyens d'énergisation selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté d'une chaussure selon la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail à échelle agrandie et avec coupe partielle de l'articulation inférieure du collier,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus partielle selon la figure 2.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented, with reference to the attached drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cross-country ski boot of the skating type, mounted on a ski and provided with energizing means according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a side view of a shoe according to FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a detail view on an enlarged scale and with partial section of the lower articulation of the collar,
• FIG. 4 is a partial top view according to FIG. 2.

The shoe shown by way of example in FIG. 1 is particularly suitable for walking skater or skating and presents, externally, the appearance of a shoe consisting of a rod 10, a sole 11 and a closure system 20 for putting on or taking off, of known type per se, covering an internal lacing system.

Conventionally, the sole 11 can be fixed to a ski 30 by its front part 11a by via a fixing not shown in the drawing.

In the case of a cross-country ski boot, the upper 10 is made of flexible material and is provided with the heel level, of a rigid rear part, in this case a rear buttress 12 which can be carried out in a manner known per se. This buttress is rigid, and is preferably made of material synthetic, and extends over the entire rear part of the shoe all around the heel thereof.

The buttress 12 also extends in the region of the malleoli to the top of the rod 10, if it is of a so-called low rod, for receiving an articulated collar 13, the latter also being rigid and fixed in a manner known per se on each side of the buttress and substantially at the level of the malleoli by via an articulation axis 14. The articulated collar 13 may consist of a cuff made of a synthetic material as known under the trade name PEBAX.

The collar 13 extends upwards to the bottom of the calf and surrounds the entire lower leg. It is open at its front to allow the foot to be placed in the shoe and is also provided with clamping means not shown, of a type known per se, and constituted for example by Velcro fasteners.

This collar 13 is also provided at the rear with a wide notch 13a intended to facilitate the rotation of this collar without prejudice to the buttress. It actually has the shape of a cuff semicircular 13b articulated to the buttress 12 by two lateral legs 13c.

Towards the rear, the collar 13 is capable of pivoting around each of its articulation axes 14 against energized means 15 interposed between a fixed rear stop of the rod 10 and said collar articulated 13.

• une première branche inférieure 16 sensiblement demi-circulaire destinée à coopérer avec une butée inférieure 21 du contrefort 12 de la tige 10, et s'étendant à l'arrière d'un côté à l'autre de la chaussure,
• une seconde branche intermédiaire 17 similaire à la branche inférieure 16, reliée à celle-ci par ses extrémités, et formant avec celle-ci un premier V double ouvert vers l'arrière de la chaussure et dont chacun des sommets A passe autour d'un axe d'articulation inférieur 14 du collier 13 sur la tige 10,
• une troisième branche supérieure 18 également demi-circulaire reliée par sa partie médiane à la partie médiane de la seconde branche intermédiaire 17 en formant un second V double de sommet B ouvert vers l'avant de la chaussure, et dont le sommet B est libre de toute liaison avec la chaussure, chacune des extrémités libres 18a de ladite troisième branche supérieure 18 étant fixées par un axe latéral supérieur 19 en haut du collier 13.

According to the invention, these means 15 are constituted by a double elastically deformable pin and arranged in an enveloping manner at the rear and on the sides of the shoe, said double pin 15 being constituted by:

• a first lower branch 16 substantially semi-circular intended to cooperate with a lower stop 21 of the buttress 12 of the upper 10, and extending at the rear from one side to the other of the shoe,
• a second intermediate branch 17 similar to the lower branch 16, connected to the latter by its ends, and forming therewith a first double V open towards the rear of the shoe and each of the vertices A of which passes around a lower articulation axis 14 of the collar 13 on the rod 10,
• a third upper branch 18 also semicircular connected by its median part to the median part of the second intermediate branch 17 by forming a second double V with apex B open towards the front of the shoe, and whose apex B is free of any connection with the shoe, each of the free ends 18a of said third upper branch 18 being fixed by an upper lateral axis 19 at the top of the collar 13.

Such a construction makes it possible to constitute a first lower pin 22 open towards the rear constituting first energized means, of longitudinal angular control and a second pin upper double 23 open laterally forward and constituting second energized means lateral angle control.

Thanks to the rear stop 21 and the absence of any means for retaining the collar 13 towards the front, the longitudinal energizing means constituted by the lower pin 22 are inactive from a position of median balance, of the collar 13 relative to the rod 10, towards the front, and are only active therefrom of a rotation of the collar 13 from this same median position towards the rear.

As regards the lateral energizing means constituted by the upper pin 23, these are inactive longitudinally for movement of the collar 13 both forwards and backwards, the third upper branch 18 of said pin 23, however, acting as a force transmitter during a tilting of the collar 13 towards the rear having the effect of compressing the pin lower 22 and bringing the first lower branch 16 into contact, against the lower stop 21 of the rod 10.

In particular, the fact that the upper branch 18 is anchored laterally on the collar 13, and does not is therefore more actuated by the lower end thereof, as in FR 2 697 728, allows the distribution of the pressure forces on the whole of the collar 13 and makes it possible to avoid the problems of overpressure related to actuation by the lower rear part of the collar.

Furthermore, comfort is also reinforced by the fact that the elastic pin 15, and in particular its upper branch 18, extends at a distance, in a radial direction, from the collar 13 (cf. FIG. 4) so that any risk of interference of said pin 15 with the collar 13 during a rotation of the latter is eliminated. For more comfort, a damping means can also be interposed between the stop 21 and the lower branch 16 of the pin.

The upper pin 23 also provides energy in the transverse direction of the shoe and therefore allows better control of the foot / ankle angulation in the transverse direction, as well than better proprioceptive information on the position and transverse angulation of the ankle by compared to the ski-snow contact surface.

As shown particularly in Figures 1 and 4, the tops of the branches intermediate 17 and upper 18 forming the upper pin 23 and extending so enveloping on each of the lateral sides of the shoe, meet in a common area central B located at the back of the shoe, at a distance from it, forming an X.

According to a first embodiment (not shown), the connection of the collar on the rod 10 takes place through circular holes made at the ends of lateral extensions 13b of said collar 13 and intended to cooperate each with an axis 14 of the lower lateral articulation corresponding, located on either side of the shoe for rotary mounting of said collar, on which also articulates the lower pin 22, so that the center distance x between the joint lower 14 and upper articulation 19 being constant, the use of energized means of lateral control, constituted by the upper pin 23, is only authorized within the limit of inherent flexibility of the collar 13. In this case, the collar 13 can be provided with suitable notches for allow some transverse bending.

According to another exemplary embodiment illustrated by FIG. 3, the connection of the collar 13 on the rod 10 takes place on at least one of the sides of the shoe via an oblong hole 24 made, in a substantially vertical direction X, X 'of the collar, on a lateral extension end 13b of said collar 13 and intended to cooperate with a clearance J + J ′ with the lower lateral articulation axis 14 corresponding so as to allow a slight vertical movement of the collar during its rotation for take into account the natural ankle joint.

Of course, the game J + J 'is shown in Figure 3 only for information and can be distributed in any suitable manner with respect to the axis of articulation 14.

In such an embodiment, the mounting of the vertices A of the lower pin 22 defined by the ends of the branches 16, 17, around the fixed articulation axes 14 is not modified and is therefore performed without play. Therefore, the articulated assembly with play of the collar 13 has no influence on the mounting of the double pin 22-23, and it is requested directly, and without delay effect linked to the play, from the start of a pivoting towards the rear of said collar 13.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the double pin 15 with three branches 16, 17, 18, constituting the longitudinal 22 and lateral 23 energizing means is obtained in one piece by plastic molding.

Claims (6)

1. Sports boot in particular for gliding sports, obtained from an outer sole (11) and comprising an upper (10) provided with a rigid rear portion (12) on which is laterally journalled a collar (13) adapted to surround the user's lower leg and which extends upwardly from its lateral journal (14), the collar (13) being capable of pivoting rearwardly about its journal (14) against energized return means (15) interposed between said collar (13) and the upper (10),
      characterized in that the return means (15) comprise a substantially semi-circular upper arm (18) and laterally anchored by each of its ends (19) on the collar, and a lower portion (16, 17) connected to the upper arm and in abutment against a lower abutment (21) of the upper (10).
2. Sports boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower portion (16, 17) of the return means (15) comprises:

   a first lower arm (16) having a substantially semi-circular shape and cooperating through its central portion with the abutment (21) of the upper (10),

   a second intermediary arm (17) having a substantially semi-circular shape connected, on the one hand, to the lower arm (16) by its lateral ends forming a double V-shape open towards the rear of the boot, each peak A is connected to a lower lateral journal axis (14) of the collar and, on the other hand, to the upper arm (18) by its central portion by forming a second W-shape open towards the front of the boot and whose peak B is defined by the central portions of the two arms and extends at a distance from the upper.
3. Sports boot according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper arm (18) forms with the second intermediary arm (17) a second W-shape open towards the front of the boot whose peak B is defined by the central portions of the two arms and extends at a distance from the upper.
4. Sports boot according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection of the collar to the upper (10) occurs by means of circular holes obtained at the ends of the lateral extension (13b) of said collar (13) and adapted to cooperate closely with the corresponding lower journal axes (14) located on both sides of the boot.
5. Sports boot according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the connection of the collar (13) on the upper (10) occurs by means of at least one oblong hole (24) obtained in a substantially vertical direction (X, X') at one end at least of the lateral extension (13b) of said collar (13) and adapted to cooperate with a clearance with the corresponding lower lateral journal axis (14).
6. Sports boot according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the double pin (15) with three arms (16, 17, 18) is obtained integrally by molding a plastic material.

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