EP0834335A1 - Improved attachment means for a boot to a snowshoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The boot retainer comprises a front part (10) located on a plate (7). The plate is pivoted on the internal zone of the snowshoe about a transverse axis (9). There are positioning and adjustment holes (14) for modifying the longitudinal position of the boot, particularly its front end (4a), and-or its pivoting axis relative to the internal zone. There is a rear retainer (11) fixed to the pivoting plate and a rear adjustment holes (15) enabling longitudinal modification of the position of the rear retainer relative to the pivoting plate.

Description

The present invention relates to a snowshoe and more particularly an improvement of the shoe on it.

Snowshoes have been known for a long time many years because used for several centuries by Scandinavian people to move on the snow. Until our days, snowshoes were used for utility or military purposes, to allow the populations and the alpine troops to move on the snow for their daily necessities. Currently, snowshoes are used more by walkers or sportsmen who go on hikes and walks, even competitions.

There are already different types of devices to retain the shoe on the racket like, for example, the one said to plate, commonly used by athletes concerned with product performance. This type of device seems to be best suited to a sports practice as well as fun snowshoeing, thanks to a good holding the foot on it. However, these devices have disadvantages inherent in their use, or even in the diversity of their users. Indeed, such a device has an identical configuration regardless of the user and generally does not take into account their physical characteristics such as weight, height or shoe size his shoes. In addition, the characteristics of the various terrains practiced like, for example, the slope, the slopes or the quality of the snow, do not are also not taken into account in order to best adapt the the shoe on the racket sieve.

The present invention proposes to solve the drawbacks of this type of rackets by proposing an improvement of the device restraint which, thanks to simple and reliable means, allows a better match between the user's physical characteristics, the diversity of terrain and said snowshoe.

Thus, according to the invention, the snowshoe of the type comprises a a sieve and a shoe retainer for a user, said shoe device partly consisting of front retaining means arranged on a pivoting plate articulated on the sieve around an axis of transverse pivoting, and is characterized in that it comprises positioning and adjustment means making it possible to modify the longitudinal position of the shoe, and in particular its front end, relative to the sieve and / or relative to the pivot axis and / or the adjustment means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the axis relative to the sieve.

Thus, according to the invention it is possible to modify the position longitudinal of the shoe relative to the sieve and / or the position of the pivot axis with respect to said sieve

According to a characteristic of the invention, the means of positioning and adjustment consist partly of a device front adjustment to change the position longitudinally respective of the front retaining means with respect to said plate swivel.

According to an additional characteristic, the retaining device includes rear retaining means integral with the plate swivel and a rear adjustment device for changing longitudinally the respective position of the rear retaining means relative to said pivoting plate.

According to one embodiment, the retaining device comprises a portion of main plate articulated on the sieve, the means of positioning and adjustment being constituted in part by a portion front plate comprising front retaining means, said portion front plate being slidably mounted on the plate portion main in an adjustable manner along the substantially longitudinal axis, and comprises a portion of rear plate comprising means for rear retainers, said rear plate portion being mounted sliding on the main plate portion adjustable longitudinally along the axis.

According to another arrangement, the means of positioning and adjustment include an adjustment device for changing the respective longitudinal position of the pivoting plate with respect to its pivot axis, while in another variant, the means of positioning and adjustment consist partly of a device adjustment to change the position longitudinally respective of the pivot axis relative to the screen.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention are will emerge from the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting example.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a snowshoe on which positioning and adjustment means can be used according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a top view of a snowshoe provided with its retainer.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the snowshoe on which is attached to a user's shoe.

Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show a first mode of realization of the snowshoe according to the invention.

Figure 3a illustrates a side view of the snowshoe and his device for retaining a large shoe.

Figure 3b illustrates in similar side view said racket wearing the same shoe in a different longitudinal position.

Figure 3c shows a side view of said racket carrying a small shoe.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the front of the plate with its device for adjusting the position of the retainer before the shoe.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 4a represents a side view of the racket provided with said retainer in an advanced position.

Figure 4b shows a similar view in a position different longitudinal further back.

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate a third embodiment of the device of the invention according to which the longitudinal position of the attachment is adjustable relative to the racket sieve.

FIG. 5a represents a side view of the racket provided with the retainer in a middle position.

Figure 5b shows a similar view in a position longitudinal advanced.

Figure 5c is an exploded perspective view showing the front end of the plate with the adjuster.

Figures 6a, 6b and 6c illustrate a fourth embodiment of the device of the invention according to which the pivot axis is adjustable in the longitudinal position relative to the sieve of the racket.

Figure 6a shows a side view of the racket and the retainer.

Figure 6b is a side view of the racket and the retained in a different longitudinal position.

Figure 6c is an exploded perspective view showing the front end of the plate with the adjuster.

The racket intended to be equipped with the retaining device according to the present invention can be of any type, in particular like that shown in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, this racket can also be asymmetrical or of any other type without, however, escape the claimed protective field of the invention.

The racket designated under the general reference (1) is presented, for example, in the form of a perforated plate, advantageously of general plane of symmetry (T), intended to be fixed under the shoe and which consists of a main frame (2) delimiting an interior area or screen (8) comprising a set of internal walls supporting the retaining device more commonly called fixing (3), said device being intended to retain the shoe (4) of the user. Said main frame (2) has, for example, a generally elongated shape extending at the rear by a tail (5) of reduced width, while the front is raised and substantially pointed to form the front spatula (6), as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, the racket can take any other form without departing from the scope of the invention.

The user's shoe (4) is retained on the racket (1) proper by the restraint bearing the general reference (3); this generally consists of a pivoting plate (7) articulated on the screen (8) around a pivot axis (9) extending substantially transversely along (YY '). Said pivoting plate (7) carries front retaining means (10) for retaining the end front (4a) of the shoe (4) and can also wear means of rear retainer (11) for retaining the heel (4b) of said shoe, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be specified that the pivot axis (9) allows pivoting upwards along (12) and downwards of the plate pivoting (7).

According to a characteristic of the invention, the snowshoe (1) has positioning and adjustment means intended for allow the position of the shoe (4) to be modified relative to the sieve (8), that is to say to modify the longitudinal position of the shoe compared to the racket itself. So the user, thanks to the invention, will be able to place the front end of his shoe more or less forward and change the position of said front end by relative to the pivot axis of the plate.

According to a first embodiment, the means of positioning and adjustment consist of an adjustment device front (13) for changing the position of the retaining means front (10) relative to the pivoting plate (7) along an axis substantially longitudinal (XX '), i.e. with respect to the axis of pivot (9). The front adjuster (13) can be, for example, constituted by a succession of holes (14) in which are intended for be engaged the free ends (40) of the stirrup (10) the front of the shoe. Thus, the stirrup (10) can be at leisure arranged more or less forward by the user who will only have to engage the ends (40) of the stirrup in the selected holes.

Thus, the front adjustment device (13) makes it possible to position the front retaining means (10) and therefore the shoe (4) relative to the pivoting plate (7) integral with the screen (8) of the racket (1), as the show figures 3a and 3b which illustrate the longitudinal displacement front retaining means (10) for the same user. We aknowledge in FIGS. 3a and 3b that, according to FIG. 3a, the position (P1) of the front end (4a) of the shoe is further forward and further from the position (P) of the axis (9) that is not the same end in its position (P2) of Figure 3b, the bracket (10) being according to the position of the Figure 3b further back than in the position of Figure 3a.

According to this first embodiment, the retaining device (3) or attachment advantageously has rear retaining means (11) whose longitudinal position is also adjustable according to a system similar to that used for the front retaining means (10) and which constitutes the rear adjustment device (15) as illustrated in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c.

These front (13) and rear (15) adjustment devices make it possible to position the front (10) and rear (11) retaining means could be made, for example, by threaded rods whose rotation controlled by an adjusting member would allow the displacement of said retaining means mounted on nuts locked in rotation or by any other equivalent system without leaving the domain of protection claimed.

According to a variant of the first embodiment not shown, the pivoting plate (7) could be constituted by a portion of front plate articulated around the pivot axis, on which can slide or be moved and lock in position desired a back plate portion, the front plate portion comprising a front adjustment device as described above, while the back plate portion would wear fixedly advantageously at its rear end the rear retaining means. This would prevent the user with a low shoe size to avoid having behind his heel a portion of plate of the useless, unsightly, even annoying pivoting plate in some cases.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated Figures 4a and 4b, the shoe retainer (3) (4) has a pivoting plate (7) constituted by a portion of main plate (7c) articulated around the pivot axis (9) on which can be moved or slide longitudinally and be immobilized in a preferred position a portion of front plate (7a) and a portion back plate (7b). According to this same embodiment, the means retaining means (10) and the rear retaining means (11) are each advantageously fixedly arranged at the ends of their portion respective plate to prevent said portions from spreading unnecessarily beyond the front and rear ends of the shoe (4). Thus, the positioning and adjustment means are therefore constituted by said portions of front (7a) and rear (7b) plates mounted sliding on a main plate portion (7c), and a system of blocking allowing the locking of said plate portions in a preferential longitudinal position and therefore the position adjustment longitudinal of the shoe (4) relative to said plate portion central (7c), that is to say relative to the screen (8), as shown in the Figures 4a and 4b. The locking system of the front plate portions (7a) and rear (7b) can be constituted, for example, by a system of slide and pin identical to the front adjusters (13) and rear (15) of the first embodiment. However, the sliding and blocking could also be managed by a screw-nut system or any other equivalent system like rack and pinion. Figure 4a illustrates a first position (P1) advanced, while FIG. 4b illustrates a second position (P2) further back and closer to position P of axis 9.

According to a third embodiment, which can in particular constitute an advantageous complement to the embodiments previous, the racket positioning and adjustment means consist of a device (17) for adjusting the position of the pivoting of the plate to modify the longitudinal position of the pivoting plate (7) of the retaining device (3) relative to its pivot axis (9). According to this embodiment, the device for restraint (3) comprises in a manner known per se restraint means front (10) and rear retaining means (11) for retaining the shoe (4) of a user on the pivoting plate (7). The device pivoting adjustment (17) can, for example, consist of a succession of positioning holes (170) made transversely on the pivoting plate (7), said holes (170) being intended to allow the passage of the pivot axis (9). Said pivot axis (9) is at this effect removably arranged through passage openings side (19) of the sieve. Thus, the plate can be arranged more or less forwardly relative to its pivot axis (9) as illustrated in Figures 7a and 7b. According to the position illustrated in FIG. 5b, the plate is arranged in the back position (P2) backwards, while according to the position illustrated in Figure 5a, said plate is in the middle position (P1) slightly advanced relative to the position of Figure 5b. Good of course, we could still change the position of the plate by advancing it even more by engagement of the axis (9) in one of the holes transverse (19) arranged even further back. Of course, said swivel adjuster could be obtained by others equivalent systems that do not require the use of a removable axle like, for example, using a bearing on which could slide longitudinally along the axis (XX ') and be immobilized in position preferably the pivoting plate (7).

According to a fourth embodiment which can easily be advantageously combined with the aforementioned embodiments, the positioning and adjustment means are constituted by a adjustment device (21) for changing the position respective longitudinal of the pivot axis (9) relative to the screen (8). This adjustment device (21) can be obtained in a similar manner to the pivoting adjustment device (17) described in the third mode of realization thanks to two positioning walls (210) extending longitudinally symmetrically on either side of the plate pivoting (7) and having two rows of side passage openings (210) facing each other intended for the passage of a pivot axis (9) removable, as illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b. So the user can choose one of the holes in the row to position more or less forward the pivot plate with respect to the screen and the pivot axis (9) will thus be able to take an advanced position (P) and at least one other retracted position (P '). Note, moreover, that an improvement not represented of the third and fourth embodiments, almost identical to the variant of the first embodiment, consists in carrying out a pivoting plate comprising two plate portions, namely, a front portion and a rear portion, one of which is articulated around the axis while the other is mounted so that it can slide and be blocked in relation to it. Said portions of plate fixedly carry the front retaining means, respectively the rear retaining means at one of their ends so that, during the fitting, part of these plate portions does not pass unnecessarily and unsightly in front of or behind the user's shoe.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented as examples, but it includes also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (7)

Snowshoe (1) of the type comprising a sieve (8) and a shoe user retention device (3) (4), said device being partly formed by front retaining means (10) arranged on a pivoting plate (7) articulated on the screen (8) around an axis of transverse pivoting (9), characterized in that it comprises positioning and adjustment means (7a, 13, 17,) making it possible to modify the longitudinal position of the shoe (4), and in particular its front end (4a), and / or of the pivot axis (9) relative to the sieve (8). Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning and adjustment means are made up in part by a front adjustment device (13) making it possible to modify longitudinally the respective position of the front retaining means (10) relative to said pivoting plate (7). Snowshoe (1) according to claim 2, characterized in the retaining device (3) comprises rear retaining means (11) integral with the pivoting plate (7) and an adjustment device rear (15) allowing the position to be changed longitudinally respective rear retaining means (11) relative to said pivoting plate (7). Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting plate (7) of the retaining device (3) comprises a main plate portion (7c) articulated on the screen (8), the means of positioning and adjustment being constituted in part by a portion front plate (7a) comprising front retaining means (10), said front plate portion (7a) being mounted on the plate portion main (7c) adjustably along the substantially longitudinal axis (XX '). Snowshoe (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining device (3) comprises a portion of rear plate (7b) comprising rear retaining means (11), said portion of rear plate being mounted on the main plate portion (7c) of way longitudinally adjustable along the axis (XX '). Snowshoe (1) according to any one of claims above, characterized in that the means for positioning and adjustment include an adjustment device (17) for modifying the respective longitudinal position of the pivoting plate (7) by relative to its pivot axis (9). Snowshoe (1) according to any one of claims above, characterized in that the means for positioning and adjustment consist in part of an adjustment device (21) allowing the respective axis position to be changed longitudinally pivoting (9) relative to the screen (8).

Images