EP1050325B1 - Device for holding a boot on a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The snowboard binding clasp is formed from a base, a boot retainer, as hoop (4) that is integral with the base and an oversl (19) that is articulated to the base. A stop formed on the oversleeve limits rotation of the oversleeve relative to the base in anti-rearward direction. The stop has teeth (44). A base (29) held on to the oversleeve by a rivet (32) has teeth (31) which mes with the stop teeth in order to wedge the stop on the oversleeve.

Description

The invention relates to the field of devices for retaining a shoe on a gliding board, and particularly relates to a device provided for hold a soft shoe.

Generally such a device is itself retained by the board, and includes means for retaining the shoe removably.

In known manner, these means may comprise a mechanism for locking associated with a base of the device and hooking means associated with the shoe, the locking mechanism cooperating with the means hanging to hold the shoe.

The retaining means may also include one or more links removable, the links holding the boot on a base of the device or directly on the board.

In all cases the flexibility of the shoe, especially at the stem, allows a user to flex or tilt the legs while driving the board. However, it is often necessary that the user can take supports with the back of the lower leg. This is why the restraint is usually equipped with a cuff that opposes an inclination of the lower leg rearward.

In the case of snowboarding, or snowboarding, a support with the back of the bottom of leg allows the user to perform a turn in which he has his back to the slope. In Indeed, the practice of snowboarding is done with both feet oriented substantially in a transverse direction of the board.

In the case of skiing, especially if the length of the ski is reduced in relation to the size of the user, a support with the back of the lower leg allows the user to manage his balance.

The cuff of a device is generally articulated along an axis of articulation oriented in a transverse direction of the device. So the cuff can occupy two positions, a storage position in which it is close to the base or board, and a driving position in which it opposes a tilt towards the back of the lower leg.

The driving position is adjusted by means of a stop whose position is adjustable with respect to the cuff. To do this, the stop has a toothing, and the sleeve also has a toothing. Reversible clamping means. secures the abutment to the sleeve so that the toothing of the abutment is engaged with the teeth of the cuff. Of course, the driving position is adjusted depending on the position of the stop on the sleeve. A precise adjustment can be performed if the pitch of the teeth is reduced. It means that the distance that separates each tooth from a toothing is weak, and that each tooth has a weak height. Such a device is described in US-A-5,727,797.

The search for increasingly high driving performance leads each user to increase the intensity of the efforts he exerts on the cuff during of rear supports.

In snowboarding this phenomenon appears in the rear bends with a small radius of curvature, for which it is necessary to strongly incline the board.

In skiing the phenomenon manifests itself especially when receiving jumps, where a back support prevents a fall back.

It was therefore necessary to change the structure of the headlines, to account of the forces exerted on them when a lower leg presses backwards.

For this, it has been proposed for example to make a headline that presents a non-homogeneous structure composed of fibers trapped in a material synthetic. This cuff has a very good resistance to bending, as well that a reduced mass. However, it appeared that while driving the board, the stop does not stay in the desired position. When the user presses towards the back with the lower leg, the stop moves relative to the cuff and the sleeve rotates to a different limit position from the position selected by the setting of the stop.

This phenomenon is due to a sliding of the toothing of the abutment with respect to the teeth of the cuff. Slip occurs because the fibers contained in the cuff prevent getting sharp edges to make the teeth of the teeth of the cuff.

It has also been proposed to make a cuff that has a structure homogeneous composed of a plastic material. For example, the constituent material The cuff can be chosen because it has a good resistance to fatigue. So it retains its original shape in time despite the frequency and intensity efforts exerted by the user.

However, it also appeared that while driving the board, the stop does not stay in the desired position.

This phenomenon is sometimes due to deformation of the teeth of the toothing, or sometimes a tooth break.

The subject of the invention is in particular a retaining device which comprises a cuff and an adjustable stop whose position relative to the cuff is stable.

According to the invention, a device for retaining a boot on a board of slide comprises a base that has a front end and an end back and which is provided to receive the sole of the shoe, the device extending in a longitudinal direction that passes through the front end and through the rear end of the base, the device further comprising a retaining means the shoe on the base, a hoop secured to the base so as to surround the heel of the shoe, and an articulated cuff at the base according to a articulation axis oriented in a substantially transverse direction of the device, the sleeve being provided to receive a rear portion of the upper of the shoe, a stop being secured to the sleeve, by a reversible clamping means, for limit a rotation of the cuff relative to the base in antero-posterior direction along the axis of articulation, the stop having a toothing.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that a base is reported on the sleeve, the base having a toothing that cooperates with the teeth of the stop to wedge the stop on the cuff.

The material used to make the base makes it possible to obtain a toothing that offers sufficient mechanical strength and whose teeth have sharp edges. As the edges of the toothing of the stop are also sharp, the base and the stop keep a fixed position relative to each other when the clamping means is. It follows that the stop remains in its adjustment position relative to the cuff. The advantage is that the headline stays in the selected position when the user presses backwards with the lower leg.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective arrière d'un dispositif de retenue selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe partielle du dispositif selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une coupe partielle selon III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une coupe partielle selon IV-IV de la figure 2.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating, by a non-limiting example, how the invention may be implemented, and wherein:

• FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a retaining device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a partial section of the device according to II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a partial section along III-III of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a partial section along IV-IV of FIG.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, for an application in the field of snowboarding.

In a manner known as shown in FIG. 1, a retaining device 1 is secured to a board 2 to retain a shoe not shown on the Plate 2. The device 1 is represented in a form that associates a base 3 to a hoop 4 and links 5, 6. The base 3 has an upper face 7 provided for receiving the sole of the shoe, and extends in a longitudinal direction L1 between a front end 8 and a rear end 9.

The arch 4 connects lateral edges 10, 11 of the device 1 protruding from the upper face 7. The arch 4 bypasses the heel of the shoe when this the last is retained on the device 1. The links 5, 6 serve to maintain the shoe on the device 1 removably.

The structure and operation of links are well known to those skilled in the art. The device 1 is retained on the board 2 by a means represented in the form of a disc 12, itself retained on the board 2 for example by screws such as the screw 13.

The disc 12 makes it possible to press a lower face 14 of the base 3 on a upper face 15 of the board 2.

The device 1 is oriented substantially in a transverse direction of the board 2. This means that the front end 8 of the base 3 is located substantially at a side edge 16 of the board 2, and that the end rear 9 of the base 3 is located substantially at a side edge 17 of the Of course, the transverse direction of the board 2 extends from the edge 16 at the edge 17.

The board 2 also comprises a lower face or sliding face 18, opposed to the upper face 15 with respect to the thickness of the board 2.

The device 1 further comprises a sleeve 19 articulated with respect to the base 3 along an axis of articulation 20 oriented in a substantially direction transverse device 1. The articulation of the sleeve 19 is made by example with two rivets. A rivet 21 located at the side edge 11, and a rivet not visible in Figure 1 located at the side edge 10.

The sleeve 19 can pivot relative to the base 3 in a postero-anterior direction, either in antero-posterior direction.

The postero-anterior sense is a direction of approximation of one end 22 of the sleeve 19 towards the front end 8 of the base 3. When the ends 22 of the sleeve 19 and 8 of the base 3 are close to each other, the device 1 is in a folded position which reduces the bulk. This makes it easier transport or storage.

In contrast, the anteroposterior sense is a sense of relative remoteness ends 22 of the cuff 19 and 8 of the base 3. When the user rotates the cuff 19 in the anteroposterior direction, it meets a limit defined by the position of a stop 23 on the cuff 19. This is the configuration that is shown in Figure 1. This is a position of use of the device 1. In this case, when the shoe is retained on the device 1, the upper of the shoe is in pressing on a front face or support face 24 of the sleeve 19 at the level of the back of the user's lower leg.

The implantation of your stop 23 on the sleeve 19 is explained below.

As can be better understood from FIG. 2, the cuff 19 presents a non-homogeneous structure.

This structure is made in the form of a sheet of a composite material comprising fibers trapped in a synthetic material such as plastic material. The sheet has a face which is the front face 24, as well as a rear face 25 opposite to the front face 24 relative to the thickness of the sheet.

The synthetic material, which delimits the thickness of the sheet and therefore the thickness of the sleeve 19 is preferably a hot melt material. For example, he can be a polypropylene, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a polyurethane Or other. The fibers can be made with glass, carbon, polyamide, metal, a metal alloy, a combination of these materials, or whatever. Fibers are trapped in the synthetic material near the front faces 24 and 25. A layer 26 of a fiber fabric is located near the front face 24, and another layer 27 of a fiber fabric is close to the face back 25.

Each of the layers 26, 27 matches the shape of the face near which she is.

As best understood with the enlargement of Figure 1, each layer 26, 27 comprises fibers oriented in a longitudinal direction L2 of the sleeve 19 which passes through the upper end 22 and a lower end 28 of the cuff 19. Each layer 26, 27 also comprises fibers oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction longitudinal L2. This provision of the fibers gives the cuff 19 a good resistance to flexion during an anteroposterior urging.

The sleeve 19 can be made as follows. First of all a thickness of synthetic material is obtained for example by calendering. Then the layers fibers are arranged on each side of the thickness in contact with the material. The stacking of the fibers and the material is then subjected to an elevation of temperature and pressure in a mold or by calendering. The softening of the material allows penetration of the fibers that remain in the material after cooling.

Of course, the cuff 19 could be made with another structure not homogeneous. There are many other methods of using fibers solidified by resin, these methods being known to those skilled in the art.

According to the invention, as can be understood from FIGS. 2 to 4, a base 29 is reported on the sleeve 19 on the side of the rear face 25. The base 29 presents a bearing face 30 intended to remain in contact with the rear face 25 of the cuff 19, and a toothing 31 opposite the face 30 relative to the thickness of the base 29. As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 3, the maintaining the base 29 on the sleeve 19 is made using a rivet 32. A notch 33 of the sleeve 19 allows the reception of a shoulder 34 of the rivet 32 on the side of the front face 24. A flange 35 of the rivet 32, obtained by deformation after positioning of the base 29 and the rivet 32, holds the base 29 on the sleeve 19. A body 36 of the rivet 32, located between the shoulder 34 and the flange 35, passes through orifices 37 of the sleeve 19, and 38 of the base 29. The body 36 and the orifices 37, 38 have respectively a circular shape and have a common axis 39.

Of course, other means than a rivet can be used to maintain the base 29 on the sleeve 19. For example we could use screws, proceed to gluing, using a nesting device or snap, or other.

As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, the base 29 has protuberances 40, 41 housed in cavities 42, 43 of the cuff 19. The protuberances 40, 41 serve to define the orientation of the base 29 relative to the 19. They serve as a key during the mounting of the base 29 on the cuff 19.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the stop 23 has a toothing 44 intended to fit into the toothing 31 of the base 29. Preferably, each of the teeth 44, 31 has a series of triangular teeth. Each tooth is projecting either with respect to a face of the abutment or with respect to one face of the base. The projecting part of a tooth is a dihedron whose first half-plane is substantially perpendicular to the face from which it is derived, and of which the second half-plane forms with the first an acute angle whose value can be for example between 25 and 65 degrees. Of course, each of the teeth 44, 31 could have square, trapezoidal, or other teeth. Clamping means reversible, represented in the form of a screw 45 associated with a washer 46, allows to tighten the abutment 23 on the base 29 so that their respective teeth are in take. The screw 45 passes through a slot 47 of the abutment 23 and cooperates with an orifice Thread 48 made along the axis 39 in the rivet body 36.

When the screw 45 is tightened, the stop 23 is in a fixed position relative to the 19. When the screw 45 is loosened, the position of the stop 23 can be modified by modifying the relative position of the teeth 31, 44.

While driving the board 2, a rear support by the user brings a bearing face 49 of the stop 23 into contact with a stop face 50 of the arch 4, because the sleeve 19 is biased in the anteroposterior direction.

Whatever the intensity of the effort applied by the user, the teeth of the teeth 31 and 34 of the base 29 and the abutment 23 remain in engagement. This comes from the fact that their geometry is precise, because the material that constitutes them presents a homogeneous structure. For example, the abutment 23 and the base 29 may each be made of a synthetic material such as a plastics material polyethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or other. The stop 23 and the base 29 could also be made of metal or with a metal alloy.

The advantage is that the sleeve 19 remains in the selected position by the user while driving.

Of course, the invention is no longer limited to the embodiment thus described, and includes all technical equivalents that may fall within the scope of claims that will follow.

In particular, other means of securing the base 29 could be provided. at the cuff 19. For example a bonding could be suitable, or a thermo-welding.

Again, for example, it would be possible to make a headline whose structure is homogeneous, the material constituting it being a plastic material. This subject may have some flexibility to dampen the user's efforts. Through against the base presents it a sufficient rigidity so that the teeth of the base and the abutment remain nested while driving the board.

Claims (7)

1. Device (1) for retaining a boot on a gliding board (2), the device (1) comprising a base (3) that has a front end (8) and a rear end (9), and which is provided to receive the sole of the boot, the device (1) extending along a longitudinal direction (L1) that passes by the front end (8) and by the rear end (9) of the base (3), the device (1) further comprising a means for retaining the boot on the base (3), an arch (4) affixed to the base (3) so as to surround the heel of the boot, and a cuff (19) articulated to the base (3) along an articulation axis (20) oriented in a substantially transverse direction of the device (1), the cuff (19) being provided to receive a rear portion of the boot upper, an abutment (23) being affixed to the cuff (19), by a reversible tightening means, to limit a rotation of the cuff (19) with respect to the base (3) in a front-to-rear direction along the articulation axis (20), the abutment (23) having a toothing (44), characterized in that a base (29) is affixed to the cuff (19), the base (29) having a toothing (31) that cooperates with the toothing (44) of the abutment (23) to wedge the abutment (23) on the cuff (19), the base (29) being made of a different material than the constituent material of the cuff (19).
2. Retaining device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (29) and the toothing (31) form an integral piece made out of a material that has a homogeneous structure.
3. Retaining device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base (29) and toothing (31) are made out of a plastic material.
4. Retaining device (1) according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the base (29) is maintained on the cuff (19) by means of a rivet (32).
5. Retaining device (1) according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the base (29) has a foolproof guide to define the orientation of the base (29) with respect to the cuff (19) during its mounting on the cuff (19).
6. Retaining device (1) according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the cuff (19) has a non-homogeneous structure composed of fibers that are confined in a plastic material.
7. Retaining device (1) according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the cuff (19) has a thickness of plastic material demarcated by two surfaces (24,25), a layer (26) of a fiber fabric located in the vicinity of a surface (24), another layer (27) of a fiber fabric located in the vicinity of the other surface (25).

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