EP1195181A1 - Improved binding of a boot to a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening consists of a base (4) and a pivoted rear support (10) with a vertically adjustable plastic or metal reinforcing element (22) in the form of an separate component with a length greater than its width and greater than half the height of the central portion (19) of the support. The reinforcing element is adjusted and fixed in place by a system of nuts and bolts inserted through elongated slots, with toothed surfaces to set it in the required position.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for retaining a shoe on a snowboard intended for more particularly in the practice of surfing, also called snowboarding.

For snowboarding, the user uses relatively flexible shoes retained on the board thanks to retainers comprising a base and a support piece rear, said shoe being, moreover, retained in abutment on the base by adjustable retaining means.

In a manner known per se, the rear support piece is hinged towards the front on the base while it is locked in pivoting backwards by a stop system to provide the surfer with bending support sufficient rear, for optimal handling of the surf.

Currently, no rear support element allows the user a perfect control of his surf because no device of restraint is not adapted to the style of practice and the type of shoe used.

The present invention is an improvement which allows the user a perfect back support whatever his style and type of shoe chosen.

Thus, the device for retaining a shoe on a board sliding on snow intended more particularly for the practice of surfing, according to the invention is of the type comprising a base on which is mounted a rear support piece which extends upwards, intended to serve as a support backwards for the upper of the shoe which includes on its part central wall a reinforcement and is characterized in that the reinforcement is adjustable in vertical position relative to the rear support piece. according to the preferred embodiment, the rear support piece is advantageously pivotally mounted relative to the base around a transverse axis.

According to an additional characteristic, the reinforcement is a part independent of the rear support piece and its length is greater than its width, while said length is at least more than half of the height of the central wall part of the rear support piece, which is flexion backwards by the shoe.

According to another characteristic, means for adjusting the position vertical reinforcement are provided, which consist of at least one screw / nut system intended to lock the reinforcement on the rear support piece and at least one oblong hole or adjustment light to be able to move the longitudinal reinforcement relative to the rear support piece.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear support piece includes in the general vertical plane of symmetry two lights, arranged one above the other, while the longitudinal reinforcement includes two holes also arranged one above the other, each holes being intended to receive a fixing screw while each lights is intended to receive a nut which includes a base sliding blocking in rotation.

Furthermore, guide means are provided for the vertical displacement of the reinforcement relative to the rear support part as well means for indexing the position of the reinforcement, constituted means by a system comprising a succession of cooperation teeth.

According to another characteristic, the lower end face of the reinforcement constitutes a stop intended to come to bear on the edge upper of a rear hoop secured to the base.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the rear support piece (10) comprises on its central wall part (19) a reinforcement (22) extending from bottom to top, and vice versa. We will hear by reinforcement any part improving the rigidity and the resistance to bending towards the rear of the rear support piece to provide the user with better rear support while surfing, allowing him to have better control of its trajectory.

It will be understood that the reinforcement is a complementary part improving rigidity and resistance to bending towards the rear of the part back support which provides the user with better support back when surfing, and that its adjustment in position allows this support to be personalized, thus ensuring better user control of its trajectory.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figure 1 is a top view of a gliding board such that a surfboard fitted with its two shoe retention devices the user.

Figure 2 is a side view of the retainer according to the invention with the shoe.

Figures 3 to 14 are views illustrating a first mode of production.

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the device restraint, without the shoe.

Figures 4 and 5 are side and rear views respectively of the rear support piece, equipped with its adjustable reinforcement.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along AA of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along BB of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Figure 8 is an exploded side view of the rear support piece and its reinforcement.

Figure 9 is a rear view of the rear support piece alone.

Figure 10 is a front view of the rear support piece alone.

Figures 11 to 14 are illustrations of the reinforcement alone.

Figure 11 is a rear view.

Figure 12 is a front view.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along CC of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view along DD of FIG. 11.

Figures 15 to 20 illustrate alternative embodiments of the part rear support with its adjustable reinforcement.

Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are rear views, while views 15a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a and 20a are cross-sectional views according to DD of the previous corresponding figures.

Figure 21 is a schematic rear view of another variant execution.

Figures 22 and 23 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5, illustrating an alternative embodiment.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a alternative embodiment of the shoe retaining means.

A gliding board (1) intended for the practice of surfing comprises two retaining devices (2a, 2b) also called fixings for retaining on said surf the user's two shoes. The two devices retainers are fixed on the upper surface (3) of the surfboard (1) so that their general plane of symmetry (P) is at an angle to the axis (XX ') of said surf, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

One of the shoe retention devices will be described below. (2a, 2b) which will be designated under the general reference (2).

Figure 1 is a side view showing the retainer (2) according to the invention which comprises a base (4) or support plate extending horizontally from a front end (5) to one end rear (6), while a rear support piece (10) is disposed on this base.

Said base (4) is limited laterally on each side by a lateral rim (7a, 7b), a left lateral rim (7a) and a lateral rim straight (7b), each of the flanges being constituted by a wall substantially vertical intended to laterally retain the shoe and its means of restraint (16, 17).

The two side edges (7a, 7b) are connected at the rear by a rear hoop (8). Add that at the back there is a support piece rear (10) extending upward (HA) and pivotally arranged at the edges lateral (7a, 7b) around a transverse axis (9).

The user's shoe (11) has an upper (12) relatively flexible compared to its lower part (13) which extends front end (14) to a rear end (15) or heel which is in abutment backwards (AR) against the rear arch (8).

In a manner known per se, the shoe (11) is according to the mode illustrated, retained on the base (4) by a retaining member front (16) retaining the front of the shoe, and a rear retaining member (17) retaining said shoe at the kick. The organ of front retainer (16) and the rear retainer (17) include advantageously adjustment means to adapt them to the dimensions volumes of said shoe. Of course, all other means of shoe retainers may be provided, other than straps flexible adjustable like, for example, without strap, and in particular of the type with automatic putting on and taking off, commonly called "Step in", as shown schematically in Figure 24, and such as, for example, those described in the French patent published under the number 2 742 997.

Note that the rear support piece (10) is intended to serve back support for the upper (12) of the shoe. For this purpose, the room rear support (10) is an upwardly extending wall (HA) for wrapping the rear (18) of said rod (12). So the back support piece (10) is a curved wall formed by a central wall part (19) laterally extended by two lateral wall parts (20a, 20b), one left side part (20a) and a right side part (20b). Let’s add that said rear support piece (10) is articulated relative to the base by the lower ends (200a, 200b) of each of the side walls (20a, 20b) of the rear support piece (10) which each include in this effect a hole (100) intended to receive, for example, a rivet (21) of connection and articulation. The rear support piece (10) articulated on the base can therefore pivot forwards along R1, to be able, in the absence of the shoe, for example, be completely folded up for transport.

Of course, we would not go outside the invention if the support piece rear was not swivel on the base, but only swivel by relative to the base, see mobile mounting relative to the base by any system other than a joint such as, for example, an assembly elastically deformable.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the rear support piece (10) comprises on its central wall part (19) a reinforcement (22) extending from bottom to top, and vice versa. We will hear by reinforcement any part improving the rigidity and the resistance to bending towards the rear of the rear support piece to provide the user with better rear support when practicing surfing allowing him to have better control of its trajectory.

The reinforcement (22) is, according to the invention, adjustable in vertical position relative to the rear support piece. To this end, said reinforcement is a part independent of and attached to the rear support piece (10) by means of blocking and adjustment in vertical position.

These means allow the user to adjust the relative position vertical of the reinforcement (22) in a determined position relative to the rear support piece (10) and fix and lock it in position chosen.

The fixing and adjusting means consist of at least a screw / nut system (23, 24) intended to block the reinforcement (22) on the part rear support (10) and at least one oblong hole or adjustment light (25a, 25b) to be able to move the longitudinal reinforcement relative to the rear support piece. We would add that we would not go beyond the framework of the invention if the fixing means were of a completely different kind such as, for example, means not requiring special tools, and in particular, a cam system or the like.

Thus, the rear support piece (10) comprises in the plane of general vertical symmetry (P) two lights (25a, 25b) arranged one above the other, while the longitudinal reinforcement (22) comprises two holes (26a, 26b) also arranged one above the other. Each holes (26a, 26b) is intended to receive a fixing screw (23) while that each of the lights (25a, 25b) is intended to receive a nut (24) which comprises a sliding base (26) for blocking rotation.

The reinforcement is a profiled plastic part, the length (L1) is greater than its width (L2), while said length (L1) is at least more than half the height (L3) of the part wall center (19) of the rear support piece (10) which is bending backwards through the upper of the shoe.

The device of the invention also comprises means for guide for the vertical movement of the reinforcement (22) relative to the part rear support (11). To this end, the rear support piece (10) comprises towards the rear (AR) on its central part (19) a vertical guide projection (27) of rectangular section, while the front face (28) of the reinforcement (22) comprises a corresponding hollow profile (29) which extends vertically, intended to receive said guide projection. So the reinforcement can be moved vertically by vertical sliding on the guide projection.

Furthermore, means for indexing the position of the reinforcement are provided, consisting of a system comprising a succession of cooperation teeth. Thus on the lower part of the guide projection of the rear support piece (10) are provided with a succession of teeth horizontal (30) intended to cooperate with a succession of teeth corresponding (31) arranged at the bottom of the hollow profile (29) of the reinforcement (22).

Furthermore, the external cross section of the reinforcement (22) can take different forms and can be constant or variable in its shapes and / or in its dimensions.

According to the preferred embodiment and illustrated more particularly in Figures 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the cross section of the reinforcement (22) is variable to have a section whose width (L2) and thickness (L4) gradually decrease upwards.

Furthermore, the reinforcement section (22) is advantageously a profile substantially trapezoidal.

It will be noted that, according to the preferred variant, the reinforcement (22) is curved and the general curvature has its center of curvature on the internal side (INT).

Of course, the reinforcement (22) may have a rectangular section or square, or even in cylinder portion, of constant dimensions or variables, as illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18 respectively, 19 and 20.

According to the variant shown in Figures 15 and 15a, the section of the reinforcement is square.

According to the variant represented by FIGS. 16 and 16a, the section of the reinforcement is rectangular.

According to the variant shown in Figures 17 and 17a, the section of the reinforcement is an angular portion of cylinder.

According to the variant shown in Figures 18 and 18a, the section of the reinforcement is square and its dimensions gradually decrease towards the high.

According to the variant shown in Figures 19 and 19a, the section of the reinforcement is rectangular and its dimensions gradually decrease to the top.

According to the variant shown in Figures 20 and 20a, the section of the reinforcement is a portion of cylinder and its dimensions decrease gradually upwards.

Furthermore, the general plane of symmetry (P1) of the reinforcement can be in the general plane of symmetry (P) of the rear support piece (10), such that this is illustrated in Figures 15-20, but it may be otherwise, as for the variant shown in Figure 21.

According to this variant, the plane (P1) of general symmetry of the reinforcement is concurrent with the general plane of symmetry (P) of the rear support piece to be diverging upwards and towards the internal side (INT) of the shoe.

We have understood that, thanks to the possible sliding of the reinforcement on the rear support piece and to the indexing and locking adjustment means, it is possible to move the reinforcement (22) relative to the support piece rear (10) either up (F1) or down (F2), to allow the user to adapt the stiffness of his rear supports to his needs.

Furthermore, the lower end face (32) of the reinforcement (22) constitutes a stop intended to come to bear on the upper edge (33) of the rear hoop (8). This stop system prevents pivoting rearward along (R2) of the rear support piece (10) which allows the user to have a very good rearward bending in rear bending the upper (12) of his shoe. Since the position of the reinforcement is adjustable, the user will be able to modify the angular position of his rear support.

The reinforcement (22) can be made of an identical material or different from that of the rear support. So it can be made of material plastic such as polyamide or composite or metallic material.

Figures 22 and 23 show another variant according to which the reinforcement is a bar of composite material whose vertical position is adjustable, to be fixed to the rear support by its lower end, while the rest of its length is sliding.

FIG. 24 illustrates a variant of retaining means for the shoe, of the type whose retention of the shoe on the base (4) is not not carried by straps (16,17) as previously described, but by a central device (160) such as, for example, that described in the patent previous number 2 742 997. Thus the rear retaining part (10) is mounted on its own base (4 ') different from the base (4) for retaining the 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 (16)

Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board intended more particularly for the practice of surfing, of the type comprising a base (4, 4 ′) and a rear support piece (10) which extends towards the top, intended to serve as a backward support for the upper (12) of the shoe which comprises on its central wall part (19) a reinforcement (22), characterized in that the reinforcement (22) is adjustable in vertical position relative to the rear support piece. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear support piece (10) is disposed on the base (4, 4 '). Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rear support piece (10) is pivotable on the base (4, 4 ') around a transverse axis (9). Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement is a piece independent of the rear support piece (10) and its length (L1) is greater than its width (L2), while said length (L1) is at least greater than half the height (L3) of the central wall part (19) of the rear support piece (10) which is placed in backward flexion by the shoe. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for adjusting the reinforcement in a vertical position and locking means. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for adjusting the vertical position of the reinforcement and the locking means consist of at least one screw / nut system (23, 24) intended to block the reinforcement (22) on the rear support piece (10) and at least one oblong hole or adjustment light (25a, 25b) in order to be able to move the longitudinal reinforcement relative to the rear support piece . Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 6, characterized in that the rear support piece (10) comprises in the general vertical plane of symmetry (P) two slots (25a, 25b) arranged one above the other, while the longitudinal reinforcement (22) comprises two holes (26a, 26b) also arranged one above the other, each of the holes (26a, 26b) being intended to receive a fixing screw (23), while each of the openings (25a, 25b) is intended to receive a nut (24) which comprises a sliding base (26) for locking in rotation. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 7, characterized in that guide means are provided for the vertical movement of the reinforcement (22) relative to the rear support piece (11) . Device for retaining a shoe on a sliding board on snow according to claim 8, characterized in that the rear support piece (11) comprises towards the rear (AR) on its central part (19) a projection vertical guide (27) of rectangular section, while the front face (28) of the reinforcement (22) comprises a corresponding hollow profile (29) which extends vertically, intended to receive said guide projection. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 9, characterized in that means are provided for indexing the position of the reinforcement, means constituted by a system comprising a succession of cooperation teeth. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide projection of the rear support piece (10) comprises a succession of horizontal teeth (30) intended to cooperate with a succession of corresponding teeth (31) disposed at the bottom of the hollow profile (29) of the reinforcement (22). Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement is a profile whose cross section is constant or variable. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 12, characterized in that the cross section of the reinforcement (22) is variable so as to have a section whose width (L2) and thickness (L4) gradually decrease upwards. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to claim 13, characterized in that the cross section of the reinforcement is advantageously substantially trapezoidal. Device for retaining a boot on a snow gliding board according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the reinforcement (22) is curved and the general curvature has its center of curvature on the internal side (INT ). Device for retaining a shoe on a sliding board on snow according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower end face (32) of the reinforcement (22) constitutes a stop intended to come to bear on the upper edge (33) of a rear hoop (8) secured to the base (4).

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