EP1226768A1 - Sports shoe, in particular ski-boot, with automatic pivot locking device of the upper quarter - Google Patents

Abstract

Sports shoe (1), in particular ski boot, comprising a shell base (2) surmounted by a rod (3) at least partially pivotable relative to the shell base (2) and comprising a locking and unlocking device (7) relative to the latter, which is constituted on the one hand by a stop zone (8) formed on the rear part (5) of the rod (3) and on the other hand by an oscillating lever (9 ) forming a rocker, disposed on the rear part of the shell base (2), able to cooperate in locking with the stop (8), under the action of a control member (11) characterized in that the member control (11) of the rocking lever (9) forming a rocker, intended to cooperate in locking with the stop (8), is located in the rear fitting area (A) of the shoe (1) to be urged by the rear binding an item of footwear and is connected by control to said lever (9), located remotely, in an area (B) independent of the area of boot (A), by means of a cable (15) acting in traction on the lever (9) during the boot. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular a ski boot, comprising a shell base surmounted by a rod which has a front part and a part posterior, obtained in one or more pieces, said posterior part of the rod being at less partially pivotable relative to the shell base and comprising a device for locking and unlocking relative thereto, active in a pivoting direction postero-anterior of the posterior part of the stem. Such a device is constituted so known on the one hand by a stop zone formed on the rear part of the rod and on the other hand part by an oscillating lever forming a rocker, articulated on an axis, arranged on the part posterior to the shell base, perpendicular to its vertical median plane and suitable for cooperate in locking with the stop, under the action of a control member accessible from the outside of the shoe, acting against a return spring of said lever.

In this type of shoe, the lever locking position corresponds to a position of initial reference advance, from which the rod is likely to struggle angularly at a predetermined amplitude relative to the shell base.

To do this, it is known from the documents EP 0 940 096 and EP 0 664 969 of the means of locking and unlocking, of the aforementioned type in which an oscillating lever forming rocker is controlled directly by a control member which is constituted in fact, in both cases, by the rear attachment of an item of footwear, for example a ski.

This has the major drawback of having these levers in the lower part of the shell base, so as to control them to the right of their pivot axis.

However, this rear zone of the shoe intended for the binding, is standardized and must theoretically remain free, so as to comply with the standard (ISO 5355).

In a contradictory way, the presence of the lever implies for its housing and its joint to create a prominence in this area, which leads to achieve a prominence implying, in order to comply with this standard, to shift the whole of the rest of the shoe forward and consequently the foot when skiing, which distorts the proprioception of the foot, affecting the front-back balance of the skier.

Another solution could of course be to increase considerably the thickness of the wall of the shoe in this area to accommodate the lever, but this would weigh down the shoe and would not prevent the shift of the foot forward to respect the aforementioned standard.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these various drawbacks arising from the prior art, and for this purpose relates to a sports shoe, in particular a ski shoe, comprising a shell base surmounted by a rod which has a front part and a part posterior, obtained in one or more pieces, said posterior part of the rod being at less partially pivotable relative to the shell base and comprising a device for locking and unlocking relative thereto, active in a pivoting direction postero-anterior of the posterior part of the stem and which consists on the one hand by a zone stop formed on the rear part of the rod and on the other hand by an oscillating lever forming a rocker, articulated on an axis, arranged on the rear part of the hull base, perpendicular to its vertical median plane and able to cooperate in locking with the stop, under the action of a control member accessible from the outside of the shoe, acting against a return spring of said lever, the locking position of the latter corresponding to a reference initial advance position, from which the rod is likely to struggle angularly according to a predetermined amplitude compared to the shell base, characterized in that the control member of the oscillating lever forming rocker, intended to cooperate in locking with the stop, is located in the fitting area rear of the shoe to be stressed by the rear attachment of an item of footwear and is connected by control to said lever, located remotely, in an area independent of the area of footwear, via a cable acting in traction on the lever during footwear to cause its rotation towards the stop of the rod and consequently its locking automatic, or conversely cause it to be unlocked by releasing said control during heaving, consequently causing the cable to be recalled by through at least one elastic return member.

The major advantage provided by the invention resides in the fact that the cable at any point on the hull base, in particular towards its lateral sides, therefore outside of the standard area. But we can also very well stay in the middle axis of the area dorsal of the shell base, because the cable being of a very small size, it can be incorporated therein, and also because the rocking lever is disposed in an area remote from the standardized area.

Another advantage is that the whole device can be very easily designed in a sealed manner, unlike the device known from the prior art, which can be the origin of upwelling between the rod and the hull.

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

La figure 1 représente schématiquement en vue latérale une chaussure de ski avec un arraché arrière montrant le dispositif d'immobilisation selon l'invention en position de déverrouillage, autorisant conséquemment la marche.

La figure 2 représente schématiquement en vue latérale une chaussure montée sur un ski avec un arraché arrière montrant le dispositif d'immobilisation selon l'invention en position de verrouillage, autorisant conséquemment la pratique du ski.

La figure 3 est une vue à échelle agrandie du dispositif d'immobilisation, en position de déverrouillage, selon la figure 1.

La figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV- IV de la figure 3.

La figure 5 représente une variante de réalisation au niveau de l'organe de commande.

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

Figure 1 shows schematically in side view a ski boot with a rear cutaway showing the immobilizer according to the invention in the unlocked position, consequently authorizing walking.

FIG. 2 schematically represents in side view a boot mounted on a ski with a rear cutaway showing the immobilization device according to the invention in the locked position, consequently authorizing the practice of skiing.

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the immobilization device, in the unlocked position, according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 represents an alternative embodiment at the level of the control member.

Shoe 1, generally designated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is, by way of example not limiting, a ski boot comprising a shell base 2 which is surmounted by a rod 3 having a front part 4 and a rear part 5, obtained in one or more rooms.

Said rear part 5 of the rod 3 is at least partially pivotable thanks to rivets 6, relative to the shell base 2.

A clamping and closing system at several points (not shown) of the rod 3 on the lower leg of the skier, for example comprises tensioning levers known per se tensioning tensile elements, such as loops or cables, surrounding partially the rod at its front part 4 to be tensioned by said levers tensioners fixed for example on the lateral wings coming from the rear part for two levers and on the front of the shoe for a third lever.

Of course, these tightening and closing means could be quite different.

The shoe 1 also includes a locking and unlocking device 7 by relative to the shell base 2 which is active in an anteroposterior pivoting direction F1 of the rear part 5 of the rod 3.

This device 7 is constituted on the one hand by a stop zone 8 formed on the part 5 of the rod 3 and on the other hand by an oscillating lever 9 forming a rocker, articulated on an axis 10 disposed on the rear part of the shell base 2 perpendicular to its vertical median plane and able to cooperate in locking with the stop 8 under the action of a control unit 11.

This member 11 is accessible from the outside of the shoe 1 and acts against a spring 16 of said lever 9.

The locking position thereof corresponds to an initial advancing position of reference, from which the rod 3 is likely to be angularly struggled according to a predetermined amplitude, relative to the shell base 2.

According to the invention, the control member 11 of the oscillating lever 9 forming a rocker, intended to cooperate in locking with the stop 8, is located in the rear fitting area A of the shoe 1 to be stressed by the rear attachment 13 of a shoe element 14, in the occurrence a ski. Said member 11 is connected in control to said lever 9, located at a distance, in a zone B independent of the footwear zone A, by means of a cable 15 acting in traction on the lever 9 during putting on to cause its rotation towards the stop 8 of the rod 3 and consequently its automatic locking, or conversely cause its unlocking by releasing said control member 11 during heaving, causing consequently the cable 15 is returned by means of at least one return member elastic.

According to this embodiment, the control member 11 is constituted by a hollow cylindrical piston 17 able to slide in a sleeve 18 housed in the area of rear shoe A of shoe 1 and cooperating with an internal piston rod 19, in a one way or the other, by means of the elastic return member 12, which rod piston 19 is in connection at its outgoing end with one of the ends 15a of the cable 15.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the elastic return member 12 is consisting of a helical compression spring arranged concentrically between the bore internal of the piston 17 and the piston rod 19 and bearing on the one hand against a shoulder internal 20 of the bore of the piston 17 and on the other hand against a flange 21 of the piston rod 19.

The other end 15b of the cable 15, of predetermined length, is connected to a appendage 22 of lever 9 in order to exert traction thereon, causing it to rotate around of its axis of articulation 10.

The device comprises at least one elastic unlocking member 16 interposed between a face of the appendage 22 of the lever 9, opposite the abutment zone 8 of the rod 3 and a flange fixed 23 of the shell base 2, produced at a lower level relative to the appendix 22, of such that said spring 16 is subjected to compression during traction on the cable 15, ensuring the locking of the rod 3, and conversely in decompression during the unlocking, by exerting a restoring force on the lever 9 associated with that of the decompression of the spring 12 of the piston 17.

In this case also, the elastic unlocking member 16 is a helical spring with compression.

One could also imagine having a second helical compression spring arranged on the other side of appendage 22 of lever 9, the two springs would then act antagonistically, their state being alternately in compression or in decompression depending on whether one is in a locking or unlocking operation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cable 15 is of the "bowden" type associated with a sheath 24. In fact, tests have shown that this type of cable gives results particularly favorable.

According to a major advantage of the invention, the "bowden" cable 15-24 is housed in a channel 25 of substantially corresponding section, formed in the original thickness "e" of the base shell 2 in its rear middle or lateral part, and connecting the abutment zone B to the footwear zone A, one being located at a distance from the other.

As shown in Figure 4, the end 15a of the cable 15 is hooked to a part 26 secured to the piston rod 19.

• le piston 17 logé à l'arrière de la chaussure sur la base de coque 2 agit sur le levier 9 par l'intermédiaire de la tige de piston 19 et le câble 15. Ce levier 9 permet de bloquer ou non la tige 3 en appui arrière.
• Au chaussage d'une mâchoire de fixation 13, ou levier de fermeture, ou étrier, le piston 17 recule et pousse la tige de piston 19 par action du ressort 12, ce qui provoque une traction complète du câble 15 après un recul de 3mm du piston 17. Si le piston recule davantage, le supplément est absorbé par le ressort de piston.
• La traction du câble 15 provoque le basculement en rotation du levier 9, ce qui provoque le blocage de la tige 3. Si la tige était déjà en arrière, le ressort de piston se comprimerait entièrement.
• En fait, le levier 9 pivote dès la première flexion avant de la tige 3.
• Lors du déchaussage de la fixation 13, d'où du ski 14, le piston 17 ressort et le levier 9 permet la libération de la tige 3 grâce à l'action du ressort de déverrouillage 16 disposé au niveau du levier 9.
• En cas de blocage le levier 9 pivotera obligatoirement grâce à l'action de son ressort 16, et cela après une flexion avant de la tige 3.

Such a device allows the passage from a "ski" position (rod locked in rear support) to a "on" position (rod unlocked) and this automatically by putting on or taking off a machine equipped with ski binding, stirrup, closing lever, etc. The operating principle is as follows:

• the piston 17 housed at the rear of the shoe on the shell base 2 acts on the lever 9 via the piston rod 19 and the cable 15. This lever 9 makes it possible to block or not block the rod 3 in support back.
• When fitting a fastening jaw 13, or closing lever, or stirrup, the piston 17 moves back and pushes the piston rod 19 by the action of the spring 12, which causes the cable 15 to be fully pulled after a 3mm drop in the piston 17. If the piston moves further back, the supplement is absorbed by the piston spring.
• The pulling of the cable 15 causes the lever 9 to rotate in rotation, which causes the rod 3 to lock. If the rod was already behind, the piston spring would fully compress.
• In fact, the lever 9 pivots from the first forward bending of the rod 3.
• When the binding 13 is released, hence the ski 14, the piston 17 comes out and the lever 9 allows the rod 3 to be released by the action of the unlocking spring 16 placed at the level of the lever 9.
• In the event of blockage, the lever 9 will necessarily pivot through the action of its spring 16, and this after a forward bending of the rod 3.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5, so as to improve the operation of the device, the recoil of the piston is ensured by the fixing and through an elastic blade 27 disposed on the rear part of the shell base 2 to cover the piston 17 thus allowing smooth operation with a jaw 13 descending very vertical and use a smaller piston 17.

This also has the advantage of offering a gain in volume.

Claims (8)

Sports shoe (1), in particular ski boot, comprising a shell base (2) surmounted by a rod (3) which has a front part (4) and a rear part (5), obtained in one or more pieces, said rear part (5) of the rod (3) being at least partially pivotable relative to the shell base (2) and comprising a locking and unlocking device (7) relative thereto, active in one direction antero-posterior pivoting (F1) of the posterior part (5) of the rod (3) and which is constituted on the one hand by a stop zone (8) formed on the posterior part (5) of the rod (3 ) and on the other hand by an oscillating lever (9) forming a rocker, articulated on an axis (10), arranged on the rear part of the shell base (2), perpendicular to its vertical median plane and able to cooperate in locking with the stop (8), under the action of a control member (11) accessible from the outside of the shoe, acting against a return spring (12) of said lever (9), the locking position of the latter corresponding to an initial reference advance position, from which the rod (3) is capable of angularly wrestle at a predetermined amplitude relative to the shell base (2), characterized in that the control member (11) of the oscillating lever (9) forming a rocker, intended to cooperate in locking with the stop (8), is located in the rear fitting area (A) of the shoe (1) to be urged by the rear binding (13) of a shoe element (14) and is connected to said lever (9) located at a distance , in an area (B) independent of the fitting area (A), by means of a cable (15) acting in traction on the lever (9) during fitting to cause it to rotate towards the stop (8) of the rod (3) and consequently its automatic locking, or conversely causing it to be unlocked by release of said control member (11) during heaving, consequently causing the cable (15) to be returned by means of at least one elastic return member. Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the control member (11) consists of a hollow cylindrical piston (17) capable of sliding in a sheath (18) housed in the rear fitting area (A) of the shoe (1) and cooperating with an internal piston rod (19), in one direction or the other, via the elastic return member (12), which piston rod (19) is connected to its outgoing end with one of the ends (15a) of the cable (15). Shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic return member (12) consists of a compression helical spring arranged concentrically between the internal bore of the piston (17) and the piston rod (19) and coming in support on the one hand against an internal shoulder (20) of the piston bore (17) and on the other hand against a flange (21) of the piston rod (19). Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the other end (15b) of the cable (15), of predetermined length, is in connection with an appendage (22) of the lever (9) in order to exert a traction on the latter causing it to rotate about its articulation axis (10). Shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one elastic unlocking member (16) interposed between a face of the appendage (22) of the lever (9), opposite the abutment zone (8) of the rod (3) and a fixed rim (23) of the shell base (2), produced at a lower level relative to the appendage (22), so that said spring (16) is stressed in compression during traction on the cable (15), ensuring the locking of the rod (3), and conversely in decompression during unlocking, by exerting a restoring force on the lever (9) associated with that of the decompression of the spring ( 12) of the piston (17). Shoe according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic unlocking member (16) is a helical compression spring. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cable (15) is of the "bowden" type associated with a sheath (24). Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the "bowden" cable (15-24) is housed in a channel (25) of substantially corresponding section, formed in the original thickness "e" of the wall of the shell base (2) in its rear middle or lateral part, and connecting the abutment zone (B) to the fitting zone (A), one being located at a distance from the other.

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