EP1277414A1 - Apparatus for tightening two parts of an sport article - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for clamping together two parts of a sports article, including:a rectilinear notched tongue (6), integral with a first part of the sports article;a guide (30) integral with the second part of the sports article, said guide having two walls (33) between which said tongue (6) is able to slide;a pawl (40) articulated on the guide (30), capable of interacting with the notched tongue (6) in order to immobilize it in position relative to the guide (30);characterized in that it also includes a complementary piece (20) interacting with at least one part of the outer faces of the guide (30), and of which the portion located on the side with the opening of the guide (30) via which the tongue (6) is inserted includes two divergent walls (25, 26) which flare out and extend beyond the opening of the guide (30).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of sporting goods, and in particular to Sliding. It relates more particularly to a clamping device used on sports items such as snowboard bindings, shoes skates, roller skates or harnesses. It concerns more specifically a particular geometry of certain mechanisms using notched tabs, the configuration of which facilitates use.

In the following description, the invention is more particularly described in its application to snowboarding, but it can also be transposed for various other sporting goods using clamping systems analogous to those used on snowboard bindings.

Previous techniques

Certain surf bindings, generally called "hull fixation", have straps that pass over the foot to hold it plated in the binding. These straps are generally adjustable in length to be able to adapt to all shoe configurations. An example of this type of strap is described in document WO 97/28 859. These straps have two parts, namely a first part formed by a rectilinear notched tongue which is attached to one side of the binding. On the other side of the binding, the strap includes a part passing over the foot, and ending with a system of pawl.

More specifically, the rectilinear tongue is placed between the walls a guide on which a pawl is articulated. This pawl cooperates with the notches of the notched tongue to prevent the strap from loosening. The walls of the guide are spaced at a distance equal to the width of the notched tongue, to avoid any mechanical play, and prevent the latter from moving laterally in the guide.

This need to limit the mechanical play of the tongue inside the guide therefore leads to having a tongue of the same width as the guide. Now, this arrangement does not facilitate the introduction of the tongue into the guide, since it is necessary that the user very precisely adjusts the tab when he wants to do it enter the guide. These operations are all the more delicate as the user generally wear gloves that make him less precise in his gestures.

A problem which the invention therefore proposes to solve is that of the compatibility between an absence of lateral play of the tongue inside the guide, and ease of positioning the tongue in the guide.

A solution has already been proposed to this problem, as illustrated in the document FR 2 758 057. Thus, the tongue used in the fixing described in this document has an end cut in the shape of a triangle, thus having a smaller width at its end which comes first into contact with the guide. This solution has limited effectiveness, since it is important that the part in tip of the tongue is inserted into the width of the guide so that the effect of centering takes place. In addition, such a solution is all the more effective as the tongue is cut into a point, and therefore has an acute angle which represents a possible risk of injury. This tab is also relatively fragile.

Statement of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a device intended to ensure the tightening of two parts of a sports article.

• une languette crantée rectiligne, solidaire d'une première partie de l'article de sport ;
• un guide solidaire de la seconde partie de l'article de sport, ledit guide possédant deux parois entre lesquelles peut coulisser ladite languette ;
• un cliquet articulé sur le guide, apte a coopérer avec la languette crantée pour la bloquer en position par rapport au guide.

Such a device comprises in known manner:

• a rectilinear notched tongue, integral with a first part of the sports article;
• a guide integral with the second part of the sports article, said guide having two walls between which can slide said tongue;
• a pawl articulated on the guide, able to cooperate with the notched tongue to lock it in position relative to the guide.

According to the invention, the device is characterized in that it also comprises a complementary part cooperating with at least a portion of the outer faces of the guide, and the portion of which located on the side of the opening of the guide through which the tongue, has two divergent walls, flaring and extending beyond the opening of the guide.

In other words, the device which ensures the locking of the tongue comprises a centering piece, part of which forms an opening for introducing tongue, having a width much greater than the opening of the guide well said. In this way, when the user approaches the tongue of the part characteristic, even if the tongue is not perfectly aligned with the axis of the guide, its end comes into contact with the characteristic divergent walls. The tongue is thus centered and guided to the entrance of the guide in which it takes place without lateral play.

So whatever the shape of the tongue end, you get insert the tab in the guide more easily and more quickly.

In a particular embodiment, the guide is embedded in the room complementary, and the divergent walls of the latter are extended by side walls facing the guide walls. In other words, the room complementary wraps the underside of the guide and covers the side faces of this latest. This additional part can for example be produced by overmolding on the guide which can be metallic.

This prevents the guide from rising inside the room complementary

This ensures good resistance of the guide inside the room complementary. This outfit can be further improved by using means of centering provided on the guide and the complementary part.

These centering means can for example be formed by a lug and a corresponding light, located on the guide and on the complementary light.

This prevents any longitudinal movement of the guide inside of the additional room.

This blocking of the guide relative to the complementary part can still be improved in the case where the guide walls are extended by walls divergent coming into contact with part of the internal faces of the divergent walls of the additional room. In other words, near the opening of the guide, the parallel side walls of the latter may slightly flare and come partially fit into the divergent walls of the complementary part. In this configuration, any relative movement of the guide and the workpiece is prohibited complementary.

Advantageously in practice, the side walls of the complementary part may form gripping areas of the guide. In other words, the maneuvers ratchet and other moving parts associated with the guide can be facilitated by an efficient grip of the complementary part, and therefore of the guide. The outer faces of the side walls of the complementary part are then ergonomically configured, to allow the registration of the the user.

In a particular embodiment, the two side walls of the complementary piece are asymmetrical. In other words, the two areas of gripping present on both sides of the guide are not at the same level longitudinal of the complementary part, but are on the contrary offset, to adapt to the difference in length between your thumb and forefinger. The area of gripping intended to receive the support of the index is located closer to the opening of the guide than that intended to receive the support of the thumb.

Different parts can be mounted on the guide, to ensure different types of cooperation with tab. Thus, the guide may include a lever cooperating with the tongue to cause advancement in the guide. In other words, this additional lever, when actuated, pushes the tongue inside the guide increasing tightening. The ratchet meanwhile ensures the locking of the tongue by not opposing its advance in the guide, but by preventing recoil.

In other embodiments, the tongue is associated with a loop articulated, which is integral with the tongue and which ensures the displacement of this last inside the guide, when activated by the user. Other said, the operation of this articulated loop causes the displacement of the tongue in the direction of the introduction, which allows it to enter the guide and cooperate with the ratchet. When the user folds the loop or more generally maneuver, it pulls the tongue in the opposite direction of its introduction to the guide. This movement is counteracted by the ratchet, which ensures tightening.

The reverse arrangement can also be adopted. In this case, the guide and ratchet are associated with a loop. The operation of the loop moves the guide and the complementary part in the direction of the tongue which is fixed.

The complementary and characteristic part of the invention can be part part of a new design blocking system, or even be reported under the guide of an existing system, so as to improve the operation of the latter.

The clamping device according to the invention can find an application particularly advantageous for fitting surf bindings. In this case, the device is mounted to tighten the two parts of a strap.

The device according to the invention can also be mounted on a Sliding sports shoe such as an alpine ski boot, a ski boot cross-country skiing, a surf shoe or the like, and even a roller skate or an ice skate. In this case, the device serves to clamp between them two flaps of the shoe, a first flap carrying the tongue, the other flap carrying the guide and the characteristic complementary part.

Brief description of the figures

La figure 1 est une vue en perspective sommaire d'une fixation équipée du dispositif de blocage.

La figure 2 est une vue en perspective sommaire de la zone de blocage du dispositif de serrage.

La figure 3 est une vue éclatée montrant les différents éléments illustrés à la figure 2, de façon distincte.

La figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du mécanisme de blocage de la figure 3.

La figure 5 est une vue de dessus montrant le guide et la pièce complémentaire.

Les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues en coupe longitudinales de la languette du mécanisme de blocage montrées pour deux variantes de réalisation.

La figure 8 est une vue en perspective sommaire d'une chaussure de ski équipée d'une variante de réalisation du dispositif de serrage.

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which result therefrom will emerge clearly from the description of the embodiments which follow, with the support of the appended figures in which:

Figure 1 is a summary perspective view of a fastening equipped with the locking device.

Figure 2 is a summary perspective view of the locking area of the clamping device.

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the various elements illustrated in Figure 2, separately.

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of the locking mechanism of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 is a top view showing the guide and the complementary part.

Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views of the tongue of the locking mechanism shown for two alternative embodiments.

Figure 8 is a summary perspective view of a ski boot equipped with an alternative embodiment of the tightening device.

Way of realizing the invention

As already mentioned, the invention relates to a clamping device which can find a very specific application in board sports, and in particular for ski boots and snowboard bindings.

In its application to surf bindings, as illustrated in Figure 1, the invention makes it possible to equip a fixing (1) of the "shell" type which comprises a base (2), a rear shell (3), and two straps (4, 5), connecting the two sides of the base (2), passing respectively above the instep and above the metatarsophalangeal joint.

Each of these straps (4, 5) comprises a rectilinear notched tongue (6, 7) which is secured by one end (8, 9) to one side of the base. The other part of the strap (10, 11) is secured to the other side of the base. This part (10, 11) which passes over the shoe is generally widened and padded to distribute the pressure it exerts on the shoe, and prevent it from injuring the user. In its extremal portion, this part of the strap (10, 11) comprises a clamping mechanism (12, 13) produced in accordance with the invention. These measures clamp (12, 13) can be of different designs, as illustrated in the figure 1. Generally, these blocking mechanisms (12, 13) include a guide in which slides the notched tongue (6, 7), and a ratchet system, which cooperates with the tongue (6, 7) to prevent it from sliding inside the guide, in a direction that would loosen the strap.

In a more sophisticated form, as illustrated in Figure 2, the clamping mechanism also includes a lever (50) which cooperates with the tongue (6) to cause advancement inside the guide, in the direction of Tightening. This additional lever (50), which may be advantageous, is however not necessary for the implementation of the invention.

The various elements forming the clamping mechanism are illustrated by separately in Figure 3. Thus, at the end (17) of the strap (12) is secured the assembly formed by the complementary part (20), the guide (30), the pawl (40), and the clamping lever (50). This joining can for example be carried out by a rivet (18) passing through a bore (31) made in the guide (30) and a bore (21) formed in the central part (22) of the complementary part (20), as well as a hole (19) made in the strap (12).

The complementary part (20) comprises a central part (22), two walls side (23, 24) located on either side of the central part (22). These walls lateral (23, 24) are extended at the front by divergent walls (25, 26) which flare away from the body of the part (20). On each outer face of side walls (23, 24), the complementary part (20) has a zone of grip (27, 28), slightly protruding. The shape of these areas of grip is determined by ergonomic considerations. One of the two gripping areas (27, 28) can be offset longitudinally with respect to the other, to take into account the difference in positioning of the thumb and forefinger when the part (20) is entered by the user.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the central part (22) of the part complementary (20) includes a slight recess, delimited by the extra thickness (29), inside which comes the guide (30). The guide (30) includes also a central zone (32) coming to take place in the recess of the complementary part (20). On each side, the guide (30) comprises walls side (33), which are flat and parallel. Near the opening (34) of the guide, these side walls (33) have an extension (35) deviating from the side wall (33) outwards. These extension portions (35) come fit into part of the divergent walls (25, 26) of the room complementary (20). The two side walls (33) of the guides (30) are drilled each of a pair of openings (36, 37) receiving the pins (41, 51) respectively of the pawl (40) and of the lever (50).

In its central part, the guide (30) includes a cutout making it possible to form a lug (38) deformed downward, to fit into an opening (39) provided for this purpose in the complementary part (20). In this way, the centering and blocking of the guide (30) inside the complementary part (20) are insured.

The guide (30) therefore receives, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the pawl (40) ensuring the locking of the tongue (6) inside the guide (30). To do this, the ratchet (40) has an edge (42) which is recessed in a notch of the tongue (6). A pressure on the support zone (43) of the pawl (40) ensures the pivoting of the latter and disengaging of the edge (42) of the notch of the tongue (6). This maneuver therefore authorizes the loosening of the strap.

Conversely, the tightening is caused by the operation of the lever (50). When this lever (50) is raised, its edge (52) comes into contact with a notch of the tongue (6), pushing the latter in the direction of advancement inside the guide (30).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the width λ ₁ of the tongue is substantially equal to the distance (λ ₂ ) which separates the internal faces of the walls (33) from the guide (30). In this way, the guide of the tongue is carried out almost without any transverse play, and therefore no imprecision in the tightening. On the other hand, the width L of the complementary part, measured at its opening, between the divergent walls (25, 26), is clearly greater than the width λ ₁ of the tongue (6), so that, even if the tongue is not presented in the axis of the guide (30), it is automatically folded in the right direction by the divergent walls (25, 26) characteristics.

The invention is not limited to the use of a lever causing advancement tongue inside the locking mechanism, but also covers other variants in which the guide (30) and the complementary part (20) do not have only one locking pawl.

In this case, the advancement of the tongue can be caused by different ways. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the tongue (6) can be associated with an articulated loop (60), located at its end connecting it to the base of the fixation. The operation of the loop (60) causes the elongation of the tongue (6) and its introduction inside the guide (30). Reverse loop operation (60) causes traction on the tongue, and therefore on the assembly of the guide and the additional part when the pawl comes into action.

In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, it is the strap (12) which supports the guide (30) and the complementary part (20) which is associated with a deformable loop (62). In this case, when this loop (62) is operated, the guide (30) and the complementary part (20) are moved in the direction of the tongue (6), causing the latter to penetrate into the guide (30). The reverse operation of the loop ensures traction on the strap (12), and therefore on the guide (30) and the pawl (40). When the latter comes into action, it therefore ensures traction on the tongue (6), and therefore tightening of the strap.

The invention can also be used on ski boots or similar, as illustrated in Figure 8. In this case, the clamping device connects the front (66) and rear (65) flaps of a shoe. In the illustrated form, the tongue (67) is integral with the front flap (66) and the rear flap (65) comprises the locking mechanism. The latter is equipped with the characteristic part (68) facilitating the introduction of the tongue (67) into the locking mechanism.

• l'assurance d'une bonne introduction de la languette dans le guide de blocage, même lorsque la languette n'est pas amenée exactement dans l'axe du guide, par exemple lorsque l'utilisateur n'a pas toute la précision voulue à cause de ses gants ;
• une plus grande facilité et une plus grande rapidité de mise en place ;
• la possibilité d'adapter la pièce complémentaire caractéristique à certaines boucles existantes.

It follows from the above that the use of the clamping means described above has multiple advantages, and in particular:

• the assurance of a good insertion of the tongue into the locking guide, even when the tongue is not brought exactly in the axis of the guide, for example when the user does not have all the desired precision because his gloves;
• greater ease and speed of installation;
• the possibility of adapting the characteristic complementary part to certain existing loops.

Industrial applications

The clamping device according to the invention can, as already mentioned, be used for multiple applications, especially in board sports for snowboard bindings, alpine, cross-country ski boots or the like, as well than surf boots.

It can also be used as a tightening device for harnesses or others, or even sports bags.

Claims (12)

Device intended to ensure the tightening of two parts of a sports article, comprising: a rectilinear notched tongue (6), integral with a first part of the sports article; a guide (30) integral with the second part of the sports article, said guide having two walls (33) between which can slide said tongue (6); a pawl (40) articulated on the guide (30), able to cooperate with the notched tongue (6) to lock it in position relative to the guide (30); characterized in that it also comprises a complementary part (20) cooperating with at least a part of the external faces of the guide (30), and the portion of which located on the side of the opening of the guide (30) through which the tongue (6), has two divergent walls (25, 26) flaring and extending beyond the opening of the guide (30). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide (30) is embedded in the complementary part (20), whose diverging walls (25, 26) are extended by side walls (23, 24) coming opposite the walls (33) of the guide (30). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for centering the guide (30) relative to the complementary part (20). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the centering means are formed by a lug (38) and a corresponding lumen (39), located on the guide (30) and on the complementary part (20). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the walls (33) of the guide are extended by divergent walls (35) coming into contact with part of the internal faces of the divergent walls (25, 26) of the complementary part (20 ). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the side walls (23, 24) of the complementary part form gripping zones (27, 28) of the guide (30). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the two side walls (27, 28) of the complementary part are asymmetrical. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide (30) comprises a lever (50) cooperating with the tongue (6) to cause its advancement in the guide (30). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an articulated loop (60) integral with the tongue (6), and ensuring the displacement of the tongue (6) inside the guide (30). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an articulated loop (62) integral with the guide (30) and the complementary part (20), and ensuring the displacement of the guide (30) relative to the tongue (6 ). Snowboard binding equipped with at least one clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the two parts to be clamped are parts of a tightening strap (4, 5). Sliding sports shoe, equipped with at least one device according to one of the Claims 1 to 10, in which the two parts to be clamped are two flaps (66, 65) of the shoe, one of which (66) carries the tongue (67) and the other guides it and the complementary part (68).

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