EP1859699A1

EP1859699A1 - Closure device, in particular for shoes, with slidable rack element

Info

Publication number: EP1859699A1
Application number: EP07108476A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Chenet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-23
Filing date: 2007-05-18
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: ITTV20060086A1

Abstract

Ratchet device (10; 100a; 100b; 100c; 100d), in particular for footwear, comprising a plate (20; 120a; 120b; 120c; 120d) which can be coupled to the shoe and a rack element (30; 130a; 130b; 130c; 130d) which through retaining means is slidably movable on the plate without detaching therefrom. The device is characterised in that the retaining means between the plate and the rack element comprise a housing (101a; 101b; 101c; 101d) formed in one of the two in which at least the ends (120ax; 120ay; 130bx; 130by; 130cx; 130cy; 120dx; 120dy) of the other are slidably and inseparably engaged.

Description

The present invention regards a ratchet device, in particular for footwear, to which the following description will make reference without limiting the applications of the invention.
It is known that some footwear, especially for sport footwear, have flaps which are fastened together in an adjustable manner, to adapt the form of the shoe to the foot and to ensure maximum comfort. For this reason, a ratchet fastening device is used which comprises, on one flap, a ring element which is clasped on the other flap between the teeth of a rack. By varying the clasping position on the rack, it is possible to vary the amount the flaps are tightened together. To permit a greater adjustment, the rack is usually movably mounted on the respective flap. With a snap mechanism, it is possible to move and lock the rack in at least several aligned positions, more or less close to the edge of the flap.
Devices of this type are known from EP 1 602 296 and EP 1 169 932 .
Both comprise an elongated base plate, longitudinally slit to make a guide in which the foot of a rack element is inserted and can slide without detaching. Such rack element is lockable on the plate due to teeth integral therewith which are engaged in holes in the plate.
The difference between the two inventions is that in the first the teeth are made underneath the rack element, while in the second they are made on an oscillating lever pivoted on the rack element itself.
In both cases, as said, the rack element can slide, linearly guided by a guide-slit in the base plate. Overall, the device is resistant to longitudinal forces, i.e. along the guide-slit and longitudinal to the rack, but not to lateral or twisting forces. If the rack element is subjected to a twisting stress tending to make it rotate, the entire device can easily be compromised, since it discharges the force on the slit of the plate. The rack element in fact acts as a lever pivoted in the guide-slit, highly effective for forcing it outside the guide-slit and/or deforming the edges of such guide-slit. At the very least, the aforesaid twisting can cause the deformation of the guide-slit, with consequent jamming or exit of the rack foot. Another drawback is that the plate always comprises, in the contact surface with the shoe, a guide notch for the rack foot (which has a wider termination than the slit, so to not exit from this). With use, dirt or ice can accumulate in this notch, making the sliding of the rack element difficult, or in fact blocking its movement. In EP 1 602 296 , moreover, the rack element is directed by two return springs arranged around a fastening rivet to the foot sliding in the slit: this inevitably determines clearances in the hinging point, with high wear during functioning and poor rack element stability.
The present invention has as main object the making of a fastening device, in particular for footwear, which is more resistant to stress, particularly twisting stress. Another object is to make a fastening device which is less subject to jamming.
Such object is obtained with a ratchet device, in particular for footwear, comprising a plate which can be coupled to the shoe and a rack element, wherein the rack element, through retaining means, is slidably movable on the plate without detaching therefrom. The invention is characterised in that the retaining means comprise a housing formed in the plate in which at least the ends of the rack element are slidably and inseparably engaged, or a housing associated with the rack element in which at least the ends of the plate are slidably and inseparable engaged.
The advantages will be evident from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment, illustrated in the attached drawing set where:

Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a device according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a lateral view of fig. 1 in a first position;
Fig. 3 shows a lateral view of fig. 1 in a second position;
Fig. 4 shows a vertical section of the device of fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the device of fig. 1;
Figs. 6-9 show variants of the invention.

In the figures, a device according to the invention is indicated with 10, and comprises a slightly curved plate 20, a rack element 30 with substantially the same curvature and a connector 40 associated with the rack element 30 which slidably connects the latter with the plate 20.
The plate 20 has two shaped ends 21a, 21b. The end 21a is provided with a hole 22 for coupling to the shoe (not shown), by means for example of riveting, while the end 21b is provided with a tooth 23 which during the mounting is inserted in an anchoring seat in the shoe. In the central part of the plate 20, there are a plurality of rectangular holes 24 symmetrically aligned along a longitudinal axis of the plate 20 itself.
The rack element 30 has, on its upper part, a series of teeth 32 which are transversely extended thereto, while on the lower part it has a projecting stop tooth 34. The rack element 30 is mounted oscillating on a rivet 50 which passes through it and which is engaged on two parallel segments 42 of the connector 40. The segments 42 are substantially orthogonal to the plate 20 and extend around it with a slightly curved section 44, with curvature substantially equal to that of the plate 20, and in contact with the surface of the plate 20. The section 44 comprises two extensions 46, separated from each other by the width of the holes 24 along the short side of the plate 20. One function of such extensions 46 is to increase the surface of the section 44 by better establishing the connector 40 on the plate 20.
As is visible in figs. 2 and 3, the rack element 30 is pivoting and can be lifted with respect to the plate 20. When the rack element 30 is lowered and in contact with the plate 20 (fig. 2), the tooth 34 is inserted in a hole 24, it passes through the hole and is set between the two extensions 46 of the connector 40. In this manner, a relative longitudinal movement is prevented in the traction direction Ft between the rack element 30 and the plate 20, due to the interference between the tooth 34 and, simultaneously, a hole 24 and the connector 40. A relative longitudinal movement in the release direction Fp, opposite Ft (fig. 3), between the rack element 30 and the plate 20 is however possible, and facilitates the lifting of the rack element 30 due to a rounded and convex shape of the tooth 34 on its part 35 in contact with the edge of a hole 24 closest to the connector 40.
When the rack element 30 is lifted (fig. 3), the tooth 34 exits from the hole 24 where it was and leaves the rack element 30 and plate 20 unconstrained The user can then move the rack element 30 (direction Ft or Fp) on the plate 20, stopping it at a hole 24, and lowering it to immobilise it in the new position. The lowering of the rack element 30 is assisted by the action of a helical spring 70, wrapped around the rivet 50. It is noted that - and this is a further advantage of the invention - the spring 70 when assembled is housed in a seat 72 made laterally in the body of the rack element 30. In the latter, there is a hole (indicated with 74) for the rivet 50 of complementary size, without a clearance for arranging the spring as in the prior art. There is hence a greater solidity and a lack of oscillations of the rack element 30 on the rivet 50. In particular, it is advantageous to provide, in the hole 74, a radial extension 73 where one end 70a of the spring 70 can be housed so to maintain it in position. Another solution is to ensure that one wall (indicated with 75) of the seat 72 acts as a backing for the same end 70a of the spring 70.
During the movement in direction Ft or Fp, the connector 40 slides on the plate 20. In particular, the section 44 is in abutment on the lower surface of the plate 20 and slides over it, while the segments 42 appropriately space the lifted rack element 30 from the plate 20 to facilitate the movement of the rack element 30.
It is clear from the figures that, overall, the connector 40 completely surrounds the lower part of the plate 20 with a bridge structure (tabs 22 plus section 44), making a containment housing which contains it and in which the plate 20 is slidably and inseparably engaged Since the housing completely contains the plate, the solidity of the entire device 10 is improved Nevertheless, the section 44 is optional, it sufficing that the segments 42 extend by curving under the plate 20, without however joining, as schematically shown in fig. 6, where a first variant 100a of the invention is displayed in section. The plate is indicated with 120a and the connector is indicated with 130a, in this case open on its lower part and comprising two equal hook tabs 121, 122 which define a housing 101a in which the ends 120ax, 120ay of the plate 120 are slidably and inseparably engaged. Section 44 is illustrated with a dashed line in the figure, for comparison: the housing 101a, with or without the section 44, is functionally identical in the two cases and fulfils the object of slidably and inseparably retaining the plate.
A second variant 100b (fig. 7) is obtained by making a housing 101b on a plate 120b, for example by folding it to form two tabs 123, 124 of "L" shape and converging, between which the ends of an inverted "T"-shaped connector 130b can inseparably slide, connector to which a rack element is connected (not shown in the variants).
A third variant 100c (fig. 8) is obtained by making, on a plate 120c, a housing 101c with two "C"- shaped tabs 125, 126, within which corresponding ends 130cx, 130cy of a "T"-shaped inverted connector 130c can inseparably slide.
A fourth variant (fig. 9) is obtained by making, on a connector 130d, a housing 101d defined by two hook segments 129, 131 of "L" shape. In the housing 130d, the ends 120dx, 120dy of a "T"-shaped projection 135 integral with a plate 120d can inseparably slide.
The described variants, even if schematic, illustrate other retaining means between the plate and the rack element comprising a housing (in the examples indicated with 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d) formed in one of the two, and in which at least the ends of the other (in the examples indicated with 120ax, 120ay, 130bx, 130by, 130cx, 130cy, 120dx, 120dy) are slidably and inseparably engaged.
Other variants are in any case possible, always employing the inventive concept of the invention.

Claims

Ratchet device (10; 100a; 100b; 100c; 100d), in particular for footwear, comprising a plate (20; 120a; 120b; 120c; 120d) which can be coupled to the shoe and a rack element (30; 130a; 130b; 130c; 130d) which through retaining means is slidably movable on the plate without detaching therefrom, characterised in that the retainingr means between the plate and the rack element comprise a housing (101a; 101b; 101c; 101d) formed in one of the two in which at least the ends (120ax; 120ay; 130bx; 130by; 130cx; 130cy; 120dx; 120dy) of the other are slidably and inseparably engaged.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made in a connector (40; 130a; 130d) pivoted on the rack element (30).
Device according to claim 2, wherein the connector (40) is made so as to completely surround the plate (20) with a bridge structure (42, 44).
Device according to claim 3, wherein the bridge structure comprises two segments (42) parallel to each other, arranged substantially orthogonal to the plate (30), which extend around the plate (20) so as to slidably and inseparably retain it.
Device according to claim 4, wherein the two segments (42) are joined by a section (44) in contact with the surface of the plate (20).
Device according to claim 5, wherein the plate (20) is holed with holes (24) and the section (44) comprises two extensions (46) separated from each other as much as the width of the holes (24) along a short side of the plate (20).
Device according to any one of the claims 4 to 6, wherein the rack element (30) is mounted oscillating on a rivet (50), which passes through it in a hole (74) and which is pivotably engaged on the two segments (42).
Device according to claim 7, characterised in that a seat (72) is laterally made in the body of the rack element (30), where a spring (70) is arranged and is adapted to elastically bias the rack element (30) against the plate (20).
Device according to claim 8, wherein the spring (70) is a helical spring wound around the rivet (50).
Device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hole (74) comprises a radial extension (73) where it can house an end (70a) of the spring (70) so as to hold it in position.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (101b; 101c) is obtained on the plate (120b; 120c).
Shoe comprising a device made according to any one of the claims 1 to 11.