EP1913828A1

EP1913828A1 - Ski Boot

Info

Publication number: EP1913828A1
Application number: EP07118661A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Davide Parisotto
Original assignee: Calzaturificio SCARPA SpA
Current assignee: Calzaturificio SCARPA SpA
Priority date: 2006-10-18
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2008-04-23
Also published as: ITTV20060183A1

Abstract

A ski touring or telemark ski boot (1) having a rigid shell (2) shaped to receive the user's foot, and a rigid leg (5) shaped to receive the user's ankle and hinged to the shell (2) substantially at the ankle articulation; the shell (2) having a tip portion (2a) and a mid-portion (2b), both rigid and connected to each other by an elastically deformable portion (7) extending substantially astride the metatarsal region of the foot; and the ski boot (1) also having a shell clamping member (9) for selectively connecting the tip portion (2a) and mid-portion (2b) of the shell (2) rigidly to each other to prevent any relative movement between the two.

Description

The present invention relates to a ski boot.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a ski touring or telemark boot, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
As is known, ski touring boots normally comprise a rigid plastic shell shaped to receive the user's foot; a front sole and rear heel made of non-slip elastomeric material; a rigid plastic leg hinged to the shell at the ankle joint; and a number of fasteners appropriately arranged on the shell and leg, and designed to grip both the shell and leg to immobilize the user's leg inside the boot.
In ski touring and telemark skiing, certain conditions make it essential to be able to lift the heel of the boot off the ski, while keeping the tip of the boot firmly secured to the ski. For this reason, the shell, housing the user's foot, of ski touring boots normally comprises an elastically deformable portion extending astride the metatarsal region of the foot, to enable the front portion of the shell to flex temporarily into a slightly curved shape, and so enable slight flexing of the sole of the user's foot.
More specifically, the shell of ski touring boots normally comprises a controlled-deformation accordion pleat extending astride the metatarsal region of the foot to enable the tip of the shell to flex a few degrees with respect to the rest of the shell.
Though highly popular with decades' of ski touring and telemark enthusiasts, ski touring boots with an accordion pleat at the front of the shell have proved unsuitable for use in combination with the latest two-point ski-boot clamping systems, which are designed to fix the boot to the touring or telemark ski by means of two clamping jaws aligned along the longitudinal axis of the ski and designed to grip and rigidly clamp the front sole of the boot to a tip-up supporting plate hinged to and projecting from the ski, directly beneath the tip of the boot.
More specifically, the two clamping jaws of the latest ski-boot clamping systems are located on the two ends of the tip-up supporting plate, so as to lock onto the sole of the boot : one at the tip of the boot, and the other at the arch separating the sole from the heel of the boot.
Intuitively the grip exerted by the two clamping jaws, aligned along the longitudinal axis of the tip-up supporting plate, subjects the sole of a ski touring or telemark boot to compression, which acts tangentially to the plane of the sole, and so tends to arch sole as a whole, with all the drawbacks this entails.
Arching of the sole may, obviously, be prevented by adopting a shell of high flexural rigidity, capable of opposing any elastic deformation of the sole.
Unfortunately, ski touring or telemark boots with an accordion pleat at the front of the shell are designed to d_o exactly the opposite, with the result that the structural rigidity imparted to the shell, and to the sole integral with it, is insufficient to ensure correct performance of the latest two-point ski-boot clamping systems.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ski touring or telemark boot featuring a shell with an elastically deformable area astride the metatarsal region of the foot, and which is compatible with the latest two-point ski-boot clamping systems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a ski boot as claimed in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent Claims.
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a ski boot in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view of the front of the Figure 1 ski boot in a different operating configuration;
Figures 3 and 4 show two side views of respective variations of the ski touring or telemark boot in Figures 1 and 2.

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a ski boot, in particular a specially designed, safe ski touring or telemark boot.
Boot 1 substantially comprises a rigid plastic shell 2 shaped to receive the user's foot; a front sole 3 and rear heel 4, made of non-slip elastomeric material and fixed in known manner to the bottom of shell 2; and a rigid plastic leg 5 shaped to receive the user's ankle and hinged to shell 2 at the ankle joint.
More specifically, leg 5 is fixed in freely rotating manner to the two sides of shell 2 by two hinges 6 aligned along the transverse articulation axis A of the ankle, which in turn is substantially perpendicular to the mid vertical plane of the boot; and shell 2 has an elastically deformable portion 7 extending astride the metatarsal region of the foot to allow the front of shell 2 to flex temporarily into a slightly curved shape, and so enable slight flexing of the sole of the user's foot.
More specifically, the elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2 extends from one side to the other of shell 2, astride the metatarsal region of the foot, and almost up to sole 3, so as to separate and connect the tip portion 2a and the mid-portion 2b, both substantially rigid and undeformable, of shell 2.
In the example shown, the elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2 comprises a controlled-deformation accordion pleat 7, which extends from one side to the other of shell 2, substantially astride the metatarsal region of the foot, and almost up to sole 3, so as to allow the tip portion 2a of shell 2 to tilt a few degrees with respect to mid-portion 2b of shell 2.
In addition, in the example shown, accordion pleat 7, i.e. the elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, extends along a slightly oblique, arc-shaped trajectory from one side to the other of shell 2, so that the end on the inner side of shell 2 is located ahead of the end on the outer side of shell 2 to follow the natural bend axis of the foot.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, boot 1 also comprises a number of fasteners 8 appropriately arranged on shell 2 and leg 5, and designed to grip both shell 2 and leg 5 to immobilize the user's leg inside boot 1; and a shell clamping member 9, which, when necessary, connects tip portion 2a of shell 2 rigidly to mid-portion 2b of shell 2, to prevent any relative movement between the various parts of shell 2, and so form a rigid, substantially undeformable body of shell 2 and sole 3 integral with it.
Fasteners 8 are commonly known devices and therefore not described in detail.
As regards clamping member 9, on the other hand, this extends astride elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, i.e. astride accordion pleat 7, while preferably, though not necessarily, remaining coplanar with the mid vertical plane of boot 1, and comprises two supporting brackets 10 and 11 secured rigidly to the body of shell 2, facing each other on opposite sides of elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2. More specifically, bracket 10 is secured rigidly to mid-portion 2b of shell 2, and bracket 11 is secured rigidly to tip portion 2a of shell 2.
With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, clamping member 9 also comprises an articulated connecting arm 12, which extends astride elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, while preferably, though not necessarily, remaining coplanar with the mid vertical plane of boot 1, and is hinged at both ends to brackets 10 and 11 to rotate freely, with respect to brackets 10 and 11, about respective axes of rotation B and C, which are parallel to each other, locally tangent to the outer surface of shell 2, and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of articulated arm 12 (and therefore preferably, though not necessarily, perpendicular to the mid vertical plane of boot 1).
In addition, articulated arm 12 is divided into two half- arms 13 and 14, which are hinged to each other to rotate, with respect to each other, about a third axis of rotation D parallel to axes B and C, and are designed to assume a first operating configuration, in which half- arms 13 and 14 open and close freely scissor-fashion, and a second operating configuration, in which half- arms 13 and 14 are locked with respect to each other to rigidly connect supporting brackets 10 and 11 of clamping member 9, which in turn are fixed rigidly to tip portion 2a and mid-portion 2b of shell 2.
More specifically, half-arm 13 is hinged to bracket 10 to rotate freely about axis B; half-arm 14 is hinged to bracket 11 to rotate freely about axis C; and half- arms 13 and 14 are designed to open and close freely scissor-fashion, as long as axis D is above the plane P of axes B and C (Figure 2), i.e. as long as axis D remains on the opposite side of plane P of axes B and C with respect to shell 2, and to lock together when axis D is below plane P (Figure 1), i.e. when axis D is located between plane P of axes B and C and the surface of shell 2, and the distance between axis D and plane P of axes B and C equals a predetermined maximum distance d_o.
Obviously, articulated arm 12 is in the first operating configuration when axis D is above plane P of axes B and C, and in the second operating configuration when axis D is below plane P of axes B ad C, at maximum distance d_o from plane P.
In fact, when articulated arm 12 is positioned with axis D below plane P of axes B and C, at maximum distance d_o from plane P, half- arms 13 and 14 form a rigid structure preventing any further reduction in the distance between brackets 10 and 11, and hence any further compression of elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, thus rigidly locking together the mid-portion 2b and tip portion 2a of shell 2. The two brackets 10 and 11 of clamping member 9, in fact, are fixed rigidly to shell 2, on opposite sides of elastically deformable portion 7.
Preferably, though not necessarily, boot 1 also comprises a leg clamping device 15 which, selectively and alternatively, provides for locking leg 5 rigidly to shell 2 to prevent any relative movement between the two; for clamping leg 5 to shell 2 to only permit positive oscillation of leg 5 about axis A, from a predetermined rest position towards tip portion 2a of shell 2; or for releasing leg 5 from shell 2 to allow leg 5 to oscillate freely back and forth about axis A.
Operation of boot 1 will be clear from the above description, with no further explanation required.
As regards shell clamping member 9, on the other hand, the user, when necessary, presses the central portion of articulated arm 12 to push axis D below, and to maximum distance d_o from, plane P of axes B and C; in which position, articulated arm 12 forms a rigid structure rigidly connecting brackets 10 and 11, and preventing any flexing of tip portion 2a of shell 2 with respect to mid-portion 2b of shell 2.
The advantages of boot 1 are obvious. By providing both elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2 and clamping member 9, boot 1 provides, as required by the user, for effectively allowing flexing of the user's foot to lift the heel of boot 1 off the ski, as well as for a high degree of structural rigidity of shell 2 when using boot 1 in conjunction with the latest two-point ski-boot clamping systems.
Clearly, changes may be made to the telemark or ski touring boot 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in a variation not shown, articulated arm 12 is hinged to brackets 10 and 11 so that axes of rotation B and C are locally perpendicular to the surface of shell 2 and preferably, though not necessarily, coplanar with the mid vertical plane of boot 1.
In which case, axis of rotation D of half- arms 13, 14 of articulated arm 12 is also perpendicular to the surface of shell 2, and is movable from one side to the other of plane P of axes B and C - which plane, in this case, may coincide with the mid vertical plane of boot 1 - to lock tip portion 2a of shell 2 rigidly to the mid-portion, or to allow tip portion 2a of shell 2 to flex with respect to mid-portion 2b of shell 2.
In the Figure 3 variation, instead of articulated arm 12, shell clamping member 9 may comprise a rigid rod or brace 16, which is hinged to bracket 10 to rotate freely about an axis B' locally perpendicular to the surface of shell 2, and is movable, in a plane locally perpendicular to axis B', to and from a work position, in which it extends astride elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, and is positioned with its distal end 16a resting on bracket 11 and engaging a seat formed in the body of bracket 11, which is obviously located on the opposite side of elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2. When the distal end 16a of brace 16 engages the seat in the body of bracket 11, brace 16 prevents any compression of elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, and hence any reduction in the distance between brackets 10 and 11. In other words, in the above work position, brace 16 prevents any flexing of tip portion 2a of shell 2 with respect to mid-portion 2b of shell 2.
In the Figure 4 variation, instead of articulated arm 12, shell clamping member 9 comprises a rigid rod or brace 17, which is hinged to bracket 10 to rotate freely about an axis B" locally tangent to the surface of shell 2, and is movable to and from a work position, in which it extends astride elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, and is positioned with its distal end 17a resting on the body of bracket 11 on the opposite side of elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, to prevent any further compression of elastically deformable portion 7 of shell 2, and hence any flexing of tip portion 2a of shell 2 with respect to mid-portion 2b of shell 2.
In this variation, shell clamping member 9 also comprises a safety hand lever 18 for rigidly, firmly, but easily removably locking the distal end 17a of brace 17 to the body of bracket 11 on which it rests.

Claims

A ski boot (1) comprising a rigid shell (2) shaped to receive the user's foot, and a rigid leg (5) shaped to receive the user's ankle and hinged to said shell (2) substantially at the ankle articulation; said shell (2) having a tip portion (2a) and a mid-portion (2b), both rigid and connected to each other by an elastically deformable portion (7) extending substantially astride the metatarsal region of the foot; and the ski boot (1) being characterized by also comprising shell clamping means (9) for selectively connecting said tip portion (2a) and said mid-portion (2b) of the shell (2) rigidly to each other to prevent compression of said elastically deformable portion (7).
A ski boot as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said shell clamping means (9) comprise two supporting brackets (10, 11) located, facing each other, on the body of the shell (2) and on opposite sides of said elastically deformable portion (7) of the shell (2); a first bracket (10) being secured rigidly to the mid-portion (2b) of said shell (2), a second bracket (11) being secured rigidly to the tip portion (2a) of said shell (2), and said shell clamping means (9) comprising a rigid member (12, 16, 17) which is interposed between said two supporting brackets (10, 11) to prevent any reduction in the distance between said supporting brackets (10, 11).
A ski boot as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said rigid member (12, 16, 17) comprises an articulated arm (12) which extends astride the elastically deformable portion (7) of said shell (2), is hinged at both ends to the two supporting brackets (10, 11) to rotate freely, with respect to the two supporting brackets, about respective first axes of rotation (B, C) parallel to each other, and is divided into two half-arms (13, 14) hinged to each other to rotate, with respect to each other, about a second axis of rotation (D) parallel to said first axes of rotation (B, C); said half-arms (13, 14) being designed to assume a work configuration, in which they are locked with respect to each other to connect the two supporting brackets (10, 11) rigidly to each other.
A ski boot as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said rigid member (12, 16, 17) comprises a rigid brace (16, 17) hinged at one end to one (10) of said two supporting brackets (10, 11), and movable to and from a work position in which it extends astride the elastically deformable portion (7) of the shell (2), and is positioned with its distal end (16a, 17a) resting on the other (11) of said supporting brackets (10, 11) to prevent any reduction in the distance between said supporting brackets (10, 11).
A ski boot as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said shell clamping means (9) also comprise a lever-operated clamping member (18) for rigidly, firmly, but easily removably locking the distal end (17a) of the rigid brace (17) to the supporting bracket (11) on which it rests.
A ski boot as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said elastically deformable portion (7) of the shell (2) comprises a controlled-deformation accordion pleat (7) extending from one side to the other of said shell (2), substantially astride the metatarsal region of the foot.
A ski boot as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by also comprising leg clamping means (15), which provide selectively for locking the leg (5) rigidly to said shell (2) to prevent any relative movement between the two; for locking the leg (5) to said shell (2) to only permit positive oscillation of the leg (5) from a predetermined rest position; or for releasing the leg (5) from said shell (2) to allow the leg (5) to oscillate freely.