EP2121153B1 - Snowshoe with climbing wedge - Google Patents

Abstract

The snow racket (1) has a shoe retaining unit permitting a shoe to rotate with respect to a deck (2) around transverse axes (X, X`). A climbing bar (9) limits rotation of a fixation type articulated plate (7) towards a base such that the plate is inclined towards the base and front, so that the shoe is in a horizontal position in case of rise. The bar includes a movable support piece (10) articulated on the shoe for attaining retractable inactive and active positions. A control unit (11) i.e. lever, allows a user to pass from the inactive position to the active position using the bar.

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement for snowshoe designed in particular to improve the comfort of walking in the climbs.

Snowshoes have been known for many years because they have been used for centuries by Scandinavians to move on snow. Until today, snowshoes were used for utilitarian or military purposes, to allow alpine populations and troops to travel on snow for their daily needs. Currently, snowshoes are used by athletes who hike and walk, or even competitions. But the sportsmen, although practicing for their pleasure, are more and more demanding for the material they use and it is true that the products currently sold are not entirely satisfactory.

The current snowshoes have many features intended to improve the user's comfort during the walk such as, for example, climbing wedges intended to facilitate the progression in the climbs by placing the sole of the shoe in a position substantially horizontal that the latter is supported downward.

Various approaches to climbing wedges are known, and in particular those described in the document US 2004/0250453 or in French patent applications published under the numbers 2,725,631 , 2,771,301 . But these holds have a lot of drawback and in particular their lack of convenience during their implementation and their retraction.

The present invention intends to solve the disadvantages of known devices by proposing a particularly simple and reliable climbing wedge, and easy to implement and retract and without the user having to down or loosen.

Thus, the snowshoe of the invention, comprising retaining means of the boot which allow it to pivot upward relative to the sieve of the racket about a transverse axis located substantially at the level of the zone before the boot, so that the user can lift his heel by pivoting from a normal low position, usual use position of the racket for walking on flat terrain, according to which the general plane of the lower surface of said shoe is substantially parallel to the surface of the ground, and which comprises means for limiting the pivoting downwards to define a low position in which the lower surface of the shoe is inclined downwards and forwards, said means being constituted by a pivoting support piece, articulated on the racket about a transverse axis, to take according to the invention, two stable positions, a stance inactive position, and an active position, is characterized in that the pivoting piece has the shape of a "U" -shaped yoke whose sides are triangular-shaped walls, the top of which comprises the pivot axis, while that the upper corners of the base of the triangle are each connected by a cross member, namely a front cross member and a rear cross member to leave a gap between them.

According to a complementary feature, the pivoting part is pivotally mounted on a support, while the pivoting part cooperates with said support by a ramp system by virtue of the lateral elasticity of the pivoting part. According to a complementary feature, said support piece which is fixed on the racket, comprises two lateral walls extending substantially vertically.

According to another complementary feature, each of the internal surfaces of the side walls of the support part, which surfaces are facing the side walls of the pivoting part comprises a central projection to form a front ramp and a rear ramp intended to cooperate with an external projection performed on each of the internal surfaces of the walls of the pivoting part.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of non-limiting examples.

The Figures 1 to 7 illustrate a racket different from the invention but useful for its understanding.

The figures 1 illustrates in top view the racket with its plate in its normal low position of use.

The figures 2 illustrates in perspective view the racket with its plate in its normal low position of use.

The figure 3 is a side view of the racket with its plate in its normal low position of use.

The figure 4 is a side view of the racket with its plate in its position according to which the climbing wedge is in the active position.

The Figures 5, 6 , 7 are lateral views showing the climbing wedge in three positions, the inactive position ( figure 5 ), the intermediate position ( figure 7 ), the active position ( figure 6 )

The Figures 8 to 13 illustrate an embodiment of the climbing wedge according to the invention.

The Figures 8 and 9 are side views showing the climbing wedge according to its retracted inactive position ( figure 8 ), and according to its active position ( figure 9 ).

The Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the climbing wedge according to its retracted inactive position ( figure 10 ), and according to its active position ( figure 11 ).

The figure 12 is a perspective view of the support.

The figure 13 is a top view of the support.

According to the invention, the snowshoe, with the general reference (1) is constituted by a frame (3) which delimits an inner surface or sieve (2) which forms the bearing surface of the racket. This sieve (2) may advantageously be in the form of a rigid perforated plate which has under its underside a set of attachment walls for reinforcing the holding of the snowshoe on the hard snow. However, it could be otherwise and the sieve could be formed by a web or non-perforated plate portions, for example, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The snowshoe (1) of the invention comprises means for retaining the boot for securing the shoe to the racket. These retaining means have a configuration that allows the boot of the user to pivot relative to the sieve (2) of the racket about a transverse axis (X, X ') located substantially at the zone before the shoe so that the user can lift his heel by pivoting upwards according to F during its progression. These retaining means are advantageously constituted by an articulated plate type attachment (7), as illustrated, said plate (7) carrying rear retaining means (8a) of the boot and front retaining means (8b) .

The pivoting of the retaining plate (7) of the boot relative to the racket (1) advantageously takes place between a normal low position (A), as illustrated in FIGS. figures 1 , 2 and 3 , the usual use position of the racket for walking on flat terrain, according to which the general plane of the lower surface (7a) of articulated plate (7) is substantially parallel to the general plane of the surface of the ground, and a high position (B), wherein the heel of the boot is lifted by pivoting upwards along F of the plate (7) about the transverse axis (X, X ').

According to the invention, the racket comprises means enabling the retaining plate (7) to bear downwards in an inclined position (C) as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 .

Thus, the racket according to the invention comprises means for limiting the pivoting of the plate downwards, so that said plate is inclined downwards and forwards, so that in case of progression uphill the shoe is in a substantially horizontal position, more comfortable position for the user.

This means of limiting the pivoting downwards, is provided by a stop member and movable support (9) commonly called climbing wedge.

This climbing wedge (9) is constituted by a pivoting part (10) articulated on the racket about a transverse axis (Y, Y '), to take according to the invention, two stable positions, an inactive retracted position such as illustrated in figures 8 and 10 and an active position as illustrated in figures 9 and 11 .

In the inactive retracted position ( figures 1 , 2 , 3 and 5 , 8 and 10 ) the plate can pivot downward until the general plane of the lower hinged plate surface (7a) (7) is substantially parallel to the general plane of the ground surface. This position is the one used for progression on flat terrain.

In the active position as shown in figures 4 and 6 , 9 and 11 , the pivoting piece (10) is in the path of the rear part of the plate. Thus this rear part comes in the low position to be placed in support on the pivoting support piece. Thus during a progression in a slope the general plane of the lower surface (7a) of articulated plate (7) is inclined relative to the general plane of support of the racket but substantially parallel to the horizontal, which makes the uphill climb more comfortable.

According to the snowshoe of the invention, the means for limiting the pivoting are of adjustable type and allow the user to move from the inactive retracted position of the shim, to the active position,

According to a different embodiment of the invention but useful for its understanding, illustrated in the Figures 5 to 7 , the passage from one position to another the pivoting part is done thanks to a control member (11), while according to the invention, the passage from one of the positions to the other is through the direct grip by the user of one of the cross members (101, 101 ') of the pivoting part

According to the first embodiment, the control member (11) is constituted by a pivoting lever which can be actuated by the user by action of his stick. This control member (11) is thus disposed laterally with respect to the movable member outside the area of the path of the plate.

As we have seen previously, the pivoting support piece (10), articulated on the racket about a transverse axis (Y, Y '), can take two stable positions, an inactive retracted position as illustrated in FIGS. figures 1 , 2 , 3 and 5 , and an active position as illustrated in figures 4 and 6 . For this purpose there is provided a knee-type kinematics comprising an elastic system (12).

The elastic system is for example constituted by an elastic loop as illustrated, for example.

To produce the toggle system, the pivoting support piece (10) is articulated on a support (13) around a transverse axis (Y, Y ') while the control member is articulated on the same support ( 13) about another transverse axis (Z, Z ') located above the axis (X, X') substantially in the vertical plane of this same axis.

The control member (11) comprises at one of its ends an actuating projection (14) intended to cooperate with a slot (15) formed on the corresponding side wall (16) of the movable support piece ( 10), while the resilient system urges this projection towards the pivot axis (X, X ') of the moving part (10).

The elastic loop (12) housed in the corresponding side of the moving part (10) passes through its inner periphery around four attachment points (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) integral with said moving part, while it passes by its outer periphery around the actuating projection (14).

Thanks to such a design, in the retracted position (see figure 5 ) the force (F1) urging the actuating projection to a direction which passes under the axis of pivoting (Z, Z ') of the actuating member. Thus the retracted position is stable.

To move from the retracted position to the active position the user only has to urge the actuating member according to (T) and thus force the movable part to rotate according to (R1) to move towards the equilibrium position as illustrated in figure 7 , then to the active position ( figure 6 ). In this position, the force (F2) urging the actuating projection to a direction which passes under the axis of pivoting (Z, Z ') of the actuating member. Thus the active position is stable, as is the retracted position.

It is understood that the control member (11) is a lever of the second kind, namely with a first arm or actuating arm (17a) on one side of the axis (Z, Z ') comprising the projection actuator (14), and a second arm or control arm (17b) extending on the other side of the pivot axis (Z, Z '). Note also that the control arm (17b) comprises on both sides a recessed profile (17d, 17'd) allowing the user to use the tip of his stick to pass the climbing wedge of its retracted position to its active position and vice versa, and this simply by pushing (T) downwards.

According to the preferred embodiment, the shim has the shape of a U-shaped yoke whose sides have a triangular shape and whose ends are pivotally mounted on the support member (13).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples.

Thus the climbing wedge according to the invention can be used in the case of a plate-type fastening, and in this case it is the back of the plate which is supported downwards on this wedge, but also in the case where it is the heel of the shoe itself that would be in direct support. Such a provision could be, for example, that described in the application for French patent published under number 2819732, according to which the shoe is retained by its sole thanks to a transverse pivot axis.

Furthermore one could also have a control member (11) that would not have a second control arm (17b) without departing from the scope of the invention, see without control member. In the latter case the user would move manually by direct action on the movable support piece (10) to move it from one position to another.

It is also true that any type of elastic system (12) could be used to actuate the device, such as a tension spring or compression.

The Figures 8 to 13 , represent an embodiment of the pivoting part of the invention.

As previously the means of limiting the pivoting downwards, is provided by a stop member and movable support (9) commonly called wedge mount.

This shim (9) is constituted by a pivoting piece (10) articulated on the racket about a transverse axis (Y, Y '), to take according to the invention, two stable positions, a retracted position such that 'illustrated to figures 8 and 10 , and an active position as illustrated in figures 9 and 11 .

In the retracted position ( figures 8 and 10 ) the plate can pivot downward until the general plane of the lower hinged plate surface (7a) (7) is substantially parallel to the general plane of the ground surface. This position is the one used for progression on flat terrain.

In the active position as shown in figures 9 and 11 , the pivoting piece (10) is in the path of the rear part of the plate. Thus this rear part comes in the low position to be placed in support on the pivoting support piece. Thus during a progression in a slope the general plane of the lower surface (7a) of hinged plate (7) is inclined relative to the general plane of support of the racket but substantially parallel to the horizontal, which makes climbing progress more comfortable.

According to this embodiment the mounting wedge and in particular its pivoting part (10) has the general shape of a U-shaped stirrup, the sides of which are walls (100, 100 ') of triangular shape, whose ends are pivotally mounted on the support part (13). The two flanks are connected by the upper angles (A, B) of the triangle other than the angle where the pivot axis is located, by two transverse crosspieces (101, 101 '), namely a front cross member (101) and a rear crossmember (101 '), so as to leave a gap (E) between the two crosspieces.

It will be noted that the support part (13) which is fixed on the racket comprises two lateral walls (130, 130 ') extending substantially vertically on either side of the walls (100, 100') of the pivoting part ( 10).

Add that according to this embodiment the shim does not include as in the first embodiment of the control member such as a lever biased by an elastic system.

In this embodiment maintains the pivoting part in its two positions, namely in its retracted position and in its active stable position. This maintenance for the second embodiment is provided through a system of ramps and the transverse elasticity of the pivoting part.

For this purpose each of the internal surfaces of the side walls of the support part, which surfaces are facing the side walls of the pivoting part comprises a central projection (131, 131 ') to form a front ramp (132, 132') and a rear ramp (133, 133 ') intended to cooperate with an external projection (134, 134') formed on each of the internal surfaces of the walls of the pivoting part. Thus, by this cooperation the pivoting part due to its lateral elasticity which tends to move its side walls will be driven during its pivoting to its retracted position and to its active stable position.

Note that it is the manipulation by one or other of the sleepers (100, 101 ') that the user can actuate the pivoting piece to move it from its retracted position to its active position and vice versa.

It is understood that during pivoting of the pivoting part (10) the cooperation of the projection with the corresponding ramp causes the approximation of the side walls of the pivoting part by elastic deformation and against the own elasticity of the latter.

It goes without saying that the first embodiment with its elastic system, could be such that it does not include a control member, but maneuver manually by gripping the pivoting support piece. Similarly, it goes without saying that without departing from the scope of the invention, the second embodiment with its energy by transverse elasticity comprises an operating member, such as that of the first embodiment.

Claims (4)

1. Snowshoe (1) comprising means for retention of the shoe, which allow the latter to pivot upwards relative to the screen (2) of the snowshoe, around a transverse axis (X, X') which is situated substantially at the level of the front area of the shoe, so that the user can raise his heel by pivoting, from a normal low position (A), which is the habitual position of use of the snowshoe for walking on flat ground, according to which the general plane of the lower surface of the said shoe is substantially parallel to the surface of the ground, and which comprises means for limitation of the pivoting downwards, which make it possible to define a low position (C) according to which the lower surface of the shoe is inclined downwards and forwards, the said means being constituted by a pivoting support part (10) which is articulated on the snowshoe around a transverse axis (Y, Y'), in order, according to the invention, to assume two stable positions, i.e. an inactive retracted position, and an active position, characterised in that the pivoting part (10) has the form of a stirrup in the form of a "U", the flanks of which are walls (100, 100') with a triangular form, the top of which comprises the axis of pivoting, whereas the upper angles (A, B) of the base of the triangle are each connected by a cross-member (101, 101'), that is, a front cross-member (101) and a rear cross-member (101'), in order to leave an empty space (E) between them, the pivoting part (10) being fitted such as to pivot on a support (13), whereas the pivoting part co-operates with the said support by means of a ramp system (132, 133 - 132', 133') due to the lateral resilience of the pivoting part.
2. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the support part (13) which is secured to the snowshoe comprises two lateral walls (130, 130') which extend substantially vertically.
3. Snowshoe (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the lateral walls (130, 130') of the support part (13) extend on both sides of the walls (100, 100') of the pivoting part (10).
4. Snowshoe (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that each of the inner surfaces of the lateral walls of the support part, which surfaces are opposite the lateral walls of the pivoting part, comprises a central projection (131, 131'), in order to form a front ramp (132, 132') and a rear ramp (133, 133') which are designed to co-operate with an outer protection (134, 134') provided on each of the inner surfaces of the walls of the pivoting part.

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