EP2591696A1

EP2591696A1 - Closing device for a sports footwear such as a ski boot, snowboard boot or suchlike

Info

Publication number: EP2591696A1
Application number: EP12192548.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carletto Battilana
Original assignee: Calzaturificio dal Bello SRL; Dal Bello Sport SRL
Current assignee: Calzaturificio dal Bello SRL; Dal Bello Sport SRL
Priority date: 2011-11-14
Filing date: 2012-11-14
Publication date: 2013-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-14
Also published as: EP2591696B1; ITUD20110185A1

Abstract

A closing device for a sports footwear such as a ski boot (11), snowboard boot or suchlike, which has a main structure (12) which defines an inner compartment suitable to contain the user's foot and is provided with an aperture (18) and a closing element (20, 22) which is suitable to selectively close said aperture (18) and to selectively clamp the foot inside said compartment, comprises an actuation member (24) pivoted on said main structure (12) on one side of said aperture (18) and cooperating with at least a connection cable (26) attached to said closing element (20, 22) or to another side of said aperture (18). The closing device according to the present invention also comprises at least two return elements (28), and an adjustment mechanism (30) suitable to adjust the traction of said connection cable (26).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a closing device for a sports footwear such as a ski boot, snowboard boot or suchlike, which allows the user to selectively close the sports footwear with an adjustable force, and by an operation that is very simple to perform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Among sports footwear, ski boots or snowboard boots are known, which comprise a relatively rigid main structure, also called casing, which defines an internal compartment suitable to contain the user's foot and provided with an aperture suitable to facilitate the insertion of the user's foot into the internal compartment.
Associated to said aperture there are normally one or more closing devices which allow the selective adjustment of the intensity of closing of the main structure of the boot, in order to clamp the latter securely to the foot and to the shin area of the user's leg.
In particular a closing device is known which comprises a series of hooks, which form a rack, which is attached close to one side of the aperture and an actuation lever which is attached near the opposite side of the aperture by means of two separate tensioning cords. The actuation lever is provided with a peg which is suitable to be put in cooperation with one of the hooks of the rack, chosen by the user, in order to hook up and close the aperture, with a force which depends on the hook of the rack selected by the user, on the basis of whether he/she wants a tighter or looser boot around the foot.
One disadvantage of the known closing device is that the closing force is distributed in a very limited zone of the boot, so that the latter has to have many closing devices, usually from 3 to 5, which make the sports footwear both costly and heavy. Moreover, the actuation of the different closing devices is rather complex and slow.
One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a closing device for a sports footwear, such as a ski boot or snowboard boot or suchlike, which is simple and comfortable to use, even if the user is wearing gloves, and which allows the user to set the degree or intensity of closure of the boot depending on his/her own needs.
Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a closing device which uniformly distributes the closing force over a wide zone of the sports footwear.
Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a closing device which is both simple and economical and which has increased resistance.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, a closing device according to the present invention is suitable to be used in a sports footwear, such as a ski boot, a snowboard boot or suchlike, with a main structure which defines an internal compartment suitable to contain the user's foot and provided with an aperture and at least one closing element, which is suitable to selectively close the aperture and clamp the user's foot inside the above-mentioned compartment. The closing device comprises an actuation member pivoted to the main structure and cooperating with at least a connection cable attached to the closing element.
In accordance with a characteristic feature of the present invention, the closing device also comprises at least two return elements, which are attached to the closing element and which cooperate with the connection cable, and an adjustment mechanism which is connected to a substantially median zone of the connection cable and is interposed between the two return elements. The adjustment mechanism is suitable to adjust the traction of the connection cable. The ends of the connection cable are attached to the actuation member on opposite sides with respect to the adjustment mechanism.
In this way the problem which affects known devices of concentrating the closing force in a very limited zone of the boot, is resolved profitably and with surprising advantages. In fact, thanks to the presence of the two return elements, placed advantageously at a distance of various centimeters from each other, the closing device according to the present invention allows the distribution of the closing force over a wide zone of the sports footwear, obtained with a single actuation member.
Moreover, the adjustment mechanism allows the user to adjust the intensity of the closing force of the boot, according to his/her own needs.
According to a secondary characteristic of the present invention, the actuation member is substantially C-shaped and comprises two arms connected to each other by a handgrip and pivoted to the main structure. Moreover, each of the ends of the connection cable is attached to one of the two arms.
Advantageously, the handgrip of the actuation member is of a size suitable to be gripped by the user with several fingers of the hand, and is comfortable to use, even wearing ski gloves.
According to another secondary characteristic of the present invention, the adjustment mechanism comprises a toothed strip, which is disposed sliding inside clamping means and has one end connected substantially to the center of the connection cable. The clamping means are suitable to selectively clamp the toothed strip in order to adjust the traction of the connection cable.
According to a variant of the present invention, the adjustment mechanism comprises both a screw element having one end connected substantially to the center of the connection cable and also a knob suitable to selectively adjust the position of the screw element so as to adjust the traction of the connection cable.
According to another secondary characteristic of the present invention, the adjustment mechanism is disposed substantially at the center of the two arms of the actuation member. Moreover, the adjustment mechanism is pivoted on a pin passing through the above-mentioned two arms. The ends of the connection cable are attached respectively to the ends of the pin, at opposite sides of the two arms.
According to another secondary characteristic of the present invention, the connection cable is disposed substantially in an M shape with a pair of segments substantially parallel to each other which are disposed between the two arms of the actuation member and the return elements, and two inclined central segments which cooperate with the respective return elements and with the adjustment mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferential forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a lateral schematic view of a ski boot, in which a closing device according to the present invention is mounted, according to a first form of embodiment;
fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of the closing device in fig. 1;
fig. 3 is a schematic view from above of the closing device in fig. 1 in a closed position;
fig. 4 is a schematic view from above of the closing device in fig. 1 in an open position;
fig. 5 is a schematic view from above of the closing device in fig. 1 in an intermediate operating position between the closed position of fig. 3 and the open position of fig. 4;
fig. 6 is a lateral and enlarged view of a second form of embodiment of the closing device according to the present invention;
fig. 7 is a lateral schematic view of a ski boot, in which two closing devices are mounted, both identical to the one in fig. 1.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF TWO PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to fig. 1, a closing device 10 according to the present invention is mounted on a ski boot 11, or a snowboard boot, of the known type, with a main structure 12 which is substantially rigid and made of plastic material, which defines a lower part 14, in an internal compartment of which a user's foot is suitable to be disposed, and an upper part or cuff 16 which is suitable to contain the ankle and the shin part of the user's leg
The main structure 12 is shaped so as to have an aperture 18, which is suitable to facilitate the insertion of the user's foot in the internal compartment of the lower part 14.
A tongue 20 is attached to the lower part 14 and is disposed in front of the aperture 18. In correspondence to the cuff 16, above the tongue 20, which in itself constitutes a first closing element of the aperture 18, a second closing element is disposed, which in this case consists of a wall 22.
The closing device 10 comprises a lever 24, which acts as an actuation member, is substantially C-shaped (figs. 1 and 2) and comprises two arms 34 connected to each other by a handgrip 32 and with the respective ends each pivoted on a pin 35 mounted on blocks 36 attached to the main structure 12. For example the length of the handgrip 32 is 7-8 cm.
In the specific form of embodiment shown here, the arms 34 are more distanced from each other in proximity to the handgrip 32 and nearer to each other in proximity to the blocks 36.
On the arms 34 of the lever 24, between each pin 35 and the handgrip 32, a peg 38 is mounted, at the ends of which, outside the arms 34, the two ends of a connection cable 26 are attached. The latter is disposed through, through two return elements 28, which are attached to the wall 22 and in a median zone thereof, and cooperates with an adjustment mechanism 30 which is disposed substantially at the center of the lever 24. In order to be resistant, the connection cable 26 is advantageously made of steel and covered by a thin layer of plastic material. The connection cable 26 is disposed substantially in an "M" shape with two parallel segments disposed between the arms 34 and the return elements 28, and two inclined segments, which are more central, disposed between the return elements 28 and the adjustment mechanism 30.
The adjustment mechanism 30 (fig. 2) comprises clamping means, which in this case comprise in turn a clamping element 40 in which a toothed strip 42 is disposed sliding. In its turn, the clamping element 40 comprises a main body 44 which is mounted rotatable on the peg 38 and a clamping portion 46 which is pivoted on the main body 44.
The toothed strip 42 is disposed between the main body 44 and the clamping portion 46. The latter, rotating with respect to the main body 44, is suitable to selectively free or clamp the sliding of the toothed strip 42, which cooperates slidingly with the connection cable 26 by means of a through hole 48 (figs. 3, 4 and 5). Acting on the adjustment mechanism 30 it is therefore possible to selectively adjust the distance between the peg 38 and the median zone of the connection cable 26 to determine a desired closing force of the boot 11.
The lever 24 of the closing device 10 is suitable to be moved from an open position (fig. 4) to a closed position by means of a rotation in a clockwise direction around its pins 35 (fig. 3), passing from an intermediate position (fig. 5). The lever 24, in the closed position (fig. 3), is disposed substantially parallel to the wall of the cuff 16. In said closed position, the connection cable 26 is tense and the closing wall 22, which is close up to the tongue 20, defines a narrowing in the cross section of the cuff 16.
The lever 24 is able to return the closing device 10 into the open position by rotating in an anti-clockwise direction (fig. 4), when its handgrip 32 is once again disposed as near as possible to the aperture 18, passing through an intermediate position (fig. 5). In the open position, the peg 38 is in a forward position, leaving the connection cable 26 loose and thus allowing the closing wall 22 to be distanced from the tongue 20, so that the cross section of the cuff 16 widens.
In accordance with one form of embodiment of the present invention, each of the arms 34 of the lever 24 comprises a through eyelet 56 (figs. 3, 4 and 5), with an elongated shape and disposed in a longitudinal direction, along which the peg 38 slides. In particular, when the lever 24 is in the closed position, the peg 38 is disposed at the most forward ends of the through eyelets 56, that is, those nearest the pins 35, while in the second operating position the peg 38 is disposed at the ends of the through eyelets 56 which are furthest from the pins 35, so as to bring the ends and the median zone of the connection cable 26 nearer to the return elements 28.
According to a variant shown in fig. 6, the adjustment mechanism 30 comprises a screw element 50 which is substantially connected to the center of the connection cable 26 and a knob 52 suitable to selectively vary the position of the screw element 50 in order to adjust the closing force, that is, the distance between the peg 38 and the center of the connection cable 26. The screw element 50 cooperates with a bushing 54 which, as described above, is assembled on the peg 38.
Advantageously, both in the form of embodiment in fig. 2 and also in the variant in fig. 6, the closing device 10 allows to securely close in the user's foot and shin zone of the leg, distributing the closing force uniformly over a wide area of the cuff 16 of the boot 11. Moreover the lever 24 has sizes such as to be comfortably gripped using several fingers (from two to four) of the hand, even when wearing ski gloves.
According to another form of application shown in fig. 7, two closing devices 10 are assembled in the boot 11, one disposed in correspondence to the cuff 16, as in fig. 1, and the other in correspondence to the lower part 14 of the main structure 12.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the closing device as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, according to a variant not shown in the drawings, the return elements 28 of the closing device 10 can be attached sliding to the closing wall 22 by means of guides. By selectively moving the return elements 28 on the respective guides it is possible to further adjust the traction of the connection cable 26.
Furthermore, according to a further variant, the lever 24 can cooperate with a rack which is attached to the main structure 12 and which has a plurality of seatings. In this case, the lever 24 will be selectively pivoted to one of the seatings of the rack in order to adjust the traction of the connection cable 26.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of closing devices for sports footwear, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Closing device for a sports footwear such as a ski boot (11), snowboard boot or suchlike, having a main structure (12) defining an inner compartment suitable to contain the user's foot and provided with an aperture (18) and a closing element (20, 22) which is suitable to selectively close said aperture (18) and to selectively clamp the foot inside said compartment, said closing device comprising an actuation member (24) pivoted on said main structure (12) on one side of said aperture (18) and cooperating with at least a connection cable (26) attached to said closing element (20, 22) or to another side of said aperture (18), characterized in that it also comprises at least two return elements (28), attached to said closing element (20, 22) or to said main structure (12) or to said other side of said aperture (18), and cooperating with said connection cable (26), and an adjustment mechanism (30) connected to a substantially median zone of said connection cable (26) interposed between said two return elements (28) and suitable to adjust the traction of said connection cable (26), and in that the ends of said connection cable (26) are connected to said actuation member (24) on opposite sides with respect to said adjustment mechanism (30).
Device as in claim 1, characterized in that said actuation member comprises a substantially C-shaped lever (24), in turn comprising a handgrip (32) and two arms (34), which are pivoted to said main structure (12), and in that said ends of said connection cable (26) are attached to said two arms (34).
Device as in claim 2, characterized in that said handgrip (32) of said actuation member (24) is of a size suitable to be gripped by the user with several fingers of the hand.
Device as in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said adjustment mechanism (30) is disposed substantially at the center of said two arms (34).
Device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said adjustment mechanism (30) comprises a toothed strip (42), which is disposed sliding in clamping means (40) and has one end connected to said substantially median zone of said connection cable (26), said clamping means (40) being suitable to selectively clamp said toothed strip (42) in order to adjust the traction of said connection cable (26).
Device as in claim 5, characterized in that said toothed strip (42) comprises at one end a through hole through which said connection cable (26) is suitable to slide.
Device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said adjustment mechanism (30) comprises a screw element (50) having one end connected to said substantially median zone of said connection cable (26) and a knob (52) suitable to selectively adjust the position of said screw element (50) so as to adjust the traction of said connection cable (26).
Device as in claim 7, characterized in that said adjustment mechanism (30) is mounted rotatable on a peg (38) passing through said two arms (34) and in that the ends of said connection cable (26) are attached to the ends of said peg (38), outside said two arms (34).
Device as in claim 8, characterized in that said connection cable (26) is disposed substantially in an M shape with a pair of segments substantially parallel to each other which are disposed between said arms (34) and said return elements (28), and two inclined and central segments which are disposed between said return elements (28) and said adjustment mechanism (30).