Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
  • A43B5/0427—Ski or like boots characterised by type or construction details
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/28—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
  • A43B13/36—Easily-exchangeable soles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
  • A43B3/246—Collapsible or convertible characterised by the sole
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
  • A43B5/0427—Ski or like boots characterised by type or construction details
  • A43B5/047—Ski or like boots characterised by type or construction details provided with means to improve walking with the skiboot
  • A43B5/0474—Ski or like boots characterised by type or construction details provided with means to improve walking with the skiboot having a walk/ski position
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
  • A43B5/0496—Ski or like boots boots for touring or hiking skis

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a ski boot.
• the present invention relates to a multi-purpose ski boot, which may be used for mountaineering and for downhill skiing.
• ski boots in both sports have a very similar basic structure, they significantly differ in the lower part of the boot, which is traditionally intended to be fixed to the back of the ski by means of specific ski -binding devices for each sport .
• the ski boots in both sports essentially consist of a rigid shell made of plastic or composite material, which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the skier and has its lower part specifically structured to be fixed to the back of the ski by means of specific ski-binding devices; of a rigid cuff made of plastic or composite material, which is shaped so as to embrace the lower section of the skier' s leg from behind and is hinged to the upper part of the shell so as to rotate/swing about a transversal reference axis, which is locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle; of an inner liner made of soft and thermal insulating material, which is removably inserted into the shell and cuff, and is shaped so as to envelop and protect both the foot and the lower section of the skier's leg; and lastly of a series of manually-operated closing buckles, which are conveniently distributed on the shell and cuff, and are structured so as to selectively close/ tighten the shell and cuff so as to
• the structure of the ski-binding device substantially varies from one sport to the other. This implies that the shape of the lower part of the shell changes radically depending on whether or not the ski boot is intended for mountaineering or for downhill skiing.
• the shell of the ski boot is equipped at the bottom with a front sole and with a back heel, which are specifically structured/shaped to be coupled to, respectively, a toe-piece and a heel-piece which are integral with the back of the ski, and are specifically structured to allow the skier to carry out movements which are typical in downhill skiing or movements which are typical in mountaineering.
• the dimensional specifications of the sole and heel of the ski boot are regulated by two separate international sets of incompatible standards, one which is binding for downhill ski boots (in this case standard ISO 5355) and the other which is binding for mountaineering ski boots (in this case standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski -binding devices or the like) .
• ski boot manufacturers have developed and marketed ski boots in which the front sole and back heel are removably fixed to the lower part of the shell by means of a series of locking screws .
• This contrivance allows equipping the boot with two separate front sole and back heel sets, which can be alternatively positioned on the lower part of the shell depending on the skier's needs.
• the first front sole and back heel set is specifically structured/dimensioned to meet international standard ISO 5355, which is binding for downhill ski boots
• the second front sole and back heel set is specifically structured/dimensioned to meet international standard ISO 9523, which is binding for mountaineering ski boots, and more particularly, the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski -binding devices or the like. Mountaineering ski-binding devices are briefly described for example in European Patent EP-0199098.
• a ski boot equipped with two separate removable front sole and back heel sets is described in application PCT WO2009/003904.
• ski boots Unfortunately, the use of these types of ski boots has underlined certain criticalities , which have strongly penalized their distribution on the market. According to more careful, expert skiers, the above- described ski boot is indeed not capable of providing the user with the same dynamic behaviour and reactivity as a regular ski boot with a sole and heel made in a single piece with the shell, with all the problems this involves .
• Aim of the present invention is to produce a ski boot which is compatible with downhill ski-binding devices and with mountaineering ski-binding devices, and which is capable of providing the skier with the same dynamic behaviour as that of a traditional ski boot with sole and heel made in a single piece with the shell.
• a ski boot as defined in claim 1, and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims dependent thereon.
• FIG. 1 shows a side view of a mountaineering ski boot realized according to the teachings of the present invention, in a first operating configuration and with the lower part sectioned along the centre plane ;
• FIG. 2 shows a section view of the ski boot shown in figure 1, according to the sectional line D-D;
• figure 3 shows a partly exploded view on enlarged scale of the lower part of the ski boot shown in figure 1;
• FIG. 4 shows an enlarged and partly exploded view of the lower part of the ski boot shown in figure 1, in a second operating configuration
• figure 5 shows a section view of the ski boot shown in figure 4, according to the same sectional line used in figure 2.
• number 1 indicates as a whole a ski boot structured to be coupled both to a specific ski-binding device for downhill skiing and to a ski-binding device for mountaineering.
• Ski boot 1 essentially consists of a rigid outer shell 2 made of plastic or composite material, which is shaped so as to accommodate the whole foot of the user; of a removable front sole 3, which is fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, more or less at the tarsal- phalangeal area of the foot, and which cantilevered juts out beyond the ogival tip of shell 2; of a removable back heel 4 which is fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, at the heel of the foot; and of a rigid cuff 5 made of plastic or composite material, which is preferably substantially C-shaped so as to embrace the lower section of the user' s leg from behind, and is hinged to the upper part of shell 2 so as to freely swing about a transversal reference axis A which is locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical centre plane M of the ski boot (that is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet in figure 1) , and is also locally substantially coincide
• cuff 5 is freely rotationally fixed to shell 2 by means of two connecting hinges 6 which are arranged on the external and internal lateral sides of shell 2 and cuff 5, aligned along axis A, so as to allow cuff 5 to freely swing on shell 2 while always remaining on a reference plane which is orthogonal to axis A and substantially coincident with the centre plane M of the boot .
• shell 2 and cuff 5 are preferably, though not necessarily, made of nylon (polyamide) , PEBAX (polyester-amide) or similar plastic polymers .
• ski boot 1 preferably also comprises a second removable front sole 3' which is adapted to be fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, in place of the removable front sole 3, i.e. more or less at the tarsal -phalangeal area of the foot; and a second removable back heel 4' which is fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, in place of the removable back heel 4, i.e. at the heel of the foot.
• a second removable front sole 3' which is adapted to be fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, in place of the removable front sole 3, i.e. more or less at the tarsal -phalangeal area of the foot
• a second removable back heel 4' which is fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, in place of the removable back heel 4, i.e. at the heel of the foot.
• the second removable front sole 3' cantilevered juts out beyond the ogival tip of shell 2.
• ski boot 1 is also equipped with an inner liner 7 which is preferably made of soft, thermal insulating material, is housed inside shell 2 and cuff 5 preferably, though not necessarily, in a removable manner, and lastly is shaped so as to embrace and protect the foot and the lower section of the user's leg; and optionally also with a protective, oblong-shaped tongue 8 which is preferably, though not necessarily, made of plastic or composite material, and is arranged resting on shell 2 in the area above the instep of the foot and the lower section of the leg, to cover a longitudinal gap (not shown) which extends along the upper part of shell 2, while remaining locally substantially coplanar to the centre plane M of the boot.
• This longitudinal gap allows the upper part of shell 2 to temporarily widen so as to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user into liner 7.
• the protective tongue 8 is substantially L-shaped and extends grazing to shell 2 in the area immediately above the instep of the foot and the tibia-astragalus junction of the ankle, and then ascends along the leg up to reach and insert below the cuff 5, so as to cover the lower section of the tibia.
• ski boot 1 also comprises one or more manually-operated, mechanical ski- boot closing devices 9 which are structured so as to selectively close/tighten shell 2 and cuff 5 so as to immobilize the user's leg inside boot 1, or better, liner 7.
• the mechanical ski -boot closing devices 9 preferably, though not necessarily, consist of a series of lever closing buckles 9 which are arranged crosswise on shell 2 and/or on cuff 5 and/or on protective tongue 8, substantially astride the longitudinal gap of shell 2, so as to selectively close/tighten shell 2 and cuff 5 to stably immobilize the user's leg inside liner 7.
• Ski boot 1 is preferably also provided with a manually-operated cuff locking device 10 which is structured so as to selectively:
• the cuff locking device 10 and the lever closing buckles 9 are components already widely known in the sector of ski boots, and hence will not be further described.
• the rigid shell 2 of boot 1 is internally provided with an oblong transversal stiffening plate 12 made of metal material, which is embedded in a rigid and non-removable manner within the lower wall 2a of the shell, close to the tip of shell 2, in a substantially horizontal position and locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical centre plane M of the ski boot, and is also provided with two projecting overhangs or protrusions 12a which jut out downwards while remaining on opposite sides of the centre plane M of the boot, up to emerge/crop out on the outer surface of the lower wall 2a of the shell, i.e. outside shell 2, immediately above the sole 3, 3' which is momentarily fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• an oblong transversal stiffening plate 12 made of metal material, which is embedded in a rigid and non-removable manner within the lower wall 2a of the shell, close to the tip of shell 2, in a substantially horizontal position and locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical centre plane M of the ski boot, and is also provided with
• the transversal stiffening plate 12 is embedded within the lower wall 2a of the shell, close to the tip of shell 2 and astride the vertical centre plane M of the ski boot, and the distal ends of the two projecting overhangs or protrusions 12a of the transversal stiffening plate 12 emerge/crop out on the outer surface of the lower wall 2a of the shell substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot.
• the two projecting overhangs or protrusions 12a of the transversal stiffening plate 12 are preferably arranged in a specular position on opposite sides of the centre plane M of the ski boot, and preferably, though not necessarily, are substantially cylindrical in shape or are substantially truncated-conical in shape, and tapered towards the distal end.
• the removable front sole 3 instead essentially consists of a rigid plate- shaped socle 13, which is made of plastic or composite material, and has the upper face 13a shaped so as to be coupled and removably locked/engaged on the lower wall 2a of shell 2, more or less at the tarsal- phalangeal area of the ⁇ foot, and preferably also so as to partly cover the lower part of the ogival tip of shell 2; and of a slab 14 of elastomeric material and preferably with knobbed profile, which is fixed in a non-removable manner to the lower face 13b of socle 13 so as to substantially cover the whole surface of the lower face 13b of socle 13 thus forming a single block with socle 13.
• the slab 14 of elastomeric material forms the front tread of ski boot 1.
• the monolithic body formed by the socle 13 and the slab 14 of elastomeric material is also structured so as to be stably retained in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2 in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, by means of a suitable number of anchoring screws 15, and is globally shaped/structured so as to meet, when the sole 3 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, the international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski- binding devices or the like) .
• the removable front sole 3 also comprises an oblong transversal stiffening plate 16 made of metal material, which is rigidly embedded in a non-removable manner within socle 13, close to the front end of the socle 13 and preferably in a substantially horizontal position and locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical centre plane M of the boot, so as to be aligned below the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2 when sole 3 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of the shell.
• the stiffening plate 16 is also shaped so as to emerge/crop out from/on the surface of the upper face 13a of socle 13 at two areas/portions 16a which are located on opposite sides of the centre plane M of the boot, each aligned at the distal end of a corresponding projecting overhang 12a of the stiffening plate 12, so that the stiffening plate 16 can rest directly on the two projecting overhangs or protrusions 12a of the stiffening plate 12 of the shell when sole 3 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• the stiffening plate 16 of sole 3 is embedded within socle 13, astride the vertical centre plane M of the boot, and is shaped/structured so as to emerge/crop out on the surface of the upper face 13a of socle 13 at two areas/portions 16a which are substantially located at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot, on opposite sides of the centre plane M of the boot, so as to rest directly on the transversal stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.
• the stiffening plate 16 of the removable front sole 3 is structured so that the two axial ends 16b of the same plate project from the lateral sides of socle 13, on opposite sides of the vertical centre plane M of the ski boot, and are shaped so as to be able to coupled to the clamp locking member of the toe-piece of a traditional mountaineering ski-binding device so as to allow the clamp locking member to grasp and retain/lock the stiffening plate 16, and what integral with the latter, with the modes envisaged by the international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski-binding devices or the like) .
• the shape of the two axial ends 16b of the stiffening plate 16 and the position of the two axial ends 16b of the stiffening plate 16 on the lateral sides of socle 13, are such so as to meet, when sole 3 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, the international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski-binding devices or the like) .
• the ski boot 1 is equipped with a series of anchoring pass- through screws 15 which are structured so as to engage the monolithic body formed by socle 13 and slab 14 of elastomeric material, in a pass- through manner, and to then be screwed into the lower wall 2a of shell 2 so as to lock/retain socle 13 stably in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• ski boot 1 comprises at least two main anchoring screws 15 which are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical centre plane M of the ski boot, and are structured so as to engage the monolithic body formed by socle 13 and slab 14 of elastomeric material in a pass-through manner at the two emerged areas/ portions 16a of the stiffening plate 16, so that the stem 15a of each main anchoring screw 15 can engage the stiffening plate 16 of sole 3 in a pass-through manner at a respective emerged area/portion 16a of the stiffening plate 16, and then can be directly screwed into the projecting protrusion or overhang 12a below of the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.
• each main anchoring screw 15 is capable of locking/retaining the stiffening plate 16 directly in abutment on the distal end of a respective projecting protrusion or overhang 12a of the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.
• the removable back heel 4 essentially consists of a rigid plate-shaped socle 18 which is made of plastic or composite material, and has the upper face 18a shaped so as to be coupled and removably locked/engaged on the lower wall 2a of shell 2, more or less at the heel of the user; and of a slab 19 of elastomeric material and preferably with knobbed profile, which is fixed in a non-removable manner to the lower face 18b of socle 18 so as to at least partly cover the lower face 18b of socle 18 thus forming a single block with the latter.
• the slab 18 of elastomeric material forms the back tread of ski boot 1.
• socle 18 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, at the heel of the user, and is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a flat projecting tailpiece which juts out towards the tip of shell 2 while remaining on the centre plane M of the boot, so as to cover the middle area of the lower wall 2a of the shell which is located immediately below the arch of the foot of the user.
• This flat tailpiece of socle 18 is also preferably dimensioned so as to slide/insert below the removable front sole 3 , so as to remain trapped between the lower wall 2a of shell 2 and the front sole 3.
• the slab 19 of elastomeric material is also preferably, though not necessarily, shaped so as to substantially cover the whole surface of the lower face 18b of socle 18, flat tailpiece included, thus also sliding below the removable front sole 3.
• the monolithic body formed by socle 18 and slab 19 of elastomeric material is also structured so as to be stably retained in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2 in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, by means of a convenient number of anchoring screws 20, and is overall shaped/structured so as to meet, when heel 4 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, the international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski- binding devices or the like) .
• ski boot 1 is also equipped with a second group of anchoring pass -through screws 20 which are structured so as to engage the monolithic body formed by socle 18 and slab 19 of elastomeric material, in a pass-through manner, and to then be screwed into the lower wall 2a of shell 2 so as to lock/retain socle 18 stably in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• anchoring pass-through screws 20 are structured so as to engage the monolithic body formed by socle 18 and slab 19 of elastomeric material, in a pass-through manner, and to then be screwed into specific bushes 21 or other metal inserts fixed or embedded within the lower wall 2a of shell 2 so as to lock/retain socle 18 stably in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• the removable back heel 4 also comprises a back stiffening plate 22 made of metal material, which is fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, to the back edge of the lower wall 2a of shell 2 by means of at least one anchoring screw 23, so as to be arranged astride the centre plane M of the ski boot, immediately below the heel of the user.
• This stiffening plate 22 is also shaped/structured so as to be coupled to the locking member of the heel-piece of a traditional mountaineering ski -binding device, so as to allow the locking member to grasp and retain/lock the stiffening plate 22, and what is integral with the latter, with the modes envisaged by the international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski- binding devices or the like) .
• position and shape of the back stiffening plate 22 are such so as to meet, when the back stiffening plate 22 is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2 , the international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international standard ISO 9523 and the dimensional specifications required for coupling to Dynafit mountaineering ski- binding devices or the like) .
• the second removable front sole 3' instead consists essentially of a rigid plate-shaped socle 33 which is made of plastic or composite material, and has the upper face 33a shaped so as to be coupled and removably locked/retained on the lower wall 2a of shell 2, more or less at the tarsal- phalangeal area of the foot, and preferably also so as to partly cover the lower part of the ogival tip of shell 2; and of a slab 34 of plastic material, which has a sliding friction coefficient lower than the one of the elastomeric material used in the front sole 3, and is fixed in a non- removable manner to the lower face 33b of socle 33 so as to substantially cover the whole surface of the lower face 33b of socle 33 thus forming a single block with socle 33.
• the plastic material which forms slab 34 also has a rigidity which is preferably higher than that of the elastomeric polymeric material which forms the slab 14 of the removable front sole 3.
• the slab 34 of plastic material also concurs to form the front tread of ski boot 1 when the removable front sole 3' is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• slab 34 of sole 3' is preferably made of nylon (polyamide) , PEBAX (polyester-amide) or similar plastic polymers.
• slab 34 of sole 3' could also be made of elastomeric material, such as for example TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) .
• TPU thermoplastic polyurethane
• the monolithic body formed by socle 33 and slab 34 of elastomeric material is also structured so as to be stably retained in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2 in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, by means of a convenient number of anchoring screws, and is overall shaped/structured so as to meet, when sole 3' is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, the international standards in force for downhill ski boots (currently international standard ISO 5355) .
• the second removable front sole 3' also comprises an oblong transversal stiffening plate 36 made of metal material, which is rigidly embedded in a nonremovable manner within socle 33, close to the front end of socle 33 and preferably in a substantially horizontal position and locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical centre plane M of the boot, so as to be aligned below the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2 when the sole 3' is fixed to the lower wall 2a of the shell.
• the stiffening plate 36 of sole 3' is also shaped so as to emerge/crop out from/on the surface of the upper face 33a of socle 33 at two areas/portions 36a which are located at opposite sides of the centre plane M of the boot, each aligned at the distal end of a corresponding projecting overhang 12a of the stiffening plate 12, so that the stiffening plate 36 can rest directly on the two projecting overhangs or protrusions 12a of the stiffening plate 12 of the shell when sole 3' is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• the stiffening plate 36 of sole 3' is embedded within socle 33, astride the vertical centre plane M of the boot, and is shaped/structured so as to emerge/crop out on the surface of the upper face 33a of socle 33 at two areas/portions 16a which are substantially located at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot, on opposite sides of the centre plane M of the boot, so as to rest directly on the transversal stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.
• the monolithic body formed by socle 33 and slab 34 of plastic material is structured so as to be stably retained in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2 in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, by means of the same anchoring screws 15 which serve to lock the removable front sole 3' on the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• the anchoring pass -through screws 15 are structured so as to engage the monolithic body formed by socle 33 and slab 34 of elastomeric material, in a pass-through manner, and to then be screwed into the lower wall 2a of shell 2 so as to lock/retain socle 33 stably in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• At least two main anchoring screws 15 are arranged in specular position on opposite sides of the centre plane M of the boot, and are structured so as to engage the monolithic body formed by socle 33 and slab 34 of plastic material in a pass -through manner at the two emerged areas/ portions 36a of the stiffening plate 36, so that the stem 15a of each main anchoring screw 15 can engage the stiffening plate 36 of sole " 3' in a pass-through manner at a respective emerged area/portion 36a of the stiffening plate 36, and then to be directly screwed into the projecting protrusion or overhang 12a below of the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.
• each main anchoring screw 15 is capable of locking/retaining the stiffening plate 36 directly in abutment on the distal end of a respective projecting protrusion or overhang 12a of the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.
• the second removable back heel 4' essentially consists of a rigid plate-shaped socle 38 which is made of plastic or composite material, and has the upper face 38a shaped so as to be coupled and removably locked/engaged on the lower wall 2a of shell 2, more or less at the heel of the user; and of a slab 39 of plastic material, which has a sliding friction coefficient lower than the one of the elastomeric material used in the back heel 4, and is fixed in a nonremovable manner to the lower face 38b of socle 38 so as to substantially cover the whole surface of the lower face 38b of socle 38 thus forming a single block with socle 38.
• the plastic material which forms slab 39 also has a rigidity which is preferably higher than that of the elastomeric polymeric material which forms the slab 18 of the removable back heel 4.
• the slab 38 of plastic material also concurs to form the back tread of ski boot 1 when the removable back heel 4' is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2.
• slab 39 of heel 4' is preferably made of nylon (polyamide) , PEBAX (polyester-amide) or similar plastic polymers.
• slab 39 of heel 4' could also be made of elastomeric material, such as for example TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) .
• TPU thermoplastic polyurethane
• socle 38 is removably fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, at the heel of the user, and is preferably, though not necessarily, equipped with a flat projecting tailpiece which juts out towards the tip of shell 2 while remaining on the centre plane M of the boot, so as to cover the middle area of the lower wall 2a of the shell which is located immediately below the arch of the foot of the user.
• This flat tailpiece of socle 38 is also preferably dimensioned so as to slide/merge below the removable front sole 3' , so as to remain trapped between the lower wall 2a of shell 2 and -the front sole 3' .
• the slab 39 of elastomeric material is also preferably, though not necessarily, shaped so as to substantially cover the whole surface of the lower face 38b of socle 38, flat appendix included, thus also sliding below the removable front sole 3'.
• the monolithic body formed by socle 38 and ' by the slab of elastomeric material 39 is also structured so as to be stably retained in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2 in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, by means of a convenient number of anchoring screws, and is overall shaped/structured so as to meet, when heel 4' is fixed to the lower wall 2a of shell 2, the international standards in force for downhill ski boots (currently international standard ISO 5355) .
• the monolithic body formed by socle 38 and slab 39 made of plastic material is preferably structured so as to be stably retained in abutment on the lower wall 2a of shell 2 in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner, by means of the anchoring screws 20 and 23 which serve to lock the back heel 4 on the lower wall 2a of the shell.
• ski boot 1 The general operation of ski boot 1 is easily inferable from the above description, and therefore does not require further explanations.
• ski boot 1 This localized increase of the structural rigidity of the ski boot makes the dynamic behaviour and reactivity of ski boot 1 practically identical to those encountered in ski boots with sole and heel made in a single piece with the shell.
• Ski boot 1 may be employed in complete safety, both in downhill skiing and in mountaineering, thus ensuring dynamic behaviour and reactivity which are practically identical to those of ski boots with sole and heel made in a single piece with the shell.
• the transversal stiffening plate 12 of shell 2 could be shaped/ structured so that the middle inner portion thereof can emerge/crop out on the outer surface of the lower wall 2s of the shell, astride the vertical centre plane M of the boot, and substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot.
• the dimensions of this middle portion are to be sufficient to ensure stable resting of the removable front soles 3 and 3' on the transversal stiffening plate 16, 36.
• At least one of the main anchoring screws 15 is adapted to lock/retain any one of the removable front soles 3 and 3' in abutment on the lower wall 2a of the shell, by engaging the monolithic body formed by socle 13 or 33 and slab of elastomeric material 14 or 34, and the transversal stiffening plate 16, 36 embedded within socle 13 or 33, in a pass -through manner, to then be screwed directly into the beneath located emerged central portion of the stiffening plate 12 of shell 2.

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• 2012
  • 2012-05-08 IT IT000077A patent/ITTV20120077A1/it unknown
• 2013
  • 2013-05-08 EP EP13735412.2A patent/EP2846654B1/de active Active
  • 2013-05-08 WO PCT/IB2013/053716 patent/WO2013168110A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-05-08 US US14/399,923 patent/US20150135556A1/en not_active Abandoned

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