EP3039982B1

EP3039982B1 - Ski-boot or off-track ski boot with perfected fairleads

Info

Publication number: EP3039982B1
Application number: EP15003633.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Nalesso; Nicola Viniero
Original assignee: Ober ALP SpA
Current assignee: Ober ALP SpA
Priority date: 2015-01-05
Filing date: 2015-12-21
Publication date: 2018-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-21
Also published as: EP3039982A1; MA39872A

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

This invention relates to a ski boot or off-track ski boot comprising a perfected type of fairlead.

STATE OF THE ART

Ski boots or off-track ski boots comprise a foot portion, typically fixed, and suitable to accommodate the user's foot, and a leg portion, typically hinged to said foot portion, and suitable to accommodate the tibial portion of the user.
The leg portion and/or foot portion comprise two facing (overlapping) flaps or tongue and separated from one another so as to allow putting on the boot.
After putting on the boot, the user must then close it by means of a plurality of fastening means, such as, for example, closing levers associated with said flaps.
The closing levers usually comprise a rack provided with a plurality of teeth, a hook suitable to engage on the teeth of the rack and a lever kinematically connected to the hook so as to allow the movement of the hook, its engagement on the rack and subsequent tightening, i.e., the closure of the foot portion and/or of the leg portion.
The rack or lever connected to the hook can in turn be fixed to a respective flap of the leg portion and/or the foot portion by means of flexible cables.
The use of cables is often preferred to other means of mechanical connection for reasons of lightness and flexibility.
The cables are fixed to the foot portion and/or to the leg portion by means of fixing means that usually provide for fairleads that are bolted or riveted directly to the plastic of the foot portion or leg portion.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The solutions of the known art described above have several disadvantages.
In fact, if on one the fixing of the fairlead to the leg portion or foot portion is guaranteed, on the other it is rather critical since the considerable tensile stresses exerted on the cable are discharged, through a shearing action, on the screw or rivet that fixes the fairlead to the relevant portion of the foot portion or leg portion.
Moreover, the cable turns around the fairlead since it has an incoming branch and an outgoing branch, separated precisely by the fairlead: the cable is often subjected to rather small bending, and is thus subjected to considerable mechanical stress.
In addition, the fairlead is fixed at specific points of the leg portion or foot portion so as to concentrate considerable mechanical stresses in those areas. This concentration of stresses, added to the tangible risk of impacts in case of falls but also only for extreme uses (for example in off-track skiing) can generate the formation of cracks and breaks. In such an eventuality the boot cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
Furthermore, the cable is completely exposed to possible shocks and frictions, in particular in the area around the fairlead: such shocks and frictions may lead to the weakening and breakage of the cable itself. A solution according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US 2002/095750 A1 .
The purpose of this invention is, therefore, to provide a ski boot and/or off-track ski boot that solves the drawbacks cited with reference to the known art.
These drawbacks and limitations are solved by a ski boot according to claim 1.
Other embodiments of the boot according to the invention are described in the subsequent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of this invention will be more understandable from the following description of its preferred and non-limiting examples of embodiments, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ski boot equipped with at least one fairlead, comprising a fixed insert and at least a removable platelet according to this invention;
Figure 2a is a perspective view of the enlarged detail IIa of Figure 1;
Figures 2b, 3b, 4 and 5 are perspective views of successive steps of engagement of a removable platelet on a fixed insert of the boot of Figure 1;
Figure 3a shows the enlarged detail III of Figure 2b;
Figures 6-7 are perspective views, from different angles, of a removable platelet according to this invention;
Figure 8 is a plan view of the platelet of Figure 7, from the side of the arrow VIII of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the platelet of Figure 8, along the section line IX-IX of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a plan view of the platelet of Figure 6, from the side of the arrow X of Figure 6;
Figures 11-12 are perspective views, from different angles, of an insert according to this invention;
Figures 13-14 are section views of the insert of Figures 11-12.

The members, or parts of members, in common between the embodiments described below will be indicated with the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the aforesaid figures, the number 4 globally indicates a ski or off-track ski boot consisting of a lower part or foot portion 8, suitable to enclose the foot of the user or skier and an upper part or leg portion 12, suitable to enclose the lower part of the skier's leg.
The definition of the ski boot or off-track ski boot should not be considered in a restrictive way, since this invention applies to any type of ski boot in general provided with flaps or portions that must be openable to allow putting on the boot and closeable in order to use the boot after it is put on. So, this invention also applies to types of boots for telemark, snowboards and any other application.
Also the definitions of foot portion 8 and leg portion 12 should be considered in a general and not restrictive manner: this invention presents no type of limitation with respect to shapes, sizes, materials, type of foot portion and leg portion and therefore the invention also covers types of foot portion 8 and leg portion 12 that at least partially embrace the foot and the upper part of the leg, i.e., the shin of the skier.
For this reason, the type of boot shown in the figures should be considered as a non-limiting example for the purposes of the field of application of this invention.
In the type of off-track ski boot, as in the case of Figure 1, the leg portion 12 is hinged to the foot portion 8 with respect to hinges 16 defining an axis of rotation X-X, so as to be able to rotate with respect to the foot portion about said axis of rotation X-X.
The type of hinge 16 can be varied and, preferably, there is provided a pair of hinges 16 arranged on opposite sides with respect to the leg portion 12.
Preferably, the hinges 16 identify a horizontal rotation axis X-X, i.e., parallel to a sole 18 of the boot 4.
The leg portion 12 is hinged to the foot portion 8 so as to be able to rotate relative to the foot portion 8 around said hinges 16 both forwards, i.e., towards a tip 20 of the boot 4, and backwards toward a heel 22 of the boot 4.
According to an embodiment, the boot 4 comprises fastening means 23 suitable to selectively lock the rotation of the leg portion 12 with respect to the foot portion 8 depending on whether the user wishes to pass from a skiing configuration to a walking configuration, respectively.
It should be noted that selective locking/unlocking means that the user can actuate the fastening means 23 to switch at will from one configuration to another.
The foot portion 8 and/or leg portion 12 are provided with flaps 24,28 separate and facing each other, fitted with fastening means 32 to allow the opening, closing and tightening of said flaps 24,28.
The opening of the flaps 24,28 serves for example to allow a more comfortable fit or even the possibility of removing the boot; closing and tightening allow adjusting the stiffness as a function of the user's preferences.
According to an embodiment, the fastening means 32 comprise a rack 36 provided with teeth 40 and a closing lever 44 kinematically connected to a hook 48 suitable to engage on said teeth 40.
A ski boot 4 according to this invention may comprise a plurality of fastening means 32 with respective closing levers 44 and racks 36 arranged both on the leg portion 12 and on the foot portion 8.
The closing lever 44 passes from a closed configuration in which it tightens the hook 48 on a tooth 40 of the rack 36 to an open configuration in which it allows the release of the hook 48 from the rack 36.
The closing lever 44 is pivoted on a rotation pin 50 so as to present, on opposite sides of the rotation pin 50, a gripping portion 52 for the movement of the closing lever 44 by a user, and the hook 48 suitable to engage on the teeth 40 of the rack 36.
Preferably, the closing lever 44 is in one piece pivoted in relation to said rotation pin 50.
At least one of said fastening means 32 is attached to a flap 24,28 by means of a cable 56.
For example, the closing lever 44 is associated with a first 24 of said flaps and the rack 36 is associated with a second 28 of said flaps 24,28.
For example, the closing lever 44 is associated with one of said flaps 24,28 by means of a flexible cable 56, fixed at the rotation pin 50 of the closing lever 44.
The cable 56 is of the flexible type so as to adapt to the curvature of the foot portion 8 and/or of the leg portion 12.
The cable 56 is at least partially inserted in a seat 60 delimited by a fairlead 64, in which the fairlead 64 comprises an insert 68 attached to a flap 24,28) and a removable platelet 72, joined and superposed to a portion of the insert 68.
The seat is accessible through an access opening 62 facing towards the outside of the boot 4, i.e., on the side opposite to the flaps 24,28 of the foot portion 8 and of the leg portion 12.
Preferably, the insert 68 has a support and/or attachment portion 74 to the flap 24,28 greater than the removable platelet 72. In other words, the forces transmitted by the cable 56 are discharged on a support and/or attachment portion 74 greater than that which only the removable platelet would have so as to discharge such forces over a greater area of the foot portion 8 and/or of the leg portion 12.
According to an embodiment, the insert 68 is removably attached to the corresponding flap 24,28 of the foot portion 8 or leg portion 12.
For example such a removable connection can comprise a removable connection means 76 such as a screw, a pin, an expansion plug and the like.
According to further possible embodiments, the insert 68 is co-moulded with the corresponding flap 24,28 of the leg portion 12 and/or foot portion 8. It is also possible for example to use rivets or screws.
In addition, it is also possible to provide for gluing the insert 68 to the foot portion 8 or leg portion 12.
The insert 68 defines at least one space for receiving and guiding a portion of cable 56 and a removable platelet 72 so that in the attached configuration of the removable platelet 72 on the insert 68, the insert 68 and the removable platelet 72 delimit a curved channel or duct 82 which houses said cable portion 56.
Preferably, said channel 82 has an elliptical or semi-circular curvature, so as to allow the return of the cable 56 and a uniform distribution of the stresses transmitted by the cable 56.
For example, the curved channel or duct 82 is delimited by an inner side wall 84 of said seat 60, by a crest 88 of the removable platelet 72 and by the corresponding portion of flap 24,28 to which the insert 68 is joined.
For example, the crest 88 of the removable platelet 72 projects from a lower wall 90 of the removable platelet 72 directly facing the corresponding flap 24,28.
The insert 68 comprises for example a projecting tongue 92 at least partially superposed to the seat 60 and flexible so as to allow the insertion and removal of the removable platelet 72.
The removable platelet 72 is counter-shaped to the projecting tongue 92 to allow the snap insertion of the removable platelet 72 in the seat 60, following the elastic deformation of the flexible projecting tongue 92.
According to an embodiment, the removable platelet 72 comprises a recess 94 which in the assembled configuration houses the projecting tongue 92, said recess 94 being housed on an upper wall 96 of the removable platelet 72, opposite the corresponding flap 24,28 as well as opposite the lower wall 90.
The insert 68 comprises at least one stop edge 98 which defines an end stop to the insertion of the removable platelet 72 in the seat 60.
Said stop edge 98 is for example placed at an attachment portion of the projecting tongue 92 to the insert 68.
According to an embodiment, the insert 68 comprises in turn a perimeter edge 100 which follows a perimeter profile 104 of the access opening 62 of the seat 60 and which interfaces with the removable platelet 72, so as to oppose the removal of the removable platelet 72 from the seat 60 itself.
Perimeter profile 104 of the seat 60 means an average curvilinear line which follows the course of the access opening to the seat.
Preferably, the perimeter profile 104 is counter-shaped with respect to a corresponding profile of the projecting tongue 92.
According to an embodiment, the removable platelet 72, on the side of the lower wall 90 facing the corresponding flap 24,28, comprises a step 108 counter-shaped with respect to the perimeter edge 100 of the insert 68.
For example both the step 108 and the perimeter edge 100 have a cylindrical shape so as to delimit a curved channel 82 with circular curvature for the cable 56 and to distribute in an optimal manner the stresses of the cable 56 on the fairlead 64.
According to an embodiment, the projecting tongue 92 and the removable plate 72 comprise two through holes 110,112 aligned with each other so as to allow the insertion of a removable connection means 76, such as a screw, a pin and the like.
A same insert 68 can comprise a plurality of fairleads 64 each comprising an insert 68 attached to a flap 24,28, and at least one seat 60 which houses separate removable platelets 72 and relative cables 56 connected to separate fastening means 32.
As can be appreciated from the description, the ski boot or off-track ski boot according to the invention allows overcoming the drawbacks presented in the prior art.
In particular, the fixing of the fairlead to the foot portion and/or leg portion is not critical since the insert allows a distribution of the stresses over a large surface of the foot portion and/or leg portion; as it regards the cable, it can distribute the stresses over a larger area, compared to the known solutions, guaranteed by the removable plate that allows having greater, and therefore less critical, radii of curvature.
Therefore the cable itself is less mechanically stressed.
In addition, the cable is in turn protected by the insert and the removable platelet precisely at the point of greatest mechanical stress, i.e., in correspondence of the inversion, between the incoming branch and the outgoing branch, around the removable plate.
Furthermore, the cable is protected from possible shocks and frictions, in particular in the area around the platelet.
Moreover, the interspace between the insert seat used to house the removable platelet and the removable platelet itself, allows recovering a small play in the open configuration of the lever, for example when the off-track ski boot is in the walking configuration.
Furthermore, the boot according to this invention has reduced thicknesses and projections with respect to the outer wall of the flaps of the leg portion and foot portion used for fastening of the closure means of the boot. In fact, thanks to the fact that the cable is at least partially housed in a seat delimited by the insert, it is possible to have the insert flush with the adjacent portion of the foot portion or leg portion and house the cable in a seat recessed with respect to said portion of foot portion or leg portion: in this way, the thicknesses of the foot portion or leg portion do not increase in correspondence of the attachment portions of the cable, while not sacrificing the due stiffness and mechanical strength of such connections.
In addition, this invention allows simplifying the assembly of the boot because it allows pre-assembling the cables, platelets and inserts together so as to attach all of them together to the foot/leg portion in a single solution.
In addition, the separation between the removable plate and the insert allows differentiating the materials of such components; for example, it is possible to use a material with a low coefficient of friction for the platelet on which the cable is applied and a material more mechanically resistant, even at the expense of the friction coefficient, for the insert which, instead, needs to ensure the proper distribution and discharge of the forces on the foot portion or leg portion.
A person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the boots described above, all however contained within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Ski boot, for example an off-track ski boot (4), comprising
a lower part or foot portion (8), suitable for enclosing the user's foot and an upper part or leg portion (12), suitable for enclosing the lower part of the skier's leg,
- the foot portion (8) and/or leg portion (12) being provided with flaps (24, 28) separate and facing each other, fitted with fastening means (32) to allow the opening, closing and tightening of said flaps (24, 28), wherein

- at least one of said fastening means (32) is attached to a flap (24, 28) by means of a cable (56),

- said cable (56) being at least partially inserted in a seat (60) delimited by a fairlead (64),

- said fairlead (64) comprising an insert (68) attached to the flap (24, 28) and a removable platelet (72), joined and superposed to a portion of the insert (68),
wherein the insert (68) is removably attached to the corresponding flap (24, 28) of the foot portion (8) or leg portion (12), wherein the insert (68) defines at least one space for receiving and guiding a portion of cable (56) and a removable platelet (72) so that in the attached configuration of the removable platelet (72), the insert (68) and the removable platelet (72) delimit a curved duct (82) which houses said cable portion (56), characterised in that said curved duct (82) is delimited by an inner side wall (84) of said seat (60), by a crest (88) of the removable platelet (72) and by the corresponding portion of flap (24, 28) to which the insert (68) is joined.
Ski boot (4) according to claim 1, wherein the insert (68) has a support and/or attachment portion (74) to the corresponding flap (24, 28) greater than the removable platelet (72).
Ski boot (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said crest (88) of the removable platelet (72) projects from a lower wall (90) of the removable platelet (72) directly facing the corresponding flap (24, 28).
Ski boot (4) according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the insert (68) comprises a projecting tongue (92) at least partially superposed to the seat (60) and flexible so as to allow the insertion and removal of the removable platelet (72).
Ski boot (4) according to claim 4, wherein the removable platelet (72) is counter-shaped to the projecting tongue (92) to allow the snap insertion of the removable platelet (72) in the seat (60), following the elastic deformation of the projecting tongue (92).
Ski boot (4) according to any of the claims from 4 to 5, wherein the removable platelet (72) comprises a recess (94) which in the assembled configuration houses the projecting tongue (92), said recess (94) being housed on an upper wall (96) of the removable platelet (72), opposite the corresponding flap (24, 28).
Ski boot (4) according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, wherein the insert (68) comprises at least one stop edge (98) which defines an end stop to the insertion of the removable platelet (72) in the seat 60).
Ski boot (4) according to claim 7, wherein said stop edge (98) is placed at an attachment portion of the projecting tongue (92) to the insert (68).
Ski boot (4) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the insert (68) comprises a perimeter edge (100) which follows a perimeter profile (104) of the seat (60) and which interfaces with the removable platelet (72), so as to oppose the removal of the removable platelet (72) from the seat (60).
Ski boot (4) according to claim 9, wherein the removable platelet (72), on the side of the lower wall (90) facing the corresponding flap (24,28), comprises a step (108) counter-shaped to the perimeter edge (100) of the insert (68).
Ski boot (4) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the insert (68) comprises a projecting tongue (92), at least partially superposed on the seat (60) and flexible so as to allow the insertion and removal of the removable platelet (72), and wherein the projecting tongue (92) and removable platelet (72) comprise two through holes (110, 112) aligned with each other in order to permit the insertion of removable connection means (76) .
Ski boot (4) according to any of the claims from 1 to 11, wherein the fairlead (64) comprises an insert (68) attached to the corresponding flap (24, 28), with at least two seats (60) which house separate removable platelets (72) and relative cables (56) connected to separate fastening means (32).
Ski boot (4) according to any of the previous claims, where the fastening means (32) comprise a rack (36) fitted with teeth (40) and a locking lever (44) kinematically connected to a hook (48) suitable to engage on said teeth (40), the closing lever (44) passing from a closing configuration in which it clamps the hook (48) on a tooth (40) of the rack (36) to an open configuration in which it allows the release of the hook (48).