EP3698668B1

EP3698668B1 - Ski boot provided with improved fastening means

Info

Publication number: EP3698668B1
Application number: EP20154721.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claudio Zorzi
Original assignee: Ober ALP SpA
Current assignee: Ober ALP SpA
Priority date: 2019-02-25
Filing date: 2020-01-30
Publication date: 2023-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-30
Also published as: IT201900002645A1; EP3698668A1

Description

SCOPE

The present invention concerns a ski boot provided with improved fastening means.

STATE OF THE ART

As is well known, ski boots, on both the foot portion and the leg portion, are equipped with flaps separated from each other and provided with fastening means, typically with a lever, which allow the related opening/closing to allow the boot to be put on and tightened on the user's foot.
The fastening means typically comprise a pair of stumps, each joined to a respective flap, which may be hooked together by means of a ratchet mechanism or the like, with the aid of a lever.
The fastening means are usually fixed on the respective flaps by means of metal or plastic plates which are co-molded, welded, riveted or screwed onto the foot portion or the leg portion.
These solutions, as reliable as they are, contribute to increasing the overall dimensions and weight of the foot and leg structure, and therefore of the entire boot.
Moreover, the plates affect the aesthetics of the boot and require a specific attachment step. Known solutions according to the preamble of claim 1 are disclosed by IT TV20120066 A1 and US 5779259 A .

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The need is therefore felt to resolve the drawbacks and limitations cited in reference to the prior art. In other words, the need is felt to provide a ski boot with improved fastening means, i.e. with fastening means that guarantee reliability and, at the same time, reduced weight, dimensions and costs.
This requirement is satisfied by a ski boot in accordance with claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following description of its preferred and non-limiting examples of embodiment, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view, in separate parts and in an open configuration, of a ski boot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the boot in Figure 1, with separate parts and in a closed configuration;
Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the boot in Figure 1, in assembled and closed configuration.

The elements or parts of elements in common between the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated at the same numerical references.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the aforesaid figures, a ski boot is indicated collectively at 4.
For the purposes of the present invention, the type and size of ski boot is irrelevant.
In general the ski boot 4 comprises a foot portion 8, extending from a heel 12 to a tip 16, suitable for accommodating a dorsal portion of a foot, and a leg portion 20, joined to the foot portion 8 and suitable for accommodating a tibial portion of the user's foot.
On the leg portion 20 and/or the foot portion 8, at least one fastening means 24 is provided suitable to allow the mutual tightening of two mutually facing flaps 28,32 of the leg portion 20 and/or of the foot portion 8. It is therefore evident that the flaps 28,32 may belong to the leg portion 20 or to the foot portion 8; therefore the fastening means 24 according to the present invention may be applied to the flaps 28,32 of the leg portion 20 or to the flaps 28,32 of the foot portion 8. It should also be pointed out that the two applications are not mutually exclusive: therefore, the application of the fastening means 24 may either be limited to only the leg portion 20 or to only the foot portion 8, or may be applied simultaneously to the leg portion 20 and the foot portion 8. Moreover, it is also possible to have the fastening means 24 of the present invention coexist with alternative solutions of the prior art.
Said flaps 28,32 are at least partially open or separated from each other so as to allow them to be partially spread apart to allow the user to put on or to take off the boot 4.
The fastening means 24 comprises a first stump 36 and a second stump 40 which may be opened, adjusted and closed reciprocally by means of a hooking mechanism 44 by means of a lever 48.
Each stump 36,40 is in turn joined to one of said flaps 28,32.
Advantageously, at least one of said stumps 36,40 comprises a ring structure 52, which, at a working end 56, supports at least partially the hooking mechanism 44.
Moreover, said ring structure 52, at a fixing end 60, opposite the working end 56, comprises a hook 64, fixed to the corresponding flap 28,32.
Said hook 64 blocks the fixing end 60 by means of a shape-coupling.
Said hook 64 comprises a seat 68 facing the flap 28,32 and counter-shaped with respect to the fixing end 60.
In particular, the seat 68 is an open seat on the side of the flap 28,32 and the same fixing end 60.
Advantageously, said ring structure 52 constitutes an anchoring base for said lever 48 to the corresponding flap 28,32.
In particular, the ring structure 52 is hinged directly to the lever 48 on the working end 56.
For example, the lever 48 is operatively connected to a ratchet mechanism 76 suitable to achieve a coupling with a corresponding rack 80 provided on the other stump 40,36.
The ring structure 52 may be made by means of a bent rigid wire, by means of a flexible cable and/or by means of a carbon wire and/or a molded plastic wire.
The hook 64 is fixed to the corresponding flap 28,32 by means of a pin or rivet 84, so as to be able to rotate with respect to the corresponding flap 36,40.
According to possible variant embodiments, both the first and second stump 36,40 of the fastening means 24 are connected to the respective flaps 28,32 by means of a ring structure 52 described above.
As may be appreciated from the foregoing, the present invention allows the drawbacks presented in the prior art to be overcome.
In particular, the present invention is more advantageous than the solutions of the art in terms of weight/dimensions and production costs.
In effect, the present invention makes it possible to completely eliminate the use of a plastic base or plate for anchoring the lever to the foot portion and/or leg portion. This base is in effect replaced by the ring structure which is in turn fixed by means of the hook screwed or riveted directly on the foot or leg portion body in order to firmly attach the ring to the respective flap.
In this way, the presence of a plastic anchoring base may be completely eliminated, as in the solutions of the prior art. This anchoring base is replaced by a simple and lightweight ring structure that reduces the overall dimensions, costs and weight of the boot.
A person skilled in the art, in the object of satisfying contingent and specific requirements, may make numerous modifications and variations to the ski boots described above, within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Ski boot (4) comprising a foot portion (8), extending from a heel (12) to a tip (16), suitable for accommodating a dorsal portion of a foot, and a leg portion (20), joined to the foot portion (8) and suitable for accommodating a tibial portion,
wherein, at the leg portion (20) and/or the foot portion (8), at least one fastening means (24) is provided suitable to allow the mutual tightening of two mutually facing flaps (28,32) of the leg portion (20) and/or of the foot portion (8),

wherein the fastening means (24) comprises a first stump (36) and a second stump (40) which may be reciprocally opened and closed by means of a hooking mechanism (44) by a lever (48), each stump (36,40) being joined to one of said flaps (28,32),
- wherein at least one of said stumps (36,40) comprises a ring structure (52) which, at a working end (56), at least partially supports the hooking mechanism (44),

- wherein said ring structure (52), at a fixing end (60), opposite the working end (56), comprises a hook (64), fixed to the corresponding flap (28,32), said hook (64) blocking the fixing end (60) by means of a shape-coupling,

wherein said hook (64) comprises a seat (68) facing the flap (28, 32) and counter-shaped with respect to the fixing end (60).
Ski boot (4) according to claim 1, wherein said seat (68) is an open seat on the side of the flap (28,32) and the fixing end (60).
Ski boot (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said ring structure (52) directly constitutes an anchoring base of said lever (48) to the corresponding flap (28, 32) .
Ski boot (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ring structure (52) constitutes an anchoring base of the lever (48) at the working end (56).
Ski boot (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lever (48) is operatively connected to a ratchet mechanism (76) suitable for making a coupling with a corresponding rack (80) provided on the other stump (40,36).
Ski boot (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ring structure (52) is made by means of a bent rigid wire.
Ski boot (4) according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein said ring structure (52) is made of a flexible cable.
Ski boot (4) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein the ring structure (52) is made of a carbon wire and/or a molded plastic wire.
Ski boot (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hook (48) is fixed to the corresponding flap (28,32) by means of a pin or rivet (84), so as to be able to rotate with respect to the corresponding flap (28,32).
Ski boot (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein both the first and the second stump (36,40) of the fastening means (24) are connected to the respective flaps (28,32) by means of a ring structure (52) according to any one of the preceding claims.