EP3738458A1

EP3738458A1 - Sports footwear comprising a shell and a cuff articulated to each other

Info

Publication number: EP3738458A1
Application number: EP20174472.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Girolimetto; Claudio Zampieri
Original assignee: Tecnica Group SpA
Current assignee: Tecnica Group SpA
Priority date: 2019-05-15
Filing date: 2020-05-13
Publication date: 2020-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-13
Also published as: EP3738458B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sports footwear (1) of the type comprising a shell (3) and a cuff (5) articulated to said shell. According to the invention, said sports footwear (1) comprises at its rear portion a connecting element (15) which connects said shell to said cuff and is rigidly constrained to the shell at its lower end and to the cuff at its upper end and which, when viewed in a sectional view on a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sports footwear, has a sinuous shape. This shape allows the connecting element (15), in use, to transmit energy to the sports footwear and also to receive energy from it. By appropriately selecting the size, shape and materials of the connecting element (15), it is possible to obtain optimized control and adjustment of the degree of flexion of the cuff relative to the shell.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to a sports footwear of the type comprising a shell, made of a substantially rigid material, and a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and articulated to said shell.
The present invention lends itself to applications, for example, in the field of ski boots.

Prior Art

Sports footwear are known which comprise an inner element made of a substantially soft material and an outer element made of a substantially rigid material.
A typical example of this type of sports footwear is represented by ski boots, which have an inner liner made of a substantially soft material and an outer shell made of a substantially rigid material.
In general, said sports footwear also comprise a cuff, adapted to receive the lower part of the user's leg, which is also made of a substantially rigid material and is connected to the outer shell.
Said cuff is generally articulated to the shell (in particular at the malleolar region), in such a way as to allow a forward flexion of the user's leg during skiing.
More specifically, the adjustment of flexion of the cuff relative to the shell significantly influences the performance of the sports footwear.
A ski boot with a greater possibility of flexing the cuff relative to the shell is more comfortable and suitable for beginners. On the other hand, a ski boot with a lower possibility of flexing the cuff relative to the shell (i.e. more rigid) ensures a better transmission of movements from the user's foot to the ski boot and from this to the ski, and is therefore suitable for expert skiers.
Besides the flexion degree of the cuff relative to the shell, the control of this flexion is also essential, which flexion must not be linear, but progressive to ensure good performances. Generally, the flexion degree, also known as "flex index", of the cuff relative to the shell is mainly determined by the plastic materials used for manufacturing the ski boot. However, there are ski boots which include devices for varying the flex index of the cuff relative to the shell.
In general, these ski boots are provided at their rear portion with special screw systems that connect the cuff to the shell: the adjustment consists of changing the angle of the cuff relative to the shell, thus changing the angle between the user's leg and the user's foot, which determines the static bending of the ankle.
However, despite the possibility of modifying the flex index of the cuff relative to the shell to a certain extent, ski boots of known type are not able to provide satisfactory control of the flexion of the cuff relative to the shell during skiing.
The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the limitations of prior art, by providing a sports footwear which comprises a shell and a cuff articulated to each other and in which the control of the flexion of said cuff relative to said shell is improved.
This and other objects are achieved by the sports footwear as claimed in the appended claims.

Summary of the Invention

The sports footwear according to the invention comprises a shell, made of a substantially rigid material, and a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and articulated to said shell.
According to the invention, said sports footwear comprises at its rear portion a connecting element which extends in a substantially vertical direction and connects said shell to said cuff.
Said connecting element is rigidly constrained at its lower end to the shell and is rigidly constrained at its upper end to the cuff.
According to the invention, said connecting element has the general shape of an elongated plate and, when viewed in a sectional view on a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sports footwear, it is not straight, but has a sinuous shape, which provides it with a certain elasticity.
In particular, the connecting element so shaped of the footwear according to the invention constitutes an element that is both capable of transmitting energy to the sports footwear and of receiving energy from it.
Compared to traditional systems for adjusting the flex index of the cuff relative to the shell, which typically include screw systems, the connecting element so shaped of the footwear according to the invention has a much greater versatility.
First of all, in traditional systems the arm of the flexion torque has a defined length, which is determined by the distance between the points of articulation of the cuff to the shell and the adjustment screws with respect to a horizontal plane. This arm generally has a limited length, of about 2 - 3 cm.
On the other hand, in the sports footwear according to the invention, it is possible to change the length of the flexion torque by acting on the geometry of the connecting element, namely on its length.
More particularly, by increasing the length of the arm of the flexion torque it is possible to improve the control of flexibility.
Advantageously, an arm of the flexion torque of increased length also allows to improve the stability of the sports footwear and the transmission of forces from the user to said sports footwear in a lateral direction.
Moreover, in the sports footwear according to the invention, it is possible to modify the elastic properties of the connecting element, and consequently the behaviour of the sports footwear, by acting on the material of said connecting element.
In addition to improving the performance achievable during sports practice, the invention also allows a considerable simplification of the manufacturing process and a corresponding reduction in costs.
In fact, it is possible to manufacture sports footwear with shells and cuffs which are the same in terms of geometry and materials, and to apply connecting elements with different geometries and / or materials to said shells and cuffs, thus obtaining sports footwear with significantly diversified degrees of flexion of the cuff relative to the shell.
By way of example, materials which can be effectively used for manufacturing the connecting element of the footwear according to the invention are thermoplastic materials based on polyamides, polyurethanes and polypropylenes, as well as composite materials such as aramid fibres, carbon fibres and the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a sports footwear according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the sports footwear of Figure 1;
Figure 3 schematically shows the connecting element between the shell and the cuff of the sports footwear in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, reference will be made to the application of the invention to a ski boot comprising a shell and a cuff articulated to each other.
This embodiment must not be considered in any way as limiting the scope of the invention and the invention can be applied to any sports footwear comprising a mutually articulated shell and cuff, in particular if it is necessary or advisable to control the degree of flexion of the cuff relative to the shell.
With reference to attached Figures 1 and 2, a ski boot 1 is schematically illustrated.
Said ski boot comprises an inner element or inner liner 7, made of a substantially soft material, and an outer shell 3, made of a substantially rigid material and configured to accommodate the user's foot.
Said ski boot 1 also comprises a cuff 5 adapted to accommodate the lower part of the user's leg. Said cuff 5 is articulated to the shell 3, in particular at a pair of pivoting points 9 arranged on the opposite sides of the shell 3, preferably at the area of the malleoli.
In a manner known per se, the shell 3 comprises a frontal longitudinal opening, which defines two facing flaps, and a plurality of tightening elements 11 arranged transversely to said frontal longitudinal opening to tighten the shell 3 on the user's foot. Analogously, further tightening elements 13 are provided on the cuff 5 to tighten said cuff around the user's leg.
According to the invention, said ski boot comprises at its rear portion a connecting element 15 which connects the shell 3 to the cuff 5 and which has the general shape of an elongated plate.
According to the invention, said connecting element, when viewed in a sectional view on a vertical plane (i.e. perpendicular to the plane on which the ski boot rests) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sports footwear, has not a straight profile, but - on the contrary - it has a sinuous shape.
As better visible in Figure 2, in detail said connecting element 15 comprises a lower portion 15a, arranged to receive first fixing means for being fixed to the shell 3, such as for example one or more fixing screws 17a, an upper portion 15b, arranged to receive second fixing means for being fixed to the cuff 5, such as for example one or more fixing screws 17b, and a central portion 15c, which is unattached to said shell and to said cuff and has a sinuous shape when viewed in a sectional view on a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sports footwear.
Advantageously, the sinuous shape of the connecting element 15 (and more particularly of its central portion 15c) gives elastic properties to said connecting element and results in the fact that said connecting element constitutes an element which is both capable of transmitting energy. to the ski boot and of receiving energy from it.
The connecting element is shown in detail in Figure 3, in which the sinuous shape of its central portion 15c is clearly visible.
In detail, the central portion 15c of the connecting element 15 comprises a first, lower section 15c', which is joined to the lower portion 15a of the connecting element 15 and is farther from the rear wall of the ski boot 1, a second ,intermediate section 15c", which is closer to the rear wall of the ski boot 1, and a third, upper section 15c'", which is joined to the upper portion 15c of the connecting element 15 and is again farther from the rear wall of the ski boot.
Alternating sections farther from and closer to the rear wall of the ski boot gives the connecting element the sinuous shape ("S"-like shape) mentioned above.
It will be evident to the person skilled in the art that the connecting element 15 of the ski boot 1 according to the invention ensures a wide versatility in terms of adjustment and control of the degree of flexion of the cuff 5 relative to the shell 3.
Firstly, by suitably dimensioning the connecting element 15, with particular reference to its extension, it is possible to modify the arm of the flexion torque, by bringing the fixing means of the connecting element 15 to the cuff 5 closer to or farther from to the pivoting points 9 at which the cuff is articulated to the shell.
More particularly, an arm of the flexion torque with a greater length (i.e. a connecting element connected to the cuff at a higher position) allows to improve the flexibility control. Advantageously, also the stability of the ski boot and the transmission of forces from the user to said boot in the lateral direction are improved if the length of the arm of the flexion torque is increased.
Secondly, also the shape of the profile of the connecting element 15 (for example, the proportions between its different sections, the more or less accentuated sinuous shape, etc.) influences the properties of said connecting element and, finally, the control of the degree of flexion of the cuff 5 of the ski boot 1 relative to the shell of said ski boot.
Thirdly, it is evident that the material of the connecting element 15 has a significant influence on the properties of said connecting element: by selecting connecting elements made of different materials, it is possible to obtain - the same shape and dimensions of the connecting element being the same - completely different performances.
By way of example, it will be evident to the person skilled in the art that a connecting element made of a polyamide-based material will exhibit a behaviour significantly different from a connecting element having the same shape and made of a polypropylene-based material.
Therefore, while in ski boots of known type, the flex index is substantially determined by the materials used to manufacture the shell and the cuff and the traditional screw adjusting systems are capable of modifying this flex index only marginally, according to the invention it is possible to provide ski boots with shells and cuffs all made of the same materials, and to modify the flex index of said ski boots by applying to them connecting elements having different geometries and/or materials.
This would significantly simplify the manufacturing process, with a consequent reduction in costs.
In any case, it should be noted that the implementation of the invention does not exclude the application of traditional adjusting systems, instead it can be combined with them.
For example, by providing a plurality of fixing screws between the connecting element and the shell and/or the cuff of the ski boot, it is possible to obtain an additional system for adjusting the flex index, which provides an additional degree of freedom in addition to those determined by the connecting element of the invention.
In particular, by providing several fixing screws 17b (two in the shown example) between the connecting element 15 and the cuff 5, it is possible to introduce an additional means for adjusting the flex index. In fact, the characteristics of the connection element 15 being the same, the user can intervene on the fixing screws 17b for further adjustment of the flex index.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the invention allows to achieve the object set forth above, since it provides an improved control of the degree of flexion between the cuff and the shell and involves a great versatility in the adjustment of said degree of flexion.
It is also evident that the embodiment described above in detail must not be understood in any way as limiting and numerous modifications and variations within the reach of those skilled in the art can be made without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.
In particular, although the invention has been described with reference to a ski boot, it is also applicable to other types of sports footwear comprising a shell and a cuff articulated to each other, such as for example roller skates.

Claims

Sports footwear (1), comprising a shell (3), made of a substantially rigid material and shaped for accommodating a user's foot, and a cuff (5), also made of a substantially rigid material and shaped for receiving the lower part of the leg of said user, said cuff (5) being articulated to said shell (3) at one or more pivoting points, characterized in that said sports footwear comprises, at the rear portion thereof, a connecting element (15) which connects said shell to said cuff and in that said connecting element (15) has the shape of an elongated plate and has a sinuous shape when viewed in a sectional view on a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sports footwear.
Sports footwear (1) according to claim 1, wherein said connecting element (15) comprises a lower portion (15a), arranged to receive first fixing means (17a) for fixing said connecting element (15) to said shell (3), an upper portion (15b), arranged to receive second fixing means (17b) for fixing said connecting element (15) to said cuff (5), and a central portion (15c), which is unattached to said shell and to said cuff and has a sinuous shape when viewed in a sectional view on a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of sports footwear.
Sports footwear (1) according to claim 2, wherein said central portion (15c) of said connecting element (15) comprises a first, lower section (15c'), which is joined to said lower portion of said connecting element and farther from the rear wall of said sports footwear, a second, intermediate section (15c''), which is closer to the rear wall of said sports footwear, and a third, upper section (15c'"), which is joined to said upper portion of said connecting element and again farther from the rear wall of said sports footwear.
Sports footwear (1) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said connecting element is made of a material selected from the group comprising thermoplastic materials based on polyamides, thermoplastic materials based on polyurethanes, thermoplastic materials based on polypropylenes, aramid fibres and carbon fibres.
Sports footwear (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first fixing means comprise one or more fixing screws (17a).
Sports footwear (1) according to claim 2, wherein said second fixing means comprise one or more fixing screws (17b), preferably two or more fixing screws (17b).
Sports footwear (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cuff (5) is articulated to said shell (3) at a pair of pivoting points (9) arranged on opposite sides of said shell, preferably at the malleolar region.
Sports footwear (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sports footwear is a ski boot (1).