ES2727782T3 - Advance assistance device for walking gear in footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

An advance assistance device (1), adapted to be applied to a walking gear (2), particularly to a ski or a snowshoe, in which said assistance device (1) comprises: - a sliding guide ( 6) which extends in a longitudinal direction and is adapted to be removably fixed to one side (2 '') of the equipment (2), - a sliding unit (8) connected to the sliding guide (6), the sliding unit (8) being mobile in the longitudinal direction in relation to the sliding guide (6) between an advanced position (B) and a delayed position (A), - joining means (5) fixed to the unit sliding (8) and configured to removably secure a user's shoe to the sliding unit (8), - a motor (10) rigidly attached to the sliding unit (8) and operative to move the sliding unit (8 ) in relation to the sliding guide (6) between the forward position and the delayed position, - a battery (18) connected to the motor (10) to supply power to the motor (10), - electronic means (12, 14) to measure a load produced by the user on the sliding guide (6) and for motor control (10), characterized in that: - the battery (18) is removably fixed to the sliding unit (8), - the motor (10) is manually removable from the sliding unit (8 ) and - the advance assistance device comprises locking elements configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the sliding unit (8) in relation to the sliding guide (6) when the motor (10) is separated from the sliding unit (8).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Advance assistance device for walking gear in footwear

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an advance assistance device for walking equipment in footwear, particularly alpine skis, cross-country skis, snowshoes or the like.

Analysis of related technique

Walking equipment, such as alpine skis, cross-country skis or snowshoes, is known to be applied to a user's foot by means of appropriate boots, to assist the user when moving on surfaces typically covered with snow or ice.

In particular, a ski is an elongated and flat instrument associated with a boot. The ski and boot comprise removable joining means, for the mutual mechanical connection thereof. The joining means are calibrated according to the user's weight for automatic release in case of fall.

The structure of the team changes according to the various sports for which it is designed; for example, alpine skis, cross-country skis and snowshoes (snowshoes) are known. The latest types of equipment are mainly used to move on flat or uphill terrain. On the contrary, alpine skis are used for descent.

All these types of equipment are handled and controlled only by the user's physical strength, which generates the movement required to move in a straight path, turn or stop.

In view of this technology, there is a need to facilitate the physical effort and performance of the user when he / she uses these instruments.

WO 2014205472 discloses a sports equipment in which the boot joints do not connect directly to skiing. A sliding element is connected to the top of the ski and the boot joints are fixed on the sliding element. A motor attached to the ski allows the front-to-rear movement of the sliding body along the ski to increase the length of a user's passage. The engines of the two skis are connected to a battery and a control unit that are transported by the user, for example in a backpack or a belt.

A cable must be provided between the batteries and the motor. This cable, which extends, for example, from a user's backpack to ski-mounted engines, moves continuously during the ride. This can easily get entangled in an obstacle, such as the user's legs or canes, if any. Such entanglement may cause sudden disconnection of the battery motor, resulting in an expected displacement of the sliding unit relative to the sliding guide, which may cause the user to fall. Also, during skiing, the apparatus required to move the sliding body along the slide guide is an obstacle and various parts thereof are exposed to potentially dangerous impacts.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an advance assistance device for a walking device that facilitates the movement of the user by reducing the physical effort required and increasing the travel distance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an advance assistance device for a walking gear that can be applied to known instruments, such as alpine skis, cross-country skis, snowshoes or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an advance assistance device for a gear that also has a simple construction and low manufacturing costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a travel assistance device that is reliable both during walking and during skiing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe kit that integrates said advance assistance device.

These and other objects are satisfied by means of an advance assistance device as defined in any of the attached claims. The device of the invention finds application in a gear that has a plate, such as skis or snowshoes. The device includes a sliding guide adapted to be attached to skiing or snowshoeing and a sliding unit that is longitudinally movable along the sliding guide. Common joining means are attached to the sliding unit to secure a boot to the sliding unit. A motor is mounted on the sliding unit and allows the sliding unit to move back and forth relative to the sliding guide. The electronic means are able to identify the different phases of the march for an optimized motor control. A battery to supply power to the motor is removably attached to the sliding unit.

In this way, the advance assistance device of the present invention, when applied to walking equipment such as alpine skis, cross-country skis, snowshoes or the like, can facilitate the user's march by means of the translation of the boot with relation to the plate, that is to say ski or snowshoe. In other words, the boot moves over the ski and runs a route that "extends the stride" thereby providing advantages to the user in terms of distance traveled and physical effort.

The battery is rigidly attached to the motor, establishing the connection between them by means of a small cable, which is not exposed to deformation during operation. This avoids the risk of entanglement during the march. On the contrary, during skiing, the battery can be easily removed and protected against any impact.

The motor and its control unit are also removable from the sliding unit. When the engine is removed, locking elements are provided to prevent the skate from moving freely relative to the sliding guide.

Advantageously, the sliding unit comprises:

a support plate, with joining means for the user's boots fixed thereto;

a sliding element associated with the respective motor that is mounted on said support plate, said sliding element being adapted to slide along said sliding guide to move between said first and second positions.

Advantageously, a pair of substantially parallel sliding guides are mounted on the plate.

In a first embodiment, said pair of guides comprises a rack guide associated with a linear guide and said slide element is at least one gear adapted to engage with said rack-like guide. In this way, the gear meshes with the rack and moves the support plate.

Preferably at least one stop element is provided on said rack guide. Advantageously, the pair of stop elements are provided to limit travel.

In a second embodiment, each of said first and second pairs of guides comprises first and second linear guides and said sliding element is at least one skate supported by bearings that slide while being guided between said first and second linear guides.

Advantageously, said control unit comprises programming means that are configured to control the sliding speed of said first and second sliding units.

Preferably, an encoder is provided to determine the travel of each sliding unit and is placed on the axis of rotation of said motor, to determine and control the travel.

Advantageously, a load sensor calibration function is advantageously provided by the interface.

In another aspect of the invention, a gear is disclosed comprising one or two plates, ie skis or rackets and corresponding advance assistance devices. The motors associated with the two plates can be controlled individually. Backup batteries and charging devices, such as solar panels, can be provided to extend the operating time of the batteries on the sliding unit.

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and / or advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of an embodiment, which is given by way of example and without limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an advance assistance device applied to a ski, in accordance with the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of a sliding element that slides, while being guided between a pair of guides;

- Figures 3 and 4 show a side view of the assistive device in an operation phase, specifically during a support phase;

- Figures 5 and 6 show a side view of the assistive device in an operating phase, specifically during the drive phase;

- Figure 7 shows a top view of a variant embodiment of the assistive device of the present invention, applied to a racket;

- Finally, Figure 8 shows a block diagram that identifies the phases of operation of the device of Figure 1.

Detailed description

Referring to Figure 1, an advance assistance device 1 is shown, which is applied to a walking gear 2, particularly a pair of skis or rackets 20 (see Fig. 7) or the like, which in turn Functionally connected to a shoe, particularly boots 4, 4 ', worn by the user, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

In particular, the equipment comprises first 2 and second 3 substantially elongated plates, particularly a pair of skis or rackets or the like, which extend in the longitudinal direction and which have a larger support surface compared to a shoe. Reference will be made in this document below to a ski. The first and second skis 2, 3 must be suitable to be required for the user to march. Throughout the figures, the same parts are designated by identical numbers, while different numbers are used when one part is connected to the first ski or the second ski. Figure 7 shows a variant applied to a racket 20.

Each ski 2, 3 comprises a first face 2 ', 3' defining a ground support surface T and a second face 2 '', 3 '' opposite the first face 2 ', 3' (see Figs. 3 and 4).

Binding means 5 of known type are provided on the second face 2 '' for removable connection of boot 4 with skis 2, as also shown schematically in Figures 4 and 5. The joining means are mounted as described below in more detail.

According to the present invention, each ski 2 is equipped with an assist device 1 that has at least one slide guide 6 that extends in the longitudinal direction and is adapted to be removably attached to the second face 2 '' of the ski 2. In particular, each ski 2 has a pair of sliding guides 6, both extending longitudinally on the second face 2 '' of each ski and riding in a parallel relationship. The sliding guides of the second ski are referenced by 7.

Additionally, the device 1 comprises a first sliding unit 8 that is mounted on the first ski 2 and that is functionally connected to the first pair of sliding guides 6. The joining means 5 are fixed to the sliding unit 8 and are configured to removably secure a user's shoe to the sliding unit 8, so that the first sliding unit 8 will be connected, in operation, with its respective boot 4, by means of the joining means 5.

A second sliding unit 9, associated with the second ski 3, is functionally connected to the second pair of sliding guides 6 and is also connected in operation with a boot 4 'using known joining means 5.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the sliding unit 8 is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to its guides 6 between an advanced position B and a delayed position A. More in detail, the sliding unit 8 moves selectively in a first direction d1, which is the same as the user's direction of progression and in a second direction d2 opposite to the user's progression.

In particular, each device 1 comprises a motor 10 that rigidly joins the sliding unit 8. The motor 10 is operative to move the sliding unit 8 relative to the sliding guide 6 along the sliding guide 6 , between the forward position and the delayed position. The second ski engine is referenced by 11.

The motor 10 is manually removable from the sliding unit 8, to be applied thereto as necessary. By this arrangement, the engines 10, 11 of the two skis 2, 3, can be used when riding on flat terrain or uphill and can be easily removed to use the skis 2, 3 as normal, downhill or alpine skis. That way, the engines 10, 11 will not be exposed to impacts during skiing and the skier will have greater freedom of movement.

The device 1 additionally comprises locking elements, which are configured to prevent the sliding unit 8 from moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the sliding guide 6. In particular, the Locking elements must be disabled in order for the engine 10 to run while driving and can be enabled when the engine 10 is separated from the sliding unit 8. This will prevent unexpected dangerous movements of the sliding unit 8 in relation to the sliding guide 6 during the ski.

Instead, in an arrangement without mechanical assistance, the device comprises a fixed joint, whereby the motor 10 cannot be removed from the sliding unit or special tools are required for its removal, such as a screwdriver.

The device 1 comprises electronic means 12, 14 for measuring a load produced by users on the slide guide 6 and for the control of the motor 10. More in detail, a sensor 12, particularly a load cell 0 possibly an optical sensor or a switch of mechanical or magnetic pressure, is associated with each motor 10. The sensor of the second ski 3 is referenced by 13.

In accordance with the principle of operation, as also shown in the block diagram of Figure 8, the sensor 12 is adapted to detect a signal, particularly a load P (see Fig. 3) produced by the user on the guide of sliding 6 respectively or, equivalently, on the support surface of the ski, on the second face 2 ''. A control unit 14 is programmed to receive the signal from the sensor 12 and to control the operating parameters of the motor 10, as described herein below in greater detail.

In particular, the control unit 14 is configured in such a way that, in a ski support phase (see Figs.

3 and 4), when the sensor 12 detects the first load signal on one of the skis, the control unit 14 will operate the corresponding motor 10. Thus, the corresponding sliding unit 8 will move along the pair of guides between a first delayed position A (see Fig. 3) and a second forward position B (see Fig. 4) in a first direction d1 .

In other words, the sliding unit 8 will slide relative to the ski when the user is in a support phase of its passage.

Still in accordance with the principle of operation, in a ski drive phase (see Figs. 5 and 6), that is when the ski rises from the ground, the sensor 12 is configured to detect the lack of the signal of load and the control unit 14 drives the motor 10 so that the sliding unit 8 will move between the second forward position B and the first position delayed in the second direction d2, to bring the first sliding unit 8 back to the first delayed position A. Therefore, the advancement assist device 1 of the present invention facilitates the user's gait by moving the boot relative to the ski. With the same stride, the user will cover a longer driving distance.

In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 14 of each device 1 is connected to the sliding unit 8 and can be manually removed from the sliding unit 8. As a result, the control unit 14 can also be removed from the device 1 and by this of the ski 2 to preserve the control unit 14 and facilitate skiing by the user. In this case, for the two devices 1 to be used on the two skis 2, each control unit 14 is configured to control its motor 10 independently of the control unit 14 of the other device 1.

In another embodiment, a single control unit 14 may be provided for both devices 1 associated with the skis 2. This control unit 14 may be in signal communication with the motors 10 or the sensors 12 of both devices 1 by means of a communication arrangement by cable or wireless. By providing a single control unit 14, when the user rests uninterruptedly with both skiing on the ground, that is, before starting to march, the control unit 14, even receiving a signal from the respective sensors 12, can maintain the First 10 and second 11 engines in an inactive configuration.

The device 1 comprises a battery 18 connected to the motor 10 for supplying power to the motor 10. According to the invention, the battery 18 is removably fixed to the sliding unit 8 and can preferably be removed from it manually, that is without the use of special tools, such as a screwdriver. The battery 18 can also be used to supply power to the control unit 14.

Advantageously, the battery 18 and the motor 10, which are both rigidly connected to the sliding unit 8, are also rigidly joined together. This will be a considerable benefit compared to the situation in which the battery 18 is transported in a mobile position relative to the engine, for example in a backpack carried by the user. The connection cable between the battery 18 and the motor 10 is stable and maintains its position. This will prevent cable entanglement and reduce wear.

If small batteries 18 are used in order to reduce the volume of skis 2 having the device 1 mounted thereon, a backup battery can be advantageously provided for replacing the battery 18 of the device and can be transported by the user, for example , in a backpack. This provides both the desired running time and avoids the presence of long cables moving freely. To further increase the running time, a portable charging device can be provided, for example a solar panel that is configured to recharge the battery 18 of the device 1 and / or the backup battery when it is not in operation.

In one embodiment, the advance assistance device 1 can be improved by the addition of additional electronic devices adapted to be powered by the batteries 18. For example, the device 1 may comprise hazard lights attached to the sliding unit 8 or the guide of sliding 6. In a further embodiment, the device 1 comprises electrical connection elements that extend through the joining means 5 and the boots 4 comprise a heating resistor that is configured to receive power from the electrical connection elements that they extend through the joining means 5.

In certain aspects of constructive detail, particularly as shown in Figures 1 and 3, each sliding unit 8 comprises a support plate 15 with the joining means 5 for the user's boots to be fixed thereto. The joining means 5 protrude from the sliding unit in a vertical direction, that is to say in a direction perpendicular to the support plate 15 and the faces 2 ', 2' 'of the ski 2.

In one embodiment, the motor 10 is a servomotor comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor are substantially cylindrical in shape and the stator has a cavity in which the rotor is housed. The stator is fixed to the sliding unit 8 and particularly to the edge of the support plate 15, so that the rotor can be rotated relative to the stator around an axis that extends in the vertical direction.

A sliding element 17 (see Fig. 2) is associated with the servomotor 10 and is therefore operative, for example being connected to its rotor. In particular, the sliding element 17 is adapted to cooperate with the sliding guide to slide along the sliding guide 4, 5 and to move the sliding unit 8, particularly the support plate 15, between the first position A and the second position B.

In more detail, the pair of guides 6 comprises, in a first embodiment, a rack guide and a linear guide, that is to say a guide which does not have the characteristic teeth of a rack. The sliding element is a gear 17, which is adapted to engage with the rack guide 6. Thus, the gear engages with the rack and moves the support plate 15. The linear guide 6 is located in opposition to the guide of rack 6 and is intended to guide the sliding element 17 and prevent it from separating from the rack guide 6.

In this variant, a stopper element 16 is provided on the rack guide 6. More generally, two stopper members can be provided to limit the travel of the sliding unit 8 in the head and tail of the guides, that is between the delayed position A and forward position B. This will prevent the sliding unit 8 from being released from the guides. Additionally, the travel of each sliding unit along the guides, ie the distance covered by the unit between the delayed position A and the forward position B can be adjusted.

More preferably, two pairs of stop elements 16 are provided, each comprising a magnetic service stop element and a rubber safety stop element. The safety stop element is arranged to operate in case of failure of the service stop element.

In a variant embodiment, the first and second linear guides are provided and the sliding element 17 is at least one skate supported by bearings that slide while being guided between the first and second linear guides.

In another embodiment, the motor 10 is a linear motor. The linear motor comprises two elements that extend in the longitudinal direction and are commonly known as stator and rotor, by analogy with the rotary electric motor, although the operation of the linear motor does not imply rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. On the contrary, the rotor is adapted to move relative to the stator, in the longitudinal direction. The stator is fixed to the slide guide 6 and the rotor is fixed to the slide unit 8. Either the stator or the rotor may comprise permanent magnets, while the other part requires a power supply. Preferably, the stator comprises permanent magnets, so that the rotor power supply, ie the battery 18, fixed to the sliding unit 8, is rigidly attached to the rotor, which is also fixed and rigidly attached to the unit of sliding 8. This configuration simplifies the mechanism required for the motor 10 to move the sliding unit 8, thereby increasing the reliability of the device.

As shown in the block diagram of Figure 8, the control unit 14 comprises programming means configured to control the advance assistance device.

In particular, in the start-up phase 151, the control unit 14 verifies that the unit is in the delayed position, identified as "REAR". The rear stop 152 is then identified, referenced as "RLS". This corresponds to the zero position of the encoder.

In other functions, the control unit 14 can control the sliding speed of the first 8 and second 9 sliding units. These can control the rotation speed of the motor 10 and, as a result, the speed of the advance of the unit along the sliding guides. The last speed is a function of the user's speed. Therefore, the user can control the response speed of the sliding unit as necessary, using an interface with the unit, for example a pair of buttons. The interface may optionally be available to the user, on a ski pole, which has a processor in signal communication with the control unit 14. Preferably, said communication is a wireless communication, for example using a Bluetooth technology. The interface can also provide information about charging the battery 18.

In a preferred embodiment, sensors are provided, for example an accelerometer, which can detect the variation in the speed of travel and adapt the response of the sliding unit.

In still a preferred embodiment, an encoder is provided to determine the travel of each sliding unit 8 and placed on the rotation axis of the motor 10, to determine and control the forward travel 154 and the front stop 155. This has the purpose of adapting the operation of the device to the user's requirements by varying the travel length of the unit along the sliding guides.

The interface can be used advantageously to adjust the calibration of the load sensor 153, that is to say to set the user's weight to adapt the assistive device.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments may illustrate the concepts of the invention so that these specific embodiments may be changed and / or adapted to various applications, with prior art knowledge, without requiring any further investigation and without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. An advance assistance device (1), adapted to be applied to a walking gear (2), particularly a ski or a snowshoe, in which said assistance device (1) comprises: - a sliding guide (6) that extends in a longitudinal direction and is adapted to be removably fixed to one side (2 '') of the equipment (2), - a sliding unit (8) connected to the sliding guide (6), the sliding unit (8) being mobile in the longitudinal direction relative to the sliding guide (6) between an advanced position (B) and a delayed position (A), - joining means (5) fixed to the sliding unit (8) and configured to removably secure a user's shoe to the sliding unit (8), - a motor (10) rigidly connected to the sliding unit (8) and operative to move the sliding unit (8) in relation to the sliding guide (6) between the forward position and the delayed position, - a battery (18) connected to the motor (10) to supply power to the motor (10), - electronic means (12, 14) for measuring a load produced by the user on the slide guide (6) and for controlling the motor (10), characterized by: - the battery (18) is removably fixed to the sliding unit (8), - the motor (10) is manually removable from the sliding unit (8) and - the advance assistance device comprises locking elements configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the sliding unit (8) in relation to the sliding guide (6) when the motor (10) is separated from the sliding unit (8) ). 2. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding unit (8) comprises: - a support plate (15), the joining means (5) for the user's boots to be fixed to the sliding unit (8) on the support plate (15) and - a sliding element (17) operable by the motor (10), the sliding element (17) cooperating with the sliding guide (6) to move the sliding unit (8) between the forward position (B) and the delayed position (A). 3. A device (1) according to claim 2, wherein: - the connecting means (5) protrude from the sliding unit in a vertical direction, - the motor (10) comprises a stator and a rotor that is rotatable relative to the stator around an axis that extends in the vertical direction, - the sliding element (17) is connected to the motor rotor (10). 4. A device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the slide guide (6) is a rack guide and the slide member (17) is a gear adapted to engage with the rack guide (6) ). A device (1) according to claim 2, comprising a pair of parallel linear sliding guides (6), wherein the sliding element is a skate supported by bearings that slide while being guided between the two guides ( 6). 6. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (10) is a linear motor having a stator and a rotor extending in the longitudinal direction, the rotor being adapted to move relative to the stator in the longitudinal direction, in which the stator is fixed to the slide guide (6) and the rotor is fixed to the slide unit (8). A device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two stop elements (16) fixed to the slide guide (6) to limit the travel of the sliding unit (8) in relation to the sliding guides (6) between the delayed position (A) and the forward position (B). A device (1) according to claim 7, comprising two pairs of stop elements (16), each pair of stop elements (16) comprising a magnetic service stop element and a rubber safety stop element , the safety stop element being arranged to operate in case of failure of a service stop element. 9. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said electronic means (12, 14) comprise a sensor (12) adapted to measure a load produced by the user on the slide guide (6) and a control unit (14) adapted to control the motor (10), the control unit (14) being removably connected to the sliding unit (8). 10. A marching team comprising: - a substantially elongated plate (2) extending in the longitudinal direction, the plate comprising a first face (2 ') defining a ground support surface (T) and a second face (2' ') opposite the first face (2 '), - an advance assistance device (1) according to claim 9, the sliding guide (6) of the device (1) being fixed to the second face (2 '') of the plate (2), wherein: - in a support phase of the plate (2), the sensor (12) is configured to detect a load signal and the control unit (14) is configured to drive said motor (10) to move the sliding unit ( 8) from the delayed position (A) to the forward position (B) and - in a phase of driving the plate (2), the sensor (12) is configured to detect the lack of a load signal and the control unit (14) is configured to drive the motor (10) to move the unit sliding (8) from the forward position (B) to the delayed position (A). 11. A gear unit according to claim 10, comprising two plates (2) and two advance assistance devices (1), each device (1) being associated with a respective plate (2), in which the control unit (14) of each device (1) is configured to control its respective motor (10) independently of the control unit (14) of the other device (1). 12. A marching team comprising: - a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; - a backup battery for replacing the battery (18) of the device (1) and - a portable charging device configured to recharge the battery (18) of the device (1) and / or the backup battery. 13. A walking device according to claim 12, wherein the charging device comprises a solar panel.