FR2697141A1 - Advanced cross-country ski boot. - Google Patents

Abstract

Ski boot consisting of an upper (2) integral with a sole assembly (1), which comprises three main parts, respectively a toe (5) and a heel (6) connected together via an intermediate zone corresponding to the arch of the foot and which has two faces, respectively the outer face and the inner face, arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the boot, characterised in that the sole assembly includes a reinforcement element (10) which extends from the outer face of the rear part of the heel (6) up to the inner face of the front part of the toe (5).

Description

PERFECTED CROSS COUNTRY SKI SHOE.

  The invention relates to an improvement to cross-country ski boots. As we know, there are basically two techniques for

  cross-country skiing, each linked to the advanced technique.

  In the first traditional technique known as the "alternative step", each ski is launched alternately forward in two parallel rails provided for this purpose in the track. For the practice of this technique, low boots are generally used, the sole of which is flexible. and of which, if desired, the upper secured to the sole has an external buttress. It is essential that the sole is flexible and is articulated at the tip of the boot on the upper face of the ski skate, to allow the maximum clearance of the boot relative to the ski for maximum thrust and stride amplitude It is also important that the sole is flexible to accentuate this thrust. In the second technique, more recent and more sporty called the "skater" step, or more commonly called "skating", the skier evolves by making his skis diverge. This technique is broken down into four successive phases, respectively a first phase o skiing is in external support, followed by a flat gliding phase, followed in turn by a pulse phase on the internal face of the ski, and finally a so-called flight phase during which the ski leaves the snow until it finds an external support during the next movement To practice this more efficient and faster technique, shoes are used whose sole, always articulated on the front, is stiffened by a shank Furthermore, the upper always secured to the sole, comprises a semi-rigid collar hugging the bottom of the tibia articulated on a rigid buttress placed at the level of the malleoli to allow a transfer of impulses and push towards the ski Unfortunately, as the articulation of the rigid sole takes place at the front of the boot as before, this articulation allows a large clearance of the sole relative to the ski, which sometimes disturbs the movements

  of the skier, especially in the so-called "flight" phase of skiing.

  In this way, to date, according to the cross-country skiing technique that one wishes to practice, one must, as the case may be, use either low shoes (not alternative), or semi-rigid high shoes (not

skater).

  But in all cases, currently, the articulation of the front of the sole on the ski skate takes place around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sole, which coincides with the axis d balance of the ski, an axis also sometimes called the axis of rotation, arranged according to standards, either just at the end of the toes, or just behind and below the toes to benefit more effectively from the movements,

  impulses and ensure better guidance of the ski.

  The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It relates to a cross-country ski boot adapted to the practice of skating step (skating) which first authorizes an ideal center of thrust for the practice of this step, then

  better foot support during all four phases described above

  above and finally, better flat handling of the ski and by

as a result, better gliding.

  This shoe consisting of a rod secured to a sole, in which the sole comprises three main parts, respectively a toe and a heel, connected together by an intermediate zone corresponding to the arch of the foot, and has two sides, respectively external and internal. , arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, characterized in that the sole has an element going from the external face of the rear part of the heel to the internal face of the part

front of the tip.

  In a first advantageous embodiment: the stiffening reinforcement element is continuous and is either attached to the sole, or molded, or preferably injected at the same time as the sole; this reinforcing element can be made of a plastic, composite or metallic material; when the reinforcing and stiffening material is a fibrous composite material, advantageously, the reinforcing fibers are directed in the direction of the portion of the reinforcing element relative to the longitudinal axis of the sole, so as to obtain a ideal participation

during the push.

  in another embodiment, these reinforcing elements go up on the edge of the upper substantially vertically, respectively: on the one hand, on the external face of the heel at the level and above the malleoli, on the internal face of the tip to a height corresponding in part to the thickness of the toes; in an advantageous embodiment, the reinforcement of the internal face of the tip is then extended to completely cover the top of the toes on the front of the tip, thereby allowing the toes to have an active contribution during the phase flight; in another embodiment, the upper comprises in a known manner a collar which encloses the lower leg, according to the invention this collar being articulated on the reinforcement disposed on the external face of the heel at the malleoli; in another embodiment, the characteristic reinforcing element is not disposed outside the sole itself, but inside the upper either on the upper internal face of the sole, or is mounted on the "first" of cleanliness which as we know, is part of the sole and is its essential complement; in this embodiment, the characteristic intermediate diagonal portion is arched to better match the shape of the arch of the foot. The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the exemplary embodiments which follow.

in support of the appended figures.

  Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a ski boot sole

  bottom according to the invention (left foot).

  Figures 2, 3 and 4 briefly show other shapes

of the invention.

  Figure 5 is a summary perspective view before mounting

  a sole according to the invention.

  Figures 6 and 7 show a shoe viewed respectively side

  outside right foot (figure 6) and inside left foot (figure 7).

  Figure 8 is a summary top view of the tip of a

  improved shoe according to the invention shown in Figure 7.

  As is known, a cross-country ski boot essentially comprises a sole (1) and a rod (2) integral with the sole, and for the practice of skating or the skating step of a rigid, articulated collar (3) relative to the upper about an axis (4) disposed at the malleoli The shoe also comprises a point (5) and a heel (6). The sole is made up, seen from below (figure 1), essentially of three contiguous zones, respectively from the point (5) to the heel (6), of a point proper (A) corresponding to the front of the foot , a heel (B), these two main parts (A) and (B) being interconnected by an intermediate zone (C) corresponding substantially to the

zone comprising the arch of the foot.

  The longitudinal axis (I-I ') of the sole (1) corresponding to that of the boot, coincides with the longitudinal axis of the ski. In known manner, the sole (1) has an axis (5) 7) articulation and rotation on the binding to allow the movement of the boot relative to the ski pad. In known manner, the sole (1) also has one or two parallel guide grooves (8, 9) which cooperate with ribs

  complementary for this purpose on the ski skate.

  According to the invention, the sole (1) also comprises a reinforcing and stiffening element designated by the general reference (10), going from the external face of the rear part (11) of the heel (B), diagonally and contiguously (12) in the middle zone (C), up to the internal face

  (13) of the front part of the tip (A).

  In a first embodiment, this characteristic reinforcement element (10) is obtained by double molding during the manufacture of the sole. More generally, it is then important that the plastic material constituting this reinforcement element (10) is more rigid , at least in the conditions of use, that the material forming the sole (1) However, if one wishes to favor comfort more than technique, it may be useful in certain embodiments, that the element (10 ) either slightly

  softer than the rest of the sole (1).

  In another embodiment, this reinforcing element (10) can be made of metal, or even of a composite material compatible with the rest of the sole. In this embodiment, advantageously, the reinforcing fibers of the fibrous composite material, are directed in the direction of the

thrust.

  In a practical embodiment, the characteristic element (10) can take on various forms shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, for example convergent (FIG. 2), divergent (FIG. 3), even sinusoidal

(figure 4).

  In an advantageous variant shown in FIG. 5, the characteristic reinforcing element (10) rises vertically at (15) on the rod (1) at the heel on the outside side and at the front at (17) at the level of the point on the interior side In a variant shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the external face (15) is extended at (16) at the level of the malleoli to serve as support for the articulation axis (4) of the collar (3) Likewise, the internal face (13) of the tip (A) (see FIGS. 5,7) rises to a height (17) corresponding in part to the thickness of the toes, then can extend (see FIG. 8) on the top and the front (18) of the shoe to cover the top of the toes in front of the toe (5) (see Figure 8) to increase the active contribution of the toes during the flight phase. When skiing, depending on the skater's step, the skier first takes support on the ski and thereby on the ground to exercise his push, first on the external face (11) of the heel and by there on the corresponding reinforcement element, continues the pushing by tilting the foot, therefore the shoe, around the axis II 'until finishing the support and the pushing on the

internal front portion (13).

  An ideal thrust is thus obtained favorable to the practice of skating step.

Claims (7)

  1 / Ski boot consisting of a rod (2) integral with a sole (1), which sole comprises three main parts, respectively a toe (5) and a heel (6), interconnected by a corresponding intermediate zone to the arch of the foot, and has two respectively external and internal faces, arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, characterized in that the sole has an element (10) extending from the external face of the part back of the heel (6) to the inner face of the front part of the tip (5).   2 / Ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the element (10) is continuous and constitutes a reinforcing and stiffening element. 3 / Ski boot according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) and stiffening passes through the sole (1) in   diagonal in the intermediate zone (C).   4 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that the reinforcing element (10) is attached or molded or injected or embedded in the sole (1).   / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized   in that the reinforcing element (10) rises on the edge of the rod substantially vertically, respectively:   on the external face of the heel (6), at the level of the malleoli and   above it; on the internal face (17) of the point (5), up to a height   partly corresponding to the thickness of the toes.   6 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized   in that the reinforcement (13) of the internal face (17) of the tip (A) then extends to completely cover the top of the toes (18) on the front (5) of the tip (A).   7 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   in that the reinforcement is made of a composite or metallic material, the   stiffness is greater than that of the sole (1).   8 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that the reinforcement (10) is made of a fibrous composite material, in which the reinforcement fibers are directed in the direction of the reinforcement element   relative to the longitudinal axis (I-I ') of the sole (1).   9 / ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) is arranged on the inner upper face of the sole (1).   / Ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing element is mounted on the first insole disposed inside the boot on the inner upper face of the sole, and   in that the diagonally reinforced central zone is arched.