FR3131823A1 - Ski boot and associated tightening device - Google Patents

Abstract

Ski boot (1), comprising an essentially rigid outer shell adapted to receive the foot of a user; said outer shell consisting of a lower shell (2) and a collar (4) fixed to the lower shell so as to be able to pivot and capable of surrounding the lower part of the user's leg; said lower shell comprising a sole (3), a medial flank (21) and a lateral flank (22), the upper edges of each of these flanks being separate and thus defining an upper notch (7) which extends between a front zone (71), located close to the front portion of the lower shell and a rear zone (72), located close to the upper part of the lower shell; said hull bottom being equipped with tightening means which comprise: a cable (61), said cable being fixed by means of a first anchor (611) on the hull bottom; a cable tensioning mechanism (62); a cowl (63), fixed by at least one second anchor (631) to the bottom of the hull; a strap (64), secured by a third anchor (641); and a plurality of loops (651, 652, 653, 654). Said shoe being characterized in that: said first anchor (611) is placed close to the rear area (72) of the upper cutout (7); the cable tensioning mechanism is fixed on the cover (63); at least one of the loops (653) of the plurality of loops is attached to the cover (63); at least one of the plurality of loops (654) is attached to a free end of the flexible strap (64); and the cable runs through said plurality of loops from the first anchor (611) to the cable tensioning mechanism (62). Abstract Figure: Figure 1

Description

Ski boot and associated tightening device

The invention relates to a ski boot and in particular a ski touring boot or a ski mountaineering boot.

In known manner, a sports shoe comprises a lower part, called the bottom of the shell and an upper part, called the collar. The bottom of the hull has a sole, from which two sides come. The bottom of the shell and the collar support the user's foot and calf respectively. The collar is articulated in relation to the bottom of the shell to facilitate walking but it can be immobilized in relation to it during sporting activity to ensure that the movements of the user's ankle are blocked.

The problem that a ski boot must solve for ski touring is to be sufficiently rigid to allow good efficiency and performance during downhill skiing phases, but also light enough so that uphill phases do not do not generate too much fatigue and energy expenditure for the user. To do this, ski boot manufacturers will try to limit the quantity of rigid material for making the shell and at the same time ensure that the remaining shell portions are very rigid. Thus, we have noted for several years that the lightest ski touring boots include a shell whose lower part is made up of a sole from which two vertical sides come, which do not overlap in the manner of so-called ski touring shoes. flaps or overlaps. On the contrary, the upper edges of the two sides are, at least over a large part of their length, disjointed, and they thus define a large upper notch. Tightening means are provided to bring the two edges of the notch closer together, and ensure adaptation of the volume of the shoe to the user's foot. These means must be relatively powerful and guarantee that tightening is carried out over the entire length of the notch.

Document EP 3725175 describes a ski boot in which the upper notch is covered with a relatively rigid tongue and a tightening device comprising a cable and winder tensioning mechanism ensures tensioning of the cable. This construction has several disadvantages. First of all, the installation of a rigid tongue makes the shoe heavier and stiffens it in its forward bending movement. Secondly, the friction generated by the friction of the cable inside the loops results in the upper part of the cutout being much tighter than the lower part. In addition, the stronger we want to exert tightening, the greater the difference in tightening will be between the front part and the rear part of the notch. Finally, the upper part of the lower portion of the hull is relatively poorly tightened by this device.

It is in particular these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a sports shoe which advantageously combines lightness, rigidity and effectiveness of the means for tightening the bottom of the shell. In particular, the invention aims to provide a ski boot suitable for ski touring, the bottom of the shell of which has an upper notch and for which there is uniformity of tightening over the entire length of this notch.

To this end, the invention relates to a ski boot, comprising an essentially rigid outer shell adapted to receive the foot of a user; said outer shell being made up of a bottom of the shell and a collar fixed to the bottom of the shell so as to be able to pivot and capable of surrounding the lower part of the user's leg; said bottom of the shell comprising a sole, a medial sidewall and a lateral sidewall, the upper edges of each of these sides being disjointed and thus defining an upper notch which extends between an anterior zone, located near the front portion of the bottom hull and a posterior area, located near the upper part of the bottom of the hull; said bottom of the hull being equipped with tightening means which include:

- a cable, said cable being fixed using a first anchor on the bottom of the hull;

- a cable tensioning mechanism;

- a cover, fixed by at least a second anchor on the bottom of the hull;

- a strap, fixed by a third anchor; And

- a plurality of passers-by;

said shoe being characterized in that:

- said first anchor is placed near the posterior zone of the upper notch;

- the cable tensioning mechanism is fixed on the cover;

- at least one of the plurality of loops is fixed on the cover;

- at least one of the loops of the plurality of loops is fixed to a free end of the strap;

- at least two of the loops of the plurality of loops, called the first and second loop of the bottom of the shell are fixed on one of the sides, said first loop being fixed near the rear zone of the notch and said second loop being fixed to proximity of the anterior area of the notch; And

- the cable runs through said plurality of loops from the first anchoring to the cable tensioning mechanism, passing successively through the strap loop, the first bottom of the hull loop, the hood loop and the second bottom of the hull loop.

Preferably, the strap which is made of a flexible material overlaps the posterior zone of the upper notch, while the cover which is made of a rigid material overlaps the anterior zone of the upper notch.

The cable route defines two adjacent and successive lacing zones; the first lacing zone being constituted by the first anchoring as well as the passage of the cable through the loop of the flexible strap and through a first loop at the bottom of the shell; while the second lacing zone being constituted by the passage of the cable through the hood loop and through a second loop at the bottom of the shell as well as the tensioning of the cable by the tensioning mechanism.

Preferably, the first anchor is placed on the bottom of the hull, above the articulation axis of the collar, the same is true for the third anchor which is also placed above the axis of articulation. joint. Thus, the first anchor and the third anchor are hidden by the collar when it is in the straight position.

In a preferred embodiment, the first anchor, the first loop of the bottom of the shell as well as the second loop of the bottom of the shell are fixed on the lateral side while the second anchor and the third anchor are fixed on the medial side.

In an alternative embodiment, the first anchor, the first loop of the bottom of the shell as well as the second loop of the bottom of the shell are fixed on the medial sidewall while the second anchorage and the third anchorage are fixed on the lateral sidewall.

The invention and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows, of an embodiment of a sports shoe conforming to its principle, given by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

- there is a perspective view of a ski boot according to the invention, comprising a bottom of the shell and means for tightening the bottom of the shell,

- there is a partial medial view representing the bottom of the shell

- there is a schematic view showing the upper notch of the bottom of the shell and the tightening means thereof.

On the a ski boot 1 is shown. The shoe 1 is a right ski boot, that is to say adapted for the right foot of a user. This shoe 1 is particularly suitable for ski touring.

The shoe 1 includes a lower part intended to receive the user's foot. This lower part 2, called “bottom of shell”, supports the user’s foot while walking or skiing. In practice, the bottom of the hull 2 can be made of plastic. The bottom of the shell 2 extends along a longitudinal axis The upper part of the bottom of the shell 2 forms an opening allowing the passage of the foot. A flexible liner 8, made using different materials such as flexible plastic materials, pads of materials in the form of foam and/or textile materials, is placed inside the shoe 1 for the comfort of the user.

The bottom of the shell 2 comprises a sole 3 and two sides 21 and 22 which extend generally upwards from the sole 3. The sides 21 and 22 are curved in the direction of the sole 3, i.e. say that they have a concavity facing the sole 3. The sides 21 and 22 define with the sole 3 a cavity for receiving the user's foot. The sidewall 21 is a medial sidewall, that is to say facing the user's left shoe, while the sidewall 22 is a lateral sidewall. The sides 21 and 22 are separated by an upper notch 7.

The shoe 1 also includes an upper part for supporting the user's calf, which extends the bottom of the shell 2 and which is designed to surround the lower leg, that is to say the user's calf. This upper part, called "collar 4" is articulated on the bottom of the shell 2, in particular around an axis 41 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and substantially parallel to the sole 3. The articulation between the collar 4 and the bottom shell 2 is, in practice, blocked during the ski descent phases by means of a blocking mechanism not shown, which is arranged at the rear of the collar 4. Thus, the user's ankle is held during the walking or skiing.

The collar 4 has two flaps 41, 42 which overlap at the level of the front face of the user's lower leg. Tightening means 5 of the collar 4 around the user's calf are also provided to press the two flaps 41, 42 and thus reduce the circumference of the collar. These means 5 include a self-gripping strip 51 and a device for tensioning this strip comprising a lever and a toggle mechanism 52.

The bottom of the shell 2 is also provided with clamping means 6 whose function is to exert a force on the sides 21, 22 in order to bend them and adjust the interior volume of the bottom of the shell. These tightening means include a cover 63, a strap 64, a cable 61, a cable tensioning mechanism 62 and a plurality of loops 651, 652, 653, 654.

The cable 611 is fixed to the bottom of the hull 2 using a first anchor 611. This anchor is, for example, made by a screw and a nut. The first anchor 611 is placed above the articulation axis of the collar 4 on the lateral side 22 of the bottom of the shell 2 and preferably in a portion of the bottom of the shell which is hidden by the lateral side of the lower part 41 of collar 4.

The cover 63 is fixed on the medial side 21 by at least one second anchoring 631, visible at the . The second anchor 631 can be made in any suitable manner, such as for example, using a rivet. The cover 63 is a relatively rigid part, preferably with a rigidity at least equivalent to that of the bottom of the shell. The cover overlaps the notch 7 at a central zone thereof. Thus the lateral end 632 of the cover 63 rests on the upper edge of the lateral side 22. At least one of the loops, called the cover loop 653, is fixed on this side end of the cover. The tensioning mechanism 62 of the cable 61 is fixed on the cover 63. Preferably, it is fixed on the central portion of the cover, that is to say on the portion thereof which is located above the notch 7. The cable tensioning mechanism comprises, in a known manner, a spool for storing the superfluous portion of cable which is not used in the lacing zones. It also includes a device which allows the cable to be wound/unwound and then blocked/unblocked on demand according to the user's tightening/loosening wishes. The device is operated using a rotating wheel 621 placed at the top of the mechanism.

The strap 64 is anchored by a third anchor 641 on the medial side 21 of the bottom of the shell 2 at a position facing that of the first anchor 611. Thus, the third anchor 641 is positioned above the hinge axis 41 of the necklace. The third anchor 641 is visible at the . It will be noted that the represents in dotted line the contour of the collar 4. We can thus see that the third anchoring is placed in a portion of the bottom of the shell which is hidden by the medial side of the lower part of the collar 4. The strap is made of a material flexible which can be of textile type or of plastic type. It is long enough for it to overlap the upper notch 7 at the level of the posterior zone 72 thereof. A loop, called strap loop 654, is fixed to the free end of the strap in such a way that it rests on the lateral side 22.

A gaiter 23 is placed on the upper notch 7 in order to guarantee the tightness of the bottom of the shell. This gaiter is made of very flexible material so as not to interfere with the operation of the tightening means at the bottom of the shell. Said strap 64 and said cover 63 are placed above the gaiter 23.

There allows us to understand the operation of the bottom shell tightening device of the invention and the advantages it presents over the devices fitted to ski boots of the prior art. This is a schematic view which represents the upper notch 7. This extends from a front zone 71, which is shown in the figure by a gray ellipse, to a rear zone 72, also shown by a gray ellipse. The front zone 71 of the notch 7 is located near the front portion of the shoe, that is to say in a portion of the shell which constitutes a box and which is relatively difficult to deform. On the other hand, the rear zone 72 of the notch 7 is located at the level of the top of the bottom of the shell. The portions of the sides 21, 22 which border the rear zone 72 are much easier to deform than those which border the front zone 71. There is a correlation between the ability to deform of the different portions of the sides 21, 22 and the ease tightening at these portions

Along the longitudinal axis X of the shoe, the cable follows a reverse path compared to the devices of the prior art. In fact, the cable is fixed on the lateral side 22 in a portion of the latter which borders the posterior zone 72 of the notch 7. From the first anchoring, 611, the cable travels a lacing path which makes it pass through the strap loop 654, then in the first lower hull loop 651, then in the hood loop 653, then in the second lower hull loop 652 and finally it enters the reel cable tensioning mechanism where it is put under tension.

Even if there is only one cable, two adjacent and successive lacing zones can be defined. The first lacing zone is constituted by the first anchor 611, the strap loop 654 and the first shell bottom loop 651. This is the lacing zone of the posterior zone 72 of the notch 7, it that is to say an area where tightening is easier to do. The second lacing zone 71 is made up of the hood loop 653, the second lower shell loop 652 and the cable tensioning mechanism 62. This is the lacing zone of the front zone 71 of the notch 7, that is to say a zone where tightening is made more difficult by the relative lack of flexibility of the sides 21, 22 which border it.

Although we seek to limit friction between the cable and the passers-by, they are nevertheless always present. In addition, they are more important in the first lacing zone than in the second lacing zone because the first is further away from the cable tensioning mechanism. Consequently, for a certain tensioning force on the cable as exerted by the cable tensioner, there will be a greater tightening force in the second lacing zone than in the first lacing zone, in which part of the lacing power is dissipated in friction. However, as explained above, the second lacing zone is structurally more difficult to tighten than the first lacing zone. We see, therefore, that for a certain tensioning force of the cable, the tightening of the two lacing zones is made more homogeneous by the fact that the cable tensioning mechanism acts first on the second tightening zone, that located at the forefoot of the shoe, before acting on the first tightening zone, that located near the upper part of the bottom of the shell.

On the other hand, the installation of the cable tensioning mechanism 62 on the cover 63, preferably in a central position relative to the notch makes it easier for the user to tighten it. Indeed, at the end of the tightening process, and if the user wishes, he will have to exert an increasingly strong tightening torque on the rotary wheel 621 of the tensioning mechanism 62. In practice, the stronger the user exerts a tightening torque, the more he will exert a force directed along the axis of rotation of the wheel. This force which is exerted on the cover 63, which is rigid and rests on the two edges of the notch, will have the effect of accentuating the bending of the sides 21, 22 and thus facilitating tightening.

Advantageously, the first anchor 611 and the third anchor 641 are located relatively high on the bottom of the shell in order to ensure good support for the foot along a line which surrounds the instep and the heel and which is commonly called the Short perimeter heel. Tightening along this line is essential to the skier's comfort and performance because it keeps the heel firmly seated inside the heel counter. Preferably, the first 611 and the third anchoring 641 are located at the same level, or else, above the articulation axis 41 of the collar so that on the one hand the tightening is optimal and on the other ensures that these anchors can be hidden by the lower part of the collar. In the embodiment described, the first and third anchoring 611, 641 are placed a few centimeters above the axis 41, but it is entirely possible to use the means for fixing the collar on the bottom of the hull at the level of axis 41 as first and third anchoring

As described above, the strap 64 is made of a flexible material. In addition, it is relatively long to be able to completely overlap the entire width of the posterior zone 72 of the notch 7. This flexibility and its length have on the one hand the effect that comfort is improved, but on the other hand provide a means practical for loosening the means of tightening the bottom of the hull. In fact, when the user wants to remove their shoe, they start by unlocking the cable tensioning mechanism. The cable then relaxes and the shoe is loosened, but it is not open enough to allow the foot to escape. The user can then easily grip the strap 64 by its central portion in order to move it aside. In doing so, the strap loop 654 exerts traction on the cable and it unwinds from the spool which is located in the cable tensioning mechanism. The length of the cable then allows the strap to move as far away as possible from the bottom of the shell and extraction of the foot is then possible and facilitated.

In the embodiment described here, the second and third anchoring 631, 641 are placed on the medial sidewall 21, while the first and second lacing zone are placed on the lateral side of the bottom of the shell. We can of course reverse this configuration without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, we will not depart from the scope of the invention if we carry out any configuration equivalent to those described here.

Claims (8)

- Ski boot (1), comprising an essentially rigid outer shell adapted to accommodate a user's foot; said outer shell consisting of a lower shell (2) and a collar (4) fixed to the lower shell so as to be able to pivot and able to surround the lower part of the user's leg; said bottom of the shell comprising a sole (3), a medial sidewall (21) and a lateral sidewall (22), the upper edges of each of these sides being disjointed and thus defining an upper notch (7) which extends between a anterior zone (71), located near the front portion of the bottom of the shell and a rear zone (72), located near the upper part of the bottom of the shell; said bottom of the hull being equipped with tightening means which include:
- a cable (61), said cable being fixed using a first anchor (611) on the bottom of the hull;
- a cable tensioning mechanism (62);
- a cover (63), fixed by at least one second anchor (631) on the bottom of the hull;
- a strap (64), fixed by a third anchor (641); And
- a plurality of passers-by (651, 652, 653, 654);
said shoe being characterized in that:
- said first anchor (611) is placed near the rear zone (72) of the upper notch (7);
- the cable tensioning mechanism is fixed on the cover (63);
- at least one of the loops (653) of the plurality of loops is fixed on the cover (63);
- at least one of the loops (654) of the plurality of loops is fixed to a free end of the flexible strap (64);
- at least two of the loops of the plurality of loops, called first (651) second loop (652) of the bottom of the shell are fixed on one of the sides (21, 22), said first loop (651) being fixed near the posterior zone (72) of the notch (7) and said second loop (652) being fixed near the front zone (71) of the notch (7);
- the cable runs through said plurality of loops from the first anchor (611) to the cable tensioning mechanism (62) - Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the strap (64) is made of a flexible material and that it overlaps the posterior zone (72) of the upper notch (7). - Shoe according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (63) is made of a rigid material and that it overlaps the front zone (71) of the upper notch (7).' - Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the path of the cable defines two adjacent and successive lacing zones; the first lacing zone (614) being constituted by the first anchor (611) as well as the passage of the cable (61) in the loop (654) of the flexible strap (64) and in a first loop (651) of the bottom of the shell; while the second lacing zone (613) being constituted by the passage of the cable in the loop (653) of the hood (63) and in a second loop (652) at the bottom of the shell as well as the tensioning of the cable by the tensor mechanism (62). - Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gaiter (23) is placed on the upper notch (7) in order to guarantee the tightness of the bottom of the shell, said flexible strap (64) and said hood (63) being placed above said gaiter (23) - Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first anchor (611) is placed on the bottom of the shell, above the hinge pin (41) of the collar (4) and in that the third anchor (641) is also placed above the hinge pin (41) - Shoe according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first anchor (611) and the third (641) are hidden by the collar when the latter is in the upright position. - Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first anchor (611), the first loop (651) of the bottom of the shell as well as the second loop (652) of the bottom of the shell are fixed on the lateral side ( 22) while the second anchor (631) and the third anchor (641) are fixed on the medial sidewall (21).