US20060174516A1 - Sports boot - Google Patents
Sports boot Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060174516A1 US20060174516A1 US11/346,253 US34625306A US2006174516A1 US 20060174516 A1 US20060174516 A1 US 20060174516A1 US 34625306 A US34625306 A US 34625306A US 2006174516 A1 US2006174516 A1 US 2006174516A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- handle
- lace
- boot
- strand
- affixed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C7/00—Holding-devices for laces
- A43C7/04—Hinged devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
- A43B5/0415—Accessories
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C11/00—Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes
- A43C11/16—Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like
- A43C11/165—Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C7/00—Holding-devices for laces
Definitions
- the invention relates to an article of footwear and, specifically, to a sports boot, and, more specifically, to a sports boot adapted to be retained on a sports apparatus.
- the invention relates to boots of the aforementioned types for use in the fields of endeavor such as snowsurfing or snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, including mountain climbing and glacier traveling, skating, including inline skating, skateboarding, and others.
- the boot be flexible.
- a flexible or supple boot makes it easier to walk or execute acrobatic figures while steering the board.
- a boot extends longitudinally between the heel and the toe.
- the boot includes a sole, an upper, and a means for tightening the upper.
- the latter can include keepers, at least one lace, a device for reversibly blocking at least one strand of the lace, as well as a strand traction handle.
- the boot can also include a device for removably affixing the handle to the upper. This structure facilitates the use of the boot.
- the tightening of the boot is achieved simply by two coordinated actions, namely, tensioning the lace by traction on the handle, on the one hand, and maintaining the tension in the area of the keepers by putting the blocking device in a blocking position, on the other hand.
- Loosening of the boot results from the blocking device being put in an unblocking situation.
- the handle is affixed to the upper so as not to hinder walking or the steering of the apparatus, i.e., the snowboard. Consequently, prior to the loosening of the boot, the handle is separated from the upper.
- the prior art has proposed to associate a lug to a main body to form the handle.
- the lug is an extension piece that allows fixing the body to the upper of the boot. It suffices to position the handle in the area of the opening of the upper, such that the main body is outside and the lug slides inside.
- a simple push positions the handle on the upper, the latter ending up pinched between the body and the lug. Retaining the handle on the upper prevents hindrance from various obstacles. The resulting advantage is a comfortable use of the boot.
- the boot can pass over a bush in the snow. There, a branch can rub against the boot. Sometimes, the branch becomes inserted between the upper and a strand of the lace. This can induce an III-timed unhooking of the handle or hinder the steering.
- An object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawback by providing a boot that improves upon boots of the prior art.
- one of the objects of the invention is to reduce substantially, or even eliminate, the risk of hindrance between a non-active portion of lace and an obstacle.
- the invention aims at preventing the portion of the lace that extends from the blocking device to the handle from becoming hooked to an obstacle.
- the invention proposes a boot including a sole, an upper, and a mechanism for tightening the upper, the mechanism for tightening the upper including lace keepers or guides, at least one lace, a device for blocking at least one strand of the lace, as well as a handle for tensioning the strand, the boot further including a device for removably affixing the handle to the upper.
- a storing device for the boot according to the invention allows the portion of the strand that extends between the blocking device and the handle to be stored.
- this portion of the strand is not loose in the sense that it is not separated from the upper once the storing is done.
- the non-active portion of the lace can hardly ever, or not ever, become hindered by an obstacle. In particular, it is very unlikely that a projecting obstacle could become hooked to a strand of the lace.
- the handle is better retained on the upper and the rider has greater freedom to steer the sports apparatus, such as the snowboard.
- FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a boot according to the described embodiment, in a case where the handle is not affixed to the upper;
- FIG. 2 is a partial enlargement of FIG. 1 showing part of the device for affixing the handle to the upper;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle of the boot FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-section showing the handle affixed to the upper
- FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 1 , in a case where the handle is affixed to the upper, and where the portion of the strand of lace that extends between the blocking device and the handle is not stored;
- FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 , in a case where the portion of the strand is stored.
- the embodiment described hereinafter relates more particularly to a snowboard boot.
- the invention applies to other fields such as those mentioned above.
- FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate an embodiment of the invention.
- a snowboard boot 1 is adapted to receive the user's foot.
- the boot 1 includes an external sole 2 and an upper 3 .
- the boot 1 extends lengthwise between the heel 4 and the toe 5 , or front end, and widthwise between a lateral side 6 and a medial side 7 .
- the upper 3 includes a lower portion 10 provided to surround the foot, and an upper portion 11 provided to surround part of the lower leg.
- the upper could also be provided for the upper to only include a lower portion.
- the boot 1 is structured so as to allow a good rolling movement of the foot when walking and the tilting of the lower leg when steering the board. It is for this reason that the sole 2 and the upper 3 are relatively flexible.
- the boot could be provided to be more rigid in order to facilitate certain steering styles or certain practices.
- the upper 3 includes an outer envelope 12 that includes a lateral quarter 13 and a medial quarter 14 , and a tongue 15 .
- the tongue connects the quarters 13 , 14 to one another to provide the outer envelope 12 with continuity. However, it could be provided not to use any tongue. In such a case, the quarters 13 , 14 can remain separated or can be superimposed, overlapped.
- a tightening mechanism is provided to reversibly tighten the outer envelope 12 .
- the tightening mechanism includes keepers or guides 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 affixed to the quarters 13 , 14 of the outer envelope 12 , and possibly in the vicinity of the tip 5 , at the junction of the quarters 13 , 14 .
- Certain keepers 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 are relatively long, whereas others, 20 , 23 , 24 are short.
- Each of the long keepers 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 is similar to a solid body in which a passage is provided.
- Each keeper is made of plastic material, for example. Nylon or polyamide can be used.
- the short keepers are each made in the form of a loop. This loop can be obtained by a folded piece of a strap. A lining with a low friction coefficient can be arranged inside the loop.
- the invention also encompasses the provision of any other keeper structure.
- the first tightening mechanism also includes a lace 30 that follows a path marked out by the keepers.
- the lace 30 alternately crosses a keeper on the lateral quarter 13 and a keeper on the medial quarter 14 , in the lower portion 10 as well as in the upper portion 11 of the upper 3 .
- Other alternative paths/patterns are also encompassed for the lace 30 .
- the lace 30 is arranged so that it is tensioned by traction on a lateral strand 31 and on a medial strand 32 .
- the two strands 31 , 32 are joined to form a loop 33 . It suffices to pull on the loop 33 to tension the lace 30 .
- the result is a tightening of the outer envelope 12 due to the lateral quarter 13 and the medial quarter 14 coming closer to one another.
- each strand 31 , 32 remain free. In such a case, one would have to pull on each of the strands 31 , 32 .
- a reversible blocking device 33 is provided to maintain the tightening of the outer envelope 12 after the lace 30 has been tensioned.
- the blocking device 33 acts on the two strands 31 , 32 of the lace 30 .
- the reversible blocking device 33 act on only one strand 31 , 32 , or that there be one blocking device per strand.
- the reversible blocking mechanism 33 is affixed to the tongue 15 , but could be located elsewhere.
- the blocking device 33 includes a rotational axle of a blocking member, as well as a hollow body 34 , a cavity of which defines at least one path for the passage of each lace strand, on the one hand, and a housing for the blocking member, on the other hand, the blocking member having a circular shape and being free in rotation about the axle, itself movable in a plane that is substantially parallel to the blocking member; the device operating by cooperation of the blocking member with each path for the blocking of each lace strand through a wedging effect, a control member 35 allowing biasing the rotational axle of the blocking member for a displacement in a direction for blocking or unblocking the lace strand(s).
- the blocking device 33 is not shown in detail in the figures as it is well known to one having ordinary skill in the art, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,333.
- a traction handle 45 is provided to facilitate the traction of the loop 33 .
- the handle 45 is affixed to the lace 30 , that is, to each of the two strands 31 , 32 , as is better understood by means of FIG. 3 .
- the handle 45 includes an elongated body 46 that extends between a first end 47 and a second end 48 .
- the body 46 is relatively rigid and made, for example, of a plastic material such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, or the like.
- the body 46 has a generally arch shape for better grip.
- the body 46 is also provided with a middle section greater that is greater than that of a lace strand 31 , 32 to reduce the pressure exerted on the users hand.
- the affixing of the lace strands 31 , 32 requires two passages 49 , 50 provided in the body 46 , in the area of the ends 47 , 48 , respectively, as well as two knots 51 , 52 made on the strands 31 , 32 , respectively.
- the strands 31 , 32 extend through the passages 49 , 50 , and the knots 51 , 52 prevent a relative separation of the handle 45 from the strands 31 , 32 .
- the junction of the strands 31 , 32 is indirect since it is carried out by means of the body 46 .
- a direct junction could also be provided.
- the boot 1 also includes a device 53 for removably affixing the handle 45 to the upper 3 . This retains the handle on the upper when walking or when steering an apparatus.
- a storing device 53 allows storing the portion of the strand 31 , 32 that extends between the blocking device 33 and the handle 45 .
- the object of this arrangement is to prevent a lace strand 31 , 32 , located between the blocking device 33 and the handle 45 , from being loose. In other words, one must avoid creating a space, or at least too large a space, between a lace strand 31 , 32 and the upper 3 of the boot 1 .
- the affixing is carried out according to the principle of male-female reversible nesting.
- a male element 60 of the device 53 is affixed to the body 46 to complete the handle 45 .
- the male element 60 includes a projection 61 , which includes a foot 62 and a head 63 .
- the foot 62 connects the projection 61 to the body 46
- the head 63 demarcates an enlarged free end of the projection 61 .
- the foot 62 and the head 63 each have a cross-section similar to a square, the sides of which are convex.
- the projection 61 projects with respect to a concave surface 64 of the body 46 of the handle 45 , and is located substantially midway between the passages 49 , 50 .
- the projection 61 and the body 46 form a unitary, i.e., one-piece, element, but it could also be provided to fix one to the other by any means.
- the female element 70 of the device 53 includes a body 71 , the periphery of which is extended by a shoulder 72 .
- the body 71 and the shoulder 72 form a unitary, i.e., one-piece, element; but it could alternatively be provided that one be associated with the other by any means.
- the female element 70 is made, for example, of a plastic material, or of an elastic material such as rubber.
- the body 71 demarcates an open cavity 73 that includes a chamber 74 for receiving at least part of the projection 61 , as well as an inlet 75 for the projection 61 to access the chamber 74 .
- the inlet 75 has a reduced cross-section with respect to that of the chamber 74 .
- the shapes of the respective cross-sections of the inlet 75 and of the chamber 74 are complementary to those of the foot 62 and of the head 63 of the projection 61 .
- the cross-sections of the entrance 75 and chamber 74 are each similar to a square, the sides of which are concave.
- the cross-section of the inlet 75 is substantially the same as the cross-section of the foot 62 of the projection 61 , an advantage that will be better understood hereinafter.
- the female element 70 is kept on the upper 3 in the area of the shoulder 72 .
- the latter 72 is, for example, affixed to a cover 76 by a means shown in the form of a stitch. Any other suitable means could also be used.
- the cover 76 itself is affixed to the upper 3 by any means, such as gluing, stitching, or the like.
- the cover 76 can be made of a plastic material, or of a supple material such as leather or a fabric.
- the affixing of the handle 45 to the upper 3 is carried out by inserting the male element 60 in the female element 70 . More specifically, the projection 61 extends through the inlet 75 , so that the head 63 ends up in the chamber 74 .
- a simple manual push suffices. Indeed, the inlet 75 is reversibly elastically deformable. The latter 75 deforms with each passage of the head 63 , when the latter enters the cavity 73 , to recover its initial shape after the passage of the head 63 .
- the separation of the handle 45 from the upper 3 is carried out according to the same principle. A simple manual traction on the handle 45 suffices.
- the inlet 75 reversibly deforms with each passage of the head 63 , when the latter exits the cavity 73 , to recover its initial shape after the passage of the head 63 .
- the removable affixation device 53 allows affixing the handle 45 to a predetermined location on the upper 3 .
- this location is on the lateral side 6 , in the upper portion 11 of the upper 3 .
- a resulting advantage is a good accessibility for the user.
- the storage of the strands 31 , 32 of the lace 30 here calls for the winding principle.
- the removable affixation device 53 merges with the storing device.
- the two devices for removably affixing and for storing are the same device 53 .
- the strands 31 , 32 of the lace 30 are loose.
- the strands 31 , 32 hang between the blocking device 33 and the affixing device 53 .
- the steering of the apparatus is not hindered.
- the position of the handle 45 remains stable. This is due to the respective shapes of the projection 61 and of the cavity 73 .
- the concave and convex surfaces, if they allow rotation, also determine a series of hard spots that oppose the rotation. Consequently, the handle 45 rotates in close succession. This allows obtaining as many stable positions as there are hard spots.
- a resulting advantage is the ease with which the tension of the strands 31 , 32 is adjusted.
- the strands 31 , 32 When stored, the strands 31 , 32 are wound around the male 60 and female 70 elements, that is around the projection 61 and the body 71 .
- the strands 31 , 32 are wound between the body 46 of the handle 45 and the upper 3 . This keeps them visible, which advantageously allows for a visual control of the winding.
- the male element 60 of the movable affixing device 53 is located on the handle 45 , it could alternatively be located on the upper 3 . Consequently, if the female element 70 is located on the upper 3 , it could alternatively be located on the handle 45 .
- a device including a bayonet-type mechanism could be provided.
- the storing of the strands could be carried out otherwise than through winding, through folding in a cavity, for example.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A boot including a sole, an upper, and a mechanism for tightening the upper, the mechanism for tightening the upper including keepers, at least one lace, a device for blocking at least one strand of the lace, as well as a handle for pulling the strand, the boot also including a device for removably affixing the handle to the upper. A storing device allows storing the portion of the strand that extends between the blocking device and the handle.
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 05.01123, filed on Feb. 4, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The invention relates to an article of footwear and, specifically, to a sports boot, and, more specifically, to a sports boot adapted to be retained on a sports apparatus.
- More specifically, the invention relates to boots of the aforementioned types for use in the fields of endeavor such as snowsurfing or snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, including mountain climbing and glacier traveling, skating, including inline skating, skateboarding, and others.
- 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
- For certain fields of sport, it is advantageous that the boot be flexible.
- In the field of snowboarding, for example, a flexible or supple boot makes it easier to walk or execute acrobatic figures while steering the board.
- In a known manner, a boot extends longitudinally between the heel and the toe. The boot includes a sole, an upper, and a means for tightening the upper. The latter can include keepers, at least one lace, a device for reversibly blocking at least one strand of the lace, as well as a strand traction handle. The boot can also include a device for removably affixing the handle to the upper. This structure facilitates the use of the boot.
- Indeed, the tightening of the boot is achieved simply by two coordinated actions, namely, tensioning the lace by traction on the handle, on the one hand, and maintaining the tension in the area of the keepers by putting the blocking device in a blocking position, on the other hand. Loosening of the boot results from the blocking device being put in an unblocking situation.
- After the boot is tightened, the handle is affixed to the upper so as not to hinder walking or the steering of the apparatus, i.e., the snowboard. Consequently, prior to the loosening of the boot, the handle is separated from the upper.
- For affixing the handle to the upper, the prior art has proposed to associate a lug to a main body to form the handle. The lug is an extension piece that allows fixing the body to the upper of the boot. It suffices to position the handle in the area of the opening of the upper, such that the main body is outside and the lug slides inside. A simple push positions the handle on the upper, the latter ending up pinched between the body and the lug. Retaining the handle on the upper prevents hindrance from various obstacles. The resulting advantage is a comfortable use of the boot.
- However, it sometimes appears that a non-active portion of the lace that connects the blocking device to the handle becomes hindered by an obstacle. A strand of the lace may be loose and get caught in a projecting obstacle.
- In snowboarding, for example, the boot can pass over a bush in the snow. There, a branch can rub against the boot. Sometimes, the branch becomes inserted between the upper and a strand of the lace. This can induce an III-timed unhooking of the handle or hinder the steering.
- An object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawback by providing a boot that improves upon boots of the prior art. Thus, one of the objects of the invention is to reduce substantially, or even eliminate, the risk of hindrance between a non-active portion of lace and an obstacle. In other words, the invention aims at preventing the portion of the lace that extends from the blocking device to the handle from becoming hooked to an obstacle.
- To this end, the invention proposes a boot including a sole, an upper, and a mechanism for tightening the upper, the mechanism for tightening the upper including lace keepers or guides, at least one lace, a device for blocking at least one strand of the lace, as well as a handle for tensioning the strand, the boot further including a device for removably affixing the handle to the upper. A storing device for the boot according to the invention allows the portion of the strand that extends between the blocking device and the handle to be stored.
- Thus, this portion of the strand is not loose in the sense that it is not separated from the upper once the storing is done. As a result, the non-active portion of the lace can hardly ever, or not ever, become hindered by an obstacle. In particular, it is very unlikely that a projecting obstacle could become hooked to a strand of the lace. Among the resulting advantages is that the handle is better retained on the upper and the rider has greater freedom to steer the sports apparatus, such as the snowboard.
- Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the attached drawings showing, by way of a non-limiting embodiment, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a boot according to the described embodiment, in a case where the handle is not affixed to the upper; -
FIG. 2 is a partial enlargement ofFIG. 1 showing part of the device for affixing the handle to the upper; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle of the bootFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-section showing the handle affixed to the upper; -
FIG. 5 is similar toFIG. 1 , in a case where the handle is affixed to the upper, and where the portion of the strand of lace that extends between the blocking device and the handle is not stored; -
FIG. 6 is similar toFIG. 5 , in a case where the portion of the strand is stored. - The embodiment described hereinafter relates more particularly to a snowboard boot. However, the invention applies to other fields such as those mentioned above.
- FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate an embodiment of the invention.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , asnowboard boot 1 is adapted to receive the user's foot. - In a known manner, the
boot 1 includes anexternal sole 2 and an upper 3. Theboot 1 extends lengthwise between theheel 4 and thetoe 5, or front end, and widthwise between alateral side 6 and amedial side 7. - As shown, the upper 3 includes a
lower portion 10 provided to surround the foot, and anupper portion 11 provided to surround part of the lower leg. However, it could also be provided for the upper to only include a lower portion. - The
boot 1 is structured so as to allow a good rolling movement of the foot when walking and the tilting of the lower leg when steering the board. It is for this reason that the sole 2 and the upper 3 are relatively flexible. - However, the boot could be provided to be more rigid in order to facilitate certain steering styles or certain practices.
- The upper 3 includes an
outer envelope 12 that includes alateral quarter 13 and amedial quarter 14, and atongue 15. The tongue connects thequarters outer envelope 12 with continuity. However, it could be provided not to use any tongue. In such a case, thequarters - A tightening mechanism is provided to reversibly tighten the
outer envelope 12. - The tightening mechanism includes keepers or guides 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 affixed to the
quarters outer envelope 12, and possibly in the vicinity of thetip 5, at the junction of thequarters -
Certain keepers long keepers - The invention also encompasses the provision of any other keeper structure.
- The first tightening mechanism also includes a
lace 30 that follows a path marked out by the keepers. For example, thelace 30 alternately crosses a keeper on thelateral quarter 13 and a keeper on themedial quarter 14, in thelower portion 10 as well as in theupper portion 11 of the upper 3. Other alternative paths/patterns are also encompassed for thelace 30. - According to the present embodiment, the
lace 30 is arranged so that it is tensioned by traction on alateral strand 31 and on amedial strand 32. The twostrands loop 33. It suffices to pull on theloop 33 to tension thelace 30. The result is a tightening of theouter envelope 12 due to thelateral quarter 13 and themedial quarter 14 coming closer to one another. - It could alternatively be provided that each
strand strands - A
reversible blocking device 33 is provided to maintain the tightening of theouter envelope 12 after thelace 30 has been tensioned. The blockingdevice 33 acts on the twostrands lace 30. However, one could alternatively provide that thereversible blocking device 33 act on only onestrand - The
reversible blocking mechanism 33 is affixed to thetongue 15, but could be located elsewhere. - By way of example, the blocking
device 33 includes a rotational axle of a blocking member, as well as ahollow body 34, a cavity of which defines at least one path for the passage of each lace strand, on the one hand, and a housing for the blocking member, on the other hand, the blocking member having a circular shape and being free in rotation about the axle, itself movable in a plane that is substantially parallel to the blocking member; the device operating by cooperation of the blocking member with each path for the blocking of each lace strand through a wedging effect, acontrol member 35 allowing biasing the rotational axle of the blocking member for a displacement in a direction for blocking or unblocking the lace strand(s). - The blocking
device 33 is not shown in detail in the figures as it is well known to one having ordinary skill in the art, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,333. - A traction handle 45 is provided to facilitate the traction of the
loop 33. Thehandle 45 is affixed to thelace 30, that is, to each of the twostrands FIG. 3 . - The
handle 45 includes anelongated body 46 that extends between afirst end 47 and asecond end 48. Thebody 46 is relatively rigid and made, for example, of a plastic material such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, or the like. Thebody 46 has a generally arch shape for better grip. Thebody 46 is also provided with a middle section greater that is greater than that of alace strand lace strands passages body 46, in the area of theends knots strands strands passages knots handle 45 from thestrands strands body 46. However, a direct junction could also be provided. - According to the first embodiment of the invention, the
boot 1 also includes adevice 53 for removably affixing thehandle 45 to the upper 3. This retains the handle on the upper when walking or when steering an apparatus. - According to the invention, a storing
device 53 allows storing the portion of thestrand device 33 and thehandle 45. The object of this arrangement is to prevent alace strand device 33 and thehandle 45, from being loose. In other words, one must avoid creating a space, or at least too large a space, between alace strand boot 1. - Initially, the affixing is carried out according to the principle of male-female reversible nesting.
- As seen clearly in
FIG. 3 , amale element 60 of thedevice 53 is affixed to thebody 46 to complete thehandle 45. Themale element 60 includes aprojection 61, which includes afoot 62 and ahead 63. Thefoot 62 connects theprojection 61 to thebody 46, and thehead 63 demarcates an enlarged free end of theprojection 61. - The
foot 62 and thehead 63 each have a cross-section similar to a square, the sides of which are convex. - The
projection 61 projects with respect to aconcave surface 64 of thebody 46 of thehandle 45, and is located substantially midway between thepassages - The
projection 61 and thebody 46 form a unitary, i.e., one-piece, element, but it could also be provided to fix one to the other by any means. - To receive the
handle 45, the upper 3 is provided with afemale element 70, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4 . Thefemale element 70 of thedevice 53 includes abody 71, the periphery of which is extended by ashoulder 72. Thebody 71 and theshoulder 72 form a unitary, i.e., one-piece, element; but it could alternatively be provided that one be associated with the other by any means. Thefemale element 70 is made, for example, of a plastic material, or of an elastic material such as rubber. - The
body 71 demarcates anopen cavity 73 that includes achamber 74 for receiving at least part of theprojection 61, as well as aninlet 75 for theprojection 61 to access thechamber 74. Theinlet 75 has a reduced cross-section with respect to that of thechamber 74. The shapes of the respective cross-sections of theinlet 75 and of thechamber 74 are complementary to those of thefoot 62 and of thehead 63 of theprojection 61. In this case, the cross-sections of theentrance 75 andchamber 74 are each similar to a square, the sides of which are concave. - The cross-section of the
inlet 75 is substantially the same as the cross-section of thefoot 62 of theprojection 61, an advantage that will be better understood hereinafter. - The
female element 70 is kept on the upper 3 in the area of theshoulder 72. The latter 72 is, for example, affixed to acover 76 by a means shown in the form of a stitch. Any other suitable means could also be used. Thecover 76 itself is affixed to the upper 3 by any means, such as gluing, stitching, or the like. Thecover 76 can be made of a plastic material, or of a supple material such as leather or a fabric. - The affixing of the
handle 45 to the upper 3 is carried out by inserting themale element 60 in thefemale element 70. More specifically, theprojection 61 extends through theinlet 75, so that thehead 63 ends up in thechamber 74. A simple manual push suffices. Indeed, theinlet 75 is reversibly elastically deformable. The latter 75 deforms with each passage of thehead 63, when the latter enters thecavity 73, to recover its initial shape after the passage of thehead 63. - The separation of the
handle 45 from the upper 3 is carried out according to the same principle. A simple manual traction on thehandle 45 suffices. Theinlet 75 reversibly deforms with each passage of thehead 63, when the latter exits thecavity 73, to recover its initial shape after the passage of thehead 63. - As can be better understood by means of
FIGS. 1, 5 , and 6, theremovable affixation device 53 allows affixing thehandle 45 to a predetermined location on the upper 3. In this case, this location is on thelateral side 6, in theupper portion 11 of the upper 3. A resulting advantage is a good accessibility for the user. - Other locations could alternatively be provided.
- The storage of the
strands lace 30 here calls for the winding principle. In the context, and to simplify, theremovable affixation device 53 merges with the storing device. According to the embodiment described, the two devices for removably affixing and for storing, are thesame device 53. - Due to the convex surfaces of the
projection 61 and the concave surfaces of theopen cavity 73, it is possible to rotate thehandle 45 with respect to the upper 3. The rotation is carried out about an axis constituted by theprojection 61. - After having tightened the upper 3 and affixed the
handle 45 to the upper 3 without rotating it, as seen inFIG. 5 , thestrands lace 30 are loose. Thestrands device 33 and the affixingdevice 53. In this case, it is very difficult, or even impossible, for an outside element to be inserted between the upper 3 and astrand - After rotation, the position of the
handle 45 remains stable. This is due to the respective shapes of theprojection 61 and of thecavity 73. The concave and convex surfaces, if they allow rotation, also determine a series of hard spots that oppose the rotation. Consequently, thehandle 45 rotates in close succession. This allows obtaining as many stable positions as there are hard spots. A resulting advantage is the ease with which the tension of thestrands - When stored, the
strands projection 61 and thebody 71. Thestrands body 46 of thehandle 45 and the upper 3. This keeps them visible, which advantageously allows for a visual control of the winding. - From a general standpoint, the invention is embodied from materials and implementation techniques known to the one having ordinary skills in the art.
- The invention is not limited to the embodiment described hereinabove, and includes all technical equivalents within the scope of the claims that follow.
- In particular, although the
male element 60 of themovable affixing device 53 is located on thehandle 45, it could alternatively be located on the upper 3. Consequently, if thefemale element 70 is located on the upper 3, it could alternatively be located on thehandle 45. - It could be provided to store only one lace strand or, in the case a plurality of laces are used, to store more than two lace strands.
- Other structures could be provided for the removable affixation device. For example, a device including a bayonet-type mechanism could be provided.
- Also, the storing of the strands could be carried out otherwise than through winding, through folding in a cavity, for example.
Claims (10)
1. A boot comprising:
a sole;
an upper;
a mechanism to tighten the upper, said mechanism comprising:
at least one lace, said one lace comprising at least one strand;
a plurality of lace guides;
a device for blocking at least said one strand of the lace; and
a handle for pulling the strand;
a device for removably affixing the handle to the upper;
a storing device allowing a portion of the strand extending between the blocking device and the handle to be stored.
2. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the removable affixation device and the storing device are the same device.
3. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the removable affixation device includes a male element and a female element, the male element being located on the handle or on the upper, the female element being located on the upper or on the handle, the affixing being carried out according to the male-female reversible nesting principle.
4. A boot according to claim 3 , wherein:
the male element includes a projection; and
the female element includes a body that demarcates an open cavity.
5. A boot according to claim 4 , wherein:
the handle includes an elongated body with a generally arched shape.
6. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the handle is affixed to each of the two strands of the lace.
7. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the handle is affixed on the lateral side, in the upper portion of the upper.
8. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the blocking device is affixed to the tongue of the upper.
9. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the handle is affixed on the lateral side in the high portion of the upper.
10. A boot according to claim 1 , wherein:
the blocking device is affixed to the tongue of the upper.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR0501123A FR2881626B1 (en) | 2005-02-04 | 2005-02-04 | SHOE FOR THE PRACTICE OF A SPORT |
FR05.01123 | 2005-02-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060174516A1 true US20060174516A1 (en) | 2006-08-10 |
Family
ID=34954353
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/346,253 Abandoned US20060174516A1 (en) | 2005-02-04 | 2006-02-03 | Sports boot |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060174516A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1688055A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3120861U (en) |
FR (1) | FR2881626B1 (en) |
Cited By (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060070261A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2006-04-06 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060143949A1 (en) * | 2004-12-30 | 2006-07-06 | Anne Wiper | Shoelace lockdown system |
US20070130799A1 (en) * | 2005-11-24 | 2007-06-14 | Deeluxe Sportartikel Handels Gmbh | Boot |
US20090287128A1 (en) * | 2008-05-15 | 2009-11-19 | Arni Thor Ingimundarson | Orthopedic devices utilizing rotary tensioning |
US20100269373A1 (en) * | 2009-04-24 | 2010-10-28 | Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc. | Shoe tying aid and method |
US20110030244A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Wade Motawi | Footwear Lacing System |
US20110099843A1 (en) * | 2009-07-07 | 2011-05-05 | Buzrun Co., Ltd. | Device for Tightening Shoelace |
US20120017469A1 (en) * | 2009-06-17 | 2012-01-26 | Kabushiki Kaisha Kurebu | Footwear |
US8302329B2 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2012-11-06 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with counter-supplementing strap |
US8857077B2 (en) | 2010-09-30 | 2014-10-14 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with internal harness |
US20150026936A1 (en) * | 2010-01-21 | 2015-01-29 | Boa Technology, Inc. | Guides for lacing systems |
CN106974366A (en) * | 2017-04-20 | 2017-07-25 | 广州市倍能体育用品有限公司 | A kind of shoestring quick locking and storage device |
US9737116B2 (en) | 2012-12-14 | 2017-08-22 | Vans, Inc. | Footwear retention systems |
US9763808B2 (en) | 2014-05-19 | 2017-09-19 | Ossur Hf | Adjustable prosthetic device |
US10182935B2 (en) | 2014-10-01 | 2019-01-22 | Ossur Hf | Support for articles and methods for using the same |
US10383403B2 (en) | 2012-12-14 | 2019-08-20 | Vans, Inc. | Tensioning systems for footwear |
US10492568B2 (en) | 2014-08-28 | 2019-12-03 | Boa Technology Inc. | Devices and methods for tensioning apparel and other items |
US10499709B2 (en) | 2016-08-02 | 2019-12-10 | Boa Technology Inc. | Tension member guides of a lacing system |
US10512305B2 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2019-12-24 | Ossur Hf | Tightening system with a tension control mechanism |
US10849390B2 (en) | 2003-06-12 | 2020-12-01 | Boa Technology Inc. | Reel based closure system |
US20210337931A1 (en) * | 2016-10-26 | 2021-11-04 | Nike, Inc. | Automated footwear platform having lace cable tensioner |
US11357279B2 (en) | 2017-05-09 | 2022-06-14 | Boa Technology Inc. | Closure components for a helmet layer and methods for installing same |
US12004600B2 (en) | 2016-10-26 | 2024-06-11 | Nike, Inc. | Automated footwear platform having upper elastic tensioner |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE202013003382U1 (en) | 2013-04-11 | 2013-04-25 | JACK WOLFSKIN Ausrüstung für Draussen GmbH & Co. KGaA | A lacing |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4807333A (en) * | 1987-12-03 | 1989-02-28 | Boden Ogden W | Cord lock with cord removal slot |
US6282817B1 (en) * | 1998-07-25 | 2001-09-04 | W.O.W., Inc. | Apparatus and method for lacing |
US20020002781A1 (en) * | 2000-06-27 | 2002-01-10 | Salomon S.A. | Lace tightening device having a pocket for storing a blocking element |
US20030093918A1 (en) * | 2001-11-21 | 2003-05-22 | Salomon S.A. | Boot provided with a gaiter |
US6877256B2 (en) * | 2003-02-11 | 2005-04-12 | K-2 Corporation | Boot and liner with tightening mechanism |
US20050097780A1 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2005-05-12 | Alfred Pellegrini | Footwear having a lace fastening |
US20050126043A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-16 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060179685A1 (en) * | 2005-02-11 | 2006-08-17 | Salomon S.A. | Lacing device for sports footwear |
US20060185193A1 (en) * | 2003-04-23 | 2006-08-24 | Alfred Pellegrini | Footwear with a lace fastening |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2821249B1 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2003-06-13 | Salomon Sa | LACE TIGHTENING DEVICE |
DE20318638U1 (en) * | 2003-12-02 | 2004-04-29 | Deeluxe Sportartikel Handels Gmbh | Clamping device for laces or the like. Schnürmittel |
-
2005
- 2005-02-04 FR FR0501123A patent/FR2881626B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2005-12-12 EP EP05027132A patent/EP1688055A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2006
- 2006-02-03 JP JP2006000664U patent/JP3120861U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-02-03 US US11/346,253 patent/US20060174516A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4807333A (en) * | 1987-12-03 | 1989-02-28 | Boden Ogden W | Cord lock with cord removal slot |
US6282817B1 (en) * | 1998-07-25 | 2001-09-04 | W.O.W., Inc. | Apparatus and method for lacing |
US6725575B2 (en) * | 1998-07-25 | 2004-04-27 | Sporting Innovations Group, Llc | Apparatus and method of lacing |
US20040172851A1 (en) * | 1998-07-25 | 2004-09-09 | Curet William D. | Apparatus and method for lacing |
US20020002781A1 (en) * | 2000-06-27 | 2002-01-10 | Salomon S.A. | Lace tightening device having a pocket for storing a blocking element |
US20030093918A1 (en) * | 2001-11-21 | 2003-05-22 | Salomon S.A. | Boot provided with a gaiter |
US6877256B2 (en) * | 2003-02-11 | 2005-04-12 | K-2 Corporation | Boot and liner with tightening mechanism |
US20060185193A1 (en) * | 2003-04-23 | 2006-08-24 | Alfred Pellegrini | Footwear with a lace fastening |
US20050097780A1 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2005-05-12 | Alfred Pellegrini | Footwear having a lace fastening |
US20050126043A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-16 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060070261A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2006-04-06 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060075659A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2006-04-13 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060075660A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2006-04-13 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060179685A1 (en) * | 2005-02-11 | 2006-08-17 | Salomon S.A. | Lacing device for sports footwear |
Cited By (42)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10849390B2 (en) | 2003-06-12 | 2020-12-01 | Boa Technology Inc. | Reel based closure system |
US7401423B2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2008-07-22 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US7958654B2 (en) | 2003-12-10 | 2011-06-14 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US8418381B2 (en) | 2003-12-10 | 2013-04-16 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US7392602B2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2008-07-01 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060070261A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2006-04-06 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US7293373B2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2007-11-13 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US7658019B2 (en) | 2003-12-10 | 2010-02-09 | The Burton Corporation | Lace system for footwear |
US20060143949A1 (en) * | 2004-12-30 | 2006-07-06 | Anne Wiper | Shoelace lockdown system |
US7735242B2 (en) * | 2005-11-24 | 2010-06-15 | Deeluxe Sportartikel Handels Gmbh | Boot |
US20070130799A1 (en) * | 2005-11-24 | 2007-06-14 | Deeluxe Sportartikel Handels Gmbh | Boot |
US20090287128A1 (en) * | 2008-05-15 | 2009-11-19 | Arni Thor Ingimundarson | Orthopedic devices utilizing rotary tensioning |
US8858482B2 (en) * | 2008-05-15 | 2014-10-14 | Ossur Hf | Orthopedic devices utilizing rotary tensioning |
US10492940B2 (en) | 2008-05-15 | 2019-12-03 | Ossur Hf | Orthopedic devices utilizing rotary tensioning |
US20100269373A1 (en) * | 2009-04-24 | 2010-10-28 | Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc. | Shoe tying aid and method |
US8056265B2 (en) * | 2009-04-24 | 2011-11-15 | Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc. | Shoe tying aid and method |
US8782926B2 (en) * | 2009-06-17 | 2014-07-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Kurebu | Footwear having a lacing system |
US20120017469A1 (en) * | 2009-06-17 | 2012-01-26 | Kabushiki Kaisha Kurebu | Footwear |
US8806778B2 (en) | 2009-06-17 | 2014-08-19 | Kabushiki Kaisha Kurebu | Footwear having lacing system connecting footwear and inner lining |
US20110099843A1 (en) * | 2009-07-07 | 2011-05-05 | Buzrun Co., Ltd. | Device for Tightening Shoelace |
US20110030244A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Wade Motawi | Footwear Lacing System |
US8474157B2 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2013-07-02 | Pierre-Andre Senizergues | Footwear lacing system |
US8656612B2 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2014-02-25 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with counter-supplementing strap |
US8302329B2 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2012-11-06 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with counter-supplementing strap |
US20150026936A1 (en) * | 2010-01-21 | 2015-01-29 | Boa Technology, Inc. | Guides for lacing systems |
US9854873B2 (en) * | 2010-01-21 | 2018-01-02 | Boa Technology Inc. | Guides for lacing systems |
US10278454B2 (en) | 2010-09-30 | 2019-05-07 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with internal harness |
US8857077B2 (en) | 2010-09-30 | 2014-10-14 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with internal harness |
US9737116B2 (en) | 2012-12-14 | 2017-08-22 | Vans, Inc. | Footwear retention systems |
US10383403B2 (en) | 2012-12-14 | 2019-08-20 | Vans, Inc. | Tensioning systems for footwear |
US9763808B2 (en) | 2014-05-19 | 2017-09-19 | Ossur Hf | Adjustable prosthetic device |
US10512305B2 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2019-12-24 | Ossur Hf | Tightening system with a tension control mechanism |
US10492568B2 (en) | 2014-08-28 | 2019-12-03 | Boa Technology Inc. | Devices and methods for tensioning apparel and other items |
US10182935B2 (en) | 2014-10-01 | 2019-01-22 | Ossur Hf | Support for articles and methods for using the same |
US11304838B2 (en) | 2014-10-01 | 2022-04-19 | Ossur Hf | Support for articles and methods for using the same |
US10499709B2 (en) | 2016-08-02 | 2019-12-10 | Boa Technology Inc. | Tension member guides of a lacing system |
US11089837B2 (en) | 2016-08-02 | 2021-08-17 | Boa Technology Inc. | Tension member guides for lacing systems |
US20210337931A1 (en) * | 2016-10-26 | 2021-11-04 | Nike, Inc. | Automated footwear platform having lace cable tensioner |
US12004600B2 (en) | 2016-10-26 | 2024-06-11 | Nike, Inc. | Automated footwear platform having upper elastic tensioner |
US12022915B2 (en) * | 2016-10-26 | 2024-07-02 | Nike, Inc. | Automated footwear platform having lace cable tensioner |
CN106974366A (en) * | 2017-04-20 | 2017-07-25 | 广州市倍能体育用品有限公司 | A kind of shoestring quick locking and storage device |
US11357279B2 (en) | 2017-05-09 | 2022-06-14 | Boa Technology Inc. | Closure components for a helmet layer and methods for installing same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR2881626A1 (en) | 2006-08-11 |
FR2881626B1 (en) | 2007-04-13 |
EP1688055A1 (en) | 2006-08-09 |
JP3120861U (en) | 2006-04-20 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20060174516A1 (en) | Sports boot | |
US7159340B2 (en) | Boot for sporting activities | |
US20090100717A1 (en) | Boot with improved tightening of upper | |
US6802439B2 (en) | Lace-up tightening device for an article of footwear, and an article of footwear equipped with such device | |
US7661205B2 (en) | Automated tightening shoe | |
US8387282B2 (en) | Cable tightening system for an article of footwear | |
US7757412B2 (en) | Footwear with improved heel support | |
JP5451604B2 (en) | Automatic tightening shoes | |
US6954996B2 (en) | Sports boot | |
US5791021A (en) | Cable fastener | |
US5647104A (en) | Cable fastener | |
US4107856A (en) | Fast closing athletic boot | |
US5154011A (en) | Cross country ski boot with a covering flap | |
US20110088283A1 (en) | Footwear with improved tightening of upper | |
US9049898B2 (en) | Footwear with improved upper | |
US20090119952A1 (en) | Boot with improved tightening of the upper | |
US6550159B1 (en) | Skate having dynamic range of motion | |
US20100192411A1 (en) | Device for locking flexible strands | |
US20130086818A1 (en) | Footwear with improved tightening of upper | |
US20110185595A1 (en) | Footwear with improved upper | |
MXPA06010502A (en) | Ankle support to be attached to footwear and footwear equipped with it. | |
KR102689328B1 (en) | Gloves with lacing system | |
US9572405B2 (en) | Fastening mechanism for ice skates | |
WO2018234750A1 (en) | A shoelace retainer | |
CA1046271A (en) | Fast closing athletic boot |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SALOMON S.A., FRANCE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PERUZZO, GIUSTIANO;REEL/FRAME:017729/0617 Effective date: 20060310 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |