US3864769A

US3864769A - Means for moving a ski boot buckle into and out of a closed position

Info

Publication number: US3864769A
Application number: US331690A
Authority: US
Inventors: Munroe H Hamilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-29
Filing date: 1973-02-12
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11

Abstract

A ski accessory includes buckle operating means for moving ski boot buckle prongs into and out of holding positions. The appliance comprises a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of a buckle prong. A lever arm portion extending outwardly from one of the gripper sides constitutes a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move a buckle prong. A casing member may be provided to protectively enclose the appliance and the casing may also be utilized to hold various items carried by a skier including a screw driver element designed to be detachably fitted into the lever body.

Description

United States Patent Hamilton MEANS FOR MOVING A SKI BOOT BUCKLE INTO AND OUT OF A CLOSED POSITION Inventor: Munroe ll. Hamilton, 66 Robbins Rd., Lexington. Mass. 02173 Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 331,690

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 138.477. April 29. 1971, abandoned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Beeman 74/544 UX McKee 74/544 X 51 Feb. 11, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 902.296 8/l962 Great Britain............... 24/205.l5 H

Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant E.\'aminerRoscoe V. Parker Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm- Munroe H. Hamilton [57] ABSTRACT A ski accessory includes buckle operating means for moving ski boot buckle prongs into and out of holding positions. The appliance comprises a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of a buckle prong. A lever arm portion extending outwardly from one of the gripper sides constitutes a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move a buckle prong. A casing member may be provided to protectively enclose the appliance and the casing may also be utilized to hold various items carried by a skier including a screw driver element designed to be detachably fitted into the lever body.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBI 1 i975 3 9.

SHEET 10$ 2 PATENTEB FEB1 I \875 SHEET 2 0r 2 MEANS FOR MOVING A SKI BOOT BUCKLE INTO AND OUT OF A CLOSED POSITION This invention relates to ski accessories and in particular buckle operating means for positioning a buckle fastening of the class commonly employed in ski boot buckles in which a pivoting prong formed with a notched underside is engaged through a holding loop in a position to provide tightening.

During recent years. the use of ski boots with buckle fastenings has been almost universally adopted by skiers in place of standard boot lacings commonly used for many years. Buckle fastenings are found to be more satisfactory, and one of the advantages of the buckle fastening over lacings is the convenience afforded by buckles in quickly securing a ski boot in place, and especially in adjusting the tension exerted at any desired point, made possible by tightening or loosening individual buckles. This may, for example, be done to relieve a pressure-sensitive area in the foot, or more frequently, to obtain increased supporting effect at a loealized area in the boot.

However, certain inconveniences are experienced with the buckle type fastening. For example, in putting on ski boots some of the buckles are not as easily reached as others and correct adjustment of tension becomes more difficult, especially if the skiers hands are cold. Also, it frequently happens that after the first run down a ski slope, greater holding tension in some of the buckles may be desired by the skier. Thus there is developed more resistance in the buckle tensioning mechanism to being moved into and out of a holding position. lnconvenience may be further experienced by the skier in setting a less accessible buckle prong in a desired position with a buckle loop and then forcing the end of the buckle prong down into a fully closed position. This is particularly so in the case of women and children skiers. Another instance of difficulty experienced may be in lifting or releasing one or more buckle prongs from a closed portion, particularly where there is ice formation in or around the buckle pivot components. It is also found that at a time when the skier wishes to remove the ski boots and he releases one buckle after another, tension progressively increases in the remaining buckles, and as a result, the last one or two buckles to be released may be under sufficiently increased tension so that they will resist release by normal finger grip pressure, particularly if the fingers are cold or if the finger grip pressure is exerted by a woman or child skier.

It is a chief object of the invention, therefore, to deal with the problems indicated and to devise improved buckle operating means for ski boot buckles by means of which inconvenience may be minimized, the reach of the skier may be desirably extended, and finger grip pressure is more effectively utilized.

Another object is to devise a lever type ski appliance which, includes a prong engaging part for detachably fitting on over a buckle prong when in an opened position and pivotally forcing the buckle into a fully closed position with a minimum of effort being utilized.

Another object is to provide improved lever means for engaging with and lifting a buckle prong out of a closed position when under considerable tension or in frozen state.

A further object is to provide a buckle operating appliance which includes screw driver blade means.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a casing member in which a lever body may be contained and protectively enclosed.

And still another object is to devise a buckle operating appliance which is of compact size so as to be readily inserted in the pocket ofa ski parka, and which can. if desired, be conveniently carried in a case which certain other accessories commonly carried by skiers may be combined. including car keys. ski lift fees and cosmetic items.

The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention selected for purposes of iilustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment ofski boot buckle operating means of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the buckle operating means of the invention engaged with a ski boot buckle prong in one operative position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a buckle carrying case and screw driver assembly;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the buckle operating means of FIG. 6 and further illustrating the screw driver part removed from the carrying case;

FIG. 8 is a plan view ofthe case and buckle operating means with the screw driver detachably fitted therein;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

From recognition of inconveniences experienced by skiers in the use of ski boot buckles of the class noted, I have devised buckle operating means which can be conveniently held in the fingers and used to facilitate adjustment of such ski boot buckles. A preferred embodiment of buckle operation means is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive.

In general, the buckle operating means of the invention comprises a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of a buckle prong. A lever arm portion extends outwardly from one of the gripper sides in a position to constitute a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move the buckle prong. Extending between one of the gripper sides and opposite side edges of the handle portion are spaced apart bridging sections arranged to provide a reinforced mid-section resistant to flexing when the manually applied pressure is transmitted through the gripper sides to move a buckle prong. When thus utilized, the handle part constitutes a power arm.

As an aid to more fully understanding use of the buckle operating means of the invention, it is believed to be helpful to consider in further detail construction ofa typical form of ski boot now in use and with which buckles are utilized. Arrow S (FIG. 5) denotes fragmentarily an upper portion of a common form of ski boot. Attention is directed to the fact that most ski boots now in use are formed ofa hard, relatively inflexible plastic material which is usually molded. Mounted on the boot S is a buckle prong supporting part S2 and a metal loop S6, together with a loop supporting part S3. The parts are arranged so that the loop S6 may be drawn into overlapping relation to the part S2 by means of a prong S4, rotatably mounted in a bearingSS and formed with a notched underside S7. The prong S4 is intended to be of a size illustrative of more recently used prong shapes which tend to have a tapering form and which may be of varying widths of from one-fourth inch up to three-fourth inches and larger.

It is pointed out that the highly inflexible nature of materials used to provide a maximum degree of supportion action for the skier may be rendered even more unyielding with exposure to low temperatures common to skiing areas. Thus buckle means utilized for exerting tension and drawing the upper parts S2 and S3 together may require a considerable degree of force especially where the buckles are tightened in a cold environment, and it is in this connection that the buckle operating means of the invention finds one particular application. Since it is customary to provide on each ski boot as many as four to six buckle assemblies and each buckle assembly includes a buckle prong and a buckle loop through which the prong may be engaged, a great deal of buckle adjustment, required during a days skiing, may be facilitated by the buckler of the invention.

Considering the buckle operating means of the invention in more detail, reference character L indicates generally a lever body comprised by a relatively rigid material. One preferred material may, for example, consist of a plastic such as a plastic of the Nylon class manufactured and sold by duPont Company under the name DELRIN. This plastic is capable of retaining its resistance to bending without becoming brittle in tem peratures encountered in skiing, i.e., l below zero to 30 to 40 F. above zero. Materials such as steel, aluminum and the like may also be used.

The lever body L is formed at one end with spaced apart

prong gripper sides

2 and 4 and in the position shown in FIG. 1, numeral 2 refers to an upper gripper side while numeral 4 refers to a lower gripper side. The gripper sides may be joined together by side wall sections as 3 and 5 to constitute a tubular enclosure, and the

sides

2 and 4 are specially designed to define a prong-receiving opening of a size which will accommodate a range of prong-widths, i.e., one-fourth inch to three-fourth inches and larger, as earlier noted. This provides for the outer flaring end of relatively wide prongs being loosely received therein. It is pointed out that the gripper sides when loosely slid on over the prong S4, in the manner shown in FIG. 5, may be moved upwardly and downwardly into an interlocking position with the prong so that a firm gripping action is realized and yet the

sides

2 and 4 may at any time be readily disengaged and pulled away from the prong.

An important feature of the lever body L is an elongated handle portion or power arm 6 which extends outwardly from the bottom side 4, as shown in FIG. 4 and which may be ofa length suitable for being gripped in the hand as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 5.

In accordance with the invention, I further provide reinforcing means constructed at the junction of handle 6 with gripper side 4. There is thus realized means for resisting flexing at this particular junction point when manually applied pressure is transmitted through the gripper sides to move the buckle prong S4. In one preferred form of reinforcing, I may utilize vertically disposed bridging wall sections as 8 and 10 which extend from the top of gripper side 2 angularly outwardly and downwardly to merge with and be joined with respective opposite edges of handle 6, as is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. By means of this arrangement, I find that both of the side edges of the handle are solidly joined to the top side 2 with sufficient rigidity to resist flexing when leverage forces of a magnitude required in overcoming the resistance of a ski boot buckle are manually exerted on the handle and through the gripper sides 2 and 4, as suggested in FIG. 5.

A further reinforcement and strengthening of the gripper sides may also be realized, I find, by joining them together with inner spaced walls W1 and W2 which define tool retaining sockets as W3, W4 and W5, better shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

In using the lever L in the manner indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 5, it will be observed that the prong S4 and the lever body L cooperate to carry out a mechanical leverage of the second class wherein the fulcrum is represented by the pivot S5 and the resistance, as represented by the loop S3, is located between the fulcrum and the point of application of force at the end of the prong and lever L. There may thus be realized a relatively large tensioning force on the buckle loop by the application of a relatively small force manually applied through the buckler. This lever action may be advantageously used to over come the resistance of the loop S3 not only to swing the prong S4 up or down but, by using the tubular enclosure to contain the prong S4 against a sudden release or snap which can injure a skiers finger and cuase much discomfort. It is also pointed out that by making the lever with an elongated handle portion, the skiers reach is extended appreciably and the operation of working buckles when in an awkward position is expedited.

While the tubular end of the lever, together with its handle portion above described, may be slid on over the end of a buckle prong to carry out most buckle operating movements required by a skier in either fastening or unfastening his boot buckles, there may occur instances where even greater leverage forces are required particularly where a closed buckle becomes frozen or otherwise very tightly locked in a down position. To deal with difficult situations of this nature, I have further provided in the handle 6 a prong lifting slot 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This slot is made of a length and width such that it may readily fit down over the end of a closed buckle prong with the underside of handle part being placed against an adjacent surface of the boot. Along one side the slot is defined by beveled edges 6a and 6b. These edges are designed to slide under a solidly locked prong when the tubular part is held in the hand and pulled upwardly. As the beveled edges slide under the bottom of the prong, it becomes lifted upwardly a slight distance allowing the beveled edges to move inwardly. The lever body may then be pivoted into a position to displace the prong upwardly even against very large resistance forces into a fully disengaged position. In using the lever body L in the manner just above-described, it will be observed that the inner edge 6C bears against the prong immediately above its pivot point S5. If desired, the handle 6 or power arm may be formed with curviture to increase its leverage lifting capabilities. It may also be desired to provide a relatively narrow notch 6d which is useful in fitting under and lifting narrow buckle prongs of approximately one-fourth inch width. a size of prong which is presently used in some ski boots.

In addition to being used as a prong operating member, the lever body L may also serve a further useful purpose in clearing and removing frozen masses of snow and ice which sometime form at the bottom of ski boot soles and also at the top side of binding plates. For this purpose, I provide at the end of handle 6 a snow scraping edge 6s, as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

As earlier noted, I may desire to construct the tubular end of the lever L with walls W1 and W2 which define tool retaining sockets as W3, W4 and W5. In FIGS. 6 to 9, there is illustrated a tool T of the screw driver class which is especially suitable for use by a skier in adjusting ski binding screws. The sockets may also receive and support other items such as tools for filing, boring, cutting, and so forth.

As shown in FIGS. 6 9, inclusive, the tool T, in a preferred form, may comprise a screw driver bit formed with a blade and T1 and a shank end T2 which is shaped of a cross section complementary with that of the socket W5 so that the shank may be slidably fitted into the socket W5, or in the socket W3, as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this position, the screw driver blade portion Tl may be located in a slotted head 16 of a screw 18 indicated in FIG. 8 and intended to be illustrative of a type of screw commonly used in ski bindings. It will be observed that the handle or power arm part 6 functions as a holder for transmitting rotary driving force to the screw driver bit with a relatively large turning force being realized which enables the screw driver bit to drive screws of a substantial size such as are utilized in ski bindings.

In combination with the tubular socket and screw driver bit assembly described, I may also provide a screw driver retaining body consisting of a plastic casing element 20. The casing 20 is preferably formed with a back section 200 and a front section 2012. Between these sides, the handle portion 6 and the lever L may be slidably contained, as suggested in FIGS. 6 and 8. The casing may also be formed with an inner partition or wall to define a compartment for carrying keys, coins and other articles.

At one end, the back section 20a of the casing is extended to provide a tab section 200 in which is located a chain aperture 22 reinforced by a grommet part 24. Received in this opening 24 is a chain element 26. The chain element 26 is arranged to be passed through a slot 28 formed in the screw driver bit T, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The slot 28 is of sufficiently elongated shape so as to permit the chain 26 to extend through its upper portion when the screw driver bit is fitted into the socket W5, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. By this arrangement, the screw driver bit is always securely attached to the case when in use, and when removed from its holding socket, it cannot be dropped or lost in the snow. When not in use, the screw driver bit may be snugly stored in one side of the casing as shown in FIG. 6.

The screw driver bit T may also be formed with a Phillips screw head T3, as indicated in FIG. 7, to operate screws of this class, and when thus utilized, the opposite end of the screw driver bit is detachably fitted in one of the sockets W3 or W5.

Other tools may be detachably fitted into the sockets and for example, a file member may be located in ei ther of the sockets W3 or W5. Various other tools such as wrenches, cutters, and the like, may be thus utilized.

I claim:

1. Ski boot buckle operating means for manually positioning a ski boot buckle prong. said buckle operating means comprising a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of said buckle prong, a lever arm portion extending outwardly from one of the gripper sides to constitute a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move the buckle prong, and reinforcing means formed at the junction of the lever arm and an adjacent gripper side to resist flexing when the manually applied pressure is transmitted through the gripper sides to move the buckle prong, said gripper sides being connected at their outer edges by side walls to form a tubular enclosure and the gripper sides being further joined throughout a portion of their length by inner wall portions parallel with and occurring in spaced relation to the said side walls.

2. Ski boot buckle operating means for manually positioning a ski boot buckle prong, said buckle operating means comprising a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of said buckle prong, a lever arm portion extending outwardly from one of the gripper sides to constitute a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move the buckle prong, and reinforcing means formed at the junction of the lever arm and an adjacent gripper side to resist flexing when the manually applied pressure is transmitted through the gripper sides to move the buckle, said gripper sides being connected together by outer wall sections and inner wall sections arranged in spaced relation to each other to define tool retaining sockets.

3. In combination, ski boot buckle operating means for manually positioning a ski boot buckle prong, said buckle operating means comprising a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of said buckle prong, a lever arm portion extending outwardly from one of the gripper sides to constitute a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move the buckle prong, and reinforcing means formed at the junction of the lever arm and an adjacent gripper side to resist flexing when the manually applied pressure is transmitted through the gripper sides to move the buckle prong, and means formed between of the gripper sides for defining a receptacle in which a tool may be detachably received.

4. A structure as defined in claim I in which the lever arm portion has a scraping edge formed at the end thereof.

5. A structure according to claim 1 in which the lever arm portion is recessed to form an opening through which a buckle extremity may be received.

6. A structure according to claim 3 in which the lever arm portion is formed with an arcuate shape and is recessed to provide a buckle engaging slot.

Claims

1. Ski boot buckle operating means for manually positioning a ski boot buckle prong, said buckle operating means comprising a lever body having spaced apart gripper sides formed at one end thereof for engaging an extremity of said buckle prong, a lever arm portion extending outwardly from one of the gripper sides to constitute a handle part through which manually applied pressure may be exerted to move the buckle prong, and reinforcing means formed at the junction of the lever arm and an adjacent gripper side to resist flexing when the manually applied pressure is transmitted through the gripper sides to move the buckle prong, said gripper sides being connected at their outer edges by side walls to form a tubular enclosure and the gripper sides being further joined throughout a portion of their length by inner wall portions parallel with and occurring in spaced relation to the said side walls.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the lever arm portion has a scraping edge formed at the end thereof.