WO1997021474A1

WO1997021474A1 - Device for fixing a shoe to a sport article

Info

Publication number: WO1997021474A1
Application number: PCT/FR1996/001833
Authority: WO
Inventors: François Girard
Original assignee: Salomon S.A.
Priority date: 1995-12-08
Filing date: 1996-11-20
Publication date: 1997-06-19
Also published as: DE69637810D1; NO982522L; ATE239534T1; EP0865306A1; FR2742060B1; EP1312397B1; DE69628030D1; FR2742060A1; ATE419909T1; EP1312397A2; DE69628030T2; EP1312397A3; NO982522D0; NO309364B1; EP0865306B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (3) for fixing a shoe (1) to a ski (2) comprising a coupling element (6) for connecting the shoe (1) and intended to be fixed to the upper surface of a ski (2) at the front end of the ski (2), and which may be associated to a binding element (9) integral with the shoe (1) in an area comprised between the tip of the toes and the 'metatarso-phalangeal' joint, and which has a flexibility such that the heel of the shoe (1) can be easily lifted. The flexure curve of the coupling element (6) is selected so that the part (24) of the sole (8) of the shoe (1) situated in front of the embedding point (9) remains constantly in direct or indirect contact with the ski (2) when the heel of the shoe (1) is released. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the device (3) for fixing a shoe to a ski comprises a stop (18) limiting the maximum flexure of the coupling element (6) in relation to the ski (2).

Description

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A SHOE TO A SPORTS ARTICLE

The present invention relates to a device for attaching a shoe to a sports article such as a ski, snowshoe, etc., of the type comprising a coupling element for connection to the shoe, intended to be fixed to the sports article which can be associated with a fastening element integral with the shoe in an area between the tips of the toes and the "metatarsophalangeal" joint, and which has a flexibility which can be freely lifted the heel of the shoe relative to the sporting article once the coupling has been carried out

For the practice of cross-country skiing, provision is generally made for a binding on the upper ski face allowing the boot to pivot about an articulation axis, so that the heel of said boot can be lifted freely relative to the ski. articulation axis of the boot is normally located at the front end of the boot, which causes an unnatural unwinding when the heel is lifted from the ski, because the natural unwinding part of a foot is between the tip of the toes and the so-called metatarsophalangeal joint. This results in an excessive expenditure of energy and a premature fatigue of the skier These unfavorable effects are particularly troublesome when practicing the so-called classic style where the skier unrolls his foot before the impulse

Furthermore, for the technique of cross-country skiing known as skattng, it is sought to move the axis of articulation of the boot for better control of the ski. The same remark is valid for the practice of snowshoeing

To overcome these problems, WO 84/03225 proposes a combination of a bottom binding and a shoe adapted to the latter in which the coupling element for the connection to the shoe is located in the area of that -this corresponding to the eminence of the big toe However, this known binding has drawbacks in that the part of the boot located in front of the connection area loses contact with the ski each time the skier strides. only the coupling element to the shoe which must take up all the forces, either transverse or longitudinal, when the rear part of the shoe is raised. II results in fatigue of the material in the connection zone, either on the fixing side, or sole side.

Furthermore, the control and guidance of the ski during the lifting of the heel of the boot is therefore not optimal.

The present invention therefore aims to provide an improved fastening device which improves the control of the sports article by the foot, while allowing the natural unwinding of the foot of the user.

The central idea of the invention is to improve the control of the sports article by the skier's foot in a binding of the type known by WO 84/03225, by creating a more effective cooperation between the sole of the shoe and the binding and the sporting article, in the zone of the shoe corresponding to the zone of the foot lying between the toes and the connection zone For this purpose, according to the present invention, the fixing device is provided with means control allowing permanent contact, direct or indirect, of the part of the sole of the shoe situated in front of the connection zone with the sports article when the heel of the shoe is raised The control means may include a stop limiting the maximum vertical bending of the coupling element relative to the ski. This stop therefore limits the maximum angle formed by the sole of the boot and the upper surface of the ski.

The control means may include transverse guidance of the coupling element in order to provide control in the transverse direction of the coupling element.

The control means can also be formed by determining the flexion curve of the coupling element, said flexion curve ensuring permanent contact with your part of your sole of the shoe situated in front of the embedding point with the ski when you release the heel of the shoe.

In any case, the invention will be better understood and other characteristics thereof will be highlighted with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the drawing schematically, representing, by way of nonlimiting example, several modes and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal and vertical section of a device for attaching a boot to a ski, according to the present invention, the boot lying flat on the ski and before the binding device is closed,

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal and vertical section of a device for attaching a boot to a ski, according to the present invention, the boot lying flat on the ski and after the closure of the binding device,

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal and vertical section of a device for attaching a boot to a ski, according to the present invention, the heel of the boot being raised,

- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along IV-I V of Figure 2.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown the front of a shoe 1 which is connected to a sports article such as a cross-country ski or touring 2 by means of a fastening device 3 according to the present invention The device fixing 3 comprises a control member 4 of the opening-closing of known type, which in the example described is based on the principle of a toggle. Such a control member is already described in patent FR 2,638,974 in the name of the applicant. A rotation of an operating lever 5 of the control member 4 causes the translation, inside a hollow front part. 25 of a guide edge 25, 26, of a coupling element which in the example described consists of a bent metal wire 6.

The guide edge 25, 26 cooperates in a manner known per se with an associated groove 8a formed in the sole 8 of the shoe

Of course, the coupling element 6 can be constituted by any other elastic means such as for example by a leaf spring having a certain flexibility with respect to bending in a longitudinal and vertical plane with respect to the upper face 10 ski

This wire 6 is folded in the shape of a "U" and fixed on the control member 4, on the front side of the ski, by its free ends 19 II extends essentially parallel to the ski 2 to end in a bent section forming a hook 7. The length of the coupling element 6 is chosen such that the hook 7 is located below an area of the sole 8 of the shoe 1 corresponding to a foot area between the tips of the toes and the so-called metatarsophalangeal part. Thus, the bending of the coupling element 6 corresponds to the natural unwinding of a foot.

The outer sole 8 of the shoe is provided with a corresponding attachment means 9 suitable for cooperation with the coupling element. This attachment means 9 can be constituted by an axis of circular section, a beam of rectangular section, a notch, etc. In the example described, the attachment means consists of a metal pin 9 having a circular section

To fix the boot 1 to the ski 2 via the binding device 3, the procedure is as follows.

The boot 1 is placed on the upper face 10 of the ski so that the fastening pin 9 secured to the outer sole of the boot 1 is inserted into a transverse groove 11 of the guide edge 25, 26, of the binding 3. The bent wire 6 crosses orthogonally the bottom 13 of this groove 11 When the control member 4 is in its open position, the hook 7 of the elbow wire 6 is entirely withdrawn towards the rear of the ski, c that is to say on the right in the drawing, in an associated housing 12 located in the rear zone 26 of the guide edge 25, 26.

After the insertion of the attachment pin 9 into the groove 11, the operating lever 5 is actuated so as to cause a translation of the bent wire 6 and of the hook 7 towards the front of the ski, that is to say say to the left in the drawing, thus leaving the hook 7 from the housing 12. At the end of the translational movement, the hook 7 is located in the groove 11 In your closed position of the control member 4, shown in the figure 2, the axis 9 of the sole 8 of the boot 1 is then completely locked between the hook 7 and a wall 15 limiting the transverse groove 11 towards the front of the ski The boot 1 is then fixed to the ski 1 by means of of the fixing device in this closed position of the control member 4.

During the practice of sport, in particular in cross-country skiing or when walking with snowshoes, the heel of the foot of the rear leg is raised when the sportsman strides forward with the other leg The shoe and the attachment of this rear foot are then in the condition shown in Figure 3 By lifting the heel of the shoe 1, the axis 9 and the hook 7, which are moved backwards relative to the front end of the shoe, are also raised relative to the bottom 13 of the groove 11.

During the lifting of the heel and therefore of the axis 9 and of the hook 7, the axis 9 slides upwards from the wall (ramp) 15 of the groove 11, said wall 15 having a shape corresponding essentially to an arc of circle centered on the front 25a of the guide edge 25 corresponding to an "embedding" zone of the bent wire 6. At the end of the lifting, the bent wire 6 is bent upward inside a housing 14 formed in the part of the guide ridge 25 extending from the groove 11 towards the front of the ski 1. This housing 14 has an upper wall 14a in the form of a ramp increasing from the front end 25a from the guide ramp to the level of the groove 11, to allow bending and possibly guiding the bent wire 6 during the lifting of the heel. The upper wall 17 of the guide ridge 25 closes the housing 14 upwards. The rear end of the upper wall 17 therefore constitutes a stop 18 limiting the maximum upward bending of the wire 6, as shown in FIG. 3 The maximum lifting of the heel of the boot 1 and therefore the maximum angle between the sole of the boot 1 and the upper surface of the ski are thus limited by the stop 18, which allows improved control, throughout the lifting phase. In addition, the abutment of the wire 6 against the stopper 18 allows the recovery of forces, and thus relieves the fixation 19 of the wire 6 on the front side of the ski.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elbow wire 6 in the example described is formed by two longitudinal and essentially parallel branches 20, 21, which are connected to each other by a bent cross-member forming the hook 7 in cross section (Figures 1 to 3) In the example shown in Figure 4, each longitudinal branch 20, 21, is housed inside a separate housing 14 respectively 14 '. The walls 22, 23, delimiting the housings 14, 14 ', inwards are inclined, upwards, outwards, so that the longitudinal branches 20, 21, connected with each other by the cross 7 are also bent outwardly of the ski in a plane essentially parallel to the ski surface during the bending of the wire 6 up ie II as a result that the branches 20, 21, constantly tend to return to their initial position at the bottom housings 14, 14 ′, and therefore a restoring force which tends to return the ski 1 or other sporting item pressed against the heel The bending energy of the wire 6 is restored at the end of the pulse. The embedded wire 6 then serves both to conserve the return energy of the ski and to lock the axis 9 secured to the boot 1 The vertical walls of the housings 14, 14 ′ further form a transverse guide of the element coupling 6, which allows improved control of the ski or of the sports article during the entire heel lifting phase

Furthermore, the transverse guide of the coupling element 6 can be constituted by any other means having transverse guide properties, such as for example grooves, spikes, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bending curve of the wire 6 is determined by factors, such as for example the shape of the housings 14, 14 ′, particularly the shape and orientation of their internal walls 22, 23, the characteristics of the material of wire 6, and how it is fixed and guides in 19, 25

According to the invention, the flexion of the wire 6 is defined by said parameters in such a way that the part 24 of the sole 8 of the shoe 1 situated in front of the attachment means (axis) 9 remains constantly in direct or indirect contact with the ski when the heel of shoe 1 is released. This effect can be obtained by rounding 24a of said part 24 of shoe 1, which is adapted to the bending curve of the coupling element 6. This allows a control and referencing of the sports article and in this case of the ski which are improved compared to the prior art thanks to the continuous cooperation between the front part of the sole and the upper surface of the ski during all the phases '' a typical stride in cross-country skiing, both classic and skating

In the example described, the sole 8 has a longitudinal groove cooperating with the guide edge 25, 26 During the unwinding of the part 24 of the shoe, not only the axis 9 but also the guide edge 25, 26 , resume transversal efforts.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of nonlimiting example, but encompasses all the equivalent embodiments. It will be noted that the use of such a fixing device is particularly advantageous for the practice of sports requiring an unrolling of the foot and a fairly large amplitude in the gestures, and in particular for the practice of the skating step technique in cross-country skiing. background.

Indeed, fixing the shoe at the metatarsophalangeal articulation zone brings many advantages:

- direct support,

- direct transmission of forces,

- better control and precision in guiding the ski without penalizing the natural course of the foot, and above all without losing "contact" with the guide edge during this stage of the course, in particular in the area of the foot between the toes and said metatarsophalangeal articulation zone, the front part 25 of the guide ridge 25, 26, being constantly in engagement with the boot both during the gliding phase, when the heel rests on the ski, and during the d phase momentum, the heel being raised.

Claims

CLAIMS 1- Device (3) for attaching a boot (1) to a ski (2) comprising a coupling element (6) for connection to the boot (1), capable of being fixed to the upper surface d '' a ski (2) at its end on the front side of the ski (2), which can be associated with a fastening element (9) secured to the boot (1) in an area between the tips of the toes and the joint "metatarsophalangeal", and which has a flexibility such that one can freely lift the heel of the shoe (1), characterized by control means allowing permanent contact, direct or indirect, of the part (24) of the sole (8) of the shoe (1) located in front of the point of embedding with the ski (2) when the heel of the shoe (1) is raised.

2. A fixing device (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means comprise a stop (18) limiting the maximum vertical bending of the coupling element (6) relative to the ski (2)

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the control means comprise a transverse guide of the coupling element (6).

4 Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control means are formed by the bending curve of the coupling element (6), said bending curve ensuring permanent contact with the part ( 24) of the sole (8) of the shoe (1), located in front of the attachment element with the ski (2) when the heel of the shoe (1) is raised.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coupling element is formed by a wire (6) metal.

6 Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coupling element is formed by a leaf spring.

7 Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling element (6) cooperates with the attachment element (9) in the manner of a hook (7) controlled by a open-close command (4).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a guide edge (25) located at the front of the attachment zone (7, 4) for laterally guiding the sole of the shoe situated in front of the zone d when you release the heel of the shoe

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a positioning element (25, 26) distinct from the coupling element and cooperating with a corresponding element provided in the sole to guide the shoe transversely.

10 Fastening device according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that the control means are constituted by at least one ramp (22, 23) transverse cooperating with each branch of the metal wire (6).