WO2000015066A1

WO2000015066A1 - Upper structure for gliding sport shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2000015066A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/001971
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-François Paris
Original assignee: Salomon S.A.
Priority date: 1998-09-16
Filing date: 1998-09-16
Publication date: 2000-03-23
Also published as: EP1113731A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a gliding sport shoe consisting of a shell base (2) extended vertically by two lateral wings (3, 4) co-operating with a rear cover (5) and a front cover (6). The shoe comprises adjusting means (8, 9, 10, 11) for adjusting the shoe to the user's foot and matching means (14) for opening/closing the upper (7), using the front cover and rear cover as reference relative to the shell base (2) and in particular relative to the wings (3, 4) of said shell base by means for supporting (A, A', B, B') and driving, during a front flexion of the upper, the rear cover which comprises the means for resisting to said flexion.

Description

UPPER STRUCTURE FOR SLIDING SPORTSHOES

The present invention relates to shoes for sliding sports, in particular for the practice of alpine skiing or for the practice of snowboarding, or even for the practice of new sports of the inline skates type. For this type of sport, suitable shoes are shoes with a relatively rigid structure to provide support for athletes and a more or less complex structure to obtain a good compromise between performance, and in particular the transmission of support and, on the other hand , comfort and convenience.

In general, this type of shoe consists of a fairly rigid shell base surrounding the foot, and a rod surrounding the leg intended to provide athletes with the support and lever arms necessary for the practice of their sport. .

The most efficient shoes currently known are said to be of the "4 hooks" type, that is to say made up of a shell base covered by a rod, forming a collar, and articulated on the shell base.

A strong point of this concept is to offer the skier a reference square which positions his foot and his leg, on the one hand by the plantar support, on the other hand by the calf support against the rear part of the collar, the directional efficiency of the clamping means, increasing the effect of the supports while reducing the clearance between the shell and the foot.

Another strong point of this concept is that the energy opposing a postero-anterior flexion is accumulated by an elastic stress of the materials of the collar in traction / flexion, located behind the motor zone which is in fact the support. tibial. This "pulled" energy explains the quality and progressiveness of the flexion as well as the favorable direction of the result of the forces applied to the ski.

The weak points, which the invention proposes to eliminate, are the obligation to resort to heavy and expensive materials (generally polyurethane), the behavior of this type of shoe with temperature variations, the discomfort of the Tibial support and above all the very great inconvenience of this concept in terms of footwear / heaving.

Another radically different type of shoe, known as a "rear entry" shoe, is known, comprising a shell base with fixed volume, that is to say closed on the forefoot, and in which the foot is introduced by means of a rod in two parts. One of these front parts is called "cuff" and a rear part is called "spoiler". The spoiler is articulated on the shell base to pivot backwards and allow the entry of the foot. The energization in such a shoe is obtained by means of a system for anchoring the cuff on the shell base or by pressing on a flexible and elastic element, or by a combination of these two types of systems. .

In the various cases, the element which opposes forward bending is generally the cuff in cooperation with the shell base. We have here an energy called "push" in the sense that the resistant effort is located in front of the leg. This fact harms the overall behavior of the boot, imposes a structure accepting to work in compression, is not favorable to a progressive bending and to the direction of the resultant of the forces applying to the ski. To overcome the respective drawbacks of these two concepts, a third way appeared called "HYBRID" or "MID". The most representative embodiments are described for example in patents EP 034 801, EP 286 256.

This much more positive path did not particularly solve the problems of "stiffness" of the upper of the shoe in front bending and those concerning the quality of the support of the leg on the rear part of the collar called "rear support". In addition, these constructions are complicated and expensive.

A particular construction has been described in patent EP 328,481. In this case, the "reference square" constituted by the plantar support and the calf support is well resolved by the shoe in question, but the bending energy of the rod is obtained by pressing an insert into the spoiler against the vertical edges of a notch in the wings of the shell base, the latter being elastically deformed during forward bending.

Such an embodiment is practically impossible to control at the level of the amplitude of flexion, the progressiveness and the deformations of the rod part of the shell base.

In addition, taking into account the elasticity of the wings of the shell base, the good resistance of the reference bracket can only be obtained by securing the rod to a remote and rigid part of the shell base which poses reliability, complexity and comfort issues.

Other constructions such as that described in patent DE 43 01 939 attempt to reconstitute a "4 hook type" rod after assembly of two front and rear parts of the rod, in addition to the absence of any real referencing of said rod relative to the base. hull, this construction does not reproduce the type of energy "drawn" from a "4 hooks".

The subject of the present invention is a shoe structure making it possible, on the one hand, to retain the strong points of the "4 hooks" concept, particularly as regards the presence of a "reference square" stem / plantar support and of an energy. so-called "pulled" since coming from the rear, on the other hand to keep the qualities of comfort and convenience of the "hybrid" or "rear entry" concepts.

To this end, the invention relates to a sliding sports shoe of the type consisting of a shell base extending vertically by two lateral wings cooperating with an articulated rear cover or spoiler and a front cover or cuff to form a rod, and comprising tightening / closing means for adjusting the shoe to the foot, characterized in that the shell base comprises at least one bearing zone for the lower part of the rear cover during a posterior-anterior movement of the latter and in that means for closing the rod secured to the front cover and surrounding the rear part of the rod, cause the rear cover portion located above its supports against the hull base during forward bending. This portion slides between the lateral wings of the hull base and is at the origin of the resistance of the rod to forward bending.

The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which follows and which should be considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations. This description, given by way of nonlimiting example, will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a side view of the shoe according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the three main components of the shoe according to Fig 1, namely a variable volume shell base, a rear spoiler and a cuff;

- Figure 3 is a view of Figure 1 with the rod shown in the bending position;

- Figure 4 is a side view of a shoe according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 5 is a detail view in section along the line IV - IV of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a view of Figure 4 with the rod shown in the bending position.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The same references designate the same elements assembled in FIG. 1 and exploded in FIG. 2.

The shoe 1, generally designated in FIG. 1, is constituted by a shell base 2 with variable volume by means of two overlapping parts and extending vertically into two lateral wings 3, 4. This shell base cooperates with on the one hand with an articulated rear cover or spoiler 5 and on the other hand with a front cover or cuff 6 to form a rod 7.

Said shoe 1 also comprises closing means, implemented after introduction of the foot from the rear, which are composed of two lower front hooks 8, 9 arranged at the front of the shell base to obtain its variation in volume. , and two upper front hooks 10, 11 arranged on the rod 7, more precisely on the cuff 6.

According to the invention, the lateral wings 3, 4 comprise, on the one hand, towards the rear, two reference support zones A intended to cooperate with corresponding support zones before A ′, of the spoiler 5 after introduction of the foot and, on the other hand, towards the front, two other reference support zones B intended to cooperate with two corresponding rear support zones B 'of two partially overlapping parts 6A, 6B and constituting the cuff 6 .

The cuff 6 comprises first connecting means 14 removable, but of predetermined length, capable of ensuring the abutment of the front support zones A 'of the spoiler 5 against the rear support zones A of wings 3, 4 of the rod 7, and the rear bearing zones B 'of the two parts 6A, 6B of the cuff 6 against the front bearing zones B of said wings 3, 4 of the rod 7 also forming a portion of fixed perimeter. In addition, second connecting means, also removable, but of variable length, are constituted by the two upper hooks 10 and 11 connecting the two parts 6A, 6B of the cuff 6, so that the other part of said perimeter of the rod is adjustable according to the user's lower leg. For a first adjustment, the connecting means 14 will be actuated after opening or relaxing the hooks 10 and 11 so as to guarantee a rod perimeter, after obtaining the supports B / B 'and A / A', equal to or greater than that of the leg inserted into the rod, the desired final tightening being adjusted by means 10 and 11. For subsequent opening / closing, the only manipulation of the means 14 will suffice if one does not wish to modify the tightening chosen initially.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear reference support zones A of the lateral wings 3, 4 of the rod 7 and of the corresponding front parts A ′ of the spoiler 5 are located at their lower parts in the vicinity of the joint 15 of the spoiler on the shell base 2, thus defining a beam capable of supplying the bending energy on the rod 7 in a postero-anterior direction.

The advantage of such a structure is that the bearing zone formed between the wings 3, 4 and the spoiler 5 makes it possible to prohibit rotation from the rear to the front of the lower part of the spoiler 5 and that, on the other hand, the support zone located between the same lateral wings 3, 4 and the cuff 6 makes it possible to prohibit rotation from front to rear. Thus, a reference "square" is made up composed of the stem on the one hand, of the plantar zone on the other hand. For the operation of such an assembly to be correct, the wings 3, 4 have sufficient rigidity to play their supporting role when the rod is stressed by the skier.

It will be noted that the cuff 6 is articulated on the lateral wings 3, 4 thanks to an articulation 16.

Furthermore, the front reference support zones B of the lateral wings 3, 4 of the rod 7 and the corresponding rear zones B 'of the two parts 6A, 6B of the cuff 6 extend above this axis of articulation. .

The bending energy comes from the spoiler 5. It is therefore an energy "drawn, therefore progressive, in contrast to a frontal energy called" thrust ", more subject to the coefficients of friction, to brutal engagement , with limited amplitude, since the work is done in compression.

However, the movement of the spoiler 5 relative to the lateral wings 3, 4 is limited by upper stops 17 arranged on the external faces of the lateral parts 5 a, 5b of the spoiler 5, set back relative to the reference support zones A 'so as to allow energized flexion within predetermined limits.

FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of this boot when the skier is in front bending at an angle a relative to the rest position. The support zones B 'of the sleeve 6 are of course separated from the corresponding support zones B of the lateral wings and the spoiler 5 plays its role of bending beam around the low support zones A, A', the parts high rear side wings being closer to the stopper 17.

According to an improvement of this embodiment of the invention, the spoiler 5 comprises an intermediate part 18 of lower resistance interposed, between on the one hand a lower part 5d forming a stirrup and comprising the articulation 15 and the bearing zones A 'and, on the other hand, an upper part 5e, so as to locate a controlled flexion zone ensuring an energized flexion of the rear cover in a "pulled" direction.

According to the embodiment which has just been described, the spoiler 5 consists of a one-piece element advantageously made of plastic. The bending zone is then obtained by playing on its geometry, thickness, shape for example, or by bi-injection using materials of different characteristics.

FIG. 4 represents another embodiment of an energized rear cover where elements similar to those of the first mode have been designated by the same references.

The rear cover assembly 5 A is divided into two parts, a lower part 5Aa surmounted by a skirt 5 Ab, this lower part coming to bear A, A 'against the shell base. On this lower part, an upper part 5Ac is articulated on an axis 19.

When this upper part is driven by the means 14 during forward bending, its trajectory the plate against the skirt 5Ab which by elastic deformation allows its energized rotation. To control this bending energy, the skirt 5Ab can be provided with means intended to adjust its flexibility or deformation, for example with a slitting system controlled by a slider as described in patent EP 034 169.

In summary concerning the assembly of the rod 7, it should be understood from the description which has just been carried out that the clamping system at the top of the rod 7 constituted by the means 14 of predetermined length is a pre-closure which ensures the referencing spoiler 5 and sleeve 6 with respect to the shell base 2.

The desired closure of the rod 7 as a function of the user's lower leg is therefore done with the hooks 10, 11 located on the cuff reducing its perimeter at will and this independently of the aforementioned reference. Once this adjustment has been made, the opening-closing of the shoe can obviously be done by the connecting means 14.

The rest or walk function by limited loosening of the closure 14 is greatly improved by the laxity, on the one hand of the spoiler 5 which can tilt freely backwards by the value of the loosening, on the other hand by that of the cuff which , not energized or very little, can tilt forward by this same value.

Consequently, this possibility of the cuff also improves putting on, taking off and walking.

The combination of sufficiently rigid lateral wings 3, 4, lateral parts 5a, 5b of the spoiler 5 moving inside the wings 3, 4, as well as the closure means 14 located at the top of the rod, makes it possible to use energy without distortion or untimely buckling of one or more parts of the rod.

The shoe according to the invention therefore has all the technical achievements of a "4 hooks" concept, both at the level of a "reference square" foot / leg and at the level of the type of energy used in the flexion of the rod, all the convenience of an improved rear entry, even in the rest or walk positions.

It should be noted that in the second embodiment described, the articulation 19 of the upper part 5Ac of the rear cover 5A is positioned on the skirt 5Ab so that it is located inside the lateral wings 3, 4 of the upper 7, when the shoe is closed, so as to avoid buckling (FIG. 5).

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown. In particular, the figures show a shoe with a variable volume for the forefoot by means of two hooks. A shoe having a variable forefoot volume by means of a single hook, or even a fixed forefoot volume without hook, but which would moreover include the characteristic elements of the invention, namely wings rising from the bottom hull, a spoiler and a cuff resting on these wings and having closing means, fixed perimeter and associated variable perimeter, is covered by the present invention.

Similarly, the support zones have been located, in the two embodiments shown, on either side of the hull base. The invention is not limited to this arrangement although it is preferred. Indeed, a single support zone located at the back of the heel would allow the same type of effect to be obtained.

Claims

1- Sliding sports shoe of the type consisting of a shell base (2) extending vertically by two lateral wings (3, 4) cooperating with an articulated rear cover (5) and a front cover (6) to constitute a rod (7) and comprising means (14) for closing the rod (7) secured to the front cover (6) and surrounding the rear part of the rod, characterized in that the shell base (2) comprises at least a support area (A) cooperating with a corresponding support area (A ') of the lower part of the rear cover (5) during a postero-anterior movement of the latter, and in that, during forward bending, the closure means (14) of the rod secured to the front cover drive the rear cover portion located above these areas of support against the hull base, this portion sliding between the lateral wings (3, 4) from the shell base and providing the resistance of the rod to forward bending.

2- shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell base comprises on either side two reference support zones (A) intended to cooperate with corresponding support zones (A ¹ ) of the rear cover , and on the lateral zones of the wings (3, 4), two other reference support zones (B) intended to cooperate with the corresponding support zones (B ') of the front cover, the means for closing the rod secured to the front cover having a predetermined length to ensure the abutment of the areas (A ') of the rear cover against the areas (A) of the wings and of the areas (B') of the front cover against the areas (B) of these same wings, thus defining a fixed perimeter portion and a front cover comprising at least one adjustment means (10, 11) defining a variable perimeter portion to complete the fixed perimeter portion and adjust the rod to the leg of the user.

3- Shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that the front cover (6) is composed of two parts (6A, 6B) intended to overlap and ensure continuity of the portion of variable perimeter defined by the means (10, 11) adjustment.

4- Shoe according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the sliding of the side wings of the rear cover (5a, 5b) between the side wings (3, 4) of the shell base is limited by stops ( 17) arranged on said lateral faces of the spoiler (5) set back relative to the bearing zones (A ') of the latter on the lateral wings (3, 4) of the rod (7) so as to allow a stroke bending within predetermined limits.

5- Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rear cover (5) comprises an intermediate part (18) of lower resistance between its lower part (5d) capable of coming to bear against the base of shell and its upper part (5e), so as to promote and control its energized bending during forward bending of the rod (7).

6- shoe according to claim 5, characterized in that the rear cover (5) consists of a one-piece element.

7- Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rear cover (5 A) is made in two parts, a lower part comprising a stirrup (5Aa) articulated (15) on the shell base surmounted by '' a skirt (5Ab) and a hinged upper part (5Ac) (19) on the lower part, the skirt (5Ab) opposing the postero-anterior rotation of the upper part (5Ac).

8- Shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that the skirt (5Ab) of the lower part of the rear cover is provided with means making it possible to control the resistance which it opposes to the rotation of the upper part (5Ac) of the rear cover .

9- Shoe according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the axis of articulation (19) of the upper part (5Ac) of the rear cover (5 A) is placed on the skirt (5Ab) so as to find inside the wings (3, 4) of the upper (7) when the boot is closed to avoid buckling and the deformations induced by bending of the upper.