WO2004107899A1

WO2004107899A1 - A lever fastening and a method for the manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2004107899A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/000828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arnaldo Baggio
Original assignee: Bieffebi S.P.A
Priority date: 2003-06-04
Filing date: 2004-01-30
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: ITPD20030122A1

Abstract

A fastening (1) is described and has a lever (2) having a skeleton (8) made of a first material and an at least partial covering (9) of the skeleton made of a second material, in which the skeleton (8) and the covering (9) are structurally s independent of one another and are fitted one on the other so as to be mutually coupled, and in which the skeleton (8) comprises at least two prongs (11) extending together from an operating appendage (10) and the covering (9) comprises an annular portion (20) which is fitted between the prongs (11) and envelops, with a similar shape, at least part of the operating appendage (10).

Description

A LEVER FASTENING AND A METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Technical field of the invention

The subject of the present invention is a lever fastening and a method for the manufacture thereof. Background art

The fastening of the invention is designed particularly but not exclusively for fitting on sports footwear such as skates, ski boots, mountain boots, motorcycling boots, and the like.

In the field of lever fastenings for sports footwear, there is a need to improve the manoeuvrability and ease of gripping of the lever, also offering an improved feel upon contact particularly with the operating appendage. All of this should be achieved without excessively increasing the dimensions of the lever, which would limit its application. However, the two requirements are conflicting. For example, US 4,951,364 describes a fastening lever for ski boots which is formed with a metal skeleton covered with a protective covering of plastics material. However, the lever is bulky, is limited with regard to shapes, and is difficult to produce.

It is also known to produce levers with metal skeletons, generally of aluminium alloy, partially covered with a plastics material by the over- moulding technique. However this technique is expensive since it requires special moulds such that the skeleton of the lever is inserted and supported in the mould so that the plastics covering material can then be injected. Disclosure of the invention In view of this, a principal object of the invention is to provide a lever fastening which is designed structurally and functionally to overcome all of the disadvantages discussed with reference to the prior art mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method which enables such a lever to be produced at reasonably low cost. Another object of the invention is to provide a lever which has improved gripping conditions of the operating appendage.

Not the least object of the invention is to provide a lever which is of pleasing appearance and limited dimensions. These objects and yet others which will become clear from the following description are achieved by the invention by a lever formed in accordance with the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a fastening according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first component of the fastening of Figure 1, from above,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second component of the fastening of Figure 1, from above, - Figure 4 is a perspective view of the component of Figure 3, from below, and

- Figures 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of the steps of the assembly of the components of Figures 2 and 3.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

In the drawings, a fastening formed in accordance with the invention is generally indicated 1 and comprises a lever 2 articulated on a carrying structure 3 by means of a pin 4 extending between two prongs 5 of the carrying structure and through the lever 2. In the embodiment shown, the carrying structure is shaped like a strap with a flexible portion 6. The structure 3 may, however, have a different shape, for example, it may have a base from which two flanges extend upwards, the lever 2 being articulated between the flanges.

The lever 2 comprises a skeleton element 8 (hereinafter briefly a skeleton) made of a first, substantially rigid material, for example, a light alloy, and a covering element 9 (hereinafter briefly a covering) which at least partially covers the skeleton 8 and is made of a second material such as a resilient plastics material, typically a rubber. As is clear from Figures 2 to 4, the covering and the skeleton are structurally independent of one another, although they are intended to be fitted one upon the other so as to be mutually coupled.

The skeleton 8 in turn comprises an operating appendage 10 from which two parallel and spaced-apart prongs 11 extend together. A recess 12 is formed in the operating appendage and extends from the free end of the appendage as far as the joining point of the prongs 11. The recess 12 has a trapezoidal shape with its larger base at the free end of the operating appendage and is tapered towards the prongs 11.

Three through-holes 13, 14, 15 are formed in each prong. The holes indicated by the same reference numeral in the two respective prongs are coaxial.

The holes 13 serve for the driving-in of the pin 4 by which the lever is mounted on the carrying structure 3.

The holes 14 and 15 serve for the driving-in of respective pins 16, 17. The covering 9 comprises an annular portion 20 which is fitted between the prongs 11 and, with a similar shape, envelops at least part of the operating appendage 10; the covering 9 also comprises a radial portion 21 extending radially from the annular portion, between the prongs 11.

The annular portion 20 has an opening 22 for housing the part of the operating appendage which constitutes the base of the recess 12 and, like the above-mentioned recess, has a widening of trapezoidal shape which defines a gripping surface of the operating appendage; the upper portion of the gripping surface that is normally in view when the fastening is closed is decorated by a plurality of circular depressions 23 and the opposite, lower portion has a plurality of arcuate and parallel corrugations 24 in relief.

The radial portion 21 extends from the smaller base of the trapezoidal shape of the annular portion and, in its lower portion, has a recess 25 which serves to permit the insertion of the pin 4. The radial portion terminates in the region of the holes 14 and is fixed between the prongs by the pin 16 which engages in a hole 26 thereof.

Finally, the pin 17 serves, in known manner, to engage the teeth of a rack which is not shown. In order to manufacture the fastening of the invention, the skeleton 8, the covering 9, and the carrying structure 3 are produced separately for subsequent assembly. This avoids the need for the over-moulding which is typical of the prior art. The covering 9 is therefore fitted on the skeleton 8 in the manner shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 and is then locked in position by the insertion of the pin 16 in the holes 14 and 26.

The lever is thus fixed pivotably on the carrying structure 3 by means of the pin 4. The invention described above achieves the objects proposed and affords many advantages over known fastenings; amongst these advantages are:

- an improved grip on the end portion of the operating appendage resulting from the positioning of the annular portion which is elongated in the direction of the prongs,

- an improved feeling of softness in the gripping of the lever resulting from the substantial absence of contact with the metal parts,

- a pleasing decorative and aesthetic effect,

- a reduced production cost.

Claims

1. A fastening comprising a lever (2) with a skeleton (8) made of a first material and an at least partial covering (9) of the skeleton made of a second material, in which the skeleton and the covering are structurally independent of one another and are fitted one upon the other so as to be mutually coupled, and in which the skeleton (8) comprises at least two prongs (11) extending together from an operating appendage (10) and the covering (9) comprises an annular portion (20) which is fitted between the prongs (11) and envelops, with a similar shape, at least part of the operating appendage (10).

2. A fastening according to Claim 1 in which the covering (9) comprises a radial portion (21) extending from the annular portion (20), between the prongs (11).

3. A fastening according to Claim 2 in which the radial portion (21) comprises a recess (25) for the insertion of a pin (4) for the articulation of the lever (2) on a carrying structure (3)of the fastening.

4. A fastening according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the annular portion (20) has a widening from the end disposed between the prongs (11) towards the free end of the operating appendage (10).

5. A fastening according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the annular portion (20) has a corrugated gripping surface (23).

6. A fastening according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the skeleton (8) has, on at least a portion of the operating appendage (10), a recess (12) in which the corresponding covering portion is housed at least partially.

7. A fastening according to one or more of Claims 4 to 6 in which the widening has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

8. A fastening according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the covering (9) is made of a resilient material.

9. A fastening according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the skeleton (8) is made of a rigid material such as a metal.

10. A method for the manufacture of a lever (2) for a fastening, comprising the steps of:

- preparing a skeleton (8) of the lever in a first material, - preparing an at least partial covering (9) for the skeleton in a second, resilient material,

- in which the skeleton (8) and the covering (9) are structurally independent of one another and can be fitted one on the other so as to be mutually coupled, - and in which the skeleton (8) comprises at least two prongs (11) extending together from an operating appendage (10) and the covering (9) comprises an annular portion (20), and

- fitting the annular portion (20) between the prongs (11) in order to envelop at least part of the operating appendage (10), with a shape similar to the shape of the prongs (11).

11. A method according to Claim 10 in which the covering (9) comprises a radial portion (21) extending from the annular portion (20) and housed between the prongs (11), and in which there is provision for the further step of fixing the radial portion (21) between the prongs (11) by means of a pin (16) driven between the prongs (11) and extending through a hole (26) in the radial portion (21).