WO2016075621A1

WO2016075621A1 - Ski boot

Info

Publication number: WO2016075621A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/058676
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide Parisotto
Original assignee: Calzaturificio S.C.A.R.P.A. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2014-11-10
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2016-05-19

Abstract

A ski boot (1) comprising: a rigid shell (2) which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, a rigid cuff (3) which is shaped so as to enclose the ankle of the user, and is hinged on the shell (2) so as to pivot about a rotation axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the mid- plane of the ski boot, and an annular closing strap (12) that encloses/wraps around the cuff (3), and has a manually adjustable length so as to selectively tighten/close the mouth of the cuff (3); the closing strap (12) being fitted with a flexible band (13) that is wound around the cuff (3), and is fitted with an elastically extensible portion (16) and constraining means (17) adapted to maintain/limit the tensile elastic stretch of the elastically extensible portion (16) of said band (13) below a predetermined limit value.

Description

SKI BOOT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ski boot.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a ski boot for ski mountaineering, use to which the following description will make explicit reference without thereby losing in generality.

BACKGROUND ART

As known, the latest ski boots for ski mountaineering basically comprise: a rigid shell made of plastic material and which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has the lower part specifically structured to be fixed to the back of a downhill ski or similar by means of special ski binding devices; a rigid cuff made of plastic material and which is shaped so as to embrace the lower part of the skier's leg from behind, and is hinged to the upper part of the shell so as to be able to rotate about a transversal reference axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the mid-plane of the ski boot, and is also locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle; an inner shoe made of soft, thermal- insulating material and which is inserted inside the shell and the cuff, and is shaped so as to surround and protect both the foot and the lower part of the user's leg; and a series of manually-operated, lever boot buckles which are appropriately located on the shell and on the cuff, and are structured so as to selectively close/tighten the shell and the cuff so as to firmly immobilize the user's leg inside the inner shoe.

Finally, ski mountaineering boots are also provided with a manually-operated cuff locking device which is traditionally located in the area above the heel of the boot, astride the shell and the cuff, and is structured so as to be able, alternatively and on choice, to

— firmly lock the cuff to the shell in a preset position, so as to prevent any swinging movement of the cuff on the shell; or

— fully release the cuff from the shell so as to allow the cuff to freely swing on the shell while remaining on the centreline of the ski boot.

Some ski mountaineering boots are moreover provided, in addition to the normal lever boot buckles, with an annular closing strap which surrounds the top of the cuff, and is able to tighten/close the entrance of the cuff in parallel with the lever boot buckle (s), so as to enable the user to more effectively and accurately adapt the upper part of the cuff to the morphology of the leg and calf .

More in detail, the closing strap is provided with a Velcro fastening system which allows the user to adjust the length of the belt quickly and precisely. In the more sophisticated ski mountaineering boots, moreover a segment/ section of the annular strap is also elastically extensible so as to enable the annular strap to remain taut and tight around the cuff even when the Velcro fastening system slightly loosens as a result of the continuous movements of the user.

Even if capable of effectively compensating the drawbacks typical of the Velcro fastening system, unfortunately the elastically-extensible segment allows the closing strap to also lengthen without impediment when subjected to strong traction, thus allowing the upper part of the cuff to freely flex/deform when the user leans forward while skiing. Behaviour that makes the response of the skis to the skier's movements less rapid.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to provide a closing strap of the upper part of the cuff, which can overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a ski boot as defined in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ski mountaineering boot made according to the teachings of the present invention; whereas

- Figures 2 and 3 are two perspective views of the closing strap placed on the upper part of the cuff of the ski mountaineering boot in Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity .

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a ski boot, and in particular a ski boot specifically structured for ski mountaineering.

The ski boot 1 basically comprises: a rigid shell 2 preferably made of plastic or composite material and which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has the lower part specifically structured/designed so as to be coupled/connected in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, to a ski binding device (not shown) of known type, in turn structured so as to be rigidly fixed to the back of a downhill ski or similar; and a rigid cuff 3 preferably made of plastic or composite material and which is shaped so as to surround the ankle of the user, and is hinged to the upper part of the shell 2 so as to be able to freely pivot about a transversal reference axis A, which is locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical mid-plane of the ski boot and is moreover locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the user ' s ankle .

More in detail, in the example shown, shell 2 is preferably made of Nylon (polyamide) , PEBAX (polyester- amide) or other similar plastic polymers. Preferably, the lower part of shell 2 is moreover provided with a front tip 4 and a rear heel 5 which are specifically structured to be able to couple/engage in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, respectively to the toe piece (not shown) and the heel piece (not shown) of a ski binding device for ski mountaineering of known type, which in turn is structured to be rigidly fixed to the back of a generic downhill ski or the like.

Preferably, the lower part of shell 2 is also covered by a sole 6 made of rubber or other elastomeric material and preferably also with a knobbed profile.

The cuff 3 instead is preferably C-shaped in such a way as to embrace the skier's ankle from behind, and is fixed in freely rotatable manner to the upper part of the shell 2 by means of two connecting hinges 7, which are located on the outer and inner sides of shell 2 and of cuff 3, aligned along the transversal axis A so as to allow the cuff 3 to pivot/rotate on shell 2 both forwards and backwards, while always remaining on a reference plane perpendicular to axis A and substantially coinciding with the mid-plane of the ski boot.

Similarly to shell 2, also cuff 3 is preferably made of nylon (polyamide) , PEBAX (polyester-amide) or other similar plastic polymers.

With reference to Figure 1, ski boot 1 moreover comprises an inner shoe 8 which is at least partially made of a soft and optionally thermal-insulating material, is inserted inside shell 2 and cuff 3 preferably, though not necessarily, in removable manner, and is shaped so as to accommodate and protect the foot and the lower part of the user's leg.

In addition, ski boot 1 is also provided with a manually-operated closing system which is structured so as to be able to selectively close/tighten the shell 2 and the cuff 3 against the foot and the lower part of the user's leg, so as to immobilise the user's foot and leg firmly inside the ski boot 1 or rather the inner shoe 8.

More in detail, the ski boot 1 is preferably provided with a series of manually-operated closing members, which are placed on shell 2 and on cuff 3, astride two separate and facing flaps of shell 2 or cuff 3, and are structured so as to be able to selectively pull said flaps towards one another so as to locally tighten the shell 2 or the cuff 3, immobilizing the corresponding portion of the user's foot or leg firmly inside the shoe 8.

In the example shown, in particular, the ski boot 1 preferably comprises two manually-operated lever boot buckles 9 and 10 each of which is arranged crosswise on the upper part of the shell 2, astride the longitudinal slit (not shown) that allows to elastically widen the area of shell 2 above the instep to facilitate the insertion of the foot inside the inner shoe 8, and is structured so as to be able to locally selectively close/tighten the shell 2 to firmly immobilise the user's foot inside the shell 2, or rather the inner shoe 8.

In addition, the ski boot 1 moreover comprises a third manually-operated lever boot buckle 11 which is arranged crosswise on the front part of cuff 3, astride the longitudinal slit (not shown) that allows to elastically widen the front portion of cuff 3 to facilitate the insertion of the foot inside the inner shoe 8, and which is structured so as to be able to locally selectively close/ tighten the cuff 3 to firmly immobilise the lower part of the user's leg inside cuff 3, or rather inner shoe 8.

With reference to figures 1, 2 and 3, in addition the ski boot 1 moreover comprises an annular closing strap 12, which is arranged on top of cuff 3 so as to completely enclose/wrap around the cuff 3, and has a user manually adjustable length so as to be able to selectively tighten/ close the mouth of cuff 3 in addition to the boot buckle 11.

The annular closing strap 12 therefore allows the user to adapt the upper part of the cuff 3 to the morphology of the leg and calf.

With reference to figures 2 and 3, the strap 12 basically comprises a ribbon-like flexible band 13, which is long enough to fully wrap around the cuff 3 at the top thereof, and is preferably, though not necessarily, between 1 and 5 cm (centimetres) wide; and a buckle 14 which is securely fixed to one end of the flexible band 13, and is structured to fasten in a manually adjustable manner to the remaining part of the flexible band 13.

The flexible band 13 in addition is divided longitudinally into two flexible ribbon-like portions 15 and 16 consecutive to each other. The flexible portion 15 has an inextensible structure parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the band 13; whereas the flexible portion 16 has an elastically extensible structure parallel to the longitudinal centerline of band 13, so as to allow the flexible band 13 to stretch when subjected to traction.

Preferably the buckle 14 is in addition securely fixed to one end of the extensible ribbon-like portion 16 of band 13, and is structured to fasten in manually adjustable manner to the inextensible ribbon-like portion 15 of the same band 13.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the annular closing strap 12 moreover comprises constraining means 17 able to limit/maintain the elastic tensile stretch of the elastically extensible portion 16 of band 13 below a predetermined limit value.

In other words, the constraining means 17 are capable of preventing the elastic tensile stretch of the extensible portion 16 of band 13, i.e. the increase in length of the extensible portion 16 when band 13 is subjected to traction, from exceeding a predetermined limit value.

The constraining means 17 are therefore structured to allow the elastically extensible portion 16 of band 13 to freely stretch under traction until reaching a predetermined maximum length, the value of which is obviously greater than the unstretched nominal length of the extensible portion 16.

In the example shown, in particular, the constraining means 17 are preferably fixed in unmovable manner to the flexible band 13.

Preferably, in addition, the constraining means 17 are structured so that the limit value of the elastic tensile stretch of the extensible portion 16 of band 13, i.e. the maximum increase in length of the extensible portion 16 when the band 13 is subjected to traction, is preferably below 50 mm (millimetres) and preferably, though not necessarily, also below 20 mm (millimetres) .

In other words, the constraining means 17 are preferably structured to allow the extensible portion 16 of band 13 a maximum increase of the overall length preferably less than 50 mm (millimetres), and also preferably, though not necessarily, less than 20 mm (millimetres) .

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular, the inextensible portion 15 of band 13 is preferably made up of a single ribbon-like piece/ strip 18 of high-strength inextensible fabric, such as Cordura .

The extensible portion 16 of band 13, instead, is preferably made up of a ribbon-like piece 19 of elastic fabric, which is capable to elastically extend parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the same ribbon-like piece/ strip; and of a ribbon-like piece/strip 20 of high-strength inextensible fabric, such as Cordura, securely fastened to the ribbon-like piece/strip 19 preferably by sewing.

The buckle 14 is securely fixed to the inextensible, ribbon-like piece/strip 20 and is structured so as to be able to fasten in manually-ad ustable manner to the inextensible, ribbon-like piece/strip 18.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular, the buckle 14 preferably comprises a rigid annular body 21, which is securely fixed to one end of the extensible portion 16 of band 13, and is dimensioned so as to be engaged in pass-through manner by the inextensible portion 15 of band 13.

Preferably the inextensible, ribbon-like portion 15 of band 13 is instead structured to be folded like a book on itself at any point of its length freely selectable by the user, in such a way as to overlap two contiguous strips/segments of the inextensible portion 17 and form, at the bending point, an elbow-shaped bend intended to accommodate the annular body 21; and it is furthermore provided with a manually-operated fastening device 22 which is structured to selectively firmly fix/attach to one another the two strips/segments of inextensible portion 15 overlapping each other, so as to trap the annular body 21 at the elbow-shaped bend.

More in detail, in the example shown the annular body 21 is centrally provided with an elongated rectangular- shaped opening which is substantially complementary in shape to the transversal cross-section of the inextensible portion 15 of band 13, and is preferably made of metallic material .

The fastening device 22 instead comprises two Velcro- type or the like fabric sheets, which are located adjacent to one another, on one of the two faces of the inextensible portion 15 of band 13, so as to at least partially overlap to one another when the inextensible portion 15 is book folded by the user, and consequently stick firmly to each other for stably blocking the two strips/segments of the inextensible portion 15 to each other.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, preferably the constraining means 17 of annular strap 12 instead comprise a ribbon-like flexible tie 23 with inextensible structure parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the tie, which has an overall length greater than the unstretched nominal length of the extensible portion 16 of band 13, and has both ends securely fastened or fastenable to the inextensible portion 15 of band 13, on opposite sides of extensible portion 16, so that the extensible portion 16 of band 13, when subjected to traction, may extend freely up to tighten the inextensible tie 23.

The inextensible tie 23 in addition has a length such as to allow the extensible portion 16 of band 13 to extend freely until it reaches its predetermined maximum length.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular, the inextensible tie 23 has an overall length greater than the unstretched nominal length of the extensible portion 16 of band 13, has a first end unmovably fixed to the inextensible portion 15 of band 13 preferably by means of sewing, and extends adjacent and substantially parallel to the extensible portion 16 up to reach and pass over the buckle 14; and the constraining means 17 moreover comprise a buckle 24 which is securely fixed to the second end of the inextensible tie 23 and is structured to fasten in a manually adjustable manner to the flexible band 13, or rather to the inextensible portion 15 of band 13, so as to attach/ fasten, in manually adjustable manner, the second end of the inextensible tie 23 to the inextensible portion 15 of band 13, at the side of buckle 14.

More in detail, in the example shown the first end of the inextensible tie 23 is preferably securely fixed to the inextensible portion 15 of the band 13 close to the joint with the extensible portion 16, and the inextensible tie 23 preferably has an overall length substantially equal to the maximum length allowed for the extensible portion 16 of band 13.

Similarly to buckle 14, also buckle 24 preferably comprises a rigid annular body 25 which is securely fixed to the second end of the inextensible tie 23 and is dimensioned to be engaged in pass-through manner by the inextensible portion 15 of the band 13, so as to remain trapped at the elbow-shaped bend of the inextensible portion 15 of band 13, beside the annular body 21.

With reference to figure 1, in addition the ski boot 1 preferably also comprises a fixing member 26 adapted to fix a point of the annular strap 12 in rigid manner to the body of cuff 3, so as to keep the annular strap 12 in position on the top of the cuff 3 even when loosen.

More in detail, fixing member 26 is preferably structured to fix a point of the ribbon-like extensible portion 16 of band 13 to the body of cuff 3 preferably, though not necessarily, at the rear part of cuff 3.

In the example shown, in particular, fixing member 26 preferably comprises: a locking plate 27 which is placed on the rear of cuff 3, straddling the mid-plane of the boot, so as to overlap a segment of the ribbon-like extensible portion 16 of band 13; and at least one transversal self- threading screw 28 which engages in pass-through manner the locking plate 27, and then screws into the body of cuff 3 engaging in succession two eyelets 29 and 30 placed at the centre, respectively, of the ribbon-like extensible portion 16 of band 13, or rather of the ribbon-like piece of elastic fabric 19, and of the inextensible tie 23.

With reference to Figure 1, preferably the ski boot 1 is lastly provided with a manually-operated or automatic, cuff-locking device 31 which is preferably placed in the area above the heel of the boot, astride shell 2 and cuff 3, and is structured so as to be able to alternatively

- rigidly lock cuff 3 to shell 2 in a predetermined position in which the cuff 3 is tilted forward with respect to the vertical to the shell 2 by an angle preferably, though not necessarily, ranging between 3° and 30°, thus preventing any swinging movement of cuff 3 on shell 2; or

fully unlock/release cuff 3 from shell 2 so as to allow the cuff 3 to freely swing on shell 2 about the axis A, while remaining on the mid-plane of the boot.

The cuff-locking device 31 is a component already widely used in the field of ski mountaineering boots, and therefore will not be further described except to say that in the example shown, it is preferably fitted with a movable ratchet 32 which is pivotally- ointed to the cuff 3 so as to pivot on the mid-plane of the boot, and cantilever extends up to the shell 2 below so as to be able to selectively fit its distal end on the shell 2 for preventing any swinging movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2.

Operation of ski boot 1 is easily inferable from the description above, and needs no further explanation.

As regards instead the functioning of closing strap 12, the ribbon-like extensible portion 16 of band 13 extends proportionally to the traction force which the flexible band 13 is subjected to, until the elastic tensile stretch, i.e. the increase in length of the extensible portion 16, remains below the limit value set by the constraining means 17. Having reached the maximum length of the extensible portion 16 of band 13, any further increase in force of traction is absorbed by the inextensible tie 23, and does not result in a further increase in the overall length of the flexible band 13.

The benefits deriving from the presence of the constraining means 17 on closing strap 12 are noteworthy.

The elastic behaviour of the flexible band 13 makes it possible to effectively compensate the effects of the Velcro fastening system, while the constraining means 17 prevent the flexible band 13 from stretching excessively when strap 12 is subjected to traction, thus greatly increasing the responsiveness of the ski boot while skiing.

Constraining means 17, in fact, inhibit the elastic behaviour of the flexible band 13 when the tensions applied to the closing strap 12 reach high values, typical of when the user is skiing.

In addition, the closing strap 12 can be installed on ski boots already on the market, without the need to make changes to the upper part of the cuff.

It is finally clear that changes and variants can be made to the ski boot 1 described above, without however departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of being fixed in adjustable manner to the inextensible portion 15 of band 13 by means of buckle 24, also the second end of inextensible tie 23 can be unmovably fixed directly to the ribbon-like inextensible piece/strip 20 that supports the buckle 14, preferably by sewing.

In this different embodiment therefore, both ends of the inextensible tie 23 are unmovably fixed to the flexible band 13, on opposite sides of the extensible portion 16, preferably by sewing.

Claims

1. A ski boot (1) comprising a rigid shell (2) which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user; a rigid cuff (3) which is shaped so as to surround the ankle of the user, and is hinged on the shell (2) so as to pivot about a rotation axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the mid- plane of the ski boot; and an annular closing strap (12) that encloses/wraps around the cuff (3) and has a manually adjustable length so as to selectively tighten/ close the cuff (3) ;

the closing strap (12) comprising a flexible band (13) which is wound around the cuff (3) and is provided with an elastically extensible portion (16) ; and a main buckle (14) which is securely fixed to one end of the flexible band (13) and is structured to fasten in a manually adjustable manner to the remaining part of the flexible band (13) ;

the ski boot (1) being characterized in that the closing strap (12) also comprises constraining means (17) adapted to limit/maintain the elastic tensile stretch of the elastically extensible portion (16) of said band (13) below a predetermined limit value.

2. A ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the constraining means (17) are unmovably attached to the flexible band (13) .

3. A ski boot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the constraining means (17) are structured so as to allow to the elastically extensible portion (16) a maximum increase in length of less than 50 millimeters, and preferably also of less than 20 millimeters.

4. A ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible band (13) is also provided with an inextensible portion (15) adjacent to the elastically extensible portion (16); and in that the constraining means (17) comprise an inextensible flexible tie (23) which has an overall length greater than the unstretched nominal length of said elastically extensible portion (16), and has the two ends securely fastened or fastenable to the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13), on opposite sides of the elastically extensible portion (16) .

5. A ski boot according to claim 4, characterized in that the inextensible tie (23) has a length such as to allow the elastically extensible portion (16) of the band (13) to extend freely up to reach a predetermined maximum length.

6. A ski boot according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the inextensible tie (23) has an unstretched overall length greater than the unstretched nominal length of the elastically extensible portion (16) of the band (13), has a first end unmovably fixed to the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13) and extends adjacent and substantially parallel to the elastically extensible portion (16) up to reach and pass over the main buckle (14); and in that the constraining means (17) additionally comprise a second buckle (24) which is securely fixed to the second end of the inextensible tie (23) and is structured to fasten in a manually adjustable manner to the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13), so as to attach/ fasten, in manually adjustable manner, the second end of the inextensible tie (23) to the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13) , beside the main buckle (14) .

7. A ski boot according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that both ends of the inextensible tie (23) are unmovably fixed to the flexible band (13), on opposite sides of the elastically extensible portion (16) .

8. A ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible band (13) is additionally provided with an inextensible portion (15) adjoined to the elastically extensible portion (16); and in that the main buckle (14) is securely fixed to an end of the elastically extensible portion (16) of the band (13) and is structured to fasten in a manually adjustable manner to the inextensible portion (15) of the same band (13) .

9. A ski boot according to claim 8, characterized in that the main buckle (14) comprises a first annular body (21) which is securely fixed to an end of the elastically extensible portion (16) of the band (13) and is dimensioned so as to be engaged in pass-through manner by the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13); the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13) being instead structured so as to be book folded on itself to form an elbow-shaped bend intended to receive the first annular body (21), and being provided with a fastening device (22) structured to selectively securely attach/ fasten to one another the two strips/segments of the inextensible portion (15) that overlap to one another thus to form said elbow- shaped bend.

10. A ski boot according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening device (22) comprises two Velcro-type or similar fabric sheets, which are located adjacent to one another, on one of the two faces of the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13), so as to at least partially overlap to one another when the inextensible portion (15) is book folded by the user.

11. A ski boot according to claims 6 and 9, characterized in that the buckle (24) of the constraining means (17) comprises a second annular body (25) which is securely fixed to the second end of the inextensible tie (23) and is dimensioned so as to be engaged in pass-through manner by the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13) thus to remain trapped at the elbow-shaped bend of the inextensible portion (15) of the band (13), beside the first annular body (21) .

12. A ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by also comprising a fixing member (26) adapted to fix a point of the closing strap (12) rigidly to the body of the cuff (3) .

13. A ski boot according to claim 12, characterized in that said fixing member (26) is adapted to fix a point of the elastically extensible portion (16) of the band (13) to the rear part of the cuff (3) .

14. A ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid shell (2) and the rigid cuff (3) are made of plastic or composite material.

15. A ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid shell (2) has the bottom part structured to be coupled/connected to a ski binding device.