U.S. patent application number 09/756699 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for interface device for sports apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A. of Metz-Tessy FRANCE. Invention is credited to Lancon, Bruno.
Application Number | 20010010130 09/756699 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8846527 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lancon, Bruno |
August 2, 2001 |
Interface device for sports apparatus
Abstract
A connecting interface device adapted to be fixed on a boot and
mounted pivotally on a sports apparatus which procures rear
retention when climbing. The device includes a plate to which a
boot is fixed, which is pivotally mounted on an axle in relation to
the sports apparatus. This device also includes a base plate that
is pivotally mounted in relation to the plate about an axis. This
base plate is arranged beneath the plate and includes a housing for
receiving a climbing wedge that is mounted so as to be inserted
between the plate and the base plate. This device finds an
application in particular in snowshoes and cross country skis.
Inventors: |
Lancon, Bruno; (Villy Le
Pelloux, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C.
1941 Roland Clarke Place
Reston
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A. of Metz-Tessy
FRANCE
|
Family ID: |
8846527 |
Appl. No.: |
09/756699 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/122 ; 280/604;
36/124; 36/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 13/008 20130101;
A63C 13/003 20130101; A43C 15/066 20130101; A63C 13/006 20130101;
A63C 13/005 20130101; A43C 15/065 20130101; A43C 15/063
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/122 ; 36/124;
36/125; 280/604 |
International
Class: |
A43B 005/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 28, 2000 |
FR |
00.01239 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connecting interface device adapted to have a boot affixed
with respect thereto and mounted pivotally on a sports apparatus
which procures rear retention when climbing, said device
comprising: a plate including a fixing arrangement for the boot, an
axle extending transversely to the apparatus, said plate being
hingedly mounted on the apparatus by said axle; a climbing wedge
movable between at least two positions, said two positions
including a raised position, which increases an inclination angle
of said plate with respect to the apparatus, and a lowered
position; and a base plate pivotally mounted, in relation to said
plate, along an axis transverse to the apparatus, said base plate
being arranged beneath said plate.
2. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
climbing wedge is arranged so as to be inserted between the base
plate and the plate to maintain, in the raised position, an
inclination angle of the plate with respect to the base plate about
the axis.
3. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
axle of rotation of the plate with respect to the apparatus is
merged with the axis of rotation of the plate with respect to the
base plate.
4. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
base plate includes a housing adapted to pivotally maintain the
climbing wedge, and wherein the plate includes a translational
guiding of the climbing wedge.
5. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
plate includes a housing adapted to pivotally maintain the climbing
wedge, and wherein the base plate includes a translational guiding
of the climbing wedge.
6. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
plate is complementary of the base plate, so as to perfectly
cooperate with the base plate when the climbing wedge is in the
lowered position.
7. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
base plate includes at least one lateral edge that extends upwardly
along a height substantially identical to a thickness of the plate,
and which partially surrounds the plate.
8. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
base plate includes at least one retaining tooth.
9. A connecting interface device according to claim 8, wherein at
least one tooth is mounted transversely with respect to the base
plate.
10. A connecting interface device according to claim 8, wherein at
least one tooth is mounted substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the base plate.
11. A connecting interface device according to claim 1, wherein the
base plate is made out of a plastic material and according to a
perforated structure.
12. A sports assembly comprising: a sports apparatus; and a
connecting interface device adapted to have a boot affixed with
respect thereto and mounted pivotally on said sports apparatus
which procures rear retention when climbing, said device
comprising: a plate including a fixing arrangement for the boot, an
axle extending transversely to the apparatus, said plate being
hingedly mounted on the apparatus by said axle; a climbing wedge
movable between at least two positions, said two positions
including a raised position, which increases an inclination angle
of said plate with respect to the apparatus, and a lowered
position; and a base plate pivotally mounted, in relation to said
plate, along an axis transverse to the apparatus, said base plate
being arranged beneath said plate.
13. A sports assembly according to claim 12, wherein said sports
apparatus comprises a ski.
14. A sports assembly according to claim 12, wherein said sports
apparatus comprises a snowshoe.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a connecting interface
device adapted to be fixed on a boot and pivotally mounted on a
sports apparatus, which procures rearward retention when climbing.
The connecting interface device of the invention makes it possible
to adopt a climbing position in which the boot maintains an
inclined position in relation to the sports apparatus. In
particular, this invention is adapted to equip snowshoes and skis
that can be provided with skins, or any other sports apparatus
adapted to be used for climbing.
[0003] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
[0004] Numerous pivoting plate systems equipped with a climbing
wedge exist in the state of the art.
[0005] The wedge, which often is a wire, is inserted in the raised
position between the sports apparatus and the pivoting plate. It
can be mounted pivotally either on the sports apparatus, or on the
plate. However, all these systems punch the sports apparatus when
the user presses with his foot on the climbing wedge. This even
goes as far as breaking certain back country skis. The invention
described in the document FR 2 725 631 proposes a wedge pivoting
about a vertical axis that positions a protruding piece beneath the
pivoting plate. However, this protrusion strongly biases the wedge
fastener in traction on the sports apparatus.
[0006] Generally speaking, all of the existing systems require the
manufacture of the sports apparatus in a material that has good
mechanical properties, and therefore an expensive material, or
reinforcing the sports apparatus with reinforcements that remain
expensive to implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One of the objects of the present invention is to propose a
connecting interface device that does not require using special
reinforcements on the sports apparatus, and that makes it possible
to optimize the materials used for the sports apparatus.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to reduce the overall
cost of the materials used for the connecting interface device and
sports apparatus assembly.
[0009] To achieve these objects, the connecting interface device
includes a plate on which the boot is fixed, and which is
journalled in a known manner on the sports apparatus. The device
also includes a base plate that is pivotally mounted in relation to
the plate on an axle transverse to the sports apparatus, and which
is arranged beneath the plate. The climbing wedge is then arranged
so as to be inserted between the base plate and the plate. Thus,
the pressure exerted by the boot on the climbing wedge is recovered
by the material constituting the base plate. This device therefore
makes it possible to limit the use of materials having high
mechanical resistance for the plate, and to optimize accordingly
the materials used for manufacturing the sports apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention will be better understood and other advantages
thereof will become apparent from the description, with reference
to the annexed drawings that are an integral part thereof. The
description shows, by way of non-limiting examples, certain
preferred embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 1 schematically shows a front three-quarter general
view of a snowshoe equipped with the connecting interface
device.
[0012] FIG. 2 schematically shows a front three-quarter view of the
connecting interface device alone.
[0013] FIG. 3 schematically shows a side view of the connecting
interface device in the climbing position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a general view of the sports
apparatus/connecting interface device assembly, which in this case
is a snowshoe, including a frame 0 on which a plate 2 is hingedly
mounted. The user's boot is fixed on the plate 2 by a fixing
arrangement Fx, affixed to the plate 2, which can be constituted,
for example, of a notched strap 55 and a closure buckle 56. The
fixing arrangement Fx surrounds the boot preferably at the front of
the boot as well as at the instep. It is contemplated that the
fixing arrangement Fx can be different, including in accordance
with the known prior art, in snow shoes and bindings of cross
country skis. The selection of the fixing arrangement Fx is
absolutely not intended to be limiting for the present description
and invention. The axis along which the plate 2 is hingedly mounted
is transverse to the sports apparatus, and preferably located next
to the shovel 57.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a front three-quarter perspective view of the
connecting interface device alone. The boot fixing arrangement
previously described is not shown. The plate 2 is hingedly mounted
on an axle 10 transverse to the sports apparatus. The plate 2
includes a wide portion 31, located at the front in the area of the
axle 10, which serves as a support for the front portion of the
boot, and more specifically for the portion located between the
front end and the metatarso-phalangeal articulation of the foot.
The plate 2 also includes, at its front end, at least one frontal
edge 32 that extends upwardly along a height that is substantially
equal to, even greater than the height of the sole of the boot, at
its front end.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment shown, the frontal edges 32 are
two in number and are positioned so as to be substantially
symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis 33 of the
connecting interface device. These frontal edges 32 serve to retain
the boot toward the front, especially when the connecting interface
device is used in cramponing, on hard snow or ice. This cramponing
is made possible due to the teeth 34 that are fixed on the wide
portion 31 of the plate 2, and fixed substantially beneath at least
one front edge 32.
[0017] The plate 2 also includes an adjusting band 35 that extends,
rearward of the wide portion 31, along the longitudinal axis 33. On
this band 35 is slidably mounted the heel-piece 37 including means,
not shown, for fixing the rear of the boot. The position of the
heel-piece 37 can be adjusted according to known means of the prior
art, such as a rack 36, so as to adapt to the length of the
boot.
[0018] This figure shows the base plate 1 that is arranged beneath
the plate 2. This base plate 1 includes at least one lateral edge
22 that extends upwardly along a height substantially identical to
the thickness of the plate 2. The lateral edge 22 is preferably
positioned at the level of the adjusting band 35 and outside this
band 35, so that it partially surrounds the plate 2 at the level of
the adjusting band. The lateral edge 22 is preferably positioned as
close to the plate 2 as possible in order to reinforce the lateral
stability thereof.
[0019] In this preferred embodiment shown, the lateral edges 22, 23
are located on both sides of the plate 2 so as to laterally extend
the support surface of the boot provided by the plate 2. As the
climbing wedge 12 is in the lowered position, the plate 2 is
parallel to the base plate 1 and is nested therein. Advantageously,
the plate 2 is complementary of the base plate 1 to cooperate with
the base plate 1.
[0020] In FIG. 3 the connecting interface device is shown when the
climbing wedge 12 is in the raised position. Once again, the plate
2 is hinged about an axle 10 transverse with respect to the
interface device. The base plate 1 is pivotally mounted with
respect to the plate 2 along an axis 3 transverse to the sports
apparatus, and therefore transverse to the device.
[0021] In the present embodiment shown, the axle of rotation 10 of
the plate 2, with respect to the sports apparatus, merges with the
axis of rotation 3 of the plate 2 with respect to the base plate.
This arrangement considerably simplifies the embodiment of the
invention since there is only one axis that allows two different
rotations. It is contemplated according to the invention that there
may well be two different rotational axes. The climbing wedge 12 is
arranged so as to be inserted between the base plate 1 and the
plate 2 in order to maintain, in the raised position, an angle of
inclination .alpha. of the plate 2 with respect to the base plate 1
about the axis 3. The climbing wedge can be made, for example, of a
stainless steel wire 4 millimeters in diameter, twisted in a
U-shape, amid the two ends of which are curved so as to form an
axis. The wedge 12 moves from the raised position to the lowered
position by pivoting bout an axis. In the raised position, the
portion of the climbing wedge 12 in contact with the plate 2 is
advantageously positioned in the heel zone of the boot in order to
avoid flexing the plate 2. Therefore, the plate 2 can be made of
inexpensive materials.
[0022] The base plate 1 includes a housing 20 adapted to pivotally
maintain the climbing wedge 12 along a transverse axis. Moreover,
the plate 2 includes a translational guiding 38 of the climbing
wedge 12. To receive the climbing wedge 12 in the lowered position,
the base plate 1 includes a scallop 39. This scallop 39 can be
indistinctly positioned at the front or at the rear of the housing
20 depending upon whether the climbing wedge 12 is lowered
frontwardly or rearwardly.
[0023] It is contemplated, according to the invention, that an
inverse configuration can be made, where the climbing wedge 12 is
fixed on the plate 2. In this case, the plate 2 would include a
housing adapted to pivotally maintain the climbing wedge 12, and
the base plate 1 would include a translational guiding of the
climbing wedge 12.
[0024] Whether one or the other of the two previously described
configurations is selected, the translational guiding system 38
advantageously includes a retaining bar 40 that makes it possible
to maintain the angle .alpha. at a constant value. In fact, the
retaining bar 40 forms, together with the support on which the
translational guiding system 38 is fixed, a recess 41 that is
located between the retaining bar 40 and the support. The climbing
wedge is then slipped into this recess 41. The climbing wedge thus
constitutes a rigid connection between the plate 2 and the base
plate 1.
[0025] As for the translational guide 38, respecting this
constructional arrangement makes it possible, when the foot fixed
on the plate 2 is lifted, to also lift the base plate 1, regardless
of the position of the wedge.
[0026] This result is particularly interesting with respect to the
cramponing fiction of the connecting interface device with the
retaining teeth 11a, 11b, that are fixed on the base plate 1. When
the climbing wedge 12 is in the lowered position, the retaining
teeth 11a, 11b, remain flat beneath the foot and pivot with the
latter by behaving like so-called "mobile" crampons known from the
prior art. When the climbing wedge 12 is in the lifted position,
the retaining teeth 11a, 11b, keep a constant inclination angle
.alpha. with respect to the plate 2, regardless of the pivoting
position of the foot about the axle 10 during walking stride. When
the foot is in support on the snow, the retaining teeth 11a, 11b,
are in contact with the snow, and therefore in a good position to
ensure their retaining function. Moreover, the foot does have an
inclination, necessary for the climbing comfort, with respect to
the sports apparatus on which the base plate 1 takes support. When
the foot is in the pivoting phase, for a pivoting angle greater
than .alpha., it drives along the retaining teeth 11a, 11b, which
are no longer in contact with the snow, and thus facilitates the
sliding displacement of the sports apparatus on the snow.
[0027] This is an advantage over the prior art in which a selection
between grip and sliding must be made. Indeed, with the traditional
crampons affixed to the sports apparatus, the grip is obtained when
the foot presses on the apparatus, but at the expense of the
sliding phase during the stride. Conversely, with crampons affixed
to the hinged fixing plate, the sliding phase is obtained but at
the expense of the grip, for the climbing wedge also raises the
crampons.
[0028] To obtain an optimum grip, at least one retaining tooth 11a
can be advantageously arranged on the base plate 1, and
transversely with respect to the base plate 1. These retaining
teeth 11a can be numerous, positioned substantially in the area of
the axis 3, and can be oriented substantially perpendicular to the
base plate 1 toward the bottom. These teeth contribute to the grip
when climbing, when the foot is in the impulse phase of the wing
stride, and the retaining teeth 11b are no longer in contact with
the snow.
[0029] One can also arrange at least one retaining tooth 11b so as
to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 33 of the
device. This retaining tooth 11b serves to grip when the foot is in
support on the sports apparatus. The retaining teeth 11b can be
arranged so as to be substantially symmetrical about the
longitudinal axis 33 and in the area of the heel zone of the boot,
and more generally in the rear half-length of the boot.
[0030] By way of illustrative but non-limiting example, the plate 2
can be made of an injected thermoplastic material, in particular
polypropylene or polyamide, i.e., an inexpensive material, whereas
the base plate 1 can be made of an injected thermoplastic material,
in particular polyacetal, and has a perforated structure
facilitating the evacuation of snow through the base plate 1.
[0031] This material has very good mechanical properties and thus
makes it possible to recover the localized pressure exerted by the
climbing wedge 12 on the housing 20 reserved for this purpose in
the base plate 1. One can also envision a dual-material injection
of the base plate 1 by only injecting the material having good
properties around the housing 20. In addition, the perforated
structure of the base plate 1 reduces the manufacturing cost.
[0032] Thus, the base plate 1, which has a certain rigidity,
properly distributes the pressure exerted on the frame of the
snowshoe or the cross country ski. One can thus obtain a snow shoe
frame in polypropylene, inexpensive flexible material, or on a
cross country ski without a fixing reinforcement.
[0033] The present invention is not limited to the specific
embodiments described hereinabove, which are provided for guidance
only, but encompasses all similar or equivalent embodiments.
[0034] The instant application is based upon French Patent
Application No. 00 01239, filed Jan. 28, 2000, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety,
and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119.
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