U.S. patent application number 10/581594 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-15 for multifunctional telemark boot.
Invention is credited to Marco Rigat.
Application Number | 20090255149 10/581594 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34684485 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090255149 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rigat; Marco |
October 15, 2009 |
Multifunctional telemark boot
Abstract
A Multifunctional telemark boot (10) includes a shell (2); a
sole (13) which is integral with the shell (2), and which is made
up of a heel (4) and a toe (5) which are separated from each other
by an insole arch (6). A flexible articulation (7), is part of the
shell (2), and is arranged substantially in correspondence with the
toe (5) in order to permit a flex of the shell (2). A stiffening
device (11) is associated with the sole (13) in order to
selectively impede the flex of the shell (2) and to configure the
telemark boot (10) itself for different uses other than
telemark.
Inventors: |
Rigat; Marco; (Sauze di
Cesana (TO), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
34684485 |
Appl. No.: |
10/581594 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 10, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2003/014000 |
371 Date: |
June 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/117.3 ;
36/118.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/0018 20130101;
A43B 5/0494 20130101; A43B 13/36 20130101; A43B 5/0472 20130101;
A63C 2201/06 20130101; A43D 999/00 20130101; A43B 5/0421 20130101;
A43B 5/0492 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/117.3 ;
36/118.2 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/04 20060101
A43B005/04 |
Claims
1. Multifunctional telemark boot comprising a shell; a sole which
is integral with the shell, and which comprises a heel and a toe;
and a flexible articulation which is part of the shell, and which
is arranged substantially in correspondence with the toe in order
to permit a flex of the shell; the telemark boot stiffening means
which are associated with the sole in order to selectively impede
said flex and to configure the telemark boot for different uses of
telemark.
2. Telemark boot according to claim 1, wherein said stiffening
means comprise a raised sole which is provided with a thickness
which is substantially greater than the thickness of a standard
sole, and which presents, in plan view, different forms which are
adaptable to as many respective blocking devices to be used for
different snow sports.
3. Telemark boot according to claim 2, wherein said stiffening
means comprise a compartment which is obtained inside the toe, and
a plurality of blades which are arranged inside the compartment and
which may be orientated from an operating position which is
coplanar to the sole to an operating position which is transverse
to the sole to further stiffen said shell.
4. Telemark boot according to claim 3, wherein the stiffening means
comprise an elastic regulating element for the extension of said
blades, and an orientation element which is integral with the
blades and which can be regulated from outside the raised sole.
5. Telemark boot according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening means
comprise a selectively interchangeable portion of said raised sole
and constraining means which constrain the selectively
interchangeable portion to the shell.
6. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein the constraining
means comprise a shaped pin which is integral with said selectively
interchangeable portion and which may be inserted into a respective
housing which is obtained through the toe, an elastic stopping
element which is arranged substantially inside the housing to block
the shaped pin, a snap hook which is integral with said selectively
interchangeable portion and which may be inserted into said toe
from the side of the insole arch, and a blocking element which is
associated with the snap hook in order to selectively block the
snap hook to said toe.
7. Telemark boot according to claim 6, wherein said constraining
means comprise a release element which is arranged inside said
housing in order to act on the elastic stopping element in order to
free said pin.
8. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein said selectively
interchangeable portion may be associated with either the toe or
the heel of the sole.
9. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining
means comprise at least one shaped track which extends along a
longitudinal axis of the sole, and a respective groove with a shape
which is complementary to the shape of the shaped track and which
is obtained in said selectively interchangeable portion; the
selectively interchangeable portion (20) presenting, in turn, a
blocking wall which is arranged transverse to the longitudinal
axis.
10. Telemark boot according to claim 9, wherein said track presents
a T shape in a transverse section.
11. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining
means comprise at least one shaped track which extends along a
transverse axis of the sole, and a respective groove with a shape
which is complementary to the shape of the shaped track and which
is obtained in said selectively interchangeable portion.
12. Telemark boot according to claim 9, wherein said constraining
means comprise a pair of shaped fasteners which may be associated
with said track in order to block any reciprocal sliding between
the track and the groove.
13. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining
means comprise at least one pin with a shaped head arranged
transverse to said selectively interchangeable portion, and a
respective housing with a shaped base which is obtained in the
shell.
14. Telemark boot according to claim 13, wherein said constraining
means comprise three pins with shaped heads which are arranged
transverse to said selectively interchangeable portion, and a
housing and a groove with a shaped base which are obtained in the
shell.
15. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining
means comprise two hinges for coupling the selectively
interchangeable portion to the shell; each hinge being defined by
at least one notch, by a respective projection which may be
inserted into the relative notch, and by a respective shaft which
may be inserted through the notch and the projection in order to
constrain the notch and the projection in relation to each
other.
16. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein the heel is
frontally delimited by a substantially flat surface, which faces
the insole arch, and which is inclined at an angle which is
substantially less than 70.degree. in relation to a support plane
surface of the telemark boot.
17. Telemark boot according to claim 1, wherein said toe presents
an external layer made of rubber material and an internal layer
made of plastic material, and comprises an anchoring lip to permit
an improved anchoring of the external layer to the internal layer
and/or the anchoring of external accessories to the shell.
18. Telemark boot according to claim 17, wherein said lip is
integral with the internal layer to be inserted into a window which
is obtained through the external layer, and comprising an anterior
prismatic portion and a posterior prismatic portion which together
define an anchoring compartment.
19. Telemark boot according to claim 1, wherein the articulation
comprises a bellows which is arranged on an upper part of the
shell, the stiffening device also comprising a regulating lever for
regulating the size of the bellows, and at least one stay rod for
connecting the lever to said sole.
20. Telemark boot according to claim 19, wherein the stiffening
device comprises a shock absorber pin which is integral with the
shell, and which defines a fixed transmission for said stay
rod.
21. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein the sole comprises
an insole arch for separating the heel from the toe.
22. Telemark boot according to claim 18, wherein the posterior
prismatic portion is substantially wedge shaped, and tapers towards
the anterior prismatic portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention refers to a multifunctional telemark
boot.
[0002] Telemark boots of a well known kind, such as, for example,
the boot 1 which is illustrated in FIG. 15 marked "Prior Art", are
suitable for permitting a flex in correspondence to an articulation
of the metatarsus phalange of the foot, and they comprise: a shell
2 for housing the foot; a standard sole 3--which is integral with
the shell 2, and which is made up of a heel 4 and a toe 5 which are
separated from each other by an insole arch 6; and a flexible
articulation, which is part of the shell 2, and which is arranged
substantially in correspondence with the toe 5 in order to permit
the flex of the shell 2 itself.
[0003] The kinds of boots which have just been described above have
a great disadvantage in that they may only be used for the telemark
sport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The aim of the present invention is to produce a
multifunctional telemark boot, which will be free of the
disadvantage described above.
[0005] According to the present invention, a multifunctional
telemark boot will be produced comprising a shell; a sole which is
integral with the shell, and which is made up of a heel and a toe;
and a flexible articulation which is part of the shell, and which
is arranged substantially in correspondence with the toe in order
to permit a flex of the shell itself; the telemark boot being
characterised by the fact that it comprises stiffening means which
are associated with the sole in order to selectively impede the
said flex and to configure the telemark boot itself for different
uses other than telemark.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention will now be described with reference to the
attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting form of
embodiment, and in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevated side view of a first preferred from of
embodiment of a multifunctional telemark boot according to the
present invention;
[0008] FIGS. 1a and 1b are perspective views, on a reduced scale,
of respective preferred alternative forms of embodiment of a detail
of the boot illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an elevated side view of a second preferred form
of embodiment of the multifunctional telemark boot shown in FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an elevated side view of a third preferred form of
embodiment of the multifunctional telemark boot shown in FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale and with some parts
removed for reasons of clarity, respective preferred alternative
forms of embodiment of a detail of the boot shown in FIG. 3;
[0012] FIGS. 5-14 show, in perspective views and with some parts
removed for reasons of clarity, respective preferred alternative
forms of embodiment of a detail of the boot shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0013] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a prior art telemark
boot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] With initial reference to FIG. 1, and using the same
reference numbers to indicate the same or similar parts which have
already been described in the introduction to the description, the
number 10 indicates, in its entirety, a multifunctional telemark
boot made of plastic material, and comprising a shell 2 which is
suitable for housing a foot inside it; a raised sole 13 which is
integral with the shell 2, and which is made up of a heel 4 and a
toe 5 which are separated from each other by an insole arch; and a
flexible articulation 7, which is part of the shell 2, and which is
arranged substantially in correspondence to the toe 5 in order to
permit a flex of the shell 2 itself.
[0015] The boot 10 also comprises a stiffening device 11 which is
associated with the sole 13 in order to selectively impede the flex
and to configure the boot 10 itself for different uses other than
telemark such as, for example, alpine ski-ing, downhill ski-ing,
snowboarding, backcountry ski-ing or mountain climbing.
[0016] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 1,
the stiffening device 11 is defined by the raised sole 13, which
presents a thickness which is substantially the double of a
thickness of a standard sole measured in correspondence with the
opposite free ends of the standard sole itself, or rather in
correspondence with the ends of the sole which interacts with the
attachment devices of boots of a well known kind and with well
known kinds of equipment for snow sports.
[0017] The raised sole 13 is made up of an external layer 13a made
of rubber material, and an internal layer 13b made of plastic
material, and, as is better illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, it
presents, in plan view, various forms which are adaptable to as
many respective attachment devices for different kinds of snow
sports. In particular, the very thickness of the sole 13 creates
the adaptability of the boot 10 to various different kinds of snow
sports and it can also present (FIG. 1a) a toe 5a with an elongated
form which is adaptable for telemark and alpine ski-ing and for
downhill ski-ing in general, or (FIG. 1b) a toe 5b with a widened
form which is particularly usable for telemark or for alpine
ski-ing performed with telemark attachment devices.
[0018] As an alternative to what has just been described, the
thickness of the sole 13 can be determined by increasing the
thickness of a standard sole by at least 50% as described above,
and such an increase concerns only the portion 13b and not the
portion 13a, or rather it concerns only the more rigid part of the
sole 13 itself.
[0019] The heel 4 of the sole 13 is frontally delimited by a
substantially flat surface 4a, which faces the insole arch 6, and
which is inclined at an angle of substantially less than 70.degree.
in relation to a flat support surface of the boot 10.
[0020] Both the heel 4 and the toe 5 comprise respective free ends
4k and 5k, which extend outside the outline of the shell 2 in order
to interface with the above-mentioned attachment devices, and they
present respective undercuts 4s and 5s which have a thickness which
is equal to the thickness of a standard sole and, thus, a thickness
which is less that the thickness of the sole 13.
[0021] In the case that the boot 10 should be used for
snowboarding, the heel 4 and the toe 5 are not provided with the
free ends 4k and 5k, so that the use of so-called "soft" attachment
devices may be permitted.
[0022] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 2,
the stiffening device 11 comprises a compartment 14 which is
obtained inside the toe 5, and a number of blades 15 which are
arranged inside the compartment 14 itself and which may be
orientated from an operating position which is coplanar to the sole
13 to an operating position which is transverse to the sole 13
itself in order to stiffen the shell 2 further. The blades 15 are
joined to each other at their own respective ends by means of a
blocking bracket 16, which is arranged inside the compartment 14,
and a socket head screw 17 which is arranged in such a way as to
close the compartment 14 and which faces the outside in
correspondence to the insole arch 6.
[0023] The stiffening device 11 also comprises a spring 18, which
is elastically compressed between an annular projection 19 which is
obtained inside the compartment 14 and the bracket 16, and is
suitable for permitting the regulation of the extension of the
blades 15 while they are being orientated. In particular, when a
setscrew wrench 17a is used on the socket head screw 17, it is
possible to orientate the blades 15 between the two above-mentioned
operating positions, increasing or decreasing the flexion stiffness
of the blades 15 themselves, and, consequently, increasing or
decreasing the flexion stiffness of the shell 2.
[0024] The alternative forms of embodiment which are illustrated in
FIGS. 3 to 10 relate to as many alternative forms of stiffening
devices 11, each of which comprises a respective selectively
interchangeable portion 20 of the raised sole 13 and which may be
associated, according to specific needs, either with the toe 5 or
the heel 4 or with both of them, and a respective constraining
device 21 for constraining the portion 20 to the shell 2. Each of
the devices 11 differs from the other devices 11 due to the
different ways of producing the portion 20 and the relative device
21.
[0025] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4, the selectively interchangeable portion 20 of the raised
sole 13 is defined by a moulded layer 31 which extends along the
whole length of the toe 5 starting from the insole arch 6, while
the device 21 comprises a shaped pin 32 and a snap hook 33 both of
which are integral with the layer 31, and of which the pin 32 may
be inserted inside a respective housing 34 which is obtained
through the end 5k of the toe 5, while the hook 33 may be inserted
into the toe 5 itself from the side of the insole arch 6.
[0026] The device 21 also comprises an elastic stopping element 35
which is arranged substantially inside the housing 34 in order to
block the shaped pin 32, and a blocking screw 36 which is
associated with the hook 33 in order to selectively block the hook
33 itself to the toe 5. In particular, the elastic element 35 is
defined by a sphere 37, which is transversely mobile in relation to
the pin 32 due to the action of a spring 38, and which can be
engaged in a respective notch 39 which is obtained on the edge of
the pin 32 itself.
[0027] Finally, the device 21 comprises a release pin 40 which is
arranged in the housing 34 opposite the sphere 37 in relation to
the pin 32 in order to act on the sphere 37 in such a way as to
free the pin 32 and to permit the unhooking and replacement of the
portion 20.
[0028] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 5
and 6, the selectively interchangeable portion 20 of the raised
sole 13 is defined by an insert 51 which either extends for the
whole length of the toe 5 or for the whole length of the heel 4,
while the constraining device 21 comprises from one (FIG. 5) to
three shaped tracks 52 (FIG. 6), which present a T shape in a
section which is transverse to a longitudinal axis A of the sole
13, and which extend along the axis A itself.
[0029] The device 21 also comprises, for each track 52, a
respective groove 53, which presents a shape which is complementary
to the shape of the track 52 itself, and which is obtained in the
insert 51 in order to permit the insertion and extraction of the
insert 51 itself parallel to the axis A. Finally, the device 21
comprises, at least for the insert 51 which may be associated with
the toe 5, a blocking wall 54 which is arranged transverse to the
longitudinal axis A, and which is suitable for axially blocking the
sliding movement of the insert 51 itself.
[0030] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 7,
8, and 9, the selectively interchangeable portion 20 of the raised
sole 13 is defined by an insert 71 which either extends for the
whole length of the toe 5 or for the whole length of the heel 4,
while the device 21 comprises two shaped tracks 72, which extend
along an axis B which is perpendicular to the axis A, and which
present, as will be better described below, a reversed T shape. The
device 21 also comprises, for each track 72, a groove 73, which
presents a shape which is complementary to the shape of the
relative track 72, and which is obtained in the insert 71 in order
to permit the insertion or extraction of the insert 71 itself
transverse to the axis A.
[0031] Finally, the device 21 comprises a pair of shaped fasteners
74 which are associated with each of the tracks 72 in order to
block any reciprocal sliding between the track 72 itself and the
relative groove 73.
[0032] The tracks 72 and the relative grooves 73 which are
illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 substantially differ from each
other due to the conformation of the said tracks 72, and,
consequently, of the grooves 73. In particular, the tracks 72 which
are illustrated in FIG. 7 comprise a head 72a which presents, in a
section which is transverse to the axis B, a crown section shape;
the tracks 72 which are illustrated in FIG. 8 comprise a head 72b
which presents, in a section which is transverse to the axis B, an
oblong cylindrical shape in a horizontal direction; while the
tracks 72 which are illustrated in FIG. 9 comprise a head 72c which
presents, in a section which is transverse to the B axis, a regular
cylindrical shape. Consequently, the grooves 73 and the fasteners
74 present gradually different shapes in order to adapt themselves
to the external shape of the tracks 72 which have just been
described. In any case, the presence of the fasteners 74 and their
determined shape permits the production of various different kinds
of heads which can be matched with similar types of grooves 73.
[0033] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 10,
the selectively interchangeable portion 20 of the raised sole 13 is
defined by an insert 101 which either extends for the whole length
of the toe 5 or for the whole length of the heel 4, while the
device 21 comprises three pins with shaped heads 102, which are
integral with and transverse to the insert 101, and which are
arranged according to the points of an isosceles triangle in such a
way that two of these, indicated with the number 102b, are at the
same distance from one pin itself, indicated with the number 102a.
The device 21 also comprises a housing 103 and a groove with a
shaped base 104, which are obtained in the shell 2, and of which
the housing 103 is suitable for housing the pin 102a, while the
groove 104 is of a substantially circular shape with a curve which
is equal to one side of the above-mentioned triangle, and which is
suitable for housing the pins 102b.
[0034] In this case, the coupling of the insert 101 to the shell 2
occurs by initially inserting the pin 102a into the housing 103,
and then rotating the insert 101 itself around the pin 102a itself
in such a way as to block the pin 102a into the housing 103 and
insert the pins 102b into the groove 104 by means of the same
rotating movement.
[0035] According to a form of embodiment which is not illustrated
here but which may be easily deduced from the drawing shown in FIG.
10, the device 21 may be provided with a single pin 102 and, for
reasons of precision, with a single pin 102a.
[0036] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 11,
the selectively interchangeable portion 20 of the raised sole 13 is
defined by an insert 111 which extends either for the whole length
of the toe 5 or for the whole length of the heel 4, while the
device 21 comprises two pins with shaped heads 112, which are
integral with and transverse to the sole 13, and which are arranged
along the axis B. In particular, each pin 112 presents a
cylindrical shank 113 which is integral with the sole 13, and a
flat circular head 114 which is transverse to the shank 113.
[0037] The device 21 also comprises, for each pin 112, a housing
115 which is obtained in the insert 111, and which presents an
undercut 116 which is suitable for housing the shank 113, and an
opening 117 which is of sufficient dimensions to allow the passage
of the relative head 114.
[0038] In this case, the coupling of the insert 111 to the shell 2
occurs by initially inserting the head 114 of each pin 112 through
the relative opening 117, and then blocking each head 114 beneath
the relative undercut 116.
[0039] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 12,
the selectively interchangeable portion 20 of the raised sole 13 is
defined by an insert 121 which either extends for the whole length
of the toe 5 or for the whole length of the heel 4, while the
device 21 comprises two coupling hinges 122 for attaching the
insert 121 to the shell 2. In particular, each hinge 122 is defined
by three notches 123 which are obtained in the insert 121, by three
projections 124 which are integral with the shell 2 and which may
be inserted into the relative notches 123, and by a respective
shaft 125 which may be inserted through the notches 123 and the
projections 124 in order to constrain the notches 123 and the
projections 124 themselves to each other in such a way as to block
the insert 121 to the shell 2.
[0040] According to a form of embodiment which is not illustrated
here, but which may easily be deduced from the above description,
the notches 123 and the projections 124, instead of being
associated with the insert 121 and, respectively, the shell 2, may
otherwise be associated with, respectively, the shell 2 and the
insert 121.
[0041] The form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 13 shows
a toe 5 which is also provided with an anchoring lip 131 in order
to permit an improved anchoring of the external layer 13a to the
internal layer 13b. The lip 131 is integral with the internal layer
13b in order to be inserted into a window 132 which is obtained
through the external layer 13a, and it comprises an anterior
prismatic portion 133 and a posterior prismatic portion 134, which
presents a triangular transverse section, and which tapers towards
the portion 133 in such a way as to form, with the portion 133, an
anchoring compartment 135 which is open towards the window 132.
[0042] In accordance with the necessities imposed by different
applications, the lip 131 can be sized in such a way as to be flush
with the layer 13a or in such a way as to have at least the portion
133 arranged so as to project outside the window 132 in relation to
the layer 13a itself. The portion 133 can also present, in plan
view, a shape which is as rectangular as trapezoid, just as the
portion 134 can present a dovetail transverse section in order to
define a notch (which is not illustrated) which is open towards the
compartment 135 in order to anchor a rampant, or a crampon for
providing improved grip on ice.
[0043] In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 14,
the flexible articulation 7 is defined by a bellows 141 which is
arranged on the upper part of the shell 2, and the stiffening
device 11 also comprises a regulating lever 142 for blocking the
foot inside the shell 2. The lever 142 is mounted in rotating
fashion on the shell 2 in correspondence to the bellows 141, and
two anchoring pins 143 are arranged inside the shell 2 itself in
correspondence with the toe 5 and lateral to the toe 5 itself, and
a shock absorber pin 144 is arranged through the shell 2 opposite
the lever 142 in relation to the bellows 141.
[0044] Finally, the device 11 comprises two stay rods 145, each of
which connects a relative pin 143 to the lever 142 and which is
turned in a U formation around the pin 144 in order to pass
laterally and inside the toe 5 and beneath the bellows 141. In
particular, the pin 144 presents an internal plate 146 and an
external spring 147 and is suitable for absorbing the pull on the
stay rods 145 as a result of the reduction of the mobility of the
bellows 141 due to the regulating effect of the lever 142 on the
bellows 141 itself.
[0045] In a form of embodiment which is not illustrated, the lever
142 may be mounted on the free end of a tension hook which is in
turn mounted astride the bellows 141 in order to permit both the
regulation of the blocking action of the foot inside the shell 2 by
means of rotating the lever 142 in relation to the tension hook,
and a selective regulation of the stiffness of the bellows 141 by
means of the same tension hook.
[0046] It is intended that the present invention should not be
limited to the forms of embodiment which are herein described and
illustrated, which are to be considered as forms of embodiment of
the multifunctional telemark boot, which might be subject to
further modifications regarding the shape and disposition of its
parts, as well as to details pertaining to construction and
assembly.
* * * * *