U.S. patent application number 14/390453 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for ski boot.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALZATURIFICIO S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A. The applicant listed for this patent is CALZATURIFICIO S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Davide Parisotto.
Application Number | 20150033586 14/390453 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46124670 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150033586 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parisotto; Davide |
February 5, 2015 |
SKI BOOT
Abstract
A ski boot includes a shell and a cuff which is hinged on the
shell so as to rotate about a first axis substantially
perpendicular to the center-plane of the boot. The ski boot is
provided with a cuff locking device which includes: a fixing plate
which is located on the shell substantially at the heel of the boot
and is provided with a projecting pin which protrudes from the
shell while remaining coaxial to a third axis which substantially
lies on the center-plane of the boot, and is tilted with respect to
the vertical by an angle from 60.degree. to 90.degree.; and a
connecting arm which, in the area above the heel of the boot,
extends astride between the rear part of the cuff and the fixing
plate, while remaining on a lying plane substantially perpendicular
to said first axis.
Inventors: |
Parisotto; Davide; (Casella
D'Asola, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CALZATURIFICIO S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A. |
Asolo |
|
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
CALZATURIFICIO S.C.A.R.P.A.
S.p.A
Asolo
IT
|
Family ID: |
46124670 |
Appl. No.: |
14/390453 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
April 4, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2013/052714 |
371 Date: |
October 3, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/117.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/0496 20130101;
A43B 5/0456 20130101; A43B 5/0427 20130101; A43B 5/0474 20130101;
A43B 5/0492 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/117.1 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/04 20060101
A43B005/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2012 |
IT |
TV2012A000053 |
Claims
1. Ski boot comprising a rigid shell which is shaped so as to
accommodate the foot of the user, and a rigid cuff which is shaped
so as to enclose the ankle of the user and is hinged on the shell
so as to rotate about a first axis substantially perpendicular to
the center-plane of the boot and locally substantially coincident
with the articulation axis of the ankle of the user; the ski boot
being also provided with a cuff locking device which is structured
so to selectively rigidly lock the cuff to the shell so as to
prevent any movement between the two components, or release the
cuff from the shell so as to allow the cuff to freely swing about
said first axis while remaining substantially on the center-plane
of the boot; the ski boot being characterised in that the cuff
locking device comprises: a fixing plate which is located on the
shell substantially at the heel of the boot; and a connecting arm
which, in the area above the heel of the boot, extends astride
between the rear part of the cuff and the fixing plate, while
remaining on a lying plane substantially perpendicular to said
first axis, and is hinged on the rear part of the cuff so as to
oscillate with respect to the cuff about a second axis locally
substantially perpendicular to the lying plane of the same
connecting arm; the fixing plate being also provided with a
projecting pin which protrudes from the shell while remaining
coaxial to a third axis which lies substantially on the
center-plane of the boot, ad is tilted with respect to the vertical
by an angle ranging between 60.degree. and 90.degree.; the lower
end of the connecting arm instead being shaped/structured so as to
be selectively insertable/fittable on the projecting pin of the
fixing plate in an axially rotatable and easily
releasable/extractable manner, so as to constrain the connecting
arm to the fixing plate with the sole possibility of freely
rotating about said third axis.
2. Ski boot according to claim 1, characterised in that the lower
end of the connecting arm is provided with a slot or eyelet which
is shaped so as to be engaged in an axially rotatable and sliding
manner by said projecting pin, so as to constrain the connecting
arm to the fixing plate with the sole possibility of freely
rotating with respect to the fixing plate about the projecting
pin.
3. Ski boot according to claim 2, characterised in that the
projecting pin has a substantially circular section, and the slot
or eyelet has a circular section substantially complementary to
that of said projecting pin.
4. Ski boot according to claim 1, characterised in that the cuff
locking device also comprises a manually-operated arm lifting
mechanism which is structured so as to selectively and
alternatively arrange the connecting arm in a totally lowered
position in which the lower end of the connecting arm is
fitted/inserted on the projecting pin of the fixing plate, so as to
prevent any swinging of the cuff on the shell about said first
axis; and in a totally lifted position in which the lower end of
the connecting arm is completely extracted and spaced from the
projecting pin of the fixing plate, so as to allow the cuff to
freely swing on the shell about said first axis.
5. Ski boot according to claim 4, characterised in that the arm
lifting mechanism comprises an elastic member which is structured
so as to elastically maintain the connecting arm stably in the
totally lowered position; and a manually-operated control member
which can displace and stably maintain the connecting arm in the
totally lifted position overcoming the elastic thrust of said
elastic member.
6. Ski boot according to claim 5, characterised in that said
manually-operated control member is a lever which is hinged on the
connecting arm, and is shaped/structured so as to prop on the
immediately underlying body of the cuff to force the connecting arm
to rotate about the second axis from the totally lowered position
to the totally lifted position overcoming the thrust of the elastic
member.
7. Ski boot according to claim 6, characterised in that said lever
is hinged on the connecting arm so as to freely rotate on the
connecting arm while remaining on a reference plane locally
substantially parallel or coincident with the lying plane of the
connecting arm.
8. Ski boot according to claim 1, characterised in that the cuff
locking device also comprises a supporting plate which is rigidly
fixed on the rear part of the cuff, above the heel of the boot, so
as to substantially lie on the center-plane of the boot, and the
connecting arm is hinged on said supporting plate.
9. Ski boot according to claim 8, characterised in that the
supporting plate is fixed on the rear part of the cuff in a rigid
and stable, though easily removable, manner.
10. Ski boot according to claim 9, characterised in that the
supporting plate is also structured to be fixable on the rear part
of the cuff in a plurality of distinct anchoring positions which
are freely selectable by the user.
11. Ski boot according to claim 9, characterised in that the cuff
locking device also comprises a second connecting arm which has a
first end structured so to be fixable in a rigid and stable, though
easily releasable, manner on the rear part of the cuff, in place of
the supporting plate, and a second end shaped/structured so as to
be insertable/fittable on the projecting pin of the fixing plate in
an axially rotatable and easily releasable/extractable manner, so
as to constrain the connecting arm to the fixing plate with the
sole possibility of freely rotating about the axis of the
projecting pin.
12. Ski boot according to claim 11, characterised in that the first
end of said second connecting arm is structured to be fixable on
the rear part of the cuff in a plurality of distinct anchoring
positions which are freely selectable by the user.
13. Ski boot according to claim 1, characterised in that the cuff
is fixed in a freely rotatable manner on the shell by means of two
connection hinges which are arranged on the external and internal
lateral sides of the shell and of the cuff, aligned along said
first axis; said connection hinges being structured so as to allow
a manual adjustment of the tilt angle of said first axis with
respect to the center-plane of the boot.
14. Ski boot according to claim 1, characterised in that the shell
and/or the cuff are made of plastic or composite material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a ski boot.
[0002] In greater detail, the present invention relates to an
mountaineering or Telemark ski boot, use to which the following
description explicitly refers purely by way of example without this
implying any loss of generality.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] As is known, more recent mountaineering ski or Telemark ski
boots normally consist of a rigid shell made of plastic material,
which is shaped so as to accommodate the skier's foot, and is
provided at the bottom with a front sole and a rear heel usually
made of non-slip elastomeric material; of a rigid cuff made of
plastic material, which is shaped so as to embrace the lower
section of the skier's leg from behind and is hinged to the upper
part of the shell so as to rotate about a transversal reference
axis substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the
ankle; of an inner liner made of soft and thermal insulating
material, which is removably inserted into the shell and the cuff,
and is shaped so as to envelop and protect both the foot and the
lower section of the skier's leg; and of an external protective
tongue made of plastic material, which has the lower end hinged on
the shell, immediately above the tarsus-phalanx area of the foot,
and extends along the upper part of the shell up to reaching the
cuff, so as to cover the longitudinal slit of the shell which
allows/facilitates the temporary widening of the shell to insert
the foot into the liner.
[0004] Mountaineering ski or Telemark ski boots are also provided
with a series of manually-operated closing buckles, which are
conveniently distributed on the shell and on the cuff, and are
structured so as to selectively close/tighten the shell and the
cuff so as to stably immobilize the skier's leg inside the
liner.
[0005] Lastly, most mountaineering ski or Telemark ski boots are
provided with a manually-operated cuff locking device which is
structured so as to selectively [0006] rigidly lock the cuff to the
shell so as to prevent any swinging movement of the cuff on the
shell; or [0007] completely release the cuff from the shell so as
to allow the cuff to freely swing both forwards and backwards about
the articulation axis of the ankle.
[0008] In more sophisticated mountaineering ski or Telemark ski
boots, the cuff locking device comprises a rod or rigid connecting
strut, which has the lower end hinged on the shell at the heel of
the boot, so as to freely rotate about a reference axis locally
substantially perpendicular to the center-plane of the boot, and
extends on the center-plane of the boot up to reaching the portion
of the cuff which is immediately above the heel of the boot.
[0009] The cuff locking device further comprises a mechanical strut
locking member which is rigidly fixed to the cuff immediately above
the heel of the boot so as to be engaged in an axially sliding
manner by the upper part of the strut, and is structured so as to
selectively prevent any relative movement between the strut and the
locking member, thus rigidly connecting the cuff to the shell of
the boot.
[0010] Unfortunately, although operating in an excellent way, a
cuff locking device configured as such greatly limits the
possibilities of adjusting the lateral tilt angle of the cuff.
Adjustment that, if present, allows the user to best align the
articulation axis of the two hinges connecting the cuff to the
shell with the articulation axis of the user's ankle, thus making
the use of the boot much more comfortable.
[0011] In fact, the lower end of the strut is hinged to the shell
by means of a metallic pass-through pin which, unless mechanical
assembly clearances, forces the strut to swing while remaining
confined to the center-plane of the boot.
[0012] To provide the boot with the--albeit limited--possibility of
adjusting the lateral tilt angle of the cuff, over the last few
years certain mountaineering ski and Telemark ski boot
manufacturers have decided to significantly increase the mechanical
clearances between the lower end of the strut and the corresponding
shell connecting pin, and to connect the cuff to the lateral sides
of the shell by means of a pair of hinges which are structured so
as to allow the user to vary the lateral tilt of the reference axis
of the hinges by a few tenths of a degree.
[0013] Obviously, excessive mechanical clearance between the rigid
strut and the pass-through pin which connects the strut to the
shell does not allow the cuff locking device to prevent any
relative movement between shell and cuff, with all the drawbacks
this involves. In fact, even when the cuff locking device is in the
locked cuff configuration, excessive mechanical clearances between
the strut and the transversal pass-through pin connecting the strut
to the shell allow small oscillations of the cuff with respect to
the shell which have a negative effect on the dynamic behaviour of
the boot when it is used in downhill skiing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0014] Aim of the present invention is to provide a cuff locking
device which, when needed, is effectively capable of preventing any
relative movement between the cuff and the shell, while allowing
the lateral tilt angle of the cuff to be adjusted.
[0015] 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
[0016] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting
embodiment thereof, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is the side view, with parts removed for clarity, of
an mountaineering ski boot made according to the teachings of the
present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in enlarged scale and with
cross-sectioned parts and parts removed for clarity, the rear part
of the FIG. 1 boot in two different operating positions;
whereas
[0019] FIG. 4 shows, in enlarged scale and with cross-sectioned
parts and parts removed for clarity, the rear part of the FIG. 1
boot in a second operating configuration.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020] With reference to FIG. 1, number 1 indicates as a whole a
ski boot, and in particular a ski boot specifically structured for
practising the sports discipline of ski mountaineering or Telemark
skiing.
[0021] Boot 1 essentially consists of an external rigid shell 2
made of plastic or composite material, which is shaped so as to
accommodate the user's foot, and is provided at the bottom with a
front sole 3 and with a rear heel 4, which are preferably, though
not necessarily, provided with a treading profile and preferably,
though not necessarily, made of anti-slip elastomeric material; and
of a rigid cuff 5 made of plastic or composite material, which is
preferably substantially C-shaped so as to embrace the lower part
of the user's leg from behind, and is hinged on the upper part of
shell 2 so as to freely swing about a transversal reference axis A,
which is locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical
centre-plane of the boot (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the
sheet in FIG. 1), and is also locally substantially coincident with
the articulation axis of the user's ankle.
[0022] More specifically, cuff 5 is fixed in a freely rotatable
manner to shell 2 by means of two connection hinges 6 which are
arranged on the external and internal lateral sides of shell 2 and
cuff 5, aligned along axis A, so as to allow cuff 5 to swing on
shell 2 while always remaining on a reference plane which is
orthogonal to axis A and substantially coincident with the
center-plane of the boot.
[0023] The two hinges 6 are furthermore structured so as to allow a
manual, micrometric adjustment of the tilt angle of axis A with
respect to the vertical, that is to the vertical centre-plane of
the boot, so as to allow the user to manually adjust the lateral
tilt of cuff 5 and then align the reference axis A of the hinges to
the articulation axis of the user's ankle according to the user's
needs.
[0024] The above-described hinges 6 are components which are
already widely known in the ski boot field, and therefore do not
require further explanations.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, boot 1 is further provided with an
inner liner 7 which is preferably made of soft and thermal
insulating material, is housed inside shell 2 and cuff 5
preferably, though not necessarily, in removable manner, and lastly
is shaped so as to envelop and protect the foot and the lower
section of the user's leg; and with a protective, oblong-shaped
tongue 8 which is preferably, though not necessarily, made of
plastic or composite material, and is arranged resting on shell 2
in the area above the instep of the foot and the lower section of
the leg, to cover a longitudinal slit (not shown) which extends
along the upper part of shell 2, while remaining locally
substantially coplanar to the center-plane of the boot, and allows
the user to temporarily widen the upper part of shell 2 so as to
introduce the foot more easily into liner 7.
[0026] In other words, the protective tongue 8 extends grazing the
shell 2 above the instep of the foot, and then remount along the
leg up to reach and insert below cuff 5, above the lower section of
the tibia.
[0027] Lastly, boot 1 comprises one or more manually-operated
mechanical boot-closing devices 9 which are structured so as to
selectively close/tighten the shell 2 and cuff 5 so as to stably
immobilize the user's leg inside boot 1; and a cuff locking device
10 which is structured so as to selectively: [0028] rigidly lock
cuff 5 to shell 2 so as to prevent any swinging movement of cuff 5
on shell 2; or [0029] totally release cuff 5 from shell 2 so as to
allow cuff 5 to freely swing both forwards and backwards about axis
A.
[0030] In the example shown, in particular, the mechanical
boot-closing devices 9 preferably, though not necessarily, consist
of a series of lever closing buckles 9 which are arranged on shell
2 and/or on cuff 5 and/or on the protective tongue 8 so as to
selectively close/tighten shell 2 and cuff 5, to stably immobilize
the user's leg inside liner 7. Being components widely known in the
field of ski boots, the closing buckles 9 will not be further
described.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cuff locking device
10 instead extends astride shell 2 and cuff 5, immediately above
the heel of the boot, and comprises: [0032] a supporting plate 11
which is rigidly fixed to the rear part of cuff 5, above the heel
of the boot, so as to substantially lie on the center-plane of the
boot; [0033] a fixing plate 12 which is rigidly fixed to shell 2,
substantially at the heel of the boot, so as to be aligned below
the supporting plate 11, i.e. so as to substantially lie on the
center-plane of the boot; and [0034] a rigid, oblong connecting arm
13 which extends astride between the supporting plate 11 and the
fixing plate 12, while remaining on a lying plane locally
substantially coincident with the centre-plane of the boot, that is
substantially perpendicular to the articulation axis A of hinges 6,
and is hinged on the supporting plate 11 so as to freely oscillate
with respect to the supporting plate 11 about a reference axis B
locally substantially perpendicular to the lying plane of the
connecting arm 13, that is locally substantially perpendicular to
the center-plane of the boot.
[0035] The fixing plate 12 is also provided with a projecting pin
14 preferably with a substantially circular cross-section, i.e. a
pin which is substantially cylindrical or truncated-cone in shape,
which protrudes from shell 2 while remaining coaxial to a reference
axis C which substantially lies on the center-plane of the boot, is
tilted with respect to the vertical by an angle .alpha. preferably
ranging from 60.degree. to 90.degree., and lastly is preferably
locally substantially perpendicular to the surface of shell 2; and
the lower end 13a of the connecting arm 13 is shaped/structured so
as to be inserted/fitted on the projecting pin 14 of the fixing
plate 12 in an axially rotatable and easily releasable/extractable
manner, so as to constrain the connecting arm 13 to the fixing
plate 12 with the sole possibility of freely rotating about axis C
of projecting pin 14.
[0036] More in details, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the
reference axis C of the projecting pin 14 is preferably, though not
necessarily, tilted with respect to the vertical of an angle
.alpha. ranging from 80.degree. to 90.degree., and is also
preferably oriented so as to be locally substantially perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis L of the connecting arm 13.
[0037] The lower end 13a of the connecting arm 13 is instead
preferably provided with a hole or eyelet 14a which is preferably,
though not necessarily, of the pass-through type, and is shaped so
as to be engaged in an axially rotatable and sliding manner by said
projecting pin 14, so as to constrain the connecting arm 13 to the
fixing plate 12 with the sole possibility of freely rotating with
respect to the fixing plate 12 about axis C of projecting pin
14.
[0038] More specifically, in the example shown, the hole or eyelet
14a is of a pass-through type, and has a circular section which is
substantially complementary to that of the projecting pin 14, so as
to be engaged in axially rotatable and axially sliding manner by
the projecting pin 14.
[0039] Accordingly, when the lower end 13a of connecting arm 13 is
inserted/fitted on the projecting pin 14, the connecting arm 13 is
capable of maintaining the supporting plate 11 at a predetermined,
constant distance from the fixing plate 12, thus preventing any
swinging of cuff 5 about the articulation axis A of hinges 6 and
instead allowing cuff 5 to freely move/rotate with respect to shell
2 on a second reference plane P locally orthogonal to the vertical
centre-plane of the boot.
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in the example shown, in
particular, the supporting plate 11 is preferably made of metal
material, and is preferably rigidly fixed to the rear part of cuff
5 in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, manner.
[0041] In the example shown, in particular, the supporting plate 11
is rigidly fixed to the rear part of cuff 5 preferably, though not
necessarily, by means of one or more transversal anchoring screws
15 (two screws in the example shown), each of which is sized so as
to thoroughly engage a pass-through hole specifically made in the
body of the supporting plate 11, and then to penetrate the body of
cuff 5 to screw into a corresponding female screw body 16 located
inside cuff 5, on the opposite side of the supporting plate 11, so
as to keep the supporting plate 11 stably abutting on the rear part
of cuff 5.
[0042] The supporting plate 11 is preferably also structured to be
fixable to the rear part of cuff 5 in a plurality of distinct
anchoring positions which are freely selectable by the user, so as
to allow the user to vary/adjust the tilt angle of cuff 5 as
required with respect to the vertical when the cuff locking device
10 locks cuff 5 to shell 2 so as to prevent any swinging movement
of cuff 5 about axis A.
[0043] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the example shown, in
particular, cuff 5 is preferably provided with an oblong,
substantially straight-rack shaped base 17, which extends along the
rear part of cuff 5 while remaining substantially coplanar to the
center-plane of the boot, and the rear face 11a of the supporting
plate 11 is preferably provided with a toothed profile which is
sized so as to stably mesh with any portion of the oblong base 17,
so as to prevent any movement of the supporting plate 11 on the
rear part of cuff 5.
[0044] The oblong base 17 with rack-like profile is also centrally
provided with at least one long longitudinal pass-through slot or
slit (not shown) which extends parallel to the center-plane of the
boot, while remaining locally substantially coincident with the
center-line of the oblong base 17; and each transversal anchoring
screw 15 is sized so as to thoroughly engage the central slot or
slit of the rack-profiled oblong base 17 and then screw into a
corresponding female screw body 16 which is arranged abutting on
the internal surface of cuff 5, on the opposite side of the oblong
base 17, so as to keep the supporting plate 11 stably abutting on
the oblong base 17 with rack profile.
[0045] Instead, the fixing plate 12 is preferably trapped in a
rigid and stable, though easily removable manner, inside a pocket
or seat specifically made on the surface of shell 2, at the heel of
the boot.
[0046] Alternatively, the fixing plate 12 could also be embedded in
a non-removable manner in the body of shell 2, at the heel of the
boot.
[0047] Similarly to the supporting plate 11, in the example shown,
the fixing plate 12 is also preferably made of metal material.
[0048] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the connecting arm 13
instead preferably consists of a substantially straight-shaped,
oblong rigid body 13, which is hinged like a rocker arm on the
supporting plate 11 so as to freely oscillate about axis B,
preferably, though not necessarily, by means of a transversal
pass-through pin 18 which extends coaxial to axis B through the
body of the connecting arm 13 and the body of the supporting plate
11.
[0049] The oblong rigid body 13 is also preferably made of metal
material, and extends on the center-plane of the boot, preferably
while keeping the initial portion substantially parallel and
grazing to cuff 5, or better to the rack-profiled oblong base 17
arranged on the rear part of cuff 5, and the end portion of the
connecting arm 13 locally substantially parallel and grazing to
shell 2, or better to the fixing plate 12 which is integral with
shell 2.
[0050] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cuff locking device
10 is lastly provided with a manually-operated arm lifting
mechanism 19 which is structured so as to selectively and
alternatively arrange the connecting arm 13 [0051] in a totally
lowered position (see FIG. 2) in which the lower end 13a of the
connecting arm 13 is totally fitted/inserted on the projecting pin
14 of the fixing plate 12, so as to prevent any variation in the
distance between the supporting plate 11 and the fixing plate 12;
and [0052] in a totally lifted position (see FIG. 3) in which the
lower end 13a of the connecting arm 13 is completely extracted and
spaced apart from the projecting pin 14 of the fixing plate 12, so
as to allow the connecting arm 13 and the supporting plate 11 to
freely move with respect to the fixing plate 13.
[0053] Obviously, when is in the totally lowered position (see FIG.
2), the connecting arm 13 prevents any swinging by cuff 5 about
axis A. Instead, when is in the totally lifted position (see FIG.
3), the connecting arm 13 allows cuff 5 to freely swing on shell 2
about axis A.
[0054] With reference to FIG. 2, the arm lifting mechanism 19
preferably comprises an elastic member 20 which is structured so as
to elastically maintain the connecting arm 13 stably in the totally
lowered position; and a manually-operated control member 21, which
is capable of displacing and stably maintaining the connecting arm
13 in the totally lifted position while overcoming the elastic
thrust of the elastic member 20.
[0055] In the example shown, in particular, the elastic member 20
preferably consists of a helical spring 20 or the like, which is
interposed between the supporting plate 11 and the upper end 13b of
the connecting arm 13 and is conveniently structured/sized so as to
elastically oppose any reduction of the distance between the
supporting plate 11 and the upper end 13b of the connecting arm 13,
thus always keeping the lower end 13a of the connecting arm 13
abutting/adhering to the fixing plate 12.
[0056] The manually-operated control member 21 instead preferably
consists of a lever 21 which is directly hinged on the connecting
arm 13, on the side opposite to the elastic member 20 with respect
to the rotation axis B of the arm, so as to freely rotate on the
connecting arm 13 while preferably remaining on a reference plane
locally substantially parallel or coincident with the lying plane
of the connecting arm 13, and is shaped/structured so as to prop
on/pivot on the supporting plate 11 immediately underlying and/or
directly on the body of cuff 5 to force the connecting arm 13 to
rotate about axis B from the totally lowered position to the
totally lifted position, thus overcoming the thrust of the elastic
member 20, so as to remove and move the lower end 13a of the
connecting arm 13 away from the projecting pin 14.
[0057] More in detail, the lifting lever 21 is provided with a
cam-profiled lobed portion 21a which, as the angular/tilting
position of the lifting lever 21 with respect to the connecting arm
13 varies, is capable of resting on the supporting plate 11 or on
the body of the underlying cuff 5, and then progressively
increasing the distance between axis D and the supporting plate 11
or the underlying cuff 5, so as to force the connecting arm 13 to
rotate about axis B from the totally lowered position to the
totally lifted position, thus overcoming the thrust of the elastic
member 20.
[0058] In the example shown, in particular, the lifting lever 21 is
preferably made of metal or plastic material, and is also
preferably hinged on the connecting arm 13 by means of a
transversal pass-through pin 22 which extends through the body of
the connecting arm 13 and the body of the lifting lever 21 while
remaining coaxial to a reference axis D locally substantially
parallel to axis B.
[0059] Additionally, the lifting lever 21 is preferably hinged on
the connecting arm 13 at a first end, and has a second end shaped
so as to be easily grasped by the user's hand. The cam-profiled
lobed portion 21a is preferably made at the first end of the
lifting lever 21, and is preferably adapted to rest and slide on
the supporting plate 11 without wearing down the plate surface.
[0060] Lastly, with reference to FIG. 4, the cuff locking device 10
preferably, though not necessarily, comprises a second rigid,
oblong connecting arm 23 which has a first end 23b structured so as
to be fixable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable,
manner to the rear part of cuff 5, in place of the supporting plate
11, and a second end 23a shaped/structured so as to be
insertable/fittable on the projecting pin 14 of the fixing plate 12
in an axially rotatable and easily releasable/extractable manner,
so as to constrain the connecting arm 23 to the fixing plate 12
with the sole possibility of freely rotating about axis C of
projecting pin 14.
[0061] More in detail, similarly to the lower end 13a of the
connecting arm 13, the second end 23a of the connecting arm 23 is
preferably provided with a hole or eyelet 14a which is preferably,
though not necessarily, of a pass-through type, and which is shaped
so as to be complementary to the shape of the projecting pin 14 and
is adapted to be engaged in an axially rotatable and sliding manner
by the projecting pin 14, so to constrain the connecting arm 23 to
the fixing plate 12 with the sole possibility of freely rotating
with respect to the fixing plate 12 about axis C of projecting pin
14.
[0062] With the aid of the second connecting arm 23, the cuff
locking device 10 is therefore capable of permanently preventing
any swinging of cuff 5 about the articulation axis A of hinges 6,
however allowing cuff 5 to freely move/rotate with respect to shell
2 on a second reference plane P locally orthogonal to the vertical
centre-plane of the boot.
[0063] Also the second connecting arm 23 is preferably made of
metal material, and extends astride between the rear portion of
cuff 5 and the fixing plate 12 preferably remaining on a lying
plane locally substantially coincident with the center-plane of the
boot.
[0064] With reference to FIG. 4, in the example shown, in
particular, the first end 23b of the connecting arm 23 is adapted
to be rigidly fixed to the rear part of cuff 5 preferably, though
not necessarily, by means of one or more transversal anchoring
screws 25 (two screws in the example shown), each of which is sized
so as to thoroughly engage a through hole specifically made in the
body of the connecting arm 23, and then to penetrate the body of
cuff 5 to screw into a respective female screw body 16 located
inside cuff 5, so as to keep the first end 23b of the connecting
arm 23 stably abutting on the rear part of cuff 5.
[0065] Moreover, the first end 23b of the connecting arm 23 is
preferably structured to be fixable to the rear part of cuff 5 in a
plurality of distinct anchoring positions which are freely
selectable by the user, so as to allow the user to vary/adjust the
tilt angle of cuff as required with respect to the vertical when
the connecting arm 23 has its two ends fixed, one to cuff 5 and the
other to fixing plate 12.
[0066] In the example shown, in particular, the first end 23b of
the connecting arm 23 is also preferably provided with a toothed
profile which is sized so as to stably mesh with any portion of the
oblong base 17, so as to prevent any movement of the supporting
plate 11 on the rear part of cuff 5.
[0067] As is the case with the supporting plate 11, each anchoring
screw 25 is sized so as to thoroughly engage the central slot or
slit of the oblong base 17 with a rack profile, and then screw into
a corresponding female screw body 16 which is arranged abutting on
the internal surface of cuff 5, on the opposite side of the oblong
base 17, so as to keep the first end 23b of the connecting arm 23
stably abutting on the oblong base 17 with rack profile.
[0068] The operation of the ski boot 1 is easily inferable from the
above description, and therefore does not require further
explanations.
[0069] Instead, with regard to the cuff locking device 10, the
axially rotatable coupling between the projecting pin 14 of the
fixing plate 12 and the lower end 13b of the connecting arm 13
allows cuff 5 to freely move/rotate with respect to shell 2 on a
second reference plane P locally orthogonal to the vertical
centre-plane of the boot. Accordingly, any structural constraint is
eliminated, which may prevent the hinges 6 from varying the tilt
angle of axis A with respect to the vertical centre-plane of the
boot.
[0070] Several advantages are achieved with the particular
structure of the cuff locking device 10. Firstly, the cuff locking
device 10 allows wide range of adjustment of the lateral tilt angle
of cuff 5, while simultaneously eliminating all those mechanical
clearances that compromise the proper operation of the cuff locking
device 10.
[0071] In other words, the particular structure of the cuff locking
device 10 allows the comfort of the footwear to be significantly
improved without however compromising the dynamic behaviour of the
boot when it is used in downhill skiing. Contrarily, the lack of
angular limits in the adjustment of the lateral tilt angle of cuff
5 allows the travel of the hinges 6 to be significantly extended,
thus increasing the possibilities of personalizing boot 1.
[0072] Furthermore, when the cuff locking device 10 is configured
so as to leave cuff 5 free to swing on shell 2 about axis A, no
parts of the cuff locking device 10 drag on one another thus
opposing in some way the user's movement.
[0073] Moreover, the cuff locking device 10 is also suitable to be
mounted on already marketed mountaineering ski and Telemark ski
boots with small mechanical adaptations.
[0074] Lastly but no less importantly, the cuff locking device 10
allows the supporting plate 11 and the components which are
integral therewith (i.e. the connecting arm 13 and the arm lifting
mechanism 19) to be easily removed, and cuff 5 to be directly and
permanently rigidly connected to the fixing plate 12 by means of a
second connecting arm 23, with the weight reduction resulting
therefrom.
[0075] Indeed, the weight of the second connecting arm 23 is
sensibly less than the overall weight of supporting plate 11,
connecting arm 13 and arm lifting mechanism 19.
[0076] Lastly, it is apparent that modifications and variants may
be made to the above-described mountaineering ski and Telemark ski
boot 1, without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0077] For example, in a less sophisticated embodiment, the
supporting plate 11 could be fixed to the rear part of cuff 5 in a
non-removable manner, or be made in one piece with cuff 5.
[0078] In other words, in this embodiment, the cuff locking device
10 comprises: the fixing plate 12, again arranged on shell 2
substantially at the heel of the boot; and the connecting arm 13
which, in the area immediately above the heel of the boot, extends
astride between the rear part of cuff 5 and the fixing plate 12,
while remaining on a lying plane substantially perpendicular to the
articulation axis A of hinges 6, and is hinged on the rear part of
cuff 5 so as to oscillate with respect to cuff 5 about a second
reference axis B locally substantially perpendicular to the lying
plane of the connecting arm 13.
* * * * *