Sport footwear such as a ski boot or suchlike

A sport footwear comprises a lower part or shell to contain the foot, and an upper part or cuff to contain and surround the joint of the ankle and the lower part of the leg. The cuff and shell are pivoted with respect to each other. A clamping device is provided for the reciprocal clamping of the cuff and the shell at least in a first clamped position and a second unclamped position, in which the free oscillatory movement of cuff and shell is allowed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Italian Patent Application No. UD2012A000097filed May 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a sport footwear, such as for example a ski boot or suchlike, having a clamping device which, in the configuration between a first closed and clamped position, used when the sport is being practiced and also called “skiing position”, and a second unclamped position that facilitates walking, also called “walking position”, makes the boot more comfortable during pauses of non-activity and when the boot is put on/removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that in rigid sport footwear with a central entrance, such as for example ski boots, whether for Alpine skiing, snowboarding or suchlike, the cuff and the shell are pivoted to each other in correspondence with the malleolar zone of the foot, and can assume a first clamped position for use during sport, to clamp the ankle during activity, and a second, unclamped position to facilitate walking, putting on and removing the boot.

Such boots are provided with clamping and unclamping devices which allow to modify the reciprocal coupling condition of the cuff and shell.

Known clamping and unclamping devices normally consist, however, of complex and bulky mechanisms that use gears, tie rods, pins or keys: this entails an increase in the production costs of the boot, laborious maneuvers and exposure to wear, with the risk of accidental unclamping.

The patents IT-B-1.336.330, IT-B-1.369.969, IT-B-1.370.304, IT-B-1.374.307, IT-B-1.370.337 and IT-B-1.389.364 in the name of the present Applicant are also known. These describe improved solutions to the state of the art, where generally a stop element or strut is provided, mounted on the cuff by pivoting or sliding. The stop element is mobile between a first clamped position, in which it cooperates with a clamping surface of the shell to keep the cuff in a determinate clamped position with respect to the shell, and a second unclamped position, in which it is freed from the clamping surface of the shell, to allow the cuff to oscillate freely with respect to the shell.

The passage of the strut between the first and the second position is normally determined by manual action on a respective lever element protruding from the cuff and connected to the strut by means of various types of drive kinematisms, which are particularly complex and costly since they are formed by a high number of components which must be assembled, which are delicate and therefore subject to breakage, where one or more elastic means are typically used, such as torsional springs or return springs that facilitate the passage between the two positions described above.

Document DE-A-2.404.447 describes a ski boot that provides an elastic sheet associated with the cuff by means of an additional assembly block, and a lever anchored to the shell, with a clamping function in several positions, but which does not intervene in the clamping operation, acting directly on the elastic sheet.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,580 describes a cross-country skiing boot which provides a lever anchored to the cuff which, acting on a cable, puts under traction an extension in the cuff, which functions as an elastic element for absorbing impacts, and modifies its set-up.

Purpose of the present invention is to obtain a sport footwear that is simple and economical to produce, which can be put on and removed easily, and which solves the problems present in the state of the art, in particular obtaining a clamping device that is simple, reliable and formed by a limited number of components, so as to reduce production costs and also the possibility of breakage and hence the costs and frequency of repairs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purpose, a sport footwear according to the present invention comprises a lower part or shell to contain the foot, and an upper part or cuff to contain and surround the ankle joint and the lower part of the leg. Cuff and shell are pivoted to each other, and a clamping device is provided for the reciprocal clamping of the cuff and shell at least in a first clamped position and a second unclamped position, which allows the free oscillatory movement of cuff and shell.

According to the present invention, the clamping device comprises an elastic metal sheet that develops longitudinally along the external rear surface of the cuff and configured to function as a selective clamping element of the reciprocal angular position of cuff and shell. In this way, the elastic metal sheet functions both as a physical clamping element and also, thanks to the elastic properties of the material of which it consists, itself defines the necessary elastic behavior for the reversible passage from one to the other of the first and second positions. This allows to obtain a clamping device that is simple, reliable and formed by a limited number of components, thus reducing production costs, and also the possibility of breakages and hence the costs and frequency of repairs.

In some forms of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet is anchored directly to and on the cuff. One advantage of the present invention is that the elastic metal sheet, since it is applied directly on the cuff, simplifies assembly and does not require additional assembly components or blocks.

In some forms of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet has at least a free lower end for selective clamping.

In a variant form of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet is shaped like a metal tape or strip, with an oblong development and a thin thickness and is made using a metal with elastic properties, including harmonic steel for springs.

In one form of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet has an upper attachment end, stably constrained to an upper segment of the rear surface of the cuff and the lower end is free, that is, it is not attached to the cuff but can cooperate with the shell for the selective clamping of cuff and shell. The free lower end is configured to be elastically deformed between the first clamped position, displaced toward the inside of the cuff, in which it constrains the reciprocal movement of cuff and shell, and the second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff, in which it allows the oscillation of cuff and shell.

In a variant form of embodiment, the clamping device comprises a stepped stopping surface that delimits a shaped clamping seating mating with the lower end, in which the stepped stopping surface and the lower end cooperate in the first clamped position.

In another variant, the clamping device comprises attachment means to constrain the upper end of the elastic metal sheet to the upper segment of the rear surface of the cuff, which include mechanical attachment means or means to adjust the rigidity of the cuff.

In one form of embodiment, the clamping device is provided with a command mechanism associated externally with the cuff and configured to condition the position of the elastic metal sheet and thus to take it from the first clamped position to the second unclamped position and vice versa.

In variant forms of embodiment, the command mechanism comprises a lever configured to cooperate with the cuff and to act on the elastic metal sheet so as to provide it with a position in which the lower end is distant from and does not cooperate with the shell, and a position in which the lower end cooperates with the stepped stopping surface. In substance, the elastic metal sheet can have two positions, a work position, in which it cooperates with the stepped stopping surface, and a position where the cuff is free. This double position is conditioned by the lever which, depending on the case, can be anchored, for example pivoted, to the elastic metal sheet or to the cuff. One possible advantage of the present invention is that, thanks to the lever, the elastic metal sheet cannot change the position desired by the user, even accidentally. Moreover, another advantage is that the lever acts directly on the elastic sheet and does not need to be positioned with respect thereto.

In some variants, the elastic metal sheet is the only element making up the clamping device that is able to cooperate with the stepped stopping surface.

In other variants, the elastic metal sheet is coupled with a stop element or strut, disposed substantially longitudinally along the external rear surface of the cuff, selectively mobile solidly with the elastic metal sheet between a first clamped position, in which it reciprocally clamps the cuff and shell, and a second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff with respect to the first position, in which it allows the free oscillatory movement of the cuff with respect to the shell.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a sport footwear according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the number10, in this case a ski boot.

The footwear10comprises a rigid lower part or shell12, inside which the foot of the user is disposed, and an upper part, or cuff13, which is also rigid, to contain and surround the joint of the ankle and the lower part of the leg, substantially as far as the calf of the user (FIGS. 1-3).

The cuff13is pivoted to the shell12on a pivoting axis disposed in correspondence to the malleolar zone and is therefore able to partly oscillate with respect to the shell12.

The sport footwear10also comprises closing elements of the substantially known type, not shown here.

The traditional operations to open and close the closing elements respectively determine an open condition and a closed condition of the sport footwear10, and thus allow the user to put it on, remove it and use it correctly.

The sport footwear10is also provided with a clamping device11disposed on an external rear surface15of the cuff13(FIGS. 1-3) to reciprocally clamp the cuff13and the shell12, in particular in a first clamped position and a second unclamped position, in which the free oscillatory movement of the cuff13with respect to the shell12is allowed.

The clamping device11comprises an elastic metal sheet17which develops longitudinally along the external rear surface15of the cuff13and that, thanks to the elastic and mechanical properties of the material of which it is made, acts as a selective clamping element of the reciprocal angular position of the cuff13and the shell12.

The elastic metal sheet17has an upper end30, stably constrained to the rear surface15of the cuff13, in particular an upper segment29thereof. For example, the constraint of the upper end30is achieved by means of attachment means34, such as welding, or of the mechanical type such as a rivet, a peg or comparable attachment component, or by means of a more complex adjustment mechanism, as will be explained in more detail hereafter.

Moreover, the elastic metal sheet17has a free lower end32, configured to be elastically deformed to cooperate selectively at least with the shell12to determine the clamping of the angular position of the shell12and the cuff13.

Thanks to the elastic properties of the elastic metal sheet17, the lower end32can be moved in an elastically reversible way between a first clamped position, displaced toward the inside of the cuff13, in which it constrains the reciprocal movement of the cuff13and the shell12, and a second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff13, in which it allows the oscillation of the cuff13and the shell12.

In particular, to achieve this the shell12comprises, in a coordinated manner, at least a stepped stopping surface, or stopping step, or shoulder21, which delimits a clamping seating25, made on the shell12in correspondence to the lower end32and against which the lower end32, directly or indirectly, stably rests when it is in the first clamped position. Moreover, also the lower part of the cuff13can rest, in the second unclamped position, on the stepped stopping surface, or shoulder21(FIG. 3).

The clamping device11is also provided with a command mechanism22associated externally to the cuff13, by means of which the user can condition the position of the elastic metal sheet17and thus take the lower end32from its first clamped position to the second unclamped position.

Since the elastic metal sheet17is constrained to the upper segment29of the cuff13, which functions as a fixed abutment, a stress applied toward the outside by the command mechanism22on the lower end32determines the local elastic deformation of the elastic metal sheet17, displacing it toward the outside so as to release it from the stepped stopping surface or shoulder21, and therefore to unconstrain the oscillation of the cuff13and shell12. Thanks to the elastic thrust of the elastic metal sheet17, this configuration allows the reversible and substantially automatic return of the lower end32from the second position to the first position.

In particular,FIG. 1shows the footwear10in the first clamped position, with the clamping device closed, while inFIG. 2, again in the first clamped position, the clamping device11is open to allow rotation into the second unclamped position which is shown inFIG. 3, as indicated by the arrows F.

The elastic metal sheet17is shaped with an oblong development and a limited or thin thickness and is made of a metal with good elastic properties, for example harmonic steel for springs or other similar material.

Thanks to the combination of length, reduced thickness and material that makes it up, the elastic metal sheet17has a capacity for bending and for elastic deformation that is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of displacement of the lower end32between the first clamped position, used when practicing sport, and the second unclamped position, for putting on/removing the boot or for walking.

Furthermore, thanks to its structural and mechanical properties, the elastic metal sheet17is suitable to support the reciprocal thrust of cuff13and shell12which acts on the lower end32in the first clamped position, guaranteeing stability and safety during sporting activity.

In a basic solution, the elastic metal sheet17is the only element making up the clamping device11that is able to cooperate with the stepped stopping surface or shoulder21, and to selectively determine the displacement and clamping of the cuff13with respect to the shell12.

In another form of embodiment instead, the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17is coupled with a stop element or strut20, which can have variable shapes and sizes and functional purposes, also for aesthetic ends.

In particular, in this variant, the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17is constrained stably and solidly to the strut20.

The strut20is disposed substantially longitudinally along the external rear surface15of the cuff13, in particular along the lower segment28thereof.

In the same way as the lower end32to which it is constrained, the strut20is able to be selectively moved between a first clamped position, in which it reciprocally clamps the cuff13and shell12, and a second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff13with respect to the first position, in which it allows the free oscillatory movement of the cuff13with respect to the shell12.

In this form of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet17, attached to the upper segment29of the cuff13, is therefore operationally connected to the strut20, thrusting it positively toward the inside and tending to keep it normally toward its first clamped position. Thanks to the elastic thrust, this configuration allows the reversible and substantially automatic return of the strut20from the second position to the first position.

In this form of embodiment, it is the strut20, constrained to the lower end32, which rests with a lower end42directly against the stopping surface21in the first clamped position, in which the reciprocal rotation of cuff13and shell12is contrasted, keeping them clamped.

On the contrary, thanks to the elastic deformation of the elastic metal sheet17, when the strut20is released from the stopping surface21in its second unclamped position, the strut20moves with its lower end42toward the outside of the shell12, freeing the movement of reciprocal rotation of cuff13and shell12.

In a variant, the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17can be attached, for example overlapping, to the strut20(FIGS. 4, 5, 9 and 10).

In another variant, the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17can be incorporated at least partly in the strut20.

In yet another variant, the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17can be at least partly drowned in the strut20(FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11-15).

One technique that can be applied to constrain the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17to the strut20can be to co-inject or super-inject on the lower end32a plastic material with good mechanical and rigidity properties, such as polyurethane, Delrin or other similar materials, which constitutes the strut20.

In a variant form of embodiment, the command mechanism22consists of a lever19pivoted by a pin18and acting on the elastic metal sheet17, in particular on the lower end32, or on the strut20associated thereto.

In some forms of embodiment, the lever19is configured to cooperate with the cuff13and to act on the elastic metal sheet17so as to provide it with a position in which the lower end is distant from and does not cooperate with the shell12, and a position in which the lower end32cooperates with the stepped stopping surface21.

The lever19can be pivoted directly on the elastic metal sheet17, providing pivoting eyelets made on the latter; or the lever19can be pivoted on a pivoting portion made on the external rear surface15of the cuff13; or again, the lever19can be pivoted directly on the strut20, when provided.

In a variant form of embodiment, the lever19has a gripping or maneuvering portion23and a lower cam portion24able to contact directly the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17, or the lower end42of the strut20, if provided. The rotation of the lever19, as indicated by arrow G inFIGS. 1 and 2, and hence of the cam portion24, determines a positive thrust toward the outside of the cuff13on the elastic metal sheet17, or on the strut20, if provided, to assume the second unclamped position.

In this position the cuff13and shell12can be reciprocally rotated and the use of the boot10is favored in the “walking” configuration, especially in the case of boots for Alpine skiing.

Advantageously, the cam portion24of the lever19is shaped with a flat segment27which, normally in the first clamped position, stably rests in abutment on the corresponding rear surface15of the cuff13, in particular in a suitable supporting seating26.

In this way, a limit position is defined in the opening rotation of the lever19, in correspondence with which the articulation dead point of the lever19is exceeded. It is thus guaranteed that the closed condition of the lever19is maintained, until the user voluntarily actuates an opening action.

As shown in the attached drawings, the lever19can be of limited sizes (FIGS. 1-5), or bigger (FIG. 10). As can be seen from the attached drawings, the shape of the lever19can be varied as desired, according to functional and/or aesthetic needs.

In another variant form of embodiment, the command mechanism22consists of a cam portion24interposed between cuff13and lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17, or the lower end42of the strut20, if provided, and by a band40which can be put under traction by a gripping element44, determining the displacement and rotation of the cam portion24and therefore of the elastic metal sheet17(FIG. 9).

According to some variant forms of embodiment (FIGS. 4-8), the position of the elastic metal sheet17along the cuff13can be adjusted in height, so as to vary the angle of inclination of the main axis of the cuff13with respect to the support base of the shell12in the first clamped position adopted during sporting activity.

To this purpose, the elastic metal sheet17may have a plurality of adjustment holes46disposed longitudinally, so as to affect a determinate segment of the external rear surface15of the cuff13, which cooperate on each occasion with the attachment means34. By selecting a desired one of the adjustment holes46, it will be possible to adjust the position of the elastic metal sheet17, raising it or lowering it according to requirements. In particular,FIG. 6shows the boot10in a first clamped position, for example with an inclination of about 25° and with the first upper hole46engaged to attach the elastic metal sheet17at a determinate height.FIG. 7shows how the elastic metal sheet17is raised, as indicated by arrow L inFIGS. 5 and 7, and the second hole46is engaged and the cuff13, since the clamping device11is displaced upward, is dis-engaged from the shell12and can be rotated to close the angle of inclination.FIG. 3shows the final condition, where the angle of inclination is reduced, for example to about 15°, and the cuff13is again clamped to the shell12.

According to some forms of embodiment of the present invention, in the second position the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17, or the lower end42of the strut20, if provided, can remain free, that is, unconstrained, so as to allow oscillation. However, there may be a variant of another clamping seating55(FIGS. 11 and 12), made in the shell12below the clamping seating25, in which the lower end32of the elastic metal sheet17or the lower end42of the strut20, if provided, can be inserted and clamped. In this way, it is possible to define a third clamped position of use, different from the first and second position, with a desired angular configuration of cuff13and shell12. This variant allows to vary the specific walking condition and to fix it in the determinate position (FIG. 12).

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15show other specific variants of the elastic metal sheet17, in this case coupled with a strut20made of plastic material co-injected to the lower end32. In these variants, moreover, the lever19is provided by way of example with the cam portion24.

In these variants, the mechanical attachment mechanism that cooperates with the upper end30of the elastic metal sheet17may also consist of a mechanism54to adjust the rigidity of the cuff13, in particular that adjusts the bending of the cuff13in a front direction.

The adjustment mechanism54both constrains the elastic metal sheet17to the cuff13by means of a rivet, pin, peg or suchlike, and is also provided with a rotating rectangular adjustment block or plate57, generally consisting of pads that selectively cooperate with elements made in relief on the cuff13, drivable by a swivel lever56and which can assume several positions cooperating with the surface of the cuff13itself, freeing or clamping the cuff13and thus rendering the behavior of the cuff13more or less rigid.

With this variant form of embodiment, therefore, the present invention combines and integrates two types of adjustment, that is, angular position of cuff13and shell12and rigidity of the cuff13, in the single element represented by the elastic metal sheet17of the clamping device11.

In particular, inFIGS. 13 and 14the elastic metal sheet17has one or more through notches58that improve the properties of flexibility and elastic response during use. Preferably, the notches58are made along the lines of force acting on the elastic metal sheet17when a force of traction is applied on it toward the outside. The notches58can therefore function as means to concentrate force, in order to facilitate the clamping/unclamping operations. In the variant shown inFIG. 13, the notches58develop longitudinally, slightly curved so as to promote the desired concentration of the stress, from the lower end32toward the lower zone in correspondence with the adjustment mechanism54. On the contrary, in the variant shown inFIG. 15, the notches58develop around the adjustment mechanism54along an open path.

FIG. 14shows another variant form of embodiment of the strut20, solid with the elastic metal sheet17, in this case with the lower end32incorporated in the strut20.

In this variant, the strut20has an upper end37, shaped to define a first upper undercut39that cooperates in abutment with a determinate clamping surface of the cuff13, while the lower end42is shaped with an increased section and with a configuration that defines a second undercut43that cooperates in abutment with a determinate portion of the cuff13, and a lower edge45that rests on the stepped stopping surface21of the shell12.

Therefore, the first undercut39and the second undercut43define a stable upper and lower support and clamping for the strut20with respect to the cuff13. In this way, in the first clamped position, the strut20is clamped between cuff13and shell12. Furthermore, since the increased section41of the strut20, in the first position, is clamped between the two surfaces respectively of the cuff13and the shell12, the lower end42is inserted wedge-wise and gripped between the corresponding parts of the cuff13and shell12, optimally discharging the stresses that occur during sporting activities.