Ski boot

A ski boot comprising an upper (44) jointed (5) to the shell base (6) and a stiffness-adjustment device (12) which incorporates two support elements (13, 14) connected by a connection member (15) and is associated with a rear support stop (10) incorporated into the upper (44). One (13) of the support elements (13, 14) of the stiffness-adjustment device (12) is rigidly linked to the rear support stop (10) on a common axis of rotation (16) in order to form a rotating assembly (10-13), and the element (13) and the stop (10) are both moved out of center on the same side and by the same value in relation to the axis of rotation (16). The invention makes it possible to adjust the angle of forward motion of the upper (44) without affecting the forward motion-adjustment device (12) by simple rotation of the rotating assembly (10-13).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns an alpine ski boot comprising a shell base 
surmounted by an upper at least partially articulated around an axis of 
the shell base, between two support elements arranged on both the upper 
and the shell base, which together delimit an angular amplitude of 
pivoting motion under forward flection of the upper in relation to an 
initial forward-motion reference position, based on which this amplitude, 
and, consequently, the stiffness of the upper, can be adjusted by means of 
an adjustment device connecting the support elements. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The pivoting motion or flection of an upper can be controlled in 
conventional fashion in relation to the shell base in alpine ski boots of 
this kind, in particular those disclosed in French Patent No. 2 693 086. 
This patent discloses an alpine ski boot comprising a shell base surmounted 
by an upper incorporating front and rear parts made of single or multiple 
pieces and at least partially articulated around an axis of the shell base 
in a back-to-front or front-to-back direction between two support elements 
arranged on the upper and on the shell base, which together delimit an 
angular amplitude of pivoting motion under forward flection of the upper 
in relation to an initial forward-motion reference position, beginning at 
which this amplitude, and thus the stiffness, of the upper can be adjusted 
by means of an adjustment device interposed between the support elements, 
a minimum amplitude corresponding to maximum stiffness, and vice-versa. 
The amplitude-adjustment device determining the stiffness of the upper is 
constituted by a flexible, inextensible connection member arranged between 
the elements supporting the jointed upper and the shell base and which 
form the coupling points of this connection member, whose course of travel 
between these points can be modified in order to impart to it a state of 
maximum tension or a state of controlled release corresponding to the 
initiation of slackness, this state being of such a nature as to give the 
upper a predetermined, adjustable angular amplitude of forward pivoting 
motion by means of a control device acting directly or indirectly on the 
tension condition of the connection member. In this type of boot, the 
initial forward-motion position of the upper is made adjustable. To this 
end, the rear support element located on the shell base also acts as a 
rear support stop for the upper and is fitted for this purpose with 
vertical adjustment means making it possible to position it at differing 
heights. 
The advantage of this arrangements lies in the fact that adjustment of the 
angle of forward motion by changing the position of the rear support 
element does not change the operation of the device adjusting the 
stiffness of the upper, since the relative position of the support 
elements of this device remains identical. However, this advantageous 
configuration of the forward-motion-adjustment device linked to the 
stiffness-adjustment device requires, disassembly/reassembly of the rear 
support element, and this proves to be troublesome to the skier. In fact, 
an operation of this kind is difficult and lengthy, since it is necessary 
not only to have a disassembly/reassembly tool, but also to mark out the 
height of the position of the rear support element on the shell base after 
adjustment, in order to establish the identical position on both of the 
skier's boots. Furthermore, under normal skiing conditions, that is, in 
the presence of snow and temperatures that are most frequently low, this 
operation, which requires a degree of dexterity and entails the risk of 
losing the disassembled parts, is rendered virtually impossible for the 
skier. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is intended to remedy these problems by proposing a 
ski boot of the type mentioned hereinafter and comprising a forward-motion 
adjustment which, associated with a stiffness-adjustment device, can be 
easily executed even under skiing conditions using ordinary means 
available to the skier, e.g., keys, coins, the end of a belt, or the like, 
without requiring disassembly/reassembly and in such a way that the 
forward-motion adjustment does not affect the stiffness adjustment. 
To this end, the ski boot comprises a shell base surmounted by an upper at 
least partially articulated around an axis on a shell base. The angular 
pivoting motion of the upper is restricted using a so-called 
"stiffness-control" device incorporating two support elements respectively 
arranged on the upper and on a part belonging to the shell base and joined 
by a connection member. One of these support elements is linked to a rear 
support element or stop designed to determine the initial forward motion 
position of the upper, and is so linked on a common axis of rotation, thus 
forming a rotating assembly. The support element and the rear support stop 
are both moved off-center to the same side and to the same extent in 
relation to the axis of rotation of the rotating assembly. 
One advantage of this arrangement is that, when the rotating assembly is 
turned, the forward motion position of the upper and the position of the 
support element belonging to the connection member of the 
stiffness-control device are simultaneously modified by variable 
magnitudes that are inversely proportional. Accordingly, the length of the 
connection member between the two support elements of the 
stiffness-control device remains constant, whatever the rotational 
position of the rear support stop. Therefore, the forward-motion 
adjustment has no effect on stiffness control, despite the coupling of 
these two separate functions. 
Another advantage lies in the fact that the rotating assembly remains fixed 
in position on the part of the boot on which it is mounted. This 
positioning obviates the need to mark out the height of the position of 
the rear support stop on the shell base or on the upper. Moreover, since 
only a simple rotation of the rotating assembly, and not disassembly, is 
needed to adjust the forward motion of the upper, no specific devices 
and/or tools are required, and the time required to effect this procedure 
is very short. It is obvious that the rotating assembly is advantageously 
fitted with means such as a recess or a raised part designed to allow the 
rotation thereof manually with or without the use of an ordinary object 
commonly available to the skier, for example a coin, the end of a belt, a 
key, or the like. 
According to various embodiments, the rotating assembly comprises a 
shoulder forming the rear forward motion-adjustment support stop and a 
pulley constituting the support element of the stiffness-control device, 
the contour of the latter being made progressive, for example over 
360.degree., or simply over 180.degree.. Advantageously, an indexing 
system may be associated with the rotating assembly in order to hold it in 
its position of rotational adjustment. 
The rotating assembly can be mounted either on the boot upper or on the 
part belonging to the shell base, since its function is to mediate between 
them in order to cause their relative pivoting motion around the linkage 
axis. 
The support element and the rear support stop forming the rotating assembly 
are moved more or less off-center in relation to their axis of rotation, 
as a function of the maximum degree of desired change of forward motion of 
the upper. In fact, the degree of the off-center position determines the 
degree of the variation of forward motion in a directly proportional 
manner.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the front- and/or central-entry ski boot 1 
comprises an upper/collar 2 adjustable over the skier's lower leg by means 
of transverse flaps 3 and closure systems 4. The upper/collar 2 is 
articulated around an axis 5 located on the shell base 6 substantially in 
the area of the malleoli. The boot 1 has, in the dorsal area of the 
heel-piece of its shell base 6, a vertical groove 7 open at the top and 
closed by a retractable flap 8 whose lower part is jointed 9 to the shell 
base in the lower area 46 of the heel-piece. This flap, closes off the 
groove 7 in the skiing position of the boot while blocking the rearward 
motion of the upper 2, and is designed to allow the insertion of the heel 
of the skier's foot in order to facilitate the process of putting on and 
taking off the boot. 
The rearward motion of the upper is blocked by the upper part of the flap 
8, which, in the skiing position, fits, by means of a support area 11, 
beneath a rear support stop 10 carried by the upper/collar. The forward 
angular pivoting motion of the upper/collar is limited by a 
stiffness-control device 12. This device 12 comprises (a) an upper element 
13 arranged on the upper 2, and a lower support element 14 arranged on the 
retractable flap 8 jointed to the shell base 6; and (b) a connection 
member 15 joining upper and lower support elements 13 and 14. This 
connection member 15 is adjustable between a state of maximum tension 
which blocks the forward motion of the upper/collar 2, and a state of 
relatively pronounced relaxation giving a degree of freedom of forward 
pivoting motion to the upper 2. In the embodiment shown, the connection 
member 15 is adjusted by moving the support element 14 in translational 
motion on the threaded rod 17 of a pivoting lever 18. This lever 18 is 
jointed 19 in the upper area of the flap 8 and is closed by a downward 
rocking motion performed either manually or automatically, for example 
using a kickover spring 20 which interacts between the lever and the flap 
8. During skiing, the flap is held in the closed position beneath the 
upper/collar 2; that is, the rear support stop 8 remains continuously 
opposite its support zone 11. 
Advantageously, the flap 8 follows the forward flection movements of the 
upper/collar 2. To this end, an elastic device 21, such as a spring, may 
be provided to interact between the flap 8 and the shell base 6 and, 
therefore, to ensure the return motion and the maintenance of the flap 8 
in the locked position beneath the upper/collar 2. During the process of 
putting on or removing the boot, it then becomes necessary to raise the 
lever 18 belonging to the stiffness-adjustment device 12 in order to allow 
the flap 8 to be moved to the rear when the skier's heel is inserted. 
The upper support element 13 of the stiffness-control device 12 is rigidly 
linked to the rear support stop 10 along a common axis of rotation 16, 
which, in this case, is embodied by a cylindrical bearing surface 
constituting an extension of stop 10, thereby forming a rotating assembly 
10-13. This assembly incorporates a pulley constituting the support 
element 13 of the stiffness-control device 12, and a shoulder or rear 
support stop 10, on which the upper/collar 2 is supported to the rear. 
According to another feature, the support element 13 and the stop 10 are 
both moved off-center to the same side and by the same amount in relation 
to the axis of the rotating assembly, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 
1A. In fact, the outer contour of the rear support stop 10, which is 
offset in relation to the axis of rotation 16, produces a gap whose value 
corresponds to B-A, the equivalent of that of the gap B'-A' of the rear 
support element 13. 
Accordingly, rotation of rotating assembly 10-13, which remains fixed in 
position on the rear part of the upper/collar 2, generates, (a) the 
pivoting motion of the collar/upper about its axis 5 in relation to the 
support zone 11 of the flap 8, and, therefore, in relation to the shell 
base 6, moving it either farther away (FIGS. 4 and 5) or closer (FIGS. 2 
and 3); and, (b) release or tensioning of the connection 15 member which 
is inversely proportional to the relative travel of the upper/collar 2 in 
relation to the support zone 11. In fact, when the upper/collar 2 pivots 
forward (FIG. 3 and 4), the offset pulley 13 causes release of a part of 
the length of the connection member 15, and when the upper/collar 2 is 
moved backward (FIGS. 2 and 3), the connection member 15 is coiled to a 
greater degree, still using the offset pulley 13. As a result of this 
arrangement, the length of the connection member between support elements 
13 and 14 remains constant, while the upper/collar 2 is adjusted in a 
position of relatively pronounced forward motion in relation to the shell 
base 6. 
To allow easy adjustment of the rotating assembly 10-13, the rear support 
stop 10 is fitted with a hollow recess 22, e.g., a screwdriver slot long 
and wide enough to permit the use of a coin, a key, a belt end, and the 
like. The rear support stop 10 may, conversely, incorporate a projection 
designed to be grasped manually or by means of an ordinary tool in order 
to be rotated. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the rear-entry ski boot 30 is provided 
with a stiffness-adjustment device 12 comparable to the one in FIGS. 1-5. 
As before, the latter comprises support elements 13-14 and a connection 
member 15. The length of this connection member is adjusted by means of a 
rotating cam 32 which, when controlled by a turn knob 33, pushes the 
support element 14 more or less away from the stationary element 13, thus 
modifying the tension or relaxation of connection member 15, and, 
therefore, the freedom of the upper 34 to bend forward. This upper 34 has 
two parts namely, a collar 35 jointed at 5 to shell base 6 and a rear 
cover 36 jointed at 39 to rear lugs 37 forming one piece with the collar. 
In this embodiment, the stiffness-control device 12 is incorporated into 
the rear part of the upper 35 consisting of the rear cover 36, and the 
stationary support element 13 associated with the rear support stop 10 is 
mounted in the lower area 46 of the heel-piece of the shell base 6. The 
support area 31 designed to cooperate with the stop 10 is, in this case, 
located on the lower part of the upper 34 located opposite it. 
In FIG. 7, the front-entry ski boot 40 comprises an upper/collar 44 
extending to the lower area 46 of the heel-piece of the shell base 6. In 
this embodiment, the stiffness-control device 12, with its two support 
elements 13 and 14 and its connection member 15, comprises a support 
reversing device 45 for the connection member 15, whose tension is 
adjusted using the support element 14, which can travel in translation on 
a threaded rod 17 belonging to the lever 18. 
In FIG. 8, the front-entry ski boot 50 is comparable to the boot described 
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the basic difference being that the dorsal 
area of the heel-piece of the shell base 6 is closed, i.e., that it is not 
opened by a groove equipped with a retractable flap allowing insertion of 
the heel. In this embodiment, the support zone 11 is located on the upper 
part of the heel-piece of the shell base 6 located opposite the rear 
support stop 10 carried by the upper/collar 54. 
In the preceding embodiments of the rotating assembly 10-13, the support 
element 13 and the rear support stop 10 have a variable contour extending 
progressively over 180.degree.. 
In this embodiment, conventional indexing means are designed to lock the 
rotating assembly 10-13 in any intermediate position whatever between the 
two end positions determined by their eccentricity. In this way, forward 
motion can be adjusted in a multitude of positions. 
It is also possible to provide a contour variable over 180.degree. such 
that it is not progressive, and, in particular, that it be rectangular, so 
that only two forward motion positions of the upper 2, 34, 44, 54 of the 
boot 1, 30, 40, and 50 can be obtained. 
It is obvious that the rotating assembly 10-13 can be freely rotated over 
360.degree. or be restricted to a lesser angle, and that the contour of 
the support element 13 and of the rear support stop 13 can also be 
progressive over 360.degree. or over a lesser angle.