SKI BOOT WITH AN OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR THE CLOSING AND ADJUSTMENT DEVICES

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski boot with an operating assembly for the closing and adjustment devices which has the peculiarity of comprising a power source (10) supported by the ski boot (1) and operating a driving gearwheel (11) which is selectively engageable with driven gearwheels (20a, 20b, 20c) for the winding of cables (22a, 22b, 22c) of closing and/or adjustment devices of the boot. Members (50) are furthermore provided for removably blocking the unwinding of said cables (22a, 22b, 22c).

Description: The present invention relates to a ski boot with an operating assembly for the closing and adjustment devices. As is known, in ski boots various devices are currently employed which perform the closing of the boot, bringing together the quarters, in the case of rear-entry ski boots, as well as all the internal adjustments of the boot such as, e.g., the securing of the foot instep, the securing of the heel, and so on. In the prior art, all the above described functions are performed by means of devices which have an independent actuation, which can be composed of a closing lever, a spool which winds a cable, and the like. Therefore, the user must perform a long series of operations by acting on the various devices, which are usually positioned in various points of the boot, with obvious disadvantages and difficulties in performing these actuations. From WO-A- 8 202 479 is known a ski boot having a movable piston and motor assembly which is actuated by a transducer during the flexing of the boot. The aim proposed by the invention is indeed to eliminate the above described disadvantages by providing a ski boot with an operating assembly for the closing and adjustment devices which in practice allows centralization of the control of the various devices, thus simplifying the execution both of the closing of the boot and of any adjustments required. Within the scope of the above described aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a ski boot wherein the control of the various devices is provided in a position which is easily accessible and connectable, automatically and when required, to the device to be operated, without therefore giving rise to the need to provide the various actuations in different points of the boot. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a ski boot with an operating assembly for the closing and adjustment devices which offers the possibility of making all the functions automatic, thus allowing the exertion of relatively high forces both in closing and adjustment, without thereby requiring particular efforts on the part of the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski boot which is extremely practical and versatile in use, offering the user remarkable convenience in operation. This aim and the objects described, as well as others which will better appear hereinafter, are achieved by a ski boot as defined in claim 1. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a ski boot with an operating assembly for the closing and adjustment devices, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a ski boot with the power source applied to the rear portion; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a ski boot with the power source applied to the front portion of the shell; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the power supply; Fig. 4 is a cross section view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the means for the removable blocking of the unwinding of the cables; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged and more detailed view of the means for the removable blocking of the unwinding of said cables. With reference to the above described figures, the ski boot with an operating assembly for the closing and adjustment devices, according to the invention, which is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1, comprises, in a per se known manner, a shell 2 to which are associated, in the case of rear-entry ski boots, a rear quarter 3 and a front quarter 4. The peculiarity of the invention resides in the fact that it comprises a power source, expediently composed of an electric motor 10, having an associated reduction gear which drives a driving gearwheel 11, advantageously, but not necessarily, composed of a conical gearwheel. Said motor 10 can be connected in any point of the boot and, merely as an example, in Figs. 1 and 2 a ski boot is illustrated with the motor 10 applied rearwardly and with the motor 10 applied in the front part. The motor 10 is connected to the ski boot by means of an articulated joint, indicated by the reference numeral 12, which allows the possibility of oscillation of the motor both around the longitudinal axis of the motor itself and around an axis perpendicular to the extension of the motor. The motor 10 is electrically connected to batteries or rechargeable accumulators (not illustrated in the drawing) which can be accommodated in recesses defined by the boot, preferably in the lower part. Said motor 10 is selectively engageable with driven winding gearwheels, which, in this case, by way of example, are composed of a first, a second and a third gearwheel respectively indicated by the reference numerals 20a, 20b, and 20c. The driving gearwheel 11 is selectively engageable with one of the driven gearwheels. For this purpose, a selector is provided, composed of a plate 25 which defines guiding slots 26 in which the small axle 13 of the driving gearwheel 11 engages so as to guide the engagement between the driving gearwheel and the driven gearwheels. Another peculiarity of the invention resides in the fact that the actuation of the motor 10 occurs upon the engagement between the driving gearwheel and the driven gearwheels. For this purpose, a switch 30 is provided, interposed on the electric feed line between the motor and the battery or accumulator, which is actuated when the user acts on the motor to perform the engagement between the gearwheels. Said driven gearwheels 20a, 20b, and 20c are rigidly connected to respective pulleys 21a, 21b, and 21c, around which corresponding cables are wound, designated with the reference numerals 22a, 22b and 22c which, in the specific example, are assigned to the boots' closure and various adjustments. More in detail, the first cable 22a performs the blocking of the heel with a per se known path of the cable, the second cable 22b performs the reciprocal closing of the quarters, while the third cable performs the actuation of the foot instep presser. Obviously, as previously mentioned, it is possible to provide a plurality of adjustment devices, all of which can be operated by virtue of the single power source which is selectively engageable with one device or the other. Means are furthermore provided for the removable blocking of the unwinding of the cables from the respective pulleys, which have the function of allowing winding of the cable on the pulley, when the motor 10 is actuated, but at the same time preventing the accidental uncoiling or unwinding of the same cable. According to what has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, said blocking means are composed of a pin-spring 50 which winds around the axle of each pulley and has a direction of winding such that the actuation of the motor causes no braking of any kind, while when the cable tends to unwind, imparting a rotation to the pulley in the opposite direction, it performs a blocking braking action on the axle. Obviously, means are furthermore provided, comprising, for example, a lever, a push-button or the like which are externally accessible and which allow release of said blocking means, to permit, when required by the user, the unwinding of the cable. It is also possible to employ removable blocking means of a different kind, such as e.g. a saw-tooth wheel which engages with a ratchet gear, or other equivalent solutions. In practical use, the user, once he has put on the ski boot according to the invention, to perform the required closing and adjustments, needs to simply exert a pressing action on the motor, inserting it in the slot which matches the selected function. The oscillation imparted to the motor causes the actuation of the switch, with the consequent closing of the electric power supply circuit of the same motor and the rotation of the driving gearwheel which transmits its motion to the driven gearwheel with the driving gearwheel. The motor may be made to oscillate, to actuate the switch, both manually and by means of a ski stick, according to its positioning on the ski boot. It should be furthermore added that the motor may be positioned in any point of the ski boot deemed suitable. From what has been described, it can be seen therefore that the invention achieves the intended aim, and in particular the fact is stressed that a single power source is provided which is selectively and easily associatable with the chosen devices, thus performing all the functions which are normally provided in a ski boot. Another important feature of the invention resides in the fact that it is possible for the user to exert the required closing forces without having to exert significant efforts. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials employed, so long as compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions and the contingent shapes, may be any according to requirements.

Claims: Ski boot with closing and adjustment devices having winding cables (22a,22b,22c), and an operating assembly for the cables of the closing and adjustment devices, means (50) being provided for removably blocking the unwinding of the cables (22a,22b,22c), said operating assembly comprising a power source supported by the ski boot (1) composed of an electric motor (10) connected with an electric power supply, the ski boot characterized in that the electric motor (10) operates a driving gearwheel (11) which is selectively engageable with at least one driven gearwheel (20a,20b,20c) of the winding cables (22a,22b,22c). Ski boot, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said electric motor (10) is supported by said boot by virtue of an articulated joint (12). Ski boot, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a switch (30) on the electric power supply circuit of said motor (10), said switch (30) being actuated by said motor (10) during the oscillation of said motor (10) for the engaging of said driving gearwheel (11) with one of said driven gearwheels (20a, 20b, 20c). Ski boot, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a selector (25) provided with a plurality of slots (26) accommodating the axle (13) of said driving gearwheel (11) and suitable for acting as a guiding element for the engagement of said driving gearwheel with the selected driven gearwheel (20a, 20b, 20c). Ski boot, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises pulleys (21a, 21b, 21c) rigidly coupled to said driven gearwheels (20a, 20b, 20c). Ski boot, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for the removable blocking of the unwinding of said cables are composed of pin-springs (50) associated around the axle of the respective driven gearwheel, said pin-springs being suitable for tightening on said axle with a rotation of said axle in the direction of unwinding of said cable (22a, 22b, 22c), means being furthermore provided which are externally accessible for uncoupling said pin-springs (50) from said axles for the unwinding of said cable (22a, 22b, 22c) from said pulleys (21a, 21b, 21c).

Inventors: POZZOBON, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: NORDICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B21, A43B5, A43C11, A43B23