Ski boot

Abstract: The ski boot comprises a shell (2, 102, 402, 202, 302) constituted by a rigid sole (3, 403, 203) connected to an upper (4, 104, 404) accommodating an inner shoe (5, 405). One or more longitudinal slots (8, 9, 109, 133, 134, 410, 414) are provided at the shell, arranged preferably laterally with respect to the upper, and a device (17, 422, 322) for the securing and adjustment of one or more traction elements (18, 423, 303) embracing the upper is furthermore associable. A covering element (25, 428, 228), having characteristics of waterproofing, thermal insulation and elastic deformability, is furthermore externally associable with the shell.

Description: The present invention relates to a ski boot. Known ski boots are currently mainly composed of a shell whereon there is articulated at least one quarter to allow the rotary movement thereof during the flexings and the extensions which can be performed by the skier while skiing. Said quarters articulated to the shell allow, for example in rear-entry ski boots, the facilitated insertion of the foot. A front-entry ski boot is known from FR-A-2 075 412 which comprises a shell for embracing a user's lower foot, and an upper which is openable at the front for allowing insertion of the user's foot and which is connected to the lower shell. Buckles are provided for closing the quarter and shell. Such known types of ski boots however have the disadvantage of being constituted by a considerable number of elements which must be molded individually and then coupled to one another. As a partial solution to this disadvantage, structures of rear-entry ski boots are known, termed monolithic since they are constituted by a shell and by a front quarter provided enbloc, whereto a rear quarter is articulated. A disadvantage can be found even in these known types of structure, due to their extreme rigidity. As a partial solution to this disadvantage, in a U.S. patent No. 4.030.215 filed on 2.11.1974 a sports shoe is disclosed which is made of plastic material having a rigid upper end on which seats are provided at the region above the heel and the instep of the foot for inserts associated with an elastically deformable closure edge arrangeable at said upper end. Even this known type of footwear has disadvantages: first of all, since the same is produced by means of a mold, difficulties in its extraction are apparent due to the practically indeformable structure and secondly the fact is made apparent that there is an insufficient rear support due to the presence of the abovementioned insert. The shoe furthermore certainly entails difficulties for the skier in the step of the introduction therein of the foot. The possibility furthermore exists of infiltrations of water at the seats for said front and rear inserts. US-A-4 030 215 also discloses a ski boot as defined in the preamble of the appended claim 1, which comprises a monolithic shell and upper being provided with a longitudinal slot extending along the foot instep region for allowing insertion of the user's foot inside such shell and upper. Such slot is closed during use by a plurality of conventional lever devices. The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by providing a ski boot which allows the reduction of the number of components to be assembled and at the same time has an easy insertability. Another important object is to provide a boot which allows the obtainment of a reduction in the costs of industrialization, having at the same time a good simplicity of assembly in production. Another object is to provide a boot having a modest weight, said boot being structurally simple. Within the scope of the above described aim, a further important object is to provide a boot comprising a shell obtainable by molding which is easily extractable from the mold. Still another object is to obtain a ski boot which has aesthetical characteristics which are diversified from known boots. Another object is to provide a boot having good comfort for the skier together with an optimum securing of the foot. Still another object is to provide a boot having an optimum lateral and rear grip, allowing at the same time the forward flexing of the skier's leg. This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a ski boot as defined in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a lateral view of the ski boot; figure 2 is a view, similar to the previous one, of the ski boot without the covering element; figure 3 is another lateral view of the shell; figure 4 is a lateral view of the boot of the preceding figures but with a different arrangement of the traction element; figure 5 is a perspective view of a boot according to another aspect of the invention; figure 6 is a lateral view, in partial cross section, of a boot according to yet another aspect of the invention; figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the front part of the shell; figure 8 is a lateral view of a boot according to another aspect of the invention; figure 9 is a cross section view along the line IX-IX of figure 8; figure 10 is a cross section view of the front engagement point of the shell; figure 11 is a cross section view of the rear engagement point; figure 12 is a lateral view of a boot according to another aspect of the invention. With reference to the above described figures, the ski boot 1 with simplified insertion of the foot comprises a shell 2 provided monolithically and composed of a rigid sole 3 connected to an upper 4, inside the shell 2 there being removably accommodatable an inner shoe 5. The upper 4, besides embracing the foot, also completely embraces the lower part of the leg of the skier. A first longitudinal slot, indicated by the reference numerals 8a and 8b, and a second longitudinal slot, indicated by the numerals 9a and 9b, are furthermore provided on the upper 4 at the lateral regions 6 and 7 overlying the regions of the malleoli of the foot. Said first longitudinal slots 8a and 8b and said second longitudinal slots 9a and 9b are respectively specular with respect to the middle longitudinal plane of the shell 2. The first longitudinal slots 8a and 8b are furthermore provided proximate to the rear region 10 of the shell 2, the second longitudinal slots 9a and 9b being instead adjacent to the front region 11 thereof. The first longitudinal slots 8a and 8b thus affect the upper 4 from the upper perimetral edge 12 thereof approximately up to the region overlying the heel region, indicated by the numeral 13. The second longitudinal slots 9a and 9b again start from the upper perimetral edge 12 of the upper 4 laterally affecting, however, the region 14 of the back of the foot, and in particular both the lateral region 15 of the tarsal bones and the lateral region 16 of the metatarsal bones. The arrangement of said first and of said second slots allows therefore the flexibility of the shell 2 during flexing and the insertion of the foot, the latter occurring centrally. Devices 17 for the securing and/or adjustment of at least one traction element 18, constituted by a cable, are furthermore associated with the shell 2. Advantageously, the device 17 can be arranged at a region adjacent to the tip 19, the latter possibly being of the circular recovery type. In order to allow an optimum securing of the foot and in particular of the regions of the instep and of the heel, the traction element 18 affects the shell 2 externally, in particular the lateral regions 21 and 22 and then the rear region 10 and the back region 14, as illustrated in figure 2; its terminal end is rigidly associated with the shell while a guide element 23 is provided at the region 21. As illustrated in figure 4, said traction element 18 can conveniently further affect, at the outer lateral region 21 of the shell 2, the guide element 23, again affecting the rear region 10 of the shell, the same being guided within a seat 24 adjacent to the upper perimetral edge 12 of the upper 4, its terminal end being subsequently fixed to the latter at the lateral region 22. This solution allows an improved rear grip. A covering element 25, constituted by an upper quarter 26 in waterproof material, thermally insulating and elasticized, contributes to the constitution of the ski boot 1. Said upper quarter 26 is provided, at the lower perimetral edge 27, with means for coupling to complementarily shaped grip means 28 provided at said shell 2. Said grip means can be constituted, for example, by a groove 29 provided at the shell and embracing the latter. Naturally the upper quarter 26 has an adapted opening at the securing and/or adjustment device 17. Advantageously, with said upper quarter 26 there is furthermore associated a device adapted to allow its securing, said device being for example constituted by a band 30 having at one end a means 31 for the temporary engagement of the free end 32. The use of the ski boot 1 is thus as follows: by virtue of the centralized insertion of the foot, it is sufficient for the skier to widen the upper edge of the inner shoe, elastically deformating both the shell 2 and the upper quarter 26, in the first case said deformation being allowed by the presence of the first and second longitudinal slots. Once the foot is inserted, the skier acts at the securing and/or adjustment device 17, appropriately locking the foot inside the boot, and at the band 30, thus locking the leg. The transverse rigidity of the boot is ensured by the lateral regions 6 and 7 of the shell 2 while the rear grip is provided by the interference between the edges of the first slots 8a and 8b. Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a shell 102 of a boot according to another aspect of the invention. The shell 102 is provided, at the middle longitudinal plane, with a longitudinal slot 109 provided at the front region 111 of said shell. Said slot 109 starts from the upper perimetral edge 112 of the upper 104, bifurcating approximately at the region 114 of the back of the foot into two arms, indicated by the numerals 133 and 134 and respectively affecting the lateral regions 121 and 122 of the shell 102. This embodiment allows an improved transverse rigidity by virtue of the fact that the lateral regions 106 and 107 embrace the leg to a greater extent. With reference to figures 6 and 7, a ski boot is illustrated, generally indicated by the reference numeral 401, according to yet another aspect of the invention and comprising a shell 402, provided monolithically and composed of a rigid sole 403 whereto an upper 404 is connected. A removable inner shoe 405 is furthermore accommodated inside the shell 402 and has its upper end 406 protruding beyond the perimetral edge 407 of the upper 404, said shoe being closeable thereat by the skier by means of adapted closure means, preferably a band 408 of the type commercially known by the trade name Velcro. A first slot 410, essentially C-shaped with the arms 411 directed towards the sole 403, is provided on said shell 402 at the region 409 of the heel of the skier, defining a first small flap 412. A second slot 414, also essentially C-shaped with the arms 415 directed towards the tip 416 of the boot 401, is provided on said shell 402 at the region 413 of the instep of the foot. Said second slot 414 defines a second small flap 417 constituting, together with said first small flap 412, a presser respectively for the regions 413 of the instep of the foot and 409 of the heel. The shell 402 is furthermore provided on the upper 404 and at the tibial resting region 418 with an essentially V-shaped notch 419, with the apex directed towards the second small flap 417 and affecting said second slot 414. The upper 404 thus has, at the region 418, two flaps 420, their deformation allowing a gradual flexibility. A securing and/or adjustment device 422 for at least one traction element is rigidly associated with the region 421 of the back of the upper 404 and is constituted by a cable 423 embracing said upper at the tibial resting region 418. Subsequently said cable 423 is guided, by means of adapted guides 424 and 425 rigidly associated with the shell 402, to embrace the first small flap 412 and then, through a further adapted guide 426, the second small flap 417, to be then rigidly associated at the free end laterally to the shell 402. In order to adjust the flexibility of the shell 402, a plurality of raised portions 427, parallel to one another, equidistant and arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the upper, is provided transversely to said flaps 420. The different positioning of the cable 423 at one of said raised portions allows, during the step of tensioning of said cable, the progressive difficulty of opening of the flaps 420 to thus increase the difficulty of the forward flexing of the leg of the skier. A flexibility of the boot is thus obtained which is progressively reduced as the cable 423 is placed at the raised portions 427 which are further away from the apex of the notch 419. The ski boot 401 is completed by a covering element 428 constituted by an upper quarter in preferably waterproof, thermally insulating and elasticized material. Said covering element is associable at the shell 402, the latter having adapted engagement means such as for example a groove 429 in which the lower perimetral edge 430 of the covering element 428 can be removably arranged. The covering element 428 naturally also has an opening at the device 422 to allow the actuation thereof by the skier. The boot provides, besides the centralized insertion of the foot, obtainable by widening the upper edge of the shoe and by elastically deformating the covering element 428 of the shell 402, the optimum securing of the foot since the cable 423, during its tensioning, interacts with the first small flap 412 and with the second small flap 417. Simultaneously with said securing, an adjustment of the flexibility is also obtained by virtue of the presence of the notch 419 and of the raised portions 427 provided transversely with respect to the flaps 420. The boot thus also has an optimum rear support together with a good lateral support. It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, a ski boot having been provided which is obtainable monolithically in plastic material by molding wherein the first slot 410, the second slot 414 and the notch 419 allow its rapid and simple extraction from the mold. Furthermore, the definition of the first small flap 412 and of the second small flap 417 provides an optimum securing of the foot inside the boot. The presence of the notch provides, simultaneously with the securing of the foot, also the required adjustment of the degree of flexibility of the boot also by virtue of the presence of the raised portions 427. Figure 8 illustrates a boot 201 according to another aspect of the invention, wherein the covering element 228 is constituted by a first soft element 231 embracing the region 232 of the tibia and, partially, the region 213 of the foot instep. Said first element 231 is provided, at the upper end and at the region 213, with an elasticized portion, respectively indicated by the numerals 233 and 234, to facilitate the insertion and the extraction of the skier's foot. A second semirigid element 236 is sewn to the perimetral edge 235 of the first element 231 and is provided, at the lower perimetral edge 230 adjacent to the sole 203 and at both sides of the shell 202, with a pair of first teeth 237a and 237b removably insertable in adapted first eyelets 238 provided on said shell 202. The presence on the shell 202, at the regions 209 of the heel and 239 of the metatarsal region, of a pair of second teeth 240 and 241 engaging in adapted second eyelets 242a and 242b provided on the second element 236, as illustrated respectively in figures 10 and 11, contributes to temporary secure the second element 236 to said shell 202. A lug 243, at each of the first teeth 237a and 237b, protrudes therefrom outside the shell, providing a grip for the skier to facilitate the operation of replacement of the covering element 228. The use of a two piece covering element, besides improving the insertability of the boot, also improves the aesthetical characteristics, since the two pieces can be provided with different colors. A different solution related to the lay-out of the cable 303 is illustrated in figure 12. Said cable has a first portion 331 which, starting from the device 322 rigidly associated with the upper 304, laterally and frontally embraces said upper at the tibial resting region 318. Subsequently the cable 303 is returned, by means of the returns 332 and 333 rigidly laterally associated with the shell 302, to define a second portion 334 which embraces the region 313 of the foot instep and a third portion 335 embracing the heel region 309. The cable is then returned, by means of the returns 324 and 325, to the device 322. The materials, as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the ski boot may also be the most suitable according to the specific requirements.

Claims: Ski boot comprising: a shell (2,102,202,302,402), for embracing a user's foot, with a sole (3,203,403); an upper (4,104,204), for embracing the lower part of a user's leg, connected to said shell; and an inner shoe (5,405) accommodated inside said shell and upper, said shell and said upper being provided monolithically in a single piece with said upper extending upwardly from said sole and embracing the lower part of a user's leg at the front region (11,14;111,114;213,232;313,318;413;418), the rear region (10,13;209;309;409,421), and the lateral regions (6,7;106,107) thereof, the monolithic shell and upper being provided with at least one slot (8,9;109,133,134;410,414,419) extending downwardly from the upper perimetric edge (12;112;407) of said upper thereby to allow insertion of a user's foot inside said monolithic shell and upper, the ski boot being characterized in that it further comprises: at least one cable (18;303;423) engaging around said upper; securing and adjustment means (17;322;422) for winding and releasing said cable; and an outer covering element (25;228;428) secured to said monolithic shell and upper for providing waterproofing and thermal insulation protection. Boot, according to claim 1, characterized in that said one or more slots comprise substantially longitudinal first slots (8a, 8b) and second slots (9a, 9b) provided at the lateral regions overlying the malleoli of the foot. Boot, according to claim 2, characterized in that said first slots (8a, 8b) and said second slots (9a, 9b) are arranged specularly with respect to the longitudinal middle plane of said shell (2), said first longitudinal slots (8a, 8b) being provided proximate to the rear region (10) of the shell (2), said second longitudinal slots (9a, 9b) being instead provided proximate to the front region (11) of said shell (2). Boot, according to claim 2, characterized in that said first longitudinal slots (8a, 8b) affect said upper (4) starting from the upper perimetral edge (12) thereof approximately up to the region (13) overlying that of the heel of the foot. Boot, according to claim 2, characterized in that said second longitudinal slots (9a, 9b) affect said upper (4) starting from the upper perimetral edge (12) thereof and, laterally, the region (14) of the back of the foot. Boot, according to claim 2, characterized in that said second longitudinal slots (9a, 9b) affect the lateral regions (15, 16) of the bones of the tarsus and of the metatarsus. Boot, according to claim 1, characterized in that on said shell (102) there is provided, starting from the upper perimetral edge (112) of said upper (104) and at the longitudinal middle plane of the shell and on the front region (111) thereof, a longitudinal slot (109), said longitudinal slot (109) bifurcating approximately at said region (114) of the back of the foot to define two arms (133, 134) respectively affecting the lateral regions (121, 122) of said shell (102). Boot, according to claim 1, characterized in that said one or more slots comprise: a first slot (410) which defines on said shell (402, 202, 332) at the region (409) of the heel thereof at least one first small flap (412); and a second slot (414) which defines on said shell at the region (413) of the instep of the foot thereof at least one second small flap (417), said shell (402) being furthermore provided with a notch (419) provided approximately at the tibial resting region (418) above said second small flap (417) at said foot instep region, and said notch blending with said second slot. Boot, according to claim 8, characterized in that said first slot (410) substantially has a C-shaped configuration with arms (411) directed towards said sole (403), said first slot (410) defining said first small flap (412). Boot, according to claim 8, characterized in that said second slot (414) substantially has a C-shaped configuration with arms (415) directed towards the tip (416) of said shell (402), said second slot (414) defining said second small flap (417). Boot, according to claim 8, characterized in that said notch (419) is essentially V-shaped having an apex which is directed towards said second small flap (417) and affecting said second slot (414). Boot, according to claim 11, characterized in that said notch (419) defines on said upper (404) two flaps (420) transversely whereto is provided, outside said upper (404), a plurality of raised portions (427) parallel to one another. Boot, according to claim 1, characterized in that said securing means comprise a securing and adjustment device (17) associated with said shell (2) at the region adjacent to the tip (19), said device (17) being connected to said at least one cable (18). Boot, according to claim 13, characterized in that said at least one cable (18) acts on lateral regions (21, 22) and on a rear region (10) and on a region of the back (14) of the foot. Boot, according to claim 1, characterized in that said securing means comprise a securing and adjustment device (422, 322) associated with said shell (402, 302) at the region (421) of the back of said upper (404, 304), said device (422, 322) being connected to said at least one cable (423, 303). Boot, according to claim 12, characterized in that said at least one cable (423) embraces said upper (404) at said tibial resting region (418) affecting said raised portions (427) present on said flaps (420), is then returned to embrace said first small flap (412) and finally embraces said second small flap (417) to be rigidly associated at the free end laterally to said shell (402). Boot, according to claims 12 or 15, characterized in that said at least one cable (303) has a first portion (331) embracing laterally and then frontally said upper (309) at the tibial resting region (318), said cable (303) being then returned laterally to said shell (302) to define a second portion (334), embracing the region (313) of the instep of the foot, and then a third portion (335) embracing the heel region (304), said cable (303) being guided, by means of adapted guide means (332, 333) arranged laterally with respect to said shell (303), to said securing and adjustment device (322). Boot, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said covering element (25, 428, 228) removably associable with said shell (2, 402, 202) is constituted by an upper quarter (26) in waterproof, thermally insulating and elasticized material, said upper quarter (26) having, at the lower perimetral edge (27, 430, 230), means (237a, 237b) for engaging with complementarily shaped grip means (28, 429, 240, 241) provided on said shell (2, 402, 202), said upper quarter (26) having an opening at said securing and adjustment device (17, 422). Boot, according to claim 18, characterized in that said grip means (28) are constituted by a groove (29, 429) embracing said shell (2, 402). Boot, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inner shoe (405) protrudes upwardly with respect to the upper edge (407) of said shell (402), said inner shoe being lockable thereat by the skier by means of an adapted band (408) having its ends mutually associable with one another. Boot, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said covering element (228) is constituted by a first soft element (231) and by a second semirigid element (236) associated with one another, said semirigid element being arranged at and covering the lower portion of the shell and said soft element being arranged at and covering the upper portion of said upper and extending upwardly past the upper perimetric edge of said upper. Boot, according to claim 21, characterized in that said first element (231) embraces the tibial region (232) and, partially, the foot instep region (213), said first element (231) having, at the upper end and at the foot instep region (213), elasticized portions (233, 234). Boot, according to claim 21, characterized in that said second element (236) is provided, at the lower perimetral edge (230) adjacent to the sole (203) of said boot and at both sides of said shell (202), with at least one pair of first teeth (237a, 237b) removably associable with adapted first eyelets (238) provided on said shell (202). Boot, according to claim 21, characterized in that from said shell (202) there protrudes, at least at the regions (209, 239) of the heel and of the metatarsal region affected by said second semirigid element, at least one pair of second teeth (240, 241) removably engaging in adapted second eyelets (242a, 242b) provided on said second semirigid element (236). Boot, according to claim 23, characterized in that from each of said first teeth (237a, 237b) there protrudes, externally to said shell (202), a lug (243) providing a grip for the skier.

Inventors: SARTOR MARIANO, SARTOR, MARIANO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B5