SKI BOOT

Abstract: Ski boot (1, 101, 201) composed of at least one front quarter (4, 104, 204, 304) connected to a shell (2, 102, 202) wherein a substantially transverse slot (12, 112, 212, 302) is provided on the upper portion of the front quarter and is provided with means (18, 121, 301) for determining the inclination of the front quarter, said means acting by varying the working span of the slot and therefore the degree of deformability of the quarter at that point.

Description: The present invention relates to a ski boot, particularly of the rear-entry type. In such types of currently known boots the problem is felt of allowing the forward flexing of the leg while skiing. For this purpose, ski boots are known, for example from EP-A-182 778 and FR-A-2 480 575, which are provided on the front quarter, at the foot instep region, with a transverse slot whereto are associated one or more movable sliders: this slot allows the front quarter to bend during the flexing phase, but the tibia rests on said quarter in a region which, during this phase, is reduced to a point, since the rotation of said quarter does not coincide with the natural rotation of the leg. This situation causes concentrated pressures and therefore pain at the tibia. As a partial solution to this disadvantage, it is known to provide on the front quarter, at its upper end, a slot along an axis which is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shell. During flexing, the flaps of the slot divaricate, allowing the tibia to advance, but even this solution is not free from disadvantages since, though the maximum pressure area at the upper part of the flaps of the slot, is divided into two parts, these parts still remain a concentrated area of support for the tibia which still cause pain to the skier. The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types, by devising a ski boot which ensures the resting and the constant adaptation of the tibia during all the phases of skiing and in particular during its forward flexing. Within the scope of the aim described above, an important object is to obtain a ski boot which adds to the preceding characteristic that of absorbing the impact of the tibia during the flexing phase, ensuring an elastic return thereof during the extension phase. Another important object is to provide a ski boot which associates with the preceding characteristics that of avoiding points of concentrated pressure for the tibia during the various phases of skiing, said boot furthermore allowing the natural rotation of the leg during flexing. The aim and the objects described above, as well as others 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: fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ski boot according to the invention; fig. 2 is a perspective view of a component element of the front quarter; fig. 3 is still a perspective view of another component element of the front quarter; fig. 4 is a lateral elevation view, in partial cross section, of the front quarter; fig. 5 is a perspective view of a boot according to another aspect of the invention; fig. 6 is a lateral elevation view of the boot of figure 5; fig. 7 is a perspective view of a boot according to a third aspect of the invention; fig. 8 is a laterial view of the boot of figure 7: fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper region of the front quarter of a boot according to yet another aspect of the invention; fig. 10 is a cross section plan view of the quarter of fig. 9; fig. 11 is a partial perspective view of the front quarter of the boot of fig. 9; and fig. 12 is a cross section view along the line XII-XII of fig. 10. With reference to the above described figures, the ski boot 1 is provided with a shell 2 whereto are articulated a rear quarter 3 and a front quarter 4. The front quarter 4 is advantageously composed of a first spoiler 5 articulated to the shell 2, and of a second spoiler 6 which embraces and is associated with said first spoiler 5 at and laterally to the upper end 7 of the latter. Conveniently, the second spoiler 6 is made of materials having greater elastic characteristics than those of the first spoiler 5. The former is advantageously provided, at its front region 8, with an opening 9 adapted to allow the tibia to interact with the second spoiler 6. The latter, once it is associated with the first spoiler 5, rests on an adapted planar surface 10 provided on said first spoiler 5 which projects from said front region 8 towards the tip 11 of the boot 1. On said second spoiler 6 a slot 12 is provided which affects both the front wall 13 and the lateral walls 14 and 15. At said lateral walls the slot 12 is inclined by an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shell 2, while at the front wall 13 it is arranged approximately transversely to said shell. That inclined configuration, with respect to the base plane of the boot 1, ensures a constant resting surface for the tibia at the wall 13 of the second spoiler 6 during the flexing phase, since the slot 12 deformates elastically and absorbs the impact of the tibia thereon. The span of said slot 12 is constant in this particular embodiment, but it can vary according to the specific requirements. Means are furthermore associated with the second spoiler 6 which are adapted to limit its deformation during the flexing phase, said means consisting of a threaded stem 16 slideably accommodated within a set 17 provided perpendicularly on said second spoiler 6 at its end adjacent to the front region 8 of the first spoiler 5 and overlying the planar surface 10 thereof. Said stem 16 protrudes at the slot 12, with its end there being rigidly associated a small plate 18 arranged parallel to, and interacting with, at least the overlying one of the perimetral borders 19 defined by said slot. Said stem 16 is rotatably associated with a complementarily threaded ring 20 accommodated in an adapted seat provided on the second spoiler 6 and partially protruding therefrom in the direction of the tip 11 of the boot 1. By acting on the ring 20 the skier can continuously vary the span of the slot 12 at the front region 8 of the first spoiler 5, thus varying the deformation which can be imparted to said second spoiler 6. During the forward flexing of the leg, it is furthermore observed that, by virtue of the presence and of the inclined arrangement of the slot at the lateral walls 14 and 15, the second spoiler 6 performs a rotation by elastic deformation which has a smaller radius than that of the first spoiler 5, this allowing not only the natural rotation of the leg during flexing but also allowing to keep the tibial pressure essentially constant during said flexing phase. In such conditions, the tibia furthermore rests on a wide surface constituted by the front wall 13 of the second spoile 6. It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the aim and the objects intended, ensuring the support and the constant adaptation of the tibia during all the phases of skiing, including the extension phase wherein the return of the second spoiler 6 accompanies and facilitates the movement of said tibia. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a boot 101 substantially identical to the boot 1, the only difference being that the means for determining the deformation of the front quarter 104 consist of sliders 121 movable in the slot 112 provided in the second spoiler 106. The sliders 121 are preferably two, one for each lateral wall 114 and 115 of the upper spoiler 106, and by moving them along the lateral flaps of the slot 112 they limit the working span of said slot in the front region. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a different embodiment of the front quarter 204 of a boot 201. In this case the front quarter 204 is made of one piece and a slot 212 is provided at its upper portion 207 and is arranged, at the lateral walls 214 and 215 of the front quarter 204, along an axis which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shell 202. Means for determining the deformation of the front quarter 204 are provided at the slot 112 which can be completely similar to the means, such as the sliders 121 or plate 18, as described previously. Figures 9-12 illustrate the front quarter 303 of a boot according to yet another aspect of the invention, provided with means for limiting the deformation of the quarter which consist of a small block 301 which accommodates in the slot 302 provided transversely with respect to the front quarter 303 of a ski boot proximate to its upper portion. The small block 301 is slideable inside the slot 302 and is configured so as to remain firmly coupled to the border of said slot. The latter is preferably shaped so that the span between the small block 301 and the upper border 302a of the slot is, with the block in position A, approximately equal to the span of the opposite free end of the slot 302 which corresponds to the position C of fig. 9. It is thus possible to regulate the quarter inclination during the flexing phase: in fact in position A the maximum inclination is allowed while in position C there is practically no inclination; position B allows an intermediate degree of inclination. The slot 302 and the block 301 are covered by a plate 304, fixed to the quarter 303 by means of rivets or other coupling elements. An opening 305 is provided in the plate 304, and a slider 306, rigidly associated with the small block 301, protrudes from said opening. The function of the slider is to facilitate the grip and the movement of the block 301 on the part of the user. The plate 304 has both an aesthetical function and a protective one. The engagement of the block 301 to the front quarter 303 is achieved with known snap-together means or with other solutions, for example such as the one illustrated in figures 11 and 12 wherein a guide 308, for a tooth 309 which protruding from the block, is provided in said quarter. In order to secure the small block 301 in the desired position, different means may be used; for example the small block 301 can be provided with a lug 307 which engages in seats provided on the inner side of the plate 304, such as in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 12. The seats wherein the lug engages could also be provided in the quarter 303, for example at the guide 308. The number of the seats naturally determines the number of possible positions for the small block 302 with respect to the slot. Finally, the slot can be provided at any convenient position at the upper end of the quarter 303 according to the type of boot and of material used. The operation of the device is very simple: by acting on the slider 306 the small block 301 is moved from position A to position B, which is located proximate to the middle line for a symmetrical flexing, progressively limiting the flexing stroke. With the block 301 in position A, a flexible boot will be obtained, having a soft tibial resting, since the free span of the slot 302 allows an elastic deformation of the front quarter 303. With the block 301 in position C, a rigid boot will be obtained, since the span of the slot 302 in position C is equal to the height of the block 301 which in this position completely occludes said span, preventing the deformation of the quarter 303. Naturally all intermediate positions of the block 301 between A and C are possible, and allow to vary the maximum deformation of the quarter 303, which depends on the free span between the small block 301 and the upper border 302a of the slot 302. In practice it has been observed that the ski boot according to the invention achieves the intended aims since it allows a correct forward flexing of the leg, furthermore allowing an adjustment of the tibial resting. The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and to the state of the art.

Claims: Ski boot (1, 101, 201) comprising at least one front quarter (4, 104, 204, 304) connected to a shell (2, 102, 202), said front quarter being provided with at least one slot (12,112,212,302) which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of said shell, said ski boot further comprising means (18,121,301) adapted for determining the inclination of said front quarter with respect to said shell and for defining the working span of said slot, said working span determining the degree of deformability of said front quarter at said slot, the ski boot being characterized in that said slot is provided at the upper end of said front quarter and said slot affects both the front wall (13) and the lateral walls (14, 15, 114, 115) thereof, at said lateral walls (14, 15, 114, 115) said slot (12, 112) being inclined by an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shell (2, 102), at said front wall (13) said slot being instead arranged approximately transverse with respect thereto. Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said front quarter (4, 104) consists of a first spoiler (5), articulated to said shell (2, 102), and of a second spoiler (6,106), embracing and associated with said first spoiler at, and laterally to, the upper end (7) of said first spoiler. Boot according to claim 2, characterized in that said first spoiler (5) is provided, at its front region (8), with an opening (9) adapted to allow the tibia to interact with said second spoiler (6, 106). Boot according to claim 3, characterized in that said second spoiler (6, 106) rests on an adapted planar surface (10) which is provided on said first spoiler (5) and protrudes from said front region (8) in the direction of the tip (11) of the boot (1, 101). Boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for determining the inclination comprise a threaded stem (16) which is slideable in a seat (17) provided on the lower border (19) of said slot (12) in said second spoiler (6), said threaded stem (16) being movable with respect to said lower border (19) and perpendicular to the upper border (19) of said slot (12). Boot according to claim 5, characterized in that said threaded stem (16) is provided with an end which protrudes at the span of said slot (12), said end being rigidly associated with a small plate (18) parallel to, and interacting with, said upper border (19) of said slot (12). Boot according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said threaded stem (16) is rotatably associated with a complementarily threaded ring (20) accommodated in an adapted seat provided on said second spoiler (6) at said lower border (19), said ring (20) being at least partially outwardly protruding for manual operation. Boot according to claim 2, characterized in that said second spoiler (6, 106) is made of materials having different elastic characteristics with respect to the materials used for said first spoiler (5). Boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inclination determining means consist of one or more sliders (121) slideably associated with said slot (112). Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said front quarter (204) is made monolithically, on said front quarter (204) there being provided, proximate to its upper portion (207), a slot (212) arranged on the front part of said upper portion, approximately transversely with respect to said shell (202) and, at the lateral walls (214, 215) of said quarter (204), inclined by an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shell (202). Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said inclination determining means comprise a small block (301) which is slideably associated with a first border of said slot (302), said small block being provided with a counter-border interacting with a second border (302a) of said slot, said slot being configured so that the distance between said counter-border of said block and said second border of said slot, when said block is at a first end (A) of said slot, is equal to the distance between said first and said second borders (19) at a second end (C) of said slot (302). Boot according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a plate (304) which is fixed to said front quarter (303) and covers at least partially said slot (302) and said small block (301), said plate (304) being provided with an opening (305) wherefrom protrudes a slider (306) rigidly associated with said small block (301). Boot according to claims 11 or 12, characterized in that snap-together engagement seats are provided on the inner surface of said plate (305) for a lug (307) rigidly associated with said small block (301). Boot according to claim 11, characterized in that a guide (308), parallel to said slot (302) and engageable by a tooth (309) protruding from said small block (301), is provided on the inner surface of said quarter (303).

Inventors: MATTIUZZO, MARIO, TONEL, VALERIO
Applicants: NORDICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B5