Heel securing device particularly for ski boots

Abstract: A heel securing device, for ski boots of the rear-entry type comprising a front quarter (2) and a rear quarter (3) which are associated with a shell (4) inside which an inner shoe can be removably arranged. The peculiarity of the device resides in that it is constituted by at least one flap (5a, 5b) which is associated with, or provided at, the shell (4), the inner shoe or an adapted removable heel element (8), the other free end embracing the rear region (6) of the heel overlying the perimetric edge (7) of the shell. It is thus possible, once the rear quarter is secured onto the front one, to achieve uniform pressure on the entire heel region without activating adapted and specific means.

Description: The present invention relates to a heel securing device, particularly usable in ski boots of the rear-entry type. Ski boots are currently known which use, in order to secure the heel, a flap which is rigidly associated with the shell and protrudes therefrom; said flap usually interacts with a traction element which embraces it, and therefore when the traction element is tensioned the flap moves onto the heel of the skier so as to block any movement thereof. Devices are also known which are again constituted by a flap which protrudes rearward from the shell but interacts with an adapted plate provided with a threaded stem which is rotatably associated with the rear quarter and can be activated by means of an adapted knob operated by the skier. All the above described kinds of device, however, have disadvantages: from the anatomical point of view, it can be seen that the flap exerts a pressure which is mainly localized at the achilles' tendon, and this causes pain which increases especially during flexing. Furthermore, because of the flap, the foot is not easily inserted since the flap constitutes an obstacle for an easy insertion. The skier therefore usually inserts his hand inside the boot to move the flap backward during insertion, and this causes discomfort. As a partial solution to these disadvantages, EP-A-209 856 discloses a ski boot, particularly of the rear-entry type, with foot securing device, disclosing an elongated element which extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the rear quarter, said elongated element being provided inside the rear quarter and substantially at the heel of the user's foot and being connected to the opposite longitudinal edges of said rear quarter. This solution, despite being undoubtedly valid, entailed a prior manual adjustment to be performed directly by the skier, and was in any case particularly expensive. Similarly, FR-A-2 613 914 also discloses a rear-entry type ski boot with a pivoting rear quarter provided internally with an adjustable foot securing device. Devices are also known which are constituted by heel elements provided with lateral flaps adapted to embrace the malleolar regions of the skier; said devices, however, allow, for example, to center the foot or malleolar protection and therefore have a precise function as true protections and secondarily act as space fillers. The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by providing a device which allows to achieve the optimum securing of the heel inside a ski boot by exerting a uniform pressure which, by lacking localized pressure regions, increases the skier's comfort. Within the scope of the above described aim, another important object is to provide a device which allows the easy insertion of the foot in the boot. Another important object is to provide a device which does not require preset and particular means for its activation which force the skier to perform a specific operation. Not least object is to provide a device which is structurally simple, reliable and safe in use as well as extremely economical. The above described aim and objects, as well as others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a heel securing device, particularly for ski boots, as defined in the appended claim 1. 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 partially sectional perspective view of a shell provided with a device according to the invention; figure 2 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of a further embodiment of the device; figure 3 is a rear view of the device illustrated in figure 2; figure 4 is a view, taken along a longitudinal middle sectional plane of the boot, of the device illustrated in figures 2 and 3; figure 5 is a partially sectioned rear isometric view of a ski boot according to still a further aspect of the invention; figure 6 is a side view of the two flaps provided in the ski boot shown in figure 5. With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a ski boot constituted by a front quarter 2 and by a rear quarter 3 which are associated with a shell 4. The device comprises at least one flap 5 which, in the particular embodiment illustrated in figure 1, is obtained directly at the shell and protrudes laterally from said shell to affect and embrace the rear region 6 of the heel overlying the perimetric edge 7 of the shell 4. Said at least one flap is advantageously associated with, or provided at, an adapted inner shoe which can be arranged inside the boot or at an adapted heel element which can be removably arranged thereat. In this last condition, the heel element, generally indicated by the reference numeral 8, has a planar support base 9 from which a pair of flaps 5a and 5b protrude; said flaps embrace, at their free end, the rear region 6 of the heel which overlies the perimetric edge 7 of the shell 4. Said flaps 5a and 5b partially overlap one another at said region and are elastically deformable. The device in fact is operated when the rear quarter 3 is moved toward the front quarter 2 (for example during the closure thereof); during this step, the rear quarter in fact rests at the flap or flaps 5a and 5b, increasing their mutual overlap and therefore tightening them due to the pressure exerted thereon. Said pressure is furthermore exerted evenly on the entire heel region, since the two flaps embrace it uniformly. It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, a heel securing device having been provided which has considerable comfort for the skier by virtue of the elimination of pressure points due to the uniform embracing action of the flap or flaps at the heel region. Said device furthermore allows to easily insert the foot in the boot, since the flap or flaps are open when the skier places the front and rear quarters in open position. The device is furthermore structurally very simple and extremely economical. Figures 5 and 6 show a ski boot, according to another aspect of the invention, having a pair of flaps 105a and 105b, partially overlapping at the heel region 106 of the boot. The flaps 105a and 105b are associated with the shell 104 at bolts 108 but naturally they may also be provided in one piece with the shell itself. The flaps 105a, 105b are provided with an overlap control means 101 comprising a traction element 102, a wire for example, having a first end 110 fixed to one flap, 105a for example, and the second end connected to a tensioning device 111 of a per se known type. The wire 102 is slideably engaged in a sheath 112 having a fixed end 113 associated with the second flap 105b. In the illustrated example, the second end 114 of the sheath is fixed to the rear quarter 103 together with the tensioning device 111: in this manner the overlapping of the flaps can be adjusted independently from the position of the rear quarter. Naturally, the tensioning device 111 can be associated also with either the front quarter 102 or with the shell 104, according to the specific needs. The materials as well as the dimensions which constitute the individual components of the device may naturally also be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Heel securing device, particularly for ski boots comprising a front quarter (2,102) and a rear quarter (3,103) which are associated with a shell (4,104) inside which an inner shoe can be removably arranged, the heel securing device comprising at least one pair of flaps (5a,5b,105a,105b) which, at one end, are connected with a boot member (4,8,104), said heel securing device being characterized in that said flaps have free partially overlapping ends and embrace the rear region (6,106) of the heel which overlies the perimetric edge (7) of said shell (9). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said flaps (5a,5b) are integrally formed with said shell (4), said shell (4) being said boot member, said flaps protruding at a perimetric lateral edge of said shell and embracing, at its free end, said rear region (6) of the heel which overlies a perimetric edge (7) of said shell. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said flaps (5a,5b,105a,105b) are elastically deformable. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said boot member is a heel element (8), said heel element (8) being removably insertable at said boot and having a base (9) from which said pair of flaps (5a,5b) protrude laterally, said flaps having free ends, said free ends embracing said rear region (6) of the heel overlying the perimetric edge (7) of said shell, said free ends overlapping at least partially. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one pair of flaps (5a,5b) is elastically deformable under the action of said rear quarter (3) during its approach toward said front quarter (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said pair of flaps (105a,105b) are each connected with said shell (104), said flaps at least partially overlapping at said rear region (106) of said boot, control means (101) being provided to controllably adjust said overlapping of said flap. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said control means (101) comprises a wire (102) having a fixed end (113) associated with a first of said flaps (105a) and a second end connected to a tensioning device, said wire being slideably engaged in a sheath (112), said sheath being associated with a second of said flaps (105b), said sheath being furthermore associated together with said tensioning element to a ski boot element (102,103,104) separated from said first of said flaps (105a).

Inventors: BATTISTELLA MIRCO, SARTOR MARIANO, BATTISTELLA, MIRCO, SARTOR, MARIANO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B5