Ski boot quarter

Abstract: A ski boot quarter, the peculiarity whereof is that it is constituted by at least three separate elements (2,3,4) which can be obtained separately and can subsequently be associated with one another. This solution allows to differentiate the materials which constitute the individual components of the structure using even non-plastic materials according to the specific region of the leg of the skier involved.

Description: The present invention relates to a ski boot quarter. Currently, the quarters of the known ski boots, both of the rear-entry type and of the front-entry type, are made by injection-molding of thermoplastic material, said quarters being usually produced monolithically. This manufacturing process entails some disadvantages, since the use of thermoplastic materials does not meet the various requirements of the skier while skiing, as the quarter or quarters must have at the same time a given flexibility for a comfortable support of the tibia and lateral rigidity for the optimum transmission of efforts to the ski. As a partial solution to these disadvantages, a rear-entry ski boot is known wherein the front quarter is formed by two elements which are divided along a longitudinal axis and are composed of materials which have different rigidity. Even this solution, however, has disadvantages, since the two elements are fastened at the longitudinal axis by means of an adapted slider, and therefore with an additional device, and it has furthermore been observed that during skiing the two elements undergo different deformations at the tibial support region. This entails an uneven support of the tibia itself and a different yielding of the two elements during flexing, causing a troublesome and difficult control of the ski. EP-A-328 481 discloses a rear-entry type ski boot including a front quarter having a lateral supporting element and a cuff supporting element arranged at the upper tibial region. The cuff supporting element is connected to the lateral supporting element by means of a fixing element connected to the cuff supporting element and slidable in a vertically extending groove of the lateral supporting element. Therefore the relative vertical position of the cuff supporting element with respect to the lateral supporting element is adjustable. A closing buckle element for the rear quarter of the boot is connected between such rear quarter and an upper portion of the lateral supporting element of the front quarter. A tongue element is connected to the lower shell of the ski boot, and extends upwardly therefrom at the foot instep region between the front quarter and the shell. The tongue element is made of elastic material in order to compensate for the relative positions of the cuff supporting element and the lateral supporting element of the quarter. The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by providing a quarter which has flexibility and/or rigidity characteristics at the required points of the skier's leg. Within the scope of the above described aim, another important object is to provide a quarter which allows to achieve an optimum and uniform support for the tibia. Still another important object is to provide a quarter which has uniform yielding. Another object is to provide a quarter which allows the optimum transmission of efforts to the ski. Another object is to provide a quarter which is reliable and safe in use. Not least object is to provide a quarter which has modest production costs and can be easily industrialized. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a ski boot quarter as defined in the appended claim 1. Specific embodiments of the invention are defined in the appended dependent claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of some particular but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is an isometric view of an assembled front quarter according to the invention; figure 2 is an isometric exploded view of the quarter of the preceding figure, showing the individual elements which compose it; figure 3 is a view, similar to that of figure 1, of an assembled quarter according to a second aspect of the invention; figure 4 is an isometric exploded view, similar to that of figure 2, of the components of the quarter of figure 3; figure 5 is a view, similar to that of figure 1, of a quarter according to a third aspect of the invention; figure 6 is an isometric exploded view of the quarter of figure 5; figure 7 is a view, similar to that of figure 1, of a quarter according to a fourth aspect of the invention; figure 8 is an isometric exploded view, showing the components of the quarter of figure 7. With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates the quarter, particularly for front-entry ski boots, which comprises a first element 2 which affects the front region of the tibia and embraces it approximately up to the foot instep. The quarter 1 furthermore comprises a second element 3 and a third element 4 which affect the lateral regions of the leg of the skier, including therefore the tibia and the malleoli, and are associable at the first element 2. The various elements are fastened together for example by welding, gluing, restraint jointing, riveting or by other known means. In the particular embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 4, the means for the mutual assembly of the first, second and third elements are constituted by a pair of grooves 5a and 5b which are defined longitudinally at the lateral perimetric edges 6a and 6b of the first element 2. Said pair of grooves 5a and 5b constitutes a seat in the restraint joint of the complementarily shaped perimetric edge 7a and 7b respectively of the second element 3 and of the third element 4. For a more secure fastening the elements may also be glued together at the restraint joint. By providing the quarter in three elements, it is possible to obtain diverse chromatic combinations and, most of all, a differentiation of the materials which compose the quarter structure itself, so that, for example, it is possible to have a first element 2, frontal with respect to the tibia, which is relatively yielding so as to have flexibility and a comfortable support for the tibia itself, whereas the lateral elements 4 and 3 can have a rigidity adapted to correctly transmit the efforts to the ski. The individual elements can furthermore be obtained with a minimum curvature and therefore even with manufacturing processes other than the injection molding, thus adopting composite materials. It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a quarter having been obtained which has characteristics of flexibility and/or rigidity at the required points of the skier's leg, providing an optimum and uniform support for the tibia and at the same time good lateral rigidity for the optimum transmission of efforts to the ski. The individual components of the quarter can furthermore be produced according to processes differing from those of the injection of thermoplastic material and can be obtained for example by means of composite materials, the degree of rigidity whereof can be selected according to the specific requirements. The quarter according to the invention is naturally susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept. Thus, for example, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the pair of grooves 105a and 105b defined at the perimetric edges 106a and 106b of the first element 102 can be obtained at an enlargement of the thickness defined at said perimetric edges, and the second element 103 and the third element 104 can also have various configurations according to the specific requirements, similarly to the first element 102. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a quarter for front-entry ski boots, indicated by the numeral 201, which is again constituted by a first element 202, by a second element 203 and by a third element 204. The first element 202 can affect both the region behind the tibial region and, partially, the lateral regions thereof, and said structure can be made of a rigid material. Longitudinal recesses 205a and 205b are defined at the lateral perimetric edges 206a and 206b, and a complementarily shaped end, defined at the perimetric edges 207a of a second element 203 and 207b of the third element 204, can be arranged thereat. Advantageously, the second and third elements are made of a resilient material, and the element 204 has a pair of flaps 208a and 208b which partially embrace the outer lateral surface of the second element 203. Adapted means, such as levers, suitable for further securing the elements to one another, may be applied at said flaps. Said elements may also naturally be fastened together by means of adapted adhesives or by welding or riveting. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of a quarter 301 for front-entry ski boots, comprising: a first element 302, which affects the rear region of the calf; a second element 303, which partially and laterally embraces the leg; a third element 304, which also partially and laterally embraces the leg; a fourth element 309, which is associated with said second element and partially and frontally embraces the leg; and a fifth element 310, which is associated with said third element 304 and has a pair of flaps 308a and 308b which partially embrace the outer surface of the fourth element 309. Advantageously, all of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth elements can be fastened together by means of an adapted riveting or by screwing or gluing or welding, the second and the third elements being advantageously made, for example, of composite materials with high rigidity. The fourth and fifth element can instead be made of a material which has a certain resiliency so as to increase the comfort of the skier. In the particular embodiment, the reference numerals 311 indicate holes which are defined at the perimetric edges of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth elements, and constitute seats for adapted mutual locking rivets 312. The materials, as well as the dimensions, which constitute the individual components of the structure may naturally also be the most appropriate 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: A ski boot quarter, comprising: a first lateral portion (3;103;303) extending at a first lateral region of the leg of the skier; a second lateral portion (4;104;304) extending at a second lateral region of the leg of the skier, opposite to said first lateral region; at least one third portion (2;102;203,204;302,308,309) extending at the front tibial region of the leg of the skier; and fastening means for fastening the first, second and third portions together, characterised in that said first, second and third portions extend substantially vertically from the bottom to the top of the quarter, and said at least one third portion has a degree of rigidity which is less than the degree of rigidity of said first and second portions, thereby to provide relatively yielding and flexible support at the front tibial region, and to provide a relative rigid support at the lateral regions of the leg of the skier. The ski boot quarter according to claim 1, wherein it is made up of three elements, including a first element (2;102) arranged at the front tibial region, and a second element (3;103) and a third element (4;104) arranged at the opposite lateral regions, said second and third elements being relatively rigid while said first element is relatively flexible. The ski boot quarter according to claim 1, wherein it is made up of three elements, including a first monolithic element (202) extending at the rear calf region and at the opposite lateral regions, and a second element (203) and a third element (204) which overlap at the front tibial region, said first element being relatively rigid while said second and third elements being relatively flexible. The ski boot quarter according to claim 3, wherein the third element comprises a pair of flaps (208a,208b) which partially embrace the outer lateral surface of the second element. The ski boot quarter according to claim 1, wherein it is made up of five elements, including a first element (302) extending at the rear calf region, a second element (303) and a third element (304) extending at the opposite lateral regions respectively, and a fourth element (308) and a fifth element (309) which overlap at the front tibial region, said second and third elements being relatively rigid while said fourth and fifth elements being relatively flexible. The ski boot quarter according to claim 5, wherein the fourth element comprises a pair of flaps (308a,308b) which partially embrace the outer lateral surface of the fifth element. The ski boot quarter according to the preceding claims, wherein the first, second and third portions are mutually interconnected along their respective edges which comprise grooves (5a,5b;105a,105b;205a,205b) and shaped edges (7a,7b;207a,207b) accommodated in said grooves for mutually connecting the portions together. The ski boot quarter according to claim 7, wherein said grooves (105a,105b) are obtained with enlarged thickness edges. The ski boot quarter according to the preceding claims, wherein said elements are fastened together by welding, gluing, restraint jointing or riveting.

Inventors: POZZOBON ALESSANDRO, POZZOBON, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B5