Securing device particularly for ski boots

Abstract: A securing device for ski boots, including a lever (13) associated laterally to a ski boot and provided with a cylinder (17) for adjusting the tension of a cable (9) which is preferably associable with a shell (5) at its ends and externally embraces a presser and a flap (7). The device allows to achieve an optimum securing for optimally retaining the foot both at the instep and at the heel.

Description: The present invention relates to a securing device in a ski boot as defined in the preamble of the appended claim 1 and as disclosed in EP-A-254 143. Securing devices are generally used in ski boots for tightening the foot instep and heel regions. The problem of these known devices is substantially that of obtaining both an optimum securing of the foot and a rapid release thereof; these devices must also be able to take-up a large amount of cable. As a partial solution to this problem, the European Patent no. 0.164.625 granted August 2, 1989, discloses a ski boot with foot securing device including a foot instep presser arranged inside a shell. The securing device is constituted by a cable which is fixed to a traction element at one end, wraps around a presser, embraces the heel region and is connected to a fixed point on said boot at its end. In said securing device, the traction element is constituted by a winder of a cable which in turn embraces the foot instep and the heel of the user; the use of said winder allows to rewind and thus apply tension to a considerable amount of cable. Although this securing device is undoubtedly valid, it has some problems: first of all, the winder is expensive because of high production costs; secondly, it is very bulky and has protruding elements which can thus be subjected to shocks or breakages. This winder furthermore does not allow to store the degree of tension applied to the cable. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above in known types by providing a device which allows to optimally secure the foot instep and heel of the skier, taking up a considerable amount of cable. Within the scope of the above aim, another important object is to provide a device which allows the user to restore the optimum securing conditions whenever he wishes. Another important object is to provide a device which allows to store the degree of closure. Another important object is to provide a device which is extremely easy to operate. Another important object is to provide a device which is structurally simple, easy to industrialize, reliable and safe in use and has low manufacturing costs and reduced dimensions. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a securing device in a ski boot as defined in the appended claim 1. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a securing device; figure 2 is a sectional view of the securing lever, taken along a longitudinal median plane; figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the securing device. With reference to the above figures, the securing device, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is particularly usable for a ski boot, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, constituted by a front quarter 3 which is articulated to a shell 5 by means of adapted studs 4. The boot also has a rear quarter which is not illustrated in the drawings for clarity. The shell comprises, at the heel region 6, a flap 7 which protrudes therefrom and is flexible toward the tip of the boot; a guiding element for a tension application element, such as a cable 9, is defined at the rear surface 8 of said flap and transversely thereto. Said guiding element is advantageously constituted by a seat 10 which is suitable for accommodating said cable 9 by snap-together insertion. A presser 12 can furthermore be arranged inside the shell 5 at the foot instep region 11. At least one lever 13 is associated laterally to the boot, preferably at the front quarter 3, and is provided with means for adjusting the degree of tension of at least one cable 9. Said lever thus comprises a body 14 which is freely pivoted, at one end, to a pair of shoulders 15 which are associated with the front quarter 3; a pin 16 is longitudinally associated within said body, and a knurled cylinder 17 interacts therewith and can be accessed by the skier. Said knurled cylinder 17 allows, upon activation on the part of the skier, to move a semicircular guide 18 along the pin 16; said guide can perform a movement which is longitudinal to the body 14 and leads, in the direction opposite to the shoulders 15, to the application of tension to the cable 9. The cable 9 can slide freely at said guide 18. Said cable has, at its terminal ends, a first wing and a second wing, designated by the numerals 19a and 19b, which are S-shaped; the first wing 19a is removably arranged within a first hole 21 which is defined laterally to said shell 5. The first wing 19a can also be arranged in a second hole 22, formed on the side of the front quarter 3. The cable 9 starts from first hole 21, or from second hole 22, and affects the lever 13 by passing at the guide 18 and then passes within a third hole 23 and a fourth hole 24 defined on said front quarter and on said shell. The cable 9 is then passed within the interspace defined between the presser and the shell and then exits from said shell through a fifth hole 25. The cable 9 subsequently externally embraces said flap 7, engaging in the seat 10, and is then associated, at its free end, with the shell 5 again by virtue of the insertion of the second wing 19b within a sixth hole 26 defined laterally to the shell 5. The use of the device is as follows: once the foot has been inserted in the boot, the user simply has to act on the lever and on the means for adjusting the degree of tension of the cable 9 in order to achieve the optimum securing of said foot, since the cable embraces the region of the foot instep and of the heel. By virtue of the particular arrangement of the cable inside the shell and the front quarter and of the application of the lever laterally to said front quarter, by acting on said lever the skier can take up a considerable amount of cable and store, when said lever is opened, the degree of tension which can be applied to said cable. It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the above described aim and objects, a device having been provided which allows to achieve an optimum securing of both the foot instep and the heel, all by means of a device which is very simple and easy to activate as well as extremely economical. It should also be noted that it is possible to store the degree of tension of the cable by using a lever having very small dimensions and slight protrusions from the front quarter. The device according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the claims. Thus, for example, the lever may be connected to the boot in a non-rigid manner and thus be, for example, of the type disclosed in EP-A-328 098 filed February 9, 1989 in the name of the same Applicant. The cables may also be fixed by means of rivets and may be rigidly associated with the shell and/or with the quarter. The materials and dimensions which constitute the individual components of the device may also naturally 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: A securing device in a ski boot comprising at least one quarter (3) articulated to a shell (5), said shell comprising a rear flap (7) and an internal presser (12) in the foot instep region (11), the securing device comprising at least one cable (9) which is associated with either one of said shell and said quarter, at its ends (19a,19b), and which externally embraces said presser and said flap, the securing device further comprising at least one lever (13) with means (16,17,18) for adjusting the degree of tension of said traction element, characterized in that said lever (13) is pivoted to a lateral portion of said ski boot and said means for adjusting the degree of tension of said traction element comprise a guide (18) for the cable provided at an end of the lever distal from the portion of the lever which is pivoted to the boot, the cable having one end (19b) connected to the lateral portion of the ski boot and said cable extending from said one end (19b) over both said rear flap (7) and said internal presser (12) and over said guide (18) of the lever and back to said lateral portion of the ski boot at which the other end (19a) of the cable is also connected. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said first end is associated at a first hole (21) defined laterally to said shell. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 2, characterized in that said first end is associated with a second hole (22) formed on a side of said quarter. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 3, characterized in that after said first and second holes, said cable affects said lever (13), slides at said guide (18) and then passes within a third hole (23) and a fourth hole (24) defined on said front quarter and on said shell. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 4, characterized in that said cable passes, after said third and fourth holes, in the interspace defined between said presser (12) and said shell and then exits from said shell through a fifth hole (25). The securing device and ski boot according to claim 5, characterized in that after said fifth hole, said cable embraces said flap (7) externally, engages in a guiding element (10) and is then again associated with said shell at said second end (19b). The securing device and ski boot according to claim 6, characterized in that said guiding element (10) for said cable is defined on said flap (7), which is flexible toward the tip of said boot, at its rear surface and transversely thereto, said guiding element being constituted by a seat suitable for accommodating said cable by snap-together insertion. The securing device and ski boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one lever (13) is constituted by a body (14) which is freely pivoted, at one end, to a pair of shoulders (15) associated with said front quarter (3), a pin (16) being longitudinally associated within said body, a knurled cylinder (17) interacting with said pin and being accessible to the skier. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 8, characterized in that said knurled cylinder (17) allows to move, along said pin, said guide (18) which is semicircular and adapted to move longitudinally with respect to said body which, in the direction opposite to said shoulders, leads to the application of tension to said cable, which can slide freely at said guide. The securing device and ski boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second ends of the cable comprise respectively a first wing (19a) and a second wing (19b) which are rigid and S-shaped. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 10, characterized in that said first wing (19a) is removably arranged within said first hole (21) defined laterally to said shell. The securing device and ski boot according to claim 11, characterized in that said second wing is removably arrangeable within said sixth hole (26) defined laterally to said shell.

Inventors: DE BORTOLI GIUSEPPE, GALLINA LUCA, ZORZI CLAUDIO, DE BORTOLI, GIUSEPPE, GALLINA, LUCA, ZORZI, CLAUDIO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B5