Closure device for shoes

Abstract: A closure device for shoes, which comprises a first main rack (3) and a second auxiliary rack (5). The engagement element allows easier and more comfortable closure of the shoe and/or allows to increase the adjustment range for closure.

Description: The present invention relates to a closure device for shoes. EP-A-0460574 discloses a lever device provided with a closure lever for shoes which comprises a rack connected to a support which is in turn rigidly coupled to a shoe by way of a threaded pivot which allows to adjust its position along a longitudinal axis of said shoe. In this manner, the user can change the distance between the rack and the lever according to requirements following a rotation applied clockwise or counterclockwise to the rack or to the threaded pivot. However, it is difficult to change the position of the rack when ice or other debris form around the rack and because the user wears gloves. Moreover, this conventional embodiment requires the user to open the lever completely every time he or she decides to change the position of the rack. US-4,395,801 discloses a fixing device for sports shoes which is provided with a closure lever which comprises a rack which is rotatably connected, at one end, to a U-shaped support whose base selectively interacts with a toothed band which is in turn fixed to the shoe. Thanks to the rotation that can be applied to the rack, the support selectively interacts with the underlying toothed band and thus allows to change the longitudinal position of the rack. However, it is still difficult to change the position of the rack when ice or other debris form around the rack and because the user wears gloves. Moreover, this conventional embodiment requires the user to open the lever completely whenever he decides to change the position of the rack. Italian patent application No. PD95A000137 discloses a fastening device for sports shoes which is provided with a rack which is connected to the shoe by means of a T-shaped connecting pivot whose lower end is inserted in an adapted seat; said device is actuated by the rotation of one end of the rack with respect to the other. The engagement and disengagement of the pivot allows the longitudinal movement of the rack, thus ensuring a number of positions that said rack can assume which is equal to the number of seats provided for the pivot. As in the preceding cases, the rack can be moved only after fully disengaging an adapted closure lever and after turning the rack, in order to disengage the pivot. This operation is complicated and difficult to perform, since the skier still wears gloves and the rack, together with the corresponding connecting pivot, is subjected to the formation of ice, which can compromise its correct operation. Italian patent application No. TV95U000051 discloses a closure device for sports shoes comprising a closure lever and a rack. A contoured plate is interposed between the rack and the underlying upper, and is associated below the rack. An additional temporary engagement element is movable with respect to the rack. The plate is arranged under the rack and acts as a guide and retainer for the longitudinal movement of the additional element, which can thus be arranged, according to the skier's requirements, in an inactive position, in which the end rests on the rack, or in a second active position, in which the end is spaced from the rack. However, even this embodiment suffers some drawbacks, since it requires the complete disengagement of the lever from the rack in order to extract the extensible element, because the element is located under the rack and cannot be accessed while the lever is engaged. Moreover, this embodiment offers only one additional position with respect to the number of positions already provided by the rack alone. EP-0705545 discloses a locking and fastening device for ski boots which is provided with a closure lever provided with a rack to which is pivoted, at one end, an element whose shape is such as to surround said rack along its perimeter; said element can be used selectively in order to engage a lever arm. Alternatively, the element can be associated so as to slide with respect to the rack and again be used to engage a lever arm. The above device can be actuated only after achieving complete disengagement of the lever arm, in addition to being difficult to use during sports practice because ice may form around the rack, preventing the correct operation of the corresponding mechanisms. EP-0752218 discloses a fastening device for sports shoes which is provided with a lever which comprises a mechanism for fixing to the shoe which allows to modify the horizontal position. The lever and the rack are fixed to the shoe by a pair of pivots which have two flat lateral faces and are inserted in a pair of appropriately provided slotted seats. Said seats are characterized by their width, which is variable: in particular, the seats have dimensions which correspond to the two dimensions (largest dimension of the diameter and smallest dimension of the pair of flat faces) of the fixing pivot. The rotation of the pivot through 90°, and of the lever or rack with it, allows to modify its horizontal position according to the dimensions of the seat, which are preset by the manufacturer. It is evident that the positions of the rack and of the lever can be changed only when the boot is not being worn; this limits the provision of any kind of adjustment during use of the boot. Moreover, it does not provide a better range of adjustment of the closure of the lever but allows only to move the rack or lever. The aim of the present invention is to solve the above problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art. An object of the invention is to provide a closure device, particularly for sports shoes, which allows to rapidly and easily vary the degree of fastening that can be applied, for example, to the flaps of a shoe. A further important object is to provide a closure device which allows easier and handier shoe fastening. A further important object is to provide a closure device in which it is possible to vary the obtainable degree of fastening at any time during sports practice. Another important object is to provide a closure device which is free from possible malfunctions due to ice forming. Another important object is to provide a closure device which is structurally simple. Another object is to provide a closure device which is reliable and safe in use and has low manufacturing costs. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a closure device as claimed in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of particular but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a lateral perspective view of the second auxiliary rack; Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of the engagement element; Figure 3 is a partially sectional side view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the engagement element associated with a flap of the shoe; Figure 4 is a top view of the engagement element; Figure 5 is a top view of the second auxiliary rack; Figure 6 is a lateral exploded perspective view of the second auxiliary rack, disengaged from an element for connection and support to the first rack; Figure 7 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 6, in the assembled condition; Figure 8 is a view of the preceding embodiment, associated at the first rack; Figure 9 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a view, similar to Figure 8, of another embodiment; Figures 11 and 12 are lateral perspective views of the second auxiliary rack in two different positions. With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 designates an engagement element for closure levers which, for example, can be used to mutually fasten flaps 2 of a sports shoe. The engagement element comprises a first main rack 3 which is associated, in a per se known manner, with one of said flaps to be joined, for example by using a pivot or rivet 4 which passes at an opening provided in the flap and is rigidly coupled thereto. The engagement element also comprises at least one second auxiliary rack 5, which can be detachably associated with the first rack 3. In Figures 1 to 5, the second rack 5 is constituted by a body 6 which has a set of teeth 7 which is composed of a chosen number of teeth. At least two first through seats 8a, 8b are formed transversely and laterally to the body 6, and the ends of a connecting element 9, such as a loop, can be arranged at said seats, optionally in a detachable manner. The second rack 5 has the same width as the first rack 3 and the connecting element 9 has a straight end 10 which lies opposite the end that is associatable with the body 6 and can be selectively positioned between two adjacent teeth 11 of the first rack 3. The spacing of the set of teeth 7 and of the teeth 11 is conveniently identical. As noted, the connecting element 9 has, in this particular embodiment, a looped shape which forms a first arm 12 and a second arm 13 which have different lengths, such as to allow their folded ends to respectively affect the seat 8a and the seat 8b, which are formed in the body 6. This entails an offset in the arrangement of the end of the first and second arms with respect to the body 6 of the second rack 5, accordingly producing a force which is orientated in the opposite direction with respect to the opening and release direction of the first rack 3. The body 6 of the second rack 5 in fact has, in the direction of the first rack 3, a tab 14 which is substantially wedge-shaped and is arranged below the adjacent end of the first rack 3 after inserting the straight end 10 of the connecting element 9 in the first rack 3. In this manner, the connecting element 9 applies a force, after the coupling of the second rack 5 with the first rack 3, which is directed toward the shoe; this ensures, in cooperation with the tab 14, the locking of the second auxiliary rack 5. It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, an engagement element for closure levers for sports shoes having been provided which allows to rapidly and easily vary the degree of fastening that can be applied, for example, to the flaps of a shoe. Moreover, the engagement element thus provided allows to facilitate and simplify the fastening of the shoe by virtue of the engagement and subsequent closure of the lever on the engagement element with gradual degrees of fastening which can be increased. The engagement element also allows to vary the degree of fastening that can be achieved at any time during sports practice and is immune to any malfunction caused by any ice that may be present. The above device according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, for example, Figures 6 to 9 illustrate another embodiment, in which the engagement element 101 again comprises a second auxiliary rack 105 which is detachably associatable at an adapted second seat 115 which is formed at a supporting element 116 which is substantially constituted by a plate which has an adapted recess at the second seat 115 and has, at the longitudinal ends of said seat, two wings 117a and 117b which are partially raised and are adapted to block the tips of the second rack 105 once it has been positioned in the second seat 115, as shown in Figure 7. The supporting element 116 also has a third seat 118 which is formed longitudinally thereto and is such as to form an element 109 for connection to a first rack 103 which is rigidly coupled at an adapted flap 102 of a shoe by means of an adapted pivot or rivet 104. In the particular embodiment shown, the straight end 110 of the connecting element 109 is made to pass under one end of the first rack 103 and possibly interacts by abutment at the pivot or rivet 104: in this condition, shown in Figure 8, the first rack 103 protrudes completely from the third seat 118 of the supporting element 116, which is thus locked, since the length of the third seat 118 is advantageously equal to the length of the first rack 103 minus the space between the free end of the latter and the pivot or rivet 104. This embodiment, too, achieves the intended aim and objects. Figures 10 to 12 illustrate another embodiment for a rack 201, in which the supporting element 216 again has a third seat 218 for a first rack 203 and has a straight end 210 which interacts with the pivot or rivet for locking the first rack 203 to a flap 202 of a shoe. There is also a second auxiliary rack 205 which is rotatably associated, by virtue of an adapted pivot 219, proximate to the end of the supporting element 216 that lies opposite the straight end 210. Advantageously, in this illustrated embodiment, too, the end of said second auxiliary rack 205 that is not articulated to the supporting element 216 has a longitudinal tab 214 which is adapted to engage under the end of the adjacent first main rack 203 when the supporting element 216 is associated with said first rack. This allows the mutual locking of the first and second racks in a correct position. This embodiment, too, achieves the intended aim and objects. The material and the dimensions of the individual components of the engagement element may of course be the most pertinent according to specific requirements. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV99A000041 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 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 interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: A closure device for shoes comprising a first flap and a second flap (2) to be mutually fastened by said closure device, an engagement element (1) comprising a first main rack (3) and at least one second auxiliary rack (5) characterized in that the second auxiliary rack (5) is detachably associated with said adjacent first main rack (3) by a connecting element (9), providing a range of adjustment of the closure that can be changed with the boot being worn. The closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second auxiliary rack (5) is constituted by a body (6) which has the same width as said first rack (3) and an adapted set of teeth (7). The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body of said second rack (5) has, toward said first rack (3), a substantially wedge-shaped tab (14) which is arranged under the adjacent end of said first rack (3). The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second auxiliary rack (5) is detachably associated with said adjacent first main rack (3) by a connecting element (9) and a longitudinal tab (14) adapted to engage below the end of the adjacent first main rack. The closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first main rack is associated with one of the flaps to be joined of said shoe by using a pivot or rivet which passes at a suitable opening provided in said flap and with which said at least one second auxiliary rack is detachably associatable, said second auxiliary rack being constituted by a body which has the same width as said first rack and an adapted set of teeth. The closure device according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one first through seat is formed transversely and laterally to said body, the ends of a loop-shaped connecting element being arrangeable at said first seat. The closure device according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting element has a flat end which lies opposite the one that is associatable with said body and can be selectively arranged between two adjacent teeth of said first rack. The closure device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacing of said set of teeth and of said teeth is identical. The closure device according to claim 8, characterized in that two separate and spaced first seats are formed transversely and laterally to said body. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting element has a loop-like shape which forms a first and a second arm which have different lengths such as to allow their folded ends to separately affect one of said first seats formed in said body. The closure device according to claim 10, characterized in that said ends of said first and second arms are associated with said body so as to be staggered. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claim, characterized in that said second rack is detachably associatable at an adapted second seat formed in a supporting element which substantially comprises a plate which has an appropriate recess at said second seat and has, at longitudinal ends of said seat, two partially raised wings which are adapted to block the tips of said second rack once arranged in said second seat. The closure device according to claim 12, characterized in that said supporting element has a third seat which is formed longitudinally thereto and is such as to form an element for connection to a first rack which is rigidly coupled at an adapted flap of a shoe by means of an adapted pivot or rivet. The closure device according to claim 13, characterized in that the straight end of said connecting element is made to pass below an end of said first rack and optionally interacts by abutment at said pivot or rivet. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that when said first and second racks are coupled said first rack protrudes completely from said third seat of said supporting element, which is locked thereat since the length of said third seat is equal to the length of said first rack minus the space between the free end of said rack and said pivot or rivet. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second auxiliary rack is rotatably associated, by virtue of an adapted pivot, proximate to the end of said supporting element that lies opposite said straight end. The closure device according to claim 16, characterized in that said end of said second auxiliary rack that is not articulated to said supporting element has a longitudinal tab which is adapted to engage below the end of said adjacent first main rack when said supporting element is associated with said first rack.

Inventors: BENETTI CRISTIANO, GORZA ROBERTO, BENETTI, CRISTIANO, GORZA, ROBERTO
Applicants: NORDICA SPA, NORDICA S.P.A
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A43C11
IPC codes: A43C11