Abstract:
A sports boot having a rigid shell base designed to hold the foot of a user, the shell base including a sole and two lateral sides extending from the sole and defining an upper recess therebetween. The boot includes a mechanism for tightening the shell base around the foot of the user, the tightening mechanism including a filiform element for tightening the sides towards one another, the filiform element being tightened by pivoting a lever of the mechanism. The lever is provided to be pivoted in a notch of a rack designed to cover the two sides of the shell base in the tightened configuration and to bend the sides towards the sole under the pivoting action of the lever. The rack extends across the upper recess E2.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon French Patent Application No. FR 14/01087, filed May 14, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a sports boot, such as a ski, hiking, or mountaineering boot. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Background 
         [0005]    A sports boot typically includes a lower portion, referred to as the shell base, and an upper portion, referred to as the collar. The shell base includes a sole, from which two sides extend. The shell base and collar support the foot and calf, respectively, of the user. The collar is hinged in relation to the shell base to facilitate walking, but it may be immobilized with respect thereto during the sporting activity in order to block movements of the user&#39;s ankle. 
         [0006]    The shell base may be rigid or flexible. A flexible shell base can be tightened around the foot of the user using a lace. Lace devices are simple to set up and they are lightweight. However, when they include closed keepers, such devices hinder the insertion of the user&#39;s foot because, even when not tightened, they partially obstruct the opening of the boot. Moreover, it is difficult to tighten a rigid shell base simply with a lace. This is why boots having a rigid shell base are equipped with complementary tightening mechanisms, such as hooks, loops, or notched strap tightening devices that increase the tightening force. In this case, several devices are used to replace a single lace. 
         [0007]    While hiking, climbing, or skiing, the user may have to perform sidesteps, pass through branches or climb by taking support on an inner or outer side of his boot. However, the mechanisms for tightening the shell base of known boots are arranged on a side of the shell base. Thus, the tightening mechanisms are susceptible to degradation or deactivation by external elements such as stones or branches during the sporting activity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The foregoing are drawbacks that the invention remedies by providing a sports boot in which the mechanisms for tightening the shell base are less exposed to external elements such as stones and branches. The risk of the tightening mechanisms being degraded or deactivated during the sporting activity is lower. The invention further provides a device combining the advantages of tightening using a single lace and the advantages of a stronger tightening using a plurality hooks. 
         [0009]    The invention also provides a boot whose tightening mechanisms are simple to use, lighter than known devices, and which, when not tightened, do not hinder the insertion of the foot. 
         [0010]    To this end the invention relates to a sports boot comprising a rigid shell base for holding the foot of a user, the shell base comprising a sole and two lateral sides extending from the sole, and tightening mechanisms for tightening the shell base around the foot of the user, such tightening mechanisms comprising a filiform element for tightening the sides toward one another which is tightened by pivoting a lever. According to the invention, the lever is designed to be pivoted in a notch of a rack designed to cover the two sides of the shell base in the tightened configuration and to bend the sides towards the sole under the pivoting action of the lever. 
         [0011]    The rack is arranged on top of the shell base in the tightened configuration. The rack and the tightening lever are therefore less exposed to stones and branches during the sporting activity. Moreover, the lace provides the boot with a mountain style appreciated by specialists. The shell base is tightened simply by tilting the tightening lever as this involves tightening the lace, on the one hand, and bending the two sides of the shell base around the foot of the user, on the other hand. 
         [0012]    According to advantageous but non-essential aspects of the invention, a sports boot thereof may incorporate any of the following features, taken in any technically feasible combination: 
         [0013]    The filiform element is a lace, whereas the lever is strung on the lace. 
         [0014]    The lever comprises two arms each demarcating a through opening for passage of the lace. 
         [0015]    The rack includes a rigid tongue and a notched element fixed to the tongue and including a plurality of notches for receiving the lever. 
         [0016]    The rigid tongue is articulated on one of the sides of the shell base. 
         [0017]    The rack is configured to bend the sides of the shell base uniformly around the foot of the user. 
         [0018]    The tightening lever comprises a pivot shaft within a notch of the rack. 
         [0019]    The distance between the pivot shaft of the lever and the lace passage openings is substantially equal to the spacing between two notches of the rack. 
         [0020]    The two notches of the rack are separated from one another by an empty notch. 
         [0021]    The lever is detached from the shell base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment of a sports boot provided by way of example and with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sports boot according to the invention, such boot comprising a shell base and mechanisms for tightening the shell base; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross section showing the mechanisms for tightening the shell base in a completely loosened configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the shell base tightening mechanisms in a loosened configuration similar to that of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross section similar to  FIG. 2 , showing the tightening mechanisms in an intermediate configuration in which they are ready to be tightened; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a cross section similar to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in which the tightening mechanisms are in the tightened configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a sports boot  1 . The boot  1  is a mountaineering boot for the left foot of a user. The boot  1  can be adapted for hiking or skiing. 
         [0029]    The boot  1  comprises a lower portion  2  for receiving and surrounding the foot of the user. The lower portion  2 , referred to as the “shell base”, holds the foot of the user during walking or skiing. The lower portion  2  is rigid, that is to say, it is made of a material having a modulus of elasticity greater than 500 MPa. In practice, the shell base  2  can be made of plastic. The shell base  2  extends along a longitudinal axis X 2 , which extends between the heel and the toes of the user, when the user is wearing the boot  1 . The upper portion of the shell base  2  forms a passage opening for the foot of the user. A flexible liner  8 , made of foam or fabric, is arranged inside the boot  1  to provide comfort for the user. 
         [0030]    The shell base  2  comprises a sole  6 , particularly and outsole, and two sides  2   a  and  2   b  extending generally upwardly from the sole  6 . The sides  2   a  and  2   b  extend towards the sole  6 , that is, they have a concavity facing the sole  6 . The sides  2   a  and  2   b , together with the sole  6 , define a cavity for receiving the foot of the user. The side  2   a  is an inner side, that is to say, it faces the right boot of the user, whereas the side  2   b  is an outer side. The sides  2   a  and  2   b  are separated by an upper opening or recess E 2 ; they do not overlap, as is the case in so-called overlap boots. 
         [0031]    The boot  1  also comprises an upper portion  4  for holding the calf of the user, which extends the shell base  2  and is provided to surround the lower leg, that is to say, the calf of the user. This upper portion, referred to as the “collar”, is articulated on the shell base  2 , in particular about an axis Y 4  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X 2  and parallel to the sole  6 . The articulation between the collar  8  and the shell base  2  can be blocked during the sporting activity by a locking mechanism, not shown, which is arranged at the rear of the collar  8 . Thus, the user&#39;s ankle is held during walking or skiing. 
         [0032]    The boot  1  comprises mechanisms M 1  for tightening the collar  4  around the calf of the user. These mechanisms M 1  include a notched tightening device  100  and a self-gripping strip  102 , such as a hook-and-loop fastener. 
         [0033]    The boot  1  is also equipped with mechanisms M 2  for tightening the shell base  2  around the foot of the user. These tightening mechanisms M 2  are manipulated by the user between completely loosened configurations shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an intermediate configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , and a tightened configuration shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    The tightening mechanism M 2  includes a filiform element which, in the example, is a lace  10  running along the sides  2   a  and  2   b . The lace  10  is a fabric cord extending through keepers  12  fixed to the sides  2   a  and  2   b  of the shell base  2 . In the example, the keepers  12  are screwed onto the sides  2   a  and  2   b , but they can also be welded or glued. Tightening the lace  10  makes it possible to bring the sides  2   a  and  2   b  closer to one another and to narrow the upper recess E 2 . 
         [0035]    The tightening mechanisms M 2  also include a rack  17  and a tightening lever  14 . In the tightened and intermediate configurations, the lever  14  is engaged in the rack  17 . A loosened configuration is suitable for inserting the user&#39;s foot in the boot  1 , because the mechanisms M 2  do not prevent the elastic deformation of the shell base  2  for passage of the user&#39;s foot. 
         [0036]    The rack  17  extends transversely to the axis X 2  and comprises a notched metal element  16  for receiving the lever  14 , and a rigid tongue  18  which supports the notched element  16 . The rigid tongue  18  is bulged or curved, with a concavity facing the sole  6  when the tightening mechanisms M 2  are in the intermediate or tightened configuration, that is to say, that its center of curvature is arranged on the side of the sole  6 . The notched element  16  can be glued or welded onto the tongue  18 . It is provided with notches  160 . The rack  17  is articulated on the side  2   a  of the shell base  2  by a hinge  20 . The hinge  20  is fixed beneath a proximal end  18   a  of the tongue  18  and comprises a hook  200  yoking a triangular ring screwed to the side  2   a.    
         [0037]    The lever  14  includes a hinge shaft  140 , provided to be housed in a notch  160  of the notched element  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lever  14  comprises two arms  142  demarcating two through openings O 14  aligned with one another. The hinge shaft  140  also extends through the arms  142  of the lever  14  and is rotatable about its axis. The openings O 14  are for passage of the lace  10 . The lever  14  is thus strung on the lace  10 . Consequently, the lace  10  is tightened by pivoting the lever  14  in a notch  160  of the rack  17 . Furthermore, the lever  14  is detached from the shell base  2  and is free to slide along the lace  10 . It could be said that in the loosened configuration of the tightening mechanism, the lever  14  is detached from the shell base  2  but tethered to the shell base via the filiform element  10 . 
         [0038]    To put on the boot, the user begins by clearing the rack  17  by tilting it around the shaft end straddled by the hook  200 . The lace  10  is also loosened and the user can easily insert his foot inside the boot  1 . 
         [0039]    To tighten the foot within the shell base  2 , the user folds the rack  17  towards the side  2   b  as shown by the arrow R 1  in  FIG. 2 . The user then pulls the lace  10  and brings the lever  14  towards the notched element  16 , as shown by the arrow R 2  in  FIG. 2 . The user engages the hinge shaft  140  of the lever  14  in a notch  160  of the notched element  16 . The tightening mechanisms M 2  are then in the intermediate configuration of  FIG. 4 . The user&#39;s foot is more firmly tightened inside the shell base  2  as the notch in which the shaft  140  is engaged is close to the side  2   a.    
         [0040]    Then, the user tilts the lever  14  from his left to his right, that is to say, towards the side  2   a . The tilting of the lever  14  is shown in  FIG. 4  by an arrow R 3 . The tightening mechanisms M 2  are then in the tightened configuration of  FIG. 5 . The tilting of the lever  14  concurrently causes a tension T 1  on the lace  10  and a force T 2  pulling the rack  17  towards the side  2   b . The tension T 1  applied to the lace  10  makes it possible to tighten the lace  10  and to bring the sides  2   a  and  2   b  closer to one another. The lace  10  thus makes it possible to tighten the wearer&#39;s foot widthwise. 
         [0041]    In the tightened configuration, the rack  17  covers, or overlaps, the sides  2   a  and  2   b  due to the tensile force T 2  of the lever  14 . In other words, the rack  17  serves as a bridge between the sides  2   a  and  2   b . Indeed, the rack  17 , or more precisely the rigid tongue  18 , takes support on the side  2   a , via the hinge  20 , and on the side  2   b , via the distal end  18   b  of the tongue  18 . Furthermore, the rack straddles across the recess E 2 . The rack  17  is therefore arranged in the center and on top of the shell base  2 . It is advantageously less exposed to the branches and stones when climbing or passing between branches. 
         [0042]    The tensile force T 2  on the rack  17  makes it possible to bend the sides  2   a  and  2   b  in the direction of the sole  6 , which has the effect of compressing the foot of the user height-wise. More specifically, it is the rigid tongue  18  which bends the sides  2   a  and  2   b  of the shell base  2 . The tongue  18  pulls on the side  2   a , on the one hand, and presses on the side  2   b , on the other hand. The recess E 2  provides a certain flexibility to the shell base  2 , thereby enabling the shell base  2  to deform elastically under the pivoting action of the lever  14 . F 1  and F 2  designate the bending forces of the rack  17  on the sides  2   a  and  2   b , respectively. The bending forces F 1  and F 2  are directed towards the sole  6 , that is to say, they make it possible to accentuate the curvature of the sides  2   a  and  2   b . The bending forces F 1  and F 2  are equivalent, that is to say, the rack  17  substantially uniformly presses on the sides  2   a  and  2   b  of the shell base  2 . Therefore, the user does not have the sensation of having one side tighter than the other. 
         [0043]    The tilting of the lever  14  also causes the lace  10  to be housed in a notch  160  of the notched element  16 . More specifically, the passage openings O 14  for the lace  10  are separated from the hinge shaft  140  by a distance dl corresponding to the spacing d 2  between two notches of the notched element  16 . Thus, the lace  10  is automatically blocked in the notched element  16  by tilting the lever  14 . The two notches for receiving the shaft  140  and the lace  10  are separated by an empty notch. 
         [0044]    In an alternative embodiment not shown, the lever  14  can be immovably strung on the lace  10 . 
         [0045]    In an alternative embodiment not shown, the lever  14  is attached to the shell base  2 . 
         [0046]    According to another alternative embodiment not shown, the lace  10  and the lever  14  may be linked by weld spots. 
         [0047]    According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the notched element  16  and the rigid tongue  18  are integral or one-piece. 
         [0048]    According to another alternative embodiment, the lace  10  is replaced by a metal cable, which is also a filiform element. 
         [0049]    The technical features of the embodiments and alternatives considered above can be combined to generate other embodiments of the invention. 
         [0050]    Further, at least because the invention is disclosed herein in a manner that enables one to make and use it, by virtue of the disclosure of particular exemplary embodiments of the invention, the invention can be practiced in the absence of any additional element or additional structure that is not specifically disclosed herein.