Patent Publication Number: US-9408433-B2

Title: Sport footwear such as a ski boot or suchlike

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Italian Patent Application No. UD2012A000097filed May 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a sport footwear, such as for example a ski boot or suchlike, having a clamping device which, in the configuration between a first closed and clamped position, used when the sport is being practiced and also called “skiing position”, and a second unclamped position that facilitates walking, also called “walking position”, makes the boot more comfortable during pauses of non-activity and when the boot is put on/removed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that in rigid sport footwear with a central entrance, such as for example ski boots, whether for Alpine skiing, snowboarding or suchlike, the cuff and the shell are pivoted to each other in correspondence with the malleolar zone of the foot, and can assume a first clamped position for use during sport, to clamp the ankle during activity, and a second, unclamped position to facilitate walking, putting on and removing the boot. 
     Such boots are provided with clamping and unclamping devices which allow to modify the reciprocal coupling condition of the cuff and shell. 
     Known clamping and unclamping devices normally consist, however, of complex and bulky mechanisms that use gears, tie rods, pins or keys: this entails an increase in the production costs of the boot, laborious maneuvers and exposure to wear, with the risk of accidental unclamping. 
     The patents IT-B-1.336.330, IT-B-1.369.969, IT-B-1.370.304, IT-B-1.374.307, IT-B-1.370.337 and IT-B-1.389.364 in the name of the present Applicant are also known. These describe improved solutions to the state of the art, where generally a stop element or strut is provided, mounted on the cuff by pivoting or sliding. The stop element is mobile between a first clamped position, in which it cooperates with a clamping surface of the shell to keep the cuff in a determinate clamped position with respect to the shell, and a second unclamped position, in which it is freed from the clamping surface of the shell, to allow the cuff to oscillate freely with respect to the shell. 
     The passage of the strut between the first and the second position is normally determined by manual action on a respective lever element protruding from the cuff and connected to the strut by means of various types of drive kinematisms, which are particularly complex and costly since they are formed by a high number of components which must be assembled, which are delicate and therefore subject to breakage, where one or more elastic means are typically used, such as torsional springs or return springs that facilitate the passage between the two positions described above. 
     Document DE-A-2.404.447 describes a ski boot that provides an elastic sheet associated with the cuff by means of an additional assembly block, and a lever anchored to the shell, with a clamping function in several positions, but which does not intervene in the clamping operation, acting directly on the elastic sheet. 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,580 describes a cross-country skiing boot which provides a lever anchored to the cuff which, acting on a cable, puts under traction an extension in the cuff, which functions as an elastic element for absorbing impacts, and modifies its set-up. 
     Purpose of the present invention is to obtain a sport footwear that is simple and economical to produce, which can be put on and removed easily, and which solves the problems present in the state of the art, in particular obtaining a clamping device that is simple, reliable and formed by a limited number of components, so as to reduce production costs and also the possibility of breakage and hence the costs and frequency of repairs. 
     The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea. 
     In accordance with the above purpose, a sport footwear according to the present invention comprises a lower part or shell to contain the foot, and an upper part or cuff to contain and surround the ankle joint and the lower part of the leg. Cuff and shell are pivoted to each other, and a clamping device is provided for the reciprocal clamping of the cuff and shell at least in a first clamped position and a second unclamped position, which allows the free oscillatory movement of cuff and shell. 
     According to the present invention, the clamping device comprises an elastic metal sheet that develops longitudinally along the external rear surface of the cuff and configured to function as a selective clamping element of the reciprocal angular position of cuff and shell. In this way, the elastic metal sheet functions both as a physical clamping element and also, thanks to the elastic properties of the material of which it consists, itself defines the necessary elastic behavior for the reversible passage from one to the other of the first and second positions. This allows to obtain a clamping device that is simple, reliable and formed by a limited number of components, thus reducing production costs, and also the possibility of breakages and hence the costs and frequency of repairs. 
     In some forms of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet is anchored directly to and on the cuff. One advantage of the present invention is that the elastic metal sheet, since it is applied directly on the cuff, simplifies assembly and does not require additional assembly components or blocks. 
     In some forms of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet has at least a free lower end for selective clamping. 
     In a variant form of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet is shaped like a metal tape or strip, with an oblong development and a thin thickness and is made using a metal with elastic properties, including harmonic steel for springs. 
     In one form of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet has an upper attachment end, stably constrained to an upper segment of the rear surface of the cuff and the lower end is free, that is, it is not attached to the cuff but can cooperate with the shell for the selective clamping of cuff and shell. The free lower end is configured to be elastically deformed between the first clamped position, displaced toward the inside of the cuff, in which it constrains the reciprocal movement of cuff and shell, and the second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff, in which it allows the oscillation of cuff and shell. 
     In a variant form of embodiment, the clamping device comprises a stepped stopping surface that delimits a shaped clamping seating mating with the lower end, in which the stepped stopping surface and the lower end cooperate in the first clamped position. 
     In another variant, the clamping device comprises attachment means to constrain the upper end of the elastic metal sheet to the upper segment of the rear surface of the cuff, which include mechanical attachment means or means to adjust the rigidity of the cuff. 
     In one form of embodiment, the clamping device is provided with a command mechanism associated externally with the cuff and configured to condition the position of the elastic metal sheet and thus to take it from the first clamped position to the second unclamped position and vice versa. 
     In variant forms of embodiment, the command mechanism comprises a lever configured to cooperate with the cuff and to act on the elastic metal sheet so as to provide it with a position in which the lower end is distant from and does not cooperate with the shell, and a position in which the lower end cooperates with the stepped stopping surface. In substance, the elastic metal sheet can have two positions, a work position, in which it cooperates with the stepped stopping surface, and a position where the cuff is free. This double position is conditioned by the lever which, depending on the case, can be anchored, for example pivoted, to the elastic metal sheet or to the cuff. One possible advantage of the present invention is that, thanks to the lever, the elastic metal sheet cannot change the position desired by the user, even accidentally. Moreover, another advantage is that the lever acts directly on the elastic sheet and does not need to be positioned with respect thereto. 
     In some variants, the elastic metal sheet is the only element making up the clamping device that is able to cooperate with the stepped stopping surface. 
     In other variants, the elastic metal sheet is coupled with a stop element or strut, disposed substantially longitudinally along the external rear surface of the cuff, selectively mobile solidly with the elastic metal sheet between a first clamped position, in which it reciprocally clamps the cuff and shell, and a second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff with respect to the first position, in which it allows the free oscillatory movement of the cuff with respect to the shell. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic lateral view of a boot according to the present invention in a first clamped position of use; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic lateral view of a boot according to the present invention in the first clamped position of use, with the clamping device open; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic lateral view of a boot according to the present invention in a second unclamped position of use; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are partial perspective views of a variant of the boot according to the present invention in two adjustable conditions of use of the clamping device; 
         FIGS. 6, 7 and 8  are schematic sections of the variant boot in  FIGS. 4 and 5  in successive adjustment conditions of the clamping device; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are partial perspective views of variants of the clamping device of the boot according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are schematic lateral sections of a variant of the boot according to the present invention in a first clamped position of use and a second unclamped position of use; 
         FIG. 13  is a variant of a part of the clamping device of the boot according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a lateral view of part of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is another variant of a part of the clamping device of the boot according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORMS OF EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the attached drawings, a sport footwear according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the number  10 , in this case a ski boot. 
     The footwear  10  comprises a rigid lower part or shell  12 , inside which the foot of the user is disposed, and an upper part, or cuff  13 , which is also rigid, to contain and surround the joint of the ankle and the lower part of the leg, substantially as far as the calf of the user ( FIGS. 1-3 ). 
     The cuff  13  is pivoted to the shell  12  on a pivoting axis disposed in correspondence to the malleolar zone and is therefore able to partly oscillate with respect to the shell  12 . 
     The sport footwear  10  also comprises closing elements of the substantially known type, not shown here. 
     The traditional operations to open and close the closing elements respectively determine an open condition and a closed condition of the sport footwear  10 , and thus allow the user to put it on, remove it and use it correctly. 
     The sport footwear  10  is also provided with a clamping device  11  disposed on an external rear surface  15  of the cuff  13  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) to reciprocally clamp the cuff  13  and the shell  12 , in particular in a first clamped position and a second unclamped position, in which the free oscillatory movement of the cuff  13  with respect to the shell  12  is allowed. 
     The clamping device  11  comprises an elastic metal sheet  17  which develops longitudinally along the external rear surface  15  of the cuff  13  and that, thanks to the elastic and mechanical properties of the material of which it is made, acts as a selective clamping element of the reciprocal angular position of the cuff  13  and the shell  12 . 
     The elastic metal sheet  17  has an upper end  30 , stably constrained to the rear surface  15  of the cuff  13 , in particular an upper segment  29  thereof. For example, the constraint of the upper end  30  is achieved by means of attachment means  34 , such as welding, or of the mechanical type such as a rivet, a peg or comparable attachment component, or by means of a more complex adjustment mechanism, as will be explained in more detail hereafter. 
     Moreover, the elastic metal sheet  17  has a free lower end  32 , configured to be elastically deformed to cooperate selectively at least with the shell  12  to determine the clamping of the angular position of the shell  12  and the cuff  13 . 
     Thanks to the elastic properties of the elastic metal sheet  17 , the lower end  32  can be moved in an elastically reversible way between a first clamped position, displaced toward the inside of the cuff  13 , in which it constrains the reciprocal movement of the cuff  13  and the shell  12 , and a second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff  13 , in which it allows the oscillation of the cuff  13  and the shell  12 . 
     In particular, to achieve this the shell  12  comprises, in a coordinated manner, at least a stepped stopping surface, or stopping step, or shoulder  21 , which delimits a clamping seating  25 , made on the shell  12  in correspondence to the lower end  32  and against which the lower end  32 , directly or indirectly, stably rests when it is in the first clamped position. Moreover, also the lower part of the cuff  13  can rest, in the second unclamped position, on the stepped stopping surface, or shoulder  21  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The clamping device  11  is also provided with a command mechanism  22  associated externally to the cuff  13 , by means of which the user can condition the position of the elastic metal sheet  17  and thus take the lower end  32  from its first clamped position to the second unclamped position. 
     Since the elastic metal sheet  17  is constrained to the upper segment  29  of the cuff  13 , which functions as a fixed abutment, a stress applied toward the outside by the command mechanism  22  on the lower end  32  determines the local elastic deformation of the elastic metal sheet  17 , displacing it toward the outside so as to release it from the stepped stopping surface or shoulder  21 , and therefore to unconstrain the oscillation of the cuff  13  and shell  12 . Thanks to the elastic thrust of the elastic metal sheet  17 , this configuration allows the reversible and substantially automatic return of the lower end  32  from the second position to the first position. 
     In particular,  FIG. 1  shows the footwear  10  in the first clamped position, with the clamping device closed, while in  FIG. 2 , again in the first clamped position, the clamping device  11  is open to allow rotation into the second unclamped position which is shown in  FIG. 3 , as indicated by the arrows F. 
     The elastic metal sheet  17  is shaped with an oblong development and a limited or thin thickness and is made of a metal with good elastic properties, for example harmonic steel for springs or other similar material. 
     Thanks to the combination of length, reduced thickness and material that makes it up, the elastic metal sheet  17  has a capacity for bending and for elastic deformation that is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of displacement of the lower end  32  between the first clamped position, used when practicing sport, and the second unclamped position, for putting on/removing the boot or for walking. 
     Furthermore, thanks to its structural and mechanical properties, the elastic metal sheet  17  is suitable to support the reciprocal thrust of cuff  13  and shell  12  which acts on the lower end  32  in the first clamped position, guaranteeing stability and safety during sporting activity. 
     In a basic solution, the elastic metal sheet  17  is the only element making up the clamping device  11  that is able to cooperate with the stepped stopping surface or shoulder  21 , and to selectively determine the displacement and clamping of the cuff  13  with respect to the shell  12 . 
     In another form of embodiment instead, the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  is coupled with a stop element or strut  20 , which can have variable shapes and sizes and functional purposes, also for aesthetic ends. 
     In particular, in this variant, the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  is constrained stably and solidly to the strut  20 . 
     The strut  20  is disposed substantially longitudinally along the external rear surface  15  of the cuff  13 , in particular along the lower segment  28  thereof. 
     In the same way as the lower end  32  to which it is constrained, the strut  20  is able to be selectively moved between a first clamped position, in which it reciprocally clamps the cuff  13  and shell  12 , and a second unclamped position, displaced toward the outside of the cuff  13  with respect to the first position, in which it allows the free oscillatory movement of the cuff  13  with respect to the shell  12 . 
     In this form of embodiment, the elastic metal sheet  17 , attached to the upper segment  29  of the cuff  13 , is therefore operationally connected to the strut  20 , thrusting it positively toward the inside and tending to keep it normally toward its first clamped position. Thanks to the elastic thrust, this configuration allows the reversible and substantially automatic return of the strut  20  from the second position to the first position. 
     In this form of embodiment, it is the strut  20 , constrained to the lower end  32 , which rests with a lower end  42  directly against the stopping surface  21  in the first clamped position, in which the reciprocal rotation of cuff  13  and shell  12  is contrasted, keeping them clamped. 
     On the contrary, thanks to the elastic deformation of the elastic metal sheet  17 , when the strut  20  is released from the stopping surface  21  in its second unclamped position, the strut  20  moves with its lower end  42  toward the outside of the shell  12 , freeing the movement of reciprocal rotation of cuff  13  and shell  12 . 
     In a variant, the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  can be attached, for example overlapping, to the strut  20  ( FIGS. 4, 5, 9 and 10 ). 
     In another variant, the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  can be incorporated at least partly in the strut  20 . 
     In yet another variant, the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  can be at least partly drowned in the strut  20  ( FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11-15 ). 
     One technique that can be applied to constrain the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  to the strut  20  can be to co-inject or super-inject on the lower end  32  a plastic material with good mechanical and rigidity properties, such as polyurethane, Delrin or other similar materials, which constitutes the strut  20 . 
     In a variant form of embodiment, the command mechanism  22  consists of a lever  19  pivoted by a pin  18  and acting on the elastic metal sheet  17 , in particular on the lower end  32 , or on the strut  20  associated thereto. 
     In some forms of embodiment, the lever  19  is configured to cooperate with the cuff  13  and to act on the elastic metal sheet  17  so as to provide it with a position in which the lower end is distant from and does not cooperate with the shell  12 , and a position in which the lower end  32  cooperates with the stepped stopping surface  21 . 
     The lever  19  can be pivoted directly on the elastic metal sheet  17 , providing pivoting eyelets made on the latter; or the lever  19  can be pivoted on a pivoting portion made on the external rear surface  15  of the cuff  13 ; or again, the lever  19  can be pivoted directly on the strut  20 , when provided. 
     In a variant form of embodiment, the lever  19  has a gripping or maneuvering portion  23  and a lower cam portion  24  able to contact directly the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17 , or the lower end  42  of the strut  20 , if provided. The rotation of the lever  19 , as indicated by arrow G in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and hence of the cam portion  24 , determines a positive thrust toward the outside of the cuff  13  on the elastic metal sheet  17 , or on the strut  20 , if provided, to assume the second unclamped position. 
     In this position the cuff  13  and shell  12  can be reciprocally rotated and the use of the boot  10  is favored in the “walking” configuration, especially in the case of boots for Alpine skiing. 
     Advantageously, the cam portion  24  of the lever  19  is shaped with a flat segment  27  which, normally in the first clamped position, stably rests in abutment on the corresponding rear surface  15  of the cuff  13 , in particular in a suitable supporting seating  26 . 
     In this way, a limit position is defined in the opening rotation of the lever  19 , in correspondence with which the articulation dead point of the lever  19  is exceeded. It is thus guaranteed that the closed condition of the lever  19  is maintained, until the user voluntarily actuates an opening action. 
     As shown in the attached drawings, the lever  19  can be of limited sizes ( FIGS. 1-5 ), or bigger ( FIG. 10 ). As can be seen from the attached drawings, the shape of the lever  19  can be varied as desired, according to functional and/or aesthetic needs. 
     In another variant form of embodiment, the command mechanism  22  consists of a cam portion  24  interposed between cuff  13  and lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17 , or the lower end  42  of the strut  20 , if provided, and by a band  40  which can be put under traction by a gripping element  44 , determining the displacement and rotation of the cam portion  24  and therefore of the elastic metal sheet  17  ( FIG. 9 ). 
     According to some variant forms of embodiment ( FIGS. 4-8 ), the position of the elastic metal sheet  17  along the cuff  13  can be adjusted in height, so as to vary the angle of inclination of the main axis of the cuff  13  with respect to the support base of the shell  12  in the first clamped position adopted during sporting activity. 
     To this purpose, the elastic metal sheet  17  may have a plurality of adjustment holes  46  disposed longitudinally, so as to affect a determinate segment of the external rear surface  15  of the cuff  13 , which cooperate on each occasion with the attachment means  34 . By selecting a desired one of the adjustment holes  46 , it will be possible to adjust the position of the elastic metal sheet  17 , raising it or lowering it according to requirements. In particular,  FIG. 6  shows the boot  10  in a first clamped position, for example with an inclination of about 25° and with the first upper hole  46  engaged to attach the elastic metal sheet  17  at a determinate height.  FIG. 7  shows how the elastic metal sheet  17  is raised, as indicated by arrow L in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , and the second hole  46  is engaged and the cuff  13 , since the clamping device  11  is displaced upward, is dis-engaged from the shell  12  and can be rotated to close the angle of inclination.  FIG. 3  shows the final condition, where the angle of inclination is reduced, for example to about 15°, and the cuff  13  is again clamped to the shell  12 . 
     According to some forms of embodiment of the present invention, in the second position the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17 , or the lower end  42  of the strut  20 , if provided, can remain free, that is, unconstrained, so as to allow oscillation. However, there may be a variant of another clamping seating  55  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ), made in the shell  12  below the clamping seating  25 , in which the lower end  32  of the elastic metal sheet  17  or the lower end  42  of the strut  20 , if provided, can be inserted and clamped. In this way, it is possible to define a third clamped position of use, different from the first and second position, with a desired angular configuration of cuff  13  and shell  12 . This variant allows to vary the specific walking condition and to fix it in the determinate position ( FIG. 12 ). 
       FIGS. 13, 14 and 15  show other specific variants of the elastic metal sheet  17 , in this case coupled with a strut  20  made of plastic material co-injected to the lower end  32 . In these variants, moreover, the lever  19  is provided by way of example with the cam portion  24 . 
     In these variants, the mechanical attachment mechanism that cooperates with the upper end  30  of the elastic metal sheet  17  may also consist of a mechanism  54  to adjust the rigidity of the cuff  13 , in particular that adjusts the bending of the cuff  13  in a front direction. 
     The adjustment mechanism  54  both constrains the elastic metal sheet  17  to the cuff  13  by means of a rivet, pin, peg or suchlike, and is also provided with a rotating rectangular adjustment block or plate  57 , generally consisting of pads that selectively cooperate with elements made in relief on the cuff  13 , drivable by a swivel lever  56  and which can assume several positions cooperating with the surface of the cuff  13  itself, freeing or clamping the cuff  13  and thus rendering the behavior of the cuff  13  more or less rigid. 
     With this variant form of embodiment, therefore, the present invention combines and integrates two types of adjustment, that is, angular position of cuff  13  and shell  12  and rigidity of the cuff  13 , in the single element represented by the elastic metal sheet  17  of the clamping device  11 . 
     In particular, in  FIGS. 13 and 14  the elastic metal sheet  17  has one or more through notches  58  that improve the properties of flexibility and elastic response during use. Preferably, the notches  58  are made along the lines of force acting on the elastic metal sheet  17  when a force of traction is applied on it toward the outside. The notches  58  can therefore function as means to concentrate force, in order to facilitate the clamping/unclamping operations. In the variant shown in  FIG. 13 , the notches  58  develop longitudinally, slightly curved so as to promote the desired concentration of the stress, from the lower end  32  toward the lower zone in correspondence with the adjustment mechanism  54 . On the contrary, in the variant shown in  FIG. 15 , the notches  58  develop around the adjustment mechanism  54  along an open path. 
       FIG. 14  shows another variant form of embodiment of the strut  20 , solid with the elastic metal sheet  17 , in this case with the lower end  32  incorporated in the strut  20 . 
     In this variant, the strut  20  has an upper end  37 , shaped to define a first upper undercut  39  that cooperates in abutment with a determinate clamping surface of the cuff  13 , while the lower end  42  is shaped with an increased section and with a configuration that defines a second undercut  43  that cooperates in abutment with a determinate portion of the cuff  13 , and a lower edge  45  that rests on the stepped stopping surface  21  of the shell  12 . 
     Therefore, the first undercut  39  and the second undercut  43  define a stable upper and lower support and clamping for the strut  20  with respect to the cuff  13 . In this way, in the first clamped position, the strut  20  is clamped between cuff  13  and shell  12 . Furthermore, since the increased section  41  of the strut  20 , in the first position, is clamped between the two surfaces respectively of the cuff  13  and the shell  12 , the lower end  42  is inserted wedge-wise and gripped between the corresponding parts of the cuff  13  and shell  12 , optimally discharging the stresses that occur during sporting activities.