Patent Publication Number: US-6669211-B2

Title: Device for retaining a boot on a sports apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon French Patent Application No. 01 01537, filed on Jan. 31, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for retaining a boot on a sports apparatus, in which the boot is retained by means of at least one strap, 
     2. Description of Background and Relevant Information 
     Devices of the aforementioned type are used for snowboarding, snow skiing, waterskiing, snowshoeing, roller skating, and the like. 
     A strap device according to the prior art includes at least one strap that extends transversely between a fist fastener and a second fastener. 
     The strap generally has three successive portions that include a first fastening portion, a portion for covering the foot or the boot, and a second fastening portion. The portions are linked to one another by connecting means, such that the fastening portions are each partially above the covering portion. The length of the strap is adjusted by varying the superimposition length. 
     Generally, at least one free end of the fastening portion projects in relation to the covering portion which is in contact with the boot. This projection of one or both free ends of the fastening portions can hinder the operation of the apparatus. 
     In snowboarding, for example, when a user has only one foot retained on the board, and he/she pushes alternatively with the other foot, a free end of a strap portion can hinder the movement of the other foot. 
     One free end of a strap portion can also hinder the movement of a hand above the device. This is particularly the case when the user performs style figures or maneuvers that require holding an edge of the board with one hand. 
     In roller skating, skiing, or snowshoeing, the projection of an end of a strap portion can hinder a relative movement of one leg in relation to the other. An apparatus retained to one leg can hook an end of a strap portion of a device connected to the other leg. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention in particular is to reduce or eliminate the hindrance caused by the projection, of a free end of a fastening portion of the strap, in relation to the covering portion. 
     To this end, the invention proposes a device for retaining a boot on a sports apparatus, the device including at least one strap provided to retain the boot on the apparatus, the strap extending transversely between a first fastener and a second fastener of the device, the strap including a portion for covering the boot, and one or two fastening portions, a connection connecting each fastening portion to the covering portion, a free end of the fastening portion being above the covering portion. 
     According to the invention, a cover covers the covering portion to demarcate a channel for receiving the free end of each fastening portion, the cover extending from a connection up to a fastener, or from one of the connections to the other. 
     Each free end of a fastening portion is housed in the channel, which avoids the projection in relation to the covering portion. As a result, no obstacle hinders the passage right above the strap. 
     As a result, advantageously, the user has less or no difficulty in passing a foot or a hand in the vicinity of a strap of the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings showing, by way of a non-limiting example, how the invention can be embodied, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device for retaining a boot on a snowboard according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line II—II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-section along the line III—III of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-section along the line IV—IV of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-4. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, a retaining device  1  enables a boot (not shown) to be detachably retained on a board  2 , 
     In known fashion, the retaining device  1  includes a base  3  that extends longitudinally between a rear end  4  and a front end  5 . 
     The base  3  has an upper surface  6  provided to face the sole of the boot, and a lower surface  7  provided to be above the board  2 . 
     The base  3  is retained on the board  2  by a structure shown in the form of a disk  10 , itself retained to the board  2  by screws  11 . 
     It is contemplated, according to the invention, that other means for retaining the base  3  could be provided. 
     The base  3  is edged laterally with a first flange  12  and a second flange  13 . When the boot is in place on the device  1 , the flanges  12 ,  13  extend laterally along the sole. The flanges  12 ,  13  are connected by an arch  14  in the area of the rear end  4 . 
     Preferably, the base  3 , ranges  12 ,  13  and arch  14  form a single piece, i.e., they are unitary, and are made, for example, of a synthetic material. However, it could be provided that the flanges or the arch be pieces affixed to the base by any other means, such as gluing, welding, screws, nesting, or the like. 
     A rear support element  15  enables the user to take rear supports with the lower leg. The rear support element  15  is affixed to the flanges  12 ,  13 , for example, by means of a journal  16 . 
     Two straps are also provided for detachably retaining the boot on the base  3 , between the flanges  12 ,  13 . 
     A first strap  20  is located toward the rear, in the area of the instep when the foot is retained. A second strap  21  is located toward the front, in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joint when the foot is retained. 
     It is also contemplated, within the scope of the invention, that a different number of straps could be provided. 
     As seen clearly in FIG. 2, the rear strap  20  extends transversely between the first flange  12  and second flange  13 . 
     The rear strap  20  is shown in the form of a succession of three portions, which include a first fastening portion  22 , a portion  23  for covering the boot, and a second fastening portion  24 . 
     The first portion  22  has a fastening end  25  and a free end  26 . The fastening end  25  is connected to the first flange  12  by a first fastener. The latter is shown in the form of a journal taking the form of a rivet  30 , for example. 
     A first connection is provided for detachably connecting the covering portion  23  to the first portion  22 , the free end  26  of the first fastening portion  22  being above the covering portion  23 . This connection includes, for example, a ratchet tightening mechanism  31  fixed to the covering portion  23 , in the area of a first end  32  of the latter. The connection for connecting the covering portion  23  to the first portion  22  also includes a series of teeth  33  configured on the first portion  22 . The teeth  33  are distributed from the free end  26  up to the vicinity of the journal  30 . 
     By actuating a lever  34  of the mechanism  31 , it is possible to tighten the strap  20  by bringing the first end  32  toward the first flange  12 . Thus, the tightening mechanism  31  can be brought to a lowermost position in tightening the strap upon the boot. By actuating a button  35  of the mechanism  31 , it is possible to loosen the strap  20 , to thereby bring the tightening mechanism to an upper, or loosened position, or even to open the strap relative to the tightening mechanism  35 . In this latter case, the covering portion  23  and first portion  22  are separated. 
     Other means could be provided for connecting the covering portion  23  to the first portion  22 , according to the invention. 
     The second fastening portion  24  has a fastening end  40  and a free end  41 . The fastening end  40  is connected to the second flange  13  by a second fastener. The latter is shown in the form of a journal, taking the form of a rivet  42 , for example. 
     A second connection is provided for adjustably connecting the covering portion  23  to the second portion  24 , the free end  41  of the second fastening portion  24  being above the covering portion  23 . This connection includes, for example, a screw  43  that is screwed in the covering portion  23 , in the area of a second end  44  of the latter. The screw  43  extends through one of the holes  45  bored into the second portion  24 . 
     Thus, the user can cause the second end  44  of the covering portion  23  to be in the vicinity of the second flange  13 . The positional adjustment of the covering portion  23  in relation to the second portion  24  is rarely modified. It is provided for taking the boot space requirement into account. 
     The two journals extend substantially along a transverse axis of the device; this enables the strap  20  to uniformly cover the boot. 
     The journals could be obtained by other means, such as screws, pins, or the like, according to the invention. 
     Similarly, the fastenings of the strap  20  to the flanges  12 ,  13  could be carried out by other means, such as winding around a keeper, or the like. 
     The strap  20  is substantially inextensible lengthwise, i.e., from one flange to the other. The materials of which it is made are selected to this end. In particular, the first and second portions  22 ,  24  are preferably made in the form of band made out of a synthetic material, such as polyamide or reinforced or non-reinforced polyurethane. The covering portion  23  includes a reinforcement  50  that is both relatively flexible in bending and substantially inextensible longitudinally. 
     A shock-absorbing pad  51 , located beneath the reinforcement  50 , can be provided for taking support on the boot. 
     According to the invention, a cover  60  covers the covering portion  23  to demarcate a channel  61  for receiving the free ends  26 ,  41  of the fastening portions  22 ,  24 . The cover  60  extends from the first connection up to the second connection, i.e., from the tightening mechanism  31  up to the screw  43 . The connections themselves are not housed in the channel  61 . 
     The free end  26  of the first fastening portion  22  is housed in the channel  61  as soon as it comes out of the mechanism  31 . By analogy, the free end  41  of the second fastening portion  24  is housed in the channel  61 , right after the screw  43 . 
     The cover  60  is seed so that each free end  26 ,  41  can slide freely in the channel, whether or not being superimposed on the other end. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, the cover  60  has the general shape of a chute with a bottom  62  substantially parallel to the covering portion  23 , and lateral portions  63 ,  64  for connection to the covering portion. Each of the lateral portions  63 ,  64  has an incurved end  65 ,  66  for taking support on the top of the covering portion  23 , preferably in the area of the reinforcement  50 . 
     The bottom  62 , lateral walls  63 ,  64  and incurved ends  65 ,  66  preferably form a single, i.e., unitary, piece made, for example, of a flexible or rigid plastic material. 
     Alternatively, other materials could be used, such as a metallic alloy or a fiber cloth. Similarly, the cover  60  could be made of a plurality of portions assembled to one another. 
     The cover  60  is affixed to the covering portion  23  of the first strap  20 , for example, by a seam  67 . However, other means, such as gluing, are suitable. 
     By maintaining the free ends  26 ,  41  in the channel  61 , the cover  60  provides the first strap  20  with a reduced vertical space requirement. As a result, the passage of a hand, boot or sports apparatus above the device is done with little or no difficulty. 
     The front strap  21  is described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 4, in a simplified manner, in view of the similarities with the rear strap  20 . 
     As is known, the front strap  21  extends transversely from the first flange  12  to the second flange  13 . The strap  21  includes a single fastening portion  80  connected to the first flange  12  by a first fastener, and a portion  81  for covering the boot connected directly to the second flange  13  by a second fastener. 
     Each of the fasteners is shown in the form of a journal taking the form of rivets  82 ,  83 , for example. 
     The fastening portion  80  is detachably connected to the covering portion  81  by a connection made, for example, by means of a tightening mechanism  84 . 
     A free end  85  of the fastening portion  80  passes above the covering portion  81 , upon exit from the mechanism  84 . 
     According to the invention, a cover  90  covers the covering portion  81  to demarcate a channel  91  for receiving the free end  85  of the fastening portion  80 . The cover  90  extends from the connection up to the vicinity of the fastener, i.e., from the mechanism  84  up to the rivet  83 . 
     In his way, the free end  85  is maintained right above the coveting portion  81 , regardless of the adjustment of the length of the strap. 
     In all cases, the channel must be understood as being a longitudinal cavity open at its two ends. 
     Generally speaking, the invention is made from materials and according to implementation techniques known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     The invention is not limited to the particular examples described hereinabove, and includes all of the technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow. 
     In particular, other shapes could be provided for the transverse cross-section of the covers, such as a square or a rectangle. 
     In certain cases, a reinforcement of the covering portion and the cover could be provided to form a single/unitary piece. 
     One could also provide that the cover be cut into successive sections juxtaposed longitudinally. In this latter case, a small space can be provided between each section. The advantage is that the strap bends more easily. 
     Furthermore, a strap according to the invention, or a device provided with a strap, can be used in any other technical field in which the foot or the boot of the user is linked to a sports apparatus by means of a strap tightening system, in particular the ski, snowshoe, roller skate, or the like.