Patent Abstract:
A device for retaining a boot on a sports article. The device includes a rear positioning element, two lateral edges, and a single linkage provided to connect the edges. The linkage has two or more points for fastening to a first of the edges, and a single point for fastening to the second of the edges.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to devices for retaining a boot on a sports article, in fields such as skis or snowboards, roller skates, snowshoes, or the like.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Background and Relevant Information  
           [0004]    Certain binding devices for sports articles of the aforementioned type are provided to retain flexible boots, whereas others are provided to retain rigid boots.  
           [0005]    In the case of flexible boots, it is known to use devices that include a base provided to receive the sole of the boot, a rear positioning element provided to receive the rear of the boot upper, and two linkages provided to removably retain the boot on the base. The first linkage is located substantially in the area of the metatarsal bone of the user&#39;s foot, whereas the second linkage is located substantially in the area of the user&#39;s instep.  
           [0006]    Each linkage includes a first short arm anchored to an outer lateral edge of the device, a second long arm anchored to an inner lateral edge of the device, and a latch that removably affixes the arms to one another.  
           [0007]    To insert or remove the boot, i.e., to affix the boot to the device or to remove it, the user must undertake complicated manipulations. The user must bend his/her body to reach the arms and the latch, associate the arms with one another, and adjust the tension of the arms for each linkage. These operations are time consuming, because it is necessary to adjust the tension of the linkages several times. Indeed, the boot deforms or moves when the user bends his/her body, during insertion of the boot, such that when he reassumes a steering position, the tension is not adapted.  
           [0008]    These operations require laborious efforts, because the latches are relatively difficult to reach. It is particularly the case when the user is wearing a snowsuit and carrying a backpack or a front pouch.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    An object of the invention is especially a device for retaining a flexible boot whose structure is simplified, and which enables a simple insertion or removal of the boot, i.e., easy, quick, and with little or no fatigue.  
           [0010]    A device for retaining a boot on a sports article according to the invention includes a rear positioning element provided to receive the rear of the boot upper, two lateral edges, and a single linkage provided to connect the edges.  
           [0011]    The linkage of the device according to the invention has two or more points for fastening to a first edge, and a single point for fastening to the second edge.  
           [0012]    In view of the fact that there is only one linkage, and that the linkage is connected to one of the edges by a single fastening point, the structure of the device according to the invention is simplified.  
           [0013]    In addition, the fastening points of the same edge of the device according to the invention include an arrangement for the permanent connection of the linkage to the edge, and the single fastening point includes an arrangement for the removable connection of the linkage to the edge.  
           [0014]    The opening or closure of the linkage is done advantageously with a reduced number of manipulations, because it suffices to act in the area of the single fastening point.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    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 non-limiting examples, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for retaining a boot according to a first example of embodiment of the invention, in a situation where the boot is retained;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in a situation where the boot is not retained on the device;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of a retaining device according to a second example of the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 for a third example of the invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4 for a fourth example of the invention; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 4 for a fifth example of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    The first example of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 1, a retaining device  1  makes it possible to retain a boot  2  on a board  3 .  
         [0025]    For reasons of convenience, the boot  2  is shown schematically in dot-and-dash lines.  
         [0026]    The board  3  is adapted for snowboarding.  
         [0027]    In a known manner, the device  1  includes a base  4  that extends, along a longitudinal direction L of the device  1 , between a front end  5  and a rear end  6 .  
         [0028]    The base  4  has an upper surface  7  provided to be opposite the sole of the boot  2 , and a lower surface  8  provided to be positioned above or against an upper surface  9  of the board  3 .  
         [0029]    The base  4  is retained on the board  3  by a retaining means shown in the form of a disk  10 , the latter being itself affixed to the board  3 , for example, by means of screws.  
         [0030]    Preferably, the base  4  has front  11 ,  12  and rear  13  cushions provided to receive the sole of the boot  2 . The cushions  11 ,  12 , and  13  make it possible in particular to absorb impacts or vibrations. For this reason, they are preferably made of a flexible plastic material, such as polyurethane, silicone, rubber, or the like.  
         [0031]    The device  1  has an outer side  14  and an inner side  15  which correspond to an outer side of a foot and to an inner side of the same foot, respectively, when the latter is in place on the device.  
         [0032]    The first example, or embodiment of the invention, corresponds to a device  1  provided to receive the right foot.  
         [0033]    An outer lateral edge  16  rises so as to project with respect to the base  4  on the outer side  14  of the device  1 , and an inner edge  17  rises so as to project with respect to base  4  on the inner side  15  of the device  1 .  
         [0034]    Toward the rear of the device  1 , an arch  18  connects the outer  16  and inner  17  lateral edges to one another. The arch  18  has an inner surface  19  provided to position the boot  2  on the device  1  lengthwise, i.e., along the longitudinal direction L. This means that the arch  18  is a rear positioning element.  
         [0035]    A rear support element  20  has an inner surface  21  provided to receive the upper of the boot  2  in the area of the user&#39;s lower leg.  
         [0036]    Preferably, the rear support element  20  is journalled by any means on the outer  16  and inner  17  lateral edges, along a journal axis oriented extending along a transverse direction W of the device  1 .  
         [0037]    The transverse direction W is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and substantially parallel to the lower surface  8  of the device  1 .  
         [0038]    An abutment, not visible in the figure, limits a rearward tilting movement of the rear support element  20 .  
         [0039]    A linkage  22  is provided to removably retain the boot  2  on the base  4 , and therefore on the device  1 .  
         [0040]    The linkage  22 , which extends from the outer side  14  to the inner side  15  of the device  1 , includes a cover  23  provided to cover the upper of the boot  2  on top of the user&#39;s foot.  
         [0041]    According to the invention, the device  1  has a first arrangement and a second arrangement for the permanent connection of the cover  23  to the outer side  14  of the device, as well as an arrangement for the removable connection of the cover  23  to the inner side  15  of the device, as is explained in more detail hereinafter.  
         [0042]    The cover  23  is a piece that has enough flexibility to conform to the shape of the upper of the boot  2 .  
         [0043]    As is well known to the person with ordinary skill in the art, the cover  23  can include one or more layers of plastic, fabric, foam, or an equivalent material. The layers are arranged and affixed to one another by any means such as sewing, gluing, duplicate molding, or the like.  
         [0044]    In the embodiment shown, the arrangement for the removable connection of the cover  23  to the inner side  15  of the device includes a rack  24  and a latch  25 .  
         [0045]    The rack  24  is affixed to an inner end  26  of the cover  23  by affixing element(s) shown in the form of a rivet  27 .  
         [0046]    The latch  25  is affixed to the inner edge  17  of the device, on the inner side  15 , by affixing element(s) shown in the form of a screw  28 .  
         [0047]    The latch  25 , well known to the person with ordinary skill in the art, enables a removable retention of the rack  24 .  
         [0048]    As shown better in FIG. 2, the first permanent connection arrangement includes a first arm  29  for affixing the cover  23  to the outer side  14  of the device. The first arm  29  is affixed via a first tip  30  to a first outer end  31  of the cover  23  by means of a rivet  32 , for example. A second tip  33  of the first arm  29  is affixed to the outer edge  16  by means of a screw  34 , for example.  
         [0049]    By analogy, the second permanent connection arrangement includes a second arm  35  for affixing the cover  23  to the outer side  14  of the device.  
         [0050]    The second arm  35  is affixed via a first tip  36  to a second outer end  37  of the cover  23  by means of a rivet  38 , for example. A second tip  39  of the second arm  35  is affixed to the outer edge  16  by means of a screw  40 , for example.  
         [0051]    The first permanent connection arrangement is located substantially in the area of the user&#39;s ankle, and the second permanent connection arrangement is located substantially in the area of the metatarsal bone, when the foot and the boot  2  are retained on the device. This means that the first arm  29  is connected to the outer edge  16  toward the user&#39;s ankle, and that the second arm  35  is connected to the outer edge  16  toward the metatarsal bone.  
         [0052]    The removable connection arrangement is located either in the area of the ankle, or slightly at the front of the device with respect to the ankle.  
         [0053]    The three screws  28 ,  34 ,  40 , that retain the latch  25  and the arms  29 ,  35 , define three anchoring points of the cover  23  which provide a satisfactory retention of the boot  2 . This means that the user can operate the board  3  with as much precision as with a traditional device. However, the device  1  according to the invention enables a quicker insertion or removal of the boot, because it is necessary to manipulate only one latch.  
         [0054]    Moreover, the particular location of the latch  25  inward of the foot facilitates manual access. In particular, it is easy to manipulate the latch  25  with the hand on the side of the body opposite the side of the foot. The user can reach the latch by maintaining the body center of gravity between the feet, which has the advantage of helping him keep his balance.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1. It shows the device  1  in an opening state, after the latch  25  has released the rack  24 . The cover  23  naturally tends to assume an opening position, i.e., a position in which the inner end  26  is at a sufficient distance from the inner edge  17  to enable a passage of the boot, especially during insertion of the boot.  
         [0056]    The other embodiments of the invention are presented hereinafter with reference to FIGS.  4 - 7 . Only the differences with respect to the first example are shown; the common elements are not described again. For this reason, the figures have been simplified.  
         [0057]    The second embodiment is described by means of a schematic depiction in FIG. 4.  
         [0058]    The cover  50  of a retaining device has, by analogy with the first example, an inner end  51 , a first outer end  52 , and a second outer end  53 .  
         [0059]    A first arm  54  and a second arm  55  enable the cover  50  to be connected to an outer edge of the device.  
         [0060]    The difference with respect to the first embodiment lies in the arrangement of the constituent elements of the removable connection means. The latter includes a latch  56  affixed to the cover  50 , and a rack  57  affixed to an inner edge of the device.  
         [0061]    The third embodiment is described by means of a schematic depiction in FIG. 5.  
         [0062]    The cover  60  of a retaining device has, by analogy with the preceding examples, an inner end  61 , a first outer end  62 , and a second outer end  63 .  
         [0063]    As in the second embodiment, a latch  64  is affixed to the cover  60 , and a rack  65  is affixed to an inner edge of the device.  
         [0064]    The difference with respect to the preceding examples resides in the structure of the first and second arrangements for the permanent connection of the cover  60  to an outer side of the device.  
         [0065]    The first permanent connection arrangement includes a first end  66  of a single arm  67 . The second permanent connection arrangement includes a second end  68  of the arm  67 . The latter is preferably obtained by means of a strap made, for example, of synthetic fibers.  
         [0066]    A sheath  69  of the cover  60  enables the passage of a portion  70  of the arm  67 . The arm  67  can slide around a keeper  71  obtained, for example, by means of a pin within the sheath. This structure enables the arm  67  to slide in the sheath  69 . As a result, the distance between an end  66 ,  68  of the arm  67  and an outer end  62 ,  63  of the cover  60  is variable. One end of the arm comes closer to the cover when the other moves away. This arrangement enables a self-adjustment of the tensions exerted on the cover  60  after tightening to retain a boot.  
         [0067]    The fourth embodiment is described with reference to the schematic depiction in FIG. 6.  
         [0068]    The cover  80  of a retaining device has an inner end  81 , a first outer end  82 , and a second outer end  83 .  
         [0069]    The removable connection arrangement includes a latch  84  affixed to the cover  80  in the area of the inner end  81 , and a rack  85  affixed to the inner side of the device. The latch  84  is journalled on the cover  80  along a journal axle  86  by means of a screw or a rivet, for example. The rack  85  is also journalled on the inner edge along a journal axle  87 . The first permanent connection arrangement includes a first spacer  88  journalled at the first outer end  82  along an axle  89 , on the one hand, and at a first arm  90 , on the other hand.  
         [0070]    By analogy, the second permanent connection arrangement includes a second spacer  91  journalled at the second outer end  83  along an axle  92 , on the one hand, and at a second arm  93 , on the other hand.  
         [0071]    The relative arrangement of the journal axle  86  of the latch  84  and of the journal axes  89 ,  92  of the spacers  88 ,  91 , on the cover  80 , enables the cover  80  to play the role of a compensation bar. The distance between the axle  89  of the first outer end  82  and the journal axle  86  of the latch  84  represents the length of a first lever arm. Similarly, the distance between the axle  92  of the second outer end  83  and the journal axle  86  of the latch  84  represents the length of a second lever arm.  
         [0072]    The first and second lever arms can have an identical or a different length. In any case, the tensions are balanced in the linkage, especially in the area of the arms  90 ,  93  and the spacers  88 ,  91 . The balancing of the tensions enables a homogenous distribution of the pressure exerted by the linkage on the boot upper, when the latter is retained by the linkage.  
         [0073]    The fifth embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the schematic depiction in FIG. 7.  
         [0074]    The cover  100  of a retaining device has an inner end  101 , a first outer end  102 , and a second outer end  103 .  
         [0075]    The removable connection arrangement includes a latch  104  affixed to the cover  100 , and a rack  105  affixed to the inner side of the device.  
         [0076]    A cable  106 , hooked by any means to the first outer end  102 , on the one hand, and to the second outer end  103 , on the other hand, contributes to obtaining the structure of the first and second permanent connection arrangements. Guiding elements, not shown, are provided to guide the cable  106  on an outer edge of the device. Such elements can be pulleys, keepers, a tunnel, or any equivalent structure. Once again, the tightening tensions are balanced in the cover  100  during retention of the boot.  
         [0077]    The cable  106  could be replaced by a rope, a strap, or any equivalent structure.  
         [0078]    For each of the examples, the device can be made of all the materials used according to all known techniques.  
         [0079]    The invention is not limited to the specific examples described hereinabove, and includes all of the equivalent structures and techniques that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.  
         [0080]    In particular, one can provide means for adjusting the position of the means for connecting the cover to the edges of the device.  
         [0081]    The instant application is based upon French Patent Application No. 00 00871, filed Jan. 21, 2000, 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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0