Patent Description:
More in detail, the present invention relates to a ski mountaineering boot or Telemark boot. Ski boots to which the following disclosure will make explicit reference without however losing its general character.

As already known, ski mountaineering boots and Telemark boots basically comprise: a rigid shell which is shaped substantially like a shoe so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and whose lower part is specifically structured to be fastened to the back of a downhill ski or the like by means of a special ski binding device; a rigid cuff which is shaped so as to enclose the lower part of the leg of the user from behind, and is hinged to the upper part of the shell to rotate about a transversal reference axis that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical midplane of the boot, and is also locally substantially coincident with the ankle articulation axis; and a protective inner-boot made of a soft and thermal-insulating material, which is inserted in removable manner inside the shell and the cuff, and is shaped so as to enclose and protect the foot and the lower part of the leg of the user approximately up to the calf.

The ski boots mentioned above are moreover provided with a shell closing mechanism and with a cuff closing mechanism, both manually operated.

Finally, ski mountaineering boots and Telemark boots are provided with a manually-operated cuff locking device which is traditionally arranged in the area above the heel of the boot, and is structured so as to be able to, optionally and alternatively,.

Unfortunately, the dynamic behaviour of the cuff locking device does not satisfy the needs of some users, who would like the cuff to be able to make small movements (no more than a few degrees) even when the cuff is locked in the downhill position, so as to at least partially follow the ankle movements typical of downhill skiing.

<CIT>, in turn, discloses a ski boot provided with a retention and release mechanism that permanently connects the cuff to the shell of the ski boot and is structured to selectively allow the cuff to a limited pivoting forward and backward with respect to the shell.

Aim of the present invention is to provide a cuff locking device that can rigidly lock the cuff to the shell in the downhill position while still allowing the cuff to make small movements with respect to the pre-set inclination.

In compliance with these aims, according to the present invention there is provided a ski boot as defined in claim <NUM> and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent claims.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an exemplificative nonlimiting embodiment, in which:.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the number <NUM> denotes as a whole a ski boot that can be advantageously used for practicing ski mountaineering or Telemark.

The ski boot <NUM> firstly comprises: a substantially rigid shell <NUM> which is shaped substantially like a shoe so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and preferably has the lower part specifically structured/shaped to couple/fasten in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, to a ski binding device of known type (not shown) which, in turn, is adapted to be fixed in rigid manner to the back of a generic downhill ski or the like; and a substantially rigid cuff <NUM> which is shaped so as to enclose the lower part of the leg of the user, and is pivotally joined to the shell <NUM> so as to freely rotate about a transversal reference axis A which is locally substantial perpendicular to the vertical midplane of the ski boot, and is moreover substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle of the user.

More in detail, the lower part of shell <NUM> is preferably provided with a front tip <NUM> and a rear heel <NUM>.

Front tip <NUM> is preferably structured so as to couple/fasten in a stable, though easily releasable manner to the toe-piece (not shown) of a ski binding device which, in turn, is stably secured to the back of the downhill ski or the like. On the other hand, rear heel <NUM> is preferably structured to couple/fasten in a stable, though easily releasable manner to the heel-piece (not shown) of the same ski binding device which, in turn, is stably secured to the back of the downhill ski or the like.

Preferably, the lower part of shell <NUM> furthermore has a threaded profile to grip on snow and/or ice, thus allowing the user to walk on snow and ice in relative safety.

In the example shown, in particular, the front tip <NUM> of shell <NUM> is preferably structured so as to be able to couple/fasten in known manner to the toe-piece of a ski mountaineering or Telemark binding device, whereas the rear heel <NUM> of shell <NUM> is preferably structured so as to be able to couple/fasten in known manner to the heel-piece of the same ski mountaineering or Telemark binding device.

More specifically, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the shell <NUM> preferably comprises: a substantially oblong basin-shaped, rigid casing <NUM> which is preferably made of plastic and/or composite material and is shaped to accommodate and enclose the foot of the user, preferably approximately up to the ankle; and optionally a lower sole <NUM> preferably having a threaded profile, which is preferably made of vulcanized rubber or other elastomeric material with a high friction coefficient, and is firmly fixed to the bottom wall of casing <NUM>, preferably by gluing.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the shell <NUM> furthermore comprises a rigid insert <NUM>, preferably made of metal material, which has a substantially plate-like structure and is firmly embedded/incorporated into the bottom wall of rigid casing <NUM>, roughly at the tip <NUM> of shell <NUM>. The rigid insert <NUM> is moreover dimensioned so as to surface/emerge outside of the casing <NUM> on opposite sides of the front tip <NUM> of shell <NUM>, preferably in a substantially specular position with respect to the ski-boot midplane, so that the two distal ends of rigid insert <NUM> can couple in known manner to the toe-piece of the ski mountaineering binding device.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, in turn cuff <NUM> preferably comprises a rigid casing <NUM> made of plastic and/or composite material, which is substantially C-bent so as to cover the back of the leg of the user from the ankle substantially up to the calf height, and is moreover provided with two oblong lateral flaps (not shown in the figures) which extend forward on opposite sides of the ski-boot midplane so as to enclose from behind the leg of the user approximately at the height of the calf, and preferably after overlap to one another at the front of the leg, thus forming a tubular structure that encloses the leg of the user at the height of the calf. Furthermore, cuff <NUM> is preferably fixed in a freely rotatable manner to the upper part of shell <NUM>, or rather of the rigid casing <NUM>, by means of two connection hinges <NUM> preferably made of metal material, which are arranged on the inner and on the outer side of shell <NUM> and of cuff <NUM>, and are aligned along transversal axis A so as to allow the cuff <NUM> to freely swing forward and backward on shell <NUM> while always remaining on a reference plane orthogonal to axis A and substantially coincident with the midplane of the ski boot.

With reference to <FIG>, preferably the ski boot <NUM> further comprises a preferably substantially boot- or shoe- shaped, protective inner-boot <NUM> which is inserted inside shell <NUM> and cuff <NUM> preferably in a manually removable manner, and has a soft and thermal-insulating structure shaped to enclose and protect the foot and optionally also the lower part of the leg of the user.

More in detail, in the example shown, the inner-boot <NUM> is preferably substantially boot- shaped so as to enclose, cover and protect the foot and the lower part of the leg of the user, approximately up to the top of the calf. Preferably, the inner-boot <NUM> moreover has a thermoformable structure. Furthermore, the ski boot <NUM> is additionally provided with a shell closing mechanism <NUM> and/or with a cuff closing mechanism <NUM>, both preferably manually operated.

The shell closing mechanism <NUM> is structured so as to selectively close/tighten the shell <NUM> on the foot of the user to immobilize the foot of the user inside the shell <NUM>, or rather inside the inner-boot <NUM>. On the other hand, the cuff closing mechanism <NUM> is structured so as to selectively close/tighten the upper part of cuff <NUM> on the leg of the user to immobilize the leg of the user inside the cuff <NUM>, or rather inside the inner-boot <NUM>.

The shell closing mechanism <NUM> and the cuff closing mechanism <NUM> are devices widely known in the ski-boot field, and therefore will not be further described.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, ski boot <NUM> is finally provided with a manually-operated cuff locking device <NUM> which is structured to selectively lock the cuff <NUM> to the shell <NUM> in a given downhill position in which the cuff <NUM> is tilted with respect to the vertical by a predetermined angle, while allowing the cuff <NUM> to perform small oscillations around said downhill position.

In other words, the cuff locking device <NUM> is structured to selectively and alternatively:.

Moreover, in the downhill position the cuff <NUM> is preferably inclined forward with respect to the vertical by a predetermined angle preferably, though not necessarily, ranging between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

The small oscillations around the downhill position, on the other hand, have a maximum amplitude preferably smaller than <NUM>°.

Furthermore, the cuff locking device <NUM> is preferably structured to resiliently oppose the small oscillations of the cuff <NUM> around the aforesaid downhill position.

More in detail, with reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the cuff locking device <NUM> is preferably fixed on the cuff <NUM> in the area above the heel of the boot, substantially astride the midplane of the ski boot.

Moreover, the cuff locking device <NUM> comprises: a preferably elongated in shape, supporting plate <NUM> which is preferably made of metal material and is rigidly fixed to the cuff <NUM>, above the heel of the ski boot <NUM> and preferably substantially astride the midplane of the ski boot, with its longitudinal axis L substantially parallel to the ski-boot midplane and also locally substantially close/tangent to the surface of cuff <NUM>; a movable slider <NUM> which is preferably made of metal material and is fixed to the supporting plate <NUM> with the capability to freely move on supporting plate <NUM> parallel to the plate longitudinal axis L, i.e. parallel to the midplane of the ski boot; and a rigid and oblong movable arm <NUM> which is preferably made of metal material, and is butt hinged to the slider <NUM> so as to freely rotate with respect to the slider <NUM> while remaining on a rotation plane R locally substantially parallel to, and preferably coincident with, the midline of the ski boot, to and from a locking position (see <FIG> and <FIG>) in which the movable arm <NUM> extends downwards, preferably substantially skimmed over the outer surface of the cuff <NUM>, and is connected in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner to the shell <NUM> beneath, or rather to the rigid casing <NUM>.

Preferably, the cuff locking device <NUM> furthermore comprises an elastic member <NUM> which is preferably interposed between the slider <NUM> and the arm <NUM>, and is adapted to elastically bring and maintain the arm <NUM> in said locking position. More in detail, in the locking position the movable arm <NUM> extends downwards, preferably so as to arrange its distal end 18a in abutment against an anchoring structure <NUM> which is stably located on the shell <NUM>, or rather on the rigid casing <NUM>, spaced beneath the cuff locking device <NUM> and substantially astride the rotation plane R of arm <NUM>, i.e. on the midplane, more or less at the heel of the boot.

The distal end 18a of movable arm <NUM> is preferably structured so as to couple/hook, when arm <NUM> is in the locking position, in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, to the anchoring structure <NUM> so to make the slider <NUM> integral with the shell <NUM>.

Furthermore, the cuff locking device <NUM> additionally comprises an elastic counteracting element <NUM> which is preferably interposed between the slider <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM>, and is adapted to elastically retain/ hold the slider <NUM> in a predetermined operating position on supporting plate <NUM>.

In other words, the elastic counteracting element <NUM> is adapted to elastically oppose any displacement of the movable slider <NUM> from said operating position and to elastically bring the slider <NUM> back into the operating position after any translation of the same slider <NUM> along the supporting plate <NUM>.

Preferably, the cuff locking device <NUM> furthermore comprises a manually-operated slider locking mechanism <NUM> which is adapted to selectively prevent any movement of the slider <NUM> from said operating position.

More in detail, the slider locking mechanism <NUM> is preferably adapted to selectively rigidly couple the slider <NUM> to the supporting plate <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in the example shown, in particular, the supporting plate <NUM> is preferably provided with an elongated and substantially straight, longitudinal groove <NUM> which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of plate <NUM> and to the rotation plane R of arm <NUM>, i.e. parallel to the midplane of the ski boot.

Moreover, supporting plate <NUM> is preferably firmly fixed/ fastened to cuff <NUM>, or rather to rigid casing <NUM>, by means of at least one transversal anchoring screw <NUM> that passes through supporting plate <NUM> before penetrating into the rigid casing <NUM> of cuff <NUM>.

The movable slider <NUM> is preferably trapped in axially sliding manner into the longitudinal groove <NUM>, so as to be able to freely move on the supporting plate <NUM> only parallel to the longitudinal axis of groove <NUM>, i.e. parallel to the plate longitudinal axis L.

The elastic element <NUM>, in turn, is preferably at least partially accommodated inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>. More in detail, the elastic element <NUM> preferably comprises at least one block of elastomeric material <NUM> which is arranged inside the groove <NUM> to deform in elastoplastic manner when the movable slider <NUM> moves away from said operating position.

In the example shown, in particular, the movable slider <NUM> is in said operating position preferably when it is located at a first end of longitudinal groove <NUM>, and the block of elastomeric material <NUM> is adapted to elastically retain/ bring back the movable slider <NUM> at said first end of the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

More in detail, the supporting plate <NUM> is preferably fastened on the rear part of cuff <NUM> in a substantially vertical position, and the movable slider <NUM> is preferably in the operating position when it is located at the lower end of longitudinal groove <NUM>.

In turn, the block of elastomer material <NUM> preferably has a first side in abutment against the movable slider <NUM> and a second side in abutment against the supporting plate <NUM>, at the second end of longitudinal groove <NUM>, so as to compress in elastoplastic manner when the slider <NUM> moves away from the operating position, i.e. moves towards the second end of longitudinal groove <NUM>.

Preferably, the block of elastomeric material <NUM> moreover completely occupies/fills the part of longitudinal groove <NUM> not engaged by the slider <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, on the other hand, the slider locking mechanism <NUM> is preferably adapted to selectively prevent any movement of the slider <NUM> along the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

More in detail, the slider locking mechanism <NUM> preferably comprises a pawl <NUM>, preferably made of metal material, which is fitted in axially rotatable manner within a complementary housing seat <NUM> preferably realized on supporting plate <NUM> or on cuff <NUM> beside the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

The housing seat <NUM> is arranged and shaped so as to partially intersect the longitudinal groove <NUM>, and the pawl <NUM> is shaped so as to selectively protrude or not protrude inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>, depending on its angular position inside the housing seat <NUM>.

More in detail, the pawl <NUM> is manually positionable in a first angular position in which the body of pawl <NUM> does not protrude inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>, thus allowing the slider <NUM> to move freely within the longitudinal groove <NUM>; and in a second angular position in which the body of pawl <NUM> protrudes inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>, thus preventing the slider <NUM> from moving within the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

Preferably, when placed the second angular position, the pawl <NUM> is additionally rotated about <NUM>° with respect to the first angular position.

In the example shown, in particular, pawl <NUM> is preferably substantially cylindrical in shape and is preferably laterally provided with a secant groove <NUM> whose shape is preferably substantially complementary to the one of the longitudinal groove <NUM>, so as to form an extension of the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

In the first angular position, the secant groove <NUM> is aligned to and facing the longitudinal groove <NUM>, therefore the body of pawl <NUM> does not protrude inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>, thus allowing the slider <NUM> to move freely along the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

In the second angular position, the secant groove <NUM> is misaligned with respect to the longitudinal groove <NUM>, therefore the body of pawl <NUM> protrudes inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>, thus preventing the slider <NUM> from moving freely along the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

Preferably, the side of movable slider <NUM> is moreover provided with a recess <NUM> which is adapted to be engaged by the body of pawl <NUM> when the pawl <NUM> is arranged in the second angular position.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the back of movable slider <NUM> preferably protrudes outside of the longitudinal groove <NUM>, and the movable arm <NUM> is preferably butt hinged to the back of slider <NUM> so as to be able to freely rotate about an axis B locally substantially parallel to axis A and/or substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot.

More in detail, in the example shown, the proximal end 18b of movable arm <NUM> is preferably substantially fork-shaped, and each fork prong is preferably separately hinged to the back of movable slider <NUM> by means of a respective transversal pin <NUM> extending coaxial to axis B.

The distal end 18a of movable arm <NUM>, on the other hand, is preferably structured to stuck in removable manner astride a second transversal pin <NUM> preferably made of metal material and which extends coaxially to an axis C locally substantially parallel to axis A and/or B, and is fixed in rigid and stable manner to the rear part of shell <NUM>, or rather of rigid casing <NUM>, astride the arm rotation plane R. More in detail, the anchoring structure <NUM> preferably comprises the transverse pin <NUM> and a pair of mutually parallel and facing support winglets <NUM> which jut out from the rear part of shell <NUM>, or rather from the rear part of rigid casing <NUM>, on opposite sides of the midplane of the ski boot, preferably in a substantially specular position with respect to the midplane of the ski boot, and extend up to the two ends of transversal pin <NUM> to directly support the transversal pin <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the elastic member <NUM> preferably finally comprises an helical spring, preferably made of metal material, which is preferably housed in the throat of the proximal end 18b of the movable arm <NUM>, substantially astride the arm rotation plane R, and has a first end integral with the body of movable arm <NUM> and a second end integral with the movable slider <NUM>, in an eccentric position with respect to the arm rotation axis B. General operation of ski boot <NUM> is easily inferable from the above description and thus does not require further explanations.

On the other hand, with regard to the cuff locking device <NUM>, the user manually arranges the movable arm <NUM> in the locking position when she/he wants to lock the cuff <NUM> in the downhill position.

Moreover, if desires to let cuff <NUM> make small oscillations around said downhill position, the user arranges the pawl <NUM> of the slider locking mechanism <NUM> in the first angular position, so as to allow the slider <NUM> to move inside the longitudinal groove <NUM> deforming the elastic element <NUM> (or rather compressing the block of elastomeric material <NUM>). Obviously, any small displacement of slider <NUM> on supporting plate <NUM> is elastically opposed by the elastic element <NUM>, and results in a small variation of the tilt angle of the cuff <NUM> with respect to the vertical.

Alternatively, if desires to let cuff <NUM> remain stationary in said downhill position, the user arranges the pawl <NUM> of the slider locking mechanism <NUM> in the second angular position to prevent the slider <NUM> from moving inside the longitudinal groove <NUM>.

The advantages connected to the cuff locking device <NUM> are remarkable.

Firstly, the cuff locking device <NUM> allows to lock the cuff <NUM> in the downhill position allowing at same time the cuff <NUM> to make small oscillations around said downhill position. Moreover, thanks to slider locking mechanism <NUM>, the cuff locking device <NUM> is additionally capable of rigidly locking the cuff <NUM> to the shell in said downhill position.

Last but not least, the cuff locking device <NUM> has production costs comparable with those of the known cuff locking devices, with all advantages that this entails.

It is finally clear that modifications and variations can be made to the ski boot <NUM> described above without however departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

For example, in a first embodiment, the supporting plate <NUM> can be made in one piece with the cuff <NUM>. In other words, the groove <NUM> can be formed directly on the cuff <NUM>, or rather on the rigid casing <NUM>.

Moreover, in a second embodiment, when it is in the operating position, the movable slider <NUM> is spaced from both ends of the groove <NUM>, whereas the elastic element <NUM> preferably comprises two blocks of elastomeric material housed inside the longitudinal groove <NUM> on opposite sides of the movable slider <NUM>.

Preferably, the two blocks of elastomeric material additionally have a different elastic modulus so that the elastic element <NUM> has an asymmetric behaviour.

Finally, with reference to <FIG>, in a further embodiment, the slider locking mechanism <NUM> comprises, in place of the pawl <NUM>, a strut rod <NUM> which is butt hinged to the supporting plate <NUM> or to the cuff <NUM>, preferably near the upper end of groove <NUM>, so as to be able to rotate to and from a locking position (see <FIG>) in which the strut rod <NUM> extends downwards so as to arrange its distal end in abutment against the movable slider <NUM>, thus preventing the slider <NUM> from sliding upwardly into the groove <NUM>.

Preferably, the strut rod <NUM> is additionally hinged on supporting plate <NUM> or on cuff <NUM>, so as to be able to rotate about an axis locally substantially perpendicular to the surface of cuff <NUM>.

In this way, the strut rod <NUM> moves on a plane locally substantially skimmed over the outer surface of cuff <NUM> and/or locally substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot.

Claim 1:
Ski boot (<NUM>) comprising: a substantially rigid shell (<NUM>) which is adapted to house the foot of the user and has a lower part structured to be connected to a ski binding device; a substantially rigid cuff (<NUM>) which is adapted to enclose the lower part of the leg of the user and is pivotally joined to the shell (<NUM>) to rotate about a reference axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; and a manually-operated cuff locking device (<NUM>) which is adapted to selectively lock the cuff (<NUM>) to the shell (<NUM>) in a predetermined downhill position;
the cuff locking device (<NUM>) comprising a supporting plate (<NUM>) which is rigidly fixed to or is made in one piece with the cuff (<NUM>), above the heel of the ski boot (<NUM>);
wherein
the supporting plate (<NUM>) is provided with an oblong and substantially rectilinear, longitudinal groove (<NUM>) extending parallel to the midplane of the ski boot; and
the cuff locking device (<NUM>) additionally comprises: a slider (<NUM>) which is trapped in axially sliding manner into the longitudinal groove (<NUM>) of said supporting plate (<NUM>) with the capability of freely moving along the supporting plate (<NUM>) substantially parallel to the midplane of the ski boot; a movable arm (<NUM>) which is butt hinged to the slider (<NUM>) so as to be able to rotate to and from a locking position in which the movable arm (<NUM>) extends downwards and couples, in releasable manner, to the shell (<NUM>) beneath; and an elastic counteracting element (<NUM>) which is at least partially housed inside the longitudinal groove (<NUM>) of said supporting plate (<NUM>) and elastically retains the slider (<NUM>) in a predetermined operating position.