Patent Description:
Crampons are superstructures which are joined to sports footwear in order to allow the user to have better grip on particularly slippery and uneven terrain, typically icy terrain and/or mountain faces.

For this purpose, crampons are provided with metal teeth which are preferably made of steel and which provide adequate grip.

Known crampon solutions have two main elements which are substantially open in order to be fastened to the footwear and placed between the sole of the footwear and the terrain; in particular, said main elements comprise a front element designed to be joined to the forefront of the footwear and a rear element designed to be joined to the heel of the footwear. Each of these elements is provided with means for fastening to the footwear, such as typically laces, ties, bridge structures and the like, and with teeth for providing the necessary grip on the terrain.

These main elements are connected to each other by means of adjustable connection means which allow the elements to be moved away from and toward each other, in order to be able to apply the crampon to footwear of different sizes.

Said connection means need to allow the parts of the crampon to move away from/toward each other and also need to allow the crampon to be compacted when not in use. In fact, the crampon is usually kept in a pocket when not needed and is removed from the pocket and opened when needed.

The process for opening the crampon has to be as simple as possible, in consideration of the fact that, especially in the case of ice, those who use crampons do so in difficult atmospheric conditions and often wear gloves.

It is also desirable to provide a crampon which allows the main elements to be adjusted relative to each other without using particular tools/equipment.

The solutions of the prior art are not able to resolve the technical problems set out above. For example, known crampon solutions have bulky connection means that cannot be operated easily. Moreover, these connection means often require the use of tools to make the relative adjustments. A solution according to prior art is disclosed, for example, by <CIT>.

There is therefore a need to resolve the disadvantages and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art.

This need is satisfied by a crampon according to claim <NUM>.

Further features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:.

Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same reference signs.

With reference to the aforesaid figures, reference sign <NUM> globally denotes an overall schematic view of a crampon for footwear, in particular for sports footwear.

The crampon <NUM> comprises a front portion <NUM> shaped so as to be detachably joined to a forefoot of a boot (not shown) and a rear portion <NUM> shaped so as to be detachably joined to a heel of a boot.

For example, the front portion <NUM> and/or the rear portion <NUM> may comprise means <NUM> for hooking to the boot, such as laces, ties, cables, brackets and the like, which allow the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM> to be hooked to and unhooked from the boot, respectively, by means of undercuts with respect to the boot, in a known manner.

The front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM> are preferably also provided with teeth <NUM>, preferably metal teeth, which have for example a triangular profile, in order to improve grip on the terrain.

The crampon <NUM> also comprises connection and adjustment means <NUM> between the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM>, which means are suitable for mechanically connecting the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM> to each other and adjusting their distance from each other along a longitudinal direction L-L of connection between the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM>.

In other words, the connection and adjustment means <NUM> ensure the mechanical connection between the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM>, and make it possible to adjust their distance from each other so that the crampon may be suitable for boots of different shapes and/or sizes.

According to the invention, the connection and adjustment means <NUM> comprise at least one flexible cable <NUM> having a front end <NUM> provided with a front terminal <NUM> associated with the front portion <NUM> and a rear end <NUM> provided with a rear terminal <NUM> associated with the rear portion <NUM>.

The flexible cable <NUM> may have various geometries and configurations.

Typically, but not exclusively, the cable is made of a metal material which consists of a plurality of interwoven strands and is optionally covered by an external sleeve, for example made of polyethylene. It is also possible for the flexible cable to be made entirely of polymeric material, for example polyethylene. Preferably, but not exclusively, said flexible cable has a circular cross-section. It should be noted that the flexible cable, despite being designed to be bent since it is flexible, is not compressible: in other words, the resistant cross-section of the cable, irrespective of its geometry (which is preferably but not exclusively circular), does not vary and may not be compressed or modified when being handled by a user who wishes to adjust the size of the crampon <NUM>.

Therefore, said flexible cable <NUM> is preferably also incompressible.

At least one of said front terminal <NUM> and rear terminal <NUM> is advantageously manually detachable and is a terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration.

It should be noted that the term 'manually detachable' is understood to mean that the terminal may be hooked and unhooked (i.e. removed) by hand by an operator/user without the use of any tools such as screwdrivers, keys or similar equipment. It should also be noted that 'detachable' is understood to mean that said at least one front terminal <NUM> and rear terminal <NUM> may be completely dismounted and separated from the corresponding front portion <NUM> and rear portion <NUM>.

According to the invention, said terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration has an initial part <NUM> for connection to the corresponding flexible cable <NUM>, an intermediate part <NUM> for insertion into at least one hole <NUM> of an adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> of the associable front portion <NUM> or rear portion <NUM>, and a cantilevered final part <NUM> for clamping the curvilinear terminal <NUM> onto said adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>. The adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> is a base plate of the corresponding front portion <NUM> and/or rear portion <NUM>, which base plate is substantially flat and is placed between the sole of the boot and the terrain. Indeed, an upper face or wall <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> faces and makes contact with the sole of the associable footwear, while a lower face or wall <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> substitutes the tread of the footwear and interfaces directly with the terrain.

The initial part <NUM> connects the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration to the flexible cable <NUM>: this connection may, for example but not exclusively, occur by means of crimping the flexible cable.

As shown, the intermediate part <NUM> is inserted into the hole <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> and effectively produces the mechanical connection with the corresponding front portion <NUM> and/or rear portion <NUM>.

The final part <NUM> is cantilevered and helps to clamp the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration because it resists this terminal <NUM> being removed from the corresponding hole <NUM>, as will be better described in the following.

According to one possible embodiment, the initial part <NUM> and the final part <NUM> are substantially parallel to each other. Moreover, said initial part <NUM> and final part <NUM> are arranged parallel to the corresponding adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>.

It should be noted that said initial part <NUM> and final part <NUM> are parallel on opposite sides of the intermediate part <NUM> so that the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration takes on an overall 'S' shape; according to a further embodiment, said initial part <NUM> and final part <NUM> are parallel on the same side with respect to the intermediate part <NUM>: in this configuration, the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration takes on an overall hooked, 'U' or 'C' shape.

In particular, the cantilevered final part <NUM> of the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration faces the upper wall or face <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>, and the initial part <NUM> faces the lower wall or face <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>.

According to the invention, said terminal having a curvilinear configuration is rigid, and preferably made of metal material. 'Rigid' is understood to mean that it is not deformable, for example under flexion or under compression, during normal manual assembly/dismantling operations carried out by the operator.

As stated, the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> comprises at least one hole <NUM> and preferably comprises a plurality of holes <NUM> suitable for receiving said detachable terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration inserted therein.

Said holes <NUM> are separated and spaced from each other at least along said longitudinal direction L-L. The holes are therefore discrete, i.e. separate, so as to allow discrete adjustment of the distance between the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM>. In particular, said holes <NUM> pass through the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> and are delimited or closed perimetrically; in other words, said holes <NUM> may only be engaged by said front terminal <NUM> and rear terminal <NUM> along a direction substantially perpendicular to the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>, and not along a direction parallel to said plate, i.e. perpendicular to a centerline plane M-M of the crampon <NUM>.

The holes <NUM> are preferably circular holes and the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration has a circular cross-section counter-shaped to said holes <NUM>. The play between the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration (in particular the intermediate part <NUM>) and the hole <NUM> is limited so as to allow mechanical coupling between the parts, and to simultaneously ensure that the distance between the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM> is fixed and prevent the risk of possible accidental unhooking.

Preferably, said detachable terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration is the rear terminal <NUM> and is configured to detachably engage in said at least one hole <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> of the rear portion <NUM>.

It is clearly also possible to exclusively or also use the detachable terminal having a curvilinear configuration as a front terminal <NUM>, on the front portion <NUM>.

According to one possible embodiment, said adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> is provided with at least one guide bracket <NUM> which is joined to the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> and configured to guide and position the flexible cable <NUM> in such a way as to limit displacements of the flexible cable <NUM> and/or of the corresponding terminal <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to a transverse direction T-T that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L-L and/or with respect to a vertical direction Y-Y that is perpendicular to the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> and parallel to said intermediate part <NUM> of the terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration.

Said guide bracket <NUM> preferably has at least one insertion opening <NUM> for the flexible cable <NUM>, which opening directly faces the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>.

As a result of the guide bracket <NUM>, the displacements of the flexible cable in the vertical direction Y-Y and transverse direction T-T are limited, thus reducing the risk of the detachable terminal having a curvilinear configuration, i.e. the front and/or rear terminal, accidentally unhooking.

The guide bracket <NUM> is clearly provided to the front or rear side of the corresponding detachable terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration, so as to prevent the risk of it accidentally unhooking.

According to one embodiment, the front terminal <NUM>, or in any case the terminal not provided with the curvilinear configuration, is fastened to the corresponding front portion <NUM> at the lower wall or face <NUM>, on the same side as the guide bracket <NUM>. This also improves the positioning and the guiding of the flexible cable <NUM>, thus also facilitating the relative bending when not in use.

According to a preferred embodiment, the connection and adjustment means <NUM> comprise two flexible cables <NUM>, each having a front end <NUM> provided with a front terminal <NUM> associated with the front portion <NUM> and a rear end <NUM> provided with a rear terminal <NUM> associated with the rear portion <NUM>.

Said flexible cables <NUM> are preferably arranged parallel and symmetrically to each other with respect to a longitudinal centerline plane M-M of the crampon <NUM> that is parallel to said longitudinal direction.

The method for assembling/using the crampon according to this invention on footwear will now be described.

In particular, it is assumed that the crampon <NUM> is initially stored for example in a pocket or similar container, in a folded position. Once removed and released, it is also possible to simply throw or deposit the crampon <NUM> on the ground so that it opens automatically as a result of the elasticity of the flexible cable or cables <NUM> which tend to straighten, thus bringing the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM> into a planar configuration aligned along the longitudinal direction L-L.

With regard to the adjustment of the longitudinal distance between the front portion <NUM> and the rear portion <NUM>, it is assumed for example that the front terminal <NUM> is fixed while the rear terminal <NUM> is detachable. This is clearly a non-binding hypothesis consistent with the accompanying figures. It should be noted that, when the expression 'fixed terminal' is used, it is understood to mean a terminal that requires a suitable fastening means, such as a screwdriver, in order to be fastened or detached, unlike the detachable terminal which may instead be fastened and unhooked manually.

The detachable terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration, and in particular the final part <NUM>, is then placed in proximity to a hole <NUM> pre-selected for the desired adjustment (<FIG>).

The detachable terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration is then inserted into the hole <NUM> by rotating the flexible cable <NUM> (<FIG>). Lastly (<FIG>), the detachable terminal <NUM> having a curvilinear configuration is placed in a horizontal position, with the final part <NUM> substantially contacting the upper face <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM> and the initial part <NUM> contacting the lower face <NUM> of the adjustment and fastening plate <NUM>. Clearly, care must be taken to insert the flexible cable <NUM> inside the insertion opening <NUM> of the guide bracket <NUM>, if provided.

As may be understood from the above, this invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

In particular, this invention provides a crampon provided with improved adjustment means that are easy to use.

Indeed, the cables are light and easily bendable so that it is possible to replace the crampon into a pocket when not in use.

Moreover, when the crampon is removed, the cables automatically tend to open and bring the crampon into a use configuration: it is sufficient to throw the crampon to the ground for it to open and allow the boot to be inserted therein.

Moreover, adjustment is easily made without using any tools: indeed, in order to produce the desired adjustment, it is sufficient to manually remove the terminals from the relative holes (after relative inclination/rotation) and position them in other adjacent holes.

Claim 1:
A crampon (<NUM>) for footwear, comprising:
- a front portion (<NUM>) shaped so as to be detachably joined to a forefoot of a boot,
- a rear portion (<NUM>) shaped so as to be detachably joined to a heel of a boot,
- connection and adjustment means (<NUM>) between the front portion (<NUM>) and the rear portion (<NUM>), which means are suitable for mechanically connecting the front portion (<NUM>) and the rear portion (<NUM>) to each other and adjusting their distance from each other along a longitudinal direction (L-L) of connection between the front portion (<NUM>) and the rear portion (<NUM>),
wherein
- said connection and adjustment means (<NUM>) comprise at least one flexible cable (<NUM>) having a front end (<NUM>) provided with a front terminal (<NUM>) associated with the front portion (<NUM>) and a rear end (<NUM>) provided with a rear terminal (<NUM>) associated with the rear portion (<NUM>),
- wherein at least one of said terminals (<NUM>, <NUM>) is rigid and is a manually detachable terminal (<NUM>) having a curvilinear configuration that has an initial part (<NUM>) for connection to the corresponding flexible cable (<NUM>), an intermediate part (<NUM>) for insertion into at least one hole (<NUM>) of an adjustment and fastening plate (<NUM>) of the associable front portion (<NUM>) or rear portion (<NUM>), and a cantilevered final part (<NUM>) for clamping the manually detachable terminal (<NUM>) having a curvilinear configuration onto said adjustment and fastening plate (<NUM>).