EP0553747A1

EP0553747A1 - Securing device, particularly for sports footgear

Info

Publication number: EP0553747A1
Application number: EP93101090A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Renato Serafin; Maurizio Tacchetto; Luca Bugliesi
Original assignee: Nordica SpA
Current assignee: Nordica SpA
Priority date: 1992-01-31
Filing date: 1993-01-25
Publication date: 1993-08-04
Also published as: ITTV920006V0; IT229217Y1; JPH05253001A; ITTV920006U1

Abstract

A securing device for sports footgear including at least one quarter (3) pivoted to a shell (2) by means of a pair of studs (5). The pair of studs is constituted by a bush (7) which is associated with the quarter and by a ring (6) which is axially movable with respect to the bush. The device comprises an axially movable body (12) which is rotatably associated with the ring and has at least one seat for winding a traction element (15) and a set of teeth (18) adapted to engage a set of teeth (17) associated with the ring. The sets of teeth can be activated and deactivated through a lever (25) which can be accessed by the user. The body also interacts with a spring (19). The device can thus be arranged at a point of the item of footgear in which the stud already exists and thus does not occupy other regions, and it is also possible to release the traction element following a rotation imparted to the quarter.

Description

The present invention relates to a securing device, particularly usable for sports footgear, such as for example ski boots.
Conventional ski boots are generally constituted by at least one quarter pivoted to a shell by means of a pair of studs.
Several devices have also been designed for securing the quarters or for winding cables which act at adapted pressers located at the foot instep or heel region.
Therefore, the boots are provided with winders or levers variously arranged at the quarter or quarters and at the shell.
In conventional boots there are therefore many regions in which these devices are located. These devices on one hand complicate the industrialization of the individual parts of the boot and on the other hand encumber the boot from the aesthetic point of view.
The arrangement of winding devices for one or more cables at the rear region of the rear quarter of the boot also makes it uneasy for the skier to actuate the devices.
US Patent No. 4,382,342 discloses a ski boot having a half-pulley adapted to wind a cable for a foot presser. The cable adjusting system of this boot is uncomfortable to use in practice.
Italian Patent Application No. 21669 A/85 discloses a winder for a ski boot which can be automatically released when the quarter is opened. There is however a possibility of accidental release of the winder while skiing.
The Italian Patent Applications No. 82572 A/88 and 82503 A/89 disclose ski boots having more effective securing systems which however are bulky and expensive.
Italian Patent Application No. 82594 A/88 discloses a winder which is automatically released when the rear quarter is opened. This system, however, leaves the cable unwinded when the quarter is again closed and the winding has to be done manually.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above in conventional footgear by providing a device which allows to achieve the optimum recovery of at least one traction element present in an item of footgear, minimizing the space occupied thereby in said item.
Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a device which is generally easy and comfortable to use for the user and allows to release the traction element in an equally rapid and easy manner.
Another important object is to provide a device which allows to keep industrialization for the item of footgear simple.
Another important object is to provide a device which leaves unoccupied regions of the item of footgear which are otherwise occupied by conventional securing devices.
Not least object is to provide a device which has low manufacturing costs and is reliable and safe in use.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a securing device, particularly for sports footgear comprising at least one quarter pivoted to a shell by means of a pair of studs, characterized in that said pair of studs comprises a bush which is associated with said at least one quarter and a ring which can move axially with respect to said bush, said device further comprising an axially movable body which is rotatably associated with said ring and has at least one seat for the winding of a traction element and means for temporary engagement with grip means associated respectively with said body and with said ring which can be activated and deactivated by means of the rotation of said at least one quarter, said body interacting with resilient members and being provided with a lever which can be accessed by the user to apply tension to said traction element.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a side view of a ski boot having a securing device according to the invention, in the condition in which tension is applied to the traction element;
figure 2 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the release condition of the traction element;
figure 3 is a cross-section view of the device, in the condition in which the body is rotationally locked;
figure 4 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the securing device during the release of the traction element following a rotation imparted to the quarter;
figure 5 is a detail section view of the means for temporary engagement and grip;
figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VI-VI of figure 3;
figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VII-VII of figure 3.

With reference to the above figures, the device according to the invention can be applied at sports footgear and, in the particular illustrated embodiment, to a ski boot, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, which is constituted by a shell 2 to which a front quarter 3 and a rear quarter 4 are articulated.
The front quarter 3 and the rear quarter 4 are pivotally coupled to the shell 2 at a stud 5 which is constituted by a ring or screw 6, located at the shell 2, and by a bush 7 which can be associated with the front quarter 3.
The bush 7 is internally threaded so that it can be screwed at a complementary thread defined on the outside of the ring 6.
The ring 6 can move axially with respect to the bush 7, upon a rotation imparted to the bush 7, by means of one or more adapted first radial lugs 8 which are arranged within complementarily shaped first guides 9 formed on the shell 2.
The bush 7 also has second radial lugs 10 which are arranged within second guides 11 formed on the rear quarter 4, so as to rigidly couple the bush to the rear quarter 4 during the rotation of the quarter 4.
The securing device is also constituted by a body 12 which is rotationally associated at the ring 6 and can slide axially thereto.
The body 12 has, in the opposite direction with respect to the front quarter 3, an end 13 which is shaped like a pulley and has an annular seat 14 for the winding of a traction element such as a cable 15.
The pulley is therefore arranged inside the shell 2 and has a lateral surface 16 directed toward, and adjacent to, the ring 6.
The body 12 is also provided with means for temporary engagement with grip means which are associated with the ring. The grip means are constituted by a first annular set of teeth 17 which is coupled to the temporary engagement means, which are constituted by a second complementary set of teeth 18 formed at the lateral surface 16 of the pulley.
The shape of the first set of teeth and of the second complementary set of teeth and the direction of the threads which affect the ring and the bush, are such that a rotation of the rear quarter with respect to the front one in the opening direction leads to a translatory motion of the ring 6 toward the bush 7, so as to mutually disengage the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth, allowing the release of the cable 15.
During closure of the rear quarter 4, the coupling between the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth is ensured by the presence of a resilient member, such as a spring 19, arranged coaxially to the body 12.
On the side opposite to the end 13, the body 12 has an arm 20 which protrudes externally with respect to the bush 7 and with which a cover 21 is associated. Cover 21 is provided with an annular ridge 22 which is internally associated with the bush 7.
The above described spring 19 thus advantageously abuts between said annular ridge 22 and the ring 6.
A longitudinal slot 23 is formed at the arm 20 and acts as seat for a pin 24 for the linkage of a lever 25, which can be accessed by the skier and is provided with a tang 26 which abuts against the underlying bush 7 when the lever is in closed condition.
An appropriately rounded protrusion, or ridge, 27 is provided at the region of the cover 21 which is external to the bush 7, and a complementarily shaped indent defined on the facing tang 26 can be arranged at said protrusion.
This allows to lock the positioning of the lever 25 during closure.
The elastic deformation of the protrusion 27 also allows to disengage said lever from it.
The use of the present invention is thus as follows: once the foot has been inserted, the skier moves the front and rear quarters close together, thus keeping the sets of teeth 17 and 18 engaged; then, after gripping the lever 25, he/she applies tension to the cable 15, for example to secure an adapted band 28 which embraces the foot instep region.
Once the required degree of tension has been reached, it will be maintained when the lever is closed, by virtue of the engagement between the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth.
At the end of the sports activity, the skier can release the tension of the cable 15 by simply rotating the rear quarter 4 backward. In this manner the thread of the bush 7 in fact forces an axial translatory motion of the ring 6 toward the front quarter 3, because the bush is rigidly associated with the rear quarter 4 during its rotation, by virtue of the presence of the second lugs 10 which are arranged within the second guides 11 of the quarter. The ring is also guided in its axial sliding by the first radial lugs 8 slideable within the first guides 9 defined on the shell 2.
In this manner the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth mutually disengage, thus allowing the free rotation of the body 12.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a securing device having been achieved which is first of all applicable at a stud which is already present in the item of footgear, thus leaving free, for said item of footgear, other regions which, in conventional boots, are instead occupied, and also allows to achieve optimum recovery of at least one traction element provided in an item of footgear.
The device thus obtained furthermore allows to achieve, upon the opening of the rear quarter, the automatic release of the traction element without having to act on the lever.
The lever is arranged in a position which can be easily accessed by the user, who can also perform natural movements in order to wind the cable.
The aesthetics of the boot is furthermore improved.
The use of the securing device furthermore allows to facilitate industrialization for the boot.
The device according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.
The materials and the dimensions of the individual components of the device may also be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Securing device, particularly for sports footgear comprising at least one quarter (3,4) pivoted to a shell (2) by means of a pair of studs, characterized in that said pair of studs (5) comprises a bush (7) which is associated with said at least one quarter and a ring (6) which can move axially with respect to said bush (7), said device further comprising an axially movable body (12) which is rotatably associated with said ring and has at least one seat (14) for the winding of a traction element (15) and means (18) for temporary engagement with grip means (17) associated respectively with said body and with said ring which can be activated and deactivated by means of the rotation of said at least one quarter, said body interacting with resilient members (19) and being provided with a lever (25) which can be accessed by the user to apply tension to said traction element.
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said pair of studs is constituted by a ring (6) arranged at said shell (2), and by a bush (7) which is associated with said at least one quarter (3), said bush being internally threaded and interacting with a complementary thread defined on the outside of said ring.
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said item of footgear is constituted by a ski boot (1) comprising a front quarter (3) and a rear quarter (4), said bush being associated with said front quarter.
Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said ring can move axially with respect to said bush upon a rotation imparted to said bush, said ring having at least one lug (8) arranged within complementarily shaped first guides (9) formed on said shell.
Device according to claim 4, characterized in that an axial translatory motion is imparted to said ring following a rotation imparted to either one of said bush and said rear quarter.
Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said bush is rigidly coupled to said rear quarter during a rotation imparted to said rear quarter, said bush being provided with second radial lugs (10) which are arranged within second guides (11) formed on said rear quarter.
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said body (12) is rotatably associated at said ring and slides axially thereto, said body having, in the direction opposite to said front quarter, a pulley-shaped end (13) which forms an annular seat (14) for the winding of a traction element constituted by a cable (15).
Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said pulley is arranged inside said shell and has a lateral surface (16) which is directed toward said ring and adjacent thereto.
Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said grip means are constituted by a first annular set of teeth (17) which is coupled to temporary engagement means constituted by a second annular complementary set of teeth (18) formed on said lateral surface of said pulley.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of said first set of teeth and of said second complementary set of teeth and the orientation of the threads of said ring and said bush are such that an opening rotation of said rear quarter is followed by an axial movement of said ring toward said bush and by disengagement between said first set of teeth and said second complementary set of teeth.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body (12) has, on the side (13) opposite to said pulley, an arm (20) which protrudes externally to said bush and with which a cover (21) is associated, said cover having an annular coupling ridge (22) for said bush.
Device according to claim 11, characterized in that a resilient member (19), interposed between said annular ridge and said ring, is provided coaxially to said arm.
Device according to claim 12, characterized in that a longitudinal slot (23) is formed on said arm (20) and acts as seat for a pin (24) for the linkage of a lever (25) provided with a tang (26) for abutment, in closed condition, against said bush.
Device according to claim 13, characterized in that a rounded ridge (27) protrudes at the region of said cover which is external to said bush and temporarily engages a complementarily shaped indent formed on said tang of said lever.