IT201900003585A1 - "Ski / walk device" - Google Patents

Description

"Ski / walk device"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a ski / walk device (so-called ski / walk mechanism) for sports footwear, in particular for a ski boot.

It is known that some ski boots, taken here as an example, have a rigid external hard shell (hull) that encloses a soft internal padding to receive the foot and ankle. A semi-rigid tibial portion (cuff) is connected to the hull to adjustably surround the calf.

The cuff is often pivotally connected to the shell so that it can rotate relative to it to provide flexibility to the ski boot during "walk mode". Conversely, it can be made integral with the hull during skiing.

Numerous known devices serve to selectively fix the cuff to the shell. Some types are basically composed of a base on which a rigid arm is hinged with a hook that can be fixed to a pin on the hull.

A limitation of these devices is the construction of the pin. To lock the pin in a stable position to all skiing stresses, it is necessary to create a fastening area on the hull, in particular by fixing the pin between two fins. The fastening area usually fills with snow or ice, which hinders the coupling between the arm and the pin. Often you even need a screwdriver or other tool to clean the area around the fins. in more dangerous cases, the arm seems to be stuck on the pin but instead the pin has not entered adequately into the arm hollow, with the risk of accidental opening of the device. Another limitation is that the upward rotation of the arm leaves the lower part of the base uncovered, which must remain clear, otherwise the arm would be hindered during the reverse rotation.

The main object of the invention is to eliminate or mitigate the aforementioned drawbacks by making a different device of the aforesaid type.

A skiing / walking device is therefore proposed for sports footwear, eg. a ski boot, equipped with a shell and a cuff mounted movably on the shell comprising:

a locking arm pivotally pivoted relative to the cuff, or to the shell, and provided with a hooking area adapted to engage on an anchor mounted on the shell, or on the cuff;

a scraper element which is cantilevered on the arm to extend with a free end thereof in correspondence with said zone.

The scraper element is mounted on the arm so that its free end functions as a chisel or scraper to clean the seat in the hull (or cuff) that houses the anchor when the arm is hooking onto the anchor. Thus the user can free snow or dirt from the anchoring seat at the same time as the usual arm coupling maneuver.

In a preferred embodiment, the scraper element is mounted on the arm so that it can move away from the hooking area and be pushed elastically towards the hooking area. The advantage is that the scraper element can embrace the anchor from the opposite side of the arm coupling area, both to clean its seat (in the hull) and to create an additional contact or closing force between the arm and the anchor. (like an elastic gripper).

Eg. the scraper element has a flexible and / or deformable or rigid structure capable of being able to move away elastically from the coupling area, i.e. as the scraper element moves away from the coupling area a return force is generated to bring it back to a position of rest in correspondence of the coupling area.

Or the device includes an elastic element (e.g. a spring) to push the scraper element elastically towards the coupling area.

Preferably in the rest position, the scraper element is always subject to a force that pushes it towards the coupling area.

In a preferred embodiment, simple, effective and light, the scraper element comprises or consists of a ring that surrounds the coupling area.

In particular, for maximum effectiveness, the ring extends substantially in a plane parallel - or slightly inclined - to the plane that contains the axis of hinging of the arm on the cuff and the longitudinal axis of the arm, or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm. arm and to the axis of a pin that forms the anchor.

In particular, the ring has two ends fixed or pivoted respectively in points placed on opposite sides of the arm, and / or said points have different distances from the coupling area, to create an elastic return force on the ring towards the coupling area. . Or the ring has two ends fixed or hinged respectively in points on the same side of the arm and have a stop that prevents it from coming out.

The scraper element can also be obtained by other means, for example a metal base or a lamella operated in turn by a spring that makes its function similar or equal.

The scraper element can be made of metal, eg. iron, aluminum, or plastic, or carbon.

In a preferred embodiment, the hooking area is a recess in the arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the anchor mounted protruding from the hull is a pin supported by two parallel fins protruding from the hull.

In a preferred embodiment, the arm is hinged to a rigid base, which can be fixed on the cuff or on the shell.

Another problem with this type of ski / walk mechanism is that the arm is quite long, because it must connect the pin, for greater stability and effectiveness, to a point of the cuff as high as possible. The arm rotated upwards can interfere with the users' legs and / or create problems of encumbrance under the trousers. In some cases, the arm remains detached from the cuff, effectively creating a spike that is dangerous for the user or exposed to shocks during walking and during the shoe putting on and taking off phases.

The raised arm (walking mode) leaves the lower portion of the base exposed, occupied by the lowered arm in the skiing position. If this portion fills with snow or ice, it creates an obstacle to the lowering of the arm.

To solve this second problem, a ski / walk device is therefore proposed for a ski boot equipped with a shell and cuff, comprising

a rigid base,

a rigid arm equipped with an end hook,

the base being fixed to the cuff and the end hook being anchored to a point or pin of the hull, or vice versa,

where the arm is divided into two portions:

a first portion which is connected to the base and extends cantilever towards said hull point or pivot or anchor, and

a second portion which on one side is hinged to the first portion around a first axis and on the other includes the end hook.

This solution can be combined with the device with scraper element and / or its variants, or used independently.

The construction of the arm, while maintaining the point of application of the traction at the base, allows to reduce the protrusion and the encumbrance of the arm when the mechanism is in walking mode (second portion unhooked and upwards), reducing the problems listed above . In fact, when walking, only the second portion of the arm rotates, not the whole arm.

The second portion of the arm raised in walking mode leaves the attachment area exposed, but by making the arm less protruding it can be protected under the pants. Furthermore, a slightly protruding arm makes the static sitting position over the boot more "comfortable".

Note that this solution with segmented arm does not necessarily have to include the scraper element defined above, and vice versa.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first portion is fixed on the base (e.g. an integral extension thereof), or comprises or consists of a rocker arm hinged to the base around a second axis parallel to the first axis,

where the rocker is configured to oscillate around the second axis (eg by 20-40 degrees) so as to translate the first axis with respect to the base without inverting the position of the two aforementioned axes.

This improves the cleaning of the base, freeing it, for example. from snow or ice. When the second portion rotates with respect to the first to switch from walking to skiing configuration or vice versa, the additional degree of freedom for the second axis favors the scraping action of the pivoted area of the second portion.

In particular, to increase the scraping effect, it is preferred that the second portion be hinged to the first so that a tang of the second portion can rotate around the first axis to scrape the base.

In a preferred embodiment, the rocker is configured to rotate about the second axis so as to move the first axis back and forth with respect to the base during a rotation of the arm about the first axis which brings the arm hooking zone into engagement with anchoring or during an opposite rotation of the arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an elastic means configured to rotate the rocker so as to bring the first axis closer to the base.

Eg. the elastic means is a spring or an elastic piston, e.g. mounted between a fixed point on the base and a point on the rocker arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the rocker comprises a cavity and the arm comprises a tooth protruding from the end opposite to that which houses the coupling area (called the tang), the protruding tooth being configured to enter the cavity when the arm is rotated. to engage the mounted anchor protruding from the hull. This improves the positional stability of the arm. In a preferred embodiment, the rocker comprises a first complementary portion to a second portion of the arm placed on the opposite end to that which houses the coupling area, the first and second portion being configured to

mate when the arm is rotated to engage the mounted anchor protruding from the hull, and to go into reciprocal abutment following a retrograde rotation of the arm aimed at moving it away from the anchor,

said reciprocal stop, hindering the retrograde rotation of the arm.

The advantages of the invention will be further clarified by preferred embodiments described below with reference to the attached drawings tables, in which:

Figure 1-2 show a three-dimensional view of a locking device for a ski boot; - figures 3 ÷ 7 show a side view of a coupling sequence;

Figure 8 shows a lateral view of a variant for the locking device;

- figure 9-10 show the variant of fig. 8 in different configuration;

- figure 11 shows the variant of fig.8 in lateral view and in cross section;

- figure 12 shows in three-dimensional view the variant of fig.11;

- figure 13 shows in three-dimensional view the variant of fig.3.

In the figures like references indicate identical or similar parts, and described as in use. In order not to crowd the drawings, some elements are not indicated repeatedly.

A locking device MC for ski boots comprises a locking arm 20 pivotally pivoted relative to a base 10.

The base 10 is fixed to the cuff 12 of the boot, while the arm 20 can rotate relative to the base 10 about an axis.

The movable end of the arm 20 is equipped with a recess 22 adapted to engage on a pin 40 mounted on the hull (not shown) and supported between two fins 42.

A scraper element in the form of a thread-like ring 30 is mounted cantilevered on the arm 20.

The ring 30 has two ends 24 hinged on opposite sides of the arm 30 at points which have different distances from the recess 22, while the ring 30 extends from the ends 24 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the arm 20 and so to surround the recess 22. In particular, the ring 30 at rest remains close to the entrance to the recess 22.

Thanks to the specific pivoting of the ring 30 on the arm 20, if the ring 30 moves away from the recess 22, an elastic return force is generated to bring it back towards the recess 22. Preferably in the arm 20 the area adjacent to the recess 22 it comprises a step or concavity to receive the curved body of the ring 30.

Coming to figs. 3-7, it illustrates how the ring 30 operates during the coupling of the arm 20 to the pin 40 by the user.

The arm 20 lowers towards the pin 40 (fig.4) placing itself next to the fins 42 (fig.5) At rest the ring 30 is adjacent to the recess 22.

The arm 20 moves towards the pin 40, which to enter the recess 22 opens the ring 30 with respect to the arm 20 (fig. 6). As the end of the arm 20 with the notch 22 slides over the pin 40, the ring 30 slides between the fins 42 and under the pin 40. During this movement, the ring 30 sweeps away any snow or dirt present between the fins. 42 and under the pin 40. On the other hand, the end of the arm 20 with the recess 22 as it slides over the pin 40 also helps to scrape the outer part thereof.

Finally, the pin 40 ends up entering the recess 22 (fig.7) where it is also trapped by the elastic thrust exerted by the ring 30 on the arm 20.

Note how advantageously the ring 30 and the arm 20 form in fig.7 a sort of gripper on the pin 40. Also note how the elastic thrust of the ring 30 helps the entry of the pin 40 into the recess 22.

Ring 30 also helps to create a full and rounded perimeter around the end of the arm 20 and the hollow 22, protecting the user's trousers from sharp edges.

To shorten the protruding part of the arm 20 from the base 10 when the arm 20 is disconnected from the pin 40 (as in fig. 3), the device 90 visible in figs is proposed. 8 ÷ 13, illustrated for simplicity without the ring 30.

The ring 30, however, can be advantageously implemented also in the device 90, although not necessary.

In the device 90 an arm 98 (with the same function as the arm 20) is not hinged directly to the base 10 (as for example it could be in fig. 2) but to a rocker 50 hinged on the base 10 to oscillate around the base 10 to a first axis X2. The arm 98 is hinged at one end of the rocker 50 around a second axis X3 parallel to the X2 axis, v. fig.12 or 13. It should be noted that the rocker 50, with connected components, does not necessarily have to be present in the device MC, in which the arm 20 can be hinged directly to the base 10.

By construction the rocker 50 can then rotate around the axis X2 so as to translate the axis X3 with respect to the base 10. In particular, by construction the rocker 50 can oscillate around the axis X2 so as to move the axis forward-backward. axis X3 with respect to the base 10.

When the arm 98 is rotated about 180 degrees around the X2 axis to pass from the engaged position (fig. 9 and 10) to the release position (fig. 13), or vice versa, the forward-backward oscillation of the rocker 50 around the X2 axis allows the tail portion of the arm 98 to scrape and pass the base 10. When the arm 98 is hooked to the pin 42 it releases the traction to the base 10 at the X2 axis, as if the arm 98 and the rocker 50 were a single piece. But only the arm 98 protrudes from the base 10 when the arm 98 is released from the pin 42 and rotated, so the protrusion of the arm from the base 10 is reduced.

Furthermore, the forward-backward oscillation of the rocker 50 around the axis X2 allows the axis X3 to rise with respect to the base 10 to allow the arm 98 to assume a third position, one in which it is laid parallel to the base 10 (fig. 8 and 11).

In fact, in this position the X3 axis remains raised - or more raised - with respect to the base 10, allowing the arm 98 to be approximately parallel - or more parallel - to the base 10.

The position of fig. 11 is favorable when sitting on the mechanism 90.

The device 90 comprises an elastic piston 80 mounted between a fixed point of the base 10 and a point of the rocker arm 50.

The elastic piston 80 serves to push the rocker 50 towards an angular position that the rocker 50 assumes in correspondence with the two angular positions of the arm 98 corresponding to the skiing or walking position (fig.13 and fig.9). The same function of the elastic piston 80 is also obtained e.g. by mounting a torsion spring in the X2 axis.

Note that the position of fig. 11 is made possible by the failure of the piston 80, which allows the removal of the X3 axis from the base 10.

The arm 98 includes an (optional) tooth 26 protruding from the opposite end to that which houses the recess 22, and the rocker arm 50 includes an (optional) cavity 52. The tooth 26 is sized to enter the cavity 52 when the arm 98 is rotated to engage pin 40.

The engagement between the cavity 52 and the tooth 26 improves the positional stability of the arm 20.

The arm 98 preferably includes a tang (which also includes the tooth 26) which protrudes from the X3 axis and extends towards the X2 axis. The shank can rotate around the X3 axis. The tang has several advantages.

It helps to at least partially close an area of the base 10 when the arm 98 is positioned in the skiing position (Fig. 9). And as the arm 98 rotates to go into a skiing or walking position, the tang scrapes the base 10 to clean it of snow or ice.

The rocker arm 50 comprises (fig. 9) a convexity 54 complementary to a concavity 28 of the arm 20 placed on the end opposite to that which houses the recess 22. The convexity 54 aligns with the concavity 28 when the arm 20 is rotated for engage the pin 40, and the convexity 54 abuts against the concavity 28 when the arm 20 tries to accidentally detach itself from the pin 40. For this purpose, the coupling between two inclined planes could also suffice.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Skiing / walking device (MC) for sports footwear, eg. a ski boot, equipped with a shell and a cuff mounted movably on the shell, comprising: a locking arm (20) pivotally pivoted relative to the cuff, or to the shell, and provided with a coupling area (22) able to engage on an anchor (40) mounted on the shell, or on the cuff; a scraper element (30) which is cantilevered on the arm to extend, with a free end thereof, in correspondence with said zone. 2. Device according to claim 1, in which the scraper element (30) is mounted on the arm (20) so as to be able to move away from the coupling area (22) and to be pushed elastically towards the coupling area (22). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an elastic element to push the scraper element elastically towards the coupling area. 4. Device according to any preceding claim, in which the scraper element comprises or consists of a ring (30) that surrounds the coupling area (22). 5. Device according to any preceding claim, in which the ring or the scraper element (30) has two ends (24) fixed or pivoted respectively in points placed on opposite sides of the arm, and / or said points have different distances from the coupling area (22), to create on the ring or on the scraper element (30) an elastic force of return towards the coupling area; or the ring or the scraper element (30) has two ends fixed or pivoted respectively in points placed on the same side of the arm and has a stop that prevents it from coming out. Device (90) according to any preceding claim, comprising a rigid base (10) which can be fixed to the cuff, and in which the arm (98) is divided into two portions: a first portion (50) which is connected to the base (10) and extends cantilever towards said anchor (40), and a second portion (98) which on one side is hinged to the first portion around a first axis (X3) and on the other includes the coupling area (22). 7. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the first portion comprises or consists of a rocker arm (50) hinged at the base around a second axis (X2) parallel to the first axis (X3), where the rocker arm (50) is configured to oscillate around the second axis (X3) so as to translate the first axis (X3) with respect to the base without inverting the position of the two axes (X3, X2). Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second portion is hinged to the first portion so that a tang (26) of the second portion (97) can rotate around the first axis (X3) to scrape the base (10) . Device according to claim 6 or 7 or 8, comprising an elastic means (80) configured to rotate the rocker so as to bring the first axis (X3) closer to the base. 10. Device according to claim 7 or 8 or 9, wherein the rocker arm (50) comprises a cavity (52) and the arm comprises a protruding tooth (26) from the opposite end to that which houses the coupling area (22) , the protruding tooth (26) being configured to enter the cavity (52) when the arm is rotated to engage the anchor (40) mounted protruding from the hull.