Foot securing device, particularly for ski boots

Abstract

 The foot securing device comprises a pressure distributor element (4) which affects the tibial region and the upper region of the foot. The distributor element (4) is slideably associated with the front quarter (2) of the boot (1) and longitudinally movable with respect thereto. A grip tab (9) is provided for the user, as well as a pawl lever (14) adapted to allow the rapid engagement and disengagement between the distributor element with the front quarter.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a foot securing device, particularly usable for ski boots.

[0002] As is known, various types of devices for securing the foot in a ski boot are currently available on the market.

[0003] In particular, the use is known of cables, belt elements or the like which by extending above the instep of the foot secure the same by means of the operation of an adapted knob or lever.

[0004] Other types of devices entail the use of air-bags arranged inside the boot which, once inflated, progressively reduce the inner space, thus providing the securing of the foot.

[0005] All such known types of devices are composed of a relatively high number of components which, since they have to be associated with said boot, increase its weight and its overall cost.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by devising a foot securing device which can be produced with structurally very simple means which lead to a simplification in construction, which are rapid to use and, at the same time, entail modest costs.

[0007] Within the scope of the aim described above, an important object is to provide a device which associates with the preceding characteristic that of allowing a gradual distribution of the pressures from the instep region to the front region of the foot.

[0008] Another important object is to obtain a device which allows an increase in the securing of the foot during the phase of flexing of the skier's leg.

[0009] Not least object is to devise a foot securing device which, by virtue of its peculiar constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

[0010] The aim described above, as well as the objects mentioned and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a foot securing device, particularly for ski boots comprising a front quarter and a shell, characterized in that it comprises a pressure distributor element which affects the tibial region and upper region of the foot, and is slideably associated, at least at one end, with said front quarter and is longitudinally movable with respect thereto, said device further comprising means for mutual rapid engagement and disengagement between said front quarter and said pressure distributor element.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages 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:

Fig. 1 is a lateral view, in partial cross section, of a boot with which the securing device is associated;

Fig. 2 is a top view of said boot;

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of the front quarter;

Fig. 4 is a lateral view, similar to fig. 1, of a boot according to another aspect of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the front quarter of the boot of figure 4; and

Fig. 6 is a cross section view along the plane VI-VI of fig. 5.

[0012] With reference to the above described figures, the foot securing device, particularly usable for ski boots 1, which comprise a front quarter 2, provided either monolithically with a shell 3 or articulated thereto, comprises a pressure distributor element consisting of a presser 4 which extends from the tibial resting region 5 to the region of the foot instep 6 up to the metatarsal or front region 7.

[0013] Said presser 4 is expediently provided monolithically, preferably in rigid material, anatomically shaped with respect to the regions 5, 6 and 7 and has a terminal end 8 which projects beyond the upper end of the front quarter 2.

[0014] A tab 9, constituting a grip means for the user and preferably provided with a through hole 10, projects orthogonally from said end 8 in the direction of the tip of the boot 1 at the middle longitudinal axis of the front quarter 2.

[0015] A dentellated band 11 protrudes perpendicular to said tab 9 and parallel to the tibial resting region 5, the interspace between said band and the lateral surface 12 of the presser 4 being approximately equal to the thickness of the front quarter 2.

[0016] Said dentellated band, which naturally projects in the direction of the sole 13 of the boot, interacts with known engagement means, consisting for example of a pawl lever or ratchet 14, pivoted within a small base 15 which is fixed to said quarter 2.

[0017] Said lever 14 is in fact provided with an end 16 which interacts in a snap-together manner with the teeth of the band 11 so as to allow said band to move in a direction extending towards the sole 13 and prevent movement of the band in an opposite direction extending away from said sole.

[0018] The other end 17 of the lever 14 instead allows to disengage the end 16 from the teeth of the band 11 and thus allows free sliding movement thereof with respect to the front quarter 2.

[0019] This movement can be imparted to the band, and therefore accordingly to the presser 4, either by inserting the tip of the ski-stick in the hole 10 provided on the tab 9 or by forcing with a hand or with the heel of the other boot said tab 9 in the direction of the sole 13.

[0020] After putting the boot on, the skier thus arranges the presser 4 imparting thereto a translatory motion which causes it to optimally embrace the entire upper surface of the foot starting from the instep surface 6 to the surface of the metatarsal or front region 7.

[0021] Thus, during the flexing phase, there will be an increase in the securing of the foot since the presser 4 presses thereon increasingly, the tibial resting region 5 allowing an improved support of the front part of the leg and a better transmission of the lateral stresses from the leg to the ski.

[0022] When the practice of skiing is over, the skier, in order to perform the disengagement, need only act on the end 17 of the pawl lever 14, disengaging the end 16 from the teeth of the band 11.

[0023] Naturally the presser 4 is interposed between the inner shoe, the front quarter 2 and the shell 3.

[0024] It has thus been observed that the device achieves the intended aim and objects, said device consisting of a single pressure distributor element which can be easily and rapidly arranged to act on the foot so as to provide its securing, gradually distributing the pressures from the instep region to the metatarsal or front region.

[0025] The device furthermore allows an increase in the securing of the foot during the phase of flexing of the skier's leg, this increasing the sensitivity of the athlete while skiing.

[0026] The securing device is furthermore very simple and economical from the point of view of manufacture due to the limited number of components and due to their constructive simplicity.

[0027] Naturally the device is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.

[0028] Thus, for example, figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a variated aspect of a securing device associated with a front quarter 102 frontally provided, approximately at the longitudinal middle axis, with a slot 118 wherefrom protrudes a lug 119 rigidly associated with the presser 104.

[0029] A pawl lever or ratchet 114 is pivoted to said lug 119, an end of said lever interacting in a snap-together manner with the teeth of a pair of sets of teeth 111a and 111b provided on the front quarter 102 parallel and laterally with respect to the slot 118.

[0030] Unlocking is achieved by acting on the end 117 opposite to the one 116 which allows the uncoupling of the teeth from the sets of teeth 111a and 111b. In order to avoid the splaying out of the flaps of the slot 118 and the consequent involuntary unlocking of the lever 114, the sets of teeth are provided so as to protrude with respect to the quarter 102 and so that the lever is laterally provided with two flaps 120a and 120b, facing the quarter and slideable with respect to the lateral and not mutually facing surfaces 121a and 121b of the sets of teeth. The pressure distributor element can be connected, at the end opposite to the terminal end 8, to the shell 3 at the foot instep region 7.

[0031] Obviously, elastic biasing means may be interposed on the pawl lever 14, 114, for biasing the end 16, 116 thereof into engagement with the teeth 11, 111a, 111b, uncoupling being achieved by applying to the opposite end 17, 117 of the lever 14, 114, a pressure sufficient to overcome the elastic biasing force exerted by the elastic biasing means, to thus cause disengagement of the end 16, 116, from the teeth 11, 111a, 111b.

[0032] Naturally the dimensions and the materials which constitute the individual components of the securing device may be any according to the specific requirements.

Claims

1. Foot securing device, particularly for ski boots having a front quarter and a shell, characterized in that it comprises a pressure distributor element which affects the tibial region and the upper regions of the foot, and is slideably associated, at least at one end, with said front quarter and is longitudinally movable with respect thereto, said device further comprising means for mutual rapid engagement and disengagement between said front quarter and said pressure distributor element.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said pressure distributor element consists of a presser extending from the tibial resting region to the foot instep region and then to the front region of the foot.

3. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said presser is provided monolithically, preferably in rigid material, shaped anatomically with respect to said tibial resting region, to said foot instep region and to said metatarsal region, said presser being provided with an end which projects beyond the upper end of said front quarter, from said end there protruding, at the middle longitudinal axis of said front quarter and in the direction of the tip of said boot, a grip means for the user, consisting of a tab.

4. Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that a dentellated band protrudes perpendicular to said tab and parallel to the tibial resting region, in the direction of the sole of said boot, the interspace between said band and the lateral surface of said presser which faces said band being approximately equal to the thickness of said front quarter.

5. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for the rapid engagement and disengagement between said front quarter and said presser, consisting of a pawl lever pivoted within a small base fixed to said front quarter.

6. Device according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that said pawl lever is provided with one end interacting in a snap-together manner with the teeth of said dentellated band to allow the latter to move towards the sole of said boot, the other end of said pawl lever allowing the disengagement of the former from said teeth of said band.

7. Device according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that a through hole is provided on said tab projecting from said presser and acts as a seat for the tip of a ski-stick.

8. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said presser is interposed between an inner shoe arranged inside the boot and the inner surfaces of said front quarter and of said shell.

9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is associated with a front quarter which is frontally provided, approximately at the longitudinal middle axis, with a slot wherefrom protrudes a lug rigidly associated with said presser.

10. Device according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that a pawl lever is pivoted to said lug of said presser which protrudes from said slot, an end of said lever interacting in a snap-together manner with the teeth of a pair of sets of teeth provided on said front quarter parallel and laterally with respect to said slot.

11. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said presser is provided with an end adjacent to the upper end of said front quarter, rigidly associated with said front quarter.

Drawing