Ski boot

Abstract

 A ski boot having a quarter (4) articulated to a shell (2) and including a leaf spring-like reinforcement member (5) which is essentially U-shaped. The base (6) of the reinforcement member surrounds the shell to the rear, whilst wings (9a) of the member are selectively associable laterally with respect to the quarter.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a ski boot particularly of the type having a quarter articulated to a shell.

[0002] In this type of ski boot there is the strongly felt problem of being able to achieve good lateral rigidity, in order to allow optimum transmission of forces from the leg to the ski.

[0003] Another problem of conventional ski boots is related to the rigidity of the quarter and of the shell, which are usually made of plastic. During use, the flexing for example of the quarter with respect to the shell is in fact not constant because the material of which it is made varies in rigidity depending on the temperature.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned technical problems of the prior art.

[0005] An object of the invention is to provide a ski boot in which it is possible to achieve optimum lateral support whilst maintaining optimum comfort for the user.

[0006] A further object is to provide a ski boot which allows a gradual flexing between the shell and the quarter which does not change in time and is independent of the outside temperature.

[0007] A further object is to provide a ski boot in which the quarter has, during flexing, optimum elastic return with respect to the shell.

[0008] A further object is to provide a ski boot which is structurally simple as well as reliable and safe in use.

[0009] A further object is to provide a ski boot in which the skier can customize the above characteristics and therefore customize the degree of lateral support, the degree of flexing between the shell and the quarter, and the extent of the elastic return of the quarter.

[0010] A further important object is to provide a ski boot in which the user can optimize the above adjustments depending on the specific sports practice.

[0011] Still a further object is to provide a ski boot which has low manufacturing costs and can be manufactured with conventional and known machines and equipment.

[0012] This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent from the description that follows are achieved by a ski boot as claimed in the appended claims.

[0013] Other objects will become apparent in the description that follows, which must be considered together with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a particular embodiment by way of nonlimitative example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ski boot according to a first aspect of the invention, in which the wings of the leaf spring-like reinforcement member are arranged inside the quarter;

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a ski boot according to a further aspect of the invention, in which the wings of the leaf spring-like reinforcement member are arranged externally with respect to the quarter;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views, similar to the preceding ones, of further arrangements for the leaf spring-like reinforcement member;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a ski boot according to the invention provided with an adjuster means for varying the elastic response and inclination of the quarter;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the adjuster means of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the ski boot of FIG. 1.

[0014] With reference to the above figures, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or equivalent features therein, the numeral 1, in Figs. 1 and 7, designates a ski boot which is constituted by a quarter 4 articulated to a shell 2 by means of studs 3.

[0015] The boot includes a leaf spring-like reinforcement member, designated by the reference numeral 5, which is essentially U-shaped and accordingly has a base 6 which surrounds the shell 2 to the rear at the heel region 7.

[0016] The base 6 is accordingly arc-shaped and its ends protrude until they affect a region under the surface 8 of quarter 4, as shown in Fig. 1, or outside the surface 8 of quarter 4, as shown in Fig. 2 for the ski boot 101.

[0017] The ends of the base 6 are then connected to a pair of wings 9a and 9b which are also located at the internal or external lateral surface of the quarter 4.

[0018] The wings 9a and 9b have a height such that their tips lie approximately adjacent to the upper perimetric rim 10 of the quarter 4.

[0019] The connection between the tips of the base 6 and the wings 9a and 9b can occur at the studs 3. In such case, the leaf spring-like reinforcement member is perforated thereat in order to allow coupling.

[0020] As an alternative, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the region connecting the tips of the base 206, 306 and the wings 209a, 309b can be located to the rear of the studs 3 or in front of them as shown respectively in Figs. 3, for ski boot 201, and in Fig. 4, for ski boot 301.

[0021] In this case, the shape of the leaf spring-like reinforcement member 205, 305 is slightly altered at the tips of the base 206, 306 and of the wings 209a, 309b.

[0022] The base 206, 306 can interact with a first locking means for locking to the shell 2. The locking means can be constituted, for example, by first screws or rivets 12 which are preferably located laterally to the heel region 7.

[0023] As an alternative, the first locking means can be constituted by ridges or protrusions (not illustrated in the drawings) which protrude from the base 206, 306 and can be accommodated at complementarily shaped seats formed at the outer lateral surface 13 of the shell 2.

[0024] As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, the wings 9a and 9b can be selectively associated laterally with respect to the quarter 4, by providing a plurality of holes 14 on the quarter and accordingly located at different heights with respect to the adjacent quarter.

[0025] A second locking means for locking to the quarter 4 can be arranged at the holes 14 and can be constituted, for example, by a second screw or rivet 16.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiments, the leaf spring-like reinforcement member 5 is essentially a plate and is preferably formed by blanking from a flat sheet.

[0027] The leaf spring-like reinforcement member is preferably made of steel or titanium or other material, such as for example suitably shaped carbon fiber or "kevlar" (™).

[0028] The described solution allows to achieve optimum lateral rigidity, for example if both the base 6, 206, 306 and the wings 9a, 9b, 209a, 309b are rigidly coupled to the shell and to the quarter, so as to obtain a boot which is very rigid and therefore highly sensitive in transmitting forces from the leg to the ski and is accordingly suitable for expert skiers.

[0029] The leaf spring-like reinforcement member also allows an optimally gradual flexing between the shell and the quarter, which is constant and therefore independent of, for example, the outside temperature.

[0030] The technical properties of the leaf spring-like reinforcement member also allow to achieve high elastic return of the quarter, whilst flexibility can be customized according to the specific requirements by the user by symmetrically varying the mutual locking point of the wings 9a, 9b, 209a, 309b and the quarter 4.

[0031] Furthermore, if the skier performs these adjustments asymmetrically, for example locking the wing 9a at the hole that is adjacent to the upper perimetric rim 10 and locking the wing 9b proximate to the stud 3, he can achieve an equally asymmetrical response of the boot to applied forces, accordingly allowing to reduce the turning radius of the ski.

[0032] If instead the wing 9a is locked proximate to the stud 3 and the wing 9b is locked proximate to the hole that is adjacent to the upper perimetric rim 10, the turning radius can be increased.

[0033] Most of all, this asymmetrical customization of the locking of the wings of the leaf spring-like reinforcement member at the quarter facilitates a particular type of skiing known as "carving", characterized by very tight turns, because the leaf spring-like reinforcement member forces a different deformation of the boot.

[0034] The above described embodiments achieve the aim and all the objects intended, since the leaf spring-like reinforcement member allows to adjust the flexing between the shell and the quarter regardless of the temperature at which the boot is used, to achieve a chosen lateral support, to achieve optimum elastic return of the quarter during flexing, and to preset the type of skiing in order to achieve curves having the chosen radius.

[0035] Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention provided with a device 17 for adjusting the elastic response and the inclination of the quarter. The adjuster device 17 is preferably constituted by a threaded stem 18 which is connected, at one end, to a sleeve 19 which is freely pivoted, by virtue of a pivot 20, to a pair of shoulders 21 which are rigidly coupled to, and protrude to the rear of, the base 6 of the leaf spring-like reinforcement member 5.

[0036] The threaded stem 18 is made to pass at a suitable seat formed on a tab 22 which is rigidly coupled to the shell and protrudes to the rear of the shell in a region located above the pair of shoulders 21.

[0037] A first nut 23 and a second nut 24 are thus rotatably associated with the threaded stem 18; the first nut is located at the free end, whilst the second nut 24 is in the region between the pair of shoulders 21 and the tab 22.

[0038] Adjustment of the position of the first and second nuts allows to adjust the elastic response and the inclination of the quarter.

[0039] The materials and the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the described embodiment may of course be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.

Claims

1. A ski boot comprising a shell (2) associated with a quarter (4) characterized in that it comprises a leaf spring-like reinforcement member (5, 205, 305) which is essentially U-shaped and has a base (6, 206, 306) which surrounds said shell to the rear, said member having wings (9a, 9b, 209a, 309b) selectively associable laterally with respect to said quarter.

2. A ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (6, 206, 306) has an arc-like shape, and has ends protruding to affect a region that lies under or over the lateral surfaces (8) of said quarter (4).

3. A boot according to claim 2, characterized in that said ends of said base are connected to a pair of wings which are also located at said lateral surface (8) of said at least one quarter.

4. A boot according to claim 3, characterized in that the height of said pair of wings is such that their tips are approximately adjacent to the upper perimetric rim (10) of said quarter.

5. A boot according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection between the tips of said base (6) and of said pair of wings (9) occurs at studs (3) for the pivoting of said quarter (4) to said shell (2).

6. A boot according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection between the tips of said base (206)and of said pair of wings (209a)occurs in a region which lies to the rear of the studs (3) for the pivoting of said at least one quarter to said shell.

7. A boot according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection between the tips of said base (306) and of said pair of wings (309a) occurs in a region located in front of the studs (3) for the pivoting of said at least one quarter to said shell.

8. A boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base (206) interacts with a first locking means for locking to said shell, said means being constituted by first screws or rivets (12) which are arranged laterally to said heel region.

9. A boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first locking means is constituted by ridges or protrusions which protrude from said base and can be accommodated at complementarily shaped seats formed at the outer lateral surface of said shell.

10. A boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pair of wings (9a, 9b) can be selectively associated laterally with said at least one quarter symmetrically or asymmetrically, in order to vary the turning radius of the skiing, one or more suitably equidistant holes being formed on said pair of wings and being arranged at different heights with respect to said adjacent at least one quarter.

11. A boot according to claim 10, characterized in that a second locking means (16) is provided at said holes said second locking means being adapted to lock said at last one quarter, said second locking means being constituted by a second screw or rivet (16).

12. A boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said leaf spring-like reinforcement member (5, 205, 305) has an essentially plate shape and is obtained by blanking from a flat sheet.

13. A boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said leaf spring-like reinforcement member (5, 205, 305) is made of steel or titanium or carbon fiber or "Kevlar".

14. A boot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an adjuster device (17) for adjusting the elastic response and inclination of said quarter, said adjuster device being constituted by a threaded stem (18) which is connected, at one end, to a sleeve (19) which is freely pivoted, by virtue of a pivot (20), to two shoulders (21) which are rigidly coupled to, and protrude to the rear of, said base (6) of said leaf spring-like reinforcement member (5).

15. A boot according to claim 14, characterized in that said threaded stem (18) passes at a seat formed in a tab (22) which is rigidly coupled to, and protrudes to the rear of, said shell (2) in a region located above said pair of shoulders (21), a first nut (23) and a second nut (24) being rotatably associated with said threaded stem (18) at the free end and, respectively, in the region between said two shoulders and the tab.

Drawing