SKI BOOT

Abstract

 A ski boot (1) with a cuff locking device (20) comprising: a latch locking member (21) fastened on the shell (2) in a point where the cuff (3) overlaps the shell (2), moving between a locking position in which it engages a coupling seat (22) in the cuff (3), and an unlocking position in which it is spaced apart from the cuff (3) so as to allow pivoting movement of the cuff (3) with respect to the shell (2); a drive mechanism (24) to keep the locking member (21) in the locking position; and a shutter assembly (26) located at the coupling seat (22), structured so as to selectively close/plug the mouth of the coupling seat (22) when the mouth is not engaged by the latch locking member (21).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a ski boot.

[0002] More in detail, the present invention relates to a mountaineering ski boot, use to which the following disclosure will make explicit reference without however losing in generality.

[0003] As is known, more recent mountaineering ski boots essentially comprise: a plastic-material rigid shell, which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has the lower part specifically structured to be attached to the back of a downhill ski or the like by means of specific known mountaineering ski-binding devices; a plastic-material rigid cuff, which is shaped so as to embrace the lower part of the user's leg from behind, and is hinged to the upper part of the shell so as to be able to rotate about a transversal reference axis which is substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the boot, and is also locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle; an inner liner made of soft and insulating material, which is inserted inside the shell and the cuff and is shaped so as to wrap around and protect both the foot and the lower part of the user's leg; and a series of manually-operated closing members which are located both on the shell and on the cuff, and are structured so as to selectively close/tighten the shell and the cuff so as to immobilize the user's leg stably inside the liner.

[0004] More specifically, the lower part of the shell is specifically structured to couple, in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, to the toe-piece and the heel-piece of a mountaineering ski binding device, which is overall structured so as to allow the skier to raise, when necessary, the heel of the boot from the ski underneath, while always and in any case keeping the toe of the boot, or better the toe of the shell, firmly anchored to the ski.

[0005] Finally, mountaineering ski boots are provided with a cuff locking device, which is traditionally located in the area above the heel of the boot, straddling the shell and the cuff, and is structured so as to selectively and alternatively rigidly lock the cuff to the shell in a given tilted position, thus preventing any pivoting movement of the cuff on the shell; or to release the cuff completely from the shell so as to allow the cuff to freely pivot on the shell, while remaining on the midplane of the boot.

[0006] Aim of the present invention is to realize a cuff locking device that does not jam in case of accumulation of snow or ice in the rear part of the boot.

[0007] In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a ski boot as defined in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims dependent thereon.

[0008] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

• figure 1 is the perspective view of a mountaineering ski boot made according to the teachings of the present invention;
• figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view, with parts removed for clarity, of the rear part of the figure 1 mountaineering ski boot;
• figures 3 and 4 are two sectional views, and with parts removed for clarity, of the rear part of the figure 1 mountaineering ski boot, cross-sectioned according to the midplane and in two different operating positions; whereas
• figure 5 is a sectional view of the upper part of the cuff locking device of the figure 1 mountaineering ski boot, cross-sectioned along the midplane and with parts removed for clarity.

[0009] With reference to figures 1 and 2, numeral 1 indicates as a whole ski boot, and in particular a ski boot specifically structured for ski mountaineering.

[0010] The ski boot 1 essentially comprises: a rigid shell 2 which is made so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has the lower part specifically structured/ shaped so as to be connectable/coupleable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, to a ski binding device (not shown) of known type, which in turn is structured to be attached in rigid manner on the back of a generic downhill ski or the like; and a rigid cuff 3 which is shaped so as to surround the ankle of the user, and is hinged on the upper part of shell 2 so as to be able to freely pivot about a transversal reference axis A which is locally substantially perpendicular to the vertical midplane of the boot (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the sheet in figures 3 and 4), and is also locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle of the user.

[0011] More in detail, the lower part of shell 2 is provided with a front toe 4 and with a rear heel 5 which are preferably structured so as to be connectable/ coupleable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, respectively with the toe-piece (not shown) and with the heel-piece (not shown) of a known mountaineering ski binding device, which in turn is structured to be attached in rigid manner on the back of a generic downhill ski or the like.

[0012] The toe-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device in particular is structured so as to be able to pivotally joint the toe 4 of boot 1 stably on the back of the downhill ski or the like, so as to allow the skier to raise heel 5 of the boot 1 from the ski underneath, while always and in any case keeping the toe 4 anchored to the ski.

[0013] The heel-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device is instead structured so as to be able to selectively withhold the heel 5 of boot 1 stably in abutment on the back of the downhill ski or the like, thus preventing any rotation of shell 2 with respect to the ski.

[0014] In the example shown, in particular, shell 2 is preferably formed by a substantially basin-shaped, rigid casing 6 which is preferably made of nylon (polyamide), PEBAX (polyester-amide) or similar plastic polymers, and which is shaped so as to accommodate therein the foot of the user; and a sole 7 which is preferably made of rubber or other elastomeric material, and is structured so as to completely cover the lower wall of the rigid casing 6.

[0015] As an alternative, the rigid casing 6 could also be made of a composite material preferably formed by one or more overlapping layers of carbon fiber and/or fiber glass and/or aramid fiber, which are conveniently braided and/or overlap each other and are embedded in an epoxy, phenolic or polyester resin, preferably of the thermosetting type.

[0016] With reference to figure 2, preferably shell 2 also comprises a rear coupling plate 9 made of metal material and which is attached in rigid manner on the casing 6 at the side of the rear heel 5, substantially straddling the midplane of the boot, and is structured so as to be connectable/coupleable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, with the heel-piece of a mountaineering ski binding device.

[0017] With reference to figure 1, the rigid casing 6 is preferably also provided with a substantially duckbill-shaped protruding front tailpiece 10, which cantilevered extends beyond the edge of sole 7 thus substantially forming an extension of the lower wall of casing 6, and is structured so as to be connectable/coupleable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, with the toe-piece (not shown) of a mountaineering ski binding device.

[0018] Preferably shell 2 furthermore comprises a metal-material stiffening insert 11, which is embedded inside the protruding tailpiece 10 of rigid casing 6 transversely to the midplane of the boot, and is structured so as to emerge/surface outside casing 6 at the two lateral sides of the protruding tailpiece 10 to couple in known manner with the jaw of the toe-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device.

[0019] With reference to figures 1 and 2, cuff 3 is instead attached in freely rotatable manner on shell 2, or better on the rigid casing 6, by means of two lateral connection hinges 12 which are located on the inner and outer lateral sides of shell 2 and of cuff 3, aligned along axis A, so as to allow cuff 3 to freely pivot on shell 2 both forwards and backwards, while always remaining on a reference plane which is orthogonal to axis A and is substantially coincident with the midplane of the boot.

[0020] Cuff 3 preferably also consists of an approximately tubular-shaped rigid casing 13, which is preferably made of nylon (polyamide), PEBAX, (polyester-amide) or similar plastic polymers, and is substantially C-shaped so as to embrace the lower part of the user's leg from behind. As an alternative, the rigid casing 12 could also be made of a composite material preferably formed by one or more overlapping layers of carbon fiber and/or fiber glass and/or aramid fiber, which are conveniently embedded and/or overlap each other and are embedded in an epoxy phenolic or polyester resin, preferably of the thermosetting type.

[0021] With reference to figure 1, ski boot 1 is moreover provided with an inner liner 14 which is preferably made of soft and thermal-insulating material, preferably of the thermoforming type, which is accommodated inside shell 2 and cuff 3 preferably, though not necessarily, in removable manner, and is shaped so as to envelope and protect the foot and the lower part of the leg of the user; and with a manually-operated, boot closing system which is structured so as to be able to selectively close/tighten shell 2 and cuff 3 thus to immobilize the leg of the user stably inside the ski boot 1, or better, inside liner 14.

[0022] More in detail, in the example shown the plastic- or composite- material rigid casing 6 of shell 2 is preferably provided with a longitudinal slit 15 which extends along the upper part of casing 6 while remaining locally substantially coplanar to the midplane of the boot, and is dimensioned so as to allow the rigid casing 6 to be temporarily widened so as to facilitate the introduction of the user's foot into the liner 14.

[0023] With particular reference to figure 1, the ski boot 1 also preferably comprises a protective oblong-shaped flat protective tongue 16, which is preferably, though not necessarily, made of plastic, and is located resting on the upper part of shell 2, or better on the upper part of the rigid casing 6, in the area above the instep of the foot and the front part of the leg, to cover the longitudinal slit 15.

[0024] In other words, the protective tongue 16 is substantially L-shaped and extends grazing shell 2 in the area immediately above the instep of the foot and the tibia-astragalus junction of the ankle, to cover the longitudinal slit 15 of shell 2, and then ascends along the leg up to reaching and inserting below cuff 3, so as to cover the lower part of the tibia.

[0025] With reference to figure 1, the boot closing system instead preferably comprises two independent manually-operated closing members 17 and 18, which are located one on shell 2 and the other on cuff 3, and are structured to selectively close/tighten, respectively, the shell 2 and the cuff 3 thus to immobilize the leg of the user stably inside the ski boot 1, or better, inside the inner liner 14.

[0026] In the example shown, in particular, the closing member 17 preferably consists of a traditional manually-operated winch closing device, like the ones currently marketed by American company BOA TECHNOLOGY INC., which components are distributed on shell 2 and on tongue 16 in the area above the instep.

[0027] The closing member 18 instead preferably consists of a traditional lever closing buckle which is arranged straddling the two lateral flaps of cuff 3, or better of rigid casing 13, so as to selectively pull one towards the other said lateral flaps for tightening the cuff 3.

[0028] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, the ski boot 1 is finally provided with a cuff locking device 20 which is preferably located in the area above the heel of the boot, straddling shell 2 and cuff 3, and is structured so as to alternatively

• lock the cuff 3 in rigid manner to the shell 2 in a given position, thus preventing the pivoting movement of cuff 3 on shell 2; or
• completely unlock/release the cuff 3 from the shell 2 so as to allow the cuff 3 to freely pivot on shell 2 about axis A, while remaining on the midplane of the boot.

[0029] More in detail, the cuff locking device 20 is vertically aligned above heel 5, and is preferably structured so as to lock the cuff 3 in rigid manner to the shell 2 in a given descent position in which cuff 3 is tilted forwards with respect to the vertical of shell 2 by an angle preferably, though not necessarily, ranging between 3° and 30°.

[0030] The cuff locking device 20 is moreover structured so as to automatically lock the cuff 3 in rigid manner to the shell 2 to prevent any pivoting movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2 as a result of the connecting/ coupling of heel 5 of shell 2 with the heel-piece (not shown) of the ski binding device, or better of the mountaineering ski binding device; and preferably also to automatically unlock/release the cuff 3 from the shell 2 so as to allow cuff 3 to pivot freely on shell 2 about axis A as a result of the disconnecting/uncoupling of heel 5 of shell 2 from the heel-piece of the ski binding device, or better from the mountaineering ski binding device.

[0031] In other words, the cuff locking device 20 is structured so as to

• automatically lock the cuff 3 to the shell 2 so as to prevent any pivoting movement of cuff 3 on shell 2 when heel 5 of shell 2 is connected/coupled to the heel-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device; and preferably also
• automatically unlock/release the cuff 3 from the shell 2 so as to allow cuff 3 to pivot freely about axis A when heel 5 of shell 2 is disconnected/uncoupled from the heel-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device.

[0032] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, in the example shown, in particular, heel 5 of shell 2 is preferably structured/shaped so as to be engaged in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, by the two coupling pins of the heel-piece of a traditional Dynafit-type mountaineering ski binding device, so as to allow the heel-piece to couple and lock/withhold heel 5 stably in abutment/resting on the back of the downhill ski with the modes envisaged by international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international Standard ISO-9523).

[0033] More in detail, in the example shown, the rear coupling plate 9 is preferably structured/shaped so as to be engaged in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, by the two coupling pins of the heel-piece of a Dynafit-type mountaineering ski binding device, so as to allow the heel-piece of the ski binding device to couple and lock/withhold heel 5 of shell 2 firmly in abutment/resting on the back of the downhill ski with the modes envisaged by international standards in force for mountaineering ski boots (currently international Standard ISO-9523). In other words, the rear coupling plate 9 is structured/shaped so as to meet the dimension specifications required for coupling Dynafit-type mountaineering ski-binding devices or the like.

[0034] Dynafit-type mountaineering ski-binding devices are widely known in the field of mountaineering ski boots and are also described in detail, for example, in European Patent EP 0199098, and therefore will not be further disclosed.

[0035] Similarly, the rear coupling plate 9 is an already widely known component in the field of mountaineering ski boots, and therefore will not be further described, except to clarify that the rear coupling plate 9 is preferably attached in rigid manner to the rear side of heel 5 by means of a self-tapping screw of known type.

[0036] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, the cuff locking device 20 instead comprises:

• a latch locking member 21, which is fastened on shell 2 in a point where cuff 3 overlaps shell 2, with the possibility of moving between an extracted or locking position (see figure 3) in which the locking member 21 cantilevered protrudes from shell 2 and engages a corresponding coupling seat 22 present in cuff 3 thus to prevent the pivoting movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2, and a retracted or unlocking position (see figure 4) in which the locking member 21 is spaced apart from cuff 3 so as to allow the pivoting movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2; and
• a drive mechanism 24 which is structured so as to selectively arrange and keep the locking member 21 in the extracted or locking position.

[0037] More in detail, in the example shown, the latch locking member 21 is preferably attached to shell 2 in the area above the heel, substantially coplanar to the midplane of the boot, and is movable between the extracted or locking position (see figure 3) and the retracted or unlocking position (see figure 4), while remaining on the midplane of the boot. The coupling seat 22 is instead located on cuff 3 straddling the midplane of the boot.

[0038] The cuff locking device 20 preferably also comprises an elastic element 25 which is structured so as to keep the latch locking member 21 in the retracted or unlocking position (see figure 4) in elastic manner; and the drive mechanism 24 is structured so as to selectively arrange and keep the latch locking member 21 in the extracted or locking position, thus overcoming the push of said elastic element 25.

[0039] Additionally, the drive mechanism 24 is preferably structured so as to automatically arrange and keep the latch locking member 21 in the locking position as long as heel 5 of shell 2 is coupled to the heel-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device.

[0040] In other words, the drive mechanism 24 is structured so as to automatically arrange and keep the latch locking member 21 in the locking position as long as the coupling pins (not shown) of the heel-piece of the Dynafit-type mountaineering ski binding device engage/are coupled in the rear coupling plate 9.

[0041] With reference to figures 2 and 3, the cuff locking device 20 moreover comprises a shutter assembly 26 which is located on cuff 3 at the coupling seat 22, and is structured so as to selectively close/plug the mouth of the coupling seat 22 when the mouth is not engaged by the latch locking member 21, so as to prevent snow and/ or ice from penetrating inside the coupling seat 22 present on cuff 3.

[0042] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, in the example shown, in particular, the cuff locking device 20 preferably comprises: a substantially plate-shaped, support base 27 preferably made of metal material and which is attached in rigid manner to shell 2, or better to the rigid casing 6, straddling the midplane of the boot in the area above the heel of shell 2, and is structured so as to extend at least partly inside the gap 28 between shell 2 and cuff 3, while remaining locally substantially tangent to the outer surface of shell 2.

[0043] More in detail, in the example shown, the support base 27 is preferably recessed inside a blind seat made in the area of the rigid casing 6 immediately above the heel, straddling the midplane of the boot.

[0044] The latch locking member 21 instead consists of a large floating pin 21 preferably made of metal material and which is located inside the gap 28 between shell 2 and cuff 3, so as to be locally substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of shell 2, or better of the rigid casing 6, and is inserted in the support base 27 in axially sliding manner, so as to be movable between an extracted position (see figure 3) and a retracted position (see figure 4).

[0045] In the extracted position, the floating pin 21 cantilevered protrudes from the support base 27 so that the distal end thereof can reach the cuff 3 and stably engage the coupling seat 22 present in cuff 3, so as to prevent the pivoting movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2.

[0046] In the retracted position, the floating pin 21 is instead more or less completely retracted inside the support base 27 so that the distal end thereof is spaced apart from cuff 3, so as to allow the pivoting movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2.

[0047] With reference to figures 2 and 3, preferably the elastic element 25 instead consists of a metal-material flexible tongue 25, which is located inside the support base 27 so as to be interposed between the support base 27 and the floating pin 21, and is structured so as to keep the floating pin 21 in the retracted position in elastic manner.

[0048] More in detail, the flexible tongue 25 is preferably cantilevered attached to the inner face of the support base 27 so as to be locally substantially coplanar to the midplane of the boot and also locally substantially grazing the surface of shell 2 immediately underneath the support base 27, and has the distal end cuneated/engaged in the body of the floating pin 21 so as to push the floating pin 21 in elastic manner towards the surface of shell 2 immediately underneath, thus to withhold the floating pin 21 inside the support base 27 in the retracted position.

[0049] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, the drive mechanism 24 instead preferably comprises a rigid vertical strut 30 which extends substantially on the midplane of the boot, from heel 5 of shell 2 up to the latch locking member 21, preferably while remaining substantially grazing the outer surface of shell 2, or better the outer surface of the rigid casing 6, and is attached to shell 2 with the possibility of sliding/ moving freely in vertical direction between a lowered position (see figure 4) and a raised position (see figure 3).

[0050] The lower end 30a of strut 30 is also located substantially at heel 5 of shell 2, and is structured so as to be moved/pushed upwards when heel 5 of shell 2 is connected/coupled to the heel-piece (not shown) of the mountaineering ski binding device, so that the whole rigid strut 30 is forced to move vertically with respect to shell 2 from the lowered position (see figure 4) to the raised position (see figure 3) as a result of the coupling of heel 5 with the heel-piece of the mountaineering ski binding device, and then to remain stably in the raised position as long as the heel-piece remains coupled to heel 5 of shell 2.

[0051] In other words, the lower end 30a of strut 30 is located at heel 5 of shell 2, and is structured so as to be moved/pushed upwards by the heel-piece (not shown) coupling to heel 5.

[0052] The rigid strut 30 is furthermore as a whole structured to arrange and keep, when placed in the lowered position (see figure 4), the latch locking member 21 in the retracted or unlocking position, so as to allow cuff 3 to pivot freely on shell 2 about axis A; and to arrange and keep, when it is instead placed in the raised position (see figure 3), the latch locking member 21 in the extracted or locking position, so as to lock cuff 3 in rigid manner to shell 2 to prevent any pivoting of cuff 3 on shell 2.

[0053] More in detail, with reference to figures 3 and 4, the rigid strut 30 is arranged with its upper end 30b immediately below the flexible tongue 25, and is globally structured so as to keep, as long as it is in the lowered position (see figure 4), its upper end 30b at a given distance from the flexible tongue 25; and to bring, when instead it is in the raised position (see figure 5), its upper end 30b in abutment on the flexible tongue 25, so as to push the flexible tongue 25 upwards and to move the floating pin 21 from the retracted or unlocking position (see figure 4) to the extracted or locking position (see figure 3).

[0054] The drive mechanism 24 preferably also comprises an elastic element 31 which is preferably interposed between the rigid strut 30 and shell 2, or better the rigid casing 6, and is structured so as to keep the rigid strut 30 in its lowered position in elastic manner.

[0055] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, in the example shown, in particular, strut 30 is preferably inserted in an axially sliding manner inside a long vertical rectilinear groove, which is made on the outer surface of shell 2, or better on the outer surface of the rigid plastic- and/or composite-material casing 6. As an alternative, the rigid strut 20 could also be partly or completely slidingly inserted inside a vertical tunnel which extends inside shell 2 at the heel, substantially coplanar to the midplane of the boot.

[0056] Elastic element 31, instead, is preferably located inside a recess formed on the bottom of the rectilinear groove which accommodates the rigid strut 30, and preferably, though not necessarily, consists of a small helical spring or the like 31 which is located inside the recess with an end in abutment on shell 2, or better on the rigid casing 6, and a second end in abutment on a small transversal pin 32 which cantilevered protrudes from the rigid strut 30.

[0057] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, the lower end 30a of strut 30 is instead preferably located below the rear coupling plate 9 attached to the side of heel 5, and is structured so as to be moved/pushed upwards by the coupling pins of the heel-piece (not shown) of the Dynafit-type mountaineering ski binding device, when the heel-piece connects/couples to heal 5 of shell 2.

[0058] With reference to figures 3 and 4, instead the coupling seat 22 is preferably realized on a metal-material, plate-shaped element 33 which is attached in rigid manner to the inner surface of cuff 3, straddling the midplane of the boot, and is structured so as to extend at least partly inside the gap 28 between shell 2 and cuff 3.

[0059] More in detail, the coupling seat 22 preferably consists of a pass-through hole with section substantially complementary to the one of the latch locking member 21, i.e. of the floating pin 21, which is realized on a metal-material, plate-shaped element 33 which, in turn, is attached in rigid manner to the inner surface of cuff 3, or better to the inner surface of the rigid plastic- or composite-material casing 13, straddling the midplane of the boot, and is structured to at least partly extend inside the gap 28 between shell 2 and cuff 3, while remaining locally substantially tangent to the inner surface of cuff 3.

[0060] In the example shown, in particular, the plate-shaped element 33 is preferably recessed inside a blind seat which is made on the inner surface of rigid casing 13 that directly faces the upper edge of shell 2, straddling the midplane of the boot.

[0061] The plate-shaped element 33 is preferably also attached to cuff 3 in an adjustable manner.

[0062] More in detail, the plate-shaped element 33 is preferably attached in an adjustable manner to the rigid casing 13 by means of a locking screw clamp 34 which is located outside cuff 3, straddling the midplane of the boot and close to the lower edge of cuff 3, so as to be easily accessible by the user, and is structured so as to selectively withhold the plate-shaped element 33 in abutment on the inner surface of rigid casing 13, or better on the bottom of the blind seat made on the rigid casing 13, in a plurality of different positions.

[0063] In the example shown, in particular, the bottom of the blind seat accommodating the plate-shaped element 33 is preferably provided with a toothed profile, and the plate-shaped element 33 is structured so as to mesh on the toothed profile in a plurality of positions.

[0064] The locking screw clamp 34 instead comprises: a floating jaw which is arranged in abutment on the outer surface of cuff 3, or better of rigid casing 13, above the plate-shaped element 33; and a series of transversal pass-through screws which engage the floating jaw and the rigid casing 13 in pass-through manner and then screw into the plate-shaped element 33 underneath so as to bring and keep the plate-shaped element 33 in abutment on the rigid casing 13.

[0065] With reference to figures 3 and 4, preferably the shutter assembly 26 instead comprises: a movable shutter body 36 which is dimensioned so as to clog up the mouth of the coupling seat 22; and an elastic element 37 which is structured so as to withhold the shutter body 36 in elastic manner at the mouth of the coupling seat 22 on cuff 3.

[0066] More in detail, in the example shown the shutter assembly 26 preferably comprises:

• a flexible tongue 37 preferably made of metal material and which has the proximal end locked in rigid manner on the inner face of the plate-shaped element 33 at a given distance from the pass-through hole 22, and extends substantially grazing the inner face of the plate-shaped element 33 up to reach the pass-through hole 22; and
• a shutter body 36 preferably made of metal material and which has a shape roughly complementary to the one of the pass-through hole 22, and is cantilevered attached to the distal end 37a of the flexible tongue 37 so as to protrude inside the pass-through hole 22 of the plate-shaped element 33 while engaging the pass-through hole 22 preferably substantially up to the mouth.

[0067] The shutter body 36 is therefore structured so as to close/clog up the pass-through hole 22 of the plate-shaped element 33 substantially up to the mouth of the hole, so as to prevent the entry of snow and/or ice inside the pass-through hole 22.

[0068] The flexible tongue 37 is instead structured so as to flex in elastic manner towards the inner surface of cuff 3, or better of the rigid casing 13, so as to allow the shutter body 36 to at least partly disengage the inside of the pass-through hole 22 to leave space for the locking member 21.

[0069] In the example shown, furthermore, the shutter body 36 is preferably, though not necessarily, additionally dimensioned so as to cantilevered protrude from the outer face of the plate-shaped element 33 substantially up to grazing or touching the facing surface of shell 2, or better the facing surface of the support base 27, so as to substantially slide, during the pivoting of cuff 3 on shell 2, on the outer surface of shell 2 to scrape snow and/or ice incrustations that adhere to the surface of shell 2 at gap 28.

[0070] More in detail, in the example shown the shutter body 36 preferably consists of a monolithic block made of Teflon or other self-lubricating plastic material.

[0071] With reference to figure 5, in a different embodiment, the distal end 37a of the flexible tongue 37 is conveniently shaped so as to have a shape roughly complementary to the one of the pass-through hole 22, so as to protrude inside the pass-through hole 22 of the plate-shaped element 33 while engaging the pass-through hole 2 preferably substantially up to the mouth.

[0072] In other words, the shutter body 36 is preferably made in one piece with the flexible tongue 37.

[0073] Operation of ski boot 1 is easily inferable from the above description, and does not require further explanations.

[0074] As regards instead operation of the cuff locking device 20, the insertion/coupling of the two coupling pins of the heel-piece (not shown) of the Dynafit-type mountaineering ski binding device in the rear coupling plate 9 causes the upwards movement of the rigid strut 30, which in turn pushes the flexible tongue 25 upwards thus causing the movement of the floating pin 21 from the retracted or unlocking position (see figure 4) to the extracted or locking position (see figure 3).

[0075] The shutter assembly 26 instead clogs up the mouth of the pass-through hole 22 of plate-shaped element 33 until the floating pin 21, i.e. the latch locking member 21, comes out of the support base 27 and penetrates inside the pass-through hole 22 of the plate-shaped element 33.

[0076] The advantages resulting from particular structure of cuff locking device 20 are remarkable.

[0077] The cuff locking device 20 is capable, when heel 5 of the boot couples to the heel-piece of the ski binding device, of automatically switching from the configuration in which it locks cuff 3 in a rigid manner to shell 2 so as to prevent any pivoting movement of cuff 3 with respect to shell 2, to the configuration in which it completely unlocks/releases cuff 3 from shell 2 so as to allow cuff 3 to pivot freely on the shell.

[0078] The shutter assembly 26 instead prevents accumulation of snow or ice inside the gap 28 between shell 2 and cuff 3, above the heel of the ski boot 1, thus avoiding snow or ice incrustations from preventing the latch locking member 21 from being driven into the coupling seat 22 on cuff 3.

[0079] It is finally clear that modifications and variants may be made to the above-described ski boot 1 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0080] For example, the shutter assembly 26 could also consist of two small movable panels, which are located at the mouth of the pass-through hole 22 of the plate-shaped element 33 so as to be locally substantially adjacent and coplanar to each other. The two movable panels are globally dimensioned so as to close the mouth of the pass-through hole 22, and are capable of rotating/bending in elastic manner towards the inside of the pass-through hole 22 on opposite sides of the midplane of the boot, under the push of the floating pin 21, so as to allow the floating pin 21 to engage the pass-through hole 22.

Claims

1. A ski boot (1) comprising a rigid shell (2) which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has the lower part structured so as to couple/fasten to a ski binding device; a rigid cuff (3) which is shaped so as to surround the ankle of the user, and is pivotally jointed on the shell (2) so as to pivot about a rotation axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the boot; and a cuff locking device (20) which is structured so as to selectively lock the cuff (3) in rigid manner to the shell (2) to prevent any pivoting movement of the cuff (3) on the shell (2);
the ski boot (1) being characterized in that the cuff locking device (20) comprises: a latch locking member (21) which is fastened on the shell (2) in a point where the cuff (3) overlaps the shell (2), with the possibility of moving between a locking position in which the locking member (21) cantilevered protrudes from the shell (2) and engages a corresponding coupling seat (22) in the cuff (3) to prevent the pivoting movement of the cuff (3) with respect to the shell (2), and a unlocking position in which the locking member (21) is spaced apart from the cuff (3) so as to allow the pivoting movement of the cuff (3) with respect to the shell (2); a drive mechanism (24) which is structured so as to selectively arrange and keep the locking member (21) in the locking position; and finally a shutter assembly (26) which is located at the coupling seat (22), and is structured so as to selectively close/plug the mouth of the coupling seat (22) when the mouth is not engaged by the latch locking member (21).

2. Ski boot according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cuff locking device (20) additionally comprises an elastic element (25) which is structured so as to keep in elastic manner the latch locking member (21) in the unlocking position; the drive mechanism (24) being structured so as to selectively arrange and keep the latch locking member (21) in the locking position, overcoming the push of said elastic element (25).

3. Ski boot according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shell (2) is provided with a rear heel (5) which is structured so as to be connectable/coupleable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, to the heel-piece of a ski binding device, and in that the drive mechanism (24) is structured so as to automatically arrange and keep the latch locking member (21) in the locking position until the heel (5) of the shell (2) is coupled to the heel-piece of the ski binding device.

4. Ski boot according to claim 3, characterized in that the latch locking member (21) is attached to the shell (2) in the area above the heel of the boot, substantially coplanar with the midplane of the boot; and in that the drive mechanism (24) comprises a rigid vertical strut (30) which extends substantially on the midplane of the boot, from the heel (5) of the shell (2) up to the latch locking member (21), and is attached to the shell (2) with the possibility of freely sliding/ moving in vertical direction between a lowered position and a raised position; the lower end (30a) of the strut (30) being located at the heel (5) of the shell (2), and being structured so as to be moved/pushed upwards by the heel-piece that couples with said heel (5).

5. Ski boot according to claim 4, characterized in that the rigid strut (30) is structured so as to arrange and keep, when placed in the lowered position, the latch locking member (21) in the unlocking position; and so as to arrange and keep, when placed in the raised position, the latch locking member (21) in the locking position.

6. Ski boot according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the drive mechanism (24) also comprises an elastic element (31) which is structured so as to keep in elastic manner the rigid strut (30) in the lowered position.

7. Ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shutter assembly (26) comprises a movable shutter body (36, 37a) which is dimensioned so as to clog up the mouth of the coupling seat (22); and an elastic element (37) which is structured so as to withhold in elastic manner the shutter body (36, 37a) at the mouth of said coupling seat (22).

8. Ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling seat (22) is realized on a metal-material, plate-shaped element (33) which is rigidly attached to the inner surface of the cuff (3), straddling the midplane of the boot, and is structured so as to extend at least partly inside the gap (28) between the shell (2) and the cuff (3).

9. Ski boot according to Claim 8, characterized in that the plate-shaped element (33) is attached to the cuff (3) in an adjustable manner.

10. Ski boot according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the coupling seat (22) is a pass-through hole (22) realized in said plate-shaped element (33), and in that the shutter assembly (26) comprises: a flexible tongue (37) which has the proximal end rigidly blocked on the inner face of the plate-shaped element (33), at a given distance from the pass-through hole (22), and extends substantially grazing the inner face of the plate-shaped element (33) up to reach said pass-through hole (22); and a shutter body (36, 37a) which has a shape roughly complementary to the one of the pass-through hole (22), and is located/formed on the distal end (37a) of the flexible tongue (37) so as to protrude inside the pass-through hole (22) of the plate-shaped element (33) substantially entirely engaging said hole.

11. Ski boot according to Claim 10, characterized in that the shutter body (36, 37a) is dimensioned so as to cantilevered protrude from the plate-shaped element (33) substantially up to grazing or touching the facing surface of the shell (2).

12. Ski boot according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the shutter body (36) is a block of Teflon or other plastic material.

13. Ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cuff locking device (20) comprises a substantially plate-shaped support base (27) which is attached in a rigid manner to the shell (2) in the area above the heel, and is structured to extend at least partly inside the gap (28) between the shell (2) and the cuff (3); and in that the latch locking member (21) consists of a floating pin (21) which is located inside the gap (28) between the shell (2) and the cuff (3), so as to be locally substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the shell (2), and is inserted in an axially sliding manner in the support base (27) so as to be movable between an extracted position in which the floating pin (21) cantilevered protrudes from the support base (27) and stably engages the coupling seat (22) in the cuff (3), and a retracted position in which the floating pin (21) is more or less completely retracted inside the support base (27) so that the distal end of the pin is spaced apart from the cuff (3).

14. Ski boot according to Claim 13, characterized in that the elastic element (25) is a flexible tongue (25) which is cantilevered attached to the inner face of the support base (27) substantially coplanar to the midplane of the boot, and has the distal end coupled to the floating pin (21) so as to push the floating pin (21) in elastic manner towards the surface of the shell (2) immediately underneath the support base (27).

15. Ski boot according to Claim 14, characterized in that the rigid strut (30) is arranged with its upper end (30b) immediately below the flexible tongue (25), and is structured so as to keep, as long as it is in the lowered position, said upper end (30b) at a predetermined distance from the flexible tongue (25); and to bring, when instead is in the raised position, said upper end (30b) in abutment against the flexible tongue (25), so as to push the flexible tongue (25) upwards and to move the floating pin (21) from the retracted position to the extracted position.

16. Ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part of shell (2) is provided with a front toe (4) and with a rear heel (5) which are preferably structured so as to be connectable/ coupleable in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable manner, respectively, with the toe-piece and with the heel-piece of a mountaineering ski binding device.

Drawing