BOOT, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

Abstract

 Boot (1), in particular for motorcyclists, comprising an upper (2), adapted to receive at least partially a user's foot, and a shaft (3), connected to said upper (2) and configured to receive at least partially a user's leg. Furthermore, the boot (1) comprises protection means (5) connected to the shaft (3) and reversibly movable between a configuration of minimum extension and a configuration of maximum extension along a direction of extension of the shaft (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a boot, in particular for motorcyclists. Therefore, the invention has particular and effective application in the sector of clothing for motorcycling, especially sports motorcycling.

PRIOR ART

[0002] In the technical field of motorcycling, boots are specifically engineered to provide the user with effective foot and leg protection. Moreover, the boots must ensure adequate mobility and the necessary level of comfort during a motorcycle ride. In particular, the boots must protect the motorcyclist's feet and legs against impacts, torsion and wounds. To this end, the motorcycle boots can comprise reinforced portions adapted to protect the foot, ankle and leg from impacts and collisions.

[0003] It is well known that motorcycle boots, in particular boots for off-road motorcycling, are intended to protect the motorcyclist's shins against the impacts of stones, rocks and branches thrown from the front wheel of the motorcycle or other motorcycles.

[0004] Therefore, some of these boots are provided with a robust knee-height shaft.

[0005] Disadvantageously, this solution greatly reduces the mobility of the foot and, moreover, offers poor breathability and heat dispersion.

[0006] Such drawbacks very often induce motorcyclists to prefer boots with a shorter protective shaft, for example which reaches the height of the calf, also in the case of off-road riding, exposing them to impacts and stones hitting them on the shin portion not protected by the boot.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0008] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, capable of increasing safety for the motorcyclist.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, capable of enabling an adequate thermoregulation of the motorcyclist's leg.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, capable of ensuring a high level of mobility of the motorcyclist's leg.

[0011] The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, comprising the technical features disclosed in one or more delle appended claims.

[0012] The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

• figures 1-2 illustrate perspective views of two respective operating configurations of a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• figure 3 illustrates a front view of a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• figures 4A-4C illustrate partial sectional views according to the respective section planes A-A, B-B and C-C of the boot, in particular for motorcyclists, illustrated in figure 3;
• figure 5 illustrates a front view of a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
• figures 6A-6C illustrate partial sectional views according to the respective section planes A-A, B-B and C-C of the boot, in particular for motorcyclists, illustrated in figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] With reference to the appended figures, a boot, in particular for motorcyclists, is designated in its entirety by the reference number 1, and will be referred to below as the boot 1.

[0015] The boot 1 comprises an upper 2 adapted to receive at least partially a user's foot and a shaft 3 connected to the upper 2 and configured to receive at least partially the user's leg.

[0016] According to the examples illustrated in the appended figures, the boot 1 comprises a sole 4 adapted to support the user's foot and connected to the upper 2.

[0017] Advantageously, the boot 1 comprises protection means 5 connected to the shaft 3 and reversibly movable between a configuration of minimum extension (fig. 1) and a configuration of maximum extension (figs. 2, 3, 5) along a direction of extension of the shaft. In this manner, the protection means 5 make it possible to increase or decrease the protected leg surface according to the user's needs. For example, during an off-road ride, the protection means 5 can be disposed in the configuration of maximum extension so as to provide the user with an effective protection against impacts and stones up to knee height. Furthermore, during a ride on the road and/or during a break from riding, the protection means 5 can, for example, be disposed in the configuration of minimum extension to enable effective breathability and increased leg mobility.

[0018] As illustrated in the appended figures, the direction of extension of the shaft 3 can be a substantially vertical direction which allows the protection means 5 to protect a smaller portion of the leg in the condition of minimum extension and to protect both the lower portion of the leg and an upper portion of the leg in the configuration of maximum extension. In other words, the lower portion of the leg is proximal to the ankle, and the upper one is proximal to the knee. In this manner, in the configuration of maximum extension the protection means 5 can ensure a complete protection to the user's shin.

[0019] Preferably, the protection means 5 are slidably movable between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension, making the passage between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension particularly easy and intuitive for a user to achieve. For example, the protection means can be telescopic.

[0020] In accordance with further possible embodiments, not illustrated in the appended figures, the protection means 5 can be movable between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension by means of a rotational motion, without the inventive concept at the basis of the present invention being altered.

[0021] According to an advantageous aspect, the protection means comprise a fixed element 6, constrained to the shaft 3, and a movable element 7, connected to the fixed element 6 and reversibly movable relative to the fixed element 6 in order to reversibly move the protection means 5 between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension. For example, the movable element 7 is slidably connected to the fixed element 6.

[0022] With particular reference to the appended figures, the boot 1 comprises slidable coupling means 8 active between the fixed element 6 and the movable element 7. In particular, the slidable coupling means 8 comprise at least one slide guide 9, disposed on the movable element 7, and at least one slidable coupling element 10, connected to the fixed element 6 and inserted in the slide guide 9 to slidably couple the fixed element 6 and the movable element 7. Preferably, the slidable coupling means 8 comprise a plurality of parallel slide guides 9, disposed on the movable element 7, and a respective plurality of slidable coupling elements 10, connected to the fixed element 6 and inserted in the plurality of slide guides 9 to slidably couple the fixed element 6 and the movable element 7. For example, the slide guides 9 can extend parallel to a main direction of extension of the shaft 3.

[0023] According to some possible embodiments, not illustrated, the slide guides can be disposed on the fixed element 6 and the slidable coupling elements can be disposed on the movable element 7, without the inventive concept at the basis of the present invention being altered.

[0024] In accordance with an advantageous aspect, the movable element 7 is stably constrained, preferably hinged, to the fixed element 6, thereby ensuring a particular robustness of the protection means 5 and preventing inappropriate detachments between the movable element 7 and the fixed element 6.

[0025] Solely by way of example and without limitation, this constraint reduces the degrees of freedom of the movable element 7, for example, to a single degree of freedom that allows the movable element 7 to slide relative to the fixed element 6 along the direction of extension of the shaft 3.

[0026] For example, the at least one slidable coupling element 10 can comprise at least one bolt and a respective nut (figs. 6A, 6C) and/or a riveted pin (figs. 4A, 4C) and/or a stud and/or a rivet. In particular, the solution comprising a bolt and nut enables an easy replacement, if necessary, of the movable element 7.

[0027] With particular reference to figures 4A, 6A, the fixed element 6 and the shaft 3 define a housing 11 adapted to house at least partially the movable element 7. In particular, in the configuration of minimum extension, the movable element 7 is at least partially inserted in the housing 8 so as reduce the overall volume and ensure high mobility of the user's leg. In particular, the shaft 3 can comprise a protective covering 12 adapted to protect the user's leg. The protective covering 12 can define a recess operatively associated with the fixed element 6 to define the abovementioned housing 11.

[0028] In accordance with an advantageous aspect, the movable element 7 is reversibly movable relative to the fixed element 6 between a retracted position (fig. 1), wherein said movable element is substantially facing the fixed element 6, defining the configuration of minimum extension of the protection means 5, and an extended position (figs. 2, 3, 5), wherein the movable element 7 is disposed at least partially outside the front volume defined by the fixed element 6, defining the configuration of maximum extension of the protection means 5. In other words, in the retracted position the movable element 7 substantially covers the same leg portion, for example the lower portion of the leg, covered by the fixed element 6 and in the extended position the movable element 7 protects a further leg portion, for example the upper portion of the leg, so as to extend the leg surface protected by the protection means 5.

[0029] According to a further advantageous aspect, the boot 1 comprises locking means 13 activatable between the fixed element 6 and the movable element 7 to maintain the protection means 5 stably in the configuration of maximum extension. For example, the locking means 13 comprise at least one fastener 14, preferably a plurality of fasteners 14, disposed on the movable element 7 and adapted to abut on a respective matching portion 15 of the fixed element 6 to maintain the protection means 5 stably in the configuration of maximum extension.

[0030] In accordance with some possible embodiments of the present invention, the locking means 13 can be further configured to lock the protection means 5 stably in a plurality of intermediate configurations between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension.

[0031] In accordance with a further advantageous aspect, the protection means 5, for example the fixed element 6 and/or the movable element 7, can have grooves and/or a rough surface adapted to ensure an increased effectiveness in absorbing impacts.

[0032] Furthermore, the protection means 5, for example the fixed element 6 and/or the movable element 7, can be at least partially made of different types of plastic, for example TPU, and/or carbon fibre.

Claims

1. A boot (1), in particular for motorcyclists, comprising:

- an upper (2) adapted to receive at least partially a user's foot;

- a shaft (3) connected to said upper (2) and configured to receive at least partially a user's leg;

- protection means (5) connected to the shaft (3) and reversibly movable between a configuration of minimum extension and a configuration of maximum extension along a direction of extension of the shaft (3); wherein said protection means (5) comprise a fixed element (6), constrained to the shaft (3), and a movable element (7), connected to the fixed element (6) and reversibly movable relative to the fixed element (6) in order to reversibly move said protection means (5) between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension;

- slidable coupling means (8) active between said fixed element (6) and said movable element (7), said slidable coupling means (8) comprising:

- at least one slide guide (9) disposed on said movable element (7);

- at least one slidable coupling element (10) connected to said fixed element (6) and inserted in said slide guide (9) to slidably couple said fixed element (6) and said movable element (7).

2. The boot in accordance with claim 1, wherein said protection means (5) are slidably movable between the configuration of minimum extension and the configuration of maximum extension.

3. The boot in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said protection means (5) are telescopic.

4. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said movable element (7) is slidably connected to the fixed element (6).

5. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said fixed element (6) and said shaft (3) define a housing (11) adapted to house at least partially said movable element (7); and wherein, in said configuration of minimum extension, said movable element (7) is at least partially inserted in said housing (11).

6. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said movable element (7) is reversibly movable relative to said fixed element (6) between a retracted position, wherein said movable element (7) is substantially facing said fixed element (6), defining said configuration of minimum extension of said protection means (5), and an extended position, wherein said movable element (7) is disposed at least partially outside the front volume defined by said fixed element (6), defining said configuration of maximum extension of said protection means (5).

7. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said movable element (7) is stably constrained, preferably hinged, to said fixed element (6).

8. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, comprising locking means (13) activatable between said fixed element (6) and said movable element (7) to maintain said protection means (5) stably in said configuration of maximum extension.

9. The boot in accordance with claim 8, wherein said locking means (13) are configured to lock said protection means (5) stably in a plurality of intermediate configurations comprised between said configuration of minimum extension and said configuration of maximum extension.

10. The boot in accordance with claim 8 or 9, wherein said locking means (13) comprise at least one fastener (14) disposed on said movable element (7) and adapted to abut on a respective matching portion (15) of said fixed element (6) to maintain said protection means (5) stably in said configuration of maximum extension.

11. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said slidable coupling means (8) comprise a plurality of parallel slide guides, disposed on said movable element (7), and a respective plurality of slidable coupling elements, connected to said fixed element (6) and inserted in said plurality of slide guides to slidably couple said fixed element (6) and said movable element (7).

12. The boot in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one slidable coupling element (10) comprises at least one bolt and a respective nut and/or a riveted pin and/or a stud and/or a rivet.

Drawing