An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

A locking and unlocking device includes an actuation element and a lock and a rear deflector. The actuation element is mobile between a first position and a second position, controlling the position of the lock and the position of the rear deflector such that in the first position, the lock occupies a locking position to block an upper cuff in rotation relative to a shell base, and the rear deflector occupies a low position to close a cut-out at the rear of a shell base; and in the second position, the lock occupies an unlocking position to release the rotation of an upper cuff relative to a shell base, and the rear deflector occupies a high position to open up at least partly a cut-out at the rear of a shell base, in order to increase the amplitude of flexure of a lower leg in a sports boot.

A ski boot of the kind comprising a substantially rigid outer shell and a cuff articulated to the shell is provided and further includes a locking device which can be switched between a first configuration, in which the rotation of the cuff relative to the shell is allowed, and a second configuration, in which the rotation of the cuff relative to the shell is prevented. The locking device of the ski boot also includes deadlocking means which prevents the locking device from being accidentally moved from the configuration in which it is, specifically when it is in the second configuration.

A ski boot comprising: a substantially rigid foot-case, which is adapted to accommodate the user's foot and has the lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a substantially rigid cuff, which is adapted to surround the lower part of the user's leg, and is pivotally joined to the foot-case so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; and foot-case closing means which are adapted to selectively close/tighten the foot-case on the user's foot and comprise: an oblong, transversal locking band with a flexible and substantially inextensible structure, which extends transversally to the midplane of the ski boot, astride of and flush to the protective tongue or gaiter, and has a first end firmly fixed to a first lateral side of the foot-case; and a manually-operated coupling assembly, which is adapted to connect the second end of the transversal locking band selectively and alternatively to the foot-case or to the cuff, at a second lateral side of the foot-case opposite to said first lateral side.

Sports boot having a lower portion to surround a user's foot, an upper portion to surround the user's lower leg and movable in relation to the lower portion, and mechanisms blocking the lower portion in relation to the upper portion. The upper portion includes disjointed lateral and medial portions, each rotationally articulated with the lower portion. The blocking mechanisms include an element movable in relation to the lower portion between a blocking position, in which the blocking mechanisms at least partially lock upper portion movement in relation to the lower portion, and an unblocking position in which the blocking mechanisms allow upper portion free movement in relation to the lower portion. When the blocking element is in the unblocking position, the blocking mechanisms allow translational movement of the lateral portion in relation to the medial portion at least along a direction perpendicular to an outsole of the boot.

This invention relates to sports footwear, in particular a ski or snowboard shoe or boot, including a shell provided at the top with a longitudinal opening, a flap or tongue extending longitudinally along the shell and connectable near the region of the tip. The flap or tongue is capable of covering the opening and is removably connectable to the shell to define a first configuration of the sports footwear, in which the flap or tongue is connected to the shell in order to limit or prevent, during use, the oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot, and a second configuration, in which the flap or tongue is removed from the shell to allow, during use, the free oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot.

An item of footwear such as a boot (10) includes a stiff lower part (12) that extends around part of a wearer's foot, a stiff upper part (16) that extends around the wearer's lower leg, and one or more limit elements (66,72,80,88) that extend between the lower part (12) and the upper part (16). The lower part (12) and upper part (16) are movable relative to each other when the ankle moves and the relative movement is inhibited selectively by the limit elements (66,72,80,88). The limit elements (66,72,80,88) are displaceable between a free condition in which the lower part (12) and the upper part (16) are movable relative to each other, and lock condition in which the relative movement between the lower part (12) and the upper part (16) is inhibited.

A locking and unlocking device (10) for forming an interface between the shell (1) and the collar (2) of a sports boot, which comprises a rocker (11) that is movable in rotation about a pin (13), a lever (15) that is movable in rotation and an elastic element connected to the lever (15), such that the lever (15) is able to occupy a first stable position, in which it holds the rocker (11) in a locking position, and a second stable position, in which it holds the rocker (11) in an unlocking position.

Adjustable and/or dual-suspension boot levers for hardshell boots, having upper parts and lower parts that rotate relative to one another, are disclosed, Adjustable boot levers disclosed herein are adjustable along a continuum or at one of a plurality of preset positions on a lever to provide a forward-lean angle customizable to a user's preferences. Dual-suspension boot levers provide fore-aft dampening and are also customizable by selection of appropriate elastic materials and properties for use in the forward-lean and backward-lean suspension devices. In some embodiments, adjustability and dual-suspension are combined in a boot lever design.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.