BOOT TIGHTENING DEVICE

Abstract

Boot having an outer upper within which an inner comfort element is positioned, the outer upper having at least two portions movable in relation to one another, a tightener being provided to bring the two portions closer to one another in order to adapt the volume of the boot to the foot of the user, the tightener including an outer tractor, a first end of which is fixed to a first portion of the outer upper, and a second end of which is in relation with an actuator fixed to a second portion of the outer upper, the boot further including an inner tractor that is primarily positioned under the outer upper and are in relation with the same actuator.

Claims

1. Boot comprising: an outer upper; an inner comfort element positioned within the outer upper; the outer upper comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; at least two portions of the outer upper being movable in relation to one another; a tightener configured to bring the two movable portions closer to one another to adapt a volume of the boot to a foot of a user; the tightener being positioned on the lower portion of the outer upper, in an area of an upper portion of an instep in an area of a short heel perimeter line; the tightener comprising an outer tractor; a first end of the outer tractor being fixed to a first portion of the outer upper, and a second end of the outer tractor being in relation with an actuator fixed to a second portion of the outer upper; the tightener further comprising an inner tractor primarily positioned under the outer upper, the inner tractor being in relation with the actuator.

2. Boot according to claim 1, further comprising: a connector interconnecting the inner tractor and outer tractor.

3. Boot according to claim 1, further comprising: a first outer anchor fixing the actuator on the lateral flank of the lower portion; and a second outer anchor fixing the outer tractor to the medial flank of the lower portion.

4. Boot according to claim 3, further comprising: an inner anchor fixing the inner tractor to the outer upper.

5. Boot according to claim 2, wherein: the inner tractor and the outer tractor are positioned in continuity with one another; and the connector comprises a passage, the tractors being freely slidable in the passage.

6. Boot according to claim 2, wherein: the connector comprises an adjuster configured to adjust a length of the inner tractor and/or a length of the outer tractor.

7. Boot according to claim 1, wherein: the actuator comprises a toggle buckle and a rack.

8. Boot according to claim 1, wherein: the actuator comprises a ratchet system and a notched strap.

9. Boot according to claim 1, wherein: the actuator comprises a spool and a cable.

10. Boot according to claim 1, wherein: the inner tractor is configured to be anchored under the foot of the user.

11. Boot according to claim 1, wherein: the inner tractor comprises a medial portion and a lateral portion.

12. Boot according to claim 1, wherein: the inner tractor and/or the outer tractor comprises an elastic portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention can be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be carried out, and in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a ski boot according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of the outer upper of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a first possible configuration for the connector between an inner tractor and an outer tractor;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second possible configuration for the connector between an inner tractor and an outer tractor;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third possible configuration for the connector between an inner tractor and an outer tractor;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of the outer upper of a second embodiment of the invention;

[0034] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a first possible configuration for the connector between the medial portion and the lateral portion of the inner tractor of the second embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a second possible configuration for the connector between the medial portion and the lateral portion of the inner tractor of the second embodiment of the invention;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a third possible configuration for the connector between the medial portion and the lateral portion of the inner tractor of the second embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of the outer upper of a first variant of the second embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of the outer upper of a second variant of the second embodiment of the invention;

[0039] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a boot according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0040] FIG. 13 is a top view of a first type of tightener that can be used as an actuator within the scope of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 14 is a top view of a second type of tightener that can be used as an actuator within the scope of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 15 is a side view of the tightener of FIG. 14;

[0043] FIG. 16 is a lateral view of a ski boot according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view along plane of the outer upper of the boot shown in FIG. 16.

[0045] The drawings are given as examples and are not limiting to the invention. They constitute schematic representations intended to facilitate the understanding of the invention and are not necessarily at scale for practical applications. In particular, the thicknesses and dimensions of the various portions can be modified.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the lateral surface of an alpine ski boot. Conventionally, it is comprised of an outer upper 1 within which an inner comfort element 2 is inserted. In the usual configuration of an alpine ski boot, the inner comfort element is in the form a liner that is completely independent of the outer upper and can therefore be extracted from the outer upper for replacement, drying or to make modifications thereto. Although the present invention is described below for boots having a removable inner comfort element, this feature is not necessarily limiting.

[0047] The outer upper 1 is in the form of a relatively rigid shell produced by injection of a thermoplastic material such as polyurethane (PU), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), or any other equivalent material or any combination of the aforementioned materials. It is possible to produce the outer upper in a different manner, for example by assembling a plurality of textile and/or plastic panels or by stiffening plies of fibers (carbon, glass, basalt, flax, etc.) within a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin matrix.

[0048] The outer upper 1 is mainly comprised of a lower portion 11, provided to receive the foot of the user, and an upper portion 12 provide to surround the lower leg. The upper portion 12 is fixed to the lower portion 11 with a slight possibility of movement to accompany the flexion generated by the ankle joint. The lower portion 11 is comprised of a sole 113 from which extends a heel counter 114, a toe box 115, as well as a medial flank 111 and a lateral flank 112 connecting the toe box 115 and the heel counter 114 on the medial side and the lateral side, respectively, of the boot. The upper end of the medial flank 111 as well as that of the lateral flank 112 are substantially movable in relation to one another and in relation to the remainder of the outer upper. In the embodiment of the invention that is selected here, the upper ends of the flanks constitute flaps, also referred to as overlaps, which overlap one another to close the upper opening 116 and to make it impervious. As is more visible in FIG. 2, the medial flap 1111 covers the lateral flap 1121 in the configuration shown here.

[0049] Various tighteners are positioned in various locations of the outer upper in order to close the boot and make it impervious, on the one hand, and to adapt the inner volume to the foot of the user, on the other hand. The outer upper of the boot shown in FIG. 1 comprises five tighteners, two of which provide tightening of the lower portion 11 and the other three of which are dedicated to the upper portion 12 of the outer upper 1.

[0050] The tighteners of the upper portion 12 comprise two rack buckles 33, 34, which are commonly used in the field of alpine ski boots. The upper portion is comprised of an open collar having two free ends overlapping one another. One end carries a toggle buckle, and the other end carries a rack 328 having a plurality of teeth. A toggle buckle is shown in top view in FIG. 13.

[0051] The buckle 32 is fixed to the outer upper via a yoke 324. A plate 323 for actuating the tightener is pivotally mounted on the yoke 324 by virtue of the two pins 326. The buckle 321, strictly speaking, is connected to the plate 323 via a tie rod 322, which is pivotally mounted due to an axle 325 in a notch provided in the center of the plate 323. A pin 327 positioned at the distal end of the buckle 321 is provided to cooperate with the teeth of the rack 328, the cooperation of the pin with any one of the teeth ensuring a different adjustment of the tighteners.

[0052] Tighteners 33 and 34 are therefore tighteners of the type just described. The upper tightener 35, commonly referred to as the lower leg tightener, is of a different type. This is a tightener that offers more flexibility and a greater range of adjustment.

[0053] Tightening for the lower portion 11 of the outer upper comprises a rack buckle 32 similar to that described above and a notched strap and ratchet tightener 31, commonly called a ratchet. The rack buckle 32 ensures the tightening of the forefoot portion of the lower portion of the upper, whereas the notched strap and ratchet tightener 31 ensures the tightening in the area of the upper portion of the instep. FIGS. 14 and 15 show a top view and a side view, respectively, of such a ratchet tightener. The tightener is anchored on one of the portions of the outer upper via a yoke 314. An actuating plate 313 is rotatably mounted on the yoke by virtue of two pins 316. A tunnel 317 is pivotally mounted within a notch provided in the plate 313 via an axle 315 that is offset with respect to the pins 316. The tunnel 317 receives the notched strap 312 which is slidable therein in both directions. A ratchet 318 equipped with a tooth intended to cooperate with the teeth of the toothed strap is pivotally mounted. The rotation of the ratchet is constrained by a spring such that, in the rest position, the tooth of the ratchet prevents sliding in the direction of loosening of the notched strap. The tightening action is carried out in two successive phases. In the first phase, the pivoting of the plate 313, which drives the tunnel 317 with it in a forward translational movement, results in the sliding of the notched strap in the tightening direction. In the second phase, the pivoting of the plate 313 in the other direction brings backward the tunnel as well as the notched strap that is prevented from sliding in the tunnel by the ratchet.

[0054] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the tightening action of the notched strap tightener is performed as close as possible to the shortest line connecting the medial support of the user's heel to the lateral support of the same heel and passing over the foot. The proximity of the tightening plane to the plane defined by this line, referred to as the short heel perimeter line, ensures optimal positioning of the foot in the boot because, in this way, the foot is wedged firmly against the back of the boot. In addition, the upward movement of the instep tightening slightly frees the area directly below and which, in the boots of the prior art, is occupied by a tightener of the rack buckle type. As a result, it may be possible for a bootfitter to modify this area of the shell to adapt it to the shape of a specific user's foot.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a cross section along the plane II-II of FIG. 1 of the lower portion of the outer upper. The plane II-II substantially corresponds to the plane along which the short heel perimeter line extends, as defined above. As explained above, it can be seen that the latter comprises a sole 113 from which the medial flank 111 and the lateral flank 112 originate. As the lower portion is produced by injection of thermoplastic material, the sole and the two flanks constitute an integral one-piece part. This last characteristic is not the only possibility of manufacturing the outer upper. Indeed, it is possible to envision producing the latter by assembling various parts affixed to one another and non-movable with respect to one another by any suitable connector.

[0056] The medial flap 1111 overlaps the lateral flap 1121. However, the flaps are sufficiently movable in relation to one another to enable them to be spaced apart, thus enlarging the upper opening 116, on the one hand, and to slide over one another thus reducing the inner volume of the boot, on the other hand.

[0057] The characteristic tightening device of the invention has an actuator 30. In this view, and in the subsequent views, the actuator is shown schematically as a first functional box in dotted lines and is designated by the reference numeral 30 because, as explained below, this actuator can take a plurality of forms without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, it may be comprised of a plate of the ratchet and notched strap tightener 31 shown in FIGS. 1, 14 and 15, or else of a plate of the buckle and rack buckle 32 as shown in FIG. 13.

[0058] The actuator 30 is fixed, or can be removably fixed, to the lateral flank 112 of the outer upper due to a first outer anchor 301. It is functionally connected to the medial flank 111 via an outer tractor 50 so as to provide tightening of the upper. The outer tractor 50 is fixed, or alternatively, can be removably fixed, to the lateral flank 111 of the outer upper via a second outer anchor 502.

[0059] A tightener of the invention further comprises an inner tractor 60 that is essentially positioned under the outer upper and fixed thereto via an inner anchor 603. The outer tractor 50 and the inner tractor 60 are associated such that the actuator 30 acts simultaneously on the inner and outer tractors. The connector that performs this function are shown in the form of a second functional box in dotted lines and is designated by the reference numeral 40.

[0060] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 schematically show three possible configurations for making the connector 40 between inner tractor 60 and outer tractor 50. In FIG. 3, the connection is fixed, so that when the actuator 30 exerts a force on the connector, this force is distributed over the inner 60 or outer 50 tractors as a function of a certain number of factors. In the case in which the inner and outer tractors have an identical Young's modulus, it is the relationship between the distances separating the second anchor 502 and the third anchor 603, respectively, of the connector, on the one hand, and the length of the inner and outer tractors, on the other hand, that will determine how this distribution will be carried out.

[0061] In FIG. 4, the connection is adjustable and it is possible to adjust the relative length of the inner tractor and of the outer tractor. It is then possible to select a distribution of the force exerted by the actuator 30 on the inner and outer tractors. Various alternatives can be selected for adjusting the connector. For example, it is conceivable to enable the length adjustment of the inner tractor and/or of the outer traction.

[0062] In FIG. 5, the connection between the inner tractor 60 and the outer tractor 50 is free so that a balancing of the forces occurs automatically. The inner tractor and the outer tractor are positioned in continuity with one another, thus capable of being comprised of the same strap, for example, and they pass through a loop 41 that is connected to the actuator and thus constitutes the connector.

[0063] Irrespective of the configuration selected for the connector 40 between the inner tractor and the outer tractor, the operation of the entire tightener is generally the same. On the one hand, the outer tractor tensioned by the actuator conventionally provides tightening of the outer upper. That is to say that the medial flank 111 comes close to the lateral flank 112. On the other hand, the inner tractor 60, positioned under the outer upper, acts on the inner comfort element 2, which is itself positioned within the upper. In fact, they enable the inner comfort element to be tightened against the foot of the user. In order for the action of the inner tractor to be significant on the inner comfort element 2, it is important that the inner anchor 601 be positioned as low as possible within the outer upper. In the first embodiment, the inner anchor 601 is placed in the area of the sole 113. It is therefore positioned below the inner comfort element.

[0064] The inner 50 and outer 60 tractors can be produced in a number of different ways. For example, the inner tractor can be flat and relatively flexible. It is indeed necessary to prevent them from forming an excessive over-thickness. For example, they can be comprised of a textile strap, a cable, or a thermoplastic strip. In advantageous embodiments, they are made from an elastic material, or include an elastic portion. The outer tractor can be of the same type as the inner tractor, that is to say a strap, whether elastic or not, a cable, etc. But they can also be comprised of a conventional tightening buckle, such as the buckle 321 shown in FIG. 13.

[0065] A tightener according to the invention can make it possible to achieve a weight reduction because common actuators simultaneously provide inner tightening of the comfort element and outer tightening of the outer upper, but also to improve the efficiency of the outer tightening. Indeed, the outer tightening of the outer upper is all the easier as the tightening of the inner comfort element does not have to be carried out transitively by the outer tractor but by a separate inner tractor. Nevertheless, one of the major advantages of a tightener according to the invention is to improve the support of the ankle by providing inner tightening thereof. This is particularly the case when the inner tractor has a certain elasticity.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows a cross section along the plane II-II of the lower portion of the outer upper according to a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is different from that shown in FIG. 2 in that the inner tractor 60 comprises a medial portion 61 and a lateral portion 62. The medial portion 61 is positioned under the medial flank 111 and is fixed to the side, within the outer upper via a first inner anchor 611, whereas the lateral portion 62 is positioned under the lateral flank 112 and is fixed within the latter by a second outer anchor 621.

[0067] The two portions 61, 62 of the inner tractor 60 are interconnected by a connector 70 positioned above the inner comfort element 2 in the vicinity of the upper opening 116 of the outer upper. The connector 70 can take a plurality of configurations.

[0068] FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 schematically show various configurations that the connector 70 can take. In FIG. 7, the medial portion 61 and the lateral portion 62 are affixed to one another. The connector 70 is fixed. It can be separated to facilitate the placement of the foot or the extraction of the inner comfort element 2 from the outer upper; but when it is in position, there is no movement between the lateral portion and the medial portion.

[0069] In FIG. 8, the connector is free, the lateral portion 62 ending in a buckle through which the medial portion 61 passes. In FIG. 9, the connector is also free, but it is the portion medial 61 that ends in a buckle through which the lateral portion 62 passes.

[0070] FIG. 10 shows a first variant of the second embodiment of the invention in which the medial portion 61 and the lateral portion 62 of the inner tractor 60 are fixed to the sole 113 of the outer upper by a single inner anchoring point 601. In this variant, the connector 70 can take one of the configurations shown above in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.

[0071] FIG. 11 shows a second variant of the second embodiment of the invention in which, for reasons of constructional simplicity, the inner tractor 60 does not have a point of attachment to the inside of the upper. It is positioned over the entire inner periphery of the outer upper. The inner comfort element 2, which is not shown in this figure, is positioned within the inner tractor 60 and therefore provides the anchoring of the latter.

[0072] FIG. 12 shows the lower portion of the outer upper of the boot equipped with a tightener according to a third embodiment of the invention. This tightener is configured to provide both tightening of the boot in the area of the instep, as in the various embodiments described above, and tightening of the forefoot area.

[0073] In this embodiment, the actuator 30 is comprised of a cable spool fixed to the lateral flank 112 by a first outer anchor 301 and of a cable fixed to the medial flank 111 by a second outer anchor 302. The inner tractor (not visible in FIG. 12) and the outer tractor 50 are comprised, for example, of the same strap fixed to the outside of the medial flank 111 by an outer anchor (not visible in the figure because it positioned on the hidden portion of the medial flank 111), on the one hand, and of an inner anchor (not visible because positioned within the upper), on the other hand. In an alternative embodiment, the inner tractor and the outer tractor are made with different materials, but they are affixed to one another by stitching, gluing or any equivalent structure. The connector 40 is of the same type as those shown in FIG. 8. It is a buckle through which the tractor 50, 60, on the one hand, and the cable 38, on the other hand, pass. The cable 38 further passes through or around keepers 303 positioned on both sides of the upper opening.

[0074] The rotation of the wheel of the actuator 30 exerts traction on the cable 38, which subsequently exerts traction, not only on the connector 40 and the inner and outer tractors associated therewith, but also on the medial 111 and lateral 112 flanks due to the keepers 303 and to the anchor 302. This embodiment allows for an additional weight reduction compared to the first embodiments.

[0075] FIGS. 16 and 17 show a lateral view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a boot according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. As in the previous embodiments, the outer upper of the boot comprises an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 11 fixed to one another via at least two connections, a lateral connection 15 and a medial connection 16. These connections 15 and 16 are positioned opposite the user's malleoli and are substantially aligned with one another. In the illustrated examples, these connections are comprised of rivets that extend right through the lower portion 11 and the upper portion 12.

[0076] The tighteners of the upper portion 12 comprise two rack buckles 33, 34. The tighteners of the lower portion 11 are comprised of cable tightening. These are similar to those described for the third embodiment in FIG. 12. The keepers 303 are distributed on both sides of the upper opening which is arranged between the medial flank 111 and the lateral flank 112 of the lower portion 11. The cable 38 extends through or around the keepers 303, and then passes through the loop of the strap 80 before entering the wheel of the actuator 30.

[0077] The strap 80 comprises two portions. The first of these portions constitutes the outer tractor 50. This portion of the strap 80 is fixed to the lateral flank 111 of the lower portion of the outer upper via an outer anchor 502. The second portion of the strap 80 constitutes the inner tractor 60. This portion penetrates within the lower portion 11 and is fixed thereto via the medial connection 16.

[0078] According to the invention, the inner tractor 60 and the outer tractor 50 are connected to the same actuator 30. Thus, when the user exerts a rotation on the wheel of the actuator 30, the tightening is carried out simultaneously on the outside of the lower portion 11 through the various keepers 303 and the outer tractor 50, but also on the inside of the lower portion 11, due to the inner tractor 60.

[0079] The present invention, although described here with a small number of embodiments, can be available in a multitude of configurations. Indeed, any technically acceptable combination of the actuator 30 (buckle, ratchet, spool, etc.), of the connector 40 (fixed, adjustable, free), and of the connector 70 of the inner tractor can be utilized without leaving the scope of the invention.

[0080] Further, at least because the various embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein in a manner that enables one to make and use them as described and shown, such as for simplicity or efficiency, for example, the invention can be practiced in the absence of any additional element or additional structure that is not specifically disclosed herein.