QUICK LACING SYSTEM AND SHOE EQUIPPED WITH SAME

Abstract

The invention relates to a quick lacing system (10) for releasably fixing at least one shoelace (20) to a housing (30), which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), wherein the channel (40) is at least partly made of a movably mounted rocker (50) with a substantially concave interior (60), which is oriented in the direction of the channel (40), on a first side and at least partly of an eccentric jaw (70), which interacts with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), on a second side substantially opposite the rocker. The invention also relates to a shoe equipped with such a quick lacing system (10).

Claims

1. Quick lacing system (10) for releasably securing at least one shoelace (20), comprising a housing (30) which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), characterized in that the channel (40) is formed on a first side at least partly by a movably mounted rocker (50) having a substantially concave inner side (60) which is directed towards the channel (40) and on a second side, substantially opposite the rocker, at least partly by an eccentric jaw (70) which cooperates with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), wherein the rocker (50) has a closing section (80) and an opening section (90), and wherein the closing section (80) during a closing operation is arranged in the direction of a direction of pulling exerted by a user and the opening section (90) in the use position of the quick lacing system (10) is arranged in the substantially opposite direction of the rocker (50), and wherein the closing section (80) is urged away from the jaw (70) into a holding position by a shoelace (20) that is being tightened during the closing operation and the opening section (90) moves closer to the jaw (70), and wherein the rocker (50) can be arrested in the holding position.

2. Quick lacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, at least in the holding position, the rocker (50) is in engagement with an unlocking button (100a) or an unlocking lever (100b).

3. Quick lacing system according to claim 2, characterized in that, at least in the holding position, the unlocking button (100a) or an operating section (110) of the unlocking lever (100b) is urged out of the housing (30) by the rocker (50), so that the unlocking button (100a) or the operating section (110) of the unlocking lever (100b) becomes accessible to a user for a lacing release operation.

4. Quick lacing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the unlocking button (100a) or an operating section (110) is enabled and is urged out of the housing (30) by a spring force when the closing section (80) of the rocker (50) is urged away from the jaw (70) during the closing operation, so that the unlocking button (100a) or the operating section (110) becomes accessible to a user for a lacing release operation.

5. Quick lacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening section (90) of the rocker (50) is urged away from the jaw (70) by a shoelace (20) that is being tightened during the closing operation.

6. Quick lacing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the jaw (70) is configured as a double jaw comprising two individual jaws which are movable.

7. Shoe (120), in particular a snowboard boot, comprising at least one quick lacing system (10) having a housing (30) which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), characterized in that the channel (40) is formed on a first side at least partly by a movably mounted rocker (50) having a substantially concave inner side (60) which is directed towards the channel (40) and on a second side, substantially opposite the rocker, at least partly by an eccentric jaw (70) which cooperates with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), wherein the rocker (50) has a closing section (80) and an opening section (90), and wherein the closing section (80) during a closing operation is arranged in the direction of a direction of pulling exerted by a user and the opening section (90) in the use position of the quick lacing system (10) is arranged in the substantially opposite direction of the rocker (50), and wherein the closing section (80) is urged away from the jaw (70) into a holding position by a shoelace (20) that is being tightened during the closing operation and the opening section (90) moves closer to the jaw (70), and wherein the rocker (50) can be arrested in the holding position.

8. Shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that the quick lacing system (10) is arranged at a top end of a shoe upper (130).

9. Shoe according to claim 8, characterized in that the shoe has a quick lacing system (10) on each side of the shoe upper (130).

10. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the quick lacing system (10) is arranged between an inner shoe or an inner shell and an outer shoe or an outer shell.

11. Shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that the shoe has a quick lacing system (10) on each side of the shoe upper (130).

12. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the quick lacing system (10) is arranged in a recess (140) which is provided for the quick lacing system (10).

13. Shoe according to claim 12, characterized in that the shoe has a quick lacing system (10) on each side of the shoe upper (130).

14. Shoe according to claim 7, wherein the rocker (50) can be arrested in the holding position by latching and/or snap-fastening.

15. Quick lacing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening section (90) is urged towards the jaw (70) during the closing operation, so that the unlocking button (100a) or the operating section (110) becomes accessible to a user for a lacing release operation.

16. Quick lacing system according to claim 15, characterized in that the opening section (90) of the rocker (50) is urged away from the jaw (70) by a shoelace (20) that is being tightened during the closing operation.

17. Quick lacing system according to claim 15, characterized in that the jaw (70) is configured as a double jaw comprising two individual jaws which are movable independently of one another.

18. Quick lacing system according to claim 1, wherein the rocker (50) can be arrested in the holding position by latching and/or snap-fastening.

19. Quick lacing system according to claim 2, characterized in that, at least in the holding position, the rocker (50) is in contact with an unlocking button (100a) or an unlocking lever (100b).

20. Quick lacing system according to claim 2, characterized in that, at least in the holding position, the unlocking button (100a) or an operating section (110) of the unlocking lever (100b) is urged out of the housing (30) by the rocker (50) counter to the action of a spring, so that the unlocking button (100a) or the operating section (110) of the unlocking lever (100b) becomes accessible to a user for a lacing release operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The invention will be described below on the basis of exemplary embodiments, which will be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment according to the invention with a quick lacing system in the open position;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, in the half-closed position;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, in the closed position;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of another embodiment according to the invention with a quick lacing system in the open position;

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, in the half-closed position;

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, in the closed position;

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of another embodiment according to the invention with a quick lacing system in the open position;

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, in the half-closed position;

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, in the closed position;

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a double jaw according to the invention with jaws moving synchronously;

[0050] FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of a double jaw according to the invention with jaws moving asynchronously;

[0051] FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of a shoe according to the invention, which is equipped with two quick lacing systems according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment according to the invention with a quick lacing system in the open position;

[0053] FIG. 14 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, in the half-closed position;

[0054] FIG. 15 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, in the closed position;

[0055] FIG. 16 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a quick lacing system 10 according to the invention. The quick lacing system 10 comprises a channel 40 which extends through a housing 30. A shoelace 20 extends through the channel 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the channel 40 is bounded on the left-hand side partly by a rocker 50, and on the right-hand side partly by a jaw 70. The rocker 50 has a closing section 80, which in FIG. 1 extends towards the upper end of the quick lacing system 10, from which pulling takes place in order to close or lace the quick lacing system 10 when a user carries out a closing operation. Located at the opposite end of the rocker 50 is an opening section 90, the concave inner side 60 of which cooperates with the jaw 70 in order to clamp the shoelace 20 in a closed position.

[0057] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the closing section 80 of the rocker 50 extends towards the side of the channel 40 that is located opposite the rocker. When the shoelace 20 is pulled upwards in order to trigger a shoelace securing operation, the shoelace 20 tightens and presses against the closing section 80 of the rocker 50 and moves it towards a holding position, in which the rocker 50 comes into engagement with an unlocking lever 100b. At the same time as the closing section 80 is moved towards the holding position, the opening section 90 moves with its concave inner side 60 towards the toothed jaw 70, so that the shoelace 20 comes into contact with the toothing of the jaw 70. Since the rocker 50 is arrested in the holding position, the opening section 90 of the rocker 50, even when an opposing pressure is applied by the shoelace 20 and the jaw 70, cannot move when the shoelace 20 is relieved of tension and is pressed together with the eccentric jaw 70 against the concave inner side 60 of the opening section 90 of the rocker 50, so that the shoelace is clamped between the jaw 70 and the concave inner side 60 of the opening section 90 of the rocker 50.

[0058] To open the quick lacing system 10, the operating section 110 of the unlocking lever 100b, or the unlocking button 100a, is actuated by pressing, so that the rocker 50 can be moved from its holding position to its open position. This movement takes place automatically due to the tensioning of the shoelace 20, wherein the opening section 90 is pushed to the left and away from the jaw 70 by the shoelace 20, or by the tensioning of the shoelace 20.

[0059] FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 schematically show further embodiments of the invention, the clamping and opening mechanism of which is identical to that in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

[0060] In contrast to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, however, in the embodiments shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 an operating section 110 or an unlocking button 100a is visible only when the quick lacing system 10 according to the invention is in the closed position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, an unlocking button 100a is pushed upwards by a hook formed on the rocker 50, so that said unlocking button protrudes out of the housing 30 of the quick lacing system 10 and can be pressed by a user in order to open the quick lacing system 10. In FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, it is not an unlocking button but rather an unlocking lever 100b, the operating section 110 of which protrudes upwards out of the housing 30 of the quick lacing system 10 in the closed position of the quick lacing system 10 and can be operated in the same way to open the quick lacing system 10.

[0061] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a double-jaw system comprising two separate individual jaws 70 which are movable relative to one another and which can be used as an alternative to a single jaw 70 in the quick lacing system 10 according to the invention.

[0062] FIG. 12 shows a shoe 120 according to the invention, wherein a respective quick lacing system 10 according to the invention is arranged in a recess 140 on each side of the shoe upper 130 thereof.

[0063] FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment according to the invention with a quick lacing system 10 in the open position, in which a shoelace 20 is guided through a channel 40 which is arranged in a housing 30 and which, as shown in FIG. 13, is bounded on the left-hand side by a rocker 50 having a closing section 80 and an opening section 90 and on the right-hand side by a jaw 70. As shown in FIG. 13, the opening section 90 is in engagement with an engagement section 160 and thus arrests the unlocking button 100a, counter to the pressure of a spring 150, in a position in which the unlocking button 100a is substantially retracted into the housing 30 of the quick lacing system 10.

[0064] To close the quick lacing system 10 according to the invention, the shoelace 20 is pulled upwards as shown schematically in FIG. 14, wherein the shoelace 20 comes into contact with the closing section 80 of the rocker 50 and urges the closing section 80 away from the jaw 70, or moves said closing section 80 towards the unlocking button 100a, wherein the opening section 90 is moved out of engagement with the engagement section 160 and towards the jaw 70, and wherein the unlocking button 100a is urged upwards out of the housing 30 due to the spring force of the spring 150. By virtue of this upward linear movement, the blocking section 170 of the unlocking button 100a slides along the outer side of the opening section 90, opposite the inner side 60, and in this way prevents the opening section 90 of the rocker 50 from moving while the shoelace 20 is clamped between the inner side 60 of the rocker 50 and the jaw. In this state, the quick lacing system 10 according to the invention is in a half-closed position, since the jaw, in the course of closing the quick lacing system 10 with the shoelace 20, is not yet in compression contact with the inner side 60 of the rocker.

[0065] FIG. 15 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, in the closed position, wherein, by releasing the upper part of the shoelace 20 and the tension built up in the lower part of the shoelace 20, the jaw 70 now slips into compression contact with the inner side 60 of the rocker 50 in the opening section 90 thereof and reliably clamps the shoelace and secures it against inadvertent opening, while the blocking section 170 secures the opening section 90 of the rocker 50 in its closed position. In this closed position, the unlocking button 100a is in a state moved out of the housing 30.

[0066] FIG. 16 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, in the open position, wherein, in order to open the quick lacing system 10 according to the invention, pressure has been exerted on the unlocking button 100a so that the blocking section 170 slips below the opening section 90 of the rocker 50 and thereby releases the opening section 90, as a result of which the shoelace 20 is likewise released from being clamped between the inner side 60 and the jaw 70 and can slide downwards out of the housing 30 through the channel 40. In the course of re-closing the quick lacing system according to the invention, the shoelace 20 then bears against the toothed jaw 70 and entrains the jaw 70, which is mounted about a rotatable axle, towards the closing section 80 of the rocker 50, so that the shoelace 20, when pulled again by a user, once again comes into contact with the closing section 80 and urges the latter to the side, as described above, so that once again the inner side 60 of the rocker 50 comes into contact with the shoelace 20 and once again urges the latter against the toothed surface of the jaw 70.

[0067] At this point, it should be pointed out that all the parts described above are claimed as essential to the invention both alone and in any combination, particularly the details shown in the drawings. Modifications thereto will be familiar to a person skilled in the art.