ICE CRAMPON

Abstract

An ice crampon designed to be attached to a footwear item includes a front portion which has at least one pair of front tips; a rear portion which has at least one pair of rear tips; at least one flexible link which connects the front portion and the rear portion to each other; and at least one intermediate portion which is mounted on the flexible link by being positioned between the front portion and the rear portion. The at least one intermediate portion has at least one pair of intermediate tips. The pairs of front tips, rear tips, and intermediate tips are configured to prevent the ice crampon from sliding on ground, particularly on frozen ground. The front portion, the rear portion, and the intermediate portion are articulated independently of each other, and the position of the intermediate portion are adjustable in relation to the flexible link.

Claims

1. An ice crampon configured to be fastened to a boot, the ice crampon comprising: a front part comprising at least one pair of front spikes offset from each other along a lateral direction of the front part; a rear part comprising at least one pair of rear spikes offset from each other along a lateral direction of the rear part; at least one flexible link which connects the front part and the rear part to each other along a longitudinal direction of the ice crampon; and at least one intermediate part mounted on the flexible link by being positioned between the front part and the rear part, the at least one intermediate part comprising at least one pair of intermediate spikes offset from each other along a lateral direction of the intermediate part; said at least one pair of front spikes, said at least one pair of rear spikes and said at least one pair of intermediate spikes being configured to prevent slipping of the ice crampon on a ground and an icy ground; the front part, the rear part and said at least one intermediate part being hinged independently of each other at least along the longitudinal direction and along said lateral directions, and the position of the intermediate part being adjustable relative to the flexible link along the longitudinal direction.

2. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible link is configured to be length-adjustable to adjust the distance separating the rear part and the front part.

3. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the front part comprises a front connecting element configured to connect the front part with said at least one flexible link, and wherein the rear part comprises a rear connecting element, configured to connect the rear part with said at least one flexible link, the intermediate part being configured to be detachable from the flexible link at the rear connecting element or the front connecting element.

4. The ice crampon according to claim 3, wherein the front connecting element comprises a front notch on which the at least one flexible link is inserted, the at least one flexible link having a width smaller than the lateral dimension of the front notch along the lateral direction of the front part.

5. The ice crampon according to claim 3, wherein the rear connecting element comprises a rear notch on which the at least one flexible link is inserted, the at least one flexible link having a width smaller than the lateral dimension of the rear notch along the lateral direction of the rear part.

6. The ice crampon according to claim 1, comprising a single flexible link which has a width greater than 3 cm counted perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ice crampon.

7. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible link undergoes longitudinal tension when the ice crampon is fastened to the boot.

8. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the material of the at least one flexible link has a rigidity such that the elongation of the flexible link is smaller than 15% when the ice crampon is longitudinally tensioned.

9. The ice crampon according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal tension undergone by the flexible link between the front part and the rear part ensures a friction locking of the longitudinal position of the intermediate part along the flexible link.

10. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the front part, the rear part, and the at least one intermediate part are configured to nest with each other when they are superimposed relative to each other in a transverse direction of the ice crampon.

11. The ice crampon according to claim 10, wherein the front part, the rear part, and the at least one intermediate part are comprised in a volume smaller than 450 mm.sup.3 when they are nested with each other.

12. The ice crampon according to claim 10, wherein the front part, the rear part, and the at least one intermediate part are comprised in a parallelepiped having a lateral dimension comprised between 35 mm and 70 mm, a longitudinal dimension comprised between 75 mm and 150 mm, and a transverse dimension comprised between 75 mm and 150 mm when they are nested with each other.

13. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the front part comprises a front platform intended to receive a front portion of the boot, and wherein the rear part comprises a rear platform intended to receive a rear portion of the boot, the front platform and the rear platform each having a length along the longitudinal direction comprised between 3 cm and 6 cm.

14. The ice crampon according to claim 1, wherein the front part comprises a front fastener and wherein the rear part comprises a rear fastener, at least one of the front fastener and the rear fastener comprising a lever configured to bear on a shoulder included on a portion of the boot and to longitudinally tension the at least one flexible link when the front and rear portions of the boot are fastened to the ice crampon respectively by the front fastener and the rear fastener of the ice crampon.

15. The ice crampon according to claim 14, wherein the lever comprises a micrometric adjustment system configured to adjust the height of the lever relative to said shoulder of the boot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Other aspects, aims, advantages and features of the disclosure will appear better upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0066] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the ice crampon according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

[0067] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the ice crampon according to one embodiment of the disclosure when it is tensioned on a boot; and

[0068] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the ice crampon of FIG. 2 when it is folded over itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] In the figures and in the following description, the same reference numerals represent identical or similar elements. In addition, the different elements are not represented to scale in order to promote clarity of the figures. Furthermore, the different embodiments and variants do not exclude each other and may be combined together.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the disclosure concerns an ice crampon 1 intended to be fastened to a boot.

[0071] The ice crampon 1 comprises a front part 200, a rear part 300, at least one intermediate part 400 and a flexible link 500.

[0072] The front part 200 comprises at least one pair of front spikes 202 offset from each other along a lateral direction of the front part 200.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the front part 200 comprises a front fastener 210 intended to fasten the front part 200 to the front portion of the boot.

[0074] For example, the front fastener 210 can be rigid, and configured to automatically conform to the shape of the front portion of the boot.

[0075] Alternatively, the front fastener 210 can be semi-rigid, for example the front fastener 210 can comprise a strap.

[0076] The rear part 300 comprises at least one pair of rear spikes 302 offset from each other along a lateral direction of the rear part.

[0077] FIG. 1 presents an embodiment in which the rear part 300 comprises a rear fastener 310 configured to bear on a shoulder included on the rear portion of the boot. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration in which the ice crampon 1 is fastened on said boot.

[0078] According to a non-limiting variant, the rear fastener 310 is a wire exerting a pressure on the boot to avoid a relative play between the boot and the ice crampon 1.

[0079] According to another non-limiting variant, the rear fastener 310 comprises a lever 312 configured to longitudinally tension the at least one flexible link 500 when the front portion of the boot is fastened to the ice crampon 1 by means of the front fastener 210. For example, the tensioning of the at least one flexible link 500 by the lever 310 can be carried out when the front fastener 210 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid stopper.

[0080] Advantageously, the lever 312 can comprise a micrometric adjustment system 316, for example a screw, configured to adjust the height of the lever 312 relative to a shoulder of the boot. In this way, the ice crampon 1 can be adapted to different boot types, or be adapted to a possible elongation of the flexible link 500, when the ice crampon 1 is tensioned on the boot.

[0081] Alternatively or jointly, the ice crampon 1 can comprise a stop strap 314, disposed for example at the lever 312, and configured to be attached around the boot.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the front part 200 comprises a front platform 208 intended to receive a front portion of the boot, and the rear part 300 can comprise a rear platform 308 intended to receive a rear portion of the boot.

[0083] According to this embodiment, the front platform 208 and the rear platform 308 may have a length along the longitudinal direction comprised between 3 cm and 6 cm, and in particular substantially equal to 4 cm.

[0084] As indicated above, the ice crampon also comprises at least one flexible link 500 which connects the front part 200 and the rear part 300 to each other along a longitudinal direction of the ice crampon 1. For example, the at least one flexible link 500 is made in one-piece extending integrally between the front part 200 and the rear part 300.

[0085] According to a non-limiting variant represented in FIG. 1, the front part 200 comprises a front connecting element 204 configured to connect the front part 200 with said at least one flexible link 500.

[0086] The front connecting element 204 may in particular comprise a front notch 206 on which the at least one flexible link 500 is inserted, the at least one flexible link 500 having a width smaller than the lateral dimension of the front notch 206 along the lateral direction of the front part 200.

[0087] Alternatively or jointly, the rear part 300 may comprise a rear connecting element 304, configured to connect the rear part 300 with the flexible link 500.

[0088] The rear connecting element 304 may comprise a rear notch 306 on which the at least one flexible link 500 is inserted, the at least one flexible link 500 having a width smaller than the lateral dimension of the rear notch 306 along the lateral direction of the rear part 300.

[0089] According to one embodiment, said at least one flexible link 500 is configured to be length-adjustable. Advantageously, the rear connecting element 304 and the front connecting element 204 can enable the length adjustment of said at least one flexible link 500.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the ice crampon 1 comprises a single flexible link 500 which has a width sufficient to ensure the stability of the ice crampon so that the front, intermediate and rear parts remain parallel to each other, in particular when the ice crampon 1 is longitudinally tensioned following a fastening on the boot. For example, the width of the flexible link can be greater than 3 cm counted perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ice crampon 1.

[0091] According to another embodiment, which is not represented, the ice crampon 1 comprises two flexible lateral links 500.

[0092] According to one embodiment, each flexible link 500 can consist of a piece of cable, a piece of strap or a piece of cord.

[0093] The ice crampon 1 also comprises at least one intermediate part 400 mounted on the flexible link 500 by being positioned between the front part 200 and the rear part 300. The at least one intermediate part 400 comprises at least one pair of intermediate spikes 402, these spikes being offset from each other along a lateral direction of the intermediate part 400.

[0094] Advantageously, the intermediate part 400 can be configured to be detachable from the flexible link 500 at the rear connecting element 304 or the front connecting element 204. In this way, it is possible to completely remove the intermediate part 400 from the ice crampon 1, for example to promote the compactness and the lightness of the ice crampon 1 to be adapted to the user's practice of the ice crampon 1.

[0095] Said at least one pair of front spikes 202, said at least one pair of rear spikes 302 and said at least one pair of intermediate spikes 402 are configured to prevent slipping of the ice crampon 1 on a ground, in particular an icy ground.

[0096] Furthermore, the front part 200, the rear part 300 and said at least one intermediate part 400 are hinged independently of each other at least along the longitudinal direction and along said lateral directions.

[0097] Finally, the position of the intermediate part 400 is adjustable relative to the flexible link 500 along the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the at least one flexible link 500 can be configured to allow the intermediate part 400 to be positioned in abutment on the front part 200, or on the rear part 300.

[0098] As illustrated in the figures, the at least one flexible link 500 is configured to enable a continuous adjustment of the position of the intermediate part 400 relative to the flexible link 500 over the entire length of the flexible link 500. In particular, the adjustment of the intermediate part 400 on the flexible link 500 can be carried out by friction.

[0099] Furthermore, it may be provided that the at least one flexible link 500 is configured to enable a continuous adjustment of the position of the rear part 300 relative to the flexible link 500 over the entire length of the flexible link 500. In particular, the adjustment of the rear part 300 on the flexible link 500 can be carried out by friction.

[0100] The previously described arrangements allow the ice crampon 1 to be fastened to a boot.

[0101] According to one embodiment, the at least one flexible link 500 undergoes a longitudinal tension when the ice crampon 1 is fastened to the boot.

[0102] For example, the longitudinal tension is greater than 40 N, and more particularly greater than 50 N and in particular substantially equal to 60 N.

[0103] Advantageously, the longitudinal tension undergone by the flexible link 500 between the front part 200 and the rear part 300 provides a positive locking, for example by friction, of the longitudinal position of the intermediate part 400 along the flexible link 500.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the material of the at least one flexible link 500 has a rigidity such that the elongation of the flexible link is smaller than 15% when the ice crampon 1 is longitudinally tensioned.

[0105] For example, the material of the at least one flexible link 500 can comprise ultra-high molar mass polyethylene and/or high tenacity polyester guaranteeing an elongation smaller than 3%.

[0106] The presence of the intermediate part 400 allows in particular limiting the length of the front platform 208 and of the rear platform 308 while maintaining a gripping performance of the ice crampon 1 on ice.

[0107] When the ice crampon 1 is not fastened to the boot, the previously described arrangements, in particular the presence of the flexible link 500, allow individually hinging the front part 200, the rear part 300 and the at least one intermediate part 400.

[0108] In this way, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the front part 200, the rear part 300 and the at least one intermediate part 400 can be configured to be nested with each other when they are superimposed relative to each other in a transverse direction of the ice crampon 1.

[0109] For example, the front part 200, the rear part 300, and the at least one intermediate part 400 can be comprised in a volume smaller than 450 mm.sup.3 when they are nested with each other.

[0110] Alternatively or jointly, the front part 200, the rear part 300, and the at least one intermediate part 400 can be comprised in a parallelepiped having a lateral dimension comprised between 35 mm and 70 mm, a longitudinal dimension comprised between 75 mm and 150 mm, and a transverse dimension comprised between 75 mm and 150 mm when nested with each other.

[0111] Thus, and advantageously, the at least one flexible link 500 is configured to allow the ice crampon 1 to vary between a deployed configuration in which the ice crampon 1 is able to be fastened to the boot, and a nested configuration in which the front part 200, the rear part 300 and the at least one intermediate part 400 are nested with each other. It is therefore well understood that the flexibility of the flexible link 500 allows the ice crampon 1 to fold over itself in particular to be stored when it is in the nested configuration.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the ice crampon 1 remains intact when it varies between the deployed configuration and the nested configuration. It is therefore well understood that it is not necessary to dismantle the ice crampon 1 so that it occupies the nested configuration.

[0113] Thus, the ice crampon 1 is able to be folded over itself when not in use. This allows increasing the compactness of the ice crampon 1 in a folded position during transport or storage of the ice crampon 1. Furthermore, the weight of the entire ice crampon 1 can be low.

[0114] Finally, and advantageously, the use of a flexible link 500 with a large width can improve the lateral hold of the ice crampon 1. In addition, the combination of a wide flexible link 500 with a rear part 300, an intermediate part 400, and a front part 200 having small dimensions allows guaranteeing a good stability of the boot on the ground and presenting an ice crampon 1 with limited bulk and reduced weight.

[0115] Furthermore, a wide flexible link 500 can facilitate the adjustment of the position of the intermediate part 400 along the flexible link 500 and the adjustment of the dimension between the front part 200 and the rear part 300.

[0116] By “wide”, it should be understood a width of the flexible link 500 greater than one third of the width of the at least one intermediate part 400 counted in the lateral direction of the at least one intermediate part 400.

[0117] The previously described arrangements allow providing a lateral stability of the boot on the ice crampon 1, in particular by avoiding the relative rotation of the front part 200, of the rear part 300 and of the intermediate part 400 in particular when the ice crampon 1 is longitudinally tensioned. In other words, the previously described arrangements allow suppressing a lateral pivoting of the ice crampon 1.