Closure device for a sports footwear

Abstract

A closure device for a sports footwear s provided. The device facilitates insertion of the user's foot into the footwear and extraction of the same from the footwear. The closure device can switch from a closed position, in which the user's foot is immobilized within the footwear, to an open position in which the user's foot can be inserted into the footwear or extracted therefrom, and the device can be locked in a fixed position both when it is in its closed position and when it is in its open position. In particular, when it is in its open position, the closure device is locked in a position in which it does not hinder the operations of inserting the user's foot into the footwear and of extracting the user's foot from the footwear.

Claims

1. A closure device for a sports footwear, comprising: a supporting plate intended to be fixed to the sports footwear and having a supporting plate retaining element; a closure lever pivotally connected to the supporting plate; a tensioning member pivotally articulated to the closure lever with the interposition of an elastic member and having a first hooking element and a second hooking element; and an anchoring plate intended to be fixed to the sports footwear and provided with anchoring plate retaining elements; wherein the closure device can be switched from a first, closed position to a second, open position and vice versa; and wherein, when the closure device is in the first, closed position, the first hooking element of the tensioning member engages the anchoring plate retaining elements, thereby locking the tensioning element relative to the anchoring plate, while the second hooking element of the tensioning member is disengaged from the supporting plate retaining element, and when the closure device is in the second, open position, the second hooking element of the tensioning member engages the supporting plate retaining element, thereby locking the tensioning element relative to the supporting plate, while the first hooking element of the tensioning member is disengaged from the anchoring plate retaining element.

2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning member comprises a connecting portion pivotally articulated to the closure lever and a hooking portion, the connecting portion and the hooking portion being connected by a joint and wherein the first hooking element is provided on the hooking portion of the tensioning member and the second hooking element is provided on the connecting portion of the tensioning member.

3. The closure device according to claim 2, wherein the first hooking element is provided on the hooking portion of the tensioning member at the end of the hooking portion of the tensioning member opposite to the connecting portion of the tensioning member and the second hooking element is provided on the connecting portion of the tensioning member at the end of the connecting portion of the tensioning member opposite to the hooking portion of the tensioning member.

4. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring plate has a number of differently positioned retaining elements, whereby the tensioning member is selectively engageable with the anchoring plate in a number of different positions.

5. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the second hooking element of the tensioning member and the supporting plate retaining element are mechanical elements co-operating with each other.

6. The closure device according to claim 5, wherein the tensioning member includes a connecting portion pivotally articulated to the closure lever, wherein the second hooking element is an end part of the connecting portion of the tensioning member, wherein the supporting plate retaining element is a recess a surface of the supporting plate, and wherein the end part of the connecting portion of the tensioning member and the recess in the surface of the supporting plate are shaped so that the end part of the connecting portion of the tensioning member is held in the recess in the surface of the supporting plate when the closure device is in the second, open position and is disengaged from the recess when the closure device is in the first, closed position.

7. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the second hooking element of the tensioning member and the supporting plate retaining element are magnetic elements co-operating with each other.

8. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the second hooking element of the tensioning member and the supporting plate retaining element are designed so that the tensioning member is completely disengaged from the anchoring plate when the closure device is in the second, open position.

9. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the second hooking element of the tensioning member and the supporting plate retaining element are designed so that the tensioning member forms an angle greater than 45 with the supporting plate when the closure device is in the second, open position.

10. A sports footwear, comprising at least an upper provided with a longitudinal opening, and comprising at least one closure device according to claim 1, the supporting plate of the closure device being fastened to the sports footwear upper on a first side of the longitudinal opening of the sports footwear upper and the anchoring plate of the closure device being fastened to the sports footwear upper on a second, opposite side of the longitudinal opening of the sports footwear upper.

11. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein, when the closure device is in the second, open position, the tensioning member forms an angle of greater than 60 with the supporting plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sports footwear provided with a plurality of closure devices according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a detailed representation of the closure device according to the invention, shown locked in its closed position; and

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed representations of a closure device according to the invention, shown locked in its open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Referring at first to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated a ski boot 100.

(6) The ski boot 100 essentially comprises an inner liner 102 made of a substantially soft material and a shell 104 made of a substantially rigid material. Both the inner liner and the outer shell comprise a lower portion for receiving the user's foot and a cuff for receiving the ankle and the lower part of the user's calf (only the lower part of which 104a and the cuff 104b of the shell are visible in FIG. 1).

(7) At least the outer shell 104 comprises a longitudinal opening 106 extending along the lower part 104a and the cuff 104b. Thanks to the presence of the longitudinal opening, the inner volume defined within the outer shell 104 can be varied.

(8) The boot 100 further comprises a plurality of closure devices 1 according to the invention, arranged along the longitudinal opening 106 and transversely thereto.

(9) In a manner known per se, the closure devices 1 can be moved from a closed positionin which the distance between the two opposite sides of the opening 106 of the shell 104 is fixed and the user's foot is immobilized within the ski boot 100to an open positionin which the distance between the two opposite sides of the opening 106 of the shell 104 can be varied, in particular increased, and the user's foot can be inserted into the ski boot 100 or extracted therefrom.

(10) In FIG. 2 there is illustrated in greater detail a closure device 1 according to the invention, shown in its closed position.

(11) The closure device 1 comprises a supporting plate 3 intended to be fixed to the shell 104 of the ski boot 100, on a first side of the longitudinal opening 106. To this aim, the supporting plate 3 is provided with through-holes for passage of corresponding fasteners for fastening to the shell.

(12) A closure lever 7 is pivotally connected to the supporting plate 3 by means of pivoting pins 5. For this purpose, the closure lever 7 has at a first end a pair of parallel arms 7a provided with holes for the passage of the pins 5; at its second, opposite end, the closure lever has instead a gripping portion 7b that the user can grasp for actuating rotation of the closure lever in order to make it shift from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

(13) The closure device 1 further comprises a tensioning member 9 which at one end has a connecting portion 9a, which is articulated to the closure lever 7 by means of pins 15a with the interposition of an elastic member 15b (for example a spring), and at the second, opposite end has a hooking portion 9b, the portions being preferably connected to each other in an articulated way by means of a joint 9c.

(14) The hooking portion 9b of the tensioning member 9, at its end opposite to the connecting portion 9a, is provided with first hooking elements 11a that are adapted to engage with retaining elements 13a of an anchoring plate 13 which is fixed to the shell 104 of the boot 100, on a second side opposite to the longitudinal opening 106.

(15) Preferably, the anchoring plate 13 has a plurality of differently positioned retaining elements 13a, whereby the tensioning member 9 can engage with the anchoring plate in a plurality of different positions. The anchoring plate 13 can be configured for example as a toothed rack comprising a plurality of teeth 13a arranged in series; in this case, the first hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 can be correspondingly configured as a web suitable for engaging into one of the teeth 13a of the anchoring plate.

(16) Depending on the position in which the tensioning member 9 engages with the anchoring plate 13, the two sides of the opening 106 of the shell 100 are drawn closer to each other to a larger or smaller extent, whereby the inner volume of the shell 104 can be adjusted as a function of the morphology of the foot of a specific user.

(17) In FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4 the closure device 1 according to the invention is shown in its open position.

(18) According to prior art, in the open position the hooking elements of the tensioning member are disengaged from the retaining elements of the anchoring plate and the tensioning member is not engaged at all in a fixed position. Consequently, it tends to remain leaning on the anchoring plate if not at least partially engaged with it, so as to be still disposed over the longitudinal opening of the shell, transversely thereto.

(19) On the contrary, according to the invention, the tensioning member 9 of the closure device 1 comprises second hooking elements 11b which are adapted to engage with retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3 when the closure device 1 is in its open position, so that the tensioning member 9 is in a fixed position also in this open position.

(20) In particular, the second hooking elements 11b of the tensioning member 9 and the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3 will be configured in such a way that the tensioning member 9 is locked in a position in which it is completely disengaged from the anchoring plate 13 and is far enough from the opening 106 of the shell 104 not to hinder widening thereof.

(21) To this aim, the second hooking elements 11b of the tensioning member 9 and the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3 will be configured in such a way thatin the open position of the closure device 1the tensioning member 9 forms, with the supporting plate 3, an angle greater than 45, and preferably greater than 60.

(22) Preferably, the second hooking elements 11b of the tensioning member 9 are provided in the connecting portion 9a of the tensioning member 9, in particular in the vicinity of the end of the connecting portion opposite to the hooking portion 9b.

(23) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second hooking elements 11b consist of the end part of the connecting portion 9a of the tensioning member 9, which is shaped so as to be capable of engaging into the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3.

(24) Correspondingly, in this embodiment of the invention, the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3 consist of a recess in the surface of the supporting plate shaped so as to be capable of retaining the end part of the connecting portion 9a of the tensioning member 9.

(25) It is apparent that this embodiment is not to be considered as limiting and that any other solutions within the reach of the person skilled in the art for the making of the second hooking elements 11b of the tensioning member 9 and of the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3 can be implemented as well.

(26) In particular, the hooking elements 11b of the tensioning member 9 and the retaining elements 3a of the plate 3 do not necessarily have to be mechanical elements, but they may also be of a different type, for example magnetic.

(27) The operation of the closure device 1 will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

(28) From the closed position shown in FIG. 2, in which the first hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 are engaged with the retaining elements 13a of the anchoring plate 13, the user can act upon the closure lever 7 and rotate the closure lever 7 for moving it away from the supporting plate 3 (i.e. clockwise in the Figures). In this way it will be possible to disengage the first hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 from the retaining elements 13a of the anchoring plate 13.

(29) While maintaining the first hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 disengaged, the user can rotate the closure lever 7 for drawing it close to the supporting plate 3 (i.e. counterclockwise in the Figures) again, thus bringing the second hooking elements 11b of the tensioning member 9 into engagement with the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3.

(30) In this configurationcorresponding to the open position shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4the closure device 1 will be firmly positioned in a configuration in which it does not hinder the widening of the longitudinal opening of the shell.

(31) By rotating again the closure lever 7 for drawing it away from the supporting plate 3 (i.e. clockwise in the Figures), it will be possible to disengage the second hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 from the retaining elements 3a of the supporting plate 3 and bring the first hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 into engagement in the desired position with the retaining elements 13a of the anchoring plate 13.

(32) By rotating the closure lever 7 for drawing it close to the supporting plate 3 (i.e. counterclockwise in the Figures), the first hooking elements 11a of the tensioning member 9 will be locked relative to the retaining elements 13a of the anchoring plate 13 and the device 1 will be again in its closed position.

(33) From the above description it is apparent that the closure device according to the invention allows to fully attain the object set forth above.

(34) It is further evident that what has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment shown has been provided by way of non-limiting example, and that several modifications and variants are available to the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

(35) In particular, while the embodiment described above refers to a ski boot, it is apparent that the invention could also be applied to other kinds of sports footwear comprising an upper having a longitudinal opening and one or more closure device(s) arranged along the longitudinal opening and transversely thereto.