EP0595732A1 - Cross-country ski boot with reinforced sole - Google Patents

Abstract

Ski boot consisting of an upper (2) integral with a sole assembly (1), which comprises three main parts, respectively a toe (5) and a heel (6) connected together via an intermediate zone corresponding to the arch of the foot and which has two faces, respectively the outer face and the inner face, arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the boot, characterised in that the sole assembly includes a reinforcement element (10) which extends from the outer face of the rear part of the heel (6) up to the inner face of the front part of the toe (5). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an improvement to cross-country ski boots.

As is known, there are essentially two techniques for the practice of cross-country skiing, each linked to the advanced technique.

In the first traditional technique known as the "alternative step", each ski is launched alternately forward in two parallel rails provided for this purpose in the track. For the practice of this technique, most generally low shoes are used, the sole of which is flexible and, where appropriate, the upper secured to the sole has an external buttress. It is essential that the sole is flexible and is articulated at the tip of the boot on the upper face of the ski skate, to allow the maximum clearance of the boot relative to the ski to obtain maximum thrust and amplitude of stride. It is also important that the sole is flexible to accentuate this push.

In the second technique, more recent and more sporty called the "skater" step, or more commonly called "skating", the skier evolves by making his skis diverge. This technique is broken down into four successive phases, respectively a first phase where the ski is in external support, followed by a flat gliding phase, followed in turn by an impulse or push phase on the internal face of the ski. , and finally a so-called flight phase during which the ski leaves the snow until it finds external support (first phase) of the following movement. To practice this more efficient and faster technique, shoes are used whose sole, always articulated on the front, is stiffened by a shank. In addition, the upper still attached to the sole has a semi-rigid collar hugging the bottom of the tibia, articulated on a rigid buttress placed at the malleoli to allow a transfer of impulses and push towards the ski. Unfortunately, as the articulation of the rigid sole takes place at the front of the boot, as before, this articulation allows a large clearance of the sole relative to the ski, which sometimes disturbs the movements of the skier, especially in the so-called "flight" phase of skiing.

In this way, to date, according to the cross-country skiing technique that one wishes to practice, one must, depending on the case, use either low shoes (not alternative), or semi-rigid high shoes ( no skater). But in all cases, currently, the articulation of the front of the sole on the ski skate takes place around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sole, which coincides with the axis d balance of the ski, axis also sometimes called axis of rotation, arranged according to standards, either just at the end of the toes, or just behind and below the toes to benefit more effectively from movements, impulses and ensure better guidance ski.

In document EP-A-0 373 336, a sports shoe has been described, in particular for the practice of athletics, of the mountains or of golf, the sole of which is reinforced by a rigid insert encrusted with wavy shape, embedded in the sole.

In a particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the rigid insert, which occupies substantially the entire surface of the sole, is formed of two separate adjoining parts, respectively a front part, going from the tip to the arch of the foot, in which the undulations are directed transversely to give flexibility when walking, and a rear part, going from the arch to the heel, in which the undulations are inclined (arch), then perpendicularly (heel) to the previous ones, to give rigidity. In this embodiment, the junction line between the two parts causes a discontinuity in the transmission of forces, which makes it unsuitable for the practice of skating which requires a progressive succession of supports from the heel to the toe.

In document EP-A-0 471 447, a sports shoe has been described, in particular for the practice of tennis, in which the sole has a cross molded in the sole, disposed at the arch of the foot, and behind the metatarsals, to compensate and limit deformations during torsion of the sole around the longitudinal axis. These shoes are not suitable for the practice of skating which requires closed supports on the metatarsal area and more specifically the toes, more precisely at the end of the third phase of impulse or pushing.

The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It aims for a cross-country ski boot adapted to the practice of skating step (skating) which first of all authorizes an ideal center of thrust for the practice of this step, namely at the level of the toes, then better support of the foot during the four phases described above, and finally better flat handling of the ski and consequently, better gliding.

This shoe consisting of an upper integral with a sole forming assembly, which comprises three main parts, respectively a toe and a heel, connected together by an intermediate zone corresponding to the arch of the foot, and which has two sides, respectively external and internal , arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, characterized in that the sole assembly comprises a reinforcing element which extends from the external face of the rear part of the heel to the face internal part of the front of the tip.

In the description and in the claims, by "sole-assembly" or "sole-forming assembly", is meant the assembly which cooperates with the upper to form the shoe and which comprises in particular, the sole itself, but also the first of fitting, the first of cleanliness and the buttress.

• l'élément de renfort et de rigidification est continu et est soit rapporté dans la semelle, soit surmoulé, soit de préférence injecté en même temps que la semelle pour former partie intégrante de celle-ci ;
• cet élément de renfort est en un matériau plastique, composite ou métallique ;
• lorsque le matériau de renfort et de rigidification est un matériau composite fibreux, avantageusement, les fibres de renfort sont dirigées dans la direction de la portion de l'élément de renfort par rapport à l'axe longitudinal de la semelle, de manière à obtenir une participation idéale lors de la poussée.
• dans une autre forme d'exécution, ces éléments de renfort remontent sur le bord de la tige sensiblement à la verticale, respectivement :
  • . d'une part, sur la face externe du talon au niveau et au dessus des malléoles,
  • . sur la face interne de la pointe jusqu'à une hauteur correspondant pour partie à l'épaisseur des orteils ;
• dans une forme d'exécution avantageuse, le renfort de la face interne de la pointe se prolonge ensuite pour recouvrir entièrement le dessus des orteils sur l'avant de la pointe, pour ainsi permettre aux orteils d'avoir une contribution active lors de la phase de vol ;
• dans une autre forme d'exécution, la tige comporte de manière connue un collier qui enserre le bas de la jambe, selon l'invention ce collier étant articulé sur le renfort disposé sur la face externe du talon au niveau des malléoles ;
• dans une autre forme d'exécution, l'élément de renfort caractéristique n'est pas disposé sur le dessus de la semelle proprement dite, mais à l'intérieur de la tige soit sur la face interne supérieure de la semelle de montage, soit est monté sur la "première" de propreté, qui comme on le sait, fait partie intégrante de l'ensemble-semelle et est le complément indispensable de la semelle proprement dite ; dans cette forme de réalisation, la portion diagonale intermédiaire caractéristique est cambrée pour mieux épouser la forme de la voute plantaire.

In a first advantageous embodiment:

• the reinforcing and stiffening element is continuous and is either attached to the sole, or molded, or preferably injected at the same time as the sole to form an integral part thereof;
• this reinforcing element is made of a plastic, composite or metallic material;
• when the reinforcing and stiffening material is a fibrous composite material, advantageously, the reinforcing fibers are directed in the direction of the portion of the reinforcing element relative to the longitudinal axis of the sole, so as to obtain a ideal participation during the push.
• in another embodiment, these reinforcing elements go up on the edge of the rod substantially vertically, respectively:
  • . on the one hand, on the external face of the heel at and above the malleoli,
  • . on the inner face of the tip to a height corresponding in part to the thickness of the toes;
• in an advantageous embodiment, the reinforcement of the internal face of the tip is then extended to completely cover the top of the toes on the front of the tip, thereby allowing the toes to have an active contribution during the phase flight ;
• in another embodiment, the upper comprises in a known manner a collar which encloses the lower leg, according to the invention this collar being articulated on the reinforcement disposed on the external face of the heel at the malleoli;
• in another embodiment, the characteristic reinforcing element is not arranged on the top of the sole itself, but inside the upper either on the upper internal face of the mounting sole, or is mounted on the "first" of cleanliness, which as we know, is an integral part of the sole assembly and is the essential complement to the sole itself; in this embodiment, the characteristic intermediate diagonal portion is arched to better match the shape of the arch of the foot.

In a practical embodiment, the characteristic reinforcing element is produced in a single piece which also forms a buttress, to be mounted just between the first mounting and the top of the sole itself.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the examples of embodiment which follow in support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a cross-country ski boot sole according to the invention (left foot).

Figures 2, 3 and 4 briefly show other embodiments of the invention.

Figure 5 is a summary perspective view before mounting of a sole according to the invention.

Figures 6 and 7 show a shoe viewed respectively outside right foot (Figure 6) and inside left foot (Figure 7).

FIG. 8 is a summary top view of the toe of an improved shoe according to the invention shown in FIG. 7.

Figure 9 is a schematic representation in summary perspective of a reinforcing element according to the invention also forming a buttress.

As is known (see Figures 6 and 7), a cross-country ski boot essentially comprises a sole (1) and a rod (2) integral with the sole, and for the practice of skating or skating, a rigid collar (3), articulated relative to the rod (2) about an axis (4) disposed at the malleoli. The shoe also includes a toe (5) and a heel (6).

Seen from below, the sole is made up (figure 1), essentially of three contiguous zones, respectively from the point (5) to the heel (6), of a point proper (A) corresponding to the front of the foot , of a heel (B), these two main parts (A) and (B) being interconnected by an intermediate zone (C) corresponding substantially to the zone of the arch of the foot, that is to say going from the metatarsals in the heel.

The longitudinal axis (I-I ') of the sole (1) corresponds to that of the boot and coincides with the longitudinal axis of the ski. In known manner, the sole (1) has towards the tip (5) an axis (7) of articulation and rotation on the binding of the ski to allow the movement of the boot relative to the ski pad.

In known manner, the sole (1) also has one or two parallel guide grooves (8, 9) which cooperate with complementary ribs formed for this purpose on the ski runner.

According to the invention, the sole (1) also comprises a reinforcing and stiffening element designated by the general reference (10), extending from the end of the external face of the rear part (11) of the heel (B ), then diagonally and continuously (12) in the middle zone (C), and finally to the end of the internal face (13) of the front part of the tip (A).

In a first embodiment, this characteristic reinforcing element (10) is obtained by double molding during the manufacture of the sole. Most generally, it is therefore important that the plastic material constituting this reinforcing element (10) is more rigid, at least under the conditions of use, than the material forming the sole (1). However, if one wishes to favor comfort more than technique, it may be useful in certain embodiments, that the element (10) is slightly more flexible than the rest of the sole (1).

In another embodiment, this reinforcing element (10) can be made of metal, or even of a composite material compatible with the rest of the sole. In this embodiment, advantageously, the reinforcing fibers of the fibrous composite material are directed in the direction of the thrust (third phase of the movement).

Unlike the embodiments mentioned in the preamble, the characteristic front (13,17) and rear (11,15) parts do not occupy all the toe or heel areas at the level of the sole, but only a minority lateral portion of this sole. , and are preferably directed parallel to the longitudinal axis (I-I ').

In a practical embodiment, the characteristic element (10) can take on various forms shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, for example convergent (FIG. 2), divergent (FIG. 3), even sinusoidal (FIG. 4).

In an advantageous variant shown in FIG. 5, the characteristic reinforcing element (10) rises vertically at (15) on the rod (1) at the heel on the outside side and at the front at (17) at the level of the point on the interior side. Preferably, the parts (15 and 17) have an increased thickness relative to the rest (12) of the reinforcement.

In a variant shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the external face (15) is extended at (16) at the level of the malleoli to serve as support for the articulation axis (4) of the rigid collar (3). Likewise, the internal face (13) of the tip (A) (see FIGS. 5,7) rises to a height (17) corresponding in part to the thickness of the toes, then can extend (see FIG. 8) on the top and the front (18) of the shoe to cover the top of the toes in front of the toe (5) (see Figure 8), to increase the active contribution of the toes during the flight phase.

When skiing according to the skater's step, the skier first takes support on the ski and thereby on the ground to exert its push, first on the external face (11) of the heel and thereby on the corresponding reinforcement element, continues the pushing by tilting the foot, therefore the shoe, around the axis II 'until finishing the pressing and the pushing on the internal front portion (13).

An ideal thrust is thus obtained, favorable to the practice of skating step.

In the practical embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the characteristic reinforcing element designated by the reference (20) also forms a buttress. This one-piece element (20) made of plastic by molding, comprises a base (21) intended to be inserted, in particular by gluing, under the first mounting. This base (21) has openings (22) intended to receive a stiffening insert placed at the level of the arch of the foot C and openings (23) arranged in the heel B to give flexibility. On the external face at the level of the heel B , the one-piece element (20) rises vertically to form a first buttress (25), while on the internal face, this continuous vertical buttress extends from the heel (26) extends over the pad area (27) and ends in (28) at the front of the point (5). The reference (29) designates a V-shaped slot open at the top, formed at the level of the rear part of the metatarsals, that is to say at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint, intended to allow the flexion movements of the toes. The references (30 and 31) designate an orifice molded for receiving the hinge pin (4).

Advantageously, the upward portions (25) and (28) forming the buttresses external heel (25) and internal toe (28), have an additional thickness relative to the rest of the part ( 20 ), which gives these parts greater rigidity. . In practice, the external face of these portions (25,28) is granite. If more generally, the one-piece element (20) is molded from a single plastic material, it can be molded from two materials, a more rigid material used to make the characteristic rising parts (25 and 28) and the connecting parts. .

Claims (10)

1 / Ski boot consisting of a rod (2) integral with a sole assembly (1), which comprises three main parts, respectively a toe (5) and a heel (6), interconnected by an intermediate zone corresponding to the arch of the foot, and which has two respectively external and internal faces, arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, characterized in that the sole assembly comprises a reinforcing element (10) which extends from the external face of the rear part of the heel (6) to the internal face of the front part of the toe (5). 2 / Ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the element (10) is continuous and constitutes a reinforcing and stiffening element. 3 / Ski boot according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) and stiffening crosses the sole (1) diagonally in the intermediate zone (C). 4 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) is attached or molded or injected or embedded in the sole (1). 5 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) rises on the edge of the upper substantially vertically, respectively: . on the external face (15) of the heel (6), at the level of the malleoli and above these; . on the internal face (17) of the tip (5), up to a height corresponding in part to the thickness of the toes. 6 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reinforcement (13) of the internal face (17) of the tip (A) then extends to completely cover the top of the toes (18) on the front (5) of the tip (A). 7 / Ski boot according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the reinforcement is made of a fibrous composite material, the rigidity of which is greater than that of the sole (1) and in which the reinforcing fibers are directed. in the direction of the reinforcing element relative to the longitudinal axis (I-I ') of the sole (1). 8 / ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) is disposed on the inner upper face of the sole (1) under the first mounting. 9 / Ski boot according to claim 8, characterized in that the reinforcing element (20) is made in a single piece whose base (21) is fixed under the first mounting and has two buttresses (25-26) which rise vertically on the upper, respectively disposed the first (25) on the external face of the heel, the second which extends on the internal face of the shoe from the heel (26) to the toe (28) , this internal buttress having a V-shaped notch (29) open on the top, formed at the toe joint. 10 / Ski boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) is mounted on the first cleanliness disposed inside the boot on the inner upper face of the first assembly, and in that the median area reinforced diagonally is arched.

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