EP0705545A1 - Closing- and clamping device for a ski boot - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening consists of a tensioning lever which is pivoted to a support about an axis lying across the direction of traction and linked to a strap with a first connector (4) designed to engage with a second one (1). One of the connectors has a series of notches which allows the fastening to be adjusted, and an auxiliary pivoted or sliding member (5) which allows the fastening to be temporarily released. The auxiliary member is in the form of a buckle pivoted to the end of a rack and folding over onto it when in the tensioned position. It is made with side-pieces (7, 8) which fit over the side of the rack, and a transverse end rod (9) which engages with the rack's notches.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a closure and tightening device for a ski boot comprising, on the one hand, a tension lever articulated on a support around an axis transverse to the direction of traction and connected to a tie rod provided with 'a first attachment means and, on the other hand, a second attachment means to which the first attachment means is hooked, one of these attachment means having several attachment notches making it possible to adjust the tightening, the device further comprising means for temporarily extending one of the attachment means.

The invention relates more particularly to shoes of the so-called four hook type.

In ski boots comprising a variable-volume shell and a collar-shaped rod closed by two loops of the type described in US Pat. No. 4,051,611, it is generally very difficult, due to the relative stiffness of the collar, to hook the two hooking means of the collar loops at the first try in the correct tightening position. Generally, the skier first hooks the hooking means of one of the loops in the first notch, then closes this loop which has the effect of bringing the hooking means closer to the other loop and allowing d 'Engage these hooking means in the desired notch, then, after having closed this loop, it starts again the operation of closing and tightening the first loop. If necessary, it also repeats the tightening operation with the second loop and so on until the desired tightening is obtained. During this closure of the collar, it is also necessary to initiate the closure of the collar by hand by exerting pressure on the flap of the collar carrying the hook or the denture, or on the two flaps simultaneously, so as to bring this hook, respectively the first notch of the denture within reach of the fastening member secured to the tensioning lever to effect the first closure. This pressure must be relatively strong to overcome the rigidity of the collar and it sometimes makes it difficult to close the collar.

EP 401 202 discloses a closure and tightening device comprising a tensioning lever acting on a tie rod having two oblong slots crossed by a bar of the tensioner lever so that this tie rod has two different points of articulation on the tensioner lever. The articulation is determined by the ends of the lights. The tie rod is furthermore provided with a locking member making it possible to lock the tie rod in the retracted position in the tensioning lever. Such a tensioner therefore makes it possible to temporarily lengthen one of the attachment means of the closing and tightening device. The use of such a tensioning lever in a loop for closing a collar would therefore make it easier to reach the desired notch, but the length of the lights would generally be too short to easily reach the desired notch. For this purpose, it would be necessary to lengthen the lights, which would require excessively lengthening the tie rod and the tensioner lever.

From patent FR 2 609 604 there is also known a buckle comprising a tensioning lever provided with a longitudinal light in which the end slides freely of a loop. The end of the light closest to the pivot axis of the tension lever corresponds to the usual point of attachment of the buckle to the tension lever ensuring tightening traction on the buckle. Such a tensioning lever makes it possible to obtain a considerable elongation of the loop constituting one of the hooking means of the closing and tightening device, but it requires a relatively very long tensioning lever. In addition, when closing, in the first part of the rotation of the tensioning lever, the leverage is zero, which requires a particular effort on the part of the user who practically exerts a direct traction on the attachment member while the tightening radius of the tensioning lever is shorter as the light extends near the axis of articulation of the tensioning lever on its support.

From utility model DE-U-94 06 540, there is known a closing and tightening device for shoe with rear entry comprising a tensioning lever which can move along a support in which it is guided in a movement of roto-translation, the movement ending in pure rotation like traditional tensioners. This device makes it possible to lengthen the travel of the attachment means connected to the tensioning lever. Applied to the closure of a collar, such a device would make it possible to immediately seek the notch desired, but as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the leverage is zero during the translational movement of the tensioning lever. This device also requires a relatively large tensioning lever support.

The invention aims to facilitate the initiation of the closure of the collar.

To this end, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the means making it possible to temporarily extend one of the hooking means consist of an deployable and retractable auxiliary hooking member.

The retraction of the auxiliary fastening member can be done in particular by rotation and folding or by sliding.

The auxiliary hooking member being able to be folded, folded down or retracted on, respectively in the tie rod, respectively the toother or the rack, it can be as long as the tie rod of the tensioner, respectively as the toother or rack fixed to the shoe without increasing the size of the closure device.

When the auxiliary attachment member is deployed, its length is such that it is extremely easy to bring it within reach of the other attachment means. Traction can then be exerted on the auxiliary hooking member using all the force of the tensioning lever. The other loop of the collar can then be hooked and closed with the help or without the help of an auxiliary hooking means. The user then returns to the first loop to open it, retract the auxiliary hooking member and then close the loop normally using its hooking means.

The operation of closing the collar is thus greatly facilitated.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, some embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a rack with its auxiliary latching member in the deployed position.

Figure 2 shows the same rack with its auxiliary hooking member in the folded position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rack according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 represents an attachment means integral with a tie rod and provided with an auxiliary attachment member deployable by rotation.

Figure 5 is a partial view of a rack with an auxiliary hooking member deployable by sliding.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along VI-VI of FIG. 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment.

Figure 8 shows a top view of this fifth embodiment.

Figures 1 and 2 show a rack consisting of a plate 1 in which are cut notches 2 and a hole 3 for fixing the rack to the shoe by means of a rivet. In this rack is hooked a hook 4 secured to a tie rod articulated on a tensioning lever not shown. At the end of the rack 1 opposite the hook 4, an auxiliary loop 5 is articulated about an axis 6 transverse to the rack. This loop 5 here consists of two parallel arms 7 and 8 connected at their ends by a bar 9, the whole defining a loop of substantially rectangular shape.

In Figure 1, the auxiliary loop 5 is shown in the deployed position, so that its bar 9 is near the hook 4. In this deployed position it is then easy to hook the hook 4 on the bar 9 of the loop 5.

After closing the tensioning lever acting on the hook 4, the other loop of the collar is closed in the same way, then the loop shown is again open, the hook 4 is unhooked and the loop 5 is folded around and on the rack 1 as shown in Figure 2. In this position, it will be noted that the overall length of the rack 1 is not increased.

FIG. 3 represents an exemplary embodiment in which the auxiliary fastening member is deployed by sliding. This figure again shows a rack consisting of a plate 10 in which are cut notches 11 and a hole 12 for fixing the rack to the shoe. The auxiliary fastening member here consists of a rectangular loop 13 made of a steel wire, the ends of which extend on each side of the rack passing through two guide tunnels 14 and 15. The ends of the steel wire 13 are anchored in two slides 16 and 17 which can slide in grooves 18 formed over part of the length of the two sides of the plate 10. At the end of each of the sliders 16 and 17 opposite the loop 13, are hooked the ends of a coil spring 19 housed in a groove formed in the underside of the plate 10, at the 'end of the latter surrounding its fixing hole 12. This groove defines a support 20 in a semicircle around which the spring 19 is wound. The slides 16 and 17 have a grooved or rough surface facilitating their training by hand. In the rest position, the loop 13 is retracted under the traction of the spring 19. When the skier wishes to use the auxiliary loop 13 for a first closure of the shoe loop, he grasps the slides 16 and 17 between the thumb and the index and pulls these against the action of the spring 19 so as to deploy the loop 13 as shown in phantom, references 13 ', 16'. The relaxation of the traction means that under the action of the spring 19 the auxiliary loop 13 is automatically returned to the retracted position.

The auxiliary attachment member can also be mounted on the side of the tensioning lever. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two examples of execution.

FIG. 4 represents a hooking member 21 connected by a tie rod 22 to a not shown tensioning lever. This attachment member 21 consists of a part having over at least part of its length an inverted U-shaped profile. At the end of the part 21, the wings of the U-shaped profile are connected by a bar 23 constituting the hook proper, bar intended to come to engage between the teeth of a denture not shown, fixed on the opposite flap of the collar constituting the upper of the shoe. The bar 23 simultaneously constitutes the axis of articulation of the end an auxiliary loop 24 made up, as in the first embodiment, of two parallel arms connected by a bar 25. In the position of non-use, the loop 24 is folded over the hooking member 21. In this position folded down the arms of the auxiliary loop 24 are placed on each side of the latching member 21, matching the profile of the latter and the bar 25 is housed in a groove 26 of the latching member 21. The auxiliary loop 24 is deployed by rotation. An intermediate position 24 ', 25' is shown in phantom.

FIG. 5 shows a denture 27 constituting the hooking member connected by a tie rod to a tension lever not shown and intended to be hooked on a hook not shown. The denture 27 is therefore seen from below. The auxiliary attachment member here consists of a bar 28, of rectangular profile, slidably mounted longitudinally in the middle of the toother 27 and provided at its end with a tooth 29 having a profile identical to the profile of the teeth 30 of the dentiere 27. At its other end, the bar 28 has a widening 31 sliding in a groove having a T-profile opening on the top of the dentière 27 (below in the drawing). The visible end of this groove 32 forms a stop for the part 31 of the bar shown in its deployed position. The part 31 has, seen at the end, also a T-shaped profile (FIG. 6) so as to present a part 33 projecting slightly from the dentiere 11 so as to allow the drive of the bar 28 by means of the finger.

A light spring could be placed between the widening 31 of the bar 28 and the end of the groove 32 to ensure automatic retraction of the auxiliary tooth 29. In the retracted position, this tooth 29 is housed in the slot formed in the first tooth 30 of the denture for the passage of the bar 28 so as to occupy exactly the material removed from this first tooth.

The auxiliary tooth 29 could also be deployed by direct traction on this tooth by means of the finger.

A fifth embodiment is shown in Figures 7 and 8. These figures show a fixed hook consisting of a first plate 34 having a rectangular cutout 35 constituting the hook itself and forming a box with a second plate 34 'having a hole 36 for fixing to the shoe by means of a rivet. This hook is intended to cooperate with another hook actuated by a tensioning lever. Inside the box formed by the plates 34 and 34 'is formed a housing 38 of trapezoidal shape. In this housing 38 is housed a split ring 37 of steel, also of trapezoidal shape. This ring constitutes the auxiliary attachment member. Its hooking end is curved. In a zone 39, the box formed by the plates 34 and 34 'is tightened vertically so as to form two guides 40 and 41 for the split ring 37.

In the retracted position shown in Figure 8, the split ring 37 is preferably already pre-tensioned so that it tends to open. The trapezoidal shape of the housing therefore tends to prevent the split ring to come out of its housing. When the skier needs to use the auxiliary ring 37, he deploys it by exerting a traction on it. After use, the split ring 37 is pushed back into its housing. The trapezoidal shape of the spring and its housing has the effect of facilitating or accompanying this withdrawal.

In the examples described, the rack can be replaced by a denture and vice versa. In addition, a denture can be considered to be a particular form of rack.

Claims (8)

Closing and tightening device for a ski boot comprising, on the one hand, a tensioning lever articulated on a support around an axis transverse to the direction of traction and connected to a tie rod provided with a first fastening means (4; 21; 27; 34) and, on the other hand, a second attachment means (1; 10) to which the first attachment means is hooked, one of these attachment means having several hooking notches for adjusting the tightening and the device further comprising means (5; 13; 24; 28; 37) for temporarily extending one of the hooking means, characterized in that the means for temporarily extend one of the attachment means consist of an deployable and retractable auxiliary attachment member (5; 13; 24; 28; 37). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary hooking member (5; 24) is articulated at the end of the hooking member (1; 21) with which it is associated. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary fastening member (13; 28; 37) is slidably mounted on the fastening member with which it is associated (10; 27; 34). Device according to claim 2, in which the second hooking means is a rack (1), characterized in that the auxiliary hooking member is a loop (5) articulated at the end of the rack, on the tensioning side, and foldable around the rack (1). Device according to claim 2, in which the first attachment means (21) comprises a transverse bar (23) intended to be hooked in a denture constituting the second attachment means, characterized in that the member auxiliary hooking consists of a rectangular loop (24) articulated by one of its ends on said bar (23) so as to be folded over and on each side of the first hooking means (21) which has a groove transverse (26) in which is housed the other end (25) of the rectangular loop. Device according to claim 3, in which the second hooking means is a rack (10), characterized in that the auxiliary hooking member consists of a rectangular loop (13) having two branches slidably mounted on the sides of the rack (10) and the ends of which are connected to a return spring (19) winding around a semi-circular bearing (20) of the rack. Device according to claim 3, in which the first attachment means is a denture (27), characterized in that the auxiliary attachment member consists of a central bar (28) terminated by a tooth (29) coming from , in the retracted position, engage in a slot of the first tooth (30) of the denture and whose profile coincides with the profile of this first tooth. Device according to claim 3, in which the second hooking means is a hook (35), characterized in that the auxiliary hooking member consists of a split ring (37) of steel, of trapezoidal shape, mounted sliding by its sides in the hook, so that the pressure on the sides of the ring, due to its extraction from the hook, tends to cause the retraction of the ring (37).

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