EP3315039B1

EP3315039B1 - Boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing

Info

Publication number: EP3315039B1
Application number: EP17197977.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Flavio PONTINI
Original assignee: LA SPORTIVA SpA
Current assignee: LA SPORTIVA SpA
Priority date: 2016-10-26
Filing date: 2017-10-24
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-24
Also published as: IT201600107765A1; EP3315039A1

Description

The present invention relates to a boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing.
As is known, ski boots for ski-mountaineering have a different structure to regular ski boots in that the activity of ski-mountaineering involves executing both downhill and uphill segments and routes over apparently flat terrain.
It is evident that on the downhill segments it is necessary that the configuration of the boot be substantially similar to that of a classic ski boot (and thus with fastenings to the ski both in the toe zone and at the heel) while on the uphill segments (in which generally the ski mountaineer progresses with climbing skins) or on apparently flat terrain it is essential that the boot be fastened to the ski only at the toe zone in order to allow the lifting of the heel when pushing (similarly to what occurs in cross-country skiing).
Furthermore, the shell is usually closed at the front by a tongue that is more or less rigid and contoured, the function of which is to support and contrast, during descent, the load produced by the advancement of the tibial area, as well as to protect against shocks and against the ingress of water or snow into the boot.
Ski boots for ski-mountaineering are provided among other things with a locking device, which acts between the shell and the quarter and which is adapted to pass, on command, between an active position, which is used when going downhill and wherein it locks the relative rotation of the quarter with respect to the shell about the pivoting axis, and an inactive position in which the rotation of the quarter is allowed with respect to the shell about the pivoting axis.
With regard to the devices for opening and closing the boot, on the other hand, the solutions most commonly used involve closing levers that act between two parts of the shell and/or of the quarter, and which are adapted to pass between an open position and a closed position, in order to move the boot between a first, open position in which the two parts are mutually spaced apart, and a second, closed position, in which the two parts are mutually close together.
Typically, when the boot is in the first, open position the quarter can rotate with respect to the shell in order to allow motion on the flat or make ascents, while when the boot is in the second, closed position, the quarter is locked in position with respect to the shell in order to make descents.
EP 2 311 338 A1 discloses a ski boot comprising a base shell, a sole, and an upper shell provided with a fastening clip, and a padded inner boot. The upper shell is articulated to the base shell with pins disposed in the region of the malleoli, wherein the base shell defines a longitudinal slot exhibiting two strips coupled one to the other with a gaiter, and the base shell having a closure device. The boot further comprises a first tongue joined to the base shell near a tip thereof, and having a differentiated rigidity. A first portion of the first tongue has a free end having a lower rigidity than an opposite second portion of the first tongue that is joined to the base shell, and a removable second tongue being provided disposable to cover the first tongue, wherein the second tongue has a higher rigidity than the first tongue.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing, which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to allow the boot to offer a considerable flexibility in the open position, but at the same time to ensure a high rigidity overall in the closed position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing, that is highly reliable, easy to implement and low cost.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing, according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the boot according to the invention, in which the second tongue body is in the active or stiffening position;
Figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view from above of the tongue element with the second tongue body in the inactive or flexing position;
Figure 3 is a view from above of the tongue element in which, for greater clarity, the second tongue body is spaced further away from the first tongue body.

With reference to the figures, the boot, particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a shell 2 and a quarter 3 which are mutually articulated about a rotation axis 100.
The boot 1 comprises at least one fastening device 10, which is adapted to cause the transition of the boot 1 between a stiffened or closed position and a flexible or open position.
The boot 1 defines an insertion and exit opening for the foot of the user and a tongue element 5 associated with the shell 2 for the front closure of the boot 1.
According to the present invention, the tongue element 5 comprises a first tongue body 6 that is directed toward the inside of the boot 1, and a second tongue body 7 that is directed toward the outside of the boot 1.
The second tongue body 7 extends at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region of the foot of the user.
The second tongue body 7 is arranged facing the first tongue body 6 and is adapted to pass between an active or stiffening position, in which it is kept locked with respect to the first tongue body 6, and an inactive or flexing position, in which it is kept spaced apart from the first tongue body 6 at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region of the foot of the user.
In this manner, when the second tongue body 7 is kept in the inactive or flexing position, the tongue element 5 offers lower resistance to flexing as a consequence of the rotation of the foot and of the tibia about the ankle, because the resistance to rotation is supplied exclusively by the first tongue body 6.
Conveniently the second tongue body 7 is adapted to pass between the active or stiffening position and the inactive or flexing position and vice versa as a consequence of the transition of the boot 1 between the stiffened or closed position and the flexible or open position and vice versa.
Advantageously, the boot 1 comprises elastic means 20 that act between the first tongue body 6 and the second tongue body 7.
The elastic means 20 are adapted to keep the second tongue body 7 mutually spaced apart from the first tongue body 6 in the inactive or flexing position, at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region.
It is also provided a tightening device that can be activated on command by the user and which acts in contrast with the elastic means 20 in order to cause, in the active or stiffening position, the second tongue body 7 to be kept close to the first tongue body 6 at the tarsal and metatarsal region.
In particular, in the inactive or flexing position, the tibia tends to push the first tongue body 6 forward during motion.
The elastic means 20, interposed between the first tongue body 6 and the second tongue body 7, transfer the pushing force from the first tongue body 6 to the second tongue body 7 while keeping the mutually facing surfaces spaced apart at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region.
This makes it possible to increase the flexibility of the tongue element 5 in the inactive or flexing position.
The tightening device is associated with the fastening device.
In particular, the tightening device 4 comprises the fastening device.
The tightening device 4 can comprise one or more hooks for closing the shell 4a and one or more hooks for closing the quarter 4b.
In this manner the user, by acting on the tightening device 4, causes the simultaneous transition of the tongue element 5 from the active or stiffening position to the inactive or flexing position, and vice versa.
According to a particularly important aspect of the invention, the boot 1 comprises mutual coupling means 6a, 7a which are defined at the first tongue body 6 and at the second tongue body 7.
The mutual coupling means 6a, 7a are adapted to cause the mutual locking of the second tongue body 7 with respect to the first tongue body 6 in the active or stiffening position.
Conveniently the mutual coupling means 6a, 7a comprise an engagement seat 6a and an abutment body 7a that is shaped complementarily with respect to the engagement seat 6a.
With reference to the practical embodiment shown in the figures, the engagement seat 6a is defined at the first tongue body 6, while the abutment body 7a is defined at the second tongue body 7.
Conveniently, the second tongue body 7 is coupled to the first tongue body 6 at a connection region that is arranged substantially proximate to the toe of the boot 1.
Preferably, the first tongue body 6 and the second tongue body 7 have a concave surface that is directed toward the inside of the boot 1 and extends substantially parallel to the axis of the foot.
The elastic means 20 comprise, for example, a flexible tape that is supported at the surface of the second tongue body 7 that is directed toward the first tongue body 6.
Preferably, the elastic means 20 are provided by the mutual shape structure of the first tongue body 6 and of the second tongue body 7.
For example the elastic means 20 can be obtained by folding the longitudinal edges of the second tongue body 7 more inward, and/or by further closing the angle directed toward the outside of the second tongue body 7 with respect to the angle defined by the first tongue body 6.
The first tongue body 6 has a weakening portion 6b, substantially at the tarsal and metatarsal region, which is adapted to increase the flexibility.
For the purposes of example, such weakening region can comprise a through opening, a region of reduced thickness, a bellows portion, etc..
Use of the boot 1, according to the invention, is evident from the foregoing description.
When the boot 1 is brought to the stiffened or closed position, the second tongue body 7 is integrally coupled to the first tongue body 6, thus effectively stiffening the tarsal and metatarsal region of the foot thus contrasting the forward thrust action of the tibia and the rotation action of the foot.
But when the boot 1 is brought to the flexible or open position, the elastic means 20 keep the second tongue body 7 spaced apart from the first tongue body 6, at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region.
In this manner, the action of rotation of the tibia, and the forward action of the foot, is facilitated, thus allowing a more efficient progression, for example on the flat or in ascent.
In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A boot (1), particularly for ski-mountaineering or telemark skiing, which comprises a shell (2) and a quarter (3) that are mutually articulated about a rotation axis (100), said boot (1) comprising at least one fastening device (10) adapted to cause the transition of said boot (1) between a stiffened or closed position and a flexible or open position, said boot (1) defining an insertion and exit opening for the foot of the user and a tongue element (5) associated with said shell (2) for the front closure of said boot (1), said tongue element (5) comprising a first tongue body (6) that is directed toward the inside of said boot (1) and a second tongue body (7) that is directed toward the outside of the boot (1) and extends at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region of the foot of the user, said second tongue body (7) being arranged facing said first tongue body (6) and being adapted to pass between an active or stiffening position, in which it is kept locked with respect to said first tongue body (6), and an inactive or flexing position, in which it is kept spaced apart from said first tongue body (6) at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region of the foot of the user, the boot being characterised in that it further comprises elastic means (20) that act between said first tongue body (6) and said second tongue body (7) and which are adapted to keep said second tongue body (7) mutually spaced apart from said first tongue body (6) in said inactive or flexing position at least at the tarsal and metatarsal region, a tightening device being provided which can be activated on command by the user and acts in contrast with said elastic means (20) in order to cause, in said active or stiffening position, said second tongue body (7) to be kept close to said first tongue body (6) at the tarsal and metatarsal region.
The boot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second tongue body (7) is adapted to pass between said active or stiffening position and said inactive or flexing position and vice versa as a consequence of the transition of said boot (1) between said stiffened or closed position and said flexible or open position and vice versa.
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tightening device is associated with said fastening device.
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tightening device comprises said fastening device.
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises mutual coupling means (6a, 7a) which are defined at said first tongue body (6) and at said second tongue body (7) and are adapted to cause the mutual locking of said second tongue body (7) with respect to said first tongue body (6) in said active or stiffening position.
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mutual coupling means (6a, 7a) comprise an engagement seat (6a) and an abutment body (7a) that is shaped complementarily with respect to said engagement seat (6a).
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claim, characterized in that said engagement seat (6a) is defined at said first tongue body (6) and in that said abutment body (7a) is defined at said second tongue body (7).
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second tongue body (7) is coupled to said first tongue body (6) at a connection region that is arranged substantially proximate to the toe of said boot (1).
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first tongue body (6) and said second tongue body (7) have a concave surface that is directed toward the inside of said boot (1) and extends substantially parallel to the axis of the foot.
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic means (20) comprise a flexible tape that is supported at the surface of said second tongue body (7) that is directed toward said first tongue body (6).
The boot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first tongue body (6) has a weakening portion (6b) substantially at the tarsal and metatarsal region.