FR2654591A1 - SKI TRACK SHOE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Ski boot, in particular downhill ski, monoski, surf or other of the type comprising an outer shell and a rigid sole, characterized in that it comprises in combination a heel (10) having in vertical longitudinal section an outer profile (4). ) rounded and two rigid fixed transverse fingers (6) protruding from each side of the boot intended to engage with a means for retaining and levitating the shoe, said fingers being positioned rearwardly to ensure the release of the shoe off the binding, and so that the heel is suspended above the surface of the ski to leave a space between the shoe and the ski or the binding.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe of

downhill skiing.

  These shoes generally comprise a rigid shell in which is placed a liner The sole is flat, or defines flat bearing surfaces which are fully supported on the support surfaces arranged} and is made of very rigid material, for example synthetic resin or composite material, so as not to deform when the shoe is in place on the ski, whatever

  be the efforts applied to the shoe.

  On the other hand these shoes are maintained on skis by bindings, usually arranged

  at the front and back ends of said shoes.

  There are many types of fixation, and

  parallel many varieties of shoes.

  In order to be able to set up the same shoe in several types of binding, a standard shape of shoe ends has been defined. This shape is a flange of the sole, protruding from the end towards the rear and towards the front, and forming a shoulder on

which fixation is supported.

  These shoes, however, have disadvantages: on the one hand they are not comfortable for walking Although being studied for use on a ski, the skier is

  frequently brought to walk with these shoes.

  The insole of the shoe on which the foot rests has an angle relative to

  in the plane of the outsole which rests on the ground.

  This angle is provided so that the stem of the shoe and the shin of the skier are inclined forward during the practice of skiing But this inclination, due to the rigidity of the hull is unfavorable to walking, because it is preferable then not to have any inclination. Due to this inclination of the foot inside the shoe, the heel of the skier is raised, and the sole is even thicker, which moves the heel off the foot of the ground surface and accentuates the inconvenience of the foot. tilt of the foot and leg, held in a rigid shell when walking. In addition, the profile of the heel of the shoe having a sharp edge (angle of about 90 '>, the contact of the shoe on the ground S first establishes on a reduced surface, therefore the shoe lack of adhesion , this disadvantage being especially sensitive on hard ground, and especially on frozen ground Then, and because of the rigidity of the shoe and the sole, the pivoting is difficult to control, the contact of

the sole on the floor is brutal.

  On the other hand, these flanges, which extend outwards at the ends, are particularly exposed to shocks during walking, and their surface condition is progressively deteriorated, which is to the detriment of the good functioning of the fasteners in the quality of the taken on these edges and in the quality of safety: the bindings are provided to release the boot when solicited a force determined by a prior adjustment A bad surface condition changes the conditions of this release

the setting is no longer controlled.

  The object of the present invention is to improve the comfort of walking while improving

  and protecting the gripping means in the fastener.

  The subject of the invention is a ski boot, in particular downhill ski, monoski, surf or other, of the type comprising an outer shell and a rigid sole, characterized in that it comprises in combination a heel having a vertical longitudinal section a rounded outer profile and two rigid fixed transverse fingers protruding from each side of the boot intended to engage a means of retaining and supporting the boot, said fingers being positioned rearwardly to ensure the release of the boot; out of the binding, and so that the heel is suspended above the surface of the ski to leave a space between the shoe and the ski or the binding. It is still remarkable for the following features: the position of the fingers at the rear is determined to ensure the release of the shoe from the binding at least in a substantially horizontal plane by rotating one of the fingers around the other , the latter based on the means of

restraint and support.

  the fingers are located at the sole, behind the axis of the ankle or near the axis of the tibia, or at the rear end of the shoe; the fingers are coaxial and preferably consist of a rigid, cylindrical rod; the fingers extend laterally, remaining at least in the jig of the shoe; the heel has longitudinally a

adhesive material coating.

  The invention will be better understood when reading

  the following detailed description in which we

  refer to the accompanying drawings showing an example embodiment. FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view in longitudinal cross-section of the boot according to

the invention.

  FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of

  below the shoe according to the invention.

  Figure 3 is a schematic rear view

partial of the shoe.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the boot according to the invention, in a position fixed on

a ski.

  As can be seen in the drawing, the boot 1 according to the invention usually comprises a shell 1 having a rigid sole 2 which extends

  in one piece over the entire length.

  Preferably, as is visible in FIG. 4, the profile of the sole, in a longitudinal direction, is curved downwards, and has an extreme lower zone situated approximately in the zone of the metatarsals. Starting from this zone, the sole goes back forward

and backwards.

  Such a shape of the sole improves comfort during walking by allowing a movement of unwinding of the sole Moreover, during the practice of skiing, the toes are slightly extended, which in some cases improve the sensitivity of the perception of the quality of the snow

  and therefore improve the driving of the ski.

  According to the invention the profile of the sole, in vertical section, at the rear end 3 is rounded so that the shoe no longer pivots around an edge formed usually by the heel, but rotates

  by a kind of winding on a rounded surface 4.

  This surface 4 of contact of the shoe on the ground is further covered with a material 5, of the elastomer or other type, resistant to wear and preferably having adhesion and damping characteristics. As illustrated in the drawing, the heel thus no longer has a traditional edge on which comes

place and press the fastener.

  In combination with this rounded shape of the heel, the shoe has two lateral fingers 6, which extend transversely to the longitudinal axis 7, each intended to engage with a means 8 for retaining the shoe. The means 8 also ensures, preferably, the support of the heel of the boot, such that the heel no longer rests on the surface of the ski or the binding: the shoe is supported

by the fingers.

  These fingers are coaxial and preferably consist of an axis or rod 9 of very rigid material,

metal or other.

  Thus, the fastener no longer engages on the sole or in the heel 10 but on a different organ. This arrangement advantageously allows to separate the role of the heel 10, which is to rest on the ground during walking, that of the gripping member with the binding which is precisely to ensure proper positioning of the boot relative to the ski and of

keep it there.

  This dissociation then makes it possible to act on the position of the boot on the ski without affecting the shape of the heel: for the same rounded shape of the heel, the location of the fingers can be variable

  vertically (in height) or longitudinally.

  The fingers are arranged towards the rear to ensure the release of the shoe from the binding at least in a horizontal plane, by rotation and by pressing one or the other of the fingers on a fulcrum 13 corresponding means of attachment and support. The retaining means 8 of the heel of the boot cooperates with a retaining means 16 of the front of the boot, to hold the boot on the ski, and

  release it in case of excessive stress.

  The rear retaining means 8 of the heel of the boot comprises two lateral lugs 17, each retaining the heel via one of the fingers

6 '

  As a result of excessive torsional stress, the shoe is released, and can rotate

  laterally to the area of his heel.

  During this rotation, the shoe, through one of its fingers 8, bears on the corresponding ear 17 of the rear retention means 8, and pivots laterally substantially around

of this fulcrum identified in 13.

  In FIG. 2, with the indices "a" and "b", the like elements, right and left, have been differentiated. When the front of the shoe escapes, for example in the direction shown schematically at 18a, the finger 6a bears on the ear 17a and the fulcrum

  13a is a center of rotation for the shoe.

  On the other side, the finger 6b leaves the support against the ear 17 b Simply invert the indices for

  a rotation in the direction 18 b.

  The outline 18 of the sole at the fingers 6, and the position of the fingers are determined so that during such rotation, no part of the sole engages or clings in the other ear Au contrary, the contour 18 moves away from this ear so that the lateral rotation of the

shoe is not hindered.

  It can be said that the outline of the soleplate is inscribed in an area 14 situated inside two circular arcs 18, each of them being centered on a fulcrum 13, and having for radius the distance

  separating the two support points 13a and 13b.

  Referring to the previous example, with the release in the direction 18 a, the contour of the sole at the level of the fingers 6 a and 6 b is situated inside the two arcs of circles 19 a and 19 b, respectively centered on 13a, 13b, and having for radius the distance separating the two points 13a and 13b. During the rotation of the boot around the point of support 13a, the contour of the sole moves away from the other ear. 17 b, so that this ear 17 b does not hinder

not the release of the shoe.

  Below the contour 18 at the level of the fingers 6, the contour of the sole remains the same, or preferably, it is set back relative to the contour 18, towards the longitudinal axis of the sole, which further reduces the risks of hanging with the ears, during a lateral release of the shoe. The fingers are preferably arranged in the sole, and extend laterally remaining in the jig 12 of the shoe, that is to say recessed by

compared to its widest part.

  The device has two fingers resting on the ears 17 according to the inventin is advantageous because it allows a very precise and direct transmission to the

  ski movements and pulse of the skier's leg.

  Indeed, on the one hand the efforts of the leg being concentrated on two points separated from the median axis of the ski (the ears 17), there is leverage around this axis, on the other hand the heel being retained by the rear holding means 8 in its widest area,

the leverage is optimal.

  In a first variant embodiment, the fingers are positioned near the axis 11 of the tibia, in order to ensure maximum transmission of the movements of the leg towards the ski, in particular during

  cornering and taking of edges.

  In a second embodiment, the fingers are positioned towards the rear end 3 of the shoe. This arrangement is preferred when

  we want to reduce the lateral extension of the fingers.

  Thus the back of the shoe rests on the ski, not directly by the surface of the sole, but by the fingers 6 on the support means 8 The sole, on the side of its rear end 3 does not rest

not on the ski.

  This arrangement makes it possible to completely eliminate the usual rear shoulder extension, which shortens the boot, and to reduce the thickness of the sole towards the rear, which brings the heel closer to the ground and improves the comfort of the shoe. walk in

  decreasing the inclination of the shoe forward.

  The inclination of the shoe on the ski is however preserved by the lift of the shoe

  by means of the retaining member 8 and support.

  As seen the shoe according to the invention provides many advantages: it is shorter by the removal of the rear extension, lower and less inclined by a reduction of the rear thickness of the sole and is therefore lighter this improvement in comfort is increased by the presence of a walking shoe made of adherent material; the fixing fingers, remaining in the template of the shell of the shoe are not exposed to shocks and the security is improved; the presence of an empty space under the back of the shoe suspended above the ski allows its installation in the binding even in the presence of snow on the sole,

Claims (6)

  1 Ski boot, in particular downhill ski, monoski, surf or other of the type comprising an outer shell and a rigid sole, characterized in that it comprises in combination a heel (10) having in longitudinal vertical section an outer profile ( 4) rounded and two rigid fixed transverse fingers (6) protruding from each side of the boot intended to engage with a means for retaining and levitating the boot, said fingers being positioned rearwardly to ensure the release of the shoe off the binding, and so that the heel is suspended above the surface of the ski to leave a gap between the shoe and ski or fixation.   Ski boot according to claim 1 characterized in that the position of the fingers (6) at the rear is determined to ensure the release of the shoe from the binding, at least in a substantially horizontal plane by rotation of the one of the fingers around the other, the latter resting on the means of restraint and support.   3 ski boot according to claim 1 characterized in that the heel (10) has in its longitudinal median portion a coating (5) in adherent material.   Ski boot according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two fingers <6) are coaxial and consist of a cylindrical metal rod (9). Ski boot according to claim 1 characterized in that the fingers (6) are located at the sole near the axis (11) of the tibia. Ski boot according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fingers (6) extend in   remaining in the jig (12) of the shoe.