FR2889664A3 - Fixing for detachably connecting boot to especially cross country ski has body with fixing member movable between extended position and retracted position against spring action to engage in recess in boot heel - Google Patents

Abstract

The fixing (12) comprises a body (16) with fixing member (17) which can move relative to the body along a longitudinal axis against the action of first elastic members. An actuating element which is movable inside the body along a perpendicular axis against the action exerted by second elastic members is kinematically coupled to the fixing member through coupling members designed to transfer the vertical movement of the actuating element into longitudinal movement of the fixing member. The fixing member can be moved relative to the body between an extended position where part of it protrudes beyond the body and a retracted position in which this part is housed inside the body. Independent claim describes footwear (4) with recess (4a) in the heel to allow the fixing member to engage when it is in its extended position.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR REMOVABLE FASTENING

  A SHOE ON A PIECE OF SPORTS ARTICLE,

  ESPECIALLY BACKGROUND SKIING OR SKIING WITH CASTERS

  The present invention relates to an arrangement for removably attaching a shoe to a piece of sporting article, such as a cross-country ski or roller ski, or "rollerski".

  Cross-country skis and roller skis, which are intended to slide on a snow blanket and on the ground on two or more wheels, respectively, are generally known as consisting of an elongated board, over which is attached an arrangement for securing the shoe; usually, such an arrangement comprises a binding or clamping member corresponding to the portion of the toes, while the heel piece remains loose to allow the shoe to transmit the necessary thrust required by the ski through the oscillation of this same shoe with respect to the connecting element on the portion of toes. Such oscillation of the shoe is achieved through the deformation of the sole, which is in fact made from a flexible material, such as, for example, a thermoplastic material.

  Solutions are also known in which the shoe is rigidly associated both at the heel and the toe portion on a support plate which is in turn pivotally connected to the ski, or a base attached to the ski, in correspondence with the end portion of the same plate. The plate is thus able to swing pivotally between a first position, in which it is in contact with the sporting article piece, and a second position, in which it is raised relative to the same piece of sporting article. . In addition, an elastically deformable means may be provided and adapted to resiliently oppose the tilting motion of the plate between said first and second positions thereof. Thanks to both the greater rigidity of the soleplate associated with said support plate and the increased amplitude of the rocking movement, a more powerful thrust is obtained. Some of such prior art solutions envisage the shoe as being permanently associated, i.e., affixed to the plate, as shown in International Patent Application No. WO 96/37269 and Italian patent applications Nos. PN2000U000025, PN2000U000026 and PN2000U000042, is removably attached thereto, as disclosed in International Patent Application No. WO 03/013669, which discloses an improved arrangement for attaching a shoe to a piece of sporting article, in which wherein the support plate is provided with means for releasably positioning and securing the boot to the plate, which cooperate with conjugate coupling elements provided on the sole of the boot.

  Although a solution in which the boot is releasably attached to the ski binding is generally more advantageous, it has been found that in practice the solution described in the aforementioned International Patent Application No. WO 03/013669 discloses still a number of disadvantages; in particular, it has been discovered that a wearer generally has some difficulty in using the releasable securing and releasing means, since it requires the wearer to do it manually, so that he / she must bend down while turning the bust towards the rear and by operating a lever to fix or release the boot on or of the support plate and, therefore, of the ski. This manipulation can sometimes be quite difficult to carry out, in particular when it is made on runway or road surfaces, rather irregular or more or less sloping, snow-covered, because the wearer must apply a direct and relatively significant force on the lever to complete the fixation and / or the release operation. In the alpine downhill ski sector heel and boot binding devices, generally known as heel pieces, are known and are provided with mechanisms which, through a simple pressure applied using the ski pole and therefore, without the skier having to stoop, allow to release the heel of the boot of the heel piece by a simple upward rotation, about an axis extending transversely to the ski, an element forming a clamping device locking the heel in place. These heel pieces, however, are not usable in cross-country skiing, either on snow or on the road, because, unlike ski boots, in which the heel protrudes outward, the shoe of 2889664 A cross-country ski has a conformation in which the hind portion of the top of the shoe enclosing the heel and the ankle area of the foot protrudes to a greater extent than the heel, thereby preventing be able to rotate freely upward to release the shoe.

  An additional disadvantage encountered by the above-mentioned solutions of the prior art is in the control instability of the ski during the pushing or pushing phase, since the coupling between the plate and the base associated with the ski is not enough to guarantee optimum holding strength on the sides and as a result, optimum control of the ski, at the moment when the base plate and the shoe associated therewith are raised from the ski so that a greater pushing force is able to be exerted on the same ski by the skier; because of said sufficient holding resistance, the ski can therefore "twist", that is to say it waves transversely relative to the shoe, thus introducing difficulties in controlling it.

  A main objective of the present invention therefore consists in abolishing the aforementioned drawbacks of the solutions of the prior art through the provision of an arrangement for removably attaching a boot to a piece of sporting article, in particular , a cross-country ski or a roller ski, which allows the boot to be fixed and released in a manner that is quick and convenient to perform by the skier.

  In the general object above, an object of the present invention is to provide a fastener which is reliable, safe and easy to use.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device that allows the ski to be optimally controlled during the pushing phase by improving the lateral holding resistance of the fastener between the boot and the ski.

  A final, although no less important, object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement that can be manufactured at reasonably low cost with the use of tools, machines and techniques already available, and widely known.

  According to the present invention, these and other objects and advantages which will become apparent in the following description are achieved in a device for removably attaching a shoe to a piece of sporting article, particularly a cross-country ski. or a roller ski incorporating features and features as defined in the following paragraphs.

  Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the description of a particular embodiment, although it is not unique, which is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the drawings. joints, in which: FIG. 1 is a side view of the arrangement according to the present invention, as illustrated with the boot attached to the sports article piece; Fig. 1a is a cross-sectional view along the plane I-I of a component portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; FIG. 2 is a view similar to the view appearing in FIG. 1, illustrating a detail of the obstacle portion of the arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view along the longitudinal median plane of the detail shown in Figure 2, the shoe being attached to the sporting article piece; FIG. 4 is the same view as that appearing in FIG. 3, illustrating the phase in which the boot is released from the sports article piece; FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c are schematic views of the phases required to attach the boot to the sports article piece; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the front portion of the arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a side view of a detail of the front portion of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the shoe being attached to the sports article piece; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal median plane of the detail shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the arrangement according to the present invention, as shown with a shoe sole in a fixed and raised condition; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along the X-X plane of the front portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 8; FIGS. 11a, 11b and 11c are views of respective swinging phases of the arrangement between the first and second positions; - Figure 12 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 10 of a second embodiment of the front portion of the arrangement according to the present invention.

  Referring to the above figures, reference numeral 1 is used herein to generally indicate a piece of sporting article consisting of a cross-country ski or on wheels; in correspondence with the upper surface 2 of the ski 1, an arrangement is associated, as generally indicated by 3, for removably attaching a boot 4 to the ski 1 according to the present invention.

  The arrangement 3 comprises a base 5 attached to the ski 1 and provided on the front portion thereof with a pair of stirrups 6, to which is pivotally associated a support plate 7 which receives a conformation and / or which is made of a material such that it / it ensures adequate structural strength and rigidity in order to effectively restore the force transmitted by the skier's leg to the sporting article piece during of the stuffing phase. Advantageously, the plate itself may be provided with one or more reinforcing ribs 8 on the lower portion of the latter facing the upper surface 2 of the ski 1, to ensure a desired level of rigidity.

  The pivoting connection of the support plate 7 on the front pair of brackets 6 is obtained, for example by means of a pivot 10 which is located transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski 1 and passes through the pair before stirrups 6 and the front end portion 10 of the plate 7.

  Therefore, the arrangement described above allows the plate 7 to oscillate, i.e., toggle between a first position, in which it contacts the base 5 and a second position in which it on the contrary, is raised relative to the base 5, thereby forming a predetermined angle with respect to the upper surface 2 of the ski 1; in order to resiliently oppose such a tilting movement of the base plate, an elastically deformable means (not shown in the figures) is provided, which may for example be constituted by one or more springs.

  The arrangement further comprises a positioning means 11 and a detachable attachment means 12 for securely connecting the toe portion and the heel portion of the shoe 4, respectively, to the plate 7. In particular, the means 11 is provided near the front end portion of the plate 7 and comprises a seat 13 which is adapted to removably cooperate with a mating element 14 projecting downwardly from the sole 15 of the shoe in correspondence with the zone of the portion of toes, preferably at the metatarsal level of the foot. Advantageously, the positioning means 11 is formed in one piece as a unitary single piece construction with the plate 7.

  The removable fastening means 12 is located near the rear end portion of the plate 7 and comprises a body 16 blocked on the plate 7, which contains a fastening element 17 capable of moving longitudinally along the body 16 against the action of the first elastic 18 which bears against an end piece 19 of said fastener element 17 on one side, and against a wall 20 of the body 16 on the other side. The fastening element 17 is provided with a front end portion 21, a contour of which is formed along an inclined plane, and an intermediate slot 22 terminating on the rear of an inclined wall 22a, which constitutes a first part of a kinematic coupling means, a function will be described in more detail later. The fixing element is therefore able to take, relative to the body 16, an extracted position, in which the front end portion of the fastening element 17 is adapted to engage a corresponding cavity 4a provided in the heel. of the shoe 4, and a retracted position following the application of a force along the longitudinal axis of the fastening element 17 to overcome the progressive action exerted by the first elastic means 18.

  As best seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the cavity 4a is positioned in a zone approximately corresponding to the rest zone of the heel of the foot, so that it is practically recessed inwards relative to the portion 4b of the shoe 4 enclosing the endo-posterior region of the foot including the heel and malleolus. In the same way, the fastening element 17 and part of the body 16 are contained, in practical use, under the obstacle portion 4b projecting towards the outside of the boot, in order to be able to engage with each other. the cavity 4a. Near the resting zone, the heel of the shoe 4 is further provided with an inclined surface 4c, whose function will be described in more detail later.

  In addition, the body 16 comprises an actuating device 23 such as a push button, to allow the release of the boot 4. This actuating device 23 can be moved along a substantially vertical axis relative to the plate 5, against the action exerted by the second elastic means 24 abutting against the bottom of the body 16 on one side, and against the bottom of a seat 25 housing the actuating device 23 on the other side. The actuating device 23 is connected to the body 16 by means of a pin 26 passing through the corresponding bores 27 provided especially in the body 16 and an opening 28 in the actuating device 23 itself, which allows it to slide vertically . A lower portion of the actuator 23 is capable of engaging the slot 22 of the fastener 17 and is provided with an inclined wall 23a constituting a second portion of a kinematic coupling means, which is adapted to interact with each other. with the above-mentioned first part of such means, constituted by the inclined wall 22a of the fastening element 17, in order to convert the vertical displacement of the actuating device 23 into a longitudinal displacement of the fastening element 17.

  The upper face of the actuating device 23 is further provided with a recess 29 adapted to be engaged by the end of a ski pole.

  Advantageously, the removable fastening means 12 can be attached to the plate 8 in order to be able to slide longitudinally relative to the latter, thus allowing the fastening arrangement 3 to be adapted to the particular size of the shoe 4 used. .

  According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, with a view to improving the lateral holding resistance of the plate 8 relative to the base 5 and, consequently, the controllability of the ski by the skier, a plurality of first longitudinal ribs 31 protruding towards the base 5 are provided on the lower surface of the plate 7, in correspondence with the front portion thereof and preferably starting at the hinge area of the plate 8 to the base 5; the base 5 itself is in turn provided with corresponding second longitudinal ribs 32 projecting upwards and adapted to engage the recesses between said first ribs 31. Such interaction of the first ribs 31 with the second ribs 32 during a tilting movement of the plate 7 relative to the base 5 allows an improvement of the lateral holding resistance due to the contact between the ribs along a rather wide swinging arc, such as FIGS. 9, 11a, 11b , 11c allow to better observe it.

  The manner in which the arrangement according to the present invention functions is as follows: starting with the condition in which the boot 4 is fixed on the plate 7 (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7, 8) and, therefore, the portion of toes of the shoe 4 engages the positioning means 11 and the heel of this shoe is locked in place by the fastener 17 engaging the cavity 4a, to release the shoe 4 from the plate 7 the skier while remaining perfectly straight, simply press the end of the ski pole 30 into the recess 29 of the actuator 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in order to overcome the resistance, i.e. opposing force of the second elastic means 24 and forcing the actuating device 23 to move vertically towards the lower surface of the body 16; this displacement of the actuating device 23 is communicated, through the kinematic coupling of the inclined wall 23a of this same actuating device with the inclined wall 22a of the intermediate slot 22, to the fastening element 17, which is subjected longitudinal force which is sufficiently bonded to be able to overcome the reaction of the first elastic means 18 and to cause the rearward sliding of the fastening element 17, so that it retracts into the body 16. vertical translation displacement of the actuating device 23 is converted, by the effect of the inclined planes 22a and 23a kinematically coupling each other, in a horizontal translation displacement of the fastening element 17 in order to cause the retraction of this last in and out of the body 16 and, accordingly, the heel of the shoe 4 to fix and release the plate 7.

  So that the shoe 4 is again fixed on the plate 7, all that has to do the skier, or the carrier, is to insert only the tip, or portion of toes, of the shoe 4 in correspondence with the positioning means 11, thereby causing the mating element 14 to engage the appropriate receptacle 13 (FIGS. 7, 8), while bringing the bead of the detachable attachment means 12 forward and pressing with the heel towards the bottom (Figures 5a, 5b, 5c); the interaction of the inclined front end portion 21 of the fixing element 17 with the inclined surface 4c of the boot 4 causes the application of a longitudinal pressure on the fastening element 17 which forces the latter to move backwards. in the body 16 against the force exerted by the first elastic member 18; as soon as the inclined surface 4c is passed, the fastener moves back to its extracted position when forced by the pushing action of the first elastic means 18 (FIG. 5c), thereby engaging the cavity 4a of the heel of the shoe 4 and fixing the latter.

  The above description is therefore clearly

  show the ability of the arrangement to removably attach a boot to a sports article piece according to the present invention, in order to effectively achieve the aforementioned objectives and advantages by allowing the user to perform more easily , quickly and more conveniently the operations required to secure and release the shoe on and sport piece of work, while remaining in a upright position. A fastening of the boot is done by simply positioning the toe portion of the boot in the positioning means 11 and pressing down with the heel to allow the fastener 17, first retract and then recoil again to engage the cavity 4a, while release of the shoe requires the user to only slightly rotate the bust backward to position the end of the stick. ski in the recess 29 and press the actuating device 23 with the latter.

  Another particular advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the fastening means 12 is constantly in an "armed" state, that is to say ready to fasten the boot 4; in fact, the fastening element 17 remains constantly in its extracted position when it is at rest and therefore, ready to receive the heel of the boot 4, retracts under the pressure exerted by the same heel and, finally, retreats to again to engage and secure the shoe. As a result, no manual manipulation of the user is in fact required to arm the fastener.

  An additional advantage of the present invention is that, under conditions of use, the pressure being constantly exerted by the fastening element 17 on the cavity 4a in the heel of the boot makes it possible to automatically catch any slack or any play between the fastening arrangement and the boot, particularly in correspondence with the front positioning means 11, which merely provides an adjustment housing for insertion for centering purposes, attachment or locking means is provided at this location, so that the shoe remains firmly in place. The pushing force exerted on the shoe 4 thus makes it possible to guarantee a stable, solid and safe coupling even in the region of the toe portion of the latter.

  Yet another advantage offered by the arrangement provided according to the present invention is in the optimum manner according to which the ski can be controlled by means of such an arrangement, thanks to the first 31 and second 32 aforementioned ribs co-operating positively between they, thus improving the lateral holding resistance of the shoe-ski coupling to a considerable extent. In particular, such a holding resistor is improved during the pushing phase, in which the plate 7 is raised to a maximum extent relative to the base 5, but contact between the respective portions of the first and second ribs remains guaranteed, although to a limited extent but nevertheless effective.

  Fig. 12 illustrates a different embodiment involving ribs 131 and 132 which are provided with a larger vertical extension to increase the contact area as the plate 7 swings to its maximum swing measurement.

  It will be appreciated that the arrangement described above may of course be subject to a number of modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  Finally, it will be noted how the materials used to manufacture the arrangement of the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual component parts thereof, can each time be selected in order to respond more appropriately to the particular requirements. or adapt to the particular application, again without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

  An arrangement for removably attaching a shoe (4) to a sport article piece (1), in particular a cross-country ski or roller ski, comprising a base (5) which can be associated with said piece ( 1) of sport article, a plate (7) pivotally connected to an end portion of said base (5) and capable of swinging between a first position, in which it is in contact with said base (5) and a second position, in which it is raised relative to said base (5), said plate (7) being provided near the end portion thereof, connected to said base (5), with a positioning means (11) and, in the vicinity of the opposite end portion thereof, with a detachable fastening means (12) for said shoe (4), characterized in that said detachable fastening means (12) comprises a body ( 16) containing a fastening element (17) capable of moving along the t body (16) along a substantially longitudinal axis of the latter against the action of a first elastic means (18), and an actuating device (23) can be moved along said body (16) along an axis substantially against the action exerted by a second elastic means (24), said actuating device (23) and said fixing element (17) being provided with a suitable kinematic coupling means (22a, 23a), converting the vertical displacement of said actuator (23) into a longitudinal displacement of said fastener (17).   An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said fastener (17) is movable relative to said body (16) between an extracted position, wherein a portion of said fastener (17) projects from said body (16). and a retracted position, wherein said portion is contained within said body (16).   An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said fastener (17) moves in said retracted position upon the application of a force on said actuator (23) in order to overcome the resistance opposed by said first means elastic (18).   An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member (17) is provided with an intermediate slot (22) terminating at an end portion thereof in an inclined wall (22a) forming a first part of said kinematic coupling means (22a, 23a).   An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said actuator (23) has an inclined wall (23a) forming a second portion of said kinematic coupling means.   The arrangement according to claims 4 and 5, wherein said actuating device (23) is adapted to engage said slot (22) so that the respective inclined walls (22a, 23a) of said fastener (17). and said actuator (23) contact each other to form said kinematic coupling means.   An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the upper face of said actuator (23) is provided with a recess (29) adapted to be engaged by the end of a ski pole (30) for apply the said pressure.   An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the end portion of said fastener (17) adapted to protrude from said body (16) is formed in an inclined plane.   An arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of said plate (7) facing said base (5) is provided near the end portion thereof which is related to said base (5), with a plurality of first longitudinal ribs (31, 131) projecting towards said base (5), at least a portion of said first ribs (31, 131) being adapted to cooperate, when said plate (7) ) tilts upwardly and downwardly relative to said base (5), with at least a portion of second ribs (32, 132) projecting from said base (5) and capable of engaging the recesses between said first ribs (31, 131).   10. Shoe adapted to be coupled to a removable fastening arrangement as defined in claims 1 and 2 above, said shoe (4) being provided in correspondence with the heel of the latter, with a cavity (4a). adapted to be engaged by said fastener (17) when the latter is in said extracted position thereof.   The shoe according to claim 10, wherein said cavity (4a) is positioned in the area which corresponds approximately to the heel resting zone, and is depressed relative to the hindrance portion (4b) of said shoe (4). enclosing the posterior-posterior region of the foot including the heel and malleoli, said fixation member (17) and at least a portion of said body (16) being contained, under the conditions of use, under said hindrance portion (4b ) in order to be able to engage said cavity (4a).   12. Shoe adapted to be coupled to a removable fastening arrangement as defined in claims 1, 2 and 8 above, wherein the heel of said shoe (4) has, near the resting area, an inclined surface (4c) adapted to cooperate, during the fixing phase, with said end portion of said fastening element (17) which is formed along an inclined plane.