CA2020407C

CA2020407C - Rotary closure for a sports shoe, especially a ski shoe

Info

Publication number: CA2020407C
Application number: CA002020407A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert Schoch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-10
Filing date: 1990-07-04
Publication date: 1996-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-04
Also published as: US5042177A; DE3926514A1; EP0412290A2; EP0412290B1; DE59006191D1; ATE107482T1; JPH03155801A; EP0412290A3; ES2056306T3; JPH0687803B2; CA2020407A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary closure for a sports shoe, especially a ski shoe, in which at least one trac-tion element co-operating with the closure element of the shoe can be wound onto or off of a pulley which can be rotated by an actuating shaft. A manually releasable locking arrangement fixes the actuating shaft in the chosen position of the closure. In the transmission connection between the actuating shaft and the pulley a releasable coupling is provided which facilitates release of the closure without it being necessary to bend down in order to actuate the locking arrangement.

Description

2020~07 The invention relates to a rotary closure for a sports shoe, especially a ski shoe of the type employing a rotatable pulley rotating a traction element connected to a closure element of the shoe.
A rotary closure of this type is known from EP-A-255 869.
With this known rotary closure the closure flaps of the shoe are drawn together or loosened by means of traction cable tensioning members. The traction cable tensioning members are wound on or off of a pulley which is rotatable by hand by means of an actuating shaft.
In order to maintain a predetermined setting a locking arrangement is provided. Extremely sensitive adjustment of the rotary closure is possible through a large number of locking positions. The locking arrangement is released by a short turn in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation for tightening.
In order to release the closure for the purpose of actuating the locking arrangement it is necessary for the user to bend down.
The object of the invention therefore is to make further developments to such rotary closures in such a way that it is possible to release the closure without the user having to bend down for the purpose of actuating the locking arrangement.
Specifically, the invention relates to a rotary closure for a sports shoe, such as a ski shoe, comprising: (a) a rotatable pulley for rotating a traction element connected to a closure element of the shoe; (b) a manually rotatable actuating shaft having a handle thereon, the shaft being axially movable independently of rn/

the handle; (c) a manually releasable locking mechanism for fixing the actuating shaft in a selected rotary position representative of a chosen position of the closure element; and (d) transmission means between the actuating shaft and the pulley for transmitting rotary motion of the shaft to the pulley, the transmission means including a planetary gear and releasable coupling means between the shaft and the pulley, the coupling means being releasable in response to axial movement of the shaft relative to the handle to disengage the pulley from the shaft.
In this construction according to the invention it is possible for the user to be in the upright position to actuate a release element which releases the pulley from the actuating shaft which is fixed by the locking arrangement.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims and are explained in greater detail in connection with the examples illustrated in the drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a section through a first embodiment with the coupling closed, Figure 2 shows a section through the first embodiment of Figure 1 along the line II-II, Figure 3 shows a section through the first embodiment with the coupling open, Figure 4 shows a section through a second embodiment, rn/

- 1 Figure 5 shows a section through the second embodiment of Figure 4 alon~ the line V-V, Figure 6 show~ a section through the second embodiment rotat.ed by 90, Figure 7 show~ a ~ection through the second embodiment of Figure 6 along the line VII-VII.

A first embodiment of the rotary closure will be e~plain-ed in greater detail with the aid of Fi~lre~ I and 2. A
frame l o~ cylindr~cal construct.ion is closed from below with a ba~e ~. An intermediate disc is inserted from above into the frame I so as to be rot~table. Above this an actuating handle 4 is arranged which has a circular groove. A corresponding, equally circular flange 6 on the fr~me 1 en,sages in this groove 5 ~nd thus ensures a gulded rotary movement of the ~ctuatin,s handle 4.

The frame l, the int,ermedlate disc 3 and the actuating handle 4 are each ~rovided with a central openin~ int.o which a couplin8 bush ? is inserted from below. The coupling bush 7 is of cylindrical construction in the region-of the frame I and i~ supported towaras the top by a proJection 7a on t,he corresponding part of the frame l.
In the re~ion of the intermedi~t,e disc 3 the coupling bush 7 is constructed as a squ~re whieh ~ogether with the openin,g in the intermediate dl~c 3 which is construoted as ~,n internal square eonstitutes a connection which i5 fi~ed against rotat~on. A nut 8 is screwed onto th,e region of the coupling bush 7 which lies above this and - 202~07 - 1 is again o~ cylindrlcal con-~truction. The lower end of the nut 8 is supported on the intermediate disc 3 so that the intermedlate dlsc 3 is fixed in its position and can only carry out a rotary movement about t.he central shaft lO of the rotary closure. In the lower region the actu-ating handle butts wit.h its inner bore on the nut. 8. An upwards movement oY the actuating handle 4 is prevented by a pro.~ection 11 on the nut 8 and the correspondin,s recess 12 in the actuatin~ handle 4. An actuating shaft, 13 is in~erted into the couplin,g bush ?. The actu~tin~
shaft. t3 is provided ln its central reglon with t,eeth which en~age in corresponding teeth of the coupling bush and thus facilitate on t.he one hand a displacement along the shaft 10 and on the other hand a connection which is fixed against rotation to the coupling bush ~.

In the chamber formed by the frame 1 and the base ~ a cable pulley 14 is arran~ed concentrically around the shaft lO. The cable pulley 14 has a groove 16 running round its circumference in which a traction element 1?, for example a traction cable, is acco~modated for winding on or off. A planetary 8ear is provided betw~en the cable pulley 14 and the frame I to drive the cable pulley 14. A sun wheel 18, which is arran~ed coaxially around the actuatin~ shaft 13 and as a drive gear can be connec-t,ed by a couplin$ t.o the actuatln,s shaft so as to be fixed ~g~lnst rot.ation, belon~ to this planetary ,~ear.
A rin~ ~ear ~O with lnternal toothin~ which is mounted so as to be fiY,ed against rotation on the ~rame l also 3C belon$s t,o the planetary ,gear. ~lanet. pinions 1~ ~hich are rot.atably connected ~ pins _1 to the ca~l~ pllllev 1~

_ - 5 - 1 are provlded in the re~ion between the ring ~ear 20 and the sun wheel 18.

The couplin8 for transferrin~ the rotary motion of the actuating shaft 13 to the cable pulley 14 is con~tructed as a toothed coupling and contains two couplin~ parts provided with teeth, of which one coupling part ~3 is fixed on the lower end of the actuatin~ sha~t and the other cou~linS part 23 is arran~çd on the sun wheel 18.
In this case the coupling part 23 and the sun wheçl 18 are preferably o~ inte8Tal construction.

In a similar manner to that of the known constructlon according to EP-A-~55 869, a locking arran~ement which fixes the actuating shaft in the chosen setting of the closure is arran~ed in the intermediate disc 3. The lockin~ arrangement contains a catch ~4 which is mount.ed like a two-armed lever so as to be plvotable about a pivot pin 27. Furthermore a ring gear ~5 which is arranged concentrically with the actuating shaft. 10 is provided on the frame and a catch ~4 which is pre~tressed by a spring engages in this ring gear when a rotary move-ment is carried out in the direct.ion of windin~ the traction element 17 onto the cable pulley t4.
At the end of the actuating shaft 13 facing awaY from the coupling an actu~t.in~ kno~ ~6 is flrmly connect,ed to t,he actuatlng shaft t3. A circular bead ~6a on the mu~hroom-shaped actua.ting knob ~ is ~1ided ln a correspondin~
~roo~e ~8 in the actuating handle so that displacement of the act,uating kno~ ~6 In ~he ~iirection of the shaft 10 Is - 202C40~

¢

1 possible. The actuatin~ knob 26 receives additional xuiding in the recess 12 of the actuating hancile 13. A
spring ~ which is supported at the bottom on the nut 8 and at the top against the actuatln,g knob ~6 is accommo-date<i In a recess ~4 of t.he actuatin~ knob 26.

In order to t.ransfer the rotary motion of the actuating handle 4 to the Intermediate disc 3, the actuatin~ handle 4 is provided with a pin 31 which engages in a recess 30 in the intermediate dlsc 3. The pin 31 comes Into contact. with a ~top 32 durin~ rotation in the direction of windin~ on the traction elements 1~ and with a stop 33 on rotation in the direction of unwindin,s the traction element 1~.

The way in which the first embodiment functions will ~e explained below with the aid of Fi~lres I to 3.

When rotating the actuatin~ handle ~ in the direction of winding the traction element 1? on the cable pulley 14 a certain ldle path must optionally be covered initiallY
~rom the stop 33 to the stop 32 before the pln 31 en-tralns the inter~ediate disc S in the rotary movement.
Due to the initial sprin~ t.ension of the catch ~4 the catch comes into engagement successi~ely with the teeth of ring ~ear ~5 which are distributed in the circu~fer-ential direction. After the rotary movement ~y t.he actuat.infs handle $ has ended, t.he rot.ary position reached by the rotary closure is Pixed bY the engagecl position of t.he catch ~4. The couplin~ bush ~ which is connected to the intermediate disc 3 30 as to be fixed against 2 ~ 2 ~
_ - 7 - 1 rotation transfers the rotary motion to the actuatin8 ~ha~t 13. The rotary motion ls transferred via the closed coupling and the planetary gear to the cable pulley 14. The windlng of the traction element 17 onto the cable pulley 14 effects tightening Or the closure elements of the shoe.

The unwinding of the traction element from the cable pulley 14, i.e. the release of the cl osure elçments of the shoe, s achieved by an opposite rotary movement of the actuating handle 4. In this case the idle p~th be-tween the two stops 32 and 33 is covered Pirst of all, so that the toothed engagement between the catch ?4 and the ring gear 25 is released. B~ further rotation of the actuating handle 4 the traction element t7 can be unwound from the cable pulley 14.

A further possibility Por releasing the cable pulley 14 for the purpose of unwinding the traction element 1~ is provided by the actuating knob 2~. By pressure on the actuating knob 26 the actuating shaft 13 can be displaced axially against the force of the spring 29. The actua-tin~ shaft 13 w~th the actuatin~ knob ~6 fixed on it is then located in the position iIlustrated in Figure 3.
The act~ating knob 2ff, which at the sa~e time forms a cover for the actuating handle 4, is limited in its move-ment bY the nut 8. However. before this the ~wo coupling parts 22 and 23 wlth their tçeth have already been disen~a~ed. This in turn means that the planetarY ~ear and the cable pulley 14 are freely mo~able and the traction element 17 can relax. The pressure on the 2B2~ ~ 07 1 actuating knob 26 can be applied with the foot, a Yki stick or other aid. In any case lt is possible to circumvent the locking arran~ement and achieve release of the closure elements o~ the shoe without having to bend down.

As soon as the pressure of the actuat,ing knob ,6 i5 re-moved, the spring 29 presses the coupllng via the actu-ating knob 26 and the actuating shaft 13 back into its en8aged position.

For the second emhodlment according to Figures 4 to 7 the same reference nu~erals are used for the same parts as in the first embodi~ent.
A round frame l' is connect,ed to a housing part 35. Be-tween them the cable pulley 14 and the ~ear consistin~ of the sun wheel 18, planetary pinions l9 and ring gear 20 are arranged in a manner analogous to that of the fir~t embodiment. The coupling between the sun wheels 18 and the actuating shaft 13 is also made in an analogous manner in the second embodiment.

On the side o~ the frame l' facin~ away from the cable pulley 14 and the gears an intermediate disc 3' 1s arran-~ed concentrically with the shaft- lO. The actuating shaft t3 is on the one hand mounted in the ~rame l' so as to be rotatable and on the other hand Gonnected to the intermediate disc so as ~o be fi~ed ~gainst rotation.
The ~ctuating shaft 13 ls of hex~gonal construction tn the region tn ~hich it comes into contact with the 2~4~`7 1 intermediate disc 3', the intermediate disc 3' having a correspondingly hexagonal recess, and in this way the connection is ensured 50 as to be fixed a~ainst rotat.ion.

S A dome-like actuatin~ handle 4' is provided above the intermediate disc 3'. On the outside of the frame l' ln the region of the intermediate disc 3' ls a pro3ection la'.

The actuating handle 4' is drAwn downwards at t,he sides to such an extent that it covers the pro~ection la' and forms a snap connection therewith.

Two pins 4'a and 4'b are arranged opposite one another approximately centrally between the centre of the actua-ting handle 4' and its outer periphery~ If the actuatin,~
handle 4' is snapped onto the frame l', t,hen the two pins 4'a and 4'~ pro~ect into corresponding recesses in the intermediate disc 3'.
The actuating handle 4' has around the shaft lO an elas-tically deformable region 4'c which l~ connected to the end of the actuatln~ shaft 13 facing away from the couplin~.
2~
The second embodiment according to Figure 4 is showm rotat.ed by 9O~ in F~ure ff. It will be seen that on the actuatin~s shaft 13 a sprln,~ 3ff constructed ~s a leaf sprin~ is provided, by means o~ which the couplin~ part 22 which is fir~ Y connected to the actuatin,~ shaPt l3 ~s 2~2~407 1 pushed into the en8aged position with the c,ouplin~ part 23 on t.he sun wheel 18.

The con~truction of the locking arrangement in the second embodiment i-Y particularly clear from the sectional view in Figure 5. A locking slide 3~ which comes into engage-~ent with a toothed ring 38 arranged fixed on the fra~e l' ls provided ln the intermediate disc 3'. In this embodiment. the toothed ring 38 is constructed integrally with the frame l'. A spring 3~ holds the locking sllde 37 in en~agement wlth the toothed ring ~8.

A rotary mo~ement of the actuating handle 4' is tran,~-~erred by the two pins 4'a and 4'b to the intermediate disc 3'. The pin 4'a is guided in a recess 3'a in the intermediate disc 3', whilst the pin 4'b engages in a recess 37a in the locking slide 37 ~uided in the intermediate disc 3'.

The recess 3'a in the intermediate disc 3' is const,ructed concent.rically about the shaft lO, so that the recess 3'a only covers a small an~ular region.

In contrast thereto the recess 37a in the lockin~ slide 37 has a limit which runs in a straight line particularl~
in the region between the pin ~'b and the central shaft lO, and t.he radial ~pacln~ continuallv increases.

Fi~re 7 .~hows a section along the line Vll-VII.of Fi~lre ~. and in particular illustrates the arran,~ement. of the planetary ,gear.

2020~0~

1 The planetary 8ear of the firYt embodiment is constructed in the same way.

The way in which the ~econd embodiment functions will be explained in greater detail below:

By a rotary movement oP the actuating handle 4' in the clockwise direction the intermediate disc 3' is entr~ined by the pin 4'a and optionally al~o by the pin 4'b. Be-cause the intermediate disc 3' and the actuating shaft 13are connected so as to be fixed against rotation the cable pulley 14 is also rotated in thls way by means of the planetary ~ear. In this case the traction element l?
constructed as a traction cable can be wound on.
In this operation the locking slide 37 slips from one tooth element of the toothed ring 38 to the next. The resulting relative movement of the locking slide 37 in relation to the intermediate disc 3' is ensured by a corresponding clearance of the pin 4'b in the recess 37a.

By the rotary movement of the actuating handle 4' the tract.ion element 17 is wound on to the cable pullev 14 and thus effects tightening of the closure elements of the shoe. When the rotarv move~ent is interrupt.ed the actuating handle ~' is held ~irm by the locking sllde 37 in the tooth element of the toothed rin~ ~8 which was reached last. In this way the shoe can be brou~ht care-fully lnto the desired closed position and fixed in that posit.ion by me~ns of the toot.hin,y on the toothed ring ~8.

202~7 -1 The unwinding of the traction element 17 from the cable pulley 14, i.e. the loosening of the closure elements of the shoe, is achieved by rotary mo~ement of the actuatin~
handle 4' ~n the opposite direct.ion. Again, as in t.he fir~t embodiment, an idle path is covered until the pin 4'a has reached the other stop in the recess 3'a. rn a correspondin~ manner the pin 4'b also moves at the other end of the recess 3?a. In this case due to the spatial arran~ement of the rece~s 37a the lockin~ slide 37 is pushed a~ainst the i'orce of the ~prins 39 in the direc-tion of the shaft lO. In the second end position of the pin ~'b the lockin~ sllde 37 is drawn back so ~ar that it can no lon~er enga~e with the to~thed rin~ 38. The fi~in~ of the locking arrangement which is released manually in thls way now facilitates further rotation of the actuating handle 4' in the anti-elockwise direction and thus effects unwindin~ of the traction element 17.

For renewed tightenin~ of the closure elements of the shoe the actuating handle 4' must again be rot.ated in t.he clockwise dir~ction, and again first. of all t.he pins 4'a and ~'b must cover an idle path until they come to a ~top at the other end of t.he recess 3'a or 37a respectively.
If the pin 4'b reaches the stop o~ the rece~s 37a the locking slide can re~t Preely. ~rpon further rot.ation of the actuatin~ handle 4' t.he intermediate dl~c 3 is then entrained, 50 that this rotary movemen~ is transferred directly to the actllat.ing shaft. tO and ~n thi~ w~ b~7 means o~ the coupling and planetary ~year effests win(iing of the traction element 1~ onto the ~able pulle~ lf~.

~2~7 - 1 A further possibility for releasing the cable pulley 14 for the purpose of unwinding the traction element 1~ is ofi'ered by the actuation of the elastlcally deformable region 4'c in the actuating handle 4'. This elastically deformable re~ion 4'c is directly in contact with one end of the actuating shaft 13. The actuating shaft 13 of this emhodiment is axlally mova~le in the direction of the sha~t lO in a manner analo~ous to that of the fir~t embodiment, so that a pressure on the elastically defor~-1i~ able reglon 4'c is transYerred directly to the actuating shaYt 13 and in a manner analogous to that of the first embodiment disenga~es the co~lplin~ and releases the cable pulley 14. So lon~ as the pressure is maintained the cable pulley 14 with the planetary gear is freely 1- movable, so that the tension in the traction element 17 can be released.

If the pressure on the elastically deformable region 4'c is relieved, then the actuating shaft 13 is moved upwards by the force of the spring 36 so that the two coupling parts 22 and 23 a8ain come into engagement.

As already explained in the flrst embodiment, the user is given the p~ssibility of releasing the closure without 2~ having to bend down for the purpose of actuatin~ the locking arrangement. The pressure on the elasticall~
deformable region 4'c can again be applled with the foot, a ski stick or another aid.

2~ $G7 ~ - 14-- 1 The second embodi~ent ~Figures 4 to B~ i~ dIstingui~hed over the fir~t e~bodiment <Flg~res I to 3) by a sm~ller overall hei~ht and easler assembly.

Claims

1. A rotary closure for a sports shoe, such as a ski shoe, comprising:
(a) a rotatable pulley for rotating a traction element connected to a closure element of the shoe;
(b) a manually rotatable actuating shaft having a handle thereon, said shaft being axially movable independently of said handle;
(c) a manually releasable locking mechanism for fixing the actuating shaft in a selected rotary position representative of a chosen position of the closure element; and (d) transmission means between the actuating shaft and the pulley for transmitting rotary motion of the shaft to the pulley, said transmission means including a planetary gear and releasable coupling means between the shaft and the pulley, said coupling means being releasable in response to axial movement of said shaft relative to said handle to disengage said pulley from said shaft.

2. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the actuating shaft is axially displaced toward said handle against spring force.

3. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the coupling means is constructed as a toothed coupling member having two coupling parts which are provided with teeth and of which one coupling part is fixed on one end of the actuating shaft and the other coupling part is coupled to the gear.

4. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the locking mechanism comprises a ring gear concentric with the actuating shaft and a catch engageable therewith, one of said ring gear and said catch being stationary and the other part being connected to the actuating shaft so as to be fixed against rotation.

5. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that a pressure-actuated actuating knob is connected to an end of the actuating shaft remote from the coupling means for axial displacement of the actuating shaft.

6. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the actuating knob is provided with a recess to accommodate a spring which axially biases the actuating shaft such that the coupling means is disposed in an engaged position between the actuating shaft and the pulley.

7. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the actuating handle travels over an idle path and is then drivingly engaged to the actuating shaft so as to rotate the shaft.

8. Rotary closure as claimed in claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the actuating knob (26) forms a cover for the actuating handle (4) and is mounted in a groove (28) in the actuating handle (4) so as to be displaceable in the axial direction.

9. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the locking mechanism has a stationary toothed ring (38) which is concentric with the actuating shaft (13) and has a locking slide (37) which comes into engagement therewith, and the locking slide (37) is connected to the actuating shaft (13) so as to be fixed against rotation after covering an idle path.

10. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a spring is positioned about the actuating shaft to axially bias the actuating shaft such that the coupling means is disposed in an engaged position between the actuatingshaft and the pulley.

11. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 2 or 7, characterised in that the actuating handle (4') has an elastically deformable region (4'c) which is connected to the end of the actuating shaft (13) facing away from the coupling for axial displacement of the actuating shaft.

12. Rotary closure for a sports shoe, such as a ski shoe, comprising:
(a) a rotatable pulley for winding and unwinding a traction element connected to a closure element of the shoe;
(b) an actuating mechanism for rotating the pulley, said actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable and axially movable actuating shaft having a handle connected thereto for manual rotation of the shaft and a pressure-actuated element connected to the shaft and received in the handle for actuation by the shoe user when standing upright, the element and the shaft being axially movable relative to the actuating handle when said element is pressed toward the shaft;
(c) releasable locking means for releasably fixing the actuating shaft in a selected rotary position; and (d) releasable coupling means between the actuating shaft and the pulley for transmitting shaft rotation to the pulley, said coupling means being operable upon pressing of the element toward the shaft to disengage the shaft and the pulley, whereby the pulley may be released for rotation to unwind the traction element.

13. Rotary closure as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the actuating handle includes means for releasing the locking mechanism when said actuating handle is rotated in a direction to unwind the traction element.