WO1997045033A1

WO1997045033A1 - Reinforcing device for ski or surf boot

Info

Publication number: WO1997045033A1
Application number: PCT/IB1997/000577
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gérard Cretton
Original assignee: Emery S.A.
Priority date: 1996-05-28
Filing date: 1997-05-21
Publication date: 1997-12-04
Also published as: JP2000511070A; EP0951220A1; CH690979A5

Abstract

The invention features a device comprising a part (7) to be located beneath the sole of the foot comprising in its rear portion, to be located beneath the heel, one element (1) to wrap the calf. The element comprises two parts (1a, 1b) held together in the front rear direction so as to provide high longitudinal rigidity. The two parts (1a, 1b) are linked together so as to provide, besides longitudinal rigidity, transversal flexibility which provides user comfort and much easier control of the sliding device while not requiring any external vertical retaining fitting.

Description

Reinforcement device for a ski or snowboard boot

The invention relates to a reinforcement device for a ski or snowboard boot.

Ski or snowboard boots are designed so as to have great rigidity in the longitudinal direction, that is to say from front to back. Most known shoes have this quality. But another problem appeared, it is the fact that by increasing the longitudinal rigidity one also increases the transverse rigidity of the shoes. If great longitudinal rigidity is an advantage, it is not the same for transverse rigidity. Indeed, the ski or snowboard boot must have a certain flexibility in the transverse direction.

The invention aims to provide a device intended to be introduced into existing shoes in order to increase their longitudinal rigidity while retaining their transverse flexibility. The invention also aims to provide a shoe comprising a reinforcement device to increase its longitudinal rigidity while retaining transverse flexibility.

The objects of the invention are achieved with the reinforcement device for a ski or snowboard boot defined in claims 1 and 3.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description of an embodiment given by way of example with reference to the single figure in which there is shown in perspective an embodiment of the reinforcement device according to invention.

The reinforcement device in the embodiment shown in the single figure has a relatively low base. plane 7 intended to come under the sole of the foot. The base 7 can be made so as to have a length equal to the sole of the shoe for which it is intended, that is to say to have a length equal to the sole of the foot. The base 7 can also have a shorter length than the sole and it can have openings. The base 7 has at its rear end, intended to come under the heel, an element 1 substantially perpendicular to the base 7 or better constituting an acute angle with the base 7. Part 1 is intended to wrap the rear of the leg from the heel to the calf.

The element 1 is divided into two parts 1a and 1b, by a cut or slit 2, which extends from the heel to its upper part close to the calf. In their upper parts, the two parts 1a, 1b constituting the element 1, that is to say in the zone where the part 1 is intended to come into contact with the calf, comprise a connecting element 3. The element of connection is constituted in the embodiment represented by a rectangular plate 3 rigidly fixed on the part 1b, for example by two rivets 4, while it is fixed in a mobile way on the part 1a, for example by a rivet 6 which can move in an oblong vertical opening 5 provided in the plate 3. It is obvious that the plate 3 can be different from a rectangle for example: square, round, oval, etc.

The function of plate 3 can also be replaced by a vertical slide on only part or the entire height of part 1.

The device according to the invention is made either of synthetic material or of light metal such as for example aluminum alloys. The device according to the invention can be inserted into a ski or snowboard boot and be fixed or not to the latter. It can also be part of the shell or the upper (for flexible snowboard boots) of the boot and be fixed to the latter at the time of its manufacture. It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the single embodiment described above by way of example, but, includes all the variants that a person skilled in the art can conceive in particular with regard to the device authorizing transverse movement.

Claims

claims

1. Reinforcement device for a ski or snowboard boot, characterized in that it comprises a base (7) intended to come under the sole of the foot comprising at its rear part intended to come under the heel an element ( 1), intended to come to wrap the calf, making with said base (7) an angle slightly less than a right angle, said element being divided into two parts by a slit extending from its lower part under the heel to its part upper close to the calf, the two parts being connected to their upper parts by means (3,4,5,6) holding them together in the longitudinal direction relative to the length of the sole by allowing a relative movement in the transverse direction of the sole so as to have great rigidity from front to back and flexibility in the transverse direction.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (3,4,5,6) holding the two parts (la, lb) of the element (1) are formed by a plate (3) fixed on the one of the parts and attached to the other part by an element, for example a rivet, which can move in an oblong opening of the plate (3) or a slide fixed to one of the parts (la, lb), in which introduces the other element in which it is free to move.

3. Ski or snowboard boot, characterized in that it includes, in its shell, a reinforcement device according to one of claims 1 and 2.