Device for connecting a skier's lower leg to a ski binding and a footwear assembly

Abstract

Device for connecting the lower leg J of a skier S to the foot P and the ankle axis CC' to a ski binding F mounted on a ski PS, said device comprising a footwear assembly (30), a shin connection (16) with at least one rigid bar (16-3) comprising an upper end (16-1) comprising an attachment member (18) to the lower leg J, including a fixing member (24), and a lower end (16-2) comprising a pivot connection (20) pivoting about an axis AA' relative to the footwear assembly (30), characterized in that it comprises articulation members (22) with at least one degree of freedom, these members being interposed between the upper end (16-1) of the at least one rigid bar (16-3) and the attachment member (18) to the lower leg J. The invention also covers the footwear assembly equipped with such a device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for connecting a skier's lower leg to ski bindings. The invention also covers footwear assemblies integrating said device. Background Technology

[0002] In alpine skiing, and more specifically in the realm of skis and ski boots, numerous constraints exist that often make skiing practice uncomfortable. In fact, ski boot technology has seen little development over time, offering only general foot comfort, while practice demands improved comfort for practitioners. Currently, ski boots are made of relatively rigid plastic and consist of two articulated rigid sections. The vertical section of the boot accommodates the shin and calf, while the horizontal section accommodates the actual foot. Ankle flexion within these boots is very limited, only a few degrees. Adjustment mechanisms are available to adjust this range, but only to a very limited extent. In practice, foot movement and boot movement are distinct. In reality, for practitioner comfort, comfort foam is inserted, and thus, depending on the boot's clamping and the type of foam, parasitic movement occurs.

[0003] Furthermore, regardless of the foam, shape memory, self-molding, thermoforming materials, and other interfaces, comfort remains very limited, aside from the cost of these materials. These intermediate materials are currently necessary because it is these linings that participate in thermal insulation. It should also be understood that the forces applied by the skier are not directly transmitted, except for the very strong constraint on the boot, inevitably resulting in complete discomfort and extreme difficulty during hours of practice. Consequently, control is poorly provided. Moreover, morphology is not adequately considered, depending on whether the foot is narrow or wide, whether the kick is pronounced, or whether the ankle is slender or prominent, and even custom-molded materials cannot compensate for all of this.

[0004] It should also be noted that while boots enclosed in rigid, sealed shells typically form a barrier against outdoor snow or water, this rigid shell also creates a sealed volume from which it is difficult to remove moisture generated by the natural perspiration of the feet. Another significant drawback is the weight of such boots with rigid shells, which are connected to a large volume of plastic to form the surrounding shell, with the weight of clamping components and foam added to the surrounding shell. The aerodynamic characteristics of ski boots are currently affected by the significant external volume of the boot due to socks, foam, shell, and clamping components. This necessitates adding a rider suit to the boot to minimize the impact of the boot's volume on aerodynamics, or adding aerodynamic accessories for certain competitions or records.

[0005] One area of ​​the foot experiences particularly high mechanical stress, adjacent to the talus, which is compressed during flexion movements. During these forward movements, the upper portion of the shell presses against the shaft of the shell and applies significant pressure. This is a real source of discomfort and trauma. Similarly, pressure on the ankle can chafe the flesh and cause localized heat. Depending on the skier's physique, the boot's profile, and the pressure applied, stress during flexion may also concentrate on the top of the calf and cause discomfort due to the concentration of force.

[0006] The joint between the two parts exhibits a significant lack of flexibility, which causes discomfort during the inherent forward / backward movement in skiing practice. In addition to the stiffness of this connection between the two parts, its flexibility is also limited by various characteristics of the boot, such as its geometry, the materials used, and the boot's unsuitable arrangement. The characteristics of the plastic also vary with daytime temperatures or seasonal changes. However, depending on the discipline practiced, the practitioner, and their skill level, the demands for holding power and flexibility, and the demands for flexion, can vary considerably. Each of the two parts, considered independently, is equally uncomfortable for the foot and the shinbone portion of the lower leg.

[0007] It should also be noted that current ski boots cannot be adapted to the seasons; there is a pair of ski boots available regardless of whether the season is somewhat hot or somewhat cold. Only the boot lining can be changed, but its thickness remains constant because the boot's geometry is fixed and cannot be altered. Aesthetics are completely obscured. The current solution does not offer any possibility of improving skiing practice, for example, by requiring the boot to have more or less "bend" (i.e., the degree of bend) depending on snow conditions, whether it is downhill skiing, one or another type of specialized skiing, or cross-country skiing.

[0008] It can also be observed that existing ski boots of this type can only be repaired by professionals if one component fails. The likelihood of replacing or quickly repairing the boots remains low. Furthermore, given the price, skiers generally own only one pair of boots. Modularization is also impossible because it's not possible to remove or modify the boot lining if the weather is hot at the beginning or end of the season, even if the lining is removable, because the boot design incorporates a single type of lining with a specific thickness and material.

[0009] Solutions have been sought; therefore, walking boots exist that provide thermal insulation and sealing while achieving structural functionality through straps and levers, but these components are attached to each walking boot. In this case, the feel is unsatisfactory because the foot-holding function is always parasitic due to the intermediate elements used for thermal insulation and sealing of the boot.

[0010] Another solution involves arranging a shell boot for the foot only, with a lever with a strap articulated to the shell, and its other end connected to the calf or at least the lower leg via a strap with a clamping device. The mechanical support limits the range of flexion. This has a major drawback: the axis of rotation. In fact, for satisfactory comfort and movement, the axis of rotation between the boot and the bar must be perfectly centered on the practitioner's ankle from the boot to the foot. However, due to the individual morphology of each person, even if the manufacturer performs calculations and tests, the results can only be based on averages of the obtained results. Therefore, most of the time, the pivot axis of the ankle is misaligned with the pivot axis of the bar relative to the shoe shell. This misalignment inevitably results in a geometrically significant combination of translational and rotational movement between the strap and the calf adjacent to the strap, but in any case, this movement is of an alternating and repetitive type, at least causing injury, thus hindering practice for the following days. Summary of the Invention

[0011] This invention proposes a device for connecting a skier's lower leg to ski bindings. The device attempts to replace the portion that receives the tibia with a lighter and more comfortable system for holding the tibia, eliminating the effects of misalignment near the ankle and lack of parallelism between the tibia and the upper portion, while still responding to the different functions of connecting the skier's body to the skis. This allows for better control and achieves adjustable thermal insulation and improved sealing during practice without interfering insertion elements, while ensuring good ventilation of the foot and removal of generated moisture.

[0012] This invention covers footwear assemblies equipped with a connecting device according to the invention.

[0013] The present invention also proposes a footwear assembly that allows skiers to wear only one pair of boots, which avoids any constraints on the feet associated with wearing a shell, particularly eliminating pressure on the talus and / or ankle, the ankle including a high tibia connection for better control in practice. This allows for modification of insulation according to the practice season and ensures better comfort through necessary ventilation. The footwear assembly may be equipped with a device for connecting the skier's lower leg to lighter and more comfortable ski bindings, eliminating the effects of misalignment near the ankle and lack of parallelism between the tibia and upper portion, while still responding to the different functions of connecting the skier's body to the skis for better control during practice.

[0014] This invention also allows for the resolution of many technical problems by increasing practitioner comfort and by providing much lighter and more adaptable devices tailored to the season, skiing conditions, type of skiing practiced, or discipline. This invention allows for rapid repairs without specialized tools, reduces manufacturing costs, and limits the amount of material required.

[0015] For this purpose, the present invention aims to provide a device for connecting a skier's lower leg to a ski binding mounted on a ski via a foot and ankle axis, the device comprising a footwear assembly and a shin connection having at least one rigid rod, the at least one rigid rod comprising: an upper end including an attachment member for the lower leg and including a fixing member; and a lower end including a pivot connection pivoting about an axis relative to the footwear assembly, characterized in that the device includes hinge members having at least one degree of freedom inserted between the upper end of the at least one rigid rod and the attachment member for the lower leg.

[0016] For example, the fixing member may include a collar comprising at least one strip with a self-clamping member at one end.

[0017] According to one exemplary embodiment, the tibial connection may include two rigid rods, left and right. If necessary, the two rods can be attached to the same attachment member via their upper ends, and each rigid rod can be pivotally connected about its lower portion about itself. As a variant, the tibial connection may include rods with a semi-circular shape.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the tibial connection may include a rigid semi-circular portion having two transverse bars at its upper portion and two transverse strips at its lower portion. If necessary, the strips may extend obliquely toward the transverse bars and, specifically, may be connected by transverse connecting portions.

[0019] Advantageously, the hinged member includes translational degrees of freedom. Preferably, the hinged member may include both translational and rotational degrees of freedom.

[0020] Advantageously, the hinge member includes a mushroom-shaped pin having a body and a head, integral with the fixing member of the lower leg, and the hinge member includes a longitudinal hole disposed at the upper end of the rigid rod, through which the body of the pin passes. The width of this hole is smaller than the diameter of the head, allowing the body of the pin to slide within this longitudinal hole while the head of the pin holds the upper end of the rigid rod of the tibia connection.

[0021] As a variant, the hinged member may include a flange in which the upper end of the rigid rod slides. If necessary, the flange may have a rectangular cross-section, and the end of the rigid rod may be rectangular and have a width and length shorter than the width and length of the flange.

[0022] The object of the present invention is also a footwear assembly equipped with a connecting device according to the invention. The footwear assembly is characterized in that it includes a base sole intended to receive a boot, the base sole comprising at least one substantially vertical lateral lug, the end of each lateral lug intended to receive a pivot connection of each rigid rod.

[0023] Preferably, the base sole includes two lateral lugs, left and right. Where necessary, the end of each lateral lug is intended to receive a pivot connection of each corresponding left or right rigid rod. As a variant, the end of each lateral lug is intended to receive one of the pivot connections of a rigid rod having a semi-circular shape. Where necessary, one or more front and / or rear corner supports may be positioned on said or each lateral lug.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the end of each lateral lug is raised substantially adjacent to the skier's ankle axis, such that the axis of the pivot connection is at least close to the ankle's rotation axis. As a variation, each lateral lug may extend such that the axis of the pivot connection is substantially offset relative to the ankle axis, for example, by positioning it above the talus bone of the foot. In one instance, each lateral lug may extend obliquely, specifically towards the front of the base sole. As a variation, the end of each lateral lug is raised vertically while being offset relative to the ankle axis.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting device has a hinge that is fixedly connected to the tibial connection strip, for example, by being mounted on the lateral connecting portion. If necessary, each lateral lug is connected to the hinge to form a pivot connection.

[0026] For example, the base sole includes ends at the front and rear that have profiles for use with ski bindings.

[0027] Advantageously, the lightweight boot includes a rigid sole having a first portion of detachable attachment members, a second portion of which is supported by a base sole. For example, the detachable attachment members may include screws, buckles, or sliding fasteners.

[0028] According to one example, the footwear assembly includes at least one tubular sealing sleeve having a handle, a lower opening, a upper opening, and an access opening. The sealing sleeve is particularly made of waterproof fabric. If necessary, the lower opening may have a profile adapted to the outer shape of the base sole, and the upper opening may be connected to an attachment member. For example, a zipper-style front or rear opening may be provided in the sealing sleeve, particularly along a longitudinal vertical line.

[0029] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes an insulating layer that serves as a lining attached by adhesive bonding or as a removable lining of a sealing sleeve to provide thermal insulation.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the footwear assembly includes a mechanical pump for ventilating the interior of the sleeve. Alternatively or cumulatively, perforations may be provided in the boot.

[0031] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes a damping member inserted between at least one of the base sole and the rigid rod of the connecting member. For example, the damping member may comprise a cylinder having a mechanical spring housed in two cylindrical halves capable of sliding coaxially. As a variation, the damping member may comprise a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, hybrid cylinder, or a coupling of two cylinders.

[0032] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes a member for adjusting the alignment of the axis of the pivot connection with the rotational axis of the ankle. For example, the adjusting member may be a single-eccentric or double-eccentric type housed in a ring. As a variation, the adjusting member may include a set of holes intersecting at 90°. If necessary, the footwear assembly may include a member for locking the adjusting member in a given angular position. As a variation, the footwear assembly includes a member for adjusting the position of the axis of the pivot connection relative to the rotational axis of the ankle.

[0033] The present invention also aims to provide a footwear assembly equipped with means for connecting the lower leg of a skier with an ankle to a pivot axis and ski bindings mounted on a ski. The footwear assembly includes a base sole intended to receive a boot, the base sole comprising at least one substantially vertical lateral lug, the end of each lateral lug intended to receive a pivot connection defining an axis, at least one rigid rod mounted on the pivot connection via its lower end and having an attachment member for the upper portion of the lower leg at its upper end.

[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, the end of each lateral lug is raised substantially adjacent to the skier's ankle axis, such that the axis of the pivot connection is at least close to the ankle's axis of rotation. As a variation, each lateral lug may extend such that the axis of the pivot connection is substantially offset relative to the ankle axis.

[0035] Advantageously, the base sole includes ends with a profile for engagement with ski bindings at the front and rear.

[0036] If necessary, the lightweight boot includes a rigid sole with a first portion having detachable attachment members, a second portion of which is supported by the base sole.

[0037] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes at least one tubular sealing sleeve having a handle, a lower opening, an upper opening, and an access opening.

[0038] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes an insulating layer having a removable lining attached by adhesive bonding to a lining or sealing sleeve to provide thermal insulation.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the footwear assembly includes a mechanical pump for ventilating the interior of the sleeve.

[0040] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes a hinge member inserted between at least one rigid rod and the attachment member.

[0041] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes a damping member inserted between at least one of the base sole and the rigid rod of the connecting member.

[0042] Preferably, the hinged member includes two degrees of freedom: one translational degree of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom.

[0043] Advantageously, the footwear assembly includes a component for adjusting the alignment of the axis of the pivot connection with the axis of rotation of the ankle. Attached Figure Description

[0044] The invention will now be described by way of illustrative examples only, and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, and is based on the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] [ Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the interaction between a prior art ski boot device with tibial attachments and the anatomy of a skier's lower leg.

[0046] [ Figure 2 [A schematic diagram showing a transverse front view of a device according to the invention for connecting the lower leg to a ski binding.]

[0047] [ Figure 3 [A schematic diagram showing a transverse front view of the device for connecting the lower leg to a ski binding according to the present invention and its damping member.]

[0048] [ Figure 4 This shows a view of the first variant of the component used to cause overlap.

[0049] [ Figure 5 This shows a view of a second variant of the component used to cause overlap.

[0050] [ Figure 6 This diagram shows a side view of a device for connecting a lower leg to a ski binding according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0051] In the embodiments of the prior art, Figure 1The interaction between footwear device A10 and the lower leg J ​​of skier S is illustrated in a simplified manner. Thus, the prior art footwear device A10 is attached to the ski PS in a known manner via its sole A12 by means of fastener F, the sole being integral with a housing A14 receiving the foot P, which is done in a known manner. A footwear device A10 of the known type includes a tibial connection A16. This tibial connection A16 consists of at least one rigid rod A16-3, which includes at its upper end A16-1 an attachment member A18 intended to be positioned on the lower portion of the calf M, above the ankle C of skier S, and at its lower end A10-2 a pivotal connection member A20 to the housing A14. Therefore, this tibial connection A16 can pivot about axis AA', and the tibia of skier S can pivot relative to the foot about axis CC', which is the axis of the ankle C. It should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, a single semi-circular rigid rod is provided, which is completely equivalent to two left and right rods connected together.

[0052] Depending on the inherently different anatomy of skiers S (even those with the same foot length), these axes AA' and CC' may overlap only by exception. However, during practice, when bending and when tilting the tibia to shift its weight forward or backward, the skier S constantly changes its position relative to the skis PS and center of gravity. Furthermore, these variable tilts in the front / back plane occur during phases where the body position (and therefore the lower leg position) is more or less laterally tilted, which also constantly alters pressure and force. Therefore, a misalignment of the axes exists, causing the attachment member A18 of the tibia connection A16 to translate towards the calf M with each bending movement. These movements are limited, but they are continuous and at least cause discomfort, and in the worst case, injury, especially since the attachment member A18 is clamped, but there is also a minimum clamping of the attachment member A18 to maintain good control of the skis.

[0053] This invention is in Figure 2 The image is shown schematically; for clarity, clothing items such as socks and trousers have been removed. Figure 2In the process, elements common to those in the prior art were found, these elements having the same label, but with the A removed. The device 10 according to the invention for connecting the lower leg J ​​of a skier S to ski bindings includes a tibia connection 16 in the form of at least one rigid rod 16-3, the upper end 16-1 of which carries an attachment member 18 for the lower leg and the lower end 16-2 of which carries a pivot connection 20. Specifically, the invention relates to these attachment members 18, which include a hinge member 22 having at least one degree of freedom, namely a translational degree of freedom in the main embodiment and both translational and rotational degrees of freedom in a preferred embodiment. Therefore, this arrangement can be adapted to existing shell boots with a tibia connection, a simple boot to which the tibia connection is attached, or even to preferred embodiments of footwear assemblies with soles described below.

[0054] For this purpose, the attachment member 18 includes a member 24 for securing to the lower leg J, for example in the form of a loop 26 comprising at least one strip, the ends of which have self-clamping members. These self-clamping members allow the skier S to adjust the clamping of the attachment member on the lower leg in a known manner. The tibial connection 16 includes at least one rigid rod 16-3 with left and right semi-circular loops, each having an upper end 16-1. A hinge member 22 is inserted between each upper end 16-1 of the at least one rigid rod 16-3 and the attachment member 18. In this case, two rods are provided, but they can also be formed into a single rigid rod with a semi-circular shape, as already indicated.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment, the hinge member 22 includes at least one degree of freedom selected between translation and rotation, with translation selected as the primary degree of freedom. For each at least one rigid rod 16-3, still according to a specific embodiment, these hinge members 22 consist of a mushroom-shaped pin 22-1 having a body 22-2 and a head 22-3. The pin 22-1 is integral with the member 24 for attachment to the lower leg J. The upper end 16-1 of the rigid rod 16-3 includes the remaining portion of the hinge member 22, namely a longitudinal hole 16-4. On at least a portion of its periphery, the width of this hole is smaller than the diameter of the head. Thus, the body 22-2 of the pin 22-1 slides in this longitudinal hole 16-4, while the head 22-3 of the pin holds the upper end 16-1 of the rigid rod 16-3 of the tibial connection 16. The upper end 16-1 of the tibial connection 16 can then pivot and translate relative to the fixing member 24, which is not loaded in any way relative to the lower leg J.

[0056] In fact, the fixation member 24 of the tibial connection attachment 18 can be placed higher on the lower leg J, i.e., below the knee, in the upper portion of the tibia without any trouble. In the prior art, the higher the tibial connection, the greater the movement of the attachment member relative to the lower leg. This is no longer the case in the present invention, and the hinge member 22 inserted between at least one rigid rod 16-3 of the tibial connection 16 and the attachment member 18 of the tibial connection 16 on the lower leg J ​​allows the fixation member 24 to be positioned between the lower and upper portions of the lower leg J, and therefore preferably at the upper portion, provided that at least one rigid rod 16-3 has a suitable length. The advantage of positioning the fixation member by at least one rigid rod 16-3 with a larger length is that it allows the skier S better control over their flexion and foot P movement, and due to the increased length of the lever arm, less force is transmitted to the tibia at a given moment of flexion. Preferably, rigid rods 16-3 are provided on each side of the lower leg J ​​so that two rigid rods are placed on the left and right sides of each housing 14. These rigid rods are attached to the same attachment member 18 and thus to the same fixing member 24, including when a single semi-circular rod is involved. A hinge member 22, other than the pin in the slider, can be considered, comprising a simple flange in which the upper end of the corresponding rigid rod slides. The flange then has a rectangular cross-section, and the ends of the rods are also rectangular, but slightly smaller in width and short enough to allow for translation and rotation at a given angle. It can be observed that the problem of continuous movement and loading of the attachment member 18 is solved, and even if axes CC' and AA' are misaligned, the offset is compensated by means of the hinge member 22, thus providing all the comfort for this part of the connecting device.

[0057] It can also be observed that when the hinged member includes two degrees of freedom (and thus translation and rotation), in this case, the pressure applied to the pin 22-1 is applied to a set of fixed members because the pin applies its force radially, causing the force to be distributed uniformly across the entire surface of the fixed members, rather than acting as a point-by-point force on the top or bottom of the fixed members in an unbalanced manner as in prior art arrangements. This force distribution also leads to an improvement in comfort.

[0058] It should be understood that the connecting device 10 according to the invention is applicable to prior art housings with tibial connections, boots with tibial connections, and footwear assemblies described below.

[0059] However, specifically, the connecting device according to the invention cannot solve many problems related to the presence of a heavy shell; constraints on the talus and ankle; constraints related to the clamping of the shell; and the limitation of perspiration caused by the non-permeable nature of the foot. The connecting device according to the invention can be equipped with a hinge member 22. The invention proposes a footwear assembly, with or without the connecting device 10, that solves the aforementioned problems, which the connecting device cannot.

[0060] Same here Figure 2 In the lower part, a footwear assembly 30 according to the invention is described, which integrates a device 10 for connecting the lower leg J ​​to a ski binding F. The invention also covers footwear assemblies integrating the device 10 for connecting the lower leg J ​​to the ski binding F, wherein the footwear assembly eliminates the prior art housing A14. Thus, the footwear assembly 30 includes a base sole 32 intended to receive a boot 34. This base sole 32 includes at least one substantially vertical lateral lug 32-1, the end of each lateral lug 32-1 intended to receive a pivot connection 20 of each rigid bar 16-3. The end of each lateral lug 32-1 is raised substantially adjacent to the axis CC' of the ankle of the skier S wearing it, such that axis AA' overlaps with or at least approaches axis CC'. This base sole 32 includes ends 32-2 and 32-3 at the front and rear, respectively, having profiles that assemble with the ski binding F to which it is received.

[0061] According to the invention, in the footwear assembly 30 of the invention, the foot P is housed in a lightweight boot 34, which itself includes, for example, a bar 34-1 surrounding the foot using leather for comfort, and a rigid sole 34-2. The rigid sole 34-2 is advantageously a high-rigidity sole, similar to the sole of a cycling shoe used for automatic pedals. This rigid sole 34-2 includes a first portion 36-1 of removable attachment members 36, wherein a second portion 36-2 of these removable attachment members 36 is supported by a base sole. Thus, the lightweight boot 34 can be removably attached to a base sole 32. The removable attachment members 36 can be screws, buckles, or sliding fasteners, or any similar components, at the front and rear of the sole. The foot P is held in the lightweight boot by any known means for closing the upper (e.g., shoelaces, wire micro-closures, or hook-and-loop closures).

[0062] Therefore, the footwear assembly 30 includes a base sole 32, which, in a preferred embodiment, includes two lateral lugs 32-1 and a tibialis connection 16 having two rigid rods 16-3 connected together or a single integral rigid rod having a semi-circular shape. Each rigid rod 16-3 is hinged at its lower portion 16-2 around its own left-right pivot connection 20, the pivot connection defining an axis AA'. Each rigid rod 16-3 is connected left-right to an attachment member 18 via its upper end 16-1, and more specifically, to a hinge member 22 for securing the attachment member 18 to a member 24 for securing the attachment member 18 to the lower leg J.

[0063] The footwear assembly 30 of the present invention is completed by at least one tubular sealing sleeve 38 having a handle 38-1, a lower opening 38-2, and an upper opening 38-3. The material used is preferably a waterproof fabric. The handle 38-1 can be shaped to conform to the contours of a lightweight boot and calf. The contour of the lower opening 38-2 is adapted to the outer shape of the base sole 32 to provide a sealed mechanical connection between the lower opening 38-2 and the base sole 32. The upper opening 38-3 can be connected to an attachment member 18, specifically to a retaining member 24. More specifically, an access opening, such as a zippered rear opening, can be provided along a longitudinal vertical line. This zipper can be advantageously sealed. It can also be opened at the front.

[0064] The footwear assembly of the present invention may also be equipped with [missing information - likely related to footwear components]. Figure 2 The insulating layer 39, shown in the middle portion, can be a liner for a sealing sleeve 38 or a separate, complete sleeve, which can be attached by adhesive bonding or removable. This insulating layer 39 provides thermal insulation.

[0065] To allow for ventilation within the sealed sleeve and to permit foot breathing, perforations are preferably provided in the lightweight boot. Natural ventilation within the sealed sleeve 38 provides circulation, partly because the sleeve remains flexible and provides circulation space, and partly because of the continuous suction / blowing effect generated during permanent bending movements. Other options may be considered if necessary, particularly if the sleeve is as tight, waterproof, and insulating as neoprene; then it is necessary to allow for internal ventilation and the installation of a mechanical pump, such as a ball joint with a valve, which blows air drawn in from the outside inwards, expelling humid air, which occurs during each bending movement and is continuous during practice. Any solution is conceivable, particularly technical materials that are both waterproof and breathable.

[0066] Therefore, the skier wears lightweight boots integrated with the base sole 32. The attachment member 18 of the calf J is integrated with the base sole in its lower portion, which is articulated due to the pivot connection 20 in the lower portion. This provides control over the base sole 32, thus preventing wetness and external cold. Therefore, when a rigid bar is applied to the boot, the force is applied to the base sole 32 rather than the sides of the boot. Specifically, bending can be angularly limited by the travel of the articulated member 22, allowing, for example, the front and rear corner supports to be positioned on lugs. The choice of travel relates to physiological possibilities and consistency with practice. This allows for improved skier control over the skis.

[0067] Based on the improvements, see Figure 3 Ski control can also be improved by the damping member 40 inserted between the base sole 32 and at least one of the rigid rods 16-3 of the connecting member 16. This type of damping member 40 can take any form, particularly a cylinder with a mechanical spring housed in two cylindrical halves capable of coaxial sliding, but it can also be more complex, such as a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, hybrid cylinder, or a connector of two cylinders. Due to the involvement of lever arms, the force is substantial. This type of damper allows skiers to further improve their ski control during practice, especially during descents. The damping member can also disengage during prolonged stops during downhill skiing or cross-country skiing. During descents, the damping member is in good control in both cases. Disengagement can be achieved without tools. Depending on the specific arrangement, the damping cylinder can also be placed at the front. Similarly, instead of two rigid rods on the left and right, a single semi-circular rigid rod is perfectly equivalent, and this semi-circular rigid rod can be applied at the front instead of the rear.

[0068] According to the improved embodiment, the alignment of axis AA' with the rotation axis CC' of the ankle can also be adjusted using a component 42 for adjusting the alignment of axis AA' with the rotation axis CC' of the ankle. For this purpose, axis 20-1 of pivot connection 20 is mounted on a component for adjusting the alignment 42 of the same type as that of eccentricity 20-2, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4If adjustments are needed to ensure a more perfect alignment, the assembly with a double eccentric device allows for in-plane adjustments. Thus, by rotating the eccentric device within its ring, the position of the pivotally connected axis 20-1 can already be adjusted, which further improves comfort because the alignment of axes AA' and CC' virtually eliminates movement of the hinge member 22. Therefore, the hinge member 22 can be installed in the footwear assembly 30 according to the invention with a very limited range. It should be noted that, in this configuration, the footwear assembly 30 of the invention maintains free visual access and contact with the ankle, thus enabling optimized adjustments regarding the skier's form to achieve near-perfect alignment, especially in the case of a double eccentric device. After adjustment, a locking member ensures that the eccentric device or double eccentric device remains in a defined angular position.

[0069] It is possible Figure 5 A variant of component 42 for adjusting the alignment of axis AA' with the rotation axis CC' of the ankle is seen. This variant, including holes 20-4 intersecting at 90°, offers another adjustment possibility. In this case, plate 20-5 carries the pivotally connected axis 20-1 and a set of holes 20-4, and lug 32-1 carries another set of holes 20-4 intersecting at 90° to allow adjustment of the position of axis 20-1 of the pivotally connected 20 to achieve the desired alignment. This arrangement corresponds to the movement possibilities of the double eccentricity in the aforementioned variants, which are unrestricted.

[0070] exist Figure 6 The text describes a device 50 and a footwear assembly 60 for connecting the lower leg J ​​of a skier S to ski bindings according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0071] The connecting device 50 includes a tibial connection 51, which includes a rigid semi-circular portion 51-1 intended to encircle the back of the skier's calf and has two rods 51-2 and 51-3 on its upper portion, which are intended to be applied to either side of the calf, and two strips 51-4 and 51-5 on its lower portion connected together by a lateral connection 51-6 intended to be applied above the skier's foot.

[0072] The connecting device 50 includes a lower leg attachment member 52, which on one hand includes a fixation member 52-1 intended to be evenly secured to the skier's leg. For example, the fixation member 52-1 may include at least one elastic band or Velcro system to ensure this evenness. On the other hand, the attachment member 52 includes a semi-encircling portion 52-2 intended to encircle the front of the skier's tibia to which the fixation member 52-1 is attached. Two left and right flanges 52-3 and 52-4 are applied to the lateral ends of this portion 52-2. A groove is provided in each of the left and right flanges 52-3 and 52-4, in which the upper ends of the left rods (and correspondingly the right rods) 51-2, 51-3 slide. The width of the groove in each of the flanges 52-3, 52-4 is greater than the width of the rods 51-2, 51-3 sliding therein, such that each pair of flanges and rods forms a member 53 that hinges the attachment member 52 relative to the tibia connection 51, the member including translational and rotational degrees of freedom. The fixing member 52-1 is balanced relative to the leg, as are the tibial connector 51 and the connecting device 50. The hinge member 53 transmits only forces perpendicular to the tibia due to the free translation of the attachment member 52 in a direction parallel to the tibia. These forces are evenly distributed across the leg due to the free rotation of the attachment member 52 relative to the tibial connector 51. As a variant, each flange can be replaced by a slider, in which a guide rail mounted on a corresponding rigid rod slides, and the slider and guide rail then form a hinge member with only one degree of translational freedom.

[0073] The footwear assembly 60 includes a base sole 61 from which two lateral lugs 61-1 and 61-2 extend. In the described example, the lugs 61-1 and 61-2 extend obliquely towards the front of the base sole 61 from approximately its center point. As a variation, the lugs 61-1 and 61-2 may extend vertically from an off-center point of the base sole 61.

[0074] The loop 61-3 extends backward from the base sole 61 to wrap around the skier's heel. In the described example, the lateral end of the loop 61-3 overlaps with the lower ends of the lugs 61-1 and 61-2.

[0075] The connecting device 50 includes a hinge 54 mounted on the lateral connection 51-6 and having two lateral tabs 54-1 and 54-2 on the left and right. Thus, each tab 54-1, 54-2 is connected to one of the lugs 61-1, 61-2 to form a pivot connection 55 of the tibial connection 51 relative to the base sole 61, which in turn defines an axis AA'.

[0076] As in Figure 3 In one example, the footwear assembly 60 may include a damping member 40 inserted between the tibialis connection 51 and the base sole 61. Figure 6In one example, a first hinge 51-6 is mounted on part 51-1 and a second hinge 61-4 is mounted on loop 61-3. The damping member 40 includes a cylinder with a spring, wherein the cylinder and a piston are both connected to one of these hinges 61-6 and 61-4.

[0077] Therefore, it is observed that, due to the orientation of strips 51-4, 51-5 and lugs 61-1, 61-2, axis AA′ is substantially offset relative to the rotation axis CC′ of the skier's ankle, as it lies above the talus of the skier's foot. This geometry allows for a relatively balanced distribution of stress points around the rotation axis CC′, defined by hinge member 53, pivot connection 55, and the two hinges 51-6 and 64-4, so that the lever arms of each of these stress points are of the same order of magnitude and therefore the forces at these points are uniform.

[0078] Therefore, it can be observed that the present invention allows for the separation of mechanical, thermal insulation, and sealing functions by distributing them across different elements, each dedicated to one or more of these functions. While these functions are typically provided by a combination of a rigid shell and foam in a conventional ski boot, which raises the issues mentioned in the preface, the present invention proposes to attribute the mechanical functions separately to the connecting device and the thermal insulation and sealing functions to the sleeve, thus specifically addressing each of these functions without affecting or interfering with the others.

[0079] The representation of the connecting device and footwear assembly remains illustrative, but modifications can be made for aesthetic and aerodynamic purposes without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be observed that the width of the device is significantly reduced compared to the housing.

Claims

1. A device for connecting the lower leg (J) of a skier (S) to a ski binding (F) mounted on a ski (PS) via an axis (CC') of the ankle and the foot (P), the device comprising a tibial connection (16, 51) having at least one rigid rod (16-3, 51-2, 51-3), the at least one of said rigid rods comprising an upper end (16-1) including an attachment member (18, 52) of the lower leg (J) and a fixing member (24, 52-1), and at least one of said rigid rods comprising a lower end (16-2) including a pivot connection (20, 55) pivoting relative to a footwear assembly about an axis (AA') of said pivot connection (20, 55), characterized in that, The device includes hinge members (22, 53) having translational degrees of freedom in the tibial direction parallel to the lower leg, which remain present when the skier is skiing, and the hinge members are inserted between the upper end (16-1) of at least one of the rigid rods (16-3, 51-2, 51-3) and the attachment members (18, 52) of the lower leg (J).

2. The device according to claim 1 for connecting the lower leg (J) of a skier (S) to a ski binding (F) mounted on a ski (PS) via an axis (CC') of the ankle and the foot (P), characterized in that, The hinged components (22, 53) also include rotational degrees of freedom.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 for connecting the lower leg (J) of a skier (S) to a ski binding (F) mounted on a ski (PS) via an axis (CC') of the ankle and the foot (P), characterized in that, The hinge member includes a mushroom-shaped pin (22-1) having a body (22-2) and a head (22-3) integral with the fixing member of the lower leg (J), and the hinge member includes a longitudinal hole (16-4) disposed at the upper end (16-1) of the rigid rod, the body of the pin passing through the longitudinal hole, the width of the longitudinal hole being smaller than the diameter of the head, such that the body (22-2) of the pin (22-1) slides in the longitudinal hole (16-4), while the head (22-3) of the pin holds the upper end (16-1) of the rigid rod connected to the tibia.

4. A footwear assembly equipped with a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for connecting the lower leg (J) of a skier (S) and a ski binding (F) mounted on a ski (PS) via an axis (CC') of the ankle and the foot (P), characterized in that, The footwear assembly includes a base sole (32, 61) intended to receive a boot (34), the base sole (32, 61) comprising at least one substantially vertical lateral lug, the end of each lateral lug intended to receive a pivot connection (20, 55) of a rigid rod.

5. The footwear assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The end of each lateral lug is raised adjacent to the axis (CC') of the skier's (S) ankle, such that the axis (AA') of the pivot connection is at least close to the axis (CC') of the ankle.

6. The footwear assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each lateral lug extends such that the axis (AA') of the pivot connection is offset relative to the axis (CC') of the ankle.

7. The footwear assembly according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The base sole (32, 61) includes ends at the front (32-2) and rear (32-3) that respectively have an outline that combines with the ski binding (F).

8. The footwear assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The lightweight boot (34) includes a rigid sole (34-2) having a first portion (36-1) of detachable attachment members (36) and a second portion (36-2) of these detachable attachment members (36) being supported by the base sole (32, 61).

9. The footwear assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The footwear assembly includes at least one tubular sealing sleeve (38) having a handle (38-1), a lower opening (38-2), an upper opening (38-3), and an access opening.

10. The footwear assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The footwear assembly includes a component that adjusts the alignment (42) of the axis (AA') of the pivot connection with the axis (CC') of the ankle connection.

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