SPORTS SHOE WITH DYNAMIC CONNECTION BETWEEN INNER SHOE AND JOINT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of sliding sports shoes and is particularly concerned with shoes comprising a rigid articulated outer shell and containing a flexible inner liner, such as those used for alpine skiing, ski touring, cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

[0002] Ski boots (alpine and touring) are generally formed of a rigid outer shell comprising an upper collar articulated on a lower shell. Inside this shell is housed a flexible liner which is often removable. Such a liner generally comprises an upper part intended to surround, at least partially, the lower leg and the shin of the user and a lower part intended to surround the foot.

[0003] In order to facilitate the skier's walking when he has taken off his skis in alpine skiing, or when he is wearing his skis and moving forward in phases of ascent in ski touring, it is provided that the cuff of the outer shell can pivot relative to the bottom of the shell. This pivoting or movement can be oriented backwards or forwards. However, the upper part of the inner liner, which is generally not flexible enough, cannot follow, naturally or at least not completely, the tilting of the cuff and tends to resist and hinder the movement of the skier's leg backwards or forwards.

[0004] Traditional inner shoes generally include a central opening. This central opening can be closed by a tab. At the front, on either side of the opening, there are also sometimes notches made in the wall of the upper, near the connection between the upper and lower parts of the shoe and at the height of the instep, intended to facilitate the movement of the upper part of the shoe in relation to its lower part. These notches can be filled in particular by a small piece of fabric. This textile piece is rather used to guarantee the waterproofness of the shoe in this area and to prevent water or snow from entering the foot. However, the notches prove insufficient to allow free movement of the upper part of the shoe in relation to its lower part, in order to best follow the pivoting of the cuff.

[0005] As a result, there is currently no simple solution to promote the movement of the upper part of the inner liner in relation to its lower part, and to couple it with the dynamics of the shell. In these conditions, the skier is often hindered by the fact that his boots do not lend themselves to easy and comfortable walking. This situation even proves problematic for the use of ski lifts, in particular, when it is necessary to access or exit them via stairs. Similarly, during ski touring, the natural movement of the leg is disrupted and hindered, resulting in greater effort to move forward with skis on your feet.

[0006] Patent DE3527135 describes a so-called "rear entry" ski boot, formed of an inner liner and an outer shell. The outer shell comprises an upper part in two parts, front and rear, articulated on a lower part. This boot is provided with a connecting element mounted between the rear part of the upper part of the shell and the upper part of the inner liner. This connecting element also makes it possible to secure an insert housed between the shell and the liner and intended to fill the intermediate space to thus ensure a better hold of the foot in the boot. However, both the connecting element and the insert are additional complex parts which must be added to the boot. In addition, this boot is not intended to facilitate walking, and therefore does not have a disengageable upper part.

[0007] Patent FR2682265 describes a ski boot comprising an outer shell formed by a collar pivotally hinged to a lower shell, as well as an inner liner whose upper comprises upper and lower parts. In its rear part, the boot is provided with a device ensuring a sliding connection between the inner liner and the collar of the outer shell. This device comprises a hooking plate carried by the liner and intended to receive a lug formed on the internal part of the collar of the shell. Thus, the parts located at the rear, respectively of the shell and the liner, are connected while having freedom of movement allowing the two parts to pivot relative to each other. However, this connection device is bulky and complex and also requires structural adaptations to be made to both the outer shell and the inner liner.

[0008] Patent US5279053A describes a sliding sports shoe according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0009] In this context, the invention aims to overcome the technical problems previously raised by known shoes by proposing simple means of dynamic connection between the inner liner and the articulated collar of the outer shell, these means being intended to offer more movement towards the rear and / or the front of the upper part of the liner relative to its lower part and thus to allow it to follow the pivoting of the collar.

[0010] More specifically, a first subject of the invention is a sliding sports shoe comprising, on the one hand, an outer shell comprising an upper collar articulated on a lower shell bottom and, on the other hand, an inner liner formed of an upper part intended to surround, at least partially, the lower leg and the tibia of the user and a lower part intended to surround the foot, characterized in that the upper part of the liner is provided with a flexible connecting element projecting at the rear and to the outside and intended to cooperate with a retaining element carried by the collar of the shell to ensure their mutual dynamic connection.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the shoe of the invention, the connecting element is in the form of an open loop whose end strands are integral with the wall of the upper part of the shoe.

[0012] According to a first variant embodiment, the retaining element is formed of a tab oriented downwards at the rear of the collar and delimiting an intermediate space with the outer wall of the collar in which said connecting element is attached.

[0013] In this variant, the retaining element is, for example, made in one piece with the shell.

[0014] According to another variant embodiment, the retaining element is formed from a bolt having at its periphery a grooved zone intended to receive said connecting element.

[0015] Preferably and according to this variant, the shoe comprises a tightening strap fixed to the shell by means of the bolt and at least partially surrounding said collar.

[0016] Advantageously, this bolt is attached and screwed into a tapped bore made in the wall of the collar.

[0017] According to a specific variant of the shoe of the invention, the connecting element projects above the shoe to jointly form a gripping means.

[0018] Preferably, the connecting element is an elastically extensible link.

[0019] Another object of the invention is a sliding sports shoe shell comprising an upper collar articulated on a lower shell base, and a projecting element attached to the outer wall at the rear of the collar and intended to retain a connecting element carried by an inner liner which is housed in said shell.

[0020] According to a first variant embodiment of the shell, the projecting element is formed of a hook oriented downwards at the rear of the collar and delimiting an intermediate space with the outer wall of said collar.

[0021] Preferably and according to this variant, the protruding element is made in one piece with the collar by molding.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the shell comprises a tightening strap fixed to the rear of the outer wall of the collar by means of the projecting element.

[0023] Yet another object of the invention is an inner liner for a sliding sports shoe, said liner being formed of an upper part intended to surround, at least partially, the lower leg and the tibia of the user and a lower part intended to surround the foot, characterized in that the upper part is provided with an elastically extensible connecting element intended to hook onto a retaining element carried by the shoe to ensure their mutual dynamic connection.

[0024] Consequently, the invention is not limited to a shoe comprising an outer shell and an inner liner as defined above. The invention also relates to a shell and / or an independent collar provided with a retaining element produced either in the form of an attachment then screwed onto this collar, or in the form of a single piece with this collar, for example by molding, co-molding or overmolding.

[0025] Likewise, the invention can be applied to an inner shoe provided with a connecting element and capable of being housed in different types of shells provided with an element capable of retaining this connecting element.

[0026] Thanks to the invention and taking into account the flexible and deformable nature of the material constituting the inner liner, its upper part is driven backwards, via the locked and tensioned connecting element in cooperation with the retaining element of the collar, while its lower part remains immobilized in the bottom of the shell of the shoe.

[0027] The connecting element thus forms a transmission belt when the cuff pivots backward. The forward pivoting of the cuff is accompanied by the return of the upper part of the liner to its starting position without the assistance of the connecting element. This movement of the upper part of the liner is therefore reversible and thus makes it easier for the skier to walk or practice ski touring.

[0028] The clearance that was previously present between the inner wall of the collar and the upper part of the shoe when the leg pivoted in the shoe is now eliminated, or at least reduced, when the connecting element is attached under tension to the retaining element carried by the shell.

[0029] The inner liner can still be removed from the shell by manually unhooking the connecting element from the retaining element. This unlocking is easily achieved because the connecting element is extensible.

[0030] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description which follows, with reference to the attached and detailed drawings below. [ Fig. 1 ] represents a rear view of a first embodiment of the shoe of the invention with the inner liner attached to the collar of the outer shell. [ Fig. 2 ] represents a side view of the shoe of the figure 1 with the collar in the tilted backward position. Fig. 3 ] represents a side view of the shoe of the figure 1 with the collar in the forward tilted position. [ Fig. 4 ] represents a rear view of a second embodiment of the shoe of the invention with the inner liner attached to the collar of the outer shell. [ Fig. 5 ] represents a side view of the shoe of the figure 4 with the collar in the tilted backward position. Fig. 6 ] represents a side view of the shoe of the figure 4 with the collar in the forward tilted position. [ Fig. 7 ] represents a perspective view of an embodiment of a retaining element used for the shoe of the figure 4 . [ Fig. 8 ] represents a perspective view of the rear of an inner slipper provided with the improvement of the invention.

[0031] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in the description and in the figures.

[0032] Naturally, the embodiments of the shoe of the invention illustrated by the figures presented above and described below are given only as non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided that different embodiments can be proposed and combined to propose others.

[0033] The invention relates to the field of sliding shoes and, in particular, those intended for alpine skiing, ski touring, cross-country skiing and snowboarding...

[0034] As depicted on the figures 1 à 6 , the shoes intended for these sporting activities generally comprise a rigid outer shell 1 formed of an upper collar 11 articulated, via a pivot axis 12, on a bottom of the shell 13.

[0035] This shell 1 contains an inner liner 2, generally removable, which can be made from a flexible and deformable material. This liner, visible in isolation on the figure 8 (generally comprises a rod formed by an upper part 21 (only the end portion of this upper part is shown on the figures 1 à 6 ) intended to at least partially surround the lower leg of the user, and a lower part 23 ( figure 8 ) extending the upper part 21 and intended to at least partially surround the user's foot. The limit between the upper 21 and lower 23 parts of the slipper is materialized by a plane passing substantially through the axis of the malleoli and the instep of the user.

[0036] The slipper can be formed by assembling several pieces, for example, sewn or glued together. The wall of the slipper generally comprises an internal comfort layer, in contact with the user's leg and foot, an intermediate padding layer (not visible in the figures), and a more rigid external layer 21a, in contact with the external shell and intended to ensure the transmission of forces from the leg to the shoe, as illustrated by the figure 8 . An additional reinforcement element 21b, also called a "spoiler" can be added to the upper part of the liner, against the outer layer of the liner, for better transmission of leg forces to the ski equipment. However, this spoiler is optional and may not be used.

[0037] The upper and lower parts of the upper of the liner meet substantially at the height of the regions of the user's malleoli and instep. In addition, the upper is provided with a substantially vertical central opening 20 (the liner being placed on a horizontal plane). This central opening is positioned opposite the tibia and instep of the user and facilitates the insertion of the foot into the liner. The opening generally extends towards the front of the liner, in its lower part, towards the toes. The central opening is intended in particular to allow the skier's foot to be put on and inserted into the boot. The opening 20 is closed at the front by a movable tongue 22 projecting upwards, and side flaps.

[0038] The invention addresses the problem of the movement of a skier's leg forwards and backwards, which is generally hindered by an inner liner whose structure does not allow enough freedom for such relative movement between its upper and lower parts.

[0039] This problem arises, in particular, when skiers practice downhill skiing who, having taken off their skis, must walk a short distance in their ski boots to reach, for example, the center of a resort or access various facilities located near the slopes such as ski lifts. This problem also arises during ski touring when the skier has to climb a slope with ski skins.

[0040] It turns out that the shell of some ski boots includes a mechanical device designed to free the joint between the collar and the bottom of the shell to facilitate walking. This device, which allows you to switch to "walking mode", is generally called "walking mode". Ski / Walk ". Thus, when the skier has activated this device, the shell collar can tilt backward and / or forward relative to the bottom of the shell. The collar is then no longer locked to the bottom of the shell and can therefore pivot more freely.

[0041] However, unlike the shell, the upper part of current inner liners is connected to the lower part without having sufficient relative freedom of movement, and it cannot therefore follow the movement of the cuff of this shell. On the contrary, due to the construction of the upper of the liner and the permanent connection between its upper and lower parts, the upper part of the liner then opposes a resistance to the movement which hinders the pivoting of the leg backwards and / or forwards. Consequently, the skier is hindered in his walking or, more generally, in the flexion movements of his leg, which causes difficulties in movement. A difference in movement therefore exists between the external shell and the inner liner. This difference is noticeable and can therefore hinder the user in his movements.

[0042] Consequently, in order to guarantee maximum movement of the upper part of the liner relative to its lower part, the invention sought, on the one hand, to use the resilience properties of the material constituting the liner and, on the other hand, to integrate a means suitable and intended to ensure the transmission of movement between the collar of the shell, when it pivots around its articulation, and the upper part of the liner.

[0043] The solution to this problem, as proposed by the invention and illustrated by the figures, consists of integrating into the shoe a flexible connecting element 3 projecting at the rear and outside the upper part 21 of the liner 2. This connecting element 3 is intended to cooperate with a retaining element 10 carried by the collar 11 of the shell 1 to ensure their mutual dynamic connection. The connecting element may take the form of an element of circular section, such as a strand, a cable, a cord, or the form of an element of rectangular section, such as a flat ribbon, a band or a strap. The connecting element may be made of textile material and / or plastic. It may be formed from a single element, or alternatively be formed by assembling several parts. Preferably, this connecting element 3 is an elastically extensible link.

[0044] As shown in the figures, the connecting element 3 is in the form of an open loop whose end strands 3a (visible in dotted lines on the figure 8 ) are integral with the wall of the upper part 21 of the slipper 2. These strands can be integral with the internal or external wall of the slipper. They are, for example, sewn, welded or even glued to the wall of the slipper. The closed external portion of the loop of the retaining element 3 cooperates with the retaining element 10.

[0045] In the embodiment of the slipper shown in the figure 8 , the connecting element 3 is first sewn (by zigzag sewing of its two end strands 3a) to the surface of the outer layer 21a of the upper of the shoe. Then, if necessary during a later step, the rigid reinforcement piece or “spoiler” is added and secured to the outer layer 21a of the upper.

[0046] According to a first variant embodiment illustrated by the figures 1 à 3 , the retaining element 10 is formed by a tab 10a facing downwards at the rear of the collar 11. The retaining element 10 here forms a hook by delimiting an intermediate space with the outer wall of the collar. In this variant, the collar of the shell 1 is provided with a tightening strap 4 and the tab 10a is here mounted under the strap, for example by screwing. As a note, the tab 10a can be mounted at the rear of the collar and secured by means of the same fastening system as that which is used to secure the tightening strap to the collar of the shoe.

[0047] According to another variant not shown, the retaining element 10 can be produced, for example, in a single piece with the shell by molding (overmolding or co-molding) during the manufacture of the shell, in particular by means of plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the retaining element 10 can be made of metallic material. The retaining element can then be attached against the wall of the collar by any known fixing means (screwing, riveting, gluing, high-frequency welding, etc.).

[0048] According to the invention, the retaining element takes the form of a downwardly oriented hook. More generally, the retaining element may be formed by an element which projects from the outer surface of the collar of the shoe, in its rear part. It may for example take the form of a lug, a tooth or a pin, insofar as its shape allows the retention of the connecting element 3.

[0049] By simply manually pulling on the connecting element 3, the user can then engage it in this intermediate space to hook it onto the retaining element 10 and thus connect, at least temporarily, the upper part 21 of the liner 2 to the collar 11 of the shell 1. In the case where the connecting element 3 is extensible, or even elastic, its placement on the shell is facilitated, the user having the possibility of lengthening it to engage it on the retaining element 10. This connection between the connecting element 3 and the retaining element 10 is thus described as dynamic in that it will ensure the transmission of movement between the collar 11 and the upper part 21 of the liner 2 and their joint drive, while compensating for any intermediate play.

[0050] The liner and the collar are not necessarily articulated around the same axes of rotation. Indeed, the collar is articulated on the bottom of the shell around a first axis of rotation 12. The upper part 21 of the liner is articulated relative to its lower part 23 at the border zone between these two parts, around a “fictitious” axis of articulation, which depends mainly on the architecture of the liner in this zone. The two axes of articulation of the collar and the upper part of the liner do not necessarily coincide. Also, during the pivoting movement of the leg in the shoe, the collar and the upper part of the liner are not rotated along the same axis. A relative translational movement between the upper part of the liner and the collar may result.Due to the extensible nature of the connecting element 3, this translational movement can be compensated, and thus not disturb the tilting movement of the leg backwards and / or forwards.

[0051] According to another embodiment variant illustrated by the figures 4 à 6 , the retaining element 10 is formed of a bolt or a screw 10b ( figure 7 ) having a grooved peripheral zone 10c in which the connecting element 3 is wound at least partially. This bolt is then added and screwed via its threaded end portion, into a complementary tapped bore made in the wall of the collar 11. The groove 10c ensures the wedging of the connecting element 3 in the manner of a pulley groove.

[0052] Preferably and as illustrated on the figures 4 à 6, if the shoe includes a tightening strap 4 surrounding the collar 11, this is fixed to the shell 1 by means of the bolt 10b. The lower face 10d of the bolt bears against the tightening strap 4 in order to press it and hold it on the collar of the shoe. The bolt 10b then performs a dual function, fixing the strap 4 and retaining the connecting element 3.

[0053] According to yet another alternative embodiment of the shoe of the invention (not shown), the connecting element projects above the shoe to jointly form a means of gripping and carrying. The handle 5 shown in the figures would then no longer be useful and could be removed. In this case, the profile and material of the retaining element would be adapted for this dual use.

[0054] Thus, when the shoe is put on, the user can secure the connecting element 3 with the retaining element 10 to promote the joint pivoting of the collar and the upper part of the shoe. Conversely, when the user takes off his shoes, he can detach the connecting element 3 from the retaining element 10, and use the connecting element as a means of gripping and carrying, the latter then protruding above the shoe.

[0055] Another advantage of the invention lies in the fact that it is possible to transform conventional ski boots equipped with tightening straps secured to the upper part of the collar by screwing, and whose liner includes at least a carrying handle. By simply substituting the retaining screw or bolt according to the invention in place of the conventional screw for fixing the strap to the collar, it is possible to make the collar of the boot and the upper part of the liner integral, thus facilitating the pivoting of the upper part of the liner.

Claims

1. Sliding sports shoe comprising both an outer shell (1), which comprises a collar (11) hinged to a shell bottom (12), and an inner boot (2), which is made of an upper part (21) intended to surround, at least partially, the lower leg and the shin of the user and a lower part (23) intended surround the foot, characterized in that the upper part (21) of the boot (2) is provided with a flexible connection element (3) projecting outward at the rear and intended to engage with a retaining element (10) supported by the collar (11) of the shell (1), in order to ensure their mutual dynamic connection.

2. Shoe according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection element (3) is in the form of an open loop, the end strands of which are secured to the wall of the upper part (21) of the boot (2).

3. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining element (10) is made of a tab (10a) oriented downwards at the rear of the collar (11) and delimiting with the outer wall of the collar a gap into which said connection element (3) is hooked.

4. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said retaining element (10) is made in one piece with the shell (1).

5. Shoe according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said retaining element (10) is made of a bolt (10b) having at its periphery a grooved zone (10c) which is intended to receive the connection element.

6. Shoe according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a tightening strap (4) fastened to the shell (1) by means of said bolt (10b) and at least partially surrounding said collar (11).

7. Shoe according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said bolt (10b) is attached and screwed into a threaded bore made in the wall of the collar (11).

8. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection element (3) projects above the shoe to jointly form a gripping means.

9. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection element (3) is an elastically extensible link.

10. Shell (1) of a sliding sports shoe according to claim 1, comprising an upper collar (11) hinged to a lower shell bottom and a projecting element (10) attached to the outer wall at the rear of the collar (11) and configured to retain an elastically extensible connection element (3), supported by an inner boot (2), projecting outward at the rear and being housed in said shell.

11. Shell according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said projecting element (10) is made of a hook oriented downwards at the rear of the collar (11) and delimiting with the outer wall of said collar a gap.

12. Shell according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said projecting element (10) is made in one piece with the collar (11) by molding.

13. Shell according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a tightening strap (4) fastened at the rear of the outer wall of the collar (11) by means of said projecting element (10).

14. Inner boot (2) for a sliding sports shoe according to claim 1, said boot being made of an upper part (21) which is intended to surround, at least partially, the lower leg and the shin of the user and a lower part which is intended to surround the foot, characterized in that the upper part is provided with an elastically extensible connection element (3) projecting outward at the rear and configured to hook onto a retaining element (10) supported by the shoe, in order to ensure their mutual dynamic connection.