SPORTS SHOES WITH A LOCKING DEVICE

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a sports footwear of the type comprising a shell, made of a substantially rigid material, and a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and comprising at least one cuff member articulated to said shell.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a footwear of the above-described type provided with an improved locking device between said shell and said at least one cuff member articulated to said shell.

[0003] The present invention finds application, for example, in the manufacturing of ski boots, particularly in the manufacturing of central entry ski boots or rear entry ski boots.Prior Art

[0004] According to prior art, ski boots usually comprise an inner liner made of a substantially soft material and an outer shell made of a substantially rigid material.

[0005] Still according to prior art, the shell made of a substantially rigid material, shaped to accommodate the user's foot, is associated with a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and intended to accommodate the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user. In so-called 'rear entry' ski boots, the cuff comprises a front cuff member fixed relative to the shell (or, possibly, made integral therewith) and a rear cuff member articulatedly connected to the shell, so as to be rotatable relative thereto and relative to the front cuff member.

[0006] The rear cuff member can therefore be rotated between a first position, in which it is substantially adjacent to the fixed front cuff member and forms together therewith the cuff of the skit boot, and a second position, in which it is moved away from the front cuff member to allow the user to insert their foot into the ski boot or take it out of the ski boot. In so-called 'central entry' ski boots, the cuff comprises a front cuff member and a rear cuff member which are both articulatedly connected to the shell so as to be rotatable relative thereto.

[0007] The front and rear cuff members can therefore be rotated between a first position, in which they are substantially adjacent to each other and form together the cuff of the ski boot, and a second position, in which they are moved away from each other to allow the user to insert their foot into the ski boot or take it out of the ski boot.

[0008] In both cases, locking devices are known to the state of the art which allow switching from a first configuration, in which the rotation of the articulated cuff member or of the front and rear cuff members, respectively, relative to the shell is allowed (configuration for putting on / taking off the skit boot), to a second configuration, in which such rotation is prevented (configuration for skiing), and vice versa.

[0009] Currently, the most popular locking devices include a system of traction elements connecting the rear cuff member to the front cuff member and capable of being tensioned to keep said front and rear cuff members firmly close to each other, or of being released to allow said front and rear cuff members to move away from each other.

[0010] Said traction elements are usually made as cables.

[0011] The locking devices further comprise an actuating member to tension, or alternatively release, said cables.

[0012] Said actuating member is usually made as an actuating lever, articulated to the rear wall of the rear cuff member and cooperating with said cables: when the skier wishes to close or tighten the cuff of the ski boot, they act onto the actuating lever to cause traction of said cables; the traction of the cables causes the rear cuff member to get closer to the front cuff member, achieving complete tightening of the lower part of the leg when the lever is fully rotated in a first direction.

[0013] Vice versa, when the skier wishes to open the ski boot, they act onto said actuating lever to rotate it in a second opposite direction, causing release of the cables.

[0014] There are known types of locking devices that also feature a rigid rod having a first, proximal end articulated to the actuating lever and a second, distal end interacting with a suitably shaped portion of the ski boot.

[0015] This rigid rod is configured to follow the movement of the actuating lever against the surface of the rear cuff member during tightening.

[0016] In particular, in the known solutions the distal end of the rigid rod may be rotatably articulated to the wall of the rear cuff member or, alternatively, it may be slidable within a guide provided on the wall of the rear cuff member.

[0017] The locking devices of the above-mentioned type are not free from drawbacks.

[0018] In both versions described above, in fact, the distal end of the rigid rod abuts against the rear cuff member, i.e., the same member to which the actuating lever is articulated and the same member whose rotation is locked by the locking device. This inevitably results in less effective tightening by the locking device.

[0019] Furthermore, in both solutions described above, some rotation or sliding of the rigid rod relative to the rear cuff member is provided for: therefore, there is no force component or constraint that keeps the distal end of the rigid rod in the tightening configuration.

[0020] This is particularly relevant considering that, while skiing, the ski boot is subjected to considerable stresses and is likely to be subject to shocks, even significant ones.

[0021] Such stresses or shocks could easily lead to accidental movement of the rigid rod and, consequently, to movement of the actuating lever and ultimately to unwanted disengagement of the locking device.

[0022] This is obviously undesirable, as the user would suddenly find themselves with a ski boot in which the cuff no longer firmly holds the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user, leading to a potentially dangerous situation for the user.

[0023] Document US 2002 / 029497 discloses a ski boot provided with a locking device that can assume three configurations: besides a first configuration appropriate for skiing and a second configuration appropriate for walking, the ski boot can assume an emergency release configuration, which is triggered if the skier falls backwards, said emergency release configuration allowing limited backward rotation of the upper portion of ski boot so that harmful stresses on the knee joint are reduced.

[0024] Said locking device has a complex arrangement of articulated arms and cams associated to an articulated stop connected to a plate integral with the ski boot by means of a pivot pin. Such articulated stop has the function of driving the rotation of the constituent elements of the locking device to bring said device to the emergency release configuration in the event of the skier falling.

[0025] Document US 2014 / 013629 discloses a locking device intended for securing the cuff to the shell of a ski boot and comprising an actuating lever and a rigid rod provided, at one end, with a locking member. When the actuating lever is rotated downwards, the locking member carried by the rod gets inserted into a seat provided on the shell.

[0026] The insertion of the locking member in the seat provided on the shell causes locking of the cuff relative to the shell, and the disengagement of said locking member from said seat provided on the causes release of the cuff from the shell. However, the locking device described does not provide for any specific measures to prevent unwanted disengagement of the locking device, such unwanted disengagement being counteracted solely by the elastic force of spring of the actuating lever.

[0027] This therefore poses the problem of achieving firm tightening of the cuff to the hull when the ski boot is used for skiing and eliminating the risk of sudden, unwanted movement of the cuff while skiing.

[0028] An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome prior art drawbacks by providing a sports footwear, such as, for example, a ski boot, provided with an improved locking device that can achieve more effective locking of the cuff relative to the shell. Another object of the invention is to provide a sports footwear provided with a locking device that is not complex to build and therefore does not remarkably affect the final cost of marketing the sports footwear.

[0029] These and other objects are achieved by means of a sports footwear as claimed in the appended claims.Summary of the Invention

[0030] The invention is as defined in claim 1.

[0031] The sports footwear according to the invention comprises, in a manner known per se, an outer shell made of a substantially rigid material, and a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and comprising at least one cuff member articulated to the shell.

[0032] In particular, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cuff comprises a fixed front cuff member, which cooperates with a rear cuff member articulated to the shell to form the cuff of the sports footwear.

[0033] Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cuff comprises a front cuff member and a rear cuff member that are both articulated to the shell and cooperate with each other to form the cuff of the sports footwear.

[0034] The sports footwear according to the invention further comprises a locking device to selectively allow or prevent movement of the at least one articulated cuff member relative to the shell.

[0035] In particular, said locking device makes it possible to lock the cuff in a configuration in which the front and rear cuff members are close to each other and to prevent further rotation of the at least one articulated cuff member.

[0036] In a manner known per se, the locking device according to the invention comprises an arrangement of traction elements, arranged between the front cuff member and the rear cuff member, and an actuating member for actuating said traction elements.

[0037] The actuating member is made as an actuating lever having an end articulated to the wall of the at least one articulated cuff member, the opposite end of said actuating lever being manipulated by the user to bring the actuating lever from a first position, in which the traction elements are released, to a second position, in which said traction elements are tensioned, and vice versa.

[0038] According to the invention, said locking device further comprises a rigid rod which, at its first end or proximal end, is articulated to the actuating member at an intermediate region of the actuating lever.

[0039] The second, opposite end or distal end of said rigid rod is free and arranged to come abut against a counter-element provided on the shell, preferably at the heel region, when the actuating lever is brought from the first position (in which the traction elements are released) to the second position (in which the traction elements are tensioned).

[0040] In this way, advantageously, said rigid rod exerts a reaction force against said counter-element provided on the shell.

[0041] This reaction force on the shell ensures effective locking of the rigid rod when the actuating lever is brought to said second position: once the actuating lever is in the second position (with the traction elements being tensioned), the tightening provided by the vertical reaction force between the rigid rod and the counter-element on the shell prevents accidental movement of the rigid rod, even in the event of shocks and stresses on the rod itself.

[0042] It should be noted that the interaction between the rigid rod and the counter-element on the shell would not in itself be able to prevent movement of the at least one articulated cuff member relative to the shell, such movement prevention being instead ensured by the tensioning of the traction elements.

[0043] On the other hand, the interaction between said rigid rod and said counter-element on the shell ensures effective sealing for the locking device - and thus for the mutual tightening of the rigid components of the sports footwear (shell and cuff members) around the user's foot and ankle - when said locking device is in the position in which the traction elements are tensioned.

[0044] The locking device of the sports footwear according to the invention thus makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the locking devices of known type.

[0045] In addition, the locking device can be maneuvered by acting effortlessly onto the actuating lever. Therefore, the sports footwear can also be used by users who do not have high physical strength, such as children or elderly people.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the counter-element provided on the shell can be shaped as an actual seat formed in the shell and adapted to receive the distal end of the rigid rod. In this way, the contribution provided by the introduction of the rigid rod in a fixed seat adds to the tightening effect provided by the vertical reaction force.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking device may comprise guide means to guide the distal end of the rigid rod towards the counter-element or the seat that are provided on the shell, so as to ensure correct cooperation between said distal end of said rigid rod and said counter-element or said seat and, ultimately, application of the correct reaction force.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating lever and the rigid rod may be shaped and sized in such a way that said rigid rod cannot be accessed from the outside when said actuating elver is in its second position, thereby making accidental and unwanted movement of said rigid rod even more unlikely.Brief Description of Drawings

[0049] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sports footwear according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the sports footwear of Figure 1 with the locking device shown in a first configuration (in which the traction elements are released); Figure 3 shows the sports footwear of Figure 1 with the locking device shown in an intermediate configuration; Figure 4 shows the sports footwear of Figure 1 with the locking device shown in a second configuration (in which the traction elements are tensioned). Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0050] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to its application to a ski boot, namely to a central entry ski boot.

[0051] This embodiment must not, however, be understood in any way as limiting the scope of the invention, which can also be applied to ski boots having a different structure, and particularly to rear entry ski boots, as well as to sports footwear of different type and with different use.

[0052] A central entry ski boot incorporating the invention is shown in Figure 1 and is indicated as a whole with reference numeral 1.

[0053] In a manner known per se, the ski boot 1 comprises: an inner member or inner liner made of a substantially soft material (not visible in the Figures); an outer member or shell 3 made of a substantially rigid material and shaped to accommodate the user's foot; a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and shaped to accommodate the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user.

[0054] In the shown embodiment, the cuff comprises a rear cuff member 5, articulated to the shell 3 by means of pivot pins 7 on the two opposite sides of said shell 3, substantially at the malleolar region, and a front cuff member 9, also articulated to the shell 3 in such a way as to be rotatable relative thereto.

[0055] In particular, the rear cuff member 5 and the front cuff member 9 are connected to the shell 3 in such a way as to be moved away from each other or closer to each other.

[0056] In a possible alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the invention is applied to a rear entry ski boot, the cuff could comprise a rear cuff member, articulated to the shell on the two opposite sides of said shell, and a front cuff member fixed relative to said shell, or even made a single piece with the shell.

[0057] In this case, the rear cuff member would be connected to the shell in such a way as to be moved away from the fixed front cuff or closer thereto.

[0058] Referring again to the embodiment shown in the Figures, the ski boot 1 further comprises a locking device 11, arranged on the rear wall of the ski boot 1, to selectively allow or prevent rotation of the rear cuff member 5 and the front cuff member 9 relative to the shell 3.

[0059] When the locking device 11 is in a first configuration in which it allows rotation of the cuff members 5, 9, these members can be moved away from each other, thereby allowing easy insertion of the foot of the ski boot user, or easy removal of the user's foot from the ski boot.

[0060] When the locking device 11 is in a second configuration in which it prevents rotation of said cuff members, these members are firmly kept close to each other and together contribute to form the cuff tightened around the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user, in a configuration suitable for skiing down the ski slopes.

[0061] Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a detail of the ski boot 1 referring precisely to said locking device 11, shown in different configurations.

[0062] In a manner known per se, the locking device 11 is provided with an actuating member 13, made as an actuating lever extending substantially coplanar with the centre line of the ski boot 1.

[0063] Said actuating lever 13 has a proximal end 13a articulated to the rear wall of the rear cuff member 5 and a free distal end 13b shaped so as to be easily maneuverable by the user. By acting onto the distal end 13b, said actuating lever 13 can be rotated to switch from a first position (raised position in the illustrated example) to a second position (lowered position in the illustrated example) and vice versa.

[0064] As will be described below, when the actuating lever 13 is in the first or raised position, the locking device 11 is in a first configuration or rest configuration and rotation of the cuff members is allowed; when the actuating lever 13 is in the second or lowered position, the locking device 11 is in a second or operating configuration and rotation of the cuff members is prevented.

[0065] Said actuating lever 13 cooperates with an arrangement of traction elements 15, in particular with an arrangement of cables, which in the illustrated example comprises a first cable 15a and a second cable 15b.

[0066] In particular, the first cable 15a has a first end connected to the actuating lever 13, wraps around a first portion, on the medial side of the ski boot, of the rear cuff member 5 and of the front cuff member 9, and has a second end connected to the front cuff member 9. Correspondingly, the second cable 15b has a first end connected to the actuating lever 13, wraps around a second portion, on the lateral side of the ski boot, of the rear cuff member 5 and of the front cuff member 9, and has a second end connected to the front cuff member 9.

[0067] It is evident that in an alternative embodiment, the first cable 15a and the second cable 15b could be replaced by traction elements of a different type, such as buckles, strips or laces.

[0068] It is equally evident that in another alternative embodiment, a single cable could be envisaged, with a first cable portion wrapped around a first portion, on the medial side of the ski boot, of the rear cuff member and of the front cuff member, and a second cable portion wrapped around a second portion, on the lateral side of the ski boot, of the rear cuff member and of the front cuff member.

[0069] When the actuating lever 13 is in the first or raised position, visible in Figure 2, the cables 15a and 15b are loose, allowing rotation of the rear cuff member 5 and the front cuff member 9 relative to the shell 3, thus creating the appropriate configuration to put on or remove the ski boot.

[0070] Turning to Figure 3, when the user wishes to close or tighten the ski boot in order to switch to the appropriate configuration for skiing, they exert a downward force onto said actuating lever 13, rotating it about the proximal end 13a; the downward rotation of said actuating lever 13 causes traction of the cables 15a and 15b, making the rear cuff member 5 to get closer to the front cuff member 9, thereby achieving tightening of said two cuff members around the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user.

[0071] As can be seen in Figure 4, when the actuating lever 13 is completely rotated downwards, i.e. when the actuating lever is in a second or lowered position, maximum traction of the cables 15a and 15b and complete tightening of the cuff of the ski boot 1 around the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user are achieved.

[0072] However, simply rotating the actuating lever 13 downwards may not be sufficient to effectively and reliably maintain this tightening while skiing.

[0073] Therefore, according to the invention, the locking device 11 further comprise a rigid rod 17 (or pressing bar) configured to interact with the actuating lever 13 and the rear part of the shell 3.

[0074] Said rigid rod 17 has a proximal end 17a rotatably connected to the actuating lever 13, preferably at an intermediate region of said actuating lever 13.

[0075] Still according to the invention, in the first configuration of the locking device, with the actuating lever 13 in the first or raised position, the distal end 17b of said rigid rod 17 is free, i.e. not constrained to any other element, as visible in Figure 2.

[0076] Referring to Figure 3, when the user wishes to tighten the ski boot 1 to switch from the appropriate configuration for skiing, the downward rotation of the actuating lever 13, besides tensioning the cables 15a e 15b, generates a corresponding movement of the rigid rod 17 that brings the distal end 17b of said rod to adhere and press against the wall of the shell 3, until it abuts against a counter-element 19 provided on the shell and made by appropriately shaping the shell 3 at the heel region.

[0077] In a possible embodiment of the invention, guide means can be provided to correctly guide the distal end 17b of the rigid rod 17 towards the counter-element 19.

[0078] For example, guide means can be provided on the surface of the rear wall of the shell 3 to correctly guide the distal end 17b of the rigid rod 17 towards the counter-element 19. Said guide means can be made, for example, in the form of a groove formed on the surface of the rear wall of the shell 3 and having substantially the same width as said rigid rod 17. As clearly visible in Figure 3, once the distal end 17b of the rigid rod 17 has come into abutment against the counter-element 19, said distal end 17b stands still against said counter-element, so that the rigid rod 17 exerts a reaction force in a substantially vertical direction (i.e., in the illustrated example, a downward thrust) against said counter-element 19.

[0079] Referring again to Figure 3, even if said counter-element provided on the shell 3 can be made as a simple abutment surface, preferably it can be shaped as a seat 19 formed on the shell 3 and arranged to firmly receive the distal end 17b of the rigid rod 17.

[0080] It should be noted that the counter-element 19 can be made integral with the shell 3, for example by suitably shaping the mould used for manufacturing said shell, but it can also be obtained by applying a separate and suitably shaped element to the wall of the shell 3. Once the actuating lever 13 is in the second or lowered position shown in Figure 4, the tightening, provided by the vertical reaction force, between the rigid rod 17 and the counter-element 19 on the shell 3 prevents accidental movement of the rigid rod 17 even in the event of impacts and stresses during skiing.

[0081] In this way, the actuating lever 13 is effectively prevented from being raised, thereby preventing involuntary disengagement of the locking device 11.

[0082] In other words, according to the invention, the presence of the rigid rod 17 ensures effective sealing of the locking device 11 and therefore tightening of the cuff of the ski boot 1 around the ankle and the lower part of the leg of the user, even in the event of remarkable stresses during skiing.

[0083] In addition, as visible in Figure 4, the actuating lever 13 and the rigid rod 17 are sized and shaped so that, when the actuating lever 13 is in the second or lowered position, said lever covers the rigid rod 17, thereby making it inaccessible from the outside.

[0084] This further reduces the risk of accidental movement of the rigid rod 17.

[0085] In a possible embodiment of the invention, the rigid rod 17 can have, at its distal end 17b, an adjustable element (not shown) which is arranged to abut against the counter-element 19 when the actuating lever 13 is rotated downwards, i.e. into the appropriate configuration for skiing, and whose length can be varied.

[0086] In particular, by modifying the length of said adjustable element, it is possible to compensate for any dimensional deviations between the shell 3 and the rear cuff member 5 in such a way as to ensure that, when the ski boot 1 is brought to the appropriate configuration for skiing, the application of a reaction force, between the rigid rod 17 and the counter-element 19, is sufficient to prevent accidental movement of the rigid rod 17. By varying the length of said adjustable element it is also possible to vary the inclination of the rear cuff member 5 relative to the shell 3, when the ski boot 1 is in the appropriate configuration for skiing, according to the user's needs.

[0087] Alternatively, said adjustable element could be arranged at the counter-element 19, thus defining an adjustable abutment element on which the distal end 17b of the rigid rod 17 presses.

[0088] In a possible further embodiment of the invention, the rigid rod 17 can have, at its distal end 17b, a damping element (not shown) arranged to abut against the counter-element 19 on the shell 3 when the ski boot 1 is in the appropriate configuration for skiing.

[0089] During skiing, said damping element allows absorbing the stresses transmitted by the shell 3 to the rear cuff member 5, thereby enhancing comfort during skiing.

[0090] Said damping element can be made by using any means and / or materials known to those skilled in the art.

[0091] Alternatively, said damping element could be arranged at the counter-element 19 provided on the shell 3.

[0092] It will be evident to the person skilled in the art that the embodiment described in detail above is in no way be understood in a limiting sense, and that numerous variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0093] Furthermore, although the embodiment described above refers to a central entry ski boot, the invention can be applied equally advantageously to other types of ski boots and, more generally, sports footwears.

Claims

1. Sports footwear (1), of the type comprising a shell (3), made of a substantially rigid material, and a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material, wherein said cuff comprises at least one cuff member (5, 9) articulated to said shell (3), wherein said sports footwear further comprises a locking device (11) which can selectively assume a first configuration, in which the rotation of said at least one articulated cuff member relative to said shell (3) is allowed, or a second configuration, in which the rotation of said at least one articulated cuff member relative to said shell (3) is prevented, wherein said locking device (11) comprises: - an arrangement of traction elements (15a, 15b), which can selectively be released to allow the rotation of said at least one articulated cuff member (5, 9) relative to said shell (3), or tensioned to prevent the rotation of said at least one articulated cuff member (5, 9) relative to said shell (3), and - an actuating member (13) to selectively release or tension said traction elements (15a, 15b), said actuating member (13) being capable of shifting from a first position, in which said traction elements (15a, 15b) are released and the rotation of said at least one articulated cuff member (5, 9) relative to said shell (3) is allowed, to a second position, in which said traction members (15a, 15b) are tensioned and the rotation of said at least one articulated cuff member (5, 9) relative to said shell (3) is prevented, and vice versa, wherein said actuating member is connected, at its one end (13a), to a wall of said at least one articulated cuff member (5), characterized in that said locking device (11) further comprises a rigid rod (17), which, at its first end (17a), is articulated to said actuating member (13), and whose second, opposite end (17b) is arranged to abut against a corresponding counter-element (19) provided on a wall of said shell (3) and to stand still there when said actuating member is brought from said first position to said second position, and in that said actuating member is made as an actuating lever (13) and said first end (17a) of said rigid rod (17) is articulated to said actuating lever (13) at an intermediate region of said actuating lever, whereby said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17) exerts a reaction force against said counter-element (19) provided on said shell (3) when said actuating lever is in said second position, said reaction force on said shell ensuring effective locking of said rigid rod when said actuating lever is brought to said second position.

2. Sports footwear (1) according to claim 1, wherein said counter-element is shaped as a seat (19) arranged to receive said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17).

3. Sports footwear (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said counter-element (19) is made as a single piece with said shell (3).

4. Sports footwear (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein guide means are provided to guide said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17) towards said counter-element (19).

5. Sports footwear (1) according to claim 4, wherein said guide means are made as a groove on the surface of the wall of said shell (3), said groove having substantially the same width as said rigid rod (17).

6. Sports footwear (1) according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member (13) and said rigid rod (17) are shaped and sized so that said actuating member essentially completely covers said rigid rod (17) when said actuating member (13) is in said second position.

7. Sports footwear (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein said cuff of said sports footwear comprises a rear cuff member (5) and a front cuff member (9), both articulated to said shell (3), and wherein said locking device (11) allows the rotation of both said rear and front cuff members (5, 9) relative to said shell (3) when said locking device is in said first configuration, and wherein said locking device (11) prevents the rotation of both said rear and front cuff members (5, 9) relative to said shell (3) when said locking device is in said second configuration.

8. Sports footwear (1) according to claim 7, wherein said actuating member is connected, at its one end (13a), to a wall of said rear cuff member (5).

9. Sports footwear (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein said cuff of said sports footwear comprises a rear cuff member (5) articulated to said shell (3) and a front cuff member fixed relative to said shell or integral therewith.

10. Sports footwear (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17) has a length-adjustable member facing towards said counter-element (19), and / or said counter-element (19) has a length-adjustable member facing towards said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17).

11. Sports footwear (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17) has a damping element facing towards said counter-element (19), and / or said counter-element (19) has a damping element facing towards said second end (17b) of said rigid rod (17).