Closure device, in particular for a ski boot, and ski boot comprising the same

Abstract

A closure device (100), in particular for a ski boot (200), the closure device comprising a closure strand (102) which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached with at least one of its ends (102a, 102b) to a first basis portion (202a) of a basis unit (202), a closure strand receiving element (106a, 106b) which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to a second basis portion (202b) of or fixedly connected to the basis unit, wherein the second basis portion is opposite the first basis portion, wherein in a closed state of the closure device, the closure strand is configured to be engaged with the closure strand receiving element, and in an opened state of the closure device, the closure strand is designed and intended to be not engaged with the closure strand receiving element, and a tensioning apparatus (112) which is designed and intended to be attached to the first basis portion of the basis unit, wherein the tensioning apparatus is operatively connected to the closure strand and configured to tension the closure strand along a longitudinal direction (I) of the closure strand, in the closed state of the closure device, wherein the closure device further comprises a sheath arrangement (114) which is configured to be arranged around the closure strand in an enveloping manner, wherein the sheath arrangement has a higher stiffness than the closure strand. The invention further refers to a ski boot comprising the closure device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device, in particular for a ski boot, and a ski boot comprising the same.

[0002] However, already at this point it should be noted that although the closure device is described below in part with reference to a ski boot, in particular a touring ski boot, no limitations of the closure device according to the invention can be derived therefrom. The closure device according to the invention may be likewise used as a kind of lacing device for footwear in general, in particular but not limited to snowboard boots, snow boots, sports shoes, hiking shoes, running shoes or the like, and may be used for jackets, backpacks, gloves, helmets or the like. In other words, the closure device according to the invention is generally suitable for applications in which two portions of a basis unit have to be clamped or drawn together to realize a closure of said basis unit.

[0003] A known type of said closure devices comprises a closure strand which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached with at least one of its ends to a first basis portion of a basis unit of a ski boot, for example, and a closure strand receiving element which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to a second basis portion of or fixedly connected to the basis unit, wherein the second basis portion is opposite the first basis portion.

[0004] In a closed state of the closure device, the closure strand is configured to be engaged with the closure strand receiving element to fix the first and second basis portions relative to each other, while in an opened state of the closure device, the closure strand is designed and intended to be not engaged with the closure strand receiving element.

[0005] To be able to tighten and loosen the known closure device, for example for putting on and taking of a ski boot to which the closure device is applied, it may comprise a tensioning apparatus which is designed and intended to be attached to the first basis portion of the basis unit, wherein the tensioning apparatus is operatively connected to the closure strand for tensioning the closure strand along a longitudinal direction of the closure strand, in the closed state of the closure device.

[0006] As a result, to be able to be tensioned by the tensioning apparatus, the closure strand itself often has a comparatively low stiffness. Such low stiffness however, in particular in the opened state of the closure device, may often lead to difficult and uncomfortable handling of the closure device as it may be laborious to engage the at least one closure strand with the closure strand receiving element, if the at least one closure strand continuously tends to twisting or to hang down or to protrude from the basis unit in an uncontrolled manner which may also result in the known problem of cable clutter.

[0007] US 2021 / 196000 A1 discloses a closure device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide remedy in this respect.

[0009] This object is solved by a closure device according to claim 1.

[0010] Thus, according to the invention as defined in the appended claims, it is possible to impart the at least one closure strand with a suitable stiffness, via a circumferential guiding by the sheath arrangement, to allow a comfortable handling of the closure device, while still ensuring sufficient flexibility of the closure strand to be tensioned by the tensioning apparatus. Furthermore, the sheath arrangement and the closure strand may form a self-supporting structure. Such self-supporting structure prevents the closure strand from twisting or hanging down or protruding from the basis unit in an uncontrolled manner, if the closure device is in the opened state. To ensure this, a sheath material of the sheath arrangement may have a higher stiffness than a closure strand material of the closure strand, for example.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the closure strand may be designed and intended to be fixedly attached with its both ends to the first basis portion of the basis unit so as to form at least one closure strand loop. Thus, the tensioning apparatus may be configured to tension and / or release the closure strand by decreasing and / or increasing a diameter and / or a circumference of the closure strand loop.

[0012] Preferably, in the closed state of the closure device, upon tensioning by the tensioning apparatus, the first basis portion and the second basis portion are moved and / or clamped towards each other. Thus, the basis unit, in particular the first and the second basis portion, should have a flexibility which is sufficient to allow moving and / or clamping the first and second basis portions towards each other to an amount suitable for the respective use case of the closure device, without occurring of material failure of the first and the second basis portion.

[0013] According to an embodiment, to allow tensioning and releasing of the closure strand, for example by decreasing and / or increasing a length of a portion of the closure strand between the first basis portion and the second basis portion or the diameter and / or the circumference of the closure strand loop, the sheath arrangement may be configured such that the closure strand is movable relative to the sheath arrangement along the longitudinal direction of the closure strand, in particular upon tensioning or releasing by the tensioning apparatus.

[0014] According to the invention, the sheath arrangement comprises an outer sheath and an inner sheath, wherein the inner sheath is configured to be received at least partly in the outer sheath in a telescopic manner. The sheath arrangement, in particular the inner sheath and / or the outer sheath, may be substantially circular or circular in cross section. As a result, upon tensioning or releasing by the tensioning apparatus, as the length of the portion of the closure strand between the first basis portion and the second basis portion or the circumference and / or the diameter of the closure strand loop may be decreased or increased, for example, the sheath arrangement may be configured to adapt to a changing length of the portion of the closure strand between the first basis portion and the second basis portion or a changing circumference of the closure strand loop by its telescopic arrangement. In response to tensioning by the tensioning apparatus, the inner sheath may be configured to be retracted into the outer sheath along a longitudinal direction of the sheath arrangement, while in response to releasing by the tensioning apparatus, the inner sheath may be extended out of the outer sheath along the longitudinal direction of the sheath arrangement.

[0015] To further increase the stiffness, and in particular the shape retention, of the closure strand loop, the sheath arrangement further comprises a stiffening member, which is, in particular fixedly, provided on an outer circumference of the sheath arrangement, preferably on at least two points of the outer circumference of the sheath arrangement, which at least two points are further preferably opposite with respect to a closure strand loop of the closure strand.

[0016] According to a further development of the latter embodiment, the stiffening member may be arranged on the outer sheath of the sheath arrangement, preferably at a transition point between the outer sheath and the inner sheath of the sheath arrangement.

[0017] In further development, to increase a flexibility of the closure device according to the invention and in particular a number of closure points on the basis unit on which the closure device is to be attached, the closure strand may be designed and intended to be fixedly attached with its both ends to the first basis portion of the basis unit such as to form at least two closure strand loops, wherein the closure device may further comprise a further closure strand receiving element which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to the second basis portion, wherein in the closed state of the closure device, a first closure strand loop of the at least two closure strand loops may be configured to be engaged with the closure strand receiving element, while a second closure strand loop of the at least two closure strand loops may be configured to be engaged with the further closure strand receiving element.

[0018] Furthermore, with respect to a longitudinal extension of the closure strand from its one end to its other end, the tensioning apparatus may be arranged between two adjacent closure strand loops of at least two closure strand loops, so that said adjacent closure strand loops may be tensioned and released by one and the same tensioning apparatus. Thus, with respect to the latter embodiment, the tensioning apparatus may be arranged between the first and the second closure strand loop.

[0019] To allow a particular comfortable manner of tensioning and optional releasing of the closure strand, according to a preferred embodiment, the tensioning apparatus may comprise or be a winding apparatus which may designed and intended to be rotatably attached to the first basis portion of the basis unit, wherein the winding apparatus may be operatively connected to the closure strand such that the closure strand being windable onto the winding apparatus in response to a rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, and optionally being unwindable from the winding apparatus in response to a rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus. As a result, in the closed state of the closure device, upon the rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, the first basis portion and the second basis portion may be moved and / or clamped towards each other. Thus, the closure strand may be tensioned in a comparatively high number of tensioning increments, as a winding apparatus allows very fine and flexible adjustment of tensioning of the closure strand.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the tensioning apparatus may be implemented as a buckle mechanism including a buckle lever element operatively connected to the closure strand, wherein the closure strand receiving element may be implemented as a rack having a plurality of, preferably equally, spaced teeth configured to engage with the closure strand and to incrementally increase tension of the tensioning apparatus. In this context, the buckle lever element may be preferably pivotally attached to the first basis portion of the basis unit for example while the rack may be, preferably fixedly, attached to the second basis portion of the basis unit, for example.

[0021] According to yet another embodiment, the tensioning apparatus may implemented as a ratchet mechanism including a ratchet lever element operatively connected to the closure strand. The ratchet lever may be preferably pivotally attached to the first basis portion of the basis unit and configured to incrementally increase tension of the tensioning apparatus. In this context, the ratchet lever may be configured to increase tension of the tensioning apparatus upon a pivoting movement of the ratchet lever in a first pivoting movement direction around a pivot axis, while, upon a pivoting movement of the ratchet lever in a second pivoting movement direction opposite the first pivoting movement direction, the tension of the tensioning apparatus may remain unchanged. In addition, the tensioning apparatus may comprise a releasing element, such as a releasing button or the like, to release the tension of the ratchet mechanism.

[0022] In further development of the latter embodiment, if the sheath arrangement also comprises the outer sheath and the inner sheath, the closure device may be configured such that, upon rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, the inner sheath may be configured to be retracted into the outer sheath along the longitudinal direction of the sheath arrangement, and / or upon rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus, the inner sheath may be configured to be extended out of the outer sheath along the longitudinal direction of the sheath arrangement.

[0023] In addition or as an alternative, the winding apparatus may configurable between a locking state in which rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus is allowed, while rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus is prevented, and a releasing state in which both rotational winding movement and rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus are allowed. In this context, the winding apparatus may comprise a kind of latching mechanism. Said latching mechanism may comprise a toothing that is arranged on the rotatable winding apparatus and configured to be engaged with a corresponding counter element or counter-toothing that is fixedly connected to the basis unit, such that the winding apparatus may be rotated only in one direction that corresponds to the rotational winding movement. However, in the releasing state, the latching mechanism and in particular its toothing may be configured to be disengaged to realize a so called free-wheeling function so that both rotational winding and rotational unwinding movement may be allowed.

[0024] Furthermore, to ensure comfortable operation of the winding apparatus by a user of the closure device according to the invention, the winding apparatus may comprise an operating element, such as an operating rotary knob, which may be configured to be rotatably operated around an rotational axis of the winding apparatus by the user to cause rotational winding movement and / or rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus around the rotational axis.

[0025] To change between the above-mentioned locking state and releasing state, the operating element may be configured to be further movable along a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the winding apparatus, in particular along the rotational axis of the winding apparatus, to transfer the winding apparatus from the locking state to the releasing state and vice versa. As a result, the operating element may act as a rotary-push element, in particular a rotary-push knob.

[0026] It should be added, that on its one end the closure strand may be operatively connected to an adjusting means which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to the first basis portion, wherein the adjusting means may be configured to adjust a length of the portion of the closure strand between the first basis portion and the second basis portion or a size of the at least one closure strand loop, in particular of the first closure strand loop relative to the second closure strand loop.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the present invention the above object is solved by a ski boot, in particular a touring ski boot, comprising the closure device according to the invention, and the basis unit having the first basis portion and the second basis portion opposite the first basis portion, wherein in the closed state of the closure device, the first basis portion and the second basis portion are configured to be moved and / or clamped towards each other by the tensioning apparatus.

[0028] With regard to the effects and advantages of the ski boot according the invention, it is explicitly referred to the above statements with regard to the closure device according to the invention.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the basis unit may be an outer shell, preferably a cuff and / or a shell, of the ski boot.

[0030] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1a shows a perspective view of a closure device according to the present invention which is applied to a basis unit in form of an outer shell of a ski boot, in an opened state of the closure device, Figure 1b shows the closure device of figure 1a, but in the closed state, Figure 1c shows the closure device of figure 1a in the opened state, but viewed from an opposite side as compared to figure 1a, Figure 1d shows the closure device of figure 1d, but in the closed state, Figure 2a shows an enlarged view of figure 1a in which a winding apparatus of the closure device is in the locking state, and Figure 2b corresponds to figure 2a but with the winding apparatus being in a releasing state.

[0031] In figs. 1a to 1d, a closure device according to an embodiment of the present invention is generally denoted by reference sign 100. As shown in fig. 1a, for example, the closure device 100 is applied to a basis unit 202 in form of an outer shell of a touring ski boot which touring ski boot is generally denoted by reference sign 200.

[0032] The closure device 100 comprises a closure strand 102, which may be formed of a strand material such as steel or the like. In other words, the closure strand 102 may be formed as a steel wire, for example. According to the shown embodiment, the closure strand 102 is designed and intended to be fixedly attached with its both ends 102a and 102b to a first basis portion 202a of the basis unit 202 so as to form at least one closure strand loop. In the present embodiment, the closure device 100 comprises two closure strand loops 104a and 104b. However, the closure device 100 may also have a number of closure strand loops that is different to the embodiment shown in the present figures.

[0033] In a closed state of the closure device 100, as shown in fig. 1b and fig. 1d, the closure strand loops 104a and 104b are configured to be engaged with a closure strand loop receiving element 106a and a further closure strand loop receiving element 106b, respectively. The closure strand loop receiving element 106a and the further closure strand loop receiving element 106b are designed and intended to be fixedly attached to a second basis portion 202b of the basis unit 202 that is opposite the first basis portion 202a of the basis unit 202.

[0034] In an opened state of the closure device 100, as shown in figures 1a and 1c, for example, the first and second closure strand loops 104a and 104b are not engaged with the closure strand loop receiving elements 106a and 106b. Thus, in the opened state of the closure device 100, a user is allowed to put on and / or take off the ski boot 200 as the first basis portion 202a and the second basis portion 202b of the basis unit 202, here the cuff 202 of the ski boot 200, are not clamped to each other and may be moved away from each other to increase an opening 108 formed between the first basis portion 202a and the second basis portion 202b.

[0035] After the user has put on the ski boot 200, for example, the closure device 100 may be transferred from the opened state shown in figs. 1a and 1c into the closed state shown in figs. 1b and 1d by engaging front ends 110a and 110b of the closure strand loops 104a and 104b, respectively, with the closure strand loop receiving elements 106a and 106b, respectively. To allow that this operation may be performed in a particular comfortable manner, the closure device 100 according to the present embodiment further comprises a sheath arrangement 114 comprising an outer sheath 114a and an inner sheath 114b which is configured to be received at least partly in the outer sheath 114a in a telescopic manner. The sheath arrangement 114 is configured such that it has a higher stiffness than the closure strand 102. The sheath arrangement 114 and thus, the outer sheath 114a and the inner sheath 114b are arranged around the closure strand 102 in an enveloping manner so that the sheath arrangement 114 and the closure strand 102 form a self-supporting structure. Such self-supporting structure prevents the closure strand 102 and in particular the first and second closure strand loops 104a and 104b from twisting or hanging down or protruding from the basis unit 202 in an uncontrolled manner, if the closure device 100 is in the opened state shown in figs. 1a and 1c. As a result, in the opened state of the closure device 100, the closure strand loops 104a and 104b will always take a position similar to the one shown in figs. 1a and 1c which makes it very easy for the user to grip a respective closure strand loop 104a or 104b to engage the closure strand loops with the closure strand receiving element 106a and the further closure strand receiving element 106b, respectively.

[0036] To be able to tighten and loosen the closure device 100, if the closure strand loops 104a and 104b are engaged with the closure strand receiving elements 106a and 106b, the closure device 100 further comprises a tensioning apparatus 112 which, in the present embodiment, is formed as a winding apparatus 112. The winding apparatus 112 is designed and intended to be attached to the first basis portion 202a of the basis unit 202. Furthermore, the winding apparatus 112 is configured to be operatively connected to the closure strand 102 and configured to tension the closure strand 102 along a longitudinal direction I (as shown by an arrow in figs 1a and 2a), in the closed state of the closure device 100. Therefore, the winding apparatus 112 is rotatably attached to the first basis portion 202a of the basis unit 202 so that the closure strand 102 being windable onto the winding apparatus 112 in response to a rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112 around a rotational axis R of the winding apparatus 112.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the winding apparatus 112 comprises an operating element 116 in form of an operating rotary knob 116 which is configured to be rotatably operated around the rotational axis R by a user to cause rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112 around the rotational axis R. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the present figures, the closure strand 102 is also unwindable from the winding apparatus 112 in response to a rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 112 around the rotation axis R opposite the rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112. In the present embodiment, the rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112 corresponds to a rotation around the rotational axis R according to a direction of rotation as indicated by a curved arrow shown in figs. 2a and 2b. The rotational unwinding movement, however, thus may correspond to a direction of rotation opposite to the curved arrow shown in figs. 2a and 2b.

[0038] Upon rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112, the closure strand 102 is wound on the winding apparatus 112. As a result, a circumference of the closure strand loops 104a and 104b is decreased. Thus, to enable that the sheath arrangement 114 is capable of adapting to the changing circumference of the closure strand loops 104a and 104b, upon rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112, the inner sheath 114b is configured to be retracted into the outer sheath 114a along a longitudinal direction L of the sheath arrangement 114, which in the present embodiment substantially corresponds to the longitudinal direction I of the closure strand 102. Optionally, upon rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 112, the inner sheath 114b may be also configured to be extended out of the outer sheath 114a opposite to the longitudinal direction L shown in fig. 1a.

[0039] Furthermore, as best shown in figs. 2a and 2b, the winding apparatus 112 is configurable between a locking state (shown in fig. 2a) in which rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 112 around the rotational axis R (in the direction of the arrow) is allowed while rotational unwinding movement (opposite to the direction of the arrow in fig. 2a) of the winding apparatus 112 is prevented, and a releasing state (shown in fig. 2b) in which both rotational winding movement and rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 112 are allowed. In the releasing state shown in fig. 2b the tension of the closure strand 102 along the longitudinal direction I is released and the closure strand loops 104a and 104b may be disengaged from the closure strand loop receiving elements 106a and 106b, respectively. To be able to change between said locking state and said releasing state, the operating element 116 may be further configured to be movable along a direction parallel to the rotational axis R of the winding apparatus to transfer the winding apparatus 112 from the locking state (fig. 2a) to the releasing state (fig. 2b) and vice versa.

[0040] In this context, the winding apparatus 112 may comprise a latching mechanism (not shown in the drawings). Said latching mechanism may comprise a toothing that is arranged on the rotatable winding apparatus 112 and configured to be engaged with a corresponding counter element or counter-toothing that is fixedly connected to the basis unit 202, such that the winding apparatus 112 may be rotated only in one direction that corresponds to the rotational winding movement. However, in the releasing state, the latching mechanism and in particular its toothing may be configured to be disengaged to realize a so called free-wheeling function so that both rotational winding movement and rotational unwinding movement may be allowed.

[0041] As shown in fig. 1d, for example, to further increase the stiffness and in particular the shape retention of the closure strand loops 104a and 104b, the closure strand loops 104a and 104b may comprise stiffening members 118a and 118b. As shown in fig. 1d, for example, each of the stiffening members 118a and 118b is fixedly attached on two points 118a' and 118a" as well as 118b' and 118b" of the outer circumference of the respective sheath of the sheath arrangement 114. The two points 118a' and 118a" as well as the two points 118b' and 118b" are preferably opposite with respect to the respective closure strand loop 104a and 104b. As also shown in fig. 1d, for example, the stiffening members 118a and 118b, in the present embodiment, are arranged at a transition point between the outer sheath 114a and the inner sheath 114b of the sheath arrangement 114.

[0042] It should be added that, as shown in fig. 1a, for example, according to the present embodiment, on its one end 102a the closure strand 102 is operatively connected to an adjusting means 120 for enabling an adjustment of a size of the the first closure strand loop 104a relative to the second closure strand loop 104b prior or in addition to tensioning by the winding apparatus 112. In the present embodiment, the adjustment means 120 is formed as a nut that engages with a threaded bolt which allows a suitable adaption of pre-tensioning of the closure strand 102. However, as an alternative, the adjustment means 120 may be formed as a buckle, one or more hooks or the like.

[0043] It should be further added that for facilitating a gripping of the respective front ends 110a and 110b of the first and second closure strand loops 104a and 104b, respectively, on each front end 110a and 110b, a gripping element 122a and 122b may be attached. As shown, in figure 1c, for example, the gripping elements 122a and 122b may be formed as knotted cords or the like.

Claims

1. A closure device (100), in particular for a ski boot (200), the closure device (100) comprising: a closure strand (102) which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached with at least one of its ends (102a, 102b) to a first basis portion (202a) of a basis unit (202), a closure strand receiving element (106a, 106b) which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to a second basis portion (202b) of or fixedly connected to the basis unit (202), wherein the second basis portion (202b) is opposite the first basis portion (202a), wherein in a closed state of the closure device (100), the closure strand (102) is configured to be engaged with the closure strand receiving element (106a, 106b), and in an opened state of the closure device (100), the closure strand (102) is designed and intended to be not engaged with the closure strand receiving element (106a, 106b), and a tensioning apparatus (112) which is designed and intended to be attached to the first basis portion (202a) of the basis unit (202), wherein the tensioning apparatus (112) is operatively connected to the closure strand (102) and configured to tension the closure strand (102) along a longitudinal direction (I) of the closure strand (102), in the closed state of the closure device (100), wherein the closure device (100) further comprises a sheath arrangement (114) which is configured to be arranged around the closure strand (102) in an enveloping manner, wherein the sheath arrangement (114) has a higher stiffness than the closure strand (102) characterized in that the sheath arrangement (114) comprises an outer sheath (114a) and an inner sheath (114b), wherein the inner sheath (114b) is configured to be received at least partly in the outer sheath (114a) in a telescopic manner.

2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the closure strand (102) is designed and intended to be fixedly attached with its both ends (102a, 102b) to the first basis portion (202a) of the basis unit (202) so as to form at least one closure strand loop (104a, 104b).

3. The closure device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheath arrangement (114) is configured such that the closure strand (102) is movable relative to the sheath arrangement (114) along the longitudinal direction (I) of the closure strand (102).

4. The closure device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheath arrangement (114) further comprises a stiffening member (118a, 118b), which is, in particular fixedly, provided on an outer circumference of the sheath arrangement (114), preferably on at least two points (118a', 118a"; 118b', 118b") of the outer circumference of the sheath arrangement (114), which at least two points are more preferably opposite with respect to a closure strand loop (104a, 104b) of the closure strand (102).

5. The closure device according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the stiffening member (118a, 118b) is arranged on the outer sheath (114a) of the sheath arrangement (114), preferably at a transition point between the outer sheath (114a) and the inner sheath (114b) of the sheath arrangement (114).

6. The closure device according to claim 2 and optionally any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the closure strand (102) is designed and intended to be fixedly attached with its both ends (102a, 102b) to the first basis portion (202a) of the basis unit (202) such as to form at least two closure strand loops (104a, 104b), wherein the closure device further comprises a further closure strand receiving element (106b) which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to the second basis portion (202b), wherein in the closed state of the closure device, a first closure strand loop (104a) of the at least two closure strand loops is configured to be engaged with the closure strand receiving element (106a), while a second closure strand loop (104b) of the at least two closure strand loops is configured to be engaged with the further closure strand receiving element (106b).

7. The closure device according to claim 6, wherein, with respect to a longitudinal extension of the closure strand (102) from its one end (102a) to its other end (102b), the tensioning apparatus (112) is arranged between two adjacent closure strand loops (104a, 104b), in particular between the first (104a) and second (104b) closure strand loops, of the at least two closure strand loops.

8. The closure device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tensioning apparatus (112) comprises or is a winding apparatus (112) which is designed and intended to be rotatably attached to the first basis portion (202a) of the basis unit (200), wherein the winding apparatus (112) is operatively connected to the closure strand (102) such that the closure strand (102) being windable onto the winding apparatus (112) in response to a rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus (112), and optionally being unwindable from the winding apparatus (112) in response to a rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus (112).

9. The closure device according to claim 8, and optionally according to any of claims 4 to 7 wherein, upon rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus (112), the inner sheath (114b) is configured to be retracted into the outer sheath (114a) along a longitudinal direction (L) of the sheath arrangement (114), and / or upon rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus (112), the inner sheath (114b) is configured to be extended out of the outer sheath (114a) along the longitudinal direction (L) of the sheath arrangement.

10. The closure device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the winding apparatus (112) is configurable between a locking state in which rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus (112) is allowed, while rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus (112) is prevented, and a releasing state in which both rotational winding movement and rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus (112) are allowed.

11. The closure device according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the winding apparatus (112) comprises an operating element (116, such as an operating rotary knob (116), which is configured to be rotatably operated around an rotational axis (R) of the winding apparatus (112) by a user to cause rotational winding movement and / or rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus (112) around the rotational axis (R).

12. The closure device according to claims 10 and 11, wherein the operating element (116) is configured to be further movable along a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis (R) of the winding apparatus (112), in particular along the rotational axis (R) of the winding apparatus (112), to transfer the winding apparatus (112) from the locking state to the releasing state and vice versa.

13. The closure device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, on its one end (102a) the closure strand (102) is operatively connected to an adjusting means (120) which is designed and intended to be fixedly attached to the first basis portion (102a), wherein the adjusting means (120) is configured to adjust a length of a portion of the closure strand (102) between the first basis portion (202a) and the second basis portion (202) or to adjust a size of the at least one closure strand loop (104a, 104b), more preferably of the first closure strand loop (104a) relative to the second closure strand loop (104b).

14. A ski boot (200), in particular touring ski boot (200), comprising: the closure device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, and the basis unit (202) having the first basis portion (202a) and the second basis portion (202b) opposite the first basis portion (202a), wherein in the closed state of the closure device (100), the first basis portion (202a) and the second basis portion (202b) are configured to be moved and / or clamped towards each other by the tensioning apparatus (112), in particular wherein the basis unit (202) is an outer shell, preferably a cuff (202) and / or a shell, of the ski boot (200).

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