Two-part snowshoe

Abstract

Snowshoe (1) comprising a decking and a fastening arrangement for attaching the decking to a foot of a user, the decking being made in two parts (2, 4), namely a front decking (2) for positioning at the front of the foot, and a rear decking (4) for positioning under the heel of the foot.

Description

Two-part snowshoe TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a snowshoe comprising a deck and a fastening for attaching the deck to a user's foot. The snowshoe offers advantageous characteristics of flexibility and ergonomics. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Snowshoes have been around for many years. They were originally designed to allow people to move across terrain covered in deep snow. They are also very common in Nordic countries, which frequently experience heavy snowfall. However, these extreme conditions are increasingly less representative of how snowshoes are used today. In fact, nowadays they are primarily used for sport and leisure by hikers. Since snowshoe enthusiasts vary greatly in skill level, from beginners to expert hikers, the requirements of each level are very different. This diversity compels manufacturers to constantly develop new products to best meet these varied expectations. As a result, several product lines are now available, each with its own specific advantages.But manufacturers are still looking for innovative solutions that can provide greater comfort and improved dynamic performance.

[0003] Generally speaking, snowshoes consist of a deck, a front tip, a rear section, and a binding system. This basic configuration allows for easy movement on the snow thanks to increased flotation, preventing sinking into the snow.

[0004] Snowshoes are also generally known for their bulky size and shape, often making them difficult to handle. Therefore, in use, the snowshoer's gait is often arduous, as the walker must lift the front of the snowshoe, pull it forward, and then place it flat, without being able to perform a natural and ergonomic roll-through. foot. These constraints mean that the vast majority of users quickly show signs of fatigue and / or discomfort even after a short hike.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for snowshoes that are less bulky, easier to carry, and easier to handle.

[0006] Various documents illustrate the different types of snowshoes available, which present the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0007] For example, document FR2903022 describes a snowshoe whose frame includes a front part and a rear part linked together by a flex zone.

[0008] Document EP2672855 describes a snowshoe comprising two sections connected together by their sides by means of joints providing some flex between the two sections.

[0009] The US4228601 document describes a snowshoe in two sections connected by a hinge facilitating flexing and making walking easier.

[0010] Document FR3097136 describes a snowshoe comprising a load-bearing structure encompassing a foot area and a lateral overhang on each side of the foot area, a traction structure arranged under the load-bearing structure, a front shell arranged on top of the load-bearing structure and shaped to at least partially cover the front of a shoe placed in the foot area, the traction structure and the front shell forming a unit piece with at least one bonding zone connecting the shell and the traction structure.

[0011] The aforementioned disadvantages also apply to these latter rackets.

[0012] US patent 9393482 describes a snow climbing plate with openings for heel and toe bindings. The bindings attach crampons positioned beneath the plate and extend through the binding openings. The plate extends laterally beyond the crampon and can extend backward, forward, or both. The openings allow passage The shoe features tabs designed to engage the heel of the boot attached to the crampon. The metal plate is a single, rigid unit, limiting ergonomics and preventing any flexing.

[0013] To overcome these various drawbacks, the invention provides for different technical means. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Firstly, a primary objective of the invention is to provide a flexible and ergonomic snowshoe.

[0015] Another objective of the invention is to provide a snowshoe with good range and optimal grip on all types of ground and varied terrain.

[0016] Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a snowshoe of simple and inexpensive design.

[0017] Finally, another objective of the invention is to provide a snowshoe that facilitates walking and has the necessary characteristics to allow the user to have the most natural gait possible.

[0018] To achieve this, the invention provides for a snowshoe comprising a sieve and a fastening to attach the sieve to a user's foot, the sieve being in two parts, namely a front sieve for positioning at the front of the foot, and a rear sieve for positioning under the heel of the foot.

[0019] This type of snowshoe offers numerous advantages. Ergonomically, the separation between the two decks provides great flexibility during use and makes storage easy when not in use. The separate and spaced-apart decks allow the snowshoe to be adapted to all shoe sizes. This design allows the snowshoes to be used on slopes of varying inclines, from gentle to steep. Furthermore, the two-part construction allows the foot to be inserted without pre-adjusting the boot binding. Finally, the absence of a direct link between the two sieves provides a virtual articulation, improving walking ergonomics.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the front sieve includes a front sieve attachment having a front tip and a heel strap designed to go around the back of the foot and the rear sieve includes a rear sieve attachment having a heel piece and a kick strap designed to go around the front of the foot.

[0021] Attaching each of the sieves is simple. The straps are made of flexible materials to facilitate easy placement along the shoe's profile. Attachment can be achieved using elastic fasteners or rigid elements with flexible attachments, such as laces.

[0022] Advantageously, the front sieve attachment and the rear sieve attachment form an intersection zone.

[0023] The intersection zone creates a contact surface between the two fasteners. Depending on the situation, the intersection zone may or may not allow the two fasteners to be connected.

[0024] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the front panel includes a spatula extending towards the front of the shoe. The elongated spatula provides better support in the forefoot area.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment, the two sieves are independent and without contact between them in use and the two fixings are independent.

[0026] Depending on the user's preferences and the type of terrain, the user can use either only the front sieve, only the rear sieve, or both, allowing for easy adaptation to all types of terrain. This configuration also offers the user a choice between various sieve types, such as a rear sieve with or without fins.

[0027] According to another advantageous embodiment, the snowshoe includes a cooperation element between the two sieves.

[0028] For example, the cooperation organ is an overlap zone between the front sieve and the rear sieve. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] All implementation details are given in the following description, supplemented by figures 1 to 5, presented solely as non-limiting examples, and in which: -Figure 1 illustrates a first example of a racket with the front and rear heads independent of each other, in side view; -Figure 2 illustrates a second example of a racket with independent strings, also in side view; -Figure 3 illustrates a third example of a racket with independent strings, also in side view; -Figure 4 is a top view of an example batch or kit with several back sieves; -Figure 5 illustrates an example of a racket with the front and rear sieve interconnected, seen in perspective. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Figure 1 illustrates a first example of a snowshoe design with a two-part deck (2 and 4). Typically, a snowshoe consists of a deck and a fastener to attach the deck to a user's foot. In this original design, the deck has two parts (2 and 4): a front deck (2) designed to be positioned under the front of a user's foot, and a rear deck (4) designed to be placed under the back of the foot, specifically under the heel. Both decks can extend either forward over the foot (front deck) or behind the foot (rear deck). In the example shown in Figure 1, the two decks are separated by a gap to prevent any contact between them and ensure complete independence. Laterally, the decks can be the same width as the boots or extend laterally to the sides.

[0031] This design offers numerous advantages. First, when not in use, the rackets can be stacked on top of each other, significantly reducing their size. This makes them easy to transport to the playing area. When in use, the separate racket faces allow the racket to be adapted to all shoe sizes, with or without pre-adjusting the binding system. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 4, this design allows for various combinations of front and rear racket faces. In the example shown in Figure 4, the user can choose a rear racket face with fins 15 to enhance grip. Openings 16 adjacent to the fins improve their effectiveness. A rear racket face without fins is also available. Moreover, if such a kit is provided, the user can change the rear racket face during use, depending on the terrain.Finally, due to the separation of the two decks, the snowshoe's rigidity depends on that of the boot. For example, with a mountaineering boot, which has a very rigid sole, the snowshoe behaves similarly to a rigid, one-piece snowshoe. Conversely, with a flexible boot, the snowshoe benefits from the boot's flexibility, offering excellent ergonomics for walking or running.

[0032] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each of the two toe pieces (2 and 4) has its own fastening element for maximum flexibility. This allows, in particular, the use of only one of the two toe pieces, front or rear, without the other. Thus, the front toe piece (2) has a front toe piece fastening (3), and the rear toe piece (4) has a rear toe piece fastening (5). In the examples in Figures 1 and 2, the front toe piece fastening (3) has a front toe piece (7) and a heel strap (8) designed to go around the back of the foot. The rear toe piece fastening (5) has a heel piece (6) and an instep strap (9) designed to go around the front of the foot. In the example in Figure 2, the fastenings (3 and 5) have laces to facilitate fitting and adjustment depending on the shoes used. In this same example, the heel strap (8) and the heel piece (6) can, alternatively, cooperate with each other, for example, by means of a rigid link supplementing the laces.

[0033] In the racket examples in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the front head attachment 3 and the rear head attachment 5 intersect to form an intersection zone 10. The intersection zone creates a contact surface between the two fasteners. Depending on the case, the intersection zone may or may not allow the two fasteners to be connected. independent sieves

[0034] Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a first approach to implementing the invention, in which the front deck 2 and the rear deck 4 of the snowshoe are completely independent of each other. This disconnection is also ensured by the fact that each deck has its own attachment. This allows, as already mentioned, the use of a single deck (front or rear) or offers the user a choice of combinations between several decks, as illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, where the user is offered a choice between a rear deck with or without fins 15 and fin openings 16. The arrangement with fins 15 and openings 16 adjacent to the fins improves the snowshoe's grip, both in braking and / or traction mode. The openings 16 are preferably identical in shape and size to those of the fins and allow snow to be ejected onto the top of the snowshoe.The preferred minimum surface area for the fin openings is 200 mm². These dimensions are required to allow snow to flow over the top of the snowshoe without obstructing the opening. The fins are preferably formed from the same material as the deck. This embodiment, with a one-piece deck and fins, simplifies manufacturing and ensures greater durability than with added fins. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the deck without fins can be solid or have openings. In the example illustrated, it has a large end opening, facilitating gripping, for example. Sieve with interconnection

[0035] Figure 5 illustrates a second approach to implementing the invention, in which the two racket faces are connected to each other by a cooperation element ensuring an interconnection between the two faces.

[0036] In the example in Figure 5, the cooperation element is an overlap zone 14 between the front sieve and the rear sieve. In the illustrated example, the rear portion of the front sieve overlaps the top of the front portion of the sieve rear. Alternatively (not shown), the overlap is reversed and the front portion of the rear sieve overlaps the top of the rear portion of the front sieve. Reference numbers used in the figures

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Snowshoe (1) comprising a sieve and a fastener for attaching the sieve to a user's foot, the sieve being in two parts (2, 4), namely a front sieve (2) for positioning at the front of the foot, and a rear sieve (4) for positioning under the heel of the foot, characterized in that the front sieve (2) and the rear sieve (4) of the snowshoe are entirely independent of each other, each of the sieves having its own fastener.

2. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front frame (2) comprises a front frame binding (3) comprising a front toe cap (7) and a heel strap (8) designed to go around the back of the foot and the rear frame (4) comprises a rear frame binding (5) provided with a heel piece (6) and a kick strap (9) designed to go around the front of the foot.

3. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 2, wherein the front screen attachment (3) and the rear screen attachment (5) form an intersection zone (10).

4. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two sieves (2, 4) are independent and without contact between them in use and the two fixings (3, 5) are independent.

5. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, comprising a cooperation member between the two sieves (2, 4).

6. Snowshoe according to claim 5, in which the cooperation member is an overlapping zone (14) between the front screen and the rear screen.

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