Device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear, comprising a mechanism for winding and releasing a cable which includes: - a rotary knob (15) for actuating said mechanism, - a housing (7) comprising a toothed core (8), - a pulley (2) for winding said cable and comprising a shaft (5) provided with a groove (4), - at least one pawl (9) adapted to temporarily and selectively engage with said toothed core (8). The pulley (2) is adapted to be operatively coupled to the housing (7) and to the knob (15). A plate (3) comprising a grooved hole (6) is placed between the knob (15) and the housing (7). The at least one pawl (9) is rotatably connected the plate (3). The plate (3) is jointly coupled to the pulley (2) by coupling the groove (4) of the shaft (5) with the grooved hole (6) of the plate (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear such as for example ski or snowboard boots, cycling shoes, skating shoes, hiking boots and the like. The device comprises a mechanism for winding a cable which allows the winding and release of the cable, for the fine adjustment of the tightening degree of the footwear during the closing and opening steps.STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Devices for adjusting the tightening degree of footwear comprising a mechanism for winding and releasing a cable have been known long since, see for example patent EP 0056953.

[0003] A device for loosening and tightening a cable by actuation of a knob is disclosed by CN 115137126. Due to its construction, such a device provides for the gradual tightening of the cable through actuation of the knob in one direction and for the quick full loosening of the cable due to its tension which causes the knob to rotate in the opposite direction.TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0004] Such prior art devices are complex to manufacture and reveal significant overall dimensions, in particular height-wise. As a result, their housing on the footwear shall occur in areas not subject to impact with the ground, such as for example the high area of the rear part of the footwear.

[0005] The overall dimensions therefore represents a drawback when it comes to positioning said devices on the footwear, given that it is not possible to house such prior art devices in lateral areas of the shell or cuff so as to avoid impacts with the ground which could cause breakage to the device.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to solve the prior art drawbacks.

[0007] In particular, one of the objects lies in providing a device for adjusting the tightening degree that is easy to manufacture.

[0008] Another object is to provide a device for adjusting the tightening degree that is compact in size so as to allow greater positioning freedom on the footwear therefore reducing the likelihood of impact with the ground.

[0009] Yet another object is to provide a device which still ensures a safe and reliable operation.

[0010] A further object is to provide a device which allows a quick recovery and release of the cable in order to reduce the time required for operations both for closing / opening the footwear as well as fine adjustment of the tightening.

[0011] Last but not least, the object is to provide a device that is cost-effective and which can be obtained using usual machines and equipment.

[0012] The task and the objects outlined above are achieved by a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear, comprising a mechanism for winding a cable which allows the winding and release of the cable for the fine adjustment of the tightening degree during the closing and opening steps as defined in claim 1.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of present the invention will become more apparent from the following description of particular embodiments shown by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the attached figures, wherein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device for adjusting the tightening degree according to the present invention; figure 2 shows an exploded view of the device; figure 3 shows a bottom exploded view of the device; figure 4 is a cross-section of the assembled device; figure 5 is a cross-section along the plane A-A of figure 4 of the device in a step for winding the cable; figure 6 is a cross-section along the plane A-A of figure 4 of the device in another step for winding the cable; figure 7 is a cross-section along the plane B-B of figure 4 of the device in a step for winding the cable; figure 8 is a cross-section along the plane A-A of figure 4 of the device in a step for releasing the cable; figure 9 is a cross-section along the plane B-B of figure 4 of the device in a step for releasing the cable; figure 10 is a schematic representation of an example for applying the device for adjusting the tightening degree according to the present invention to a system for closing sports footwear such as for example a ski boot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] With reference to the figures mentioned above, there is shown a device for adjusting the tightening degree 1, particularly for sports footwear, which comprises a mechanism for winding a cable which allows the winding and release of the cable for the fine adjustment of the tightening degree of the footwear during the closing and opening steps. In particular, the winding and release of the cable carried out by the device 1 respectively allows to approach and move away two flaps facing the footwear by tensioning or releasing the cable.

[0015] As shown in figures 2 to 4, the device 1 comprises a pulley 2 integrally joined to a plate 3 due to a groove 4 specifically obtained on the shaft 5 of the pulley 2 adapted to be coupled to a corresponding grooved inner surface of the hole 6 of the plate 3.

[0016] Between the pulley 2 and the plate 3 there is interposed a housing 7, on which there is obtained as a single piece, or with an added piece, a toothed core 8 protruding upwardly from the housing 7, i.e. towards the plate 3. The housing 7 is a structural element and it also has the function of containing the pulley 2.

[0017] At least one pawl 9 is rotatably connected to the plate 3, where it is pivoted on a respective pin 10 obtained as a single piece from the plate 3. Said at least one pawl 9 may therefore rotate around the pin 10 with respect to a rotation centre thereof biased by an elastically deformable element 11, preferably a spring.

[0018] The pawl 9 is adapted to be selectively engaged with at least one tooth 12 thereof directly on the toothed core 8 of the housing 7.

[0019] During the winding step, schematically shown in figures 5 to 7, the pawl 9 rotates (fig. 5) and climbs over the teeth of the toothed core 8 due to a favourable inclination of the back of the teeth of the toothed core 8 so as to allow the rotation of the pulley 2 and therefore the winding of the cable. Between one rotation cycle and the subsequent one, the pawl 9 snaps in the ridge of the subsequent tooth (fig. 6) due to the effect generated by the spring 11 acting on the pawl 9, so as to prevent that the pulley 2 rotates backwards.

[0020] More specifically, the pawl 9 is selectively engaged with at least one tooth 12 thereof directly on the toothed core 8 of the housing 7 so as to keep the pulley 2 temporarily locked between a winding rotation of the cable and the subsequent one with the aim of keeping the amount of recovered cable wound on the pulley 2.

[0021] The pawl 9 is also provided with a hole 13 which generates the rotation centre thereof and with a first slotted opening 14 suitably shaped whose function will be better explained hereinafter.

[0022] A knob 15 is placed above the plate 3. At least one elongated pin 16 projects from the inner face of the knob 15 which has the function of cooperating with the plate 3, with the at least one pawl 9 and with a pair of radial walls 26 cooperating with corresponding recesses 27 provided on the plate 3.

[0023] The pin 16 of the knob 15 is housed, in a through-passing manner, by the plate 3 and the pawl 9 at a second slotted opening 17 obtained on the plate 3 and at the first slotted opening 14 obtained on the pawl 9.

[0024] To complete the device 1, a covering element 18 rotatably connected to the knob 15 is provided which is adapted to be integrally joined by means of a grooved hole 19 with the shaft 5 of the pulley 2. The knob 15 is therefore interposed between the covering element 18 and the plate 3 and it is free to rotate by a predetermined angle with respect to the assembly formed by the pulley 2, the plate 3 and the covering element 18; the components of this assembly are therefore operatively integrally joined with each other due to the coupling by means of the grooved shaft 5 of the pulley 2, the grooved hole 6 of the plate 3 and the grooved hole 19 of the covering element 18.

[0025] The first slotted opening 14 on the pawl 9 and the second slotted opening 17 on the plate 3 allow the operation of the device 1 during the winding and release of the cable, as will be better explained hereinafter.

[0026] Rotating the knob 15 in the winding direction of the cable (fig. 7), the radial walls 26 abut against a first end 28 of the recesses 27 of the plate 3, therefore driving in rotation the assembly formed by the plate 3 and the pulley 2, as well as the covering element 18.

[0027] Simultaneously, the pin 16 which protrudes from the knob 15 controls the angular position of the pawl 9 due to the sliding of the pin 16 along the second slotted opening 17 of the plate 3 and along the first slotted opening 14 of the pawl 9, until it abuts against an end of the first and of the second slotted openings 14, 17.

[0028] As a matter of fact, the particular shape of the first slotted opening 14 on the pawl 9 allows the latter, during the step of winding the cable, to rotate around the pin 10 thereof obtained on the plate 3 so as to overcome the back of a tooth of the toothed core 8 such that the pawl 9 can engage with the subsequent tooth (figs. 5 and 6).

[0029] In order to carry out the step for the fine release of the cable, schematically shown in figures 8 and 9, the user must rotate the knob 15 in the opposite direction with respect to the winding step.

[0030] The knob 15 initially runs along a predetermined rotation angle, defined by the length of the grooves 26 along which the radial walls 27 protruding from the knob 15 slide until they abut against a second end 29 of the grooves 26. During this initial rotation, the pin 16 which protrudes from the knob 15 slides along the second slotted opening 17 provided on the plate 3 until it abuts against the other end of the second slotted opening 17 (fig. 9). Simultaneously, the pin 16 progressively contacts an inner wall of the first slotted opening 14 provided on the pawl 9, causing a rotation on the pawl 9 around the rotation center thereof formed by the pin 10 obtained on the plate 3 (fig. 8). In such a way, the rotation of the knob 15 allows to disengage the pawl 9 lifting it from the tooth of the toothed core 8 with which it is engaged.

[0031] Once this initial rotation has been carried out, and therefore with the pawl 9 completely disengaged from the tooth of the toothed core 8 and the radial walls 26 abutting against the second end 29 of the grooves 27, the rotation of the knob 15 is transmitted to the plate 3 and, as a result, to the pulley 2 due to the integrally joined coupling between the plate 3 and pulley 2. This allows the gradual release of the cable.

[0032] Basically, the initial rotation of the knob 15 by a predetermined angle has the function of disengaging the pawl 9 from the toothed core 8 while the further rotation beyond said predetermined angle allows the cable to be unwound from the pulley 2 and therefore to be progressively released.

[0033] In this condition, the pawl 9 always remains disengaged from the toothed core 8 and the rotation in the release direction is free either when the user exerts a force on the knob 15 or when the user releases he knob 15.

[0034] In order to prevent this condition, that is the pawl 9 always remains disengaged from the toothed core 8, the knob 15 is advantageously provided with a return spring 20 interposed between the knob 15 and the plate 3. The return spring 20 has the task of preloading the knob 15 with respect to the plate 3 during the step of releasing the cable, while it does not apply any return force on the knob 15 during the winding step.

[0035] In the release step, the preload is obtained by means of a protrusion 21 protruding from the plate 3 cooperating with a corresponding protrusion 30 projecting from the lower face of the knob 15 and on the opposite side with respect to the pin 16 (fig. 9). The protrusion 30 is adapted to interact with a stem of the return spring 20 progressively loading it during the initial rotation of the knob 15 up to a maximum value which is obtained when the pawl 9 is completely disengaged from the toothed core 8, while the protrusion 21 of the plate 3 keeps the other stem of the spring 20 locked. During such rotation, the pin 16 moves along the first slotted opening 14 of the pawl 9 determining the disengagement thereof.

[0036] Once the initial rotation has been overcome, the return spring 20 tends to return the assembly formed by the plate 3, the pulley 2 and the covering element 18 to the initial position of departure with respect to the knob 15. This movement returns the pin 16 to the initial position allowing the elastic element 11 of the pawl 9 to return the latter to the initial position of engagement with the toothed core 8.

[0037] Therefore, although the user continues to impart a rotation to the knob 15, whenever the pawl 9 overcomes the tooth of the toothed core 8, the plate 3 will snap so as to allow the pawl 9 to be engaged once again with the preceding tooth.

[0038] In the light of the above, it is clear that the present invention achieves the objects and advantages initially set forth: as a matter of fact, there has been devised a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear, capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0039] In particular, the device for adjusting the tightening degree thus obtained is easy to manufacture and it is compact in size, that is small overall dimensions, so as to allow a greater positioning freedom on the footwear reducing the likelihood of impact with the ground, while maintaining high reliability and safe operation characteristics.

[0040] Furthermore, the device according to the present invention allows a quick winding and release of the cable so as to reduce the time required for the operations of closing / opening the footwear as well as the fine adjustment of the tightening given that the cable recovery ratio is 1:1 thanks to the direct and integrally joined coupling between the knob and pulley due to the interposition of the plate.

[0041] Obviously, the invention is susceptible to numerous applications, changes or variants without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claim 1.

[0042] For example, figure 10 schematically shows a system for closing a sports footwear such as for example a ski boot, wherein the tightening and fine adjustment device 1 according to the present invention is combined with a closing lever 22 of the conventional type and a pair of guide elements 23 for a cable 24. An end of the cable 24 is fixed to the footwear (not shown) through a cable lug 25 while the opposite end is connected to the device 1 according to the present invention. The closing lever 22 is interposed along the path of the cable 24 between the cable lug 25 and the device 1. With a system of this type, the user may carry out the quick closing and opening of the footwear by actuating the lever 22, while for fine adjusting the tensioning force of the cable 24, and as a result the tightening degree of the footwear, may act on the device 1 winding and releasing an amount of cable up to the desired tightening degree which, without further actuations of the device 1, is kept in memory for the subsequent closing of the footwear.

[0043] Naturally, the materials and equipment used to implement the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most appropriate depending on the specific requirements.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear, comprising a mechanism for winding and releasing a cable including: - a rotary knob (15) for actuating said mechanism, - a housing (7) comprising a toothed core (8), - a pulley (2) for winding said cable and comprising a shaft (5) provided with a groove (4), - at least one pawl (9) adapted to temporarily and selectively engage with said toothed core (8), said pulley (2) being adapted to be operatively coupled to said housing (7) and said knob (15), characterised in that a plate (3) comprising a grooved hole (6) is placed between said knob (15) and said housing (7), said at least one pawl (9) being rotatably connected to said plate (3), said plate (3) being jointly coupled to said pulley (2) by coupling said groove (4) of said shaft (5) with said grooved hole (6) of said plate (3), wherein the rotational actuation of said knob (15) is configured to transmit a rotational movement to said plate (3) and to said pulley (2) during winding and releasing of said cable.

2. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to claim 1, wherein said shaft (5) of said pulley (2) passes through said toothed core (8).

3. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said housing (7) is placed between said pulley (2) and said plate (3).

4. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one pawl (9) is rotatably connected to said plate (3) by means of a pin (10) protruding from said plate (3) and facing said toothed core (8), said at least one pawl (9) being rotatable against the bias of an elastically deformable element (11).

5. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one pawl (9) is provided with a first slotted opening (14).

6. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to claim 5, wherein said plate (3) is provided with a second slotted opening (17).

7. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to claim 6, wherein at least one pin (16) passing through said first and second slotted openings (14, 17) respectively provided on said at least one pawl (9) and said plate (3) protrudes from said knob (15).

8. Device for adjusting the tightening degree according to claim 7, wherein said at least one pin (16) cooperates with said first and second slotted openings (14, 17) to temporarily disengage said pawl (9) from said toothed core (8) to allow the winding and release of said cable.

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