Cuff for sports footwear and sports footwear comprising such cuff

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cuff (1) for a sports footwear, wherein at least one (1c) of the front flaps of the cuff has one or more substantially parallel bands (3, 5), separated by corresponding gaps (7). According to the invention, at least two of said bands are connected to each other, at or near their distal ends (3a, 5a), by a bridge (9) arranged astride the corresponding gap (7). Advantageously, the provision of said bridge does not significantly deteriorate the flexibility of the front flap of the cuff and at the same time keeps the bands (3, 5) connected by said bridge in a tidy configuration in which they are always close to and aligned with each other. The present invention further relates to a sports footwear (10) comprising a cuff (1) of the type described above.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention refers to a cuff for footwear as well as to a sports footwear comprising such cuff.

[0002] The present invention can find application, for example, in the manufacturing of ski boots, in particular front-entry ski boots.Prior Art

[0003] 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.

[0004] The shell made of substantially rigid material, shaped to accommodate the user's foot, is associated to a cuff, also made of a substantially rigid material and adapted to receive the user's ankle and lower leg part.

[0005] In the so-called "front-entry" ski boots, the shell has a longitudinal front opening which separates two shell flaps facing each other and can be spread apart to allow the user's foot to be inserted into or taken out from the ski boot.

[0006] Similarly, the cuff in its front portion is made in the form of two flaps which can be overlapped ("closed" configuration) or moved away from each other ("open" configuration) to allow the user's foot to be introduced into or taken out from the ski boot, as well as to make the ski boot more comfortable when the user is walking and not skiing. In particular, it is advantageous that the cuff has higher rigidity at the rear region, where it has to provide support to the user's leg, and that the flaps are instead made more flexible, so that they can be more easily moved close to or away from each other.

[0007] For this purpose, cuffs for ski boots are known in which at least one of the two front flaps does not have a continuous structure and is instead made in the form of two or more bands separated by respective gaps.

[0008] In particular, ski boot cuffs are widespread in which one of the front flaps has a pair of bands separated by a corresponding gap.

[0009] Examples of ski boot cuffs thus made can be found in documents FR 2625079, US 5279052 and US 5826354.

[0010] If on the one hand this cuff structure ensures satisfactory flexibility of the front flap and corresponding ease for the user to move said flap in order to open or close the cuff, on the other hand it entails significant drawbacks.

[0011] In particular, when the cuff is in the open configuration, the two or more bands of the front flaps of the cuff may move too far away from each other or become misaligned with respect to each other, thus making it more inconvenient for the user to manipulate said bands of said flap when the user wants to close the cuff again.

[0012] It should also be considered that ski boots are provided with a tightening arrangement configured to either tighten the shell and cuff onto the user's foot and ankle, respectively, or to release said shell and cuff.

[0013] In particular, tightening arrangements are known from the state of the art which comprise one or more traction cables guided on the external surface of the ski boot cuff by means of guide elements fixed to said cuff.

[0014] The tensioning of said one or more traction cables allows the cuff to be tightened around the user's ankle during sports practice; vice versa, the releasing of said one or more traction cables allows the user's ankle to be released, when the user's foot needs to be inserted into or taken out from the ski boot, or also when the user needs to walk.

[0015] In particular, when used with such tightening arrangements, cuffs in which at least one of the front flaps is made in the form of two or more separate bands entail the risk of inconvenience.

[0016] In fact, in the open configuration, with the bands away from each other and misaligned with respect to each other and with the traction cables loosened, the risk of one of the traction cables getting caught in the bands of the cuff flap and becoming tangled is particularly high.

[0017] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above-described drawbacks, by providing a cuff for a sports footwear, in particular a cuff for a ski boot, which allows a tidy configuration to be maintained at any time.

[0018] In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a cuff for a sports footwear, in particular a cuff for a ski boot, which allows a tidy configuration to maintained at any time, without however deteriorating the flexibility and manipulability of the cuff itself. These and other features and advantages are achieved with the cuff for a sports footwear and the sports footwear as claimed in the appended claims.Summary of the Invention

[0019] The cuff for a sports footwear according to the invention has, in manner known per se, a substantially 'C'-shaped cross-section with a continuous rear portion and two separate front flaps facing each other, which can be brought to a "closed" configuration, in which they are overlapped so that the cuff is tightened on the user's ankle, or an "open" configuration, in which they are apart from each other so that the user's ankle has freedom of movement.

[0020] Still in a manner known per se, at least one of the front flaps of the cuff has two or more substantially parallel bands, separated by corresponding gaps.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the front flaps of the cuff has two substantially parallel bands separated by a corresponding gap.

[0022] According to the invention, at least two of said bands are connected to each other, at or near their distal ends, by a bridge arranged astride the corresponding gap.

[0023] If more than two substantially parallel bands are provided, preferably all the adjacent bands are connected to each other in pairs, at or neat their distal ends, by respective bridges arranged astride the corresponding gaps.

[0024] Advantageously, the presence of said bridge(s) does not significantly deteriorate the flexibility of the front flap of the cuff according to the invention and - correspondingly - does not make it more difficult or uncomfortable for the user to move said front flap in order to bring it to the open configuration or the closed configuration.

[0025] On the other hand, said bridge(s) keep(s) the bands of the front flap of the cuff according to the invention in a tidy configuration at any time, and in particular when the cuff is in the open configuration.

[0026] In particular, the risk of malfunctioning of the cuff tightening arrangement itself is eliminated.

[0027] Thanks to the possibility of maintaining a tidy configuration in any case, it is also possible to manufacture bands with reduced height, separated by a wider gap, which allows for further increased flexibility of the front flap of the cuff.

[0028] In a possible embodiment of the invention, the bridge (or each bridge) is made integral with the bands that are connected by said bridge.

[0029] For example, the cuff is obtained by injection molding of one or more plastic materials, and the bridge (or each bridge) is obtained together with the cuff, by appropriately shaping the mold. In this case, the bridge is made of the same material as the rest of the cuff.

[0030] Alternatively, it is possible to manufacture the bridge (or each bridge) separately and then overmold the cuff onto it (onto them). In this case, the bridge - though being integral with the bands that are connected by said bridge - may be made of a different material than the rest of the cuff.

[0031] This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case of production of new cuff models.

[0032] In another possible embodiment, the bridge (or each bridge) is made as a separate piece and is fastened - either permanently or removably - to the bands that are connected by said bridge.

[0033] For example, the bridge (or each bridge) is obtained as a separate piece and then riveted to a pair of adjacent bands to connect them together.

[0034] Advantageously, this embodiment allows the invention to be implemented in existing cuffs.

[0035] Furthermore, where appropriate, this embodiment allows the bridge (or each bridge) to be made of a different material than the rest of the cuff, possibly even chemically incompatible with the material of the cuff.

[0036] The cuff according to the invention may be provided, in a manner known per se, with a tightening arrangement.

[0037] In a possible embodiment, said tightening arrangement comprises one or more tightening elements arranged on a first front flap of the cuff and cooperating with second tightening elements arranged on the second front flap of the cuff. For example, the first tightening elements may be made as lever elements provided with a hooking member and the second tightening elements may be made as racks provided with seats suitable for receiving the respective hooking members.

[0038] It should be noted in this regard that in known type cuffs, each band of the front flap of the cuff must be provided with its own tightening element.

[0039] In the cuff according to the invention, instead, it would be possible to provide for a tightening element only on one band of each pair of bands connected to each other by a bridge. In fact, thanks to the presence of the bridge, the band having no tightening elements would still be dragged together with the band having the tightening element from the closed configuration to the open configuration and vice versa.

[0040] Alternatively, it would also be possible to provide the tightening element directly on the bridge joining the pair of bands connected to each other.

[0041] In another possible embodiment, said tightening arrangement comprises one or more traction cables which follow a path between return elements arranged on the first and second front flaps of the cuff and can be tensioned or released.

[0042] In this case, too, in known type cuffs, each band of the front flap of the cuff must be provided with its own return element.

[0043] In the cuff according to the invention, instead, it would be possible to provide for a return element only on one band of each pair of bands connected to each other by a bridge. In fact, thanks to the presence of the bridge, the band having no return elements would still be dragged together with the band having the return element from the closed configuration to the open configuration and vice versa.

[0044] Alternatively, it would also be possible to provide the return element directly on the bridge joining the pair of bands connected to each other.

[0045] The invention further relates to a sports footwear comprising a cuff of the type described above, and in particular a sports footwear comprising a shell made of a substantially rigid material which is shaped to accommodate the user's foot and to which the cuff is articulated.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0046] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the ensuing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cuff for a sports footwear according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the cuff of Figure 1 provided with a tightening arrangement and mounted to a corresponding shell for a sports footwear. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0047] In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will be made to a cuff for a ski boot, more precisely a cuff for a front-entry ski boot.

[0048] However, this embodiment should not be interpreted in a restrictive manner and the cuff according to the invention could be applied to other types of sports footwear, such as inline skates.

[0049] Referring initially to Figure 1, the cuff 1 according to the invention has, in a manner known per se, a substantially 'C'-shaped cross-section with a continuous rear portion 1a and two separate front flaps 1b, 1c facing each other.

[0050] The rear portion 1a, near its lower edge, is provided, on opposite sides, with a pair of through holes 11 for the passage of corresponding articulation pins for the connection to a corresponding shell, as will be illustrated in detail below.

[0051] A first front flap 1b of the cuff 1 has a continuous surface.

[0052] The second front flap 1c of the cuff 1, instead, is divided into a pair of substantially parallel bands 3, 5 separated by a corresponding gap 7.

[0053] It is evident that the second front flap 1c of the cuff 1 could be divided into a higher number of substantially parallel bands (for example, three bands) separated by respective gaps.

[0054] It is equally clear that both front flaps 1b, 1c of the cuff 1 could be divided into two or more substantially parallel bands, separated by respective gaps.

[0055] As visible in Figure 1, the bands 3, 5 are connected to each other, near their distal ends 3a, 5a, by a bridge 9 arranged astride the gap 7.

[0056] The bridge 9 does not compromise the flexibility and manipulability of the second front flap 1c of the cuff 1.

[0057] At the same time, it advantageously ensures that the two bands 3, 5 remain close together and aligned with each other at any time.

[0058] In the example shown in Figure 1, the bridge 9 is made integral with the bands 3, 5 that are connected by said bridge.

[0059] Furthermore, said bridge is made of the same material as the bands 3, 5.

[0060] For example, said bridge is made together with the cuff 1 in a single step of injection molding.

[0061] However, said bridge could also be made of a different material than the bands 3, 5, for example by manufacturing at first the bridge and then arranging it in the mold for the cuff, so as to overmold the bands 3, 5 onto the bridge.

[0062] Also, the bridge and the cuff could be manufactured separately and subsequently said bridge could be fastened to the bands of the front flap of the cuff 1.

[0063] Turning now to Figure 2, the cuff 1 is shown in combination with a shell 12 to make as a whole a ski boot 10.

[0064] For this purpose, the cuff 1 and the shell 12 are articulated to each other by means of a pair of pins 14 passing through the through holes 11 of the cuff 1 as visible in Figure 1 and through corresponding through holes formed in the shell 12.

[0065] In Figure 2, the cuff 1 is shown provided with its own tightening arrangement 15.

[0066] In the shown embodiment, said tightening arrangement comprises a traction cable 17 which follows a tortuous path between return elements 19 arranged on the first and second front flaps 1b, 1c of the cuff 1 and can be tensioned or released by a by a winding mechanism 21.

[0067] Although in Figure 2 each band 3, 5 of the second front flap 1c of the cuff 1 is provided with its own return element 17, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that, thanks to the bridge 9, it would be possible to provide a single return element on only one of the bands.

[0068] Alternatively, it would also be possible to provide a single return element directly on the bridge 9.

[0069] It is evident that the embodiment described above has been given merely by way of example and that numerous modifications and variants are possible without thereby departing from the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.

[0070] In particular, although in the embodiment described above reference has been made to a ski boot, the invention can be implemented in any sports footwear comprising a cuff. = = =

Claims

1. Cuff (1) for a sports footwear, comprising a continuous rear portion (1a) and two separate front flaps (1b, 1c) facing each other, wherein at least one (1c) of said front flaps is divided into at least two substantially parallel bands (3, 5), separated by a corresponding gap (7) arranged therebetween, characterized in that at least two adjacent bands (3, 5) of said bands of said at least one front flap of said cuff, at or near their distal ends (3a, 5a), are connected to each other by a bridge (9) arranged astride the corresponding gap (7) placed therebetween.

2. Cuff (1) according to claim 1, wherein said bridge (9) is made integral with said bands (3, 5) that are connected by said bridge.

3. Cuff (1) according to claim 1, wherein said bridge (9) is made as a separate piece and is fastened, either permanently or removably, to said bands (3, 5) that are connected by said bridge.

4. Cuff (1) according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein said at least one (1c) of said front flaps is divided into two substantially parallel bands (3, 5), separated by a corresponding gap (7) arranged therebetween and connected to each other by a bridge (9) arranged astride said gap (7).

5. Cuff (1) according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein said at least one (1c) of said front flaps is divided into more than two substantially parallel bands, separated by corresponding gaps, and wherein the bands of a pair of adjacent bands are connected to each other by a bridge arranged astride the corresponding gap arranged therebetween.

6. Cuff (1) according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein said at least one (1c) of said front flaps is divided into more than two substantially parallel bands, separated by corresponding gaps, and wherein the bands of each pair of adjacent bands are connected to each other by a respective bridge arranged astride the corresponding gap arranged between them.

7. Cuff (1) according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein said cuff (1) is provided with a tightening arrangement comprising tightening elements arranged on respective ones of said front flaps (1b, 1c) of said cuff and cooperating with each other, and wherein a single tightening element is provided on said at least two bands (3, 5) connected to each other by said bridge (9), which single tightening element is arranged on one of said bands or on said bridge.

8. Cuff (1) according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein said cuff (1) is provided with a tightening arrangement (15) comprising one or more traction cables and return elements arranged on said front flaps (1b, 1c) of said cuff, and wherein a single return element is provided on said at least two bands (3, 5) connected to each other by said bridge (9), which single return element is arranged on one of said bands or on said bridge.

9. Sports footwear (10) comprising a cuff (1) according to any of claims 1 - 8.

10. Sports footwear (10) according to claim 9, further comprising a shell (12), said cuff (1) being articulated to said shell (12) by means of a pair of pins (14) arranged on opposite sides of said cuff and of said shell. = = =

Images