Anti-slip crampons

Abstract

The present patent application discloses a crampon (100) for progression on a low-grip surface to be coupled to a boot (200), wherein the device (100) comprises an upper elastic portion (1) and a lower portion (2) in contact with the sole (201) of said boot (200) which allows the progression on that surface, connected to each other by connecting elements (3,31,31',32,32',33,33',34,34'), in which said upper portion (1) comprises an elastic element (11) comprising a front elastic portion (12) made of a first elastic material (m1) having a first elasticity (e1) and a rear elastic portion (13) made of a second elastic material (m2) having a second elasticity (e2), connected to each other by lateral elastic portions (14,15) made of a third elastic material (m3) having a third elasticity (e3), wherein said third elasticity (e3) is higher than said first elasticity (e1) and higher than said second elasticity (e2).

Description

[0001] Several devices have been made that can be worn over footwear to help provide traction and stability on slippery surfaces such as mud, ice, snow.

[0002] Such devices are of various shapes and compositions and are generally made up of three main parts: the lower part intended to be positioned under the sole of the shoe, whose purpose is precisely to ensure stability and traction; the upper and middle parts, which together guarantee the stability of the shoe.

[0003] The upper part must hold the device in place without excessively compressing the shoe on which it is mounted.

[0004] This goal is not easily achievable, due to the variability of the type of footwear and the size of the footwear itself.

[0005] In addition, the device as a whole must be easy to use, with particular reference to when they are put on and removed, which may have to take place in conditions of urgency, necessity or bad weather (more generally, of difficulty).

[0006] Last but not least, the device must be simple, fast and inexpensive to produce, in order to maintain costs appropriate to the kind of product.

[0007] The prior-art document US 2015 / 0230561 discloses a crampon comprising an upper part and a lower part, in contact with the sole, both made of elastic material. The lower portion, in particular, may comprise overlapping layers of different materials. The upper portion, on the other hand, may comprise a "bridge" front element in elastic material, to ensure higher stability to the progression.

[0008] Such "bridge" element tries to prevent the crampon from slipping, for example under load.

[0009] Therefore, there are no known devices in the art that offer satisfactory stability, while ensuring ease of fit on the boot; in addition, from a manufacturing perspective, the known devices are complex and expensive to manufacture.

[0010] The inventors of the present patent application have developed a crampon for the progression on slippery surfaces that overcomes the drawbacks of the already known devices.

[0011] The present invention therefore concerns a device for the progression on slippery surfaces represented by a crampon defined by claim 1 and, in its particular construction forms, by the dependent claims.

[0012] In particular, the present invention provides a crampon that is quick and easy to put on the boot and also to remove after use, thanks to the deformability of the different parts of its upper portion.

[0013] The invention crampon is optimally suited to different types of boots, as well as different sizes (shoe size).

[0014] The invention's crampon is considerably more stable thanks to the differential elasticity of the upper portion, which allows higher compression in the points wherein the load and stresses are higher, such as the toe and heel portion.

[0015] Advantageously, the invention's crampon has its own defined three-dimensional structure even when not fitted, above all thanks to the stiffer portion of the heel, which contributes to offering higher stability and quality to the product.

[0016] The invention crampon can be produced with simple techniques and technologies, which allow to keep low the production costs, thus being able to offer a low-cost device.

[0017] In particular, the crampon of the invention is described below in greater detail thanks to the enclosed figures, wherein figure 1 is a side view of the invention crampon worn on a hiking boot; figure 2 is a detail of the front portion of the crampon; figure 3 is a detail of the rear portion of the crampon; figure 4 is a lower view of the lower portion of the crampon.

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] In particular, the device (crampon) 100 of the present invention allows a user, such as a mountaineer or hiker, to advance on ice, snow, mud or other surface with reduced grip and / or slippery.

[0020] The 100 crampon comprises an upper portion 1, which fits a boot 200, and a lower portion 2, in contact with the sole 201, which guarantees grip and progression on the surface.

[0021] For the purposes of the present invention, the upper portion 1 is elastic.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the upper portion 1 is made using elastomeric materials.

[0023] This allows to wear the crampon 100 by elastic deformation of the upper portion 1.

[0024] As for the lower portion 2, this can be made of rigid material or elastic (or elastomeric) material and can be made of metal or metal alloy.

[0025] Regardless of the material with which it is made, the lower portion 2, to allow progression, is equipped with gripping or friction elements 50 on the surface.

[0026] Said friction elements 50 can be represented by protrusions, spikes, studs or elements made of non-slip material, for example.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the lower portion 2 is made of metal and the friction elements 50 are represented by metal tips.

[0028] For the purposes of the present invention, the upper portion 1 and the lower portion 2 are connected to each other by suitable means of connection 3.

[0029] In an embodiment of the invention, these means of connection 3 can be represented by one or more chains, preferably made of metal, possibly chain link.

[0030] Alternatively, the connecting media 3 may be made of elastic material, e.g. elastomeric, or comprising elements of elastic material.

[0031] For the purposes of the present invention, the upper elastic part 1 of the crampon 100 in turn comprises a front elastic portion 12 and a rear elastic portion 13, connected to each other by lateral elastic portions 14,15.

[0032] More specifically, said front elastic portion 12 is made of a first elastic material m1 having a first elasticity e1, said rear elastic portion 13 is made of a second material m2 having a second elasticity e2 and the lateral elastic portions 14,15 are made of a third material m3 having a third elasticity m3.

[0033] For the purposes of the present invention, "realized" also means the embodiment wherein the indicated element comprises a portion having this elasticity.

[0034] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "elasticity" means a parameter defining the elasticity, and in particular the elongation capacity, of said material.

[0035] In particular, the third material m3 has a higher elasticity than both the first material m1 and the second material m2; therefore, the lateral elastic portions 14,15 are characterized by the highest deformation in elongation.

[0036] In one aspect of the present invention, the second material m2 has an elasticity lower than or equal to that of the first material m1 and is preferably lower than that of the first material m1.

[0037] In an embodiment, for example illustrated in Figure 2, the front elastic portion 12 is represented by a flat elastic element (plate) 12 (in elastic, elastomeric material).

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, the anterior elastic portion 12 comprises a distal portion 12b and a proximal portion 12c.

[0039] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "distal" refers to a position that is farther away from the user, while the term "proximal" refers to a location that is closer to the user; therefore, for example, the toe portion is a distal portion, and the heel portion is a proximal portion.

[0040] In an embodiment, the distal portion 12b and the proximal portion 12c can be made of the same elastic material, for example in the first elastic material m1.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the distal portion 12b is made of the first elastic material m1, and the proximal portion 12c is made of the third elastic material m3.

[0042] In this way, the upper elastic portion 1 adheres better to the toe portion of the 200 boot allowing a more efficient fit of the crampon 1 and, therefore, a more comfortable and safe progression.

[0043] The preparation of the front portion 12 of the crampon 100 can be conveniently prepared by co-molding or over-molding the first elastic material m1 and the third elastic material m3.

[0044] For the purposes of the present invention, the front portion 12 and the side portions 14,15 may be prepared by molding in one piece.

[0045] This advantageously reduces production costs.

[0046] As for the rear elastic portion 13, this comprises an external face 16 and an internal face 17 intended to come into contact with the heel portion 18 of the 200 boot.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear elastic portion 13 is connected to the lateral elastic portions 14,15 in such a way that it cannot be separated from them.

[0048] As shown, for instance, in Figure 3, such connection can be made by riveting at the production site, with appropriate rivets 70,71 inserted in a special connection seat 72 of the rear elastic portion 13 and the lateral elastic portions 14,15.

[0049] In an embodiment of the invention, this seat 72 connecting the rivets 70,71 is made of a fourth material m4 characterized by an elasticity e4, which is higher than the elasticity of the third material m3 with which the lateral elastic portions 14,15 are made.

[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner face 17 of the rear elastic portion 13 comprises a friction element 19 (not shown in the figures).

[0051] Such friction element 19 can be represented by a portion made of a fifth elastic material m5 having a fifth elasticity e5.

[0052] In an embodiment, this fifth material m5 has a fifth elasticity e5 which is higher than the elasticity e2 of the second material m2 with which the rear elastic portion is made 13.

[0053] In an embodiment, said friction element 19 can be co-moulded or over-moulded with the third material m3 of the rear portion 13.

[0054] For the purposes of the present invention, it is not excluded that said fifth material m5 corresponds to the first material m1 or to the third material m3.

[0055] Advantageously, this friction element 19 allows higher friction between the rear portion 13, and in particular its inner face 17, and the heel portion 18 of the boot 200, preventing the crampon 100 from slipping off.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the rear elastic portion 13 is connected to only one of the two lateral elastic portions 14,15 so that it cannot be separated from it.

[0057] Therefore, this connection can be made by riveting, at the time of production, with only one of the lateral elastic portions 14 or 15, while the connection with the other of the two lateral elastic portions 14,15 is obtained by means of an openable connection, for example by means of a buckle.

[0058] As for the lower portion 2 of the crampon 100, as shown in Figure 4, this comprises a front metal element 21 and a rear metal element 22, connected to each other by appropriate first means of lower connection 23.

[0059] In an embodiment, these first lower connecting elements 23 are represented by little metal chains, e.g. chain links, or by elastic elements (made of elastic, elastomeric material).

[0060] Therefore, in an embodiment, in the lower portion 2 of the crampon 100 two metal chain links connect the front metal element 21 with the rear metal element 22.

[0061] This allows for greater stability and grip to the sole 201.

[0062] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the anterior metal element 21 may comprise a distal metal element 21a and a proximal metal element 21b, connected to each other by appropriate second means of lower connection 24,24'.

[0063] Figure 4 shows the distal metal element 21a connected to the proximal metal element 21b by two metal chain links connecting them.

[0064] Such embodiment advantageously allows a better grip of the lower portion 2 of the 100 crampon to the sole 201 of the boot 200, improving progression.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said anterior metal element 21, said rear metal element 22, said distal metal element 21a and said proximal metal element 21b may be, independently to each other, in the form of a metal plate or a fenestrated metal plate.

[0066] The embodiment that involves the use of metal plates with windows advantageously allows an overall lightening of the weight of the crampon 100.

[0067] Suitable holes 80 in the metal plates or fenestrated metal plates allow the connection with the connecting elements 3.

[0068] The connection of the upper elastic portion 1 with the lower portion 2 is made by means of appropriate connecting elements 3.

[0069] These elements 3 are preferably represented by metal chains, possibly chain links.

[0070] For the purposes of the present invention, it is not excluded that said connecting elements 3 are made of an elastic material.

[0071] In particular, 31,31' front connecting elements can be provided for the connection of the front elastic portion 12, first lateral connecting elements 32,32' and second lateral connecting elements 33,33' for the connection of the lateral elastic portions 14,15 and rear connecting elements 34,34' for the connection of the rear elastic portion 13.

[0072] According to an embodiment of the invention, the lateral elastic portions 14,15 are connected to the first means of lower connection 23.

[0073] This configuration advantageously allows a better adhesion of the lower portion 2 of the 100 crampon to the sole 201 of the boot 200, thus improving the progression.

[0074] According to a preferred aspect, said front elastic portions 12, the rear elastic portion 13 and the lateral elastic portions 14,15 comprise passages 60 for attaching said connecting elements 3.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, these passages 60 are made of a sixth material m6 characterized by a sixth elasticity e6.

[0076] In one aspect of the invention, such a sixth material m6 has a sixth elasticity e6 which is lower than the elasticity of the material from which the element or portion in which said passages 60 is made is made.

[0077] In one aspect of the invention, the sixth elasticity e6 is lowe than the second elasticity e2.

Claims

1. Crampon (100) for the progression on a low-grip surface to be coupled to a boot (200), wherein the device (100) comprises an upper elastic portion (1) and a lower portion (2) in contact with the sole (201) of said boot (200) which allows the progression on that surface, connected to each other by connecting elements (3, 31,31',32,32',33,33',34,34'), wherein said upper portion (1) comprises an elastic element (11) which comprises a front elastic portion (12) made of a first elastic material (M1) having a first elasticity (E1) and a rear elastic portion (13) made of a second elastic material (M2) having a second elasticity (E2), connected to each other by lateral elastic portions (14,15) made of a third elastic material (M3) having a third elasticity (E3), wherein said third elasticity (e3) is higher than said first elasticity (e1) and higher than said second elasticity (e2).

2. The crampon (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said anterior elastic portion (12) comprises a distal portion (12b) made of said first elastic material (m1) having said first elasticity (e1) and a proximal portion (12c) made of the third elastic material (m3) having said third elasticity (e3).

3. The crampon (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said anterior elastic portion (12) comprising the said distal portion (12b) and the proximal portion (12c) is obtained by co-molding or overmolding of the said first elastic material (m1) and said third elastic material (m3).

4. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said front elastic portion (12) and said lateral elastic portions (14,15) are made in a single piece, for example by molding.

5. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said upper portion (1) comprising the anterior elastic portion (12), possibly including the distal portion (12b) and the proximal portion (12b), the rear elastic portion (13) and the lateral portions (14,15) are made in a single piece, e.g. by molding.

6. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rear elastic portion (13) is connected to the said lateral elastic portions (14,15) by riveting, so that the device (100) can be worn on the shoe by elastic deformation of said upper portion.

7. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rear elastic portion (13) is connected to one of said lateral elastic portions (14,15) by means of a buckle.

8. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said distal portion of the elastic anterior element (12b) is connected to the lower portion (2) of the device by means of frontal connecting elements (31,31').

9. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said proximal portion (12c) of the elastic anterior element is connected to the lower portion (2) of the device by means of first lateral connecting elements (32,32').

10. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rear elastic portion (13) comprises an outer face (16) and an inner face (17) in contact with a portion of the heel (18) of said footware, wherein that inner face (17) comprises a friction element (19) which allows higher friction with that portion of the heel (18), said friction element (19) being made of a fifth material (m5) having a fifth elasticity (e5) which is higher than the second elasticity (e2) of the rear elastic portion (13).

11. The crampon (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said element of friction (19) is made of an elastic material and is co-moulded or over-moulded with said rear elastic portion (13).

12. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said elastic element (11) of the upper elastic portion (1) and said rear elastic portion (13) comprises passages (60) for the connection with said connecting elements (3,31,31',32,32',33,33',34,34') which are made of a sixth material (m6) having a sixth elasticity (e6) which is lower than the second elasticity (e2).

13. The crampon (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein these connecting elements (3,31,31',32,32',33,33',34,34') between the upper portion (1) and the lower portion (2) are represented by chains, preferably chain links, or in an elastic material.

14. The crampon (100) according to any of the above claims, wherein said lower portion (2) for the progression on that surface comprises one or more friction elements (50) on that surface represented by protrusions, studs, spikes or elements made of non-slip material.

15. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lower portion (2) for the progression on said surface is made of metal or metal alloy.

16. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lower portion (2) is made of metal and comprises a front metal element (21) and a rear metal element (22), which are connected to each other by appropriate means of lower connection.

17. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein that anterior metallic element (12) comprises a distal metal element (21a) and a proximal metal element (21b), connected to each other by suitable second lower connecting elements (24,24'), which allow each of said first distal metal elements and the second proximal element to adhere to the sole, wherein said second proximal element is connected to the posterior metal element.

18. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said metal anterior element (21), said rear metal element (22), said first distal element (21a) and said second proximal element (21b), is independently to each other, plate-like or can be fenestrated.

19. The crampon (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first lower connecting elements (23) and said second lower connecting elements (24,24') are represented by chains, preferably chain link.

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