Bottom of shell for sliding shoe

Abstract

Shell bottom for sliding shoe Sliding shoe (1) comprising a shell bottom (2) and a collar (4), the shell bottom (2) being intended to receive a foot of a user, the collar (4) being intended to wrap a lower leg of the user, the collar being articulated in rotation around the shell bottom, characterized in that the sliding shoe further comprises a tongue (10) extending upwards, at the rear of the sliding shoe and an elastic means (26), a first end of the tongue being fixed to the shell bottom (2), and a second end of the tongue (10) being linked to the collar (4) by means of the elastic means (26). Figure for abstract: figure 10

Description

Title of the invention: Shell bottom for sliding shoe Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a sliding shoe, in particular a ski shoe, comprising a bottom shell and a collar articulated in rotation around the bottom shell. State of the prior art

[0002] Board sports are sports in which a user guides one or more boards attached to his feet. When practicing these sports, variations in the terrain are felt at the feet and lower legs via board shoes. Board shoes typically comprise a lower shell surrounding the user's foot and a collar surrounding the lower leg. The collar is pivotally articulated around the lower shell along an axis of rotation substantially aligned with an axis passing through the user's malleoli. Board shoes play a key role in the user's perception of the terrain and in the impulses that he transmits to the board(s).

[0003] Among sliding sports, alpine skiing is a sport in which a user guides a pair of skis attached to his feet on snowy terrain. When a skier makes turns, he alternates phases of flexion and extension of the legs. During the flexion phases, the cuff pivots forward relative to the bottom of the shell and during the extension phases, it pivots backward. For good control of one's skis, characteristics of support but also elasticity, cushioning and rebound of the ski boots are sought in order to obtain ski guidance that is both dynamic, precise and without unnecessary effort.

[0004] The rebound of a ski boot characterizes its ability to return to its initial position, following a forward flexion of the collar. Manufacturers seek to increase the rebound of sliding boots. To this end, patent US6026594 has proposed sliding boots comprising an elastic strap capable of producing substantially constant pressure on the user's tibia. This pressure makes it possible to maintain substantially constant tibial support on the sliding boot during the flexion / extension movement of the legs and thus makes it possible to achieve better control of the skis. However, the rebound obtained with such sliding boots is still insufficient.

[0005] Furthermore, sliding shoes must also remain simple to use and to manufacture. The sliding shoes known from the state of the art do not allow all of these requirements to be met at once. In particular, the shoes known from the state of the art do not allow one or more sliding boards to be guided sufficiently dynamic, efficient and precise manner. Presentation of the invention

[0006] The aim of the invention is to provide a sliding shoe which overcomes the above drawbacks and improves the sliding shoes known from the prior art.

[0007] More specifically, an object of the invention is a sliding shoe that is simple to manufacture, durable and offers optimal rebound characteristics for guiding one or more sliding boards. Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention relates to a sliding shoe comprising a shell bottom and a collar, the shell bottom being intended to receive a user's foot, the collar being intended to wrap around a user's lower leg, the collar being articulated in rotation around the shell bottom, the sliding shoe further comprising a tongue extending upwards, at the rear of the sliding shoe and an elastic means, a first end of the tongue being fixed to the shell bottom, and a second end of the tongue being linked to the collar by means of the elastic means.

[0009] The resilient means may be configured to produce a resilient restoring force in the direction in which the tab extends.

[0010] The elastic means may be configured to be elastically compressed when the collar pivots forward relative to the bottom of the shell.

[0011] The elastic means may be an elastomer element.

[0012] The tab may include an opening, the elastic means being positioned inside the opening.

[0013] The sliding shoe may comprise an insert fixed directly to the collar, the elastic means comprising a first end bearing on the tongue and a second end bearing on the insert.

[0014] The insert can be clipped into the opening.

[0015] The tab may be configured to be resiliently flexed when the collar pivots forward relative to the bottom of the shell.

[0016] The tongue and the bottom of the shell may be made of the same material, in particular the tongue and the bottom of the shell may be made of polyurethane.

[0017] The tongue can form a single-piece assembly with the bottom of the shell. Presentation of figures

[0018] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:

[0019] [Fig.l] is a three-dimensional view of a ski boot according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] [Fig.2] is a partial view of the ski boot of [Fig.l] in a section in a longitudinal and vertical plane.

[0021] [Fig.3] is a three-dimensional view of a ski boot collar.

[0022] [Fig.4] is a three-dimensional view of a bottom of the shell of the ski boot.

[0023] [Fig.5] is a view of the rear of the ski boot.

[0024] [Fig.6] is a side view of the ski boot.

[0025] [Fig.7] is a partial view of a ski boot in a section in a longitudinal and vertical plane and according to a first variant embodiment of the invention.

[0026] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of the bottom of a shell of a ski boot according to a second variant embodiment of the invention.

[0027] [Fig.9] is a sectional view of an insert of the ski boot according to the second variant embodiment of the invention.

[0028] [Fig. 10] is a partial view of the ski boot according to the second embodiment of the invention, in a section in a longitudinal and vertical plane. Detailed description

[0029] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a sliding boot 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The sliding boot is a ski boot, in particular an alpine ski boot. Alternatively, the boot could be any boot intended to be used in any other sliding sport, i.e. a sport where a user guides one or more sliding boards with his feet, by performing flexion and extension movements of the legs. For example, the sliding boot may be any other snow sliding boot, such as a snowboard boot, a ski touring boot, or a cross-country ski boot.

[0030] For the purposes of the description, the shoe is considered to rest by its sole on a horizontal ground. A longitudinal axis X is defined as being an axis parallel to the axis in which the user's foot extends from the heel (at the rear) to the toes (at the front). The transverse axis Y designates an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and passing through the user's two malleoli. The X and Y axes are horizontal. The vertical axis Z is an axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes. The front and the back are defined in relation to the longitudinal axis X: the front designates an area more towards the toes while the back designates an area more towards the heel. The top and the bottom are defined in relation to the vertical axis Z. An upper zone designates an area more towards the top and a lower zone designates an area more towards the bottom.

[0031] The sliding shoe 1 comprises a shell bottom 2 comprising an enveloping part 3 intended to accommodate, or in other words to envelop, the user's foot. The sliding shoe 1 also comprises a collar 4 intended to envelop the bottom of the user's leg. The collar is articulated in rotation around the bottom of the shell, and in particular around the enveloping part 3, along an axis Y1 substantially parallel to the transverse axis Y and passing through the user's two malleoli.

[0032] The enveloping part 3 comprises a general shape which matches the shape of the foot. It notably comprises a rear wall 5 which matches the shape of the heel and the Achilles tendon. It also comprises curved side walls which match the shape of the malleoli. The rear wall extends vertically over the entire height of the bottom of the shell and laterally substantially up to the level of the malleoli. As can be seen in [Fig.6], this rear wall 5 may comprise a portion generally inclined towards the front, in order to encourage the user's tibia to rest on an opposite surface of the shoe, i.e. on a front surface of the shoe, notably a front surface of the collar.

[0033] The bottom of the shell 2 may also comprise fixing interfaces intended to cooperate with a device for fixing a sliding board. According to the embodiment presented, the sliding boot being a ski boot, it comprises a front sidewalk 6A and a rear sidewalk 6B intended to cooperate with the jaws of a fixing device. In this case, the sidewalks form at least part of the sole of the boot.

[0034] The enveloping part 3, which is also clearly visible in Figures 4 and 6, extends upwards to above the malleoli. It comprises an upper opening 7 allowing the insertion of the foot inside the bottom of the shell. This upper opening 7 is extended on the top of the foot by a longitudinal opening 8 which can be closed by means of closing devices (not shown), such as for example one or more tightening buckles. Two lateral flaps, positioned on either side of the longitudinal opening 8 can thus overlap on the top of the foot, in particular in order to guarantee the watertightness of the sliding shoe.

[0035] The collar 4, clearly visible in [Fig. 3], has a generally tubular shape. It comprises two lateral flaps 9 intended to overlap at the front of the lower leg, substantially at the level of the tibia. The collar 4 may also comprise closing means capable of locking the two lateral flaps 9 to enclose the lower leg, for example one or more tightening buckles. The collar 4 extends downwards substantially to the height of the malleoli, and it extends upwards substantially to mid-height of the tibia or up to a third of the height of the tibia. The rotational connection between the collar and the bottom of the shell may be achieved by means of axes extending parallel to the axis Yl. These axes are capable of cooperating with openings made in walls of the bottom of the shell 2 and of the collar 4, at the level of each of the user's malleoli.

[0036] The collar and the bottom of the shell may preferably be made of plastic, in particular injected plastic. For example, they can be made of polyurethane. Advantageously, the collar and the bottom of the shell can be made with the same plastic material. The plastic material and the thickness of the walls forming the collar and the bottom of the shell are chosen so as to protect the foot and so as to give the sliding shoe a rigidity adapted to the practice of the sliding sport concerned. Alternatively, any other material can be considered to form the bottom of the shell and / or the collar. The plastic material can be filled, in particular with glass or carbon fibers. It is also possible for the collar and / or the bottom of the shell to be formed by an assembly of several materials, obtained for example by over-injection, bi-injection or co-injection. Preferably, the material constituting the collar and the bottom of the shell is not a foam (i.e. a material filled with air or gas bubbles).Advantageously, the plastic material comprises a flexural modulus of between 100 and 500 Mpa, preferably of between 100 and 300 Mpa.

[0037] The sliding shoe may further comprise a comfort liner (not shown) inserted inside the bottom of the shell and the collar. The comfort liner makes it possible to avoid direct contact between the user's foot or lower leg on the one hand and the bottom of the shell and the collar on the other hand.

[0038] The bottom of the shell 2 comprises a tongue 10 in one piece with the enveloping part 3. By "one piece" is meant that the tongue 10 and the enveloping part 3 form a single and same piece. The tongue 10 and the enveloping part therefore form a monolithic assembly, as opposed to an assembly formed by the assembly of two separate pieces. When the bottom of the shell is manufactured by plastic injection, the enveloping part and the tongue can be obtained during the same injection operation. The retention of the tongue on the enveloping part is obtained thanks to the cohesion of the plastic material.

[0039] According to an alternative embodiment, the tab 10 could not be a single-piece tab with the enveloping part 3. It could in particular be a fixed longitudinal element, for example screwed onto the enveloping part 3.

[0040] The tongue 10 is connected to the rear wall 5 of the enveloping part 3 via a lower end 11 of the tongue 10. The tongue therefore extends substantially to the rear of the bottom of the shell 2. The connection between the tongue and the bottom of the shell is positioned substantially at mid-height of the enveloping part 3. Thus, the tongue is connected to the enveloping part substantially at the height of the malleoli, in particular at the height of the articulation axis between the bottom of the shell and the collar. The connection between the tongue 10 and the enveloping part 3 is positioned substantially in the center of the rear wall 5, equidistant from the two malleoli. Thus, the connection between the tongue 10 and the enveloping part 3 is positioned substantially opposite the user's Achilles tendon. The tongue is arranged outside the part in enveloping 3 and is thus not intended to come into contact with the user's foot or with a slipper inserted in the enveloping part. As we will see later, the tongue is intended to cooperate with the collar 4, in particular by means of its upper end 12.

[0041] The tongue 10, which could also be called a "blade" or "appendage", extends substantially from the rear wall 5 of the enveloping part 3 and upwards. It extends substantially parallel to the rear wall 5, and therefore mainly parallel to the vertical axis Z. A space 13 can thus be defined between the rear wall 5 of the enveloping part and the tongue 10. A dimension of this space 13, that is to say the distance separating the tongue 10 from the rear wall 5, can for example be between 2 mm and 15 mm. This space 13 can be substantially constant over the height of the tongue 10 opposite the rear wall 5. The tongue 10 may not extend perfectly vertically. Advantageously, it can be generally inclined forward by an angle Al of between 5° and 20° relative to the vertical axis Z.

[0042] The tab 10 extends upwards above the enveloping part 3 in order to cooperate with the collar 4. The upper end 12 of the tab is therefore positioned above the upper opening 7 of the enveloping part 3. The tab comprises a generally rectangular shape. A height H of the tab, measured along its main direction of extension, may be between 5 cm and 20 cm. A width L of the tab, measured along the transverse axis Y, may be between 5 mm and 30 mm. Alternatively, the rear tab could be of generally trapezoidal shape, in particular wider at its lower end 11 than at its upper end 12.

[0043] The tongue 10 is intended to cooperate with the collar to produce a recall force of the collar relative to the enveloping part 3. The tongue thus makes it possible to modify the rebound characteristics of the shoe. More precisely, the tongue is connected to the collar so as to bend when the collar pivots forward relative to the enveloping part. The tongue comprises mechanical features such that it generates a recall force on the collar, tending to bring the collar back to the vertical position, as opposed to a more forward-inclined position. The tongue 10 thus makes it possible to improve the rebound characteristics of the shoe. It is thus understood that the tongue is an elastic tongue. It is capable of supporting a forward bend, the amplitude of which is determined by the amplitude of the bend of the collar around the bottom of the shell, without breaking or undergoing permanent deformation.As a note, the tab 10 may not be deformable, or very little elastically deformable in the direction in which it extends, that is to say in the vertical direction.

[0044] As can be clearly seen in [Fig. 5], the tongue 10 comprises a stiffening rib 14 which can extend over the entire height of the tongue. The rib 14 is arranged vertically in the center of the tongue and projects towards the rear. The rib comprises a decreasing thickness as it runs along the tongue from bottom to top. Such a rib shape gives the tongue flexing properties leading to excellent rebound of the shoe. The rebound characteristics of the shoe can be modified by adapting the dimensions of the tongue, in particular its length, and / or its thickness and / or the dimensions of the stiffening rib, and / or its anchoring point on a wall of the bottom of the shell. The decreasing profile of the stiffening rib can also be modified in order to modify the behavior of the shoe.

[0045] The tab 10 is preferably fixed directly or indirectly to the collar 4. According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the fixing of the tab to the collar is carried out by means of a fixing screw 15 passing through a hole provided at the upper end 12 of the tab 10, and a hole 16 provided at the rear of the collar. The fixing screw 15 cooperates with a connecting piece 22, such as a nut, positioned from the inside of the collar. Advantageously, the connecting piece 22 may comprise a tubular part positioned through the holes provided in the tab and in the collar as well as a thread capable of cooperating with the fixing screw 15. The tubular part makes it possible to avoid direct contact between the thread of the fixing screw and the edges of the holes provided in the tab and in the collar. The fixing screw extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X.An upper part of the collar is thus retained at the bottom of the shell by means of the tongue. As a note, this connection does not block the rotational articulation of the collar relative to the enveloping part 3 of the bottom of the shell, because the tongue 10 is capable of flexing. In addition, it is possible to provide a hole in the tongue of a dimension larger than the diameter of the fixing screw 15 passing through it. This allows a certain relative movement between the tongue and the collar when the collar is tilted. In addition, the materials constituting the bottom of the shell and the collar, which are preferably made of plastic, are capable of deforming. Thus, the inclination of the collar relative to the enveloping part is also made possible by the deformation of the materials constituting the shoe.

[0046] The collar further comprises a rear wall 17 covered by the tongue 10. This rear wall 17 has a substantially planar shape and is positioned inside the space 13 defined between the rear wall 5 of the enveloping part 3 and the tongue 10. The rear wall 17 of the collar therefore covers the rear wall 5 of the enveloping part, which forms a baffle making it possible to prevent snow from entering the shoe.

[0047] The collar also includes an opening 18 into which the upper end 12 of the tongue 10 is inserted. The opening 18 is positioned above the rear wall 17 and below the hole 16. An upper portion 20 of the tongue is thus covered by a second rear wall 19 of the collar surmounting the first rear wall 17. The space between the two walls 17 and 19 forms a housing for receiving the upper end 12 of the tongue. By covering the upper end of the tongue, it is prevented from catching on any object and hindering the user in his movements. Only a lower portion 21 of the tongue 10 is not covered by the collar and made visible from the outside of the shoe.

[0048] To manufacture the ski boot, it is possible to manufacture, on the one hand, by plastic injection, in a single piece, a bottom shell comprising the enveloping part and the tongue. On the other hand, the collar can also be manufactured by plastic injection. The bottom shell and the collar are then assembled to each other: the end of the tongue is inserted into the opening 18, then the rotational joint of the collar is installed around the bottom shell and the tongue is secured to the collar via the hole 16.

[0049] When using the boot, for example for downhill skiing, the user alternates between flexion and extension movements of the legs. When the user flexes the legs, the collar tilts forward relative to the enveloping part by pivoting around the axis Yl. This pivoting causes the tongue 10 to flex. The elasticity of the tongue produces a force which tends to oppose the forward pivoting of the collar. Then, when the user relaxes his legs, the collar returns backwards, into a more vertical position. The force produced by the tongue facilitates this return to position and relieves the user. The user's muscles are less stressed during the leg extension phase, which allows for better preparation for the following flexion phase.In addition, the return force produced by the tongue allows tibial support to be maintained on the collar throughout the flexion and extension movement of the leg, necessary for the proper guidance of the ski boards. The user thus benefits from an improved rebound effect compared to the use of conventional ski boots. The boot thus allows for dynamic, precise and effortless ski guidance.

[0050] The rebound of a shoe can be characterized by a laboratory test in which the shoe is blocked by its bottom shell, positioned flat on the ground, then the collar is pulled forward. Then, the collar is released and naturally returns to its initial position. An accelerometer is installed so as to measure the acceleration of the backward movement of the collar. The rebound can then be quantified as a function of the measured acceleration. Tests carried out on a shoe according to the invention show that the rebound can be improved by approximately 40% compared to an identical shoe without a tongue.

[0051] The invention is not limited to the embodiment described and variants may be considered. For example, the tab is not necessarily connected to the collar by a recess-type connection. The tab could be connected to the collar by a sliding connection. It can, for example, simply be inserted into the opening 18 and free to slide inside this opening parallel to the direction in which the tab extends. Thus, when the collar is inclined forward, the tab comes into contact with the rear wall 19 of the collar. By reaction of the wall 19 of the collar on the tab, the latter produces a rearward return force tending to straighten the collar.

[0052] The tab can be fixed in different ways to the collar; for example by means of a single screw as has been described or by means of several screws. The tab can comprise several holes capable of cooperating with one or more screws to define a more or less pronounced inclination of the collar relative to the bottom of the hull. The fixing screw 15 can be replaced by any equivalent fixing means, in particular a rivet, a pin or a clip. According to another variant embodiment, the tab 10 could also be welded or glued to the collar.

[0053] According to a first alternative embodiment, illustrated in [Fig.7], the fixing means for fixing the tongue to the collar can be arranged so as to be invisible from the outside of the shoe. According to this alternative embodiment, the hole 16 is arranged in the rear wall 17 of the collar and is extended by a blind hole in the second rear wall 19 of the collar. The hole 16 is therefore not opening onto the external face of the collar. The fixing means comprises a lug 23 passing through the hole 16 and the hole made in the tongue, as well as a head 24 arranged on the side of the rear wall 17 of the collar. Advantageously, a counterbore can be provided on the internal face of the wall 17 to accommodate the head 24 so as not to generate a protuberance on the surface of the wall 17. The fixing means can be fixed to the rear wall 17 of the collar for example by screwing.The lug 23, passing through the hole in the tongue 10, holds this tongue 10 in such a way as to block it when the shoe bends forward.

[0054] Advantageously, an elastic means 26 may be interposed between the tongue 10 and the collar 4. This elastic means 26 may be configured so as to exert an elastic return force oriented substantially parallel to the direction in which the tongue 10 extends, i.e. in a substantially vertical direction. Such an elastic means further improves the rebound of the ski boot while providing a durable connecting means between the tongue 10 and the collar 4.

[0055] In particular, according to a second variant embodiment, illustrated in figures 8, 9 and 10, the tongue 10 is connected to the collar 4 by means of an insert 25 and the elastic means 26. The tongue 10 comprises an opening 27 in the upper part, for example of rectangular shape, in which the elastic means 26 is positioned. As can be seen in [Fig. 10], the elastic means 26 comprises a first end 34A bearing on an upper edge of the opening 27 and a second end 34B bearing on the insert 25. The elastic means 26 is configured to be elastically compressed between its two ends 34A, 34B when the collar 4 is bent forwards. In particular, the elastic means 26 is configured to be elastically compressed in the axis along which the tongue 10 extends, i.e. substantially vertically.

[0056] The elastic means 26 is preferably an elastomer element, in particular an elastomer block of substantially rectangular shape. Alternatively, the elastic means 26 could comprise one or more springs such as, for example, leaf springs or helical springs. The type of elastomer and / or the thickness of the elastomer element may be adapted in order to obtain the desired return force. The elastic means may alternatively be configured to work in tension, and not in compression. As a note, the elastic means 26 may optionally produce only a small return force when it is subjected to bending stress.

[0057] The insert 25 may be a metal part, or alternatively a plastic part. It comprises a lower end bearing against the second end 34B of the elastic means and an upper end by which it is fixed to the collar 4. In particular, the insert 25 comprises at its upper end a threaded opening 28. This threaded opening 28 cooperates with a fixing screw 29 and a hole provided in the collar 4, to fix the insert 25 to the collar 4. According to an alternative embodiment, the insert 25 could be fixed differently: it could for example be riveted, glued or welded to the collar. According to another alternative embodiment, the insert 25 could be removably fixed to the collar, so that the user of the ski boot could temporarily remove the connection between the tongue 10 and the collar 4 during his skiing practice.This would allow it to temporarily cancel the rebound effect produced by the tab 10 and the elastic means 26. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the insert 25 could be formed integrally with the collar 4, that is to say that the collar and the insert would form a single piece. In other words, the collar could then be in contact or resting directly on the elastic means 26.

[0058] The elastic means 26 is held in position in the opening 27 of the tongue. Thus, the integration of the elastic means 26 does not increase the bulk of the ski boot and the elastic means is protected from shocks and snow. This holding in position can be obtained on the one hand by means of the insert 25 which prevents the elastic means 26 from escaping towards the rear, and on the other hand by the rear wall 17 of the collar 4, which is inserted between the tongue 10 and the rear wall 5 of the bottom of the shell 3, and which prevents the elastic means 26 from escaping towards the front. The elastic means 26 can thus be held captive between two walls, which allows it to maintain its position in the opening 27 of the tongue 10. A wall 31 of the insert 25 therefore extends vertically along the elastic means 26, at the rear of the latter. This wall 31 may comprise an opening 32 so as to make the elastic means 26 visible from the outside of the ski boot. The elastic means 26 may also be linked to the insert, in a fixed or mobile manner. According to an alternative embodiment, the elastic means 26 could be glued against the wall 31 of the insert.

[0059] Advantageously, the insert 25 is clipped into the opening 27 of the tongue, which makes it possible to maintain an optimal bearing surface between the insert 25 and the elastic means 26. More particularly, the insert 25 comprises at its lower end a recess 33, or appendage 33, which is inserted into the opening 27 and bears on a front face of the tongue 10, below the opening 27. The recess 33 is not fixed to the bottom of the shell 3. A relative sliding can therefore be established between this recess 33 and the bottom of the shell when the collar 4 is bent forwards. Advantageously, the length of the recess 33 is sufficient to keep the insert 25 clipped into the opening 27 even when the forward bending of the collar is maximum. A counterbore 35 may be provided in the rear wall 17 of the collar to accommodate the recess 33.

[0060] The assembly of such a ski boot is easy: it is sufficient to position the insert 25 and the elastic means 26 in the opening 27 then to screw the fixing screw 29 into the threaded opening 28 by passing through the hole provided in the collar. Then, when the user practices skiing with this boot, the forward bending of the collar is accompanied on the one hand by a bending of the tongue 10 which bends forward, and on the other hand by a compression of the elastic means 26, in the axis of the tongue. During the forward bending of the collar 4, the insert 25 translates upwards relative to the tongue 10, which compresses the elastic means 26 in the opening 27. A relative displacement then occurs between the upper end of the tongue 10 and the collar 4. . These two deformations are elastic deformations and contribute in a complementary manner to the rebound effect produced by the ski boot.

[0061] Furthermore, the elastic means 26 makes it possible to preserve the attachment of the insert 25 to the collar 4, and generally the connection between the tab 10 and the collar 4. Indeed, thanks to the presence of the elastic means 26, the shear forces at this connection (in particular at the level of the fixing screw 29 and the threaded opening 28) are reduced.

[0062] It would also have been possible to reverse the attachment of the insert 25, fixed to the tongue, and linked to the collar by means of the elastic element.

[0063] Furthermore, the bottom of the hull may be made entirely of injected plastic material. Alternatively, it may also include inserts, in particular metal inserts intended to stiffen certain parts of the bottom of the hull. A metal insert may for example, be provided inside the tongue to increase its rigidity. The bottom of the shell can also be made by combining different plastic materials, for example using co-injection, over-injection or bi-injection plastic processes.

[0064] The shoe may further comprise, in addition, flex adjustment means, i.e. means for adjusting the resistance to forward bending of the shoe. These adjustment means may be obtained by means of fixing screws passing through the enveloping part and the collar, in particular at the rear walls 5 and 17.

[0065] The previously described shoe comprises a single tongue extending from the rear of the shoe. Alternatively, it could comprise several similar tongues. The shoe could comprise, for example, two tongues positioned on either side of a longitudinal median plane of the shoe, each of these tongues being connected to the collar.

[0066] The tab(s) extend generally upwards so as to connect the enveloping part to the collar which surmounts it. By "upwards" it is understood that the tab can be oriented in any direction allowing the connection between the enveloping part and the collar. Depending on the position of the anchoring points of the tab(s) on the bottom of the shell and on the collar, the tab(s) can be more or less inclined relative to the vertical axis. For example, the tab(s) can be inclined up to an angle of approximately 30° relative to the vertical axis, or even up to an angle of approximately 45° relative to the vertical axis.

[0067] Finally, according to another embodiment variant, the tongue could not form a single-piece assembly with the enveloping part but with the collar. In this hypothesis, the tongue would extend mainly downwards from the collar and would cooperate with the bottom of the shell to flex following a rotation of the collar towards the front. The tongue would then possibly be fixed to the bottom of the shell and / or inserted via its lower end into an opening provided in the bottom of the shell.

[0068] The different variants set out above can be freely combined. Thanks to the invention, there is therefore a shoe which is simple to manufacture, robust and has optimal rebound characteristics for the practice of sliding sports.

Claims

Claims

1. A sliding shoe (1) comprising a shell bottom (2) and a collar (4), the shell bottom (2) being intended to receive a foot of a user, the collar (4) being intended to wrap a lower leg of the user, the collar being articulated in rotation around the shell bottom, characterized in that the sliding shoe further comprises a tongue (10) extending upwards, at the rear of the sliding shoe and an elastic means (26), a first end of the tongue being fixed to the shell bottom (2), and a second end of the tongue (10) being linked to the collar (4) via the elastic means (26), the tongue (10) being configured to be elastically flexed when the collar (4) pivots forwards relative to the shell bottom (3).

2. Sliding shoe (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic means (26) is configured to produce an elastic return force in the direction in which the tongue (10) extends.

3. Sliding shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means (26) is configured to be elastically compressed when the collar (4) pivots forwards relative to the bottom of the shell (3).

4. Sliding shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means (26) is an elastomer element.

5. Sliding shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (10) comprises an opening (27), the elastic means (26) being positioned inside the opening (27).

6. Sliding shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an insert (25) fixed directly to the collar (4), the elastic means (26) comprising a first end bearing on the tongue (10) and a second end bearing on the insert (25).

7. Sliding shoe (1) according to claim 5 and according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the insert (25) is clipped into the opening (27).

8. Sliding shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (10) and the bottom of the shell (3) are made of the same material, in particular in that the tongue (10) and the bottom of the hull (3) are made of polyurethane.

9. Sliding shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (10) forms a single-piece assembly with the bottom of the shell (3).

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