Ski Boot Clamping Lever with Movable Pivoting Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports boots with central entrances, such as ski boots, face limitations in articulation during walking and mechanical stress resistance due to fixed clamping mechanisms, leading to premature wear and difficulty in putting on and taking off.
Innovation Solution
A sports boot design featuring a clamping device with a pivoting lever element that adjusts its axis of pivoting relative to the cuff's axis, allowing for increased rotation freedom and reduced stress on the mechanism by varying the distance between pivoting axes, thereby enhancing articulation and extending the boot's operational life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lever size is limited to guarantee comfort, then the cuff rotation angle is insufficient for optimum articulation in walking, but increasing the lever size improves articulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the pivoting axis of the lever movable relative to the shell, allowing it to change position dynamically. In the clamped condition, the axis is positioned to provide firm support. In the unclamped condition, the axis moves to a position that enables greater cuff rotation and improved articulation during walking, thus resolving the contradiction between limited rotation and articulation requirements.
2Reliability
If the lever size is limited, then articulation during walking is improved, but continuous stresses cause internal components to break over time
Solution Approach 1:
The movable pivoting axis allows the clamping mechanism to adapt its geometry under load. When the boot transitions from clamped to unclamped condition, the axis movement redistributes mechanical stresses away from the lever and internal components, reducing wear and preventing breakage over time while maintaining adequate articulation.
3Ease of operation
If the cuff rotation angle is increased for optimum articulation, then walking comfort is improved, but the clamping mechanism experiences continuous stresses leading to component failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a movable pivoting axis that changes position based on the clamping state. When the cuff rotates in the unclamped condition for improved walking articulation, the axis movement modifies the mechanical leverage, reducing continuous stresses on the clamping mechanism components and preventing premature failure.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Sports boot comprising a lower part (12), able to contain a user's foot, an upper part (13) pivoted along a first axis of pivoting (F) on the lower part (12) and able to contain the ankle joint, and a clamping device (11) comprising at least a lever element (20) slidingly associated with the upper part (13), pivoted to the lower part (12) by means of pivoting elements along a second axis of pivoting (S), different from the first axis of pivoting (F), and able to selectively clamp the upper part (13) with respect to the lower part (12). The pivoting elements (23, 123) are configured in such a manner that the movement of the upper part (13) with respect to the lower part (12) around the first axis of pivoting (F) determines the displacement of the second axis of pivoting (S) between a first pivoting position in which it is at a first distance (D1), close-up, from the first axis of pivoting (F), and a second pivoting position, in which it is at a second distance (D2), distanced, from the first axis of pivoting (F).