Ski Boot Cuff Locking Mechanism With Guided Blade Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski boot locking devices are complex, bulky, difficult to operate, and unreliable, leading to unsuitable configurations during skiing, increased injury risk, and rapid damage under harsh conditions.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a movable locking element, lever, and transmission means that allows easy operation and secure locking/unlocking of the rotational joint between the lower shell and cuff, featuring a blade and guide surfaces for precise alignment and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a locking device is designed to be simple and robust, then manufacturing complexity and weight are reduced, but reliability under harsh conditions may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into distinct functional segments: a locking element with guide surfaces, a separate blade component, and a transmission means. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for simplicity while maintaining overall reliability through modular assembly that can withstand harsh skiing conditions.
2Reliability
If the locking device uses more components for secure locking, then locking reliability improves, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces are integrated directly into the locking element, eliminating the need for separate guide components. The blade is designed to interact directly with these integrated guide surfaces, creating a compact locking system that achieves secure locking through the combined geometry of fewer components rather than through component quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the locking engagement surface, incorporates guide surfaces for blade alignment, and interfaces with the transmission means. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count while maintaining reliable locking security.
3Ease of operation
If the locking device is made compact, then ease of operation improves, but the range of motion for walking may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces are designed with specific geometric profiles that dynamically adapt during operation. During walking mode, the guide surfaces allow greater angular displacement as the blade follows a larger arc. During skiing mode, the same guide surfaces constrain movement to a smaller, more precise range. This dynamic adaptability is achieved through the geometry of the guide surfaces rather than through size or additional components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Ski boot (1) comprising a lower shell (2), a cuff (3) articulated in rotation relative to the lower shell, and a locking device (10) for locking a joint in rotation between the lower shell (2) and the cuff (3), the locking device comprising: - a blade (14) intended to cooperate with a locking element to lock the joint in rotation, - a lever (11) suitable for being manipulated by a user, the lever being movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, the blade comprising a bearing surface (55) intended to interact with the lever to move the lever towards its locking position.