Ski Boot Cuff Locking Mechanism for Dynamic Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ski mountaineering and Telemark boots lack a cuff locking device that allows for small movements while maintaining the cuff in a locked downhill position, failing to adequately follow ankle movements during downhill skiing.
Innovation Solution
A manually-operated cuff locking device with a supporting plate, movable slider, and elastic counteracting elements that allow the cuff to oscillate around a predetermined downhill position, while being resiliently locked to the shell, allowing small movements and adjustable tilt angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cuff locking device rigidly locks the cuff to the shell in the downhill position, then the cuff stability is improved, but the cuff loses the ability to follow ankle movements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device incorporates a movable arm that can dynamically adjust between a locked position (providing stability) and an unlocked position (allowing movement). This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling the cuff to transition between rigid fixation and flexible adaptation based on skiing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the degree of freedom parameter of the cuff by using a spring-loaded arm that can be positioned at different angles. When the arm engages the locking surface, it constrains the cuff to a fixed angle for stability; when released, it allows angular movement to follow ankle motion, thus adjusting the parameter of rigidity versus flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cuff locking device allows small movements around the downhill position, then the adaptability to ankle movements is improved, but the cuff stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device provides partial locking through the spring-loaded arm mechanism, which can engage at different depths or angles. This partial action allows small controlled movements while maintaining sufficient stability, rather than providing complete rigid locking or complete freedom of movement.
3Reliability
If a permanently connecting retention and release mechanism is used, then the cuff connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded arm automatically engages and disengages from the locking surface through the user's natural cuff movements. This self-service mechanism provides reliable connection without requiring complex manual operation systems, buttons, or multiple components, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the cuff to be rigidly locked in a downhill position while allowing small oscillations, enhancing ankle movement synchronization during skiing without increasing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element (19) which is adapted to resiliently oppose the oscillations of the cuff (3) around said downhill position
Implementation Method 2
a block of elastomeric material (25) which is arranged inside the groove (23) to deform in an elastoplastic manner when the slider (17) moves away from its operating position, and which is adapted to retain and bring back the slider (17) at its operating position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Ski boot (1) comprising: a substantially rigid shell (2), which is adapted to house the foot of the user and has a lower part structured to be hooked to a ski binding device; a substantially rigid cuff (3), which is adapted to enclose the lower part of the leg of the user and is pivotally joined to the shell (2) to rotate about a reference axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; and a manually operated cuff locking device (15), which is adapted to selectively lock the cuff (3) onto the shell (2) in a predetermined downhill position, and which in turn comprises: a supporting plate (16) arranged on the cuff (3), above the heel of the ski boot (1); a slider (17), which is fastened onto the supporting plate (16) and is capable of moving freely along the supporting plate (16) substantially parallel to the midplane of the ski boot; a movable arm (18), which is butt hinged to the slider (17) so that it rotates to and from a locking position in which the movable arm (18) extends downwards and is releasably hooked to the shell (2) beneath; and an elastic counteracting element (21), which is adapted to elastically retain the slider (17) in a predetermined operating position.