Ski Boot Cuff Segmented Cable Tightening Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ski mountaineering boots have limited adjustment capability and poor adaptability to the user's leg morphology due to their cuff locking mechanisms, which are laborious to adjust and only allow a narrow band of the cuff to be tightened effectively.
Innovation Solution
A ski boot with a cuff closing mechanism that includes a tightening cable system with cable-guiding members and a manually-operated cable-tightening assembly, allowing the cuff to be locked or unlocked in various positions for improved fit and adaptability, featuring a coupling arm that rotates to tighten the cable and an auxiliary cable for adjustable tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a closing cable is used to tighten and lock the cuff to the shell with a single movement, then the operation speed is improved, but the adaptability to the morphology of the leg is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff is divided into multiple zones with independent tightening capabilities. Instead of a single closing cable that tightens the entire cuff uniformly, the invention uses multiple cables (first and second cables) that can tighten different portions of the cuff independently, allowing adaptation to various leg shapes while maintaining quick operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, uniform tightening mechanism to a dynamic, adjustable system. The multiple cables can be independently adjusted to provide different tension levels at different locations on the cuff, enabling the system to adapt dynamically to various leg morphologies while still allowing for rapid closure.
2Ease of operation
If a closing cable is used to tighten the cuff, then the cuff can be locked to the shell with a single movement, but the adjustment capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The single closing cable is segmented into multiple independent cables, each capable of being adjusted separately. This segmentation maintains the ease of operation by allowing quick closure while significantly improving adjustment capability, as each cable can be independently tuned to accommodate different leg shapes and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple cable system serves multiple functions: it provides rapid closure like a single cable system, but also enables differential adjustment across different portions of the cuff. This multi-functionality allows the same mechanism to serve both ease of operation and high adjustability requirements.
3Device complexity
If a closing cable tightens only a narrow horizontal band of the cuff, then the locking mechanism is simplified, but the comfort-fit is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The single narrow tightening band is segmented into multiple tightening zones along the cuff. The first and second cables create multiple horizontal bands of tension distributed around the cuff, improving comfort-fit by distributing pressure more evenly across the leg while maintaining relatively simple cable-based mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from tightening in only one horizontal dimension to multiple horizontal dimensions. By adding multiple cables at different heights and positions, the system distributes tightening force across multiple horizontal bands, improving comfort and fit while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A ski boot (1) comprising a rigid shell (2), which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has a lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a rigid cuff (3) which is pivotally jointed to the shell (2) so as to be able to pivot about a transversal rotation axis (A), and is provided with two lateral flaps (11, 12) that embrace the leg of the user on opposite sides and overlap to one another so as to form a substantially tubular structure that surrounds the leg of the user; and cuff closing means (16) capable of pulling the two lateral flaps (11, 12) of the cuff (3) towards each other, so as to tighten the cuff (3) on the leg of the user.