Ski Boot Rear Insert Assembly Guide Hole
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of ski mountaineering boots with rigid rear inserts featuring a locking shank is laborious and prone to self-threading screw damage due to limited space and imperfect tool alignment, leading to increased bending or breaking of screws.
Innovation Solution
A production method that includes forming a transversal guide hole in the boot's bottom wall, allowing easier insertion and alignment of the locking screw, which reduces the risk of screw damage and simplifies the assembly process by centering and straightening the screw automatically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a self-threading screw is used to fix the rear insert from the upper opening, then the assembly can be completed, but the limited space causes imperfect tool alignment leading to screw bending or breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a guide hole in the bottom wall of the shell before inserting the rear insert and screwing the locking screw. This preliminary action provides a pre-formed alignment path that ensures the locking screw is properly oriented before the screwing operation begins, preventing bending or breaking during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide hole acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the locking screw and the bottom wall. It provides a controlled path for the screw, ensuring proper alignment and distribution of forces during the screwing operation, thereby preventing screw damage.
2Ease of manufacture
If the locking screw is screwed from the upper opening to the bottom wall, then the rear insert is fixed, but the process is laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The guide hole is pre-formed in the bottom wall before the final assembly step. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex alignment operations during screwing, making the assembly process faster and less laborious while ensuring proper screw orientation.
3Ease of operation
If the tool enters from the upper opening to screw the locking screw, then the screw can be fixed, but the limited space prevents correct tool orientation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to screw the locking screw from the upper opening (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by creating a guide hole from the bottom wall. This allows the locking screw to be oriented and aligned properly through the guide hole before being screwed into place, ensuring precise alignment despite limited tool access from above.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Production method of a ski-boot (1) comprising a substantially shoe-shaped, rigid shell (2) adapted to accommodate the foot of the user and comprising: a substantially basin-shaped, rigid casing (10) that accommodates and encloses the foot of the user; a sole (11) arranged to cover a bottom wall (12) of the rigid casing (10); and a rigid rear insert (14) which is at least partially recessed inside a corresponding hollow seat (15) formed in the rear part of the rigid casing (10), substantially astride the midplane of the boot; the production method of the ski boot (1) being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming the rigid casing (10) and the hollow seat (15) intended to accommodate said rigid rear insert (14); piercing the bottom wall (12) of the rigid casing (10) so as to form a transversal guide hole (20) that extends into the bottom wall (12) obliquely to the wall itself and intersects the area/part of the hollow seat (15) intended to be engaged by the shank (17) of the rigid rear insert (14); inserting the rigid rear insert (14) in the hollow seat (15) present in the rigid casing (10); and finally inserting an oblong locking member (18, 28) within said transversal guide hole (20), simultaneously engaging a through hole (19) formed in the shank (17) of the rigid rear insert (14).