Ski Boot Selection Lever Mechanism for Tension Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhill skiing and ski touring boots face inconvenience when switching between skiing and walking configurations due to the loss of adjustment lever tension, requiring users to manually restore correct tension each time, especially when the main selection lever is connected to multiple adjustment levers.
Innovation Solution
A ski boot design where the selection lever is operatively connected to both the locking/unlocking mechanism and adjustment levers in a parallel configuration, maintaining the memory of previous adjustments by ensuring hooks engage with racks consistently, allowing seamless transitions between configurations without losing tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the main selection lever is operatively connected to adjustment levers to automatically open them during transition to walking configuration, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adjustment memory is lost requiring manual restoration of tension
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the adjustment mechanism into independent adjustable elements (adjustment levers with hooks and racks) that can be individually adjusted while maintaining their adjustment state. This allows the main selection lever to operate the locking mechanism independently without affecting the adjustment levers' tension settings, thus preserving adjustment memory while enabling easy configuration switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment levers are pre-adjusted to the desired tension settings before use. The hooks are positioned to engage with the racks at the correct positions, storing the adjustment information. When transitioning between configurations, this preliminary adjustment is maintained, eliminating the need for manual restoration of tension after each transition.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the adjustment levers are opened during transition to walking configuration, then the freedom of movement is improved, but the adjustment memory is lost causing hooks to unhook from racks
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the locking function from the adjustment function. The main selection lever controls the locking mechanism independently, while the adjustment levers maintain their tension settings independently. This segmentation allows the adjustment levers to remain engaged with their racks during configuration transitions, preserving adjustment memory while still providing the needed freedom of movement in walking configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment levers act as intermediaries between the user's adjustment input and the final tension state. By designing the adjustment levers with hooks that engage with racks, the system creates a mechanical memory device that maintains the adjustment state during transitions. The intermediaries (adjustment levers) preserve the adjustment information while allowing the main selection lever to control the locking state.
3Ease of operation
If multiple adjustment levers are connected to the main selection lever, then the ease of operation is improved, but the complexity of maintaining adjustment memory increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments each adjustment lever into an independent unit with its own hook-rack mechanism. Each adjustment lever can be adjusted independently and maintains its own adjustment memory through the hook engagement with the rack. The main selection lever operates the locking mechanism independently of these adjustment units, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing the complexity of maintaining adjustment memory across multiple levers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Ski boot (4) comprising a lower part or foot portion (8), suitable for enclosing the user's foot, and an upper part or leg portion (12), suitable for enclosing the lower part of the skier's leg, wherein the leg portion (12) is hinged to the foot portion (8) so as to rotate in relation to the foot portion (8) around hinges (16) defining a rotation axis (X-X), forwards towards a tip (20) of the boot (4), and backwards towards a heel (24) of the boot (4). The leg portion (12) comprises a selection lever (28) suitable for selectively locking and/or unlocking the rotation of the leg portion (12) in relation to the foot portion (8), and is provided with at least one adjustment lever (32) operatively connected to at least one hook (36) which may be engaged on teeth (40) of a rack (44). The adjustment lever (32) and the rack (44) are fixed to opposite flaps (48, 52) of the leg portion (12) which are mutually closeable, the at least one adjustment lever (32) being operable so as to mutually approach or distance said flaps (48, 52) of the leg portion (12) from each other. Advantageously, the selection lever (28) is operatively connected to means (56) for locking/unlocking the rotation of the leg portion (12) with respect to the foot portion (8). The selection lever (28) is operatively connected to said at least one adjustment lever (32) and/or to said rack (44), so as to bring the flaps (48, 52) of the leg portion (12) closer together when arranged in a skiing configuration and, vice versa when arranged in a walking configuration.