Tapered Ski Boot Locking Device Clearance Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports footwear locking devices in ski boots experience clearance issues due to manufacturing tolerances and wear, leading to relative movement between the shell and cuff even in the locked position, which affects the skiing experience.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with tapered or conical engaging means between the male and female members, along with actuating mechanisms like a lever or screw, ensures a clearance-free coupling by compensating for wear-related deformations and maintaining engagement through horizontal friction components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locking devices with male and female members are used, then the cuff can be locked relative to the shell, but clearance between the members causes relative movement even in the locked position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the engaging surfaces from conventional flat or toothed profiles to tapered/conical surfaces. This parameter change allows the engaging surfaces to progressively close the clearance between male and female members during the locking movement, achieving a clearance-free coupling that eliminates relative movement while maintaining reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies curved/tapered surfaces instead of flat or angular surfaces for the engaging means. The conical shape of the engaging surfaces allows for smooth progressive engagement that eliminates clearance, transforming the rigid flat-surface interaction into a curved surface interaction that naturally closes gaps during movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If tapered or conical engaging means are used, then clearance-free coupling is achieved, but horizontal friction components may prevent disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the locking mechanism dynamic by allowing the tapered engaging surfaces to progressively engage and disengage through controlled movement. The actuating means provides dynamic control over the engagement process, enabling the system to transition smoothly between locked and unlocked states despite the friction inherent in tapered surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces actuating means as an intermediary mechanism that mediates the engagement and disengagement of the tapered surfaces. This intermediary provides the necessary force to overcome the horizontal friction components, enabling easy operation while maintaining the clearance-free coupling benefit of the tapered geometry.
3Reliability
If the locking device is positioned in the lower part of the cuff near the hinge, then it effectively locks the joint, but even small clearance results in perceivable rotation at the top of the cuff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the engaging surfaces to tapered/conical shapes, which progressively close clearance during engagement. This parameter change ensures that even when the locking device is positioned at the lower part of the cuff near the hinge, the clearance is eliminated, preventing the amplification of rotation to the top of the cuff.
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
The solution provides a firm, clearance-free locking mechanism that effectively prevents relative movement between the shell and cuff during skiing, enhancing the user's experience by eliminating perceivable rotations and ensuring secure engagement.
Implementation Method 1
The making of a tapered or conical coupling between the male member and the female member of the locking device involves that the friction forces between these two members are not oriented in a purely vertical direction, but they rather include a horizontal component, and more particularly a component oriented in a horizontal direction and directed outwards
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a locking device (1) for a sports footwear, said locking device being adapted to lock two mutually hinged portions (120, 130) of a sports footwear or to release them from each other. The present invention finds application in the field of ski boots, for locking the shell (120) and the cuff (130) of the ski boot relative to each other or to release them from each other. The locking device according to the invention comprises a male member (5) and a female member (7), which members comprise respective engaging means (5b, 7b) adapted to cooperate with each other, and actuating means (3; 3') for moving said members from a configuration in which the male member is disengaged from the female member to a configuration in which the male member is engaged with the female member. According to the invention, the engaging means (5b) of the male member (5) and/or the engaging means (7b) of the female member (7) have a tapered or conical shape, whereby it is possible to make a coupling without clearance between said male member and said female member when said members are engaged with each other.