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Title:
FASTENING DEVICE FOR SHOES AND TECHNICAL ITEMS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/079139
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A fastening device (10), provided with: - a knob (13), which can rotate about a first rotation axis (X), - a supporting base (12). The device (10) comprises, between the knob (13) and the base (12), in succession: - means (14) for associating the knob (13) with two groups (15, 16) of gears, a first group (15) and a second group (16), - the two groups (15, 16) of gears being coaxial and rotatable about the first rotation axis (X), which is perpendicular to the supporting base (12), one of the two groups (15, 16) of gears being idle with respect to the other, each one of the two groups (15, 16) of gears comprising a first gear (18, 19), for interaction with the associating means (14), and a second gear (33, 34), for transmission of motion from the knob (13) to one of two ratchet systems (35, 36), - the two ratchet systems (35, 36) being each designed to wind a fastening cable (46, 47), the two ratchet systems (35, 36) being axially offset with respect to the first rotation axis (X), each one of the two ratchet systems (35, 36) having a gear (40, 41) for interaction with the second gear (33, 34), for transmission of motion, and a pawl (42, 43), - means (59) for uncoupling the pawl (42, 43) from the gear (40, 41), for each one of the two ratchet systems (35, 36).

Inventors:
PIVA GIANNI (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2019/078200
Publication Date:
April 23, 2020
Filing Date:
October 17, 2019
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
NORTHWAVE S R L (IT)
International Classes:
A43C11/16
Foreign References:
EP0261535A21988-03-30
EP2359708A12011-08-24
US6289558B12001-09-18
IT201800009598A2018-10-19
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MODIANO, Micaela (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A fastening device (10), provided with:

- a knob (13), which can rotate about a first rotation axis (X),

- a supporting base (12),

said device (10) being characterized in that it comprises, between said knob (13) and said base (12), in succession:

- means (14) for associating said knob (13) with two groups (15, 16) of gears, a first group (15) and a second group (16),

- said two groups (15, 16) of gears being coaxial and rotatable about said first rotation axis (X), which is perpendicular to said supporting base (12), one of said two groups (15, 16) of gears being idle with respect to the other, each one of said two groups (15, 16) of gears comprising a first gear (18, 19), for interaction with said associating means (14), and a second gear (33, 34), for transmission of motion from said knob (13) to one of two ratchet systems (35, 36),

- said two ratchet systems (35, 36) being each designed to wind a fastening cable (46, 47), said two ratchet systems (35, 36) being axially offset with respect to said first rotation axis (X), each one of said two ratchet systems (35, 36) having a gear (40, 41) for interaction with said second gear (33, 34), for transmission of motion, and a pawl (42, 43),

- means (59) for uncoupling said pawl (42, 43) from said gear (40, 41), for each one of said two ratchet systems (35, 36).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of said two ratchet systems (35, 36) is provided with a pulley (44, 45) for winding said fastening cable (46, 47) integrally with said gear (40, 41) and coaxial thereto.

3. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

- a first ratchet system (35) of said two ratchet systems (35, 36) can rotate about a second rotation axis (Y) in a first, winding direction (Al) or a second, unwinding direction (A2) of said cable (46),

- a second ratchet system (36) of said two ratchet systems (35, 36) can rotate about a third rotation axis (Z) in a first, winding direction (Bl) or a second, unwinding direction (B2) of said cable (47).

4. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said winding direction (Al) of said first ratchet system

(35) is opposite with respect to said winding direction (Bl) of said second ratchet system (36).

5. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second axis (Y) of rotation of said first ratchet system (35) and said third axis (Z) of rotation of said second ratchet system

(36) are parallel to said first axis (X).

6. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pulley (44) of said first ratchet system (35) lies on the same plane as said gear (41) of said second ratchet system (36) and said pulley (45) of said second ratchet system (36) lies on the same plane as said gear (40) of said first ratchet system (35).

7. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body of said second group (16) of gears has a through hole (37), with an axis of extension that corresponds to said first rotation axis (X), a tubular body being inserted with play in said hole (37) and being constituted by two complementary interlocking extending portions, said two portions of said tubular body being respectively: a first portion (38), which extends from said first gear (18) of said first group (15) of gears, and a second portion (39), which extends from said second gear (33) of said first group (15) of gears.

8. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said associating means (14) comprise:

- two opposite elements (17) for coupling, to each said first gear (18, 19), said groups (15, 16) of gears, each one of said two elements (17) having a substantially triangular profile with the base of the triangle directed toward said first rotation axis (X) of said knob (13), each one of said two elements (17) having two teeth (20a, 20b) which extend on two superimposed planes, each one of said two elements (17) having a through hole (22) for the insertion of a first pivot (23) which protrudes from a supporting disk (24), said first pivot (23) extending at right angles to the plane of said disk (24),

- two opposite first springs (25), each one of said two first springs (25) being interposed between said two coupling elements (17) and being coupled to a second pivot (26), said second pivot (26) protruding from said disk (24), in a direction at right angles to the plane of said disk (24),

- said disk (24) having a plurality of bodies (27) which define accommodation portions for said coupling elements (17) and for said first springs (25).

9. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting disk (24) is accommodated within said knob (13) and is provided with a plurality of teeth (58) along the outer perimetric edge, which are adapted to couple said disk (24) to said knob (13).

10. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one surface of said supporting disk (24), which lies opposite to the protrusion surface of said pivots (23, 26), is coupled to and interacts with a second spring (28), which has a square cross-section and a substantially circular profile, said second spring (28) being arranged in a seat (29), said seat (29) being located on the outer surface of a cover (30) of a tray (31).

11. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises said tray (31) for accommodating said ratchet systems (35, 36) and each said second gear (33, 34) of each said group of gears (15, 16), said tray (31) being closed by said cover (30).

12. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (30) is provided with a through hole (32), which corresponds to the through hole of said supporting disk (24), for the passage with play of each said first gear (18, 19) of each group (15, 16) of gears, each said first gear (18, 19) protruding from said lid (30) and being outside said tray (31).

13. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tray (31) is provided with a contoured outer perimetric edge in order to determine an interlocking with the inner perimetric edge of said supporting base (12).

14. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tray (31) has a body that is contoured so as to form three different accommodation portions, respectively: a first portion (49) for the groups (15, 16) of gears, a second portion (50) for said first ratchet system (35), and a third portion (51) for said second ratchet system (36).

15. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first accommodation portion (49) of said tray (31) is provided with an element (54) for supporting and connecting a main pivot, for rotating said knob (13) and said two groups (15, 16) of gears.

16. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main pivot is composed of a tubular body (55), which is connected to said element (54), and a screw (56), which is screwed inside said tubular body (55), thus fastening all the components of said device (10) which are comprised between said knob (13) and said tray (31).

17. The device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said uncoupling means (59) are constituted by a button, which is in a single piece with said pawl (42, 43) and is opposite thereto with respect to a corresponding third hinging pivot (60).

Description:
FASTENING DEVICE FOR SHOES AND TECHNICAL ITEMS

The present invention relates to a fastening device, particularly for shoes and technical items.

The invention can be applied on the technical side in the sector of cycling shoes, however it can also be used in other areas in which it is necessary to have fastening devices that can be operated with only one hand, such as for example the sector of mountaineering clothing.

Some technical items and shoes, such as for example cycling shoes, require fastening devices that can be used with only one hand. This characteristic is made necessary since the cyclist must be able to adjust the fastening of the shoe on a foot, even while cycling, therefore always keeping at least one hand on the handlebars of the bicycle.

Over the years shoes have therefore been placed on the market which have a plurality of“hooks and loops” arranged at different portions of the foot so as to provide different tensions according to the region of the foot.

Such known art, however, has the drawback of having to completely open the individual hook and loop and close it again in order to vary, even a little, the local fastening tension on the foot.

Furthermore, it is necessary to move the hand to different points of the shoe in order to adjust the various fastening points, for example at the instep and at the toe of the foot.

Hence devices have been developed which are provided with a lace that ensures the fastening of the shoe by way of a crossed configuration, between eyelets, and runs around a wheel that is coaxial and/or connected to a ratchet system, the pawl of which prevents the lacing from loosening, once the desired tension has been reached.

For loosening the tension, there is a button to disengage the pawl from the gear of the ratchet system.

These devices, usually, act on a single lace, and therefore there is a minimum of two of them and they are positioned on different portions of the upper of the shoe, for example at the instep and at the toe of the foot.

Such conventional techniques have the drawback of having to move the hand to different portions of the shoe in order to vary the individual fastening tensions.

In some cases, there is a single device for the entire shoe, which acts on one or two laces which affect the entire shoe, passing through a plurality of successive eyelets.

These conventional techniques also have some aspects that can be improved.

The laces manipulated by these devices are connected to the same ratchet system, so it is not possible to adjust the tension in different portions of the shoe differently.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a fastening device for shoes and technical items which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a fastening device for shoes and technical items which is capable of independently adjusting the tension on two separate laces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device for shoes and technical items which can easily be replaced if necessary.

A further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art in an alternative manner to any existing solutions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device for shoes and technical items that is highly reliable, easy to implement and of low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a fastening device, which is provided with:

- a knob, which can rotate about a first rotation axis, - a supporting base,

said device being characterized in that it comprises, between said knob and said base, in succession:

- means for associating said knob with two groups of gears, a first group and a second group,

- said two groups of gears being coaxial and rotatable about said first rotation axis, which is perpendicular to said supporting base, one of said two groups of gears being idle with respect to the other, each one of said two groups of gears comprising a first gear, for interaction with said means for associating, and a second gear, for transmission of motion from said knob to one of two ratchet systems,

- said two ratchet systems being each designed to wind a fastening cable, said two ratchet systems being axially offset with respect to said first rotation axis, each one of said two ratchet systems having a gear for interaction with said second gear, for transmission of motion, and a pawl,

- means for uncoupling said pawl from said gear, for each one of said two ratchet systems.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a fastening device according to the invention applied to a shoe;

- Figure 2 is an exploded view of the fastening device in Figure 1;

- Figure 2a is an enlarged view of the portion 1 in Figure 2;

- Figure 2b is an enlarged view of the portion 2 in Figure 2;

- Figure 3 is a side view of the fastening device in Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device in Figure 3 taken along the line IV-IV; - Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device in Figure 3 taken along the line V-V.

With reference to the figures, the fastening device according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the device 10 is applied to a cycling shoe 11.

The device 10 comprises a supporting base 12, which can be sewn to the upper of the shoe 11.

The base 12 is made of plastic material.

Such device 10 comprises a knob 13, which is adapted to be actuated by a user’s hand.

Such knob 13 can rotate about a first axis X.

The knob 13 is made of plastic material and rubber.

Below the knob 13, toward the base 12, means 14 are arranged for associating the knob 13 and two groups 15 and 16 of gears.

These means 14 comprise two opposite coupling elements 17, each one for coupling to two different first gears 18 and 19, of the groups 15, 16 of gears, for interaction with such means 14.

Each coupling element 17, made of metallic material, has a substantially triangular profile with the base of the triangle directed toward the rotation axis X of the knob 13.

Each coupling element 17 has two teeth 20a, 20b which extend on two superimposed planes.

Each coupling element 17 has one end 21 inserted into a conveniently contoured seat, not shown in the figures, of the knob 13, coupling the element 17 to rotate together with the knob 13.

Each coupling element 17 has a through hole 22 into which a first pivot 23 of a supporting disk 24 is inserted. Each first pivot 23 extends in a direction at right angles to the plane of the disk 24.

The means 14 also comprise two opposite first springs 25, each one interposed between the two coupling elements 17 and each one being coupled to a second pivot 26, which extends integrally from the disk 24, in a direction at right angles to the plane of the disk.

The supporting disk 24, made of plastic material, is provided with bodies 27, which extend from the same face of the disk 24 from which the pivots 23, 26 extend.

The bodies 27 define accommodation portions for the coupling elements 17 and for the first springs 25.

The supporting disk 24 is accommodated within the knob 13 and is provided with a plurality of teeth 58 along the outer perimetric edge, which determine an engagement with rotation with the inner perimetric edge of the knob 13, not shown in the figures, which is conveniently shaped complementarily.

In this manner the disk 24 is coupled so as to rotate with the knob 13.

The first springs 25, interposed between the coupling elements 17, are adapted to return the knob 13 to an inactive position, when the impulse to rotate is removed.

The surface of the supporting disk 24, opposite from the surface from which the pivots 23 and 26 extend, interacts with a second spring 28, with a square cross-section, to which it is coupled.

The second spring 28 is adapted to contrast the elastic return generated by the first springs 25.

Such second spring 28 has a substantially circular profile, extending for a portion of circumference.

The second spring 28 is accommodated in a seat 29 which is arranged on the outer surface of a cover 30 of a tray 31.

The cover 30 has a through hole 32, corresponding to the through hole of the supporting disk 24, which is adapted to the passage, with play, of the two first gears 18, 19 of the groups 15, 16, which therefore protrude from the cover 30 and outside the tray 31. The cover 30 is made of plastic material.

Each group 15, 16 has a first gear, respectively 18 and 19, for interacting with the associating means 14, and a second gear, respectively 33 and 34, for transmitting motion from the knob 13 to a corresponding ratchet system, respectively the first ratchet system 35 and the second ratchet system 36.

Such first gears 18 and 19 are made of metallic material.

In particular the second group 16 of gears has the two gears 19 and 34 in a single piece.

The body of the second group 16 of gears has a through hole 37, with an axis of extension that corresponds to the rotation axis of the second group 16.

A tubular body is inserted, with play, into this hole 37 and is constituted by two complementary interlocking extending portions.

A main pivot, for rotating, is inserted into this tubular body and is described below.

The two portions of the above mentioned tubular body are, respectively: a first portion 38, which extends from the first gear 18 of the first group 15 of gears, and a second portion 39, which extends from the second gear 33 of the first group 15.

In practice the first group 15 and the second group 16 of gears are coaxial and each gear 18, 19, 33, 34, is constrained to rotate about the same axis X, corresponding to the rotation axis of the knob 13, but the two groups 15 and 16 rotate in opposite directions, during the fastening step.

The first group 15 is idle with respect to the second group 16.

The second group 16 of gears is interposed between the two gears 18 and 33 of the first group 15.

The two second gears 33 and 34 of the groups 15, 16 of gears, which are made of metallic material, are contained in the tray 31.

The second gear 33 of the first group 15 of gears interacts with a first ratchet system 35, while the second gear 34 of the second group 16 of gears interacts with a second ratchet system 36.

The two ratchet systems 35, 36 are axially offset with respect to the first rotation axis X and rotate, each one about an axis, respectively Y and Z, which is parallel to the axis X.

Each one of the two ratchet systems 35, 36 has a gear, respectively 40 and 41, which interacts with the respective second gear 33, 34 in order to transmit motion.

Each ratchet system 35, 36 comprises a pawl, respectively 42 and 43.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the ratchet systems 35 and 36 have a ratchet in place of the pawl.

Each ratchet system 35, 36 has, in a single piece with the gear 40, 41, and coaxial to it, a pulley 44, 45 for winding a fastening cable 46, 47.

The term“cable” in the present description means an element with one dimension (length) predominant over the other two and which is provided with flexibility.

Such gears 40, 41 and such pulleys 44, 45 are made of metallic material.

In particular, the gears 40 and 41 of the ratchet systems 35 and 36 lie on parallel planes, at two superimposed levels.

Similarly the pulleys 44 and 45 of the ratchet systems 35 and 36 lie on parallel planes, on levels that are inverted with respect to the planes of arrangement of the gears 40 and 41.

The pulley 44 of the first ratchet system 35 lies on the same plane as the gear 41 of the second ratchet system 36, while the pulley 45 of the second ratchet system 36 lies on the same plane as the gear 40 of the first ratchet system 35.

The first ratchet system 35 can rotate about to a second rotation axis Y, in a first, winding direction Al, or a second, unwinding direction A2, of a first cable 46. Similarly the second ratchet system 36 can rotate about a third rotation axis Z, in a first, winding direction Bl, or a second, unwinding direction B2, of a second cable 47.

The winding direction A1 of the first ratchet system 35 is opposite to the winding direction Bl of the second ratchet system 36.

The device 10 comprises uncoupling means 59, for each one of the two ratchet systems 35 and 36, the respective pawl 42, 43 from the corresponding gear 40, 41.

The uncoupling means 59 are constituted, for example, by a button indicated in the figures by the same reference numeral as the means 59, which is in a single piece with the pawl 42, 43 and is opposite thereto with respect to a corresponding third hinging pivot 60.

Each pawl 42, 43, made of metallic material, is kept in the configuration of engagement with the respective gear 40, 41 by way of a third spring 48.

The device tray 31 has a body that is contoured so as to form three different accommodation portions, respectively: a first portion 49 for the groups 15 and 16 of gears, a second portion 50 for the first ratchet system 35, and a third portion 51 for the second ratchet system 36.

The tray 31 is provided with a conveniently contoured outer perimetric edge which is adapted to determine an interlocking with the inner perimetric edge of the supporting base 12.

The outer edge of the tray 31 has, for example, one or more tabs 52, each one adapted to generate an interference with a corresponding abutment portion 53 of the inner edge of the supporting base 12.

Each accommodation portion, second portion 50 and third portion 51, of the tray 31 has a hole, dead or through, for inserting the rotation pivot of the corresponding gear 40, 41, which is in a single piece with it.

The first accommodation portion 49 of the tray 31 is provided with an element 54 for supporting and connecting to a main pivot, for rotating the knob 13 and of the two groups 15 and 16 of gears.

Such main pivot is composed of a tubular body 55, which is connected to the element 54, and a screw 56, which is screwed inside the tubular body 55, thus fastening all the components which are comprised between the knob 13 and the tray 31.

The cover 30 is fixed to the tray 31 using a plurality of fixing screws 57, which are screwed, partially, to the hinging pivots 60 of the uncoupling means 59 of the pawls 42, 43 and which are coaxial to these pivots 60.

In this manner it is possible, if needed, to remove the part of the device 10 which is comprised between the knob 13 and the tray 31 , fixed to the supporting base 12 by simple interlocking, and replace it, without having to remove the entire device 10.

Operation of the fastening device 10, according to the invention, applied to the shoe 11 is the following.

Once the foot is inserted into the shoe 11, the user rotates the knob 13 in a first direction Cl. By the means 14, such rotation is transferred from the knob 13 to the first gear 18 of the first group 15 of gears which, in turn, entrains the second gear 33 in rotation. The second gear 33 interacts with the gear 40 of the first ratchet system 35, forcing it to rotate in the first direction Al, for winding the first cable 46, which is adapted to affect the region of the instep of the foot, tightening it.

When the gear 40 rotates, the pulley 44 also rotates, winding the cable 46.

Once the desired tightening has been reached, the user removes the turning force from the knob 13, which moves to an inactive position, but the tightness is maintained by the presence of the pawl 42, coupled to the gear 40.

At a different time, the user turns the knob 13 in a second direction C2.

By way of the means 14, such rotation is transferred from the knob 13 to the first gear 19 of the second group 16 of gears which, in turn, entrains the second gear 34 in rotation.

The second gear 34 interacts with the gear 41 of the second ratchet system 36, forcing it to rotate in the first direction Bl, for winding the second cable 47, which is adapted to affect the region of the toe of the foot, tightening it.

When the gear 41 rotates, the pulley 45 also rotates, winding the cable 47.

Once the desired tightening has been reached, the user removes the turning force from the knob 13, which moves to an inactive position, but the tightness is maintained by the presence of the pawl 43, coupled to the gear 41.

The presence of the first springs 25 and of the second spring 28 makes it possible to tighten the cables 46 and 47, by rotating the knob 13 in successive steps, and by rotating it by intervals of the order of a few tens of degrees, returning it to an inactive position between one step and the next.

In this manner the operation to fasten the cables is easier.

To loosen the fastening, the user presses the button of the uncoupling means 59 of the pawl 42, 43 from the gear 40, 41.

In this manner it is possible to rotate the gear 40, 41 and the corresponding pulley 44, 45 in the second direction A2, B2, unwinding the corresponding cable 46, 47.

It should be noted that the presence of the first group 15 of gears, which is idle with respect to the second group 16 of gears, makes it possible to intervene independently on the individual cables 46 or 47. In this manner it is possible to vary the fastening tension in different areas of the shoe.

It should also be noted that the two groups 15 and 16 of coaxial gears enable a reduced encumbrance of the device 10.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a fastening device for shoes and technical items which is capable of adjusting the tension, independently, on two separate cables and which can be easily replaced if necessary.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102018000009598 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.