DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally regards the technical field of winter sports footwear, and it particularly regards a ski boot.

State of the Art

Use of ski boots is generally known. Such ski boots are generally "standard" and they are formed by a cuff, a lower shell coupled to the cuff and a liner arranged inside the first two to receive the foot of the user.

Thus, ski boots have a discontinuity arranged in central position on the lower shell and on the cuff to define a pair of end portions mutually slidable to tighten/widen the ski boot.

To this end, a pair of hooks and a pair of seats arranged at the cuff and a pair of hooks and a pair of seats arranged at the lower shell, are generally present.

Whenever there arises the need to vary the configuration of the ski boot, for example whenever required to tighten/widen it prior to/after descending, there arises the need for the user to clean the ski boot of the snow and act on each single hook to open/close it.

Furthermore, such operation is required each time the user decides to insert/remove the foot into/from the ski boot, for example after skiing.

Furthermore, when intending to take a break the user is forced to open all hooks so as to remove the foot from the ski boot, with the disadvantages outlined above, or is forced to release the ski boot from the ski and walk with the ski boot which, besides ruining the latter, also makes the walking difficult and uncomfortable.

In any case, whenever the user releases the hooks for example for the insertion/removal of the foot or for widening the ski boot ready for descent, it loses the initial configuration of the ski boot. In other words, each time the user is forced to act on each single hook and remember which was the correct configuration.

Such operations are in any case particularly long and difficult, especially in the conditions in which the user is generally found during the use of the ski boot.

Such disadvantages are even more marked should the user be a particularly skilled or professional skier, or the descents to be executed be particularly difficult, given that the user is forced to tighten and widen the ski boot at the start and at the end of each descent.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, by providing a ski boot that is highly functional, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski boot having a variable configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski boot in which it is particularly easy and quick to vary the configuration thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski boot that maintains the initial adjustments during and after use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski boot that allows the removal of the liner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski boot that is particularly comfortable to use.

These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a ski boot according to what is described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of an embodiment of a ski boot 1;

FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 5 to 7 are a schematic axonometric view of two different embodiments of the ski boot 1 in different operative steps;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are a schematic view of some enlarged details comprising a pair of ends 4, 5 in initial position and in a plurality of operative positions;

FIGS. 11 to 13 are a schematic view of some enlarged details of a coupling device 50 comprising a male and female element mutually engaged in a plurality of operative positions;

FIG. 14 is an axonometric view of a further embodiment of a ski boot 1;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are a schematic axonometric view of a further embodiment of the ski boot 1 in different operative steps;

FIGS. 17 to 19 are a schematic axonometric view.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a ski boot 1 which may essentially comprise a cuff 10, a lower shell 30 and a liner 90.

The cuff 10 may be substantially be made of a single piece and it may comprise a front area 11 and a rear area 12 shaped for the attachments of the skis in a per se known manner.

The lower shell 30 may be arranged above the cuff 10 and it may be generally cylindrical-shaped to surround the lower part of the leg of a user thus defining an axis X.

On the other hand, the sole of the cuff 10 designed to rest against the skis or the ground may define a plane p substantially perpendicular to the axis X.

The cuff 10 and the lower shell 30 may be coupled so that the axis X is slightly inclined with respect to the plane p. Such inclination may affect the posture of the user when skiing and it may be fixed or adjustable on the ski boot by means of systems of the known type. Furthermore, even the material with which the lower shell 30 is made determines the flexibility thereof and thus the flexibility of the ski boot 1 during use.

The cuff 10 and the lower shell 30 may thus be coupled to define a substantially rigid support structure 2 suitable to contain inside the liner 90. The latter may be configured to receive the foot of the user.

The liner 90 may be of per se known type. For example, it may be made so as to thermally insulate the foot of the user, so as to form a soft layer to be interposed between the foot of the user and the support structure 2 and so as tom position the foot in the support structure 2 in an optimal manner, for example with the correct inclination with respect to the ground.

As known, during use, the ski boot 1 must be particularly adherent to the foot of the user. To this end, the support structure 2 may comprise a discontinuity 3 to define two opposite end portions 4 and 5 mutually slidable with respect to each other preferably superimposable. In particular, both the lower shell 30 and the cuff 10 may comprise such discontinuity 3 so that both have the pair of opposite ends mutually slidable.

Preferably, as schematically illustrated in figures 8 to 10, the two end portions 4, 5 may mutually slide one on the other so as to vary the mutual distance thereof. In this manner, the mutual sliding thereof may tighten/widen the support structure 2, so as to vary the configuration of the ski boot 1 i.e. Move from a narrow to a wide configuration and vice versa.

The end portions 4, 5 may thus slide between an initial position to which there corresponds a predetermined mutual distance at one or more operative positions to which there corresponds a different predetermined mutual distance.

For example, the initial position of the ends 4, 5 may correspond to a wide configuration of the ski boot 1 while the operative positions thereof may correspond to one or more narrow configurations of the ski boot.

Such operative positions may vary depending on the needs of the user, for example depending on the characteristics of the foot.

The initial position may correspond to a wide configuration of the ski boot 1, and it may for example allow to insert/remove the foot into/from ski boot 1 or to rest the foot of the user. On the other hand, the operative positions of the end portions 4, 5 may correspond to different narrow configurations of the ski boot 1, for example to be used when climbing on the chair lift, passing through a flat area, slight descent, difficult descent, or other situation.

Preferably, even the initial position of the end portions 4, 5 may vary depending on the user's preferences.

In other words, as better outlined hereinafter, the distance of the end portions 4, 5 may be selectively predetermined when they are at the initial position.

Suitably, devices 50 for connecting the end portions 4, 5 arranged at the lower shell 30 and the cuff 10 at the discontinuity 3 may be provided for.

For example, two connection devices 50 arranged on the lower shell 30 and two connection devices 50 arranged on the cuff 10 may be provided for. It is clear that such example is not exclusive and the connection devices 50 may vary in number or be arranged at different position.

The connection devices 50 may thus allow to keep the end portions 4, 5 with the predetermined mutual distance corresponding to the initial position.

Each connection device 50 may comprise a pair of male 51 and female 52 elements which may be operatively connected with the end portions 4, 5 of the support structure 2.

For example, the end 5 may comprise at least one seat 52 while the male element 51, for example a hook, may be operatively connected with the end 4.

More in particular, the seat 52 may comprise a plurality of grooves 53 so that the hook 51 can be inserted into any of the latter so that the end portions 4, 5 can take a plurality of initial positions.

In other words, the connection devices 50 may be substantially adjustable to vary the predetermined mutual distance corresponding to the initial position of the end portions 4, 5.

Thanks to such characteristic, each hook 51 may thus be positioned in one of the grooves 53 of the corresponding seat 52so as to define the initial position. It is clear that the different connection devices 50 may thus be adjusted differently on the same ski boot 1.

The user may thus determine the mutual distance of the end portions 4, 5 when the latter are in the initial position in a different manner for each connection device 50.

In this manner, the ski boot 1 may adapt to the different needs of the user.

Furthermore, upon determining the initial position of the end portions 4, 5, the user may independently act manually on each connection device 50 to promote the sliding of the end portions 4, 5 between the initial and operative positions so as to vary the configuration of the ski boot 1.

On the other hand, according to a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, the ski boot 1 may comprise at least one lever 60 to promote the sliding of the end portions 4, 5between the initial and operative positions so as to vary the configuration of the ski boot 1.

Suitably, the lever 60 may be configured to act simultaneously on all connection elements 50. For example, at least one tensioner 61 for connecting the hook 51 with the end 5 of the support structure 2 may be provided for. Preferably, a plurality of tensioners 61, one for each hook 51 may be provided for.

Suitably, guide means 40 for tensioners 61 may be provided for so as to guide the sliding of the latter upon the sliding of the end portions 4, 5. For example, such guide means 40 may comprise a plurality of grooves 41 and/or a plurality of idlers or pulleys 42 arranged on the support structure 2.

Though not shown in the attached figures, it is clear that one or more protection elements may be provided for so as to keep the guides 41, the idlers 42 and the tensioners 61 protected and not accessible to the user. For example, a protection guard may be provided for or the guides 41 and idlers 42 may rest inside the cuff 10.

The lever 60may thus be operatively connected with all tensioners 61 so that the actuation of the former promotes the sliding of the latter so that the end portions 4, 5 approach each other to move from the initial position to the operative position.

In other words, the lever 60 may thus simultaneously act on all tensioners 61 and thus on all connection devices 50. In particular, the lever 60 may act on all tensioners 61 with the same force.

For example, a ring 45 connected with the lever 60 may be provided for. The tensioners 61 may be connected with such ring 45 so that the displacement of the latter promotes the simultaneous displacement of all tensioners 61.

It is clear that such solution is not exclusive.

Furthermore, the lever 60 may be hinged so that the rotation thereof around a hinging point promotes the extension of the tensioners 61.

Suitably, the foot inside the ski boot 1 may be compressed maintaining the different proportions between the different connection devices 50, i.e. the difference between the different predetermined distances of the end portions 4, 5 in the initial position.

For example, the user may configure the connection devices 50 on the lower shell 30 so that the end portions 4, 5 are farther away and the connection devices 50 on the cuff 10 so that the end portions 4, 5 are closer.

Such differences will remain substantially intact even once the end portions 4, 5 move from the initial position to the different operative positions, or upon moving from one operative position to another operative position. For example, should the ski boot 1 move from the wide configuration to the narrow configuration, or from a narrow configuration to an even narrower configuration.

Thus, the user may advantageously actuate the lever 60 only to move from the initial position to the operative position and vice versa.

In this manner, such operation may be particularly quick and simple to obtain, even in the typical conditions of use like in the presence of cold and snow. For example, the lever 60 may be configured so as to be simple to actuate even when wearing ski gloves.

Furthermore, the end portions 4, 5 may thus move from the initial position to an operative position and vice versa without having to release the hook 51 from the seat 52 so as to maintain the adjustment of the initial position chosen by the user.

In other words, upon positioning the hooks 52 in the suitable groove 53, one may pass from the wide configuration and the narrow configuration of the ski boot 1 by acting using one lever 60 only.

Safety means 70 may be suitably provided for to prevent the inadvertent removal of the male and female elements 51, 52. For example, a protection guard, a lever, a lid or the like may be provided for.

According to a different embodiment, the male elements 51 of the connection devices 50 may comprise a pair of screw-lead-screw elements 57 that can be mutually screwed so as to predetermine the initial position.

More in detail, the male element 51 may comprise an end 54 that can be inserted into the seat 52, an opposite end 55 coupled with the tensioner 61 while the screw-lead- screw elements 57 may rest interposed between the ends 54, 55.

In particular, the female element 52 may comprise an abutment element 52' for the end 54 of the male element so that the latter abuts against abutment element 52'.

The screw-lead-screw elements 57 may thus vary the distance between the end 55 and the abutment element 52' so as to define the plurality of initial positions of the end portions 4, 5.

Thanks to such characteristic, as schematically illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 the distance between the ends 54, 55 may thus be varied so as to vary the mutual distance of the end portions 4, 5 at the initial position.

In this manner, similarly to the description outlined above regarding the hooks 51, a predetermined initial position may be firstly determined and then move from the initial position to the operative positions of the end portions 4, 5 and vice versa using the lever 60.

In other words, the mutual distance of the end portions 4, 5 may thus be predetermined by the user. Furthermore, it may be kept unvaried even during the use after the removal of the foot by the user.

As schematically illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the lever 60 may be a longitudinal element, as illustrated in FIGS.. 2, S and 4 may be a ratchet

In the first case there may be a simple and quick adjustment, i.e. by actuating the lever 60 the same may thus move from an inoperative position corresponding to the initial position of the end portions 4, 5 (Figs. 2, 5 and 8) to an operative position corresponding to the operative position of the end portions 4, 5 (Fig. 3, 6 and 9). A plurality of operative positions may possibly be provided for. For example, the lever 60 may be further rotated to a further operative position (Figs. 4, 7 and 10).

It is clear that further operative positions not illustrated in the attached figures may be provided for.

On the other hand, in the second case, thanks to the characteristics of the ratchet 60 which may be of the per se known type, the end portions 4, 5 may take a high number of operative positions. In other words, the adjustment may be of the fine type.

In any case, safety means may be provided for so as to prevent the inadvertent displacement of the lever 60. For example, elements such as hooks may be provided for so as to hold the lever 60 in the operative positions.

In order to allow the insertion of the foot of the user into the ski boot 1 the male 51 and female 52 element may have to be de-coupled, i.e. open the connection devices 50 or it may be sufficient to bring the end portions 4, 5 in the initial position.

On the other hand, according to a particular embodiment, a rear area 20 that can be opened so as to allow the insertion and/or the removal of the liner 90 into/from the support structure 2 may be provided for. In this case, the mutual distance of the end portions 4, 5 in the initial position thereof may be such to prevent the removal of the foot from the ski boot 1 in that it can be inserted/removed through the rear area 20.

Advantageously, the foot of the user may be inserted and removed into/from the support structure 2 together with the liner 90.

Suitably, the latter may be configured to allow the user to walk.

The liner 90 may thus have a substantially rigid sole 91 so as to allow the user to walk and it may have closing means 92 for closing it such as a footwear of the known type. For example, one or more laces 92 may be provided for.

In this manner, the user may move away from the skis while the support structure 2 may stay attached to the skis and maintain the configuration with the adjustments of the connection devices 50 which may thus remain intact.

In particular, the rear area 20 may be rotationally coupled with the cuff 10 in proximity of the rear area 20 and above it so as not to hinder the attachments for the skis which are of the standard type.

Thus, the rear area 20 may rotate between an open position (Fig. 17) and a closed position (Fig. 19) in which it is integrally joined with the support structure 2.

Suitably, a plurality of means 80 for the selective locking of the rear area 20 with the support structure 2 may be provided for. Such locking means 80 may be of the per se known type, preferably of the quick release type.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the locking means 80 may comprise at least one pair push buttons 81, levers or the like to be actuated simultaneously by the user so as to release such locking means 80. This may allow to prevent the inadvertent release of the locking means 80.

The locking means 80 may be of the per se known type, for example they may be one or more pairs of snap-coupled male and female elements.

According to an aspect of the invention, a gasket 85 may be interposed between the support structure 2 and the rear area 20, in particular between the mutual edges so that the ski boot 1 is sealed against water and snow upon closing the rear area 20.

It is clear that in this case the liner 90 must not necessarily be sealed against water and snow.

Operatively, the locking means 80 may be released, the rear area 20 may be rotated up to the open position and the liner 90 may be inserted, as schematically illustrated in Figs. 17 to 19.

On the other hand, irrespective of this, one may act on the connection devices 50 so as to define the initial position of the end portions 4, 5. In particular, such operation may be carried out at any time, with the foot inserted into the ski boot 1 or with the foot removed therefrom.

Thus, one may act on the lever 60 so as to approach the end portions 4, 5 and confer a narrow configuration to the ski boot 1.

Possibly, one may further act on the lever 60 to promote the further approaching of the end portions 4, 5 and thus confer an even narrower configuration to the ski boot 1.

Even though the invention has been described with reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers utilised in the description and in the claims are meant for improving the intelligibility of the invention and thus do not limit the claimed scope of protection in any manner whatsoever.