Sports boot including flexible and traction-resistant return elements, and a return element for use with a sports boot

Abstract

A sports boot that includes a tightening device cooperating with a series of return elements for tightening an upper portion, and a return element itself. Each return element includes a closed loop made of a flexible and traction-resistant material, wherein the return element includes a guiding portion connected to the loop and has a sliding surface for the passage of the tightening device within the loop along a passage plane, the guiding portion having sufficient stiffness in the passage plane to resist deformation when the tightening device is placed under tension. The tightening efficiency is thus optimized by reducing friction. The size of the return element is limited in order to provide greater comfort in case pressure is exerted by an external element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A return element adapted to be one of a plurality of return elements for a portion of an upper of a sports boot for cooperating with a lacing for tightening the portion of the upper, said return element comprising: 
 a guiding portion having a sliding surface upon which the lacing is adapted to be guided along a passage plane, said guiding portion having a width, said guiding portion, including said sliding surface, being made of a material having a low coefficient of friction and a stiffness in said passage plane sufficient to resist deformation when the lacing is tensioned to tighten the portion of the upper;    a closed loop adapted to be affixed to the upper of the sports boot and extending through said guiding portion, said closed loop being made of a flexible and traction-resistant material, said closed loop having a width no greater than said width of said guiding portion.    
     
     
         2 . A return element according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said flexible and traction-resistant material is a textile material.    
     
     
         3 . A return element according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said closed loop comprises a strap, said guiding portion includes a slot, said strap extending through said slot of said guiding portion.    
     
     
         4 . A return element according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said sliding surface has a convex surface in a passage plane and a concave surface in a plane that is perpendicular to said passage plane.    
     
     
         5 . A return element according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said sliding surface of said guiding portion extends within said closed loop.    
     
     
         6 . A return element according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said sliding surface has a shape that extends around less than an entirety of a transversely extending periphery of the lacing.    
     
     
         7 . A return element according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said sliding surface extends around no more than substantially one half of a transversely extending periphery of the lacing.    
     
     
         8 . A return element adapted to be one of a plurality of return elements for an upper of a sports boot for cooperating with a lacing for tightening the portion of the upper, said return element comprising: 
 a guiding portion having a sliding surface upon which the lacing is adapted to be guided along a passage plane, said guiding portion being made of a material having a stiffness in said passage plane sufficient to resist deformation when the lacing is tensioned to tighten the portion of the upper, said sliding surface having a low coefficient of friction; and    a closed loop adapted to be affixed to the upper of the sports boot and extending through said guiding portion, said closed loop being made of a flexible and traction-resistant material, said sliding surface having a width greater than a width of said closed loop.    
     
     
         9 . A sports boot comprising: 
 an upper and a series of return elements affixed to a portion of the upper;    a lacing cooperating with the return elements to tighten said portion of the upper;    each of a plurality of said series of return elements including a respective guiding portion, said guiding portion having a respective sliding surface upon which the lacing is guided along a passage plane, each of said guiding portions having a certain width, and each of said guiding portions, including each said sliding surface, being made of a material having a low coefficient of friction and a stiffness in said passage plane to resist deformation when the lacing is tensioned to tighten said portion of the upper;    each of the plurality of said series of return elements further including a closed loop made of a flexible and traction-resistant material, said closed loops being affixed to said portion of said upper and each of said closed loops having a width no greater than said width of said guiding portion.    
     
     
         10 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 each of said guiding portions of said return elements is positioned laterally inside of respective guided portions of said lacing.    
     
     
         11 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 each of said guiding portions of said return elements extends within a respective one of said flexible closed loops.    
     
     
         12 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 said sliding surface extends around no more than substantially one half of a transversely extending periphery of said lacing.    
     
     
         13 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 each of said guiding portions of said return elements is made of a plastic material.    
     
     
         14 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 each of said guiding portions of said return elements is made of a plastic material comprising a member selected from the group consisting of PTFEs, PTFCEs, FEPs, nylons, polyamides, polyethylenes, and polyacetals.    
     
     
         15 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 said closed loop of each of said return elements comprises a strap extending through a respective one of said guiding portions.    
     
     
         16 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 said closed loop of each of said return elements comprises a strap having opposite ends layered upon each other and affixed to said portion of the upper.    
     
     
         17 . A sports boot according to    claim 16   , wherein: 
 said strap is made of a textile material.    
     
     
         18 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 said portion of the upper has an opening defined by two quarters to be tightened, the series of return elements being distributed across from each other;    each of said loops has a portion affixed to one of said two quarters and a portion, to which one of said guiding portions is attached, extending within said opening.    
     
     
         19 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 said sliding surface of each of the return elements has a convex surface in a passage plane and a concave surface in a plane that is perpendicular to said passage plane.    
     
     
         20 . A sports boot according to    claim 9   , wherein: 
 said portion of said upper comprises a frontal portion.