Device for protecting the knee joint that is able to engage with a ski boot

Abstract

A device for protecting the knee joint of a skier, the device being for installing on a ski boot having a footwear portion surmounted by a collar, the device having first connector designed to be fastened to the collar of the boot and a shell designed to cover the front of the tibia of the skier, the shell extending between a high portion for being situated level with the skier's knee and a low portion covering a portion of the collar of the boot, the shell supporting, on its high portion, lateral flanges suitable for being put into contact with the knee on either side of the knee being in contact at least with the condyles of the femur of the skier.

1 . A device for protecting the knee joint of a skier, the device being for installing on a ski boot having a footwear portion surmounted by a collar, the device having first connection means designed to be fastened to the collar of the boot and a rigid shell designed to cover the front of the tibia of the skier, at least in part, the shell extending between a high portion for being situated level with the skier's knee and a low portion covering a portion of the collar of the boot, the shell including or supporting, on its high portion, rigid lateral flanges suitable for being put into contact with the knee on either side of the knee, being in contact at least with the condyles of the femur of the skier, the low portion of the shell being designed to cover part of the collar of the boot and including second connection means complementary to the first connection means of the collar of the boot and suitable for securing the shell to and above the collar of the boot in such a manner that the association of the first and second connection means provides a connection with limitation of movement in rotation of the shell relative to the boot about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the collar of the boot. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection between the low portion of the shell and the collar of the boot provided by associating the first and second connection means provides a connection giving the shell at least one degree of freedom to move in rotation relative to the boot about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the collar of the boot, the connection means being such that this movement in rotation of the shell relative to the boot is limited to a predetermined angular sector of less than 14°. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the flanges cover the sides of the knee completely, each flange presenting a surface area of at least 50 cm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, in horizontal section, the shell presents a forwardly bulging rounded profile shape in such a manner as to cover the front of the knee and of the tibia and it extends over a portion only of the sides of the tibia, and in its low portion over a portion of the sides of the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first connection means comprise at least one guide part for installing in stationary manner on the collar of the boot, said guide part being suitable for co-operating with the second connection means of the shell that are complementary to said guide part so as to limit movement in rotation to the predetermined angular sector. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection between the low portion of the shell and the collar of the boot provided by associating the first and second connection means prevents the shell from moving in rotation relative to the boot about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the collar of the boot. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first and/or second connection means comprise at least one strap fastened firstly to the collar of the boot, and secondly to the shell in order to secure the shell to the collar of the boot. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said first and second connection means include non-elastic straps comprising two first straps fastened or suitable for being fastened in releasable manner on either side to the rear of the collar, and two second straps fastened or suitable for being fastened in releasable manner on either side of the shell, said first and second straps including complementary reversible connection means at their free ends suitable for reversibly securing the free ends of the first strap with the free ends of the second strap. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the flanges presents an outline that is substantially in the form of a portion of an ellipse over the top portion and over the rear portion of said outline of the flange, the major axis of the ellipse being inclined at an angle lying in the range 45° to 135° relative to the main longitudinal axis of the shell parallel to the rectilinear section of the front face of the shell in section on a longitudinal midplane. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said major axis of the ellipse is inclined at an angle lying in the range 70° to 110° relative to said main longitudinal axis of the shell, and the surface of the flange corresponds substantially to the top lateral portion of the shell situated above the bottom tangent of the ellipse parallel to the major axis of the ellipse and behind an axis parallel to the minor axis of the ellipse situated about halfway along the major radius of the ellipse starting from the rectilinear section of the front face of the shell in a longitudinal midplane of the shell. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the shell supports at least one element for connection to the tibia in its high portion, comprising a strap. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the contact of the lateral flanges against the condyles of the femur takes place via ergonomic spacers inserted against the inside faces of the flanges. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the flanges cooperate with or include said spacers that in part match the shape of the morphology of the sides of the knee without hindering frontal flexions of the knee. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said flanges and/or spacers include linings of flexible material for coming into contact with the knee of the skier. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that each of said spacers comprises a rigid support covered on its knee side with a lining of flexible material for coming into contact with the knee of the skier. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the surface area is at least 100 cm 2 . 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the angle is 90°.