Ski boot

Abstract

A ski boot comprising a rigid shell which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and a rigid cuff which is shaped so as to surround the ankle of the user and is pivotally jointed on the shell so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle of the user; the shell being provided with a rear heel which is structured so as to be able to connect/couple in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, manner to the heel-piece of a ski binding device; the boot being also provided with a cuff locking device which is structured so as to be able to alternatively lock the cuff rigidly to the shell for preventing any pivoting movement of the cuff on the shell, or release the cuff from the shell so as to allow the cuff to pivot freely about said reference axis; the cuff locking device being structured so as to be able to automatically lock the cuff to the shell to prevent any pivoting movement of the cuff on the shell, as a result of connection/coupling of the heel of the boot to the heel-piece of the ski binding device.

1 . Ski boot ( 1 ) comprising a rigid shell ( 2 ) which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and a rigid cuff ( 3 ) which is shaped so as to surround the ankle of the user and is pivotally jointed on the shell ( 2 ) so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis (A) locally substantially coincident with the articulation axis of the ankle of the user; the shell ( 2 ) being provided with a rear heel ( 5 ) which is structured so to be able to connect/couple in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, manner to the heel-piece of a ski binding device; the boot ( 1 ) being also provided with a cuff locking device ( 10 ) which is structured so as to be able to alternatively block the cuff ( 3 ) rigidly to the shell ( 2 ) for preventing any pivoting movement of the cuff ( 3 ) on the shell ( 2 ), and release the cuff ( 3 ) from the shell ( 2 ) so to allow the cuff ( 3 ) to pivot freely about said reference axis (A);
 the ski boot ( 1 ) being characterized in that the cuff locking device ( 10 ) is structured so as to be able to automatically lock the cuff ( 3 ) to the shell ( 2 ) to prevent any pivoting movement of the cuff ( 3 ) on the shell ( 2 ), as a result of connection/coupling of the heel ( 5 ) of the boot to the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) of the ski binding device.   
     
     
         2 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cuff locking device ( 10 ) is also structured so as to be able to automatically unlock/release the cuff ( 3 ) from the shell ( 2 ) as a result of disconnection/release/separation of the heel ( 5 ) of the boot ( 2 ) from the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) of,the ski binding device. 
     
     
         3 . Ski boot according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the cuff locking device ( 10 ) comprises: a movable locking member ( 15 ) which is fixed to the shell ( 2 ) in the area above the heel of the boot, and is able to move towards and away from a coupling position in which the movable locking member ( 15 ) is able to couple in a rigid and stable, though easily removable, manner to the cuff ( 3 ) while remaining rigidly integral with the shell ( 2 ); and a command assembly ( 16 ) which is structured so as to be able to automatically move and maintain the movable locking member ( 15 ) in the coupling position while the heel ( 5 ) of the boot is coupled to the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ). 
     
     
         4 . Ski boot according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the movable locking member ( 15 ) is fixed in rigid manner on the shell ( 2 ) in the area above the heel of the boot, so as to at least partly extend inside the gap ( 17 ) between the shell ( 2 ) and the cuff ( 3 ), and is able to move or to elastically deform towards the cuff ( 3 ) while remaining rigidly integral with the shell ( 2 ), so as to be able to selectively couple with the cuff ( 3 ) in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, manner. 
     
     
         5 . Ski boot according to  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that the command assembly ( 16 ) comprises a rigid vertical strut ( 20 ) which extends substantially-coplanar with the centerline plane of the boot, from the heel ( 5 ) up to reach the movable locking member ( 15 ), and is fastened on the body of the shell ( 2 ) with the capability of freely sliding/moving in vertical direction between a lowered position and a raised position; the lower end ( 20   a ) of the strut ( 20 ) being positioned at the heel ( 5 ), and being structured so as to be moved/pushed upwards by the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) coupling with the heel ( 5 ) of the boot. 
     
     
         6 . Ski boot according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the command assembly ( 16 ) also comprises a lifting mechanism ( 23 ) which is recessed inside the heel ( 5 ), and is structured so to push upwards the lower end ( 20   a ) of the strut ( 20 ), as a consequence of the connection of the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) with the heel ( 5 ) of the boot. 
     
     
         7 . Ski boot according to  claim 5  or  6 , characterized in that the upper end ( 20   b ) of the strut ( 20 ) is positioned at the movable locking member ( 15 ), and is structured so as to be able to selectively move/position the movable locking member ( 15 ) in its coupling position as a result of the movement and/or of the stay of the strut ( 20 ) in the raised position. 
     
     
         8 . Ski boot according to  claim 5 ,  6  or  7 , characterized in that the rigid strut ( 20 ) extends substantially grazing the external surface of the shell ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . Ski boot according to any one of  claims 3  to  8 , characterized in that the movable locking member ( 15 ) comprises: a flexible oblong blade ( 18 ) which, in the area above the heel of the boot, extends substantially grazing the external surface of the shell ( 2 ) so that at least a part of the blade ( 18 ) extends inside the gap ( 17 ) between the shell ( 2 ) and the cuff ( 3 ), and is fixed/coupled to the shell ( 2 ) at the two ends so to be able to bend freely towards the cuff ( 3 ) while remaining rigidly integral with the shell ( 2 ); and a coupling tooth ( 19 ) which sticks out from the blade ( 18 ) towards the cuff ( 3 ) so to be able to couple with the body of the cuff ( 3 ) when the blade ( 18 ) bends towards the cuff ( 3 ). 
     
     
         10 . Ski boot according to any one of  claims 3  to  8 , characterized in that the movable locking member ( 15 ) comprises: a flexible oblong blade ( 18 ) which, in the area above the heel of the boot, extends substantially grazing the external surface of the shell ( 2 ) so that at least a part of the blade ( 18 ) extends inside the gap ( 17 ) between the shell ( 2 ) and the cuff ( 3 ), and is fixed/locked on the shell ( 2 ) at the lower end thereof so as to allow the body of the blade ( 28 ) to flex freely for moving the upper end of the blade ( 28 ) towards the cuff ( 3 ); and a coupling tooth ( 29 ) which sticks out from the upper end of the blade ( 28 ) towards the cuff ( 3 ) so to be able to couple with the body of the cuff ( 3 ) when the blade ( 28 ) flexes towards the cuff ( 3 ) 
     
     
         11 . Ski boot according to  claim 9  or  10 , characterized in that the flexible oblong blade ( 18 ,  28 ) is substantially coplanar with the centerline plane of the boot. 
     
     
         12 . Ski boot according to  claim 9 ,  10  or  11 , characterized in that the command assembly ( 16 ) is structured so as to induce/cause the bending or flexing of the blade ( 18 ,  28 ) towards the cuff ( 3 ) until the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) of the ski binding device is coupled with the heel ( 5 ) of the boot. 
     
     
         13 . Ski boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by being provided with a rear coupling plate ( 12 ) which is fixed in a rigid manner on the heel ( 5 ) of the shell ( 2 ) and is specifically structured/shaped so to be engaged in a rigid and stable, though easily releasable, manner by the coupling pins ( 13 ) of the heel-piece of a generic Dynafit-type or the like, mountaineering ski binding device; the cuff locking device ( 10 ) being structured so to be able to automatically lock the cuff ( 3 ) in a rigid manner to the shell ( 2 ) as a result of coupling, insertion of the coupling pins ( 13 ) of the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) inside the rear coupling plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         14 . Ski boot according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the cuff locking device ( 10 ) is structured so to be able to automatically unlock/release the cuff ( 3 ) completely from the shell ( 2 ) as a result of extraction of the coupling pins ( 13 ) of the heel-piece ( 13 ,  43 ) from the rear coupling plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         15 . Ski boot according to  claim 13  or  14 , characterized in that the command assembly ( 16 ) of the cuff locking device ( 10 ) is structured so to be able to automatically shift and maintain the movable locking member ( 15 ) in the coupling position until the coupling pins ( 13 ) of the heel-piece engage with/are fitted into the rear coupling plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         16 . Ski boot according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , characterized by being provided with two coupling seats ( 42 ) which are realized/located on the upper face or edge of the heel ( 5 ), on opposite sides of the centerline plane of the boot, and are specifically structured/dimensioned for being engaged by the two prongs ( 43 ) of the jaw of the heel-piece of a generic TR2-type or the like, mountaineering ski binding device; the cuff locking device ( 10 ) being structured so as to be able to automatically lock the cuff ( 3 ) in a rigid manner to the shell ( 2 ) as a result of coupling/insertion of the two prongs ( 43 ) of the jaw of the heel-piece inside the coupling seats ( 42 ) present on the heel ( 5 ) of the boot. 
     
     
         17 . Ski boot according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the cuff locking device ( 10 ) is structured so to also be able to automatically completely unlock/release the cuff ( 3 ) from the shell ( 2 ) as a result of extraction of the two prongs ( 43 ) of the heel-piece from the coupling seats ( 42 ) present on the heel ( 5 ) of the boot. 
     
     
         18 . Ski boot according to  claim 16  or  17 , characterized in that the command assembly ( 16 ) of the cuff locking device ( 10 ) is structured so as to be able to automatically move and maintain the movable locking member ( 15 ) in the coupling position while the prongs ( 43 ) of the jaw of the heel-piece engage with/are fitted into the coupling seats ( 42 ) present on the heel ( 5 ) of the boot. 
     
     
         19 . Ski boot according to any one of  claims 5  to  18 , characterized in that the command assembly ( 16 ) also comprises an elastic element which is structured so as to retain in elastic manner the strut ( 20 ) in the lowered position.