Sports footwear, in particular a ski or snowboard boot

Abstract

This invention relates to sports footwear, in particular a ski or snowboard shoe or boot, including a shell provided at the top with a longitudinal opening, a flap or tongue extending longitudinally along the shell and connectable near the region of the tip. The flap or tongue is capable of covering the opening and is removably connectable to the shell to define a first configuration of the sports footwear, in which the flap or tongue is connected to the shell in order to limit or prevent, during use, the oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot, and a second configuration, in which the flap or tongue is removed from the shell to allow, during use, the free oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot.

1 . Sports footwear comprising a shell provided at the top with a longitudinal opening,
 a flap or tongue extending longitudinally along said shell and connectable near the region of the tip of said shell,   said flap or tongue being capable of covering said opening,   wherein said flap or tongue is removably connectable to said shell to define a first configuration of said sports footwear,   in which said flap or tongue is connected to said shell in order to limit or prevent, during use, the oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot,   and a second configuration, in which said flap or tongue is removed from said shell to allow, during use, the free oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot.   
     
     
         2 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 ,
 in which on said tongue are mounted fastening means capable of engaging removably with corresponding engagement means mounted on said shell.   
     
     
         3 . Sports footwear according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said fastening means comprise a support base protruding from said tongue,   an actuator element rotatably connected to said base at a provided pair of holes arranged along a transverse axis in relation to the longitudinal extension of said tongue,   and one of more fastening elements that can be activated by said actuator element.   
     
     
         4 . Sports footwear according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein said base is shaped so that at least the upper lateral edges protrude in relation to the bottom part,   a first portion of said protruding lateral edges adjacent to said pair of holes forming at least one pair of inclined planes and a second portion of said protruding lateral edges arranged at said pair of holes forming a pair of recesses.   
     
     
         5 . Sports footwear according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein said actuator element comprises a grip element from which extends a pair of resiliently deformable arms capable of interacting with said protruding lateral edges of said base.   
     
     
         6 . Sports footwear according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein each terminal part of said pair of arms opposite said grip element is provided with a respective fastening element of said pair of fastening elements,   it being possible to engage said pair of fastening elements inside said pair of holes so as to rotatably connect said actuator element to said tongue.   
     
     
         7 . Sports footwear according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said engagement means comprise a pin connected to a plate associated with a support rotatably connected to said shell in a region comprised between the bottom edge of said opening and said tip,   said support being rotatable about a transverse axis in relation to the longitudinal extension of said shell.   
     
     
         8 . Sports footwear according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein said pin has a low seat that can be engaged by said fastening means.   
     
     
         9 . Sports footwear according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein said plate is slidably connected to said support to slide in a longitudinal direction in relation to said shell.   
     
     
         10 . Sports footwear according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein said actuator element is rotatable between a first stable position,   in which it is lowered against said tongue and said pair of arms is housed in the bottom part of said base so that said fastening elements engage said low seat in order to achieve said first configuration in which said tongue is connected to said shell,   and a second stable position, in which said actuator element is raised in relation to said tongue and said pair of arms engages said pair of recesses so that said fastening elements are disengaged from said low seat,   said pair of inclined planes being configured to resiliently draw apart said pair of arms when passing from said first stable position to said second stable position so as gradually to disengage said fastening elements from said low seat and achieve said second configuration in which said tongue is removable from said shell.   
     
     
         11 . Sports footwear according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein said actuator element is rotatable between a first stable position, in which it is lowered against said tongue and said pair of arms is housed in the bottom part of said base so that said fastening elements engage said low seat in order to achieve said first configuration in which said tongue is connected to said shell,   and a second stable position, in which said actuator element is raised in relation to said tongue and said pair of arms engages said pair of recesses so that said fastening elements are disengaged from said low seat,   said pair of inclined planes being configured to resiliently draw apart said pair of arms when passing from said first stable position to said second stable position so as gradually to disengage said fastening elements from said low seat and achieve said second configuration in which said tongue is removable from said shell.   
     
     
         12 . Sports footwear according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein said actuator element is rotatable between a first stable position, in which it is lowered against said tongue and said pair of arms is housed in the bottom part of said base so that said fastening elements engage said low seat in order to achieve said first configuration in which said tongue is connected to said shell,   and a second stable position, in which said actuator element is raised in relation to said tongue and said pair of arms engages said pair of recesses so that said fastening elements are disengaged from said low seat,   said pair of inclined planes being configured to resiliently draw apart said pair of arms when passing from said first stable position to said second stable position so as gradually to disengage said fastening elements from said low seat and achieve said second configuration in which said tongue is removable from said shell.