Ski Boot

The present invention relates to a ski boor consisting of at least one lower portion or section comprising the sole and the counter, and of an upper pivotally mounted to this lower portion and incorporating a recessed member pivoted about a horizontal axis in a cavity formed at the rear of the upper, this member being adapted to be set in two positions, namely a first position in which its lower portion abutes a stop rigid with the upper portion of the boot so as to lock the upper in a position inclined towards the boot toe, and a second position in which the top of the upper is somewhat spaced from the boot and can swing slightly about this position. The locked condition of the upper is the normal skiing position in which the upper is propiciously inclined forward and relatively rigid, whereas the released position is available outside the ski practice for taking off the boot or walking with or without the skis, the free oscillation of the upper in relation to the lower portion of the boot permitting the natural movement of the lower portion of the leg with respect to the foot.

Various means for locking the upper in its inclined position or for releasing the upper from this position have already been proposed in the art, notably through the Swiss Pat. No. 549,970. Such means consist of a slider having its lower end secured to the lower portion of the boot and movable in a slideway secured to the boot upper, the slider being held in the slideway by the two bent end portions of a resilient strap pivotally mounted to the slideway. However, this device is rather complicated, heavy and cumbersome. Moreover, the resilient strap is obviously liable to be caught accidentally.

Another known and very simple device of this character consists of a small bar having its upper end pivoted in a recess formed in the upper and its lower end adapted to engage a stop rigid with the lower portion of the boot when the bar is nested into the recess. This bar is provided with a thumb piece for facilitating its removal from the stop and therefore permitting the straightening movement of the boot upper. to switch from the inoperative or walking position to the locked or skiing position, the user must simultaneously bend the leg and push the bar manually into its recess, which is a rather awkward procedure.

It is the essential purpose of the present invention to provide a device as simple as the last mentioned device but more convenient in use and free of any protruding element.

In the ski boot according to this invention the locking member proper consists of a rocker fulcrumed about a pivot axis extending across the cut-away portion of the upper intermediate its ends and associated with a spring constantly urging the lower portion of the rocker towards the boot, the upper portion of this rocker being shaped to constitute a push-in key. With this arrangement it is possible to release the upper by simply depressing this key, and on the other hand the upper is locked automatically under the spring force when the skier bends the leg in preparation of a downhill run. Moreover, the rocker fits perfectly in the boot, without any projecting part.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a ski boot equipped with the locking device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view showing the upper in fragmentary section and the locking device in its upper locking position, and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the device in the release position.

The ski boot shown in FIG. 1 is molded from a suitable plastic composition and comprises in a manner known per se a lower portion 1 including the sole and the counter, and an upper portion or upper 2 pivoted to the lower portion 1 by means of a pair of pivot-forming rivets 3 of which only one is visible in the Figure, the other rivet being disposed on the inner side of the upper. The upper edge 1a of the lower portion 1 is amply surrounded by the upper at the front and back, as shown. To close the boot the latter is provided in the known fashion with four fasteners 4. The back of the upper has a relatively wide rib 5 formed thereon which extends from top to bottom of the upper and comprises a rectangular cavity in which a locking member 6 consisting of a rocker is fitted and fulcrumed by means of a pivot pin 7 extending across the rib 5.

The cavity 8 in which the locking member 6 is fitted is shown in section in FIG. 2 together with the rib 5. This rocker 6 comprises above the pivot pin 7 an upper portion 9 constituting a kind of key having a slightly concave outer surface. The upper end of the key comprises an upwardly projecting lip 10 adapted to abute a corresponding downwardly projecting lip 11 formed in the upper edge of cavity 8 for limiting the pivotal movement of rocker 6. Surrounding the pivot pin 7 is a torsion spring 12 housed in a lateral cavity of rocker 6 and having an upper end 12a adapted to react against the bottom of this cavity and another end 12b bent at right angles and bearing against the inner face of the upper 2, on the edge of cavity 8. This spring 12 constantly urges the rocker 6 in the clockwise direction, as seen in the Figures, i.e. so that its upper lip 10 bears against the lip 11 of rib 5. Registering with the rocker 6, and secured to the lower portion 1 of the boot, is a stop 13 consisting of a metal member bent at right angles and secured by means of a rivet 14. The function of this stop 13 is to hold the lower end of rocker 6, as shown in FIG. 2. The stop 13 actually engages a notch formed in the lower end of rocker 6 so that the lower end of said stop is covered by the rocker and consequently invisible from the outside. Just above this notch the rocker 6 comprises a transverse rib 15 of substantially dihedral configuration.

From an initially forwardly inclined or downhill run position shown in FIG. 2, when the skier is desirous to take some rest and release the boot upper 2, he merely depresses the key 9 as shown by the arrow F of FIG. 3.

Thus, the rocker 6 is released from stop 13 and the skier can straighten his leg since the upper 2 can move freely to the position shown in FIG. 3. The outer concavity of key 9 facilitate this actuation and even permits of using the tip of a ski-stick for this purpose. When the skier releases the pressure exerted on key 9 the inner face of rocker 6 engages the end of stop 13 on which it can slide, if necessary, if the upper 2 oscillates about the pivot rivets 3. When the skier resumes his skiing position, i.e. bends the legs slightly, the stop 13 slides under the upper ramp of rib 5 while exerting a resilient pressure on rocker 6 so that the latter subsequently drops into its locked and abutment position shown in FIG. 2.

Of course, the above described construction may lend itself to many modifications and changes without departing from the basic principles of the invention, Thus, for instance, the stop 13 may be molded integrally with the lower portion 1 of the ski boot. On the other hand, the torsion spring 12 may be replaced by a compression spring disposed between the key 9 and the lower portion 1 of the boot. Furthermore, a simple rubber block may be substituted for this spring.