EP1108450A1 - Device for retaining a shoe on a gliding board - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for retaining a boot on a gliding board, such as a snowboard. The device includes a base and a rear support element, the latter being journalled on the base along a substantially transverse Y-Y' axis of the device. An abutment limits a rotation of the rear support element along the Y-Y' axis in a front-to-rear direction. An elastic mechanism is provided to bias the rear support element in a rear-to-front direction, over a short range, from the rear position.

Description

The invention relates to the field of devices for retention of a shoe on a sliding board, and relates particularly a board device intended for snowboarding.

Among the known devices, some are provided for retain a flexible shoe and have the structure next.

The device comprises a base and a support element rear, the base having a seat which extends between a front end and a rear end in a direction longitudinal of the device, the base having two edges lateral joined to the seat, the edges being connected one to the other on the side of the rear end of the seat by a hoop, the rear support element being articulated on the base along a substantially transverse articulation axis of the device. The shoe is retained on the device by example using straps.

On this type of device, the rear support element, which extends in contact with the shoe at the lower leg of a user, generally has a high rigidity so that the conduct is precise. Indeed, a rigidity important of the rear support element allows a transmission direct driving impulses to the board.

A drawback linked to this rigidity is that the shocks suffered by the board, while driving, are reflected in the user's leg. This phenomenon is verified during presses backward, i.e. when the user presses with the bottom of leg against the rear support element. It follows that the user sometimes experiences pain at the bottom of the leg.

The invention particularly relates to a retaining device a flexible shoe, which allows precise driving, and which reduces the impact on the lower leg of a shock suffered by the board.

To do this, a shoe retention device on a gliding board according to the invention notably comprises a base intended to receive at least part of the sole of the shoe and a rear support element provided to ensure rear leg support, rear support element being articulated on the base along an axis Y-Y 'substantially transverse of the device, a stop being provided to limit a rotation of the rear support element along the axis Y-Y 'in an anteroposterior direction, the position occupied by the element back support when rotation in the antero-posterior direction is maximum being a rear position.

The device according to the invention is characterized by the fact that an elastic means is provided to stress the element rear support in a postero-anterior direction, on a beach reduced, from the rear position.

During a rear support with the lower leg, the rigidity of the rear support element generates a nominal deformation of the elastic means. This means that for usual support from the lower leg on the back support element while driving, the elastic means undergoes a given reversible deformation, and transmits user support to the board.

However, if a shock occurs on the board, i.e. if a brief and significant effort is applied to the board, then the elastic means undergoes an additional deformation for absorb the energy following the shock.

It follows that the shock is not or not totally reflected in the user's leg. The elastic means acts as a shock absorber. One advantage is that driving of the board is more comfortable while being noticeably as precise.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective arrière d'un dispositif de retenue selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un détail de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue latérale schématique du dispositif de la figure 1, pour une situation donnée du dispositif,
• la figure 5 est une vue similaire à la figure 4, mais correspond à une autre situation,
• la figure 6 est une vue similaire aux figures 4 et 5, mais correspond encore à une autre situation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawing illustrating, by a non-limiting example, how the invention can be implemented and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a retaining device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a section on II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the device of FIG. 1, for a given situation of the device,
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but corresponds to another situation,
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5, but still corresponds to another situation.

The exemplary embodiment is described below using the Figures 1 to 6.

In a known manner as understood for example using in Figure 1, a device 1 is provided for retaining a shoe on a sliding board 2, the shoe not being shown for convenience.

The device 1 comprises a base 3 and a support element rear 4. The base 3 has a seat 5 which extends between a front end 6 and a rear end 7 along a longitudinal direction L of the device 1.

It should be understood that the longitudinal direction L of the device 1 is a direction which is substantially the same as the longitudinal direction of the shoe when it is retained on the device 1.

The base 3 has a first 8 and a second 9 edges lateral which are provided to retain the shoe according to a transverse direction of the device 1. It must be understood that the transverse direction is a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and substantially parallel to the seat 5.

A hoop 10 connects the edges 8, 9 on the side of the end rear 7 of the seat 5. The arch 10 is an edge which is located towards the rear of the device 1 in elevation relative to the seat 5.

Preferably, the seat 5, the edges 8, 9, and the arch 10 form a single piece, which makes it possible to manufacture the base 3 according to a simple process. For example, the base 3 can be made with a plastic or metallic material introduced into a mold, like a polyamide reinforced with glass fibers.

The base 3 is retained on the board 2 by any known means skilled in the art, such as a disc 11 itself secured to plate 2 by any suitable means.

The shoe is detachably retained on the base 3 by means shown in the form of straps 12, 13, which are also well known to those skilled in the art.

The straps 12, 13 hold the shoe so that the sole is pressed on the seat 5, and the heel is plated on the arch 10 or located near the latter.

The rear support element 4 has a curved portion 14, as well as a first 15 and a second 16 arms located respectively in the extension of the lateral edges 8, 9. The rear support element 4 is articulated on the arch 10 according to a substantially transverse axis Y-Y 'of the device 1.

It should be understood that the axis Y-Y 'is oriented in the transverse direction of the device 1.

The articulation of the rear support element 4 on the arch 10 is produced by a means shown in the form of a first 17 and a second 18 screws each oriented substantially along the axis Y-Y ', which corresponds to a technique well known to those skilled in the art. The first screw 17 is arranged at the level of the first arm 15, and the second screw 18 is arranged at the level of the second arm 16.

An adjustable stop 19 limits articulation movement anteroposterior, along the axis Y-Y ', of the support element rear 4 relative to the base 3. The articulation movement anteroposterior must be understood as a movement at the during which an upper end 20 of the support element rear 4 moves away from the front end 6 of the seat 5.

Of course, a postero-anterior movement is a reverse movement.

The stop 19 is visible in section in FIG. 2. The stop 19 has a toothed sector 21 provided for cooperating with a toothed sector 22 integral with the rear support element 4, of so that the stop 19 is attached to the support element rear 4 in a selected position.

It is possible to approach or distance the stop 19 from a lower end 23 of the rear support element 4 in moving sectors 21, 22 relative to each other. it suffices to unscrew a retaining screw 24 from the stop 19 on the rear support element 4, to position the sectors 21, 22 relative to each other, then tighten the screw 24.

According to the invention an elastic means is disposed at the level of the stop 19, to urge the rear support element 4 in the postero-anterior direction. Solicitation is done on a reduced range from a rear position, which is a position occupied by the rear support element 4 when the rotation in the antero-posterior direction is maximum. This phenomenon will be explained later.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the elastic means is shown in the form of a wedge 25 attached to the stop 19, the shim 25 being produced with a deformable material reversibly. For example, wedge 25 can be made at from rubber, polypropylene, silicone, or any other suitable material. The hardness of the constituent material of the wedge 25 is preferably close to 80 Shore A.

The wedge 25 has a lower surface 26 provided for lean on an upper surface 27 of the arch 10, thus that an upper surface 28 provided to rest on a lower surface 29 of the stop 19.

The structure of the wedge 25 considered as such is shown in Figure 3.

The wedge 25 is a single piece which includes a zone of work 30, as well as a joining zone 31.

The work area 30 is delimited in thickness by the upper 28 and lower 26 surfaces, lengthwise by a front surface 32 and rear surface 33, and in width by a first surface 34 and a second surface 35. By example, the thickness can be between 3 and 12 mm, the length between 8 and 18 mm, and width between 15 and 50 mm. As will be better understood later, the work area 30 can be compressed between the stop 19 and the arch 10.

The joining zone 31 is provided for joining the wedge 25 at the stop 19. The joining zone 31 is a portion of the wedge 25 projecting from the surface upper 28. The joining zone 31 is similar to a hook which includes a core 36 and a foot 37.

As shown in Figure 2, a groove 38 is provided in the stop 19 to accommodate the foot 37 of the wedge 25. This groove is defined in particular by an upper surface 39, a lower surface 40, and a bottom 41. The groove 38 is produced on one face 42 of the stop 19, a portion of which less is opposite with the rear support element 4.

The assembly of the wedge 25 with the stop 19 is done by snap-on of foot 37 in groove 38. Preferably, the foot 37 and groove 38 have dimensions which allow the retention of the foot 37 in the groove 38. Thus when the user adjusts the position of the stopper 19 by relative to the rear support element 4, as explained before, the wedge 25 remains secured to the stop 19.

This means that it is possible to move the stop 19 away from the rear support element 4 without losing the shim 25.

Of course, when the stopper 19 is in place on the element rear support 4, the latter improves the retention of the wedge 25 on the stop 19, because it prevents or limits an exit of the foot 37 of groove 38.

The operation of the device 1 is explained below in using figures 4 to 6.

The device 1 is shown in Figure 4 in a situation where the shoe is not supported on the support element rear 4. The latter is in an angular position any relative to the base 3. As a result, the wedge 25 is not in contact with the roll bar 10.

In the situation shown in Figure 5 the support element rear 4 is oriented so that the shim 25 is in contact with hoop 10.

This situation corresponds to a usual position of driving the board 2. The user takes supports rear, in the direction of the arrow, i.e. by pressing on the rear support element 4 in an anteroposterior direction. The wedge 25 allows a damping of the supports.

If an additional force is exerted on the support element rear 4, as is the case according to the arrow in FIG. 6, the wedge 25 is more strongly compressed.

This scenario can occur for example when give an impulse to perform a jump, upon receipt of the jump, by shock of plate 2 on a rock hidden in the snow, or whatever. The additional effort induces a deformation additional temporary wedge 25, deformation allowing a dissipation of the energy appeared during the jump or during the shock.

In other words we can say that the wedge 25 dampens certain shocks or certain impulses.

An advantage linked to the presence of the wedge 25 on the device 1 is the improvement of driving comfort.

Of course, the working area 30 of the wedge 25 cannot be compressed beyond a certain limit, related to characteristics of the material of the wedge 25. When the working area 30 is in its state of maximum compression, the rear support element 4 is in the rear position previously mentioned. The stop 19 then limits the rotation of the rear support element 4 in the antero-posterior direction. The compression of the working area 30 is done over a range reduced, that is to say over a few millimeters.

To resume the position shown in Figure 5, the element rear support 4 is stressed by the material of the wedge 25. The working area 30 tends to regain the thickness that she has in the absence of solicitation or during usual requests.

When the wedge 25 has returned to its original shape, it does not no longer requests the rear support element 4 in the direction postero-anterior.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the mode of realization described above, and includes all equivalents techniques which may fall within the scope of the claims which will follow.

In particular, other forms of realization of the hold, or other means of securing the wedge at the stop. For example a collage or an overmolding might agree.

On the other hand, it could be expected that the hold is secured to the hoop, the stop remaining integral with the element rear support.

It could also be provided that the stop and the shim are both secured to the hoop.

Again, it may be provided structures of holds and stops provided so that the deformable material of the wedge is stressed in tension, shear, or other.

It can also be provided that the elastic means is not a deformable shim but a spring.

In this case the spring could be positioned at the same place than the hold, or elsewhere. A non-limiting example consists in accommodating a helical spring in an oblong hole of the stop so that the stop can move elastically to absorb shocks.

Claims (8)

Device for retaining (1) a shoe on a board sliding (2), the device (1) comprising in particular a base (3) intended to receive at least part of the sole of the shoe and a rear support element (4) provided to provide rear support for the lower leg, the support element rear (4) being articulated on the base (3) along an axis (Y-Y ') substantially transverse of the device (1), a stop (19) being provided to limit rotation of the support element rear (4) along the axis (Y-Y ') in an anteroposterior direction, the position occupied by the rear support element (4) when the rotation in the antero-posterior direction is maximum being a rear position, characterized in that an elastic means is designed to stress the rear support element (4) in a posterior-anterior direction, over a reduced range, from the rear position. Retaining device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elastic means is a wedge (25) produced with a reversibly deformable material, the wedge (25) being secured to the stop (19). Retaining device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that an arch (10) connects the edges (8, 9) on the side of the rear end (7) of the seat (5) of the base (3), and that the stop (19) is secured to the element rear support (4), so that at least part of the wedge (25) can be compressed between the hoop (10) and the stop (19) when the rear support element (4) is biased in the direction anteroposterior. Retaining device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the shim (25) has a zone of compression (30) and an attachment zone (31) at the stop (19). Retaining device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the joining zone (31) of the wedge (25) has a core (36) and a foot (37), and by the causes the stop (19) to have a groove (38) provided for accommodate the foot (37). Retaining device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the groove (38) is made on a face (42) of the stop (19) of which at least a portion is in opposite with the rear support element (4). Restraint device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the shim (25) is made with a material comprising polypropylene. Retaining device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic means is a spring.

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