US3844055A

US3844055A - Ski boot

Info

Publication number: US3844055A
Application number: US00377930A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Koyama; Y Mochizuki
Original assignee: Hope KK
Current assignee: Hope KK
Priority date: 1972-09-27
Filing date: 1973-07-10
Publication date: 1974-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-29
Also published as: DE2340622A1; CH566738A5; AT334783B; ATA712573A; JPS4955452A; CA984606A; IT998573B; FR2207412A5

Abstract

A ski boot made of a rigid material comprising a shaft for receiving the wearer''s leg and a boot proper. The shaft is detachably connected to the boot proper and is movable to a forwardly and outwardly inclined position relative to the boot proper.

Description

ill

Koyama et al.

[ SKI BOOT [75] Inventors: Akira Koyama, Kashiwa; Yoshinari Mochizuki, Tokyo, both of Japan [73] Assignee: Hope Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: July 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 377,930

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 27, 1972 Japan 47-96190 [52] us. Cl. 36/25 AL [51] Int. Cl. A43b [58] Field of Search 36/2.5 R, 2.5 AL

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,239,952 5/1966 'Lange et al 36/25 AL [451 Oct. 29, 1974 3,609,887 10/1971 Hickmann et al. 36/25 AL 3,728,804 4/1973 Mochizuki 36/25 AL Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmDiller, Brown, Ramik & Wight [57] ABSTRACT A ski boot made of a rigid material comprising a shaft for receiving the wearers leg and a boot proper. The shaft is detachably connected to the boot proper and is movable to a forwardly and outwardly inclined position relative to the boot proper.

2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEB our. 2 9 19M SHEET 1 0F 4 FIG;

SKI soor must be so constructed that a cylindrical portion in which the skiers lower leg is received (hereinafter referred to as a shaft) iscapable of inclining about the ankle in a forward direction relative to a boot proper.

The forward inclination of the conventional ski boot is made possible by providing bearings on the lower sides of the shaft as well as on the upper sides of the boot proper and holding the bearings on the shaft and the boot proper together by means of a pivot pin inserted through the bearings.

The conventional ski boot described above requires many manufacturing processes for securing the shaft to the boot proper by means of the pin due to its construction in which the shaft is integrally connected to the boot proper. This involves a higher manufacturing cost. Moreover, the shaft can incline forwardly only within a required range of angle relative to the boot proper, so that when a composite external force other than the forward lean motion of the skier is momently applied to the shaft while skiing, the shaft sometimes hurts the skiers leg.

Since both sides of the shaft of the conventional ski boot are undetachably secured to the boot proper by means of the pins, a device for opening the shaft and a part of the boot proper must be provided in the rear portion of the shaft and the boot proper respectively for'enabling the skier to insert his foot and leg into the boot. This device makes the construction of the ski boot extremely complicated. Furthermore, increase of openable parts in a ski boot necessitated by such construction is undesirable because it not only weakens the strength of the boot but permits entering of snow and ice into the boot.

It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide a ski boot which has eliminated the above described disadvantages of the prior art ski boots.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski boot which is easy to manufacture and fit in which a boot proper and a shaft can be detached from each other when an excess force acts on the shaft thereby improving safety during skiing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski boot capable of sufficiently following the forward inclination of the skier while he is skiing.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a ski boot capable of perfectly preventing entering of snow and ice with a relatively simple construction.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the description made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodimentof the ski boot according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ski boot; 7

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ski boot in which the boot proper and the shaft are shown in a separate relationship;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the ski boot shown in a state in which it is worn by the skier;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing portions of the shaft and the boot proper for explaining the connection between the shaft and the boot proper;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the ski boot according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the ski boot shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the ski boot according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the ski boot shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the ski boot shown in FIG. 8 in which the shaft is shown in an open state; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one exampleof a cover plate.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of the ski boot according to the invention. In these figures, only a right boot is shown for an illustrative purpose, but it will be appreciated that a left boot is entirely of the same construction as the right boot.

A boot proper I and a shaft 2 are made of rigid materials such as metals or rigid plastics. The shaft 2 is made separately from the boot proper l. The boot proper l has, as shown in FIG. I a sole la which gradually increases its thickness from the outer side 10 toward the inner side lb. The lower side portions of the shaft 2 are connected at connecting points A and B to the upper edge portion of the boot proper l. The inner connecting point A is located nearer to the boot toe than the outer connecting point B to allow the skiers leg to be bent forwardly and outwardly in conformance with a natural anatomical movement of the leg as well as to facilitate edge control in traversing or turning. According to this construction the forward inclination of the shaft '2 will cause the skiers knees to be separated from each other thereby creating a relatively wide moving range of the knees. This will enable the skier to ride sufficiently on the inside edge of the sole la without taking any difficult skiing attitude in traversing or turning.

Next to be described is a device for connecting the boot proper 1 with shaft 2 and the construction of the shaft 2.

In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,

semicircular recesses

3 and 3a are respectively formed in either side portion of the upper edge portion 1d of the boot proper l with their upper ends opening upwardly. Pivoting axis portions 4 and 4a are formed integrally with the boot proper l at the center of each recess.

The shaft 2 consists of a left shaft member 2a and a right shaft member 2b.

Hooks

5 and 5a are respectively provided at and projecting downwardly from the lower side portions of the left and

right shaft members

2a and 2b. The

hooks

5 and 5a are generally of an arcuate configuration which is complimentary with the shape of the

recesses

3 and 3a and are adapted to be inserted into and engage the

recesses

3 and 30 when the shaft 2 is connected to the boot proper l. The

books

5 and 5a may be formed integrally with the shaft 2 or may be separately made and riveted to the shaft 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The connection between the shaft 2 and the boot proper 1 may alternatively be achieved by adopting a device as shown in FIG. 5. In the example shown in FIG. 5, an outwardly opening semicircular recess 3a is formed on either side of the upper edge portion Id of the boot proper I. A semicircular projection 5a which can be fitted in the semicircular recess 3a is provided at the lower side portions of the left and

right shaft members

2a and 2b. An arcuate opening 3b is formed concentrically with the semicircular recess 3a in the bottom thereof. A pin or stud 5b is fixedly secured to the inside of the semicircular projection 5a so that it may engage in the arcuate opening 3b when the projection 5a is fitted in the recess 3a. It will be apparent that an arcuate opening may be formed in the projection 5a and a pin may be provided on the bottom of the recess 3a for achieving a similar effect. Upon insertion of the pin 5b into the opening 3b and closing of the shaft 2, the connection of the shaft 2 to the boot proper has been completed. In this embodiment, the forward inclination of the shaft 2 is permitted by the sliding movement of the pin 5b in the arcuate opening 3b.

Reverting to FIG. 4, the shaft 2 is composed of the left and

right shaft members

2a and 2b to facilitate fitting of the boot. These

shaft members

2a and 2b are pivotally connected to each other at the front edges thereof by means of a hinge 2c and are openable in the rear. Buckles 7 are provided on the rear portions of these shaft members.

Reference numeral 9 designates a shock absorbing cylinder assembly connected obliquely between the shaft 2 and the boot proper l. The assembly is connected at one end to the shaft 2 and at the other end to the vamp of the boot proper l. The shock absorbing assembly is detachable from the boot at one of these connections. The assembly comprises a compression spring (not shown) and acts to absorb shock accompanying the forward inclination of the shaft 2.

Reference numeral 10 designates a safety spring stretched between the boot proper l and the shaft 2. When a load exceeding a predetermined value acts on the boot proper l or the shaft 2, the safety spring 10 is released to permit disengagement of the shaft 2 from the boot proper 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the shaft 2 is composed of two vertically divided

shaft members

2a and 2b as in the above described embodiments, but the device for connecting the shaft 2 to the boot proper l is different from those employed in the above described embodiments. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the lower front portion of the shaft members and 2b is obliquely cut off.

The shaft 2 is fitted over the boot proper 1 so that the lower side edge portion 2a of each shaft member which is at the lowermost end of the oblique front edge 2e makes contact with the middle portion of the upper edge Id of the boot proper l. A connecting sheet 11 made of a flexible material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin is connected at the upper end portion thereof to the front portions of the left and

right shaft members

2a and 2b and, at the lower end portion thereof, to the front part of the upper edge portion 1d of the boot proper l. The connecting sheet 11 may be connected by means of screws 12 or bonded to the shaft 2 and the boot proper l. The lower rear portions of the

shaft members

2a and 2b overlap the rear portion of the upper edge portion 1d of the boot proper l.

The shaft 2 can pivot forwardly about the lower side edge portion 2d within the opening formed between the oblique front edge 2e and the upper edge portion 1d. Further, the left and

right shaft members

2a and 2b can be inclined to the left and right sides respectively with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boot proper l as can be seen from FIG. 7.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 has the same construction as the one shown in FIG. 7 in that the boot proper 1 is connected to the shaft 2 by means of the connecting member 11. In addition to this construction, special arrangements are made in this embodiment for ensuring an an accurate forward inclination of the shaft 2 and facilitating insertion and taking off of the skiers foot. More specifically, projections are provided on both sides of the upper edge portion 1d of the boot proper l, and pins 13 are fixedly connected to these projections. Two

side shaft members

2a and 2b of the shaft 2 are hingedly connected to a front shaft member 2f by means of hinges 2c and are openable in the rear as can best be seen in FIG. 10.

The lower front portions of the

side shaft members

2a and 2b are obliquely cut off to permit the forward inclination of the shaft 2. In the middle lower end portions of the

side shaft members

2a and 2b there are formed recesses l4, 14 which are engageable with the pins l3, 13.

The shaft 2 is connected to the boot proper l by means of a connecting sheet 11. The connecting sheet 11 is a strap made of a flexible water-proof material and has a shape as shown in FIG. 11. The upper edge 11a of the connecting sheet 11 is connected by means of screws 15 or the like fastening device to the inside of the cut-off edge portion 26 of the shaft 2. and the lower edge 11b to the inside of the upper edge portion 1d of the boot proper 1 respectively. The side edges 11c of the connecting sheet 11 are made rigid by thickening these portions of the strap or attaching metal pieces thereto, so that the

side shaft members

2a and 2b are in an outwardly spaced relationship relative to the boot proper 1 when these

members

2a and 2b are opened.

In wearing the ski boots having the constructions shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and FIG. 4, the skier puts on inner boots, puts his foot into the boot proper l and amounts the shaft 2 about his lower legs. Then he inserts the

fooks

5, 5a of each shaft 2 into the

recesses

3, 3a of the corresponding boot proper 1 thereby connecting the shaft 2 to the boot proper l in such manner that the shaft 2 can pivot forwardly about the pivoting axis portions 4. Thereafter, the shock absorbing cylinder assembly 9 and the safety spring 10 are mounted to the boot proper l and the shaft 2. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 2 is pivotably connected to the boot proper l by fitting the projection 5a to the semicircular recess 3a and inserting the pin 5b into the arcuate opening 3b.

In putting on the boots as shown in FIG. 6, the skier opens the left and right shaft members and puts his feet into the inner boots provided in the boots. He thereafter closes the

shaft members

2a and 2b and fastens the buckles 7 to fit the shaft 2 tightly around his lower legs. The lower side edge portions 2:! of the shaft 2 serve as pivots during the forward inclination of the shaft 2 and the connecting sheet 11 is compressed to allow such forward inclination of the shaft 2.

In the case of the ski boots shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, the skier opens the two

side shaft members

2a and 2b outwardly. The recesses 14 at the lower end of the

side shaft members

2a and 2b are disengaged from the pins 13 and the

members

2a and 2b can be respectively opened apart from the boot proper l by a distance equal to the width of the connecting sheet ll.

The skier wearing inner boot inserts his foot into the boot proper l and causes the

side shaft members

2a and 2b to move inwardly. This causes the side edges 11c of the connecting sheet 11 to rise upwardly thereby bringing the recesses 14 into fitting engagement with the pins 13. By closing the buckles 7, the pivotal connection of the shaft 2 to the boot proper 1 is completed.

The pivotal connection of the shaft 2 to the boot proper 1 is not limited to the above described construction but other suitable fitting engagement between a projection and a recess may be employed.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski boot made of a rigid material comprising a boot proper, a shaft for receiving the wearers lower leg portion and means for detachably connecting said shaft to said boot proper, said means comprising a pair of upwardly opening recesses respectively formed in the upper side edge portions of said boot proper, a pair of pivoting axis portions respectively formed at the center of said recesses and a pair of hooks respectively provided at the lower side portions of said shaft and adapted to engage said recesses.

2. A ski boot made of a rigid material comprising a boot proper, a shaft for receiving the wearers lower leg portion and means for detachably connecting said shaft to said boot proper, said means comprising a pair of recesses respectively formed in the upper side edge portions of said boot proper and opening both in upward and outside directions, a pair of projections respectively provided at the lower side portions of said shaft and adapted to engage said recesses, a pair of opening each being formed concentrically with said recess in either one of said recess and said projection and a pair of pins each being provided on the other of said recess and said projection.

Claims

1. A ski boot made of a rigid material comprising a boot proper, a shaft for receiving the wearer''s lower leg portion and means for detachably connecting said shaft to said boot proper, said means comprising a pair of upwardly opening recesses respectively formed in the upper side edge portions of said boot proper, a pair of pivoting axis portions respectively formed at the center of said recesses and a pair of hooks respectively provided at the lower side portions of said shaft and adapted to engage said recesses.

2. A ski boot made of a rigid material comprising a boot proper, a shaft for receiving the wearer''s lower leg portion and means for detachably connecting said shaft to said boot proper, said means comprising a pair of recesses respectively formed in the upper side edge portions of said boot proper and opening both in upward and outside directions, a pair of projections respectively provided at the lower side portions of said shaft and adapted to engage said recesses, a pair of opening each being formed concentrically with said recess in either one of said recess and said projection and a pair of pins each being provided on the other of said recess and said projection.