Multifunctional telemark boot
A Multifunctional telemark boot (10) includes a shell (2); a sole (13) which is integral with the shell (2), and which is made up of a heel (4) and a toe (5) which are separated from each other by an insole arch (6). A flexible articulation (7), is part of the shell (2), and is arranged substantially in correspondence with the toe (5) in order to permit a flex of the shell (2). A stiffening device (11) is associated with the sole (13) in order to selectively impede the flex of the shell (2) and to configure the telemark boot (10) itself for different uses other than telemark.
The present invention refers to a multifunctional telemark boot.
Telemark boots of a well known kind, such as, for example, the boot 1 which is illustrated in
The kinds of boots which have just been described above have a great disadvantage in that they may only be used for the telemark sport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe aim of the present invention is to produce a multifunctional telemark boot, which will be free of the disadvantage described above.
According to the present invention, a multifunctional telemark boot will be produced comprising a shell; a sole which is integral with the shell, and which is made up of a heel and a toe; and a flexible articulation which is part of the shell, and which is arranged substantially in correspondence with the toe in order to permit a flex of the shell itself; the telemark boot being characterised by the fact that it comprises stiffening means which are associated with the sole in order to selectively impede the said flex and to configure the telemark boot itself for different uses other than telemark.
The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting form of embodiment, and in which:
With initial reference to
The boot 10 also comprises a stiffening device 11 which is associated with the sole 13 in order to selectively impede the flex and to configure the boot 10 itself for different uses other than telemark such as, for example, alpine ski-ing, downhill ski-ing, snowboarding, backcountry ski-ing or mountain climbing.
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
The raised sole 13 is made up of an external layer 13a made of rubber material, and an internal layer 13b made of plastic material, and, as is better illustrated in
As an alternative to what has just been described, the thickness of the sole 13 can be determined by increasing the thickness of a standard sole by at least 50% as described above, and such an increase concerns only the portion 13b and not the portion 13a, or rather it concerns only the more rigid part of the sole 13 itself.
The heel 4 of the sole 13 is frontally delimited by a substantially flat surface 4a, which faces the insole arch 6, and which is inclined at an angle of substantially less than 70° in relation to a flat support surface of the boot 10.
Both the heel 4 and the toe 5 comprise respective free ends 4k and 5k, which extend outside the outline of the shell 2 in order to interface with the above-mentioned attachment devices, and they present respective undercuts 4s and 5s which have a thickness which is equal to the thickness of a standard sole and, thus, a thickness which is less that the thickness of the sole 13.
In the case that the boot 10 should be used for snowboarding, the heel 4 and the toe 5 are not provided with the free ends 4k and 5k, so that the use of so-called “soft” attachment devices may be permitted.
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
The stiffening device 11 also comprises a spring 18, which is elastically compressed between an annular projection 19 which is obtained inside the compartment 14 and the bracket 16, and is suitable for permitting the regulation of the extension of the blades 15 while they are being orientated. In particular, when a setscrew wrench 17a is used on the socket head screw 17, it is possible to orientate the blades 15 between the two above-mentioned operating positions, increasing or decreasing the flexion stiffness of the blades 15 themselves, and, consequently, increasing or decreasing the flexion stiffness of the shell 2.
The alternative forms of embodiment which are illustrated in
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
The device 21 also comprises an elastic stopping element 35 which is arranged substantially inside the housing 34 in order to block the shaped pin 32, and a blocking screw 36 which is associated with the hook 33 in order to selectively block the hook 33 itself to the toe 5. In particular, the elastic element 35 is defined by a sphere 37, which is transversely mobile in relation to the pin 32 due to the action of a spring 38, and which can be engaged in a respective notch 39 which is obtained on the edge of the pin 32 itself.
Finally, the device 21 comprises a release pin 40 which is arranged in the housing 34 opposite the sphere 37 in relation to the pin 32 in order to act on the sphere 37 in such a way as to free the pin 32 and to permit the unhooking and replacement of the portion 20.
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
The device 21 also comprises, for each track 52, a respective groove 53, which presents a shape which is complementary to the shape of the track 52 itself, and which is obtained in the insert 51 in order to permit the insertion and extraction of the insert 51 itself parallel to the axis A. Finally, the device 21 comprises, at least for the insert 51 which may be associated with the toe 5, a blocking wall 54 which is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis A, and which is suitable for axially blocking the sliding movement of the insert 51 itself.
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
Finally, the device 21 comprises a pair of shaped fasteners 74 which are associated with each of the tracks 72 in order to block any reciprocal sliding between the track 72 itself and the relative groove 73.
The tracks 72 and the relative grooves 73 which are illustrated in
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
In this case, the coupling of the insert 101 to the shell 2 occurs by initially inserting the pin 102a into the housing 103, and then rotating the insert 101 itself around the pin 102a itself in such a way as to block the pin 102a into the housing 103 and insert the pins 102b into the groove 104 by means of the same rotating movement.
According to a form of embodiment which is not illustrated here but which may be easily deduced from the drawing shown in
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
The device 21 also comprises, for each pin 112, a housing 115 which is obtained in the insert 111, and which presents an undercut 116 which is suitable for housing the shank 113, and an opening 117 which is of sufficient dimensions to allow the passage of the relative head 114.
In this case, the coupling of the insert 111 to the shell 2 occurs by initially inserting the head 114 of each pin 112 through the relative opening 117, and then blocking each head 114 beneath the relative undercut 116.
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
According to a form of embodiment which is not illustrated here, but which may easily be deduced from the above description, the notches 123 and the projections 124, instead of being associated with the insert 121 and, respectively, the shell 2, may otherwise be associated with, respectively, the shell 2 and the insert 121.
The form of embodiment which is illustrated in
In accordance with the necessities imposed by different applications, the lip 131 can be sized in such a way as to be flush with the layer 13a or in such a way as to have at least the portion 133 arranged so as to project outside the window 132 in relation to the layer 13a itself. The portion 133 can also present, in plan view, a shape which is as rectangular as trapezoid, just as the portion 134 can present a dovetail transverse section in order to define a notch (which is not illustrated) which is open towards the compartment 135 in order to anchor a rampant, or a crampon for providing improved grip on ice.
In the form of embodiment which is illustrated in
Finally, the device 11 comprises two stay rods 145, each of which connects a relative pin 143 to the lever 142 and which is turned in a U formation around the pin 144 in order to pass laterally and inside the toe 5 and beneath the bellows 141. In particular, the pin 144 presents an internal plate 146 and an external spring 147 and is suitable for absorbing the pull on the stay rods 145 as a result of the reduction of the mobility of the bellows 141 due to the regulating effect of the lever 142 on the bellows 141 itself.
In a form of embodiment which is not illustrated, the lever 142 may be mounted on the free end of a tension hook which is in turn mounted astride the bellows 141 in order to permit both the regulation of the blocking action of the foot inside the shell 2 by means of rotating the lever 142 in relation to the tension hook, and a selective regulation of the stiffness of the bellows 141 by means of the same tension hook.
It is intended that the present invention should not be limited to the forms of embodiment which are herein described and illustrated, which are to be considered as forms of embodiment of the multifunctional telemark boot, which might be subject to further modifications regarding the shape and disposition of its parts, as well as to details pertaining to construction and assembly.
Claims
1. Multifunctional telemark boot comprising a shell; a sole which is integral with the shell, and which comprises a heel and a toe; and a flexible articulation which is part of the shell, and which is arranged substantially in correspondence with the toe in order to permit a flex of the shell; the telemark boot stiffening means which are associated with the sole in order to selectively impede said flex and to configure the telemark boot for different uses of telemark.
2. Telemark boot according to claim 1, wherein said stiffening means comprise a raised sole which is provided with a thickness which is substantially greater than the thickness of a standard sole, and which presents, in plan view, different forms which are adaptable to as many respective blocking devices to be used for different snow sports.
3. Telemark boot according to claim 2, wherein said stiffening means comprise a compartment which is obtained inside the toe, and a plurality of blades which are arranged inside the compartment and which may be orientated from an operating position which is coplanar to the sole to an operating position which is transverse to the sole to further stiffen said shell.
4. Telemark boot according to claim 3, wherein the stiffening means comprise an elastic regulating element for the extension of said blades, and an orientation element which is integral with the blades and which can be regulated from outside the raised sole.
5. Telemark boot according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening means comprise a selectively interchangeable portion of said raised sole and constraining means which constrain the selectively interchangeable portion to the shell.
6. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein the constraining means comprise a shaped pin which is integral with said selectively interchangeable portion and which may be inserted into a respective housing which is obtained through the toe, an elastic stopping element which is arranged substantially inside the housing to block the shaped pin, a snap hook which is integral with said selectively interchangeable portion and which may be inserted into said toe from the side of the insole arch, and a blocking element which is associated with the snap hook in order to selectively block the snap hook to said toe.
7. Telemark boot according to claim 6, wherein said constraining means comprise a release element which is arranged inside said housing in order to act on the elastic stopping element in order to free said pin.
8. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein said selectively interchangeable portion may be associated with either the toe or the heel of the sole.
9. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining means comprise at least one shaped track which extends along a longitudinal axis of the sole, and a respective groove with a shape which is complementary to the shape of the shaped track and which is obtained in said selectively interchangeable portion; the selectively interchangeable portion (20) presenting, in turn, a blocking wall which is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis.
10. Telemark boot according to claim 9, wherein said track presents a T shape in a transverse section.
11. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining means comprise at least one shaped track which extends along a transverse axis of the sole, and a respective groove with a shape which is complementary to the shape of the shaped track and which is obtained in said selectively interchangeable portion.
12. Telemark boot according to claim 9, wherein said constraining means comprise a pair of shaped fasteners which may be associated with said track in order to block any reciprocal sliding between the track and the groove.
13. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining means comprise at least one pin with a shaped head arranged transverse to said selectively interchangeable portion, and a respective housing with a shaped base which is obtained in the shell.
14. Telemark boot according to claim 13, wherein said constraining means comprise three pins with shaped heads which are arranged transverse to said selectively interchangeable portion, and a housing and a groove with a shaped base which are obtained in the shell.
15. Telemark boot according to claim 8, wherein said constraining means comprise two hinges for coupling the selectively interchangeable portion to the shell; each hinge being defined by at least one notch, by a respective projection which may be inserted into the relative notch, and by a respective shaft which may be inserted through the notch and the projection in order to constrain the notch and the projection in relation to each other.
16. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein the heel is frontally delimited by a substantially flat surface, which faces the insole arch, and which is inclined at an angle which is substantially less than 70° in relation to a support plane surface of the telemark boot.
17. Telemark boot according to claim 1, wherein said toe presents an external layer made of rubber material and an internal layer made of plastic material, and comprises an anchoring lip to permit an improved anchoring of the external layer to the internal layer and/or the anchoring of external accessories to the shell.
18. Telemark boot according to claim 17, wherein said lip is integral with the internal layer to be inserted into a window which is obtained through the external layer, and comprising an anterior prismatic portion and a posterior prismatic portion which together define an anchoring compartment.
19. Telemark boot according to claim 1, wherein the articulation comprises a bellows which is arranged on an upper part of the shell, the stiffening device also comprising a regulating lever for regulating the size of the bellows, and at least one stay rod for connecting the lever to said sole.
20. Telemark boot according to claim 19, wherein the stiffening device comprises a shock absorber pin which is integral with the shell, and which defines a fixed transmission for said stay rod.
21. Telemark boot according to claim 5, wherein the sole comprises an insole arch for separating the heel from the toe.
22. Telemark boot according to claim 18, wherein the posterior prismatic portion is substantially wedge shaped, and tapers towards the anterior prismatic portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 10, 2003
Publication Date: Oct 15, 2009
Inventor: Marco Rigat (Sauze di Cesana (TO))
Application Number: 10/581,594
International Classification: A43B 5/04 (20060101);