Land vehicles – Runner vehicle – Standing occupant
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-19
2004-06-29
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Runner vehicle
Standing occupant
C280S011300, C280S611000, C280S613000, C280S014210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06755426
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the field of sports which involve sliding. More specifically, it relates to a boot intended for snowboarding. It relates more particularly to the connection between the boot and the means which, on the boot, interact with the binding.
PRIOR ART
In a known manner, snowboarding boots can be, depending on the type of snowboarding practiced, either hard after the fashion of a ski boot, or soft. The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to this second family.
This type of boot generally comprises a flexible upper which is relatively deformable so as to allow leg movements and to be comfortable. This upper is associated with a sole assembly which comprises in particular an outsole which is relatively flexible and deformable so as to allow a good rolling movement of the foot during walking motion. This sole assembly also comprises means for interaction with complementary arrangements of the binding. These interaction means are anchored mechanically in this sole assembly and in particular in a reinforcing piece associated with the sole.
A great many types of interaction means exist, the geometry and the design of which depend on the type of binding used. Thus, some bindings interact with the boot in the region of a spindle or a transverse plate which protrudes on each side of the boot. In other standards, the binding interacts with inserts located on both sides of the sole. In systems which are different again, the binding can comprise jaws which render captive a projection located under the sole of the boot.
The sole assembly, and in particular the reinforcing piece in which the means for interaction with the binding are anchored, clearly depends on the nature of these means. This reinforcing piece can be located inside the boot, above the outsole, and take the form of a frame receiving the foot. This reinforcing piece can also have smaller dimensions and form a plate which can, if appropriate, be embedded inside the outsole, or accommodated in a housing provided for this purpose in the outsole.
This anchorage creates a rigid mechanical connection allowing the effective transmission of forces from the foot of the user to the snowboard. The interaction means of the boot and the binding are attached at at least two points or two contact zones, so that the boot is completely mechanically integrated with the board when the binding is engaged. This integration makes possible very good transmission of the forces necessary for steering. However, this firm, permanent attachment prevents lateral deflection movements of the boot. It is of course known that in certain types of snowboarding, in particular freestyle, the position of the user changes continuously in relation to the board and the inclination of the leg is consequently adjusted. The firm, permanent attachment of the boot to the board therefore limits the possibilities of inclination of the leg, and therefore the suitability of the board for freestyle snowboarding.
One problem which the invention therefore aims to solve is that of facilitating lateral inclination of the leg while ensuring effective, rigid attachment of the boot to the binding.
Analyzed more specifically, the behavior sought is that observed with a strap binding, the foot being capable of orienting itself inside the binding following a rolling motion resulting from the deformation of the sole assembly combined with pivoting. This allows the foot to receive the sensations originating from the board over a relatively large surface area. In other words, it is important that this rolling motion of the foot does not take place to the detriment of the ease of attachment of the boot to the binding.
In other words, another problem which the invention seeks to solve is that of reconciling the rolling motion capacity with a firm, easy attachment of the boot to the binding of automatic type.
A number of solutions have already been proposed to afford a degree of freedom to the connection between the boot and the board.
Thus, document U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,419 describes a binding comprising two elements, namely a baseplate integrated with the binding and a platform mounted on this baseplate. This platform is connected to the baseplate via a longitudinal articulation spindle allowing lateral deflections of the platform, and therefore of the boot which it receives. This binding has numerous disadvantages. In fact, owing to its design, this binding functions only for hard boots. Furthermore, only that portion of the sole of the foot located vertically in relation to the articulation spindle can exert bearing forces, which results in a loss of sensation. Moreover, this binding holds the foot relatively far from the board. More specifically, the boot pivots about an axis which is located under the sole. For optimum performance, however, it is desirable rather to maintain permanent bearing.
A similar solution is described in document DE-U-88 15173.5. Such a device includes, between the baseplate and the pivoting platform, a layer of compressible material providing damping of the lateral deflection. This solution has the major disadvantage of requiring a large number of mechanical pieces which increase the cost of the binding and the risks of mechanical failure. Moreover, such a binding is not arranged so as to hold the boot captively by automatic fitting of the boot into the binding, but on the contrary requires manual actions on the part of the user.
Document FR 2 734 167 also contains a proposal for a binding of a particular type which interacts with the boot on only one side of the latter. In this way, the boot has a capacity for relative movement in relation to the board about an orientation axis lying in the longitudinal direction of the boot. Owing to its asymmetry, this device favors the transmission of forces on only one side of the boot, which is a handicap for certain types of snowboarding. Moreover, in order to avoid that side of the boot which is not integrated with the board lifting excessively, it is necessary for the sole to be sufficiently rigid, which compromises walking comfort.
Finally, as the attachment in relation to the binding is effected on only one side of the boot, the mechanical stresses exerted in the region of such an attachment are particularly great, which increases the risks of the means for interaction with the binding being pulled out.
Furthermore, document WO 97/27773 describes a snowboarding boot, the sole of which comprises means for interaction with the binding consisting of two spindles located along the longitudinal median plane of the boot. These longitudinal spindles are held captively by complementary jaws of the binding. The peripheral zone of the sole of this boot consists of compressible material. Thus, when the user wishes to tilt his leg laterally, the sole pivots about the spindles for interaction with the binding, and the compressible zone is crushed. This boot has the disadvantage of exposing the compressible zone to contact with the ground when the boot is used for walking. This results in accelerated wear of this compressible zone which is made of a material which is not very resistant to abrasion. After wear of this material, the boot no longer bears laterally on the board, and therefore pivots freely in relation to the longitudinal spindles, thus inducing a sensation of instability. Moreover, the lateral deflection capacity of such a boot is difficult to regulate, as it depends virtually exclusively on the thickness of the compressible peripheral zone.
A problem which the invention aims to solve is that of allowing lateral deflection of the boot in relation to the binding or a possibility of rolling while providing firm, effective holding of the boot in relation to the board, and while allowing automatic fitting of the boot into the binding.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention therefore relates to a snowboarding boot which comprises:
a sole assembly comprising in particular:
an outsole, the lower face of which is intended to come into contact with the ground;
a reinforcin
Gignoux Pierre
Pascal Jean-Marc
Yvars Nicolas
Campbell Kelly E
Cardona, Esq. Victor A.
Heslin Rothenberg Farley & & Mesiti P.C.
Johnson Brian L.
Skis Rossignol S.A.
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