Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-05-22
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
C036S124000, C036S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233849
ABSTRACT:
The present invention concerns an improvement for a snow shoe intended to ameliorate the comfort and traction of the snow shoe for the user and, more specifically, with respect to snow shoes of the type comprising a tubular frame and a deck, realized at least in part of film, the invention likewise concerns a manufacturing method of this type of snow shoe, said method being intended to permit the manufacture of a range of different shoe sizes.
Snow shoes are devices which have been known for a great many years because they have been employed for several hundred years by the Scandinavian people in order to travel on snow. Up to now, the snow shoes were used for utilitarian or military purposes in order to permit people or mountain troops to move on snow in their daily travel requirements. Currently, snow shoes are preferably used by walkers or athletes who undertake cross-country runs or walks, and even partake in competitive events. However, athletes and recreational users are becoming more and more demanding with respect to the equipment they use and it is a fact that the products currently sold are not entirely satisfactory.
Many types of snow shoes are known comprising a tubular frame supporting a deck made of thin film, such shoes generally being the snow shoes used in North America. However, these shoes present numerous drawbacks linked to their traction in certain types of terrain and, above all, under certain snow conditions. In fact, if these shoes are well adapted to the terrain, they require much floatation such as in newly fallen snow, they somewhat lack in traction on sloping surfaces or terrain where the snow is harder, for example. The traction problems have caused certain manufacturers to install under the film, spikes or other blades. The achieved results, however, are less than satisfactory. Moreover, they also present problems in regard to comfort connected with the means of retention or the bindings of the boot.
It is the object of the present invention to eliminate these aforementioned drawbacks with the aid of means which can be arranged in simple, reliable, safe and uncomplicated fashion. The object of the invention is to present a snow shoe which has a great floatation as well as excellent traction properties, permitting the user to perform regardless of the type of terrain or type of snow while benefiting, at the same time, also from increased comfort.
Thus, the snow shoe according to the invention is of the type constituted by a frame formed by at least a portion of a structural shape, and a deck, and is characterized in that it comprises a central technical bottom piece, realized of rigid material, fixed to the frame.
According to an additional property, the central technical bottom piece is arranged in the central zone, in the deck of the snow shoe, between two portions of the lateral structural shapes of the frame.
According to a specific embodiment of the snow shoe, the central technical bottom piece is arranged, at least in part, in a horizontal plane, situated under the horizontal plane in which a film is arranged which forms at least a portion of the deck.
According to another characteristic, the snow shoes comprises a binding intended to retain the boot of the user and arranged on the upper surface of the central technical bottom piece.
According to a specific embodiment of the snow shoe according to the invention, the binding comprises an articulated plate supporting the retention means of the boot, said plate being articulated according to a transverse axis on the central technical bottom piece.
According to an additional feature of the snow shoe in accordance with the invention, it is characterized in that the central technical bottom piece comprises on its lower surface, means of traction.
According to a specific embodiment of the snow shoe, the traction means are constituted by a set of lower traction walls, arranged laterally and/or transversely beneath the central technical bottom piece, the lower edges of said walls extending beneath the horizontal plane which comprises the lower rim of the structural shape portions forming the frame.
According to a variation of the embodiment of the snow shoe according to any one of the claims, the frame and the central technical bottom piece show a contraction in width in the central zone of the deck.
According to other additional characteristics, the frame is of different material from the material of the central technical piece, and the frame is, for example, of metal and is realized by a tubular section in order to form a peripheral tube, while the central technical bottom piece is realized of plastic.
According to another characteristic of the snow shoe according to the invention, the central technical bottom piece is realized of plastic, such as polypropylene or polyamide, for example.
According to a complementary characteristic of the snow shoe according to the invention, the deck is constituted, at least in part, by a film fastened to the frame and/or to the central technical bottom piece.
In addition, the invention likewise concerns a manufacturing method of a related snow shoe, which is characterized in that it comprises a principal stage, consisting of realizing a central technical bottom piece, made of plastic material, intended for installation in several tubular frames of different dimensions without alteration to its own dimensions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2511087 (1950-06-01), Villemur
patent: 2618869 (1952-11-01), Wincentsen
patent: 2738596 (1956-03-01), Walsh
patent: 3555707 (1971-01-01), Sharratt et al.
patent: 5540002 (1996-07-01), Liautaud
patent: 5787612 (1998-08-01), Mahoney et al.
patent: 5809668 (1998-09-01), Kiniry et al.
patent: 5884933 (1999-03-01), Trott
patent: 5887362 (1999-03-01), McKenzie
Burnet Christophe
Gallay Philippe
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Sewell Paul T.
Stashick Anthony
TSL Sport Equipment, S.A.
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