Ski boot comprising a bottom shell supporting at least one articulating upper element.

The present invention relates to an alpine ski boot or hiking the type comprising a shell base on which is articulated su least one top member mobile as rear cover or front to allow the boot on and taking it off, this shoe with a source energy, an energy consuming device such as a heater and an energy supply device controlling consumer device

Are already known ski boots having incorporated therein, in order to improve wearer comfort heating devices either of the electric type, heating resistor, either the liquid or gaseous fuel type, which in that case use a fuel tank and a burner housed in the shoe. liquid or gaseous fuel heaters have the advantage, compared to electrical devices, allowing to obtain greater autonomy and provide for a relatively long period of time desired comfort temperature in inside the shoe.

Heating devices using a liquid fuel, such as described, for example, in the II-I Patent 136 269 and FR-A-2080146, generally comprise a burner rechargeable liquid fuel, which is disposed under a diffusion plate heat embedded in the sole of the shoe so as to extend as close to the foot of the wearer of the shoe. Other heating devices using a gaseous fuel, comprises a gas reservoir supplying, through a valve, a catalytic burner, all of which are also housed in whole donations the sole of the shoe. Such gaseous fuel heaters are described, for example, giving the Italian utility model 196850 and the International Patent Application WO86 / 05663. These gaseous fuel heaters are of the refillable tank type and it is therefore necessary to provide, in the sole of the shoe which contains the reservoir, an opening through which the internal gas reservoir can be connected to a charging external source gas.

All known heaters, whether electric type or liquid or gaseous fuel have the disadvantage that once the heating turned on, stopping this heating can be obtained by the action of the manual wearer of the shoe. In other words it must think of off the heating when leaving his shoe and it can obviously happen that he forgets to carry out this maneuver, which then results in a further heating of the déchsussée shoe, hence rapid depletion of the source of energy used and waste of that energy.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by providing a shoe provided with means automatically causing the interruption of the power supply as soon as the wearer of the shoe leaves thereof.

To this end the alpine ski boot or hiking the type comprising a shell base on which is articulated at least one mobile upper element, such as rear cover or front to allow the boot on and taking it off, this shoe with a source of energy, an energy consuming device such as a heating device and a device controlling the consumer device of the power supply, is characterized in that it comprises connecting means between the upper movable member and the device controlling the power supply to allow the consumer device of the power supply only when the movable member of the shoe is closed and automatically cause the cutoff of this supply as soon as the mobile element of the shoe is open.

The invention applies more particularly to a shoe provided with a built-in heaters. This heating device can be of the electrical type and in this case the connecting means acts on an electrical switch connected between a power source and a heating resistor. The heating device may also be liquid fuel or gaseous type and in this case the connecting means acting on a valve or a valve connected between a fuel gas or liquid reservoir and a burner.

Below is described by way of example a form embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:<ul><li>Figure 1 is a partial vertical and longitudinal section of an alpine ski boot rear entry provided with a gas heater, the rear cover being shown in the closed position and the power control device gas being in the open position.</li><li>Figure 2 is a partial vertical and longitudinal section view of the boot with the back cover closed, the gas supply control device being shown in an intermediate position, being unlocked, before its return in the closed position .</li><li>Figure 3 is a partial vertical and longitudinal section view of the boot with the back cover closed, the gas supply control device being shown in a starting position.</li><li>Figure 4 is a partial vertical and longitudinal section view of the boot with the back cover opened and the gas supply control device recalled automatically in the open position.</li><li>Figures 5 and 6 are views in partial longitudinal section of the variant embodiments of a rear cover shoe according tilting the invention.</li><li>Figure 7 is a partial vertical and longitudinal section of an alternative embodiment of a shoe comprising a front cuff and a rear spoiler articulated about a same axis.</li><li>Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical, longitudinal sectional view of a shoe according to the invention com carrying a tongue or front cover as upper movable element.</li></ul>

The alpine ski boot of the invention which is shown in lines 1 to 4 is the rear input type. This shoe comprises a shell base 1 on which is articulated a rear cover 2, about a horizontal and transverse axis 3. This lower axis 3 extends somewhat back of the upper end portion of the rear wall 1<u>at</u> the lower shell 1. The shoe is provided with a heating device which, in the case of the form of non-limiting embodiment described herein, is the fuel gas type. However the invention would apply equally to a shoe provided with an electrical heater or liquid fuel. The heating device comprises a heating assembly 4 which is housed in an appropriately shaped recess provided in the upper portion of the sole 5 of the shoe. This heating unit 4 includes a 6 burner attached, for example by welding under a heat diffusion plate 7 itself under the insole of the shoe 8, to heat the skier's foot in cold weather. The burner 6 is connected to a gas supply tube 11 and the ignition of the gas is achieved by means of an electrode 13 adjacent the burner 3 and forming part of an ignition device, for example of the type piezo- electric.

The heating assembly 4 is fed with gas from a cartridge interchangeably fuel gas 14 which is held in a housing provided in the upper back cover 2 of the shoe, inside thereof. The gas cartridge 14 is disposed substantially vertically with its outlet port of the gas downward. In the following description it is assumed that the direction "vertical" is the following which extends the rear cover 2 when in fact the rear wall 2a of the cover is slightly inclined forwards. The gas cartridge 14 is connected, at its lower end, forming a set 15 connected valve and expansion valve, at its lower part to the gas supply tube 11. This tube of flexible material, passes through an opening 2<u>b</u> provided in the transverse bottom wall 2<u>c</u> the hood 2 which is inclined from top to bottom and from back to front and which extends towards the upper part of the rear wall 1<u>at</u> of the shell 1. The tube 11 thus exits partially the hood 2 and re-enters the shoe passing through an opening 1b formed in the back wall 1<u>at</u> of the shell, to extend to the burner 6 housed in the sole.

The opening control member and closing valve 15 is constituted by a finger 16 protruding outside of the valve body 15 and movable in a vertical slot of the body. The finger 16 is pushed downwardly towards its open position by a return spring 17 housed within the expansion valve 15. The finger 16 of control valve 15 is actuated by a lug 18 being part of a device 19 of the heater control. This device 19 also acts on a pusher 21 of an igniter 22, for example of piezoelectric type, which is connected by a not shown electrical conductor to the electrode 13 to produce an ignition spark.

The heater control device includes a control button 23 which can be displaced "vertically" away from the rear wall 2a of the hood 2. The control knob 23 is fixed to a lug 24 s extending through a vertical slot 25 formed in the rear wall 2<u>at</u> the cover 2. The lug 24 constitutes the external extension of a voluntary unlocking plate 26 extending vertically. This voluntary unlocking plate 26 comprises a vertical web 26a and at its upper part, an extended vertical flange 26b by a horizontal flange 26c which extends at a small distance in the closed position of the throttle, which is shown in Figure 4, above the upper slide 21 of the piezo-electric igniter 22 fixed to the cover 2.

The voluntary unlocking plate 26 includes a lower horizontal flange 26d which is extended downwards by a 26th bar terminating in a locking ramp 27 which acts on the horizontal web of the upper part 28a, shaped strap or inverted U, with a locking spring 28. the locking spring 28 is fixed to the upper part of the rear wall 1<u>at</u> of the lower shell 1 of the boot. It comprises, below its upper strap 28a, two parallel branches 28b extending downward and inclined relative to the upper strap forming an obtuse angle open towards the front. Each of the two branches 28b is connected to a coil portion 28c of the spring 28 wound about the axis 3 of articulation of the rear cover 2 and ending with an end branch 28d anchor extending downwardly and immobilized in a housing provided in the upper part of the rear wall 1<u>at</u> of the shell 1.

The heater control device further comprises a second locking plate 32 which is contiguous to the voluntary unlocking plate 26 and which has a C-shape open towards the rear. The two plates 26 and 32 are coupled to one another via guide pins 33 provided on the core 26a of the voluntary unlocking plate 26, these pins 33 being engaged in apertures 34 formed in the the soul of the other deck 32, these openings 34 being aligned and elongated vertically. The lower horizontal plate of the locking wing 32 is extended downwards by a bar which terminates in a locking hook 35 capable of coming to grip under the web of the upper part 28a of the locking spring 28. Furthermore the locking plate 32 carries, at its lower part, the lug 18 projecting which actuates from underneath the finger 16 controlling the opening and closing of the valve 15.

Both plates 26,32 are urged together upwardly by a return spring 36 which is constituted by a compression spring bearing at its lower end on a shoulder 37 provided on the inner face of the rear wall 2a of the hood 2 and, at its upper end in both the upper horizontal flanges of the plates 26 and 32. the spring 36 constantly biases and the two plates 26,32 upwardly and their movement in this direction is limited by the abutment of the lower flanges of the plates 26,32 in the abutment shoulder 37.

The control button 23 may occupy, in the slot 25, three different vertical positions, namely an extreme upper position I corresponding to the closing of the gas supply, an intermediate position II corresponding to the food opening gas, and a lowermost position III, corresponding to the actuation of the piezo-electric igniter 22, the three positions I, II, III being indicated in chain line in Figure 1. in the upper position of the two closing I plates 26,32, are in uppermost position (Figure 4), in which they are pushed by the return spring 36, its upward movement being limited by the abutment of their lower flanges against the shoulder of support 37. in this position the upper horizontal flange 26c of the plate 26 is located at a small distance above the pusher 21 of the piezo-electric igniter 22.

When the skier wishes to turn on the heating device, he presses the button 23 so as to move it downwards. In this movement the control knob 23 takes with it the voluntary unlocking plate 26 and secured thereto and the latter in turn drives immediately the locking plate 32, because the guide pins 33 which are fixed to plate 26, are in contact with the lower ends of openings 34 formed in the plate 32. the two plates 26,32 are thus moved together downwardly, against the action of return spring 36. during this movement the locking hook 35 slides along the web of the upper portion 28a of the spring 28 by pushing back somewhat, after which it is placed under this soul for locking. The unlocking ramp 27 naturally accompanies that movement. At the same time the lug 18 of the plate 32 releases the finger 16 of control valve 15 so that this valve opens. Therefore, as soon as the button 23 reaches the intermediate position II, the valve 15 is opened and the gas contained in the replaceable cartridge 13 can then flow through the pipe 11 towards the burner 6 of the heating assembly 4.

For effecting ignition of the gas-air mixture, the skier relies fully on the control knob 23 so as to bring it into its extreme low position III. During this additional downward movement, the upper horizontal flange 26c of the plate 26 which was then in the intermediate position II, just in contact with the upper end of the pusher 21 pushes the pusher downwards and causes actuation of the piezo-electric igniter 22 which emits an electrical pulse resulting in an ignition spark produced by the electrode 13. during this additional downward movement the unlocking ramp 27 and the hook 35 are moved a little below the soul of the upper part 28a of the spring 28. Upon release of the pushbutton 23, after ignition of the gas, the two plates 26,32 are pushed upwards by the spring 36 to the hook 35 comes to grip below the soul of the upper part 28a of spring 28. from this moment the two plates 26,32 are secured in the intermediate open position II and it is shown in Figure 1. in this position the lug 18 of the locking plate 32 is located just below the control finger 16 of valve 15 which is itself in its lower open position in a lumen of the the valve body.

When the skier wishes to stop heating, it pulls the button 23 upward to return it to its upper end position closing I. During the closing phase, the button 23 causes first sliding up only the voluntary unlocking plate 26, due to the coupling made by the guide pins 33 and the openings 34, these pins 33 moving only when n upwardly in the slots 34 remaining motionless. Due to this movement the lower unlocking ramp 27 of the voluntary unlocking plate 26 that slides in contact with the soul of the upper portion 28a of the spring 28 gradually pushes inside this soul, thus gradually spreading spring until the locking hook 35 can escape. The slope of the unlocking ramp 27 and its length are selected such that the escape of the locking hook 35 occurs before the guide pins 33 reach the upper ends of lights 34. When the locking hook 36 beyond the spring 28, the plate 32 is released and the two plates 26,32 are pushed upwardly together in the closed position by the spring 36. in this movement the leg 18 of the plate 32 carries with it upwardly the finger 16 of control valve 15, until it comes to lie in the closed position, at the upper end of the light guide.

According to the invention the shoe is provided with means automatically cause cleavage of the gas supply as soon as the wearer of the shoe leaves thereof. These means are constituted, in the form of non-limiting embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, by the combination of the sloped bottom wall 2c of the rear cover 2 and the locking spring 28. In fact according to the position occupied by the cover 2 rear spring 28 is armed or not in the locking position. In effect when the rear cover 2 is closed as is shown in Figures 1 to 3, its lower inclined wall 2c biases forward the spring 28 and particularly 28b branches of the spring, in the forming die and subjecting the thus in a resilient prestress. In this position the upper part 28a shaped strap of spring 28 is placed and held in a position such as to allow the hooking of the locking hook 35 of the locking plate 33.

When the skier leaves his shoe, it is low prior culate the back cover 2 to the rear, around the hinge pin 3, to reach the position illustrated in Figure 4. During this movement the inclined bottom wall 2c of the rear cover 2 frees both branches 28b of the spring 28 which can then relax and during the prosecution of the cover 2 the tilting movement towards the rear, the locking hook 35 is spaced from the upper portion 28a of the spring 28 as is shown in Figure 4. therefore, if, when the skier tilting the cap 2 rearwardly, the heater is being operated, the tilting of the cover 2 has the consequence that some point during this tilting movement the locking hook 35, previously hung in the soul of the upper portion 28a of the spring 28 escapes this spring so that the two sliding plates 22,33 are pushed up by the compression spring 36. As in the case of an intentional action, the leg 18 during regrowth up finger tap command 16 15 resulting in the closing of it and automatic shutdown of the gas supply.

When the boot cover tilting 2 forward again causes a bias of the spring 28 forward, under the action of the inclined wall 2c of hood 2, and the upper part 28a of this spring then returns to the position appropriate for the attachment of the locking hook 35.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5 the two helical parts 28c of the spring 28 which are wound on the hinge pin 3, respectively terminate in end branches 28 extending upwardly and 28f extending down, these two arms being substantially coplanar and being in abutment against the outer and upper side of the rear wall 1<u>at</u> of the shell base 1. For the rest the spring 28 is made in the same manner as in the case of the shoe shown in Figures 1 to 4, the upper part 28a of the spring 28 being biased forward by the bottom wall TILT born 2c of the rear cover 2.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6 the rear cover 2 is hinged on the shell base 1 about a lower transverse axis 39 which is located forward of the rear wall 1<u>at</u> the lower shell 1. In this case the helical portions 28c of the spring 28 are wound in round a transverse axis 3 which is provided at the lower part of the rear cover 2 and which serves as spring assembly only held 28. The spring 28 is also carried out in the manner illustrated in Figure 5, that is to say it comprises two end branches 28e, 28f extending upwardly and downwardly respectively from the helical portions 28c. These two end branches 28e, 28f are in abutment, when the rear cover is closed, as shown in Figure 6, against the upper and rear side of the wall 1<u>at</u> of shell base 1, above a hollow 1c formed donations this face thereby maintaining the spring 28 in the armed state, under the action of the inclined lower wall 2c of the rear cover 2. When the cover 2 is tilted rearwardly about the transverse axis 39, the axis 3 and the spring 28 it carries following this movement and are gradually lowered. At some point managed during this downward movement the two arms 28e, 28f of the spring 28 come into register with a recess 1c provided in the lower part of the rear face of the wall the shell base. The spring 28 is then disarmed and the upper part 28a is released and can rotate freely about the axis 3, then automatically causing the unlocking of the hook 35 and automatically cutting off the supply of gas as in the case of forms of executions described above.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 7 the boot comprises a rod made in two parts articulated on the shell bottom 1 about the common transverse axis 3, namely the back cover 2 and a front cuff 41. In this if the end branches 28d which extend the helical parts 28c of the spring 28 wound on the shaft 3 are anchored, at their ends, in parts of the sleeve 41 near the axis of articulation 3 points of anchorage of the ends of the spring 28 on the sleeve 41 are arranged so that the spring is armed, or prestressed when the rear cover 2 is in the closed position when the skier therefore opens the stem of his shoe cover by tilting two rearwardly the spring 28 is automatically disarmed and then releases the locking hook 25 thereby causing the automatic disconnection of gas supply

8 shows an execution variant of the invention applied to a ski boot comprising, on its front and upper face, a front tab 42 which is hinged at its lower and front part on a front wall and upper 1d shell 1 of the bottom and this around a horizontal and transverse axis 43 L group consisting of the gas cartridge 14 and the device 19 commanding the gas supply is mounted under the front tab 42 has extending in a longitudinal and vertical plane the latch hook 35 that s 1 extends before then cooperates with the rear end portion 44a shaped braid, of a locking spring 44. This spring 44 includes two parallel lower branches 44b by which it is anchored in the wall 1d shell 1 of the bottom and are tilted upwards and back and forth These anchoring branches extremes 44b form an obtuse angle open up with the upper strap portion 44a which is therefore more inclined upwards and backwards before the hook lock 35 is then cling behind the upper horizontal web of the strap-shaped portion 44a Due to this construction when the skier opens his shoe by tilting the front stopper 42 in the direction counter clock a watch around the axis 43 the locking hook 35 is outside the top 44a of the spring 44 which causes as in the embodiments described above the automatic disconnection of gas supply.

Note that in the form of implementation of the invention described in Figure 8, the hose 11 of gas supply extends inside of the shoe from the power of the controller 19 down and towards the front in the inclined upper wall 1d of the shell base 1 and then vertically along the anterior front wall 1<u>e</u> of the shell and then horizontally towards the rear under the inner flange 8 to reach the burner 6.