A device for adjusting and clamping the toothed strap of a fastening for sports footwear

The present invention relates, in general, to a fastening designed particularly for ski boots, skates and similar sports footwear.

In particular, the present invention relates to a device for adjusting and clamping the strap of a fastening of the aforementioned type, according to the preamble to main claim No. 1.

A device having the features outlined above is known from US 5416952.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a device for adjusting/clamping the toothed strap of a fastening of the type in question having structural characteristics which make it particularly compact so that it occupies little space on the shell of a ski boot, is easy to grip, and is equally easy for the user to manipulate, as well as functional characteristics such as to ensure fine adjustment of the fastening tension, even under load, as well as very reliable clamping of the strap, and hence of the fastening, at the desired tensioning value.

These objects and others which will become clearer from the following description are achieved by a device for adjusting/clamping the strap of a fastening of the type in question which has the characteristics defined precisely in the following claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment of an adjustment/clamping device according to the invention, given with reference to the appended drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="dash" compact="compact"><li>Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an adjustment/clamping device according to the invention;</li><li>Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in plan;</li><li>Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 in longitudinal section;</li><li>Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 show, on a reduced scale, some details of the device of the invention illustrated in the preceding drawings;</li><li>Figure 8 shows a variant of the adjustment/clamping device of Figure 1, in longitudinal section;</li><li>Figures 9, 10 and 11 show the device of Figure 3 in longitudinal section, in various operative conditions;</li><li>Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a further variant of the adjustment and clamping device of Figure 1;</li><li>Figure 13 is a side elevational view of a third variant of the device of the invention;</li><li>Figure 14 shows the device of Figure 13 in plan;</li><li>Figure 15 shows the device of Figure 13 in longitudinal section;</li><li>Figures 16 and 17 show the device of Figure 13 in various operative conditions;</li><li>Figure 18 is a side elevational view of a further variant of the device of Figure 1;</li><li>Figure 19 shows the device of Figure 18 in longitudinal section.</li></ul>

With reference to the aforementioned drawings, a tension-adjustment and clamping device for a toothed strap 2 or rack of a fastening for ski boots and similar sports footwear, generally of the type having an upper moulded from plastics material, is generally indicated 1.

The device 1 comprises a base 3 with shoulders 4 and 5 on opposite sides and is intended to be fixed to a flap of the upper by conventional means, not shown, for example, one or more rivets which engage respective holes 3a in the base 3.

A pin 6 is fixed to the shoulders 4, 5 and a first lever 7 is pivotable thereon.

This lever 7 (Figures 4 and 5) has a substantially fork-like structure with identical, parallel arms 7b, 7c extending from an operating end (or grip) 7a of the lever.

A slot-like hole 8, by means of which the lever 7 is mounted for pivoting and sliding on the pin 6, extends through the arms 7b, 7c, close to their free ends. Owing to this engagement, the lever 7 is pivotable on the base 3 with a movable fulcrum (6-8).

Respective seats 9, 10 (Figures 2 and 5) are formed in the arms 7b, 7c of the lever 7 for housing springs 11, 12.

The latter bear at one end on the bases of the seats 9, 10 and at the other end on the pin 6. In normal conditions (Figure 3), the springs 11, 12 consequently keep the lever 7 in the position in which the pin 6 is engaged by the ends of the slot-like hole 8 closest to the free ends of the arms 7b, 7c of the lever 7.

In an intermediate position, the lever 7 has a pin 17 extending parallel to the slot-like hole 8 and projecting from opposite sides of the lever. This pin 17 is engaged for rotating and sliding (Figures 1 and 2) in slot-like holes 18, 19 formed in the opposed shoulders 4, 5 of the base 3. The maximum extent of the angular movements of the lever 7 about the pin 6 depends on the length of the slot-like holes 18, 19 as well as on the movement permitted by the slot-like hole 8.

A passageway 20 for the toothed strap 2 is defined between the lever 7 and the base 3.

The lever 7 also has, in its wall facing the base 3, a pair of teeth 21, 21 for engaging the teeth of the strap 2, with which they are substantially equidirectional, so as to constitute the pawls of a ratchet mechanism for stopping the strap, as will become clear from the following description.

A second lever 22, the operating end or grip 22a of which has a semicircular profile in plan, is positioned between the arms 7b, 7c of the lever 7, extending outwardly at the free ends of the arms 7b, 7c.

The lever 22 is pivotable on a pin 23 supported by the arms 7b, 7c in a position outside the shoulders 4, 5 of the base 3.

A spring 24 wound on the pin 23 has one end bearing underneath one of the arms 7b, 7c and the other end bearing under an appendage 25 projecting from the front of the lever 22 and having a triangular profile for engaging the toothed strap 2 like a pawl.

The lever 22 and the respective pawl 25 constitute an "advancing ratchet mechanism" for the toothed strap 2, as will become clear from the following description.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pawl 25 is structurally independent of the respective lever 22.

In this embodiment (Figures 3, 6 and 7), the lever 22 has a curved end portion 26 inclined towards the base 3, and the pawl 25 has a substantially handle-like portion 25a mounted rotatably on the pin 23. The spring 24 acts on the pawl 25, urging it against the inclined portion 26 of the lever 22 from below.

When the action of the spring 24 on the pawl 25 is predominant, the pawl 25 and the lever 22 essentially constitute a single unit.

Figure 8 shows a variant of the invention in which the ratchet mechanism for advancing the strap 2 is constituted by a lever 122 defining an integral pawl 125 projecting from its front end. The spring 24 acts on the lever 122.

Figure 12 shows a further variant of the invention in which the ratchet mechanism for advancing the strap 2 is constituted by a lever 222 defining an integral pawl 225 with three teeth 225a, 225b, 225c, projecting from the front end of the lever.

The adjustment/clamping device of the invention operates as follows.

In an initial condition of the device (Figure 1), the toothed strap 2 is inserted through the passageway 20 defined by the levers 7, 22, by the base 3, and by the respective shoulders 4, 5.

As it passes through the passageway, the pawls 21 of the lever 7 (the stopping ratchet mechanism) do not obstruct the advance of the strap, even though they interfere with the teeth thereof, since these teeth and the aforesaid pawls are equidirectional and the lever 7 is free to move angularly about the pin 6.

When it has passed beyond the base 3, the strap 2 is gripped manually by the user and "pulled" as far as possible to achieve so-called fastening with rough tensioning.

When the strap 2 is released, it is clamped by the engagement of the pawls 21, 21 in the teeth of the strap.

At this point, the user can carry out fine adjustment of the degree of tensioning of the strap under load.

For this purpose (Figures 9 and 10) the ratchet mechanism (22-25) for advancing the strap is operated. The lever 22 is gripped and is moved angularly about the pin 23 (anticlockwise with reference to the drawings) so that, initially, the pawl 25 is engaged between the teeth of the strap 2 (Figure 9) and, subsequently, upon completion of the aforesaid angular movement, the strap is advanced through the passageway 20. As already stated, this advance is not obstructed by the stopping ratchet mechanism, the pawls 21 of which "skip" over tooth after tooth as long as the advance continues, that is, until the angular (anticlockwise) movement of the lever 22 is completed.

When the maximum possible angular movement has been reached, the lever 22 is lowered again (Figure 10). Initially, the movement of the lever 22 is not followed by the respective pawl 25, which remains engaged between the teeth of the strap 2 in opposition to the spring 24. In this situation, the pawls 21 of the stopping ratchet mechanism engage the teeth of the strap 2 positively with a short delay after the lever 22 starts to be lowered, clamping it in the position reached. During the aforesaid short delay, the strap 2 performs a corresponding small rearward movement relative to the passageway 20, thus releasing the pawl 25 which is urged by the spring 24 back to its position against the curved appendage 26 of the lever 22, becoming a single unit therewith.

The desired degree of tensioning of the strap 2 is achieved by a number of angular movements of the lever 22, as described above.

To open the device of the invention quickly, allowing the strap to be withdrawn from the passageway 20 and thus "unfastening" the sports footwear, it suffices to move the lever 7 angularly about its movable fulcrum (pin 6/slot-like hole 8) in order to move the stopping and advancing ratchet mechanisms away from the base 3 simultaneously.

This angular movement of the lever 7 is permitted by the movement of the pin 6 along the respective slot-like hole 8 in opposition to the springs 11, 12, and by the sliding of the pin 17 in the slot-like holes 18 and 19.

With reference to Figures 13 to 17, a device for adjusting and clamping the strap 2 according to a third variant of the invention is generally indicated 300.

Details similar to those of the preceding embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals.

The device 300 comprises a base 303 with shoulders 304, 305 on opposite sides and is intended to be fixed to a flap of the upper by means of rivets or similar means, not shown, which engage respective holes 303a in the base 303.

The device 300 differs from the preceding embodiments essentially in that the first lever 307 of the stopping ratchet mechanism is formed in two structurally independent portions, indicated 307a, 307b, respectively.

The first portion 307a has a substantially fork-like structure with identical, parallel arms 308a, 308b extending from an operating end (or grip) 309 of the lever.

A hole 310 extends through both of the arms 308a, 308b close to their free ends. The hole 310 houses a pin 311 by means of which the portion 307a is articulated to the base 303. The pin 310 in turn is engaged for rotating and sliding in slot-like holes 318a, 318b formed in the opposed shoulders 304, 305 of the base 303. Owing to this engagement, the portion 307a of the lever is pivotable on the base 303 with a movable fulcrum (311-318a, 318b).

The second portion 307b of the lever 307 has a passageway 320 for housing a pin 321 by means of which the portion 307b is articulated to the first portion 307a. The pin 321 is also engaged for sliding in slots 321a, 321b formed in the opposed shoulders 304, 305 of the base 303, respectively.

Each slot 321a, 321b comprises a first portion and a second portion, indicated 322, 323, respectively, one forming an extension of the other. The first portion 322 is substantially straight or curved but in any case permits free pivoting of the lever 307 about the axis of the pin 311, possibly facilitated by small translational movements of the pin 311 in the corresponding slot-like holes 318a, 318b.

The second portion 323 is oriented away from the pin 311 to constitute a kind of recess for housing the pin 321, as will be explained further below.

The second portion 307b of the lever 307 also has a tooth 324 in its wall facing the base 303 for engaging the homologous teeth of the strap 2 so as to constitute a pawl for stopping the strap.

An appendage 325 projecting from the second lever portion 307b is normally urged into abutment with a corresponding surface 326 of the first lever portion 307a by means of a spring 327 wound around the pin 311.

The spring 327 has one end restrained slidably in one of the shoulders 304, 305 and the other end housed in a recess 329 formed in the second portion 307b of the lever 307, beneath the appendage 325.

The ratchet mechanism for advancing the strap 2 is constituted by a second lever 330 defining an integral pawl 331 with two teeth 331a, 331b projecting from the front end of the lever.

The second lever 330 is pivotable on a pin 332 supported by the arms 308a, 308b of the lever 307 in a position outside the shoulders 304, 305 of the base 303. The lever 330 has an operating end or grip 330a having an essentially semicircular profile in plan, extending outwardly at the free ends of the arms 308a, 308b.

A spring 334 wound around the pin 332 has one end bearing beneath one of the arms 308a, 308b and the other end bearing beneath the pawl 331.

The device 300 of this third variant of the invention operates as follows.

With regard to the adjustment of the tensioning of the strap 2, the operation is exactly the same as that of the preceding embodiments.

In an initial condition of the device (Figure 13), the toothed strap 2 is inserted through the passageway 20 defined by the levers 307, 330, by the base 303, and by the respective shoulders 304, 305.

As the strap passes through the passageway, the pawl 324 of the lever 307 (the stopping ratchet mechanism) does not obstruct the advance of the strap, even though it interferes with the teeth thereof, since these teeth and the pawl are equidirectional and the portion 307b of the lever 307 is free to move angularly about the pin 321 (anticlockwise).

When it has passed beyond the base 303, the strap 2 is gripped manually by the user and "pulled" as far as possible to achieve so-called fastening with rough tensioning.

When the strap 2 is released, it is clamped by the engagement of the pawl 324 in the teeth of the strap.

At this point, the user can carry out fine adjustment of the degree of tensioning of the strap under load.

For this purpose (Figure 16), the ratchet mechanism (330-331) for advancing the strap is operated. The lever 330 is gripped and is moved angularly about the pin 332 (anticlockwise with reference to the drawings) so that, initially, the pawl 331 is engaged between the teeth of the strap 2 (Figure 16) and, subsequently, upon completion of the aforesaid angular movement, the strap is advanced through the passageway 20. As already stated, this advance is not obstructed by the stopping ratchet mechanism, the pawl 324 of which "skips" over tooth after tooth as long as this advance continues, that is, until the angular (anticlockwise) movement of the lever 330 is completed.

When the maximum possible angular movement has been reached, the lever 330 is lowered again (Figure 15). The desired degree of tensioning of the strap 2 is achieved by a number of angular movements of the lever 330, as described above.

It will be noted that, in the position of Figure 15, in which the strap 2 is clamped, the lever 307 is moved towards the left (as seen in Figure 15) with the pin 311 in abutment with the corresponding end of the slot-like hole 318a, 318b as a result of the load exerted on the tooth 324 by the strap 2 under tension. The pin 321 is consequently housed in the recess 323 of the corresponding slot 321a, 321b thus preventing the lever 307 from rotating about the axis of the pin 311 and consequently releasing the tooth 324 from the teeth of the strap 2.

To open the device, allowing the strap to be withdrawn from the passageway 20 and thus "unfastening" the footwear, it suffices to move the portion 307a of the lever 307 angularly about the respective movable fulcrum (pin 311/slot-like hole 318a, 318b) to move the stopping and advancing ratchet mechanisms away from the base 303 simultaneously.

Upon a first operation of the lever 307 (clockwise with reference to Figure 15), the pins 311, 321 are guided in a rotational-translational movement by the second portion of the slot 323 and by the slot-like hole 318a, 318b, respectively. When the pin 321 has passed over the point of the connection between the first and second slot portions 322, 323, it is guided by the first slot portion 322 with consequent pivoting of the lever 307 about the axis of the pin 311. The pin 311 is kept close to the end of the slot-like hole 318a, 318b farthest from the slot 321a, 321b (the right-hand abutment). The tooth 324 is completely disengaged from the strap 2 (Figure 17) as a result of this angular movement of the lever 307. The shape and arrangement of the slots 321a, 321b and of the slot-like holes 318a, 318b is therefore selected in a manner such that, at least in a portion of the lifting travel, the lever 307 is guided in a purely rotational movement so as advantageously to reduce the frictional forces which, particularly when there is mud or earth on the fastening, may compromise correct operation of the device.

Figures 18 and 19 show a further variant of the device of Figure 1, generally indicated 400. The device 400 differs from the device 100 in that the first lever 7 of the stopping ratchet mechanism is formed in two structurally independent portions 407a, 407b.

The first portion 407a is mounted for pivoting and sliding on the pin 6 with a movable fulcrum (6-8).

The second portion 407b is articulated to the first portion 407a about the pin 17. It has a tooth 421 for engaging the homologous teeth of the strap 2.

An appendage 425 projecting from the second lever portion 407b is normally urged into abutment with a corresponding surface 426 of the first lever portion by means of a spring 427 wound around the pin 17.

The second lever 22 of the stopping ratchet mechanism differs from the device 1 in that it comprises a pawl 428 defined integrally therewith, with two teeth 428a, 428b projecting from the front end of the lever.

The operation of the device 400 is exactly the same as that of the device 1 described above.

The invention thus devised may undergo variations and modifications all falling within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the following claims.