Device for Adjusting the Tightening Degree, Particularly for Sports Footwear

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear such as for example ski or snowboard boots, cycling shoes, skating shoes, hiking boots and the like. The device comprises a mechanism for winding a cable which allows the winding and release of the cable, for the fine adjustment of the tightening degree of the footwear during the closing and opening steps.

Devices for adjusting the tightening degree of footwear comprising a mechanism for winding and releasing a cable have been known long since, see for example patent EP 0056953.

Such prior art devices are complex to manufacture and reveal significant overall dimensions, in particular height-wise. As a result, their housing on the footwear shall occur in areas not subject to impact with the ground, such as for example the high area of the rear part of the footwear.

The overall dimensions therefore represents a drawback when it comes to positioning said devices on the footwear, given that it is not possible to house such prior art devices in lateral areas of the shell or cuff so as to avoid impacts with the ground which could cause breakage to the device.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the prior art drawbacks.

In particular, one of the objects lies in providing a device for adjusting the tightening degree that is easy to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a device for adjusting the tightening degree that is compact in size so as to allow greater positioning freedom on the footwear therefore reducing the likelihood of impact with the ground.

Yet another object is to provide a device which still ensures a safe and reliable operation.

A further object is to provide a device which allows a quick recovery and release of the cable in order to reduce the time required for operations both for closing/opening the footwear as well as fine adjustment of the tightening.

Last but not least, the object is to provide a device that is cost-effective and which can be obtained using usual machines and equipment.

The task and the objects outlined above are achieved by a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear, comprising a mechanism for winding a cable which allows the winding and release of the cable for the fine adjustment of the tightening degree during the closing and opening steps as defined in claim.

With reference to the figures mentioned above, there is shown a device for adjusting the tightening degree 1, particularly for sports footwear, which comprises a mechanism for winding a cable which allows the winding and release of the cable for the fine adjustment of the tightening degree of the footwear during the closing and opening steps. In particular, the winding and release of the cable carried out by the devicerespectively allows to approach and move away two flaps facing the footwear by tensioning or releasing the cable.

As shown in, the devicecomprises a pulleyintegrally joined to a platedue to a groovespecifically obtained on the shaftof the pulleyadapted to be coupled to a corresponding grooved inner surface of the holeof the plate.

Between the pulleyand the platethere is interposed a housing, on which there is obtained as a single piece, or with an added piece, a toothed coreprotruding upwardly from the housing, i.e. towards the plate. The housingis a structural element and it also has the function of containing the pulley.

At least one pawlis rotatably connected to the plate, where it is pivoted on a respective pinobtained as a single piece from the plate. Said at least one pawlmay therefore rotate around the pinwith respect to a rotation centre thereof biased by an elastically deformable element, preferably a spring.

The pawlis adapted to be selectively engaged with at least one tooththereof directly on the toothed coreof the housing.

During the winding step, schematically shown in, the pawlrotates () and climbs over the teeth of the toothed coredue to a favourable inclination of the back of the teeth of the toothed coreso as to allow the rotation of the pulleyand therefore the winding of the cable. Between one rotation cycle and the subsequent one, the pawlsnaps in the ridge of the subsequent tooth () due to the effect generated by the springacting on the pawl, so as to prevent that the pulleyrotates backwards.

More specifically, the pawlis selectively engaged with at least one tooththereof directly on the toothed coreof the housingso as to keep the pulleytemporarily locked between a winding rotation of the cable and the subsequent one with the aim of keeping the amount of recovered cable wound on the pulley.

The pawlis also provided with a holewhich generates the rotation centre thereof and with a first slotted openingsuitably shaped whose function will be better explained hereinafter.

A knobis placed above the plate. At least one elongated pinprojects from the inner face of the knobwhich has the function of cooperating with the plate, with the at least one pawland with a pair of radial wallscooperating with corresponding recessesprovided on the plate.

The pinof the knobis housed, in a through-passing manner, by the plateand the pawlat a second slotted openingobtained on the plateand at the first slotted openingobtained on the pawl.

To complete the device, a covering elementrotatably connected to the knobis provided which is adapted to be integrally joined by means of a grooved holewith the shaftof the pulley. The knobis therefore interposed between the covering elementand the plateand it is free to rotate by a predetermined angle with respect to the assembly formed by the pulley, the plateand the covering element; the components of this assembly are therefore operatively integrally joined with each other due to the coupling by means of the grooved shaftof the pulley, the grooved holeof the plateand the grooved holeof the covering element.

The first slotted openingon the pawland the second slotted openingon the plateallow the operation of the deviceduring the winding and release of the cable, as will be better explained hereinafter.

Rotating the knobin the winding direction of the cable (), the radial wallsabut against a first endof the recessesof the plate, therefore driving in rotation the assembly formed by the plateand the pulley, as well as the covering element.

Simultaneously, the pinwhich protrudes from the knobcontrols the angular position of the pawldue to the sliding of the pinalong the second slotted openingof the plateand along the first slotted openingof the pawl, until it abuts against an end of the first and of the second slotted openings,.

As a matter of fact, the particular shape of the first slotted openingon the pawlallows the latter, during the step of winding the cable, to rotate around the pinthereof obtained on the plateso as to overcome the back of a tooth of the toothed coresuch that the pawlcan engage with the subsequent tooth ().

In order to carry out the step for the fine release of the cable, schematically shown in, the user must rotate the knobin the opposite direction with respect to the winding step.

The knobinitially runs along a predetermined rotation angle, defined by the length of the groovesalong which the radial wallsprotruding from the knobslide until they abut against a second endof the grooves. During this initial rotation, the pinwhich protrudes from the knobslides along the second slotted openingprovided on the plateuntil it abuts against the other end of the second slotted opening(). Simultaneously, the pinprogressively contacts an inner wall of the first slotted openingprovided on the pawl, causing a rotation on the pawlaround the rotation center thereof formed by the pinobtained on the plate(). In such a way, the rotation of the knoballows to disengage the pawllifting it from the tooth of the toothed corewith which it is engaged.

Once this initial rotation has been carried out, and therefore with the pawlcompletely disengaged from the tooth of the toothed coreand the radial wallsabutting against the second endof the grooves, the rotation of the knobis transmitted to the plateand, as a result, to the pulleydue to the integrally joined coupling between the plateand pulley. This allows the gradual release of the cable.

Basically, the initial rotation of the knobby a predetermined angle has the function of disengaging the pawlfrom the toothed corewhile the further rotation beyond said predetermined angle allows the cable to be unwound from the pulleyand therefore to be progressively released.

In this condition, the pawlalways remains disengaged from the toothed coreand the rotation in the release direction is free either when the user exerts a force on the knobor when the user releases he knob.

In order to prevent this condition, that is the pawlalways remains disengaged from the toothed core, the knobis advantageously provided with a return springinterposed between the knoband the plate. The return springhas the task of pre-loading the knobwith respect to the plateduring the step of releasing the cable, while it does not apply any return force on the knobduring the winding step.

In the release step, the preload is obtained by means of a protrusionprotruding from the platecooperating with a corresponding protrusionprojecting from the lower face of the knoband on the opposite side with respect to the pin(). The protrusionis adapted to interact with a stem of the return springprogressively loading it during the initial rotation of the knobup to a maximum value which is obtained when the pawlis completely disengaged from the toothed core, while the protrusionof the platekeeps the other stem of the springlocked. During such rotation, the pinmoves along the first slotted openingof the pawldetermining the disengagement thereof.

Once the initial rotation has been overcome, the return springtends to return the assembly formed by the plate, the pulleyand the covering elementto the initial position of departure with respect to the knob. This movement returns the pinto the initial position allowing the elastic elementof the pawlto return the latter to the initial position of engagement with the toothed core.

Therefore, although the user continues to impart a rotation to the knob, whenever the pawlovercomes the tooth of the toothed core, the platewill snap so as to allow the pawlto be engaged once again with the preceding tooth.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the present invention achieves the objects and advantages initially set forth: as a matter of fact, there has been devised a device for adjusting the tightening degree, particularly for sports footwear, capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the device for adjusting the tightening degree thus obtained is easy to manufacture and it is compact in size, that is small overall dimensions, so as to allow a greater positioning freedom on the footwear reducing the likelihood of impact with the ground, while maintaining high reliability and safe operation characteristics.

Furthermore, the device according to the present invention allows a quick winding and release of the cable so as to reduce the time required for the operations of closing/opening the footwear as well as the fine adjustment of the tightening given that the cable recovery ratio is 1:1 thanks to the direct and integrally joined coupling between the knob and pulley due to the interposition of the plate.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible to numerous applications, changes or variants without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claim.

For example,schematically shows a system for closing a sports footwear such as for example a ski boot, wherein the tightening and fine adjustment deviceaccording to the present invention is combined with a closing leverof the conventional type and a pair of guide elementsfor a cable. An end of the cableis fixed to the footwear (not shown) through a cable lugwhile the opposite end is connected to the deviceaccording to the present invention. The closing leveris interposed along the path of the cablebetween the cable lugand the device. With a system of this type, the user may carry out the quick closing and opening of the footwear by actuating the lever, while for fine adjusting the tensioning force of the cable, and as a result the tightening degree of the footwear, may act on the devicewinding and releasing an amount of cable up to the desired tightening degree which, without further actuations of the device, is kept in memory for the subsequent closing of the footwear.

Naturally, the materials and equipment used to implement the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most appropriate depending on the specific requirements.