Ski boot having a closure device

A ski boot comprising:

• a shell base;
• an upper comprising a collar for covering a front part and a rear part of a lower leg of a skier, said collar having an exterior overlapping portion positioned frontwardly of the lower leg of the skier, said overlapping portion further comprising an upper strap and a lower strap, a first closure device for closing said upper strap against an underlying portion of said collar and a second closure device for closing said lower strap against the underlying portion of said collar;
• means for journalling said collar with respect to said shell base about a transverse axis in an area of the malleoli of the skier;
• and
• means for (1) tightening said collar on the lower leg of the skier and (2) latching said collar to said shell base comprising:
• a latching element mounted at a rear portion of said collar for movement between a latching position and an unlatching position, said latching element having an engagement portion for engagement with an engagement portion of said shell base in said latching position;
• means for biasing said latching element toward said latching position;
• a tensioning lever having a manipulable end for engagement by the skier and a cam for engagement with said latching element for opposing a biasing force of said biasing means for moving said latching element to said unlatching position, means for mounting said tensioning lever for movement between (1) a released position, in which said cam is in engagement with said latching element and said latching element is in said unlatching position with said portion of said shell base, and (2) a closed position, in which said cam is not in engagement with said latching element and said latching element is said latching position with said portion of said shell base by means of said biasing means;
• and
• an inextensible and flexible link, said link having a first end affixed as a mobile attachment point to said lower strap of said collar, said link extending to and being connected to said tensioning lever, said link extending from said tensioning lever and having a second end affixed to a portion of said collar at a fixed attachment point.

A ski boot comprising:

• a shell base;
• an upper comprising a collar for covering a front part and a rear part of a lower leg of a skier, said collar having an exterior overlapping portion positioned frontwardly of the lower leg of the skier, said overlapping portion further comprising an upper strap and a lower strap, a first closure device for closing said upper strap against an underlying portion of said collar and a second closure device for closing said lower strap against the underlying portion of said collar;
• means for journalling said collar with respect to said shell base about a transverse axis in an area of the malleoli of the skier;
• a latching element mounted at a rear portion of said collar within said collar, means for mounting said latching element about a pivot axis for movement between a latching position and an unlatching position, said latching element having an engagement portion for engagement with an engagement portion of said shell base in said latching position of said latching element;
• a spring positioned between said latching element and said collar for biasing said latching element in said latching position;
• a tensioning lever having a manipulable end for engagement by the skier, said manipulable end extending away from an external surface of said collar, said tensioning lever further having a cam for engagement with said latching element for opposing a biasing force of said means for biasing for moving said latching element to said unlatching position, means for mounting said tensioning lever for movement between (1) a released position, in which said cam is in engagement with said latching element and said latching element is in said unlatching position with said portion of said shell base, and (2) a closed position, in which said cam is not in engagement with said latching element and said latching element is said latching position with said portion of said shell base by means of said spring;
• at least one inextensible and flexible link, said link having a first end affixed as a mobile attachment point to said lower strap of said collar, said link extending to and being connected to said tensioning lever, said link extending from said tensioning lever and having a second end affixed to a portion of said collar at a fixed attachment point;
• said tensioning lever, said link and said latching element comprising, upon movement of said tensioning lever toward said closed position and upon application of a traction force to said link upon said movement of said tensioning lever:
• means for simultaneously (1) tightening said collar on the lower leg of the skier by moving said mobile attachment point of said lower strap in a tightening direction;
• and (2) latching said collar to said shell base, said tensioning lever being in said closed position concurrently with said collar being latched to said shell base.