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US 6,643,955 B2Granted
Retention and release mechanism for a ski boot and ski boot incorporating the same
AssigneeLange International S.A.
InventorsJavin Pierce, Andrea Fregoni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retention and release mechanism and ski boot for mitigating injury to a skier when the rearward loads, potentially injurious to the user, are imparted to the boot. The mechanism includes a first linkage having an end coupled to a first rigid boot portion, and a second linkage coupled to the first linkage through a pin disposed in a slot in the first linkage. The mechanism provides stable orientation of the first portion to the second portion in a “ski” position, and allows rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a “release” position, the “release” position being established upon imposition of a predetermined level of rearward force on the boot.
Claims11
A ski boot comprising:
- a rigid first boot portion pivotally coupled to a rigid second boot portion;
- and
- a release and retention mechanism extending between said first portion and said second portion, said mechanism comprising:
- a first linkage coupled to said first portion of said boot, and
- a second linkage coupled to said first linkage through a pin disposed in a slot in said first linkage, said slot being longitudinally disposed in said first linkage,
- a spring disposed between said first and second linkages for biasing said pin toward a bottom of said slot;
- said pin being disposed in said slot for travel toward a top of said slot upon application of a predetermined rearward force to said first boot portion, said travel of said pin in said slot causing self-release of said first boot portion from a ski position relative to the second boot portion to a substantially vertical release position.
4 more elements
A ski boot comprising:
- a rigid first boot portion pivotally coupled to a rigid second boot portion;
- and
- a release and retention mechanism extending between said first portion and said second portion, said mechanism comprising:
- a first linkage coupled to said first portion of said boot, and
- a second linkage coupled to said first linkage through a pin disposed in a slot in said first linkage,
- said release and retention mechanism for changing the first boot portion from a ski position relative to the second boot portion to a substantially vertical release position upon travel of said pin in said slot due to application of a predetermined rearward force to said first boot portion,
- wherein a first end of said second linkage is coupled to said second end of said first linkage through said pin in said slot and wherein said mechanism further comprises a cam member and an articulating stop, said cam member having a first end pivotally coupled a second end of said second linkage and a second end coupled to said first portion of said boot by a cable, said articulating stop having a first end for engaging said cam member and a second end pivotally coupled to said second boot portion.
4 more elements
A ski boot comprising:
- a rigid first boot portion pivotally coupled to a rigid second boot portion;
- and
- a release and retention mechanism extending between said first portion and said second portion, said mechanism comprising:
- a first linkage arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first linkage arm being pivotally coupled to said first portion of said boot,
- a second linkage arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second linkage arm being pivotally coupled to said second end of said first linkage arm at a pivot point,
- a cam member having a first end pivotally coupled to said second end of said second linkage arm and a second end coupled to said first portion of said boot by a cable,
- an articulating stop having a first end for engaging said cam member and a second end pivotally coupled to said second boot portion, and
- a dislodging element having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said first linkage arm, and said second end disposed adjacent said cam member,
- said release and retention mechanism for changing the first boot portion from a ski position relative to the second boot portion to a substantially vertical release position upon abutment of said dislodging element with said cam member due to application of a predetermined rearward force to said first boot portion.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.