CA2932978A1 - Covering element intended to be mounted on a machine and equipment including such a covering element and a machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A footwear element (15) comprising: - a sole (16) extending in an extension direction (E1) between opposite front (19) and rear (18) ends, - a flexible shaft (27) having a lower portion (28) adjoining the sole assembly (16) and adapted to receive a shoe (5) from the user, and an upper portion (29) extending from the lower portion (28) away from the sole assembly ( 16), and - an attachment element (35) adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism (70) provided on the machine (2) for reversibly retaining the footwear element (15) on the machine (2). ), wherein the hooking element (35) is removably mounted on the footwear element (15).

Description

Footwear element for mounting on a machine and equipment comprising such a footwear element and a machine The invention relates to a footwear element intended to be mounted on a gear and to a equipment comprising such a footwear element and a machine.
The invention applies, in particular, to the practice of a physical activity exercised by a by means of a machine, in particular within the framework of a sports practice or to ensure his movements. The invention applies, for example, to sports practice of winter involving the use of gear such as snowshoes, crampons, hiking skis, cross-country skis, downhill skis or skis telemark but also to practice other sports and activities involving the use of a gear, and in particular the cycling involving the use of a bicycle.
To allow the user to practice all of these activities, is known to have use of a footwear element of the type comprising:
a sole which extends in an extension direction between ends before and rear opposite, a flexible rod which comprises a lower portion adjoining the sole and adapted for receive a shoe from the user, and a high portion that extends from the bottom portion away from the sole, and an attachment element adapted to cooperate with a mechanism for planned lock on the apparatus for reversibly retaining the footwear on the craft.
The user can thus insert his shoes in the footwear elements equipped fastening elements adapted to gear locking mechanisms that he wishes use to practice the corresponding activity.
An example of a footwear item of the aforementioned type is described in the document EP

HAVE.
Known elements, however, each include an element hooking specific to the locking mechanism of one of the gears and do not offer modularity satisfactory to adapt to a set of activities involving the use of gear respectively locking mechanisms different from each other.
The invention aims to overcome the problems mentioned above.
For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to an element footwear type in which the attachment element is removably mounted on the element fit.
The invention thus allows the user to adapt the same footwear element to the locking mechanisms of several gear while riding the element appropriate fastening.
The modularity of the footwear is improved.
In particular, the footwear element may be intended to be mounted on a plurality of gear provided respectively with different locking mechanisms of each other.

2 The snap element can then be chosen from a range of elements hooking comprising a plurality of different fastening elements from each other and adapted each to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms.
The sole may have an outer face intended to be oriented towards the craft, the coupling and the fastening element comprising suitable fasteners In order to climb in a removable manner the fastening element on the outer face of the sole assembly.
The fastening element may comprise at least one front part adapted for to be mounted in the vicinity of the front end of the sole assembly, and a device adapted hanging to be reversibly retained in the locking mechanism, the device at least partly provided on the front part of the element hooking.
The attachment device may be provided only on the front part of the element hooking so as to leave free the rear end of the sole when the element footwear is mounted on the machine.
The hooking device and the locking mechanism can be configured for forming on the front part of the attachment element a joint in rotation along an axis perpendicular to the direction of extension.
The front part of the fastening element may comprise two orifices which extend coaxially with each other perpendicular to the direction extension, the orifices being adapted to cooperate with two fingers of the mechanism of locking moveable between a locking position in which said fingers are brought closer to one of the other so as to be able to penetrate respectively into the orifices, and a position retracted in which said fingers are spaced apart from each other to allow orifices to be placed between said fingers.
In a complementary or alternative way, the fastening element can present a face external intended to be oriented towards the machine and the front part of the element hanging can include at least one wire extending perpendicular to the direction extension to distance from the outer face of the fastening element, the thread being adapted to cooperate with two jaws of the locking mechanism movable between a position of blocking in which said jaws are brought closer to one another so as to to be able to grip the wire, and a retracted position in which said jaws are spaced apart from each other to allow the wire to be placed between said jaws.
In a complementary or alternative way, the front part of the element hanging can include an attachment head which extends in the direction of extension, the head latch being adapted to cooperate with a receiving housing of the mechanism of interlocking mechanism, the locking mechanism further comprising at least one organ of blocking movable between a locking position in which said member of blocking keeps the latching head in the receiving housing, and a position retracted in which said locking member allows a displacement of the head hanging compared to reception accommodation.

3 According to a second aspect, the invention relates to equipment for enabling a user to engage in physical activity, including:
a footwear element as defined above, and - at least one machine provided with a locking mechanism with which the element of attachment of the footwear element is adapted to cooperate to retain way reversible footwear element on the machine.
The equipment may include:
a plurality of machines respectively provided with locking mechanisms different from each other, and a range of fastening elements comprising a plurality of elements hooking different from each other and each adapted to cooperate with one of the mechanisms of locking, in which one of the fastening elements of the range of fastening elements is removably mounted on the footwear element.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description that following particular embodiments of the invention given by way of examples not the description being made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a piece of equipment including a footwear element according to a first embodiment of the invention, adapted to receive a shoe, and a machine in the form of a walking racket, the element footwear comprising a fastening element adapted to cooperate with a mechanism of planned lock on the racket to hold back so reversible element walking on the racket, - fig 2 is a perspective representation from below of the element footwear the equipment of Figure 1, illustrating the mounted fastening element of removable way on a sole of the footwear element, FIG. 3 is a partial representation in section according to the orientation referenced III-III
in Figure 1 of the equipment of Figure 1, illustrating the cooperation of the element of attachment of the footwear element with the locking mechanism of the racket of walk, FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of a variant of the element wearing the equipment of Figure 1, FIG. 5 is a perspective view from below of an element footwear according to a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of an element footwear according to a third embodiment of the invention.
In the figures, the same references designate identical elements or like.
The figures represent the same footwear element 15 adapted to allow a user to engage in a variety of physical activities involving the use of machinery 2.

4 The footwear element 15 is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for activities physical exercise exercised in the context of a sporting practice or a with some snowshoes 3, crampons, cross-country skis, cross-country skis, skis from downhill, telemark skis, a bike or whatever.
Figures 1 to 3 show, more particularly, a suitable equipment I
to practice snowshoeing The equipment 1 comprises:
a footwear element 15 adapted to receive a shoe 5, and - A machine 2 in the form of a racket 3.
The shoe 5 comprises a sole 6 and a flexible rod 7. The shoe 5 extends into length from a back end or heel 8 to a front end or tip masked in FIG. 1 by the hunting element 15 in which it is partially engaged.
In the embodiment shown, the rod 7 comprises only one lower part 10 which extends from the sole 6 to an upper end 11 by which the user put his foot in the shoe 5.
The footwear element 15 may in particular be adapted to protect the shoe 5 and the foot of the user. It can then be realized in such a way as to ensure watertightness or snow and / or thermal insulation. It includes a sole 16 and a rod flexible 27.
The sole 16, preferably flexible to allow bending or unfolding foot, extends in a direction of extension El from a rear end or heel 18 to a front end or tip 19. The sole assembly 16 extends, elsewhere, in width, perpendicular to the direction of extension, between a lateral part 20 and a part medial 21. It has an inner face 22 intended to be oriented towards the flotation 6 of the shoe 5, and an outer face 23 opposite to the inner face 22 and intended for be oriented towards a floor surface and, as will be apparent from the rest of the description, to the racket of step 3 or, more generally, the machine 2 on which the footwear element 15 is meant to be mounted.
The rod 27 has a lower portion 28 adjacent the sole 16 and provided to surround the shoe 5 of the user. The stem 27 also comprises a portion high 29 who extends the lower portion 28 away from the sole assembly 16, which portion high 29 is intended to cover at least the user's ankle or ankle and part of the bottom of leg. The low 28 and high 29 portions of the rod 27 preferably form an envelope continuous provided with a boot opening 31 to facilitate the passage of the shoe 5 when it is introduced or removed from the footwear 15. In the realization, without being limited thereto, the boot opening 31 extends laterally from the low portion 28 up to a free edge 30 of the upper portion 29. A closure system, for example under the shape of a slider 32 slider, bordering the boot opening 31 to allow the reversibly closing. One or more clamping members, no represented, may also be provided on the rod 27 to improve the maintenance of the shoe 5 inside of the footwear element 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, to reversibly retain the element footwear on the machine 2 and, in particular, on the racket 3, the element footwear 15 comprises a fastening element 35 adapted to cooperate with a mechanism of locking 70 provided on the racket 3.

The hooking element 35 has a front portion 36 which includes a body 37 shaped to cover a portion of the outer face 23 of the sole 16 of the element 15 in the vicinity of the tip 19. In particular, the body 37 of the front part 36 has an internal face 38 intended, as it will appear in the following of the description, to be oriented towards and brought into contact with the external face 23 of the sole assembly 16 of the element Footwear 15, and an outer face 39, opposite to the inner face 38, and intended to be oriented to the ground surface and the snowshoe 3. The body 37 of the game before 36 presents also a peripheral edge 40 whose contour corresponds to an outline of a edge periphery of the tip 19 of the sole 16 of the footwear 15. A
peripheral skirt 41 extends from the peripheral edge 40 of the body 37 of the front portion 36, 15 perpendicular to it, to cover parts of faces side of the sole 16 and of the lower portion 28 of the rod 27 in the vicinity of the tip 19.
The attachment element 35 also has a rear portion 46 which includes a body 47 shaped to cover a portion of the outer face 23 of the sole 16 of the footwear element 15 in the vicinity of the heel 18. In the same way as for the front part 36, the body 47 of the rear portion 46 has an inner face intended, as he will appear in the rest of the description, to be oriented towards and brought into contact with the outer face 23 of the soleing 16 of the footwear element 15, and an outer face 49, opposite to the internal face, and intended to be oriented towards the ground surface and the snowshoe.
body 47 of the rear portion 46 also has a peripheral edge 50 of which an outline corresponds to a contour of a peripheral edge of the heel 18 of the sole 16 of the element footwear 15.
peripheral skirt 51 extends from the peripheral edge 50 of the body 47 of the rear part 46, perpendicular to it, to cover side-face parts from the 16 and of the lower portion 28 of the rod 27 in the vicinity of the heel 18.
In the embodiment shown, the front 36 and rear 46 parts of the element latch 35 are separated from each other and respectively present edges transverse rear 42 and before 52 remote and facing one another.
Alternatively, the front 36 and rear 46 parts of the attachment element 35 could be connected one to the other by an intermediate part, preferably deformable so as to allow the bending of the foot. According to another variant, the attachment element 35 could to be devoid of rear part 46.
On the outer face 39 of the front portion 36, in the vicinity of the ridge transverse rear 42, the attachment element 35 comprises an attachment device 55 adapted to to be retained from reversibly in the locking mechanism 70 of the racket of 3. In particular, in Figure 2, the attachment device comprises a cross member 56 stretching

6 along a transverse axis T perpendicular to the direction of extension E1, to distance from the face 39 of the front portion 36 being connected thereto by a spacer 57. The crossing 56 has two opposite ends 58 provided respectively with two orifices 59 who extend coaxially with respect to each other along the transverse axis T.
In particular, ends 58 are enlarged, having a circular cross section of diameter greater than that of a circular cross-section of the rest of the cross 56. Alternatively, as will be apparent from the rest of the description, any other arrangement of two orifices 59 coaxial along a transverse axis T could be provided.
The attachment element 35 also comprises, on its front parts 36 and rear 46, points 60 which protrude at the peripheral edges 40, 50 of the front parts 36 and rearward 46. Alternatively, any other arrangement of spikes 60 to favor the adhesion of the footwear element 15 could be provided on the fastening element 35.
According to uses, the attachment element 15 could also be devoid of tip 60.
According to particular provisions of the invention, the fastening element 35 is mounted from removable manner on the footwear 15. The sole 16 of the element footwear 15 and the fastening element 35 comprise fasteners 65 adapted to climb from detachable manner the fastening element 35 on the outer face 23 of the soleing 16. In the embodiment shown, the fasteners 65 comprise through holes 66 formed in the bodies 37, 47 of the front 36 and rear 46 parts of the hanging element 35, and holes each provided with an internal thread formed in the shading 16. Screws 67 adapted to cooperate with the internal thread of the holes 16 can be inserted through the through holes 66 of the fastening element 35 before being screwed 16. In a variant, the attachment element 35 could be mounted so reversible by any other appropriate means and in particular by interlocking, snap or other.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in section, the lock mechanism 70 of the racket walking 3 in which the attachment device 55 of the attachment element 35 is retained. The locking mechanism 70 comprises a base 71 provided with two projections extending transversely with respect to an extension direction E2 of the racket of step 3, facing each other. The projections 72 comprise internally bores 73 coaxial, of circular cross section. Each bore 73 has a access opening 74 facing the access opening of the other bore 73, and a bottom 75, to opposite of the access opening 74, provided with a passage opening 76.
The locking mechanism 70 also includes mounted fingers 77 movable in translation respectively in the bores 73. Each finger 77 presents a length, between first 77a and second 77b opposite ends, greater than one length of the bore 73. Each finger 77 has a guide portion 78 in the vicinity of the second end 77b, which guide portion 78 has a cross section circular of a diameter similar to that of the bore 73 to guide the movement in finger translation

7 77 in the bore 73. Each finger 77 also has a portion from actuating 79 to adjacent the first end 77a, which actuating portion 79 presents a section circular cross-section of a diameter smaller than that of the part of 78. The finger 77 is positioned in the bore 73 with the first end 77a protruding background 75 of the bore 73 through the passage opening 76, and the second end 77b exceeding the opening 74 of the bore 73. The first end 77a is secured to a the sink actuator 80 operable by a user to move the finger 77 towards the bottom 75 of the bore 73. An elastic return member, in the form of a spring helical 81 wound around the actuating portion 79, is interposed between a seat formed on the bottom 75 of the bore 73 and a seat formed at the junction of the actuating portion 79 with the party of 78. A shoulder 82 is, moreover, provided in the vicinity of the second end 77b to limit the movement of the finger 77 towards the bottom 75 of the bore 73.
The fingers 77 can then have a locking position shown on Figure 3 and to which they are solicited by recall efforts by the recall organs 81. In the locking position, the fingers 77 are brought closer together.
on the other way that a spacing between the second ends 77b facing either less than one length of the cross member 56, measured between its ends 58, of the device hanging 55 of the attachment element 35. The second ends 77b can then penetrate in the holes 59 and thus retain the fastening element 35 on the mechanism of lock 70 and the footwear element 15 on the walking racket 3.
The fingers 77 are displaceable against the recall efforts of the organs reminder elastic 81 to a retracted position via the levers 80. In operation pulling or pivoting the actuating levers 80 in one direction spread by relative to the protrusions 72, the fingers 77 are moved towards the funds 77 of their bores 73 until the shoulders 82 abut against the 72. In this retracted position, the second ends 77b of the fingers 77 are discarded one of the other with a spacing greater than the length of the cross member 56 of the hanging device 55 of the fastening element 35. The fastening element 35 can be moved related to locking mechanism 70 for removing the footwear element 15 from the walking racket 3 or put in place the footwear element 15 on the walking racket 3.
As can be seen from the above, the projections 72 of the lock 70 and the fingers 77 of the attachment device 55 are configured to form on the front part 36 of the attachment element 35 a hinge in rotation along the transverse axis T. The absence of fastening between the rear portion 46 of the attachment element 35 and the mechanism of locking 70 allows, moreover, to leave free heel 18 of the sole 16 when the element footwear 15 is mounted on the snowshoe 3. These provisions allow the user to find natural feelings of walking.
As indicated above, the footwear element 15 is adapted to allow the user to practice various physical activities implementing 2 different machines

8 whose locking mechanisms differ from each other. A range items fastening device comprising a plurality of different fastening elements each other and each adapted to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms can then to be planned. Given the removable nature of the attachment element 35 on the element 15, it is possible to adapt the footwear element 15 to each of the gear 2 in choosing the fastening element corresponding to the locking mechanism.
In this regard, Figure 4 shows a variant of the fastening element 85 described previously. This variant is intended to cooperate with a mechanism of lock 70 analogous to that described above. It differs mainly from the element attachment previously described in that:
the fastening element 85 is devoid of a tip 60, the rear part 46 of the fastening element 85 is engaged on the heel 18 of the sole 16 of the footwear 15, and the orifices 89 intended to receive the fingers 77 of the mechanism of lock 70 are formed in an extra thickness of the skirt 41 of the front portion 86 of the element hooking 85.
The other characteristics of the fastening element 85 and the element footwear 15 remain unchanged and are not described again. We will refer to the description that has already been made for more details.
FIG. 5 represents a second embodiment of the footwear element 15, which is equipped with a front portion 96 of a fastening element 95 adapted especially for the practice cross-country skiing. This front portion 96 can be mounted on the element footwear 15 previously described, replacing the front portions 36 described above.
The front portion 96 according to the second embodiment comprises a wire 97 extending along the transverse axis T away from the outer face 39 of the element 95. In particular, the front portion 96 of the attachment member 95 comprises two protrusions 98 which extend from the body 37 of the front portion 96 away from the face 39, and in which opposite ends of the wire 97 are retained. In a manner known in itself, thread 97 is adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism comprising two jaws. The jaws present between a locking position in which they are close together one on the other so as to be able to grip the thread 97 and thus retain the part before 96 of the element fastening 95 while leaving free the heel 18 of the footwear element 15.
One or both jaws are reversibly movable to a retracted position in which they are separated from each other so as to allow thread 97 to be placed between jaws or to be removed. Alternatively, several wires could be planned to cooperate with one or more pairs of jaws of a locking mechanism.
The other characteristics of the fastening element 95 and the element footwear 15 remain unchanged and are not described again. We will refer to the description that has already been made for more details.

9 In a third embodiment of the footwear element 15 shown in Figure 6 a front portion 106 of a fastening element 105 is particularly suitable for the practice biking. The front portion 106 of the attachment element 105 then comprises a head hooking device 107 shaped to cooperate with a locking mechanism of pedal automatic bike. The attachment head 107 extends in the direction extension El in direction of the tip 19 of the footwear element 15, since a stop 108 arranged at adjacent to the rear edge 42 of the front portion 106. The attachment head 107 has a terminal portion extending parallel to the outer face 39 of the body 37 from the front 106, and which has two lateral notches 109. The attachment head 107 is suitable for cooperate with a receiving housing of the locking mechanism in which she can to be received. The locking mechanism then further comprises one or several organs of blocking, for example arranged in the receiving housing, and movable between a position in which they hold the attachment head 107 in the housing of reception and a retracted position in which they authorize a moving of the head hooking 107 relative to the receiving housing. Alternatively, a head hooking 107 analog can be used to mount the footwear 15 on a other gear than bicycle, the locking member being able to be located outside the housing of reception receiving the fastening head 107.
The other characteristics of the attachment element 105 and the element footwear 15 remain unchanged and are not described again. We will refer to the description that has already been made for more details.
The invention has been described with various embodiments in which the device hanging is provided only on the front part of the element snap in order to leave free the heel of the sole when the footwear is mounted on the craft.
In other embodiments, the shackle could be partly planned on the front part and partly on the back part of the element hooking. The mechanism locking device is then adapted to reversibly retain the of the device latch located on the rear part of the fastening element. In particular, the locking mechanism can release the part of the device anchorage located on the back part of the fastening element regardless of the part of the device latch located on the front part of the fastening element so as to leave free heel of the footwear when mounted on the apparatus and allow the the user of find a normal walking situation.

Claims (11)

10 1. Footwear element (15) intended to be mounted on at least one machine (2) for to allow to a user to practice a physical activity, the footwear element (15) comprising:
a sole assembly (16) extending in an extension direction (E1) between extremities front (19) and rear (18) opposite, - a flexible rod (27) which comprises a lower portion (28) adjacent to the flotation (16) and adapted to receive a shoe (5) from the user, and a high portion (29) stretching from the lower portion (28) away from the sole (16), and an attachment element (35; 85; 95; 105) adapted to cooperate with a mechanism of locking (70) provided on the machine (2) for reversibly retaining the footwear (15) on the machine (2), the footwear element (15) being characterized in that the fastening element (35; 85; 95;
105) is removably mounted on the footwear element (15). 2. footwear (15) according to claim 1 to be mounted on a plurality machines respectively provided with locking mechanisms different from those each other, wherein the fastening element is selected from a range of elements hooking comprising a plurality of engaging members (35; 85; 95; 105) different one of others and each adapted to cooperate with one of the mechanisms of locking. 3. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, in which the sole (16) has an outer face (23) intended to be oriented towards the machine (2), the (16) and the hooking element (35; 85; 95; 105) comprising organs of fastener (65) adapted to removably mount the fastener (35; 85; 95;
105) on the outer face (23) of the sole assembly (16). 4. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the engaging element (35; 85; 95; 105) has at least one front part (36; 86; 96;
106) adapted to be mounted adjacent the front end (19) of the shading (16), and a attachment device (55) adapted to be reversibly retained in the mechanism latch (70), the latching device (55) being at least partly provided on the front portion (36; 86; 96; 106) of the engaging member (35; 85; 95;
105). The footwear element (15) according to claim 4, wherein the device hooking (55) is provided only on the front (36; 86; 96; 106) of the hanging element (35; 85; 95; 105) so as to leave the rear end (18) free.
shading (16) when the footwear element (15) is mounted on the machine (2). 6. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, in which latching device (55) and the locking mechanism (70) are configured to form on the front portion (36; 86; 96) of the hooking member (35; 85; 95) an articulation in rotation along a transverse axis (T) perpendicular to the direction extension (E1). 7. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the front portion (36; 86) of the engaging member (35; 85) includes two orifices (59; 89) which extend coaxially with respect to each other perpendicular to the direction extension (E1), the orifices (58; 89) being adapted to cooperate with two fingers (77) of the locking mechanism movable between a locking position in which said fingers (77) are brought closer to one another so as to be able to penetrate respectively in the orifices (59; 89) and a retracted position in which said fingers (77) are dismissed from each other so as to allow the orifices (59; 89) to be placed between said fingers (77). 8. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, in which the hooking element (95) has an outer face (39) intended to be geared towards the machine, the front part (96) of the attachment element (95) comprising at less than one thread (97) extending perpendicularly to the extension direction (E1) at a distance of the outer face (39) of the hooking member (95), the wire (97) being adapted to cooperate with two jaws of the locking mechanism movable between a position of blocking in which said jaws are brought closer to one another so as to to be able to grip the wire (97), and a retracted position in which said jaws are discarded one of the other so as to allow the wire (97) to be placed between the jaws. 9. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, in which the front portion (106) of the attachment member (105) comprises a head hanging (107) which extends in the direction of extension (E1), the attachment head (107) being adapted for cooperate with a receiving housing of the locking mechanism, the mechanism of lock further comprising at least one displaceable locking member between a position in which said locking member holds the head latching (107) in the receiving housing, and a retracted position in which said housing member blocking allows a displacement of the attachment head (107) relative to the housing reception. 10. Equipment (1) to enable a user to practice an activity physical, comprising:
- A footwear element (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and - at least one machine (2) provided with a locking mechanism (70) with which element (85; 85; 95; 105) of the footwear element (15) is adapted for cooperate for retain reversibly the footwear element (15) on the machine (2). Equipment (1) according to claim 10, comprising:
a plurality of machines respectively provided with locking mechanisms different from each other, and a range of fastening elements comprising a plurality of elements hooking (55; 85; 95; 105) different from each other and each adapted for cooperate with one of locking mechanisms, in which one of the attachment elements (55; 85; 95; 105) of the range items attachment is removably mounted on the footwear element (15).