FR3037484A1 - FOOTWEAR ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING AND EQUIPMENT COMPRISING SUCH A FOOTWEAR AND A GEAR - 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

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a footwear element intended to be mounted on a machine and to an equipment comprising such a footwear element and a machine. The invention applies, in particular, to the practice of a physical activity exerted by a user through a machine, especially in the context of a sport or to ensure his movements. The invention applies, for example, to the practice of winter sports involving the use of equipment such as snowshoes, crampons, 10 ski touring, cross-country skis, downhill skis or telemark skiing, but also to practice other sports and activities involving the use of a machine, including cycling involving the use of a bicycle. To allow the user to practice all of these activities, it is known to use a footwear element of the type comprising: a sole which extends in an extension direction between front and rear ends opposed, - a flexible rod which has a lower portion adjoining the sole and adapted to receive a shoe of the user, and an upper portion which extends from the lower portion away from the sole, and 20 - an element hooking adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism provided on the machine for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the machine. The user can thus insert his shoes in the footwear elements equipped with fastening elements adapted to the locking mechanisms of the gear he wishes to use to perform the corresponding activity. An example of a footwear item of the aforementioned type is described in document EP 1 808 088 A1. However, the known footwear elements each comprise a specific fastening element for the locking mechanism of one of the machines and do not offer a modularity satisfactory to adapt to a set of activities involving the use of gear provided respectively 30 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 a footwear element of the aforementioned type wherein the fastening element is removably mounted on the footwear element. The invention thus allows the user to adapt the same footwear to the locking mechanisms of several machines by mounting the appropriate fastening element. The modularity of the footwear is improved. In particular, the footwear element may be intended to be mounted on a plurality of machines respectively provided with locking mechanisms different from each other. The fastening element may then be chosen from a range of fastening elements comprising a plurality of fastening elements different from each other and each adapted to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms. The soleing may have an outer face intended to be directed towards the machine, the sole and the attachment element comprising fasteners adapted to removably mount the fastening element on the outer face of the sole. The attachment element may comprise at least one front part adapted to be mounted in the vicinity of the front end of the sole assembly, and an attachment device adapted to be reversibly retained in the locking mechanism, the device 10 anchoring being at least partly provided on the front part of the fastening element. The attachment device can be provided only on the front part of the attachment element so as to leave free the rear end of the sole assembly when the footwear element is mounted on the machine. The hooking device and the locking mechanism may be configured to form on the front part of the hooking element a hinge in rotation along a transverse axis perpendicular to the direction of extension. The front part of the fastening element may comprise two orifices which extend coaxially with respect to each other perpendicularly to the direction of extension, the orifices being adapted to cooperate with two fingers of the locking mechanism. movable between a locking position in which said fingers are brought closer to each other so as to be able to penetrate respectively into the orifices, and a retracted position in which said fingers are spaced from each other so as to allow the orifices to be placed between said fingers. In complementary or alternative manner, the hooking element may have an external face intended to be oriented towards the machine and the front part of the hooking element may comprise at least one wire which extends perpendicular to the remote extension direction of the outer face of the fastening element, the wire being adapted to cooperate with two jaws of the locking mechanism movable between a locking position in which said jaws are brought closer to one another so as to be able to grip the wire, and a retracted position in which said jaws are spaced from each other so as to allow the wire to be placed between said jaws. Complementarily or alternatively, the front part of the fastening element may comprise a fastening head which extends in the direction of extension, the fastening head being adapted to cooperate with a receiving housing of the mechanism locking mechanism, the locking mechanism further comprising at least one locking member movable between a locking position in which said locking member holds the attachment head in the receiving housing, and a retracted position in which said locking member blocking allows movement of the attachment head relative to the receiving housing. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to equipment for enabling a user to practice a physical activity, comprising: a footwear element as defined above, and at least one machine provided with a locking mechanism with which the fastening element 5 of the footwear element is adapted to cooperate to reversibly retain the footwear element on the machine. The equipment may comprise: a plurality of machines provided respectively with locking mechanisms that are different from one another, and a range of fastening elements comprising a plurality of different fastening elements from each other and each adapted to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms, wherein 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 following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples, the description being made with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a front perspective representation of equipment comprising 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, footwear element comprising a fastening element adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism provided on the racket to reversibly retain the footwear element on the walking racket, - fig 2 is a perspective view from below of the footwear element of the equipment of Figure 1, illustrating the fastening element removably mounted on a sole of the footwear element FIG. 3 is a partial sectional representation according to the orientation referenced in FIG. 1 of the equipment of FIG. 1, illustrating the cooperation of the element of attachment of the footwear element with the locking mechanism of FIG. the walking racket; FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of a variant of the footwear element of the equipment of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a perspective view from below of an element; In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of a footwear element according to a third embodiment of the invention. In the figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. The figures represent the same footwear item 15 adapted to allow a user to practice various physical activities involving the use of machines 2. The footwear element 15 is, in particular but not exclusively, adapted for physical activities carried out in part of a sport or a trip with 3 snowshoes, crampons, cross-country skis, cross-country skis, downhill skis, telemark skis, a bike or other.

Figures 1 to 3 show, more particularly, equipment 1 adapted to the practice of walking snowshoes. The equipment 1 comprises: - a footwear element 15 adapted to receive a shoe 5, and - a machine 2 in the form of a walking racket 3. The shoe 5 comprises a sole assembly 6 and a flexible rod 7. The shoe 5 extends in length from a rear end or heel 8 to a front end or tip masked in Figure 1 by the driving member 15 in which it is partially engaged. In the embodiment shown, the rod 7 comprises only a lower portion 10 which extends from the sole 6 to an upper end 11 by which the user puts 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 made to ensure watertightness or snow and / or thermal insulation. It includes a sole 16 and a flexible rod 27. The sole 16, preferably flexible to allow flexion or unwinding of the foot, extends in a direction of extension El from a rear end or heel 18 20 to a front end or tip 19. The sole 16 extends, moreover, in width, perpendicular to the direction of extension, between a lateral portion 20 and a medial portion 21. It has an inner face 22 intended to be oriented towards the the sole 6 of the shoe 5, and an outer face 23 opposite the inner face 22 and intended to be oriented towards a floor surface and, as will be apparent from the following description, towards the walking rack 3 or more generally, the machine 2 on which the footwear element 15 is intended 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 rod 27 also has a high portion 29 which extends the lower portion 28 away from the sole 16, which high portion 29 is intended to cover at least the user's ankle or ankle and part of the lower leg . The low 28 and high 29 portions of the upper 27 preferably form a continuous envelope provided with a boot opening 31 to facilitate the passage of the boot 5 when it is introduced or removed from the footwear element 15. In the embodiment, but not limited to, the boot opening 31 extends laterally from the lower portion 28 to a free edge 30 of the upper portion 29. A closure system, for example in the form of a slider 32 slider, bordering the boot opening 31 to allow reversibly closing. One or more clamping members, not shown, may also be provided on the rod 27 to improve the maintenance of the boot 5 inside the footwear element 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, for reversibly retaining the footwear element 15 on the machine 2 and, in particular, on the walking racket 3, the footwear element 15 comprises an element. fastener 35 adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism 70 provided on the racket 3.

The attachment element 35 has a front portion 36 which comprises a body 37 shaped to cover a portion of the outer face 23 of the sole 16 of the footwear element 15 in the vicinity of the tip 19. In particular, the body 37 of the front portion 36 has an inner face 38 intended, as will appear in the following description, to be oriented towards and placed in contact with the outer face 23 of the sole 16 of the footwear element 15, and an outer face 39, opposed to the inner face 38, and intended to be oriented towards the ground surface and the walking racket 3. The body 37 of the front portion 36 also has a peripheral edge 40 whose contour corresponds to an outline of a peripheral edge 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 thereto, to cover parts of the faces lat erales the sole 16 and 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 comprises a body 47 shaped to cover a portion of the outer face 23 of the 16 of the footwear 15 in the vicinity of the heel 18. In the same way as for the front portion 36, the body 47 of the rear portion 46 has an inner face intended, as will be apparent in the following description, to be oriented towards and brought into contact with the outer face 23 of the sole assembly 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 walking racket 3 The body 47 of the rear portion 46 also has a peripheral edge 50 whose contour corresponds to a contour of a peripheral edge of the heel 18 of the sole 16 of the footwear element 15. A peripheral skirt 51 extends from the edgedevice 50 of the body 47 of the rear portion 46, perpendicularly thereto, to cover side-face portions of the sole 16 and 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 attachment element 35 are separated from each other and respectively have rear transverse edges 42 and 52 before and away from each other. Alternatively, the front 36 and rear 46 parts of the attachment member 35 could be connected to each other by an intermediate portion, preferably deformable so as to allow flexion of the foot. According to another variant, the attachment element 35 could be devoid of a rear portion 46. On the outer face 39 of the front portion 36, in the vicinity of the rear transverse edge 42, the attachment element 35 comprises a attachment device 55 adapted to be reversibly retained in the locking mechanism 70 of the walking racket 3. In particular, in FIG. 2, the attachment device comprises a cross-member 56 which extends 3037484 6 according to a transverse axis T perpendicular to the direction of extension E1, away from the outer face 39 of the front portion 36 being connected thereto by a spacer 57. The cross member 56 has two opposite ends 58 provided respectively with two orifices 59 which extend coaxially with each other along the transverse axis T. In particular, the ends 58 are widened, 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 become apparent from the following description, any other arrangement of two orifices 59 coaxial along a transverse axis T could be provided. The attachment member 35 also includes, on its front 36 and rear 46, tips 60 which protrude at the peripheral edges 40, 50 of the front 36 and rear 46 portions. Alternatively, any other spike arrangement 60 to promote the adhesion of the footwear element 15 could be provided on the fastening element 35. According to the uses, the fastening element 15 could also be devoid of tip 60. According to particular provisions of the In the invention, the fastening element 35 is removably mounted on the footwear element 15. The sole assembly 16 of the footwear element 15 and the fastening element 35 comprise fastening elements 65 adapted to mount in such a manner that Removable catch member 35 on outer face 23 of sole assembly 16. In the embodiment shown, fasteners 65 include through holes 66 formed in bodies 37, 47 of front portions 36 and rear 46 of the hooking member 20 35, and holes each provided with an internal thread formed in the sole 16. Screws 67 adapted to cooperate with the internal thread of the holes of the sole 16 can be inserted through the holes 66 of the fastening element 35 before being screwed into the sole assembly 16. In a variant, the fastening element 35 could be reversibly mounted by any other appropriate means and in particular by interlocking, latching or otherwise . Figure 3 illustrates, in section, the locking mechanism 70 of the racket 3 in which the attachment device 55 of the fastening element 35 is retained. The locking mechanism 70 comprises a base 71 provided with two projections 72 extending transversely with respect to an extension direction E2 of the walking rack 3, facing one another. The projections 72 have internally coaxial bores 73, of circular cross section. Each bore 73 has an access opening 74 facing the access opening of the other bore 73, and a bottom 75, opposite the access opening 74, provided with an orifice passage 76. The locking mechanism 70 also comprises fingers 77 mounted displaceable in translation respectively in the bores 73. Each finger 77 has a length, between first 77a and second 77b opposite ends, greater than a length of the bore 73 Each finger 77 comprises a guide portion 78 in the vicinity of the second end 77b, which guide portion 78 has a circular cross section of a diameter similar to that of the bore 73 to guide the translational movement of the finger 3037484 7 77 in the bore 73. Each finger 77 also has an actuating portion 79 in the vicinity of the first end 77a, which actuating portion 79 has a circular cross-section of a smaller diameter than that of the guide portion 78. The finger 77 is positioned in the bore 73 with the first end 77a protruding from the bottom 75 of the bore 73 through the through hole 76, and the second end 77b protruding from the access opening 74 of the bore 73. The first end 77a is secured to an actuator lever 80 actuated by a user to move the finger 77 towards the bottom 75 of the bore 73. A resilient return, in the form of a helical spring 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 portion of the actuating 79 with the guide portion 78. A shoulder 82 is also provided in the vicinity of the second end 77b to limit the movement of the finger 77 to the bottom 75 of the bore 73. The fingers 77 can then have a position blocking represented 3 and to which they are biased by return forces exerted by the resilient return members 81. In the locking position, the fingers 77 are brought closer to each other in such a way that spacing between the second ends 77b opposite or less than a length of the cross member 56, measured between its ends 58, of the attachment device 55 of the attachment element 35. The second ends 77b can then enter the orifices 59 and thus retain the hooking element 35 on the locking mechanism 70 and the footwear element 15 on the walking racket 3. The fingers 77 are displaceable against the biasing forces of the elastic return members 81 towards a retracted position through the actuating levers 80. By pulling or rotating the actuating levers 80 in a spacing direction relative to the protrusions 72, the fingers 77 are moved vertically. Rs 77 of their respective bores 73 25 until the shoulders 82 abut against the projections 72. In this retracted position, the second ends 77b of the fingers 77 are spaced from one another with a spacing greater than the length of the cross member 56 of the attachment device 55 of the attachment element 35. The attachment element 35 can be moved relative to the locking mechanism 70 to remove the footwear item 15 from the racket 3. As can be seen from the foregoing, the protrusions 72 of the locking mechanism 70 and the fingers 77 of the hooking device 55 are configured to form the footwear 15. on the front portion 36 of the fastening member 35 a hinge in rotation along the transverse axis T. The lack of attachment between the rear portion 46 of the fastening element 35 and the locking mechanism 7 0 allows, moreover, to leave free the heel 18 of the sole 16 when the footwear element 15 is mounted on the racket walk 3. These provisions allow the user to find natural sensations of walking. As indicated above, the footwear element 15 is adapted to allow the user to practice various physical activities using gear 2 varied 3037484 8 whose locking mechanisms differ from each other. A range of fastening elements comprising a plurality of fastening elements different from each other and each adapted to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms can then be provided. Given the removable nature of the fastening element 35 on the footwear element 15, it is possible to adapt the footwear element 15 to each of the machines 2 by choosing the fastening element corresponding to the locking mechanism. . In this regard, Figure 4 shows a variant of the attachment element 85 described above. This variant is intended to cooperate with a locking mechanism 70 similar to that described above. It differs mainly from the attachment element 35 described above in that: - the attachment element 85 has no point 60, - the rear portion 46 of the attachment element 85 is engaged on the heel 18 of the sole 16 of the footwear 15, and - the orifices 89 for receiving the fingers 77 of the locking mechanism 70 are formed in an excess thickness of the skirt 41 of the front portion 86 of the fastening element 85 The other characteristics of the fastening element 85 and the footwear element 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 in particular for the practice of cross-country skiing. This front portion 96 may be mounted on the footwear element 15 previously described, replacing the front portions 36 described above. The front portion 96 according to the second embodiment comprises a wire 97 which extends along the transverse axis T at a distance from the outer face 39 of the fastening element 95. In particular, the front portion 96 of the anchoring element 95 comprises two projections 98 which extend from the body 37 of the front portion 96 away from the outer face 39, and in which opposite ends of the wire 97 are retained. In a manner known per se, the wire 97 is adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism comprising two jaws. The jaws have a locking position in which they are close to each other so as to grip the thread 97 and thus retain the front portion 96 of the attachment member 95 while leaving the heel free. 18 of the footwear 15. One or both jaws are reversibly movable to a retracted position in which they are spaced from each other so as to allow the wire 97 to be placed between the legs. jaws or to be removed. Alternatively, a plurality of wires could be provided to cooperate with one or more pairs of jaws of a locking mechanism. The other characteristics of the fastening element 95 and the footwear element 15 remain unchanged and are not described again. We will refer to the description that has already been made for more details.

In a third embodiment of the footwear element 15 shown in FIG. 6, a front portion 106 of a fastening element 105 is particularly suitable for practicing the bicycle. The front portion 106 of the attachment element 105 then comprises a hooking head 107 shaped to cooperate with a mechanism for locking the bicycle's automatic pedals. The attachment head 107 extends in the direction of extension E 1 towards the point 19 of the footwear element 15, from a stop 108 arranged in the vicinity of the rear edge 42 of the front portion 106. The head the attachment portion 107 has an end portion which extends parallel to the outer face 39 of the body 37 of the front portion 106, and which has two lateral notches 109. The attachment head 107 is adapted to cooperate with a housing of FIG. receiving the locking mechanism in which it can be received. The locking mechanism then further comprises one or more locking members, for example arranged in the receiving housing, and movable between a locking position in which they hold the attachment head 107 in the receiving housing, and a position retracted in which they allow a movement of the attachment head 107 relative to the receiving housing. Alternatively, a similar attachment head 107 may be used to mount the footwear element 15 on a machine other than a bicycle, the locking member may be located outside the receiving housing receiving the attachment head 107 The other features of the fastening element 105 and the footwear 15 remain unchanged and are not described again. Reference is made to the description that has already been made for more details. The invention has been described with various embodiments in which the attachment device is provided only on the front part of the attachment element so as to leave free the heel of the sole assembly when the footwear element is mounted on the gear.

In other embodiments, the attachment device could be provided partly on the front part and partly on the rear part of the attachment element. The locking mechanism is then adapted to reversibly retain the portion of the attachment device located on the rear portion of the fastening element. In particular, the locking mechanism can make it possible to release the part of the attachment device located on the rear part of the fastening element independently of the part of the attachment device located on the front part of the element of attachment. hooking so as to leave free the heel of the footwear element when mounted on the machine and allow the user to find a normal operating situation.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Footwear element (15) intended to be mounted on at least one machine (2) to enable a user to practice a physical activity, the footwear element (15) comprising: - a sole (16) which extends in one direction extension (El) between opposite front (19) and rear (18) ends, - a flexible rod (27) which comprises a lower portion (28) adjoining the sole assembly (16) and adapted to receive a shoe (5) of the user, and an upper portion (29) extending from the lower portion (28) away from the sole assembly (16), and - an engaging member (35; 85; 95; 105) adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism (70) provided on the machine (2) for reversibly retaining the footwear element (15) on the machine (2), the footwear element (15) being characterized in that the hooking 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 of machines respectively provided with locking mechanisms different from each other, wherein the fastening element is selected from a range of elements engaging member comprising a plurality of different engaging members (35; 85; 95; 105) and each adapted to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms. 3. Footwear (15) according to any one of claims I and 2, wherein the sole (16) has an outer face (23) intended to be directed towards the machine (2), the sole (16) and the engaging member (35; 85; 95; 105) including fasteners (65) adapted to removably mount the engaging member (35; 85; 95; 105) to the outer face ( 23) of the sole assembly (16). The footwear element (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hooking member (35; 85; 95; 105) has at least one front portion (36; 86; 96; 106); ) adapted to be mounted adjacent to the front end (19) of the sole assembly (16), and a coupling device (55) adapted to be reversibly retained in the locking mechanism (70), the device hooking (55) being at least partly provided on the front portion (36; 86; 96; 106) of the engaging member (35; 85; 95; 105). 30 5. Footwear (15) according to claim 4, wherein the hooking device (55) is provided only on the front portion (36; 86; 96; 106) of the fastening element (35; 85; 95; 105) so as to leave free the rear end (18) of the sole (16) when the footwear element (15) is mounted on the machine (2). The footwear (15) of any of claims 4 and 5, wherein the hooking 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) rotates about a transverse axis (T) perpendicular to the extension direction (E 1). 7. Footwear (15) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the front portion (36; 86) of the fastening element (35; 85) comprises two orifices (59; 89) which 3037484 11 extend coaxially relative to each other perpendicular to the direction of extension (El), the orifices (58; 89) being adapted to cooperate with two fingers (77) of the locking mechanism movable between a position in which said fingers (77) are brought together so as to be able to penetrate respectively into the orifices (59; 89) and a retracted position in which said fingers (77) are spaced apart. on the other side 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, wherein the fastening element (95) has an outer face (39) intended to be directed towards the machine, the front part (96). ) of the fastening element (95) comprising at least one wire (97) extending perpendicularly to the direction of extension (El) away from the outer face (39) of the fastening element ( 95), the wire (97) being adapted to cooperate with two jaws of the locking mechanism movable between a locking position in which said jaws are brought closer to each other so as to grip the wire (97), and a retracted position in which said jaws are spaced from each other so as to allow the wire (97) to be placed between said jaws. 9. footwear (15) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the front portion (106) of the fastening element (105) comprises a hooking head (107) which extends according to the extension direction (El), the attachment head (107) being adapted to cooperate with a receiving housing of the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism further comprising at least one locking member movable between a locking position wherein said locking member maintains the attachment head (107) in the receiving housing, and a retracted position in which said locking member allows a movement of the attachment head (107) relative to the receiving housing. Equipment (1) for enabling a user to practice physical activity, 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 the fastening element (55; 85; 95; 105) of the footwear element (15) is adapted to cooperate to reversibly retain the footwear element (15) on the gear (2). 11. 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 fastening elements (55; 85; 95; 105) different from each other and each adapted to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms, wherein one of the coupling elements (55; 85; 95; 105) of the range of hooking elements is removably mounted on the footwear element (15).