TENSIONING DEVICE FOR A SKI BOOT AND SKI BOOT EQUIPPED THEREWITH

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Austrian Application No. A51052/2023 filed Dec. 22, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a tensioning device for adjustably varying the perimeter or receiving volume of a ski boot, and to a ski boot with such a tensioning device, as is specified in the claims.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 31 to 33, WO2021138592A1 discloses a ski boot, in particular a cross-country ski boot, with a tensioning device for tightening the sport shoe. The tensioning device comprises an elongate plate that can be positioned on the ski boot. The elongate plate has a proximal end and a distal end. A tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate plate. The tensioning device further comprises a cable-like tensioning element that is operably connected with the tensioning mechanism such that an actuation the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tensioning element. Furthermore, the tensioning device comprises a guide element that is coupled with the elongate plate between the proximal end and the distal end. The cable-like tensioning element can be operated by the at least one guide element in such a way that the tensioning element is guided around the item and along a section of the elongate plate. The elongate plate can consist of plastic elements that are made from a material with relatively low friction in order to thus create a surface with low friction upon which the cable-like tensioning element slides. The tensioning element can thereby simplify the closing of the longitudinal slit or the opening of the ski boot. According to one embodiment, the elongate plate ought to slide freely in the longitudinal slit or in the opening. In other embodiments, the elongate plate can be firmly fastened to the ski boot, namely at a distal end of the longitudinal slit or the longitudinal opening. Furthermore, the elongate plate can be fastened to the ski boot by means of sewing, adhesion, welding, mechanical fastening etc. The respectively described embodiments seek to allow for the comfortable adjustment of the fit of ski boots, but these embodiments are technically complex which has a negative effect on the manufacturing costs and the robustness of such ski boots.

DE102013112017B4 describes a lace device for a ski boot, wherein the ski boot has a sole and a hard shell, wherein the hard shell has at least in the toe and instep region of the boot an upper and lower shell section that overlap along the median plane of the ski boot. The lace device comprises at least a cable or strap-like traction means, a first and second fastening means, and at least a first to third deflection means, wherein at least one of the deflection means and/or fastening means is configured in the form of a tensioning means to introduce at least a first tensioning force into the lace device. The first fastening means can thereby be configured as a rotating element, i.e. the tension is generated by rotating the first fastening means. This embodiment also requires a particularly robust tensioning means, hence the corresponding manufacturing costs of the ski boot can be relatively high.

EP0056953B1 discloses a closure device in particular for ski boots. The closure device comprises a box-shaped body that is assigned to one of the flaps of the boot to be brought together and is equipped with a knob for actuating a spool to which at least one tensioning cable is fastened. The tensioning cable is further connected with the other flap of the ski boot to be brought together. In addition, a ratchet gear is provided which is operated by the knob and is configured such that it locks the spool in each selected position if the knob is rotated in one direction, and releases the spool if the knob is rotated in the opposite direction. Such a closure or winding device can enable comfortable closure of a ski boot, but particularly in the case of ski boots for Alpine downhill skiing has to be able to withstand high forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a ski boot or tensioning device for a ski boot by means of which a user is able to comfortably close or tighten the ski boot, and whereby a high robustness of the ski boot is nevertheless achieved with the lowest possible manufacturing costs.

This object is solved by a tensioning device and a ski boot according to the claims.

The tensioning device according to the invention is configured for adjustably varying the perimeter or receiving volume of a ski boot. It comprises a support plate that is provided to be fastened to the ski boot. It further comprises a winding device with at least one spool for the winding in and out of at least one tensioning cable as needed, said winding device being fastened to or fastenable to the support plate. The support plate has at least one fastening means that is configured to be connected, preferably in a rigid or fixed manner, with at least one corresponding anchoring means on the ski boot. The at least one corresponding anchoring means on the ski boot is thereby provided, in an alternative use, for the fastening or mounting of a lever-operable tensioning buckle to the ski boot or for the fastening or mounting of a corresponding component of a lever-operable tensioning buckle such as a latch or tooth strap.

The tensioning device according to the invention enables an efficient provision of ski boots with technologically differently fashioned tensioning devices for adjustably varying the perimeter or receiving volume of those ski boots. In particular, a ski boot or its outer plastic shell can thereby be easily equipped either with the tensioning device according to the invention comprising a cable winding device, or alternatively with at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle in order to be able to vary the receiving volume of the ski boot or the fit of the ski boot in relation to a user's foot. Due to the support plate being dimensioned in such a way and its fastening means being designed such that those fastening means can interact with the anchoring means configured on the boot, rapid mountability of the support plate on a corresponding plastic shell of a ski boot can be achieved. This plastic shell can preferably be formed by the cuff and/or the front foot shell of a ski boot. In addition, the support plate for the cable winding device to be mounted on the upper side of a ski boot enables a robust and relatively stable fixing of the winding device, preferably on a cuff of the ski boot. The term cuff is hereby to be understood as the component of a ski boot that is provided to surround a user's lower leg section and that is connected in an articulated manner with the front foot shell. The support plate with the at least one fastening means thereby constitutes an efficient means for the rigid or fixed mounting of the winding device on a ski boot, such that production-related advantages can be gained. Considerable cost savings can thereby be potentially achieved for molds or tools required for the injection molding of ski boots with an outer shell made from injection-molded plastic. However, warehousing and production flexibility can also be optimized by the tensioning device according to the invention. Furthermore, the corresponding anchoring means on the ski boot, which is provided in an alternative use for the fastening or mounting of a lever-operable tensioning buckle to the ski boot, already fundamentally has a high robustness or durability and can thus guarantee high tear strength for the support plate.

In particular if the tensioning device is assigned to the cuff of a ski boot for Alpine downhill skiing, a comfortably operable and robust Alpine downhill ski boot can be produced that at the same time has the most cost-effective production costs.

According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one fastening means on the support plate preferably comprises at least two first openings in the support plate, that the at least one corresponding anchoring means on the ski boot comprises at least two second openings, and that the first and second openings correspond in terms of position, in particular fit together in terms of position and structure, such that the support plate is fastenable to the ski boot by means of at least one connection means, for example by means of screws or rivets. The at least one connection means is preferably provided to pass through and mechanically fix or couple corresponding pairs of first and section openings. The configuration of openings and preferably of screw or rivet-like connection means enables a rapid and at the same time robust mounting either of the support plate with the winding device, or alternatively of the at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least one fastening means on the support plate comprises a first and a second fastening means arranged at a distance to one another, and that said two fastening means and the winding device define a triangle arrangement composed of three corners on the support plate. The winding device is thereby positioned at the third corner and said third corner is located between the first and second corners with the fastening means if a normal intersects the third corner on a straight line connecting the first and second corners. Such a triangle arrangement, the corners of which are defined by two fastening means for the support plate and the winding device on the support plate, enables a statically optimized fastening of the support plate to the outer surface of a ski boot.

Furthermore, it can be provided that a base plate of the winding device is connected with the support plate in a tear-proof manner, in particular by means of at least one screw or rivet, preferably by means of at least three screws or rivets. The winding device can thereby be pre-mounted on the support plate in a tear-proof manner before the support plate is connected with the ski boot, in particular with its plastic shell. In addition, mounting of the winding device on the support plate can be achieved without screw or rivet heads being visible during use of the ski boot. This is the case, for example, if screw or rivet heads are arranged nearest to the lower side of the support plate, where said lower side is to be located nearest to the surface of the ski boot.

An embodiment according to which it can be provided that the tensioning device is provided for fastening or mounting on a cuff of a ski boot, said cuff being provided to surround a ski boot user's lower leg section, is also advantageous. A ski boot cuff can thereby be fashioned that can be selectively tightened and loosened or opened in a practical and easy way with a cable winding device. The basic body or shell body of the ski boot cuff can alternatively or as standard be provided for the fastening of at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle.

According to a further embodiment, it is possible that at least one of the two fastening means on the support plate is additionally provided as an anchor point for at least one, in relation to the winding device, distal end of the at least one tensioning cable, or that the support plate has a first and a second fastening means which are additionally each provided as anchor points for the distal ends of a first and a second tensioning cable of the winding device. The at least one fastening means is thereby used several times, whereby manufacturing and/or assembly costs can be kept as low as possible. In addition, a stable anchoring of the at least one, in relation to the winding device, distal end of the tensioning cable can thereby be achieved.

Alternatively, it can be expedient if at least one of the two fastening means on the support plate is additionally provided as a deflection means for a tensioning cable of the winding device configured as a closed loop, or that the support plate has a first and a second fastening means which are additionally each provided as deflection means for a tensioning cable of the winding device configured as a closed loop. It is thus ensured that an end of the tensioning cable cannot be outside of the winding device. Outside of the winding device, the tensioning cable can thus be configured as a relatively large or two-strand loop, said loop surrounding at least one of the two deflection means, preferably both deflection means, or being guided or held in position by the at least one deflection means. This can be beneficial for the robustness or tensile strength of the winding device and the tensioning cable. In addition, costly anchor loops or anchoring eyelets at the end of the tensioning cable are rendered superfluous.

Furthermore, it can be provided that a receiving channel is formed in an upper side of the support plate to be faced away or facing away from a ski boot, the receiving channel extending in its longitudinal direction at least partially between the first and the second fastening means and being provided to receive a portion of the tensioning cable. This receiving channel can be provided for the non-contact crossing of sections of the tensioning cable. Abrasion of the tensioning cable at such a crossing point can thereby be avoided. A self-crossing path of the tensioning cable can achieve advantageous tensions and advantageous directions of said tensions.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the receiving channel is configured as a slit in the upper side of the support plate, said slit being at least partially coverable by a cover element in radial direction to the longitudinal slit axis. Easy accommodation of the corresponding partial section of the tensioning cable in the receiving channel can thus also be achieved if the tensioning cable is guided as a closed loop outside of the winding device. In addition, after inserting the tensioning cable into this receiving or guide slit, an undesired falling out of the corresponding cable section from the slit can be prevented. In particular, the handling of the tensioning device can thereby be improved.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is possible that the support plate is dimensionally contoured in such a way that it (largely) corresponds to the dimensional surface contour of the ski boot at the fastening location for the support plate. A slim design can thus be guaranteed. In particular, disruptive contours on a ski boot can be prevented. According to a practical implementation measure, the support plate can be formed from injection-molded hard plastic.

According to an advantageous further embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one fastening means on the support plate comprises at least one positively acting first coupling element, preferably at least one latching hook, on the lower side of the support plate and/or in a circumferential section of the support plate, which can be positively engaged with at least one positively acting second coupling element on the ski boot, preferably with at least one corresponding recess or undercut on the ski boot, such that with a positive engagement of a first and a corresponding second coupling element a lifting of the support plate from the ski boot is inhibited or prevented. A rapid and stable mounting of the tensioning device on a ski boot can thus be achieved. In addition, at least individual fastening means for the tensioning device can thereby be fashioned such that they are not visible, meaning that a positive overall optical appearance can be achieved with low structural effort.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if at least one load distribution element, in particular a shim or pressure distribution plate, is assigned to the at least one fastening means, said at least one load distribution element being provided to increase the dimensional stability or stiffen the support plate in its at least one fastening section in relation to a ski boot. The support plate can thereby be configured with relative thin walls and thus advantageously as lightweight as possible. Occasional stresses in the region of the at least one fastening means are prevented and the intended function of the tensioning device can thus be guaranteed in the long term.

Moreover, it can be provided that the support plate has a cavity on its upper side closest to the winding device, in which the winding device is at least partially received, or by which cavity the winding device is at least partially surrounded. Advantageously, a stable hold of the winding device on the support plate can thereby be achieved. Furthermore, potentially occurring impacts in a radial direction to the winding device can thus be absorbed by the support plate, in turn reducing the risk of damage to the winding device. In addition, by a formation of oblique or deflection surfaces at least in partial sections of the circumferential region of the cavity, undesired jammings or abutments can be prevented. That can also improve the general robustness and practicability of the tensioning device.

The object of the invention is further solved by a ski boot. A ski boot according to the invention comprises,

• • a front foot shell for receiving a user's foot,
  • a cuff for receiving the user's lower leg section, wherein the cuff with the front foot shell is connected in an articulated manner, and
  • a tensioning device for adjustably varying the perimeter and receiving volume of the ski boot. The tensioning device comprises
    • a support plate that is fastened to the ski boot,
    • a winding device with at least one spool for the winding in and out of at least one tensioning cable as needed, said winding device being fastened to or fastenable to the support plate.

The support plate has at least one fastening means, via which at least one fastening means the support plate interacts with at least one corresponding anchoring means on the ski boot, in particular on its outer shell made preferably from plastic, and is thereby connected in a rigid or fixed manner with the ski boot. The at least one corresponding anchoring means on the ski boot is thereby provided, in an alternative use, for the fastening or mounting of a lever-operable tensioning buckle on the ski boot or for the fastening or mounting of a corresponding component of the lever-operable tensioning buckle such as in the form of a latch or tooth strap.

Structurally different embodiments of ski boots can thereby be provided in a simple way, where the receiving volume or fit on a user's foot of the former can be influenced at least in partial sections of the ski boot either by mounting a cable winding device thereon, or alternatively by mounting at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle thereon. The selective mounting of a cable winding device, or of at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle, on a ski boot is preferably performed during the production or assembly of the ski boot by the manufacturer, and can be performed rapidly yet in high quality. The support plate for the cable winding device that is mountable rigidly on the ski boot or its outer shell body is thus a significant element for achieving high stability or practicability. A particular advantage is also that the at least one anchoring means arranged on the ski boot, in particular on its outer shell, can be used both for the fastening of the winding device or its support plate as well as for the fastening of at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle, which preferably has a standard configuration. The assembly according to the claims enables the achievement of production-related advantages, in particular in relation to cost minimization, production flexibility, and warehousing. In addition, a larger range of user requirements with regard to performance and comfort of ski boots can thereby be fulfilled in a simple way.

A ski boot according to the invention can have further embodiments according to the preceding descriptions. The advantageous effects that can thereby be achieved can be derived from the preceding and subsequent descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a ski boot known in the prior art with a plurality of lever-operable tensioning buckles on the outer shell body of the ski boot for the individual adjustment of the receiving volume of the ski boot;

FIG. 2 shows the ski boot according to FIG. 1, wherein the pair of lever-operable tensioning buckles on the ski boot cuff has been substituted by a tensioning device comprising a manually operable winding device for a tensioning cable;

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a ski boot cuff with a tensioning device mounted thereon in the form of a tensioning cable winding device, in oblique view from below;

FIG. 4 shows the ski boot cuff according to FIG. 3 in side view;

FIG. 5 shows a tensioning device in a non-mounted state with a winding device for a two-strand loop configuration;

FIG. 6 shows a support plate of the tensioning device without winding device;

FIG. 7 shows the ski boot cuff according to FIG. 4 with removed tensioning device; and

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a support plate of a tensioning device with a winding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is worth noting here that the same parts have been given the same reference numerals or same component configurations in the embodiments described differently, yet the disclosures contained throughout the entire description can be applied analogously to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component configurations. The indications of position selected in the description, such as above, below, on the side etc. refer to the figure directly described and shown, and these indications of position can be applied in the same way to the new position should the position change.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a known ski boot 2 for Alpine skiing. Such a ski boot 2 comprises a front foot shell 21 for receiving a user's foot and a cuff 13, also called a ski boot cuff, connected with the front foot shell 21 in an articulated manner, said cuff being provided for receiving the user's lower leg section. The cuff 13 and the front foot shell 21 define outer shell parts or an outer shell body of the ski boot 2, said shell parts or said shell body preferably being made from injection-molded plastic, in particular hard plastic. The front foot shell 21 can be configured in an overlap fashion, that is to say with wing sections overlapping one another in the instep region. The cuff 13 also has an overlap construction, wherein the cuff flaps in the front region of the cuff 13 overlap in the closed or tightened state of the cuff 13. An inner boot 30 can be received in the outer shell body, the former being provided for the soft elastic surrounding or embedding of the user's lower leg section and foot.

At least one lever-operable tensioning buckle 8 is configured on each of the front foot shell 21 and on the cuff 13 of this known ski boot 2 in order to be able to vary the receiving volume or the fit of the ski boot 2 in accordance with a user's requirements. Such a tensioning buckle 8 can comprise an operating lever 31, a coupling element 32, a latch or tooth strap 33, and a support plate 34, said support plate 34 being provided at least for the pivotable mounting of the operating lever 31.

The tensioning buckles 8, in particular their support plates 34, are connected via anchoring means 7 with the ski boot 2, in particular with the cuff 13 or with the front foot shell 21. The anchoring means 7 on the ski boot 2 can comprise openings 10 which are formed in the cuff 13 or in the front foot shell 21. The anchoring means 7 further comprise screws or rivets which pass through these openings 10 and potentially also the support plates 34 and ensure a tear-proof fastening of the lever-operable tensioning buckles 8 on the surface of the ski boot 2.

In the known ski boot 2 shown by way of example, two lever-operable tensioning buckles 8 are positioned on the cuff 13 and on the front foot shell 21 respectively.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a ski boot 2 with a tensioning device 1 comprising a winding device 4 for at least one tensioning cable 5. The tensioning device 1 is thereby fastened to the cuff 13 of the ski boot 2. Alternatively or in combination therewith, such a tensioning device 1 can be provided on the front foot shell 21. By actuation, in particular by rotary actuation, of the winding device 4, the at least one tensioning cable 5 can be at least wound in and potentially wound out to thus be able to vary the tension of the at least one tensioning cable 5 and thereby be able to vary or adjust the perimeter or receiving volume of the ski boot 2. The winding out or in of the at least one tensioning cable 5 is performed by means of at least one rotatably mounted cable spool, also referred to simply as a spool. Anti-twist locks as known in the art, such as pawls, release mechanisms, a rotatable and potentially axially adjustable actuating knob and the like, can also be configured in or on the winding device 4. In particular, a winding device 4 as known in the art, such as from EP0056953B1, can be used as a sub-component of the tensioning device 1.

The tensioning device 1 further comprises a support plate 3 to which the winding device 4 is fastened or fastenable, preferably, however, is permanently mounted to the support plate 3, such as by means of a screw or rivet connection.

The support plate 3 comprises at least one fastening means 6 with which the support plate 3 is preferably permanently fastenable to the outer surface of the cuff 13 and/or the front foot shell 21. This fastening is preferably undertaken during manufacturing or assembly of the ski boot 2. At least one anchoring means 7 formed on the ski boot 2 is used for the fastening of the support plate 3, where said anchoring means corresponds functionally with the at least one fastening means 6 on the support plate 3. In an alternative use or in an alternative embodiment of the ski boot 2, for example according to FIG. 1, the at least one anchoring means 7 on the ski boot 2 is provided for fastening at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle 8 to the ski boot 2 or for fastening at least one corresponding component of a lever-operable tensioning buckle 8, for example a latch or tooth strap 33.

The at least one shell or boot-side anchoring means 7, which in particular can comprise a plurality of openings 10, is thus provided either for the permanent fastening of at least one lever-operable tensioning buckle 8 or for the permanent fastening of the support 3 of the tensioning device 1. The at least one corresponding fastening means 6 on the support plate 3 can comprise a plurality of openings 9-FIG. 3, 6, 8—which correspond with regard to position and size with one or more of the openings 10 in the cuff 13—FIG. 7—or in the front foot shell 21.

It is expedient if the anchoring means 7 which are usable for fastening two separate lever-operable tensioning buckles 8 are alternatively used as anchoring means 7 for the support plate 3 of the tensioning device 1, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 3-8.

According to the embodiment in FIG. 3-8, it can be expedient if the tensioning device 1, which is preferably mountable on the cuff 13, comprises at least two first openings 9 in the support plate 3 and the at least one corresponding anchoring means 7 has at least two second openings 10 on the ski boot 2 or on its shell body. The first and second openings 9, 10 correspond in terms of location or position, such that the support plate 3 is fastenable to the ski boot 2 by means of at least one connection means 11, for example screws or rivets. The connection means 11, which are indicated schematically by dash-dotted lines, are preferably provided to pass through corresponding pairs of first and second openings 9, 10 and in so doing permanently fasten the tensioning device 1 or its support plate 3 to the ski boot.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, it can be expedient if the tensioning device 1 comprises a first and a second fastening means 6 spaced apart from one another on the support plate 3, wherein these two fastening means 6 and the winding device 4 define a triangle arrangement 12 composed of three corners on the support plate 3, as is indicated in FIG. 3 by dash-dotted lines. The winding device 4 is positioned at the third corner, which is furthest away from the boot tip. Said third corner of the triangle arrangement 12 is located between the first and second corner comprising the fastening means 6 for the support plate 3 if a normal intersects the third corner on a straight line connecting the first and second corners. Accordingly, it can be provided that the winding device 4 is further away from the boot tip than the two fastening means 6 for the support plate 3. The handling with the at least one tensioning cable 5 of the winding device 4 can thereby be improved for the user of the ski boot 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, 6, a base plate 22 of the winding device 4 can be connected with the support plate 3 in a tear-proof manner. This connection can, in particular, be performed by means of at least one screw or rivet, for example by means of at least three screws or rivets. This non-positive connection is thus established at least between the support plate 3 and the winding device 4. Alternatively, it can be provided that this screw or rivet connection also incorporates the shell body of the ski boot 2, in particular the cuff 13 (FIG. 4), and thus a permanent and rigid connection is formed between the base plate 22, the cuff 13, and the support plate 3 located between them. A high-strength mounting of the winding device 4 on the cuff 13 can thus be achieved, and in particular a reduction of bending or shearing strains on the support plate 3 can be achieved.

As can be derived from FIG. 2, at least one of the two fastening means 6 on the support plate 3 or for the support plate 3 can additionally be provided as an anchor point 14 for at least one, in relation to the winding device 4, distal end of the at least one tensioning cable 5. By means of the at least one anchor point 14, at least one force transmission point for at least one end of at least one tensioning cable 5 is established on the support plate 3. According to the example, the support plate 3 has a first and a second fastening means 6, which are each additionally provided as anchor points 14 for the two distal ends of a first and a second tensioning cable 5 of the winding device 4.

Based on the embodiment represented in FIG. 5, it can be provided that at least one fastening means 6 is additionally provided on the support plate 3 or for the support plate 3 as a deflection means 23 for a tensioning cable 5 of the winding device 4 configured as a closed loop 24. According to the embodiment shown, the support plate 3 can have a first and a second fastening means 6, which are each additionally provided as retaining or deflection means 23 for a tensioning cable 5 of the winding device 4 configured as a closed loop 24. The tensioning cable 5 has a two-strand configuration for the formation of a robust and simple loop 24 outside of the winding device 4, wherein both cable strands can be wound in or out by means of at least one cable spool in the winding device 4. The closed loop 24 is located respectively outside of a housing of the winding device 4. This winding device 4 can be implemented in the style of the winding device according to EP0056953B1 and comprise only one tensioning cable, the two ends of which are received within the winding device.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3-6 and 8, the support plate 3 of the tensioning device 1 can form a receiving channel 26 in an upper side 25 of the support plate 3 to be faced away or facing away from a ski boot 2. The receiving channel 26 is intended for the relative movement receipt or slidable retention of partial sections of the tensioning cable 5. The receiving channel 26 extends in its longitudinal direction at least partially between the first and the second fastening means 6 for the support plate 3. The receiving channel 26 can be configured in a tunnel-like fashion or in a through bore fashion according to the embodiment in FIG. 3-6.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the receiving channel 26 can also be configured as a slit 27 in the upper side 25 of the support plate 3, in particular in the material of the support plate 3. This slit-like receiving channel 26 enables a simple insertion of a tensioning cable 5, especially if the tensioning cable 5 is configured as a closed loop 24 (for example according to FIG. 4 or 5) outside of the winding device 4. According to an expedient further embodiment, this slit 27 can be at least partially coverable by a cover element 28 in radial direction to the longitudinal slit axis 29. The at least one cover element 28 can thereby be positively connectable with the support plate 3 by means of at least one latch coupling 35. An undesired falling out of the tensioning cable 5 from the slit-like receiving channel 26 can be prevented by a cover element 28 mounted on the support plate 3. Furthermore, the cover element 28 can be connected with the support plate 3 in a hinge-like manner.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3-8, the support plate 3 of the tensioning device 1 is dimensionally contoured or formed in such a way that it (largely) corresponds to the dimensional surface contour of the ski boot 2, in particular to the dimensional surface contour of the cuff 13 at the fastening location for the support plate 3.

As is shown in particular in FIG. 5, 6 purely by way of example, the at least one fastening means 6 on the support plate 3 can comprise at least one positively acting first coupling element 15 on the lower side of the support plate 3 or in a circumferential section of the support plate 3. This at least one first coupling element 15 can be formed by at least one latching hook 16 or by another protrusion that establishes a positive locking effect. This at least one first coupling element 15 can be put into positive engagement with at least one positively acting second coupling element 17 on the ski boot 2, in particular on or in its cuff 13. The at least one positively acting second coupling element 17 is preferably formed by at least one corresponding recess 18 or undercut on the ski boot 2, in particular on its cuff 13. The mutually corresponding configurations and positions are implemented in such a way that upon positive coupling of a first and a second coupling element 15, 17, a lifting of the support plate 3 from the ski boot 2 or from its cuff 13 is inhibited or prevented.

FIG. 2-5 show example embodiments of load distribution elements 19 which can be designated as sub-components of the at least one fastening means 6 for the support plate 3. In particular, at least one shim or pressure distribution plate can be assigned to the at least one fastening means 6. The at least one load distribution element 19 is designed such that it contributes to increasing the dimensional stability of the support plate 3 in its at least one fastening section in relation to a ski boot 2, in particular in relation to its cuff 13.

As can be seen in particular by consulting FIGS. 5 and 6 together or FIGS. 5 and 8 together, the support plate 3 can have or form a cavity 20 on its upper side 25 closest to the winding device 4. This cavity 20 is formed in such a way that the winding device 4 or its housing can be at least partially received therein, or such that the winding device 4 can be at least partially surrounded by the cavity 20. The robustness of the tensioning device 1 or its winding device 4 can thus be improved.

The example embodiments show possible embodiment variations, although it is to be noted here that the invention is not limited to the specifically represented embodiment variations of the same, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiment variations with one another are possible, and that given the technical teachings provided by the present invention this variation possibility is within the ability of the skilled person in this technical field.

The scope of protection is defined by the claims. The description and the drawings should, however, be consulted when construing the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the various example embodiments as shown and described can constitute separate inventive solutions. The problem to be solved by the individual inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

As a matter of form and by way of conclusion, it is noted that, to improve understanding of the structure, elements have partially not been shown to scale and/or enlarged and/or shrunk.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 1 Tensioning device
  • 2 Ski boot
  • 3 Support plate
  • 4 Winding device
  • 5 Tensioning cable
  • 6 Fastening means
  • 7 Anchoring means
  • 8 Tensioning buckle
  • 9 First openings
  • 10 Second openings
  • 11 Connection means
  • 12 Triangle arrangement
  • 13 Cuff
  • 14 Anchor point
  • 15 First coupling element
  • 16 Latching hook
  • 17 Second coupling element
  • 18 Recess
  • 19 Load distribution element
  • 20 Cavity
  • 21 Front foot shell
  • 22 Base plate
  • 23 Deflection means
  • 24 Loop
  • 25 Upper side
  • 26 Receiving channel
  • 27 Slit
  • 28 Cover element
  • 29 Longitudinal slit axis
  • 30 Inner boot
  • 31 Operating lever
  • 32 Coupling element
  • 33 Latch or tooth strip
  • 34 Sole plate
  • 35 Latch coupling