IP Library › Granted Patent US 12660885

Granted Patent B2

US 12660885 · App. 18/363,494 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Operating device for a sports shoe or boot

Inventors: Pascal Roux (Saint-Egrève, FR); Bertrand Barre (Lyons, FR); Francesco Giacca (Montebelluna, IT); Paolo Cima (Volpago del Montello, IT)

Assignee: ROSSIGNOL LANGE S.R.L.

A43C11/1473 A43B5/048 A43B5/0435 A43B5/0452 A43B5/046 A43C11/14 A43C11/1406 A43C11/1413 A43C11/142 A43C11/1433 A43C11/144 A43C11/1446 A43C11/146 A43C11/148 Y10T24/2106 Y10T24/2142 Y10T24/216 Y10T24/2183 Y10T24/2192 Y10T24/4072

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12660885
App. No.: 18/363,494
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

Operating device ( 5 ) for a sports shoe/boot ( 1 ), including:—a tightening device ( 6 ) intended to tighten the sports shoe/boot around a foot or lower leg of a user;—a first lever ( 14 ) able to move between a first position and a second position, the first lever being able to actuate the tightening; device; and—a second lever ( 15 ) distinct from the first lever ( 14 ), the second lever ( 15 ) being able to move between a first position and a second position, the second lever being intended to actuate at least one accessory ( 10 ) of the sports, shoe/boot, the first lever and the second lever being configured to rest one upon the other.

Claims (123)

1 . A sports shoe or boot, comprising:

a lower shell intended to envelop a foot of a user,

a cuff intended to envelop a lower leg of the user,

a rotation articulation between the lower shell and the cuff,

an operating device, the operating device comprising:

tightening means configured to tighten the cuff around the lower leg of the user and/or to tighten the lower shell around the foot of the user,

a first lever configured to move between a first position and a second position of the first lever, the first lever being configured to actuate the tightening means, the first lever comprising at least one manipulation surface configured to allow a user to move the first lever from the first position of the first lever to the second position of the first lever,

wherein the first lever is connected to the tightening means so that:

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the cuff is in a tightened state around the lower leg of the user and/or the lower shell is in a tightened state around the foot of the user, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the cuff is not in the tightened state around the lower leg of the user and/or the lower shell is not in the tightened state around the foot of the user,

a locking device configured to lock the rotation articulation between the lower shell and the cuff,

a second lever, distinct from the first lever, the second lever being configured to move between a first position and a second position of the second lever, the second lever being configured to actuate the locking device independently from the tightening means, the second lever comprising at least one manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the second lever from the first position of the second lever to the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is connected to the locking device so that:

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the rotation articulation between the lower shell and the cuff is locked, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the rotation articulation between the lower shell and the cuff is released,

wherein the first lever and the second lever are configured to rest one upon the other, wherein at least one of:

(i) the first lever is configured to rest upon the second lever, so that

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the first position of the second lever, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the second position of the first lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the locking device independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever,

(ii) the second lever is configured to rest upon the first lever, so that

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the first position of the first lever, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the locking device independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

2 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever partially covers the second lever when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever and the second lever is in the first position of the second lever.

3 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening means is in a configuration of tightly holding the foot or the lower leg of the user when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, and in a configuration of releasing the foot or the lower leg of the user when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever.

4 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever and the second lever are able to rotate about a same axis of rotation.

5 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the second lever comprises a bow provided with two branches extending parallel to one another and the first lever extends at least partly between the two branches of the second lever.

6 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 5 , wherein the first lever comprises a bow provided with two branches extending parallel to one another, the two branches of the first lever being arranged between the two branches of the second lever,

the tightening means comprising a tightening buckle able to engage with a catch and connecting means fixed to the first lever and to the tightening buckle, the connecting means extending between the two branches of the first lever.

7 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second lever comprises a housing inside which the first lever is positioned when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, and/or

wherein the first lever comprises a housing inside which the second lever is positioned when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

8 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever is able to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the tightening means comprises a tightening buckle fixed to the first lever about a second axis of rotation distinct from the first axis of rotation.

9 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the second lever is able to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the operating device comprises a wire intended to actuate the locking device, the wire being fixed to the second lever at a point distinct from the axis of rotation.

10 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , which has three configurations of operation:

a first configuration corresponding to the first position of the first lever and the first position of the second lever,

a second configuration corresponding to the second position of the first lever and the first position of the second lever, and

a third configuration corresponding to the second position of the first lever and the second position of the second lever.

11 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever comprises a first manipulation surface configured to allow a user to move the first lever from the second position of the first lever to the first position of the first lever, and a second manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the first lever from the first position of the first lever to the second position of the first lever.

12 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the second lever comprises a first manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the second lever from the second position of the second lever to the first position of the second lever, and a second manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the second lever from the first position of the second lever to the second position of the second lever.

13 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , which further comprises a pressing element able to move between a first position and a second position, the pressing element being intended to apply pressure to the foot or the lower leg of the user when the pressing element is in the first position of the pressing element, the pressing element being intended to adopt a retracted position relative to the foot or to the lower leg of the user when the pressing element is in the second position of the pressing element,

the second lever being connected to the pressing element so that:

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the pressing element is in the first position of the pressing element, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the pressing element is in the second position of the pressing element.

14 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 ,

wherein the operating device is fixed to a wall of the sports shoe or boot, and

wherein the first lever extends against the wall or against the second lever when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the first lever comprising a manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the first lever from the first position of the first lever to the second position of the first lever, the manipulation surface of the first lever being positioned so that the first lever is spaced away from the wall or from the second lever when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

15 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the second lever extends against a wall of the sports shoe or boot or against the first lever when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the second lever comprising a manipulation surface that is configured to allow the user to move the second lever from the first position of the second lever to the second position of the second lever, the manipulation surface of the second lever being positioned so that the second lever is spaced away from the wall or from the first lever when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever.

16 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , which is a ski boot.

17 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 2 , wherein the tightening means is in a configuration of tightly holding the foot or the lower leg of the user when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, and in a configuration of releasing the foot or the lower leg of the user when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever.

18 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 2 , wherein the first lever and the second lever are able to rotate about a same axis of rotation.

19 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever is configured to rest upon the second lever, so that

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the first position of the second lever, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the second position of the first lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the locking device independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever.

20 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 1 , wherein the second lever is configured to rest upon the first lever, so that

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the first position of the first lever, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the locking device independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

21 . A sports shoe or boot, comprising:

a lower shell intended to envelop a foot of a user,

a cuff intended to envelop a lower leg of the user,

a rotation articulation between the lower shell and the cuff, and

an operating device, the operating device comprising:

tightening means configured to tighten the cuff around the lower leg of the user and/or to tighten the lower shell around the foot of the user,

wherein the first lever is connected to the tightening means so that:

a pressing element configured to move between a first position and a second position,

a second lever, distinct from the first lever, the second lever being configured to move between a first position and a second position of the second lever, the second lever being configured to actuate the pressing element independently from the tightening means, the second lever comprising at least one manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the second lever from the first position of the second lever to the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is connected to the pressing element so that:

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the pressing element presses against the foot or the lower leg of the user, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the pressing element adopts a retracted position relative to the foot or the lower leg of the user,

wherein the first lever and the second lever are configured to rest one upon the other, wherein at least one of:

(i) the first lever is configured to rest upon the second lever, so that

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the first position of the second lever, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the second position of the first lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the pressing element independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever,

(ii) the second lever is configured to rest upon the first lever, so that

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the first position of the first lever, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the pressing element independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

22 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 21 , wherein the first lever is configured to rest upon the second lever, so that

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the first position of the second lever, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the second position of the first lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the pressing element independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever.

23 . The sports shoe or boot according to claim 21 , wherein the second lever is configured to rest upon the first lever, so that

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the first position of the first lever, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the pressing element independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

24 . An operating device for a sports shoe or boot, the operating device comprising:

tightening means intended to tighten the sports shoe or boot around a foot or lower leg of a user,

at least one accessory of the sports shoe or boot, the accessory being distinct from the first lever and from the tightening means, the accessory being configured to make it easier for the user to walk,

wherein the first lever is connected to the tightening means so that:

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, a cuff of the sports shoe or boot is in a tightened state around the lower leg of the user and/or a lower shell of the sports shoe or boot is in a tightened state around the foot of the user, and

a second lever distinct from the first lever, the second lever being configured to move between a first position and a second position of the second lever, the second lever being configured to actuate the at least one accessory of the sports shoe or boot independently from the tightening means, the second lever comprising at least one manipulation surface configured to allow the user to move the second lever from the first position of the second lever to the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is connected to the accessory so that:

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the accessory is not configured to make it easier for the user to walk, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the accessory is configured to make it easier for the user to walk,

wherein the first lever and the second lever are configured to rest one upon the other, wherein at least one of:

(i) the first lever is configured to rest upon the second lever, so that

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the first position of the second lever, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the second position of the first lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the accessory independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever,

(ii) the second lever is configured to rest upon the first lever, so that

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the first position of the first lever, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the accessory independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.

25 . The operating device according to claim 24 , wherein the first lever is configured to rest upon the second lever, so that

when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the first position of the second lever, and

when the second lever is in the second position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the second position of the first lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the accessory independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever.

26 . The operating device according to claim 24 , wherein the second lever is configured to rest upon the first lever, so that

when the second lever is in the first position of the second lever, the first lever is automatically in the first position of the first lever, and

when the first lever is in the second position of the first lever, the second lever is automatically in the second position of the second lever,

wherein the second lever is configured to actuate the accessory independently from the tightening means when the first lever is in the first position of the first lever.