Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
`~4~;2~4
This invention relates to a sole for an article of foot-
wear, and in particular to a sole for a cross-country ski boot or
shoe.
Presently available cross-country ski boots or shoes have
relatively smooth bottom surfaces with three small cavities near
the front end thereof for engaging the pins normally found on the
toe plate of cross-country ski bindings. Most, if not all, cross-
country skiers experience the problem of snow buildup on the sole
of the ski boot or shoe in the area of the ball of the foot, partic-
ularly when skiing in wet snow. The snow becomes compacted, forming
a hard, sometimes icy mass, which causes discomfort-to the skier,
often to such an extent that it is necessary to remove the skis and
- dislodge accumulated snow or ice from the sole of the boot or shoe.
The same problem may arise in the heel area of the sole, but to a
lesser extent.
The object of the present invention is to provide a sole
.
for a cross-country ski boot or shoe which reduces or eliminates
~,~ the problem of snow buildup between the sole and ski, particularly
in the area of the ball of the foot.
: ~
~- 20 ~ccordingly, the present invention relates to a sole for
a cross-country ski boot or shoe including a front portion; a heel;
a central recess in the bottom surface of the front portion; and a
plurality of longitudinally extending ridges in the recess for
pushing snow or ice outwardly towards the sides of the sole when in
use.
More specifically, the ridges in the recess are of tri-
~ angular cross-sectional configuration, the verticies of the ridges
- being flush with the outer surface of the sole. The ridges include
a central ridge the outer vertex of which is aligned with the long-
itudinal axis of a ski when in use, and which is in the form of an
isosceles triangle, the triangles defined by the ridges on each side
thereof having an inner side which slopes slightly outwardly towards
- 1 - ~
L2~4
its associated outer edge of the sole and an outer side sloping in
the opposite direction. The grooves mentioned above are defined by
the sides of adjacent trianyles.
A similar arrangement of recess and ridges can be provided
in the heel of the boot or shoe for preventing the accumulation of
snow beneath the heel.
In use because of their shape, the ridges cause snow or
ice to be separated into relatively small clumps, i.e. prevent the
formation of a large lump of snow or ice1 and push the snow or ice
to the outer edges of the sole where the snow or ice can slide from
the ski. If the snow accumulates in the grooves between the ridges
it ultimately becomes compacted to an ice-like mass, which breaks
and falls as the ski moves forward by virtue of the flexing of th~
sole during skiing.
Because there is no flexing i.e. bending of the heel por-
tion of the sole during skiing, any heel or at least that portion
of the heel incorporating the grooves is preferably formed of a
softer material than the remainder of the sole, whereby a flexing
occurs when the heel contacts the ski.
2~ The invention will now be described in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferxed
embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is an elevation view of a sole for a cross-
countr~ ski boot (shown in phantom outline) in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the front portion of the sole
of Fig. 1, the heel portion being shown in phantom outline;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-
III of Fig. 2 or 4.
Figure 4, which appears on the third sheet of drawings; is
a bottom view of a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V
-- 2 --
~1~4~99~ ~
of Fig. 4; and
~ igure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-
VI of Fig. 4.
Referring to the drawings and in particular Figs. 1 and
2, a sole generally indicated at 1 is normally molded or glued onto
the bottom of an upper 2. The sole 1 is formed of a plastics
material, such as polyvinyl chloride or rubber. However, the type
of material used in the sole is not of critical importance, and
the invention would still function if other materials were used.
The problem to be solved with the sole of the invention is to
prevent the accumulation of snow or ice in an area 4 of a front
portion 5 of the sole 1. The front end of the sole 1 is provided
with the usual cavities 6 for engaging the pins normally used on
cross-country ski bindings for retaining the boot in position.
In order to prevent the buildup of snow or ice in the
area 4 of the sole 1, a plurality of elonyated, longitudinally
` extending grooves 8 are provided in such area. The grooves 8 are
formed by providing a recess 9 (Fig~ 5) in the front portion 5 of
the sole 1 ~ith a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges 10
in such recess. The recess 9 has a straight front edge 12, and
~ rear and side edges defined by a single curve 13, which at the
- sides is approximately parallel to the side edges 15 and 16 of the
sole 1. Since the sole is produced in a single molding step, no
recess without the ridges ever exists; however, for simplicity of
description reference is made to the recess, the area 4 of the sole
as produced having the appearance of a recess with longitudinally
extending triangular ridges 10 therein.
As shown in Fig. 3, the outer verticies 15 of the tri-
angular ridges 10 lie in the same plane as bottom surface 17 of the
front portion 5 of the sole 1. While the angles definedby the verticies
of the triangular ridges lOwith respect to the vertical or horizon-
~41299~
tal are not critical, it should be noted that the central ridge 18has sides 20 which slope in opposite directions towards the sides
of the sole when the sole is inverted. In this case, by "central"
with respect to the ridge 18 is meant th~t the outer vertex of the
ridge 18 ~he longitudinally extending portion of section line V-V
in Fig~ 4) lies above the longitudinal axis of the ski when in use.
Thus, the "centre" of the sole bottom referred to hereinafter is
a line extendin~ longitudinally of the sole and loca~ed directly
above the longitudinal axis of a ski when in use, assuming, of
~ 10 course, that the toe binding and consequently the boot are properly
- positioned on the ski. The angle at the outer vertex of the ridge
18 is 100. The inner sides 22 of the remaining ridges 10 slope
slightly towards the centre of the sole bottom when the sole is
inverted. The angle between a~vertical line through bottom 23 of
a groove 8 between adjacent ridges 10 and an inner side 22 of an
adjacent ridge 25 is 10. The outer sides 26 of each ridge 25 has
the same slope and direction as the nearest side 20 of the central
ridge 18. The sides 27 of the recess have the same slope and
direction as the inner sides of the ridges 25, i.e. they slope away
from the centre of the recess from the bottom of the last groove
toward the side edges of the sole. The front and rear ends 29 and 30,
respectively of the recess slope away from the centre of the recess.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 6 and mentioned above, a similar
arrangement of a recess and ridges can be provided in the heel of
the boot. In the sole of Figs. 4 to 6, the front portion 5 of the
sole 1 is provided with pin engaging cavities 6, and longitudinally
extending grooves 8 defined by the recess 9 and the ridges 10. The
area 32 around the recess 9 is roughenedr i.e. provided with small
~ridges, ~- hut the feature of the sole is optional. It will also
be noted that a sole area 33 immediately in front of the recess 9 is
smooth; such area normally being used for marking or labelling the
product. A shallow, narrow groove 35 extends from the one side of
- 4 -
the rear of the instep 36 of the sole around the recess 9 to the other
side of the instep for receiving stitching for interconnecting the .
sole to an upper 2. A smooth ridge 37 extends rearwardly from the ~.
back edge of the recess 9 to a heel 38. At its front end 39, such
- ri.dge 37 is flush with the bottom surface of the front portion 5 of
the sole, and increases in:height rearwardly to the heel. The side
edges 41 of the ridge 37 are rounded, so that the ridge promotes
the flow of snow or ice away from the centre of the sole. The
~. smooth bottom surface of the ridge 37 can also be used for identify-
ing markings.
~` ~ The heel 38-has a rearwardly inclined front face 43, with
bevelled side edges 44. The heel is provided with a recess 47 over
most of i~s bottom area, the remainder of the heel bottom being
;. provided with small pyramidal projections and a low peripheral flange
49. The recess 47 includes ridges 50 defining grooves 51 similar
in shape to the grooves in the front recess 9,~but fewer in number.
: The ridges 50 function in exactly the same manner as such front
ridges.
Because there is no fiexing of the heel during skiing,
the heel 38 or at least that portion of the heel containing the
~-~ ridges 50 is formed of a more resilient material than the remainder
~:~ of the sole. For example, if the sole is formed of material having
a Shore hardness of 60 to 65, the heel is formed of material having
a Shore hardness of 50 to 55. Thus during skiing, as the bottom of
the heel 38 engages the ski, or snow or ice between the ski and
sole, the area of the heel containing the ridges 50 flexes to force
the snow or ice outwardly towards the sides of the ski in the same
manner as the front ridges 10.
:'
