US2950118A - Ski boot accessory - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23, 1960 P. B. SHARPE sm BOOT ACCESSORY Filed Aug. 18, 1958 'Fid43.

FLG. 4A

INVENTOR Psi-nu? B.SHARPE;

United States Patent l ce SKI BOOT ACCESSORY Philip B. Sharpe, Rockport, Maine Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,549

'5 Claims. (Cl. 28011.14)

The present invention generally relates to a ski binder accessory and more particularly to a device for preventing snow from packing under the shoes while skiing.

Snow creates a definite problem when it becomes packed under the shoes while skiing. This problem is especially prevalent in the heel portion of the shoes and isannoying when skiing, especially on cross-country skiing when the snow is wet or sticky. Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a resilient pad of foam rubber or the like for completely filling the space between the shoe and the ski, thereby keeping the snow out of this space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sponge rubber pad for insertion between a ski and a shoe or boot for preventing snow from packing therebetween which is simple in construction, easy to install and use, lightweight, hardly noticeable by the skier and extremely inexpensive to manufacture.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of this invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pads of the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the pad of the present invention with parts broken away for clarity;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 4 is side elevation of the present invention showing the pad collapsed;

Figure 4a is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along a plane passing along section line 4a4a on Figure 4 illustrating the pad in collapsed or compressed condition;

Figure 4b is a sectional View similar to 4a but with the pad extended; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another form of the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the pad of the present invention which is disposed between the upper surface of a ski 12 and sole 14 and heel 16, having a binding groove therein, of a shoe or boot 18 and in conjunction with a binder including the usual toe harness 20 or toe strap 22 and a heel strap or cable 24 which engages the heel 16 and extends to the toe harness or strap with an ankle strap 26 also being provided if desired.

The pad 10 includes a generally triangular block 28 of resilient sponge rubber material having a plurality of enlarged holes 30 therein which form compression voids. The upper surface of the pad is shaped to conform to the sole and heel of the shoe and includes a recess 3-2 receiving the heel 16. The lower surface of the block 28 conforms to and is glued to the upper surface of the ski 12 thereby occupying the space between the ski 12 and shoe 18 at all times and allowing normal relative movement between the ski and shoe since very little resilient feeling is felt by skier since the block 28 will take some of 2,950,118 Patented Aug. 23, 1960 the jar which occurs when skiing on rough ground or when jumping. K

In the device as shown in Figure 2, there is a sheet of rubber material 34, similar to the material used in rubber gloves, adhesively bonded to or vulcanized to the sides of the block 28 and forming a glove-like member which resiliently receives the shoe 18 and has a rear flange portion 36 received between the heel 16 and the cable 24 so that it is pinched into the binding groove, thereby securely retaining the pad in position. In this form of the inven tion, the glue as designated by 38 may be omitted.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 is the same except that the block 28 is provided with a rubber sheet 40 only at the heel end which forms an upstanding fence or flange about an inch high which is received between the heel 16 and the cable 24 of the ski binding when the skis are put on and adjusted.

Figure 5 illustrates a form of the pad which includes an arcuate block 40 extending only under the heel 16 and which also includes holes 42 and an upstanding sheet of rubber material 44 forming a flange clamped between the heel 16 and cable 24.

The pads may be of various colors and they may be factory installed or installed by a person already having a pair of skis. The arrangement, size and location of the compression holes may vary. The action of the pad is clearly shown in Figures 4a and 4b and snow will not be able to occupy the space or volume between the ski and the shoe since it is already occupied by the pad.

It is understood that this invention is not confined to the particular embodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that this invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention as it is obvious that the particular embodiment shown and described is only one of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of this invention.

I claim:

1. A pad for preventing entry of snow between the upper surface of a ski and a shoe mounted thereon, said pad comprising an enlarged block of cellular resilient material having enlarged compression holes distributed throughout the volume thereof for facilitating the compression of the block during relative pivotal movement between the shoe and ski, an upstanding flange member on the rear upper corner of the block extending between the grooved surface of the heel of the shoe and the binding cable thereby securing the pad to the shoe with the lower surface thereof engaging the upper surface of the ski.

2. A pad for preventing entry .of snow between the upper surface of a ski and a shoe mounted thereon, said pad comprising an enlarged block of cellular resilient material having enlarged compression holes distributed throughout the volume thereof for facilitating the compression of the block during relative pivotal movement between the shoe and ski, an upstanding flange member on the rear upper corner of the block extending between the grooved surface of the heel of the shoe and the binding cable thereby securing the pad to the shoe with the lower surface thereof secured to the upper surface of the ski, said block being arcuate and conforming in size to the heel, and adhesive means securing the lower end of the block to the ski.

3. A pad for preventing entry of snow between the upper surface of a ski and a shoe mounted thereon, said pad comprising an enlarged block of cellular resilient material having enlarged compression holes distributed throughout the volume thereof for facilitating the compression of the block during relative pivotal movement between the shoe and ski,-an upstanding flange member on the rear upper corner of the block extending between the grooved surface of the heel of the shoe and the bind- 7 the shoe for securely retaining the pad attached to the shoe.

4. A pad for preventing entry of snow between the upper surface of a ski and a shoe mounted thereon, said pad comprising an enlarged block of cellular resilient ma terial having enlarged compression holes distributed throughout the volume thereof for facilitating the compression of the block during relative pivotal movement between the shoe and ski, an upstanding flange member on the rear upper corner of the block extending between the grooved surface of the heel of the shoe and the binding cable thereby securing the pad to the shoe with the lower surface thereof secured to the upper surface of the ski, said block being generally triangular in shape with the upper surface conforming in shape and size to the sole and heel of the shoe, said flange member including a glove-like rubber sheeting resiliently receiving a major part of the shoe for securely retaining the pad attached to the shoe, and adhesive means for securing the lower surface of the block to the ski.

5. A pad for preventing entry of foreign material between the upper surface of a ski and a boot mounted thereon for pivotal movement in relation thereto during normal use of the skis, said pad comprising a block of cellular resilient material having a normal shape of substantially triangular configuration to completely fill the of the shoe is pivoted upwardly to its upper limit of movement in relation to the ski, said pad being substantially compressible so that when the heel and adjacent portion of the sole of the shoe moves downwardly, the shoe may move to a substantially normal position adjacent the upper surface of the ski with the compressed pad being disposed between the ski and the shoe, and means on said pad for engagement with the shoe for maintaining the upper surface of the pad in contact with the heel and sole portion of the shoe during pivotal movement of the shoe in relation to the ski whereby the resiliency of the ma terial from which the pad is constructed will cause the pad to expand as the rear portion of the shoe swings upwardly thereby continuously filling the space between the upper surface of the ski and the shoe for preventing entry of snow or other foreign material, the upper surface of the pad being provided with a recess for receiving the heel, said means on the pad including an upstanding flange at the rear thereof and a sheath of rubber-like material connected to the forward portion thereof whereby the flange engages the rear surface of the heel and the sheath encloses a major portion of the upper of the shoe whereby the sheath and the cable binding engaging the heel with the flange disposed between the heel and the cable binding will securely fix the pad in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,237,998 Neuhauser Apr. 8, 1941 2,330,731 Oestrich Sept. 28, 1943 2,458,602 Johnson Ian. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 204,543 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1939

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