Flex control device particularly for a motocross boot

Abstract

A flex control device, for the quarter of a motocross boot, which comprises a soft upper provided at the rear with a semirigid cuff and a semirigid counter, which are connected respectively to the upper and to the upper and/or sole. The device is constituted by a first rod shaped element and a second rod shaped element, the first rod shaped element being rigidly coupled to the counter, the second one being selectively associable with the quarter, the first and second rod shaped elements being slidingly associated in contrast with at least one elastically deformable element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flex control device, for a quarter of a motocross boot, having a sole and a soft upper, the upper provided at a rear part thereof, with a semirigid cuff and a semirigid counter which are connected, respectively, to said upper and to said upper and/or sole, the control device being constituted by a first rod shaped element, a second rod shaped element and at least one elastically deformable element, the first rod shaped element being rigidly coupled to said counter, the second one being selectively connectable with said quarter, said first and second rod-shaped elements being slidingly associated in contrast with said at least one elastically deformable element. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second rod shaped elements are arranged so as to lie, during use, on substantially mutually parallel planes. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising at least one fixing element constituted by a screw or a rivet, said first rod shaped element comprising a first strip which is fixed to said counter by way of said at least one screw or rivet associated with a first hole provided at an end of said first strip which is adjacent to said sole. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , comprising two first rods that protrude axially toward said cuff from a free end of said first strip, which is directed toward said cuff, said first rods having a substantially circular cross-section, being generally parallel to each other and being arranged approximately on a same plane of arrangement as said first strip, first free ends of said first rods being bent at right angles on mutually opposite sides. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said first rod shaped element protrudes above said counter and is arranged with said first said rods thereof lying in an intermediate region between said counter and said cuff. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , comprising first guiding means, said first rod shaped element cooperating with said first guiding means for guiding sliding thereof with respect to said counter. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said first guiding means are constituted by a first bridge which protrudes inside said counter and surrounds, during use, said first strip so as to keep the first strip slidingly rigidly coupled to said counter. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , comprising adjusting means, said second rod shaped element comprising a second strip, which is slidingly and selectively connectable with said cuff by way of said adjusting means for adjusting a position thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , comprising two second rods, having a circular cross-section, that protrude axially from an end of said second strip which is directed toward said counter, said second rods being substantially mutually parallel and being arranged on a same plane of arrangement as said second strip, second free ends of said second rods being bent at right angles on mutually opposite sides. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said second rod shaped element is provided so as to protrude below said cuff, arranged with said second rods thereof in a region which is intermediate between said counter and said cuff, said second rods being superimposed and spaced with respect to said first rods of said first rod shaped element, said second free ends of said second rods being arranged at a lower height than said first free ends of said first rods that are contiguous thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , comprising second guiding means provided so as to guide a position of said second strip with respect to said cuff. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said second means are constituted by a second bridge, which protrudes inside said cuff and surrounds, during use, said second strip, so as to keep the second strip slidingly rigidly coupled to said cuff. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one elastically deformable element is constituted by at least one spring which is arranged coaxially to said first and second rods and is interposed between said first and second free ends thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said spring is preloaded so as to constantly push said first and second free ends of said first and second rods, respectively, a thrust of said spring tending to space said first free ends from said second free ends, so as to move mutually closer, in a longitudinal direction, said first strip and said second strip. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said adjusting means for adjusting the position of said second rod shaped element with respect to said cuff are constituted by a plate, which is U-shaped in plan view so as to form a flat base which, during use, is arranged parallel to said second strip, on an opposite side with respect to said cuff. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , comprising second holes provided in said second strip which are aligned along a longitudinal central axis of said second strip and at least one pin that protrudes at right angles to said base toward said second strip and is selectively engageable, during use, in at least one of said second holes. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , comprising two arms that protrude at right angles to said base and, during use, are arranged so as to surround laterally said second strip and protrude with respective free ends thereof through two appropriately provided slots formed in said cuff. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , comprising distance adjusting means, a mutual distance between said base and said second strip being adjustable by way of said distance adjustment means, so as to allow insertion or extraction of said at least one pin with respect to at least one of said second holes. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said distance adjustment means is constituted by a lever which is arranged outside said cuff and is supported rotatably between the free ends of said arms. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said lever is cam-shaped at a region thereof suitable for pivoting to said arms, so that an interaction thereof with an outer surface of said cuff allows to vary a distance of said base from said cuff and from said second strip. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said lever is suitable for actuation by rotation, alternately clockwise or counter clockwise, so that said base is moved respectively toward or away from said second strip and said at least one pin is consequently inserted or extracted with respect to at least one of said second holes, so as to rigidly couple or disengage said second rod shaped element with respect to said cuff.