WO2024256912A1

WO2024256912A1 - Fastening assembly for sports footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2024256912A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/055448
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dino Giusti; Davide Chinazzi; Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: GI DI MECCANICA SpA
Current assignee: GI DI MECCANICA SpA
Priority date: 2023-06-13
Filing date: 2024-06-04
Publication date: 2024-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-13
Also published as: IT202300012099A1; AT18514U3; EP4727400A1; DE212024000086U1; AT18514U2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fastening assembly (1, 1') adapted to be applied to a sports footwear (100) provided with a pair of flaps (L1, L2) to be moved mutually towards/away In particular, said system (1, 1') comprises at least: one traction cable (10) adapted to be connected with a first end (11) to a flap of said pair of flaps (L1, L2) and which can be associated, with at least a portion, with the other flap of said pair of flaps (L1, L2), a reel-based tightening device (20) adapted to be fixed to a flap of said pair of flaps (L1, L2), and arranged and configured to tighten a second end (12) of said traction cable (10), and a lever fastening device (30) adapted to be fixed to said pair of flaps (L1, L2), and arranged and configured to cooperate with an intermediate portion of said traction cable (10). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sports footwear (100) comprising a fastening assembly (1, 1').

Description

“FASTENING ASSEMBLY FOR SPORTS FOOTWEAR”

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to a “hybrid” fastening assembly adapted to be associated with the upper or the shell of sports footwear such as for example ski or snowboard boots, skates, hiking boots or cycling shoes, provided with a pair of flaps which can be overlapped or approached to attain the releasable and adjustable fastening thereof around the foot of the user.

[002] In particular, a fastening assembly according to the present invention is characterised in that it has a reel-based tightening device and a lever fastening device operating synergistically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[003] Reel-based fastening assemblies which allow the releasable tightening of a traction cable have long been known and applied in the sports footwear field.

[004] Such reel-based fastening devices comprise a hollow containment casing which can be constrained to a first flap of the footwear, wherein there is housed a winding mechanism provided with a reel with which an end of traction cable is associated.

[005] The winding mechanism is operatively connected to a knob through which the user can rotatably actuate the reel, to wind/unwind the cable around the reel.

[006] A hollow intermediate portion is associated with a second flap of the footwear, so that by moving the reel-based tightening device there can be obtained the progressive moving closer or further away of the flaps, and therefore the desired fastening action.

[007] Any guide members between which a respective intermediate portion of the cable is passed through may be applied on a flap or on both flaps to allow a more even fastening of the footwear.

[008] The reel-based fastening devices are particularly popular among users given that they allow to continuously recover the traction cable, therefore enabling to gradually change and very precisely adjust the fastening of the footwear until the desired degree is reached.

[009] Furthermore, such reel-based devices require very little effort to achieve the fastening of the footwear and they are rather intuitive to use because they can be actuated through a single control knob.

[0010] However, such devices entail some disadvantages, including lack of memory of the fastening condition and rather high fastening times, due to reduction ratios that are not particularly advantageous required to precisely reach or adjust the degree of fastening with reduced efforts.

[0011] Furthermore, generally, the fastening of the flaps obtained with such reel-based fastening devices is not even, given that it is larger in the area close to the knob, decreasing moving away therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The main task of the subject matter of the present invention is to provide a fastening assembly adapted to be applied to a sports footwear provided with a pair of flaps to be moved mutually towards/away, which is capable of exploiting the advantages of a reel-based tightening device, simultaneously overcoming the disadvantages related thereto and shown above.

[0013] In the context of the present task, an object of the present invention to provide a fastening assembly that allows a micrometric and continuous adjustment of the degree of fastening, while simultaneously having the possibility of quickly releasing the closing tension of the footwear, while maintaining the “memory” of the degree of fastening achieved previously, so as to allow the user to return the footwear to the desired fastening condition in a rapid and immediate fashion.

[0014] Another object of the present invention to provide a fastening assembly capable of evening the fastening condition of the two flaps of the footwear to which it is associated and making the fastening process gradual and comfortable.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide a fastening assembly that is durable and functional, and that is easy to use.

[0016] Lastly but not least, an object of the present invention is to provide a fastening assembly that can be obtained by using means and components that are readily available, and which can be obtained using usual and known plants, machines and equipment.

[0017] These and other tasks, objects and advantages outlined above which will be more apparent in the description below, are attained by a fastening assembly as defined in claim 1 and by a sports footwear comprising a fastening assembly according to the invention, according to claim 10. Further advantageous characteristics of a fastening assembly according to the present invention and of a footwear comprising such fastening assembly are contained in the dependent claims below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0018] Advantages and characteristics of a fastening assembly for sports footwear according to the present invention will be better illustrated in the description of a particular, but not exclusive embodiments shown purely by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:

- FIG. 1 shows, with a perspective view, a fastening assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

- FIGS. 2A and 2B show, respectively with a perspective view and a plan view, a fastening assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

- FIG. 3 shows, with an exploded view, a preferred embodiment of a lever fastening device which can be incorporated in a fastening assembly according to the present invention;

- FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show, with perspective views, the lever fastening device according to FIG. 3, respectively in a closing position, in an opening position with the lever arm coupled to the relative abutment base and in an opening position with the lever arm removed from the abutment base;

- FIG. 5 shows, with an exploded view, a preferred embodiment of a guide member which can be incorporated in a fastening assembly according to the present invention;

- FIG. 6 shows, in perspective view, a sports footwear, in particular a ski boot, to which there is associated a fastening assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

- FIG. 7 shows, in perspective view, a sports footwear, in particular a ski boot, to which there is associated a fastening assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention relates to a fastening assembly 1 , T in particular adapted to be associated with a sports footwear 100 provided with a pair of flaps L1 , L2 which can be overlapped or approached to attain the releasable and adjustable fastening thereof around the foot of the user.

[0020] With reference to the figures 1 , 2A and 2B, there are shown some embodiments of a fastening assembly 1 , T according to the present invention, which comprises at least one traction element 10, essentially formed by a cable or stranded wire, that is flexible and essentially inextensible, preferably metallic, which can be constrained to a first end portion 1 1 , preferably through a cable terminal member 2, to a flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2, and which can be associated with at least a portion to the other flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2, a reel-based tightening device 20 which can be constrained to a flap of said pair of flaps, arranged and configured to tighten a second end portion 12 of said traction cable 10, and a lever fastening device 30, which can be constrained to a flap of said pair of flaps, and arranged and configured to cooperate with an intermediate portion of said traction cable 10.

[0021] Expressions such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, “high”, “low”, “inner”, “outer” or the like will be used in the description below; the person skilled in the art will have no difficulty understanding that these expressions relate to the fastening assembly and its components in their normal operative configuration, that is in use, as shown in the attached figures.

[0022] Preferably, the reel-based tightening device 20 integrated in a fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ according to the invention is of the known type, and it substantially comprises a hollow containment casing 21 wherein there is housed a winding mechanism provided with a reel with which there is associated said second end portion 12 of the cable 10.

[0023] The winding mechanism is operatively connected to a knob 22, advantageously mounted on the hollow containment casing 21 , through which the user can rotatably actuate the reel, with a determined transmission ratio, in a first direction of rotation, or winding direction, so that said cable 10 is wound around the reel, therefore obtaining a progressive approaching of the flaps L1 , L2 and therefore the desired fastening action thereof, or in the opposite direction, or unwinding direction, to obtain the unwinding of the cable 10 from the reel and allow the moving away of the two flaps L1 , L2.

[0024] Said winding mechanism further comprises suitable and known retaining means adapted to retain the progressive position of the reel, so as to maintain the tensioning condition of the cable 10 achieved progressively, both in the winding direction and in the unwinding direction, therefore allowing to carry out a micrometric and continuous adjustment of the closure of the flaps L1 , L2 of the footwear 100, further providing end stops for the rotary movement of the reel, both in the winding direction and in the unwinding direction.

[0025] Following an operation by the user, for example carried out by acting on the knob 22, said retaining means may also release the reel, allowing it to rotate freely in the unwinding direction so as to allow the quick release of the cable 10.

[0026] The transmission ratio of the winding mechanism may for example be of the type 1 :1. In other words, the degree of tensioning of the cable 10 also increases directly proportionally to the increase of the effort that the user is to exert on the knob 22 to obtain the desired fastening effect. An advantage of such characteristic lies in the fact that the cable 10 can therefore be wound around the reel within a short time and this is particularly advantageous in a condition in which the cable 10 is scarcely tensioned or not-tensioned and therefore it is necessary to recover the stroke thereof quickly so as to fasten the footwear.

[0027] Alternatively, the transmission ratio of the winding mechanism may be of the type 3:1 . In this case, the effort that the user is to exert on the knob 22 to obtain the desired fastening effect does not increase by the same amount as the tension of the cable 10 increases but it is reduced by three times with respect to the tension of the cable 10. However, in any case the winding speed of the cable 10 on the reel is rather slow, although less tiring to the user, allowing a fine adjustment of the degree of fastening.

[0028] In both cases described above, the winding mechanism may advantageously be provided with revolution counter device, which allows to identify the number of revolutions that the user has carried out to reach the tension of the cable 10 and therefore quickly recall the degree of fastening set previously.

[0029] Generally, the reel-based tightening device 20 is of the known type and therefore will not be described further. For example, a fastening device 20 which may be advantageously incorporated in a fastening assembly 1 according to the present invention is described in document EP0056953.

[0030] With reference to the figures 3, 4A, 4B and 4C there is shown a lever fastening device 30 adapted to be incorporated in a fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ according to the present invention.

[0031] Said lever fastening device 30 can be associated with one of the flaps L1 , L2 of the footwear 100 and it comprises a lever arm 31 , which is rotatably movable around a first articulation axis X-X which is essentially parallel to the surface of the flap with which it is associated and defined by an articulating pin 32, at least one of a first position, or opening position (figure 4B), in which it is raised away from the surface of the flap, and a second position, or closing position, in which it is lowered and adjacent to said flap (figure 4A).

[0032] The operation of such lever device is known. In particular, when the lever arm 31 is in the opening position, the traction cable 10 is not tensioned by said lever arm 31 , while in closing position, said traction cable 10 is tensioned by said lever arm 31.

[0033] Preferably, said lever arm 31 comprises an articulating portion 31 A through which it is rotatably mounted around said articulating pin 32 to an abutment base 35, fixed using suitable and known means for fixing to the flap of the footwear.

[0034] Preferably, said lever arm 31 is removably associated with said abutment base 35, which is provided with at least one coupling seat, open at the top and configured to receive and advantageously snap-retain said articulating pin 32, so as to allow the rotation of the lever arm 31 between the two operative positions, and also allow the exit to obtain the decoupling of the lever arm 31 from said base 35, as shown in figure 4C.

[0035] Said lever arm 31 is further provided with a gripping portion 31 B, arranged advantageously distal from said articulating portion 31 A, adapted to be gripped by the user to move the lever arm 31 .

[0036] Said lever arm 31 comprises an engaging and guiding portion 33, preferably arranged below, in use, the body of the lever arm, in which there is engaged an intermediate portion of the cable 10 so that, when the lever arm 31 is rotatably moved from the opening position to the closing position, it determines the traction action on the cable 10.

[0037] Said engaging and guiding portion 33 is adapted to couple said traction cable 10 to said lever arm 31 , and it is preferably shaped to define a grooved seat 33A, extending transversely with respect to the extension of the lever arm 31 with advantageously curved extension, and adapted to receive and allow the sliding of an intermediate portion of the cable 10, further deviating the sliding path thereof.

[0038] Preferably, said engaging and guiding portion 33 is obtained as a separate piece with respect to the lever arm 31 , preferably made of polymeric material, and it is mounted integrally joined with the lever arm 31 through an anti-release device of the known type articulated thereto around a second articulation axis Y-Y defined by a pair of articulating pins 34, adapted to prevent the lever arm 31 from moving in an undesired manner to the opening position when performing sports activities due to the traction of the cable 10.

[0039] Preferably, said abutment base 35 has, on the surface of interface with said lever arm 31 , a rack 36 formed by a plurality of transverse teeth, which define a corresponding plurality of coupling seats, open at the top, in which there can be selectively received the articulating pin 32, so as to change the relative position between said lever arm 31 and said base 35, therefore allowing to vary the tension that can be applied to the cable 10.

[0040] Said rack 36 may be obtained as a single piece with the abutment base 35 or, as shown in figure 3, said rack 36 may comprise a pair of toothed racks 36A, preferably made of metal material, arranged parallel so that the respective teeth are essentially aligned so as to define said plurality of coupling seats, and separated by a central corridor 36B.

[0041] In the central corridor 36B there is advantageously arranged a retaining insert 36C, advantageously made of polymeric material, also provided with advantageously mirrorshaped transverse teeth, positioned so as to define continuously the coupling seats formed by the pair of toothed racks 36A.

[0042] Preferably, the teeth of said insert 36C have a top portion slightly protruding towards the internal of the coupling seat defined by them so as to create an inlet with small cross-section and allow, through an elastic deformation, both the snap-insertion of the articulating pin 32 in the coupling seat selected to rotatably couple the lever arm 31 to the abutment base 35 in the desired position, and its subsequent possible to de-couple the lever arm 31 from the abutment base 35.

[0043] In a fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ according to the present invention, the lever fastening device 30 allows to maintain a sort of fastening “memory”, allowing to quickly loosen the fastening of the footwear without losing the fastening condition set previously.

[0044] Furthermore, should there be provided for the adjustment of the relative position of the lever arm 31 with respect to the abutment base 35 due to the presence of the rack 36, the lever fastening device 30 advantageously allows to carry out a micrometric adjustment of the degree of fastening of the flaps of the footwear 100. As a matter of fact, between a coupling seat and the subsequent one of the rack 36 there can be determined a displacement of the traction cable 10 advantageously comprised between about 5-10 mm. [0045] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a fastening assembly 1 according to the present invention, essentially formed by a traction cable 10, preferably adapted to be fixed to through a cable terminal member 2 to a flap of the footwear, a lever fastening device 30 and a reel-based tightening device 20, preferably adapted to be fixed to other flaps of the footwear. In particular, said reel-based tightening device 20 can be associated with the same flap to which the cable terminal member can be fixed, said lever fastening device 30 being arranged on the other flap of said pair of flaps of the footwear.

[0046] With reference to the figures 2A and 2B, there is shown a fastening assembly 1 ’ according to a second particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention further comprising guide means 40, comprising one or more guide members 41 adapted to be engaged in a passing through and in a free slidable manner by said cable 10 suitably deviating the sliding path thereof.

[0047] Advantageously, as shown in figure 5, said guide members 41 each comprise a fixing plate 42, adapted to be fixed to a flap of the footwear 100, a cover plate 43, between which a pulley 44 is mounted idle, that is freely rotatable around an axis 7-7 essentially orthogonal to the surface of the flap and defined by a rotary pin 45.

[0048] Preferably, said pulley 44 is fitted on a hub 46 obtained on the fixing plate 42 and it has a circumferential groove 44A adapted to slidably receive the cable 10.

[0049] Alternatively, said guide members 41 may be formed by conventional cable- through member or they may be of the type described in EP0689392.

[0050] Said guide members 41 may be appropriately positioned on a flap or on both flaps to be approached, advantageously with a quincunx arrangement, that is offset or “zigzag”, to evenly distribute the fastening action conferred by the tensioning of the cable 10. [0051] Preferably, as shown in figure 2A and 2B, a fastening assembly 1 ’ according to the present invention comprises at least one pair of guide members 41 , both connected to the same flap of said pair of flaps, said lever fastening device 30 being fixed to the other flap of said pair of flaps, and interposed, with quincunx arrangement, with respect to the pair of guide members 41 , so as to be essentially at the same distance from both.

[0052] With reference to the figures 6 and 7, there is shown a fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ according to the present invention when associated with a ski boot 100 comprising a shell 101 adapted to receive the foot of a user and essentially formed by a sole S, essentially defining a plane for supporting the foot, from which there depart, on opposite longitudinal sides, a first and a second flap L1 , L2 adapted to be arranged respectively on the inner part and on the outer part of the foot, extending between a tip P, located in an area proximal to the tip of the foot, and a heel T, located at an area proximal to the heel, involving the lateral regions of the foot up to about the area of the malleoli area, and being faced or superimposed preferably in the upper area of the foot.

[0053] The fastening of the boot 100 conferred by the fastening assembly 1 according to the present invention may entail the approaching of the interface edges of said flaps L1 , L2, between which there may be possibly positioned a tongue, or the slidable overlapping of one flap with respect to the other.

[0054] The boot 100 may further comprise a cuff 102, adapted to wrap around at least at the rear part the lower part of the leg of the user, said cuff 102 being preferably articulated to the shell 101 around suitable hinge means, which define a rotation axis C-C essentially horizontal and parallel to the plane defined by the sole S.

[0055] In figures 6 and 7, the fastening assembly 1 , T is shown applied to the pair of flaps L1 , L2 which form the shell 101 of the boot 100; clearly, to a person skilled in the art it will be clear that the same fastening assembly 1 may be equally applied also to a pair of flaps for example arranged at the cuff 102, same case applying to any other portion of the upper of a footwear in which there is the need to releasably fasten a pair of adjacent flaps. [0056] In a first exemplifying embodiment, shown in figure 6, said fastening assembly 1 is essentially formed by a traction cable 10, a lever fastening device 30 and a reel-based tightening device 20, and it is associated with the footwear 100 so that said lever fastening device 30 and said reel-based tightening device 20 are fixed to different flaps of said footwear 100, preferably with quincunx arrangement.

[0057] In other words, said fastening assembly 1 is arranged so that the cable terminal member 2 constrains the first end 1 1 of the cable 10 to a flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2, said lever fastening device 30 being fixed to the other flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2 to tension an intermediate portion of the cable 10, and said reel-based tightening device 20, associated with the second end portion 12 of the cable 10, being fixed to the same flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2 to which the cable terminal member 2 is fixed, so that said cable 10 develops between the flaps L1 , L2 so as to allow the releasable fastening thereof.

[0058] Should the fastening assembly 1 according to this first embodiment be arranged to close the shell 101 of a boot 100, said cable terminal member 2 is preferably positioned on said first flap L1 in a portion proximal to the tip P of the footwear 100, said lever fastening device 30 is preferably arranged on the second flap L2 in a position located on the forefoot of the user when wearing the boot 100, and said reel-based tightening device 20 is preferably positioned on the first flap L1 , in a position located in proximity to or at the instep of the user when the latter wears the boot 100.

[0059] Preferably, said first flap L1 is arranged on the side facing externally E with respect to the footwear 100, while said second flap L2 is arranged on the inner side I of the footwear 100.

[0060] Furthermore, preferably, said lever device 30 is arranged on the footwear 100 so that the longitudinal extension axis thereof N-N is oriented transversely, and preferably orthogonally, with respect to the longitudinal extension axis M-M of the footwear 100.

[0061] Figure 7 shows a second particularly advantageous embodiment of a fastening assembly 1 ’ according to the present invention further comprising at least one pair of guide members 41 , associated with a sports footwear 100, in particular a ski boot.

[0062] In this case, said guide members 41 are both preferably fixed to the same flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2 of the footwear 100, said lever fastening device 30 being constrained to the other flap of said pair of flaps L1 , L2, and interposed, with quincunx arrangement, with respect to the pair of guide members 41 , so as to be essentially at the same distance from both.

[0063] This arrangement allows the lever fastening device 30 to carry out an even traction on the cable 10, without privileging the portion arranged at the forefoot or the one arranged at the instep of the user.

[0064] Furthermore, advantageously, said lever device 30 is arranged on the footwear 100 so that the longitudinal extension axis N-N thereof is oriented transversely, and preferably orthogonally, with respect to the longitudinal extension axis M-M of the footwear. [0065] In this second embodiment, the fastening assembly 1 ’ according to the present invention is associated with the footwear 100 so that the cable terminal member 2 constrains the first end 1 1 of the cable 10 and a first flap L1 ; the cable 10 is then made to pass through a first guide member 41 , fixed to a second flap L2 of the footwear 100, which deviates the sliding path thereof towards the lever fastening device 30, arranged on said first flap L1 , being deviated by it towards a second guide member 41 , fixed to the second flap L2 of the footwear 100, which lastly deviates the sliding path towards the reel-based tightening device 20, with which there is associated the second end 12 of the cable 10, fixed to the first flap L1 of the footwear 100.

[0066] Preferably, said first flap L1 is arranged on the side facing externally E with respect to the footwear 100, while said second flap L2 is arranged on the inner side I of the footwear 100.

[0067] Should said fastening assembly 1 ’ be arranged to close the shell of a boot 100, said cable terminal member 2 is preferably positioned on said first flap L1 in a portion proximal to the tip P, said lever fastening device 30 is preferably arranged on the first flap L1 in a position located on the forefoot of the user when wearing the boot 100, and said reel-based tightening device 20 is preferably positioned on the first flap L1 , in a position located in proximity to or at the instep of the user when the latter wears the boot 100. Said guide members 41 are instead positioned on a second flap L2 of the footwear 100.

[0068] Preferably, should said guide members 41 be of the type described with reference to figure 5, they are arranged and configured so that the relative pulleys 44 are positioned at or in proximity of the interface edge of the flap to which they are fixed, so as to prevent the cable 10 which extends between them from coming into contact with the surface of the footwear 100 which, especially at the forefoot of the user, so as to take a rather pronounced curvature.

[0069] Furthermore, advantageously, said fixing plate 42 is anchored in a distal area of the flap with respect to its interface edge, so that the traction stress exerted by the cable 10 spreads on a more extended flap portion, allowing a fastening action which wraps the foot of the user, avoiding the flattening deformation of the flap.

[0070] The process of releasably fastening the footwear 100 through a fastening assembly 1 , T according to the present invention is carried out as described below.

[0071] The user may fit the footwear or remove the foot therefrom when the fastening assembly 1 is completely loosened or when at least the lever arm 31 is in the open position, so that the flaps L1 , L2 can be moved away with little effort. In such condition, the cable 10 may be completely not-tensioned, that is the second end 12 of the cable 10 is essentially unwound by the winding mechanism of the reel-based tightening device 20, but this is not necessary.

[0072] Possibly, should said lever fastening device 30 provides for such option, to allow a greater margin of movement, in such condition the lever arm 31 may be de-coupled from the coupling seat of the relative abutment base 35.

[0073] In order to proceed with the fastening of the flaps, should the lever arm be decoupled from the relative abutment base 35, the user proceeds by coupling such components by snap-inserting the articulating pin 32 in the desired coupling seat.

[0074] Subsequently, preferably by maintaining the lever arm in the opening position, the user may start to tension the cable 10 by moving the knob 22 of the reel-based tightening device 20 in the winding direction.

[0075] Upon reaching the desired initial tensioning degree, the user then moves the lever arm 31 from the opening position to the closing position, to further tension the traction cable 10.

[0076] Should the degree of fastening achieved after such operations not be satisfactory, the user may temporarily loosen the tension on the cable 10 for example by moving the lever arm 31 backwards towards the opening position and subsequently, depending on the extent of adjustment of the degree of fastening intended to be applied, rotatably move the knob 22 of the reel-based tightening device 20 in the winding or unwinding direction, to obtain a micrometric adjustment of the fastening action, or, should such possibility be provided for, de-couple the lever arm 31 from the abutment base 35 by pulling it so as to obtain the release of the articulating pin 32 from the coupling seat in which it is received, and re-coupling it to the same by selecting a different coupling seat, so as to obtain a micrometric adjustment of the fastening action.

[0077] Although the reel-based tightening device 20 can be actuated even when the lever arm 31 of the lever fastening device 30 is in the closing position, should the transmission ratio of the winding mechanism be of the type 1 :1 , such operation is easy only should one desire to loosen the tension condition of the cable 10. Otherwise, for example should the transmission ratio be of the type 3:1 , one can act on the reel-based tightening device 20 both to further tension the cable 10 and loosen the tension thereof even when the lever arm 31 is in the closing position.

[0078] In conclusion, it is clear that the present invention allows to attain the initially envisaged objects and advantages. As a matter of fact, provided herein is a fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ adapted to be applied to a sports footwear provided with a pair of flaps to be moved mutually towards/away which can exploit the advantages of a reel-based tightening device, that is allow to continuously recover the traction cable, therefore being able to gradually change and very precisely adjust the fastening of the footwear until the desired degree is reached, additionally having the possibility of quickly releasing the closing tension of the footwear while maintaining a “memory” of the degree of fastening achieved previously, so as to allow to return the footwear to the desired fastening condition in a rapid and immediate fashion.

[0079] A fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ according to the present invention also allows to even the fastening condition of the two flaps of the footwear with which it is associated, making the fastening process gradual and comfortable. [0080] Furthermore, advantageously, a fastening assembly 1 , 1 ’ according to the present invention is durable, functional, easy and immediate to use.

[0081] Obviously, the present invention is susceptible of numerous applications, modifications or variants without departing from the scope of protection, as defined in the attached claims. [0082] Furthermore, the materials and equipment used in the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most appropriate depending on the specific requirements.

Claims

1. Fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') adapted to be applied to a sports footwear (100) provided with a pair of flaps (L1 , L2) to be moved mutually towards/away, said assembly (1 , 1 ’) being characterized in that it comprises at least:

- a traction cable (10) adapted to be connected with a first end portion (1 1 ) to a flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2) and associable, with at least a portion, to the other flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2 ),

- a reel-based tightening device (20) adapted to be fixed to a flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2), and arranged and configured to tighten a second end portion (12) of said traction cable (10), and

- a lever fastening device (30) adapted to be fixed to a flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2), and arranged and configured to cooperate with an intermediate portion of said traction cable (10).

2. Fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') according to claim 1 , wherein said lever fastening device (30) comprises a lever arm (31 ) rotatably movable around an articulating pin (32) between an opening position, in which it is raised moving away from said flap (L1 ; L2), and a closing position, in which it is lowered and adjacent to said flap (L1 ; L2), wherein in said opening position said traction cable (10) is not tightened by said lever arm (31 ) and in said closing position said traction cable (10) is tightened by said lever arm (31 ).

3. Fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') according to claim 2, wherein said lever arm (31 ) comprises an engaging and guiding portion (33) adapted to couple said traction cable (10) with said lever arm (31 ), said engaging and guiding portion (33) defining a grooved seat (33A) open laterally to allow the passage of the traction cable (10) and configured to deviate a sliding path thereof.

4. Fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said lever arm (31 ) is removably coupled with an abutment base (35) provided with at least one coupling seat open at the top and configured to snap-fit receive said articulating pin (32).

5. Fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') according to claim 4, wherein said abutment base (35) comprises a rack (36) formed by a plurality of transverse teeth which define a corresponding plurality of coupling seats, open at the top, wherein said articulating pin (32) can be selectively received to change the relative position between said lever arm (31 ) and said abutment base (35).

6. Fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reel-based tightening device (20) comprises a cable winding mechanism provided with a reel associated with said second end portion (12) of said traction cable (10) and a knob (22) arranged and configured for rotating said reel and winding/unwinding said traction cable (10) thereon.

7. Fastening assembly (1 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising guide means (40) comprising one or more guide members (41 ) adapted to be fixed to said flaps (L1 , L2) and to be engaged in a passing through and in a free slidable manner by said traction cable (10) to deviate a sliding path thereof.

8. Fastening assembly (1 ') according to claim 7, wherein said guide members (41 ) each comprise a pulley (44).

9. Fastening assembly (1 ') according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a pair of guide members (41 ), both adapted to be fixed to the same flap of said pair of flaps, said lever fastening device (30) being adapted to be fixed to the other flap of said pair of flaps and interposed in a quincunx arrangement with respect to the pair of guide members (41 ) so as to be essentially at the same distance from both.

10. Sports footwear (100) provided with a pair of flaps (L1 , L2) to be moved mutually towards/away and comprising a fastening assembly (1 , 1 ') according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Sports footwear (100) according to claim 10, wherein said fastening assembly (1 ') comprises at least one guide member (41 ) comprising a pulley (44), said guide member (41 ) being fixed to a flap of the footwear (100) so that said pulley (44) is arranged close to the edge of such flap facing the other flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2).

12. Sports footwear (100) according to claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein said fastening assembly (1 ') comprises a pair of guide members (41 ), both connected to the same flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2), said lever fastening device (30) being fixed to the other flap of said pair of flaps (L1 , L2) and interposed in a quincunx arrangement with respect to the pair of guide members (41 ) so as to be essentially at the same distance from both.

13. Sports footwear (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said first end portion (1 1 ) of said traction cable (10), said lever fastening device (30) and said reel-based tightening device (20) are fixed to a first flap (L1 ), arranged on a side facing externally (E) of said footwear (100), said fastening assembly (1 ') further comprising a pair of guide members (41 ) fixed to a second flap (L2) arranged on the inner side (I) of said footwear (100), said lever device (30) being interposed, in a quincunx arrangement, with respect to the pair of guide members (41 ).

14. Sports footwear (100) according to claim 10, wherein said lever fastening device (30) and said reel-based tightening device (20) of said fastening assembly (1 ) are fixed to different flaps of said footwear (100).

15. Sports footwear (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein said lever fastening device (30) is arranged so that its longitudinal extension axis (N-N) is transversally oriented with respect to the longitudinal extension axis (M-M) of said sports footwear (100).