Tightening device especially for ski shoes

Claim 1

A TENSIONING TIGHTENING DEVICE ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR QUICKLY AND RELIABLY FASTENING LAPPET PORTIONS OF SHOES AND PARTICULARLY SKI SHOES, SAID DEVICE BEING OF THE TYPE HAVING PAIRS OF MUTUALLY ENGAGING ELEMENTS, ONE OF WHICH IS SECURED ON ONE LAPPET PORTION, THE OTHER ELEMENT BEING FIXED TO THE OPPOSITE LAPPET PORTION, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS INCLUDING CONNECTING MEANS WHILE THE OTHER ELEMENT COMPRISES A TENSIONING MECHANISM INCLUDING AN ACTUATING LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A FIXED PIVOT SUPPORTED ON A CHANNEL-SHAPED BASE PLATE SECURED TO THE CORRESPONDING LAPPET PORTION OF THE SHOE, A TENSIONING MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID CONNECTING MEANS FIXED TO THE OPPOSITE LAPPET PORTION, AND AN INTERMEDIATE LINK CONNECTING ONE END OF SAID TENSIONING MEMBER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE PORTION OF THE ACTUATING LEVER SPACED FROM SAID FIXED PIVOT AND COOPERATING WITH SAID ACTUATING LEVER TO FORM A TOGGLE LINKAGE, SAID TENSIONING MEMBER BEING GUIDED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL-SHAPED BASE PLATE SO THAT UPON SWINGING SAID ACTUATING LEVER, SAID TENSIONING MEMBER MOVES WITH A RECIPROCATING RECTILINEAL MOTION TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE OPPOSITE SHOE LAPPET PORTION WHILE LYING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID LAPPET PORTIONS, SAID LAPPET PORTIONS BEING THEREFORE FREE FROM ANY STRESS TENDING TO LIFT THEM DURING TIGHTENING AND LOOSENING OPERATIONS.