CA2834536A1 - Sport shoe with adjustable flexion - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexion base (200), for a footwear element (1) intended for the exercise of a physical activity using a sliding or rolling machine, comprising means (202, 203, 210 , 211) for fixing said footwear element removably relative to this base, which has flexibility in a direction of extension of the foot and means (48 1-48 4) for fixing, against this base, also removably , at least one attachment element (25) to said device.

Description

, , SPORT SHOE WITH ADJUSTABLE FLEXION
The invention relates in particular to a shoe, or, more generally, to an element footwear, intended to be reversibly restrained to a sports apparatus, and concerns more especially the field of snow sports.
Such elements, and in particular shoes, can be used in areas such cross-country skiing or telemark skiing or snowshoeing, or wheeled vehicles.
A shoe of this family includes an outer sole, a stem and a element latch, the latter being designed to cooperate with a mechanism of locking himself even intended to be subject to the craft. The shackle and the mechanism of locking are a means of attachment which, very often, is provided to retain the shoe on the machine reversibly.
For example, in the field of cross-country skiing, it is usual for every mechanism of locking can either hold a shoe or release it. This allows to choose to drive skis or walk.
FIG. 1 shows a known assembly which comprises a shoe 1, a ski 2 and a retainer 3 of the boot on the ski.
The retaining device 3 comprises a base 4, which carries a mechanism for locking reversible 5, an elastic return mechanism 6, and a guide edge 7. It is for example possible to secure the locking mechanism 5, the return mechanism 6 and the guide edge 7 to the base 4, so that the retaining device 3 is coherent.
With regard to the shoe 1, it comprises an outer sole 12 and a stem 13.
The shoe 1 further comprises a fastening element 25, the latter being provided for cooperate with the restraint 3 itself intended to be subject to the ski 2. The element 25 interacts with the locking mechanism 5 and with the recall mechanism elastic 6.
The sole assembly 12, shown in more detail in a bottom view in figure 2, also extends in height, or in thickness, between a free face 18 and a face liaison 19.
free face 18 is intended to make contact with the ground, the device for retained 3, or the ski 2.
The connecting face 19, meanwhile, serves to secure the sole assembly 12 to rest of the shoe, for example by gluing.
The hooking element 25 is connected to the outer sole 12, so as to power, choice, to be solidarized with the latter, or to be separated from it.
As explained in the document FR 2968898, it is possible, at will, to disassemble and reassemble the fastening element 25, for example to replace it or to modify his position relative to the sole assembly 12.

2 A first problem is that of the longitudinal flexibility of the shoe along an axis transversal of it. This flexibility is imposed by the manufacture of the shoe and a user can not adjust it according to his needs.
Moreover, a second problem of this type of shoe, and, in a way generally, Known shoes, is the impossibility of adapting them to different types of material. In In particular, there are two large families in the field of cross-country skiing, the type family NNNe (New Nordic Norm) and the SNS family (Salomon Nordic System) ).
A shoe provided with means for connecting skis of one of the two types can not not be used for the other type, imposing on the user the possession of two pairs of shoes if he wants to freely use both types of skis. The same problem arises with other types of gear or ski interfaces.
In the present application, a flexion base is described for an element footwear, by example, a shoe or a slipper, said element being provided for the exercise of physical activity by means of a slippery or rolling craft, for example skis or snowshoes, comprising means for securing said footwear element, by example the stem of a shoe, removably with respect to this base or blade, which presents a flexibility in a foot extension direction and means for fix, against this base or blade, also removably, at least one element hanging on said machine.
The base may be flat, or substantially flat, or may further comprise two walls lateral, substantially vertical, and possibly a portion forming buttress, for maintain the back of a footwear item.
In a non-limiting way the buttress is an external subdivision of the shoe.
Alternatively, the base may further comprise a shell to cover at the least part of the said footwear, for example the upper of the footwear or a slipper.
Preferably, the base comprises means for fixing, by screwing or to help from slides or by clipping or by any other means, at least the element hanging on said machine.
Removable means may also be provided to vary the flexibility of the base, for example one or more inserts / or one or more rods and / or one or more plates or blades to be inserted in the said blade or against, or near, it.
It is not only a fastening element that can be fixed, so removable, against the base, or against at least a front part thereof, but, eventually, also a heel, the base including means for securing the heel of way removable.
The invention also relates to a footwear element, for example a shoe, planned for the exercise of a physical activity using a slippery machine or rolling, for example skis or snowshoes, in which the heel of the shoe is free during the movement of foot, this footwear element comprising a flexion blade of the type described above.
above.

3 For example, the footwear element is a shoe and comprises a sole and a rod.
The invention also relates to a footwear element, for example a shoe, planned for the exercise of a physical activity using a slippery machine or rolling, for example skis or snowshoes, activity in which the heel of the element footwear is free when movement of the foot, the front end of the footwear being connected to the craft by a fastening element, characterized in that it further comprises a flexion blade, of the type described above, the attachment element, and / or possibly the heel, which can be fastened removable way relative to the blade or base, to adapt the footwear element to a first type contact interface of said machine, or to a second type of interface of contact of said machine, different from the first type of contact interface.
Such a footwear element may comprise said attachment element and a heel, which can be interdependent with each other, or not.
The first type of contact interface may comprise a longitudinal stop unique, the attachment element and / or possibly the heel each having a groove longitudinal member for receiving at least a part of said stop longitudinal single.
The second type of contact interface may have two edges longitudinal, the attachment element and / or possibly the heel, each comprising two grooves longitudinal, each groove being intended to receive at least a portion one of the two longitudinal edges.
At least one contact interface may include at least one edge transversal and / or minus one stud, the hooking element and / or possibly the heel, with at least a longitudinal groove or at least one orifice, each groove or each orifice being intended to receive a transverse edge or a stud.
At least one contact interface may comprise a surface of the machine itself.
even, the attachment element, and / or possibly the heel, comprising at least one groove longitudinal.
Each groove may have a width substantially equal to the width of the craft.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood in using the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating, according to forms of realization nonlimiting, how the invention can be realized and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembly which comprises a shoe, as well as a partially depicted ski and a restraint the shoe on the ski, FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the outer sole of the shoe of Figure 1, FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate other embodiments of the invention, FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 5C illustrate other aspects of the invention,

4 - Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 illustrate other aspects of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention that are described herein relate more specially footwear for cross-country skiing, ski touring, telemark, or snowshoe. However, the invention applies to other fields, such as that for example the ice skating or roller skating.
FIG. 3A shows a first embodiment of the invention.
To better understand the invention, a shoe or a slipper, whose shank 13 extends lengthwise from a rear end or heel 14 up a front end or tip 15, and in width between a lateral side 16 and a medial side 17.
It comprises a lower portion 20, provided to surround the foot, and, eventually, a upper portion 21, provided to surround the ankle. The stem may comprise only the portion low.
The rod 13 can be brought on or in a part called base 200, which presents a certain longitudinal flexibility along a transverse axis of the shoe or slipper.
In this case the base 200 is a flexion blade. When assembled with the stem, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, this base 200 also extends in length, from the heel 14 to the point 15, and in width between the lateral side 16 and the medial 17. This base is monobloc, or in one piece, without additional means forming joint. Her flexibility allows him to simply adapt to the movements of a user.
These two elements, the rod 13 and the base 200 can therefore be assembled one to the other, but removably, so that it is possible to exchange the base 200 for another base or blade, or, keeping the same blade, to change the rod 13.
More specifically, the rod 13 comes to rest on the upper face 219 of the blade 200.
Reference 210 designates a collar provided with a strap 211 for holding the shoe or slipper. This strap can be opened or closed using such means by for example, self-gripping surfaces.
On the lower face 218 of the base 200, one can position elements forming the base of the assembly, and in particular one or more removable elements 25, 140.
On the heel side, the blade 200 can be provided with two walls, substantially vertical, 201 (side wall), 203 (medial wall), which will help maintain the back part of the stem 13 and, more particularly, to block any torsion of the foot. These two walls may not be joined or, on the contrary, be extended, in back, by a party (rear buttress) which joins the rear parts of the walls and stops the shoe backwards following substantially the shape of the rear portion of the rod. So non-limiting the buttress is here an external part of the shoe. The walls 201, 203, can expand, following the longitudinal direction of the foot, over a length L, which may reach for example 70% or 75% of the length of the shoe or slipper or length total of the blade 200, which corresponds substantially to the position of the metatarsals. When the shoe or the liner is inserted on or in the base or blade 200, two orifices 202, 204 allow to introduce articulation means such as rivets, or screws, which can cooperate with corresponding openings of the shoe and orifices Correspondents collar 210 to maintain the whole or to contribute to the maintenance of all. A
retaining strap 211 'may also be present in front of the blade;
this strap can

To be opened or closed by means such as, for example, self-surfaces Velcro. The stem can also be held in, or on, the blade by collage, screwing or riveting.
When the user wishes to release the stem of the base, it releases the means 211, 211 'of maintenance, as well as, possibly, the means introduced into the orifices 202, 204.
A particular form of base 200 has been described above in connection with the Figure 3A.
But this removable base can have other forms.
In a variant, the base has no walls 201, 203, or buttress, and form so a blade of substantially flat surface, or extending in two dimensions, and intended to be fixed, also removably, against a base of a shoe or against a slipper. It can therefore be flat, the maintenance with the rod being by example provided by screwing or riveting. An example of this embodiment is illustrated in figure 3C, on which recognizes the plane flexible blade 200a. On this flexible blade, we can come fix, so removable element, elements 250, 251 of a shoe, in which, moreover, a slipper 252 can be introduced. The means 210 are similar to those already illustrated in Figure 3A.
As can be understood from this figure, one can position on the blade 200a one or several elements, the whole allowing to obtain a very large modularity.
According to another embodiment, represented in FIG. 3D, the flexible blade 200b can be part of a hull, which can be semi-indented. In other words, the parties 201, 203 of the The structure of Figure 3A is extended forward to cover the minus the front part of the lower portion 20 of a shoe (not shown in this figure), the whole being so receive it. Despite the presence of the hull, elements 211, 211 ', 212 from fixing, of the type of those described above in connection with FIG. 3B, can be expected (they are not shown in Figure 3D). The presence of the hull, above of the flat part of the blade, does not modify the flexion thereof. In other words, the role of this blade is, from point of view of the flexion of the foot, the same as in the case of Figures 3A-3C.
We observe that the hull is here made of several assembled elements but that, alternatively she could be a one-piece piece.
Means that will allow to achieve a contact interface with a ski or a snowshoes may include one part, two parts, or more.
In any case, they comprise a fastening element 25, intended to cooperate with the retaining device 3 (shown in FIG. 1), in particular the mechanism locking 5, itself intended to be subject to a ski 2, and possibly with a recall mechanism 6. Other applications than skiing implement such structure.

6 As already explained above, in connection with FIG.
restraint 3 comprises a base 4, which carries a reversible locking mechanism 5, eventually an elastic return mechanism 6, and, in the example illustrated in FIG.
an edge of longitudinal guide 7; the locking mechanism 5, the possible mechanism recall 6 and the guide edge 7 can be secured to the base 4.
By way of example, it is possible to produce a single piece intended to apply against the base;
such a piece is shown in Figure 4. On the latter, we see that the means of maintaining the two parts 25, 140 relative to the base 200 are connected between them by a flexion blade 120, which will have a certain flexibility to accompany the movement of the user. This set is compatible with a method of attachment to a position on the blade, or two or more discrete positions. This blade is for example in one material metallic and / or composite and / or plastic and / or with fibers plant.
The connecting element 120 has an extension, forward, which is limited so not to interfere the son 26, 27 hooking intended to cooperate with the device of retention 3.
The base 200, like the blade 120, has a certain flexibility longitudinal according to transverse axis of the shoe or slipper. It can be folded for accompany foot movements. It may be necessary to adapt this flexibility. We can this change the first blade or the first base and choose a second blade or a second base with another flexibility (stiffer or more flexible than the first). But it is also possible to provide a base with adaptable flexibility.
The invention provides for this purpose reinforcing means such as inserts or stems, may be introduced into longitudinally extending orifices in the base or blade, as shown in Figure 5A, on which we see a flexion blade 200, and two orifices 220, 221 which make it possible to slide reinforcing rods 222, 223 into zones cylindrical, made in the base or blade itself. These areas cylindrical are in the extension of the openings 220, 221. The cylindrical zones can be oriented longitudinally, or form with the longitudinal direction Lo of the shoe an angle a between 0 and 40. As a variant, such openings 220 ', 221' may to be practiced in rear face, as shown in Figure 5B. In another variant, an opening 224, on the front or rear, can accommodate a reinforcing element 225 having the shape of a plate by rectangular example, as illustrated in FIG. 5C. In another variant, a reinforcing element may be a plate, possibly perforated, and intended to be plated against the face upper or lower flexion blade, for example on the area on which part before or the rear part of the means of adaptation are to fix or between these two areas. These reinforcement means may be adapted to such a blade, whether it is planned in combination with removable elements 25, 140, or with any other means of liaison with the machine, for example skiing.

7 Both the connecting means, which connect the fastening element 25 to the blade 200, 200a, 200b, that the removable heel, will allow an adaptation of the shoe to a type any of ski.
As can be understood from Figures 6 to 9, in some cases the base of bending comprises a buttress 241, which is a rear part, a tip 242, which is a front part, and a bridge 243 which connects the buttress 241 to the end piece 242 by all means appropriate. Screws may be suitable, but other means are possible.
In Figures 6 and 7, the buttress 241 is secured to the bridge 243 of reversible way.
In FIGS. 6 to 9, the end piece 242 is secured to the bridge 243 so as to reversible.
In FIGS. 8 and 9, the buttress 241 and the bridge 243 form a part piece.
In FIGS. 6 and 8, the bridge 243 comprises a single plate 244.
In FIGS. 7 and 9, the bridge 243 comprises several parts 244, 245.
In all the embodiments which have been explained above, the elements before and back to attach to the outer surface of the base are compatible with the NNN family or the SNS family.
But the invention also relates to other restraining devices or other types of materials.
For example, there may be n parallel edges (n> 2).
In all the cases described above, the attachment means comprise one or two sons.
But, as already stated, other types of attachment means can be implemented.
In all cases, the positioning, respectively of the front part (element attachment) or the rear part (heel) of the adaptation means to a extension longitudinal that can go, up to 30% or 35% or 40% of the length of the blade, measured respectively from the front or rear end thereof.
The teaching described above especially for the case of a ski can be transposed to the case rackets.
In all cases the invention is made from materials and according to techniques of implementation known to those skilled in the art. The front and back of adaptation means are made with a number (2 to 4) of molds reduced by report to number (8 to 15) of molds used to make shoe soles currently known. From an economic point of view, the advantage is considerable, since to realize Each mold requires an investment of between 10 and 40 Ke Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments above described, and includes all technical equivalents that may fall within the scope of claims that will follow.
But in all cases the base or flexion blade, for a footwear element, provided for exercising with a slipping or rolling machine, in which the heel is free during the movement of the foot, is characterized by the fact that the said base includes means for securing said footwear removably with respect to this base or

8 blade, which has flexibility in a direction of extension of the foot and means for fix, against the front part, in the direction of extension of the foot, this base, also from removable manner, at least one attachment element to said machine.

Claims (21)

1. Bending base (200) for a footwear element (1) provided for the exercise of physical activity by means of a slipping or rolling craft, in which the heel is free when movement of the foot, characterized in that said base comprises means (202, 203, 210, 211) for fixing said footwear removably by report this base, which has flexibility in a direction of extension of the foot and means to fix, against the front part, in the direction of extension of the foot, of this base, also removably, at least one attachment element (25) to said machine. 2. Bending base according to claim 1, this base being flat or sensibly flat or further comprising two side walls (201, 203), substantially verticals, and possibly a part forming a buttress, to maintain the rear part (13) of a footwear element. 3. Bending base according to claim 1, further comprising a hull for covering at least the lower part (20) of a footwear element. 4.
Bending base according to claim 1, characterized in that includes a buttress (241), a mouthpiece (242), and a bridge (243) connecting the buttress (241) at the mouthpiece (242). 5. Base according to claim 4, characterized in that the buttress (241) is secured to the bridge (243) in a reversible manner. 6. Base according to claim 4, characterized in that the endpiece (242) is secured to the bridge (243) in a reversible manner. 7. Base according to claim 4, characterized in that the buttress (241) and the bridge (243) form a single piece. 8. Base according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the bridge (243) comprises a single plate (244). 9. Base according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the bridge (243) includes several pieces (244, 245). 10. Base according to one of the preceding claims, comprising means to fix to the base, by screwing, using slides, by clipping, or by any other means, at least the hooking element (25). 11. Base according to one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising means removable (222, 223, 225) to vary the flexibility of the base. 12. Base according to the preceding claim, the means for varying the flexibility of the flexion base comprising one or more inserts / or one or more stems (222, 223) and / or one or more plates or blades (225) to be inserted in said base or against, or near, this one. 13. Base according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for fixing, removably against this base, a heel (140). 14. Footwear element (1) intended for the exercise of a physical activity at using a slippery or rolling craft, in which the heel is free during the movement of the foot (2), characterized in that it further comprises a flexion base (200), according to one of Claims 1 to 7. 15. Footwear (1) intended for the exercise of physical activity at using a slipping or rolling machine (2), in which the heel is free during foot movement, the front end (15) of the footwear being connected to the apparatus by a element hanging, characterized in that it further comprises a flexion base (200), according to one of 1 to 13, the hooking member (25) and the heel (140) being set so removable relative to the blade, to adapt the footwear element to a first type of interface contact of a machine, or a second type of contact interface of the said gear, different from first type of contact interface. 16. Footwear according to the preceding claim, comprising both the element hook (25) and a heel (140), which are integral with each other. 17. Footwear according to one of claims 15 or 16, the first type interface contact being with a single longitudinal edge, the fastening element (25), and / or possibly the heel each having a longitudinal groove for receive at at least a portion of said single longitudinal edge. 18. Footwear according to one of claims 15 or 16, the second type contact interface being with two longitudinal edges, the element fastening (25), and / or possibly the heel, having two longitudinal grooves, each groove being intended to receive at least a portion of one of the two longitudinal edges. 19. Footwear according to one of claims 15 to 18, an interface of contact at less having at least one transverse edge and / or at least one stud, the element (25), and / or possibly the heel, comprising at least one groove longitudinal and / or at least one orifice, each groove or each orifice being intended for receive a transverse edge or a stud. 20. Footwear element according to one of claims 15 to 19, an interface of contact at less having a flat surface of the craft itself, the attachment element (25), and / or possibly the heel, comprising at least one longitudinal groove. 21. Footwear according to the preceding claim, each groove having a width substantially equal to the width of the machine.