EP0474708B1 - Shoe with a closure device and with an upper made of flexible material - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe comprises a closure device, an upper made of flexible material which yields to the tensile stresses in the region of the closure and an instep shield which covers the instep. The instep shield can be attached on both sides to side side parts of the upper. To enable the instep shield and the side parts of the upper to be clamped together with a closure or clamping force as uniform as possible over the whole closure region, the end (5) of the instep shield (2) nearer the tip is movably connected on either side to closure flaps (3, 4) made from resilient material which are essentially parallel to, or make a small acute angle (α) with, the instep shield (2). Alternatively, each of these parts (2; 3; 4) consists of a separate component. The instep shield (2) has a central turnbuckle (12) with at least one tensioning element (11) which enables the closure flaps (3, 4) and the side parts (7) of the upper (8) to move relative to the instep shield (2). The tensioning element (11) connects the closure flaps (3, 4) to the instep shield (2) at least in the upper and lower parts (27, 28) of the instep shield (2) without crossing.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe provided with a locking device, in particular sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoe, with a shaft material which is flexible with respect to tensile stresses in the closing area or with a plurality of flexible shaft materials according to the preamble of claim 1.

A sports shoe, namely football boots, with a locking device of this type is known from DD-PS 89 796. In this previously known football boot, each side of the instep shield can be tied in the instep area with a tab provided on the side parts of the shoe upper by a lacing by threading a shoelace through tying holes in the instep plate and in the side flaps and tying behind the heel part of the football boot. With such a lacing arrangement, punctual pressures when tightening a lacing that usually runs over the instep are reduced and thus the blood circulation in the instep area is no longer impaired as much. When tightening or tensioning the laces on both sides of the riser plate, however, it is not possible to tie them evenly from the bottom to the top lacing hole. This is due to the fact that the Tension quickly decreases from the free end of the laces to the last lacing hole due to high frictional forces. A particularly high frictional connection between the instep plate and the side flaps on the one hand and the shoelaces on the other hand is brought about when tightened by the closing pressure of the instep plate and the side flaps on the respective base and the shoelaces clamped in between.

In this known football boot, the closing flaps are also attached directly to the sole, namely between the sole and the upper. This prevents tension between the riser plate and the upper material. As can be seen from page 3, last paragraph, lines 14 and 15, the riser plate should only be able to be pulled down and back towards the instep of the wearer.

Furthermore, it is known from FR-A-2 598 292, at the end edges of the side parts of the instep facing the instep To provide a shoe in the form of a tube and the bracing of these two side parts of the shoe shaft via a ball chain, one end of which is suspended in a fastening element attached to the tongue. Here, however, one side part of the shoe upper is firmly connected to the tongue by means of a seam and the ball chain is held at the other end in the region of this guide fastened to the tongue by a deflectable guide section. As a result, the freely movable side part of the shoe upper has to be pulled over the tongue over a long distance during the tensioning process, a folding of the normally flexible tongue being inevitable because of the high frictional connection between the side part and the tongue.

In contrast, the present invention is intended to achieve the object of improving the previously known double lacing with an instep plate in the instep area in such a way that it is possible to simply insert the instep plate and the side parts of the shoe shaft over the entire closing area and with closing or Tension the clamping force against each other in order to ensure the most uniform possible pressure distribution along the entire closing area, if possible also over the area of the arch of the instep of the foot, that is to say transversely to the longitudinal direction of the shoe.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The present invention ensures that the mutual position of the tensioning element guides in the riser plate or is precisely defined and optimized with respect to one another in the locking tabs and that the clamping element (s) is not or will not be pinched by the closing pressure of the riser plate and the locking tabs, and also not selectively and / or in partial areas of the closing area. A largely continuous adjustment of the bracing is possible in a simple manner by means of the central turnbuckle. The locking device designed according to the invention can be prefabricated as a unit when using an assembled arrangement of instep shield and locking tab, pre-tested and attached to the corresponding shoes, in particular sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoes, as a securely functioning clamping unit.

When using separate individual parts for the instep shield on the one hand and for the closing flaps on the other hand, there is in particular the further advantage that a good adaptability of these parts of the central locking device is ensured across the instep area with unchanged high longitudinal bending stiffness in the instep area. This also applies to the further embodiments with hinge-like or articulated connection points or connection areas between the riser plate and the locking tabs.

The arrangement of the clamping element (s) can in principle be carried out without crossing.

However, one or more crossings of the tensioning element (s) can also be present, depending on the shaft height of the shoe. A special configuration of the intersecting grooves ensures that the clamping element (s) crosses with little or no friction in these embodiments of the present invention, since these can be designed such that they do not lie on one another at any point. As a result, the locking device can be easily tensioned and relaxed and, in addition, wear is avoided completely by avoiding high pressure at the point of intersection of the clamping element (s).

The use of elastic or resilient material for the closing device creates a relatively stable end edge at the shoe opening at the end of the closing area. In a further development of the invention, this can be used by a special configuration of the tongue end part to stabilize or fix the position of the tongue with respect to the closing device and also to enable targeted guidance of the opening or closing upper end parts of the shoe upper.

The use of central turnbuckles as a locking device for ski boots with shell-shaped plastic closing flaps in the closing area, which are practically non-compliant with regard to tensile stresses, is known from DE-AS 20 46 890. However, this type of closing device is not applicable to shoes with shaft materials that are flexible with respect to tensile stresses in the closing area, since the closing area of the previously known closing devices extends to only a short section of the locking tabs of these rigid ski boots for alpine skiing.

The same applies to the still known central lock for alpine ski boots according to DE-AS 22 13 720, in which rope loops are used as a tension element. Another central lock with rope loops is known from DE-OS 36 26 837 for alpine ski boots. The known central locks cannot be manufactured as a prefabricated, pre-tested and preassembled unit, so that with these alpine ski boots their central locks have to be coordinated and adapted to one another from case to case.

Further advantageous details of the invention are specified in the subclaims and are described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf einen den Ristbereich darstellenden Ausschnitt eines Sportschuhes mit der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnitt I-I der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnitt II-II der Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Sportschuhes mit einem Bowdenzug als Spannelement und einem Zentralspannschloß,

Fig. 5

den Ristschild mit Schließlappen und mit dem Zentralspannschloß in einer Draufsicht bei abgenommener Abdeckung,

Fig. 5 A

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnitt III-III der Fig. 5,

Fig. 6

eine Ristschild- und Lappenabdeckung für eine Schließanordnung gemäß Fig. 5,

Fig. 6 A

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnitt IV-IV der Fig. 6,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf eine Schließvorrichtung ohne Abdeckung mit zusätzlichen seitlichen Spannbändern,

Fig.8u.9

je eine Seitenansicht eines Sport- oder Freizeitschuhes in Form eines Halbschuhes mit unterschiedlicher Spannbandgestaltung,

Fig. 10

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnitt V-V der Fig.9,

Fig. 11 und 12

die Ansichten des Zungenendteils, jeweils im Längsschnitt,

Fig. 13

eine Ansicht der Zunge gemäß dem Schnitt VI-VI der Fig. 12,

Fig. 14

eine Draufsicht auf eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung mit besonders biegsam ausgeführtem Vorderbereich am unteren Ende der Schließvorrichtung,

Fig. 15

die Draufsicht auf eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Erfindung hinsichtlich des Ristschildes und der Lappenabdeckung,

Fig. 16

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung mit geschlossenen Spannbändern als Prinzipskizze,

Fig. 17

die Teilansicht einer Draufsicht auf eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung mit von den Schließlappen getrennten Spannbändern,

Fig. 18

einen Schnitt des linken Teils der Schließvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 17 von rückwärts her gesehen,

Fig. 19

einen Teil der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung in perspektivischer Ansicht, mit in Schlitzen der Schließlappen eingeschobenen Spannbändern der in Fig. 18 im Schnitt gezeigten Ausführung,

Fig. 20

eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung mit zwei geschlossenen, durch Stege miteinander verbundenen Spannbändern,

Fig. 21

einen Abschnitt der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung mit nicht mit den Schließlappen verbundenen Spannbändern in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 22 bis 25

mögliche Ausgestaltungen der Anordnung der Umlenkelemente,

Fig. 26

eine Draufsicht auf einen den Ristbereich darstellenden Ausschnitt eines Sportschuhes mit der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung,

Fig. 27

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnitt VII-VII der Fig.26,

Fig. 27A

einen vergrößerten Abschnitt des einen Schließlappens mit in dessen Nut eingesetztem Umlenkelement,

Fig. 28

eine Ansicht gemäß dem Schnit VIII-VIII der Fig.26,

Fig. 29

den Ristschild mit Schließlappen und dem Zentralspannschloß in einer Draufsicht mit einem sich kreuzenden Spannelement,

Fig. 30

eine Draufsicht auf eine bauliche Einheit aus dem Ristschild und den Schließlappen mit einer zwischen diesen Teilen als Abdeckung vorgesehenen Membran,

Fig. 30A

ein im Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 30 verwendetes Umlenkelement in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 30B

eine Teilansicht, ähnlich der in Fig. 27A dargestellten,

Fig. 31

einen Querschnitt durch einen Ristschild mit Umlenkelementen in einer Vertiefung dieses Ristschildes,

Fig. 32

den der Schuhspitze zugewandten unteren Abschnitt der Schließvorrichtung in der Draufsicht,

Fig. 33

die Ansicht des Schnittes IX-IX der Fig. 32 und

Fig. 34

die Teilansicht einer Draufsicht auf eine Schließvorrichtung mit vom Ristschild getrennten Schließlappen sowie mit von diesen getrennt angeordneten Spannbändern.

Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a plan view of a section of a sports shoe that represents the instep area with the closing device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

2 shows a view according to section II of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a view according to section II-II of FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a sports shoe with a Bowden cable as a tensioning element and a central turnbuckle,

Fig. 5

the instep plate with locking tabs and with the central turnbuckle in a top view with the cover removed,

Fig. 5 A

5 shows a view according to section III-III of FIG. 5,

Fig. 6

5 a cover plate and tab cover for a locking arrangement according to FIG. 5,

Fig. 6 A

6 shows a view according to section IV-IV of FIG. 6,

Fig. 7

a plan view of a locking device without a cover with additional side straps,

Fig.8u.9

a side view of a sport or leisure shoe in the form of a low shoe with different strap design,

Fig. 10

9 shows a view according to the section VV of FIG. 9,

11 and 12

the views of the tongue end part, each in longitudinal section,

Fig. 13

a view of the tongue according to section VI-VI of FIG. 12,

Fig. 14

2 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the locking device according to the invention with a particularly flexible front area at the lower end of the locking device,

Fig. 15

the top view of a modified embodiment of the invention with respect to the instep shield and the flap cover,

Fig. 16

2 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the locking device according to the invention with closed tensioning straps as a schematic diagram,

Fig. 17

the partial view of a plan view of a further embodiment of the locking device according to the invention with tensioning straps separated from the locking tabs,

Fig. 18

17 shows a section of the left part of the locking device according to FIG. 17 from the rear,

Fig. 19

part of the locking device according to the invention in a perspective view, with tensioning straps of the embodiment shown in section in FIG. 18 inserted into the slots of the locking tabs,

Fig. 20

2 shows a perspective view of the locking device according to the invention with two closed tensioning straps connected by webs,

Fig. 21

a section of the locking device according to the invention with straps not connected to the locking tabs in a plan view,

22 to 25

possible configurations of the arrangement of the deflection elements,

Fig. 26

2 shows a plan view of a section of a sports shoe that represents the instep area with the closing device according to the invention,

Fig. 27

a view according to section VII-VII of Figure 26,

Figure 27A

3 shows an enlarged section of the one closing flap with a deflection element inserted into its groove,

Fig. 28

a view along section VIII-VIII of Figure 26,

Fig. 29

the instep plate with locking tabs and the central turnbuckle in a top view with a crossing tensioning element,

Fig. 30

2 shows a plan view of a structural unit consisting of the riser plate and the closing flaps with a membrane provided as a cover between these parts,

Figure 30A

30 shows a deflection element used in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 30 in a perspective illustration,

Figure 30B

a partial view, similar to that shown in Fig. 27A,

Fig. 31

3 shows a cross section through a riser plate with deflection elements in a recess of this riser plate,

Fig. 32

the lower section of the closing device facing the toe in plan view,

Fig. 33

the view of section IX-IX of Fig. 32 and

Fig. 34

the partial view of a top view of a locking device with closing tabs separated from the riser plate and with tensioning straps arranged separately therefrom.

In Fig. 1, a section of a sports shoe, namely its instep area, is designated in the middle. Above the instep there is a riser plate 2 which, with two side closing flaps 3, 4, forms a structural unit in that the latter are formed on the end 5 of the instep plate 2 facing the toe and from there essentially parallel or at a small acute angle α slope from about 5 ° to 15 ° to the riser plate 2. The closing flaps 3, 4 can also be articulated at the end 5 on the riser plate 2, for example via a hinge or preferably via a spring joint.

The closing flap 3 is firmly connected to one side 6 and the closing flap 4 is firmly connected to the other side 7 of the upper material or the shoe upper 8 of this sports shoe, for example sewn and / or glued.

As an exemplary embodiment, reference is made to the adhesive points 9 in FIG. 2.

The riser plate 2 and the closing flaps 3, 4 consist of elastic, spring-elastic or hard-elastic material. In the relieved state, these parts of the locking device remain in the open state, which is shown in FIG. 1. Thermoplastics or thermosets, for example polyamide, polyimide, polyurethane or the like, are used in particular as materials for the riser plate 2 and the closing flaps 3, 4.

The upper material of the upper 8 consists of leather or synthetic leather or of a fiber fabric and it can also be provided with trimmings, for example made of leather or synthetic leather or other materials. In Fig. 1, below the instep plate 2, a fiber fabric part 8a reducing the weight of the sports shoe is shown.

The adjoining parts 6, 7 of the shoe upper 8 consist, as usual, of leather, preferably suede. The upper material of the shoe upper 8 can have a lining on the inside and it can also be provided with an inner cushion layer.

Below the side parts 6 and 7 of the shoe upper 8 there is a tongue 10 which completely covers the closing area and which can also be padded. A thermoplastic, pressure-transmitting cushioning material in the form of foamed polyethylene, polyurethane or ethylene-vinyl acetate is preferably used as the cushioning.

The locking tabs 3, 4 can be pulled against the riser plate 2 by a tensioning element 11 designed as a rope or band, for example as a steel wire, wire or plastic rope. For this purpose, the tensioning element 11, starting from a central turnbuckle 12 provided on the riser plate 2, alternates from the riser plate 2 to the locking tab 3 or 4 and led back again and runs in the guides attached there in the form of circular-arc-shaped guide channels 13. The guide channels 13 run in the plane of the riser plate 2 or the locking tabs 3, 4 and are offset from one another in such a way that the clamping element 11 is at least approximately S-shaped or in a serpentine shape. This ensures that the tensioning element 11 is not clamped in partial areas, such as the central area MB, during tensioning over the entire closing area SB. The arrangement of the guide channels 13 is selected such that in the case of closing flaps 3, 4 used on the riser plate 2, an opening 14 of a guide channel 13 is congruent with the opening 14 of the opposite guide channel 13.

Even if basically one or more crossings of the tensioning element or the tensioning elements 11 in the central area MB are not to be excluded, the arrangement is made in all the exemplary embodiments such that the tensioning element or elements (e ) 11 runs or run without crossing.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, each locking flap 3, 4 has two guide channels 13 and the riser plate 2 has a guide channel 13 on each side. In particular in the case of high-strength sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoes, more guide channels 13 can also be provided both in the closing flaps 3, 4 and in the riser plate 2 be arranged.

The radius R of the guide channels 13 is chosen to be as large as possible and is at least about 7 mm up to about 15 mm depending on the shoe size. The circular arc of a guide channel 13 extends over an opening angle β of approximately 100 ° to 180 °.

In order to obtain the lowest possible friction between the tensioning element 11 and the wall of the guide channels 13, the riser plate 2 and the closing flaps 3, 4 are made of abrasion-resistant material with a low coefficient of friction or the guide channels 13 are lined with such a material. The guide channels 13 can also consist of a curved sleeve made of a material with a low coefficient of friction. Suitable materials for this are, for example, polyamide. Polyimide, polyester, polyurethane or even metals with good sliding properties, such as those used in plain bearings. In particular, the curved sleeves can be made of stainless steel, titanium or bronze.

The central turnbuckle 12 is preferably designed so that the tensioning element 11 can be tightened and loosened from both sides in fine steps, approximately continuously or even continuously. The central turnbuckle 12 is advantageously designed as a rotary lock and rotatably mounted in the riser plate 2.

Each locking tab 3, 4 has at least two guide channels 13, which are arranged at a distance from the two openings 14 of the guide channel 13 mounted opposite on the riser plate 2, so that the guide channel 13 of the riser plate 2 is set to a gap. In the exemplary embodiment, a single clamping element 11 is provided, which is pulled back from the central clamping lock 12 via the closing flap 3 through the end 5 of the riser plate 2 to the other locking flap 4 to the central clamping lock 12. In principle, it would also be possible to use two central turnbuckles, each of which is used to operate a tensioning element between the locking tab 3 and the riser plate 2 on the one hand and the locking tab 4 and the riser plate 2 on the other.

Since the riser plate 2 is preferably made of resilient or hard-elastic plastic material in order to be able to perform its function well as a large-area pressure distribution plate, it is advantageous to increase the flexibility of the riser plate 2 at least in the lower region by transverse material thinning points, such as grooves 15, as shown in FIG 1 and 4 is shown. Instead of grooves 15, a corrugated profile or a meandering profile can also be provided, whereby in addition to the necessary flexibility, sufficient expansion reserves are also created.

Below the instep plate 2 and the closing flaps 3 and 4, slide films 17 covering the opening gap 16 are provided, for example in the form of plastic sheets with a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. These sliding foils 17 are formed on one side either on the riser plate 2 or in each case on the closing flap 3 or 4 or fastened, preferably glued on. The sliding foils 17 enable the closing flaps 3, 4 to be pulled up easily, with little friction, against the riser plate 2, and the same kind of low-friction suspension in the relieved state. The sliding films 17 thus support the parallel or wedge-shaped closing movements of the locking tabs 3, 4 towards the riser plate 2 or away from it.

In the case of a one-piece design of riser plate 2 with the locking tabs 3, 4, round or rounded recesses 18 are provided at the connection points in the lower region of the riser plate 2, that is to say at the beginning of the opening gap 16, in order to reduce the notch effect at these connection points. A steel wire or a wire rope can be used as the tensioning element or tensioning elements 11, which can possibly also be surrounded by a plastic sleeve with good sliding properties.

The clamping element 11 can also consist of a Bowden cable 19, as shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the casing 20 of the Bowden cable 19 has compressible areas 22 between the fixed articulation points 21a, 21b on the riser plate 2 and on the locking tabs 3, 4. These compressible regions 22 of the casing 20 are preferably designed as an expandable or compressible bellows. Otherwise, the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 corresponds to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 with regard to the remaining parts of the locking device.

1 to 4, the sub-device 2, 3, 4 of the locking device either consists of a single, homogeneous component or the riser plate 2 and the locking tabs 3, 4 each consist of a single component Component.

For manufacturing reasons or also for reasons of material stress of the materials used, a two-part design of the riser plate 2 can also be provided, as will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

5 again shows the central locking device consisting of the riser plate 2, the central turnbuckle 12 and the two locking tabs 3, 4.

In this embodiment of the invention, instead of guide channels 13 (FIGS. 1 and 2), guides in the form of upwardly diverting deflection elements or blocks 23 are provided on the locking tabs 3, 4. These deflection elements or blocks 23 each have a protruding upper edge 24 (FIG. 5A), at least in the region of the guide of the tensioning element (s) 11, so that a guide groove 25 is formed. in which the clamping element (s) 11 can slide and can be secured against unintentional lifting off the deflection element or block 23.

The deflection elements or blocks 23 are provided or attached to the closing flaps 3, 4 at mutually opposite locations and the riser plate 2 has no guide channels 13 and / or deflection elements or blocks 23 here. The tensioning element 11 is thus alternating in the center area MB looped from one to the other locking tab 3 or 4 around the corresponding deflection elements or blocks 23 and can be tensioned and relaxed from the central lock 12. This results in a crossing point 26 of the clamping element 11 in the central area MB of the locking device, whereas in the upper part 27 and in the lower part 28 of the locking area SB the locking tabs 3, 4 are connected to one another without crossing.

The tensioning element 11 is guided in grooves 29 to 33 over the riser plate 2. This ensures good guidance of the tensioning element or the tensioning elements 11 in these areas and also the pressure of the tensioned tensioning element 11 on the riser plate 2 is reduced and thus the friction is reduced.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the grooves 31 and 32 intersect at the intersection 26. In order to avoid or largely preclude the material of the tensioning element 11 from sliding on one another at the intersection 26, the one groove, here the groove 31, is advantageously formed deeper 5. The deeper groove 31 preferably runs deeper than the other groove 32 by at least approximately the thickness of the tensioning element 11, so that the frictional pressure of the intersecting parts of the tensioning element 11 is negligibly small or is completely eliminated.

To cover the grooves 29 to 33 of the riser plate 2, a riser cover 34 can be applied to the latter so that the grooves 29 to 33 are formed or maintained as channels for low-friction sliding of the clamping element (s) 11. Such a riser cover 34 is shown in Fig. 6 It is provided with a recess 35 for the passage of the central turnbuckle 12. It can be glued and / or sewn onto the riser plate 2 and / or can be latched to the riser plate 2 by means of latching elements known per se, for example latching hooks, latching noses or the like provided on the riser plate cover 34 and / or on the riser plate 2.

Likewise, a flap cover 36 or 37, as shown in FIG. 6, can be provided on the locking tabs 3, 4 in order to cover the, for example, curved guides for the tensioning element 11 or the guide grooves 25 shown in FIG. 5A. In the latter case, the flap covers 36, 37 have openings 38 in corresponding locations, into which the deflection elements or blocks 23 engage or, for example, snap in with the projecting upper edge 24.

In order to prevent contaminants from entering the closing area of the opening gaps 16, a sliding film 17 can be provided between the riser plate cover 34 and the adjacent tab covers 36, 37, as was described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 6A, the instep shield cover 34 and the flap covers 36, 37 consist of a single component, for example a stamped, injection-molded or cast part. In this embodiment, instead of a slide film 17 or a correspondingly integrally molded tab, a membrane 39 connected to the adjacent components can also be provided, in particular molded on, for example splashed. This membrane 39 is preferably collapsible or collapsible, primarily in the form of a bellows (FIG. 6 A).

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one tensioning strap 41 or 42 can be attached to each closing flap 3, 4 in the region 40 of the midfoot (FIGS. 8 and 9), which straps laterally around the foot into the sole region 43 (FIG. 10) of the shoe and is preferably or exclusively firmly connected to the sole material of the shoe, for example glued, sewn or riveted. Such tensioning straps 41, 42 are indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 5, it being possible for one tensioning strap 41 to be present on one, preferably on the inner locking tab, and two tensioning straps 42 on the outer locking tab.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7, two tensioning straps 41 and 42 are provided on the two locking tabs 3, 4, each of which runs parallel or approximately parallel to one another.

When using two tensioning straps 41 and 42 on one or the other locking tabs 3 and 4, these can run in a V-shape with respect to one another. The corresponding training is illustrated in Fig. 8.

The tensioning straps 41, 42 can advantageously be connected to one another by a bracket 44 which extends through the entire sole 45 (FIGS. 7 and 10). The riser plate 2, the locking tabs 3, 4 and the tensioning straps 41, 42 including the bracket 44 advantageously consist of a uniform injection, casting or molded part.

The straps 41, 42 can, for example, on the inside 46 of the shaft material 47, or within the same between the outer material and the lining of the shaft, or on the outside of the shaft (Fig. 10). In the arrangement on the outside of the shaft material, these tensioning straps 41, 42 can also be arranged under or over trimmings of the shaft material.

The tensioning straps 41, 42 advantageously end below the insole 48 or the bracket 44 runs below this shoe part.

The mechanical connection of the tensioning straps 41, 42 with the locking flaps 3, 4 or the connection of these tensioning straps 41, 42 to form a uniform bracket 44 which runs through the sole 45 creates a novel width adjustment system with which the inner dimensions of the shoe upper exactly match that Circumference of the foot can be adjusted. The central lock 12 thus fulfills a multiple function in these embodiments of the present invention. It not only serves to produce a uniformly adjustable closing pressure which is evenly distributed via the riser plate 2, but at the same time it requires increased stability of the entire shoe in the sense that the risk of overexpansion of the sensitive joints and tendons, preferably in the outer area of the shoe, is largely reduced becomes.

In an advantageous development of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the tongue 10 in the over the end edge 49 (Fig. 1) of the closing area SB or over the end edges 50, 51, 52 of the locking tabs 3, 4 and the tongue plate 2 or the flap covers 36, 37 and the tongue plate cover 34 (FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 9) protruding tongue part 53 thickened at least in connection with these end edges 49 to 52 such that a stop wall 54 is formed on these end edges. As a result, the tongue 10 is held in the correct position relative to the closing area and especially prevented from slipping into the shoe. This advantage is particularly given if the stop wall 54 of the thickened tongue part 53 forms at least approximately a right angle with the non-thickened part of the tongue 10. Advantageously, the protruding tongue part 53 tapers towards its upper free end and ends there with a rounding 55, as can be seen from FIG. The lateral edge regions 56, 57 of the tongue 10 taper - as is known - towards the tongue edges, as shown in FIG. 13.

Because of the diverse advantages described above so far, the shoes designed according to the invention with the described central locking device are suitable not only for normal street shoes, sports and leisure shoes, but also for rehabilitation shoes, i.e. for shoes in which the described advantages in operation and in the strength of the central locking system are particularly important.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connection of the locking tabs 3, 4 to the end 5 of the riser plate 2 is designed to be as easily movable as possible. This can be done, for example, by the hinges or joints mentioned above, in particular spring joints. According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the connection of these parts of the central locking device in the connection area 58 takes place via corrugated or folded membranes 39.1, each of which is also the continuation of one provided between the riser plate 2 and the locking tabs 3, 4 in FIG. 14 can be membrane 39.2 shown in the left part of the closing device and extend up to or almost up to the end edge 5.1 of the end of the riser plate 2.

15, corrugated or folded membranes 39.11 of this type can also be provided in the front connection area 58.1 of the instep shield cover 34 and the flap covers 36, 37 if such an instep shield cover 34 is provided. In order to ensure that these parts move as freely as possible, a connection of the locking tabs 3, 4 to the riser plate 2 may be omitted entirely.

The folded membrane 39.1 or 39.11 preferably runs in the direction of a real or imaginary connection point 59 between the riser plate 2 and the locking tabs 3, 4, as shown in FIG. 14, or from the connection point 59.1 between the riser plate cover 34 and the tab covers 36, 37 - corresponding to the representation according to FIG. 15 - from to the end edge 5.1 of the end 5 of the instep shield 2 according to FIG. 14 or to the end edge 5.11 of the end 34.1 of the instep shield cover 34 according to FIG. 15.

In order to increase the flexibility of the connection areas 58 and 58.1 of the riser plate 2 and, if necessary, the riser plate cover 34, their ends 5.1 and 34.1 are preferably provided by suitable measures, for example by means of low material thicknesses and / or by additional transverse grooves or transverse shafts 15.1 (see FIGS. 14 and 15), in particular in the form of a corrugated or folded membrane, highly resilient.

As a result, pressure points through the mentioned end or connection areas 58 or 58.1 on the forefoot are avoided. The transverse grooves 15.1 can overlap the folds of the membranes 39.1 and 39.11.

15 also shows, with the item number 35, a recess for the passage of the central turnbuckle 12.

Finally, openings 38 are provided in the tab covers 36, 37 at corresponding points, into which the deflection elements or blocks 23 engage or, for example, snap in with a projecting upper edge. Reference numbers 39 preferably denote collapsible or collapsible membranes.

When tensioning straps 41, 42 are used, they can, as shown in FIG. 7, be molded directly onto the locking tabs 3, 4 during their manufacture. But they can also be attached to them in an otherwise suitable manner, for example by sewing, riveting, gluing or the like. In this case, the deflection elements or blocks 23 are expediently arranged on the locking tabs 3, 4 in such a way that they are aligned with the tensioning straps 41, 42, as shown in FIG. 16. As a result, the tension of the tensioning element 11 is transmitted directly to the tensioning straps 41, 42.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tensioning straps 41, 42 can be separated from the locking tabs 3, 4, as shown in FIG. 17, the deflection elements or blocks 23 then being provided at the ends 41.1 and 42.1 of a tensioning strap 41, 42 each. Instead of the previously described deflection elements or blocks 23, deflection elements or blocks of a suitable other shape and construction, in particular in the form of loops, holes, eyelets, ghilly eyelets or the like, can also be provided. The deflection elements or blocks 23 can be formed on the tensioning straps 41, 42, clipped on, glued, riveted or fastened in some other way.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the tensioning straps 41, 42 can be inserted into slots 60 of the locking flaps 3, 4, where they can be arranged there firmly, but preferably displaceably, as in FIGS. 18 and 19 is shown. The ends 41.1 and 42.1 of the tensioning straps 41, 42 are inserted through slots 60 from below, overlapping the locking tabs 3, 4. A deflecting element or block 23, which, as described above, can also be designed as a differently designed deflecting element, is molded, glued, riveted or fastened in any other way onto the tensioning band sections which do not extend into the slots 60. Each deflecting element 23 or each deflecting block advantageously has a stop edge 61 at the upper end. This stop edge 61 is expediently first removed from the upper slot edge 62 by a certain amount, for example 5 mm to 20 mm, when the closing device is open. As a result, when the central tensioning lock 12 is rotated appropriately, the tensioning straps 41, 42 first occur during the closing operation through the tensioning element 11, as a result of which the foot is held in the shoe. Only when the tensioning element 11 is tightened further does the abutment edge 61 abut the upper slot edge 62 and thereby bring the locking tabs 3, 4 into the closed position. This ensures a good fit of the foot in the shoe. Accordingly, when the central turnbuckle 12 is unlocked, the locking device first opens, and then the foot is loosened in the shoe by further relaxation of the tensioning straps 41, 42.

In the sense of a more uniform pressure distribution, the deflection elements or blocks 23 on the tensioning straps 41, 42 can be connected to one another by a web 23a, as is shown schematically in dashed lines in FIG. 20. The common stop edge 61 (see also FIGS. 18 and 19) thus abuts the respective locking tabs 3 and 4 over a wide area.

The area of the width adjustment is to be as uniform as possible with straps 41, 42 To be able to enlarge, the tensioning straps 41, 42 can be provided at their end regions adjacent to the locking tabs 3, 4 with latching elements 41.2 or 42.2 of a known type, such as pin-hole connections, screw connections or the like, which fasten the deflection elements or allow blocks 23 or the differently configured deflection elements at different locations on the end regions of the tensioning straps 41, 42. Such locking elements 41.2 and 42.2 are shown schematically in FIG. 19.

According to a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 20, when two or more tensioning straps 41, 42 are used, one or more lateral connecting webs 63 are advantageously provided between the adjacent tensioning straps 41, 42. The tensioning straps 41, 42 can also be connected to each other on one or on each side of the locking device with a bracket 44 and adjacent brackets 44 can also be connected to one another by a further fastening web 64, as can also be seen in FIG. 20. This ensures easy installation of the complete cage consisting of the tensioning straps 41, 42, the connecting webs 63, 64, the brackets 44 and the riser plate 2 or - in the case of a separate riser plate 2 - the partial cage then present. Even in the case of training as a partial cage, the connecting webs 63 and the further webs 44 and 64 ensure easy positioning of the tensioning straps 41, 42 on the finished shoe upper, because the aforementioned complete cage or partial cage is easily pushed onto the shoe upper and very much there due to the material elasticity can be easily fixed

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that, according to FIG. 21, with tensioning straps 41, 42 not connected to the locking flaps 3, 4 (only tensioning straps 42 are shown in the drawing) on the tensioning straps 41, 42 deflection elements or blocks 23 and the side areas of the Instep plate 2 further deflection elements or blocks 23 are provided. In addition to this, further deflection elements or blocks 23 are provided on the locking tabs 3, 4, which are provided between the deflection elements or blocks 23 on the tensioning straps 41, 42 and on the riser plate 2. As a result, even when the straps 41, 42 are not connected to the locking tabs 3, 4, the locking tabs 3, 4 are entrained in the closing direction when the central lock 12 is closed.

22 to 25 show sections of the deflection elements or blocks 23 or the otherwise configured deflection elements on the riser plate 2 and on the closing flaps 3, 4 — optionally also on the tensioning straps (not shown here) on the outside (see FIG. 22 ) or inside (see Fig. 23). The deflecting elements or blocks 23 or otherwise configured deflecting elements can, however, also in slots 65 in each case on the edge of the riser plate 2, the locking tabs 3, 4 and / or the tensioning straps (FIG. 24) or only in slots 65 on the locking tab 3, 4 and if necessary be arranged on the tensioning straps (Fig. 25). In particular, the deflection elements or blocks 23 can in this case be designed as a semicircular disk 66 or also as a pin, bolt or the like (cf. FIGS. 24 and 25).

As is also shown in FIG. 25, in this embodiment of the invention the deflection elements or blocks 23 or the otherwise configured deflection elements are provided on the outside of the riser plate 2 and only on the adjacent locking tabs 3, 4 in slots 65.

In the course of the tensioning straps 41, 42 on the outside of the upper material 47 of the shoe (FIG. 10), a material which is clear as glass or cloudy and which can also be transparent in color can be used as the material for the tensioning straps 41, 42. be used. This makes it possible to quickly identify and remove any contamination under the tensioning straps 41, 42. In this embodiment of the invention, the shaft material 47 underneath is also visible, as a result of which the aesthetic effect of the shoe is retained and, if appropriate, trademark markings on such a shoe remain visible.

According to the development of the invention shown in FIG. 26, the guide channels 13 are formed according to the invention in that the locking tabs 3, 4 each have at least one inwardly extending slot 101 groove 101 on the narrow sides 3.1, 4.1 facing the riser plate 2. At least one deflecting element or block 23 for receiving the tensile forces occurring during tensioning of the tensioning element 11 are inserted into the grooves 101 on both sides of the riser plate 2 and fixedly arranged in the grooves 101, the tensioning element 11 each having an arcuate sliding surface of the deflection elements or blocks 23 wraps around.

The width 101.1 of the grooves 101 is the same or only slightly larger than the thickness of the deflection elements or blocks 23. In each of the locking tabs 3, 4, at least one deflection element or block 23 is inserted and fastened, for example glued and / or welded in. On the outer edge 23.1 of the deflection elements or blocks 23, a guide groove 25 (FIG. 27A) serving as a sliding surface is provided, in which the tensioning element 11 comes to rest. The deflection elements or blocks 23 consist of a material which is harder and more abrasion-resistant than the material of the riser plate 2 and that of the locking flaps 3, 4, such as polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane or the like, with a hardness of preferably greater than 75 Shore A. Due to the separate manufacture and attachment of the deflection elements or blocks 23 on the one hand and the riser plate 2 and the Closing flaps 3, 4 on the other hand, the different choice of material for these components, which is appropriate for the optimal solution of the task, is readily possible. The material of the instep plate 2 and that of the closing flap 3, 4 can therefore preferably be selected from the point of view of elasticity or spring elasticity and less from that of abrasion resistance.

The guide channels 13 run in the plane of the riser plate 2 or the closing flaps 3, 4 and are arranged offset with respect to one another in such a way that the tensioning element 11 extends at least approximately in an S-shape or in a serpentine manner. This ensures that the tensioning element 11 is not clamped in partial areas, such as the central area MB, during tensioning over the entire closing area SB. The arrangement of the guide channels 13 is selected such that in the case of closing flaps 3, 4 used on the riser plate 2, an opening 14 of a guide channel 13 is congruent with the opening 14 of the opposite guide channel 13.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, each locking flap 3, 4 has two guide channels 13 and the riser plate 2 has a guide channel 13 on each side. In particular in the case of high-strength sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoes, more guide channels 13 can also be provided both in the closing flaps 3, 4 and in the riser plate 2 be arranged.

The radius R of the guide channels 13 is chosen to be as large as possible and, depending on the shoe size, is at least about 7 mm up to about 15 mm. The circular arc of a guide channel 13 extends over an opening angle β of approximately 100 ° to 180 °

However, the guide channels 13 can also consist of a deflection element made of a material and formed by a curved sleeve exist with low coefficient of friction. Suitable materials for this are, for example, polyamide, polyimide, polyester, polyurethane or even metals with good sliding properties, such as are used in plain bearings. In particular, the curved sleeves can be made of stainless steel, titanium or bronze.

The central turnbuckle 12 is preferably designed so that the tensioning element 11 can be tightened and loosened from both sides in fine steps, approximately continuously or even continuously. The central turnbuckle 12 is advantageously designed as a rotary lock and rotatably mounted in the riser plate 2.

Each locking tab 3, 4 has at least two guide channels 13 or deflecting elements or blocks 23, which are arranged at a distance from the two openings 14 of the guide channel 13 or deflecting elements or blocks 23 arranged opposite on the riser plate 2, so that the guide channel 13 of the riser plate 2 is set to a gap. In the embodiment, a single clamping element 11 is provided, which is pulled from the central turnbuckle 12 via the locking tab 3 to the riser plate 2, back to the locking tab 3 and then through the end 5 of the riser plate 2 to the other locking tab 4 and in the same way back to the central turnbuckle 12. In principle, it is also possible to use two central turnbuckles, each of which is used to operate one clamping element between the locking tab 3 and the riser plate 2 on the one hand and the locking tab 4 and the riser plate 2 on the other hand.

Significant advantages of the sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoes described so far with the central locking device according to the invention compared to known laces, such as the double laces described at the beginning, are to be seen in the safety and in the simple manufacture and inexpensive choice of material for the locking device. One-handed operation of the central turnbuckle is also possible, which is just as beneficial for sports for the disabled as the use of the locking device according to the invention in rehabilitation shoes. By eliminating free-hanging laces, the risk of accidents is also significantly reduced. It is important to continuously or at least approximately continuously regulate the closing pressure over the entire closing area. In particular, the central clamping lock enabled a quick and uncomplicated readjustment of the closing pressure in the sense of an increase or decrease in the closing pressure.

26 to 31, the parts 2, 3, 4 of the locking device either consist of a uniform, homogeneous component or the riser plate 2 and the locking tabs 3, 4 each consist of a single component, which are functionally connected to one another by suitable means.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 29, the deflecting elements or blocks 23 are attached at mutually opposite positions exclusively in the locking tabs 3, 4, so that the riser plate 2 has no deflecting elements or blocks 23 here. The tensioning element 11 is thus alternately wrapped around the corresponding deflection elements or blocks 23 in the central area MB from the one to the other locking flap 3 and 4 and can be tensioned and relaxed from the central tensioning lock 12. This results in a crossing point 26 of the clamping element 11 in the central area MB of the locking device, whereas in the upper part 27 and in the lower part 28 of the locking area SB the locking tabs 3, 4 are connected to one another without crossing.

In order to prevent contaminants from entering the closing area of the opening gaps 16, a sliding film 17 can be provided between the riser plate 2 and the adjacent closing tabs 3, 4, as is shown in FIG. 1 and has already been described.

26 and 29, a cover sheet 17.1 is attached to the right side instead of or in addition to this - or in addition to this - on the free side edge of the riser plate 2, in particular integrally formed there, in one or more engages individual pocket-shaped slot (s) 102 of the locking tab 4 and immerses them correspondingly deeply in the locking device 12 when the locking device is tensioned. In this or in these slot (s) 102, the deflection elements or blocks 23 are inserted at the appropriate locations, preferably with their front side 23.2, into the slot or slots 102 and fastened there. The cover sheet 17.1 can thus dip into the free section 101.2 of the groove 101 formed in this way, provided that it extends over the entire length of the riser plate 2. Basically, it is also possible to limit the length of the cover sheet 17.1 so that it only in the area above the uppermost deflection element or block 23 (FIG. 26) or only between the upper or lower deflection element or block 23 in the or immersed in the slot (s) 102.

30, the shape of the deflection elements or blocks 23 and the shape of the groove 101 of the locking flaps 3, 4 are adapted to one another such that when the deflection element or block 23 is inserted, at least one rotation about the surface plane 23.3 (Fig. 30A) is not possible. This is achieved here by the outer shape of the deflecting element or block 23, which is rectangular in plan view, and a correspondingly rectangular configuration of the groove 101. A perfect one 30 and 30A is possible in that a locking projection in the form of the end piece of a bolt 23.4 or a continuous bolt in the deflection element or in the deflection block 23 is formed on both sides of the deflection element or block 23 is inserted, the protruding bolt end pieces 23.4 on both sides snap into an inner or continuous recess or in a corresponding opening 105 of the side walls 103, 104 of the groove 101 by the side walls 103, 104 being elastically pulled apart and after the deflection element or block has been inserted 23 engage the bolt end pieces 23.4 in the recess.

When using a bolt 23.4 to be inserted that completely penetrates the deflection element or the deflection block 23 and a perforated cutout 105 in at least one side wall 103, 104 (FIG. 30B), the deflection element or the deflection block 23 can also be inserted first into the groove 101 and then by inserting the bolt, the deflection element or the deflection block 23 can be fixed in its position. It is also possible to provide other latching and / or clamping means for fastening and / or fixing the position of the deflection element or block 23. In addition, two or more bolts 23.4 per deflecting element or block 23 or the like can also be provided for securing against rotation.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in particular on the underside 2.1 or also on the top of the riser plate 2 (FIG. 31) in the space formed by the two locking tabs 3, 4, two deflecting elements or blocks 23 can be arranged next to one another transversely to the longitudinal axis of the riser plate 2 arranged, for example molded or attached to the riser plate 2. A loop 11.1 (FIG. 26) engages around these two deflection elements or blocks 23 from a locking tab 3, 4, so that the tensioning element 11 does not have a crossing point having. These deflection elements or blocks 23 can expediently be combined to form a structural unit 23.5, as shown in FIG. 31 in the cross section of the riser plate 2. The structural unit 23.5 has a center piece 23.6. With this it is attached to the underside 2.1 of the riser plate 2 by means of a plug-in and / or snap-in connection. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 31, a pin 2.2 of the riser plate 2 is used for this purpose, which extends through a corresponding hole in the middle piece 23.6.

The deflection elements or blocks 23 can be fastened to the underside 2.1 of the riser plate 2 by thermal welding, gluing, locking, riveting or the like.

Advantageously, the instep shield 2 on the underside 2.1 has a recess 106 (FIG. 31) into which the structural unit 23.5 is installed, so that a disturbing pressure on the instep of the foot is avoided.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the structural unit 23.5 or at least its preferably recessed middle piece 23.6 can be fixed in position or additionally fixed in position by a cover plate 107 by the cover plate 107 being plugged and glued and / or latched and / or riveted and / / or is heat-sealed (Fig. 31).

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 30, the riser plate 2 and the closing flaps 3, 4 consist of a single component, for example of a stamped, injection-molded or cast part. In this embodiment, instead of sliding films 17 (FIG. 26, left side) or correspondingly molded cover sheets 17.1 (FIGS. 26 and 29, right side), membranes 39 are provided, in particular molded on, for example molded, with the adjacent components. These membranes 39 are preferably collapsible or collapsible, primarily designed as bellows. The membranes 39 are preferably provided above the tensioning element (s), so that there is a completely tight seal to the outside.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one tensioning strap 41 or 42 can be attached to each locking flap 3, 4 in the region of the midfoot in this embodiment, which stretches laterally around the foot into the sole region of the shoe and with the sole material of the Shoe is firmly connected, for example glued, sewn or riveted. It is also possible to connect these straps 41, 42 to one another by means of one or more brackets. These tensioning straps 41, 42 are indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 29, it being possible for one tensioning strap 41 to be present on one, preferably on the inner locking tab 3, and two tensioning straps 42 on the other, preferably on the outer locking tab 4.

When using two tensioning straps 41 to 42 on one or the other locking tabs 3 and 4, these can run in a V-shape with respect to one another.

Finally, according to a further embodiment of the invention, it is also advantageous that the riser plate 2 is fastened to the closing flaps 3, 4 or to a web connecting them on the end 5 of the riser plate 2 facing the shoe tip, preferably detachably fastened by means of a snap connection.

Such an embodiment is shown in FIGS. 32 and 33. Here, on the underside of the web 5, pins 68 projecting downward are formed in a recess 67 provided for this purpose, which engage in correspondingly adapted holes 69 of a thinned tongue attachment 70 of the instep shield 2, for example snap into place. In addition, the parts to be connected can be glued and / or thermally welded.

In addition, in FIGS. 32 and 33, fastening flanges 73 are shown which are formed on the outer edges 71 of the locking flaps 3, 4, are thinned in cross-section and taper towards the end 72. With these fastening flanges 73, the closing device can be glued or glued on and under the upper material of a corresponding shoe or between an upper material consisting of at least two layers and / or sewn on or sewn on. A fastening flange 50 can also be provided on the tongue extension 70 of the riser plate 2. In FIG. 29, a fastening flange 73, which is provided on all outer edges 71 of the locking tab 3 and of the web 5, is indicated on the locking tab 3 by the dash-dotted line 75. A corresponding fastening flange can of course also be provided on the locking tab 4 and on the adjoining web 5.

According to a further exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 34, the riser shield 2, viewed in plan view, can be tapered towards its front end 5 or towards its end edge 5.1, in particular tapered or wedge-shaped. This is preferably advantageous in the case of a narrow shoe design. In addition, when using a material weakening and / or when using shafts and / or grooves 15.1 at the end 5 of the riser plate 2, a particularly flexible design results in this area.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 34, as already mentioned at the beginning, the riser plate 2 is completely separated from the closing flaps 3, 4 and these parts are therefore all formed as a single element. Oer Ristschild 2 is connected at the end 5 in the manner of a tongue to the upper of the shoe, for example by sewing and / or gluing and / or riveting or in some other suitable way. The closing flaps 3, 4 can be attached to the edge surfaces of the shaft material lying in the opening area by sewing and / or gluing and / or rivets or the like. The deflection elements or blocks 23 can be provided on the locking tabs 3, 4 and on the riser plate 2, as has already been shown and described by way of example with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 14 and 22 to 26. The deflection elements or blocks 23 can, however, as shown in FIG. 34, be attached to their end regions 41.1, 42.1 when using separate tensioning straps 41, 42. As already described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, slots 60 are then preferably provided in the locking tabs 3, 4 for inserting the end regions 41.1, 42.1 of the tensioning straps 41, 42. The deflection elements or blocks 23 also advantageously each have a stop edge 61, which comes into operative connection with a slot edge, for example with the upper slot edge 62 of the slot 60, during the closing process. The deflection elements or blocks 23 of the riser plate 2 can be arranged either on the top or on the bottom thereof, as has already been described.

Even with the separate design of instep plate 2, closing flaps 3, 4 and tensioning straps 41, 42 as individual elements, material weaknesses and / or waves and / or shafts and / or shafts and / or or grooves 15.1 can be provided in order to obtain a high degree of flexibility in these areas.

Particularly in an embodiment of the invention with a riser plate 2 tapering towards the front, for example according to FIG. 34, the edges 3.1, 4.1 of the locking flaps 3, 4 are located preferably parallel to the adjacent edges of the riser plate 2.

The use of separate individual elements for the riser plate 2 and for the locking tabs 3, 4 allows for good longitudinal flexural rigidity (except in the end regions, for example at the end 5 of the riser plate 2) for good bendability in the transverse direction between the riser plate 2 on the one hand and the locking tab 3, 4 on the other hand. This makes the locking device and. so that the shoe reaches over the arch of the instep of the foot. At the same time, the smooth, stepless closing process is retained and practically a parallel displacement of the locking flaps can be achieved during the closing process, which promotes an even pressure distribution when closing.

In the closing device according to the invention according to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 33, insofar as the riser plate 2 and the closing flaps 3, 4 form a unitary component or a unitary component composed of individual parts, the parts 2, 3 and 4 preferably consist of one resilient plastic with a degree of hardness in the range of 75 Shore A to 90 Shore A. These plastic parts are therefore part of the "hard plastic" parts.

34 with the separately manufactured components 2, 3 and 4, these components can consist of less hard, elastic plastic parts, preferably with a degree of hardness in the range from 60 Shore A to 70 Shore A. In this exemplary embodiment, the deflection elements are made or blocks 23 made of a very hard plastic material, preferably with a degree of hardness in the range from 75 Shore A to 90 Shore A.

In conclusion, it should be noted that except in the embodiment 34, in principle also in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 16, 17, 20 and 21, the riser plate 2 and the locking flaps 3, 4 can each consist of separate components.

Alternatively, it is also possible in these exemplary embodiments to connect parts 2, 3 and 4 of the central locking device to one another in a hinge-like or articulated manner, wherein the articulations can also be designed as folded or otherwise highly elastic membranes. In a comparable way, as described earlier, the lower end 5 of the instep shield 2 and the connection of this part to the shoe upper can be designed to be highly elastic in this exemplary embodiment via corrugated or folded membranes, as was described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

Claims (34)

1. Footwear provided with a closure device, especially sports, leisure
      or rehabilitation footwear, the upper in the region of the closure being of a material which is able to yield under tension or a number of materials such as leather, artificial leather or fibrous tissue, which are supple and are provided if necessary with facings of leather or artificial leather, and having an instep shield (2) which covers the instep and may be tightened by a tightener element (11) which may be loaded in tension and is led through guides (13, 25) in the instep shield and in closure flaps (3, 4) fitted to the shoe on opposite sides respectively of the instep shield at a distance from it and running essentially in parallel with it, characterized by the following features:

   - the closure flaps (3, 4) consist of elastic, springily elastic or hard elastic material;

   - the closure flaps (3, 4) are fitted to the ends of the two side parts (6, 7) of the upper material or upper (8) of the shoe, adjacent to the instep shield (2);

   - the guides (13, 25) in the instep shield (2) and closure flaps (3, 4) for the deflection of the tightener element or elements (11) are arranged to run in the plane of the instep shield (2) and/or that of the closure flaps (3, 4);

   - on the instep shield (2) a central tightener lock (12) is arranged, into which the tightener element (11) is or elements are introduced from the respective sides (6, 7) of the upper material or upper (8) of the shoe and may be loaded in tension or unloaded by the central tightener lock (12) so that the closure flaps (3, 4) and the side parts (6, 7) of the upper material or upper (8) of the shoe which are connected firmly to them may be moved in the closing direction or the opening direction with respect to the instep shield (2);

   - the tightener element or elements (11) at least in the upper and lower parts (27, 28) of the instep shield (2) connect the closure flaps (3, 4) and instep shield (2) without crossing;

   - at the end (5) next the toe of the shoe the closure flaps (3, 4) and the instep shield (2) are connected movably together directly or via a link or hinge or the closure flaps (3, 4) are arranged as separate components to run in parallel with or at a small acute angle (α) to the instep shield (2).
2. Footwear as in Claim 1, characterized in that
   the tightener element or elements (11) connect the closure flaps (3, 4) to the instep shield (2) over the whole closure region (SB) without crossing (Figures 1 and 4).
3. Footwear as in Claim 1, characterized in that
      in the case of a shape of shoe with a low upper (a shoe) only one crossing (26) of the tightener element or elements (11) is provided in the middle region (MB) of the instep shield (2) (Figure 5).
4. Footwear as in Claim 1, characterized in that
      in the case of a shape of shoe with a high upper (a boot) two or more crossings (26) of the tightener element or elements (11) are provided in the middle region (MB) of the instep shield (2).
5. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that
      the instep shield (2) exhibits in the region of the one crossing (26) or of the number of crossings, grooves (31, 32) which run across one another in the direction of the tightener element or elements (11) and the cross-section of which corresponds at least approximately with the cross-section of the tightener element or elements (11) (Figure 5).
6. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that
      the instep shield (2) with the two closure flaps (3, 4) consists of a homogeneous injection-moulded part of plastics and that in the unstressed state of the injection-moulded part the closure flaps (3, 4) automatically adopt with respect to the instep shield (2) the open position (Figures 1 and 5).
7. Footwear as is one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that
      on the closure flaps (3, 4) deflector-books (23) with guides (25) for at least one tightener element (11) are provided, over which the tightener element or elements (11) is/are looped alternately from one closure flap (3, 4) to the other (Figure 5).
8. Footwear as in Claim 2 or 7, characterized in that
      on the closure flaps (3, 4) and instep shield (2) deflector-blocks (23) with guide channels (13) for one tightener element (11) are provided lying opposite but offset from one another, the tightener element or elements (11) being looped over deflector-blocks (23) lying opposite one another (Figure 1).
9. Footwear as in Claim 8, characterized in that
      openings (14) in the adjacent sides of the closure flaps (3, 4) and instep shield (2) from guide channels (13) in the shape of circular arcs arranged offset from one another, lie opposite one another in such a way that the tightener element or elements (11) in the form of cord or tape run(s) at least approximately in the shape of a S (Figures 1 and 3).
10. Footwear as in Claim 9, characterized in that
       on each closure flap (3, 4) at least two guide channels (13) and in the instep shield (2) on each side at least one guide channel (13) is/are provided (Figures 1 and 2).
11. Footwear as in one of the Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that
       the tightener element or elements (11) is/are led from the central tightener lock (12) via the one closure flap (3) to the instep shield (2), then back to the closure flap (3) and from there to the other closure flap (4) and on to the instep shield (2), then back to the closure flap (4) and firmly back again to the central tightener lock (12) (Figure 1).
12. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that
       the instep shield (2) and closure flaps (3, 4) consist of wear-resistant material having a low coefficient of friction.
13. Footwear as in one of the Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that
       the guide channels (13) or guides (25) for the tightener element (11) are lined with wear-resistant material having a low coefficient of friction.
14. Footwear as in one of the Claims 8 to 13, characterized in that
       the radius (R) of the guide channels (13) amounts to 5 mm to 15 mm.
15. Footwear as in one of the Claims 8 to 14, characterized in that
       the angle (β) between the openings of the guide channels (13) amounts to 100° to 180°.
16. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that
       the tightening of the instep shield (2) and closure flaps (3, 4) with the side parts (6, 7) of the upper of the shoe may be set by means of a central tightener lock (12) in fine steps or even approximately continuously.
17. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that
       as the tightener element (11) a cord of wire or plastics is provided.
18. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that
       in the region (40) of the middle of the foot at least one strain band (41, 42) is applied to the closure flaps (3, 4) and reaches at the sides (6, 7) of the upper of the shoe on the inside (46) of the material of the upper or between different layers of the material of the upper or on the outside of the material of the upper down to the region (43) of the sole, and that the strain bands (41, 42) are connected together or to the material of the sole (Figures 8 and 9).
19. Footwear as in Claim 1, characterized in that
       when an instep shield covering (34) and flap coverings (36, 37) are employed, no connection is provided between the instep shield (2) and the closure flaps (3, 4), but these parts (2; 3, 4) consist of separate single elements.
20. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that
       one, two or more strain bands (41, 42) are provided, which are not connected to one of the closure flaps (3, 4), and that the deflector elements (23) for the tightener element (11) are provided in the end regions (41.1, 42.1) of the strain bands (Figure 17).
21. Footwear as in Claim 20, characterized in that
       on each closure flap (3, 4) one deflector element (23) which is offset from the deflector elements (23) on the strain bands (41, 42) is provided, and - looking in the direction along the shoe - between each of the deflector elements (23) on the strain bands (41, 42) and on the associated closure flap (3, 4) one deflector element (23) is provided on the adjoining side of the instep shield (2) (Figure 21).
22. Footwear as in Claim 20 or 21, characterized in that
       the ends (41.1, 42.1) of the strain bands (41, 42) are pushed through a slit (60) in the adjacent closure flap (3, 4) (Figures 18 and 19).
23. Footwear as in Claim 22, characterized in that
       on each strain band (41, 42) or on the deflector element (23) which is provided on the strain band (41, 42) a stop-edge (61) is provided at the top, which upon tightening comes into operative connection with an edge, in particular the upper edge (62) of the slit and pulls the corresponding closure flap (3, 4) into the closed position (Figure 18 and 19).
24. Footwear as in Claim 23, characterized in that
       the deflector elements (23) on the strain bands (41, 42) are connected together by a web (23a) to form a common stop-edge (61) (Figure 20).
25. Footwear as in one of the Claims 22 to 24, characterized in that
       the strain bands (41, 42) are provided in their end regions adjacent to the closure flaps (3, 4) with catch elements (41.2, 42.2) which enable a detachable connection of the deflector elements (23) at different places in the end regions of the strain bands (41, 42) (Figure 19).
26. Footwear as in Claim 23, characterized in that
       in the open position of the closure device there is a clearance between the stop-edge (61) and the upper edge (62) of the slit (Figure 19).
27. Footwear as in one of the Claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the
       strain bands (41, 42) consist of transparent or translucent material.
28. Footwear as in Claim, characterized in that
       each of the closure flaps (3, 4) on the narrow sides (3.1, 4.1) next the instep shield (2) exhibits at least one groove (101) which extends inwards in the form of a longitudinal slit, that on both sides of the instep shield (2) at least one deflector element (23) is pushed into each of the grooves (101) for taking up the tension occuring upon tightening the tightener element (11), and arranged fixed in the groove (101), and that the tightener element (11) each time loops round an arcuate sliding face on the deflector element (23) Figures 26 to 30).
29. Footwear as in Claim 28, characterized in that
       at least the deflector elements (23) on the narrow sides (3.1, 4.1) of the closure flaps (3, 4), which are provided in the region of the lower part (28) of the instep shield (2), are arranged recessed or set back and the associated part of the coverblade (17.1) of the instep shield (2) engages in the portion (101.2) of the groove (101) in the closure flap (3, 4) thereby freed (Figure 29).
30. Footwear as in Claim 1, characterized in that
       two deflector elements (23) arranged opposite one another are assembled into one structural unit (23.5) and fastened to the instep shield (2) (Figure 31).
31. Footwear as in Claim 30, characterized in that
       the structural unit (23.5) exhibits a middle (23.6) by which it is fastened by means of a plug-in and/or snap-in connection to the underside (2.1) or to the surface of the instep shield (2) (Figure 31).
32. Footwear as in Claim 30 or 31, characterized in that
       the deflector elements (23) are or respectively the structural unit (23.5) is provided in a depression (106) in the onderside (2.1) of the instep shield (2) (Figure 31).
33. Footwear as in Claim 1 to 18, characterized in that
       the instep shield (2), looked at in plan, tapers in towards its front end (5) (Figure 34).
34. Footwear as in Claim 1 or 18, characterized in that
       the instep shield (2), the closure flaps (3, 4) and the strain bands (41, 42) consist of separate individual elements, that the deflector elements (23) are fitted to the ends (41.1, 42.1) of the strain bands (41, 42) in such a way that each end (41.1, 42.1) may be pushed into a slit (60) in one strain band (41, 42) and during the closing process a stop-edge (61) provided on the strain band (41, 42) may in each case be brought into operative connection with the edge (62) of the associated slit (60) (Figures 19 and 34).

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