EP0598826B1 - System for assembling on a sole a device associated with shoe utilization - Google Patents

Abstract

The mounting system comprises, at least one interlock (7) and means for fixing and positioning the device on the sole. In the case of cycling footwear, such a sole, of the universal type, allows most existing toe-clip mean to be fitted.

Description

The present invention relates, in the field of footwear in general, a system which allows the assembly on the sole, of a linked equipment the use made of the shoe; of course, it also concerns pieces of equipment, shoes and soles fitted with this system assembly.

So for example, in the field of sports shoes, for the cycling practice in particular, there are shims fixed on the sole which allow to directly attach the shoes to the pedals.

The soles are shaped according to the type of shimming provided and the user must therefore choose his shoes according to the cushioning material available to him. If he has several types of shims at his disposal, he must plan as many pairs of different shoes.

Document FR-A-2 620 002 describes a cycling shoe which is provided at its front, with several nuts embedded in the sole and which serve fixing shims. Two of the aforementioned nuts are located within the perimeter of a ovoid-shaped recess which can accommodate either a conventional wedge or be filled with an intermediate piece which forms part of the skate office and which, above all, allows mounting of a "LOOK" shim in excess thickness, by means of screws cooperating with some of the nuts embedded in the sole.

This shoe can only accommodate two types of wedges: a wedge classic and a "LOOK" wedge.

The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback by proposing a shoe whose sole is truly "universal", that is to say capable of receive different types of chocks and / or additional pieces of equipment serving as interfaces.

The present invention relates to a cycling shoe according to the claim 1.

Such a shoe can receive other types of equipment depending on the area of use: crampons or spikes for example, depending on whether it is golf, football, etc ...

According to the invention, the system for assembling equipment on the sole includes at least two assembly methods, the first of which consists of at least minus one socket and the second of which, implemented after the first is consisting of means for positioning and immobilizing said equipment on said sole.

The use of a socket preferably arranged at the front of the sole improves the strength of the joint in an area where the sole has a very small thickness. This socket also has the advantage of allow rapid positioning of the equipment on the sole and achieve intimate contact between the two.

According to a preferred arrangement of the invention, the socket consists of a mortise at the front of the sole pad and, on the front of the equipment wedging, a bayonet-shaped tenon.

This gives positioning of the equipment on the sole and, at the same time, a tightening of the two pieces relative to each other, which strengthens assembly and limits the tearing-out problems or of separation.

Still according to the invention, the means of positioning and immobilization of the equipment wedging on the skate, preferably consist of nuts embedded in the thickness of the sole, cooperating with screws positioned in fittings of said equipment. Other means can be envisaged such as for example a lock, a latch, or even a device to snap-fastening or clipping.

Still according to the invention, the sole may include a recess in most of the skate, to center and accommodate the equipment. This recess can advantageously include lateral openings, arranged on either side of the skate, which cooperate with ears fitted on the equipment, thus providing some kind of additional longitudinal lock equipment on the sole. These side openings are also interesting to offer, with a suitable equipment, an additional setting possibility direct on a pedal.

The invention also relates to pieces of equipment. fitted with the assembly system.

These parts include assembly means consisting, on the one hand, of a bayonet-shaped tenon, intended to be incorporated into the mortise of the sole, and, on the other hand, arrangements for passage of screws for example, if it is a screw-nut assembly.

According to a first embodiment, the part of equipment consists of a single piece fitted with lateral ears intended to fill the openings side of the reservation. This piece forms the skate and can be used for walking; she can also receive accessories like cycling cleats by example coming to join on it by means of screws of fixation.

According to another embodiment, the part of equipment consists of a single piece, provided with level of the lateral openings of the sole, of a transverse groove serving as a wedging means for a cycling shoe.

According to another embodiment, still in the field of cycling shoes, the piece equipment comes in two parts: one fixed, provided with the locking pin, and the other adjustable, having a transverse groove for wedging the pedal, located at the side openings of the sole. The adjustable part advantageously comprises two oblong longitudinal holes which come position each on an orifice of the fixed part; these holes allow the anchoring of the two parts on the sole by means of fixing screws.

According to another embodiment, the part cycling equipment includes, in addition to its fixing on the sole, longitudinal oblong holes which cooperate with a movable metal part arranged between the sole and said piece of equipment and that serves to the adjustable anchoring of attached wedging elements.

According to a complementary embodiment, the pad the sole has no side edges to receive a piece of equipment forming the pad properly says, which part has, in addition to the system assembly details above, side grooves to cooperate with a pedal of the type described in documents FR-A-2 526 748 and FR-A-2 620 412.

• la figure 1 montre la semelle selon l'invention, vue en plan de dessous,
• la figure 2 montre une forme de réalisation possible d'une pièce d'équipement destinée à être adaptée sur le patin de la semelle, vue de dessous,
• la figure 3 est une coupe agrandie selon 3-3, de la pièce de la figure 2, montée sur la semelle de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 montre un autre mode de réalisation de la pièce d'équipement, en deux parties, vue de dessous,
• la figure 5 est une coupe agrandie selon 5-5 de la pièce en deux parties de la figure 4, montée sur la semelle,
• la figure 6 est une vue en plan d'un autre mode de réalisation possible de la pièce d'équipement, vue de dessous,
• la figure 7 est une coupe selon 7-7 de la pièce d'équipement de la figure 6, montée sur la semelle,
• la figure 8 montre la pièce métallique incorporée dans l'équipement représenté figure 6.
• la figure 9 est une vue en plan d'une autre pièce d'équipement, vue de dessous ;
• la figure 10 est une section selon 10-10 de la figure 9 ;
• la figure 11 est une vue en plan d'une pièce d'équipement coopérant avec une pédale munie de glissières ;
• la figure 12 est une section selon 12-12 de la figure 11.

But the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of a particular embodiment of the sole, given solely by way of example, in connection with different types of pieces of equipment capable of being adapted to it , and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 shows the sole according to the invention, seen in plan from below,
• FIG. 2 shows a possible embodiment of a piece of equipment intended to be adapted on the shoe of the sole, seen from below,
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged section along 3-3, of the part of FIG. 2, mounted on the sole of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the piece of equipment, in two parts, seen from below,
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged section along 5-5 of the part in two parts of FIG. 4, mounted on the sole,
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of another possible embodiment of the piece of equipment, seen from below,
• FIG. 7 is a section on 7-7 of the piece of equipment of FIG. 6, mounted on the sole,
• FIG. 8 shows the metal part incorporated in the equipment shown in FIG. 6.
• Figure 9 is a plan view of another piece of equipment, viewed from below;
• Figure 10 is a section along 10-10 of Figure 9;
• Figure 11 is a plan view of a piece of equipment cooperating with a pedal provided with slides;
• FIG. 12 is a section along 12-12 of FIG. 11.

As shown in Figure 1, the sole 1 according to the invention is a sole with a conventional contour, associated with a top leather not shown, to make a cycling shoe.

This sole 1 comprises, conventionally, a pad 2 at its front part and a heel 3 at the rear. The shoe 2 and the heel 3 are connected by a beam 4 intended to improve rigidity.

The shoe 2 has a recess 5, of shape substantially ovoid, made in the thickness of the sole and delimited by a peripheral border 6. This recess includes means for receiving and positioning different types of equipment which, in the case of shoes for cyclist, consists of a selected wedge depending on the desired setting means, some modes of which of realization will be described later.

The assembly system of the different parts equipment on the sole, consists of a socket 7 disposed at the front end of the recess 5 of the sole and said parts. This socket includes, on the sole, a mortise 8 of substantially shape rectangular, positioned transversely on the axis median XX 'of said sole, at the edge 6; this mortise 8 can cross the sole completely and lead to the upper side. On the parts of equipment, the socket consists, as detailed more far away, in a shape akin to a bayonet.

The assembly system is completed by a set of fixing and immobilization members 9 of the equipment, implemented after the socket and made, for example, of nuts embedded in the thickness of the sole. A nut 10 is placed at the level of the rear end of the recess 5, on the side opposite the socket 7. The central part of the pad 2 and recess 5 has a combination of three nuts 11, 12 and 13, arranged in a triangle. The basis of this triangle is defined by the line connecting the two nuts 12 and 13; this base is arranged transversely to the median axis XX 'of the sole and it is located towards the back, on the heel side 3. The point of the triangle is defined by the nut 11 disposed forward; she is located substantially midway between socket 7 and the line connecting the nuts 12 and 13, which line is substantially halfway between the nuts 10 and 11.

The recess 5 also has two openings side 14 made in border 6 and positioned just behind nuts 12 and 13. These openings 14 have utility for certain types of equipment in connection with wedging means integrated in the thickness of the sole, Figure 3.

Figures 2 to 12 show different types hold equipment, not limiting, intended to be positioned and locked in the recess 5. These equipment themselves constitute the timing means and / or anchoring on the pedal; they have dimensions adapted to the recess 5.

The various pieces of equipment include a element of the socket 7 consisting of a lug 15, in the form bayonet, fitted at their front end. This post is intended to be embedded in the mortise 8 of the sole and to hang there. Different layouts, in the form of holes, are also distributed suitably on these pieces of equipment to complete the fixing on the sole; this fixing is carried out by through screws cooperating with sunk nuts 10, 11, 12, 13 or a part thereof.

There is shown in Figures 2 and 3 a first possible embodiment of this piece of equipment. This part 16 is obtained in one piece by molding of material PVC type plastic. It has a substantially ovoid shape and may have open cells on top to gain weight. Its lower part comprises a set of transverse ridges 17 or points, intended to facilitate contact with the ground or positioning of wedging elements. The tenon 15 is centered on the extreme front part and four holes 18, 19, 20, 21 are distributed over its surface in correspondence, each, with one of the sunken nuts 10, 11, 12, 13 of the sole. The part 16 also has two ears side 22 intended to come to be embedded in the side openings 14 provided in the border 6 of the recess 5.

The positioning of the piece of equipment 16 in the recess 5 is made by incorporating the front tenon 15 in the mortise 8 of the sole. The tilting of the part against the bottom of the recess 5 causes the blocking of the front part of said tenon 15 in the mortise 8 (Figure 3). Exhibit 16 is pressed against the bottom of the recess 5 and its assembly on the sole 1 is completed by fixing screws 100 which are received in the holes 18, 19, 20, 21 and the nuts 10, 11, 12, 13 respectively. The ears 22 fit into the lateral openings 14. The part 16 has such a thickness that it allows at least to fill the recess 5 of the sole; it acts as a skate.

This type of part allows you to level the underside sole; the shoe thus equipped allows its user to walk normally. In addition, the screws on its surface can allow fixing at least one wedging accessory C1, such as shown in thin phantom in Figure 3. The element wedging thus reported then extends projecting from of the underside of the sole 1. These elements of rigging can be of all types and they use advantageously the three central orifices 19, 20 and 21 of the intermediate piece 16 and the three nuts 11, 12 and 13 of the sole for their fixing.

According to another embodiment shown in the box to the left of Figure 3, Exhibit 16 has a transverse groove 23. This groove 23 has a width corresponding to that of the openings side 14 made in the edge 6 of the sole 1; it serves as a means of positioning and wedging direct from the sole to the pedal. The piece of equipment 16 is then used as is, without accessories additional reported timing.

Figures 4 and 5 show another type of part equipment likely to be integrated into the recess 5 in the sole. This part 24 is made up of two parts: a front part 25 and a rear part 26.

The front part 25 has the lug 15 in its part front and has three assembly holes 27, 28 and 29 corresponding to the nuts 11, 12 and 13 respectively of the sole. The orifice 27 is located substantially on the median axis of the body of the part 25; the two holes 28 and 29 are arranged laterally, in a recess 30 open at the rear and closed laterally by edges 31 and 32. The lower surface of the part 25, intended to come into contact with the ground, comprises advantageously a set of transverse grooves 33. The part 25 is intended to be locked on the front part of the recess 5 via the tenon 15 and a fixing screw integrated in the front orifice 27, in correspondence with the nut 11. Room 25 is fixed and fills only part of the recess 5; the side edges 31 and 32 stop before the side openings 14 of the sole. The part rear 26 of the piece of equipment 24 is intended for partially integrate into the recess 30 of the part front counterpart 25. This rear part 26 has a footprint smaller than the space not filled in the recess 5. It has two longitudinal oblong holes 34 and 35 and, on the rear, a transverse groove 36. The oblong holes 34 and 35 are intended to come position respectively on the holes 28 and 29 of the front part 25 and on the nuts 12 and 13 of the sole. 100 'fixing screws allow assembly different parts between them; the oblong holes 34 and 35 allow adjustment of the workpiece position 26 in the recess 5. This position adjustment can be do back and forth and also angularly; the transverse groove 36 which is used for setting the shoe on the pedal can thus be positioned practically at will depending on the choice of the user. In all cases this transverse groove 36 is in correspondence with the openings lateral 14 arranged in the sole. We thus have a wedging piece integrated into the sole, which allows the user to walk normally. For this mode of realization, we notice that the nut 10 located at the rear end of the recess 5 is not used.

Figures 6 to 8 show another mode of possible realization of the piece of equipment.

This piece of equipment 37 has a general shape and dimensions corresponding to part 16 of the figure 2. It has been shown enlarged in FIG. 6 for better show the structural details.

The body of the part 37 is extended, towards the front, by the stud 15 of the socket and it comprises, on the sides, two ears 38 intended to be fitted in the openings 14 provided in the border 6 of the sole. The piece of equipment 37 is intended to come completely fill the recess 5. It has four assembly holes 39, 40, 41 and 42 arranged respectively in correspondence with the nuts 10, 12, 13 and 11 of the sole, for the passage of fixing screws Equipment piece 37 further includes four longitudinal oblong holes 43, 44, 45 and 46 arranged on lines parallel to each other. These oblong holes open into a recess 47 made on the surface upper part 37 and whose outline is shown in dotted lines, figure 6. This recess 47 is intended to receive a sliding metal plate 48 arranged between the bottom of the recess 5 of the sole 1 and the part 37. This metal plate 48, shown Figure 8, has four holes 49, 50, 51 and 52 threaded, fitted to position themselves facing oblong holes 43, 44, 45 and 46 of part 37. The pairs of holes 43-49, 44-50, 45-51 and 46-52 allow the fixing of wedging accessories C2, C'2, fixed to the 100 "anchor screw. Wedging accessories C2, C'2, shown in thin dashed lines extend then protruding under the sole, from the piece equipment 37; their position can be adjusted at will along the length of the oblong holes 43 to 46. An opening 53 is produced in the central part of the plate 48, at the assembly orifice 41, to allow the sliding of said plate 48, in the recess 47.

Figures 9 and 10 show a piece of equipment 55 of the same type as that described previously in connection with Figures 6 to 8. However, the timing accessory C3 looks different because it fits into a recess 56 arranged on the underside. The depth of the recess 56 is at least equal to the height of the accessory C3 so that the user can walk normally, resting on the workpiece equipment 55 which acts as a skate.

Figures 11 and 12 show another part equipment 60 which fits on a sole 1 made without the border 6, at least on the front part of the skate.

This piece of equipment 60 fits in the recess 5 and acts as a skate. It includes, laterally, grooves 61 which are hollowed out against the sole 1 and which serve as accommodation for slides 62 shown in thin dashed lines in Figure 12. These runners 62 are part of a fastening device shoes on pedals which is detailed in FR-A-2,526,748 and FR-A-2,620,412.

The different embodiments of parts of equipment described above are not exhaustive and it is of course possible to consider other types parts serving either directly as wedging accessories, either to the anchoring of added wedging means.

The structure of the means described above is particularly suitable for cycling shoes, but we can also consider other fields of application (golf, football ...) for which the timing means will be replaced by spikes or crampons ... In all cases, the shoe can be adapted as desired depending on the timing accessory, or other, desired. The shoe thus presents a character of universality, can receive wedging or other means, varied; it also allows rapid modification, simple and efficient setting structure.

The shoe provided with such a universal sole can advantageously be proposed in association with a choice of at least two different holds. The user can thus mount the corresponding equipment the equipment at its disposal; he doesn't need to change the whole shoe when using different material.

The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims are intended only to facilitate the understanding of them and in no way limit them the scope.

Claims (10)

1. A cycling shoe whereof the sole has a multipurpose character, fitted at its front section, with means such as nuts embedded in the sole, for fastening by screws, different types of wedging equipment, i.e. different types of means for wedging and/or anchoring on the pedal, whereas the fastening means of said pieces of equipment are composed on the one hand, of a nest (7) and, on the other hand, of said nuts embedded in said sole and forming an assembly (9) situated in the periphery of a recess (5) of ovoid shape cut into the major portion of the skid, i.e. the front section of said sole, which fastening means enable the assembly on the sole, of a part integral with said wedging equipment, which part fills up said recess (5), serving as a skid and as an interface, being besides capable of forming the wedge, or of accommodating wedges fixed either by means of screws co-operating with said embedded nuts of the sole, or by screws co-operating with a metal plate (48) located between said part and the sole, said nest (7) comprising a mortise (8) provided in the sole (1), at the front section of said recess (5), which mortise co-operates with a tang (15) in the form of a bayonet, provided at the front end of said piece of the wedging equipment.
2. A cycling shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises lateral openings (14) arranged on either side of the recess (5) in the rims (6) of said recess.
3. Wedging equipment for cycling shoes according to any one of claims 1 or 2, whereof the sole (1) comprises a recess (5) ovoid in shape and means for assembling said equipment, said equipment comprising a formed part in order to be inserted and to fill up said recess, to serve as a skid, said part comprising: - orifices for letting through fastening screws co-operating with the nuts embedded in said sole, - a tang (15) in the form of a bayonet, arranged at its front end, co-operating with a mortise (8) provided at the front end of said recess (5) of said sole and, as the case may be, - means for either forming a wedge properly speaking, or for accommodating and/or fastening different kinds of wedges.
4. Wedging equipment according to claim 3, characterised in that it consists of a single-piece part (16) of plastic material fitted with ears (22) intended for nesting into lateral openings (14) provided on the rims (6) of the recess (5).
5. Wedging equipment according to claim 3, characterised in that it consists of a single-piece part (16) fitted with a transversal groove (23) serving as a wedging means on a pedal, which groove is situated at the lateral openings (14) of the recess (5).
6. Wedging equipment according to claim 3, characterised in that it exhibits two sections, one fixed (25) fitted with the nesting tang, and the other adjustable (26) fitted, on the one hand, with a transversal groove (36) intended for wedging on the pedal and, on the other hand, with longitudinal oblong orifices (34, 35) that are positioned each over an orifice (28, 29) of said fixed part (25) to anchor it to the sole by means of fastening screws (100'), with possible adjustment.
7. Wedging equipment according to any of the claims 3 or 4, characterised in that, besides its fastening orifices (18 to 21) and (39 to 42) on the sole, the part (37, 55) comprises longitudinal oblong orifices and a metal plate, arranged on a recess of said part (37, 55) between said sole and the upper face of said part, which plate comprises threaded orifices and serves for anchoring said wedging elements (C2, C'2, C3), which elements can be adjusted to the length of said oblong orifices.
8. Wedging equipment according to claim 7, characterised in that the piece of equipment (55) comprises a recess (56) whereof the depth is at least equal to the height of the wedging accessory (C3), enabling the user to walk normally, while resting on said part (55), serving as a skid.
9. An assembly system on a sole, of a piece of equipment associated with the use of the shoe such as for example for cycle shoes, of a piece of wedging equipment or, for football boots of a piece of equipment in the form of studs, etc., characterised in that it comprises at least two assembly modes of said equipment on the sole:

   a first assembly mode consisting of a nest (7) comprising a mortise provided on said sole and a tang situated at one of the ends of the part forming the equipment, which mortise enables to insert said tang and tilting said part which is pressed against said sole, which tang is nested and blocked in said mortise;

   a second assembly mode implemented after the first, consisting of means for positioning and immobilising said equipment on the sole, in the form of nuts embedded in said sole and of fastening screws.
10. A piece of equipment for sport shoes, such as for example cycling shoes, football boots, golf shoes or others, comprising respectively pedal-mounted wedging systems, studs or spikes, characterised in that it comprises, on the one hand, a tang (15) in the form of a bayonet, at one of its ends, forming a first assembly mode on the sole of the shoe whereof said sole is fitted with a mortise to enable said tang to be nested and, on the other hand, at least one arrangement in the form of orifices for the positioning of screws co-operating with nuts embedded in said sole, to immobilise and fasten said part on said sole, corresponding to a second assembly mode, implemented after the first one.

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