EP0651953A1 - Sports shoe with an at least partially elastic lining - Google Patents

Abstract

This shoe comprises an outsole (outer sole) (2), a counter (stiffener) (4) surrounding the heel, a vamp (8), as well as a lining (11) made from elastic material extending over the top of the front of the foot inside the vamp (8), the vamp and the rear counter being assembled to the outsole (2) in a peripheral assembly zone (3) of the sole. According to the invention, the elastic lining (11) has no bottom and is fastened via its lower peripheral edge to the outsole, in the peripheral assembly zone of this sole, and the lining (11) is fixed at the rear, on either side of the shoe (4a), to the rear counter. <IMAGE>

Description

Sports shoe with at least partially elastic lining.

The present invention relates to a sports shoe, intended more particularly for the practice of sliding sports such as cross-country skiing, ice skating or on road (inline skating), this shoe being of the type comprising a sole external, a buttress surrounding the heel, an external upper having on the front an opening for the passage of the foot as well as a lining of elastic material extending over the top of the forefoot inside the upper.

Sports shoes with elastic lining are already known.

For example, US Patent 2,147,197 shows a sports shoe consisting of an internal elastic sock anchored by its bottom on the sole and a partial external rod provided with means of tightening the foot and fixed on the sole completely independently of the sock.

Likewise US 4,736,531 shows a similar shoe, intended more particularly for the practice of aerobics, which comprises a kind of internal half-sock completely surrounding the forefoot and the bottom of which is anchored on the external sole, the sock being free to "grab" the foot independently of the outer rod.

The purpose of such shoes is to be more comfortable, "stretchable" than ordinary shoes.

In addition, the particular structure with an elastic half-sock of US 4,736,531 is supposed to allow the shoe to remain "in tune" with the foot, that is to say to follow the latter during the rapid movements carried out in such a discipline. .

In a shoe intended more particularly for sliding sports, completely different problems arise and are therefore not resolved by the shoes described in the aforementioned patents. Indeed, in board sports a particularly important problem to solve is that of balance, because the sport is practiced on a "sliding" element and therefore mobile relative to the ground. It is therefore essential for the sportsman to have a good spatial feeling and of his limbs and the sliding member.

Thus, the transmission to the foot and the leg of information from the sliding member is essential.

A problem of this type has already been mentioned in the context of cross-country skiing by the applicant in his French patent application No. 92 04962, concerning a search for the transmission of information from ski to the ankle, when no mechanical connection exists between the rod and the ankle, or else in the case where this connection is effected by a rigid collar extending an upper part of said rod.

It has been proposed to remedy this problem by having a collar extending from the top of the rod towards the ankle, made of an extensible material so as to ensure a precise adjustment of said collar to the contour of the ankle and to provide a sensor effect in conjunction with the foot sensor constituted by the tightening of the instep of the upper of the shoe, which tightening ensures the holding of the foot.

If this solution has greatly improved the way of conveying information, it is nevertheless incomplete, because the chain of transmission is interrupted at foot level or at least disturbed, by the presence of rigid parts constituting the rod.

The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a sports shoe making it possible to obtain a good feeling of the foot, and, if appropriate, of the sliding member relative to the ankle and therefore a precise information on their respective spatial positions essential for good precision of the gesture, support, and if necessary guidance of the sliding member.

This object is achieved in the shoe according to the invention, which is of the type comprising an external sole, a buttress surrounding the heel, an upper, as well as a lining of elastic material extending over the top of the forefoot. inside the upper, the upper and the rear buttress being assembled to the outer sole in a peripheral assembly zone of the sole, by the fact that the elastic lining is devoid of bottom and is fixed by its edge lower peripheral to the outer sole, in the peripheral assembly zone of this sole, and by the fact that the lining is fixed to the rear, on each side of the shoe, on the rear buttress.

The fact that the elastic lining is devoid of bottom and is fixed, on the one hand, by its peripheral edge to the outer sole and, on the other hand, to the rear buttress, makes it possible to have a referencing of this elastic lining with respect to to rigid parts in contact with the underside of the foot and the rear part thereof and therefore allows optimum referencing of the entire foot and the ankle relative to the sliding member.

This results in sensations of positioning of the foot and guiding precision greatly improved, making it possible to make differences significant in terms of balance, stability and support, when practicing board sports and in particular cross-country skiing.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the lining consists, at least in the part covering the forefoot, of two layers of elastic fabrics connected together by a peripheral seam, before mounting on the shoe, and only the outer layer of fabric is connected to the buttress. In this way, optimum comfort of the foot is guaranteed due to the elimination of the connecting seam between the lining and the buttress inside the shoe, especially in the particularly sensitive area of the instep.

In this case, it is also advantageous to provide that the assembly to the sole is carried out using the inner elastic fabric layer.

This gives continuity of the lining in contact with the foot and therefore increased comfort while avoiding extra thickness of fabric at the assembly area which would be detrimental to good assembly.

According to an equally advantageous embodiment, the elastic lining has substantially the shape of a bottomless sock covering the entire foot and ankle. Such a construction is particularly suitable for the practice of a sport requiring a course of the foot like the so-called classic cross-country ski because it allows a feeling and an optimum referencing of the whole foot / ankle.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une chaussure de sport selon l'invention, plus particulièrement adaptée à la technique de ski de fond type skating,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une chaussure de sport selon l'invention, plus particulièrement adaptée à la technique de ski de fond dite classique,
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail en perspective montrant le montage de la doublure intérieure sur la semelle,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 3.

In any case, the invention will be better understood and other characteristics thereof will be highlighted with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing, representing by way of nonlimiting examples, several preferred embodiments of the invention and in which:

• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sports shoe according to the invention, more particularly adapted to the cross-country skiing technique of the skating type,
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a sports shoe according to the invention, more particularly adapted to the so-called classic cross-country skiing technique,
• FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view showing the mounting of the inner lining on the sole,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view along IV-IV of FIG. 3.

The sports boot shown in FIG. 1 in exploded perspective is a cross-country ski boot more particularly adapted to the so-called skating or skating step practice, such a technique also resembles the technique of ice skating or inline or roller skating.

• d'une semelle externe 2 présentant une zone d'assemblage périphérique 3,
• d'un contrefort 4 entourant et renforçant la zone extérieure du talon de la chaussure,
• d'un système de serrage interne 5, constitué de deux quartiers de serrage 6 destinés à serrer le pied du porteur au niveau du cou-de-pied, chacun de ces quartiers 6 étant constitué d'une bande de tissu flexible de forme sensiblement rectangulaire qui est ancrée à une extrémité 6a sur la semelle externe 2 au niveau de sa zone d'assemblage 3 et dont l'autre extrémité, libre, porte des moyens de serrage 7, en l'occurrence des oeillets pour le passage d'un lacet,
• d'une empeigne 8, constituant avec le contrefort 4 l'essentiel de la partie tige de la chaussure et recouvrant le système de serrage interne 5, cette empeigne étant fixée par son bord périphérique 8a à la semelle externe et au bord avant 4a du contrefort,
• d'une doublure 10 recouvrant tout l'intérieur de la chaussure.

This shoe consists of:

• an outer sole 2 having a peripheral assembly zone 3,
• a buttress 4 surrounding and reinforcing the outer zone of the heel of the shoe,
• an internal clamping system 5, consisting of two clamping quarters 6 intended to clamp the wearer's foot at the instep, each of these quarters 6 consisting of a strip of flexible fabric of substantially rectangular shape which is anchored at one end 6a to the outer sole 2 at its assembly zone 3 and the other free end of which carries tightening means 7, in this case eyelets for passing a lace ,
• of a vamp 8, constituting with the buttress 4 the essential part of the upper of the shoe and covering the internal tightening system 5, this vamp being fixed by its peripheral edge 8a to the outer sole and to the front edge 4a of the buttress ,
• a lining 10 covering the entire interior of the shoe.

Such a shoe also comprises, in a manner known per se, a first assembly and an internal sole, these elements not being shown in this FIG. 1 for clarity.

In a manner also known per se, the upper 8 has an opening 9, closed in this case by a zipper 9a, intended to allow the easy passage of the foot during putting on. Such an opening can also be defined by a simple slot whose closing means would be constituted by a lacing system.

The lining 10 is, in the example of FIG. 1, made up of two parts, namely a front part 11 extending over the entire area of the forefoot, including over the instep area by forming a tongue 12, and a rear part 13 intended to cover the entire heel part of the shoe.

The two lining parts 11, 13 are connected to each other at the level of the instep of the shoe by a substantially vertical seam 14.

The front lining part 11 has substantially the shape of a bottomless half-sock and is therefore fixed to the outer sole 2, in the assembly zone 3 thereof, only by its lower peripheral edge 11a.

Similarly, the rear lining part 13 is devoid of bottom and is fixed by its lower peripheral edge 13a to the outer sole 2. In addition, the lining 10 is connected to the front edge 4a of the buttress 4, at the junction zone 14 of its two parts 11, 13 by a seam 15. The wire 30 making this seam 15 is shown partially cut away in FIG. 1. In the case where one or the two clamping quarters 6 are also fixed to the front edge 4a of the buttress, the same seam 15 can advantageously be used for the simultaneous connection of the clamping quarter or quarters 6 and of the lining 10 to this buttress 4.

Of course, the connection 15 of the lining 10 to the buttress is made on each side of the shoe.

The rear lining portion 13 can also be sewn completely to the buttress along the peripheral edge 4b thereof as shown by the dotted lines 15a.

In the example shown, only the front part 11 of the lining is made of an elastic material. This front part 11 is moreover shaped so as to define, at rest, a volume slightly less than the volume of the foot that it is intended to receive and consequently to exert a slight pressure on the latter, without however exerting excessive tightening.

The front part 11 then adapts perfectly to the forefoot and constitutes for the latter a sort of second skin.

With such a construction, a precise and comfortable wrapping of the forefoot is therefore obtained while allowing optimum referencing with respect to the bottom of the foot (in contact with the sole) and the heel (in contact with the buttress).

This results, in particular as a result of the second skin effect, sensations of positioning of the foot and of precision of guidance greatly improved, and confirmed by the tests, which make it possible to bring significant differences in terms of balance, skiability and grip. 'support.

Unlike the front part 11, the rear part 13 of the lining is inextensible so as to guarantee good heel hold.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottom shoe for the practice of the classic step.

In this shoe, of essentially similar construction, the same references increased by 100 will be used to designate similar or equivalent elements.

This shoe therefore also consists of an outer sole 102, a buttress 104, an internal tightening system 105, a vamp 108 and a lining 110, all fixed to the outer sole 102 at its peripheral assembly area 103.

The only difference between these two shoes lies in the production of the lining 110, which here has the shape of an almost complete elastic liner, but still devoid of bottom and intended therefore to cover the entire foot and ankle.

In this case, the rear part 113 of the liner is elastic only in the upper half 113a, while the lower part 113b remains inextensible so as to guarantee good hold of the heel. The limit 113c between the lower and upper parts corresponds substantially to the upper limit of the region of the malleoli.

In the same way as in the previous case, the lining 110 is provided so as to exert a slight tightening without constraint on the foot and is sewn, at the level of the line of the bending fold, both at the rear edge 106a of each. clamping quarters 106 and at the front edge of the buttress 104 by the same seam 115, (materialized by the wires 130 partially torn off) the rear part 113b of the lining being sewn at 115a along the buttress 104. In the case of a shoe of this type involving an unwinding of the foot, the connection of each of the clamping quarters 106 to the buttress is particularly important for obtaining optimum heel hold.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the positioning of the foot, the lining 110 is provided at the heel with a substantially vertical slot 120 extending from the free end of this lining to its zone of junction with the sole. .

Such a construction of the elastic lining part in a single piece makes it possible to have excellent continuity from the end of the foot to the level of the ankle and consequently allows excellent feedback of information. Such a construction is suitable for the practice of a sport where a complete unfolding of the foot is carried out as in the classic technique in cross-country skiing, or even walking or running.

In the two embodiments shown, the materials used to make such a lining are preferably chosen among open cell foams so as not to impede the transfer of perspiration, such as PU foam, and / or complexed fabrics associating such foams with elastic fibers and in particular with elastomer fibers.

In order to ensure optimum comfort for the user, provision may be made for the elastic part or parts of each lining 10, 110 in the form of a double layer of such elastic fabrics 16, 17; 116, 117 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In such a case, the two layers 16, 17; 116, 117 are assembled to each other by their peripheral edge, by a seam 18, 118 or by gluing, before mounting the shoe.

In order to reduce the thicknesses at the mounting area of the outer sole, only the inner layer 17, 117 will participate in the assembly with the outer sole 2, 102, as shown in FIG. 4 (NB: 19, 119, represents the first assembly required in such a type of assembly).

As this FIG. 4 clearly shows, total continuity of the lining is thus obtained at the interior of the shoe in contact with the foot.

For the same reasons of ease of assembly, only the outer layer 16, 116 will be used for producing the seam 15, 115 on the buttress, in particular when this seam 15, 115 is also used for assembling the clamping quarters 6, 106.

Such an embodiment also makes it possible to avoid having such a seam 15, 115 in direct contact with the foot and therefore allows increased comfort and an optimal "second skin" feeling.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the sole exemplary embodiments described above by way of non-limiting example, but also applies to all shoes intended for the practice of sliding sports such as ice skating shoes, ice skating shoes. casters, inline skating, etc ...

The present invention also applies to all sports shoes for which good transmission of information and a good feeling of the spatial position of the foot relative to the ankle are sought, such as walking or running.

Claims (10)

Sports shoe comprising an outer sole (2, 102), a buttress (4, 104) surrounding the heel, an upper (8, 108), as well as a lining (11, 110) of elastic material extending over the above the forefoot inside the vamp (8, 108), the vamp and the rear buttress being assembled with the outer sole (2, 102) in a peripheral assembly zone (3, 103 ) of the sole, characterized in that the elastic lining (11, 110) is devoid of bottom and is fixed by its peripheral edge lower than the outer sole in the peripheral assembly zone of this sole and in that the lining ( 11, 110) is fixed at the rear, on each side of the shoe (4a, 104a) to the rear buttress. Sports shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection (15, 115) between the lining (11, 110) and the buttress (4, 104) is located substantially at the level of the line of the shoe's bending fold . Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at the instep, an internal tightening system (5, 105) disposed between the lining (11, 110) and the outer vamp (8, 108), this internal tightening system (5, 105) being made up of two tightening quarters (6, 106), each of these quarters (6, 106) being fixed at one end to the sole ( 2, 102) in the peripheral assembly zone (3, 103) thereof and being provided at the other end with clamping means (7, 107) complementary to those of the other quarter, and in that 'at least one of these quarters (6, 106) is also fixed by its rear edge to the buttress (4, 104) of the shoe by the same seam (15, 115) as the lining (11, 110). Sports shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic lining (110) has substantially the shape of a bottomless sock covering the entire foot and ankle. Sports shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that the lining (110) is provided with a vertical opening (120) at the ankle. Sports shoe according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening (120) extends from the sole (102) to the end of the lining (110). Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lining (10, 110) consists, at least in the part (11, 111) covering the forefoot, of two layers of elastic fabrics (16, 17; 116, 117) connected together by a peripheral seam (18, 118) before mounting on the shoe and in that only the outer fabric layer (18, 118) is connected to the buttress (4, 104). Sports shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that the assembly to the sole (2, 102) is carried out using the inner elastic fabric layer (17, 117). Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the volume of the lining (11, 110) is designed so as to be slightly less than the volume of the foot to be put on so as to exert a slight pressure thereon . Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the volume of the lining (113a) at the rear is provided so as to exert a slight pressure on the foot, substantially above the region of the malleoli.

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