EP0813824B1 - Sportsshoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The boot has a front longitudinal opening (3) in the upper which is closed by laces. The upper has a transversal cut-out (13) from the sole to the opening. A mobile flap (10), which is the same width as the cut-out, covers the cut-out and has eyelets (25) at the top that the laces are threaded through. A thin flexible plate (18), made in relatively strong material such as plastics material, closes the cut-out from the inside of the boot. It is held in place by the laces that are threaded through eyelets (22,23) at the top.

Description

The present invention relates to a sports shoe in which the functions of clamping and protection of the foot are carried out by the use of a clamping device cooperating with at least one movable flap external to the rod and intended to be applied against the latter.

Sports shoes known of this type such as those described in the patents GB 160 318, GB 363 008, FR 569 694, FR 2 694 167 and GB 1 545 475 have their stem usually with a front longitudinal opening on the top and are adjustable on the foot by bringing the edges of the opening, i.e. the sides of the stem, closer together means of a clamping device capable of implementing at least one movable flap. Phone that taught, the and / or the movable flaps extend freely on the corresponding sides of the stem from a fastening zone distant from the anterior longitudinal opening, and located at the level of the sole of the shoe. Thanks to these different provisions, when an action in clamping is exerted on a movable flap, the latter is pressed against the corresponding flank of the rod and thus urges it to tighten in the direction of the foot which consequently causes the approximation of the edges of the anterior longitudinal opening of the rod. Also, because this same action of tightening on a movable flap, the wall of the shoe is provided of a double thickness at the place of the shutter because it is constituted by the wall of the side of the rod and that of the flap which overlap. The wall of the shoe thus presents, at the place of each movable flap, an increased resistance notably improving the protection of the foot compared to the outside, especially against impact.

Still, the implementation of a movable flap also allows, and in a selective manner according to the rod area where it extends, to distribute a large part of the clamping stresses on this last instead of being basically and globally on the stem as is the case in classic shoes where the lacing exerts a direct pulling action on the latter. In indeed, these shoes with at least one movable flap ensure good protection and a tightening of the foot without direct pulling action on the rod at the location of the and / or flaps mobile since it is the latter which are subject to the clamping device. They present however certain drawbacks notably relating to the metering of the clamping force on the foot and rapid wear and deterioration problems. Indeed, in this type of shoes the friction and the deformations which occur between the wall of the rod and the and / where the movable flaps absorb part of the clamping force restored by the rod on the foot.

This drawback is all the more significant since at least one of the rod and of the flap is made of a material with a high modulus such as leather as is generally the case. Furthermore, the fact that the movable flaps of these shoes are placed in excess thickness on the wall of the side of the rod, they consequently constitute very projecting parts exposed to the elements and external aggressions, can be hung, torn or even torn off, therefore susceptible to premature wear compared to the shoe considered in his outfit.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks of the aforementioned shoes and proposes in particular a clamping device cooperating with a movable flap making it possible to transmit almost the clamping force applied to it in the direction of the rod and therefore of the foot and does not having no projecting part on the side of the upper of the shoe.

Another object is to maintain at the location of the movable flap, a tightening function which is independent of the stem, that is to say without direct action on the latter, and which is referred more by compared to the sole thanks to the situation of the attachment zone of the flap close to the latter.

The invention also aims to reduce the friction which occurs between the movable flap and the rod to optimize the performance of the clamping device.

Yet another object is to produce a tightening assembly which can constitute a model of standard tightening for a certain number of shoe sizes.

To achieve these goals the shoe has a sole on which is mounted a rod provided with a front longitudinal opening on the top, the rod being adjustable on the foot by approximation of the edges of the longitudinal opening by means of a clamping device works at least one movable flap which extends freely on the side of the rod from an area fastening located at the sole, and is characterized by the fact that the upper is on the side where the movable flap is located, a transverse cut of width at least greater than that of said flap and which goes from the sole to the anterior longitudinal opening where it opens. This cut transverse is closed from inside the rod by a thin flexible plate obtained in a relatively strong material, such as plastic for example. Thanks to these features, the movable flap is housed in the transverse cut by applying to the thin flexible plate during a clamping action exerted on it by the clamping device and therefore no longer constitutes a protruding part on the side of the upper susceptible to premature wear with respect to the shoe considered as a whole.

Advantageously, the movable flap is obtained like the thin flexible plate, in a material plastic in order to reduce on the one hand, the friction which intervenes between it and the wall of the rod in correspondence, that is to say the flexible plate, and on the other hand, the risks of deformation, such as folds that could occur due to external tightening; as a result, the stem of the shoe lends itself better to tightening because the tightening force applied to the tightening device is almost entirely restored by the rod on the foot and the resistance of the wall of the rod by connection to the outside is preserved thanks to the use of plastic material for the flexible plate.

The shoe thus designed retains the advantages of known shoes comprising a device tightening using a movable flap as described above without presenting the disadvantages including those relating to the dosage of the clamping force on the foot and the deterioration of the movable flap.

Preferably, the transverse cutout and the movable flap are located between the end and the rear of the shoe, substantially in correspondence of the instep area so that the tightening is more effective and in particular that it returns the heel of the wearer in the case of the back of the shoe.

According to one characteristic, the thin flexible plate and the movable flap each have a tab fixing directed on the side of the sole of the shoe which tab is intended to allow their mounting in engagement with the sole, at the latter. Preferably, their mounting in socket with the sole is made on the first assembly. So when the movable flap is implemented by the clamping device, the clamping effect transmitted by the flap on the rod is felt on the foot from the level of the sole and gradually to the instep.

It is obvious that the plastic materials used for the movable shutter and the thin flexible plate are designed to be compatible with that constituting the sole when they are assembled by a common bonding process.

According to another characteristic, the thin flexible plate has on the one hand, side edges which extend under the edges which delimit the transverse cut and which are intended to allow fixing it by any known means, such as stitching, gluing, etc., and on the other hand, a border upper which constitutes at least a portion of the corresponding edge of the longitudinal opening anterior of the stem. Preferably, this upper edge of the flexible plate is extended and on the other side of the transverse opening and comprises, outside the area occupied by the movable flap, at least one loop at the eyelet for a lacing link of the tightening device. An embodiment consists in particular of making a flexible plate with an upper border which, extending over all the length of the anterior longitudinal opening constitutes one of the edges of the latter. In one such a construction case, the upper edge of the flexible plate is provided with several loops or eyelets, in particular on the side of the toe and in the area above the instep, commonly known as the bend fold area. By these provisions, local overvoltages are avoided because the tightening stresses exerted on the loops or eyelets carried by the plate flexible and by the movable flap are distributed over a large extent of the corresponding side of the rod of the shoe, in particular along the seams of the collages, etc., and of the mounting area and of attachment at the sole.

According to one embodiment, the thin flexible plate comprises at least one bead which follows at minus the contour of the edges which delimit the transverse cut, this bead interposed between the respective edges of the transverse cut and the movable flap and having a height substantially corresponding to the thickness of the wall of the rod at the location of the transverse cut and to the thickness of the wall of the movable flap.

According to a preferred embodiment, a clamping device using at least one flap movable on a transverse cut closed by a thin flexible plate, as described above, is located on each side of the upper of the shoe. Thus, the shoe has a structure overall consisting of three parts, that is to say a tip that covers the forefoot, a rear that fits the heel, and a clamping assembly which, interposed between the toe and the back ensures the assembly of the whole stem. It follows from such a structure that it suffices to vary the dimension of the end and the back of the shoe, and of the sole obviously, to cover several sizes without it being necessary to change the dimension of the clamping assembly. The clamping assembly can therefore constitute a standard model of tightening for a certain number of shoe sizes.

Still according to this previous structure, it is very advantageous to obtain the two plates thin flexible parts with a flat and elongated part, of contour substantially corresponding to that of the foot, which constitutes "the first assembly". This flat and elongated part can obviously have, on at least a portion of its contour, a lateral reinforcing rim for the rod, forming possibly the buttress when this rim is placed in the heel area. In such configuration, an extremely efficient tightening assembly is obtained because a real synergy and / or interaction between him and the "first assembly" part which is, in fact, the "floor" of the shoe.

It goes without saying that the shoe can also be produced with a single thin flexible plate obtained of a part with the part constituting the first assembly.

The invention will moreover be better understood by referring to the description which follows in reference to the appended schematic drawings illustrating, by way of example, an embodiment of a shoe comprising it.

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, the shoe with a tightening device with a flap movable on each side of the rod in the closed position.

Figure 2 shows illustrates, in partial exploded view, the shoe of Figure 1 with some of his characteristics.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of the shoe of Figure 1 showing a detail of construction.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe of FIG. 1, along the line IV-IV, illustrating a movable flap in position pressed against the corresponding flank of the rod and a movable flap in the open position.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a characteristic element of the invention.

The shoe shown by way of example in FIG. 1 is of the so-called "multi-activity" type and comprises, in known manner, an outer sole 1 on which is mounted a rod 2 having a toe 11 which covers the forefoot and a rear 12 which fits the heel. Rod 2 has an opening anterior longitudinal 3 on top, delimited by edges 4 and 5 which form the end upper sidewalls 6 and 7 of the rod 2. This opening 3 is intended to allow the passage of the foot of the wearer, not shown, during putting on and taking off and allowing the adjustment of the upper 2 on the foot by bringing its edges 4 and 5 together by means of a tightening device 8, with a lace 9 and eyelets 22, 23, 24, 25, implementing on each of the sides 6 and 7 a movable flap 10. Each movable flap 10 extends freely on the corresponding flank 6, 7 of the rod 2 from a zone of mounting 41 located at the level of the sole 1, that is to say remote from the longitudinal opening 3. Thus, when the shutter 10 is subjected to a tightening action of the tightening device 8 with lace 9 to which it is connected via its eyelets 25, it is pressed against the side 6, 7 causing the tightening of the latter towards the foot, and this without exerting a direct pulling action on the rod 2.

According to one characteristic, more particularly visible in FIG. 2, the rod 2 comprises, on each side 6, 7, and facing each movable flap 10, a transverse cut 13 closed from inside the rod 2 by a thin flexible plate 18. The edges 14 and 15 of this cutout transverse 13, are spaced apart by a width A at least greater than that A ′ of the lateral edges 16 and 17 of the movable flap 10 so that during the clamping action on the flap 10 it fits in the cutout 13 and comes flush with the outer surface of the rod 2 while tightening the sidewall 6, 7, this by pressing against the flexible plate 18 placed below, as shown in detail in the figure 3.

The thin flexible plate 18 is obtained, like the flap 10, from a relatively material resistant such as plastic, and its lateral edges 19, 20, extend under the edges 14 and 15 of the cutout 13 to allow its fixing by any known means such as by gluing, stitching, ... etc. Advantageously, the upper edge 21 of each flexible plate 18 extends on either side edges 14 and 15 of the transverse cut 13 and constitutes almost all of the corresponding edge 4 or 5 of the longitudinal opening 3 so that passers-by or eyelets 22, 23 and / or 24 can be reported and fixed on it. Thus, local overvoltages on the rod 2 are avoided because the constraints of tightening which are exerted on the loops or eyelets 22, 23 and / or 24, are distributed from the plate flexible 18 over a large extent of the corresponding flank 6, 7 of the rod 2, along the seams, collages, ... etc.

By way of example, in the present illustrated embodiment, the upper edge 21 of the plate flexible 18 is in particular provided with a pass 22 located on one side of the end 11 of the rod 2 and a loop 23 located towards the rear 12 in the area of the bending fold indicated by the reference 28, that is to say above the instep. Preferably, the transverse cut 13 extends from the sole 1 up to the longitudinal opening 3, as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the flexible plate 18 as well as the movable flap 10 can be mounted, 41, in engagement with the sole 1 and at its level for example by via a fixing lug respectively 26, 27. Preferably the thin flexible plate 18 and the movable flap 10 are mounted on the "first assembly" 42. By these provisions, when the clamping device 8 implements the movable flap 10, the clamping effect is felt on the foot at from the level of sole 1 which serves as a reference. By these same provisions, the rod 2 of the shoe is actually divided into three separate parts, that is to say a toe part shoe 11, a rear part 12 and an intermediate part consisting of a "tightening assembly" on each side 6, 7, this assembly comprising the cutout 13, the plate 18 and the movable flap 10.

It therefore suffices to vary the size of the toe 11 and / or the rear 12 of the upper 2, and of the sole 1, to cover several sizes with a single clamping set.

For a question of clamping efficiency, each transverse cut 13 is made, on each flank 6, 7, between the end 11 and the rear 12 of the rod 2 in correspondence of the instep area. Of the so tightening has the effect of returning the heel of the wearer in the socket of the rear 12.

According to a construction detail, visible in Figures 1 to 4, the thin flexible plate 18 has a bead 31 which follows at least the contour of the edges 14 and 15 of the transverse cut 13. This bead 31 is interposed laterally between the edges 14 and 15 of the cutout 13 and those 16 and 17 of the movable flap 10 and has a height substantially corresponding to the thickness of the wall of the rod 2 at the location of the cutout 13 and at the thickness of the wall of the movable flap 10.

It is understood that the shoe according to the invention may have an inner lining 33 of comfort as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Special arrangements, such as aeration-ventilation means or systems, may obviously be adapted to the described clamping assembly and in particular to the thin flexible plate 18 without departing from the scope of the invention. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 5 by way of example, at least a thin flexible plate 18 can be obtained in one piece with a flat and elongated part 43, of contour substantially corresponding to that of the foot, which constitutes "the first mounting". Advantageously, in the case of the above shoe structure with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, where a clamping device 8 with movable flap 10 and flexible plate 18 is implemented on each side 6, 7, these are the two flexible plates 18 which are obtained in one piece with the part 43 forming the first assembly. This gives a very homogeneous tightening assembly because its different components, flap 10, plate 18, device 8 and first of cleanliness 43 interact between them.

The shape of the cutout 13 and / or of the movable flap 10 is limited by edges 14, 15 and 16, 17, which can, as desired, be parallel or not, one 14, 16, with respect to the other 15, 17, or some 14, 15, compared to others 16, 17.

The opening 13 as the flap 10 may have a shape which will widen from the sole 1 towards the opening 3 towards the end 11 and / or the rear 12 of the rod 2.

Claims (12)

1. Boot comprising a sole (1) on which an upper (2) provided with a front longitudinal opening (3) on the top is mounted, the upper (2) being adjustable on the foot by bringing the edges (4, 5) of its longitudinal opening (3) closer together by means of a tightening device (8) using at least one movable flap (10) which extends freely on the flank (6, 7) of the upper (2) from an attachment zone (41) located at the level of the sole (1), characterized in that the upper (2) has, on the flank (6, 7) where the movable flap (10) is located, a transverse cutout (13) whose edges (14, 15) are spaced apart over a width (A) that is at least greater than that (A') of the edges (16, 17) of said flap (10), and which extends from the sole (1) up to the front longitudinal opening (3) where it ends, and characterized in that this transverse cutout (13) is closed from the inside of the upper (2) by a thin flexible plate (18) obtained in a relatively resistant material, such as plastic, the movable flap (10) being housed in the transverse cutout (13) by pressing on the thin flexible plate (18) when a tightening action is exerted thereon by the tightening device (8).
2. Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse cutout (13) and the movable flap (10) are located between the tip (11) and the rear (12) of the boot, preferably in correspondence with the instep zone.
3. Boot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thin flexible plate (18) and the movable flap (10) each comprise a fastening lug (26, 27) directed toward the boot sole (1) and adapted to enable their mesh assembly (41) with said sole (1) and, at the level of the latter, with the insole (42, 43).
4. Boot according to claim 3, characterized in that the thin flexible plate (18) is made integral with a flat and elongated portion (43) having a contour that corresponds substantially to that of the foot, which constitutes the "insole" (43).
5. Boot according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the thin flexible plate (18) has lateral edges (19, 20) that extend beneath the edges (14, 15) that demarcate the transverse cutout (13), and which are adapted to enable its fixation by any known means, such as adhesion, stitching, etc.
6. Boot according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the transverse cutout (13) flares out from the sole (1) up to the front longitudinal opening (3) of the upper (2), at least in the direction of the tip (11) of the boot,
7. Boot according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the thin flexible plate (18) has an upper edge (21) which constitutes at least one portion of the corresponding edge (3) of the front longitudinal opening (3) of the upper (2).
8. Boot according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper edge (21) of the thin flexible plate (18) comprises at least one guide (22, 23) for a lacing tie (9) of the tightening device (8).
9. Boot according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the movable flap (10) flares out from its assembly zone (41) up to the front longitudinal opening (3) of the upper (2) where it is provided with at least one guide (25) for a lacing tie (9) with which the tightening device (8) is provided.
10. Boot according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the thin flexible plate (18) comprises at least one bead (31) that follows at least the contour of the edges (14, 15) which demarcate the transverse cutout (13), this bead (31) being inserted between the respective edges (14, 15) of the transverse cutout (13) and of the movable flap (10), and having a height that corresponds substantially to the thickness of the wall of the upper (2), in the location of the transverse cutout (13), and to the thickness of the wall of the movable flap (10).
11. Boot according to claim 10, characterized in that the lateral edges (16, 17) of the movable flap (10) follow, at least partially, the contour of the edges (14, 15) of the transverse cutout (13).
12. Boot according to one of claims 4-11, characterized in that a tightening device (8) using at least one movable flap (10) on a transverse cutout (13) closed by a thin flexible plate (18) is located on each flank (6, 7) of the boot upper (2).

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