EP0831955A1

EP0831955A1 - Amphibious footwear

Info

Publication number: EP0831955A1
Application number: EP97907272A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pio Maria Guglielmo Curatolo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-22
Filing date: 1997-03-21
Publication date: 1998-04-01
Also published as: IT1285634B1; WO1997035644A1; ITBO960161A1; AU1939397A; ITBO960161A0

Abstract

Footwear for both land and water use, comprising of a sole (D), a flipper (P) mounted rotating on to the sole (D) by means of a pivot (F) in such a way as to enable rotation between a first position (15) where the flipper (P) is external to the sole (D) outline and a second position (16) in which the flipper (P) is contained in the outline of the sole (D); the footwear (A) moreover includes a plurality of synergical means to fix the flipper (P) when in use respectively in the first position (15) and in the second position (16).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Amphibious footwear Technical field

The present invention relates to footwear for both land and water use. As is noted, in water zones (sea, lake, swimming pool), particularly in areas with a rocky seabed, it is common practice to wear waterproof shoes, such as sandals, to protect the feet. In those zones flippers are also used in the water to enable efficient use of the propelling force of the legs during swimming. On the part of bathers there is an objective dislike of changing article, such as sandals and flippers, on going in and out of the water. This annoyance is added to by the fact that you have to leave the sandals at the edge of the water and you have to carry the flippers until you get to the water. Backround Art

There have already been some proposals that try to eliminate such inconveniences.

One of the approaches to the problem was flippers mounted on straps to be attached to the legs of the user, like, for example, patent US 5326296. This solution allowed the wearer to walk whilst continuing to wear the flippers. However this solution has some disadvantages such as the type of flipper used can have only a limited efficiency and the user cannot walk in a natural way whilst wearing them. A second approach to the problem was the invention of footwear complete with flippers mounted on to the shoe in such a way that they could be placed in one position during swimming and in a second position during walking. For example, this solution was described in patent application DE 4020235, patent US 4981454, patent US 4773885, patent US 4752259, and patent FR 2565498. In these patents different solutions are proposed to solve the problem of the above-mentioned integration of flipper and shoe, like fixing the flipper to the front portion of the sole, turning around an horizontal axis perpendicular to the footwear longitudinal axis lying on a plane determined by the sole of the footwear, to allow for girating of the flipper from a first to second position. A second proposed solution is to fix the flipper to the footwear in a non permanent way, for example by means of a joint, to allow removal of the flipper for walking. Each solution presents a series of disadvantages consisting principally of the fact that each of the solution favour one or other aspect, the walking or the swimming. Finally, the Italian patent application TR95A000001 discloses a solution based on the forward sliding of two soles overlapping under the plantar portion of the footwear. This solution does not seem to adequately consider the problems of the streamlined optimization of the beating surface of the flipper. In fact it appears oversized, especially in width, in respect to the interaction with the water mass which is involved in the function of the flipper. The medial projection of this flipper results as a potential obstacle to the natural rapid leg movement in crawl style. Also it seems that this has not adequately resolved the problem of overall flexibility in the footwear and the drainage of dust, by the presence of two soles overlapping under the footwear, with a consequent weakening of practical requirements and ease of use.

From a brief examination of the above it is evident that the significant problem in the joining of sandal and flipper is not just in the joining but to find a solution that joins the objects in harmony with practical demands and effectiveness and efficiency of the whole footwear as a comfortable sandal and as an hydrodynamical well-purposed flipper.

Disclosure of Invention The purpose of the present invention is that of making land and water footwear that can be used efficiently both as a sandal and as a flipper capable of optimizing the propelling force of the legs during the swim.

According to the present invention we propose amphibious footwear comprising: a sole, and a substantially flat portion, in fact a flipper; the said footwear being characterized by the inclusion of a pivot integral with the sole, having an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the sole itself, the flat portion being supported by the above-mentioned pivot so that it can rotate around the axis of the pivot between a first position where at least a portion of the flat part is outside the outline of the sole and a second position in which the flat part is substantially confined inside the outline of the sole. For a better understanding of the present invention there follows a description of a preferred proposal, just for example not restrictive, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - figure 1 illustrates a side view of a preferred form of the footwear; - figure 2 is an overhead view of the footwear of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 is an enlarged scale section of line III-III with the removal of some parts of the footwear in figure 1 ;

- figure 4 is an enlarged overhead view of a first detail of figure 1 , with, at intermittent line, the positions assumed by a second detail;

- figure 5 is an enlarged scale section set of lines from S1 to S14 with the removal of parts of footwear in figure 1 ;

- figure 6 is an enlarged side view with some parts of figure 1 removed; - figure 7 is an under view with some parts of footwear in figure 1 removed;

- figure 8 is a section of line VIII-VIII with some parts of footwear in figure 1 removed;

- figure 9 is a rear view with some parts of figure 1 removed; - figure 10 is a perspective view of a first detail of figure 4 from the footwear in figure 1 ;

- figure 11 is a perspective view of a second detail from the the footwear in figure 1 ;

- figure 12 is a perspective view of a third detail from footwear in figure 1.

Figure 1 illustrates by A a footwear consisting of an upper part B suitable to hold the foot and an under part C which is comprised of a sole D of which the upper side is used for resting the foot, and a flipper

P held by the sole D. With particular reference to figures 1 and 2, the upper part B comprises: a back portion 23 fixed in correspondence with its under zone to sole D and shaped for receiving the heel; two main straps 4 fixed to sole D and centrally united together; one central strap 8 partially drilled coming from the straps 4 at the place where they unite; one ring-shaped strap 6 partially attached to toe-divider 5 and fixed to sole D for the purpose of resting the big toe; two secondary straps 7 coming from central strap 8 connecting to sole D through a buttonhole 9 belonging to sole D, connecting at a second point to central strap 8 through loops 11 belonging to strap 8, and finishing with a portion ready to be fixed to buckles 10 matching with the upper portion of the back part 23. The diverse elements which make up part of upper B can be presented, as is illustrated in figures 1 and 2, a set of openings 25 to aid the perspiration of the foot when the footwear A is used out of the water and to aid drainage of the water when the footwear A is used in the water.

With particular reference to figures 1 and 11 , the back part 23 has other means of attachment, in particular button 3, for connecting an ankle rest (illustrated in fig. 11) to be used for supporting the ankle. The ankle rest is fixed to the lower part of the leg of the user while a strap 2 is fixed to the ankle rest and positioned in a way that, during use, squeezes the ankle in an area immediately above the malleolous. The ankle rest 1 should preferably be made of a material that can float.

With particular reference to figures 3,4,5, and 10, the lower part C comprises the sole D, the pivot F (illustrated in overhead view in fig. 4 and in fig. 10) of vertical axis 36, and the flipper P. The pivot F is fixed to sole D and holds the flipper P resulting in the capacity of a turning movement around pivot F. Because of this the flipper P can be moved through a rotation of 180° around axis 36, in a reversible way, from a first position in which a part of the flipper is external to the outline of the sole D and a second position 16 in which the fiipper P is substantially contained within the outline of the sole D.

The lower portion of the sole D is made in a shape to hold the flipper P and in particular is made to lie together, without play and interference, with the upper side of the flipper P having a convex and sloping shape, when it is found in the second position 16. With particular reference to figures 6 and 7, the sole D shows a series of openings 19 with various dimensions.

As is illustrated in figure 2 and in figure 4, footwear A also has a longitudinal axis 30 passing to vertical axis 36 and placing on a plane substantially represented from sole D. In particular in figure 4 are presented a large scale overhead view of pivot F and, in sketch, the form of the fiipper P in the first position 15 and in the second position

16.

The pivot F is a unique body in which two overlapping cylindrical parts can be distinguished: the lower part, larger in dimension, indicated with 28 and the upper part, smaller in dimension, indicated with 14. Each part has contact with the other in correspondence with the upper side of part 28 and the under side of part 14. The upper portion 14 has a substantially cylindrical form in which the base surface is fusiform in shape having a major axis indicated with 29 in figure 4. Therefore this surface presents, in correspondence with the intersection with axis 29 some parts substantially pointed. Axis 29 is orientated in a direction inclined towards the medial side of the foot with respect to the longitudinal axis 30 of the footwear. Finally the upper portion 14 presents a pair of reliefs AP1 and AP2 along axis 30.

The lower portion 28 presents a substantially cylindrical form in which the base surface is ellipsoidal and has its minor axis coinciding with longitudinal axis 30 of footwear A. This orientation is carried out to allow the lower part of footwear, which is sole D and flipper P, to be well adapted to cope with the mechanical stress produced during walking, particularly because that stress is prevalently oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 30. In this direction, in fact, the lower portion 28 presents its minor diameter and, opposing less resistance to deformation, makes walking easier and less tiring. The lower portion 28 presents a pair of reliefs L1 and L2 placed on a trasversal axis (not illustrated) perpendicular to longitudinal axis 30 and passing vertical axis 36.

The pivot F presents a series of holes 24 passing between the upper base of portion 14 and the lower base of portion 28 formed in such a way as to house a corresponding series of anchors G fixed to the lower part of sole D for the purpose of creating a stable mechanical connection between pivot F and sole D. This connection however can be realized by sticking the two pieces together. The sole D in correspondence of the surface of contact with pivot F presents, as illustrated in figure 3, a relief 31 to which the anchors G are connected, having substantially the same form as the upper part of pivot F with which it has contact. This relief 31 allows the anchors G to be used at a lower height, therefore at a major mechanical resistance. Furthermore, for the improvement of the mechanical resistance of the sole D the openings 19 are not present in the area, indicated in figure 7 with X, corresponding with those of anchors G.

As illustrated, the lateral surfaces of portions 28 and 14 have a bell-shaped form with a larger diameter at the bottom. The pivot F presents a surface of contact 17 defined on the whole as: from the lateral surface of portion 14, from the rim of upper sur ace of portion 28 not used with portion 14, and from the lateral surface of portion 28.

The flipper P has an external outline conforming to the external outline of sole D and also has an opening 18 made to work smoothly in use with the surface of contact 17 when the flipper is used in the first position 15 and in the second position 16 substantially without play and without interference. This characteristic is possible because of the concurrence of two factors: one that there is a rotation of 180° around the axis 36 and the other factor is that each part of pivot F corresponds to an identical part symmetrically placed in comparison with a plane corresponding to axis 36. This configuration allows flipper P to rotate without translatory motion with respect to pivot F and sole D being this latter so firmly attached to pivot F itself.

The form of the upper surface of flipper P is downwardly convex in form (evident in figure 5) which gives minor resistance to the water when the leg is moved towards the body, a movement not used to aid floating. In order to make the flipper more elastic and resistant, one can insert some fibre, laminate or some other material (not illustrated on graphic table) into the thickness of plastic material of flipper P, in a front to back motion, during or following its construction. In the lower side of flipper P there is a groove 39, as seen in figure 3, lengthered in form and symmetrically placed to major longitudinal axis 30 of footwear A. The contours of groove 39 are contained in the internal outline of flipper P and the height of the groove 39 corresponds to hole 18, gradually decreasing until it disappears towards the outer side.

The flipper P presents a relief 12 in the its upper portion which, in the second position 16, is found corresponding to the rear part 23 of footwear A. Footwear A includes a first and a second series of means for fixing and stabilizing the said first position 15 and second position 16.

The first series of means for fixing and stabilizing uses the means of synergy present in pivot F and particularly: the fusiform base of portion 14 and relief 31 , reliefs AP1 and AP2 of upper portion 14 of pivot F together corresponding with hollows 34 and 35 present in hole 18. The plasticity of the material used in making footwear A and pivot F allows the flipper P adapted to the irregularities of the pivot to be turned by suitable manual force from the first to the second position and viceversa. The flipper P cannot be moved accidentally, because the casual stress during walking or swimming, thanks to the device-shaped form of the pivot F. The first series of means of fixing and stabilizing also makes use of the particular upper surface of flipper P which is downwardly convex in form (see fig. 5), in fact this form contributes to maintaining the flipper in the second position 16. The second series of means of fixing and stabilizing (illustrated in figures 1 , 3 and 5) includes a tongue 21 placed in rear zone 23 and firmly attached to upper part B, finishing with a pivot 26 put into use with hole 13 found in flipper P in such a way that corresponds with pivot 26 when flipper P is in the second position 16. To increase the cohesive force between pivot 26 and hole 13 a thread can be used on pivot 26 rather than hole 13 so that pivot 26 stays firmly in position.

The second series of means for fixing and stabilizing also includes (as illustrated in figures 1 and 9) a relief 12 of flipper P that, when flipper P is in the second position 16, is put in an hollow 38 made for relief 12 in the rear part of sole D. This stabilization comes about in the same way if (mode not illustrated in graphic table) the relief 12 belongs to sole D and hollow 38 belongs to flipper P.

The footwear A includes a series of devices for the draining of liquid and dust and for the self-cleaning of footwear. A first of these devices is an opening (indicated by 27 in fig. 3) internally present in hole 13 to allow drainage of water which would otherwise remain in it.

A second of these devices is the fusiform form of upper portion 14 of pivot F and the bell-shaped lateral surface of pivot F and, particularly, the surfaces of contact 17. During the rotation of flipper P these parts push against the walls of hole 18 clearing the impurities that therefore tend to go away because of gravity and the form of pivot F. This effect is aided by a cavity 39 which facilitates the elimination of impurities. In particular the side surface form of lower portion 28 of pivot F corresponding to cavity 39 can be simply bell-shaped or, as illustrated in fig. 3, can present two areas 40 and 41 of diverse inclination. The first area 40 when in contact with hole 18 follows the bell-shaped line of pivot F while the second area 41 is found in cavity 39 and has a different inclination to that of the first area 40. This configuration reduces the quantity of impurities that penetrate hole 18 during walking.

A third of these devices is the form of the upper surface of flipper P which is downwardly convex (see fig. 5) and so facilitates the drainage of dust and liquid towards the bottom.

A fourth of these devices are in the openings 19 in sole D (see figures 6, 7 and 8) that aid the perspiration of the foot and drainage of dust when footwear A is used out of the water and that aid the drainage of water when the footwear is used in water.

A fifth of these devices is a series of crossing canals 37 (illustrated in figures 7 and 8) present in all the lower part of sole D except the part taken by pivot F. Each canal substantially crosses longitudinal axis 30 and is of diminishing dimension from the outside to the inside; that is to say the canals 37 have their biggest dimension at the most external part and almost disappear at the most internal part. The canals 37 can be made crossing longitudinal axis 30 as illustrated in fig. 7 or they can be made like a fish herring-bone (not illustrated) preferably adjacent to 12

longitudinal axis 30 and oriented to walking.

A sixth of these devices is constitued in openings 25 present in diverse elements in upper part B that favours the perspiration of the foot when the footwear is used out of the water and the drainage of the water when the footwear is used in water.

The footwear that is the present invention presents numerous advantages in that it is a single object fulfilling functions as footwear and as a means of exploiting the propelling forces of the legs in water; it eliminates the inconvenience of having to use two objects, such as sandals and flippers, on entering and leaving the water, it eliminates the inconvenience of leaving sandals at the edge of the water and having to carry flippers to the water. At the same time the present invention is strong, simple to make and of reasonable cost.

It is clear that the shoe here described can be adapted or modified while keeping within the idea of the present invention.

For example, the second series of means for fixing and stabilizing could (as illustrated in fig. 12) have a buckle 20 placed in rear zone 23 and firmly attached to upper B to be attached to a strap 22 to be attached to buckle 20 when the flipper P is in the second position 16. There can be other methods of fixing and stabilizing the flipper in the first position 15 for example buttons or little straps and buckles.

Claims

1. Footwear for land and water use, consisting of: a sole D and a part substantially flat P, actually a flipper; the said footwear being characterized by the fact of having a pivot F firmly connected to the sole D, and having an axis 36 substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the sole D, the flat part P being supported by the said pivot F in a way that it can rotate around axis 36 of pivot F from a first position 15 in which a part of the flat part P is external to the outline of sole D and a second position 16 in which the flat part P is substantially contained within the outline of sole D.

2. The footwear of claim 1 , characterized by having means of securely maintaining the said flat part P in the said first position 15.

3. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having means of securely maintaining the said flat part P in the second position 16.

4. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having a third means of securely maintaining the said flat part P in the first position 15 and in the second position 16.

5. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by the fact that the said flat part P presents a looped hole 18 coaxially used with said pivot F.

6. The footwear of claim 5, characterized by the fact that the said opening 18 when used makes functional contact with said pivot F when the fiat part P is in the first position 15 and in the second position 16.

7. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by the fact that the said pivot F is defined as a single body in which you can find a lower part 28 and an upper portion 14 both substantially cylindrical in form and coaxial.

8. The footwear of claim 7, characterized by the fact that said upper portion 14 presents a base surface substantially fusiform having a first major axis 29.

9. The footwear of claims 7 and 8, characterized by the fact that said lower part 28 has base surface substantially ellipsoidal.

10. The footwear of claim 9, characterized by the fact that the said footwear A presents a longitudinal axis 30 and that the minor axis of the ellipsoidal base surface of the lower portion 28 coincides with longitudinal axis 30.

1 1. The footwear of any claim from 8 to 10, characterized by the fact that the said footwear A presents a longitudinal axis 30 and that the said major axis 29 is inclined towards the medial side of the feet in respect to longitudinal axis 30.

12. The footwear of any claims from 5 to 11 , characterized by the fact that the pivot F presents a surface of contact 17 with said hole 18 of flat part P and that the said third methods of joining contain at least a pair of reliefs (L1 and L2, AP1 and AP2) present in the surface of contact 17 and at least a corresponding pair of places present in the opening 18, so that they join reciprocally to said pair of reliefs (L1 and L2, AP1 and AP2) when the flat part P is in the said first position as well as in the second position.

13. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having a rear portion 23 attached to the lower side of sole D and designed for the function of resting the rear part of the foot; two straps 4 atttached to sole D and centrally united with each other; a strap 8 starting from the place where the two straps 4 unite; a toe-divider 5 attached to the sole D coming from the area where the two straps 4 unite; two secondary straps 7 coming from central strap 8 connected to sole D through a buckle 9 firmly attached to sole D connected at a second point to strap 8 through loops 11 firmly attached to strap 8 and finishing with a portion made to be attached to buckle 10 attached to upper part of the rear part 23.

14. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having a ring strap 6 partially attached to said toe-divider 5 and fixed to the sole D for the purpose of resting the big toe.

15. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having an ankle rest 1 preferable made of floatable material.

16. Amphibious footwear as described with reference to the attached diagrams.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 5 August 1997 (05.08.97) ; original claim 16 cancel led ; remaining claims unchanged ( 1 page) ] position as well as in the second position.

13. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having a rear portion 23 attached to the lower side of sole D and designed for the function of resting the rear part of the foot; two straps 4

5 atttached to sole D and centrally united with each other; a strap 8 starting from the place where the two straps 4 unite; a toe-divider 5 attached to the sole D coming from the area where the two straps 4 unite; two secondary straps 7 coming from central strap 8 connected to sole D through a buckle 9 firmly attached to sole D 0 connected at a second point to strap 8 through loops 11 firmly attached to strap 8 and finishing with a portion made to be attached to buckle 10 attached to upper part of the rear part 23.

14. The footwear of any preceeding claims, characterized by having a ring strap 6 partially attached to said toe-divider 5 and fixed to the 5 sole D for the purpose of resting the big toe.

AMENDED SHEET (ARΗCLE 19)