EP1040768A1 - Sport shoe with soft frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The sports boot comprises an outer sole (4) and an outer ankle part (2) which encloses the user's foot and leg bottom. The o ankle part comprises a supple frame (10) made of a non-extendible supple material which is arranged along the favored force/supp directions and fixed to both the outer ankle part and the outer sole. The supple frame has a dorsal part (11) extending from the outer sole to the upper end of the outer ankle part and a lateral branch (15) connecting the dorsal upper end to a side of the b An Independent claim is also included for a sports boot.

Description

The present invention relates to a reinforcement system, framework for sports shoes, and in particular a sliding sport, of a flexible type such as a snowboard boot (snowboard), roller skating, inline skating, ice skating, cross-country ski boot, skiing short, telemark, ... etc.

Such shoes are intended to provide a connection between the foot of the user and the gliding device - namely skate, surfboard, ski, etc., so as to allow the practice of sport considered. In particular, they must be rigid enough to transmit the forces exerted by the user's leg to the gliding apparatus and / or to provide rigid supports in certain directions necessary for the practice of sport, while being flexible enough to allow some bending movements of the leg relative to the foot and not interfere certain movements in other directions.

It is in fact a question of reconciling totally contradictory requirements, namely on the one hand, guarantee a certain level of comfort and flexibility in the foot and the leg and allow them take various positions depending on the situations encountered or desired during of practicing sport, and on the other hand, guaranteeing the user's foot and leg farms which must be all the more powerful as the gliding device (skate, ski, snowboard, ... etc.) is larger or that the sport is performed most often quickly and / or according to more or less acrobatic figures.

Thus, the lever arms resulting from the dimensions of the sports apparatus induce on the foot or leg efforts which are sometimes very important. In addition, the foot and / or the leg also needs to be held forward and backward, but also laterally and / or in torsion according to the type of sport practiced, these requirements of firm support being contradictory with the concept of comfort.

Similarly, in snowboarding, alpine skiing, skating, we generally seek support from the leg backwards, this support being more or less rigid depending on the sport practiced.

Historically ski boots have evolved from relatively flexible structures (leather shoes) to shoes made of extremely rigid plastic materials. In snowboard or snowboard, there are either rigid structure shoes from Alpine technology, that is, flexible shoes made from snow boots.

Regarding flexible shoes, these generally ensure the holding of the foot by deformation of the upper (in leather, fabric, flexible plastic) by bringing it closer to the foot / bottom the leg by a lacing system tending to apply the foot against the sole and the back of the shoe.

It is also known for example from FR 2 902 735 to have a rigid external framework arranged on the outside of the shoe and intended to centralize the efforts and the recovery times during the practice of sport. This external framework and generally consisting of a buttress rigid rear secured to a more or less rigid sole and a collar intended to surround the lower leg and articulated on the rear buttress. Such constructions are known especially in skating, also in snowboarding. The articulated collar can either be arranged at inside, be arranged outside.

These constructions have significantly improved shoe constructions flexible by balancing comfort and rigidity, foot / leg support.

However, they sometimes have discomfort problems with the articulated collar. In addition, the rigid materials used for the rigid parts contribute to weighing down the shoe.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a new flexible shoe structure which is easy and inexpensive to implement, which allows good transmission of forces and supports and has rigidities suitable for the practice of sport according to certain determined directions while respecting as much as possible the flexible structure of the shoe.

This object is achieved in the shoe according to the invention which is of the type comprising a outer sole and an outer upper enveloping the foot and lower leg, by the fact that the external rod has a flexible framework made of a flexible material, substantially non-extensible arranged in favored directions of effort / support and integral with both the rod and the sole.

Surprisingly, the connection of said frame to the sole and to the upper makes it possible to significantly strengthen the latter at the level of said frame, despite the flexibility of the said framework and to transmit the chosen efforts / supports.

Furthermore, the choice of a flexible material allows easy implementation on the rod.

Preferably, the flexible material is assembled to the rod by sewing.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une chaussure incorporant une ossature souple selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'une ossature souple, la chaussure étant représentée schématiquement en traits mixtes,
• la figure 3 est une vue à plat d'une tige de chaussure incorporant l'ossature souple, avant montage,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessous en perspective montrant l'assemblage de l'ossature souple à la semelle, la tige n'étant pas représentée,
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe partielle selon V-V de la figure 1,
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'une chaussure incorporant une ossature souple selon une variante de l'invention,
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'une ossature souple selon la même variante, la chaussure étant représentée schématiquement en traits mixtes.

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 attached schematic file and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe incorporating a flexible frame according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flexible frame, the shoe being shown diagrammatically in phantom,
• FIG. 3 is a flat view of a shoe upper incorporating the flexible framework, before mounting,
• FIG. 4 is a bottom view in perspective showing the assembly of the flexible framework with the sole, the rod not being shown,
• FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along VV of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shoe incorporating a flexible frame according to a variant of the invention,
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a flexible frame according to the same variant, the shoe being shown schematically in phantom.

Figure 1 shows a shoe in this case a snowboarding shoe incorporating a flexible frame 10 according to the invention shown in dotted lines in this figure. Of course the application to a snowboard boot is only shown by way of example nonlimiting and the invention can be used on any other sports shoe and in particular of sliding sport in which similar or identical problems must be solved and in particular ski, cross-country ski, skate boot, etc.

The shoe 1 comprises an external upper 2 intended to wrap the foot / leg of user and can be tightened to the foot / leg of the user by lacing 3 or any other closure means and an outsole or outsole 4.

Depending on the type of shoe, it can also include an internal liner 5.

Inside the external rod 2 is arranged a flexible framework 10, illustrated more particularly in Figures 2 to 4 and attached to both the outer sole 4 and the upper external 2, for example, via a first mounting 7 as shown in the figure 5.

This flexible framework 10, formed by a strip material, has at the rear a dorsal portion 11 extending substantially from the outer sole 4 to the level of the upper end of the stem, about halfway up the tibia.

The dorsal part 11 has at its lower end 12 a flared part intended for surround the heel and ensure effective support.

This lower end 12 is moreover provided with lugs 13 for its assembly to the outsole 4.

Similarly, the upper end 14 of the dorsal part 11 is flared so as to allow a calf wrap and a better distribution of support.

The upper end 14 of the dorsal part 11 is connected on each side to the sole external 4 by a lateral branch 15 having in this case substantially the shape of a C.

Each lateral branch 15 is moreover provided with a vertical connection tab 16 intended to ensure its connection with the outer sole 4.

Preferably, the connection of the vertical tab 16 to the outer sole 4 takes place substantially at the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot for transmission optimum of the efforts occurring during the practice.

Depending on the type of sport practiced, this connection can of course be arranged in front or in back of this metatarsophalangeal joint.

Finally each lateral branch 15 is connected to the dorsal part 11 respectively at the level of the bending fold and at the level of the upper end 14 of said dorsal part 11, by a connecting lug 17, oriented substantially along the bending fold, and a second lug connection 18.

Each of the parts 11, 15, 17, 18 of the flexible framework 10 is made of a flexible material, substantially inextensible, that is to say in a material which is not substantially extensible for the normal values of effort applied during the practice of the sport considered. In practice materials such as PVC, polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane can be used.

The framework 10 is preferably, although not necessarily, of one-piece structure.

The flexible frame 10 is fixed to the outer rod 2 and to the outer sole 2 in two ways.

First of all it is made integral with the rod 2 by different seams respectively 20, 21.

The seams 20 realize the assembly of each edge of the dorsal part 11 to the rod external 2, while the seams 21 carry out the assembly to the rod of each of the tabs of connection respectively 16, 17, 18, of each lateral branch 15, thereby preserving a some possibility of mobility in the longitudinal direction of said lateral branches 15 by relative to the outer rod 2.

These seams 20, 21 can be triple as shown in the figures or be simple, doubles, ... etc.

The seams 21 can be confused with the continuous seams 22 of the rod for aesthetic reasons. The assembly of the lower ends of the frame to the rod can be made by a low peripheral seam 24, as shown in FIG. 3, and / or by through the first mounting 7 on which these ends 13, 16, are fixed by bonding and / or nails 24.

Surprisingly and despite the flexibility of the material used for the flexible framework 10, the connection of the latter with the upper and the outer sole contributes to the stiffening of the upper, the transmission of forces and a certain energization of the rod in front bending.

Indeed, the dorsal part 11 combined with the lateral branches makes it possible to provide support rear due to the inexxtensibility of the material used.

Likewise, the inexxtensibility of said material and the relative freedom of the lateral branches 15, associated with their C shape, ensures an elastic return of the rod towards the rear after forward bending. In addition, the lateral branches 15 offer a certain resistance to forward bending and therefore a certain rigidity due to the fact that this bending force takes place according to an area of great moment of inertia of said lateral branches. Of course others shapes or arrangements of the lateral branches may be provided to provide a moment of maximum inertia with respect to the applied force directions for which rigidity is desired.

Finally the assembly of the lateral branches to the sole at the joint metatarsophalangeal allows transmission of forces in a preferred direction metatarsophalangeal joints / leg.

FIG. 6 represents a snowboard boot which incorporates a flexible framework 10 according to a variant of the invention and shown in dotted lines in this figure. The intrinsic characteristics of the flexible framework 10 as well as the methods of attachment of the framework 10 on the outer rod 2 and on the outer sole 4 which have been described previously also apply to this variant.

This variant is distinguished mainly by the singularity of the geometry of the reinforcement which is the subject of this description and by the specificity of the clamping means. Indeed, the lateral branch 15 of the flexible frame 10 comprises a clamping means 31 such as references or passers-by for the lace. In addition, the dorsal portion 11 has laterally at least one tab 32 which comprises clamping means 33, in this case hooks for the passage of the lace 3. This tab 32 is located at the top of the outer rod 2 above of the ankle joint. The back part 11 can advantageously include two legs 32, 32a, which are arranged substantially symmetrical.

The overall tightening means, composed of lace 3 can advantageously pass through references respectively 102, 103, 31, 33, located alternately on the external rod 2 and on the flexible framework 10. This constructive arrangement makes it possible to combine powerful tightening with level of the references 31 located on the lateral branch 15 for the kick as well as at the level references 33 located on the leg 32 for the shin, and to combine a level-sensitive tightening of the reference 102 located on the external rod 2 for the ankle, and at the level of the reference 103 for the toes.

Naturally, the alternation of yaw loops or loops positioned on the outer rod 2 and on the flexible framework 10 may be different from the arrangement described.

In the majority of sports where flexible shoes are used, especially in surfing snow, we need to keep a good rear support on the shoe. To achieve this objective, the flexible framework 10 consists of at least two parts which overlap at the level calf thus forming an overlap 104. This specific assembly is illustrated in Figure 7. The back part 11 has a first rear part 110. In addition, a part front 111 includes at least one tab 32 or at least one side strip 15. This part front 111 includes suitable fastening means 112, such as seams which allow the front part 111 to be fixed to the rear part 110 at the dorsal part 11.

The rear part 110 could advantageously be made of a slightly less flexible material than the front part 111 in order to better transmit the rear support on the sliding device. Of more, the great flexibility of the front piece 111 makes it possible to wrap the foot well while now laterally. The side strip 15 may advantageously, at least on the side internal, be connected to the dorsal part 11 of the front part 111 by suitable means such as only seams. The side strip 15 will be made of a more flexible material, for example a softer plastic material or inextensible textile strap, than the front piece 111. The compliance with this constructive arrangement improves the internal lateral bending of the shoe, which can be useful for snowboarding.

Of course, the flexible frame 10 can be made in one and the same piece. In this case, the rear support and internal lateral bending objectives, previously described, are obtained by variations in thickness of the flexible framework 10 and / or by methods of hot forming which make stiffening ribs in the frame flexible 10.

The back part 11 may advantageously comprise a notch 113 which is located substantially vertical and substantially in an axial plane of the shoe. This notch 113, located at the top of the external rod 2, makes the rear support more comfortable by locally softening the top of the outer rod 2 at the calf. In addition, the part back 11 can advantageously include a recess 30 at the level of the part anterior heel of the foot. The back part 11 is then connected to the outer sole 4 by at at least one strip 120 which extends laterally around the ankle. This recess 30 allows to clear a space for the heel and thus better adapt the dorsal part 11 to the morphology of the rear part of the user's foot. This recess 30 could be advantageously supplemented by a notch 134, the lower end of which opens onto the recess 30. It makes it possible to perfect the adaptation of the dorsal part 11 because the notch 134, arranged substantially vertical and substantially along the axial plane of the shoe, marries the geometry of the Achilles tendon of the user's foot.

In the preferred embodiment and illustrated in FIG. 7, the back part 11 comprises the recess 30. The fixing means 112, which make it possible to fix the two parts together 110, 111, constituting the flexible framework 10, are then positioned above the recess 30.

Of course, the flexible framework 10 may be asymmetrical and contain only one lateral branch 15 and / or a single leg 32. In this case, yaw references will be arranged on the external rod 2 in order to restore the symmetry at the lacing level.

For the practice of snowboarding and in particular jumps, we can advantageously retain the following geometry: two symmetrical branches 15, a tab 32 on the lateral side, that is to say on the external side, and a strip 120 on the same side. Compliance with this provision allows facilitate lateral flexion on the inner side of the shoe while stiffening the flexion lateral external side and while maintaining good rear support.

Of course, in all the embodiments described, the flexible framework 10 can be arranged both outside and inside the outer rod 2.

The shape and construction of the flexible framework can also be modified according to the type of sport envisaged. So if essentially asymmetrical forces have to be transmitted, the framework will have a corresponding asymmetrical shape and may only include one single side branch.

We also emphasize the particular ease of use of such a framework since the use of a flexible material although substantially inextensible allows an implementation very easy by simple sewing and gluing.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described only and encompasses all similar or equivalent embodiments.

The invention is also not limited to the embodiments described but applies also to any shoe for which similar or equivalent problems must be resolved.

Claims (20)

Sports shoe and in particular sliding sport, comprising an outer sole (4) and an external rod (2) enveloping the foot and the lower leg of the user, characterized in that the outer rod has a flexible frame (10) made of a substantially non-flexible material extensible, arranged in favored / united directions of effort / support both the outer upper (2) and the outer sole (4). Sports shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible framework (10) has a back portion (11) extending from the outer sole (4) to substantially the upper end of the external rod (2) and at least one lateral branch (15) connecting laterally the upper end (14) of the dorsal part (11) to one side of the shoe. Sports shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises two lateral branches (15) arranged substantially symmetrically. Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that each lateral branch (15) is fixed to the outer sole substantially at the level of the joint metatarsophalangeal of the foot by a connecting lug (16). Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least a lateral branch (15) comprises a clamping means (31). Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the part back protector (11) comprises, laterally, at least one tab (32) which has clamping means (33) and which is located at the top of the outer rod (2). Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the part dorsal (11) comprises, laterally, two legs (32, 320) arranged substantially symmetrically. Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the framework flexible (10) is fixed at each of its lower ends to the outer rod (2) and to the outer sole (4). Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the in the case of a traditional assembly with rod mounting socket between a first assembly (7) and the outer sole (4), each of the lower ends (13, 16) of the frame is fixed in mounting socket. Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each lower ends (13, 16) of the frame is fixed by sewing (24) on the end bottom of the outer rod (2). Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the frame (10) is fixed by sewing to the outer rod. Sports shoe according to one of Claims 3 to 11, characterized in that each lateral branch (15) is fixed to the upper (2), respectively sole (4), only by its connecting lugs (16, 17, 18) and retains a whole free deformable part elastically. Sports shoe and in particular sliding sport, comprising an outer sole (4) and an external upper (2) surmounting the external sole (4) and enveloping the foot and lower leg of the user, characterized in that the external rod (2) comprises a flexible framework (10) in a material which is not substantially extensible, and integral with the upper and the sole, comprising a dorsal part, extending vertically at the rear of the lower leg, and comprising at minus a lateral part, extending laterally along the foot connected to said dorsal part and the sole at each of its ends. Sports shoe and in particular a sliding sport comprising an outer sole (4) and an external upper (2) surmounting the external sole (4) and enveloping the foot and lower leg of the user, characterized in that the rod comprises a flexible framework (10) in one material which is not substantially extensible and arranged to provide a moment of inertia determined according to determined directions. Sports shoe and in particular a sliding sport according to claim 14, characterized in that the flexible framework (10) has lateral branches (15) in the form of bands flat oriented to provide a determined moment of inertia when bending towards the front. Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the part dorsal (11) has a recess (30) at the anterior part of the heel of the foot. Sports shoe according to claim 16, characterized in that the back part (11) has a notch (134), the lower end of which opens onto the recess (30). Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the part back protector (11) constitutes a rear part (110) and the back protector (11) comprising at least a lug (32), and at least one lateral branch (15) constitutes a front part (101), and in this that the front part (111) comprises suitable fixing means (112) for fixing the part front (111) on the rear part (110) at the dorsal part (11). Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each lateral branch (15) external is further connected to the dorsal part (11) by a tab connection (17) oriented substantially along the bending fold. Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the part dorsal (11) has a flared bottom part (12) so as to surround the heel.

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