EP1397970A1

EP1397970A1 - Protection for a sports shoe, particularly for a golf shoe

Info

Publication number: EP1397970A1
Application number: EP03020402A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francesco Valentini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-11
Filing date: 2003-09-10
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: ITBO20020085U1; ITBO20020085V0; US20040049949A1; JP2004261577A

Abstract

The sheath (2) is made of elastically flexible synthetic material, with removable retention elements for covering the tip of the shoe.

Description

The present invention relates to a protection for a sports shoe, particularly for a golf shoe.

It is known that a golfer, when performing the so-called "swing" motion to strike the ball, has one foot that is fixed and firmly placed on the ground, while the other foot floats and is therefore free to follow the execution of the action.

The mobility of the floating foot on the ground produces the inevitable and unwanted accumulation of grass and mud on the tip of the shoe; moreover, in this manner the shoe worn by the floating foot is particularly subject to wear or breakage.

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the cited drawbacks by providing a protection that preserves the shoe worn by the floating foot against accumulation of dirt on the tip and against localized wear.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a protection that does not compromise the aesthetic qualities of the shoe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protection structure that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and relatively low in cost.

This aim and these and other objects are all achieved by the present protection for a sports shoe, particularly for a golf shoe, characterized in that it comprises a sheath that can be applied to the tip of the shoe and is provided with removable retention means to prevent its disengagement.

Further features of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a protection for a sports shoe, particularly for a golf shoe, according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protection for a sports shoe:

Figure 2 is a partially sectional rear detail view of a portion of said protection;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the protection;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the protection according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the protection according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the protection illustrated in Figure 5.

In the examples of embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiments.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a protection for a sports shoe, particularly for a golf shoe, according to the invention.

The protection comprises a sheath 2, which can be applied to the tip of the shoe worn by the foot that, when performing the shot, acts as a floating foot; such sheath is provided with removable retention means that are adapted to prevent accidental disengagement from the shoe.

The sheath 2 is open in a downward region and is composed of an upper portion 3, which is designed to cover the surface of the tip of the shoe, and a perimetric portion 4, which is blended with the upper portion 3 and perpendicular thereto, and reaches substantially the sole of the shoe. Two mutually opposite lateral openings 5 are formed in the perimetric portion 4 of the sheath 2 and at the rear; in the specific case, the openings have a longitudinally flattened substantially rectangular geometry.

The sheath 2 is preferably made of elastically flexible synthetic material, suitable to adapt to the shape of the tip of the shoe once it is applied thereto.

Advantageously, such synthetic material is of the substantially transparent type, so as to not compromise the aesthetic qualities of the shoe, especially as regards its color, which must remain intact.

The means for removable retention of the sheath 2 are constituted by a band 6 made of elastically extendible material, in which the ends 7 of the band are inserted in the respective openings 5 and are locked thereat: the band 6 engages below the sole and, once accordingly placed under slight traction, constitutes a retention element against the spontaneous disengagement of the protection from the shoe (the golf shoe is generally provided, in its sole, with a plurality of surface protrusions or studs for gripping the ground that facilitate the retention of the band 6, thus ensuring reliability in operation).

The band 6 has a substantially rectangular flattened transverse cross-section, with ends 7 that are inserted in the respective openings 5 preferably from the outside inward and are folded back: the ends 7 are locked by respective rivets 8, which pass through the perimetric portion and are each located below the respective opening 5.

The ends 7 of the band 6 form, by folding, respective lower flaps 9, which adhere to the internal surface of the perimetric portion 4, and thanks to the high coefficient of friction with respect to the surface of the shoe, are suitable to prevent relative movements between said sheath 2 and the shoe.

The use of the protection according to the invention is intuitive. It is easily applied to the tip of the shoe worn by the foot that floats during the shot, by making the band 6 pass below the sole: the band 6 is thus subjected to a slight traction, causes the adaptation of the sheath 2 to the shape of the tip of the shoe, and at the same time prevents said sheath 2 from being removed accidentally.

It is noted that the protection can be adapted to various models of sports shoes for golf, but can also be applied to shoes intended for different uses.

It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the band 6 can continue with a portion 6a beyond the end 7 located on the inner side of the shoe, reaching a further seat 10 provided with a rivet 11, similarly to what occurs in the two ends 7. In this manner, the additional band portion 6a helps to retain the tip of the protection on the shoe during use, preventing its lifting. The arrangement of the seat 10 is such as to ensure that during use the abrasive actions that occur on the band 6 at its transverse portion are minimal.

As an alternative, the sheath 2 can be anchored to the shoe by means of suitably arranged substantially L-shaped hooks 12. Two of the hooks 12 must face each other and must be anchored to the

points

13 and 14; the third hook is fixed proximate to the tip of the shoe on the outer side, in the position designated by the reference numeral 15. The hooks 12, by having their flap 16 arranged below the sole of the shoe, allow to couple the sheath 2 firmly to the shoe.

In a preferred embodiment of the protection according to the invention, the sheath 2, preferably made of rubber, continues with a lower portion 17 that is connected to the perimetric portion 4: the removable retention means are constituted by a plurality of circular holes 18 within which studs provided on the sole of the shoe are designed to engage.

This last embodiment is particularly advantageous, since it ensures an effective fixing of the protection on the shoe by way of the insertion of the studs in the holes 18 and of the friction of the rubber on the surface of said shoe.

All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No.BO2002U000085 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A protection for a sports shoe, particularly for a golf shoe, characterized in that it comprises a sheath (2) that can be applied to the tip of the shoe and is provided with removable retention elements to prevent its disengagement.
The protection according to claim 1, characterized in that said sheath (2) is open in a downward region and has an upper portion (3) and a perimetric portion (4), which is connected to said upper portion (3) and is substantially perpendicular thereto.
The protection according to claim 1, characterized in that said sheath (2) is made of elastically flexible synthetic material.
The protection according to claim 3, characterized in that said synthetic material is substantially transparent.
The protection according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said retention means comprise at least one band (6) made of elastically extendible material, the two ends (7) of which are inserted and fixed in respective lateral openings (5) provided in said perimetric portion (4), said band (6) being adapted to lock said sheath (2) on the shoe by engaging under the sole.
The protection according to claim 5, characterized in that said band (6) has a substantially rectangular flattened transverse cross-section and has said ends (7) inserted in said openings (5) from the outside inward, folded back and locked by respective rivets (8) that pass through said sheath (2) and are located below said openings (5).
The protection according to claim 6, characterized in that said ends (7) form, inside said perimetric portion (4), respective flaps (9) that are adapted to adhere to the outer surface of the shoe, preventing by friction relative movements between said sheath (2) and the shoe.
The protection according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of said ends (7) continues with a portion (6a) whose end is rigidly coupled to a seat (10) that is arranged in an intermediate position between said openings (5).
The protection according to claim 2, characterized in that said retention means comprise at least two hooks (12), which are associated with said perimetric portion (4) and are adapted to lock said sheath (2) onto the shoe, engaging under the sole.
The protection according to claim 9, characterized in that said hooks (12) are constituted by a rigid lamina that has a substantially right-angled fold and in that said lamina adheres, above said fold, in its upper part, to the surface of said perimetric portion (4), is free in its lower part, and is adapted to engage under the sole of said shoe below said fold.
The protection according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said sheath (2) is made of rubber material.
The protection according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perimetric portion (4) continues with a lower portion (17), said removable retention means being constituted by a plurality of circular holes (18) in which studs provided in the sole of the shoe are meant to engage.