EP1450637B1 - Shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

An athletic shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper, connected thereto, which surrounds the front of the foot, the ankle region and the heel region of the foot. The shoe is able to be collapsed down to a low height for packing, without negatively affecting the ability of the shoe to hold the wearers foot in an optimal manner in use. This ability is achieved the shoe upper being provided with an incision in the heel region, running at least nearly in a direction perpendicular to the sole, whereby the parts of the shoe upper, on both sides of the incision can be folded or turned inwards down toward the sole.

Description

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a Sole and a shoe upper connected to it, the forefoot, surround the joint area and the heel area of the foot.

The US-PS 6,298,583 discloses a generic shoe, the like is designed so that it can be folded relatively flat. This is especially advantageous if the shoe is taken on trips shall be. For this purpose, the shoe upper in lateral areas one Number of cuts on which a fold of the shoe upper enable.

Although these cuts allow a folding of the shoe on a small size, resulting in the housing of the shoe in a suitcase, a carrying case or the like proves to be advantageous. However, it has turned out to be disadvantageously proved that the stability of the shoe, especially at exercise is affected by these measures.

DE 43 29 594 A1 discloses an orthopedic sports shoe with a Heel cap, which in the area of Achilles tendon attachment on Heel bone has a circular recess, which in horizontal Direction approximately symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg is arranged. The recess is closed by flexible material. However, this orthopedic sports shoe can not be folded.

DE 26 37 277 A1 finally shows a sports shoe with incorporated Heel counter. This consists of a substantially rigid, to Shifting the heel trained, the heel contour adapted Heel cup, which in its rear upper part one from top to bottom having the upper heel bump extending gap-like cutout. Also This sports shoe can not be folded flat to space saving, z. B. in a suitcase to be accommodated.

From WO 01/47385 A1 a shoe is known in which it is possible a part of the shoe upper in the heel area removable or Folded to be designed to slip the shoe from one shoe into one Shoe without heel cap and back to convert.

US 5,127,170 discloses a sports shoe that collapses is trained. For this purpose, a joint mechanism is in the heel area arranged, with which the heel cap if necessary in the direction of the shoe sole folded inwards and can be locked there by means of the mechanism.

From DE 24 61 701 A it is known to form a children's shoe so that the heel area by means of a Velcro fastener and a Snap fastener is designed hinged to tighten the To facilitate shoes.

Finally, US 3,192,651 discloses a shoe which is designed that in his heel part of the shoe upper removable is designed. The removable part can by means of a Buckle closure or by means of a snap closure on Shoe upper be releasably fixed.

The invention is therefore based on the object , a shoe, especially a sports shoe, of the type mentioned in such a way that it should remain possible to fold the shoe to a low height, on the other hand, however, the ability of the shoe, the foot of the wearer - especially in the heel area - yet to hold optimal, not adversely affected.

The solution of this object by the invention is characterized in that the shoe upper in the heel area, preferably in the central heel area, has a single incision which extends at least approximately in the vertical direction towards the sole, wherein the parts of the upper part located on both sides of the incision in the heel area Folding are formed on a flat format for transporting the shoe inwardly in the direction of the sole foldable or foldable. It is preferably provided that the incision extends at least over half, preferably at least over two-thirds, of the height of the upper of the shoe.

With the embodiment of the invention, the shoe upper remains relative stable and allows a sufficiently firm support of the heel area of the carrier. Nevertheless, it is possible to put the shoe on a relatively flat Format to transport it in a small space requirement to be able to.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that means in the heel area are arranged on the shoe upper, with which an outwardly directed Fold away the parts of the part located on either side of the incision Shoe upper part can be prevented. These funds can be at least one be arranged in the upper edge region of the shoe upper band. It is it is advantageous if the band or more bands outside the parts of the shoe upper extends around or extend and include or include. A simple determination of the Bandes or the bands can be connected via a Velcro fastener or over several Velcro closures are accomplished, the or in his or her Wirklänge is definable is or are. The Velcro or the Velcro closures can or may be in the lateral area of one of the parts of the Shoe to be fixed.

Alternatively, the means may be hinged hinge means, which can be combined with a Lock are provided, the outwardly directed folding away the Both sides of the incision located parts of the shoe upper over a predetermined angle, in particular over the vertical direction out, prevent.

The shoe upper preferably consists essentially of textile material. It Can be used in high-stress areas, especially in the peak area and / or in the area of the shoe closure, with leather or plastic parts be strengthened.

Fig. 1

einen Sportschuh in der Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

die zu Fig. 1 zugehörige Draufsicht auf diesen Sportschuh und

Fig. 3

die zu Fig. 1 zugehörige Ansicht dieses Sportschuhs von hinten.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:

Fig. 1

a sports shoe in side view,

Fig. 2

to Fig. 1 associated plan view of this sports shoe and

Fig. 3

to Fig. 1 associated view of this sports shoe from behind.

The shoe 1, in particular sports shoe, has a sole 2, as well as a this connected shoe upper 3. In the heel area 4 of the shoe 1 the shoe upper 3 comprises the heel of the wearer of the shoe 1. To the To fold shoe 1 for transport, has the shoe upper. 3 in the heel area 4 an incision 5. This incision 5 is in the direction the vertical V, preferably in the central heel region 4a, aligned. Through the incision 5, the shoe upper 3 in the heel area 4 in two Parts 6a and 6b divided, as best seen in FIG. 3 can be seen. These Parts 6a, 6b can be used for folding the shoe 1 in the direction of Inside the sole 2 are folded, so that the shoe upper 3 in this area is applied to the sole 2. Especially in conjunction with a Execution of the shoe upper 3 made of textihnaterial it is possible, the Shoe 1 so that it is only a very small volume occupies.

So that the shoe 1 in its use the foot and in particular the Heel region 4 of the wearer gives a stable hold and the parts 6a and 6b of the shoe upper 3 does not fold outward, is a band 7 or are several bands in the upper edge region 8 of the shoe upper 3 is arranged. This or these spans or span the outer region of the parts 6a and 6b. His or her determination in the desired length is done in Embodiment by a hook and loop fastener 9 or by several Velcro fasteners.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the incision 5 extends over a height h _E , which accounts for about 80% to 90% of the height h of the shoe upper 3 at the location of the incision 5 in the embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

shoe

2

sole

3

Shoeupper

4

heel

4a

central heel area

5

incision

6a

Part of the shoe upper

6b

Part of the shoe upper

7

Means for preventing the folding away

8th

upper edge area

9

velcro fastener

V

vertical direction

H

Height of the shoe upper

h _E

Height of the incision

Claims (10)

1. Shoe (1), in particular sports shoe, with a sole (2) and a shoe upper (3) which is connected to the latter and surrounds the front part of the foot, the ankle area and the heel area (4) of the foot,
   characterised in that
   in the heel area (4), preferably in the central heel area (4a), the shoe upper (3) exhibits a single incision (5) which runs at least approximately in the vertical direction (V) to the sole, with the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3) in the heel area (4) lying on both sides of the incision (5) being embodied so that they can be folded inwards in the direction of the sole (2) for folding up into a shallow form for transport of the shoe (1).
2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the incision (5) extends at least over half, preferably at least over two thirds of the height (h) of the shoe upper (3).
3. Shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that means (7) are arranged on the shoe upper (3) in the heel area (4), with which the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3) lying on both sides of the incision (5) can be prevented from gaping outwards.
4. Shoe according to claim 3, characterised in that the means (7) are at least one band arranged in the upper edge area (8) of the shoe upper (3).
5. Shoe according to claim 4, characterised in that the band (7) or a plurality of bands extend around the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3) on the outside and embrace these.
6. Shoe according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the effective length of the band (7) or bands can be fixed by means of a hook and loop fastener (9) or a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.
7. Shoe according to claim 6, characterised in that the hook and loop fastener (9) or hook and loop fasteners are positioned in the side area of one of the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3).
8. Shoe according to claim 3, characterised in that the means (7) are hinge-like means of articulation which are provided with a lock which prevents the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3) lying on both sides of the incision (5) from gaping outwards beyond a predetermined angle, in particular beyond the vertical direction (V).
9. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the shoe upper (3) is essentially made of textile material.
10. Shoe according to claim 9, characterised in that the shoe upper (3) is reinforced with leather or plastic parts in highly stressed areas, in particular in the area of the toe and/or in the area of the shoe fastening.

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