EP1547481A1 - Footwear or footwear device for sports cycling - Google Patents

Footwear or footwear device for sports cycling Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1547481A1
EP1547481A1 EP04012560A EP04012560A EP1547481A1 EP 1547481 A1 EP1547481 A1 EP 1547481A1 EP 04012560 A EP04012560 A EP 04012560A EP 04012560 A EP04012560 A EP 04012560A EP 1547481 A1 EP1547481 A1 EP 1547481A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shoe
quarter
wearable device
foot
upper shell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04012560A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Francesco Cozzo
Umberto Fassio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DY& VY Srl
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DY& VY Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DY& VY Srl filed Critical DY& VY Srl
Publication of EP1547481A1 publication Critical patent/EP1547481A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
    • A43B5/18—Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
    • A43B13/184—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole the structure protruding from the outsole
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
    • A43B5/14—Shoes for cyclists
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/12—Special watertight footwear
    • A43B7/125—Special watertight footwear provided with a vapour permeable member, e.g. a membrane

Definitions

  • the present invention is in the field of footwear suitable for cycling activity in general and more specifically for competitive and amateur sports cycling, particularly but not exclusively with reference to road or track cycle racing performed with a so-called racing bicycle.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a cyclist who, while sitting on the cycling vehicle 1, operates a central mechanical assembly with a spur gear 2 and a chain 4, imparting an alternating motion to his thighs and pushing on a pair of pedals 3 that are articulated at the end of respective cranks, with his feet provided with specifically provided footwear, also commonly known as cycling shoes.
  • Footwear for sports cycling, or cycling shoes, of the prior art typically have a shape that allows, during the actuation of the pedal mechanism of the cycling vehicle, a broad and free rotation of the foot around the articulation of the ankle. Moreover, they have a sole whose consistency and material are selected exclusively for the purpose of protecting the foot in the region proximate to the articulation of the toes, where the foot rests on the pedal.
  • Figure 2 is a view of a typical model of cycling shoe of the prior art, constituted by a rigid sole 27, which has a consistency that is sufficient to withstand the compression or traction force applied by the foot to the pedal, and by an upper with two flaps of a soft and flexible type, which is easily deformable and is provided with low-strength breathable regions, with fastening elements which in turn are provided with closing engagement devices based on Velcro or the like and with a profile of the upper edge, at the articulation of the ankle, that is provided with an extensively padded recess that is suitable to allow the foot to rotate freely and without hindrance with respect to the leg.
  • Figure 3 is a view, in three successive positions of the crank of the mechanical assembly that propels the cycling vehicle, of the different posture assumed by the leg and by the foot of a cyclist who performs the round stroke, based on so-called ankle play, i.e., on the continuous correction, synchronized with the rotation of the cranks, of the angle ⁇ formed by the foot and by the leg:
  • Figure 3a illustrates the posture, characterized by an angle ⁇ smaller than 90°, that is assumed when the crank 3 is in a position that is close to the top dead center;
  • Figure 3b illustrates the posture, characterized by an angle ⁇ equal to 90°, that is assumed when the crank 3 is substantially in a horizontal position;
  • Figure 3c illustrates the posture, characterized by an angle ⁇ greater than 90°, that is assumed when the crank 3 is in a position that is close to the bottom dead center.
  • the figure also illustrates the inclination of the force F applied by the cyclist to the pedal.
  • Figure 4 is a view of a cyclist in position on the vehicle, in the condition in which the right leg applies the maximum effort to the pedal.
  • the lower limb of the cyclist is shown in a manner that is equivalent to a system of rods constituted by the thigh 41, the leg 42 and the foot 43, which are pivoted in the articulations of the hip 44, of the knee 45, of the ankle 46 and of the toes 47.
  • the effort F applied by the muscles of the thigh 41 is transmitted, putting under stress the entire articulated system, to the hinge 47, where the resistance to the motion R of the pedal 3 is applied.
  • the effort of the muscles of the leg that control the angular position of the foot with respect to said leg is considerable.
  • Figure 5 illustrates the lower part of the right limb of the cyclist, which is composed of the leg and the foot, which form an angle ⁇ between them.
  • Analysis of the cited figure allows to understand that the effort required to overcome the resistance R to motion offered by the pedal tends to reduce the angle ⁇ .
  • this effect is contrasted by the force T applied by the muscles of the leg that control the angular posture ⁇ of the foot in the plane of the figure.
  • the lower limb of the cyclist is subjected to a system of different muscle efforts, only some of which are actually useful for producing the mechanical propulsion force, while others are expended in order to keep rigid and controlled the posture of the articulated system that constitutes such limb and, particularly the angle between the foot and the leg.
  • the cyclist is therefore permanently subjected to much higher fatigue than necessary to deliver the mechanical power that produces the motion of the cycling vehicle.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide a shoe to be worn when performing sports or amateur cycling, capable of overcoming the above described problems that affect the background art.
  • a specific object of the invention is to provide a cycling shoe that allows to maximize the efficiency of the force applied by the cyclist to the cycling vehicle, especially to the pedals, completely eliminating or substantially reducing the factors that constitute a waste of energy consumption.
  • an object of the invention is to provide a cycling shoe that eliminates or drastically reduces the energy consumption traditionally expended by the muscles of the leg, considered as part of the lower articulation comprised between the knee and the ankle, with particular reference to the calf muscles.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe that is versatile, provided with engagement or adjustment devices that allow the user to easily put on the shoe and/or adjust some parameters thereof, in order to maintain an adequate level of comfort.
  • a wearable device for cyclists characterized in that it comprises: an upper shell, for application to at least one instep region of a foot or of a shoe; a lower shell, for application to at least one region of the foot or of the shoe that lies substantially opposite the instep region; the lower shell being connected to said upper shell in order to form a containment frame for the foot or the shoe; at least one of the shells being made of rigid material and comprising a quarter-like portion that is rigidly coupled thereto, the quarter-like portion in turn comprising means for fastening to a leg in order to keep the leg and the foot locked at a fixed angle during the pedaling movements when a cyclist wears the device.
  • the upper shell and the lower shell may be connected by a hinge so that they can rotate mutually with respect to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane when said fastening means are not activated for fastening.
  • the upper shell may be made of rigid material and may comprise an upper and sole in order to accommodate complementarily the instep region and the sole region of a foot or of a shoe, the upper and lower shells monolithically comprising respective quarter-like portions so that the containment frame substantially forms an ankle boot.
  • the lower shell may be made of a rigid material and may comprise a lateral upper and a sole for accommodating complementarily the heel, side and sole regions of a foot or of a shoe, the upper and lower shells monolithically comprising respective quarter-like portions so that said containment frame substantially forms an ankle boot.
  • the upper and lower shells may also be both made of rigid material and be monolithic so that the containment frame forms a shoe, the lower shell comprising a first quarter-like portion, the containment frame comprising a second quarter-like portion that is rotatably pivoted to the containment frame for rigid fastening to the first quarter-like portion and for rotation along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane when said quarter-like portions are not fastened.
  • the wearable device can comprise advantageously first adjustable stop means, which connect the second quarter-like portion to the upper shell, and second adjustable stop means, which connect the lower shell to the first quarter-like portion, so as to interrupt the rigid connection between said quarter-like portions and the containment frame in order to allow a walking movement.
  • the shells and/or the quarter-like portions may comprise regions made of soft or semi-rigid material in order to facilitate starting the pedaling stroke and may also have regions made of breathable material for foot perspiration.
  • the hinge that connects the shells is arranged in a region of the heel of the ankle boot formed by the shells.
  • the hinge may be arranged in a front region of the ankle boot, especially if the lower shell is made of rigid material and comprises a lateral upper and a sole for accommodating complementarily the heel, lateral and sole regions of a foot or of a shoe.
  • the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion are made of rigid material and are monolithic, so that the containment frame forms one half of an ankle boot.
  • the wearable device comprises a second upper shell, a second lower shell and a second quarter-like portion made of rigid material, which are monolithic and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion, for mutual engagement so as to form a rigid ankle boot.
  • the lower shell comprises a reinforcing fastening element for fixed fastening to a shoe, said fastening element comprising pivots on opposite sides of the shoe, which are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane.
  • the upper shell is made of rigid material and comprises the quarter-like portion and a monolithic bracket in order to provide a support for the sole of the shoe, the upper shell being rotatably pivotable to the shoe by means of said pivots.
  • the upper shell is made of rigid material and comprises the quarter-like portion and a monolithic bracket in order to provide a support for the sole of a shoe
  • the lower shell being rotatably pivoted to the upper shell by way of pivots that are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane and comprising a second bracket, which is monolithic therewith in order to provide a second support for the sole of a shoe.
  • the second bracket can be fixed to the sole.
  • the lower shell is monolithic with the quarter-like portion and comprises a supporting base for the sole of a shoe and an engagement element for the upper of the shoe, the upper shell being constituted by a rigid fastening element that is fitted on a front region of said base.
  • a shock-absorbing element provided with an elastic element, for a front sole region of the foot or shoe is provided.
  • the expressions "wearable device” and “shoe” are used to indicate both a shoe in the conventional sense, i.e., a shoe or boot, and a set of elements that are applied externally or complementarily to shoes or boots of a known type.
  • the core of the invention consists in preventing the voluntary and/or involuntary rotation of the foot about the articulation of the ankle, on the plane of the circular motion of the propulsion mechanism of the vehicle, so as to keep unchanged the angle formed by the foot and by the leg of the cyclist.
  • the wearable device according to the present invention can be provided both by replacing the conventional cycling shoe with a cycling shoe that has the characteristics described above and by providing an auxiliary device that allows a conventional cycling boot to act according to the characteristics of the present invention, so that the expression "wearable device” is to be understood as including both variations.
  • Figure 6 is a functional diagram of a shoe for sports cycling provided according to the present invention, which is composed of a sole 67 and an upper formed by two shells 61 and 62, which are connected one another by means of rigid fastening elements 66 provided with buckles 65.
  • the two shells 61 and 62 extend upwardly so as to form a quarter, the upper edges 63a and 63b whereof are padded in order to protect the leg of the user against localized pressures.
  • the shell with the quarter 61 a hereinafter termed “upper shell” or "front shell”
  • the shell with the quarter 62a hereinafter termed “lower shell” or “rear shell”, is instead pivoted to the sole 67 by means of the hinge 64.
  • the sole 67, the upper shell and the lower shell are manufactured by using rigid materials that are however easy to shape during production, so that the finished shoe closely follows the shape of the foot and leg of the user.
  • rigid materials can be composites based on structural resins and inorganic fibers, such as carbon fiber or Kevlar, or mixed fibers, or can be provided by means of processes for the injection of thermoplastic and/or thermosetting resins, either pure and/or reinforced and/or shaped so that the shoe constitutes, in the operating condition, a non-deformable structure.
  • Figure 7 shows how the user must act in order to put on the shoe according to the present invention.
  • the rigid fastening elements 66 that connect the shell 62 to the shell 61 in the quarter region are loosened by disengaging the buckles 65 from the couplings 68, and the shell 62a is rotated backwardly around the hinge 64, so that the shoe offers the foot a sufficiently wide access space.
  • the leg 7 is in the correct position, the shell 62a is tilted again and the rigid fastening elements 66 are applied, closing the buckles 65 on the couplings 68 and thus again rigidly coupling the lower shell to the upper shell.
  • the invention is further described hereinafter with reference to the type of certain additional constructive solutions and of certain mechanisms that are suitable to facilitate the user in putting on the shoe and/or walking on the ground and/or adjusting the angle at which the shoe locks the foot with respect to the leg.
  • a further embodiment of the shoe for sports cycling according to the present invention has an upper with a quarter that is constituted by an upper shell 81, made of materials that have high flexural rigidity, which constitutes a sort of frame, and by a part 8a, 8b and 8c that is made of soft and breathable materials.
  • the former is designed to give the shoe the specific rigidity characteristics of the present invention and the latter is designed to protect and/or allow perspiration and/or suitable thermal comfort for the users' foot.
  • the wearable device of Figure 8 comprises a hinge 84 and fastening elements 86 for fixing to the quarter 83, and can also comprise engagement means 69 for coupling the shoe to the pedal on which it acts.
  • Figure 9 is provided merely by way of non-limiting example and illustrates another embodiment of the shoe according to the present invention, in which the lower shell 92, with the quarter 93b, is provided monolithically with the sole 97, below which it is possible to provide means 99 for coupling to the pedal, while the upper shell 91, with the quarter 93a, is pivoted by means of the hinge 94 in the front part of the shell 92.
  • a plurality of rigid fasteners 96 rigidly couples, with a coupling that can be removed when necessary, the two shells in the region of the quarters, while another plurality of rigid fasteners 95 rigidly couples them in the foot region.
  • the hinge is adapted to allow to put on the shoe, and this is done by loosening the rigid fasteners 95 and tilting forward the upper shell 91.
  • the wearable device In operating condition, the wearable device is rigid and withstands the flexing that tends to modify the angle between the foot and the leg.
  • Figure 10 is provided merely by way of non-limiting example and illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, in which the shoe is constituted by a very rigid sole 107, by a rigid upper shaped like a low-cut shoe 101 that is rigidly coupled thereto, by a rigid front half-shell 103a and by a rigid rear half-shell 103b, both of which are shaped like a quarter and are pivoted to the shoe 101, by means of two hinges 104, which are arranged respectively on the right side and on the left side of the shoe, along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pedaling plane.
  • the quarters are rigidly coupled one another by means of rigid fasteners 106, which are provided with engagement elements that can be detached if necessary.
  • the oscillation of the half-shells 103a and 103b about the hinges 104 is prevented by the presence of a rear adjustable stop element 108 and of a front adjustable stop element 109.
  • the shoe as a whole is still rigid and non-deformable, since the quarter in practice is rigidly coupled to the shoe, and therefore the angle formed by the foot and by the leg is fixed in this constructive solution as well.
  • it is instead necessary to loosen the rigid fasteners 106 thus obtaining a sufficient opening for access of the foot to the inside of the shoe.
  • the stop elements 108 and 109 are also each provided with an adjustment device adapted to allow adjustment of the optimum angular configuration of the foot with respect to the leg.
  • FIG 11 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 11, according to which a shoe or cycling shoe of the background art 11 is used in combination with one or more half-shells shaped like a quarter, which act as an overshoe, are made of materials having high strength and rigidity, and are rigidly coupled to each other by means of the rigid fasteners 116 and to the shoe of the background art by means of engagement elements 117.
  • the shape and flexural rigidity of the assembly constituted by the shoe and the overshoe is such as to constitute an item of footwear that has the characteristics described in the previous paragraphs.
  • the upper shell 111a, the lower shell 112a and the quarter-like portion 113a are made of rigid material and are monolithic, so that the resulting containment frame forms a monolithic half-boot.
  • the wearable device comprises a second upper shell 111 b, a second lower shell 112b, and a second quarter-like portion 113b made of rigid material, which are monolithic and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion.
  • the lower shell comprises a reinforcement belt 122 for fixed coupling to a shoe 128; said coupling comprises pivots 124 on opposite sides of the shoe 128, which are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pedaling plane.
  • the upper shell 121 is made of rigid material and comprises the quarter-like portion 123 and a monolithic bracket 129 in order to provide a support to the sole of the shoe 128.
  • the upper shell 121 is further pivoted so that it can rotate directly to the shoe 128 by means of the pivots 124.
  • the quarter 123 can be fixed around the leg by means of the fastening element 126, which comprises a half-ring 126b that can be disengaged from the corresponding quarter 123 by means of hooks 126a.
  • the inner shoe 128 advantageously comprises supports made of soft rubber 128a and 128b on the front and rear regions of the rigid sole 127a.
  • said supports may be included in said shoe or fitted on a separate rigid plantar insert, which is rigidly coupled to the belt 122 and is designed to be applied to the sole when the device according to the invention is put on.
  • the upper shell 131 is made of rigid material and comprises said quarter-like portion 133 and a monolithic bracket 139a for providing a support to the sole 127a of a shoe 128.
  • the lower shell 132 which is also preferably rigid, is rotatably pivoted to the upper shell 131 by means of pivots 134 that are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pedaling plane and comprises a second bracket 139b that is monolithic therewith in order to provide a second support to the sole 127b of the shoe 128.
  • the quarter-like portion is firmly fixed to the leg by means of the detachable ring 136.
  • the second bracket 139b can be fixed preferably to the sole 127b of the shoe 128, according to a mechanism as shown in Figure 14, in which the sole 127b is shaped so as to comprise a flat receptacle for the bracket 139b.
  • An undercut 142 provides a first abutment for the bracket and a removable pivot 141 fixes it firmly to the sole.
  • a further embodiment of the invention comprises a lower shell 162, which is monolithic with a quarter-like portion 163 and comprises a supporting base 167 for the sole of a shoe and an engagement element 164 for fixing to the upper 165 of the shoe, for example of the pivot type.
  • a rigid fastener fitted on the front region of the base 167 allows to lock the shoe on said base, while the fixed angle of the foot with respect to the leg is ensured by the rigid shell 162 and by the cylindrical engagement element 166.
  • the base 167 preferably also comprises a coupling for a bicycle pedal.
  • Figure 17 is a generic sectional side view of a wearable device according to the invention, which comprises a pedal coupling 175 that is rigidly coupled to the sole, and illustrates elastically deformable material 176 that is located at the upper shell and additional elastically deformable material 177 that is located at the lower shell, so as to allow a slight deformability of the structure as a whole, for the purposes that will become better apparent hereinafter.
  • Figure 18 is a side view of an activation device for a wearable device according to the invention, illustrating the presence of an elastic element 187 and of a shock-absorbing element 188, the purpose of which will become apparent from the following description of the operation of the device.
  • the wearable device With reference now, therefore, more specifically to the use of the wearable device according to the invention, its operation is as follows.
  • the user puts on the wearable device, provided either in the form of a shoe or in the form of a structure that can be worn over a conventional shoe.
  • the function of the device is to keep the leg and the foot of the cyclist locked with a substantially fixed angle on the pedaling plane.
  • the upper shell 61 of the device is applied in contact with at least one instep region of the foot or shoe, while the lower shell 62 is applied in contact with at least one region of the foot or shoe in the opposite position with respect to the instep region, substantially at the sole region of the foot or shoe.
  • the two shells thus form a containment frame for the foot or the shoe.
  • At least one of the two shells is made of rigid material and comprises a quarter-like portion that is rigidly coupled thereto and can be equally in contact, depending on the embodiment used, with the front part of the leg, as occurs for example in the embodiment of Figure 12, with the rear part of the leg, as occurs for example in the embodiment of Figure 16, or with both the front part and the rear part, as in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 6.
  • the quarter-like portion can also be in contact with the lateral parts of said leg.
  • the quarter-like portion comprises means for fastening to the leg in order to keep said leg in contact with the quarter during movement.
  • the device is thus rigidly coupled to the foot and to the leg of the user after optionally actuating the appropriate engagement means provided in each embodiment in order to rigidly connect to each other the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion if they do not constitute a monolithic solution.
  • the foot and the leg remain coupled within the structure, preventing the user from performing a relative rotation about the ankle joint, which is thus substantially locked.
  • the user can no longer change the configuration of the lower joints during the pedaling stroke and in particular cannot introduce changes in the posture of the lower joints, and therefore the muscles of the leg are relieved of their task of restoring the equilibrium and balance of the system constituted by the cyclist and the cycling vehicle, which they would otherwise have to perform.
  • Figure 15 illustrates schematically some of the action and reaction forces involved in the system formed by the leg and the wearable device during the step for pushing on the pedal performed by a cyclist 1.
  • the direction of the force applied by the muscles of the cyclist mainly by the thigh, can be broken down into a vertical component F y , which is directed downwardly along the longitudinal axis of the leg, and into a horizontal component F x , which is perpendicular thereto and is directed as shown in the figure.
  • Said horizontal component produces a flexural moment that is pivoted, with sufficient approximation, proximate to the malleolus of the cyclist or proximate to the pivot 124, and tends to close the angle between the leg and the foot.
  • the cyclist is normally forced to tension the muscles of the leg in order to balance the action of the flexural moment, taking away an important fraction of energy from his resources.
  • the wearable device according to the present invention instead has a quarter-like element, constituted by the shin-pad 123 in Figure 15a, which provides the leg with the reaction required to prevent its flexing, minimizing or eliminating the intervention of the leg muscles that is normally required to restore the balance.
  • the force applied vertically is transmitted to the sole of the shoe mainly proximate to the points of greatest contact between the sole of the foot and the inner sole of the shoe, i.e., proximate to the foot resting contact protrusions formed by the heel and by the lower metatarsal portion, as shown by the distributed reaction forces illustrated schematically in Figure 15b.
  • the pedal directly below said metatarsal region.
  • the optimum fixed angle between the foot and the leg is substantially 90°.
  • practical studies have shown that the ideal angle varies depending on the user, although it remains close to the value of 90°.
  • the variation with respect to this reference value is preferably comprised between -10° and +15° and even more preferably comprised between -3 and +3°.
  • the quarter-like portion may have any height, so long as it is sufficient to maintain retention on the ankle joint.
  • said portion in the embodiments in which the quarter-like portion comprises a part that is applied to the shin, said portion can form or comprise a shin-pad that can be modulated in terms of height by way of obvious adjusting means.
  • the start of the pedaling stroke can be facilitated by the presence of an activation device, typically in the form of elastically deformable material, which is applied in one of the points of the structure of the device that is most intensely subjected to the application of forces during this step.
  • an activation device typically in the form of elastically deformable material, which is applied in one of the points of the structure of the device that is most intensely subjected to the application of forces during this step.
  • the elastically deformable material 176, 177 can be applied for example to a portion of the lower shell, to a portion of the upper shell, or to both, so as to allow a slight deformability of the foot containment structure.
  • the activation device may be provided in the form of an insole having a variable thickness and a controlled elasticity.
  • the activation device is applied externally to the structure for containing the foot of the user, substantially at the point of application of the force applied by the foot to the pedal, as shown in Figure 18.
  • an elastic element 187 is applied externally to the wearable device, monolithically therewith or with said pedal, and is preferably metallic and curved, so as to surround, between two mutually opposite ends, an optional shock absorber 188.
  • Figure 19 illustrates three successive steps of the use of a wearable device according to the invention that is provided with an external activation device.
  • Figure 19a illustrates the first step, and shows the foot of the cyclist in a substantially inactive position, in which the profile of the foot ideally follows the profile of the shoe.
  • the force applied vertically along the longitudinal direction of the leg recovers the plays between the foot and the shoe, and therefore the foot is in a contracted position, substantially against the lower and rear part of the shoe.
  • the foot transmits the vertical force to the sole and the shoe reacts depending on the elasticity of the activation device in general and of the shock absorber 188 in particular.
  • the device according to the invention may be provided advantageously with means for temporary disengagement of the leg from the quarter-like portion, so as to utilize the possibility to rotate the ankle in particular circumstances, for example when traveling along a long downhill stretch, in which it can be necessary to use one's legs in order to optimize the balance of the system, this operation being more important, in this context, than optimization of the application of the pushing force generated by said cyclist.
  • the cyclist may need to move the knee toward the inside of the bend in order to lower and move the center of gravity of the system toward the inside of the bend while traveling along said bend.
  • any quick-coupling and uncoupling device particularly if it is easy to access and operate, can therefore be used as a complement to, or as a replacement of, the fastening means or the disengagement means illustrated here by way of example.
  • connection between the wearable device according to the invention and the corresponding pedal on which the device is meant to act occurs by engaging said two elements so as to allow their relative rotation, in this case also mainly in order to improve the operation of the device in particular situations, such as the downhill travel condition described above.
  • the present invention achieves the intended aim and objects.
  • the described device in each of its embodiments, prevents the rotation of the foot about the ankle joint on the plane of the circular motion of the propulsion mechanism of the cycling vehicle, keeping substantially unchanged the angle formed by the foot and by the leg of the cyclist during the pedaling stroke and eliminating the calf from the set of muscles involved actively in performing the pedaling stroke.
  • a wearable device as described above benefits from having a shape and/or being constituted by materials whose rigidity is such as to absorb, without detectable deformation, the forces that tend to flex it and, by flexing it, to modify the angle formed by the foot and the leg.
  • the device of the invention as described has a shape which, by remaining unchanged even when the shoe is subjected to flexural forces, allows to transfer to the pedal the force applied by the thigh muscles without the cyclist having to simultaneously tension the muscles of the leg, particularly of the calf, that are meant to control the angular configuration of the foot with respect to said leg.
  • the wearable device according to the invention is independent of the method of connection to the pedal of the cycling vehicle to which said device is applied, and therefore, for the purposes of the invention, it is irrelevant whether the wearable device is free to move on the pedal, is provided with means for engaging the pedal according to the background art, or is partially integrated in the structure of said pedal.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

A wearable device for cyclists comprising: an upper shell (61), for application to at least one instep region of a foot or of a shoe; a lower shell (62), for application to at least one region of the foot or of the shoe that lies substantially opposite the instep region; the lower shell (62) being connected to the upper shell (61) in order to form a containment frame for the foot or the shoe; at least one of the shells (61, 62) being made of rigid material and comprising a quarter-like portion (63) that is rigidly coupled thereto and comprises means (66) for fastening to a leg (7) in order to keep the leg (7) and the foot locked at a fixed angle during the pedaling movements when a cyclist wears the device. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention is in the field of footwear suitable for cycling activity in general and more specifically for competitive and amateur sports cycling, particularly but not exclusively with reference to road or track cycle racing performed with a so-called racing bicycle.
Although the operation of a bicycle, hereinafter referenced by the generic expression "cycling vehicle", is well known, there are some considerations that cast light on a basic problem in the use of a cycling vehicle and have been neglected or ignored up to now.
Figure 1 illustrates a cyclist who, while sitting on the cycling vehicle 1, operates a central mechanical assembly with a spur gear 2 and a chain 4, imparting an alternating motion to his thighs and pushing on a pair of pedals 3 that are articulated at the end of respective cranks, with his feet provided with specifically provided footwear, also commonly known as cycling shoes.
Footwear for sports cycling, or cycling shoes, of the prior art typically have a shape that allows, during the actuation of the pedal mechanism of the cycling vehicle, a broad and free rotation of the foot around the articulation of the ankle. Moreover, they have a sole whose consistency and material are selected exclusively for the purpose of protecting the foot in the region proximate to the articulation of the toes, where the foot rests on the pedal.
Figure 2 is a view of a typical model of cycling shoe of the prior art, constituted by a rigid sole 27, which has a consistency that is sufficient to withstand the compression or traction force applied by the foot to the pedal, and by an upper with two flaps of a soft and flexible type, which is easily deformable and is provided with low-strength breathable regions, with fastening elements which in turn are provided with closing engagement devices based on Velcro or the like and with a profile of the upper edge, at the articulation of the ankle, that is provided with an extensively padded recess that is suitable to allow the foot to rotate freely and without hindrance with respect to the leg.
The reason for the shape and consistency of cycling shoes of the prior art is that by means of said footwear, in addition to protecting the foot, one wishes to facilitate as much as possible the movement that in cycling jargon is known as "round stroke", by means of which the cyclist, by modifying the angle formed by the foot and by the leg during the stroke, favorably orientates the direction of the force transmitted to the pedal and maximizes, for an equal effort, the torque that is applied to the mechanical assembly that propels the vehicle.
Figure 3 is a view, in three successive positions of the crank of the mechanical assembly that propels the cycling vehicle, of the different posture assumed by the leg and by the foot of a cyclist who performs the round stroke, based on so-called ankle play, i.e., on the continuous correction, synchronized with the rotation of the cranks, of the angle α formed by the foot and by the leg: Figure 3a illustrates the posture, characterized by an angle α smaller than 90°, that is assumed when the crank 3 is in a position that is close to the top dead center; Figure 3b illustrates the posture, characterized by an angle α equal to 90°, that is assumed when the crank 3 is substantially in a horizontal position; and Figure 3c illustrates the posture, characterized by an angle α greater than 90°, that is assumed when the crank 3 is in a position that is close to the bottom dead center.
At the three cited positions, the figure also illustrates the inclination of the force F applied by the cyclist to the pedal.
However, the practice of sports cycling has shown that the round stroke, in addition to being effective only for a short arc of the entire movement of the pedaling stroke, can be practiced only for very short periods of time, even when performed by expert cyclists, since this technique is very difficult and tiring. For this reason, in practice ankle play is performed only occasionally in competitive and amateur cycling and the supposed advantages provided by this type of pedaling stroke are extremely limited in comparison with the expenditure of energy that it entails.
An analysis of the forces and efforts involved during cycling in fact reveals that it is indeed the freedom allowed to the foot to rotate about the articulation of the ankle during the actuation of the pedal mechanism of the cycling vehicle that causes a continuous and considerable effort on the part of the user to keep the foot square with respect to the leg and at the same time transmit to the pedal the propulsion force, which is per se produced substantially by the muscles of the thigh.
Figure 4 is a view of a cyclist in position on the vehicle, in the condition in which the right leg applies the maximum effort to the pedal. In the figure, the lower limb of the cyclist is shown in a manner that is equivalent to a system of rods constituted by the thigh 41, the leg 42 and the foot 43, which are pivoted in the articulations of the hip 44, of the knee 45, of the ankle 46 and of the toes 47. In this configuration, the effort F applied by the muscles of the thigh 41 is transmitted, putting under stress the entire articulated system, to the hinge 47, where the resistance to the motion R of the pedal 3 is applied. In particular, the effort of the muscles of the leg that control the angular position of the foot with respect to said leg is considerable.
Figure 5 illustrates the lower part of the right limb of the cyclist, which is composed of the leg and the foot, which form an angle α between them. Analysis of the cited figure allows to understand that the effort required to overcome the resistance R to motion offered by the pedal tends to reduce the angle α. However, this effect is contrasted by the force T applied by the muscles of the leg that control the angular posture α of the foot in the plane of the figure. Accordingly, the lower limb of the cyclist is subjected to a system of different muscle efforts, only some of which are actually useful for producing the mechanical propulsion force, while others are expended in order to keep rigid and controlled the posture of the articulated system that constitutes such limb and, particularly the angle between the foot and the leg. In conclusion, the cyclist is therefore permanently subjected to much higher fatigue than necessary to deliver the mechanical power that produces the motion of the cycling vehicle.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a shoe to be worn when performing sports or amateur cycling, capable of overcoming the above described problems that affect the background art.
In particular, a specific object of the invention is to provide a cycling shoe that allows to maximize the efficiency of the force applied by the cyclist to the cycling vehicle, especially to the pedals, completely eliminating or substantially reducing the factors that constitute a waste of energy consumption.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a cycling shoe that eliminates or drastically reduces the energy consumption traditionally expended by the muscles of the leg, considered as part of the lower articulation comprised between the knee and the ankle, with particular reference to the calf muscles.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe that is versatile, provided with engagement or adjustment devices that allow the user to easily put on the shoe and/or adjust some parameters thereof, in order to maintain an adequate level of comfort.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent from the description that follows are achieved by a wearable device for cyclists, characterized in that it comprises: an upper shell, for application to at least one instep region of a foot or of a shoe; a lower shell, for application to at least one region of the foot or of the shoe that lies substantially opposite the instep region; the lower shell being connected to said upper shell in order to form a containment frame for the foot or the shoe; at least one of the shells being made of rigid material and comprising a quarter-like portion that is rigidly coupled thereto, the quarter-like portion in turn comprising means for fastening to a leg in order to keep the leg and the foot locked at a fixed angle during the pedaling movements when a cyclist wears the device.
Advantageously, the upper shell and the lower shell may be connected by a hinge so that they can rotate mutually with respect to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane when said fastening means are not activated for fastening.
The upper shell may be made of rigid material and may comprise an upper and sole in order to accommodate complementarily the instep region and the sole region of a foot or of a shoe, the upper and lower shells monolithically comprising respective quarter-like portions so that the containment frame substantially forms an ankle boot.
As an alternative, the lower shell may be made of a rigid material and may comprise a lateral upper and a sole for accommodating complementarily the heel, side and sole regions of a foot or of a shoe, the upper and lower shells monolithically comprising respective quarter-like portions so that said containment frame substantially forms an ankle boot.
The upper and lower shells may also be both made of rigid material and be monolithic so that the containment frame forms a shoe, the lower shell comprising a first quarter-like portion, the containment frame comprising a second quarter-like portion that is rotatably pivoted to the containment frame for rigid fastening to the first quarter-like portion and for rotation along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane when said quarter-like portions are not fastened.
In this case, the wearable device can comprise advantageously first adjustable stop means, which connect the second quarter-like portion to the upper shell, and second adjustable stop means, which connect the lower shell to the first quarter-like portion, so as to interrupt the rigid connection between said quarter-like portions and the containment frame in order to allow a walking movement.
In any case, the shells and/or the quarter-like portions may comprise regions made of soft or semi-rigid material in order to facilitate starting the pedaling stroke and may also have regions made of breathable material for foot perspiration.
Preferably, the hinge that connects the shells is arranged in a region of the heel of the ankle boot formed by the shells.
As an alternative, the hinge may be arranged in a front region of the ankle boot, especially if the lower shell is made of rigid material and comprises a lateral upper and a sole for accommodating complementarily the heel, lateral and sole regions of a foot or of a shoe.
According to another particular aspect of the invention, the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion are made of rigid material and are monolithic, so that the containment frame forms one half of an ankle boot. In this case, the wearable device comprises a second upper shell, a second lower shell and a second quarter-like portion made of rigid material, which are monolithic and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion, for mutual engagement so as to form a rigid ankle boot.
According to another particular aspect of the invention, the lower shell comprises a reinforcing fastening element for fixed fastening to a shoe, said fastening element comprising pivots on opposite sides of the shoe, which are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane. The upper shell is made of rigid material and comprises the quarter-like portion and a monolithic bracket in order to provide a support for the sole of the shoe, the upper shell being rotatably pivotable to the shoe by means of said pivots.
As an alternative, in a particular wearable device according to the invention, the upper shell is made of rigid material and comprises the quarter-like portion and a monolithic bracket in order to provide a support for the sole of a shoe, the lower shell being rotatably pivoted to the upper shell by way of pivots that are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane and comprising a second bracket, which is monolithic therewith in order to provide a second support for the sole of a shoe.
In this case, the second bracket can be fixed to the sole.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the lower shell is monolithic with the quarter-like portion and comprises a supporting base for the sole of a shoe and an engagement element for the upper of the shoe, the upper shell being constituted by a rigid fastening element that is fitted on a front region of said base.
Advantageously, a shock-absorbing element, provided with an elastic element, for a front sole region of the foot or shoe is provided.
It is specified that in the present text, the expressions "wearable device" and "shoe" are used to indicate both a shoe in the conventional sense, i.e., a shoe or boot, and a set of elements that are applied externally or complementarily to shoes or boots of a known type.
In particular, the core of the invention consists in preventing the voluntary and/or involuntary rotation of the foot about the articulation of the ankle, on the plane of the circular motion of the propulsion mechanism of the vehicle, so as to keep unchanged the angle formed by the foot and by the leg of the cyclist.
It is therefore evident for the person skilled in the art that the wearable device according to the present invention can be provided both by replacing the conventional cycling shoe with a cycling shoe that has the characteristics described above and by providing an auxiliary device that allows a conventional cycling boot to act according to the characteristics of the present invention, so that the expression "wearable device" is to be understood as including both variations.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description, given in the form of non-limiting examples and accompanied by the accompanying figures, wherein:
  • Figure 1 is a view of the typical posture of a cyclist on a bicycle;
  • Figure 2 is a drawing of a known shoe used by cyclists;
  • Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are three different illustrations of the position of the foot during the pedaling stroke;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of the articulated structure of a lower limb;
  • Figure 5 is a view of the leg and the foot on a crank;
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of a wearable device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 7 is a view of the device of Figure 6 in the open position;
  • Figure 8 is a perspective view of a wearable device according to a second embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 9 is a perspective view of a wearable device according to a third embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 10 is a perspective view of a wearable device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 11 is a perspective view of a wearable device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 12a is a perspective view of a wearable device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 12b is a view of the shoe with the reinforcing fastening element of Figure 12a;
  • Figure 13 is a side view of a wearable device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 14 is a sectional view of a detail of the coupling of the lower shell of the device of Figure 13;
  • Figures 15a and 15b are side views of a variation of the wearable device of Figure 12, illustrating some forces applied along the leg of a cyclist and the corresponding reaction forces of the device;
  • Figure 16 is a side view of a wearable device according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 17 is a side view, in phantom lines, of a wearable device according to the invention;
  • Figure 18 is a side view of an activation device for a wearable device according to the invention;
  • Figures 19a, 19b and 19c illustrate the successive steps of the operation of the activation device of Figure 18.
    • Figure 6 is a functional diagram of a shoe for sports cycling provided according to the present invention, which is composed of a sole 67 and an upper formed by two shells 61 and 62, which are connected one another by means of rigid fastening elements 66 provided with buckles 65. The two shells 61 and 62 extend upwardly so as to form a quarter, the upper edges 63a and 63b whereof are padded in order to protect the leg of the user against localized pressures. The shell with the quarter 61 a, hereinafter termed "upper shell" or "front shell", is rigidly coupled to the sole 67 and constitutes a monolithic block therewith. The shell with the quarter 62a, hereinafter termed "lower shell" or "rear shell", is instead pivoted to the sole 67 by means of the hinge 64. Finally, the figure schematically illustrates optional engagement means 69 for coupling the shoe to the pedal on which it acts.
    The sole 67, the upper shell and the lower shell are manufactured by using rigid materials that are however easy to shape during production, so that the finished shoe closely follows the shape of the foot and leg of the user. By way of non-limiting example, such materials can be composites based on structural resins and inorganic fibers, such as carbon fiber or Kevlar, or mixed fibers, or can be provided by means of processes for the injection of thermoplastic and/or thermosetting resins, either pure and/or reinforced and/or shaped so that the shoe constitutes, in the operating condition, a non-deformable structure.
    Figure 7 shows how the user must act in order to put on the shoe according to the present invention. For this purpose, the rigid fastening elements 66 that connect the shell 62 to the shell 61 in the quarter region are loosened by disengaging the buckles 65 from the couplings 68, and the shell 62a is rotated backwardly around the hinge 64, so that the shoe offers the foot a sufficiently wide access space. When the leg 7 is in the correct position, the shell 62a is tilted again and the rigid fastening elements 66 are applied, closing the buckles 65 on the couplings 68 and thus again rigidly coupling the lower shell to the upper shell.
    By way of non-limiting example, the invention is further described hereinafter with reference to the type of certain additional constructive solutions and of certain mechanisms that are suitable to facilitate the user in putting on the shoe and/or walking on the ground and/or adjusting the angle at which the shoe locks the foot with respect to the leg.
    More particularly with reference to Figure 8 and to the symbols provided therein, a further embodiment of the shoe for sports cycling according to the present invention has an upper with a quarter that is constituted by an upper shell 81, made of materials that have high flexural rigidity, which constitutes a sort of frame, and by a part 8a, 8b and 8c that is made of soft and breathable materials. The former is designed to give the shoe the specific rigidity characteristics of the present invention and the latter is designed to protect and/or allow perspiration and/or suitable thermal comfort for the users' foot.
    Like the first embodiment, the wearable device of Figure 8 comprises a hinge 84 and fastening elements 86 for fixing to the quarter 83, and can also comprise engagement means 69 for coupling the shoe to the pedal on which it acts.
    Figure 9 is provided merely by way of non-limiting example and illustrates another embodiment of the shoe according to the present invention, in which the lower shell 92, with the quarter 93b, is provided monolithically with the sole 97, below which it is possible to provide means 99 for coupling to the pedal, while the upper shell 91, with the quarter 93a, is pivoted by means of the hinge 94 in the front part of the shell 92. A plurality of rigid fasteners 96 rigidly couples, with a coupling that can be removed when necessary, the two shells in the region of the quarters, while another plurality of rigid fasteners 95 rigidly couples them in the foot region. The hinge is adapted to allow to put on the shoe, and this is done by loosening the rigid fasteners 95 and tilting forward the upper shell 91.
    In operating condition, the wearable device is rigid and withstands the flexing that tends to modify the angle between the foot and the leg.
    Figure 10 is provided merely by way of non-limiting example and illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, in which the shoe is constituted by a very rigid sole 107, by a rigid upper shaped like a low-cut shoe 101 that is rigidly coupled thereto, by a rigid front half-shell 103a and by a rigid rear half-shell 103b, both of which are shaped like a quarter and are pivoted to the shoe 101, by means of two hinges 104, which are arranged respectively on the right side and on the left side of the shoe, along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pedaling plane. The quarters are rigidly coupled one another by means of rigid fasteners 106, which are provided with engagement elements that can be detached if necessary. In operating conditions, the oscillation of the half-shells 103a and 103b about the hinges 104 is prevented by the presence of a rear adjustable stop element 108 and of a front adjustable stop element 109. In this manner, the shoe as a whole is still rigid and non-deformable, since the quarter in practice is rigidly coupled to the shoe, and therefore the angle formed by the foot and by the leg is fixed in this constructive solution as well. However, in order to allow the cyclist to walk on the ground, it is possible to disengage the stop elements 108 and 109 and allow the quarter to rotate about the hinge 104. In order to put on the shoe, it is instead necessary to loosen the rigid fasteners 106, thus obtaining a sufficient opening for access of the foot to the inside of the shoe. The stop elements 108 and 109 are also each provided with an adjustment device adapted to allow adjustment of the optimum angular configuration of the foot with respect to the leg.
    Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 11, according to which a shoe or cycling shoe of the background art 11 is used in combination with one or more half-shells shaped like a quarter, which act as an overshoe, are made of materials having high strength and rigidity, and are rigidly coupled to each other by means of the rigid fasteners 116 and to the shoe of the background art by means of engagement elements 117. The shape and flexural rigidity of the assembly constituted by the shoe and the overshoe is such as to constitute an item of footwear that has the characteristics described in the previous paragraphs.
    The upper shell 111a, the lower shell 112a and the quarter-like portion 113a are made of rigid material and are monolithic, so that the resulting containment frame forms a monolithic half-boot. In this case, the wearable device comprises a second upper shell 111 b, a second lower shell 112b, and a second quarter-like portion 113b made of rigid material, which are monolithic and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion.
    According to another embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 12a and 12b, the lower shell comprises a reinforcement belt 122 for fixed coupling to a shoe 128; said coupling comprises pivots 124 on opposite sides of the shoe 128, which are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pedaling plane. The upper shell 121 is made of rigid material and comprises the quarter-like portion 123 and a monolithic bracket 129 in order to provide a support to the sole of the shoe 128. The upper shell 121 is further pivoted so that it can rotate directly to the shoe 128 by means of the pivots 124.
    The quarter 123 can be fixed around the leg by means of the fastening element 126, which comprises a half-ring 126b that can be disengaged from the corresponding quarter 123 by means of hooks 126a.
    The inner shoe 128 advantageously comprises supports made of soft rubber 128a and 128b on the front and rear regions of the rigid sole 127a. In the illustrated embodiment, said supports may be included in said shoe or fitted on a separate rigid plantar insert, which is rigidly coupled to the belt 122 and is designed to be applied to the sole when the device according to the invention is put on.
    An embodiment similar to that of Figure 12a is the one that comprises the element shown in Figure 13. In the device according to this further embodiment, the upper shell 131 is made of rigid material and comprises said quarter-like portion 133 and a monolithic bracket 139a for providing a support to the sole 127a of a shoe 128. The lower shell 132, which is also preferably rigid, is rotatably pivoted to the upper shell 131 by means of pivots 134 that are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pedaling plane and comprises a second bracket 139b that is monolithic therewith in order to provide a second support to the sole 127b of the shoe 128.
    In this case also, the quarter-like portion is firmly fixed to the leg by means of the detachable ring 136.
    Advantageously, the second bracket 139b can be fixed preferably to the sole 127b of the shoe 128, according to a mechanism as shown in Figure 14, in which the sole 127b is shaped so as to comprise a flat receptacle for the bracket 139b. An undercut 142 provides a first abutment for the bracket and a removable pivot 141 fixes it firmly to the sole.
    With reference now to Figure 16, a further embodiment of the invention comprises a lower shell 162, which is monolithic with a quarter-like portion 163 and comprises a supporting base 167 for the sole of a shoe and an engagement element 164 for fixing to the upper 165 of the shoe, for example of the pivot type. A rigid fastener fitted on the front region of the base 167 allows to lock the shoe on said base, while the fixed angle of the foot with respect to the leg is ensured by the rigid shell 162 and by the cylindrical engagement element 166.
    The base 167 preferably also comprises a coupling for a bicycle pedal.
    Figure 17 is a generic sectional side view of a wearable device according to the invention, which comprises a pedal coupling 175 that is rigidly coupled to the sole, and illustrates elastically deformable material 176 that is located at the upper shell and additional elastically deformable material 177 that is located at the lower shell, so as to allow a slight deformability of the structure as a whole, for the purposes that will become better apparent hereinafter.
    Likewise, Figure 18 is a side view of an activation device for a wearable device according to the invention, illustrating the presence of an elastic element 187 and of a shock-absorbing element 188, the purpose of which will become apparent from the following description of the operation of the device.
    With reference now, therefore, more specifically to the use of the wearable device according to the invention, its operation is as follows. The user puts on the wearable device, provided either in the form of a shoe or in the form of a structure that can be worn over a conventional shoe.
    The function of the device is to keep the leg and the foot of the cyclist locked with a substantially fixed angle on the pedaling plane.
    With this purpose, the upper shell 61 of the device is applied in contact with at least one instep region of the foot or shoe, while the lower shell 62 is applied in contact with at least one region of the foot or shoe in the opposite position with respect to the instep region, substantially at the sole region of the foot or shoe.
    The two shells thus form a containment frame for the foot or the shoe. At least one of the two shells is made of rigid material and comprises a quarter-like portion that is rigidly coupled thereto and can be equally in contact, depending on the embodiment used, with the front part of the leg, as occurs for example in the embodiment of Figure 12, with the rear part of the leg, as occurs for example in the embodiment of Figure 16, or with both the front part and the rear part, as in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 6. Optionally, the quarter-like portion can also be in contact with the lateral parts of said leg.
    Finally, the quarter-like portion comprises means for fastening to the leg in order to keep said leg in contact with the quarter during movement.
    The device is thus rigidly coupled to the foot and to the leg of the user after optionally actuating the appropriate engagement means provided in each embodiment in order to rigidly connect to each other the upper shell, the lower shell and the quarter-like portion if they do not constitute a monolithic solution.
    Once the structure thus formed has been closed, the foot and the leg remain coupled within the structure, preventing the user from performing a relative rotation about the ankle joint, which is thus substantially locked.
    Because of this circumstance, the user can no longer change the configuration of the lower joints during the pedaling stroke and in particular cannot introduce changes in the posture of the lower joints, and therefore the muscles of the leg are relieved of their task of restoring the equilibrium and balance of the system constituted by the cyclist and the cycling vehicle, which they would otherwise have to perform.
    In this regard, Figure 15 illustrates schematically some of the action and reaction forces involved in the system formed by the leg and the wearable device during the step for pushing on the pedal performed by a cyclist 1. During pushing, the direction of the force applied by the muscles of the cyclist, mainly by the thigh, can be broken down into a vertical component Fy, which is directed downwardly along the longitudinal axis of the leg, and into a horizontal component Fx, which is perpendicular thereto and is directed as shown in the figure. Said horizontal component produces a flexural moment that is pivoted, with sufficient approximation, proximate to the malleolus of the cyclist or proximate to the pivot 124, and tends to close the angle between the leg and the foot. In order to keep the foot square with respect to the leg and thus optimize the efficiency of the pushing action, the cyclist is normally forced to tension the muscles of the leg in order to balance the action of the flexural moment, taking away an important fraction of energy from his resources.
    The wearable device according to the present invention instead has a quarter-like element, constituted by the shin-pad 123 in Figure 15a, which provides the leg with the reaction required to prevent its flexing, minimizing or eliminating the intervention of the leg muscles that is normally required to restore the balance.
    At the same time, the force applied vertically is transmitted to the sole of the shoe mainly proximate to the points of greatest contact between the sole of the foot and the inner sole of the shoe, i.e., proximate to the foot resting contact protrusions formed by the heel and by the lower metatarsal portion, as shown by the distributed reaction forces illustrated schematically in Figure 15b. Obviously, for optimum performance, it is convenient to arrange the pedal directly below said metatarsal region.
    In theory, by analyzing the distribution of the forces involved, it has been determined that the optimum fixed angle between the foot and the leg is substantially 90°. However, practical studies have shown that the ideal angle varies depending on the user, although it remains close to the value of 90°. In particular, the variation with respect to this reference value is preferably comprised between -10° and +15° and even more preferably comprised between -3 and +3°.
    The quarter-like portion may have any height, so long as it is sufficient to maintain retention on the ankle joint. In particular, in a variation of the device that is not shown in the figures, in the embodiments in which the quarter-like portion comprises a part that is applied to the shin, said portion can form or comprise a shin-pad that can be modulated in terms of height by way of obvious adjusting means.
    Similar considerations apply during pulling, i.e., when the force Fy applied by the thigh is directed in the opposite direction with respect to what is shown in Figure 15a. In this case, in order to assist the locking of the articulation of the ankle and improve the efficiency of the action of the cyclist, it is convenient to provide a contrast element also at the rear part of the leg, such as for example the half-ring 126b of Figure 12, or simple elastic straps that wrap around the calf.
    Again with reference to the operation of the device according to the present invention, it has been found that during the start of the pedaling stroke, particularly when starting from a standstill, the rigidity of the ankle can constitute a hindrance, since initially it may be necessary to apply forces in directions that are hindered by the above described retention to which the ankle is subjected during the use of the device according to the invention.
    In this context it has been found that the start of the pedaling stroke can be facilitated by the presence of an activation device, typically in the form of elastically deformable material, which is applied in one of the points of the structure of the device that is most intensely subjected to the application of forces during this step. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 17, the elastically deformable material 176, 177 can be applied for example to a portion of the lower shell, to a portion of the upper shell, or to both, so as to allow a slight deformability of the foot containment structure. In particular, the activation device may be provided in the form of an insole having a variable thickness and a controlled elasticity.
    As an alternative or complementarily, the activation device is applied externally to the structure for containing the foot of the user, substantially at the point of application of the force applied by the foot to the pedal, as shown in Figure 18. With reference to said figure, an elastic element 187 is applied externally to the wearable device, monolithically therewith or with said pedal, and is preferably metallic and curved, so as to surround, between two mutually opposite ends, an optional shock absorber 188.
    The operation of the activation device thus constituted is shown in detail in Figure 19, which illustrates three successive steps of the use of a wearable device according to the invention that is provided with an external activation device. Figure 19a illustrates the first step, and shows the foot of the cyclist in a substantially inactive position, in which the profile of the foot ideally follows the profile of the shoe. In the second step, shown in Figure 19b, the force applied vertically along the longitudinal direction of the leg recovers the plays between the foot and the shoe, and therefore the foot is in a contracted position, substantially against the lower and rear part of the shoe. In the third step, shown in Figure 19c, the foot transmits the vertical force to the sole and the shoe reacts depending on the elasticity of the activation device in general and of the shock absorber 188 in particular.
    It is stressed that the presence of said elastic elements is not essential, since in the particular situation described above the minimum amount of elasticity required to start the pedaling action is in any case inherent in, and provided by, the foot itself, which is compressed by pushing it against the contrast surface of the upper or lower shell.
    Again with reference to operation, the device according to the invention may be provided advantageously with means for temporary disengagement of the leg from the quarter-like portion, so as to utilize the possibility to rotate the ankle in particular circumstances, for example when traveling along a long downhill stretch, in which it can be necessary to use one's legs in order to optimize the balance of the system, this operation being more important, in this context, than optimization of the application of the pushing force generated by said cyclist. In particular, especially in situations in which the road is winding or there are bends, the cyclist may need to move the knee toward the inside of the bend in order to lower and move the center of gravity of the system toward the inside of the bend while traveling along said bend. The person skilled in the art understands without difficulty that any quick-coupling and uncoupling device, particularly if it is easy to access and operate, can therefore be used as a complement to, or as a replacement of, the fastening means or the disengagement means illustrated here by way of example.
    Likewise, in a different embodiment of the devices described herein, the connection between the wearable device according to the invention and the corresponding pedal on which the device is meant to act occurs by engaging said two elements so as to allow their relative rotation, in this case also mainly in order to improve the operation of the device in particular situations, such as the downhill travel condition described above.
    It has thus been shown that the present invention achieves the intended aim and objects. In particular, it has been shown that the described device, in each of its embodiments, prevents the rotation of the foot about the ankle joint on the plane of the circular motion of the propulsion mechanism of the cycling vehicle, keeping substantially unchanged the angle formed by the foot and by the leg of the cyclist during the pedaling stroke and eliminating the calf from the set of muscles involved actively in performing the pedaling stroke.
    Moreover, it has been found that a wearable device as described above benefits from having a shape and/or being constituted by materials whose rigidity is such as to absorb, without detectable deformation, the forces that tend to flex it and, by flexing it, to modify the angle formed by the foot and the leg.
    In particular, the device of the invention as described has a shape which, by remaining unchanged even when the shoe is subjected to flexural forces, allows to transfer to the pedal the force applied by the thigh muscles without the cyclist having to simultaneously tension the muscles of the leg, particularly of the calf, that are meant to control the angular configuration of the foot with respect to said leg.
    Obviously, numerous modifications are evident and can be promptly performed by the person skilled in the art without abandoning the scope of the protection of the present invention, by combining differently the elements which, in a monolithic, rigidly or semi-rigidly connected form, provide a wearable device that has the characteristics described above.
    In particular, the person skilled in the art understands without any effort that the wearable device according to the invention is independent of the method of connection to the pedal of the cycling vehicle to which said device is applied, and therefore, for the purposes of the invention, it is irrelevant whether the wearable device is free to move on the pedal, is provided with means for engaging the pedal according to the background art, or is partially integrated in the structure of said pedal.
    It is also evident that the inventive concept on which the present invention is based is independent of the specific use of the materials described, which may be any, so long as they meet the rigidity constraints that are clearly understandable to the person skilled in the art from said description.
    Accordingly, the protective scope of the claims must not be limited by the illustrations or by the preferred embodiments presented by way of example in the description; rather, the claims must comprise all the patentable novelty features that reside within the present invention, including all the characteristics that would be treated as equivalent by the person skilled in the art.
    The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. BG2003A000061, 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 (15)

    1. A wearable device for cyclists, characterized in that it comprises:
      an upper shell (61), for application to at least one instep region of a foot or of a shoe;
      a lower shell (62), for application to at least one region of the foot or of the shoe that lies substantially opposite the instep region; said lower shell (62) being connected to said upper shell (61) in order to form a containment frame for said foot or said shoe;
      at least one of said shells (61, 62) being made of rigid material and comprising a quarter-like portion (63) that is rigidly coupled thereto, said quarter-like portion comprising means (66) for fastening to a leg (7) in order to keep the leg (7) and the foot locked at a fixed angle during the pedaling movements when a cyclist wears the device.
    2. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper shell (61, 81, 91) and the lower shell (62, 82, 92) are connected by a hinge (64, 84, 94), so that they can be rotated mutually with respect to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane when said fastening means (66) are not activated for fastening.
    3. The wearable device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper shell (61, 81) is made of rigid material and comprises an upper (61a) and a sole (67) in order to complementarily accommodate the instep region and the sole region of a foot or shoe, the upper shell (61, 81) and the lower shell (62, 82) comprising monolithically respective quarter-like portions (63a, 63b), so that said containment frame substantially forms an ankle boot.
    4. The wearable device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower shell (92) is made of rigid material and comprises a lateral upper and a sole (67) in order to complementarily accommodate the heel region, the side region and the sole region of a foot or shoe, the upper shell (61, 91) and the lower shell (62, 92) comprising monolithically respective quarter-like portions (93a, 93b), so that said containment frame substantially forms an ankle boot.
    5. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper shell (101) and the lower shell (102) are made of rigid material and are monolithic, so that said containment frame forms a shoe, said lower shell (102) comprising said quarter-like portion (103b), said containment frame comprising a second quarter-like portion (103a) that is rotatably pivoted on the containment frame for rigid fastening to said quarter-like portion (103b) and for rotation along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane when said quarter-like portions are not fastened.
    6. The wearable device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises first adjustable stop means (109), which connect the second quarter-like portion (103a) to the upper shell (101), and second adjustable means (108), which connect the lower shell (102) to the quarter-like portion (103b), so as to interrupt the rigid connection between said quarter-like portions and said containment frame in order to allow a walking movement.
    7. The wearable device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shells and/or quarter-like portions comprise regions made of soft and breathable material for foot perspiration.
    8. The wearable device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said hinge (64) is arranged in a region of the heel of said ankle boot.
    9. The wearable device according to claim 4, characterized in that said hinge (94) is arranged in a front region of said ankle boot.
    10. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper shell (111a), the lower shell (112a) and the quarter-like portion (113a) are made of rigid material and are monolithic, so that said containment frame forms a half-boot, said wearable device comprising a second upper shell (111b), a second lower shell (112b), and a second quarter-like portion (113b) made of rigid material, which are monolithic and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the upper shell (111a), the lower shell (112a), and the quarter-like portion (113a), for mutual engagement so as to form a rigid ankle boot.
    11. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower shell (122) comprises a reinforcing fastening element (122a) for fixed fastening to a shoe (128), said reinforcing fastening element (122a) comprising pivots (124) on opposite sides of the shoe (128) that are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane, said upper shell (121) being made of rigid material and comprising said quarter-like portion (123) and a monolithic bracket (129) in order to provide support to the sole of said shoe (128), said upper shell (121) being rotatably pivotable to said shoe (128) by means of said pivots (124).
    12. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper shell (131) is made of rigid material and comprises said quarter-like portion (133) and a monolithic bracket (139a) in order to provide a support to the sole (127a) of a shoe (128), the lower shell (132) being rotatably pivoted to the upper shell (131) by means of pivots (134) that are directed along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pedaling plane and comprising a second bracket (139b) that is monolithic therewith in order to provide a second support for the sole (127b) of a shoe (128).
    13. The wearable device according to claim 10, characterized in that said second bracket (139b) can be fixed to said sole (127b).
    14. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower shell (162) is monolithic with said quarter-like portion (163) and comprises a base (167) for supporting the sole of a shoe and an engagement element (164) for the upper of the shoe, said upper shell (161) being a rigid fastening element that is fitted on a front region of said base (167).
    15. The wearable device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a shock absorber provided with an elastic element for a front sole region of the foot or of the shoe.
    EP04012560A 2003-12-24 2004-05-27 Footwear or footwear device for sports cycling Withdrawn EP1547481A1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    ITBG20030061 2003-12-24
    ITBG20030061 ITBG20030061A1 (en) 2003-12-24 2003-12-24 FOOTWEAR FOR LOW LEVEL OF SPORTS CYCLING.

    Publications (1)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1547481A1 true EP1547481A1 (en) 2005-06-29

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    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP04012560A Withdrawn EP1547481A1 (en) 2003-12-24 2004-05-27 Footwear or footwear device for sports cycling

    Country Status (3)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP1547481A1 (en)
    IT (1) ITBG20030061A1 (en)
    WO (1) WO2005065477A1 (en)

    Cited By (1)

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    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    ITVI20080267A1 (en) * 2008-11-17 2010-05-18 M D A Francesco Riondato COMBINATION OF A SHOE, A CHASSIS AND A PEDAL FOR RACING BICYCLE

    Families Citing this family (1)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    FR3024822B1 (en) * 2014-08-13 2016-08-26 Mavic Sas SPORTS SHOE

    Citations (5)

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    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    FR2361837A1 (en) * 1976-06-24 1978-03-17 Landry Ets Jacques Cross country walking boot with ski boot conversion - has removable rigid shell held on by straps in front of ankle and at instep
    EP0106162A1 (en) * 1982-09-17 1984-04-25 PUMA-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler KG Foot cover for bicycling
    US5469637A (en) * 1994-06-06 1995-11-28 Adam; James R. Rain leggings
    WO1998035571A1 (en) * 1997-02-14 1998-08-20 Adidas Ag Sports shoe
    US20020133979A1 (en) * 2000-01-24 2002-09-26 Alain Gantier Articulated tilting tongue for rigidifying and/or protecting the front face of a shoe and more particularly a snow surf boot

    Patent Citations (5)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    FR2361837A1 (en) * 1976-06-24 1978-03-17 Landry Ets Jacques Cross country walking boot with ski boot conversion - has removable rigid shell held on by straps in front of ankle and at instep
    EP0106162A1 (en) * 1982-09-17 1984-04-25 PUMA-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler KG Foot cover for bicycling
    US5469637A (en) * 1994-06-06 1995-11-28 Adam; James R. Rain leggings
    WO1998035571A1 (en) * 1997-02-14 1998-08-20 Adidas Ag Sports shoe
    US20020133979A1 (en) * 2000-01-24 2002-09-26 Alain Gantier Articulated tilting tongue for rigidifying and/or protecting the front face of a shoe and more particularly a snow surf boot

    Cited By (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    ITVI20080267A1 (en) * 2008-11-17 2010-05-18 M D A Francesco Riondato COMBINATION OF A SHOE, A CHASSIS AND A PEDAL FOR RACING BICYCLE
    WO2010054784A1 (en) * 2008-11-17 2010-05-20 M. D' A. Riondato Francesco Combination of a shoe, a frame and a pedal for racing bicycles

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    WO2005065477A8 (en) 2005-12-01
    ITBG20030061A1 (en) 2005-06-25
    WO2005065477A1 (en) 2005-07-21

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