EP1688055A1 - Sports shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The shoe has a removable integrating device to integrate a traction grip (45) at a lateral side (6) in a top part (11) of an upper (3). The grip has an elongated body extending between two ends of the grip. The integrating device stores a part of strands (31, 32), of a shoe-lace, extending between a blocking device (33) and the grip, where the strands are blocked by the device (33). The device (33) is attached to a tongue of the upper.

Description

The invention relates to a shoe, especially sports, and more particularly relates to a shoe to be retained to a sports machine.

Such shoes can be used in areas such as snowboarding or snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, glacier walking, rollerblading, wheeling, and the like.

For some practices it is interesting that the shoe is flexible.

For example in the field of snowboarding, a flexible shoe facilitates walking or performing figures of style while driving a board.

In known manner a shoe extends longitudinally between a heel and a tip. The shoe comprises a sole, a rod, and a means for clamping the rod. The latter may comprise loops, at least one lace, a reversible locking device of at least one strand of the lace, and a pull handle of the strand. The shoe may further comprise a device for detachably securing the handle to the rod. This structure facilitates the use of the shoe.

In fact the tightening of the shoe is obtained simply by two coordinated actions which are, on the one hand, the tensioning of the lace by traction on the handle and, on the other hand, the maintenance of the tension at the level of the passers-by by putting the blocking device in a blocking situation. Of course the loosening, meanwhile, results from the setting of the locking device in the unlocking situation.

After tightening the handle is secured to the rod so as not to interfere with walking or driving the machine. The corollary is that the loosening is preceded by a separation of the handle and the rod.

For securing the handle to the rod, the prior art has proposed to associate a tab to a main body to form the handle. The leg is an appendage that allows the attachment of the body to the upper of the shoe. Simply position the handle at the opening of the rod, so that the main body is outside and the leg slides inside. A simple push puts the handle in place on the stem, the latter being pinched between the body and the leg. Holding the handle on the stem prevents interference with various obstacles. It follows advantageously comfort of use of the shoe.

However, it has sometimes been found that an inactive portion of the lace, which connects the locking device to the handle, interferes with an obstacle. It may happen that a strand of the lace is loose and clings to a protruding obstacle.

For example in snowboarding the shoe can pass at the level of a bush in the snow. There a branch can rub the shoe. Sometimes the branch fits between the stem and a strand of the lace. This can induce an accidental unhooking of the handle, or impede driving.

The invention aims in particular to solve this problem by improving the shoes of the prior art. Thus, one of the objects of the invention is to greatly reduce, or even eliminate, the risk of interference between a non-active portion of lace and an obstacle. In other words the invention seeks to prevent the portion of the lace, which extends from the locking device to the handle, to cling to an obstacle.

To do this, the invention provides a shoe comprising a sole, a rod, and a means for clamping the rod, the rod clamping means comprising loops, at least one lace, a locking device of at least one strand of the lace, and a pull handle of the strand, the shoe further comprising a removable fastening device of the handle to the rod. The shoe according to the invention is characterized in that a storage device allows storage of the portion of the strand that extends between the locking device and the handle.

Thus this part of the strand is not loose, in the sense that it is not removed from the rod when the storage is done. As a result, the non-active portion of the lace can hardly, if at all, interfere with an obstacle. In particular it is very unlikely that a protruding obstacle can catch with a strand of the lace. Among the advantages that ensue include better support of the handle on the rod, or greater freedom of driving.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective avant d'une chaussure, selon la forme de réalisation décrite, dans un cas où la poignée n'est pas solidarisée à la tige,
• la figure 2 est un agrandissement partiel de la figure 1, montrant une partie du dispositif de solidarisation de la poignée à la tige,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de la poignée de la chaussure de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une coupe montrant la solidarisation de la poignée à la tige,
• la figure 5 est similaire à la figure 1, dans un cas où la poignée est solidarisée à la tige et où la partie du brin de lacet qui s'étend entre le dispositif de blocage et la poignée n'est pas rangée,
• la figure 6 est similaire à la figure 5, dans un cas où la partie du brin de lacet est rangée.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, with reference to the appended drawing illustrating, according to a non-limiting embodiment, how the invention can be realized, and in which :

• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a shoe, according to the embodiment described, in a case where the handle is not secured to the rod,
• FIG. 2 is a partial enlargement of FIG. 1, showing part of the device for securing the handle to the rod,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle of the shoe of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a section showing the fastening of the handle to the rod,
• Figure 5 is similar to Figure 1, in a case where the handle is secured to the rod and where the part of the yaw which extends between the locking device and the handle is not stored,
• Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5, in a case where the portion of the yaw strand is stowed.

The embodiment which will be described later relates more specifically to a snowboard boot. However, the invention applies to other fields such as those mentioned before.

The embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As shown in Figure 1, a snowboard boot 1 is provided to accommodate the foot of a user.

In known manner, the shoe 1 comprises a walking sole 2 and a rod 3. The shoe 1 extends in length between a heel 4 and a point 5, and in width between a lateral side 6 and a medial side 7.

As shown, the rod 3 comprises a lower portion 10 provided to surround the foot, and a high portion 11 provided to surround a portion of the lower leg. However, it could also be expected that the stem comprises only a lower portion.

The shoe 1 is structured to allow a smooth running of the foot during walking, and inclinations of the lower leg during the driving of a board. This is why the sole 2 and the rod 3 are relatively flexible.

However, it could also be expected that the shoe is more rigid to facilitate certain driving styles or practices.

The rod 3 comprises an outer casing 12 which has in particular a lateral quarter 13, a medial quarter 14, and a tongue 15. The latter connects the one to the other the quarters 13, 14 to give the outer casing 12 its continuity. However, it could be planned not to use a tab. In this case, the quarters 13, 14 may remain separate or superimposed.

A clamping means is provided for clamping the outer shell 12 reversibly.

The clamping means comprises loops 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 subject to the quarters 13, 14 of the outer casing 12, and possibly near the point 5 at the junction of the quarters 13, 14.

Some loops 21, 22, 25, 26 are relatively long, while others 20, 23, 24 are short. Long loops 21, 22, 25, 26 each resemble a solid body in which is formed a passage. Each passer is made for example from a plastic material. A nylon or polyamide may be suitable. Short passers, meanwhile, are each made in the form of a loop. The latter can be obtained by a folded piece of strap. A low friction seal may be disposed in the loop.

Of course, any other passer structure can be provided.

The first clamping means further comprises a lace 30 which follows a path marked out by the loops. For example, the lace 30 alternately crosses a passer of the lateral quarter 13 and a passer of the medial quarter 14, both in the lower portion 10 than in the upper portion 11 of the rod 3. Of course, other routes could be considered for the lace 30.

According to the described embodiment of the invention, the lace 30 is arranged so that it is tensioned by pulling on a lateral strand 31 and on a medial strand 32. The two strands 31, 32 join to form a Loop 33. Simply pull on the buckle 33 to turn on the lace 30. It follows a tightening of the outer casing 12, by mutual approximation of the lateral quarter 13 and the medial quarter 14.

Of course, it could alternatively be expected that each strand 31, 32 remains free. In this case it would be necessary to pull on each of the strands 31, 32.

In order to maintain the tightening of the outer casing 12 after tensioning of the lace 30, a reversible locking device 33 is provided. The latter 33 acts on the two strands 31, 32 of the lace 30. However it could alternatively be provided that it acts on a single strand 31, 32, or that there is a blocking device by strand.

The reversible locking device 33 is secured to the tongue 15, but could be located elsewhere.

By way of example, the blocking device 33 comprises in particular an axis of rotation for a locking member, also comprises a hollow body 34 whose cavity defines on the one hand at least one passage path for each yaw strand, and on the other hand a housing of the locking member, the locking member being of circular shape and free to rotate about the axis itself movable in a plane substantially parallel to the locking member, the device operating by cooperation of the blocking member with each path for blocking each yaw strand by a wedging effect, a control member 35 for biasing the axis of rotation of the locking member for movement in a direction of blocking or unblocking the yarn or strands.

The blocking device 33 is not shown in detail in the figures since it is well known to those skilled in the art, for example according to US Pat. No. 4,807,333.

In order to facilitate the traction of the buckle 33, a traction handle 45 is provided. The latter 45 is secured to the lace 30, that is to say to each of the two strands 31, 32, as is better understood at using Figure 3.

The handle 45 comprises an elongated body 46 which extends between a first 47 and a second 48 ends. The body 46 is relatively rigid, and made for example with a plastic such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, or other. The body 46 has a generally arcuate shape for a better grip. The body 46 still has a middle section greater than that of a lace strand 31, 32, to reduce the pressure exerted on the hand of a user. The securing of the lace strands 31, 32 uses two passages 49, 50 formed in the body 46 respectively at the ends 47, 48, and two nodes 51, 52 made respectively on the strands 31, 32. Of course the latter 31, 32 pass through the passages 49, 50, and the nodes 51, 52 prevent relative separation of the handle 45 and the strands 51, 52. Thus the junction of the strands 51, 52 is indirect, since it is made via the body 46. However it could alternatively be provided a direct junction.

According to the first embodiment of the invention, the shoe 1 further comprises a removable fastening device 53 of the handle 45 to the rod 3. This keeps the handle on the rod during walking or driving a machine.

According to the invention, a storage device 53 allows a storage of the portion of the strand 31, 32 which extends between the locking device 33 and the handle 45. This arrangement is intended to prevent a strand of lace 31, 32, located between the locking device 33 and the handle 45, is loose. In other words it is necessary to avoid creating a space, or at least a space too large, between a lace strand 31, 32 and the upper 3 of the boot 1.

Solidarization, first of all, is done according to the principle of reversible male-female interlocking.

As is still seen with reference to Figure 3, a male member 60 of the device 53 is secured to the body 46 to complete the handle 45. The male member 60 comprises a pin 61, which includes a foot 62 and a head 63 The foot 62 connects the pin 61 to the body 46, and the head 63 defines an enlarged free end of the pin 61.

The foot 62 and the head 63 each have a section similar to a square, whose faces are convex.

The pin 61 protrudes from a concave face 64 of the body 46 of the handle 45, and is located substantially midway between the passages 49, 50.

The pin 61 and the body 46 form a single piece, but it could alternatively be expected that one is fixed to the other by any means.

To accommodate the handle 45 the rod 3 is provided with a female element 70, as seen in particular in Figures 2 and 4. The female element 70 of the device 53 comprises a body 71 whose periphery is extended by a shoulder 72 The body 71 and the shoulder 72 form a single piece, but it could alternatively be expected that both are associated by any means. The female element 70 is made for example from a plastic material, or from an elastic material such as rubber.

The body 71 delimits an open cavity 73, which 73 comprises a chamber 74 for receiving at least a portion of the pin 61, as well as an entry 75 for the access of the pin 61 to the chamber 74. 75 has a reduced section relative to that of the chamber 74. The respective sections of the inlet 75 and the chamber 74 are of complementary shapes to those of the foot 62 and the head 63 of the pin 61. In this case the sections of the entrance 75 and the chamber 74 are each similar to a square, whose faces are concave.

As will be better understood later, the section of the entrance 75 is substantially the same as the foot section 62 of the pin 61.

The female element 70 is held on the rod 3 at the shoulder 72. The latter 72 is for example secured to a cover 76 by a means represented in the form of a seam 77. Of course any other means could be suitable . The cover 76 is itself subject to the rod 3 by any means such as gluing, sewing, or other. The cover 76 may be made of a plastic material, or even of a flexible material such as leather or fabric.

The attachment of the handle 45 to the rod 3 is done by introducing the male element 60 into the female element 70. More specifically the pin 61 passes through the inlet 75, so that the head 63 is found in the chamber 74 A simple manual push is enough. Indeed, the inlet 75 is reversibly elastically deformable. It deforms at each passage of the head 63, when it enters the cavity 73, to resume its original shape after passage of the head 63.

Of course the separation of the handle 45 and the rod 3 is done according to the same principle. A simple manual pull on the handle 45 is enough. The inlet 75 reversibly deforms with each passage of the head 63, when it leaves the cavity 73, to resume its initial shape after passage of the head 63.

As can be better understood using FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the removable securing device 53 allows the handle 45 to be secured to a determined location on the rod 3. In this case, this place is located on the side lateral 6 in the upper portion 11 of the rod 3. A benefit that arises is good accessibility by the user.

Of course, it could alternatively be planned other places.

Regarding the storage of the strands 31, 32 of the lace 30, now, it is appealing here to the principle of winding. In this spirit, and for the sake of simplification, the removable securing device 53 merges with the storage device. According to the embodiment described, the two removable securing and storage devices are one and the same device 53.

Thanks to the convex faces of the pin 61 and the concave faces of the open cavity 73, it is possible to rotate the handle 45 relative to the rod 3. Of course, the rotation is along an axis constituted by the pin 61.

After having tightened the rod 3 then secured without rotating the handle 45 to the rod 3, as seen in Figure 5, the strands 31, 32 of the lace 30 are loose. They 31, 32 hang between the blocking device 33 and the securing device 53. In this case, an outer element may optionally pass between the rod 3 and a strand 31, 32.

On the other hand, if the handle 45 has been sufficiently turned, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the strands 31, 32 are almost no longer or not at all loose. The strands 31, 32 are stretched between the locking device 33 and the securing device 53. In this case it is very difficult, if not impossible, for an external element to be introduced between the rod 3 and a strand 31, 32. It follows that the driving of the machine is not hampered.

After rotation, the position of the handle 45 remains stable. This is due to the respective shapes of the pin 61 and the cavity 73. The concave and convex faces, if they allow rotation, also determine a series of hard points that oppose the rotation. As a result, the handle 45 turns piecemeal. This makes it possible to obtain as many stable positions as there are hard points. An advantage that arises is the ease of adjusting the tension of the strands 31, 32.

When they are stored, the strands 31, 32 are wound around the male and female elements 70, that is to say around the pin 61 and the body 71. The strands 31, 32 are wound between the body 46 of the handle 45 and the rod 3. This always makes them visible, which has the advantage of allowing a visual check of the winding.

In general, the invention is made from materials and according to implementation techniques known to those skilled in the art.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described, and includes all the technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.

In particular if the male element 60 of the removable fastening device 53 is located on the handle 45, it could alternatively be located on the rod 3. By corollary if the female element 70 is located on the rod 3, it could alternatively be locate on the handle 45.

It could be planned to store a single strand of lace or, if using several laces, to store more than two strands of lace.

Other structures could be provided for the removable fastening device. For example, one could provide a device comprising a bayonet type system.

Again, the storage of the strands could be done otherwise than by winding, for example by folding in a cavity.

Claims (10)

Shoe (1) comprising a sole (2), a rod (3), and a means for clamping the rod (3), the clamping means of the rod (3) comprising loops (20, 21, 22, 23 , 24, 25, 26), at least one lace (30), a locking device (33) for at least one strand (31, 32) of the lace (30), and a pull handle (45) strand (31, 32), the shoe (1) further comprising a removable fastening device (53) of the handle (45) to the rod (3),
characterized in that a storage device (53) allows a storage of the part of the strand (31, 32) which extends between the locking device (33) and the handle (45). Shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable fastening device (53) and the storage device (53) are a single device. Shoe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the removable fastening device (53) comprises a male element (60) and a female element (70), the male element (60) lying on the handle (45) or on the rod (3), the female element (70) being located on the rod (3) or on the handle (45), the joining being done according to the principle of the reversible interlocking male-female . Shoe (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the male element (60) comprises a pin (61), and in that the female element (70) comprises a body (71) which delimits a cavity open (73). Shoe (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the pin (61) comprises a foot (62) and a head (63), and in that the open cavity (73) comprises a chamber (74) for receiving at least a portion of the pin (61), and an entrance (75) for access of the pin (61) to the chamber (74). Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the handle (45) comprises an elongate body (46) of generally arcuate shape. Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the handle (45) is secured to each of two strands (31, 32) of the lace (30). Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the junction of the strands (31, 32) of the lace (30) is via a body (46) of the handle ( 45). Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the handle (45) is secured on the lateral side (6) in the upper portion (11) of the rod (3). Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the locking device (33) is secured to the tongue (15) of the rod (3).

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