EP1712147B1 - Easy entry sports shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The shoe has a rod with an inner quarter (16) and an outer quarter (18) comprising asymmetrical construction with respect to a median longitudinal plane so that the quarter (16) forms a flap (40) which transversally extends towards a side above the plane, where quarters are connected by a veil. A stiffening plate (46) extends over the height of the quarters from a lower side of connection at a sole (12) till an upper side which delimits a slit. An elastic band has rear transversal stitchings situated near a rear edge of the quarter which covers an instep girth.

Description

The invention relates to the field of shoes, and more particularly to the field of sports shoes.

The invention will be described below in its application to a bike shoe, and more particularly to a bike shoe adapted to the practice of triathlon.

In general, when a person wishes to put a shoe on his foot, it must generally use both hands, including when it is a low-stemmed shoe with means of tightening / loosening (lace , Velcro type self-hanging tapes, etc.). Indeed, with one hand, she must keep raised the front edge of the opening (for example by lifting the tongue of the shoe), and with the other hand, she must grasp the back of the shoe to allow its interlocking around the heel.

In many applications, it has already been proposed shoe constructions that facilitate the donning of the shoe, for example for orthopedic shoes or for shoes for people with reduced mobility.

However, very often, these alternative constructions of shoes require many manipulations to ensure the tightening of the shoe, and, most often, the tightening is not intended to allow a perfect support of the foot.

In the context of a sports shoe, it goes without saying that the shoe must ensure very good foot support, which is often contradictory with a good ease of footwear.

In the very special case of a bike shoe for the practice of triathlon, the ease of footwear is essential. Indeed, in a triathlon competition, in which swimming, cycling and running events are continuously linked, the competitor is required to put on his bike shoes when leaving the water, at the time of ride on his bike. However, in the context of the competition, the competitor can not afford to waste time wearing shoes. Also, in most cases, the competitor will have previously fixed his shoes on the pedals of his bike, and out of the water, he will jump on his bike and start to run without even putting on his shoes, simply using the upper of the shoes as a support surface. Once he has gained enough speed, thus gaining stability, he can then try to put on his shoes, of course without stopping his bike. It is understood that the user can then help himself with one hand, and that the threading and tightening maneuver must be the fastest and easiest possible. A shoe having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document US 2001/0034958 .

The invention therefore aims to provide a shoe, more particularly a sports shoe that is both very easy to put on, and which also ensures good foot support.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a sports shoe, of the type comprising a rod having a first quarter and a second quarter, which are respectively arranged mainly on a first and a second side of a median longitudinal plane of the shoe, characterized in that, at least in an area of the instep, the quarters have an asymmetrical construction with respect to the median longitudinal plane so that the first quarter forms a flap which extends transversely towards the second side beyond a longitudinal median plane, and in that the rod comprises elastic means which tend to straighten up at least one of the quarters of the rod to an open position of introduction of the foot into the shoe.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique de dessus d'une chaussure selon l'invention, en configuration fermée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique de côté de la chaussure de la figure 1, en configuration ouverte ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues schématiques en coupe transversale au niveau de la zone de cou de pied illustrant les deux configurations, respectivement fermée et ouverte ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques en perspective de trois-quarts arrière illustrant les deux configurations, respectivement fermées et ouvertes ;
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique en perspective avec arrachement illustrant la réalisation des moyens de redressement de la tige sous la forme d'une bande élastique précontrainte.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description, as well as on the following drawings:

• the figure 1 is a schematic top view of a shoe according to the invention, in closed configuration;
• the figure 2 is a schematic side view of the shoe of the figure 1 , in open configuration;
• the Figures 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views at the level of the instep zone illustrating the two configurations, respectively closed and open;
• the Figures 5 and 6 are schematic perspective views of three-quarter rear illustrating the two configurations, respectively closed and open;
• the figure 7 is a schematic perspective view with cutaway illustrating the realization of the rod straightening means in the form of a prestressed elastic band.

There is shown in the figures a sports shoe 10 comprising a sole 12 and a rod 14. The shoe shown is a bike shoe which comprises a flexible upper consisting essentially of fabrics, leather and / or flexible synthetic materials. The rod 14 may be reinforced in some places, for example at the heel and / or toes, by reinforcements more or less rigid. Being a bike shoe, the sole 12 is rigid, in that it is not or little deformable under normal conditions of use.

The rod 14 is here a conventional rod including in particular, on each side of a median longitudinal plane P of the shoe, two quarters, respectively inner 16 and outer 18. Unlike traditional constructions, the quarters 16, 18 are not symmetrical by ratio to the median longitudinal plane. The latter can be defined as the vertical plane comprising the line of greater length of the shoe.

In particular, it can be seen that, at least in an area of the instep C, the neighborhoods have an asymmetric construction with respect to the median longitudinal plane so that a first quarter (in this case the inner quarter 16) forms a flap 40 which extends transversely to the second side beyond the median longitudinal plane. The flap thus covers the upper face of the instep, while on the contrary the other quarter (in this case the outer quarter) has a limited height. The rear edge of the flap 40 delimits, in front of the opening 21.

Of course, one could predict that it is the outer quarter which extends transversely on the inner side of the other side of the median longitudinal plane.

In a forefoot zone A, which in this case corresponds substantially to the metatarsophalangeal flexion zone of the foot, the neighborhoods may have a substantially symmetrical construction with respect to the median longitudinal plane, or have an asymmetric construction with respect to the plane. median longitudinal so that the second quarter (in this case the outer quarter) can form a second flap that extends transversely (in this case to the outer side) beyond the median longitudinal plane. In the latter case, the asymmetry in the forefoot area is the opposite of that of the instep area.

Here we could also provide a reverse construction in the forefoot area, namely that it would be the inner quarter that extends transversely to the outer side.

In the illustrated example, the two quarters 16, 18 are separated by a slot 19 delimited by the opposite edges of the two quarters 16, 18.

With the construction according to the invention, the slot 19 does not extend along a straight line. However, it extends longitudinally in an adjustment zone which will, in the example shown, from front to back, from the level of the toes until it opens into the rear opening 21 of the rod by which the user can introduce his foot into the shoe.

The two quarters 16, 18 can thus deviate transversely from one another to allow the engagement of the foot inside the shoe 10. Once the foot engaged, a clamping system allows to bring neighborhoods to immobilize the foot inside the shoe.

The illustrated shoe 10 is provided with two independent clamping systems which are arranged at two clamping sections. The first system 22 is arranged substantially at the level of the forefoot area corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot, while the second 24 is arranged at the instep. Since these systems are independent of one another, the user can adjust the clamping tension independently in each of the clamping sections.

The first clamping system 22, located in the forefoot area, comprises a cable 32 whose two ends are integral with one of the quarters, in this case on the outer quarter 18 of the rod 14. The two ends are fixed on the rod in places that are offset in the longitudinal direction of the shoe. The system 22 also comprises two return elements 36 which are arranged in this case on the inner quarter 16. Longitudinally, the two return elements 36 are each arranged substantially at the same level as the point of attachment of one of the two ends. cable. Of course, the cable 32 is intended to bear on the two return elements 36, which allows to distinguish on the cable three sections. The first and third sections of the cable correspond to each of the parts of the cable that extend between a cable end and the corresponding return 36, while the second section of the cable corresponds to the portion of the cable. cable which extends between the two elements of references 36. This first clamping system comprises a traction member 26 which is hooked on the second section of the cable, and which pulls this section of cable towards the quarter opposite to that which carries the references, in this case towards the outer quarter 18, so as to put the cable 32 in tension and to force a rapprochement of the two quarters 16, 18.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the traction member 26 is hooked on the second section so as to slide along the second section.

The traction member, which will be called pallet 26 in the remainder of the text, here comprises simply a strip of flexible material elongate in the transverse direction and provided at its inner end, a return 28 in which passes the second section of the cable. The traction pallet 26 comprises an anchoring system which allows to fix the transverse position relative to the rod, this in order to lock the system in a precise clamping position. This attachment system is for example simply a complementary self-hanging ribbons system.

The second clamping system 24, located in the zone of foot and shown in mixed lines in the figures, is for example constituted by a traction strap 30 which is fixed on the inner quarter 16 of the rod, which passes through a loop 38 fixed on the outer quarter 18, and which is folded on itself, the faces vis-à-vis the traction strap being provided with self-hanging ribbons to allow the anchoring of the pull strap on itself in different positions to ensure the adjustment of the clamping.

On the figures 2 , 4 and 6 it will be noted that the boot can be brought to its optimum open position without the pull strap 30 being entirely disengaged from the buckle 38. It is even envisaged, on the edges of the traction strap 30, notches indexing 39 which identifies the optimal position of the strap relative to the loop, and maintain this position. Of course, this prevents, at the time of tightening, to be forced to pass the end of the strap 30 inside the loop since it is already there. The tightening is done by a simple movement of traction on the band.

According to one aspect of the invention, the rear part of the slot 19 is shifted transversely towards one of the sides with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the shoe (in this case the outer side of the shoe), while the front part of the slot is arranged substantially at the median longitudinal plane, or on the other side of this plane relative to the rear part of the slot (in this case slightly on the inside of the shoe).

To do this, the slot 19 may have different geometries. In the example shown, the slot forms a kind of S in top view.

According to another aspect of the invention, the two quarters 16, 18 are provided not to overlap. They are provided so that, when a user tightens the shoe, the two quarters, properly tightened, leave the slot, substantially along the entire length thereof, as is illustrated in particular to the figures 1 , 3 and 5 . The width of this slot residual will of course depend on the volume of the foot of the user. This provision applies to a user having a foot whose volume is included in the usual values for the corresponding size. Also, it may be that, for a user having a particularly small foot-neck volume in relation to his foot length, the two quarters may be caused to overlap, for at least a part of the length of the slot, although the shoe according to the invention is designed to avoid this in most cases. For a foot of average volume, it can be provided that the width of the slot 19 goes increasing between the front of the back and the rear of the slot. This will of course be accentuated for a foot of larger volume.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the shoe has no tongue, despite the fact that the two quarters are not intended to overlap. Indeed, in the prior art, it is expected that, when the sports shoe is tight on the foot of the user, the neighborhoods overlap or the neighborhoods do not overlap but then the rod has a tongue that extends under the crack separating the two quarters. The usual function of such a tongue is to protect the top of the foot, including the action of the clamping system.

In the shoe according to the invention, in the zone of the instep, the most sensitive part on which the tightening forces are the most important, one of the quarters (in this case the flap 40 of the inner quarter 16) covers the foot thanks to the asymmetrical construction, so that it bears directly on the upper face of the instep. As a result, it is possible to dispense with the comfort tab usually provided. However, it can however provide a veil that would be related to the opposite edges of the two quarters. Such a veil would preferably be made of very fine and / or elastic fabrics, so as not to prevent the approximation between the opposite edges of the two quarters. The veil could extend over the entire length of the slot, or only on a part of it. Such a veil would have the advantage of guiding the foot towards the bottom of the shoe at the time of donning and, incidentally, to close the slot, thus hiding better the upper face of the foot and protecting it from the cold, weather, and the penetration of unwanted objects (pebbles, thorns, etc.).

On the figures 2 , 4 and 6 , we see that the asymmetric design of the quarters of the stem in the area of the instep allows to open wide the shoe to facilitate the maximum entry of the foot into the shoe. Indeed, in tight configuration of the stem ( figures 3 and 5 ), the inner shaft portion 16 and its flap 40 are somehow wrapped around the inner face and the top of the foot of the user. On the contrary, once loosened, the inner shaft portion 16 and the flap 40 which extends it may be unrolled transversely outwards so as to open the rod completely upwards ( figures 4 and 6 ).

At the same time, the opposite quarter (external 18) being of low height, it disturbs only very little the entry of the foot into the shoe.

It is noted that the enlarged opening is obtained essentially with the asymmetrical construction in the area of the instep. The symmetrical construction of the forefoot area, even more the reverse asymmetric construction of this forefoot area, allows to obtain this enlarged opening without the need to open wide the clamping system of this forefoot area (only the flap pivots) outwards). In the case where one would choose to have a construction in the forefoot area that has the same asymmetry as the instep area (with for example the inner quarter that extends transversely to the outer side both at the the forefoot), it may be advantageous to provide that the forefoot area has no specific clamping system, or that it is provided with a clamping system controlled simultaneously with the instep clamping system.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, it is noted that the two clamping systems are arranged one opposite to the other so that one is manipulated by exerting a pull towards the inner side of the foot while the the other is manipulated by pulling towards the outer side of the foot. This is particularly interesting when neighborhoods have inverse asymmetries between the instep area and the forefoot area. If we choose a construction with the same asymmetry in the two zones, we can have two clamping systems manipulable in the same direction.

For the foot entry to be as easy as possible, the invention further provides that the rod is provided with elastic means which tend to straighten upwardly at least a portion of at least one of the quarters of the rod towards a open position of introduction of the foot into the shoe.

To the Figures 3 and 4 a first embodiment of the elastic straightening means has been illustrated. In this embodiment, it can be seen that each of the quarters has at least one outer layer 42 and one inner layer 44, and that, between the two layers, a stiffening plate 46 has been interposed. only one of the two quarters is equipped with such means of recovery. In this case, it will preferably be the neighborhood comprising the flap in the area of the instep.

In the illustrated example, it can be seen that, in any case in the part of the quarter that is to be straightened, the plate 46 extends over the entire height of the quarter, from its lower edge of connection to the sole 12 until 'at its upper edge which delimits the slot 19.

However, it is understood that the stiffening plate 46 is more particularly important in the parts of the quarter, which are the most curved, when the rod is in tight configuration. The plate could thus not extend over the entire height of the neighborhood, for example do not extend to the edges mentioned above.

In the same way, the stiffening plate 46 may have various shapes or widths seen from above. In the example shown on the figure 1 the stiffening plate thus has a generally trapezoidal outline having a dimension along the longitudinal direction of a few centimeters. Preferably, the plate extends at least partially in the flap 40 of the inner quarter 16 so as to cause the recovery. However, other geometries are possible.

The plate may be made of any material having sufficient rigidity and elasticity to return the rod quarter from the tight configuration to the rectified configuration. The restoring force of the plate 46 will therefore of course be adapted to the intrinsic stiffness of the rod quarter which must be corrected. It can be made especially in plastic materials such as polyamide, polyurethane, Pebax (registered trademark) Delrin (trademark), etc ...

The straightening plate could be replaced by simple whales or stiffeners, possibly made of metal material or composite materials.

In the illustrated example, the straightening plate 46 is concealed between two layers of the rod. However, nothing prevents that it can be placed directly on the outer face or on the inner face of the stem quarter.

The straightening plate 46 may initially be substantially flat, as in the illustrated example. In this case, it leads to a partial recovery of the stem quarter, except to use a stiffer material. If we want to obtain an even larger opening, we can choose that the plate (or stiffeners) has a curved initial profile, curvature inverse to the curvature of the plate when the rod is in tight configuration. With such an arrangement, it is likely that the stem portion rectified by the plate will exceed the substantially vertical position illustrated in FIG. figure 4 and opens even more (at least if the clamping means 24 is completely disconnected).

Of course, the straightening of the rod takes place only when the clamping means are loosened.

To the figure 7 a second possible embodiment of the elastic straightening means according to the invention has been illustrated, using a prestressed elastic band 50.

In the example of the figure 7 this elastic band 50 has been positioned under the part of the traction strap 30 of the clamping system 24 which is fixed on the inner quarter 16 and on the flap 40 which extends it. The elastic band thus has two longitudinal seams 52 and two transverse seams before 54 and rear 56 of connection to the rod. In the example shown, the elastic band 50 is connected to the outer face of the rod being prestressed in the longitudinal direction. To do this, one can for example first make one of the transverse seams, then perform the remains of seams by exerting on the band a traction so as to maintain it in an elongated state. Once the connection is complete, the elastic band 50 thus exerts on the outer face of the rod local tensile stresses in the plane of this external surface. As the rod is generally composed of several assembled layers, it has some compressive strength in said plane of its outer face, it does not allow the elastic band 50 to return to its unstressed state. As a result, the rod tends to bend under the effect of the elastic band 50. The curvature is around an axis orthogonal to the tensile direction of the band 50 and the concavity is turned towards the face which bears the elastic band, in this case so outward.

In the example shown, the rear seam 56 of the elastic band 50 is located not far from the rear edge of the part of the quarter which covers the instep, so that the elastic band 50 thus disposed tends to cause the lifting of this back edge, which naturally tends to facilitate the threading of the shoe.

Of course, the nature of the elastic band, its shape, its disposition, its prestressing direction, its degree of prestress etc ..., can be adapted to the desired effect. In the example described, the traction band 50 is stretched only in one direction, but it could be expected that it is assembled on the rod being stretched in two directions.

This elastic band straightening means may optionally be combined with the presence of a straightening plate 46 as described above. In the case where the elastic band is used alone, it may be preferable, especially if the rod is particularly thin and flexible, to provide that the rod is locally reinforced at the band. Such a reinforcement may for example be made in the form of a yoke sewn on the stem, for example leather or imitation leather. The yoke may for example be arranged under the elastic band, in the thickness of the rod, or on the inner face of the rod.

The shoe according to the invention is particularly remarkable in that its rod is designed to be able to have a large opening amplitude, and in that there is provided means for automatically returning it to the open position.

In the context of the use in a triathlon competition as described above, it is therefore understood that the rider can take the speed by bike, pressing on the upper face of the shoe, and that, as soon as he wish to put his foot into the shoe, lifting his foot, the shoe will automatically regain its open position, greatly facilitating the boot.

Claims (18)

1. Shoe, of the type comprising an upper having a first quarter and a second quarter arranged mainly on a first side and a second side, respectively, of a median longitudinal plane of the shoe, the quarters (16, 18) having an asymmetrical construction with respect to the median longitudinal plane at least in an instep zone, such that the first quarter forms a first flap (40) that extends transversely toward the second side, beyond a median longitudinal plane, characterized in that the upper comprises elastic means (46, 50) for upwardly straightening at least a portion of at least one of the quarters of the upper toward an open position for inserting the foot in the shoe.
2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic straightening means (46, 50) act to straighten the first flap (40) of the first quarter.
3. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first quarter forming a first flap (40) extends transversely toward the second side, beyond the median longitudinal plane, in the area of the forefoot as well as in the area of the instep.
4. Shoe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in a forefoot zone, the quarters (16, 18) have a substantially symmetrical construction with respect to the median longitudinal plane.
5. Shoe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in a forefoot zone, the quarters have an asymmetrical construction with respect to the median longitudinal plane, such that the second quarter forms a second flap that extends transversely toward the first side, beyond the median longitudinal plane.
6. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quarters (16, 18) are demarcated with respect to one another by a slit (19), and in that, at least in the instep zone, the slit is transversely offset on the second side with respect to its position in the forefoot zone.
7. Shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that the slit (19) forms an S.
8. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two quarters (18, 19) are substantially juxtaposed without overlap.
9. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe comprises at least two separate tightening members (22, 24) that act in the area the forefoot and in the area of the instep, respectively.
10. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it does not include a tongue, such that at least one of the quarters of the upper is supported directly on the upper surface of the instep.
11. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the straightening means comprise means (46) for locally rigidifying the upper.
12. Shoe according to claim 11, characterized in that the rigidifying means comprise a plate (46) made of a plastic material.
13. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the rigidifying means comprise an elastic traction strip (50).
14. Shoe according to claim 13, characterized in that the elastic strip is assembled on the upper in a prestressed state.
15. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opposing edges of the two quarters (16, 18) demarcate a slit (19) and are connected, at least over a portion of their length, by a veil.
16. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rigid sole.
17. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper is essentially constituted of flexible materials.
18. Shoe according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first quarter corresponds to the inner quarter of the shoe.

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