EP1911365A1

EP1911365A1 - Shoe, particularly for sports practice

Info

Publication number: EP1911365A1
Application number: EP07116089A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Baggio; Michele Pellizzon
Original assignee: Head Technology GmbH
Current assignee: Head Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2006-10-09
Filing date: 2007-09-11
Publication date: 2008-04-16
Also published as: ITTV20060176A1

Abstract

A shoe, particularly for sports practice, comprising a shell (2) to which at least one quarter (4) is coupled; one or more transverse notches (7) or openings are formed in the sole region (5) and partially in the region of the sides (6a, 6b) of the shell (2), are adapted to facilitate flexing, and can be closed by means of at least one removable insert (14).

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe particularly for sports practice, in particular for ski mountaineering or downhill skiing.
Currently, particularly for the practice of ski mountaineering and downhill skiing, boots are known which have a shell made of rigid plastic material which wraps around the foot of the user and to which an appropriately provided quarter is pivoted which covers the leg partially; these known types of boot typically have an innerboot, made of soft material, which is adapted to increase comfort while wearing the boots.
However, these known types of boot have a drawback: in fact, to offer adequate protection to the foot during skiing and allow the foot to transmit in an optimum manner to the ski the forces required to maneuver it, the shell and sole are generally very rigid, particularly in an axial direction, locking the foot in a fixed position.
This is a drawback when using the boot disengaged from the ski, when the skier is forced to walk unnaturally indeed because it is impossible to articulate the foot.
This drawback is felt more in the practice of ski mountaineering, in which the skier, before beginning to ski, travels long distances on foot while wearing these known types of boot.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing a shoe, particularly for sports practice, which protects the foot adequately during skiing and further allows to achieve easy flexing of the shell to facilitate walking.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a shoe, particularly for sports practice, which in addition to allowing easy flexing is capable at the same time of providing great wearing comfort and support for the foot of the user both during skiing and during walking.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe which ensures adequate contact between the foot and the shell so as to allow correct control of the ski.
Another object is to provide a shoe which is structurally simple and has low production costs.
This aim, these objects and others which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoe, particularly for sports practice, which comprises a shell to which at least one quarter is coupled, characterized in that one or more transverse notches or openings are formed in the sole region and partially in the region of the sides of said shell, are adapted to facilitate flexing, and can be closed by means of at least one removable insert.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe according to the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded side view of the shoe of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line III-III of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a side view of the shoe of Figure 1 in the flexing condition;
Figure 6 is a partially sectional schematic perspective view of a detail of the shell of a shoe according to the invention.

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a shoe, particularly for sports practice, particularly ski mountaineering or downhill skiing, which comprises a shell 2 which covers the foot and the ankle of the user and to which at least one quarter 4, which is extended so as to cover part of the tibia, is coupled by means of appropriately provided studs 3.
Advantageously, one or more transverse notches or openings, designated by the reference numeral 7 and adapted to facilitate flexing, are provided in the region of a sole 5 and partially of sides 6a, 6b of the shell 2.
Advantageously, the one or more notches or openings 7 are formed starting from the region adjacent to a plantar arch 8, advantageously the region closest to a tip 9 of the shell 2, but in any case in a region which is interposed between a heel unit 10 and a tip 11, both of which are standardized.
In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, three mutually adjacent openings 7 are provided in the shell 2, and each opening has a first portion 12, which lies transversely to the shell 2 and has a rectangular plan shape, followed at each side 6a, 6b of the shell 2 by a second portion 13 which is approximately cusp-shaped, with the tip directed away from the sole 5.
Advantageously, the second portion 13 of the three openings 7 is aligned along an axis which forms, with respect to the sole contact plane, an acute angle if a counterclockwise rotation is considered positive with reference to the accompanying figures.
Advantageously, in order to facilitate the flexing of the shell 2, the depth of the openings 7 increases from the tip 11 of the shoe 1 toward the heel unit 10 thereof.
The one or more notches or openings 7 can be closed by means of at least one removable insert 14; advantageously, the at least one insert 14 can be inserted from the inside of the shell 2 and has a base 15 with protrusions 16 which protrude from it and can be positioned at the one or more notches or openings 7 so as to block them.
At least the protrusions 16 are advantageously made of an elastically deformable plastic material and are inserted so as to close the one or more notches or openings 7 in a partially elastically compressed condition; the protrusions 16 therefore tend to return elastically to their non-deformed condition, pushing against the perimetric edges of the one or more notches or openings 7 so as to widen them, facilitating the flexing of the shell 2.
In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, all three openings 7 can be closed by means of a single insert 14.
In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the insert 14 is constituted by the base 15 which has an arc-like shape which follows partially the internal shape of the region of the plantar arch 8; during use, the base 15 is arranged inside the shell 2 and engages the bottom 17 and the sides 6a, 6b thereof.
Advantageously, a recess 18 is formed on the bottom 17 and on the sides 6a, 6b of the shell 2, in the region which during use is engaged with the base 15; the recess is shaped approximately complementarily to said base and forms, at the sides 6a and 6b, respectively two abutments 18a and 18b, which are adapted to abut against the longitudinal ends 15a and 15b of the base 15 in order to keep the base coupled to the shell 2 in the selected position.
The base 15 in fact has such dimensions that during its placement in the shell 2, in order to be arranged in the recess 18 it has to be slightly deformed elastically, by moving mutually closer its longitudinal ends 15a and 15b; once it has been inserted in the recess 18, the two longitudinal ends 15a and 15b return to their non-deformed condition, engaging respectively the abutments 18a and 18b, so as to keep the base 15 coupled within the recess 18.
Advantageously, the base 15 can be fixed to the shell 2 also by means of suitable screws and/or rivets, which are not shown in the accompanying figures.
The protrusions 16 protrude from the lower face of the base 15, are equal in number to the one or more notches or openings 7, and are shaped complementarily thereto, so that they are positioned so that each one is arranged, during use, inside one of said notches or openings so as to close them.
Advantageously, the protrusions 16 are made of elastically deformable plastic material and can be inserted in the respective notch or opening 7 only after they have been compressed elastically; during the flexing of the shell 2, the one or more notches or openings 7 are widened in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shell 2, and the previously compressed protrusions 16 expand elastically in the same direction, thus keeping constantly closed the respective notch or opening 7.
Advantageously, the protrusions 16 protrude, during use, externally and approximately at right angles with respect to the shell 2.
Operation is therefore as follows. With reference to Figure 1, in the inactive condition of the shoe 1, the shell 2 is not subjected to flexing, and the one or more notches or openings 7 have their minimum extension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shell 2; the protrusions 16 are thus subjected to compression and push against the perimetric edges of the respective notches or openings 7, ensuring their perfect closure.
During walking, the shell 2 is repeatedly brought to the flexing condition shown in Figure 5; in such condition, the one or more notches or openings 7 are widened in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shell 2 and the previously compressed protrusions 16 expand elastically in the same direction, keeping the respective notch or opening 7 again completely closed.
In the practice of ski mountaineering and downhill skiing, both the tip 11 and the heel unit 10 of the shoe 1 are fixed to the bindings of the skis, not shown in the accompanying figures, thus locking the shell 2 in the non-deformed condition and accordingly ensuring optimum protection and support of the foot of the user while skiing.
It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a shoe particularly for sports practice having been devised which, by way of the presence of the one or more notches or openings in the lower region of the shell, allows to achieve easy flexing of the shell, so as to facilitate walking without skis.
Further, thanks to the possibility to remove the at least one insert, if the insert breaks it is sufficient to replace it in order to be able to continue using the shoe.
Moreover, the particular shape of the upper region of the shell allows to arrange thereon for example additional closure hooks, so as to be able to adjust very effectively the degree of fastening of the shoe, improving foot comfort and support and ensuring adequate contact between the foot and the shell, so as to allow correct control of the ski.
Further, the production costs of the shoe according to the invention remain low, since it is provided only by means of components which are easy to manufacture and/or assemble.
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.
The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2006A000176 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A shoe, particularly for sports practice, comprising a shell to which at least one quarter is coupled, characterized in that one or more transverse notches or openings are formed in the sole region and partially in the region of the sides of said shell, are adapted to facilitate flexing, and can be closed by means of at least one removable insert.
A shoe particularly for sports practice, comprising a shell which has a standardized tip and heel unit and to which at least one quarter is coupled, characterized in that one or more transverse notches or openings, which are adapted to facilitate flexing and can be closed by means of at least one removable insert, are formed in the region which is interposed between said heel unit and said tip and partially at the sides of said shell.
The shoe according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said one or more notches or openings are formed starting from the region adjacent to the plantar arch that lies closest to the tip of said shell.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more notches or openings have a first portion, arranged transversely to said shell, which has a preferably rectangular plan shape and is followed, at each of said sides of said shell, by a second polygonal and preferably approximately cusp-shaped portion, in which the tip is directed away from the sole of said shell.
The shoe according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said second portion of said openings is aligned along an axis which forms, with respect to the contact surface of said sole and/or of a ski, an acute angle if a counterclockwise rotation is considered positive.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two notches or openings are formed in said shell, their dimensions increasing at least at the sides of said shell starting from said tip of said shoe toward said heel unit.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that three notches or openings are formed in said shell.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one insert can be inserted from the inside of said shell.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one insert can be inserted from the outside of said shell.
The shoe according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that said at least one insert has a base with one or more protrusions which protrude from it and can be positioned at said one or more notches or openings so as to close them.
The shoe according to claims 1 and 10, characterized in that at least said protrusions are made of an elastically deformable plastic material, are inserted so as to close said one or more notches or openings, and are preferably partially compressed elastically.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said notches or openings can be closed by means of a single insert.
The shoe according to claims 1 and 12, characterized in that said base of said insert has an arc-like shape which follows partially the internal shape of said plantar arch and is arranged during use within said shell so as to engage the bottom and said sides thereof.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recess is formed on said bottom and said sides of said shell, in the region which during use is engaged with said base of said insert, said recess being shaped approximately complementarily with respect to said base and forming, at said sides, respectively two abutments which are adapted to abut against the longitudinal ends of said base in order to keep said base coupled in the selected position to said shell.
The shoe according to claims 1 and 14, characterized in that said base has such dimensions that in order to be positioned in said recess it must be deformed elastically by moving mutually closer its longitudinal ends, said longitudinal ends, once inserted in said recess, returning to their non-deformed condition in order to engage said abutments.
The shoe according to claims 1 and 15, characterized in that said base can be fixed to said shell also by means of screws and/or rivets.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more protrusions protrude from the lower surface of said base, are equal in number to said one or more notches or openings, and are shaped complementarily thereto, each of said one or more protrusions being arranged, during use, within one of said one or more notches or openings so as to close them.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protrusions are made of elastically deformable plastic material and can be inserted in the respective notch of said notches or openings only after they have been compressed elastically.
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more protrusions protrude, during use, externally and approximately at right angles from said shell.