EP2361519B1 - Boot-type footwear - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the general field of clothing; it relates more particularly to a boot-type footwear intended to be worn by an individual.

In practice, the wearing of boots is often relatively uncomfortable, mainly because their rod generates clamping points or contact at the ankle, especially when walking or when the user squats.

There is therefore a need for boots whose user comfort is improved, especially during the movements of flexion / extension of his ankle, while maintaining an effective maintenance of the ankle by a resistance against its movements Lateral (supination and pronation).

In the field of ski boots, this problem is solved by manufacturing the rod from three separate parts: - a rigid lower part, intended to cover the foot of the individual, - a rigid upper piece, intended to cover at the at least a portion of the leg of said individual, and - a flexible median piece intended to cover the ankle of said individual, secured to said lower and upper parts.

To prevent lateral movement of the ankle, the upper and lower parts are secured together by a hinge structure whose axis of rotation extends at least approximately coaxially with respect to the axis of flexion / extension of the ankle.

Such boots are for example described in the document CH-481 592 or DE-2,025,283 .

Similarly, it is known for certain sneakers with laces, to make certain parts of their upper with flexible parts reported to improve the flexion / extension of the ankle. This is for example the case in the document US-A-5,498,033 .

This need is also met for boots whose rod is made in one piece in a flexible waterproof material which comprises at least one layer made of an elastomeric material.
A boot of this kind is for example illustrated in the document US-2003/0145484 .

However, such waterproof flexible boots have specific structural features and manufacturing constraints that do not allow to directly translate the current solutions.

The present invention thus relates to a new boot structure whose rod is made in one piece in a flexible waterproof material, which aims to improve the comfort of the user, especially during the movements of flexion / extension of his ankle, while controlling the supination and pronation movements of the ankle.

For this, the boot according to the invention is distinguished by the particular structure of its rod which comprises, at its portion intended to cover the user's ankle, two frontal zones, one anterior and the other posterior, having a reduced stiffness (or in other words an increased flexibility or flexibility) relative to the rest of the stem.

More specifically, the article of footwear according to the invention comprises a sole extended by a one-piece rod, advantageously without yaw, in a flexible flexible material which comprises at least one layer made of an elastomeric material; this rod comprises (i) a lower part, intended to cover the user's foot, and having two ends arranged along an anterior / posterior axis: an anterior end located on the toe side and a rear end located on the heel side, (ii) an upper portion having a longitudinal axis for covering at least a portion of the leg of said individual, and (iii) a medial portion for covering the ankle of said individual, which middle portion has two opposite end faces; an anterior and a posterior respectively oriented on the side of the anterior and posterior ends of said lower part, and two opposite lateral faces, connecting said two end faces and through which the axis of flexion / extension of the ankle passes.
According to the invention, the middle part of the stem is composed of several zones having different stiffnesses, namely: (i) two distinct frontal zones of folding, one anterior and the other posterior extending respectively at least at its anterior and posterior faces, and (ii) two lateral holding zones formed at its lateral faces and separating said frontal zones. This layer made of an elastomeric material extends at least at said middle portion, and in particular at said two folding front zones and said two lateral holding zones. The frontal zones of folding each comprise a horizontal section in the general U-shape which consists of a frontal portion, formed at one of the anterior / posterior faces of the medial portion, extended by two lateral portions extending each on a part of the length of the lateral faces; and which frontal areas have a lower stiffness with respect to the stiffness of said lateral zones and with respect to the stiffness of the adjoining portions of said lower and upper portions of the rod.

The presence of such frontal zones of folding, reduced stiffness relative to the remainder of the boot upper, substantially improves wearing comfort, especially when the user's ankle is put to use.
In addition, these frontal zones of folding ensure optimal support of the ankle by a limitation, or even a suppression, lateral movements of the supination and pronation type.

• les deux zones latérales de maintien sont ménagées de sorte à s'étendre au moins approximativement au niveau de l'axe de flexion/extension de la cheville de l'individu ;
• les portions de côté des zones frontales de pliage ont chacune une forme générale de V dont l'axe est orienté parallèlement, ou au moins approximativement parallèlement, par rapport à l'axe antérieur/postérieur ;
• les zones frontales de pliage sont chacune bordées par une bande de renforcement ayant une raideur supérieure par rapport à la raideur desdites zones frontales et par rapport à la raideur des portions attenantes des parties inférieure/supérieure de la tige ; dans ce cas, les bandes de renforcement se rejoignent avantageusement au niveau des faces latérales de la partie médiane de la tige, pour constituer les deux zones latérales de maintien, localisées au moins approximativement sur l'axe de flexion/extension de la cheville de l'individu ;
• les zones frontales de pliage et les zones latérales de maintien sont réalisées respectivement dans un premier matériau élastomère et dans un second matériau élastomère, et la raideur dudit premier matériau est inférieure à la raideur dudit second matériau ;
• les zones frontales de pliage comportent chacune au moins une ligne de pliage reliant les deux zones latérales de maintien attenantes, de sorte à former un soufflet qui contribue à réduire leur raideur ;
• la couche réalisée dans un matériau élastomère est choisie parmi le caoutchouc ou le poly(chlorure de vinyle).

Other features of the invention, which can be taken independently or in combination, are specified below:

• the two lateral holding zones are arranged so as to extend at least approximately at the axis of flexion / extension of the ankle of the individual;
• the side portions of the front fold zones each have a general V-shape whose axis is oriented parallel to, or at least approximately parallel to, the anterior / posterior axis;
• the front fold zones are each bordered by a reinforcing strip having a greater stiffness with respect to the stiffness of said front zones and with respect to the stiffness of the adjoining portions of the lower / upper portions of the rod; in this case, the reinforcing strips advantageously join at the lateral faces of the median part of the rod, to constitute the two lateral retention zones, located at least approximately on the axis of flexion / extension of the ankle of the individual;
• the front fold zones and the lateral holding zones are made respectively of a first elastomer material and a second elastomer material, and the stiffness of said first material is less than the stiffness of said second material;
• the front fold zones each comprise at least one fold line connecting the two adjacent holding lateral zones, so as to form a bellows which contributes to reducing their stiffness;
• the layer made of an elastomeric material is selected from rubber or polyvinyl chloride.

The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the footwear item described above.

This method, which comprises at least (i) parts laying steps constituting the different parts of the rod, preferably made of rubber, and (ii) a step of assembling said parts, is characterized in that at least two said parts are positioned to constitute the frontal zones of folding of the median part of the rod, which parts constituting the frontal zones of folding have a lower stiffness compared to the stiffness of the lateral zones of the median part of the rod and with respect to the stiffness of the lower and upper parts of the stem.

• la figure 1 est une vue générale, en légère perspective côté antérieur, d'une botte conforme à l'invention ;
• les figures 2 et 3 représentent la botte selon la figure 1, dont la partie supérieure de tige est manoeuvrée en flexion, respectivement vers l'avant et vers l'arrière ;
• la figure 4 représente les différentes étapes mises en oeuvre pour la fabrication d'une botte selon les figures 1 à 3.

The invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a general view, in slight perspective on the front side, of a boot according to the invention;
• the Figures 2 and 3 represent the boot according to the figure 1 , whose upper stem portion is flexibly operated, respectively forward and backward;
• the figure 4 represents the different steps implemented for the manufacture of a boot according to the Figures 1 to 3 .

As represented on the Figures 1 to 3 and conventionally, the boot 1 according to the invention comprises a sole 2 extended by a rod 3.

1. (i) une partie inférieure 4 comportant un axe longitudinal antérieur/postérieur 4', destinée à couvrir le pied de l'individu utilisateur,
2. (ii) une partie supérieure 5 comportant un axe longitudinal 5', destinée à couvrir au moins une partie de la jambe de l'individu, et
3. (iii) une partie médiane 6, destinée à couvrir la cheville de l'individu.

To simplify the rest of the description, this rod 3 can be considered as comprising three successive parts, distributed over its height, namely:

1. (i) a lower portion 4 having an anterior longitudinal / posterior axis 4 ', intended to cover the foot of the user individual,
2. (ii) an upper portion 5 having a longitudinal axis 5 ', intended to cover at least part of the leg of the individual, and
3. (iii) a medial portion 6, intended to cover the ankle of the individual.

Taking into account the longitudinal axis 4 ', the bottom 4 of the shaft portion has two ends, namely - a front end 4a, intended to be located on the side of the toes of the individual, and - a rear end 4b , intended to be located on the side of his heel.

Also to simplify the rest of the description, the middle part 6 of the rod 3 can be considered as consisting of two pairs of faces, arranged opposite and at a distance from one another.

Two opposite end faces, one anterior 6a and a posterior 6b, respectively are oriented on the anterior ends of the side 4 a and 4 b posterior of the lower part 4 (the rear face 6b is intended to cover in particular the Achilles tendon (or calcaneal tendon)).
Two side faces 6c connect for their both end faces 6a and 6b (only one of them is visible in Figures 1 to 3 ). The axis of flexion / extension of the ankle through these two lateral faces 6 c. These side faces 6 c are intended to be at or at least approximately to the level of the malleoli of the ankle.

This boot upper 3 is made of a flexible material.
The corresponding material is here chosen from flexible waterproof materials; it comprises for this purpose at least one layer preferably made of an elastomeric material, which may be chosen from natural elastomeric compounds such as rubber, or synthetic elastomeric compounds such as polyvinyl chloride.

According to the invention, the rod 3 comprises a median part 6 which is more flexible or flexible than the lower 4 and upper 5 parts.
The advantage of such a rod 3 is to generate less effort and reduce the tightening points on the ankle of the individual, particularly during forward and / or backward flexion movements between its lower parts 4 and upper 5, while maintaining resistance to lateral movements of the ankle (supination and pronation).

• deux zones frontales de pliage, l'une antérieure 7 et l'autre postérieure 8 s'étendant respectivement du côté des faces antérieure 6a et postérieure 6b, et
• deux zones latérales de maintien 9, ménagées au niveau des faces latérales 6c et séparant lesdites zones frontales de pliage 7 et 8.

For this purpose, the median portion 6 comprises several zones having different stiffnesses, namely:

• two frontal zones of folding, one anterior 7 and the other posterior 8 extending respectively on the side of the front faces 6 a and posterior 6 b , and
• two lateral zones of retention 9, formed at the side faces 6 c and separating said front fold areas 7 and 8.

These frontal zones of folding 7 and 8 have a stiffness which is lower (i) with respect to the stiffness of the lateral zones of maintenance 9 and (ii) with respect to the stiffness of the lower parts 4 and higher 5 of the rod 3 (or at least one strip or adjoining portion of these parts 4 and 5).
In other words, the frontal zones of folding 7 and 8 have a resistance to deformation (advantageously of the elastic deformation type) which is lower than that of the lateral zones of maintenance 9.

The frontal areas 7 and 8 each have a horizontal section which is generally U-shaped, open towards each other.
The term "horizontal section" means a sectional plane approximately parallel to that passing through the sole 2, or parallel to the longitudinal axis 4 'of the lower portion 4.

Thus, these front fold areas 7 and 8 are each composed of (i) a front portion 7a and 8a, respectively formed in the anterior posterior faces 6 a and 6 b of the middle portion 6, and (ii) two side portions 7b and 8b, extending the front portion 7a / 8 at the side faces 6c, over part of their length.

The side portions 7b, 8b of the end fold areas 7, 8 each have a generally V-shaped inclined to the side, that is to say with an axis oriented parallel or at least approximately parallel, with respect to the anterior / posterior axis 4 '.
These side portions 7 b, 8 b V are oriented so that the height gradually increases until the front portion 7, 8a associated.

To reduce stiffness and promote their deformation, flexible frontal zones 6 and 6b each have here a general form bellows.
For this, these flexible front zones 7 and 8 each comprise several folding lines 7 'and 8' which extend over their entire width, that is to say from the end of one of the side portions 7. b , 8b at the end of the other side portion 7b , 8b .
In addition, the fold lines 7 ', 8' of each front zone 7, 8 meet at the end of the side portions 7b , 8b ; they are further regularly spaced from each other by a regular angular sector, or at least approximately regular.

The fold lines 7 ', 8' are here three in number; in general, this number is advantageously between 1 and 10.

Still to optimize the deformation of the median portion 6 of the rod 3 around the axis of flexion / extension, the frontal zones 7, 8 are made of a first elastomer material whose hardness is less than the hardness of a second material constituent elastomer of the lateral zones 9.

For example, the front zones 7 and 8 may be made of a first elastomer material having a hardness of between 30 and 40 Shore A; the lateral zones 9 are made of a second elastomer material whose hardness is between 50 and 60 Shore A.

A only an indication, the front fold areas 7 and 8 each have a height, at their front portion 7a or 8a, between 10 and 30 mm.
The side portions 7b and 8b have a length of between 10 and 80 mm, and moreover have an angle, at rest, advantageously between 20 ° and 40 °.

These dimensions are in any case adapted to those of the boot upper 3.

As indicated above, the lateral zones 9 have a stiffness greater than that of the frontal zones of folding 7, 8. They favor the flexion / extension movement, while limiting the phenomena of lateral deformations of the supination and pronation type (c '). that is rotations along an axis parallel to the anterior / posterior axis 4 ').

On the other hand, it is noted that the flexible front zones 7 and 8 are here bordered by a monoblock structure of reinforcement 10, whose function is to promote their deformations in folding / deployment, and to limit the possibilities of lateral deformations.

This reinforcing structure 10 consists of two bands, one anterior 10a surrounding the front end area 6a, and the other posterior 10 b surrounding the rear end zone 6 b.

These reinforcing tapes 10 a and 10 b are joined at side faces 6c of the middle portion 6, and more precisely at the lateral zones of retention 9.
In side view, they together form a sort of cross, the intersection point is located at the side faces 6 c of the middle part 6 and the axis of flexion / extension of the ankle (as can be the observe on Figures 2 and 3 ); they participate in the stiffness of the lateral zones of maintenance 9.

The stiffness of this reinforcing structure 10 is advantageously greater (i) with respect to the stiffness of the flexible front zones 6 a , 6 b and also (ii) with respect to the stiffness of the adjoining portions of the lower 4 and upper 5 parts of the rod 1.

In practice, as represented on the Figures 2 and 3 , starting from a rest position (illustrated in broken lines in these two figures), the median part 6 of rod 3 is able to undergo bending and extension deformation movements, with reduced forces.

When flexing the ankle ( figure 2 ), the front frontal zone 7 undergoes a folding or folding phenomenon; simultaneously, the posterior frontal zone 8 undergoes a phenomenon of unfolding, deployment or elongation.
Conversely, during an extension of the ankle ( figure 3 ), the anterior frontal zone 7 undergoes the phenomenon of deployment or elongation and the posterior frontal zone 8 undergoes the folding phenomenon.

It is noted that the frontal zones 7 and 8 bellows undergo a folding on themselves, which reduces or even eliminates the pressure points on the ankle.

When the forces on the rod 3 stop, the frontal zones of folding 7, 8 return of themselves in initial rest position.

The boot 1 described above can be obtained and manufactured by the implementation of a method as detailed in relation to the figure 4 .
For ease of understanding, at each step, the added piece is hatched to distinguish it from previously reported pieces.

• la pose de la doublure 20 sur une forme adaptée (figure 4A), cette doublure 20 étant par exemple réalisée en coton ou en néoprène,
• la pose de la première feuille ou couche de caoutchouc 21, servant de renfort au niveau bout, ailette et talonnette (figure 4B),
• la pose de la claque « avant pied » caoutchouc 22 (figure 4C),
• la pose du quartier caoutchouc 23 (figure 4D),
• la pose de la protection avant de botte caoutchouc 24 (figure 4E),
• la pose du haut de botte caoutchouc 25 (figure 4F),
• la pose de la protection malléole caoutchouc 26 (figure 4G),
• la pose de deux pièces caoutchouc 27, 28 destinées à former les zones frontales souples 7 et 8 (figure 4H),
• la pose de la structure de renforcement caoutchouc 29 (figure 4I),
• la pose de la banale caoutchouc 30 (figure 4J),
• la pose des logos et/ou marques en caoutchouc 31 (figure 4K), et
• la pose de la semelle 2 (figure 4L).

The corresponding manufacturing process comprises the succession of the following main steps:

• laying the liner 20 on a suitable shape ( Figure 4A ), this lining 20 being for example made of cotton or neoprene,
• the laying of the first sheet or layer of rubber 21, serving as a reinforcement at the tip, fin and heel ( Figure 4B )
• the laying of the slap "before foot" rubber 22 ( figure 4C )
• the laying of the rubber quarter 23 ( figure 4D )
• laying the rubber boot front protection 24 ( figure 4E )
• the laying of the top of rubber boot 25 ( figure 4F )
• the placement of rubber malleolus 26 ( figure 4G )
• laying two rubber pieces 27, 28 intended to form the flexible front zones 7 and 8 ( Figure 4H )
• the laying of the rubber reinforcement structure 29 ( figure 4I )
• laying the banal rubber 30 ( figure 4J )
• the installation of rubber logos and / or marks 31 ( figure 4K ), and
• laying the sole 2 ( figure 4L ).

The various suitably positioned parts are then secured hermetically by an appropriate operation, for example vulcanization type.
These parts then form a continuous layer of elastomeric material at the rod 3, preferably rubber.

As specified above, according to the invention, the parts 27 and 28 intended to constitute the frontal zones 7 and 8 of the median part 6 of the rod 3 have a lower stiffness with respect to the stiffness of the parts constituting the lower parts 4 and upper 5 of the rod 3.

In such a process, the vamp 22 advantageously comprises an upper edge comprising two extensions 22a, for extending at the lateral zones 9 while maintaining the free end zones 7 and 8 (as shown figure 4C ).
In addition, the area 23 and the front casing 24 each have a lower edge 23 a and 24 a that covers the extensions 22 has a vamp 22, again while maintaining free the end zones 7 and 8 (as shown on the Figures 4D and 4E ).

Such an overlap of the parts 22, 23 and 24 makes it possible to optimize the stiffness characteristics of the different zones 7, 8 and 9 of the median part 6 of the rod 3.
In addition, this particular structure of the parts 22, 23 and 24 constituting the rod 3 facilitates the manufacturing and assembly operations.

Alternatively, the boot described here can be obtained by injection, including the rod 3, a flexible material adapted for example poly (vinyl chloride).

In this case, the folding front zones 7, 8 are advantageously obtained by a local reduction of the thickness of the flexible material.

Claims (10)

1. A boot-type footwear intended to be worn by an individual, wherein the footwear (1) comprises a sole (2) extended by an upper (3), wherein the upper (3) is made one-piece from a tight flexible material that includes at least one layer made from an elastomeric material, and wherein the upper (3) includes (i) a lower part (4), intended to cover the foot of said individual, and having two ends arranged along an anterior/posterior axis (4'): an anterior end (4a) located on the toe side and a posterior end (4b) located on the heel side, (ii) an upper part (5) including a longitudinal axis (5'), intended to cover at least one part of the leg of said individual, and (iii) a median part (6), intended to cover the ankle of said individual, wherein the median part (6) has two opposite faces, an anterior one (6a) and a posterior one (6b) oriented towards the anterior end (4a) and the posterior end (4b) of said lower part (4), respectively, which are connected by two lateral faces (6c) through which passes the ankle flexion/extension axis, characterized in that said median part (6) of the upper (3) is composed of several areas having different stiffnesses, i.e.:

   (i) two distinct front folding areas, an anterior one (7) and a posterior one (8), extending at least at the level of its anterior (6a) and posterior (6b) faces, respectively, and

   (ii) two lateral holding areas (9), arranged at the level of its lateral faces (6c) and separating said front areas (7, 8),

   wherein the front folding areas (7, 8) each include a generally U-shaped horizontal section that is composed of a front portion (7a, 8a), arranged at the level of one of its anterior (6a)/posterior (6b) faces of the median part (6), extended by two side portions (7b, 8b) each extending over a part of the length of the lateral faces (6c),
   wherein the layer made from an elastomeric material extends at least at the level of said median part (6), and in particular at the level of said two front folding areas (7, 8) and said two lateral holding areas (9), and
   wherein the front areas (7, 8) have a stiffness lower than the stiffness of said lateral areas (9) and than the stiffness of the adjacent portions of said lower (4) and upper (5) parts of the upper (3).
2. The footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that the two lateral holding areas (9) are arranged so as to extend, at least approximately, at the level of the individual's ankle flexion/extension axis.
3. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the side portions (7b, 8b) of the front folding areas (7, 8) each have a generally V-shape whose axis is oriented parallel, or at least approximately parallel, with respect to the anterior/posterior axis (4').
4. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the front folding areas (7, 8) are each lined by a reinforcing strip (10) having a stiffness higher than the stiffness of said front areas (7, 8) and than the stiffness of the adjacent portions of the lower (4)/upper (5) parts of the upper (3).
5. The footwear according to claim 4, characterized in that the reinforcing strips (10) join each other at the level of the lateral faces (6c) of the median part (6) of the upper (3), to constitute the two lateral holding areas (9), located at least approximately on the individual's ankle flexion/extension axis.
6. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the front folding areas (7, 8) and the lateral holding areas (9) are made from a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric material, respectively, and in that the stiffness of said first material is lower than the stiffness of said second material.
7. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the front folding areas (7, 8) each include at least one folding line (7', 8') connecting the two adjacent lateral holding areas (9), so as to form a gusset.
8. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the layer made from an elastomeric material is chosen among rubber and polyvinyl chloride.
9. A method for manufacturing a footwear (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising at least (i) steps of placing pieces (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) constituting the different parts of the upper (3) and (ii) a step of assembling said pieces, characterized in that at least two of said pieces (27, 28) are positioned so as to constitute the front folding areas (7, 8) of the median part (6) of the upper (3), wherein the pieces (27, 28) constitutive of said front folding parts (7, 8) have a stiffness lower than the stiffness of the lateral areas (9) of the median part (6) of the upper (3) and than the stiffness of the lower (4) and upper (5) parts of the upper (3).
10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one piece (29) is positioned so as to constitute the reinforcing strips (10) of the median part (6) of the upper (3).

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