FR2792811A1 - One-piece moulded shoe for aqua-sports has divider separating big toe and smaller toes - Google Patents

Abstract

The shoe (1), injection- moulded in one piece from a very supple material, has two separate compartments (6, 7) for the toes created by a divider (S). The divider has a gap (9) between its two side walls (10, 11) on the outside of the shoe, and the compartments (6, 7) are shaped to hold the big toe and the remaining smaller toes respectively. The shoe's upper (2) is made high enough to fit round the wearer's ankle, and the inner surface of the back (3) is made to give an enhanced grip.

Description

FOOTWEAR, SUCH AS BOOTS OR BOOTS, ESPECIALLY

  FOR WATER SPORTS, MOLD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A FOOTWEAR.

  The invention relates to a closed footwear element, such as a bootie or bootie, in particular for water sports, molded in one piece from a very flexible material. Such a footwear element makes it possible to shelter the foot in a relatively watertight manner and to provide thermal protection, in particular when practicing water sports such as windsurfing, "surfing", "body-boarding".

  or other water sports. In addition, when the sportsman reaches the firm ground, the footwear element provides mechanical protection of the foot for walking in contact with sand, pebbles or rocks.

  The one-piece molded footwear element has advantages not only from the point of view of manufacturing in a single operation, but also from the point of view of use. In fact, the footwear element does not have any connection line constituted for example by a bonding or a seam, so that there is neither excess thickness nor line of weakness. Such a footwear element therefore has good resistance as a whole. It is desirable for the connection between the footwear element and the foot to be effective and to prevent the foot from turning or moving laterally inside the footwear element. In particular, for the practice of sports such as windsurfing, "surfing", "body-boarding", and other water sports where the sportsman can stand on a support, impulses must be correctly transmitted by the footwear element from foot to

support, and vice versa.

  The object of the invention is, above all, to provide a closed footwear element, of the kind defined above, which, while being moldable in one piece, ensures good hold of the foot and prevents or limits movement

  relative of the foot inside the footwear element.

  According to the invention, a closed footwear element, such as a bootie or bootie, in particular for water sports, molded in one piece from a very

  flexible is characterized in that it comprises, at its front end, at least two separate housings for receiving two corresponding groups of toes, at least 10 a longitudinal partition being situated between the housings to be inserted between the groups of toes .

  Maintaining the foot relative to the footwear element is thus significantly improved while

  the footwear element is made in one piece.

  One of the slots is advantageously designed to receive the only big toe, and another slot is

  intended to receive the other four toes.

  Preferably, the footwear element has an empty space, outside, between two walls forming partitions and limiting said housings, these walls joining backwards, being in one piece and continuous with the rest of the footwear element. The footwear element according to the invention has no added parts. This footwear element is advantageously made of thermoplastic rubber, or of latex. The element

  footwear is preferably injection molded.

  In the case where the footwear element constitutes a liner, the upper of the liner and the buttress are preferably provided high enough to surround the ankle of the user. The inner wall of the liner at the location of the buttress advantageously has a granite surface to improve the adhesion of the liner to the foot of the user. A mold for producing a footwear element according to the invention comprises two shells, a shape disposed between the shells and a closing pad under the sole, a free space remaining, when the mold is closed, between the shape and the inner surface of the shells and paving stone for the material of the footwear element; according to the invention, such a mold is characterized5 by the fact that it comprises, in the zone corresponding to the front end of the footwear element, at least one drawer mounted to slide substantially in the longitudinal direction of the footwear element, while the form has, at its front end, a slot in which the drawer can engage for the molding of partitions

  separating two housings of the footwear element.

  The drawer may have the shape of a parallelepipedal assembly and be housed, substantially over half of its thickness, in a groove in one shell, another groove being provided in the other shell for

  receive the rest of the thickness of the drawer.

  The drawer may include a longitudinal lumen which passes through it completely along the thickness, this lumen being closed at its two longitudinal ends, the edge of the lumen located on the side opposite to the shell comprising a mortise widening the lumen at this level for housing of a screw head passing through the light and screwed into a tapped hole in the shell. The end of the drawer facing the imprint of the shell has the shape of a bow with two concave faces converging towards a

  end edge towards the inside of the mold.

  Advantageously, an elastic means for returning the drawer to the retracted position is provided for disengaging the drawer from the slot when the mold is opened, while a device is provided for pushing the drawer into the slot when the mold is closed. The return means can be constituted by a compression spring arranged in a housing of the drawer next to the light, the spring bearing at one end against a stop provided on the drawer and at its other end against the shell The device for pushing the drawer may comprise, on the shell other than that provided with the drawer, a part provided with an inclined ramp capable of cooperating with the drawer to push it inwards, when the mold is closed. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a footwear element as defined above according to which one injects, into a mold comprising a shape provided at the front end with a longitudinal slot and a drawer suitable for engaging in the slot, an elastic material, in particular a thermoplastic rubber, for producing the footwear element

single piece.

  The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other

  provisions which will be more explicitly discussed below

  after about a particular embodiment described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings,

but which is in no way limiting.

  Figure 1 of these drawings shows in perspective a footwear element for the left foot conforming to

the invention.

  Figure 2 is a section along line II-II of

Figure 1.

  Figure 3 is a schematic side view of an open mold with a shape inside for molding

  of a footwear element according to the invention.

  Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of

  Figure 3 of the partially open mold.

  Figure 5 is a plan view (rotated 90 relative to Figure 3) of the lower mold shell

and form.

  Figure 6, finally, is a section along the line

  VI-VI of Figure 3, of the closed mold.

  Referring to the drawings, in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, one can see a closed footwear element C, constituted by a liner 1 for water sports, in particular for windsurfing, "surfing", "body-boarding" or,

  if necessary, scuba diving.

  The liner 1 is molded in one piece and has no seams or welds. The boot shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended for a left foot. It is made of a very flexible material relatively extensible5 to allow the user to put the foot in the liner 1 by elastic deformation. The slipper

  applies against the user's foot.

  By the expression "very flexible material" is meant a material which allows the person equipped with the footwear element to feel with the foot any object or form under the foot and thereby trigger the action to be taken for the exercise. of the sport practiced, while ensuring foot protection. Such material may be of the type

latex or similar material.

  The upper 2 of the boot 1 and the buttress 3, or rear part, are preferably provided fairly high

  around the user's ankle. The opening of the boot 1 is limited by an edge 4, preferably coming above the ankle.

  The liner 1 can be produced by injection molding, in particular from thermoplastic rubber or latex. The liner 1 has, at its front end 5, two separate housings 6, 7 to receive two groups of corresponding toes. At least one longitudinal partition S is disposed between the housings 6 and 7 of

  way to fit between the toe groups.

  In the example shown, the housing 6 is provided to receive the only big toe 8 (Fig.2) while the other housing 7 is provided to receive the other four toes. It is clear, however, that this solution is not limiting and that a division into two groups of two and three toes respectively can be provided. One could also provide more than two housings at the front end so as to separate the toes in addition

of two groups.

  Preferably, the liner 1 has an empty space 9 outside between the two walls 10, 11 of the housings 6, 7. These two walls 10, 11 form longitudinal partitions separating the housings 6 and 7, and meet towards the 'rear along an area 12. The walls 11 are in one piece and continuous with the rest of the liner, so that no line of weakness, capable of tearing more easily, exists along the edges delimiting the different walls and

housing.

  Liner 1 can be made of rubber

  thermoplastic, or latex or other equivalent material.

  Figures 3 to 6 illustrate a mold M allowing

  to produce the liner 1 by injection molding.

  The mold M comprises two shells 13, 14 articulated at 15 so as to be able to open. According to the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the shell 13 is arranged flat horizontally, and the joint 15 has a horizontal axis. The upper shell 14 can be

raised as illustrated in Fig. 3.

  A form 16 is connected by an articulation A to the upper shell 14 of the mold. Each shell 13, 14 has an imprint 13e, 14e corresponding substantially to the lower half and to the upper half of the

form 16.

  When the shell 14 is applied against the shell 13, the surface of the imprints 13e, 14e surrounds the form 16 at a distance j corresponding to the thickness

  desired for the walls of the liner 1.

  The extreme part 17 of the form 16 remote from the articulation 15 corresponds to the average configuration of a foot for a given size. The form 16 has, between this end part 17 and a bulged part 18 linked to the joint A, an intermediate zone 19 corresponding

  at the bottom of the leg.

  The volume determined by the imprints 13e, 14e, when the shell 14 is applied against the shell 13, is closed on the side opposite the articulation 15 by a block 20

  linked to the shell 13 by an articulation B, parallel to the articulation 15. The internal face 20i of the block 20 delimits the external surface of the sole of the footwear element. The block 20 is crossed by at least one channel 21 d injection of the molding material.

  The mold M comprises, in the zone corresponding to the front end of the liner 1 and of the part 17 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), a drawer 22 slidably mounted to slide substantially in the longitudinal direction D of the liner. In the example shown, the sliding direction X (Fig. 5) of the drawer 22 is slightly inclined on the

  direction D of an angle a, in particular less than 100.

  The drawer 22 has the shape of a parallelepiped assembly. It is housed, approximately on half

  of its thickness, in a groove 23 of the shell 13.

  Another groove 24 is provided in the shell 14 to receive the rest of the thickness of the drawer 22 when the

  shell 14 is applied against shell 13.

  The drawer 22 has a longitudinal slot 25 which passes completely through it along the thickness. This light 25 is closed at its two longitudinal ends in the form of a semicircle. The edge of the light 25 located on the side opposite to the shell 13 comprises a mortise widening the light 25 at this level for the housing of a screw head 26 passing through the light and screwed into a tapped hole in the shell 13. The head screw 26 holds the drawer 22 against the shell 13, while

allowing its sliding.

  The end 27 of the drawer 22 facing the imprint of the shell 13 has the shape of a bow with two concave faces converging towards an end edge

  27a in the form of a concave arc towards the inside of the mold.

  An elastic return means R is provided for bringing the drawer 22 into the retracted position as soon as the shell 14 opens. This return means R is advantageously constituted by a compression spring 28 disposed in a housing of the drawer 22 next to the lumen 25. The spring 28 bears at one end against a stop provided on the drawer 22 and at its other end

  against the shell 13. In the maximum recoil position5 (Fig.5), the screw head 26 is in abutment against the end of the lumen 25 close to 27.

  The shell 14 comprises, on the same side as the drawer 22, a part 29 provided with an inclined ramp 30 capable of cooperating with the pusher 22 to push it towards the inside of the shell 13, against the spring 28,

when closing the mold.

  The form 16 comprises, at the front end of the part 17, a slot 31 (Figs. 4 and 6) substantially in the form of a V in which the drawer 22 can engage (Fig. 6). The overall arrangement is provided so that, when the mold is closed and the shell 16 is in place,

  the interval j existing between the faces of the drawer 22 and those of the slot 31 is substantially constant and corresponds to the thickness desired for the wall of the liner 1.

  The drawer 22, engaged in the slot 31, makes it possible to produce the two walls 10, 11. The separation space 9 gives a certain flexibility to the front end of the

  liner 1 and saves material.

  Advantageously, the shape 16, on its rear part 32 corresponding to the buttress of the liner 1, has a granite or grainy surface so that the inner wall of the liner at this location has a complementary granite surface with asperities and hollows which improve the adhesion from the boot to the user's feet. The surface 20i of the block and the imprints 13e, 14e of the shells 13 and 14 may also include granite or rough zones in the parts corresponding to the sole of the liner 1 and to the lateral edges of this sole to improve the external appearance of the liner and /or

adhesion with a support.

  That said, the manufacture of a liner 1 with the mold of Figures 3 to 6 is as follows.

  Starting from the position shown in Fig.3, the shape 16 being completely devoid of coating, the mold is closed by folding the block 20 towards the sole 17 of the

  shape 16, and the shell 14 towards the shell 13.

  When the shell 14 is closed, the ramp 30 automatically pushes the drawer 22 inwards so that this drawer projects into the slot 31 (FIG. 6) and the end 27 is close to the bottom of this slot 31. The mold M is blocked by clamping means (not shown) in its closed position to resist

high injection pressure.

  The material is then injected through the channel 21, through the block 20. As an indication and without limitation, the injection pressure makes it possible to inject 400 g of material in

2 seconds.

  When the injection operation is complete, the mold is opened by lifting the shell 14 which drives the shape 16 by a connection means not shown. Because the drawer 22 automatically moves back when the shell 14 is opened, there is no risk of scratching the liner 1 at the walls 10 and 11 during

  lifting of the form 16 relative to the shell 13.

  The liner 1 has all the advantages of a molded element in one piece, and ensures a good connection with the foot thanks to the housings 6 and 7 provided for

two groups of toes.

Claims (14)

  1. Closed footwear element, such as a bootie or bootie, in particular for water sports, molded in one piece from a very flexible material, characterized in that it comprises, at its front end (5), at least two housings separated (6,7) to receive two groups of corresponding toes, at least one longitudinal partition (S) being located between the housings (6,7)   to fit between the toe groups.   2. Footwear element according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the housings (6) is provided for receiving the single big toe (8), and another accommodation (7) is provided   to receive the other four toes.   3. Footwear element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has an empty space (9), outside, between two walls (10,11) forming partitions and limiting said housings (6,7) , these walls joining backwards (12), being in one piece   and continue with the rest of the footwear element.   4. Footwear element according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized by the fact that it is made of rubber   thermoplastic, or latex, or other equivalent material.   5. Slipper type footwear element according to one of   Claims i to 4, characterized in that the rod   (2) of the liner (1) and the buttress (3) are provided fairly   high to surround the user's ankle.   6. Footwear element according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the inner wall of the liner at the location of the buttress (3) has a granite surface to improve the adhesion of the liner to the foot of the user.   7. Mold for producing a footwear element according to one of the preceding claims comprising two shells   (13,14), a form (16) disposed between the shells and a block (20) for closing under the sole, a free space (j) remaining, when the mold is closed, between the form (16) and the surface inside of the shells and of the block for the material of the footwear element, characterized in that it comprises, in the zone corresponding to the front end 10 of the footwear element, at least one drawer (22) mounted to slide substantially along the longitudinal direction (D) of the footwear element, while the form (16) comprises, at its front end, a slot (31) in which the drawer can engage for molding partitions (10,11) separating two housings (6, 7) of the footwear element. 8. Mold according to claim 7, characterized in that the drawer (22) has the shape of a parallelepiped assembly and is housed, substantially over half of its thickness, in a groove (23) of a shell (13) , another groove (24) being provided in the other shell (14) to receive the rest of the thickness of the drawer (22).   9. Mold according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the drawer (22) has a longitudinal lumen (25) which passes completely through it along the thickness, this lumen (25) being closed at its two longitudinal ends, the edge of the light (25) located on the side opposite to the shell (13) comprising a mortise widening the light at this level for housing a screw head (26) passing through the light and screwed into a tapped hole in the shell (13).   10. Mold according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized   by the fact that the end (27) of the drawer (22) facing the imprint of the shell (13) has the shape of a   bow with two concave faces converging towards an end edge (27a) towards the interior of the mold.   11. Mold according to one of claims 7 to 10,   characterized by the fact that it comprises an elastic return means (R) of the drawer (22) in the retracted position to disengage the drawer (22) from the slot (31) when the mold is opened, while a device (29.30) is planned for   push the drawer into the slot when closing the mold.   12. Mold according to claim 11, characterized in that the return means (R) consists of a compression spring (28) disposed in a housing of the drawer (22) next to the light (25), the spring (28) bearing at one end against a stop provided on the drawer (22) and at its other end against the shell (13). 13. Mold according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the device (29.30) for pushing the drawer (22) comprises on the shell (14) other than that (13) provided with the drawer, a part (29 ) provided with an inclined ramp (30) adapted to cooperate with the drawer (22) to push it   inward when closing the mold.   14. Method for manufacturing a footwear element according to   one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that   which is injected into a mold (M) comprising a shape (16) provided at the front end with a longitudinal slot (31) and   a drawer (22) suitable for engaging in the slot, a very flexible material, in particular a thermoplastic rubber, for producing the footwear element in one piece.