FR2805753A1 - CABLE SOLE ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sole-wedge assembly for a shoe, intended for any type of sport practice, which allows the user to personalize his shoe himself according to the sport practiced. This assembly is characterized by the association of a flexible sole (1) and a shim (4) with which is associated fixing means (10) capable of ensuring a removable fixing of the shim (4) on the face. bottom (3) of the sole (1).

Description

SHOE SOLE ASSEMBLY

  The present invention relates to a sole-wedge assembly for a shoe intended for any type of sporting practice, and in particular snowboarding, alpine skiing, in-line skating, hiking, sliding shoes, etc. The invention allows the user to personalize his shoe himself according to the sport practiced. In the state of the prior art, there are many systems of sole customization shims which are permanently bonded to the sole, as well as soles molded to the shape of the foot. These devices are intended for medical use of the orthopedic type and are only intended to correct defects in the anatomy and / or course of the foot. However, the inventions described in documents US Pat. No. 4,316,333 and US Pat. No. 4,841,648 have a removable wedge system by quick attachment of the "velcro" type which is positioned on top of the inner sole of the shoe. The user can modify the correction of his

  sole by interchanging the shims chosen in a standard set of shims intended for this purpose.

  The inventions described in documents FR 2 315 270 and US 2 311 925 specify blocks which may be stackable and which are arranged on the top of the sole of the shoe thanks to

  specific quick coupler systems.

  However, all these systems position the wedges on top of the sole. The wedges thus used must be made of specific material, therefore relatively expensive, for

  be in contact with the foot. In addition, it is still an orthopedic use.

  Other inventions, described in documents US 1,985,919 and US 880,245 provide wedges positioned under the sole. They specify rigid parts, located under the sole, which are intended to fix the curve of the sole at the level of the arch of the foot. These

  parts, riveted on the sole, are used for orthopedic use.

  None of the systems described above provides for an adaptation of the sole to the type of

practiced sport.

  One of the aims of the present invention is to propose a wedge device which allows the user to personalize his sole himself according to his sport practice. Another object of the invention is to propose a device whose wedges do not need to be made in

  expensive materials resistant to foot contact.

  According to the invention, the wedge-sole assembly comprises at least one wedge with which are associated fixing means capable of ensuring a removable fixing of the wedge on the underside of the sole. This invention makes it possible to equip either an inner sole of a shoe, or the outer sole of a liner which is positioned inside the shoe.

  In a first embodiment, the shim covers the entire sole.

  In a second embodiment, the wedge only cooperates with part of the sole.

  In a third embodiment, the wedge covers the entire sole and includes

  wedge elements of different thickness and rigidity.

  In a fourth embodiment, the wedge and the sole serve to maintain a reinforcement

rod.

  The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear with the aid of the

  description with reference to the attached drawing which forms an integral part thereof. The description

  illustrates, by way of nonlimiting example, certain preferred embodiments. Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of a shoe liner in

the first embodiment.

  FIG. 2 schematically represents a side view of a first application of the

second embodiment.

  FIG. 3 represents a transverse view of a second application of the second embodiment. FIG. 4 schematically represents a transverse view of a slipper in a

third embodiment.

  FIG. 5 represents a bottom view of the wedge of a first application of the

third embodiment.

  Figure 6 shows a bottom view of the wedge of a second application of the third

embodiment.

  FIG. 7 represents a bottom view of the wedge of a third application of the

third embodiment.

  FIG. 8 represents a transverse view of an improvement of the preceding embodiments.

  FIG. 9 represents a perspective view of a rod reinforcement described in FIG. 8.

  Figure 1 shows a shoe CH, provided with a sole 1, inside which is shown in dotted line the foot P, and a wedge 4 which forms with the sole 1 the assembly according to the invention. With the wedge 4 are associated fixing means 10 capable of ensuring a removable fixing of the wedge 4 on the underside 3 of the sole 1. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the sole 1 comprises on its underside 3 fixing means 11 which are complementary to the means for fixing the wedge 4. In this case, the fixing means 10, 11 are of the hook-and-loop type. It will be preferable to position the loop part of the Velcro on the sole 1 of the CH liner in order to avoid, during the occasional walk with the sole liner, that the Velcro does not clog up. Of course, other embodiments are possible; for example, if the fixing means

  are arranged only on the wedge 4, they can be of the repositionable sticker type.

  In practice, in this embodiment, one comes to fix, by appropriate means such

  only Neoprene glue, the fastening system 11, that is to say the loop part of the car

  gripping, on the entire underside 3 of the sole 11. The fastening system 11 can be positioned directly on the sole 1 of the shoe CH or on an attached sole of rubber or leather type. The wedge 4 is in one piece and of constant or variable thickness, and covers the entire underside 3 of the sole 1. On the upper face of the wedge 4 are fixed by suitable means such as neoprene glue, the fastening means 10, that is to say the hook part of the Velcro. The lower part 3 of the sole 1 and the wedge 4 have almost identical and complementary surfaces. Well

  of course, the hook and loop hook / loop portions could be reversed.

  The user wishing to modify his CH bootie begins by removing it from the boot. Then he fixes, on the lower face 3 of the sole 1, the wedge 4, or else he replaces the wedge 4 with another model of wedge thanks to the removable fixing means 10, 11. The user

  then reposition the CH liner, fitted with the wedge 4, in the CH shoe.

  The foot P exerts, by direct or indirect contact, on the upper face 2, shown in dotted lines, of the sole 1 a pressure which consolidates the fixing means 10, 11. The wedge 4, which comes to bear against the top of the sole of the shoe, is put in compression by this pressure. Each wedge is designed to provide certain characteristics

  necessary for the practice of the specified sport.

  The wedge 4 could advantageously have a damping character to improve the

  user comfort during sports.

  The wedge 4 may be of variable thickness in order to best adjust the volume of the liner at the foot of the user. It may also have more or less rigid zones for

  improve the torsional resistance of the sole in certain directions.

  Of course, this embodiment also applies to an inner sole of

shoe.

  The various fastening means 10, 11, previously described also apply to

  figures and descriptions which follow and will therefore be designated by the same references.

  In FIG. 2, the shims 4, 44, 54 do not cover the entire underside 3 of the

sole 1.

  The wedge 4, which is positioned at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joints, has a damping function. This wedge 4 can be made of plastic gum or gel

  cushioning from 3 to 5mm thick. It will advantageously have an elliptical shape.

  The wedge 44 is positioned at the level of the arch of the foot. It is made of rigid plastic material of thermoformed polyethylene type, about 2mm thick. It has a raised edge 44a intended to follow the shape of the arch of the foot, and an area 44b

  approximately flat intended to improve the grip on the sole.

  The wedge 54 is positioned at the heel. It has a rigid shell, made of thermo injected plastic, about 1 mm thick, which envelops the side and rear parts of the

  heel as well as the bottom of the heel.

  So that the foot P is well supported on the wedges and the sole of the shoe, the sole 1 must be made of flexible materials of the type also usually used for the soles of slippers. The flexible nature of the sole 1 makes it possible, inter alia, to better exploit the damping functions of certain wedges 4. Thus, the pressure exerted by the foot P comes to compress the wedge 4 while making up for the difference in thickness of the wedges 4, 44, 54. The sole 1 will therefore deform to bear on the wedges 4, 44, 54, and bear on the shoe at the areas of the sole 1 which are not fitted with wedges. The non-use of a flexible material for the sole 1 considerably reduces the effectiveness of the invention due to the loss of the transmissions of the supports and the reduction in the stability of the foot. In Figure 3, the sole 1 'represents the inner sole of a shoe. The sole 1 ′ comprises on its lower face 3 a housing 31 associated with the shim 4. The lower face 3 of the sole 1 comprises fixing means 11 at least at the level of the housing 31. The shim 4 is held in the housing 31 by suitable fixing means 10. In the case where the material constituting the shim 4 is more compressible than the material of the sole 1 ′, the depth of the housing 31 will be equal to or less than the thickness of the shim 4. This makes it possible to compress the shim 4. In the otherwise, the depth of the housing 31 will be greater than the thickness of the shim 4. The foot P compresses the sole 1 'which has a firm support

  when the wedge 4 is brought into contact with the sole of the shoe.

  Of course, the embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, does not apply

  limiting to the inner sole of a shoe as well as the outer sole of a slipper.

  In Figure 4, the wedge 4 has at least two wedging elements 12, 39, integral with each other. This joining can be achieved by an adjusted but removable assembly between the two wedging elements 12, 39. But it can also be achieved by fixing the two wedging elements 12, 39, by suitable means such as neoprene glue, on the fixing means 10 such as the hook part of the hook-and-loop system. The wedging elements 12, 39 are of different thickness and of different rigidity. This makes it possible to use the damping function of one of the wedging elements 12, 39. If the wedging element 12 is of greater thickness than the wedging element 39, the damping function will be provided by the material of the wedging element 12, and the wedging element 39 will be more rigid than the wedging element 12. Conversely, if the thickness of the wedging element 12 is smaller than the thickness of the wedging element 39 , the damping function will be provided by the material of the element

  wedging 39, and the wedging element 12 will be more rigid than the wedging element 39.

  Here, the wedging element 12 is housed in a recess 13 associated with the shim 4. The wedging element 39 is made integral with the wedging element 39 by bonding to the support which is constituted by the hooking means 10 Velcro. You can also fix directly

  the wedging element 14, by suitable means such as neoprene glue, on the wedge 4.

  The wedging elements 12, 14 have damping functions and are positioned

  respectively at the metatarsophalangeal joint and the heel of the foot.

  Figures 5, 6, 7 show shims pre-assembled by the manufacturer which are intended

  each with very specific sports practices.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a block in which the damping function is predominant. It is more specifically intended for the practice of snowboarding for the use of jumps, whether performed on a springboard called "big air" or in artificial bottlenecks also called "half pipe". The wedge 4 comprises a wedging element 12 having a damping function at the heel. The wedge 4 comprises a wedging element 14 having a damping function at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint. The wedging elements 12, 14 are produced

  for example in soft gel with a thickness of Smm.

  The wedging element 32 is made for example of flexible PVC foam about 2mm thick. The wedging element 33, positioned at the level of the arch of the foot, is produced by

  example in hard PVC foam about 1, Smm thick.

  These wedging elements 12, 14 are made integral with the wedging element 32 according to a

  attachment mode similar to that described in FIG. 4 for the wedging element 12.

  As is easily understood, such a flexible wedge and comprising also damping wedging elements is intended very particularly for any sport practice involving numerous jumps and receptions on hard surfaces, in particular the

  pavements and sidewalks, but also small repeated impacts on these same hard surfaces.

  The liner or sole fitted with such a flexible wedge can be used in particular in in-line skating for a practice known as "aggressive" or else for sliding shoes called "grind" intended to slide on the edges of low walls, railings, ... etc. The use of the invention is all the more advantageous for so-called "grind" sliding shoes as these are

  often devoid of cushioning function in the outer sole of the shoe.

  Of course, the materials indicated above are given for information only and not

limiting.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a block of embodiment similar to those described above, but with a different geometry. The wedge is of the "hard" type and is in this case intended for

  a practice of snowboarding requiring good control of the pressures exerted on the board.

  The wedging elements 12, 14 are of the shock absorbing type and made of 3 mm soft gel.

thick.

  The wedge 4 comprises a wedging element 34 made of a relatively rigid material and which comprises a part 34a which encompasses the toe area, a part 34b which connects which encompasses the heel area and a part 34c which connects these two areas by the external lateral zone

  of the sole. The wedging element 34 is here made of 3mm hard PVC foam.

  The wedging element 35 positioned on the remaining surface, including the arch of the foot, is

  made of a less rigid material, for example 2mm thick soft PVC foam.

  This lateral asymmetry in rigidity leads to an asymmetry in the control. The objective of such a sole geometry, with its rigid wedging element 34, is to improve the front control thanks to the part 34a, and the rear control thanks to the part 34b, at the level of the transmission of the supports produced. by the feet. The part 34c ensures a homogeneity of the supports between the two front and rear positions and a good transfer between the front and rear supports. Such a hard type wedge can advantageously be used in snowboarding for a practice on the piste where precise control of the surf is required when taking the edge, therefore on front and rear supports of the foot. In addition, part 34c improves lateral control on the external side, which is particularly suited to the practice of snowboarding, in particular in the gliding phases uphill in "half pipes". In fact, during this practice, the surfer will mainly bear on the external side of the shoe which is located at the rear of the board, and

  will need a large lateral flexion on the medial side on the other shoe.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a shim of intermediate hardness, intended for a practice of snowboarding for a versatile use. We still have the wedging elements 12, 14, which have a damping function at the heel and metatarsals. The wedge 4 has a through recess 30 in which is housed a removable wedging element 36. This wedging element 36

  comprises fixing means intended to fix it on the underside of the sole.

  1 0 The use of one of the wedges shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, therefore allows to transform the shoe and adapt it to different surfing practices. The wedging element 36 can be made of the same material as that of the wedging element 38, that is to say made of hard foam PVC of about 1.5 mm thickness. The wedging element 36 may advantageously be elongated and made of rigid material and will be positioned between the heel and the metatarsals along the approximate longitudinal axis of the foot. Thus, the user can only change the wedging element 36 according to the desired torsional rigidity. The hold 4 may also include an element of

  wedging 37, positioned at the level of the arch of the foot, which has a damping function.

  Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a reinforcement 17 of the rod which has a certain rigidity in the direction of flexion of the liner. The reinforcement 17 comprises at least one branch 43 which is held laterally against the liner by at least one loop 40, 41, 42, formed on the liner. The end of this passer-by 40, 41, 42 may advantageously include a device for tightening the liner, such as loops of lace 50. The lower end of the branch 43 comprises fixing means 16 which are positioned interposed between the wedge 4

and sole 1.

  Either the reinforcement 17 is fixed to the underside 3 of the sole 1 by the fixing means 16 which are complementary to the fixing means 11 arranged on the sole 1. Or the reinforcement 17 is fixed to the wedge 4 by the fixing means 16 which are complementary to the fixing means 10 of the wedge 4. In this case, the wedge 4 must completely cover the

  attachment means 16. It is advantageous to combine the two attachment methods.

  Each branch 43 of the reinforcement 17 has a geometry such that it has a high inertia for forward bending, and a low inertia for lateral bending. For example, the branch 43 is made of plastic of polyurethane or polyethylene type about 2mm thick, and is approximately 3cm wide. The branch 43 has a profile which has a curvature 45 which connects the top 46 of the branch, the direction of which is approximately that of the top of the upper of the bootie CH, from the bottom of the branch 43, the direction of which is approximately that of the neck of foot. The connection between the bottom 47 of the branch and the attachment means 16 is positioned at the metatarsals. The curvature previously described however allows a certain deformation of the branch 43 towards the front with a return towards

  the back. The reinforcement 17 is essentially intended for the practice of snowboarding.

  By way of nonlimiting example, the practitioner can be offered a series of standard wedges.

  In the preferred embodiment, specific wedges will be proposed which are adapted respectively to distinct sport practices as explained in connection with the figures in 7. Thus, the surfer can at will optimize his pair of surf shoes for a day of jumping in the "big air", the next day make the runway simply by changing the hold. Likewise, the skater in line can choose a practice called "aggressive" and

  a leisure / relaxation practice with the same skates simply by changing the hold.

  Also, the city dweller will be able to use these sliding shoes to slide on the guardrails and by changing the wedges to obtain a shoe capable of walking for a long time in town. We can consider an infinity of distinct applications making it possible to optimize, for each specific practice, a multi-use footwear element. The wedges will be all the easier for the user to use as they constitute a complete and independent set covering

  the entire insole or liner of the footwear element.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which are given for information only, but also encompasses all similar or equivalent embodiments. It applies to any type of shoe in which

  Similar or identical problems must be resolved.

Claims (14)

  1- Sole-shoe assembly intended for all types of sport, and in particular snowboarding, in-line skating, downhill skiing, hiking, sliding shoes, etc., comprising: - a sole (1, 1 ') directly constituting the internal sole (1') of the shoe or else the external sole (1) of a liner (CH) equipping the shoe, such that the sole (1, 1 ') has 'an upper face (2) in direct or indirect contact with the foot (P), and a lower face (3), - at least one wedge (4), characterized in that the sole (1, 1') is made of flexible materials and in that with the wedge (4) are associated fixing means (10) capable of ensuring a removable fixing of the   wedge (4) on the underside (3) of the sole (1, 1 ').   2- An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the sole (1, 1 ') comprises on its underside (3) fixing means (11) complementary to the fixing means (10) of the wedge (4).   3- An assembly according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sole (1, 1 ')   comprises a housing (31) associated with the wedge (4).   4- assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wedge (4) comprises   at least two wedging elements (12, 14, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) integral with each other.   5- An assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that at least two of the elements of   shim (12, 14, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) are of different thickness.   6- assembly according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that at least two of   wedging elements (12, 14, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) are of different rigidity.   7- assembly according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that at least one of   wedging elements (12, 14, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) is housed in a recess (13) wedge partner (4).   8- assembly according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that at least one   wedging element (36) is housed in a through recess (30) associated with the shim (4).   9- assembly according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that at least one of   wedging elements (12) has a damping function.   - Assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the wedge (4) comprises a   wedging element (12) having a cushioning function at the heel.   11- assembly according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the wedge (4)   comprises a wedging element (14) having a damping function at the level of   the metatarsophalangeal joint.   12- assembly according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the wedge (4)   comprises a wedging element (34), made of rigid material, which comprises a part (34a) which encompasses the toe area, a part (34b) which encompasses the heel area and a   part (34c) which connects these two zones by the external lateral zone of the sole.   13- assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the wedging element (36) is elongated and rigid, and is positioned between the heel and the metatarsophalangeal joint according to   the approximate longitudinal axis of the foot.   14- assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixing means (10, 11) are of the type Velcro.   - Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the means of   fixing (10) of the wedge (4) are complementary to fixing means (16) disposed on a rod reinforcement (17), the fixing means (16) being interposed between the wedge (4) and the sole (1, 1 ').   16- assembly according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that the means of   fixing (11) of the sole (1, 1 ') are complementary to fixing means (16) arranged on a rod reinforcement (17), the fixing means (16) being interposed between the wedge (4) and the sole (1, 1 ').