FR2840163A1 - CLIMBING SHOE HAVING REINFORCEMENT INSERT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a climbing shoe comprising a sole made of an adherent material, characterized in that the shoe (10) comprises a reinforcing insert (26) whose outline coincides, at least in a front part of the sole, with the contour of the sole.

Description

CLIMBING SHOE HAVING REINFORCEMENT INSERT

  The invention relates to the field of climbing shoes.

  Climbing shoes have a relatively simple sole consisting essentially of an outer sole of very adherent material, generally based on rubber. Document US Pat. No. 5,142,797 describes a climbing shoe in which the sole has an inner sole and an outer sole, the inner sole being made of a relatively rigid material. This insole has a special arch to relieve the arch muscles when the climber is supported by the tip of the shoe. This relatively rigid insole therefore aims to modify the flex characteristics of the

sole along its length.

  The object of the invention is to provide a climbing shoe which in particular has improved torsional strength characteristics. Indeed, very often, the climber is brought to take supports not by the end of the slipper, but by the lateral edges of the front part of the sole, on the internal or external side, which are also called the liner edges. Such support, clearly offset from the axis of the foot and the liner, therefore tends to cause a twist (or twist) of the foot and the liner around their longitudinal axis. To this end, the invention provides a climbing shoe comprising a sole of adherent material, characterized in that the shoe includes a reinforcing insert, the

  contour coincides, at least in a front part of the sole, with the contour of the sole.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the

  detailed description which follows, as well as in light of the annexed drawings in which:

  - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a liner provided with a reinforcement insert in accordance with the teachings of the invention; - Figure 2 illustrates, in plan, a first exemplary embodiment of a reinforcement insert, - Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 illustrating an insert provided with a central orifice; - Figure 4 illustrates an insert which is further provided with an integrated rear buttress; Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the boot of Figure 1; - Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in plan two other alternative embodiments of a reinforcing insert. FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate a climbing shoe 10 which, in known manner, is essentially composed of a rod 12, in this case a flexible lower rod, a sole 14 and an external lateral protective strip 16 which follows, at least in the front part of the boot, the lower edge of the upper 12. Certain types of climbing shoes are called

  ballerinas, and the invention also applies to this type of booties.

  The rod 12 is a flexible rod, intended to be very adjusted to the foot, and it comprises for example a lacing system 18 to facilitate ['entry of the foot into the boot 10 and tightening the boot on the foot. The rod 12 is here a low rod, which does not rise above the ankle, but one could implement the invention in the context of a slipper with a high rod. The upper can be made of all types of paired materials, in particular leather or fabric. Wile can also be made of a three-dimensional woven material which will promote the evacuation of perspiration. The sole 14 firstly comprises a first sole 20 which is for example assembled to the upper according to the strobe technique !. As can be seen in Figure 5, the first sole 20 is thus connected edge to edge by a seam 22 with the lower edge of the rod 12. Very often, for a climbing shoe, this first sole 20 comes 1 0 directly in contact with the foot of the user, this to avoid the multiplication of thicknesses which can harm the sensitivity of the perception of the terrain by the climber. In a slipper

  traditional, this first sole 20 is directly covered by an external sole 24.

  The outer sole is made of a material with strong kres to provide adherent and having a flexible b on s se, for example a material based on rubber. This outer sole 2 4 generally has a thickness of the order of 4 mm, at least in the front part of the

  sole 14. The traditional sole 14 is therefore a sole which is essentially flexible.

  In fact, the nature of the materials used, and their small thickness, mean that the sole has little resistance to deformation in the face of the forces imposed on it. In a traditional slipper, this wind makes the muscles of the foot of the user which almost fully absorb the forces due to the supports. In traditional slippers, it may happen that, along with the outer sole and the sole, pressure distribution elements located either in the center of the front part, evening on an edge of the liner. However, these localized distribution elements have very weak mechanical characteristics, the essential role of which is to distribute the overpressure due for example to pressing on an asperity. These pressure distribution elements cannot, because of their poor mechanical characteristics,

  give the sole a real overall stiffness.

  In the conkaire, the liner 10 according to the invention comprises a reinforcement insert 26 so

  to better control the deformations of the sole during the bearing.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, the insert 26 is in the form of a planar plate element which has a substantially contour

  identical to that of the first sole 20, at least in the front part of the sole 14.

  In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the reinforcement 26 extends over the entire length of the sole, that is to say up to a heel area of the sole. This configuration is

  particularly efficient because it makes it possible to distribute torsional stresses as well as possible.

  However, it is also possible to envisage carrying out the invention with an insert which only extends

  on the front part of the sole, provided you follow the outline.

  In the rear part of the sole 14, the outline of the insert 26 illustrated in FIG. 2 may have a different outline from that of the first sole 20, for example by presenting

less width.

  This insert 26 can be made of different types of material, provided that they have sufficient rigidity, that is to say greater than that of the material of the adherent sole. The material forming the insert will preferably have a modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) greater than 1 GPa. The insert can thus be produced using an injected plastic material such as polyethylene or rigid polyurethane. To increase their characteristics

  mechanical, these plastics can be loaded with fibers.

  The insert can also be produced for example by compression molding using a

  thermosetting resin loaded with fibers.

  However, the best compromise between weight and stiffness will be obtained by using high performance composite materials such as plies of fibers (of woven preferences).

  impregnated with a polymer resin (for example a polyester resin or an epoxy resin).

  The fiber layers will preferably be glass or carbon fabric. Different types of weaving and wind fiber orientations possible. Similarly, the grammage of the fabrics used can be adapted to the performance that one wishes to obtain. These high performance composite materials (ifs have an elastic modulus of the order of 15 to 120 Gpa) will be more expensive than the materials mentioned above, but they will make it possible to obtain

  a lighter insert, with equivalent mechanical characteristics.

  By its geometric, and by the intrinsic rigidity of the materials which compose it, [insert 26 makes it possible to increase in a very important way the holding of the boot when the climber is supported on a surface only by the edges 34 of the boot, that is to say - say by the lateral edges of the front part of the sole. Indeed, thanks to the fact that the reinforcing insert 26 extends laterally to the edges of the sole 14, the support forces imposed on the edges will be directly taken up by the insert. These forces, which impose torsional stresses on the sole, wind transmitted as far as the rear of the sole, it is towards the part of the foot which transmits the bearing forces towards the climber's leg. Unlike a localized pressure distribution element, a much better deformation resistance of the

  sole, and it relieves better the efforts to be provided by the muscles of the foot.

  In addition, the fact that the insert extends to the precise location of the support, that is to say at the edges, allows the outer sole to better fulfill its role of grip. In fact, the material of this outer sole is necessarily relatively deformable. Also, under the constraint of the support, the material would tend, without the presence of the insert, to deform exaggeratedly, to the point of damaging the adhesion of the support. On the contrary, the edge being reinforced by the insert according to the invention, the deformation of the material of the outer sole at the level of the support is limited and the material can best fulfill its adhesion function. The same advantage is of course found in relation to the adhesion work which is sometimes completed by the protective strip 16, which is generally carried out with the

  same material as that of the outer sole 24 or with a similar material.

  In Figure 3, there is illustrated a particularly interesting alternative embodiment of the invention. Indeed, it can be seen that this second embodiment of a reinforcing insert 26 differs from the first by the presence of a central orifice 28, which as illustrated, extends over the front part of the sole 14 but also on a good part of the back part of it. By the presence of this orifice 28, the insert 26 presents itself, at least in the front part of the sole, as a peripheral frame of substantially constant width which almost exactly follows the external contour of the sole but which is hollow in the center. The width of the frame

  peripheral is for example between 4 and 20 mm.

  The presence of the central opening 28 has the advantage of strengthening the grip of the sole at the level of the lateral edges, without however degrading in too great a way the ability of the sole to transmit sensory information to the foot as to the micro-reliefs of the 1 0 surface on which the foot is supported. Indeed, in the central part of the sole, that which corresponds to the central hole 28, the sole 14 has the same deformation capacity as a conventional sole, at least in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sole. Thus, by this central part, the climber can feel the asperites of the ground on which it is supported, without these asperites being filtered by the presence of an insert covering the whole of the forefoot. With this configuration, the insert 26 retains much of its ability to improve the torsional strength of the sole. It should also be noted that the central opening 28 could extend only over the front part of the sole, where most of the sensory perception takes place, the central and rear parts of the insert being able to

  be full to enhance the anti-twist effect of the insert.

  In FIGS. 6 and 7, two alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated which aim to impart progressive rigidity to the insert between the lateral contour, which one wishes to be rigid, and the central part correspond to the orifice 28 This objective can be achieved by providing that the insert has lamellae 34 which extend in a radial direction towards the "center" of the orifice 28, in the plane of the insert. In the example of FIG. 6, these strips 34 are obtained simply by providing, in the peripheral frame of the 'insert which surrounds the central orifice 28, cutouts 36 of substantially radial orientation which open out into the internal edge delimiting [ orifice 28. Of course, these cutouts 36 do not extend to the outer edge of the insert. In the example of FIG. 7, the slats 34 wind the spaces one of the

  others by interstices 38, and they extend towards the center over a greater length.

  The slats 34 have a substantially trapezoidal shape, that is to say that their width decreases and is minimal at their free internal radial end. Of course, the lamellae could have other shapes, for example a triangular shape. In all cases, the lamellae 34 work in flexion in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sole, their outer radial end being "anchored" on the peripheral frame of the insert 26 and their inner radial end according to the deformations of the sole in the center of the orifice 28. This gives a decreasing stiffness radially from the outside to the inside of

['central opening 28.

  It could also be provided that the differential stiffness in the radial direction is formed by a variation in thickness of the insert in this direction. In all cases, such a design prevents the rigidity of the sole from suddenly varying at the edge of the orifice.

central 28.

  In FIG. 4, a reinforcing insert is illustrated similar to that of FIG. 3 but the rear part of which is extended by a buttress 30. The buttress 30 rises vertically, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sole, to come cover the back of the user's heel. By associating the buttress 30 with the insert, the capacity of the liner is considerably strengthened to transmit torsional forces from the foot to the leg. In the example illustrated, the buttress 30 has a small width at its lower connecting part with the rest of the insert 26, and it widens upwards. In addition, it can be seen that the buttress is hollow at its center 40 to limit its contact with the Achilles tendon which is a particularly sensitive area of the foot. The insert 26 with its buttress 30 form a three-dimensional piece. For reasons of ease of construction, they may be produced in two elements (the sole part of the insert then being substantially planar) assembled one at a time.

the other, for example by gluing.

  The buttress 30 may be designed so as to exert, by spring effect, a pressure force on the rear part of the heel. This pressure effort will contribute to better support of the liner on the foot. Indeed, a climber is rarely supported on the heel and, during certain gestures, the heel of the shoe tends to come off the foot. The buttress, having a spring effect, will always keep the heel of the bootie in contact with the foot,

  2 0 thus preventing any sketch of heaving.

  In all the examples described so far, the part of the insert corresponding to the sole is flat. However, it can be expected that this part of the insert has a three-dimensional shape adapted, at least partially, to the shape of the foot. This will be particularly easy to obtain if the insert is produced by molding, whether by injection or by compression. In addition, by giving a strongly three-dimensional character to the rear part of the insert, it will be possible to very significantly increase the rigidity of this rear part, therefore the capacity of the sole to resist torsional stresses and to transfer the forces to the climber's leg. On the contrary, it will be of interest to keep a front part of the relatively flat insert to keep a certain flexibility in this part of the

sole.

  In Figure S. there is illustrated a particularly advantageous method of assembling the liner

  provided with a reinforcement insert according to the invention.

  It can thus be seen that the insert is plate directly against the lower face of the first sole 20. It is also known that the lateral protective strip 16, which essentially stretches along the lower edge of the rod 12, comprises a folded portion 32 which covers, from below, at least partially ['insert 26. The outer sole 24 is then attached from below. With this construction, the edge of the insert is perfectly hidden

by the protective strip 16.

  The insert according to the invention therefore makes it possible to have a liner in which the transmission of the torsional forces is done by a homogeneous work of the whole of the sole, without stiffening the latter excessively in the direction of its flexion, which allows to bring precision in the control of the supports. In the versions provided with a central orifice, the frame effect of the insert ensures very good hold of the edges of the liner, while retaining to the climber a very good ability to feel the nature and the asperites of the surface on which he takes support.

Claims (16)

  1. Climbing shoe comprising a sole (14, 24) of adherent material, characterized in that the shoe (10) comprises a reinforcement insert (26) whose contour coincides, at least in a front part of the sole ( 14, 20, 24), with the outline of the sole (14, 20, 24). 2. Climbing shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that ['reinforcement insert   (26) extends backwards into a heel area of the bootie.   3. Climbing shoe according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that   ['reinforcement insert (26) is made of a more rigid material than the adherent material of the 1 0 sole (24).   4. Climbing shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that ['reinforcement insert   (26) is made of plastic.   5. Climbing shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that ['reinforcement insert   (26) is made of composite material.   6. Climbing shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that ['reinforcement insert (26) is made of a composite material comprising woven fibers embedded in an A. polymer resme.   7. Climbing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the reinforcing insert (26) has, at least in a front part, a 2 0 central opening (28).   8. Climbing shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that ['reinforcement insert (26) has a decreasing rigidity radially from the outside towards the interior of [' orifice central (28).   9. Climbing shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that ['reinforcement insert (26) comprises radial strips (34) which extend in the direction of the interior of [' orifice central (28).   10. Climbing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the reinforcing insert (26) has a rear buttress (30) which goes up the along the back of the heel.   11. Climbing shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that the buttress (30) is hollow.   12. Climbing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the reinforcing insert (26) consists of a flat plate element.   13. Climbing shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in   3 5 that ['reinforcement insert (26) consists of a three-dimensional element.   14. Climbing shoe according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the reinforcing insert (26) is between a first sole (20) and an outer sole (24).   15. Climbing shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that the first sole (20) is sewn edge to edge with the lower contour of the upper (12) of the shoe, according to the Strobel technique.   16. Climbing shoe according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the   upper (12) is protected at least in its front part by an external lateral band (16), and in that the external lateral band (16) is folded under the sole so that the insert (26)