FR3108832A1 - LACE PROTECTION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a removable protective device (1) for footwear, comprising a body (10) comprising a first face having at least one visible reinforcement portion (13) and a second face (F2) intended to be affixed to a portion of a shoe, the device (1) comprising at least two fastening elements (11) projecting from the second face (F2) in order to secure said protective device (1) to said shoe. This device makes it possible not to alter the integrity of the shoe on which it is fixed. Figure for abstract: Fig.5

Description

LACE PROTECTION DEVICE

The field of the invention relates to the field of sports equipment, in particular equipment for the practice of skateboarding, more commonly referred to as "skateboard".

When skateboarding, shoes are put to the test.

To perform tricks, the shoe must regularly rub against the board, more commonly called "board" in the Anglo-Saxon terminology to perform tricks. In addition, the surface of the board is covered with a fiberglass paper (“grip” in English) used to hang on shoes. The shoe very regularly comes into friction with the grip, which inevitably leads to wear of the entire part of the shoe that comes into contact.

There are shoes for skateboarding. These shoes usually have a thick outsole to extend the life of the shoes. The upper of the shoes is made of a material that is particularly resistant to abrasion. Such a shoe upper makes it possible to slow down the wear of the shoes when performing tricks by the friction of the shoe against the grip. However, in almost all cases the shoe is not fully protected, especially at the level of the laces, since it was also designed to be aesthetic.

A common problem in the art of footwear dedicated to the activity of skateboarding and footwear in general when used for skateboarding is the tendency of laces to wear out quickly. The laces abrade and start to fray very quickly when skateboarding. Indeed, the practice of skateboarding involves jumps and tricks that require the user to rub their feet on the surface of the board during the transition of the position of the foot along it.

Almost all of the figures ("tricks" in English) cause significant friction between the shoe and the grip of the board.

For example, a common skateboarding trick known as a "kickflip" is a maneuver that allows the user to jump by rotating their board one turn along the axis parallel to the board. The user flips the base of the board so that its rear end (“tail” in English) touches the ground while its front end (“nose” in English) quickly rises upwards. The user then jumps with the skateboard as the board bounces off the ground to allow both the board and the user to fly off the rebound. The front foot of the user moves towards the side and the front of the board to cause it to rotate. During this action, the user drags the top of their front foot along the grip in a lateral direction to cause the board to rotate on itself. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the upper part of the shoe is rubbed against the grip, in particular at the level of the eyelets through which the laces pass. The grip acts as a high-friction, abrasive surface for traction. In this configuration, the upper part of the user's foot is along the board, the grip abrades and damages the user's laces, causing them to quickly fray and deteriorate. The laces break very quickly and must be changed regularly.

The patent document US9,066,560 proposes a solution through a skateboard shoe comprising a protective cover to cover the entire upper part of the shoe including the laces. This cover makes it possible in particular to prevent such wear of the laces. The protective cover includes a first tongue for covering the laces and a second tongue covering the first tongue. The second tongue is fixed to the shoe by a removable fastening means (scratch).

A disadvantage of this solution is that it requires a significant amount of material to cover all the laces, which makes it more expensive. In addition, the manufacture of such a shoe is particularly complex.

Another disadvantage of this solution is that it forces the user, more commonly known as a "skater", to only use this model of shoe during his activity if he wants to be able to protect his laces. This solution therefore does not make it possible to remedy the problem of wear of the laces on all the other pairs of shoes.

An additional disadvantage is that this solution offers a heavier, bulkier shoe that is less flexible for the user, who nevertheless needs this flexibility and lightness in the foot for performing tricks.

Another disadvantage is that this solution greatly degrades the aesthetic appearance of the shoe to prevent wear of the laces. This solution does not take into account the importance of the freedom of choice of shoe model to indulge in the practice of skateboarding or any other discipline whatsoever.

The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks.

The invention relates to a removable protective device for footwear comprising a body comprising a first face having at least one visible reinforcement portion and a second face intended to be affixed to a portion of a shoe, the device comprising at least two binding protruding from the second face in order to secure said protection device with said shoe. Preferably, said removable shoe protection device does not alter the integrity of said shoe.

One advantage is to be able to protect a portion of the shoe from abrasion using a removable device to be fixed to the shoe of the user. The reinforcement portion advantageously makes it possible to protect the shoe by undergoing abrasion in its place.

In one embodiment, each binding element is intended to cooperate with an eyelet for the passage of a lace of said shoe. One advantage is to be able to protect a portion of the shoe from abrasion using a removable device that can be adapted to any type of shoe including eyelets for the laces.

In one embodiment, the reinforcement device comprises two reinforcement portions each arranged at a lateral end of the body. The advantage of these reinforcement portions on the lateral side is to overprotect the lateral sides which are the first to be subjected to abrasion against the grip of the board when the device protects the lace of the shoe along the eyelets.

In one embodiment, the body comprises two reinforcement portions and a central portion, the thickness of each reinforcement portion being greater than the thickness of the central portion. One advantage is to provide a device comprising two more robust lateral reinforcing portions to protect the laces and a more flexible central portion between these two reinforcing portions to ensure the flexibility of the body and better fixing of the protective device.

In one embodiment, the first face comprises a step at the border between the central zone and each side portion. The step advantageously makes it possible to create a wear marker of the device making it possible to follow the loss of material of the reinforcement portion.

According to one embodiment, the central zone comprises a surface adapted to be printed or to affix a logo.

In one embodiment, each attachment element is attached to a reinforcement portion of the body. One advantage is to reinforce the robustness of the device at the level of the stress concentration zones created by the junction between the fixing elements and the body.

In one embodiment, each binding element comprises a rod whose diameter allows the insertion of said body in an eyelet for the passage of a lace of said shoe. An advantage is to provide a device allowing cooperation with the eyelets without closing operation or triggering an additional binding.

In one embodiment, each fixing element comprises a distal end provided with a non-return means. The anti-return means advantageously make it possible to increase the force necessary to remove the protective device from the eyelets of the shoe, reducing the risk of accidental removal during its use.

In one embodiment, said body and said fastening means form a single one-piece piece.

In one embodiment, the composition and the thickness of the body allow an elastic curvature of said body at least less than a radius of curvature of 10 cm. This minimum radius of curvature advantageously makes it possible to bend the device to allow its fixing, in particular to match the distance between two fixing elements to the distance between two eyelets on the same lateral side of the shoe. The elasticity of the body during its curvature also causes, once the device is fixed, a thrust of the fixing elements against the side edges of the eyelets, favoring its retention in said eyelets.

In one embodiment, the proximal end of each fixation element comprises an abutment included in the thickness of the body. The abutment is for example integrated between two layers of materials which are secured for example by gluing or by sewing. One advantage is to allow a better solid fixing between the fixing element and the body.

In one embodiment, the proximal end of each fixing element comprises an abutment abutting against the first face, the fixing element progressing as far as the first face F1 by a bore through the thickness of the body. In one embodiment, said abutment is removable from the binding element. One advantage is to simplify the manufacture of the device while increasing the robustness of the connection between the fixing element and the body.

According to one embodiment, the proximal end of each fixing element comprises a stop limiting or blocking the translational movements of the fixing element along an axis perpendicular to the first face of the body.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrates:

• [Fig. 1], Figure 1: A shoe comprising eyelets 30 that can accommodate a device of the invention;
• [Fig. 2], Figure 2: A shoe comprising eyelets 30 on which is fixed a device of the invention;
• [Fig. 3A], figure 3A: A first representation of an individual performing a figure with a skateboard likely to cause abrasion of the laces of his left shoe;
• [Fig. 3B], figure 3B: A second representation of an individual performing a figure with a skateboard likely to cause abrasion of the laces of his right shoe;
• [Fig. 4], Figure 4: A perspective view of the first face of an embodiment of a device of the invention;
• [Fig. 5], Figure 5: A perspective view of the second face of an embodiment of a device of the invention;
• [Fig. 6], Figure 6: A side view of an embodiment of a device of the invention obtained by molding;
• [Fig. 7A], Figure 7A: A side view of a first embodiment of a fastening element of a device of the invention;
• [Fig. 7B], Figure 7B: A side view of a second embodiment of a fastening element of a device of the invention;
• [Fig. 8], Figure 8: A top view of an embodiment of a device of the invention having substantially the shape of a skateboard.

FIG. 1 illustrates a classic shoe 3 used for practicing skateboarding and on which the protective device 1 is intended to cooperate. The shoe 3 comprises a lace 32 passing through eyelets 30 arranged and sized for the passage of the lace 32. The shoe 3 comprises a series of eyelets 30 on each lateral side of the shoe 3. The laces thus pass from an eyelet 30 of one series to an eyelet 30 of the other series to tighten the shoe 3.

Figure 2 illustrates the shoe of Figure 1 on which is mounted a protection device 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The protection device 1 covers at least part of the lace 32, in particular at the level of the eyelets 30 on the same lateral side. The protective device 1 covers at least part of the eyelets 30 of the same series of eyelets.

The advantage is thus to protect the portions of the lace 32 at the level of the eyelets 30 on a lateral side of the shoe 3.

Figure 3A shows a user of a skateboard performing a "kickflip" seen from the front.

FIG. 3B represents a user of a skateboard performing a “kickflip” seen from the side. It can be observed in these figures that when performing the "kickflip", the user 5 performs a friction movement with the front foot. During this friction, the lateral side of the front shoe 3 is in friction with the grip of the board 2, in particular with the front part 21 of the board 2 (commonly called the "nose"). The protection device 1 aims to cover the eyelets 30 on this same lateral side of the shoe to undergo abrasion in place of the shoe 3 on this portion, in particular in place of the lace 32.

The protection device 1 according to several embodiments is now described below with reference to Figures 4 to 9.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a protection device 1 according to one embodiment of the invention seen from a first face F1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of this same protection device 1 seen from a second face F2. The protective device 1 comprises a body 10 and at least two fastening elements 11. The fastening elements 11 make it possible to secure the protective device 1 with the shoe 3.

The second face F2 is intended to be affixed to a portion of the boot 3. The second face F2 preferably comprises a flat surface on at least a part or on the whole of the second face F2.

The flatness of the second face F2 advantageously makes it possible to promote homogeneous contact between the device 1 and the shoe 3. In particular, a flat surface increases the contact surface between the shoe 3 and the protective device 1. The stresses undergone by the portion shoe and the lace 32 are therefore advantageously reduced.

Preferably, the second face F2 comprises a surface comprising a substantially smooth material allowing friction between the boot 3 and the second face F2 reducing abrasion.

The body 10 of the protection device 1 is a flexible body. By flexible body, it is meant that the body 10 can undergo an elastic deformation allowing the body to have a radius of curvature sufficient to follow the radius of curvature of a shoe 3, in particular the radius of curvature of the shoe along the eyelets 30 on the same lateral side of the shoe 3. In one embodiment, the composition and the thickness of the body 10 allow an elastic curvature of said body 10 at least less than a radius of curvature of 10 cm. This radius of curvature advantageously makes it possible to bend the device to allow its fixing, in particular to match the distance between two fixing elements to the distance between two eyelets 30 on the same lateral side of the shoe. Preferably, the elasticity of the body also causes, once the device 1 has been fixed, a thrust of the fixing elements 11 against the side edges of the eyelets, helping it to be held in said eyelets 30.

Preferably, the body 10 is made of leather, imitation leather, plastic rubber or fabric. The body 10 must be flexible enough while allowing the protection of the lace.

The first face F1 comprises at least one reinforcing portion 13. The reinforcing portion 13 is intended to undergo abrasion against the grip of the skateboard 2. The reinforcing portion 13 may be visible. By "apparent" is meant that the reinforcing portion can protrude relative to the rest of the first face F1 or that the coating of the reinforcing portion 13 is different from the rest of the first face F1.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the body 10 preferably comprises two portions of reinforcements 13. The portions of reinforcements 13 are preferably arranged on the first face F1. The reinforcing portions 13 are arranged on the two longitudinal ends of the body 10. The body 10 further comprises a central portion 12 between the two reinforcing portions 13.

The reinforcement portions 13 protrude from the central portion 12. The thickness of the reinforcement portions 13 is greater than the thickness of the central portion 12. In one embodiment, the first face F1 comprises a step 14 at the border between the central portion 12 and a reinforcing portion 13.

An advantage of the reinforcing portions 13 protruding is to allow more effective protection of the laces 32. For example, during pressure on the reinforcement portion 13, the greater the thickness of the reinforcement portion 13, the more the pressure will be damped and the lower the pressure undergone by the lace 32 will be.

Another advantage of the thickness of the reinforcement portion 13 is to promote the life of the protection device 1. During abrasion between the grip of the board and the reinforcement portion 13, part of the material portion reinforcement 13 is torn off. Thus, the thicker the reinforcing portion 13, the more its service life is advantageously increased.

Another advantage of creating a step 14 between the central portion 12 and the reinforcing portions 13 is the creation of a wear marker. The height of the step allows the user to estimate the difference in thickness between the central portion 12 and the reinforcement portion. In this way, the disappearance of the step 14 alerts the user 5 that the protective device 1 is worn and must be replaced.

In addition, the smaller thickness of the central portion 12 advantageously makes it possible to increase the flexibility of the protective device between the two reinforcing portions 13. This flexibility advantageously allows the adaptation of the protective device 1 to any type of shoe shape. more or less curved as well as improving user comfort. The thickness of the reinforcement portion 13 can be between 3 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 7 mm.

An advantage is therefore to present two robust lateral reinforcement portions 13 to protect the laces and a more flexible central portion 12 between these two reinforcement portions to ensure flexibility and better fixing of the protective device 1.

In an embodiment not shown, the body 10 is made up of a longitudinal strip. The longitudinal band can extend between 6 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 7 cm and 9 cm. In this embodiment, the reinforcement portions may comprise a second layer fixed to said strip.

By “exposed support portion”, it can be understood, alternatively or cumulatively, that the reinforcing portion comprises a surface different from the surface of the central portion 12. Preferably, the surface of the reinforcing portion 13 is more resistant to abrasion than the surface of the central portion 12. The surface of the reinforcing portion 13 may comprise, for example, a metal, leather or plastic coating.

According to one embodiment, the central portion 12 comprises a surface adapted to its printing or alternatively comprises a surface making it possible to secure an element of aesthetic appearance. For example, the surface 12 comprises mechanical fastening systems using textile hooks and loops, more commonly called "scratches". This attachment makes it possible to attach a removable hook-and-loop strip comprising one face with a pattern and one face adapted to cooperate with the hook-and-loop of the device 1. According to another embodiment, the surface 12 is an adhesive surface for gluing a label. In the latter case, surface 12 is provided with a film forming a sheet attached to surface 12 which can be removed for gluing a label.

The protective device 1 further comprises at least two fixing elements 11. The fixing elements 11 make it possible to secure the protective device 1 to the shoe 3 of the user, preferably by a removable connection.

The fixing elements 11 are removable fixing elements. This removable binding advantageously makes it possible to remove and put back the protective device 1 on the shoe 3 as soon as desired by the user. In addition, a reversible binding advantageously makes it possible to replace the protection device 1 once worn without changing shoes.

The fixing elements 11 protrude from the second face F2. The presence of two fixing elements 11 makes it possible to prevent the rotation of the device 1 once fixed to the shoe. The two fixing elements 11 are preferably sufficiently distant from each other along the body of the device 1, for example by at least two centimeters. One of the interests is to cover a maximum length of the shoe from which the laces intertwine.

In one embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, each fastening element 11 is designed to cooperate with an eyelet 30 in a removable manner. The fastening element 11 is designed to be inserted into an eyelet 30 of a shoe. Preferably, the two elements 11 are separated from each other by a distance of between 4 cm and 10 cm, very preferably between 5 cm and 8 cm. This distance advantageously allows each binding element 11 to cooperate with an eyelet 30 of the same series of eyelets of a shoe 3. This last range of values allows a good compromise between the mechanical retention of the device 1 on a shoe and its resistance to tearing during skate tricks.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of a device 1 comprising a binding element 11 comprising a rod 111 intended to be inserted into an eyelet 30 of a shoe. The proximal end of the rod 111 is fixed integrally to the body 10 of the device 1. The term “proximal end” is understood to mean the end of the fixing element closest to the body 10 of the device 1. The rod 111 protrudes of the second face F2 over a height of between 5 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 8 mm.

The diameter of the upper 111 is adapted to cooperate with a shoe eyelet 30. The eyelets 30 for the passage of the laces 32 having a standard size for almost all shoes, those skilled in the art will unambiguously understand the range of diameters to be applied to the rod 111 of the device 1 to allow such cooperation. Preferably, the diameter of the rod 111 is within a value range extending from 2 mm to 5 mm, more preferably from 3 mm to 4 mm.

The fastening element 11 may comprise a non-return means 110. The non-return means 110 advantageously makes it possible to prevent the withdrawal of the fastening element 11 from the eyelet 30 for a predefined applied force. The non-return means 110 is advantageously arranged at the level of the distal end of the rod 111. The non-return means is designed to be pushed into an eyelet by applying a predefined minimum force which is however sufficient to prevent systematic withdrawal. The anti-return means nevertheless allows withdrawal by applying a sufficient extraction force and therefore greater than a predefined threshold.

In order to perform this function, the diameter of the non-return means 110 is designed to allow the introduction of the rod 111 into an eyelet 30 and to obstruct its withdrawal. The diameter of the non-return means 110 may be greater than the diameter of the rod 111, preferably greater by 0.5 to 2 mm than the diameter of the rod 111. The diameter of the non-return means 110 preferably ranges between 3.5 and 5 mm, more preferably between 4 mm and 5 mm. The non-return means 110 can extend over a height of between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm. The height is measured along a longitudinal axis of the rod 111.

One advantage of such a binding element 11 is that it allows the protective device 1 to be removably attached to a shoe 3 without having to modify the structure of the shoe. Another advantage is to be able to fix the device 1 on the shoe 3 without additional operation of attaching, closing or actuating a binding.

Advantageously, the non-return means is dimensioned on an opening of an eyelet of a shoe comprising the passage of a lace. The presence of the lace contributes to exerting a retaining force on the non-return device. Thus the object which is protected is itself an element making it possible to reinforce the behavior of the device 1 of the invention.

In another example not shown, the non-return means 110 can comprise a lug, a hook or an attachment means.

The binding elements can preferably be arranged in an area comprising a support portion 13.

In a first embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the fastening element 11 and the body 10 are formed by a single one-piece piece. Preferably, the device 1 is made in a single one-piece part by injection. Part 1 is for example made by molding.

In a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the fixing elements 11 are separate parts from the body 10 of the device 1 and are fixed integrally to the body 10 by their proximal end.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the proximal end of each fixing element 11 can comprise a first stop 112. The first stop 112 can be integrated into the thickness of the body 10. Preferably, the first stop 112 is integrated into the thickness of the reinforcing portion 13. According to one example, the fastening element 11 is integrated into the thickness of the body 10 during the molding of said body 10.

An advantage of the first stop 112 integrated into the thickness of the body 10 is to allow efficient and simple anchoring of the fastening element 11 to the body 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the fixing element 11 may further comprise a second stop 113, arranged along the rod 111. The second stop 113 is arranged so as to abut against the second face F2 when the first abutment 112 arranged on the proximal end of the rod 111 is in abutment against the first face F1 of the body 10.

According to one embodiment, the fixing element 11 has only one stop 112. The stop 112 can then be fixed to the end of the rod 11 in a visible manner on the second face of the device 1.

In one embodiment, the first stop 112 is removable vis-à-vis the rod 111. It may be for example a nut or a screw head. Thus, to mount the device 1, a through hole is made through the body 10, preferably through the reinforcing portion 13. The hole can also be designated as a through opening.

The fixing element 11, from which the first stop 112 has been removed, is inserted into the hole opening through its proximal end through the second face F2 until the second stop 113 abuts against the second face F2. The first stop 112 is then mounted on the rod 111 through the bore by the first face F1. According to one example, the fastening element 11 is designed so that the first stop 112 cooperates with the rod 111 by screwing.

In an embodiment not shown, the fixing elements 11 can comprise magnetic fixing means such as permanent magnets. Each fixing element 11 can comprise a first permanent magnet fixed to the second face F2 and a second magnet. The second magnet is intended to be placed under the eyelets of the shoe and to cooperate with the first magnet to removably attach the protective device to the shoe in a removable manner.

In another example, the fasteners 11 may include press studs.

In another example, the fastening elements 11 can comprise a system of textile hooks and textile loops (commonly called "scratch").

As illustrated in FIG. 8 representing a top view of the first face F1 of the device 1 according to one embodiment, the distal ends of the body 10 may have a portion having an ovoid shape.

Claims (11)

Protective device (1) removable for shoe (3) comprising a body (10) comprising a first face (F1) having at least one exposed reinforcing portion (13) and a second face (F2) intended to be affixed to a portion of a boot (3), the device comprising at least two binding elements (11) projecting from the second face (F2) in order to secure said protection device (1) to said boot (3). Protective device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that each fastening element (11) is intended to cooperate with an eyelet (30) for the passage of a lace (32) of the said shoe (3). Protective device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises two portions of reinforcements (13) each arranged at a lateral end of the body (10). Protective device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body (10) comprises two reinforcement portions (13) and a central portion (12), the thickness of each reinforcement portion ( 13) being greater than the thickness of the central portion (12). Protective device (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the first face (F1) comprises a step (14) at the border between the central zone (12) and each lateral portion (13), the said central zone comprising a surface suitable for printing. Protective device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each fixing element (11) is fixed to a reinforcing portion (13) of the body (10). Protection device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each fixing element (11) comprises a rod (111) whose diameter allows the insertion of the said body (111) in an eyelet (30 ) for the passage of a lace (32) of said shoe (3). Protective device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that each fixing element (11) comprises a distal end provided with a non-return means (110). Protection device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the said body (10) and the said fixing means (11) form a single one-piece piece. Protection device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the composition and the thickness of the body (10) allow an elastic curvature of the said body (10) at least less than a radius of curvature of 10 cm. Protective device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the proximal end of each fixing element (11) comprises an abutment (112) limiting or blocking the translation movements of said fixing element ( 11) along an axis perpendicular to the first face (F1) of the body (10).