GB2134769A - Shoe lacing system - Google Patents

Abstract

Footwear is disclosed including an upper (12) and a sole assembly (14). The upper (12) includes a lacing system of anatomically functioning character to the top portion of the foot, by providing two lacing regions (40, 42) separated by a notch 44. The sole assembly (14) includes an integral core and control device (36) providing lateral stability in the heel portion of the foot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Athletic shoe with improved lacing system and sole The present invention relates to an athletic shoe, particularly an athletic shoe with a lacing or closure system for securing a shoe upper of so-called "high top" variety to the foot in a manner that virtually duplicates the motion of the foot when running and a control device in the sole unit for support and lateral stability in the rear foot.

The prior art includes disclosures of athletic shoes which include structure within the region above the instep of the foot permitting movement of the leg while allowing the foot to essentially remain in place and, accordingly, prevent development of pressure within this region of the foot. Representative of prior art disclosures of athletic shoes of this type, each of which relates to athletic shoes of the so-called "ski boot" variety are U.S. Patent Nos. 2,444,800 (M. Carrier) and 3,535,800 (R. Stohr).

Turning to the prior art, the Carrier patent discloses a ski boot having an upper portion which essentially is independent of the lower portion, the portions being connected by thin leather or some flexible instrumentality. The upper portion, in essence is quite free of the lower portion, and laced about the leg by use of laces and eyelets both to the front and rear of the leg. The upper portion, thus, extends the ski boot upwardly to protect the ankle. The lower portion of the ski boot also is laced in securement of the ski boot on the foot.

The Stohr patent appears to provide the same function in a ski boot, namely that of a freedom of movement of the leg while maintaining the foot in a horizontal position. Stohr, however, provides a pleated or accordian insert in the area of the instep.

The prior art also includes a disclosure of a form of control device in an athletic shoe which functions in a manner to support the foot and control pronation in the running cycle. To this end, see U.S. Patent No. 4,288,929 (E. J. Norton et al).

According to the present invention there is provided footwear in the form of an athletic shoe including a sole assembly and an upper having quarter sections that cover a major portion of the foot and a collar that extends from the quarter sections above the region of the ankle around the lower leg defining a receiving opening to the interior of the upper for receipt of the foot, said upper connected to said sole assembly, and wherein said footwear is characterized by a lacing system providing an anatomically functioning character to the top portion of said foot, said lacing system including a throat portion at a pair of confronting lengths of said quarter sections above the instep of the foot, a pair of confronting lengths of said collar and a notched area between said lengths in said quarter sections and collar in the region of the ankle which allows the collar of said upper to flex and break evenly at the ankle, and a plurality of lace support openings along said lengths adapted to threadedly receive a lace for securing said footwear to said foot.

The invention is directed to an athletic shoe of the so-called "high top" variety which is an improvement over prior art athletic shoes of this type. Particularly, the athletic shoe comprises a sole assembly and an upper having sections that extend from the sole assembly above the region of the ankles of the foot and toward an eyestay and throat area of a lacing system. The eyestay is designed as previously indicated to provide an anatomically functioning character to the top portion of the athletic shoe. As will be described in detail below, the overall system allows a normal flexibility in range of motion in that the system of lacing within the eyestay and throat area virtually duplicates the movement of the motion of the foot.With regard to the sole assembly, it is designed to consist of an outsole to provide maximum traction and durability on all surfaces, a core having capability of providing damping and cushioning, and shock attenuation of the foot during athletic endeavours including running, jumping and so forth, and a control device which is formed as an integral part of the core. The control device functions to provide lateral stability in the rear foot and prevent breakdown of the athletic shoe in the rear foot area thereby to reduce the potential for ankle injury because, for example, of rollover.

As will be appreciated as the description continues, the lacing system and the combination of the lacing system with the control device impart to the athletic shoe features and functions not found in prior art athletic shoes as considered herein.

The athletic shoe, in addition, includes an area within the region of each ankle bone and extending around the heel, over the Achilles tendon, providing a cushioning capability and a measure of pliability greater than that of surrounding portions of the upper to substantially eliminate any potential pressure within that area of the upper.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a view in front perspective of the athletic shoe with the improved lacing or closure system and sole unit; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the athletic shoe; Fig. 3 is a view of the athletic shoe as seen from the front; and Fig. 4 is a view in section as seen along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Figs. 1-3, the athletic shoe 10 of the invention is one of the so-called "high-top" variety. Generally, the athletic shoe comprises an upper 12 and a sole unit 14.

The upper 12, as may be seen in Figs. 1-3, may be characterized by a pair of quarter sections 16, 1 8 which extend into the region of the instep, a counter section 20 surrounding the rear portions of the quarter sections toward the sole unit, a collar region 22 comprising the portion toward the top of the athletic shoe, a toe section 24 and a tongue 26.

The individual sections of the upper generally may be formed of any material as conventional for such manufactured goods. For example, the sections may comprise a fabric lamina 28, 30 (at the upper toe at the region between the quarter sections and the toe section) which may be of canvas or a canvas-like material. The collar region, generally, may comprise a laminate including a layer (not shown) of foam, preferably a high density foam such as a polyurethane foam, and layers of sheet material such as a vinyl sheet material providing an inner and outer surface cover. In addition, as may be seen by the stippling in Figs. 1 and 2, a leather or leather-like material having a suede or simulated suede finish provides a surface covering over the sections, or portions of the sections, and at least in the region of the lacing system to be described.The leather or leather-like material and the various sections may be stitched or otherwise secured together in any conventional manner.

The sole 14 includes an outsole 32 of a material providing maximum traction and durability in use on all surfaces, a core 34 and a control device 36. The core serves as a damping and shock attenuation body for cushioning the force of impact while running and jumping, and thereby reducing foot and leg fatigue as well as the potential for bone bruises and injury. The control device, on the other hand, which comprises a portion of the sole is integrally molded with the core and provides the additional function of control of pronation thereby to eliminate or at least reduce incidents of running related injury. The control device extends around the heel from the region of the ankles on the medial and lateral sides of the foot.Without any intent to limit the invention, but rather to describe a construction that has been used successfully, the control device may extend upwardly to a height of about 20-25 mm, measured from a flat undersurface. Thus, the control device provides lateral stability in the rear foot which will reduce the potential for ankle injury because of rollover and will virtually eliminate the break-down of the athletic shoe in the rear foot area, a situation which also may lead to ankle injury.

The core 34 and control device 36 may be molded from a polyurethane material, preferably a high density polyurethane that will provide the features heretofore set out. The wall of the control device may be about 1.4 to 1.6 mm in thickness and the counter section 20 is secured to the inner wall surface in the partial securement of the upper 12 and sole 14.

The outsole 32 may be formed of rubber or a rubber substitute.

The lacing system and its structural features may be seen in the several Figures. Referring to Fig. 1, the structural features include a collar lacing area 40 and a throat area 42 at the base and above the instep of the foot. A notch 44 separates the two areas of the lacing system. As previously indicated, the areas 40, 42 of the upper 1 2 are covered with leather or the leather-like material for purposes of strengthening these areas of the upper.

These structural features of the lacing system provide an anatomically functioning character to the top portion of the foot. To this end, at the base area 42 which may be characterized as an action throat, there is allowance for lacing and flexing adjustment where the vamp (the upper or instep portions of the quarter sections) meet the eyestay.

A plurality of speed laces 46 allow the lace 48 (shown in dot-dash line in Fig. 2) to self-adjust over the instep and rest on tongue 26 over the foot in a snug, comfortable manner, while reducing the potential for cutting off circulation and creating discomfort. A further pair of eyelets 50 are located in the portion of toe section 24 and quarter sections 1 6, 1 8 that connect together behind the fabric lamina 28, and yet an additional pair of eyelets 52 are formed adjacent the speed lace 46 at the base of the throat. These eyelets provide a base support for lace 48.

The notch 44 allows the collar portion 40 to flex and break evenly at the ankle, therefore allowing normal flexibility in range of motion when running.

A D-ring 54 is located at the base of notch 44.

The D-ring supports the lace in transition between the base or throat area and collar lacing area within which the lace is secured by eyelets 56 which extend from the notch to the upper portion of the collar lacing area 40.

The structural features of the lacing system, thus, provide a closure that virtually duplicates the movement of the motion of the foot when running.

The D-Ring 54 can be replaced by a conventional lacing means and maintain the same support and flex transition between the base of the throat and the lacing area in the upper portion of the collar.

Claims (6)

1. Footwear in the form of an athletic shoe including a sole assembly and an upper having quarter sections that cover a major portion of the foot and a collar that extends from the quarter sections above the region of the ankle around the lower leg defining a receiving opening to the interior of the upper for receipt of the foot, said upper connected to said sole assembly, and wherein said footwear is characterized by a lacing system providing an anatomically functioning character to the top portion of said foot, said lacing system including a throat portion at a pair of confronting lengths of said quarter sections above the instep of the foot, a pair of confronting lengths of said collar and a notched area between said lengths in said quarter sections and collar in the region of the ankle which allows the collar of said upper to flex and break evenly at the ankle, and a plurality of lace support openings along said lengths adapted to threadedly receive a lace for securing said footwear to said foot.

2. Footwear as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of speed laces, said speed laces comprising said support openings along said lengths of said quarter sections.

3. Footwear as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further including a ring at the base of said notched area, said ring providing a transition in the lacing path between the throat portion and collar.

4. Footwear as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sole assembly includes an outsole, a core and a control device, said control device carried by said core to extend from the heel portion upwardly of the sole assembly and forwardly toward the toe portion along lateral and medial sides of said sole assembly, said control device providing lateral stability in the heel portion of the foot and a surface at least for partial securement of said sole assembly and upper.

5. Footwear as claimed in claim 4 wherein said core and control device comprise a unitary construction.

6. Footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.