GB2421759A

GB2421759A - Strap engaging device

Info

Publication number: GB2421759A
Application number: GB0428569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Jon Oxbrough
Original assignee: C and J Clark Ltd
Current assignee: C and J Clark Ltd
Priority date: 2004-12-31
Filing date: 2004-12-31
Publication date: 2006-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-31
Also published as: GB0428569D0; GB2421759B

Abstract

There is provided a device 16 for engaging a strap 13 of a shoe for example. The device 16 has a transverse bar portion 17 around which the strap is looped. A flange portion 21 extends outwardly at each transverse side of the bar portion 17 for attachment to an article, such as a shoe. The bar portion 17 has an inside surface 27 which is spaced from the flange portion to provide a strap recess below the inside surface 27.

Description

Strap En2aEjn Device The present invention relates to a device for

engaging an elongate strap. In particular, but not exclusively, the device could be incorporated in an article of footwear with the elongate strap being used to tighten and retain the article of footwear on the foot of the wearer.

It is well known in the footwear industry to provide a shoe with one or more fastening straps. In some arrangements the strap has one end secured to the shoe and the other end passes through a remote buckle or slot and is folded back on itself to be fastened to the first end by means of a hook and loop type fastening material such as VELCRO (trade mark).

Pulling on the strap prior to fastening tightens the shoe on the wearer.

According to the present invention there is provided a strap engaging device comprising a transverse bar portion, around which an elongate strap is looped in use, and a flange portion extending outwardly at each transverse side of the bar portion, the bar portion having an inside surface which is spaced from the flange portions.

In preferred arrangements a perpendicular wall section connects the bar portion to the flange portion at each transverse side. Ideally each perpendicular wall section projects slightly beyond its associated flange portion.

Preferably the two perpendicular wall sections extend in one lengthwise direction beyond the bar portion and are linked by a central wall portion, thereby defining a transverse slot between the bar portion and the central wall portion. Usually the flanges are continuous with each other and also project from the central wall portion which is curved such that the flange is generally C-shaped. It is a preferred feature that the flange portions are substantially parallel to the bar portion.

Normally the bar portion has generally straight transversely extending edges. With some embodiments the flange portions taper inwardly in the directly away from the bar portion and sometimes the flange portions taper in steps.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a shoe comprising an upper and a sole, the upper incorporating at least one elongate fastening strap and at least one associated strap engaging device as described above, with the inside surface of the bar portion facing the inside of the shoe and the strap, in use, passing under the bar portion of the device and looping back over the bar portion.

Preferably the upper comprises an outer material and an inner lining material, the flange portions of the strap engaging device being secured between the outer material and the lining material. In some arrangements the flange portions, outer material and lining material, are stitched to each other, the strap engaging device being located in a shaped recess in the upper.

With preferred arrangements the height of the inside surface of the bar portion above the inside surfaces of the flange portions is greater than or equal to the thickness of the elongate fastening strap.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an article of footwear incorporating a strap engaging device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the device according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a side view of the device shown in figure 2, Figure 4 is a front view of the device shown in figure 2, Figure 5 is a lengthwise sectional view through the device shown in figure 2, Figure 6 is a lengthwise sectional view taken on line VI-VI of figure 1, Figure 7 is a front view of an alternative strap engaging device according to the present invention, and Figure 8 is a lengthwise sectional view similar to figure 6 of the figure 7 device in a shoe.

in the figures there is shown an article of footwear such as a shoe having an upper 11 and a sole 12. The upper incorporates an elongate fastening strap 13 which has one end 14 secured to the upper 11. The other end 15 of the strap 13 is passed through a strap engaging device 16 and is folded back on itself to be fixed relative to said one end 14 by means of a hook and loop material such as VELCRO (trade mark). Other fixing methods will be readily apparent to the skilled person but will not be described here.

The strap engaging device 16 is generally D-shaped in plan view and has a transverse bar portion 17 which in this embodiment has a pair of parallel edges in the form of an active rear edge 18 and a front edge 19.

At each transverse end of the bar portion 17 is a perpendicular wall section 20 which extends to and slightly beyond an outwardly extending transverse flange portion 21. The flange portion 21 extends in a C shape around the device 16 from one transverse end of the front edge to the other transverse end of the front edge. The outermost corners of the flange portion 21 are rounded at 22.

The perpendicular wall sections 20 extend rearwardly beyond the bar portion and are joined by a central wall portion 23 which is also somewhat D-shaped. A slot 24 is thus defined between the central wall portion 23 and the active edge 18 of the bar portion 17. The wall sections and the central wall portion 23 all extend slightly beyond the flange portion 21 as indicated by 25 but the extensions 25 are optional as will be apparent from figures 7 and 8 described later.

The bar portion 17 has an outside surface 26 and an inside surface 27, and the plane of the inside surface 27 of the bar portion 17 is spaced from the flange portion 21 to accommodate the inner section of the strap 13.

In the embodiment shown, the flange portion 21 tapers inwardly as it extends outwardly from the perpendicular wall sections 20. It can be a smooth taper or a stepped taper.

In the shoe 10, the upper 11 comprises an outer material 30 and an inner lining material 31 and a suitable shaped recess is provided in the upper 11 for receiving the strap engaging device 16. The flange portion 21 is positioned between the outer material 30 and the inner lining material 31 such that the lining material 31 abuts the wall section extensions indicated by numeral 25 and the outer material 30 abuts the outer surface of the wall sections 20 above the flange 21. The tapered nature of the flange 21 reduces the chances of there being a visible step in the outer material. The device 16 is stitched into place with the thread passing through the flange portions 21 and the inner and outer materials 30, 31. The outside surface 26 of the bar portion 17 faces outwardly as shown.

When fastening the shoe 10, the user passes the free end 15 of the strap 13 through the slot 24 from the inside of the shoe. The free end 15 is then pulled around the active edge 18 of the bar portion 17 to tighten the shoe and is folded back on itself. The free end 15 is then fixed to the first, secured end 14 of the strap 13 using, for example, the cooperating hook and loop fastening provided on the ends of the strap 13.

In figures 7 and 8 there is sown an alternative strap engaging device 16 which is similar in most respects to that shown in figures 1 to 6.

Like features have, therefore, been given like reference numerals. The only difference is that the extensions 25 beyond the flange 21 have been omitted. In use, the device operates in the same manner except that the lining material 31 does not abut any extensions but simply lies below and is secured with respect to the flange 21.

It will be understood by the reader, and seen in figure 6, that the inner portion of the strap is neatly received in the recess behind the bar portion 17. This means that surface discontinuities in the inside of this region of the shoe are minimised thereby increasing comfort for the user. To achieve the best results, the depth of the wall section extension must be similar to the thickness of the lining material 31 and the depth of the recess behind the bar portion 17 must be similar to the strap thickness.

Ideally the device 16 is made from a suitably rigid plastics material but other materials such as metal could also be used. In simpler versions the device could just comprise the bar portion 17, wall sections and flange portions 21 at each transverse end of the bar portion 17 but the illustrated version gives good strength and is simple to locate in the correct position in the shoe.

It will also be appreciated that the device 16 could be used on any type of footwear or indeed other articles incorporating one or more securing straps.

Claims

Claims 1. A strap engaging device comprising a transverse bar portion,

around which an elongate strap is looped in use, and a flange portion extending outwardly at each transverse side of the bar portion, the bar portion having an inside surface which is spaced from the flange portions.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a perpendicular wall section connects the bar portion to the flange portion at each transverse side.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each perpendicular wall section projects slightly beyond its associated flange portion.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the two perpendicular wall sections extend in one lengthwise direction beyond the bar portion and are linked by a central wall portion, thereby defining a transverse slot between the bar portion and the central wall portion.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flanges are continuous with each other and also project from the central wall portion which is curved such that the flange is generally C-shaped.
6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the flange portions are substantially parallel to the bar portion.
7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the bar portion has generally straight transversely extending edges.
8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the flange portions taper inwardly in the direction away from the bar portion.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flange portions taper in steps.
10. An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole, the upper incorporating at least one elongate fastening strap and at least one associated strap engaging device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, with the inside surface of the bar portion facing the inside of the article of footwear, the strap in use passing under the bar portion of the strap engaging device and looping back over the bar portion.
11. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 10 wherein the upper comprise an outer material and an inner lining material, the flange portions of the strap engaging device being secured between the outer material and the lining material.
12. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 11 wherein the flange potions, outer material and lining material, are stitched to each other, the strap engaging device being located in a shaped recess in the upper.
13. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the height of the inside surface of the bar portion above the inside surfaces of the flange portions is greater than or equal to the thickness of the elongate fastening strap.