US20230397693A1

US20230397693A1 - Sports shoe provided with a selectively pivotable tongue

Info

Publication number: US20230397693A1
Application number: US18/033,905
Authority: US
Inventors: Silvio Quagliotto; Stefano PROSDOCIMO
Original assignee: Dalbello A Socio Unico Srl
Current assignee: Dalbello A Socio Unico Srl
Priority date: 2020-11-04
Filing date: 2021-10-14
Publication date: 2023-12-14
Also published as: EP4240196B1; EP4240196A1; IT202000026269A1; WO2022096968A1

Abstract

A sports shoe including a shell, adapted to receive the foot of a user in use, provided with a longitudinal front opening adapted to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user, a covering tongue to cover at least the front opening, the covering tongue including at least a first rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at least at the instep of the foot of the user, and which can be connected to the shell through fixing means. The tongue further includes at least a second rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion in the instep region of the foot of the user, the tongue further including selective locking means for selectively locking/unlocking the rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular a ski boot, provided with a selectively pivotable tongue, i.e. formed of at least two elements connected in a selectively rotatable manner.
Obviously, it is clear that the invention may also be used in sports shoes similar to a ski boot, such as for example snowboard or ski mountaineering boots, cross-country ski shoes, mountain or rock-climbing shoes, shoes for ice or roller skates, cycling shoes and other types of sports shoes.

STATE OF THE ART

Generally, a ski boot essentially comprises a shell adapted to receive the foot of a user, and a cuff adapted to wrap around the lower leg of the user and pivoted to the shell around suitable hinge means; furthermore, suitable and known fastening devices are provided for to allow the adjustment of the degree of fastening of the boot on the foot of the user.
A longitudinal front opening is provided for on said shell and said cuff to facilitate the fitting by the user; this opening is usually covered by a tongue, which also serves as a support for the leg of the user and it allows the transmission of forces.
In boots of the known type there arises the need to be able to eliminate, or at least limit, the oscillation of the cuff with respect to the shell when performing sports activities, so as to ensure a precise and safe skiing, and at the same time allow a free oscillation thereof once through with the sports activity, so as to allow the user to walk easily.
To this end, known are devices for selectively locking the rotation of the cuff with respect to the shell, commonly referred to as “ski-walk devices”, suitable to be moved between an unlocking position, in which the cuff is free to rotate with respect to the shell, therefore determining the walking configuration of the boot, and a locking position in which the cuff is essentially integrally joined with the shell, given that it cannot oscillate with respect thereto, thus setting the skiing configuration of the boot.
However, such ski-walk devices are generally positioned outside the shoe, in a region above the heel of the user, and therefore they can be a hindrance when performing sports activities.
A different solution is proposed in the document EP0695515, which shows a ski boot provided with a covering tongue to which a plate-like appendage is associated, said appendage being rotatably movable between at least two operative positions to vary the flexibility of the boot in the longitudinal plane and therefore the support conditions of the leg of the user.
The operative position of the appendage with respect to the tongue is set by the user using fixing means such as a rivet provided with a washer; as a result, the tongue support conditions cannot be varied when performing sports activities.
Furthermore, in the various positions that can be set, the appendage is always rigidly constrained to the covering tongue, and therefore the respective flexural configurations of the boot are to be attributed exclusively to the part of the appendage that protrudes with respect to the access opening of the cuff and therefore to the different lever arm that acts on the forward bending of the leg of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a sports shoe, in particular a ski boot, capable of taking two different operating conditions in which the rigidity of the front part of the shoe and therefore the resistance offered to bending to the leg of the user is different.
Within the task outlined above, an object of the present invention is to provide a sports shoe in which the passage between the two operating conditions is obtained simply and quickly directly by the user, even when performing sports activities.
Lastly but not least, an object of the present invention is to provide a sports shoe that attains the task and objects mentioned above at competitive costs and which can be obtained using the usual known machines, plants and equipment.
The aforementioned tasks and objects, as well as others which will be more apparent from the following description, are achieved by a sports shoe as defined in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of present the invention will become more apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows-in a perspective view-a ski boot provided with a tongue according to the prior art;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show-in lateral view-a selectively pivotable tongue according to a first embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first operating condition and in a second operating condition;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show-in lateral view-a selectively pivotable tongue according to a second embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first operating condition and in a second operating condition

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the tongue according to FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4A and 4C show-in lateral view-a selectively pivotable tongue according to a third embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first operating condition and in a second operating condition;

FIGS. 4B and 4D show-in perspective view-a detail embodiment of the tongue according to the third embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first operating condition and in a second operating condition;

FIGS. 5A and 5C show-in lateral view-a selectively pivotable tongue according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first operating condition and in a second operating condition; and

FIGS. 5B and 5D show-in perspective view-a detail embodiment of the tongue according to the fourth embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first operating condition and in a second operating condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached FIG. 1 , there is shown a sports shoe 1, in particular a ski boot, provided with a covering tongue 10′ according to the prior art.
In particular, said ski boot 1 substantially comprises a shell 2, adapted to receive the foot of a user and essentially formed of a sole S, essentially defining a surface for supporting the foot, wherefrom it departs, on opposite longitudinal sides, a pair of side walls adapted to be arranged respectively on the inner part and on the outer part of the foot, extending between a tip P, located in an area proximal to the tip of the foot, and a heel T, located in an area proximal to the heel, affecting the lateral regions of the foot up to about the malleoli area.
Said boot 1 further comprises a cuff 3, adapted to wrap around at least at the rear portion of the lower part of the leg of the user, said cuff 3 being pivoted to the shell 2 around suitable hinge means 4, which define a rotation axis essentially horizontal and parallel to the plane defined by the sole of the boot 1; the cuff 3 may therefore rotate with respect to the shell 2 at least forward, that is toward the tip P of the boot 1.
Advantageously, the free edges of the side walls of the shell 2, and possibly the opposite flaps of the cuff 3, define a longitudinal front opening 23 of the boot 1, adapted to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user into the boot, to which a covering tongue 10′, made of a single piece, is associated, said covering tongue 10′ being connected to the shell 2 in proximity of the tip P through a fixing means 5, such as a rivet.
With reference to FIGS. 2A to 5D, there are illustrated various embodiments of a covering tongue 10 according to the present invention, adapted to be positioned instead of, i.e. to replace, a tongue 10′ according to the prior art.
Expressions such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”, bottom, “low”, “inner”, “outer” or the like will be used in the description below; the person skilled in the art will have no difficulty understanding that these expressions relate to the position of a sports shoe 1 and a tongue 10 in the normal operating configuration thereof, that is in use, as shown in the attached figures.
In particular, a tongue 10 according to the present invention is adapted to cover at least said front opening 23 of the boot 1, and it comprises at least one first rigid portion 11, adapted to extend, in use, at least at the instep of the foot of the user, and at least one second rigid portion 12, adapted to extend, in use, at the front part of the lower leg of the user.
Preferably, said rigid portions 11, 12 comprise each a corresponding essentially plate-like element preferably having a width greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said front opening 23 and advantageously shaped so as to be able to adapt to the anatomy of the foot of the user, and defining, in use, an inner surface and an outer surface.
Said first portion 11 is connectable to the shell 2 of the boot 1 through fixing means 5, such as for example a rivet, preferably disposed at or in proximity of the tip P of the shell 2; to this end, said first portion 11 is advantageously provided with a hole 11C at a first end edge 11A adapted to allow said rivet 5 to pass through.
Said second rigid portion 12 is instead advantageously rotatably connected to said first portion 11 in an instep region of the foot of the user.
According to a characteristic of the present invention, said tongue 10 further comprises selective locking means adapted to selectively lock/unlock the rotation of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11.
In this manner, said tongue 10 is advantageously adapted to alternatively take a first operating condition, in which said second portion 12 is rigidly connected to the first portion 11, without the possibility of rotating with respect thereto, and-as a result-the forward bending of the cuff 3 with respect to the shell 2 of the boot 1 is prevented, or at least hindered, and a second operating condition, in which said second portion 12 is free to rotate at least forward with respect to said first portion 11, therefore facilitating the forward bending of the cuff 3 with respect to the shell 2.
As a result, when in said first operating condition, said tongue 10 supports the leg of the user, allowing an effective transmission of the forces, and therefore such condition is recommended when performing sports activities determining the skiing configuration of the boot 1; otherwise, when said tongue 10 is in said second operating condition, it allows to follow the natural movement of the ankle of the user and therefore it can be advantageously set when walking, determining the walking configuration of the boot, or when fitting the boot 1.
The passage between the two operating conditions can be obtained by actuating said selective locking means, which can be obtained in various ways; some embodiments according to the present invention, wherein structurally identical or similar elements are indicated using the same reference numeral, are therefore illustrated below.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention, in which said tongue 10 comprises a first rigid portion 11 and a second rigid portion 12, pivoted with respect to each other in the instep region of the foot of the user.
Said first portion 11 is connected to the shell 2 of the boot 1 through fixing means 5, such as for example a rivet, preferably disposed at or in proximity of the tip P of the boot 1; to this end, said first portion 11 is advantageously provided with a hole 11C at a first end edge 11A adapted to allow said rivet 5 to pass through.
Said second portion 12 is rotatably connected to said first portion 11 around an essentially horizontal rotation axis, advantageously defined by pivoting means 13, such as a pair of pins or rivets adapted to be inserted into articulating openings 16, in particular formed of holes obtained in a second end edge portion 11B of said first portion 11 and on a first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 arranged in an instep region of the foot of the user.
Advantageously, said tongue 10 further comprises selective locking means 20 adapted to selectively lock/unlock the rotation of the second portion 12 of the tongue 10 with respect to said first portion 11.
In particular, said selective locking means 20 comprise a rigid and elongated member 21, such as a rod, hinged with a first end 21A to the first portion 11 of the tongue around an essentially horizontal and eccentric axis with respect to said rotation axis, and provided, preferably in proximity of a second end 21B, with an engaging member 22 which makes it selectively engageable with the second portion 12 to lock/release the rotation of the latter with respect to said first portion 11, therefore determining the corresponding operating condition of the tongue 10.
Said engaging member 22 is preferably formed of a pin housed in a casing 24 slidable along said rod 21, said pin 22 extending transversely with respect to the extension of said rod 21 and adapted to selectively engage a corresponding seat or opening 25 obtained on the second portion 12 of the tongue 10, preferably arranged in proximity of a second end edge portion 12B (or free end portion).
As observable in FIG. 2A, when said engaging member 22 is at least partially inserted into the corresponding seat 25, thanks to the different pivoting point of the end 21A of the rod 21 with respect to the rotation axis between the two portions 11, 12 of the tongue 10, the rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11 is prevented, and the two portions 11, 12 are essentially integrally joined, thus determining the first operating condition of the tongue 10.
Otherwise, when said engaging member 22 is removed from the seat 25 obtained on the second portion 12, displacing it as indicated by the arrow E of FIG. 2B, it is essentially retracted in the casing 24, which can therefore slide along the rod 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 of FIG. 2B, said second portion 12 is therefore free to rotate, as indicated by the arrow F1 of FIG. 2B, at least forwards with respect to said first portion 11, that is toward the tip P of the shoe 1, around said pivoting means 13, therefore determining the second operating condition of the tongue 10.
FIGS. 3A-3C show a second embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the first embodiment described above, a tongue 10 according to such embodiment comprises a first and a second portion 11, 12 preferably formed of respective plate-like rigid elements, rotatably connected in an instep region of the foot of the user, and wherein the rotation of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11 is advantageously controlled by selective locking means 30.
In particular, said first and second portion 11, 12 are preferably pivoted around an essentially horizontal rotation axis defined by pivoting means 13, such as a pair of pins or rivets which allow to pivot a first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 to a second end edge portion 11B of said first portion 11 in an instep region of the foot of the user.
However, in this second embodiment, said second portion 12 is also slidably movable with respect to said first portion 11 between a first position, wherein selective locking means 30 lock the rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to the first portion 11, therefore defining the first operating condition of the tongue 10, and a second position, wherein locking means 30 allow the rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, thus defining the second operating condition of the tongue 10.
To this end, said pivoting means 13 are preferably fixed to the first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 and slidably received in a corresponding pair of articulating openings 14, arranged on said second end edge portion 11B of said first portion 11 and extending along a cross-sectional direction with respect to the plane defined by the sole S of the boot 1.
Preferably, said articulating openings 14 are bilobed, that is each defined by a lower lobe 14A and an upper lobe 14B, communicating through a cross-sectional narrowing, whereon said pivoting means 13 can be stably received thus defining the two corresponding positions of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, and being able to “snap” switch between one and the other, as explained in greater detail below.
In this embodiment, the selective locking means 30 are essentially formed of the profiles of said second end edge portion 11B of said first portion 11 and of said first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 which are advantageously configured so that one copies the shape of the other, therefore allowing to be superimposed and obtain a shape coupling between the two portions which prevents the relative rotation thereof.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, the upper surface of said first portion 11 has, preferably at said second end edge portion 11B, at least one rib 31, whose raised shape is copied by a counter-shaped seat 32 obtained on the inner surface of said second portion 12, preferably at said first end portion 12A.
In particular, said selective locking means 30 are configured such that, when said pivoting pins 13 engage the lower lobe 14A of the corresponding opening 14, said second portion 12 is in the first position, in which the respective first end edge portion 12A is superimposed with respect to the profile of the second end edge portion 11B of said first portion 11, such that said at least one rib 31 is received in the counter-shaped seat 32, therefore preventing the rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, determining the first operating condition of said tongue 10, as shown in FIG. 3A.
Should the user wish to pass to the second operating condition of the tongue 10, the user must apply a pulling force on said second portion 12 along the direction indicated by the arrow F2 of FIG. 3B, for example by gripping the free end portion 12B thereof, so that said pivoting means 13 engage the upper lobe 14B of the opening 14, translating—with a snap action-through the cross-sectional narrowing that separates them from the lower lobe 14A, such that said second portion 12 passes from the first position to the second position. In this manner, said rib 31 is advantageously de-coupled from the counter-shaped seat 32, and therefore it allows the at least forward rotation of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, as indicated by the arrow F1 of FIG. 3B.
Clearly, the first operating condition of said tongue 10 may be obtained again by displacing said second portion 12 backwards from the second position to the first position, in a manner such that said pivoting means 13 return to engage the lower lobe 14A of the opening 14 and-as a result-the profiles of said first end edge portion 12A of said second portion 12 and of the second end edge portion 11B of said first portion 11 are superimposed to obtain a shape coupling.
FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. Like in the previous embodiments, said tongue 10 comprises a first and a second portion 11, 12, consisting of plate-like rigid elements, rotatably connected at an instep region of the foot of the user, and wherein the rotation of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11 is advantageously controlled by selective locking means 40.
Even in this embodiment, said second portion 12 is also slidably movable with respect to said first portion 11 between a first position, in which selective locking means lock the rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to the first portion 11, therefore defining the first operating condition of the tongue 10, and a second position, in which locking means 40 allow the rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, thus defining the second operating condition of the tongue 10.
However, unlike the previous embodiments, said first portion 11 further comprises at least one rigid extension portion 15 which extends at the front part of the lower leg of the user, being arranged more inwards with respect to the boot 1 with respect to said second portion 12 which is therefore superimposed. Preferably, said first portion 11 comprises a pair of rigid extension portions 15 extending parallel from opposite sides of the foot of the user.
Said second portion 12 is rotatably connected to the first portion 11 around an essentially horizontal rotation axis and preferably defined by pivoting means 13, such as a pair of pins or rivets which allow to pivot said first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 to said first portion.
Said pivoting means 13 are preferably fixed to the first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 and advantageously slidably received in a corresponding pair of articulating openings 14, arranged on said first portion 11 at or in proximity of the instep region of the foot of the user and extending along a cross-sectional direction with respect to the plane defined by the sole S of the boot 1, and preferably essentially orthogonal to the latter.
Preferably, said openings 14 are bilobed, that is each defined by a lower lobe 14A and an upper lobe 14B, communicating and separated by a cross-sectional narrowing, whereon said pivoting means 13 can be stably received defining the two corresponding positions of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, passing between one and the other with a snap action, as explained in greater detail below.
Said selective locking means 40 comprise at least one engaging member 41, such as in particular a wall projecting along the surface facing toward the internal of the boot 1 of said second portion 12, preferably in proximity of the free end portion 12B thereof and adapted to create a recess 42 in which there can be slidably inserted the free end 15A of said extension portion 15 of said first portion 11.
Should said first portion 11 of the tongue 10 comprise a pair of extension portions said selective locking means 40 as a result comprise a corresponding pair of engaging member 41 forming a pair of recesses 42 adapted to slidably receive the corresponding free ends 15A of said extension portions 15.
In particular, the tongue 10 according to this third embodiment operates as follows: when said tongue 10 takes the first operating condition (FIG. 4A), said second portion 12 is in said first position, wherein said pivoting pins 13 are inserted into the lower lobe 14A of the corresponding opening 14, and the free ends 15A of said extension portions 15 are received in the recesses 42 defined by said engaging members 41 (FIG. 4B), therefore integrally joining said second portion 12 and said first portion 11, and-as a result-preventing the relative rotation thereof.
When the user wishes to obtain the second operating condition of the tongue 10 (FIG. 4C), the user must displace said second portion 12 to bring it to the second position, by applying a pulling force on said second portion 12, along the direction indicated by the arrow F2 of FIG. 4C, for example by gripping the free end portion 12B thereof, so that said pivoting pins 13 translate—with a snap action-in the upper lobe 14B of the respective opening 14; this advantageously allows the free ends 15A of said extension portions 15 to slidably project from the corresponding recesses 42 defined by said engaging member 41 (FIG. 4D), and therefore they allow the at least forward rotation of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, as indicated by the arrow F1 of FIG. 4C.
Clearly, the first operating condition of said tongue 10 may be obtained by displacing said second portion 12 backwards from the second position to the first position, so that said pivoting pins 13 return to snap fit into the lower lobe 14A of the opening 14 and-as a result-the free ends of said extension portions 15 are once again received in the recesses 42 defined by said engaging members 41.
Lastly, FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Also in this embodiment, said tongue 10 comprises a first and a second portion 11, 12, consisting of plate-like rigid elements, rotatably connected at an instep region of the foot of the user, and wherein the rotation of said second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11 is advantageously controlled by selective locking means 50.
Like in the embodiment described above, said first portion 11 of said tongue 10 comprises at least one extension portion 15 extending at the front part of the lower leg of the user; preferably, said first portion 11 comprises a pair of rigid extension portions 15 extending parallel from opposite sides of the foot of the user.
However, in this embodiment, said second portion 12 of the tongue 10 is pivoted to said first portion 11 around an essentially horizontal rotation axis defined by pivoting means 13, such as a pair of pins or rivets inserted into corresponding articulating openings 16, consisting of holes which allow to pivot a first end portion 12A of said second portion 12 to said first portion 11 in proximity of the foot of the user.
Said selective locking means 50 comprise at least one engaging member 51 formed of a plate-like insert, slidably associated with said second portion 12 and movable between a first position, wherein it locks the rotation of the second portion 12 of the tongue 10 with respect to said first portion 11, and a second position wherein it allows the rotation of the second portion 12 of the tongue 10 with respect to said first portion 11.
Preferably, said insert 51 is slidably constrained to said second portion 12 by means of a pin 52 adapted to engage an elongated opening 53 advantageously obtained at the top free edge portion 12B of said second portion 12 and extending along a direction transverse to the plane defined by the sole S of the boot 1, and preferably essentially orthogonal to the latter.
Preferably, said elongated opening 53 is bilobed, that is defined by a lower lobe 53A and an upper lobe 53B, communicating through a cross-sectional narrowing, in which said pin 52 can be stably received, passing between one and the other with a snap action, and defining the two corresponding positions of the insert 51.
Said selective locking means 50 are configured such that when said pin 52 is received in the upper lobe 53B of said opening 53, said insert 51 is in the first position, in which it is at least partially retracted at the rear part with respect to said second portion 12 and it advantageously defines a recess 54 with the wall of said second portion 12 facing toward the inside of the boot 1 (FIG. 5B).
Therefore, when said insert 51 is in the first position, said second portion 12 is integrally joined with said first portion 11 through the engagement in the recess 54 of the free ends 15A of the extension portions 15 of the first portion 11, thus preventing the rotation thereof and determining the first operating condition of the tongue 10, as shown in FIG. 5A.
The passage of said insert 51 from the first to the second position is carried out by imposing a sliding movement thereto in the removal direction, along the direction indicated by the arrow F2 of FIG. 5C, so that said pin 52 translates with a snap action in the lower lobe 15A of said opening 53 (FIG. 5D); In this way, the free end 15A of the extension portions 15 disengages from the recess 54, thus allowing the forward rotation of the second portion 12 with respect to said first portion 11, as shown by the arrow F1 of Figure thus determining the second operating condition of said tongue 10.
Clearly, the first operating condition of said tongue 10 may be obtained by displacing said insert 51 backwards from the second position to the first position, such that said pin 52 returns to snap engage the upper lobe 53B of the opening 53 and-as a result-the free ends 15A of the extension portions 15 are once again inserted into the recess 54 obtained between said insert 51 and the inner surface of said second portion 12.
In conclusion, in the light of the above it is clear that the present invention attains the initially envisaged objects and advantages. The present invention refers to a sports shoe, in particular a ski boot, provided with a covering tongue 10 adapted to take two different operating conditions, in which the rigidity of the front part of the shoe and therefore the resistance offered to bending to the leg of the user is different.
Furthermore, advantageously, a covering tongue 10 according to the present invention can be simply and rapidly directly moved between the two operating conditions by the user, even when performing sports activities.
Obviously, the present invention is susceptible of numerous applications, modifications or variations without departing from the scope of protection, as defined by the claims.
Furthermore, the materials and equipment used to implement the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most suitable depending on the specific requirements.

Claims

1. Sports shoe comprising a shell, adapted to receive, in use, the foot of a user, the shell comprising a longitudinal front opening adapted to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user, a covering tongue being provided to cover at least the front opening, the tongue comprising at least a first rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at least at the instep of the foot of the user, and connectable to the shell through fixing means,

wherein the tongue further comprises at least a second rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion in the instep region of the foot of the user, the tongue further comprising selective locking means for selectively locking/unlocking the rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

2. Sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is rotatably connected to the first portion around a rotation axis defined by pivoting means comprising a pair of pins insertable into a corresponding pair of articulating openings.

3. Sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the selective locking means comprise an elongated rigid member hinged with a first end to the first portion of the tongue around an eccentric axis with respect to the rotation axis, and provided with an engaging member selectively engageable with the second portion to lock/unlock the rotation of the latter with respect to the first portion.

4. Sports shoe according to claim 3, wherein the engaging member is formed of a pin housed in a casing slidable along the elongated rigid member and adapted to selectively engage a corresponding seat or opening obtained on the second portion.

5. Sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the tongue is also slidably movable with respect to the first portion between a first position, wherein the selective locking means, lock the rotation thereof with respect to the first portion, and a second position, wherein the selective locking means allow the rotation thereof with respect to the first portion.

6. Sports shoe according to claim 5, wherein each of the pair of articulating openings is defined by a lower lobe and an upper lobe, the pair of pivoting pins being adapted to slidably cooperate with the articulating openings to selectively engage one of the lobes and allow the second portion to pass through between the first and the second position.

7. Sports shoe according to claim 5, wherein the selective locking means comprise at least one rib obtained on an upper surface of the first portion and a counter-shaped seat obtained on the second portion, said rib portion, the rib being adapted to be engaged the seat when the second portion is in the first position, and to be disengaged from the seat when the second portion is in the second position.

8. Sports shoe according to claim 5, wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the selective locking means comprising at least one engaging member formed of a wall projecting from the second portion along the internal surface thereof for defining a recess wherein a free end of the extension portion is adapted to be selectively received.

9. Sports shoe according to claim 1, the selective locking means comprise an engaging member formed of a plate-like insert slidably connected to the second portion and movable between a first position, wherein it integrally joins the second portion with the first portion, and a second position, wherein it disengages the second portion with respect to the first portion thus allowing the rotation thereof.

10. Sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the plate-like insert being slidably connected to the second portion by means of a pin adapted to cooperate with an opening defined by a lower lobe and an upper lobe, to selectively engage one of the lobes and allow the plate-like insert to pass through between the first position, wherein it defines a recess whereon a free end of the extension portion engages, and the second position, wherein it disengages the free end of the extension portion.

11. Sports shoe according to claim 6, wherein the selective locking means comprise at least one rib obtained on an upper surface of the first portion and a counter-shaped seat obtained on the second portion, the rib being adapted to be engaged in the seat when the second portion is in the first position, and to be disengaged from the seat when the second portion is in the second position.

12. Sports shoe according to claim 6, wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the selective locking means comprising at least one engaging member formed of a wall projecting from the second portion along the internal surface thereof for defining a recess wherein a free end of the extension portion is adapted to be selectively received.

13. Sports shoe according to claim 2, the selective locking means comprise an engaging member formed of a plate-like insert slidably connected to the second portion and movable between a first position, wherein it integrally joins the second portion with the first portion, and a second position, wherein it disengages the second portion with respect to the first portion thus allowing the rotation thereof.

14. Sports shoe according to claim 13, wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the plate-like insert being slidably connected to the second portion by means of a pin adapted to cooperate with an opening defined by a lower lobe and an upper lobe, to selectively engage one of the lobes and allow the plate-like insert to pass through between the first position, wherein it defines a recess whereon a free end of the extension portion engages, and the second position, wherein it disengages the free end of the extension portion.