WO2001033987A1

WO2001033987A1 - Shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2001033987A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/010874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuliana Vinci; Stefania Gallina; Fabio Gatto
Original assignee: Benetton Group S.P.A.
Priority date: 1999-11-09
Filing date: 2000-11-03
Publication date: 2001-05-17
Also published as: ITTV990048U1; IT248130Y1

Abstract

A shoe comprising an outer upper (2) associated with a sole (3) and in which it is possible to insert an inshoe (4). The inshoe (4) is removable and is provided with means for temporary fastening to the outer upper. The inshoe also has, in a downward region, an insolve, advantageously of the antislip type, adapted for walking.

Description

SHOE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shoe comprising an outer upper associated with a sole in which an inshoe can be inserted. Background of the Invention

The technical problem dealt with by the present application is the manufacture of shoes composed of a plurality of components.

Italian Patent Application No. 22071B/89, filed on 9 November 1989 discloses a ski boot which internally comprises an inshoe provided with a self-shaping pad for protecting the malleoli or a padding made of soft or elastic material.

The inshoe has an engagement means, for example a flap made of flexible material, which is applied all around the upper rim of the quarter of the inshoe and is arranged between the inshoe and a rigid outer boot. Such flap can be overturned so as to descend and cover the upper rim of the shell of the ski boot, being anchored thereto by appropriate means which have a rapid and assured action, such as a press-stud.

Clearly, in this application the inshoe is used to increase comfort in use during sports practice. The possibility to extract the inshoe arises from the need to be able to easily wash and clean the parts, the sole that constitutes said inshoe being adapted to interact in a substantially static manner with the underlying rigid surface of the shell.

This solution is not appropriate, for example, for manufacturing shoes, particularly for children, owing to the rigidity of the shell, except for use specifically for skiing.

Another conventional shoe is disclosed in Italian Patent Application No. PD92A000068, filed on 15 March 1992, which discloses a shoe for trekking, i.e., for walking on mountain paths and trails having particularly uneven surfaces. The shoe disclosed therein comprises an upper and a lining which is substantially waterproof and is structurally independent of the upper.

The lining can be detachably inserted in the shoe, adjacent to the upper, and can be fixed to it at the rim, which can be appropriately overturned on the mouth of the upper.

The essential feature of said lining is that it is constituted by waterproof and breathable fabrics, so as to prevent the penetration of water without entailing excessive sweating of the foot.

This solution, too, entails the drawback that it can be applied only during trekking, particularly for use for children.

A third patent related to these conventional shoes is Italian Patent

Application No. TO94U000135, filed on 21 June 1994, which discloses a shoe, such as a trekking boot, which comprises a sole assembly, an upper which is fixed to the sole assembly, and an inner lining which is closed in a downward region.

The lining can be detachably connected to the upper and it too is provided with quick fastening means.

As in the first described patent, it can be noted that also this conventional shoe is provided with a detachable lining or inshoe only to improve or change the performance of the shoe, for example improving its waterproofing or allowing a simple and low-cost replacement of the internal lining in case of damage or changes in environmental conditions.

As in the first conventional type, also the two above-described conventional types of shoe cannot be used for applications other than their designated ones and thus, for example, cannot be used for walking at home.

Removing the internal lining from the upper or shell would not allow such walking, since it has characteristics of lightness and adaptability to the foot and to the upper that prevent it from having at the same time a shape and a composition which are convenient and easy for walking. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-noted problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited prior art, by providing a shoe which comprises an outer upper below which a sole is associated and in which it is possible to insert a removable inshoe which can be used both outdoors and indoors in comfort and safety.

An important object is to provide a shoe which allows to achieve the intended aim in the safest and easiest way for the user, avoiding the possibility of slipping if used on floors which are particularly smooth and therefore lack good grip.

Another important object is to provide a shoe which can be easily inserted in said upper and removed from it, so as to be practical and fast to use particularly and especially for the user group constituted by children, since it is in fact known that children are reluctant to change their shoes in passing for example from the internal environment of their home to the outside environment.

Another object is to provide a shoe which is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoe comprising an outer upper associated with a sole and in which it is possible to insert a removable inshoe which is provided with means for temporary fastening to said outer upper, characterized in that said inshoe is provided, in a downward region, with an insole, of the antislip type, adapted for walking. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of the shoe according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the upper and of the associated underlying sole;

Figure 3 is a side view of the inshoe;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inshoe; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper and of the associated underlying sole;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of a first type of sole of the inshoe;

Figure 7 is a bottom view of a second type of sole of the inshoe;

Figure 8 is a bottom view of a third type of sole of the inshoe. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a shoe constituted by a first outer upper 2, which is soft, rigid or semirigid, and below which a sole, designated by the reference numeral 3, is associated, said sole being advantageously adapted for outdoor use. The shoe 1 comprises an inshoe, designated by the reference numeral 4, which can be removed from the upper 2 and is constituted by a second upper 5, which is preferably soft and is associated, in a downward region, with an insole, designated by the reference numeral 6, which is made of materials that are rigid enough to make it adapted for walking. The insole 6 has a lower surface 7 which is advantageously fully or partly constituted by appropriate materials, such as for example rubber or other antislip materials, which give it characteristics of safety against accidental slipping.

Likewise, the lower surface 7 can have different surface finishing, constituted by designs, lines or various patterns (as in the examples shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8), which also provide optimum ground grip.

In any case, the extension of the surfaces having an antislip function must be large enough to ensure the necessary safety of the user against the danger of losses of ground grip or of accidental slips. The second upper 5, which is associated with the insole 6 in an upward region, has in its upper part, at the instep, a collar which is designated by the reference numeral 8, is made of soft material and is preferably padded.

The collar 8 is open at the front, at an underlying elastic band, designated by the reference numeral 50, of the second upper 5. Means for temporarily fastening the inshoe 4 to the first outer upper 2 can be arranged on the collar 8, or optionally on the second upper 5 proximate to the collar, and are constituted by one or more female press- studs, generally designated by the reference numeral 9.

As an alternative, the means for temporarily fastening the inshoe 4 to the first outer upper 2 are constituted by two bands made of a material known by the trademark Velcro, respectively associated with the inshoe and with the first outer upper, or by a zip fastener of the known type for joining two parts of an item of clothing.

In the first case, the female press-studs 9 are detachably associable with respective male press-studs, designated by the reference numeral 10, which are arranged at the upper part of said first outer upper 2, proximate to the region located directly above the malleoli of the user, so as to allow easy mutual temporary fixing of the parts once the inshoe 4 has been inserted in the first outer upper 2. The first outer upper 2 has, when the foot is inserted, a fastening mechanism 11 for a first flap 12a and a second flap 12b of the first outer upper 2 and has, below said flaps, at the instep, a tongue 13 which is rigidly coupled, in a downward region, to one end of the first outer upper 2.

The fastening mechanism 11 is constituted by a band, designated by the reference numeral 14, which is rigidly coupled at a first end 15a to the first flap 12a and passes through a slot 16 formed in the second flap 12b.

The band 14 has an engagement means, at a second free end designated by the reference numeral 15b. The engagement means are designed for engagement with the first end 15a, which allow the temporary and adjustable fastening of the first and second flaps 12a and 12b above the tongue 13.

The engagement means is advantageously constituted, for example, by two mutually associable Velcro surfaces.

Operation is thus as follows: with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the inshoe 4 can be worn as an indoor shoe, since it has a second soft and comfortable upper 5, and an insole 6 which is adapted for walking, with a lower surface 7 which is designed specifically to ensure grip even on the smooth floors of certain houses.

The inshoe 4 can be put on by spacing the two ends of the collar 8, so as to extend the elastic band 50 and allow to insert the foot in the second upper 5.

When leaving home, it is possible to insert the inshoe 4 in the first outer upper 2, mutually coupling them by way of the simple and rapid interaction between the male press-studs 10 and the female press-studs 9, arranged comfortably proximate to the region above the malleoli.

The fastening mechanism 11 further allows comfortable adjustment of the closure of the first and second flaps 12a and 12b, immobilizing the tongue 13 so as to cover the instep.

The sole 3 and the first outer upper 2 are designed specifically for outdoor use, so as to provide the performance required by the user.

Upon entering a house, it is possible to open the band 14 provided with Velcro and, by disengaging the press-studs, to remove the outer enclosure, using the indoor inshoe without having to change one's shoes.

The shoe 1 is particularly adapted and useful for children, who are always reluctant to keep changing their shoes as they pass from one environment to another, solving this problem effectively and ensuring safety as regards the possibility of slipping.

It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a shoe having been provided which can be used both outdoors and at home in comfort and safety, since it has an appropriately provided inshoe which can be easily removed from an outer upper.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. TV99U000048 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising an outer upper associated with a sole and in which it is possible to insert a removable inshoe which is provided with means for temporary fastening to said outer upper, characterized in that said inshoe is provided, in a downward region, with an insole, of the antislip type, adapted for walking.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that said insole has a lower surface which is fully or partly made of appropriate materials, such as rubber or other antislip materials, which give it characteristics of safety against accidental slipping.

3. The shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that said lower surface may have different surface finishing, constituted by designs, lines or various patterns, so as to achieve optimum ground grip.

4. The shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the extension of its surfaces having an antislip function is large enough to ensure the necessary safety of the user against the danger of accidental slipping.

5. The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for temporarily fastening said inshoe to said first outer upper comprises two bands of a material known by the trademark Velcro, associated respectively with the inshoe and with the first outer upper.

6. The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for temporarily fastening said inshoe to said first outer upper comprises a zip fastener of the known type for joining two parts of an item of clothing.