WO2003039283A1

WO2003039283A1 - Footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2003039283A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/012434
Authority: WO
Inventors: Max Neumeyer
Original assignee: Max Neumeyer
Priority date: 2001-11-07
Filing date: 2002-11-07
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: EP1443834A1; EP1443834B1; DE50209307D1; DE20118134U1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a shoe which can be opened and/or shut without any substantial assistance from the hands and/or which does not open in an undesirable manner when unrolled. The inventive shoe (1) comprises at least one sole (17, 17'), at least one upper part (6) and at least one bi-stable element (5). The bi-stable element is preferably configured in a flat manner, comprising leaf-spring type sections (2) and can be arranged on the sole (17, 17') or be embedded therein.

Description

Device for footwear

Besehreibung

The invention relates to a device for footwear, in particular a shoe.

Shoes have to be opened and closed to put them on and take them off, adapting to the individual shape of the foot. There are a variety of different locking mechanisms. Lace-up shoes, shoes with zippers, Velcro fasteners, snap fasteners or similar locking mechanisms are worth mentioning here.

With these locking mechanisms, the help of the hands is necessary when putting on and taking off the shoes. This has the disadvantage that the wearer has to bend down or sit down, which is sometimes difficult especially for older or disabled people.

Thanks to the use of elastic upper material, it is also possible to get into the shoe without the help of the hands, but in this case the desired secure hold is missing, since a slight slip in also results in a slight slip out. Furthermore, the upper material cannot be made of leather, which leads to design restrictions. There are a number of inventions whose aim is to make it easier to put on and take off the shoes.

The following documents contain ideas for facilitating the putting on and taking off of shoes: US 5,481,814, OE 312 467, DE 41 07 376 AI, DE 198 33 801 AI, DE 197 50 054 AI, DE OS 19 31 800, US 6,189,239, US 5,282,327 ,

The document OE 312 467 describes a shoe with a permanently resilient sole which at rest rests downwards, which bends straight under load and is fixed or jammed on the heel part of the foot in its loaded position. However, this construction has the disadvantage that the forces required to hold the shoe position are only applied to certain muscles in the foot or calf, which causes a very uncomfortable and uncomfortable wearing situation. However, if the shoe is provided with secondary fixations, this runs counter to the resilient construction of the shoe sole, since the hands have to be brought up to the foot again.

In the publication DE 41 07 376 AI the putting on and taking off of the shoes without hands is made possible by the fact that the heel part can be folded back downwards so that the foot can easily slip into the shoe. After stepping into the shoe, the heel part is folded up, where it is locked in a grid. This construction is complex and stiff. The shoe loses its flexibility, which is pleasant for the foot.

According to the publication DE 198 33 801 AI it is proposed that the problem of putting on and taking off the shoe by Solve use of electric motors. The opening of the shoe can be reduced by a pull system that is driven by an electric motor. A resilient element forms a resistance, whereby the shoe always returns to its open state.

In the publication DE 197 50 054 AI the known lacing mechanism is reduced to a bracket, which can also be used e.g. the other foot can be operated. By folding the bracket, a lacing previously set on the respective foot is tensioned and locked. This construction requires a complex construction on and in the upper material of the shoe, which affects the appearance of the shoe.

Other documents, such as DE-OS 19 31 800 describe a folding shoe with a locking system, as well as the patent US 6,189,239.

The patent US 5,282,327 relates to a slip shoe with a heel flap and manual locking, similar to the known bindings of skis.

The patent US 5,481,814 describes a shoe, which is integrated by an integrated tension spring, which

Way reversal point is clamped, is fixed in two different positions. A particular disadvantage of this construction, however, is that the tension spring has its least force effect in the two end positions of the shoe, so that when the shoe is closed the primary restraint is the least, the shoe opens easily and thus there is no secure closure. In addition to the unintentional opening of the shoe, another factor of uncertainty, which also carries the risk of an accident, is that this construction is open at the bottom and impurities such as stones, earth or the like can have a lasting effect on the function. Due to the necessary height of the sole of the shoe to accommodate the tension spring, the functional design is limited, since only very bulky sole constructions can be used. However, this creates a renewed risk of accidents, since shifting the center of gravity upwards also entails an accident risk. The safety function of the sole of the shoe against pointed or sharp objects under the tread is also affected by the recess.

The inventions described either do not completely meet the requirement of putting on and taking off without the aid of the hands, are very complex to produce or difficult to use or are not sufficiently safe.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device, in particular a shoe, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, simple and quick to use and / or is safe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe which can be opened and / or closed essentially without the aid of the hands and / or which does not open unintentionally when unrolled.

The object of the invention is already achieved in a surprisingly simple manner by the subject matter of claim 1. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

The device according to the invention for footwear, in particular a shoe, comprises at least one sole, which can be formed in one piece or in several parts, and at least one upper part. The upper, preferably made of leather, encloses the top and sides of the foot. According to the invention, the device further comprises at least one at least bistable element, i.e. an element that defines at least a first and a second stable state.

In particular, due to the bistable element, the device has a first and second state, in particular an open or closed state, which correspond to the first and second state of the bistable element, the device advantageously already occurring from the open to the closed state is transferable. When slipping into the shoe, the foot builds up pressure on the bistable element, causing the bistable element to jump into its second stable state and the shoe enclosing the foot. That the bistable element is brought from the first to the second stable state when the shoe is closed due to the pressure or the weight of the user. This causes a change in the shape of the shoe, which is thereby adapted to the shape of the foot and prevents the foot from being pulled out unintentionally.

The device can by holding the heel with the other foot and pulling the foot up or by stepping on an edge, for example, while simultaneously arching the bistable element, e.g. easily opened by pressure with the toes. In addition, the device remains securely closed even on an edge. The bistable element can preferably be converted from the first to the second state by bending.

The invention simplifies the process of putting on and taking off the shoe. That the device can be closed and / or opened quickly and easily, in particular for the wearer, without the aid of the hands. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is an inexpensive, wear-free and simple construction.

Furthermore, the bistable element remains in the second state when the foot rolls off while walking and the device is thus closed. Nevertheless, the bistable element is preferably elastic in the rolling direction, in particular in the first and / or second state it is flexible in bending.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the bistable element, it is flat, e.g. similar to a leaf spring or leaf spring-like and / or comprises a leaf spring, e.g. a section which is designed as a leaf spring, in particular without a spiral spring.

The flat design, for example with a material thickness of less than 5 mm, has the advantage that the bistable element, for example essentially parallel, can be arranged above the sole or inside the shoe and on the sole, in particular directly or with the interposition of further layers , preferably rests flat. The bistable element is alternatively inside the sole arranged, integrated or embedded in the sole, enclosed by the sole or formed in one piece with the sole. The shoe according to the invention is therefore not optically recognizable as such.

At least one insole, e.g. a so-called insole, which can be connected to the upper part or can be integrally formed therewith, is provided. The bistable element is preferably arranged or embedded between the sole and the insole. The sole thus forms the bistable element and the insole preferably has a sandwich-like structure.

The bistable element is preferably connected to the sole, in particular in a planar manner, e.g. riveted, welded, glued or similar to obtain a firm and permanent connection.

In particular, the bistable element comprises a resilient material, e.g. Metal, especially steel or plastic, especially nylon. Furthermore, the bistable element is preferably formed in one piece, stamped from sheet metal and / or embossed.

The bistable element is preferably curved, bent or arched at least in sections in the first and / or second state in order to bend or bend the sole in the longitudinal direction at least in the open state, so that the foot can easily slip into the shoe without being on Heel part to get caught and still comfortable walking is possible in the closed state. By jumping over the bistable element in the closed state of the shoe, in particular a ergonomic footbed.

According to a simple yet effective exemplary embodiment, the bistable element has at least a first and a second section, the first section being shortened in relation to the second section, e.g. is kinked or bent that the second section is biased in the first and / or second state. Furthermore, at least a third section can be provided, which is designed corresponding to the first or second section and the first, second and third section are arranged next to one another, that is to say transversely to the running direction. The effect of bistability can also be influenced by other shapes, e.g. by lenticular embossing on a flat surface.

The bistable element is preferably designed such that it can be transferred from the first to the second state and / or vice versa by means of a force component perpendicular to the sole. The force component that is necessary along the path increases, in particular at least partially, during the transfer.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention comprises a one-piece, for example elastic sole, so that it can be waterproof. However, the sole can also have one or more divisions transversely to the longitudinal direction, so that it offers little resistance to bending by the elastic element. In order to increase the elasticity, the sole can also have a hinge or film hinge, which is located, for example, in the region of the apex of the curvature of the bistable element. An advantageous development of the invention further comprises a means for automatically narrowing the device, in particular the upper part, when the device is transferred from the open to the closed state.

This means includes e.g. a band which is pulled down during the transfer of the bistable element from the first to the second state, the upper part being narrowed by the pull and thus the foot being held in the shoe. This will e.g. achieved by the tape or another

Part of the shoe is attached to the bistable element and when the bistable element jumps from the first to the second state, a piece is drawn into the sole.

The upper part of the shoe preferably has one or more

Divisions across the longitudinal direction of the shoe, so that there is no significant resistance to bending by the bistable element and the upper keeps its shape. The parts overlap in the open and closed state, butt against one another or are spaced apart.

The device or the shoe are in particular paired and with an opening element, e.g. a bench, provided, the device and the opening element being designed and interacting with one another such that when the device appears, more precisely with the sole on the bench, the device jumps from the closed to the opened state.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings using exemplary embodiments, the same or similar elements having the same Reference numerals are provided.

Brief description of the figures

Show it:

Fig. La shows an embodiment of the bistable element in the first state.

Fig. lb the bistable element from Fig. La in the second state,

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention

Shoes in the open state,

Fig. 3 the shoe from FIG. 2 in the closed state,

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the shoe according to the invention in a partially cut

5 shows the shoe from FIG. 4 in a partially sectioned illustration in the open state

Condition, Fig. 6 shows the shoe from Fig. 4 in a partially sectioned view in the closed

Condition, Fig. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention

Shoe in a partially sectioned exploded view,

Fig. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention

Shoes in a partially cut

Representation in the open state and FIG. 9 the shoe from FIG. 8 in a partially sectioned representation in the closed

Status. Detailed description of the invention

1a and 1b, a bistable element 5 is shown in one embodiment of the invention in its two stable states. In the first stable state (Fig. La), the bistable element 5 is convex when viewed from above. By pressing on two outer sections 2, which represent a leaf spring, the bistable element 5 jumps to the second stable state (FIG. 1b). Two ends 4 of the element form an abutment for the pressure. The element 5 springs back into the first state by introducing bending forces or pulling on the outer sections 2. The two ends 4 of the element 5 again form the abutment for the train. The tension of the leaf spring sections 2 is caused by a shortened middle section 3.

2, a device or more precisely a shoe 1 is shown with a three-part sole 17, which is bent upwards by the bistable element 5 in the opened state of the shoe 1, the bending at divisions or separation points 11 in the sole 17 take place and this results in a shift at divisions or separation points 10 of the upper material. By bending the bistable element 5, the entry for the foot is further increased. In this state, the foot can easily slip into the front part of the shoe.

When the foot is lowered, pressure is exerted on the bistable element 5, as a result of which the bistable element 5 springs around. The pressure is exerted on the longitudinally central ones and the outer ones transverse to the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIGS Sections 2. The bistable element 5 changes into its second stable state (see FIG. 1b), as a result of which the sole becomes straight (see FIG. 3) and a normal, straight footbed can form. The heel is enclosed by the heel part 9.

Fig. 3 shows the shoe 1 in the closed state. The bistable element 5 has jumped into the second state due to the pressure of the foot. The shoe 1 encloses the foot. The upper or part 6 of the shoe that covers the instep, or a band 7, has been pulled down by the bistable element 5 and spans the foot. The shoe now has a normal sole that is elastic in the rolling direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bistable element in the second state is at least partially curved downwards or downwards in the middle or concave when viewed from above. In particular, the outer sections 2 are curved or bent in this way. The bistable element 5 is thus designed such that a force acts in the direction of the second state when the foot rolls off, as a result of which the bistable element 5 does not spring back into its first stable state when the sole 17 is bent in the rolling direction. When the shoe is lifted, the shoe remains firmly on the foot since it is held by the internal stress of the bistable element 5.

The band or a belt 7 make it possible to change the size of the upper material 6, so that a positive connection is created which prevents the foot from sliding out of the shoe.

The shoe is narrowed by a connection 13 of the upper material 6 via the band 7 to the bistable and elastic element 5, since the bistable element 5 changes in when jumping over moves the closed state above or within the sole 17 at least partially downwards and pulls the upper material 6 of the shoe in the direction of the sole 17.

When removing the heel blocks the heel or

element 9 or a heel 8 at the end 12 of the shoe e.g. with his other foot and pulls the foot up. This pulls the upper 6 of the shoe upwards. Through the connection 13 of the upper material 6 via the band 7 with the bistable element 5, the tensile force is transmitted to the sections 2 (Fig. La, lb). The bistable element 5 thereby changes into its first stable state and the shoe bends up so that the foot can easily slip out of the shoe. The shoe is now in its open state again (FIG. 2) and is held in this position by the bistable element 5.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of the shoe _. 'before its assembly. The upper material or upper part 6 has a loop 18 into which the band 7 can be inserted and by means of e.g. a Velcro fastener 14 is attachable to ensure an individual foot adjustment.

The band 7 is also threaded through slots in the bistable element 5 and possibly connected to it in the region of a section 13 in order to pull the band 17 downward when jumping into the second state.

An inner or insole 15 is connected to the bistable element 5 and the sole 17 'in a sandwich-like manner by means of rivets 16 and then glued to the sole 17'. 5, the shoe 1 'is shown in the open state. The bistable element 5 bends the sole 17 'upwards in the middle and keeps the shoe 1 open, the bending taking place on a film hinge 19 in the sole 17'.

The upper part 6 has a front and rear section 6a and 6b, which are displaceable against one another when opening and closing and overlap at the division or separation point 10.

The band 7 can adjust the width of the upper material 6 according to the individual shape of the foot by means of the Velcro fastener 14. Since the sections 2 of the bistable element move downward when jumping over into the closed state, the band 7 is pulled downward and thus the upper material 6 of the shoe is narrowed or closed.

Fig. 6 shows the shoe 1 'in the closed state. The shoe wraps around the foot. The band 7 has been pulled down by the bistable element 5 and thus tensions the upper material 6. The combination of the heel part 9 folded up at the back and the reduction in cross-section through the band 7 or the upper material 6 ensures that the foot is securely held in the shoe.

FIG. 7 shows the shoe 1 ″ according to the invention without the band 7. The closure here only takes place by folding in the heel part 9.

The reopening of the shoe is achieved by blocking the heel part 9 and lifting the foot. The resulting forces act on the bistable element 5 on the outer ends 4 (see Fig. La and lb) and bend them against the rolling direction, the state of the bistable element 5 changes and the shoe opens.

8 and 9 show a shoe 1 '' ', which has a seal 20 instead of the open partitions 10 on each side of the shoe. The seal 20 is designed as an intermediate section or tab which is connected to the front and rear sections 6a and 6b of the shoe along edges 20a and 20b of the tab 20. The flap 20 is essentially trapezoidal or triangular, possibly made of elastic material, and folds when the shoe is closed. "" preferably together inwards (FIG. 9), so that in the closed state the front and rear sections 6a and 6b of the shoe 1 "" and the tab 20 overlap in a predetermined area. Because the tab 20 connects the front and rear shoe sections 6a and 6b to one another along the edges 20a and 20b, the shoe is essentially at least splash-proof in the closed and opened state.

For the rest, the contents of the priority-based German utility model 201 18 134.7 and the German patent application DE 101 54 378.6, both filed on November 7, 2001, are hereby fully made the subject of this disclosure by reference.

Claims

claims

1. Device for footwear (1), in particular a shoe, comprising at least one sole (17, 17 '), at least one upper part (6) and at least one at least bistable element (5).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, which defines an open state when the bistable element (5) is in a first stable state and a closed state when the bistable element (5) is in a second stable state

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bistable element (5) is flat.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bistable element (5) above the sole (17,

17 ') is arranged.

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one insole (15), wherein the bistable element (5) between the sole (17, 17 ') and the insole (15) is arranged.

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bistable element (5) in the first and second state has at least one curved section (2).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bistable element (5) in the first and second state is flexible.

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bistable element (5) can be converted by bending from the first to the second state.

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bistable element (5) comprises at least a first and second section (3, 2) and the first section (3) is shortened compared to the second section (2) in such a way that the second section (2) is biased in the first and second states.

10. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the bistable element (5) comprises at least a third section (2, 3) which is designed corresponding to the first or second section (3, 2) and the first, second and third section (2, 3) are arranged side by side.

11. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bistable element (5) is integrally formed.

12. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sole (17, 17 ') is formed in one piece and comprises a film hinge (19).

13. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means (7) for automatically narrowing the upper part (6) when the device (1) from open is converted into the closed state.

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the means for automatically narrowing the upper part (6) comprises a band (7) which is pulled down when the bistable element (5) is transferred from the first to the second state.

15. An arrangement comprising the device (1) according to one of the preceding claims and an opening element, wherein the device (1) and the opening element are designed such that when the device (1) occurs on the opening element, the device (1) of the closed in the open state is convertible.