WO2006109335A1

WO2006109335A1 - Universal antislip claw for footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2006109335A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilio Fanetti
Original assignee: Ilio Fanetti
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2006-10-19
Also published as: CN101179959A; DE602006005090D1; ATE422307T1; EP1712148A1; EP1712148B1; CA2608755A1; US20090193681A1

Abstract

Accidental falls represent one of the principal causes of disability in the population. The invention aims at solving the problem of injuries caused by slippery terrains. A device is provided to be fitted in footwear having retractable spikes which penetrate the ice or slippery surface like a claw. Said device comprises an excenter system which allows the spikes to have two positions.

Description

1 - TITLE OF INVENTION ^u UNIVERSAL ANTISLIP CLAW FOR FOOTWEAR "

2 - DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD In the hierarchical scale of needs, after satisfying his primary needs, such as,

above all, physiological needs ( food, water, sex), man feels the need for

security (*): that is to say, the necessity to be protected from illness, injury,

and, more generally, from unexpected events which restrict his own physical

integrity.

The dangers which threaten his personal safety, are often connected to

slippery , uneven unexpected terrain, to be found at any latitude: in the

mountains, on the plain, in the town or in the country.

Such dangers affect the entire civil population of the world , without

distinction of age, sex and behavioural habits.

With reference to the World Healt Oranisation's - Report of 2001, on which

we based our research, the causes of disability through falls in people aged

(15 to 44) inclusive are in third place after Hiv/Aids and ischeamic cardiac

disease (**).

The prevention of traumatic episodes resulting in falls because of lack of grip

on terrain whic h has become slippery through rain, constant wetness, grass,

(*)A. H. Marlow - Motivations and Personality - New York Harper & Rowe 1954 (**) Causes of Disability in age range 15-44 years : Hiv/Aids &,1 , Ischaemic cardiac disease 3.0-Falls 1,3. Font WHO Report 2001 unevenness, sloping ground and for other reasons , represents the first and

most important accident- prevention function performed by the device we are

going to illustrate.

"Universal Antislip Claw For Footwear " is a device created as a technical

response to all the safety problems of a person walking on , slippery, steep or

in some way , dangerous terrain,

Inserted into the heel of an ordinary shoe, at the time of manufacture , with an

antislip function, it ensures maximum grip of the terrain and eliminates the

risk of falls.

Bearing in mind that the traumatic effects from falls have particularly serious

consequences for older people ( social unprod activity; the costs of medical

treatment and rehabiliitation therapy ; and other things ) , whose costs fall to

the collectivity , as we have already outlined, we can guarantee that

"Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " plays an important social role.

BACKGROUND ART

While we have come across a variety of device designed to be mainly on heavy

boots fo use in icy and snowy conditions , up till now we have not yet come

across any universal accident- prevention systems which can be used reliably

in all dangerous situations including asphalt pavements as well as risky

terrain in the countryside and can be built into any type of footwear.

We envisage "Claw" as a simple universal device, for immediate use,

effective in solving problems of balance and risk of falls. "Claw" is designed for occasional use like an umbrella, but without being a

hinderance in the absence of rain, because it remains enclosed witih the heel

when not in use and does not affect the look or effectiveness of the shoe.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

"Universal Antisllip Claw for Footwear "(see Fig.l and Fig.5) is a universal

device designed to be fitted in all types of shoes at the time of industrial

manufacture and designed to provide safe conditions to people who have to

walk on slippery terrain.

"Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " is built into the heel or sole of a

normal shoe, a sports shoe, made of any material, for example, leather, rubber,

polyurethane, vinyl resin and others.

It is constructed out of stainless steel, protected from water infiltration , easy to

use, requiring no maintenance and it can carry weigths many times greater than

that of an average person .

It can be activated easily by hand at any time, even by a child or an old

person, without the help of any external device .

"Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear" is an invention which comprises the following structures and usese:

-Vertical Piston with a circular groove (see Fig.2 and Fig.6) forming the central mechanism forming and permitting all the multiple mechanical functions illustrated as follows: A)- it supports the " Serrated Horse-shoe shaped rod "or alternatively the "Serrated tranverse rod "; (see Fig.l and Fig.5)

B)- its movements causes the release and retraction of the serrated rod;(see Fig.2,4 and Fig.6,7)

C)- the special "Circular groove (see Fig.2 and Fig.6) construction ensures smooth operation and the ability to position "Claw "anyhere in the heel, without impeding the optional operational angle of the rod on the terrain.

The release and retraction of the serrated bar is effected by the Piston driven by the manual rotation of projecting flaps (see Fig.3) located on the outside of a simple key with an eccentric nose that turns in the circular grove, (see Fig.2,4 and Fig.6,7).

The serrated rod is available in two different versions with the follwing two different functions:

-"Serrated Horse shoe shaped rod" ( See Fig.l ) for use in the heel of the shoe ; -"Serrated tranverse rod"(see Fig.5) for use in the sole.

The use of the circular groove piston also allows "Claw" to be positioned anywehre in the sole , without affecting the optimal operational angle of the rod on the terrain .

The positions of the rods are interchangeable; however laboratory tests on the operation of "Claw" have demostrated best results with the horseshoe shaped rod fitted in the heel and the transverse rod, in the sole.

The complete retraction of the serrated bar can be effected by carrying out the manual procedure in reverse , thus returning the shoe to normal use.

The special above mentioned "circular grove" construction of the piston, which enables "Claw" to be fitted anywhere in the heel without changing the rod's angle of grip on the terrain, (see Fig.l and Fig.5), requiresin certain positions -the length " L " of the key arm to be adjusted.

The key is adapted to operational requirements of "Claw" by employing:

-O -ring washer wihch prevents water infiltration;(see Fig.2) 95 -Fixing check -pin;(see Fig.2)

-no extra device is required to effect its activation/ disactivation;

"Claw" does not hinder normal walking, because the person 's weight is uniformally distributed over the whole surface of the person's heel, by means of the thickness of the rod. 100 The 5 mm, raising of the shoe heel is psychologically tolerable in conditions where there is risk of falls.

BRIEF DESCMPTION OF DRAWINGS

The attached drawings include the full description and technical data required to demonstrate the construction and operation of the "Claw". 105 In Fig 1 and Fig.5 the positions of the nosed key are drawn in dotted lines, illustrating all its different possible locations on the outside of the heel , depending on requirements. The drawings are on a scale of 1 : 1

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

110 The techical operational features of the device descibed above demonstrate that it is an invention suitable for universal use in any type of fotowear and is therefore in a position to provide a concrete solution to the social problems of falls. The invention will be implemented primarily through accident - prevention

115 organisations relating to any field, but above all through those concerned with safety at work.

At the same time, the invention will be promoted and introduced to the general footwear industry, with particular reference to those who manufacture work shoe, hiking, boots, sport shoe and fashion shoes . 120 Promotional further initiatives will adress Insurance Companies, providing them with conclusive laboratory test results which prove the reliable operation of "Claw".

It would seem to us a priority requirement to make the use of "Claw" compulsory in situations involving high risk of falls, bearing in mind the 125 above- mentioned implication which the resulting traumas have for the whole of society.

"Claw" aims to make a unique contribution to rectifing this problem.

Claims

3 - CLAIMS

Stating at the outset that with the complete name " Universal Antislip Caw for Footwear " we mean to safeguard and protect the invention in its entirety, including all its functions which guarantee a person's safety, as well as its use an invention for universal industrial production, suitable for any type of footwear, without excluding anything.

We remind you that "Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear" represents an innovative industrial invention of which we intend to claim and protect the following unique features:

1) VERTICAL PISTON WITH CIRCULAR GROOVE

This represents the " heart ( essential mechanism) of the invention, the main features of which are reability, toughness and ease of use. It carries out multiple functions, for all of which we claim total protection:

-a support for the " Serrated Horseshoe - shaped rod "and the " Serrated

Transverse rod ";

-forward and reverse vertical movement for the external release of the serrated rod and for its retraction back to the internal disactivated position; -the " Circular grove " construction allows the" nosed key" to be positioned anywhere on the surface of the heel, without affecting the angle of impact of the serrated rod on the terrain ,

2) SERRATED HORSESHOE- SHAPEDROD AND SERRATED TRANSVEREROD We request the protection of the two versions: both the "Serrated horseshoe-shaped rod" mechanism and the "Serrated Transverse rod" mechanism , each of which is supported by the Vertical Piston with Circular Groove (as claimed in Claim N.I), which guarantee the toughness and effϊcciency of" Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " . 155 When fitted into the heel of any type of shoe, this mechanism guarantees excellent grip of the shoe on the terrain.

If the " Tranverse Rod " mechanism is built into the sole of the shoe and combined with the mechanism described above , the maximum grip in extreme conditions is guaranteed.

160 3) UNIVERSAL ACCIDENT - PREVENTION FUNCTION

In view of what has been explained and illustrated above, and bearing in mind the uses for which " Universal Antislip Law for Footwear " is intended, we request its full protection as an invention designed for industrial production and as a universal accident protection device.

165 4) NAME AND TRADEMARK

" Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " we mean to set apart and protect the universal anti-slip device, as described and illustrated fully above. We claim the total protection of the name and include the entire range of uses of the device "Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " , built into any

170 type of footwear, to be understood in the broadest sense of the terms, which we summarise here;

- Everyday shoes and walking shoes; fashion shoes, sport/causal shoes; accident prevention footwear; shoes for all sports activities; work shoes; leisure footwear; boots; hiking boots; sandals; moon boots; and all others, for

175 any requirements whatsoever when worn on a person's feet.

- The protection of the name " Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " must be understood to include all possible colours, shapes, characteristics, and features; dimensions and sizes , designs, sketches, logos; engravings, embossing , and printing; web scanning and any other forms that could give

180 rise to confusion about the name and its range of uses , however reproduced.