WO2013005125A1

WO2013005125A1 - Footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2013005125A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/053106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edoardo IANNUZZI
Original assignee: Iannuzzi Edoardo
Priority date: 2011-07-01
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Also published as: ITRM20110346A1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a footwear (1), and in particular to a footwear (1) characterized by a specific closure system allowing the footwear to be opened integrally in a simple way and be reduced, when open, to a single substantially flat portion of material.

Description

FOOTWEAR

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a footwear, and in particular to a footwear characterized by a specific closure system allowing to attain the desired aim and to solve the addressed problems.

In general, the technical problem which the present invention intends to solve is that of providing a footwear which, in a simple way, may be integrally opened and be reduced, when open, to a single and substantially flat portion of material.

This would meet several needs particularly felt in some fields.

Consider, e.g., the trouble encountered by persons having physical difficulties of various type (aged, disabled persons, persons with foot traumas or lesions, persons having motor difficulties, etc.), at the time of wearing on a shoe. What for an ordinary person is a simple and very natural act performed several times a day, to some people can become a time of suffering and/or of trouble.

Moreover, also the problem of fitting one's footwear in luggage when traveling is greatly felt. In fact, due to their nature, footwear are items taking up a very big volume; therefore, a few pairs of shoes easily fill up a luggage, even a medium-sized one.

Obviously, the more the problem of available luggage size is relevant, all the more this problem is felt. Suffice it to think of the difficulties of preparing an air travel luggage complying with rules and regulations (as to size and weight) on hand luggage.

Therefore, object of the present invention is to solve the problems still left open by the known art, and this is attained by means of a footwear as defined in claim 1.

Further features of the device of the invention at issue are set forth in the corresponding dependent claims thereof.

The present invention, by overcoming the problems of the known art, entails several evident advantages that, together with the features and the operation modes of the present invention, will be made evident in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example an not for limitative purposes. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figures 1A and 1 B are views of a first embodiment of a footwear according to the present invention, in an open configuration;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the footwear of Figure 1 , in a closed configuration;

Figures 3A and 3B are views of a second embodiment of a footwear according to the present invention, in an open configuration;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the footwear of Figure 3, in a closed configuration; Figures 5A to 5D are views of a third embodiment of a footwear according to the present invention, in an open, half-open and closed configuration.

The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail making reference to the above-indicated figures.

Referring initially to Figures 1A and 1 B, these are respectively a plan view and a perspective view of a first embodiment of a footwear 1 according to the present invention.

The footwear 1 comprises a sole 2 and a vamp 3. Both the sole 2 and the vamp 3 have respective peripheral edges 4, 4' and are made of substantially flat portions of material. The material used can be the most varied, from a fabric to leather, or other different materials selected depending on specific needs, aesthetic ones or of use.

E.g., as might be for the case related to this first embodiment, the footwear might be intended for a use as orthopedic or leisure footwear, or the like. In this case, evidently, a fabric material lending greater comfort thereto is more appropriate.

Sole and vamp are integral therebetween at a joining part 5 of the peripheral edges, and therefore form a single portion of material. Preferably, the joining part lies at the portion of sole corresponding to the position of the heel.

Moreover, the footwear 1 comprises means 40 for the reversible connection of the sole and the vamp. Such reversible connection means 40 preferably comprises a zipper running along the peripheral edges 4, 4'.

When the zipper is completely open, the footwear may assume a first open configuration in which the vamp and the sole form a single portion of material, overall of substantially flat shape.

Next Figure 2 is a view of the footwear 1 of the preceding figures, when the zipper has been acted on. Thus, the footwear may assume a second closed configuration in which the vamp is connected to the sole along the peripheral portion of the latter, to form a closed footwear.

Advantageously, the vamp 3 of the footwear 1 comprises an insert 6 of elastic material. Preferably, such insert is positioned at the instep position, so as to facilitate the inserting of the foot itself in the footwear.

From this description of said first embodiment some fundamental advantages of the present invention are already evident.

In particular, the fact that the footwear, when in the open configuration, overall assumes a flat shape is extremely advantageous in order to consider the footwear as a travel footwear, which becomes extremely simple to put away in any one luggage.

Moreover, the ,fact of being able to set the footwear in an open, or even half-open configuration, during the wearing on greatly facilitates the inserting of the foot, something particularly relevant in case of persons with motor difficulties and/or wounds and/or traumas, etc. These persons could easily rest the foot on the sole with the footwear in an open or half-open configuration, and then act on the zipper so as to reclose the footwear in its closed configuration. Next Figures 3A and 3B are respectively a plan view and a perspective view of a second embodiment of a footwear 11 according to the present invention.

The footwear 11 comprises a sole 12 and a vamp 13. Both the sole 12 and the vamp 3 have respective peripheral edges 14, 14' and are made of substantially flat portions of material. The material used may be the most varied, from a fabric to leather, or other different materials selected depending on specific needs, aesthetic ones or of use.

E.g., as might be for the case related to this second embodiment, the footwear might be intended for a use as orthopedic or leisure footwear. In this case, evidently, a fabric material lending greater comfort thereto is more appropriate.

Sole and vamp are integral therebetween at a joining part 15 of the peripheral edges 14, 14', to form therefore a single portion of material.

Preferably, the joining part 15 lies at the portion of sole corresponding to the position of the heel.

Moreover, the footwear 11 comprises means 40 for the reversible connection of the sole and of the vamp. Such reversible connection means 40, preferably comprises a zipper running along the peripheral edges 14, 14'.

Next Figure 4 is a view of the footwear 11 of the preceding figure, when the zipper has been acted on. Thus, the footwear may assume a second closed configuration in which the vamp is connected to the sole along the peripheral portion of the latter to form a closed footwear.

Advantageously, the vamp 13 of the footwear 11 comprises an openable portion 17, preferably having two edges 17' 17" overlappable and couplable therebetween, e.g. by Velcro elements 18.

Of course, the vamp 13 could it also provide an elastic insert, as in the preceding case.

Next Figures 5A to 5D are views of a third embodiment of a footwear 21 according to the present invention, representing it, in a sequence, in an open, half-open and closed configuration.

From a structural standpoint, said third embodiment does not differ substantially from the first two already described.

In fact, the footwear 21 comprises a sole 22 and a vamp 23. Both the sole 22 and the vamp 23 have respective peripheral edges 24, 24' and are made of substantially flat portions of material. The material used may be the most varied, from a fabric to leather, or other different materials selected depending on specific needs, aesthetic ones or of use.

E.g., as might be for the case related to this third embodiment, the footwear might be intended for a use as travel footwear, or the like. In this case, evidently, a leather material lending an aesthetically more pleasing appearance thereto is more appropriate.

Sole and vamp are integral therebetween at a joining part 25 of the peripheral edges, therefore form a single portion of material. Preferably, the joining part 25 lies at the portion of sole corresponding to the position of the heel.

Moreover, the footwear 21 comprises means 40 for the reversible connection of the sole and the vamp. Such reversible connection means 40 preferably comprises a zipper running along the peripheral edges 24, 24'.

When the zipper is completely open, the footwear may assume a first open configuration in which the vamp and the sole form a single portion of material, overall of substantially flat shape. Figures 5A to 5C illustrate in a sequence the closure of the zipper 40, allowing to pass from the completely open configuration of Figure 5A to a half-open configuration of Figure 5C.

Next Figure 5D is a view of the footwear 11 of the preceding figures, when the zipper 40 has been completely acted on. Thus, the footwear may assume a second closed configuration in which the vamp 23 is connected to the sole 22 along the peripheral portion of the latter, to form a completely closed footwear.

Advantageously, the vamp 23 of the footwear 21 comprises an insert 26 of elastic material. Preferably, such insert is positioned at the instep position, so as to facilitate the inserting of the foot itself into the footwear.

It has to be understood that both the sole and the vamp of the footwear according to the present invention, in any of the embodiments described hereto, could be made of different materials and/or comprised of two or more layers made of different materials. All this of course depending on the use for which the footwear is intended.

Moreover, it has to be understood that the reversible connection means could also be made in forms different from a zipper, though keeping the same function of peripheral removable connection. Moreover, the zipper could indifferently be assembled in a manner such that the runner remains inside the footwear, or outside thereof, depending on the aesthetic or functional result that is to be preferred.

The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that other embodiments might exist, all falling within the concept of the same invention, and all comprised within the protective scope of the claims hereinafter.

Claims

1. A footwear (1 , 11 , 21) comprising a sole (2, 12, 22) and a vamp (3, 13, 33) having respective peripheral edges (4, 14, 24), wherein said sole and said vamp are made of portions of material substantially flat and integral therebetween at a joining part (5, 15, 25) of said peripheral edges to form a single portion of material,

said footwear further comprising means (40) for the reversible connection of said sole and said vamp along said peripheral edges, such that the footwear may assume a first open configuration in which said vamp and said sole form a single portion of material of substantially flat shape, and a second closed configuration in which said vamp is connected to said sole along the peripheral portion of the latter to form a closed footwear, said reversible connection means comprising a single zipper (40) running along said peripheral edges.

2. The footwear according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said joining part (5, 15, 25) lies at the portion of sole corresponding to the position of the heel.

3. The footwear according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein said vamp (3, 13, 33) comprises an insert (6, 26) of elastic material.

4. The footwear according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein said vamp (3, 13, 33) comprises an openable portion (17).

5. The footwear according to claim 5, wherein said openable portion comprises two edges (17' 17") overlappable and couplable therebetween.

6. The footwear according to claim 6, wherein said edges (17' 17") comprise a coupling system with Velcro^® elements.

7. The footwear according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein said sole (2, 12, 22) and/or said vamp (3, 13, 23) comprise two or more layers made of different materials.

8. The footwear according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein said material comprises fabric.

9. The footwear according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein said material comprises leather.