WO2023031374A1

WO2023031374A1 - Shoe tree

Info

Publication number: WO2023031374A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/074404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Perschk
Original assignee: Patty's Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-09-02
Filing date: 2022-09-01
Publication date: 2023-03-09

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe tree for tautening at least the front part of the upper or the toecap of shoes, comprising an insertion part, which can be inserted into the shoe at least in the region below the front part of the upper or below the toecap, the insertion part having an balloon which can be pumped up, for tautening the upper material of the shoe which forms the front part of the upper and/or forms the toecap. According to the invention, the balloon has, at least on its side facing the upper material, a plate made of a material which is stiffer than the material of the inflatable balloon.

Description

shoe tree

Description

The invention relates to a shoe tree for tightening at least the front part of the upper or the toe cap of shoes with an insert part which can be pushed into the shoe at least in the area under the front part of the upper or the toe cap, which insert part has an inflatable balloon around which the front part of the upper and /or tighten the upper material of the shoe that forms the toe cap.

Such a shoe tree is known, for example, from DE 1 720 154 U or DE 24 43 859 A1. The insert part is designed as an inflatable balloon which, in the inflated position, has the shape of the hollow space in the area of the upper front part and the toe cap of the shoe. It is provided here that the shape is achieved by areas with different wall thicknesses. Thanks to the inflatable balloon, the shoe tree can be used for different shoe sizes.

This inflatable shoe tree has the disadvantage that some areas of the upper material are not sufficiently tightened in the position of use. However, the upper material of some shoes, in particular of so-called sneakers with a relatively soft or thin upper material, tends to form kinks in certain areas, which negatively affect the visual appearance of the shoe. These kinks cannot be smoothed out by known shoe trees. The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a shoe tree of the type described above in such a way that certain areas of the upper material of the shoe are tightened better when the shoe tree is in the position of use. Furthermore, the handling is to be made easier.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved in that the balloon, in the non-inserted and inflated position, has a larger volume than that of the front part of the upper in the area assigned to the part of the upper that receives the foot in the position of use, at least in one section has enclosed volumes in this part. In particular, it can be provided that at least one section with a larger volume in the position of use lies in the part of the upper that accommodates the metatarsophalangeal joints. There, the upper material tends to form kinks due to the ongoing bending movement of the foot when walking, which are visible from the outside. Due to the larger volume of the inflatable plug-in part in this area, relatively more pressure is exerted on the upper material than on the surrounding upper material. The undesired kinks can thus be reliably avoided or reduced.

It is expedient if the balloon consists of a plastic material, for example TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). This material is heat and/or ultrasonically weldable and inflatable and can be produced in almost any shape as an air cushion using known production processes. To form a cavity, two layers of a film-like material are placed one on top of the other and welded or glued together at the edges so that they are airtight. It is expedient here if the areas are formed by chambers of the balloon separated from one another by webs. Such webs can, for example, in Welding processes can be produced in a simple manner in that the plastic films lying one on top of the other are welded to one another in this area. This can be done from the outside.

Another disadvantage of inflatable plug-in parts can be seen in the fact that they can only be introduced into the shoe with relative difficulty in the non-inflated position. There is a risk that the front area in particular will fold over and then not be properly inflated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the shoe tree according to the invention, it is therefore provided that there is a stiff and flat insertion aid within the balloon, the flat side of which essentially has the contour of the insole in the area of the upper front part and/or the toe cap and in of the inserted layer runs at a distance from the inner side wall of the shoe. This insertion aid is surrounded by the ball and does not need to be connected to it. In the inflated position of use, this insertion aid thus lies loosely in the cavity formed in the balloon and has no further function.

It can also be provided that the balloon has a stiff and flat insertion aid on its underside, the flat side of which essentially has the contour of the insole in the area of the upper front part and/or the toe cap and, in the inserted position, at a distance from the inner sidewall of the shoe. Here the insertion aid is connected to the material of the balloon and forms the lower side wall of the plug-in part, which rests on the insole and therefore does not have to expand or deform. In order to also fill the shoe well in the lower edge areas of the front part of the upper, it is favorable if the balloon protrudes laterally beyond the insertion aid in the inflated position. The upper material is then only touched and tightened by the elastic balloon.

The insertion aid is flat and stiff and elastically flexible, or also rigid, so that it is easy to handle and insert. The insertion aid can be in the form of a flat plate or a flat frame. The insertion aid can also be designed as a flat spring or spring plate, which can be longer than the insole. The insertion aid can then be inserted into the shoe opening under pretension, whereby the insertion part is held securely under the front part of the socket. The heel cap is also tightened. The shaping volume is formed by the inflatable balloon.

Another shoe tree for tightening at least the front part of the upper or the toe cap of shoes is designed in such a way that the balloon is at least partially surrounded by a deformable frame which deforms when the balloon is inflated and in the position of use rests against the upper material of the shoe at least in certain areas. A pump for inflating the balloon can also be integrated into the frame.

Specifically, the frame can be designed as a closed ring-shaped structure that is formed by a circumferential band. The balloon lies in the interior of the ring thus formed and is held to it. By inflating, the balloon will expand and deform the band into a crowned oval. This allows the shoe tree to adapt well to the shape of the front part of the shaft. It is also possible to hold such a shoe tree to use boot uppers. In the relaxed position, the frame is essentially narrow and thin and can thus easily be inserted into the shoe together with the balloon up to under the toe cap. A kinking of the balloon is thereby avoided.

If the upper material of the shoe is made of a very soft material or a relatively stiff material, there is a possibility that the balloon will not fit snugly enough at the expected kinks, for example in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joints, to smooth the upper material there . This can only be partially compensated for by providing a section of the plug-in part that can be pumped up more there. With very soft upper materials, there is also a risk that this section will stretch the upper material there too much and the upper material will stretch out there.

It is therefore provided according to the invention in a shoe tree of the type described in a further embodiment that the balloon is provided with a stiff shell at least in regions and at least on the side facing the upper material in the position of use, which has greater stiffness as the balloon material or the upper material and which, in the position of use, rests against the upper material at least in the area of the kinks. This has the advantage that the balloon can be formed independently of the shoe shape. A relatively large amount of pressure can be exerted on the shell and thus on the upper without the risk of overstretching the upper. In the relieved state, the shell can first be placed under the upper material. It is then pressed against the upper material by inflating the balloon lying below and above the insole. According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the shell at least partially and at least approximately has the contour of the front part of the shaft over the insertion part or assumes this contour when the balloon is inflated. This ensures that the upper material is held in the desired shape of the upper front part. Any kinks then lie flat on the shell and smooth out when the shoe is not in use.

It is therefore useful if the shell consists of an elastic plastic material with a smooth surface. Then the upper can align well on the top of the shell during inflation so that the kinks disappear. Instead of a closed shell, a shell provided with openings or a correspondingly shaped grid can also be provided. The latter allow air circulation.

It can also be beneficial if the shell is connected to the balloon. The shell can also be part of the balloon wall. In any case, it is possible to store the balloon in the uninflated state in a space-saving manner inside the shell.

The shell can have dimensions adapted to the size of the shoe. It is also possible for the balloon to be provided with a stiff plate on its underside. Inserting the shoe tree into the shoe can thus be simplified. The upper shell can then be hinged to this lower panel. Furthermore, shells made of stiffer material can also be provided on the balloon in other areas of the expected kinks, for example at the outer or inner tear. Then the upper material is also tightened in these areas without being overstretched.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the balloon has, at least on its side facing the upper material, a plate made of a material that is stiffer than the material of the inflatable balloon. This plate is either applied to the balloon, for example welded or glued, or held in a pocket of the balloon. The plate preferably consists of a flexible but nevertheless dimensionally stable material and is designed, for example, as a gel cushion. This gel cushion is pressed against the upper material by the balloon so that it can be smoothed out there. In particular, it is provided that the plate or the gel cushion is present in those areas of the balloon where kinks in the upper material are to be expected, for example in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joints.

Provision can furthermore be made for the balloon to have a plurality of chambers lying one above the other, which are preferably sealed off from one another and can be filled with a medium independently of one another. Provision can also be made for the uppermost chamber, which is thus in contact with the upper material from the inside, to be designed as a pocket in which the plate made of stiffer material is held at the desired location. The plate can thus be held in a simple manner at a point below the upper material at which unsightly kinks occur in the shoe of the individual user.

At least the uppermost chamber can also be permanently filled with a gel, an oil filling or with compressed air. This gives the balloon a relatively stiff but still flexible and therefore malleable upper side that fits well to the inside of the shoe adjusts . The uppermost chamber can extend over the entire upper side of the balloon or it can only be present in certain areas, for example in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joints of the balloon in the use position.

In a simple embodiment, the plug-in part or the inflatable balloon has two chambers lying one above the other, which are delimited by at least three foils lying one above the other, which are sealingly connected to one another along their edges, for example welded. A gel is filled in the upper chamber, which is thus the upper chamber facing the upper material of the shoe, which gives the insert part its desired dimensional stability and flexibility there. The upper gel chamber is pressed against the upper material by the lower and inflatable chamber.

Another shoe tree according to the invention provides that the balloon has several tubular chambers that lie side by side along the longitudinal extent of the shoe and are separated from one another by webs in such a way that the space surrounded by the front part of the shaft is filled. The individual chambers are dimensioned according to the shape of the front part of the shaft and can have different lengths or diameters. The chambers can also lie side by side or one above the other. This allows the cavity of the shoe to be well filled. The chambers are separated from one another by webs that have air passages. Therefore, only one air supply is required to inflate all chambers.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the balloon is designed as a hose that has a U-shape or horseshoe shape in the position of use and can be pushed into the shoe and pumped up with the base first. It can it can also be provided that the tubular balloon is designed as a ring or oval. It is also possible for the balloon to be in the form of a tube which has a V-shape in the position of use and can be pushed into the shoe and pumped up with the tip first. This makes the production of the shoe tree particularly simple. The inflatable tube can be manufactured in any length. By bending over in a middle area, the tube at least approximately has the desired fit for a shoe tree. By inflating the tube, the tube increases in circumference and the desired tightening of the upper material is achieved.

According to the invention it can be provided that the tubular balloon is held in the position of use by a connecting web between the facing sides of the free ends of the balloon. The connecting web can be inflatable together with the balloon and can have the supply for the air to be supplied. This ensures that the opposing legs are pumped up evenly. The preferred position of the legs is also specified, and the handling of the shoe tree is easier.

It can also be provided that the tubular or tube-shaped balloon is arranged on a flat and stiff insertion aid along its outer edge. This facilitates insertion into the shoe.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the sections of the balloon forming the legs or bases are separated from one another by webs. The preferred position in particular of the legs in relation to one another is also specified hereby. It is also advantageous if the sections of the balloon forming the legs or base have different diameters or regions with different diameters. Then the insertion part formed in this way can exert more pressure on the upper material at the desired points, so that kinks can be reduced or eliminated well. In particular, it can be provided that the area of the balloon that forms the base or tip is formed by a section of the balloon that has a narrower cross section. As a rule, no tightening of the upper material is required in the front area of the shoe, so that on the one hand a flow connection between the legs of the tube is achieved by this design. On the other hand, the bending of the hose in this area is then made easier.

Nevertheless, there is a risk that the hose will be bent too sharply in the area of the bend, so that the terminal chamber(s) will not be adequately supplied with air. It is therefore provided that at least in the area of the base or tip to be formed there is an air guiding tube with a reinforced side wall in the balloon. This air guiding tube is preferably flexible or shaped according to the contour of the front part of the shaft. In the case of a short air guide tube, this must be firmly connected to the balloon material in the area of the bending point so that it is held in the desired position in the balloon in the desired orientation. However, a longer air guide tube can also be provided, the ends of which reach close to the opposite walls of the balloon. This also ensures a flow connection between the angled legs of the hose.

The use of a bent tube also creates a free space between the legs. The insole of the shoe is not covered by the shoe tree there, so that an exchange of air can take place.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the shoe tree is designed as an inflatable cushion which is arranged underneath the shoe strap on this and when the shoe is not in use in the inflated position of use fills the space below the strap around the upper material of the shoe to punish . The shoe tree is thus firmly connected to the shoe and only needs to be pumped up after wearing the shoe so that the upper material becomes taut.

In principle, a shoe can also be closed in this way in order to wear the same. By inflating an air cushion below or in the tongue, the lateral upper material is tightened so that the shoe fits snugly on the foot. By providing a firmer or flexible material, for example fleece or foam, on the side of the tongue that faces the foot, undesired pressure points are avoided.

Such inflatable air chambers worked into the upper material of the shoe can also be worked into those areas of the front part of the upper in which kinks occur particularly quickly, ie in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joints. Integrated pumping devices or non-return valves can be incorporated almost invisibly into the upper material, so that these air chambers can be pumped up quickly and after each use by an integrated or external pumping device. Early visible buckling in these areas can thus be avoided. In all of the described embodiments of the invention, it can be provided that the webs between the chambers are provided with passage channels for supplying the air via only one valve of the balloon. This makes handling easier.

The shoe tree described above can also be used to safely transport sensitive shoes. Here it is provided that the plug-in part, in the inflated position of use, at least partially occupies the space covered by the shaft material and is shaped accordingly and can be pumped up through an air supply tube, which extends into the balloon forming the plug-in part and is surrounded there by an inner tubular cover in such a way that the hose casing is compressed when the balloon is inflated after removal of the air supply tube due to the prevailing excess pressure in order to seal the balloon tightly. It has been shown that such air cushions hold the air for a sufficiently long time so that the shoe or boot filled with them can be stored or transported for a sufficiently long time without the upper material becoming kinked. Such air cushions are particularly suitable for storing and transporting boots whose shaft tops bend or bend easily.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the balloon has at least one front chamber that can be inserted into the shoe and a rear chamber that protrudes at least partially out of the quarters of the shoe in the inserted position, with the rear chamber having a check valve to the environment and is connected to the adjoining chamber via a non-return valve in such a way that the introduced front chamber can be pumped through the rear chamber by compressing it. At least the back chamber is designed to be elastic in such a way that it expands due to the restoring force and thus draws air through the non-return valve into the rear chamber thus formed. Squeezing the rear chamber forces that air through the other check valve into the front chamber so that it can be inflated. A separate pumping device is then no longer required.

The particular advantage of the invention can be seen in the fact that the shoe tree can be accommodated in a space-saving manner when not in use, since in the relaxed state it assumes the shape of a flat, almost two-dimensional shell. Only when inflated does the shoe tree get the desired convex and thus three-dimensional shape, through which the upper material of the shoe can be tightened well.

Furthermore, any shape that the balloon is to assume after inflation can be specified by welded-in seams or webs. Sections can also be provided in the central region of a chamber or of the balloon in which the opposite outer walls are welded or glued together. A constriction is formed there so that the balloon is prevented from bulging too much in this area.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a plurality of chambers one behind the other in the direction of flow, which are connected to one another via check valves. It is also expedient if the outer surface of the balloon is coated or stained with an elastic foam material at least in certain areas or consists of such a material. The balloon can thus be gently pressed against the inner surface of the front part of the shaft or the upper material of the shoe. By providing an absorbent or hydrophilic material can also the moisture from the Upper material of the shoe to be removed. A net-like and hydrophobic material can also be provided for air exchange.

Instead of a balloon with a smooth wall material, a bellows can also be provided, which expands when inflated without the side walls being stretched. As a result, a defined volume of the shoe tree or the plug-in part can be achieved.

Multi-layer balloons can also be provided. Furthermore, it can be expedient to limit the expansion of the balloon in at least one direction by incorporating inextensible layers or fibers, so that the upper material can be tightened more effectively by the balloon expanding in a targeted manner.

It is particularly expedient if the balloon is longer than the length of the shoe between the toe cap and the heel cap. Then the balloon is placed in the cavity between the caps. When inflated, the balloon expands not only in width but also in length, so that the upper material in the heel area is also tightened. Furthermore , the front plug - in part is pressed firmly into the front part of the upper , so that the upper material is tightened well there .

Provision can also be made for the pumping device to be in the form of a rubber ball which is connected to the plug-in part via a flexible hose and is inserted into the shoe between its rear end and the heel cap after inflation. This type of tightening of the heel area is sufficient, especially for shoes with a relatively soft upper material that does not retain its shape, such as sneakers. The length of the insert is shorter than the length of the insole, so that the s between the There is a free space in which the rubber ball fits, the end of the plug-in part facing the heel area of the shoe and the heel section of the upper material. The rubber ball is pressed elastically against the heel section of the upper material by the elastic hose between the plug-in part and the rubber ball, so that the latter is tightened there. At the same time, the rubber ball is well preserved. This also ensures that the front plug-in part is held sufficiently securely in the desired position for use and cannot accidentally slip out.

The invention has been described above using a single shoe tree for a shoe. It is of course possible to provide an arrangement of two shoe trees, each of which is designed as described above and can be inflated with a common inflating device. This also makes handling easier, since only one inflation device needs to be carried and/or actuated.

However, an inflatable balloon with an internal insertion aid can also be used to support or align objects. The balloon is designed as an air cushion that has a flat and stiff insertion aid on the inside. The insertion aid is strong enough so that the air cushion can be placed easily and easily in narrow gaps or under an object without the risk of the cushion buckling. Then a safe inflation of the air cushion is possible. It is suitable, for example, as an alignment pad for window frames in the associated window reveal of a building.

As a pumping device for inflating the balloon, a ball or egg-shaped bellows can be used with a Hand is operable. The pumping device can be detachably connected to the plug-in part or can form a unit with it. It is favorable if there is a valve for releasing the air or if the non-return valve in question is designed accordingly. However, the air can also be released by removing the bellows. A non-return valve on the balloon keeps the air in the balloon even when the bellows are pulled off, so that the bellows can be used for other purposes. Releasing this check valve allows the balloon to be deflated.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawing. Show it :

Fig. 1 the side view of a shoe tree according to the invention,

Fig. 2 the plan view of the shoe tree according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 shows the plan view of a shoe tree according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 shows the plan view of a shoe tree according to a third embodiment of the invention in the non-use position,

Fig. 5 the plan view of the shoe tree according to FIG. 4 in the position of use,

Fig. 6 shows the side view of a shoe tree according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 7 shows the side view of a shoe tree according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 shows the plan view of a shoe tree according to a sixth embodiment of the invention in the non-use position,

Fig. 9 shows the top view of a shoe tree according to FIG. 8 in the position of use,

Fig. 10 shows the side view of a shoe tree according to a seventh embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 11 the side view of a shoe tree according to an eighth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 12 the side view of a shoe with a

Shoe tree according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 13 the side view of a shoe tree according to another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 14 a section along the line A-A in Figure 13,

Fig. 15 the side view of a shoe tree according to yet another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 16 the plan view of the shoe tree in FIG. 15,

Fig. 17 shows the side view of a shoe tree according to yet another embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 18 a section along line AA in FIG. 17, The shoe tree 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an insertion part 12 which can be inserted with its front end 13 first into a shoe (not shown). The contour of the insertion part 12 corresponds approximately to the inner contour of the upper front part and the toe cap of a shoe. The plug-in part 12 is designed as an inflatable balloon.

For inflation, a pumping device 15 is provided at the rear free end 14 of the plug-in part 12, which has a hose 16 with the plug-in part 12 via a non-return valve 17. The check valve 17 is designed in such a way that air can only be pumped into the plug-in part 12 . It can be designed as a vent valve to allow the air to escape from the insertion part. At the free end of the hose 16 there is a pump 18 , for example in the form of an elastic rubber ball, which is fluidically connected to the environment via a further check valve 19 . Flow can only flow through this non-return valve 19 in the direction of the pump 18 . In this respect, a pumping device 15 for inflating such balloons or air cushions is known and therefore requires no further explanation.

In the drawing, for the sake of clarity, only FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pumping device with check valves. In the other figures, the pumping device is represented by a line 15 ending in the vicinity.

The plug-in part 12 is evenly pressurized by the pumped-in air and lies against the inside of the upper material of the shoe, making it tighter. In order to achieve s certain areas of the upper front part or the shoe a higher Experiencing pressure and thus tightening, the plug-in part 12 has at least one section 20 which has a larger volume than the corresponding volume of the shaft section of the shoe. This section 20 is created by cutting the balloon material appropriately and is therefore connected in one piece to the balloon. This section 20 can be arranged, for example, in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot, in which the upper material is exposed to particularly frequent and severe flexing. Optically unattractive kinks will also form there. Due to the increased pressure in such an area of the upper material, it is tightened more there. The kinks are ironed out there and thus prevented or at least reduced. The shoe looks like new longer .

In the embodiment of a shoe tree shown in FIG. 3, the plug-in part 21 is designed as a hose 22 bent into a horseshoe shape. The free ends 23 of the legs 24 are held in the desired position by a connecting web 25 . The male part 21 is inserted into the shoe with the middle base 26 first. The web 25 can also be designed as a hose section and connect the legs 24 to one another in terms of flow. Then both legs 24 are evenly charged with air. The connection for the pumping device 15 can then be provided in the web 25 . Instead of a horseshoe shape, the tube 22 can also be held in a U-shape. Such a shape of the plug-in part is suitable for shoes with a relatively wide front part of the shaft.

In Figures 4 and 5, the plug-in part 27 is designed as a straight hose section 28 which has a cut-out 29 in its center, leaving a flow connection 30 has between the end pieces so formed. The insertion part 27 can be brought into a V-shape at the location of the cutout 29 . The plug-in part 27 bent in this way can be inserted into the shoe with the tip 31 first. The air supply 15 is located at a free end 32 of the hose 28 . When the hose 28 is bent over and inserted into the shoe, there is a risk that the flow connection 30 will be kinked and thus interrupted. In order to avoid this, an air guide tube 33 is provided in the area of the flow connection 30, which has a stiffer wall than the tube or balloon material and therefore cannot be kinked during normal use. The bent limbs of the V-shape formed are thus safely inflated by the air supply 15 .

In the case of the shoe trees 34, 35 according to FIGS. 6 and 7, an insertion aid 36, 37 is provided, which is arranged on the insertion part 38, 39. In the shoe tree 34 in FIG. 6, the insertion aid 36 is formed as a flat and rigid insertion plate which is held on or forms the lower wall 40 of the insertion part 38 . The expanding balloon of the male part 38 is thus attached to the insertion aid 36 or plate.

In the shoe tree 35 according to FIG. 7, the insertion aid 37 is loosely accommodated in the balloon forming the insertion part 39 . It has no connection to the insertion aid 37 or plate. The insertion aid 36 , 37 is only required to insert the uninflated balloon into the shoe. When the shoe tree 34 , 35 is in the pumped up position of use, the insertion aid has no function.

With this insertion aid 36, 37, the balloon of the shoe tree 34, 35, which is not inflated and therefore dimensionally unstable, can easily be inserted into the shoe below the front part of the shaft up to the Toe cap can be pushed without the balloon buckling and thus cutting off the front areas in particular from an air supply. The insertion aid 36 according to FIG. 6, which is dimensionally stable particularly in the plane along the insole, also forms a limitation in the expansion of the balloon in this plane. Excessive stretching of the upper material in this area can thus be prevented.

Instead of a fixed connection with the plug-in part 38, a pocket can also be provided on the balloon, into which such an insertion aid can be inserted. This insertion aid can be designed like or similar to a shoehorn. It is also possible to provide a further balloon below the insertion aid fe 36, which can be inflated together with the upper balloon.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9, the inflatable balloon 41 of the insertion part 42 is held in a flexible frame 43 . In the relaxed and non-inflated position shown in FIG. 8, the frame 43 assumes an elongated oval shape in which it can easily be inserted into the shoe cavity. In the inflated position shown in FIG. 9, the balloon 41 expands, as a result of which the frame 43 assumes an essentially round shape which is wider, at least in the plane of the drawing, than the narrow oval shape in the relaxed position according to FIG. The frame 43 also serves as an insertion aid, so that the shoe tree can be easily inserted.

Another embodiment of an inflatable shoe tree 44 is shown in FIG. This is designed as a tube 45 which has at least one front chamber 46 that can be inserted first into the shoe and one rear chamber 47 . The rear chamber 47 is connected to the front chamber 46 via a check valve 48 such that air can only flow from the rear to the front chamber. The rear chamber 47 is connected to the environment via a further check valve 49 in such a way that air can only flow into the rear chamber 47 . Both check valves 48, 49 can also be opened manually so that the air can escape from the chambers 46, 47 again. Several front chambers can also be provided, each of which is separated from one another by check valves. This is shown in broken lines in FIG.

At least the rear chamber 47 is made of a resilient self-expanding material so that it is always in the expanded condition. Spring elements can also be present in the chamber 47 . Squeezing this chamber 47 with the hand forces the air therein into the front chamber 46 . This process can be repeated until the front chamber 46 tightly fills the cavity of the shoe and the upper is taut. The pumping device is thus integrated in the shoe tree and manufacture is simpler.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 11, the shoe tree 50 is designed as an inflatable balloon 51 that fills almost the entire cavity of the shoe. The balloon has a front portion 52 which fills the front part of the upper and a rear portion 53 which fills the upper part of the upper of a boot, for example. At the rear end 54, which is accessible from the outside, there is an air supply tube 55 that protrudes into the balloon 51 in a sealing manner. At least in the interior of the balloon 51 the air supply pipe 55 is surrounded by a hose sleeve 56 made of a flexible material. The length of the hose sleeve is such that the air supply pipe 55 protrudes from the hose sleeve at both ends. When the balloon 51 is inflated via the air supply tube 55, the pressure in the balloon increases, so that the hose sleeve 56 places itself around the air supply tube 55 in a sealing manner. After the end of the inflation process, the air supply pipe 55 can be pulled out, with the free space thus formed being closed directly by the hose sleeve 56 which is further collapsed due to the prevailing overpressure. An inflated balloon 51 remains, which fills the shoe cavity and thus keeps the upper material smooth. This shoe tree is suitable for single use, for example for transporting and storing the shoes until they are worn for the first time or for long-term storage of the shoes, since it has to be destroyed to remove it. In principle, however, a pump device 15 as in the previously described embodiments can also be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the inflatable balloon 57 of the shoe tree is located below the tongue 58 of the shoe 59 and is thus integrated into the shoe. The inflator 15 may have its access opening at the top of the tab 58, for example. There it is easily accessible. When the shoe 59 is worn, the balloon 57 is deflated and the material is located between the foot and the strap 58 . After the shoe has been removed, the balloon 57 can be inflated and the cavity under the flap 58 can be filled until the upper material of the upper front part 60 is tightened.

In this embodiment, it is possible to use the shoe tree to close or adjust the shoe. For this purpose, the strap is connected to the side parts of the front part of the shaft. By inflating the balloon 57 The upper material on the side tightens under the flap 58 and thus fits well to the foot. By providing a stiffer underside of the balloon 57 that rests on the instep, uncomfortable pressure points can be avoided. The underside can also be coated with a skin-friendly material.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the balloon 61 of the insertion part 62 has a shell 64 made of a stiffer material on its upper side facing the upper material 63 of the upper front part of the shoe in the position of use. The shape of the shell 64 is essentially adapted to the contour of the space surrounded by the upper material in the area of the front part of the upper. For example, the shell 64 can be made of a relatively stiff but still flexible plastic material. The balloon 61 is therefore in the position of use below the shell 64 and above the insole 66 of the shoe. When the balloon 61 is inflated, the shell 64 is pressed against the upper material 63 and thus tightens and smoothes the upper material 63 located there and lying against the shell 64 . Due to the dimensional stability of the shell, the upper material is not overstretched and the kinks located there are smoothed out without the shoe losing its fit.

In the case of lace-up shoes, the shell can have cut-outs in the area of the lacing. Furthermore, a stiff plate 65 can be present on the underside of the balloon 61, which lies on the insole 66 in the position of use. This can make it easier to insert the shoe tree into the shoe. In this embodiment, the balloon 61 does not have to be adapted to the contour of the shoe. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the balloon 71 has a plate 73 made of a stiff but flexible material on its upper side 72 facing the upper material of the shoe. As a result, the upper material of the front part of the shoe is particularly well supported in this area and is therefore smoothed. The plate 73 can be designed as a cushion filled with gel or oil. The plate 73 can be glued to the balloon 71 or welded to it or can also be detachably connected to it with pressure-sensitive adhesive or via at least one Velcro strip. It suffices that the plate or cushion is fixed on the balloon until it is pinched between the balloon and the upper.

It is also possible for the balloon 71 to have a pocket at this point or at several points, into which such a plate, for example with different thicknesses, can be inserted. This makes it possible to provide special support at various points in the upper material where there is a risk of the upper material buckling quickly.

Provision can also be made for the plate 73 to be attached to an overcoat, for example made of textile material, which fits over the balloon 71 . Then the plate with the overcoat can easily be moved to the desired place on the shoe tree. It is thus possible to adapt the shoe tree to different shoes of different sizes. Such plates can also be provided on the overcoat in several areas that are particularly prone to buckling. Pockets can also be provided at locations on the overcoat into which stiffer panels fit. For example, a set of different thicknesses or stiff plates can be provided which can be inserted into a pocket at the desired location if required.

The shoe tree 75 according to FIGS. 17 and 18 has a plurality of chambers 76 , 77 one above the other, each of which can be filled with a medium independently of one another via corresponding valves 78 . The uppermost chamber 76 lying directly against the upper material 79 of the shoe can be permanently filled with a gel or oil or with plastic bodies in the factory. This gives the shoe tree 75 or the balloon its desired strength and dimensional stability on its side in contact with the upper material. Inflating the lower chamber 77 presses the upper chamber 76 firmly against the upper 79 without stretching it.

In this embodiment, several chambers 77 can also be provided one above the other. The uppermost chamber 76 can also only extend over a partial area of the chamber 77 below. However, the uppermost chamber 76 can also extend in the form of a shell over the lower chamber 77, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. The shoe tree then also has the desired form rigidity in the lateral areas of the front part of the upper of the shoe.

Furthermore, it is possible for the upper chamber 76 to be designed as a pocket in which plates made of a stiffer material, for example gel cushions, are held in a displaceable manner. Different or similar panels can then be moved to the desired location within the pocket. Here, too, adhesive bonding or fixing the plates with Velcro strips on the lower chamber can be expedient. A flexible adaptation of the smoothing ability of the shoe tree to the individual shoe is thus possible. In all of the versions, it is possible for the inflatable balloon to have a plurality of chambers that are fluidically connected to one another. The chambers are separated from one another by webs and can have different volumes or dimensions. As a result, the plug-in part can be easily adapted to the most varied of shoe shapes.

Furthermore, it can be provided that two shoe trees for the right and left shoe can be pumped up with a common pumping device 15 . The respective shoe trees can be adapted to the shape of the cavity to be filled in the left and right shoe. The plug-in parts then hang together via a connection that also forms the air supply. Only one pumping device is then required. Inflating is also easier, since both shoe trees can be brought into the position for use with just one pumping process.

Finally, it is possible to accommodate dosing devices for fragrance and/or a UV light source inside the balloon or on the balloon in order to kill germs during the resting phase. For this purpose, the balloon can consist of a transparent material. There is sufficient space in the balloon for the dosing device as well as for the light source and for the necessary batteries. The dosing device can, for example, be actuated once each time the pump is pumped up in order to eliminate unpleasant odours.

Claims

Expectations

1. Shoe trees for tightening at least the front part of the upper or the toe cap of shoes with an insert part (12) which can be pushed into the shoe at least in the area under the front part of the upper or the toe cap, which insert part (12) has an inflatable balloon around which the front part of the upper and/or to tighten the upper material of the shoe forming the toe cap, characterized in that the balloon (71), at least on its side (72) facing the upper material, has a plate (73) made of a stiffer material than the material of the inflatable balloon.

2. Shoe trees for tightening at least the front part of the upper or the toe cap of shoes with an insert part (12) which can be pushed into the shoe at least in the area under the front part of the upper or the toe cap, which insert part (12) has an inflatable balloon around which the front part of the upper and/or to tighten the upper material of the shoe forming the toe cap, characterized in that the balloon (71), at least on its side (72) facing the upper material, has a region (76) which is stiffer than the material of the inflatable balloon.

3. Shoe tree according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate (73) is designed as a gel cushion or as a cushion filled with oil.

4. Shoe tree according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the plate (73) in the position of use rests against the upper material at least in the area of the kinks.

5. Shoe tree according to claim 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that the plate (73) consists of a stiff but flexible plastic material with a smooth surface.

6. Shoe tree according to one of claims 1 or 3 to 5, characterized in that the plate (73) is held in a pocket on the balloon.

7. Shoe tree according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (73) is glued or welded to the balloon (71).

8. Shoe tree according to claim 2, characterized in that the area of greater rigidity is designed as a chamber (76) of the shoe tree filled with a gel or oil.

9. Shoe tree according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the region of greater rigidity is designed as an upper chamber (76) in which at least one plate (73) of greater rigidity is slidably held.

10. Shoe tree according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (73) of greater rigidity is mounted on an overgrowth which fits over the balloon (71).