U.S. patent application number 10/115962 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-10 for walking boot having a detachable upper reinforcement, and reinforcement for such a boot.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A.. Invention is credited to Badegruber, Alois, Farys, Yves.
Application Number | 20020144434 10/115962 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8862190 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020144434 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Farys, Yves ; et
al. |
October 10, 2002 |
Walking boot having a detachable upper reinforcement, and
reinforcement for such a boot
Abstract
A walking boot with a high upper, of the type having a tongue
made of two lower and upper portions corresponding to the instep
and to the lower leg, respectively, of a user wearing the boot. The
tongue includes a structure that fastens a tongue reinforcement
that extends along at least a part of the two portions of the
tongue to increase the rigidity thereof.
Inventors: |
Farys, Yves; (Saint-Jorioz,
FR) ; Badegruber, Alois; (Epagny, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A.
Metz-Tessy
FR
|
Family ID: |
8862190 |
Appl. No.: |
10/115962 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/54 ;
36/50.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 23/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/54 ;
36/50.1 |
International
Class: |
A43B 023/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 6, 2001 |
FR |
01 04909 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A walking boot comprising: a tongue comprising a lower portion
corresponding to an instep of a wearer of the boot and an upper
portion corresponding to a lower leg of the wearer of the boot, the
tongue further comprising a detachable tongue reinforcement and a
structure that fastens the detachable tongue reinforcement to
extend along at least a part of the lower and upper portions of the
tongue to increase a rigidity of the tongue.
2. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the tongue reinforcement is
in the form of an angle, the angle comprising two arms extending
along respective portions of the tongue.
3. A boot according to claim 2, wherein the tongue reinforcement is
fastened on the tongue in the area of free ends of each of the
arms.
4. A boot according to claim 2, wherein the tongue reinforcement
comprises, in an area of a junction of the two arms, a preferred
zone of bending about a transverse axis.
5. A boot according to claim 2, wherein the tongue reinforcement
comprises softened lateral wings on at least one of the two
arms.
6. A boot according to claim 3, wherein the structure to fasten the
reinforcement on the tongue are constituted of two gussets into
which the two free ends of the arms of the reinforcement are
inserted.
7. A boot according to claim 6, wherein the free ends of the arms
of the reinforcement are each received at a bottom of a
corresponding gusset of the tongue.
8. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the fastening structure is
arranged on an outer surface of the tongue.
9. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement extends
up to an upper end of the tongue.
10. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the
boot upper has a more flexible construction than the lower portion
of the upper.
11. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the upper comprises,
between a lower portion and an upper portion, a more flexible zone
that promotes bending of the foot in an area of the ankle.
12. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the boot comprises a rigid
sole.
13. A boot according to claim 12, wherein the sole of the boot is
capable of receiving ice crampons.
14. A detachable tongue reinforcement for a walking boot with a
high upper, said reinforcement comprising: two arms forming an
angle, each of the two arms having free ends provided to cooperate
with corresponding means for fastening the tongue of the boot.
15. A tongue reinforcement according to claim 14, comprising, in an
area of a junction of the two arms, a preferred zone of bending
about a transverse axis.
16. A tongue reinforcement according to claim 14, further
comprising softened lateral wings on at least one of the two
arms.
17. A tongue reinforcement according to claim 14, wherein at least
one of the two arms has a curved profile in cross-section.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is. based upon French Patent Application
No. 01 04909, filed Apr. 6, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority
of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to walking shoes, and more
particularly climbing boots.
[0004] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
[0005] In a known manner, walking shoes, and especially climbing or
hiking boots, have a sole on which a relatively high upper, i.e.,
an upper that extends above the user's ankle, is mounted. The
advantage of high ankle boots lies in particular in good foot
retention and proper ankle protection.
[0006] The upper of such boots is most often made of a thick
textile or leather so as to ensure a fairly good rigidity and,
therefore, good foot retention.
[0007] However, during a walk, especially when climbing a mountain,
the user has to deal with various terrain. Thus, during the
approach, the climber most often walks on terrain that does not
make it too difficult to advance, especially trails or paths where
the risks of slipping or being injured are minimal. To advance on
these relatively even terrains, it is advantageous that the boot
have a certain flexibility to enable adequate movement of the ankle
joint and to ensure walking comfort.
[0008] When the terrain is uneven, for example when advancing on
rocks, the need for a very efficient foot retention becomes
preponderant. Indeed, on this type of terrain, the foot is often
supported on the ground only by a portion of the sole, often
because the support surfaces offered by the ground are very small.
It is then essential that the foot be properly retained in order to
prevent the walker from losing his or her balance, even if he/she
takes support on the ground by an offset portion of the sole. The
ideal boot must then have good rigidity, including in the area of
the ankle joint
[0009] Finally, in particular during climbing, the user sometimes
must attach ice crampon plates beneath his/her soles. These crampon
plates are preferably used with boots having rigid soles, i.e.,
soles that virtually do not bend under the user's weight. Such
crampon plates make it possible to advance on very steep, even
quasi-vertical icy walls when climbing vertical ice, where the user
is supported on the wall only by front crampons that project
forward of the boot, almost horizontally. in this situation, the
user's weight is applied at the rear of the boot, straight above
the heel, whereas the only support of the boot on the wall occurs
at the front end of the boot. Therefore, there is a substantial
unbalance between the weight and the support, which the user must
compensate, in particular by means of the calf muscle. One
understands that it is then advantageous that the boot be
relatively rigid in the area of the ankle so that a portion of the
bending forces is distributed on the remainder of the foot, the
boot forming a sort of square or angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Therefore, an object of the invention is to propose a
walking boot or a climbing boot, which makes it possible to advance
under the best conditions on various types of terrain which one may
encounter during a single trip or hike in the mountains.
[0011] To this end, the invention proposes a walking boot, of the
type having a tongue made of two lower and upper portions
corresponding to the instep and to the lower leg, respectively, of
a user wearing the boot, wherein the tongue includes a structure to
fasten a tongue reinforcement that extends along at least a part of
the two portions of the tongue to increase the rigidity
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows,
and which is better understood with reference to the annexed
drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boot according to the
invention, in which the tongue reinforcement is shown before being
fastened on the tongue;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in which the
reinforcement is shown as fastened on the tongue;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a detailed longitudinal cross-sectional view of
the tongue provided with its reinforcement;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the use of a boot
according to the invention, provided with an attached crampon
plate, when climbing vertical ice;
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse cross-sectional views of the
reinforcement along the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a walking boot 10 particularly adapted to
climbing, and even more particularly adapted to climbing vertical
ice.
[0019] The boot includes a sole 12 that is overlaid by an upper 14
in which a lower portion 16, beneath the zone of the ankle, and an
upper portion 18, which extends around and above the ankle, are
distinguished. The boot also includes a tongue 20 that extends
under the upper 14, beneath the lacing 22 which makes it possible
to adapt the fitting room of the boot to the user's foot. The
tongue 20 thus has a lower portion 24 that extends front-to-rear of
the boot, along a direction substantially inclined upward and
rearward along the lower portion 16 of the upper 14, and which is
adapted to come in support substantially on the user's instep. The
tongue 20 further has an upper portion 26 that vertically extends
the lower portion 24 upward along the upper portion 18 of the upper
14, and which is adapted to come in support against the front of
the user's lower leg, i.e., against the lower part of the tibia. As
can be seen in FIG. 3, the tongue 20 is a padded flexible tongue.
The upper 14 of the boot is made of materials having a certain
flexibility, such as fabric, leather, non-woven synthetic materials
(such as PVC), possibly combining many of these materials. It can
also include more rigid reinforcements made of a plastic or
composite material, for example, in the area of the heel or of the
toes, for example. However, this upper 14 cannot be compared to a
rigid shell.
[0020] Conversely, in the example of embodiment shown in the
drawing figures, the sole 12 is a rigid sole, i.e., a sole that
does not become deformed, or that becomes deformed very slightly
under the user's weight. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the
sole 12 includes grooves 30, 32, at the front and rear, for fixing
a crampon plate 31 that enables one to move along an icy terrain,
and even to climb vertical ice.
[0021] In the example of boot shown, one can see that the upper
portion 18 and lower portion 16 of the upper 14 are separated by an
intermediate zone 28 that is relatively more flexible than the
upper and lower portions. This construction provides the boot with
greater flexibility around the ankle, as compared with a
conventional high upper construction in which the two portions are
arranged in the continuity of one another. In the example shown,
which is more particularly optimized for climbing vertical ice,
this greater flexibility occurs both in the direction of a bending
about a longitudinal axis and in the direction of a bending about a
transverse axis to allow for multidirectional supports. However, in
the context of a climbing boot that is more particularly optimized
for advancing on rocks and icy slopes, one can preserve a maximum
of rigidity during bending of the ankle about a longitudinal axis,.
and to provide a greater flexibility during bending about a
transverse axis to make it easier to walk during the approach.
[0022] According to the teachings of the invention, the tongue 20
includes a structure to fasten a detachable tongue reinforcement 34
that is adapted to reinforce the rigidity of the tongue 20 during
bending about a transverse axis corresponding substantially to the
main journal axis of the ankle.
[0023] As can be seen in the drawing figures, this reinforcement 34
is in the form of a angle including a lower arm 36 and an upper arm
38 adapted to extend against the lower portion 24 and the upper
portion 26, respectively, of the tongue 20. When free, these two
arms 36, 38 together form an angle substantially equivalent to that
formed between the lower and upper portions of the tongue 20.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the two arms 36, 38 has a
curved profile, in transverse cross-section, so as to conform to
the profile of either the instep or the tibia.
[0025] More particularly, the lower arm 36 of the reinforcement 34
has, starting from the junction zone 40 of the two arms, a
transverse width that tends to decrease progressively towards the
front end of the lower arm 36.
[0026] Conversely, starting from the junction zone 40, the
transverse width of the upper arm tends to increase progressively
towards the upper end of the arm 38.
[0027] Preferably, the lateral edges of each of the arms 36, 38,
respectively, are sufficiently flexible not to risk creating hard
spots capable of causing a discomfort, or even an injury. In this
example, the lateral edges of the arms 36, 38 are formed by
softened wings 42, 44 which have a reduced thickness in relation to
the thickness of a central portion 46, 48 of the arms 36, 38.
[0028] Indeed, the central portion 46, 48 of the arms 36, 38 is
adapted to provide the reinforcement 34 with a certain bending
strength, especially bending about a transverse axis parallel to
the junction zone 40 of the two arms. It is noted that the curved
profile of the arms 36, 38 and of the junction zone 40 reinforces
the flexural strength of the reinforcement.
[0029] In the example shown, the junction zone 40 has three
transverse grooves 50. Due to these transverse grooves 50, the
junction zone 40 is a preferred bending zone that makes it possible
to efficiently control the flexional deformation of the
reinforcement.
[0030] Indeed, the reinforcement 34 is adapted to be fixed on the
outer surface of the tongue 20 by the free ends of its lower 36 and
upper 38 arms.
[0031] To this end, one can see that the tongue 20 includes two
blind gussets 52, 54 sewn on the outer surface of the tongue 20.
The upper gusset 54 is made in the form of a flexible band having
substantially the same transverse width as the upper end of the
upper portion 26 of the tongue 20, and a height on the order of
approximately two to four centimeters. The edges of the band 54 are
sewn on the tongue, except its transverse lower edge 56 so as to
form a blind gusset open downward.
[0032] Comparably, the lower gusset 52 is made in the form of a
band sewn by its edges, except its rear edge 58, on the lower
portion 24 of the tongue 20, to form a blind gusset open rearward.
However, the lower gusset 52 is not arranged at the front end of
the tongue 20, but substantially in the middle of the lower portion
24 thereof. This zone corresponds substantially to the front of the
instep of the user who is wearing the boot.
[0033] The position of the gussets S2, 54 is such that the
developed length of the tongue between the bottom of the two
gussets is substantially equal to the developed length of the
reinforcement 34.
[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the boot according to the
invention can be used without the reinforcement. It then has a
maximum flexibility which ensures comfort, for example for
undertaking an approach.
[0035] When the user wishes to have a more rigid boot, it is only
necessary to insert the free ends of the arms 36, 38 of the
reinforcement 34 into the corresponding gussets 52, 54. Of course,
to this end, it is necessary to deform the tongue and/or the
reinforcement, Once positioned, the reinforcement is transversely
wedged, and it is longitudinally blocked on the tongue at its two
ends.
[0036] The rigidity of the tongue 20, and therefore of the upper
portion of the boot upper, is therefore increased Indeed, when the
user bends his/her leg forward in relation to the foot, the lower
part of the tibia comes in support on the upper portion of the
tongue, therefore indirectly on the upper arm 38 of the
reinforcement 34 which is biased forward.
[0037] However, the lower arm 36 of the reinforcement is then in
support on the user's instep, with the lower portion of the tongue
therebetween. Thus, the two arms are flexionally biased toward one
another, but the stiffness of the reinforcement 34 opposes this
bending movement of the ankle. Due to the presence of the
transverse grooves 50, the bending of the reinforcement is
concentrated in the predetermined junction zone 40 that is opposite
the bending zone of the user's foot, so that the reinforcement 34,
even when bent, does not run the risk of creating excess pressure
on the user's foot.
[0038] In this regard, it is noted that the reinforcement is
inserted between the lacing 22 and the user's foot, such that it
also plays a role of distributing the pressure generated by the
lacing.
[0039] The geometry of the reinforcement 34 and, more particularly,
the incurved disposition of the arms 36, 38, makes it possible to
increase the overall bending strength of the reinforcement, without
the arms being too rigid. The latter therefore retain the ability
to locally conform to the morphology of the foot during the lacing,
especially in the area of the softened lateral wings 42, 44.
Similarly, the overall stiffness of the reinforcement attached on
the upper is increased due to the fact that the ends of its arms
36, 38 are longitudinally blocked at the bottom of the
corresponding gusset 52, 54. Indeed, during the forward bending of
the reinforcement, a flying buttress effect occurs, which opposes
this bending.
[0040] Of course, the overall rigidity of the boot depends upon the
rigidity of the upper and that of the reinforcement A single pair
of boots can possibly be offered with a plurality of reinforcements
of various stiffnesses.
[0041] The reinforcement 34 can be made out a plastic material, for
example by injection molding or compression molding. Thus, it can
be made of a thermoplastic material, possibly loaded with mineral
fibers, such as glass fibers. To obtain a more rigid reinforcement,
one can choose to make it out of a composite material including
webs of woven or non-woven glass, aramid or carbon fibers
impregnated with a thermosetting resin, such as an epoxy resin.
* * * * *