U.S. patent application number 10/333025 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for sports shoe.
Invention is credited to Foscaro, Giancarlo.
Application Number | 20030233770 10/333025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11459874 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030233770 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foscaro, Giancarlo |
December 25, 2003 |
Sports shoe
Abstract
A sports shoe, comprising a sole associated with an upper (3),
the upper having a first flap (4a) and a second flap (4b) which
cooperate with fastening means (5c), three distinct stabilizer
elements (6,7,8) being associated with the sole and the upper and
interacting with at least one element for connecting at least one
of their ends.
Inventors: |
Foscaro, Giancarlo;
(Treviso, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Modiano & Associati
Via Meravigli 16
Milano
20123
IT
|
Family ID: |
11459874 |
Appl. No.: |
10/333025 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
July 13, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP01/08128 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/50.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/10 20130101; A43B
23/0235 20130101; A43B 23/025 20130101; A43B 13/10 20130101; A43B
1/0072 20130101; A43B 13/12 20130101; A43B 7/20 20130101; A43B 7/19
20130101; A43B 23/0275 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/50.1 |
International
Class: |
A43C 011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2000 |
IT |
TV2000A000085 |
Claims
1. A sports shoe comprising a sole associated with an upper, said
upper having a first flap and a second flap which cooperate with
fastening means, characterized in that three distinct stabilizer
elements are associated with said sole and said upper and interact
with at least one element for connecting at least one of their
ends.
2. The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that said
stabilizer elements are Y-shaped, each element having an arm which
is rigidly coupled to a pair of diverging wings.
3. The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a
first stabilizer element, constituted by a first arm which is
rigidly coupled to a first pair of wings and is arranged above said
sole.
4. The shoe according to claim 3, wherein a complementarily shaped
mid-sole is associated above said sole, characterized in that said
first stabilizer element is arranged between said sole and said
mid-sole, at a complementarily shaped first seat formed in an upper
region in said sole or in a lower region in said mid-sole, along
the region of the sole of the foot.
5. The shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the end of
said first arm of said first stabilizer element affects the heel
region.
6. The shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that said first
stabilizer element is arranged so that each one of the free ends of
said first pair of wings reaches one of the lateral perimetric
edges of said sole, at a first region and a second region which are
arranged at the region between the plantar arch and the
metatarsus.
7. The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a
second stabilizer element and a third stabilizer element,
constituted respectively by a second arm and a third arm which are
rigidly coupled to a second pair of wings and a third pair of
wings, which are arranged at the two sides of said upper.
8. The shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that said second
and third stabilizer elements are arranged externally with respect
to the two sides of said upper, partially surrounding the instep,
and are orientated so that the ends of said second and third arms
are directed toward the heel.
9. The shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that said second
and third stabilizer elements are arranged at second and third
complementarily shaped seats formed in said upper.
10. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that each one of said second and third pairs of
wings of said second and third stabilizer elements is arranged
obliquely or approximately vertically, so as to form first and
second upper wings and first and second lower wings.
11. The shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that said
first and second upper wings of said second and third pairs of
wings are arranged proximate to the ends of said first and second
flaps.
12. The shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that each of
the free ends of said first and second lower wings of said second
and third pairs of wings is arranged at one of the lateral
perimetric edges of said sole, at first and second regions which
are arranged at the region between the plantar arch and the
metatarsus.
13. The shoe according to claims 6 and 12, characterized in that it
has, at said heel region and at said first and second regions,
respectively a first connecting element, a second connecting
element and a third connecting element which are arranged within
complementarily shaped seats formed in said sole and/or said
mid-sole.
14. The shoe according to claim 13, characterized in that said
first, second and third connecting elements act as intermediate
elements for the mutual connection of the respective free ends of
said first, second and third stabilizer elements.
15. The shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that said
first connecting element is associated with each one of said first,
second and third arms.
16. The shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that said
second connecting element is associated with said first lower wing
of said second pair of wings of said second stabilizer element and
with one of said first pair of wings of said first stabilizer
element.
17. The shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that said
third connecting element is associated with said second lower wing
of said third pair of wings of said third stabilizer element and
with one of said first pair of wings of said first stabilizer
element.
18. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims,
wherein said fastening means comprises a lace which is guided
through holes, characterized in that, at said upper ends of said
first and second flaps, there are engagement or sliding means,
constituted by a pair of eyelets, which can be associated with said
lace so as to allow to mutually fasten the free ends of is said
first and second upper wings of said second and third pair of
wings.
19. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said first, second and third stabilizer
elements are directly associated with each other at their
respective free ends.
20. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said first, second and third stabilizer
elements are directly associated with each other at one or more
free ends, using only said first connecting element arranged at the
heel region.
21. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said first, second and third stabilizer
elements are made of partially rigid plastics.
22. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said first, second and third connecting
elements are made of composite material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sports shoe, particularly
a tennis shoe.
[0002] Conventional sports shoe are constituted by a sole
associated with an upper having two flaps that can be joined by
fastening means, usually constituted by a lace, guided through
holes formed in the flaps.
[0003] Conventional shoes are sometimes provided with a mid-sole,
made of elastically compressible material, which is arranged
between the sole and the upper so as to cushion impacts or
vibrations and thus increase user comfort.
[0004] The main drawback of such conventional sports shoes,
particularly noticeable in the practice of sports such as tennis or
squash, is that they do not offer sufficient support for the foot
during sudden changes in direction, entailing possible ankle
sprains.
[0005] Particularly during lateral movements, which are very
frequent in the above cited sports, such shoes offer poor
stability, because the upper, usually made of soft material so as
to offer adequate comfort to the user, does not provide sufficient
support with respect to the pressure applied by the foot to the
lateral part of the upper.
[0006] Accordingly, conventional sports shoes have the evident
disadvantage of providing the athlete, during direction changes,
with a reactivity which is poor and worsens as the suddenness of
the direction changes increases.
[0007] For the same reason, another drawback of conventional shoes
is that they offer the user less safety as regards protection from
ankle sprains during sports practice.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,145 partially solves the problems linked
to foot support in a shoe and discloses a sculpted sole for use in
sports shoes, particularly for athletics.
[0009] Said sculpted sole is constituted by a base made of
elastically compressible material and has an upper face, a lower
face, a front edge and a rear edge.
[0010] At the lower face of the sole, proximate to the front edge,
there are multiple pads which are arranged so that each pad lies
under a single toe of the user's foot, which rests on the upper
face of the sole.
[0011] To the rear of the pads, along the lower face of the sole,
there are supporting elements which are arranged so as to
correspond to the position of the metatarsus.
[0012] The pads and supporting elements have grooves, recesses and
channels so that they are shaped complementarily to the toes and
metatarsus, respectively, of the foot, which rests on the sole.
[0013] To the rear of the supporting elements, at the heel region,
there are flexible plates, made of non-elastic material, which are
associated with the heel of the sole in an upper region.
[0014] An intermediate element is provided between the supporting
elements and the flexible plates, is approximately X-shaped and is
made of elastically compressible material. The intermediate element
increases the stability and cushions the impacts against the
ground, facilitating the flexing motion of the sole.
[0015] Although the above prior art shoe improves the performance
provided during running, as regards support of the sole of the
foot, it does provide lateral containment, because said containment
is still entrusted solely to the upper, and it does not facilitate
lateral movements or increase their safety; moreover, it is quite
complicated and expensive to produce.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,319 discloses a shoe constituted by a
sole, by an upper provided with sides and by a fastening element
which overlaps the upper and has a plurality of closure
protrusions.
[0017] The fastening element lies along both sides of the upper and
is connected under the sole.
[0018] Each of the closure protrusions comprises a slotted hole
which is suitable for the passage of a lace for mutual connection
of the opposite closure protrusions on the two sides of the upper,
so as to ensure the fastening of the upper around the user's
foot.
[0019] The fastening element can be rigidly coupled externally to
the sole or upper or can be removably associated.
[0020] Such shoe provides a good fastening of the upper around the
foot; as regards stabilization of the foot during sports practice,
and particularly during lateral movements, it affects only the
ankle region and the pre-arch region, without providing a uniform
supporting function, for example in the forefoot region.
[0021] Another drawback is that dirt, such as soil, grass or
pebbles, can easily accumulate in such shoe at the gaps that may
form, during walking, between the fastening element and the upper.
That drawback is worsened by the very shape of the fastening
element, which comprises many grooves and slotted holes.
[0022] Moreover, the difference in rigidity among the materials
that constitute the fastening element, which is preferably rigid,
and the upper, which is soft, can lead to tearing of the upper at
the regions of contact with the edges of the fastening element.
[0023] Finally, the use of such shoe can lead to tearing of the
fastening element at its part that lies below the sole, which can
be damaged during contact with bumps or obstacles which protrude
from the ground.
[0024] EP-A-0748596 discloses an ankle supporting device which can
be used particularly for sports shoes comprising an upper or an
innerboot provided with padding and a sole.
[0025] That device is constituted by a structural element which
comprises a counter which affects the heel and plantar arch regions
and from which at least one tab protrudes which can be associated
with the upper or innerboot and affects the lateral and/or rear
regions of the foot.
[0026] Such shoe, which comprises the above described supporting
device, is suitable to support and protect the ankle, avoiding
sprains or other movements which are dangerous for the ankle.
[0027] However, that shoe is too rigid for practicing sports such
as tennis, which require high reactivity and a freedom of movement
of the foot which the device inevitably restricts.
[0028] Moreover, that device does not perform an effective
stabilization of the entire foot, because it affects only the ankle
and malleolar region and comprises at the most part of the plantar
arch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the
noted technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited
known art and thus providing a sports shoe which provides the user
with optimum foot stability during direction changes and
particularly during lateral movements.
[0030] Within the scope of this aim, an important object is to
provide a sports shoe which provides adequate support with respect
to the pressure applied by the foot to the lateral part of said
upper without thereby reducing the comfort offered by the shoe.
[0031] Another important object is to provide a sports shoe which
allows the athlete to have high reactivity in direction
changes.
[0032] Another important object is to provide the user with high
safety, giving maximum protection against ankle sprains which can
occur during sports practice.
[0033] Another object is to provide a sports shoe which is
structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
[0034] This aim and these and other objects which will become
better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a sports shoe
comprising a sole associated with an upper, said upper having a
first flap and a second flap which cooperate with fastening means,
characterized in that three distinct stabilizer elements are
associated with said sole and said upper and interact with at least
one element for connecting at least one of their ends.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the following detailed description of a
particular embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of
non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the sports shoe
according to the invention;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a side view of the shoe;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the shoe;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a front cross-section view of the shoe;
[0040] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] With reference to the figures, the numeral 1 designates a
sports shoe, which comprises a sole 2a which is associated with a
mid-sole 2b with which an upper 3 is associated.
[0042] The upper 3 has a first flap 4a and a second flap 4b that
cooperate with a fastening means, constituted for example by a lace
50 which is guided in holes or eyelets 5.
[0043] A first stabilizer element 6, a second stabilizer element 7
and a third stabilizer element 8 are associated with the sole 2a
and with the upper 3. The stabilizer elements are all variously
Y-shaped so as to have a first arm 9, a second arm 10 and a third
arm 11 that are rigidly coupled to respective first, second and
third pairs of wings, designated by the reference numerals 12a and
12b, 13a and 13b, and 14a and 14b, respectively.
[0044] The first, second and third stabilizer elements are
preferably made of partially rigid plastic material.
[0045] The first stabilizer element 6 is arranged between the sole
2a and the mid-sole 2b at a complementarily shaped first seat 15
which is formed in the sole 2a along the region of the sole of the
foot.
[0046] The first stabilizer element 6 is arranged so that the free
ends of the first pair of wings 12a and 12b reach the perimetric
edge 16 of the sole 2, preferably at a first region 17a and at a
second region 17b.
[0047] The first and second regions 17a and 17b can be located, for
example, proximate to the region between the plantar arch and the
metatarsus.
[0048] The end of the first arm 9 of the first stabilizer element 6
is arranged so as to affect a heel region 18.
[0049] The second and third stabilizer elements 7 and 8 are
arranged externally with respect to the two sides of said upper 2
and partially wrap around the instep at optional second and third
complementarily shaped seats 19a and 19b, and are orientated so
that the ends of the respective second and third arms 10 and 11 are
directed toward the heel. The ends can be connected to the first
arm 9 and to each other at the heel region 18.
[0050] The second and third pairs of wings 13a and 13b, 14a and 14b
of the second and third stabilizer elements 7 and 8 are therefore
arranged so that the wings 13a and 14a, also referenced
respectively as first and second upper wings, lie above the wings
13b and 14b, also referenced respectively as first and second lower
wings. The wings 13a and 14a are therefore arranged proximate to
the ends 20a and 20b, of the first and second flaps 4a and 4b.
[0051] The free ends of the wings 13b and 14b of the second and
third pairs of wings are arranged at the first and second regions
17a and 17b, so as to be able to optionally connect to the free
ends of the first pair of wings 12a and 12b, optionally by virtue
of an intermediate element.
[0052] In this embodiment, the first, second and third stabilizer
elements 6, 7 and 8 are not directly connected to each other, but
in the region of the heel 18 and in the first and second regions
17a and 17b, respectively, there are first, second and third
connecting elements 21a, 21b and 21c, arranged within
complementarily shaped seats formed in the sole 2a and in the
mid-sole 2b.
[0053] At the first, second and third connecting elements 21a, 21b
and 21c there are, in the sole 2a, respectively first, second and
third openings 52a, 52b and 52c for respective complementarily
shaped first, second and third transparent elements 53a, 53b and
53c.
[0054] The first, second and third connecting elements 21a, 21b and
21c, preferably made of composite material, are connected to the
respective free ends of the first, second and third stabilizer
elements 6, 7 and 8.
[0055] In particular, the first connecting element 21a is
associated with each of the first, second and third arms 9, 10 and
11. The second connecting element 21b is associated with the wings
13b and 12a, which respectively belong to the second and first
stabilizer elements 7 and 6. The third connecting element 21c is
connected to the wings 14b and 12b, which respectively belong to
the third and first stabilizer elements 8 and 6.
[0056] Said connections can be provided by any method well known in
the art, for example by gluing or by sewing or melting, directly
during molding.
[0057] The connection between the second and third stabilizer
elements 7 and 8 and the upper 3 also can be provided in various
manners: FIG. 4 illustrates a connection provided by stitched seams
51.
[0058] At the upper ends 20a and 20b of the first and second flaps
4a and 4b there are arranged engagement or sliding means,
respectively designated by the reference numerals 22a and 22b,
which are constituted by a pair of eyelets which allow the mutual
fastening of the free ends of the wings 13a and 14a of the second
and third pairs of wings.
[0059] The operation of the shoe is as follows: with reference to
the above cited figures, the shoe 1 has a configuration which
forms, around the user's foot, a sort of cage for supporting and
containing the foot.
[0060] Said cage is constituted in a lower region by the first
stabilizer element 6, laterally by the second and third stabilizer
elements 7 and 8, and at the front by the closure lace 50 which
passes between the pair of eyelets 22a and 22b.
[0061] This produces a sort of supporting frame which surrounds the
foot from the region to the rear of the heel along the plantar arch
up to the metatarsus and around the malleoli until it surrounds the
instep.
[0062] It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved
the intended aim and objects, a sports shoe having been devised
which offers the user optimum stability of the foot during changes
of direction, particularly during lateral movements.
[0063] The shoe according to the invention also performs an optimum
action for withstanding the pressure applied by the foot to the
lateral part of said upper without reducing the comfort offered by
said shoe.
[0064] The shoe according to the invention is susceptible of
numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the
appended claims.
[0065] Thus, for example, according to a further embodiment, the
first, second and third stabilizer elements are directly associated
with each other at their respective free ends, without providing
any connecting element, or providing only a partial use thereof,
for example by means of the connecting element 21a alone, arranged
at the heel region 18.
[0066] The materials used, as well as the dimensions of the
individual components of the invention, may of course be the most
pertinent according to specific requirements.
[0067] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
TV2000A000085 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *