U.S. patent application number 10/498114 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for shoe.
This patent application is currently assigned to PUMA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT RUDOLF DASSLER SPORT. Invention is credited to Lacey, Brad.
Application Number | 20050115115 10/498114 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7964929 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lacey, Brad |
June 2, 2005 |
Shoe
Abstract
An athletic shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper, connected
thereto, which surrounds the front of the foot, the ankle region
and the heel region of the foot. The shoe is able to be collapsed
down to a low height for packing, without negatively affecting the
ability of the shoe to hold the wearers foot in an optimal manner
in use. This ability is achieved the shoe upper being provided with
an incision in the heel region, running at least nearly in a
direction perpendicular to the sole, whereby the parts of the shoe
upper, on both sides of the incision can be folded or turned
inwards down toward the sole.
Inventors: |
Lacey, Brad; (Nurnberg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON PEABODY, LLP
401 9TH STREET, NW
SUITE 900
WASHINGTON
DC
20004-2128
US
|
Assignee: |
PUMA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT RUDOLF
DASSLER SPORT
HERZOGENAURACH
DE
|
Family ID: |
7964929 |
Appl. No.: |
10/498114 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 12, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE02/04177 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/101 20130101;
A43B 5/00 20130101; A43B 3/242 20130101; A43B 3/24 20130101; A43B
23/027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/105 |
International
Class: |
A43B 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 10, 2001 |
DE |
201 19 907.6 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1-10. (canceled)
11. A shoe, comprising: a sole, and a shoe upper which is connected
to the sole, the upper surrounding a front part, an ankle area and
a heel area of a wearer's foot in use, wherein the heel area of the
shoe upper has a single incision which runs at least approximately
in perpendicular to the sole, and wherein parts of the shoe upper
in the heel area lying on both sides of the incision being inwardly
foldable in a direction toward the sole for folding the upper into
a shallow form for transporting of the shoe.
12. Shoe according to claim 11, wherein the incision extends at
least over half of the height of the shoe upper.
13. Shoe according to claim 11, wherein securing means is arranged
on the shoe upper in the heel area for preventing the parts of the
shoe upper lying on both sides of the incision from gaping
outwards.
14. Shoe according to claim 13, wherein said securing means
comprises at least one band arranged in an upper edge area of the
shoe upper.
15. Shoe according to claim 14, wherein said at least one band
extends around on the outside of said parts of the shoe upper and
embraces them.
16. Shoe according to claim 14, wherein said at least one band has
a length that is sufficient for enabling fixing thereof by means of
at least one hook and loop fastener.
17. Shoe according to claim 16, wherein that the at least one hook
and loop fastener is positioned in a side area of one of said parts
of the shoe upper.
18. Shoe according to claim 13, wherein the securing means has a
hinge-like means of articulation and is provided with a fastening
which prevents the parts of the shoe upper lying on both sides of
the incision from gaping outwards beyond a predetermined angle.
19. Shoe according to claim 11, wherein the shoe upper is
essentially made of a textile material.
20. Shoe according to claim 19, wherein the shoe upper is
reinforced with leather or plastic parts in highly stressed
areas
21. Shoe according to claim 11, wherein the shoe is an athletic
shoe and the incision is located in a central area of the heel.
22. Shoe according to claim 21, wherein the incision extends at
least over two thirds of the height of the shoe upper.
23. Shoe according to claim 13, wherein the securing means has a
hinge-like means of articulation and is provided with a fastening
which prevents the parts of the shoe upper lying on both sides of
the incision from gaping outwards beyond vertical.
24. Shoe according to claim 19, wherein the shoe upper is
reinforced with leather or plastic parts in areas of at least one
of the toe and shoe fastening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a shoe, in particular to an
athletic shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper which is connected to
the sole, the upper surrounding the front part of the foot, the
ankle area and the heel area of the foot.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,583 discloses a shoe of the initially
mentioned type which is designed so that it can be folded
relatively flat. This is advantageous above all when the shoe is to
be taken on trips. For this, the shoe upper exhibits a number of
incisions which are located in side areas and allow the shoe upper
to be folded.
[0005] Although these incisions make it possible to fold the shoe
up into a small size, which is advantageous when fitting the shoe
in a case, a carrying bag or the like, it has proved to be
disadvantageous that the strength of the shoe is impaired by these
measures, particularly during sporting activities.
[0006] Published German Patent Application DE 43 29 594 A1
discloses an orthopaedic athletic shoe with a heal cap which
exhibits a circular cutout which is located in the area of
attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel bone and is arranged
approximately symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg
in the horizontal direction. The cutout is closed by flexible
material. However, this orthopaedic sports shoe cannot be folded
up.
[0007] German Patent Application DE 26 37 277 A1 shows an athletic
shoe with an integral heel stiffener. This shoe has an essentially
rigid heel shell which is designed to fit around the heel and is
matched to the contour of the heel. Furthermore, its rearward upper
part exhibits a slit-like opening running from above to below the
upper heel protrusion. This athletic shoe also cannot be folded
flat to be accommodated in a space-saving manner in a case, for
example.
[0008] A shoe is known from International Patent Application
Publication WO 01/47385 A1 in which it is possible to design a part
of the shoe upper in the heel area so that it can be removed or
folded over in order to convert the shoe from a half shoe into a
shoe without a heel cap and back.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,170 discloses an athletic shoe which is
designed so that it can be folded up. For this, an articulation
mechanism is arranged in the heel area with which the heel cap can
be folded inwards in the direction of the shoe sole when necessary
or immobilised for wearing.
[0010] From published German Patent Application DE 24 61 701 A, it
is known for a child's shoe to be designed so that the heel area
can be folded by means of a hook and loop fastening and a press
stud fastening in order to make it easier to put the shoe on.
[0011] Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,651 discloses a shoe which is
designed so that a part of the shoe upper can be removed in its
heel area. The removable part can be fixed detachably to the shoe
upper by means of a buckle fastening or by means of a press stud
fastening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Therefore, the underlying object of the invention is to
develop a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, of the initially
mentioned type such that, firstly, it should remain possible to
fold up the shoe into a low height, and secondly, the ability of
the shoe to hold the foot of the wearer in optimum fashion--in
particular in the heel area--is not effected adversely.
[0013] The achievement of this objective by the invention is
characterised in that, in the heel area, preferably in the central
heel area, the shoe upper exhibits a single incision which runs at
least approximately in the vertical direction to the sole, with the
parts of the shoe upper in the heel area lying on both sides of the
incision being embodied so that they can be folded inwards in the
direction of the sole for folding up into a shallow form for
transport of the shoe. Preferably, provision is made for the
incision to extend at least over half, preferably at least over two
thirds of the height of the shoe upper.
[0014] With the design according to the invention, the shoe upper
remains relatively strong and allows sufficiently firm support of
the area of the heel of the wearer. In spite of this, it is
possible to fold up the shoe into a relatively shallow form so as
to be able to transport it in a manner taking up minimal space.
[0015] In a development of the invention, provision is made for
means to be arranged on the shoe upper in the heel area, with which
the parts of the shoe upper lying on both sides of the incision can
be prevented from gaping outwards. These means can be at least one
band arranged in the upper edge area of the shoe upper. Here, it is
advantageous if the band or plurality of bands extend around the
parts of the shoe upper on the outside and embrace them. Simple
fixture of the band or bands can be achieved by means of a hook and
loop fastening or plurality of hook and loop fastenings, the
effective length of which can be fixed. The hook and loop fastening
or fastenings can be immobilised in the side area of one of the
parts of the shoe upper.
[0016] Alternatively, the means can be hinge-like means of
articulation which are provided with a lock which prevents the
parts of the shoe upper located on both sides of the incision from
gaping outwards beyond a predetermined angle, in particular beyond
the vertical.
[0017] The shoe upper preferably is made essentially of a textile
material. It can be reinforced with leather or plastic parts in
highly stressed areas, in particular in the area of the toe and/or
in the area of the shoe fastening.
[0018] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing
and is described in greater detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view an athletic shoe in accordance with
the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1, and
[0021] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The shoe 1, in particular the athletic shoe, exhibits a sole
2 and a shoe upper 3 which is connected to the latter. In the heel
area 4 of the shoe 1, the shoe upper 3 surrounds the heel of the
wearer of the shoe 1. To be able to fold up the shoe 1 for
transport, the shoe upper 3 has an incision 5 in the heel area 4.
This incision 5 is aligned in the vertical direction V, preferably
in the central heel area 4a. The incision 5 divides the shoe upper
3 in the heel area 4 in to two parts 6a and 6b, as can be seen best
in FIG. 3. These parts 6a, 6b can be folded in the direction of the
inside of the sole 2 to fold up the shoe 1 so that the shoe upper 3
rests on the sole 2 in this area. Above all when the shoe upper 3
is made of textile material, this makes it possible to fold up the
shoe 1 so that it only takes up a very small volume.
[0023] A band 7 or a plurality of bands are arranged in the upper
edge area 8 of the shoe upper 3 so that, when in use, the shoe 1
gives the foot, and in particular the heel area 4 of the wearer,
stable support and the parts 6a and 6b of the shoe upper 3 do not
gape outwards. This band or these bands extend around the outer
area of the parts 6a and 6b. In the embodiment shown, the band or
bands are fixed to the desired length by a hook and loop fastening
9 or a plurality of hook and loop fastenings.
[0024] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the incision 5 extends over a
height h.sub.E which, in the embodiment shown, corresponds to
roughly 80% to 90% of the height h of the shoe upper 3 at the
location of the incision 5.
* * * * *