U.S. patent application number 12/293378 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for boot.
This patent application is currently assigned to ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL. Invention is credited to Giovanni Mazzarolo.
Application Number | 20090077831 12/293378 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38159293 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090077831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mazzarolo; Giovanni |
March 26, 2009 |
BOOT
Abstract
Boot (10), in particular a motorcyclist's boot, with a leg-piece
(12) and closing means for varying the dimensions of the boot (10)
in the zone of the heel (11), characterized in that said closing
means comprise at least one elongated part (22) which extends
between two sides of the leg-piece (12) above the heel (11),
surrounding it at the rear, and is tightened around the heel (11)
in an adjustable manner.
Inventors: |
Mazzarolo; Giovanni; (Coste
di Maser (Treviso), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN LLP
575 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022-2585
US
|
Assignee: |
ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL
Coste di Maser
IT
|
Family ID: |
38159293 |
Appl. No.: |
12/293378 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
March 13, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/052331 |
371 Date: |
September 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 11/004 20130101;
A43B 5/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/131 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2006 |
IT |
TV2006A000041 |
Claims
1. Boot (10), in particular motorcyclist's boot, with a leg-piece
(12) and closing means for varying the dimensions of the boot (10)
in the zone of the heel (11), characterized in that said closing
means comprise at least one elongated part (22) which extends
between two sides of the leg-piece (12) above the heel (11),
surrounding it at the rear, and is able to be tightened around the
heel (11) in an adjustable manner.
2. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) is flexible and preferably also longitudinally
extendable.
3. (Boot (10) according to claims 1, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) is can be compressible in a direction
substantially perpendicular to its length at least above the zone
of the boot (10) in the region of the Achilles tendon (11).
4. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) is an extension of the leg-piece (12) of the
boot (10).
5. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) is in the form of a belt.
6. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) is rigid.
7. Boot (10) according to claim 5, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) above the zone of the boot (10) in the region
of the Achilles tendon (11) has at least one narrowed zone
(29).
8. Boot (10) according to claim 5, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) above the zone of the boot in the region of the
Achilles tendon (11) has a pass-through opening.
9. Boot (10) according to claim 8, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) above the zone of the boot where it has thean
opening divides into two separate thin straps (24) which are
substantially parallel.
10. Boot (10) according to claim 1, comprising adjustable
tensioning means (26, 30; 50; 60) with which the at least one
elongated part (22) may be tightened around the heel (11) in an
adjustable manner.
11. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) is integral with a toothed strip (26) which
engages with the adjustable fixing means.
12. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one
elongated part is connected to the boot (10) by means of a strip of
different material.
13. Boot (10) according to claim 12, in which the strip of
different material consists of elastic material.
14. Boot (10) according to claim 12, in which the strip of
different material is arranged on top of and combined with a strip
of non-extendable material (18) having through-incisions which are
able to widen and allow elongation of the strip of different
material.
15. Boot (10) according to claim 10, in which the tensioning means
comprise a tongue (52, 58) having a strip of Velcro (50; 60) which
may be retained by another strip of Velcro fixed onto the at least
one elongated part (22).
16. Boot (10) according to claim 15, in which the at least one
elongated part (22) comprises a ring (56) inside which the tongue
(52; 58) may be inserted.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement for a boot,
in particular a motorcyclist's boot.
[0002] At present, most of the boots for motorcycling use, to which
reference is made here by way of example, use for closing the
bottom part of the leg zip fastening systems (called "zip
fasteners" in short), in particular in the zone of the ankles or
the heel. Reference may be made, for example, to the documents EP
1,256,286, DE 19523669, DE3204260 for known zip fastening systems.
Zip fasteners are generally used to close the boot by moving two
flaps or two parts thereof towards each other, resulting in the
effect of joining together or closing the two parts of the boot, or
adjusting the distance between the two flaps, so as to adapt the
boot to the shape of the foot. However a zip fastener is not
adjustable, because it is left opened or closed. For the purposes
described it is obviously possible to have one or more zip
fasteners which are arranged in various configurations and in
different closing positions.
[0003] Each of these solutions, however, has the same drawbacks.
The zip fasteners are subject to stresses both at the time of
closing, when the sliding piece is pulled, and during use, when the
tractional forces present in the boot are transmitted to the zip
fastener teeth. The reliability and the operating efficiency of the
zip fasteners are negatively affected, not only for this reason,
but also because of the dirt which inevitably accumulates there,
the boots being practically in contact with the ground. Moreover a
zip fastener, because of the way in which it is designed, during
opening or closing, may only act in one direction and therefore
represents a limitation of the boot closing or adjusting devices.
It is also not easy, in view of the type of design of the present
boots, to replace the zip fastener in the event of breakage, except
by unstitching or ungluing parts of the boot. Finally, a zip
fastener adjustment system is unable to move the edges of the
fastener towards each other by more than the amount which can be
obtained with the fastener completely closed. Therefore, the users
with a too small or too large foot are at a disadvantage because of
the size of the boot, since it is not possible to tighten the
latter further once it is worn.
[0004] The object of the invention is to obtain a boot, in
particular a motorcyclist's boot, which has an easy and safe
closing system in the ankle zone and which is not subject to the
limitations of closing systems of the zip fastener type.
[0005] This object is achieved with a boot, in particular a
motorcyclist's boot, with a leg-piece and closing means for varying
the dimensions of the boot in the zone of the heel, characterized
in that said closing means comprise at least one elongated part
which extends between two sides of the leg-piece above the heel,
surrounding it at the rear and is able to be tightened around the
heel in an adjustable manner.
[0006] The advantages of the invention will become clear from the
following description of a boot according to the invention, which
is presented solely by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, from the rear, of an
unfastened boot according to the invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a partial side view of the boot according to
FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view, from the rear, of
one side of the boot according to FIG. 1 when fastened;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows the other side of the boot according to FIG.
3;
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view, from the rear, of an
unfastened boot according to a first variant of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view, from the rear, of an
unfastened boot according to a second variant of the invention.
[0013] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a leather boot according to
the invention is denoted by 10. The boot 10 has a leg-piece 12
which is open along one side 13 and closed along another side 14.
The side 13 has a flap 16 which is directed towards the heel 11 of
the boot 10 and, at the bottom, terminates in a strip 18 of
non-extendable material (for example worked leather) with optional,
vertical, linear through-incisions 20. The strip 18 is arranged on
top of and combined with a strip of different (preferably elastic)
material situated underneath (not shown). The incisions 20 in the
strip 18 may widen and thus allow elongation of the underlying
strip of elastic material in the horizontal direction, such that
the overall width of the assembly consisting of the two strips may
increase substantially.
[0014] The strip 18 extends towards the heel 11 with a flexible
elongated part 22 which is able, as will be described below,
surround the heel 11 (or its upper part) at the rear and can be
tightened in an adjustable manner on both sides of the said heel 11
(FIGS. 3 and 4). The flexible part 22 may be made, for example, of
leather or plastic or rubber should it be required that it is
longitudinally extendable. In its place, however, a rigid part may
also be used.
[0015] The part 22 has substantially the form of a tapered belt so
that, when it is arranged above the zone in the region of the
Achilles tendon, it has a narrowed zone 29 where a pass-through
opening is also formed. The figures show a single eyelet 23 with
opening in the region of the narrowed zone 29, but it is possible
to envisage many such eyelets with a different shape and different
arrangement. In order to form the opening 23 in the narrowed zone
29, above the heel 11, the flexible part 22 divides into two
separate thin straps 24 which are substantially parallel and which
beyond the heel 11 join together again in the form of an eyelet and
are connected to a toothed lug 26 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0016] The opening 23 and/or narrowing of the flexible part 22 are
such that the latter can be compressed in a direction Y (see FIGS.
3 and 4) substantially perpendicular to its length at least on
and/or above the heel 11 in the region of the Achilles tendon.
Therefore the flexible part 22 does not prevent flexing of the
material which forms the boot 10, in particular if, in the zone of
the heel 11, the leg-piece 12 of the boot has a section 13 of more
flexible and softer material. Flexing or bending of the section 13
is not impeded by the part 22, which is deformed, and therefore the
boot 10, although fitting snugly, is very comfortable. For the same
reason, the flexible part 22 does not create abnormal and
troublesome pressure on the Achilles tendon to where its tightening
tension is mainly transmitted.
[0017] The part 22 may in fact be tightened around the heel 11
using adjustable tensioning means 30, for example such as known
devices described in EP 1,611,811.
[0018] The user, in order to tighten and adapt the fit of the boot
10 to his/her own foot on and/or above the heel 11, must grip the
part 22, pass it behind (or above) the heel 11 and fix it to the
side of the boot 10 using the tensioning means 30. By operating the
means 30, it is possible, in a known manner, to vary the tension of
the part 22 on the zone 13 and therefore vary the space inside the
boot 10 for the heel and the foot of the person wearing it.
[0019] It is clear that the advantages of the invention are many:
any type of zip fastener is eliminated, this being, as already
mentioned, a delicate component, the part 22 allows flexing of the
heel zone, the position and the ease of closing the part 22 also
allow an improvement in gripping of the heel, the design of the
boot is simple and strong, in the event of breakage the components
of the invention may be easily replaced, and closing adjustment
which is not possible with a zip fastener is achieved.
[0020] Let us now consider FIGS. 5 and 6, which show two variants
of the invention 100, 200. Similar parts are indicated by the same
reference numbers used previously.
[0021] In FIG. 5 the flexible part 22 still has an opening and an
elongated shape, but instead of the toothed lug 26 now has a strip
of Velcro (not shown) which is mounted on the side facing the heel
11 and which is retained on another strip of Velcro 50 which is
fixed onto a tongue 52 which is in turn fixed to the side 14 of the
leg-piece 12. It is sufficient to tension the part 22 around the
heel 11 and arrange the two strips of Velcro on top of each other
in order to fix it in position, in an adjustable manner, with all
the advantages of the previous example.
[0022] In FIG. 6 the flexible part 22 again has an opening and an
elongated shape. At its free end it comprises a ring 56 inside
which a tongue 58, which is fixed to the side 14 of the leg-piece
12, can be inserted. The tongue 58 has a first strip of Velcro (not
shown), which is mounted at its end on the opposite side to the
heel 11, and a second strip of Velcro 60 at its base, close to the
leg-piece 12. It is sufficient to insert the tongue 58 into the
ring 56 and pull it towards the side 14 of the leg-piece 12,
folding it over onto itself. The part 22 is arranged around the
heel 11 and, by arranging the two strips of Velcro on top of each
other, it is fixed in position, in an adjustable manner, again with
all the advantages of the first example.
[0023] Other variants are possible, for example by envisaging
tensioning means on both sides of the leg-piece and/or an elongated
tightening part, which is permanently separable from the boot or
fixed to it at two points.
* * * * *