U.S. patent application number 11/909632 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-10 for fit adjustable footwear.
Invention is credited to Bruno Zanatta.
Application Number | 20100139122 11/909632 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36540170 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100139122 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zanatta; Bruno |
June 10, 2010 |
FIT ADJUSTABLE FOOTWEAR
Abstract
A fit adjustable footwear, includes an insole, having a top
layer and a bottom layer, mutually facing and kept spaced
thereamong in correspondence of at least one length of the external
peripheral edge thereof to slidably house a plurality of support
elements arranged in a sequence and interconnected by a pulling
element, the tensioning of which allows to radially let out, of a
desired length, the support elements from the top and bottom
layers.
Inventors: |
Zanatta; Bruno; (Spresiano,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
36540170 |
Appl. No.: |
11/909632 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 20, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2006/050544 |
371 Date: |
April 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/26 20130101; A43B
23/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/97 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/26 20060101
A43B003/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2005 |
TV |
2005A000044 |
Claims
1-27. (canceled)
28. A device for adjusting the fit of a footwear, comprising: an
insole, reproducing at least partially the shape of the sole of the
foot; an elongate pulling element, slidably associated to said
insole and associable to the vamp of the footwear, said pulling
element extending in correspondence of at least one peripheral
section of said insole reproducing the shape of the sole of the
foot; adjustment means for adjusting the degree of tensioning of
said pulling element, apt to vary the degree of tensioning of the
latter so as to adjust the lateral position thereof with respect to
said insole; and a seat, apt to slidably house said pulling element
with said vamp.
29. The device according to claim 28, wherein said insole comprises
a top layer, a bottom layer and a spacer interposed between said
top and bottom layers.
30. The device according to claim 29, wherein said pulling element
is slidably coupled to said spacer.
31. The device according to claim 29, wherein said spacer centrally
has, in a plan, a width shorter than said top and bottom layers, so
as to define said seat.
32. The device according to claim 28, wherein said pulling element
is constrained to a plurality of support elements.
33. The device according to claim 32, wherein said support elements
have a seat for receiving said pulling element.
34. The device according to claim 33, wherein said seat of said
elements is basically in the farm of a longitudinal groove.
35. The device according to claim 32, wherein said support elements
are of annular or tubular configuration, having a through seat apt
to receive said pulling element.
36. The device according to claim 28, wherein said adjustment means
comprises at least one threaded element operable by a wearer from
the outside of the footwear.
37. A footwear comprising a device for adjusting the fit, said
device comprising: an insole, reproducing at least partially the
shape of the sole of the foot; an elongate pulling element,
slidably associated to said insole and associable to the vamp of
the footwear, said pulling element extending in correspondence of
at least one peripheral section of said insole reproducing the
shape of the sole of the foot; adjustment means for adjusting the
degree of tensioning of said pulling element, apt to vary the
degree of tensioning of the latter so as to adjust the lateral
position thereof with respect to said insole; and a seat, apt to
slidably house said pulling element with said vamp.
38. The footwear according to claim 37, comprising a vamp in turn
having a first and a second portion mutually movable with respect
to each other.
39. The footwear according claim 38, comprising a sliding heel, one
of said portions of vamp being movable integrally to said sliding
heel.
40. The footwear according to claim 38, wherein one of said
portions of vamp is movable integrally to said pulling element.
41. The footwear according to claim 38, wherein one of said
portions of vamp is fixed to said insole and partially wound on
said pulling element.
42. The footwear according to claim 38, wherein said first and
second portion of vamp are slidable with respect to each other.
43. The footwear according to claim 42, wherein one of said first
and second portion of vamp defines a housing inside which it is
slidably received at least part of the other one of said portions.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to fit adjustable footwear,
and in particular to a shoe of adjustable dimensions.
[0002] Nowadays, each footwear design is typically produced in an
array of standardized sizes, generally identified by a numeral, in
order to be worn-on by a large number of wearers having feet of
most varied dimensions. In particular, for a same footwear design
the different sizes typically differ in length and width of the
sole and insole and therefore, beyond a certain size, also in the
dimensions of the vamp fixed to said sole.
[0003] Usually, sizes vary by one or one-half.
[0004] The main drawback of such known-type footwear lies in that
different fixtures may be required to make the various sizes of a
same design, and this increases footwear production costs.
[0005] Moreover, another drawback concerns the fact that those
marketing such footwear should have in stock a plurality of sizes
for each design, so as to meet different customers' requests; for a
trader this entails high storage costs, with the additional risk
that some sizes remain unsold and that, on the contrary, other
sizes be unavailable, thereby failing to meet requests by putative
purchasers.
[0006] A further drawback that can be ascribed to the mentioned
known types relates to the fact that the same do not encompass all
feet measures and moreover have a preset dimension for each size,
forcing those with specific anatomical needs to have footwear made
to measure.
[0007] Therefore, the technical problem set and solved by the
present invention is to overcome the above-highlighted
drawbacks.
[0008] Within the scope of the problem set forth above, another
important technical problem solved by the invention is to implement
footwear whose dimensions may adapt to those of the wearer's feet
even for values differing from the usual half size.
[0009] A further technical problem solved by the invention is to
optimally adapt to the shape of the wearer's foot, so as to improve
the comfort of fit thereof.
[0010] Another technical problem solved by the invention is to
allow the wearer to autonomously and rapidly adapt the footwear to
his or her own specific anatomical needs, without having to resort
to a shoemaker's intervention or to specific tools suitable
therefor.
[0011] Last but not least, another technical problem solved thereby
is to contrive an invention that be structurally simple and having
reasonable manufacturing costs.
[0012] Said problems are solved by a device for adjusting the fit
of a footwear according to claim 1, by a device for adjusting the
length according to claim 12 and by the footwear according to claim
17. Preferred features of the present invention are present in the
dependent claims thereof.
[0013] In the present context, the term "footwear" should be
construed in its broadest meaning, encompassing any kind of shoe,
sandal, slipper, boot, ankle-boot, etc., both daytime and night
time, for household use and of a sports type.
[0014] The present invention provides several relevant advantages.
The main advantage lies in allowing an adjustment of the footwear
such as to easily adapt to different foot fits, without requiring
the making of shoes to measure.
[0015] A further advantage relates to the fact that the adjustment
provided by the device according to the present invention may
easily be utilized in any type of footwear, therefore enabling
anyhow to keep footwear manufacturing costs reasonable.
[0016] Other advantages, features and the operation modes of the
present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed
description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of a
non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of the
annexed drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional side view of a footwear
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows another partially sectional side view of the
footwear of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of some components of the
footwear of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a partially sectional top plan view of the
footwear of FIG. 1, in which for clarity's sake some components
have been eliminated;
[0021] FIG. 5 shows another partially sectional top plan view of
the footwear of FIG. 1, in which for clarity's sake some components
have been eliminated;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the footwear of FIG. 1,
taken along plane VI-VI of FIG. 4;
[0023] FIGS. 7 and 8 show each a bottom plan view of the heel of
the footwear of FIG. 1, in an open and closed configuration,
respectively;
[0024] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the footwear of FIG. 1,
taken along plane IX-IX of FIG. 7;
[0025] FIG. 10 shows a partially sectional rear perspective view of
a detail of the footwear of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 11 shows another partially sectional rear perspective
view of a detail of the footwear of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of a footwear according to a
second embodiment of the invention, in which for clarity's sake
some components have been eliminated;
[0028] FIG. 13 shows a top perspective view of the footwear of FIG.
12, in which for clarity's sake some components have been
eliminated;
[0029] FIG. 14 shows another top plan view of the footwear of FIG.
12, in which for clarity's sake some components have been
eliminated;
[0030] FIG. 15 shows an enlarged detail of the footwear of FIG.
14;
[0031] FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of the footwear of FIG. 12,
taken along plane A-A of FIG. 14;
[0032] FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of the footwear of FIG. 12,
taken along plane A-A of FIG. 15;
[0033] FIG. 18 shows a sectional view of the footwear of FIG. 12,
analogous to the view of FIG. 14 and related to a different
configuration thereof;
[0034] FIG. 19 shows a top plan view of the footwear of FIG. 12,
analogous to the view, of FIG. 16 and related to a different
configuration thereof;
[0035] FIG. 20 shows a partially sectional side view of the
footwear of FIG. 12; and
[0036] FIG. 21 shows another partially sectional side view of the
footwear of FIG. 12 analogous to the view of FIG. 20 and related to
a different configuration thereof.
[0037] In the following exemplary embodiments, individual features,
reported in connection with specific examples, could actually be
interchanged with other different features, existing in other
embodiments.
[0038] Initially referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a footwear according
to a first embodiment of the invention is generally denoted by
1.
[0039] As it will be detailed hereinafter, the footwear 1 has an
adjustable fit, its dimensions being adjustable both in length and
in width and, more in general, allowing a varying of the shape
properties of the footwear such as to enable the latter to adapt to
the foot.
[0040] The footwear 1 comprises a vamp 3 and a sole 4. For greater
clarity, the usual longitudinal direction of the footwear 1 has
been identified by an axis A depicted in FIG. 4.
[0041] The sole 4 is connected to an insole, generally denoted by 2
and further detailed in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0042] Referring to the latter two figures, the insole 2 consists
of a top layer 5 and a bottom layer 6, both basically reproducing
the contour of the sole of the foot and made, e.g., of flexible
plastics.
[0043] The top and bottom layers 5 and 6 are interconnected, at a
central region thereof, by a shaped spacing element or spacer 9
longitudinally arranged with respect thereto. The top layer 5 and
the bottom layer 6 are fixed to the spacer 9, e.g. by gluing.
[0044] The spacer 9 has a basically laminated configuration and
comprises a front zone 10 partially following the configuration of
the peripheral edge 7 of the top 5 and bottom 6 layers in the zone
underlying, in use, the wearer's toes. The spacer 9 further
comprises a rear zone 11, partially following the configuration of
the external peripheral edge 7 of the top 5 and bottom 6 layers in
the zone underlying, in use, the wearer's foot heel. The front zone
10 and the rear zone 11 are mutually interconnected by a central
zone 12, advantageously having, in a plan, a width shorter than
that of the top 5 and bottom 6 layer, so as to define respective
seats 170 at the lateral section 13, internal to the foot, and at
the lateral section 14, external to the foot.
[0045] It is also evident that the seats 170 could be made
according to different embodiments. E.g., the insole could be made
entirely by molding, so as to define said layers and seats directly
by making suitable moulds.
[0046] Moreover, as another alternative, in the making of the
insole there could be used a first central portion of flexible
material, e.g. leather, and a second peripheral portion of plastics
material or, in general, stronger with respect to the preceding
portion, in which the seat 170 is defined. In addition, the
peripheral portion has an array of notches increasing its
flexibility. Thus, the peripheral portion could initially be made
of a rectilinear shape, and then folded so as to be located along
the periphery of the central portion.
[0047] This latter embodiment proves particularly advantageous as
the peripheral portion, requiring greater complexity in the
processing thereof, may be made in a single format and then used on
central portions of different dimensions that vice versa, being in
leather, are easy to make.
[0048] Always referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the front zone 10 it
is advantageously obtained, at the peripheral edge thereof, a
second seat 15, having in a plan an arched contour following the
configuration of the adjoining external peripheral edge 7.
Advantageously, as illustrated in the annexed figures, the second
seat 15 may be defined by a first groove obtained onto the top
surface of the front zone 10. Alternatively, the second seat 15 may
be constituted by at least one first (through) hole, not shown in
the annexed figures.
[0049] In the rear zone 11 of the spacer 9 there are two third
seats 16, obtained according to mutually parallel and longitudinal
axes, advantageously placed at opposite sides with respect to the
central zone 12. Advantageously, as illustrated in the annexed
figures, the third seats 16 may be respectively defined by two
second grooves obtained onto the top surface of the rear zone 11.
Alternatively, the third seats 16 may be constituted by two second
(through) holes, not depicted in the annexed figures, obtained
longitudinally to the rear zone 11.
[0050] As mentioned above, the layers 5 and 6 are mutually facing
and kept spaced therebetween by the central zone 12. In general,
such spacing concerns at least one length or section of the
peripheral edge 7 of the layers 5 and 6, so as to slidably house,
inside the seat 170, a plurality of movable support elements 8, apt
to supportingly receive the sole of the foot. These latter elements
are just arranged in a sequence along said peripheral edge 7 of the
insole 2, between the front zone 10 and the rear zone 11 of the
spacer 9.
[0051] Advantageously, the support elements 8 have, in a plan, a
basically rectangular configuration, with the sides shaped so as to
follow the configuration of the adjoining peripheral edge 7 of the
top 5 and bottom 6 layers, and the corners rounded off to
facilitate the mutual shifting of the support elements 8, and of
the latter with respect to the front 10 and rear 11 zones of the
spacer 9, in the plane determined by the bottom 6 and top 5
layers.
[0052] Advantageously, longitudinally to said support elements 8 it
is obtained a third seat 17, concerning the same along the entire
length thereof.
[0053] Such a third seat 17 may, as in the instance depicted in the
figures, be obtained at the top surface of the support elements 8,
or the same may, e.g., be constituted by a through hole, not
depicted in the figures, obtained longitudinally and internally to
the support elements 8.
[0054] The support elements 8 are mutually interconnected by a
pulling element 18, which in the present embodiment is constituted
by a rope, made e.g. of metal, inserted and fixed, e.g. by gluing
or pressure, in the third seats 17 of the support elements 8 and in
the first seat 15 of the front zone 10 of the spacer 9. The two
longitudinal ends of the rope 18 are slidably associated to the
second seats 16 present in the rear zone 11 of the spacer 9, and
are connected to adjustment means for adjusting the degree of
tensioning of the rope 18 itself. In the present embodiment such
adjustment means consists of adjustment screws 19 fixed to the ends
of the rope 18 at their own threaded shank and that can be screwed
in female-threaded cavities 20, obtained, e.g., in the rear zone 11
of the spacer 9, the latter shown schematically in FIG. 5.
[0055] As it will be better understood hereinafter, by adjusting
the degree of tensioning of the pulling element 18 it is possible
to peripherally (radially) let out or retract inside, of a desired
length, the support elements 8 with respect to the top 5 and bottom
6 layers.
[0056] As it is shown in FIG. 6, the vamp 3 is at least partially
fixed at its own bottom peripheral edge, below one or more of the
support elements 8.
[0057] As it is shown also in FIGS. 10 and 11, the vamp 3 is
constituted by a front portion 21 and a rear portion 22, mutually
connected via elastic means 27 that will be detailed
hereinafter.
[0058] The front portion 21 covers, in use, the foot section from
the toes to about the wearer's instep. At its bottom peripheral
edge the front portion 21 is fixed, e.g. by gluing or sewing, to
the bottom surface of the support elements 8, and moreover it is
fixed to the front zone 10 of the spacer 9.
[0059] The front portion 21 of the vamp 3 extends oppositely with
respect to the front zone 10 of the spacer 9, with two basically
parallel arms 26, cooperating with the rear portion 22 of the vamp
3 by said elastic means 27.
[0060] The rear portion 22 of the vamp 3 covers, in use, the
wearer's heel and ankle and is integrally associated to the heel
23, the latter in turn slidably constrained to the insole 2, as it
will be detailed hereinafter.
[0061] Advantageously, the rear portion 22 is constituted by a
lamina 24, typically made of leather or fabric, folded on itself
basically in a "U" shape to define a housing 25. Of course, such a
folded lamina has, in a plan, a contour going along the external
peripheral edge 7 of the top 5 and bottom 6 sections in the region
overhanging, in use, the wearer's heel.
[0062] The arms 26 of the front portion 21 of the vamp 3 are
slidably received in the housing 25 and are mutually interconnected
by said elastic means 27, arranged at the heel and constituted, in
the present embodiment, by an elastic strap slidably received in
the housing 25 and fixed at the ends of said arms 26.
[0063] The elastic deformability of the strap 27 and the
hereto-described arrangement enable the arms 26 to protrude, of a
desired length, from the housing 25, yet always keeping the front
portion 21 and the rear portion 22 of the vamp 3 mutually
constrained.
[0064] The rear portion 22 of the vamp 3 is fixed to the heel 23,
e.g. by sewing or gluing its bottom peripheral edge to the side
surface 28 of the latter.
[0065] The rear portion 22 of the vamp 3 has two through openings
35, obtained thereon at the adjustment screws 19 to allow the
wearer's access to said screws and therefore the adjustment of the
degree of tensioning of the rope 18.
[0066] The heel 23 is slidably constrained to the bottom layer 6 of
the insole 2 by connecting means depicted, e.g., in FIGS. 7, 8 and
9. Such connecting means comprises, in the present embodiment, a
block-shaped element 29, having, in a cross section, a basically
trapezoidal or dovetail configuration and fixed, by known means
like, e.g., screws or gluing, to the same bottom layer 6. The block
29 is slidable in a cavity 30, obtained in the heel 23 and
partially countershaped to said block 32 so as to keep the heel 23
partially constrained thereto. Of course, variant embodiments could
provide a different kind of shape coupling between heel and
insole-connecting element.
[0067] Moreover, there are provided adjustment means for adjusting
the relative position of the heel 23 and of the insole 2, which may
be constituted, as in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, by
a shape coupling between a first rack 31, fixed to the bottom
surface of the block 29, and a second rack 32, engageable to the
first one and fixed to the internal surface 33 of an openable
portion 34 of the bottom of the heel 23.
[0068] Said openable portion 34 is hinged to a stationary portion
36 of the heel 23, and the openable portion 34 serves as lid for
the cavity 30, known means being provided for its snap-fastening to
close up said cavity 30.
[0069] Then, the sole 4 is fixed, e.g. by gluing or sewing, to the
bottom layer 6 of the insole 2, in the region of the latter not
concerned by the heel 23.
[0070] Hereinafter, the operation of the footwear 1 will be
illustrated with reference to the figures introduced hereto.
[0071] First of all, the slidable arrangement of the heel 23 with
respect to the insole 2 allows an adjustment of the length of the
footwear 1, i.e. of its size. In particular, by opening the
openable portion 34 of the heel 23, it is removed the engagement
between the first rack 31 and the second rack 32, and therefore it
is possible to slide the heel 23 and the second portion 22 of the
vamp 3 integral thereto, with respect to the insole 2, hence
positioning such a second portion 22 at a desired distance from the
first portion 21. Upon reaching the desired position, the openable
portion 34 is closed up so as to engage again the first and the
second rack 31 and 32, thereby attaining the blocking of the rear
portion 22 with respect to the front portion 21 of the vamp and
yielding a footwear 1 of desired length.
[0072] Moreover, it is possible to attain an adjustment of the fit
or of the lateral rigidity of the footwear 1 by acting onto the
related means implemented by the support elements 8 and the
components associated thereto. In particular, by acting on the
adjustment screws 19 it is possible to adjust the degree of
tensioning of the rope 18, thereby increasing or decreasing the
mobility of the support elements 8 and enabling the same to
protrude peripherally, of a desired length, from the insole 2. By
inserting the foot in the vamp 3, the former exerts a pressure on
the latter, which therefore is deformed dragging toward the outside
of the insole 2 one or more of the support elements 8 to which the
same is fixed; thus, the vamp 3 and the insole 2 adapt to the shape
and the dimensions of the wearer's foot, increasing the comfort of
fit of the latter.
[0073] Hence, it will be appreciated that the footwear of the
invention, thanks to the fixing of part of the vamp to the support
elements, optimally adjusts to the shape of the wearer's foot,
being wearable also by persons having anomalous foot shapes, which
would usually require the making of shoes to measure.
[0074] In addition, it will be appreciated that said adjustments of
the length and of the fit/rigidness are completely independent and
therefore implementable also separately the one from the other.
[0075] The described footwear allows to adjust its dimensions in
length as well as in width, and therefore generally to adjust the
fit, thereby encompassing a plurality of the usual sizes of the
known footwear.
[0076] The production costs of the footwear of the invention remain
moderate, it being made solely from components of easy production
and/or assembling.
[0077] It will be appreciated that the present invention is
optimally suitable also for making sports shoes, requiring
different rigidities for actual sports practice and daily use,
respectively. In that case, the option of adjusting the footwear
fit provides an optimal option of attaining different
rigidities.
[0078] It will be understood that the present invention is
susceptible of several embodiments alternative to the one described
hereto, some of which are briefly described hereinafter with
reference to the sole aspects differentiating them from the first
embodiment considered hereto.
[0079] According to a variant, it is possible to make a footwear in
which to the insole it is associated not a vamp, but one or more
straps and/or ribbons and/or ropes fixed with their ends below the
support elements of the insole, at the lateral section internal to
the foot, and at the lateral section external to the foot,
respectively. Such straps and/or ribbons and/or ropes are intended
to at least partially wrap, in use, the wearer's foot, constraining
it to the insole and thereby allowing to make, e.g., a slipper or a
sandal whose dimensions may continually be varied by the wearer in
order to optimally adapt it to the shape of his/her foot.
[0080] Moreover, as already mentioned above, the footwear may
advantageously be employed for making sports footwear, like, e.g.,
ski or snowboard boots, soccer, biking, climbing, skating shoes,
etc.
[0081] Of course, the materials employed as well as the dimensions
constituting the individual components of the footwear could be
selected according to specific needs.
[0082] A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 12
to 21. Such a further embodiment will hereinafter be described with
reference to the sole aspects differentiating it from the
embodiments and variants illustrated hereto. Moreover, alike
components will be denoted by the same number reference adopted
hereto.
[0083] Referring to said figures, also in the present instance the
footwear, generally denoted by 100, comprises an insole, here
denoted by 200, constituted by a top layer 5, a bottom layer 6 and
a spacer, here denoted by 90, interposed between said layers. Said
spacer 90 basically reproduces the shape of the sole of the foot,
with the exception of two peripheral longitudinal sections, so as
to define, at the sections internal 13 and external 14 to the foot,
and, referring to FIG. 13, the seats 170 in the assembly formed by
top layer 5, bottom layer 6 and spacer 90. The seats 170 then
continue into a further pair of seats 171, illustrated in FIG. 12,
developing in the form of a groove onto the top face of the element
90 to a recess 160. Said seats 170 and 171 slidably receive a
pulling element, in this instance denoted by 180, in the form of a
flexible elongate element, onto which element 180 there are
slidably inserted annular or tubular support elements 80. In
addition, the pulling element 180 is fixed to the insole 200, and
more precisely to a spacer 90, at a front end thereof.
[0084] The longitudinal ends of the element 180 are blocked within
a block 40 slidably received in a longitudinal recess 160 of the
spacer 90. Such a blocking is attained by inserting said ends in
holes of the block and fastening them in position by threaded pins
41, according to conventional modes.
[0085] The block 40 is operable by a screw 190 blocked at the end
of its shank within the block itself and slidable within a threaded
seat 161 extending between the recess 160 and the peripheral rear
edge of the spacer 90.
[0086] The overall arrangement is such that the screw 190 is
operable from the rear of the footwear 100, at the heel. It will be
understood that by rotating the screw 190 the block 40, and
therefore the pulling element 180 integral thereto, are
longitudinally slid within the recess 160, i.e. with respect to the
insole 200, determining the position of the pulling element 180,
along with the elements 80, with respect to the seat 170, as
illustrated in FIG. 14. In other words, following the longitudinal
adjustment of the block 40 into the recess 160, the pulling element
180 is shifted, sliding into the seat 170, respectively inward or
outward of the insole 200, thereby adjusting the lateral position
of the seat 170 with respect to the latter.
[0087] It will be appreciated that in this embodiment it is
possible to attain a two-fold level of adjustability of the fit or
of rigidness of the footwear, making accessible, e.g. by a suitable
notch obtained onto the top layer 5 of the insole 200, the block
40. In fact, in the first instance it is possible to adjust the
level of initial tensioning of the element 180 by adjusting the
depth of penetration and optionally of protrusion of the
longitudinal ends thereof into/from the related holes into the
block, as shown, e.g., in FIG. 15.
[0088] Moreover, it is possible to further adjust said tensioning
by routinely acting on the screw 190.
[0089] An additional difference of this second embodiment with
respect to the first one lies in the manner of blocking the front
portion 21 of the vamp 3 to the pulling element. In fact, as it is
shown in FIG. 16, instead of being directly fixed onto the support
elements 80, said portion 21 is partially wound thereon, and in
particular folded at the rear thereof and then blocked onto the
bottom face of the bottom layer 6 of the insole 200, at the portion
denoted by 210. Thus, the overall arrangement is such that, as it
is shown in FIG. 18, according to the degree of tensioning of the
element 180, the vamp is retracted to a greater or lesser extent
within the seat 170. Of course, such a seat 170 will be suitably
dimensioned, so as to allow the receiving of the vamp 21 in the
aforesaid way, as well as a sufficient possibility of transversal
motion of the element 180.
[0090] Therefore, such a feature allows an adjustment of the fit by
providing a greater amount of vamp to the footwear so that, the
vamp being by its own nature soft or anyhow flexible, the foot
could adapt to the properties of shape of the shoe, according to
the specific needs of the wearer.
[0091] In the present embodiment the footwear provides also a
conventional welt 45, fixed to the sole 4, allowing to mend the
seat 170 and the pulling element 180.
[0092] According to a variant embodiment, the pulling element 180
may also be not associated to support elements 80 coupled thereto.
On the other hand, in this instance the support elements have the
sole function of fostering the sliding of the vamp 3 during the
adjustment of the fit by the motion of the pulling element,
preventing the wear of the vamp 3 itself. Accordingly, the support
elements 80 may alternatively be replaced by a single sheath of
plastics material, not illustrated in the figure, apt to limit
friction during said motion.
[0093] It will be understood that the various means for performing
certain different functions should surely coexist not only in the
illustrated embodiment, but could be present per se in several
embodiments, even not illustrated.
[0094] The present invention has hereto been described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that
there could be other embodiments referable to the same inventive
kernel, all falling within the protective scope of the claims set
forth hereinafter.
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