U.S. patent application number 13/055033 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-19 for ventilated motorcycle boot.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alpinestars Research SRL. Invention is credited to Giovanni Mazzarolo.
Application Number | 20120090196 13/055033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40723189 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120090196 |
Kind Code |
A2 |
Mazzarolo; Giovanni |
April 19, 2012 |
VENTILATED MOTORCYCLE BOOT
Abstract
A motorcycle boot comprises a sole or tread (22), a rigid shell
(20) and an upper (52) associated with the rigid shell; the upper
has furthermore a base insole (54) formed by a plurality of tubular
channels (56) which extend over most of the bottom surface of the
sole (54) and allow the air to pass at right angles to their axis;
the shell has at the front an air intake communicating with the
front end of the tubular channels.
Inventors: |
Mazzarolo; Giovanni; (Coste
di Maser (Treviso), IT) |
Assignee: |
Alpinestars Research SRL
Via De Gasperi, 54
Coste di Maser (Treviso)
IT
I-31010
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110126431 A1 |
June 2, 2011 |
|
|
Family ID: |
40723189 |
Appl. No.: |
13/055033 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
July 24, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/059594 |
371 Date: |
January 20, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20130101; A43B
5/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/003.00A |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2008 |
IT |
MI2008A001378 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. Motorcycle boot comprising a tread, a rigid shell to which said
tread is fixed, and an upper associated with said rigid shell, said
upper having a base insole formed by a plurality of tubular
channels extending over most of a lower surface of the base insole
and suitable for allowing passage of air at right angles to axis of
said tubular channels, said rigid shell having in a fore part an
air intake connected to fore ends of said tubular channels, said
tubular channels being formed by a double layer of rigid fabric and
being parallel to each other and oriented parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the boot.
9. The motorcycle boot according to claim 8, wherein said air
intake comprises an opening protected by a mesh formed in a toe end
of said rigid shell.
10. The motorcycle boot according to claim 9, wherein a raised edge
is provided at a front of said tread with openings which are
arranged so as to coincide with the opening of the rigid shell air
intake.
11. The motorcycle boot according to claim 10, wherein said rigid
shell further comprises at least one rear air outlet opening, said
at least one rear air outlet opening communicating with said air
intake.
12. The motorcycle boot according to claim 8, further comprising an
inner bootie adapted for insertion into said upper and together
therewith into said shell, said inner bootie being made of
breathable fabric.
13. The motorcycle boot according to claim 12, wherein a layer of
said rigid fabric is provided in the form of an insole in said
inner bootie.
14. The motorcycle boot according to claims 13, wherein a rear part
of said inner bootie is provided with cooling air outlet holes to
correspond with at least one rear outlet opening provided in the
shell, said at least one rear air outlet opening communicating with
said air intake.
15. The motorcycle boot of claim 8, wherein the rigid fabric
comprises polyester yarn.
16. The motorcycle boot according to claim 8, wherein said rigid
shell further comprises at least one rear air outlet opening, said
at least one rear air outlet opening communicating with said air
intake.
17. The motorcycle boot according to claim 11, further comprising
an inner bootie adapted for insertion into said upper and together
therewith into said shell, said inner bootie being made of
breathable fabric.
18. The motorcycle boot according to claims 17, wherein a rear part
of said inner bootie is provided with cooling air outlet holes to
correspond with the at least one rear outlet opening provided in
the shell.
19. The motorcycle boot according to claims 12, wherein a rear part
of said inner bootie is provided with cooling air outlet holes to
correspond with at least one rear outlet opening provided in the
shell, said at least one rear air outlet opening communicating with
said air intake.
20. The motorcycle boot of claim 13, wherein the rigid fabric
comprises polyester yarn.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a motorcycle boot.
[0002] It is known that one of the problems associated with the use
of boots, in particular during motorcycle races, is that of
overheating of the foot enclosed inside the boot, this representing
a major problem for the user.
[0003] More generally, the problem of foot ventilation has been the
subject of numerous studies and many solutions are known where
holes are provided mainly in the tread of the boot, with special
arrangements to prevent the entry of water in the event of
rain.
[0004] Other solutions are also known, for example in the case of
boots for in-line skates, where the shoe upper is provided with
ventilation openings which are protected by air-permeable material
(for example in the form of a fine mesh) so that, during use of the
shoe, the air which enters through these ventilation openings or
windows passes over the front part of the foot.
[0005] However, in the specific case of motorcycle boots, it is
required to provide a substantial flow of cooling air and ensure
that this flow passes over the entire bottom surface of the foot,
without being limited to the front portion.
[0006] This result has not yet been achieved with the solutions
proposed by the prior art and therefore constitutes the main
technical problem and therefore the object of the present
invention.
[0007] A more specific object of the present invention is to
provide a motorcycle boot of the type suitable for the specific
discipline known as motocross, provided with means for cooling the
sole of the user's foot.
[0008] This object, together with others, is achieved by means of a
motorcycle boot which has the characteristic features defined in
claim 1.
[0009] The main advantage achieved with the present invention is
that of ensuring truly effective cooling and ventilation of the
entire foot sole without negatively affecting the structure of the
boot.
[0010] The features and advantages of the present invention will
emerge more clearly from the description which follows of a
preferred embodiment, provided with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0011] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a side elevation view and plan view from
below, respectively, of the boot sole or tread;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an axonometric view of the shell of the
boot;
[0013] FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front view and rear view, respectively,
of the shell according to FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows an axonometric view of the upper of the
boot;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the two components of the
upper according to FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section through a detail of the insole
of the upper of the boot;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows a side view of the inner bootie of the
boot;
[0018] FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the inner bootie according to
FIG. 9;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of the entire boot, and
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the boot
assembled.
[0021] With reference to the drawings, the boot to which the
present invention relates has, by way of main components, a shell
20, a sole or tread 22, an inner bootie 24 and an upper 52.
[0022] Considering firstly the tread 22, this comprises a base 30,
provided with the moulded patterns usually found in this type of
boot, and a raised perimetral edge 32 which has at the front,
namely at the toe end of the boot, three openings 34 which perform
the function explained below when the tread is joined to the shell
20.
[0023] In particular, the perimetral edge is joined externally to
the bottom edge portion of the shell, forming a reinforced
strip.
[0024] If we now consider the shell 20, with reference to FIGS. 3,
4 and 5, this consists of a rigid casing, partly in the form of a
shoe, namely comprising a toe piece 36, a front-upper portion 38,
which has an opening substantially aligned with the axial mid-plane
of the boot, the front portion being extended in the form of two
side cheeks 40 and terminating at the rear in a spur-like element
42.
[0025] The toe end of the shell 20 is provided with an opening 46
which is closed by means of a metal mesh 48 so that, when the tread
is fixed to the shell so that its raised edge 32 surrounds and
embraces the bottom edge of the shell 20, the three openings 34 are
arranged so as to coincide with the opening 46, forming an air
intake.
[0026] The shell 20 also has at the rear similar openings 50 which
are protected by a mesh which acts as an outlet for the cooling air
entering through the air intake described above.
[0027] If we now consider FIGS. 6 and 7, this shows the leg-piece
upper of the boot comprising an actual upper, denoted overall by
the reference number 52, and an insole 54 which in the specific
case consists of a layer of material shown in cross-section in FIG.
8 and which is commercially available under the name of Air
Spring.
[0028] As can be seen from FIG. 8, this material consists of two
layers of substantially rigid polyester yarn fabric, between which
tubular channels 56 arranged alongside and parallel to each other
are defined.
[0029] Since the two layers of fabric are perfectly permeable, the
channels 56, when acted on by an air flow passing along their
length, distribute the said air at right angles to their axis.
[0030] In the embodiment according to the present invention, the
material forming the insole 54 is arranged with the tubular
channels 56 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boot.
[0031] From FIG. 11, it can be seen how the upper of the boot is
also provided with fastening means 70 for closing and tightening
around the user's foot. Since these consist of parts which are
conventional in this type of boot they are not described in further
detail.
[0032] The upper 52 houses internally what may be called an inner
bootie 24 (FIGS. 9 and 10) which is composed of a soft part 64.
[0033] This is similar to a shaped stocking which matches the shape
of the foot and is made of breathable fabric which allows the air
to pass through freely.
[0034] The bootie 24 finally houses internally in a removable
manner an insole made of the same material referred to above as Air
Spring, the sole of the user's foot resting directly on said
material.
[0035] From FIG. 10 it can be seen how the bootie has at the rear
holes 66 for letting out the cooling air after it has passed over
the sole and part of the upper surface of the foot, said holes
being arranged so as to correspond to the openings formed in the
shell for this function.
[0036] The structure of the boot according to the present invention
may be appreciated more fully from FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0037] Cooling and ventilation of the user's foot begins as soon as
the rider mounts a motorcycle and starts a race.
[0038] The vehicle movement causes the entry of air through the air
intake formed by the three front openings in the tread and the
opening formed in the shell
[0039] The metal mesh prevents the entry of foreign bodies, such as
grit.
[0040] The incoming air stream enters into the front ends of the
tubular channels in the bottom insole of the upper, passing over
the entire bottom surface of the upper.
[0041] At the same time this air stream is transferred at right
angles to the overlying base of the inner bootie and via the
breathable fabric of the bootie passes to the internal insole of
the bootie, the tubular channels of which complete distribution of
the air over practically all the bottom surface of the user's
foot.
[0042] The air then passes out through the rear openings formed in
the bootie, the opening formed in the upper and finally the
screened openings formed at the rear in the shell.
[0043] In this way the problem of cooling and ventilation of the
user's foot is solved, preventing, especially in sporting
disciplines such as motocross, overheating of the foot, which
occurs in particular during difficult and long races.
[0044] It is understood that conceptually and structurally
equivalent variants are possible and may be envisaged, in
particular in order to adapt the invention to boot designs which
differ in terms of the conventional components.
[0045] In other words, it is possible to envisage adopting in other
types of motocross boots the underlying principle of the present
invention consisting in providing a front air intake, preferably
screened by a protection system, a plurality of tubular channels
which are aligned substantially with the longitudinal axis of the
boot and able to distribute the air at right angles to their axis
so that it reaches the sole of the user's foot.
* * * * *