U.S. patent application number 13/432508 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-03 for sports shoe, in particular alpine ski shoe.
This patent application is currently assigned to ATOMIC AUSTRIA GMBH. Invention is credited to Gerhard Trinkaus.
Application Number | 20130000154 13/432508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45954416 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130000154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trinkaus; Gerhard |
January 3, 2013 |
Sports shoe, in particular alpine ski shoe
Abstract
The invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular an alpine
ski shoe, comprising an upper part and a sole formation. A
stiffening element for influencing the stiffness of the sole
formation extends between a toe side and a heel side of the sole
formation. A detachable fixing element is assigned to the
stiffening element and is exclusively disposed at the heel side of
the sole formation, so that said fixing element can be operated
from the entry for the user's foot into the sports shoe and in the
detached state permits removal of the stiffening element from the
interior of the upper part of shoe via the entry for the user's
foot.
Inventors: |
Trinkaus; Gerhard;
(Koeflach, AT) |
Assignee: |
ATOMIC AUSTRIA GMBH
Altenmarkt im Pongau
AT
|
Family ID: |
45954416 |
Appl. No.: |
13/432508 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/0417 20130101;
A43B 13/36 20130101; A43B 5/0496 20130101; A43B 5/0484
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/103 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/04 20060101
A43B005/04; A43B 13/00 20060101 A43B013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2011 |
AT |
A 429/2011 |
Claims
1. A sports shoe, in particular alpine ski shoe, comprising a shell
like upper part having an access opening for entry of a user's foot
into the sports shoe, an inner lining at least partially
accommodated in the shell-like upper part, a sole formation having
a toe side and a heel side and being disposed beneath the
shell-like upper part, at least one stiffening element arranged in
the sole formation extending between the toe side and the heel
side, and a fixing element arranged at the heel side of the sole
formation to secure the at least one stiffening element in the sole
formation, the fixing element being at least partially removable
from the sports shoe, so that said fixing element can be operated
from the access opening for the user's foot into the sports shoe
and can be detached to permit removal of the stiffening element
with respect to the interior of the upper part of shoe via the
access opening for the user's foot.
2. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element
is secured in an active state and provides a lift lock for the
stiffening element with respect to the sole formation, which lift
lock being provided for preventing vertically directed relative
motions between the stiffening element and the sole formation.
3. The sports shoe according to claim 1, further comprising
supports at the toe and heel sides, wherein the stiffening element
is supported without clearance on the supports.
4. The sports shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a
positive-locking plug connection arranged to attach the stiffening
element to the support on the toe side, with said plug connection
in its active state being designed in perpendicular direction with
respect to the contact plane for a user's foot for preventing
relative movement between the toe side of the stiffening element
and the support.
5. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the support on the
toe side is embodied as an integral component of the shell-like
upper part.
6. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shell-like
upper part and the sole formation are embodied as an integral
plastic injection molding component and form the support on the
heel side as an integral component in the end section on the heel
side of the sole formation.
7. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening
element is directly supported on at least a portion of the sole
formation.
8. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element
in an active state, prevents the heel side of the stiffening
element from lifting with respect to the sole formation.
9. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element
is designed as bayonet connector, which allows an optional
detaching and fixing of the stiffening element with respect to the
sole formation by a combined plug and rotary movement of a holding
pin.
10. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the bayonet
connector comprises a holding pin fixed to the sole formation and
essentially oriented perpendicular to a contact plane of a user's
foot, and the holding element can be plugged and rotated with
respect to the holding pin to create a positive-locking and
detachable coupling between the holding element and the holding
pin.
11. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the holding
element comprises at least one supporting collar.
12. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the holding
element comprises at least one positive-locking coupling medium
including a slot for a connection coupled by turning motion with an
auxiliary tool, and wherein the positive-locking coupling medium
can be reached from an entry for the user's foot into the sports
shoe.
13. The sports shoe according to claim 3, wherein the support on
the heel side has at least one bearing surface running transversely
to a longitudinal axis of the sole formation, which bearing surface
is oriented in an inclined manner at an angle with respect to a
transverse plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the sole formation.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular an
alpine ski shoe, as it is described in claim 1.
[0002] Sports shoes, in particular alpine ski shoes having
technical features for a modification of the sole stiffness or the
flexibility of the shoe configuration according to needs are known
from prior art in a plurality of different designs.
[0003] The specification U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,374 A e.g. discloses a
sport boot, in particular a ski boot, the stiffness of which can be
modified according to one's requirements by means of a mechanism
for adjusting. The design of the sole is formed from an elongate
plate-like sole element designed tub-shaped and accommodates the
plate- or support-like stiffening element in the corresponding
mounting tub. Said stiffening element is here inserted into the
tub-shaped sole element having a lateral clearance and also a
clearance with respect to the longitudinal direction of the sole,
with the result that a predetermined clearance to the wall or
interior faces of the tub-shaped sole element is provided. The
longitudinal end of the stiffening element on the front or on the
toe side is coupled with the tub-shaped sole element via a positive
locking plug connection, and this positive locking plug connection
forms a front, shear-resistant support for the stiffening element.
In the end region of the stiffening element on the heel side, an
adjusting means for modifying the stiffness of the sole is
disposed. For stiffening the sole formation, the adjusting element
is to be operated in such a way that it applies a vertically
aligned compressive or clamping force between the stiffening
element and the upper side of the tub-shaped sole element. This
means, that the stiffening element and the tub-shaped sole element
can be braced or clamped to one another by means of the adjusting
means if required, with the result that increased mechanical
friction is produced at the mutual bearing surfaces between the
stiffening element and the tub-shaped sole element. This friction,
exclusively produced by vertical compression or clamping force
between the stiffening element and the tub-shaped sole element is
to prevent or hamper relative displacements between the said
elements and to stiffen the formation of the sports shoe as a
result. In a loosened state of the adjusting element, no important
clamping force between the bottom side of the stiffening element
and the upper side of the tub-shaped sole element is present, with
the result that the said elements can displace with respect to one
another within the limits of the clearance formed in longitudinal
direction of the sole between the stiffening element and the
tub-shaped sole element as soon as the formation of sole is subject
to an elastic deformation, in particular a rolling movement. In the
loosened state of the adjusting element, the stiffening element and
the sole element can move freely with respect to the longitudinal
direction of the sole, with the result that the sole formation of
the in this state of the adjusting element has a comparably high
flexibility. Rotary cylinders with off-centered bearing surfaces
and horizontally arranged adjusting screws in connection with
supporting elements thereon, which are relatively adjustable, are
recommended to be adjusting elements for providing corresponding
clamping and frictional forces, and the corresponding adjusting
elements are arranged in apertures in the sole element and can be
operated from the outside. Other embodiments of adjusting elements
are on the one hand formed of a pair of vertically aligned clamping
screws and on the other hand of washer disk being integrated into
the stiffening element and arranged to be able to turn. Said washer
disk has rising guide tracks or guideways running in a wedge-shaped
way for optional applying and cancelling clamping forces between
the bottom side of the stiffening element and the upper side of the
tub-shaped sole element. The last mentioned adjusting means can be
operated with the help of operating tools, in particular by means
of a screwdriver, from the entry for the user's foot. One
disadvantage of the known embodiment is that the corresponding
adjusting elements have to provide high clamping forces or require
high operating forces in order to achieve a sufficiently
distinctive manipulation or modification of the stiffness of the
formation of sole or of the entire sports shoe.
[0004] Moreover, document WO 96/02157 A1 describes a sports shoe
providing a variable stiffness of sole. This being the case, a
structurally independent stiffening element comprising two plate
elements that are disposed in the in the vertical direction of the
sole structure and are displaceable relative to one another,
between which an elastically compressible layer is disposed, is
inserted into the sports shoe. In this case, the lower plate
element is designed to be tub-shaped by having a circumferential
supporting collar directed upwards. The upper plate element is
dimensioned in such a way that the lower, tub-shaped plate element
is lowerable and a compression of the elastic flexible intermediate
layer is thus effected. In particular, by pressing the upper and
lower plate elements against one another, which pressing is
effected against the resistance of the elastic layer lying in
between, the stiffness of the shoe sole is increased. In contrast,
when an non-compressed layer or a layer not being clamped between
the plate elements is present, in particular in the situation where
the plateparts are spaced relatively far apart from one another, a
considerably higher flexibility of the shoe sole is provided. An
individual modification of the stiffness of the shoe sole is in
this case also achieved by a varying the height position of the
upper plate element with respect to the lower plate element and for
this variation of height, one respective eccentric lever
arrangement is embodied in the end section on the heel side as well
in the end section on the toe side, in order to achieve a pressing
of the upper and the lower plate element against one another
against the supporting force of the elastic compressible layer. The
disadvantage of this case is that modification of the respective
stiffness of the sole formation is difficult, because, amongst
other things, the eccentric layer element on the toe side is poorly
accessible and such eccentric lever elements provide only a less
than satisfactory operability or ergonomics. In addition, the
variability of height of the upper plate element with respect to
the lower plate element results in a change of the volume of the
interior of the shoe or a change of the volume accommodating the
foot. In particular in the state of adjustment providing comparably
flexible formation of sole, the volume for accommodating of the
sports shoe is smaller than in the event of a state of adjustment
providing comparably stiff sole formation, resulting in
disadvantages with respect to the fit or the wearing comfort of a
sports shoe of this kind. Furthermore, the elastic intermediate
layer has to be designed relatively stiff or compression-proof, in
order to avoid that the stiffening module is passed into the
stiffening state due to compression load, for example when being
stressed unilaterally by the user, when the sole formation is in a
flexible adjustment state. The corresponding eccentric lever
arrangements, however, have to be able to overcome these resisting
powers of the elastically resetting layer, so that the
corresponding eccentric lever arrangements have to be designed
especially solid and the operating or reverse forces to be applied
by the user are considerable.
[0005] The underlying objective of the present invention is to
propose a ski shoe with a modifiable stiffness, in particular with
manually modifiable stiffness of sole and the technical measures
required should allow to be implemented as cost-effective as
possible, similarly allowing the most effortless possible but
effective modification of the stiffness.
[0006] This objective is achieved by the invention on the basis of
a sports shoe, in particular an alpine ski shoe according to the
characteristics of claim 1.
[0007] An advantage of the sports shoe according to the invention
resides in the fact that it ensures a particularly comfortable
influence or modification of the stiffness, in particular of the
sole stiffness. In particular due to the technical measures that
the holding or fixing element for the plate- or bearing-like
stiffening element is exclusively positioned in the end section of
the sole formation assigned to the heel of a user, a good
accessibility or availability to said holding or fixing element is
ensured, so that complex auxiliary tools or tedious accesses to
hard-to-reach areas, in particular in the section of the toe-cap or
the toe of the sports shoe are not necessary. A high degree of
user's convenience or an increased operating ergonomics are further
achieved by the fact that relatively low retaining or securing
forces are sufficient to avoid a lifting of the stiffening element
in vertical direction with respect to the contact plane for the
user's foot. According to the invention, the stiffening element
mainly acts as supporting bar between the support on the toe side
and the support on the heel side, which supports are each generally
designed to be shear-resistant and resistant to upsetting. This
being the case, the stiffening element acting as supporting bar
between the distal supports is primarily stressed compressively and
the stiffening element eliminates or disables a tendency of
approximation between the support on the toe side and the support
on the heel side as soon as the holding or fixing element is in its
active state, thereby eliminating or at least largely eliminating a
vertical shifting or lifting of the stiffening element with respect
to the upper side of the sole formation. By simple removing a
stiffening element built into a sports shoe or simple exchanging a
present stiffening element by a stiffening element having different
stiffness, in particular different bending stiffness and/or
compression strength, the bending stiffness of the sole section of
the sports shoe can be significantly influenced in a simple manner.
Since the fixing element in its active state, i.e. in its state of
fixing, only has to ensure that the stiffening element acting as
supporting bar between the support on the toe side and the support
on the heel side remains at the planned supporting position, the
required securing or fixing forces, which have to be applied or
ensured by the fixing element, are relatively low. Due to this
fact, the manual operability or the most effortless possible
operation of the fixing element is noticeably eased. Furthermore,
the embodiment according to the invention can achieve a high
density of the sole formation or the upper part of the shoe,
because no additional apertures from the outer surface of the sole
formation or the upper part of the shoe are required in order to be
able to operate or handle the optionally detachable fixing element.
In particular, no special technical complex measures for sealing
are required in order to achieve a good impermeability with respect
to the undesired entering of snow, ice or liquids. Thus, a
corresponding sports shoe can also be produced as cost-effective as
possible. Due to the provision of stiffening elements, which have
different bending stiffnesses or different resistances in terms of
compression or upsetting with respect to their longitudinal
extension and which can be produced cost-effective, the
characteristic or the stiffness of a sports shoe can easily be
modified in a simple way by exchanging a stiffening element and the
exchange is effected via the entry for the user's foot, with the
result that an easy handling is ensured and no additional points of
failure in terms of too high requirements regarding impermeability
are caused.
[0008] Also of advantage are measures according to claim 2, because
they achieve high or prominent effects with respect to the
influence of the stiffness of the sole formation with relatively
low operating or adjusting forces with respect to the fixing
element. In particular, the embodiment of the fixing element as a
lift lock achieves that when the stiffening element is existent in
a position secured against shifting or lifting, a corresponding
stiffening of the sole section of the sports shoe is ensured.
Particularly, no high clamping or adjusting forces are necessary in
order to create increased frictional or connecting forces between
the stiffening element and the sole formation. Particularly, the
supporting effect of the stiffening element acting as a supporting
element causes a prominent increasing of the stiffness of the sole
of the sports shoe. The shift lock has in this case only the task
to prevent a vertical lifting or shifting of the stiffening element
with respect to the supports respectively bearing against the front
sides. Due to the fact that the supports bear against the front end
sections of the stiffening element without clearance during the
stiffening element is in a fixed state, an approximation of the
supports spaced apart from one another as a result of a trend to
deflection under load of the sole is prevented or hampered, thereby
increasing the stiffness of the sole significantly. A lift lock of
this kind can in this case be passed in its active state using
comparably low operating or adjusting forces, once no particular
clamping or frictional forces have to be established. This fact
considerably fosters a convenient operation. Furthermore, the
entire time required for the application or the exchange of a
present stiffening element with respect to the relatively narrow,
poor accessible interior of the sports shoe is noticeably reduced
or kept to a minimum.
[0009] Due to the measures according to claim 3 it is ensured that
the stiffening element operates as a supporting bar between the
support on the toe side and the support on the heel side and on the
one hand prominently influences the longitudinal compression
strength or resistance to upsetting and up to a certain extent also
the bending stiffness of the elongate stiffening element
significantly influences the stiffness of the sole formation. This
being the case, the fixing element only has to ensure that the
stiffening element acting as supporting bar remains in its planned
position and in particular does not shift or drift in vertical
direction with respect to the contact plane for the user's foot,
with the result that the its supporting effect between the supports
on the shoe and on the sole side being distanced from one another
would get lost.
[0010] Also of advantage are measures according to claim 4, because
thus, a simple handling, i.e. a simple insertion and simple
exchange of a stiffening element with respect to the foot or the
interior shoe of the sport shoe is ensured. In particular, no
fixing elements requiring manual operation are needed, in order to
fix the longitudinal end or front end of the stiffening element on
the toe side with respect to the sole element or with respect to
the support on the toe side in vertical direction. Especially, the
so-called toe-box or the front foot shell of a sports shoe can be
difficult to access by hand. In particular alpine ski shoes with
relatively stiff front foot shell, being injection molded of
plastics material, a manual manipulation at the adjusting or fixing
elements in the region of the front foot shell would require
increased dexterity or hard manipulations. Due to the mentioned
plug connection with respect to the support on the toe side, such
manipulations are unnecessary and a simple coupling of the front
longitudinal end of the stiffening element with respect to the sole
formation or the support on the toe side is ensured. The
positive-locking connection between the support on the toe side and
the front end section of the stiffening element avoids a shifting
or vertical pressing out of the stiffening element with respect to
the support on the toe side, with the result that the stiffening
effect, in particular the supporting effect of the stiffening
element is also ensured in the event of increased loads, in
particular of extreme bending forces. This being the case, the
mating direction of the positive-locking plug connection generally
extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of sole, so that an
unproblematic merging or a quick and facile positioning of the
stiffening element in the interior of the shoe, in particular at
the upper side of the shoe base plate is ensured.
[0011] Of special advantage are also measures according to claim 5
and/or 6, because the supports or their bearing surfaces are formed
as integral components of the sole formation or the upper part of
shoe. Particularly in the event, if the said components are formed
as integrally formed sections produced by injection molding, a
particular cost-effective shoe construction can be achieved. In
particular, no separate components or elements of supports are
required in order to form the corresponding bearing surfaces, which
interact with the corresponding bearing surfaces of the stiffening
element. A lower number of required single components has also a
beneficial effect on reducing the storage and logistics costs or
the total costs of production required to produce a correspondingly
designed sports shoe, in particular an alpine ski shoe.
[0012] The measures according to claim 7 ensure that there is no
vertical clearance between the bottom side of the stiffening
element and the upper side of the sole formation, which would cause
a resilience or a bending of the stiffening element due to
corresponding compression load with respect to the stiffening
element, in particular due to compression load caused by the user's
foot. Due to the direct supporting of the stiffening element at the
upper side of the sole formation, shifting movements of the
stiffening element in downward direction, in particular in
direction towards the sole formation are kept at a minimum. This
has beneficial effects on the power-related performance that can be
achieved using a sports shoe of this kind.
[0013] Also measures according to claim 8 are of advantage, because
only one single fixing element, which can be operated by the user
or the operator in a relatively convenient way, in the region of
the end section on the heel side of the stiffening element is
required in order to influence the stiffness of the sole formation
or of the sports shoe. The front end section or the end section on
the toe side of the stiffening element can be secured against
lifting with respect to the sole formation in a simple way and
manner by a positive-locking coupling or plug connection. The front
longitudinal end of the stiffening element does thus not require
separate influence or fixing by the operating person. A
corresponding positive-locking connection with the front support or
the support on the toe side can automatically be established, so to
speak, when the stiffening element is being inserted or slid into
the interior of the sports shoe.
[0014] Of particular advantage are also measures according to claim
9, because thus, the easiest or most convenient possible operation
of the fixing element is ensured also if only very little space is
available. Particularly by a simple plug and rotary movement, a
reliable fixing of the stiffening element inserted between the
distal supports can be achieved. A bayonet mount of this kind can
be operated quickly and easily in this case. Furthermore, it is not
absolutely necessary that a fixing element formed as a bayonet
mount can be seen or accessed well in order to operate or handle
it, with the result that even an arrangement within the interior of
the shoe, in particular at the upper side of the sole formation is
relatively unproblematic. Screw connections, in contrast, would
require an increased dexterity or an exact positioning and aligning
with respect to the corresponding retaining thread. The particular
simple condition or manageability of the bayonet mount has thus a
positive effect on the sports shoe embodied according to the
invention or the sports shoe equipped with it.
[0015] Also of advantage are the measures according to claim 10,
because the holding pin of the bayonet mount is fixed on the shoe
and the holding element, acting as a fixing element for the
stiffening element, can optionally be coupled with and decoupled
from the holding pin mounted on the shoe. In particular with the
help of a simple plug and rotary movement, a fixing of the
stiffening element in the proper relative position can be achieved.
Additionally, a releasing of the holding element and of the
stiffening element can be achieved by a relatively short rotary
movement of the holding element with respect to the holding pin
mounted on the shoe. Particularly due to this fact, a simple and
quickly realizable mounting or dismounting of the stiffening
element is allowed in a simple and intuitive manner, also for
technically inexperienced people.
[0016] Due to the measures according to claim 11 it is ensured that
the stiffening element remains in the proper position when the
fixing element is in the active state and is thus able to develop
the desired supporting or stiffening effect for the sole formation.
It is absolutely sufficient to rotate the holding element with
respect to the holding pin at an angle of less than 270.degree., in
particular of less than 180.degree., preferably of less than
90.degree. in order to ensure a reliable fixing of the stiffening
element in the proper supporting position, in particular in the
proper orientation with respect to the sole formation. Due to the
fact that the fixing element is unnecessary in terms of increased
clamping or compression forces, a basis for a general tool-free
operation of the holding or fixing element is created, but it can
optionally also be possible to use auxiliary tools.
[0017] Advantageous are also measures according to claim 12,
because a particular effortless activation or deactivation of the
fixing element is allowed using a simple standardized auxiliary
tool, e.g. a screwdriver, without making it necessary to reach with
the fingers to the sole section of the sports shoe. In particular
by means of an auxiliary tool having the corresponding length, a
smooth operation of the fixing element, in particular a rotation of
the holding element can be effected in a relatively convenient way,
for example from the collar section of the sports shoe or even from
the above the collar section. This simplifying of handling or this
time-saving is of increased importance in particular in the area of
rental, but also in the course of production of the correspondingly
formed sports shoe.
[0018] Finally, also the measures according to claim 13 are
advantageous, because probably occurring tolerances with respect to
the effective length of the stiffening element or regarding the
inner width or the clearance between the support on the toe side
and the support on the heel side can be compensated in an simple
way and manner. Particularly due to the bearing surface, formed at
at least one distal end of the stiffening element and running
tilted with respect to a vertical plane, a tolerance compensation
is achieved, with the result that, also in the event that
stiffening elements are formed slightly shorter or the distances
between the supports being distanced from one another are slightly
larger, a bearing of the end sections on the front side of the
stiffening elements at the support on the heel side and at the
support on the toe side is ensured to be without clearance. Due to
this fact, in particular a clearance caused by production
tolerances between the supports opposite one another and the
respective assigned front ends or the bearing surfaces at the
stiffening elements can be compensated or avoided. Thus, also by
these measures, the production or manufacturing costs of the
described sports shoe can be kept to a minimum. Furthermore, the
production of the stiffening element, the front ends of which are
opposite one another and shall act as bearing surfaces, can be
realized as cost-effective as possible, because thus, also with
relatively large, accepted tolerances values of the stiffening
element or the supports on the shoe side, a proper or planned
supporting effect can be ensured.
[0019] The invention will be described in more detail below with
reference to examples of embodiments illustrated in the appended
drawings
[0020] The heavily simplified schematics show:
[0021] FIG. 1 a semi-finished product of a sports shoe, in
particular a front foot shell of a ski shoe injection molded of
plastics in perspective view;
[0022] FIG. 2 the sports shoe of FIG. 1 in sectional view according
to the plane II-II in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 the sports shoe of FIG. 1 in sectional view according
to the plane III-III in FIG. 1 as well as the components near the
sole shown in exploded view;
[0024] FIG. 4 the components near the sole according to FIG. 3 in
partly assembled state.
[0025] Firstly, it should be pointed out that the same parts
described in the different embodiments are denoted by the same
reference numbers and the same component names and the disclosures
made throughout the description can be transposed in terms of
meaning to same parts bearing the same reference numbers or same
component names. Furthermore, the positions chosen for the purposes
of the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., relate to the
drawing specifically being described and can be transposed in terms
of meaning to a new position when another position is being
described. Individual features or combinations of features from the
different embodiments illustrated and described may be construed as
independent inventive solutions or solutions proposed by the
invention in their own right.
[0026] FIGS. 1 to 4 show an exemplary embodiment of a sports shoe 1
formed according to the invention, in particular an alpine ski shoe
2. This sports shoe 1 comprises at least one plate- or bearing-like
stiffening element 3, which is provided for the optional
modification or individual adjustment of the stiffness or
flexibility of the sports shoe 1. By means of the stiffening
element 3 or at least an influencing means 4, which influences the
stiffening element 3 and can be operated manually, the stiffness of
a sole formation 5 of the sports shoe 1 and thus the total
stiffness present of the sports shoe 1 can be influenced.
[0027] The influencing means 4, which is described in the
following, is preferably used for a selective modification of the
shoe or sole stiffness of alpine ski shoes 2. In similar
embodiments, the influencing means 4 can also be used with related
sports shoes 1, in particular with alpine mountaineering boots,
snowboard boots, cross-country ski boots, hiking boots, climbing
boots or similar shoes.
[0028] The generic sports shoe 1, which is usually formed as a high
shoe or boot, can generally be portioned into an upper part of shoe
6 and the previously mentioned sole formation 5, and the sole
formation 5, as known per se, is arranged at the bottom side of the
upper part of the shoe 6. The upper part of the shoe 6 can in this
case--as schematically shown--be embodied like a shell or,
alternatively, like a frame or a cage. This being the case, the
upper part of the shoe 6 mainly consists of plastics, leather
and/or textiles. In particular with the genre of the alpine ski
shoes 2, the upper part of the shoe 6 has an outer shell made of
plastics, in particular hard plastics, in order to be able to pass
the forces transmitted from the user's foot to a piece of sports
equipment as directly as possible or without delay to a board-like
gliding device, in particular a ski. This being the case, an upper
part of shoe 6 of this kind or a corresponding outer shell of
plastics also can have a plurality of apertures, which are covered
with comparably flexible materials such as leather and/or textiles,
with the result that a cage-like structure is created and the upper
part of the shoe 6 can also provide a relatively stiff
frame-structure instead of a relatively stiff shell-structure.
[0029] In particular with a sports shoe 1 with relatively
bending-resistant or hard outer shell, an interior shoe is
accommodated at least partially in the upper part of shoe 6, said
interior shoe not having been shown in the drawing for reasons of
better clarity. Said interior shoe is used for the most convenient
possible embedment of the user's foot by preventing unpleasant
pressure and wear marks at the user's foot the best possible way
with the help of the interior shoe. Preferably, such an interior
shoe can be removed from the upper part of shoe 6, if required, in
order to achieve a better drying of the interior shoe or to allow a
more convenient walking only with the comparably flexible interior
shoe. Alternatively or in combination therewith, a lining can be
provided in the upper part of shoe 6, in particular at its interior
surfaces, which lining is connected non-detachably to the upper
part of the shoe 6.
[0030] The sole formation 5 usually has one coupling means 8, 9 in
each end sections disposed opposite each other with respect to its
longitudinal axis of sole 7 in order to allow--as known per
se--being connected to a front and a rear coupling organ and, if
required, to allow being detached from such a binding or from a
corresponding ski. Particularly with alpine ski shoes 2, these
coupling means 8, 9 are preferably formed from appendices at the
toe-cap and at the heel, but they can also be formed from
groovings, undercuts or cut-outs in the central section of the sole
formation 5 in order to allow being coupled to a corresponding
binding.
[0031] Further components, which are necessary to complete the
sports shoe 1 are not shown for reasons of clarity. Depending on
the genre or the type of the sports shoe 1, clamping devices for
the individual narrowing of sections of the sports shoe 1, in
particular clamping devices in the form of clamping buckles or
tightening straps are embodied. Furthermore, also sealing elements
or spoiler elements can of course be functional in order to achieve
a sufficient impermeability with respect to snow or water in
particular in the overlap region of the front foot shell. The shown
semi-finished product of an alpine ski shoe 2, typically also
provides a so-called collar, which is flexibly connected to the
front foot shell shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] As already mentioned, at least one stiffening element 3,
which is designed independently and influences the stiffness of the
sole formation 5 or, as a result, the flexibility or stiffness of
the entire sports shoe 1, is assigned to the sole formation 5. This
stiffening element 3, which is designed as an individual body,
essentially extends between the end section on the toe side 10 and
the end section on the heel side 11 of the sole formation 5.
[0033] As the comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 best shows, the
stiffening element 3 is embodied as a structurally individual
element, which can be assigned to the sole formation 5 if required
or which can be assigned to the sole formation 5 with different
values of stiffness. The essentially plate- or bearing-like
designed stiffening element 3 preferably extends continuously,
i.e., without interruption between the end section 10, 11 on the
toe and on the heel side of the sole formation 5. The plate- or
bearing-like stiffening element 3 is in this case essentially
oriented parallel to the contact plane 12 for the user's foot with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the stiffening element 3.
[0034] In its state of usage or its active state, the stiffening
element 3 with its distal longitudinal ends 13, 14 opposite each
other is retained at one respective fixed support 15, 16 being
largely shear-resistant or resistant to upsetting with respect to
the longitudinal direction of the sole. These largely shear- or
pressure-resistant, in particular non-portable supports 15, 16 are
preferably defined by the distal end sections of the sole formation
5, in particular by the integrally formed sections of the front and
rear coupling means 8, 9 facing one another or being next to one
another, as it can best be seen in FIG. 2.
[0035] With the embodiment described, the at least one stiffening
element 3 is essentially embodied in the manner of a horizontally
extending supporting bar, which is supported between the front and
the rear support 15, 16 of the sole formation 5 or which keeps said
supports 15, 16 at a distance from one another. Due to the
stiffening element 3 acting as a supporting bar within the sole
formation 5, the sole formation 5 is influenced, in particular
increased by the stiffening element 3 in terms of its resistance to
upsetting and bending, with the result that the total existing
stiffness of the sports shoe 1 is increased.
[0036] The plate- or bearing-like stiffening element 3 acting as
supporting bar is accommodated within the sports shoe in a special
way or is preferably assigned to the sole formation 5 integrally
formed with the sports shoe 1. The sole formation 5 in the bottom
section of the sports shoe 1 is in this case embodied like a
mounting shell 17 for the stiffening element 3, as FIG. 3 shows
best. This mounting shell 17 is preferably an integrally embodied
section of bottom of the upper part of the shoe 6, as FIG. 6 shows
best.
[0037] The section of said mounting shell 17 on the bottom side is
formed from the base plate, in particular from the shoe base plate
18 of the sports shoe 1. The lateral borders integrally formed with
the shoe base plate 18 are defined by the lateral wall surfaces of
the upper part of shoe 6 and by the front and rear support 15, 16
of the sole formation 5. This means that the shoe base plate 18,
the front and rear support 15, 16 and the lateral partition walls
of the mounting shell 17 are injection molded of plastics and are
preferably embodied as integrally formed sections of the upper part
of shoe 6. It is in this connection expressively stated that FIG. 4
shows a sole formation 5 which is cut off from the upper part of
the shoe 6. This means that the sole formation 5 according to FIG.
4 principally defines an integrally formed, one-piece unit with the
upper part of the shoe 6--FIG. 2. The upper part of the shoe 6 and
the sole formation 5 are preferably formed as integral, one-pieced
components or structural units, formed by a plastics injection
molding process.
[0038] As FIG. 3 shows best, it is functional to embody also the
stiffening element 3 to be shell- or profile-like. In particular,
the stiffening element 3 can be designed to have a U-shaped
cross-section at least within sections of its longitudinal
extension. According to the example, the stiffening element 3 can
comprise a base plate 19, the contour of which essentially follows
the contour at the upper side of the shoe base plate 18. In the
edge section of this base plate 19, preferably a circumferential or
at least partially circumferential stiffening rib 10 is formed,
which is oriented perpendicular to the base plate 19, so that in
total at least one approximately tub-shaped stiffening element 3 is
formed. This stiffening rib 20, at least circulating sections of
the base plate 19, can in this case have varying height dimensions.
According to the example, the stiffening rib 20 can be embodied
higher in the region of the front longitudinal end 13 and also in
the rear longitudinal end 14 than in the central region or in the
longitudinal middle section of the stiffening element 3. As a
result, the stiffening element 3 gets a bearing-like shape, in
particular the cross-sectional shape of a U-beam or a profile-like
bearing element. It of course also possible to embody the
stiffening element 3 to be approximately an I- or C-shaped instead
of U-shaped and to achieve the highest possible stiffness, in
particular increased bending or deformation stiffness, using such
designs or cross-sectional shapes with the lowest possible material
weight.
[0039] It is essential that the stiffening element 3, being
preferably dedicated to the sole formation 5 or the sports shoe 1
in an exchangeable way, also has a defined resistance to upsetting,
in order to be able to act as a supporting bar between the front
support or support on the toe side 16 and the rear support or the
support on the heel side 16. Thus, the stiffening element 3 to a
large extent works as a supporting bar between the front and rear
support 15, 16 of the sole formation 5 and in this way increases
the bending stiffness or the torsion stiffness of the sole
formation 5, in particular of the shoe base plate 18 on the bottom
side or the lower side. But also the inherent bending stiffness of
the stiffening element 3 with respect to an axis extending
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shoe increases the
stiffness of the sole formation 5 or of the sports shoe 1 to a
certain extent.
[0040] It is essential that a fixing element 22, 22', which can
optionally be detached and which can be removed from the interior
21 of the sports shoe 1 when it is in a detached state, is assigned
to the plate- or bearing-like stiffening element 3. Said fixing
element 22, 22' is preferably embodied in at least two pieces, with
a first subcomponent being assigned to the sole formation 5, in
particular being fixed to the sole formation 5, and at least one
further subcomponent being embodied as a subcomponent being
optionally detachable and completely removable from the first
subcomponent, as it is exemplary shown in FIG. 3. This being the
case, the subcomponents corresponding to one another of the at
least two-part fixing element 22, 22' can be formed of a holding
pin 23 on the shoe or the sole side, which is fixed to the sole
formation 5, and a thereto corresponding holding element 24, which
can optionally by coupled and decoupled. Said fixing element 22,
22' being formed of at least one holding element 24 and at least
one holding pin 23 corresponding to this holding element is
exclusively disposed in the end portion on the heel side 11 of the
sole formation 5. This means that the fixing element 22, 22' for
the stiffening element 3 is positioned in such a way that it can be
operated, in particular activated or deactivated, from the entry 25
for the user's foot in the sports shoe 1. By means of the fixing
element 22, 22', which can optionally be activated, in particular
the rear longitudinal end or the longitudinal end on the heel side
14 of the stiffening element 3 can be secured against lifting from
the sole formation 5 or against lifting with respect to the shoe
base plate 18 when the fixing element 22, 22' is getting its
activated state.
[0041] It is on the other hand essential that the fixing element
22, 22' in its detached state, allows a complete removal or an
exchange of the stiffening element 23 with respect to the interior
21 of the upper part of shoe 6. This being the case, the stiffening
element 3 can be removed from the interior 21 of the sports shoe 1
via the usual entry 25 for the user's foot, designed anyway, and
then, a stiffening element 3 of another kind or other stiffness can
be inserted into the interior 21 via the entry 25 and can be
assigned to the upper side of the sole formation 5 or the shoe base
plate 18. By activating the fixing element 22, 22', in particular
by the positive locking connecting of the holding element 24 at the
holding pin 23, the corresponding stiffening element 3 is secured
against lifting or detaching from the sole formation 5, with the
result that the resistance to upsetting inherent in the stiffening
element 3 contributes to the increase of stiffness of the sole
formation 5.
[0042] It is essential that the fixing element 22, 22', when taking
its activated state, primarily represents a lift lock 26 for the
stiffening element with respect to the sole formation 5, as it is
shown best in FIG. 4. The lift lock 26, being present during the
activate state of the fixing element 22, 22', is thus only provided
for preventing vertically oriented relative movements between the
stiffening element 3 and the sole formation 5 or its shoe base
plate 18. When the fixing element 22, is taking its active state,
it ensures the proper, essentially plane parallel position between
the stiffening element 3 and the sole formation 5. It is thus
hardly possible to take up forces relevant for stiffening from the
fixing element 22, 22'. The forces relevant for stiffening are
primarily raised by the longitudinal ends 13, 14 of the stiffening
element 3 and by the respectively assigned supports 15, 16 on the
side of the sole of the shoe. This means that said fixing element
22, 22' does not require increased clamping or preload forces and
can be operated particularly convenient or smooth, thus.
[0043] The stiffening effect of the stiffening element 3 with
respect to the sole formation 5 is ensured above all if the front
and the rear longitudinal end 13, 14 of the stiffening element 3
with respect to the longitudinal direction of sole, when the
holding element 22, 22' is taking its active state, are
respectively supported without clearance at the support on the toe
side and at the support at the heel side 15, 16. In this case, the
fixing element 22, 22' has to take no or hardly any shear forces
with respect to a plane extending parallel to the contact plane 12,
but it is only required that the fixing element 22, 22' prevents an
undesired lifting of the stiffening element 3 with respect to the
sole formation 5 or with respect to its shoe base plate 18.
[0044] The rear longitudinal end or the longitudinal end on the
heel side 14 of the stiffening element 3 can thus be connected to
the sole formation 5 or the shoe base plate 18 in a fixed way or in
a lift locked way by means of the fixing element 22, 22'. The
fixing element 22, 22' can preferably be put into the active state
by a manual, tool-free operation, a state, in which the
longitudinal end on the heel side 14 of the stiffening element 3
can be lifted from the sole formation 5, in particular upwardly to
the entry 25 with respect to the shoe base plate 18, in order to
remove the stiffening element 3 from the interior 21 or, in reverse
order, to be able to combine it with the sole formation.
[0045] In contrast to the fixing element 22, 22' in the end section
on the heel side 11 of the sole formation 5 which can manually be
activated or deactivated, the longitudinal end on the toe side 13
of the stiffening element 3 can be connected or coupled to the end
section on the toe side 11 of the sole formation 5 by means of a
positive-locking plug connection 27. In particular, the stiffening
element 3 can be positive locked to the support on the toe side 15
by means of a positive-locking plug connection 27, with this plug
connected 27 in its active state being formed to prevent relative
movements in vertical direction with respect to the contact plane
12 for the user's foot between the longitudinal end on the toe side
13 of the stiffening element 3 and the support on the toe side 15.
This means that the positive-locking plug connection 27 in its
active state forms a lift lock of the longitudinal end 13 of the
stiffening element 3 with respect to the sole formation 5 or its
shoe base plate 18. This positive-locking plug connection 27 is
preferably embodied as a kind of a simple tongue-and-groove
connection. This being the case, preferably at least one appendix
28, engaging a corresponding undercut or deepening 29 when the plug
connection 27 is being activated, is formed on the face, front
longitudinal end 13 of the stiffening element 3. The deepening 29
can be embodied as a simple groove or recess in the front support
15, as it can be seen best in FIG. 2.
[0046] In this case, it is functional, if the at least one appendix
28 and the thereto corresponding deepening 29 are essentially
embodied tapered with respect to a longitudinal or vertical
sectional view extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of sole.
Thus, a vertical lift lock maximum free of clearance for the front
longitudinal end or the longitudinal end on the toe side 13 of the
stiffening element 3 is created. Additionally, a simple
compensation of probable dimensional or length tolerances is made
by an appendix 28 having an essentially tapered longitudinal cross
section or a thereto corresponding deepening 29. Furthermore, the
appendix 28, having a tapered longitudinal cross section, at the
front longitudinal end 13 of the stiffening element 3 effects a
simple insertion or an insertion free from deadlock into the
corresponding deepening 29 on the side of the sole. This means
that, when the stiffening element 3 is being inserted into the
interior 21 from the entry 5 on the side of the shoe, an effortless
and quick activating of the corresponding plug connection 27 in the
end section on the toe side 10 of the sole formation 5 is possible
and ensured. The plug direction of this plug connection 27 in this
case extends essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the sole formation 5.
[0047] As schematically shown it is also possible to embody a
plurality of individual appendices 28 at the front longitudinal end
13 and to provide a comb-like structure, thus. As a result, also
tolerances in lateral direction can be compensated if tooth gaps
between adjacent appendices 28 are embodied in a tapered or angular
way, as it is exemplarily shown in FIG. 3.
[0048] The deepening 29 corresponding to the at least one appendix
28 and being provided for a positive-locking coupling is preferably
formed at the support at the toe side 15 of the sole formation 5.
This being the case, the support on the toe side 15 is formed as an
integral component part of an upper part of shoe 6 injection molded
from a plastics material or as an integral component part of a unit
of upper part of shoe 6 and sole formation 5 being integrally
injection molded as a one-piece plastic body. This means that the
support on the toe side 15 of the sole formation 5 and the upper
part of the shoe 6 are integrally formed, in particular as a molded
plastic component. Analogue to this, it is expedient to embody the
support on the heel side 16 as an integral component part of the
shoe body or the outer shell at this molded plastic component in
the end section on the heel side 11 of the sole formation 5, as it
can be seen best in FIG. 2, in particular if the upper part of the
shoe 6 and the sole formation 5 are integrally formed as a molded
plastic component.
[0049] As it is furthermore best to be seen in FIG. 2, the
stiffening element 3 is directly supported with at least its end
section on the heel side or the longitudinal end 14 against the
surface of the sole formation 5 or the shoe base plate 18. This
means that at least in the end section on the heel side 11 of the
sole formation 5, a direct or undelayed power transmission between
the stiffening element 3 and the shoe base plate 18 is ensured,
once the stiffening element 3 supports against the upper surface of
the shoe base plate 18 in a load transmitting way. Preferably, also
the front longitudinal end 13 of the stiffening element 3 is
directly supported against the shoe base plate 18, with the result
that a direct power transmission between the stiffening element 3
and the shoe base plate 18 is ensured.
[0050] The fixing element 22, 22' is preferably embodied in such a
way that it can be operated manually. The fixing element 22, 22' is
preferably designed as a bayonet connector 30 that can be operated
tool-free. This means that the fixing element 22, 22' can
preferably be put into the active and/or inactive state without the
help of tools. In particular by using only one's hands or fingers,
the user can fix and detach the fixing element 22, 22', which is
particularly designed in the form of a bayonet connector 30. This
being the case, the combined plug and turning motion of a
structurally independent holding element 24 allows an optional
detaching and fixing of the stiffening element 3 with respect to
the sole formation 5. The corresponding bayonet connector 30
preferably comprises a holding pin 23 being fixed to the sole
formation 5, in particular sticking out essentially perpendicularly
from the shoe base plate 18. This being the case, the bar-like
holding element 24 can be attached and twisted with respect to said
holding pin 23 on the side of the sole of the shoe, with the result
that a positive-locking coupling between the holding element 24 and
the holding pin 23 can optionally be established or detached, as it
is best to be seen in FIGS. 3, 4.
[0051] This being the case, it is expedient if the holding element
24 comprises at least one supporting collar 31, 32, which is
largely provided for bearing or supporting free of clearance at the
upper side 33 of the stiffening element 3, once the fixing element
22, 22' takes its active state. As it is best to be seen in FIGS. 3
and 4, an aperture 34 is designed in the region of the longitudinal
end on the heel side 14, which aperture is such dimensioned that
the holding pin 23 can pass though the stiffening element 3. The
holding element 24, which is embodied to be bar-like or in the kind
of a wing nut, than supports against sections close to the aperture
34 at the upper side 33 of the stiffening element 3, once the
corresponding fixing element 22, 22' is put into its active
state.
[0052] The supporting collars 31, 32 of the holding element 24,
which diametrically protrude, in this case preferably define a
handle for the smoothest possible or most convenient possible
coupling of the holding element 24 with the holding pin 23.
Alternatively or in combination thereto, it is also possible that
the holding element 24 at its upper side has at least one
positive-locking coupling medium 35 in particular a slot or a cross
slot for a connection coupled by turning motion with an auxiliary
tool. This positive-locking coupling medium 35 can be reached and
operated with an auxiliary tool, in particular a screwdriver, from
the entry 25 for the user's foot, with the result that the fixing
element 22, 22' can be switched from its inactive to its active
state--and vice versa--without any problems.
[0053] Expedient is furthermore if the support on the heel side 16
or the stiffening element 3, or the support on the heel side 16 and
the stiffening element in addition, have at least one bearing
surface 36, 37 transverse to the longitudinal axis of sole 7. This
at least one bearing surface 36, 37 extending transversely to the
longitudinal axis of sole 7 is in this case preferably oriented
inclined at an angle 38 with respect to a transverse plane being
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of sole 7. Thus, a range of
tolerance is created or it is ensured up to a greater extent that
the stiffening element 3 with its front longitudinal ends 13, 14
can support against the supports 15, 16 on the side of the sole of
the shoe without any clearance. The at least one bearing surface
36, 37 extending in a tilted way, is such designed that the
stiffening element 3 widens upwardly, as it is best to be taken
from FIG. 2. This means, that the stiffening element 3 has a
slightly larger longitudinal extension on its upper side than on
its bottom side. Seen in longitudinal sectional view, the
stiffening element 3 or its mounting shell 17 can be embodied
approximately V-shaped or can have a bearing surface 36, 37 at at
least one longitudinal end, with said bearing surface extending in
a tilted way with respect to a vertical plane, as it is best to be
seen in FIG. 3.
[0054] As it is seen best in the comparison of the FIGS. 3 and 4,
the holding element 24 and the upper end section of the holding pin
23 facing away from the shoe base plate 18 are accommodated in a
tub-shaped deepening 39 of the stiffening element 3. In particular,
the stiffening element 3 forms a tub-shaped deepening, at least in
the region of its longitudinal end on the heel side 14, in which
deepening the elements of the fixing element 22, 22' can be
accommodated at least to a greater extent. This deepening is
bordered or defined by the rear section of the base plate 19 and by
sections of the preferably circumferentially designed stiffening
rib 20. The height of the stiffening rib 20 in the region of the
rear longitudinal end 14 can in this case have an effective height
from between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably of approximately 10 mm,
with the result that the holding element 24 can be accommodated
preferably completely in the corresponding deepening 39. Thus, at
least a part of the holding pin 23 and at least a part of the
holding element 24 protrudes from the upper side 33 of the base
plate 19 of the stiffening element 3. This being the case, these
elements are at least partially surrounded by the tub-shaped
deepening 39 on the heel side of the stiffening element 3.
[0055] The stiffening element 3 being designed to be tub-shaped can
be filled up at least in sections and closed until it is largely
flat by means of a compensating element 40, as it is best to be
seen in FIG. 2. The corresponding compensating element 40, which is
formed from plastics or foam plastics, has at least one recess 41,
at the bottom side. Sections of the fixing element 22, 22' project
into said recesses, once the compensating element 40 is put onto
the upper side of the stiffening element 3. The compensating
element 40 being designed in the way of an inner sole thus levels
the upper side of the stiffening element 3 having relatively large
height differences in such a way, that unpleasant pressure marks at
the sole of the user's foot can be kept to a minimum. This being
the case, the compensating element 40 is designed as a structurally
individual component, which can be removed from or inserted into
the interior 21 of the sports shoe 1 if needed. The largely flat
upper side 42 of the compensating element 40 is used for supporting
the user's foot or for supporting an interior shoe, as it is in
particular used with alpine ski shoes. The compensating element 40
has an outline contour, approximately corresponding to an inlay
sole and covers or cases the stiffening element 3 preferably
entirely.
[0056] Preferably, the compensating element 40 is inserted into the
interior 21 of the sports shoe 1 in a loose manner that means that
it is connected to the sole formation 5 neither in a positive- nor
force-locking manner, with the result that an effortless lifting
and removing of the compensating element 40 is allowed, with the
result that a quick access to the fixing element 22, 22' or its
holding element 24 and consequently to the stiffening element 3 is
allowed.
[0057] It is expedient to provide a handle 43 in the rear end
section, in particular in the region of the longitudinal end on the
heel side 14 of the stiffening element 3, which handle eases the
exchange or the removal of the stiffening element 3 from the
interior 21 of the sports shoe 1. This handle 43 is formed from a
supporting rib 44 in an effective way and manner, which on the one
hand, serves as a handle 43, and on the other hand supports the
stiffening rib 20 in the region of the rear longitudinal end 14,
with the result that the stiffening element 3 achieves a high
supporting effect in spite of having a low weight or a low total
mass. This supporting rib 44, which similarly serves as a handle
43, essentially extents perpendicularly to the base plate 19 and
essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of sole 7, as it is
best to be seen in FIGS. 3, 4. The handling 43 or the supporting
rib 44 thus fulfills a multifunction, with the result that the
functionality or the operating comfort of the sports shoe 1 is
increased and similarly, the resulting total mass of the sports
shoe 1 is kept to a minimum.
[0058] In order to make individual changes or in order to make
simple changes with respect to the stiffness of the sports shoe 1
on the side of the manufacturer, it is only necessary to assign a
corresponding stiffening element 3 having the desired stiffness or
resistance to upsetting to the sole formation 5, in particular to
build it into the interior 21 of the sports shoe 1. This being the
case, the respective stiffening element 3 is to be fixed or
fastened in a simple way and manner by means of a fixing element
22, 22'. If required, the stiffening element 3 is to be covered
with a compensating element 40, in order to obtain a relatively
flat bearing surface, meeting the biometrical requirements or
offering sufficient wearing comfort, for the user's foot or the
interior shoe.
[0059] The embodiments illustrated as examples represent possible
design variants of the part-feeding system and it should be pointed
out at this stage that the invention is not specifically limited to
the design variants specifically illustrated.
[0060] For the sake of good order, finally, it should be pointed
out that, in order to provide a clearer understanding of the
structure of the support, it and its constituent parts are
illustrated to a certain extent out of scale and/or on an enlarged
scale and/or on a reduced scale.
[0061] Particularly, the individual features illustrated in the
embodiments shown in the FIGS. 1-4 may be construed as independent
solutions proposed by the invention in their own right. The
associated objectives and solutions proposed by the invention may
be found in the detailed descriptions of the drawings.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
TABLE-US-00001 [0062] 1 Sports shoe 2 Ski shoe 3 Stiffening element
4 Influencing means 5 Sole formation 6 Upper part of the shoe 7
Longitudinal axis of sole 8 Coupling means 9 Coupling means 10 End
section on the toe side 11 End section on the heel side 12 Contact
plane 13 Longitudinal end on the toe side 14 Longitudinal end on
the heel side 15 Support 16 Support 17 Mounting shell/ mounting pan
18 Shoe base plate 19 Base plate 20 Stiffening rib 21 Interior
space 22, 22' Fixing element 23 Holding pin 24 Retaining element 25
Entry 26 Lift lock 27 Plug connection 28 Extension 29 Deepening 30
Bayonet mount 31 Supporting collar 32 Supporting collar 33 Upper
side 34 Aperture 35 Coupling medium 36 Bearing surface 37 Bearing
surface 38 Angle 39 Deepening 40 Compensating element 41 Recess 42
Upper side 43 Handle 44 Supporting rib
* * * * *