U.S. patent application number 14/723253 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-03 for climbing shoe.
The applicant listed for this patent is CALZATURIFICIO S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Heinz Mariacher.
Application Number | 20150342291 14/723253 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51230098 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150342291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mariacher; Heinz |
December 3, 2015 |
CLIMBING SHOE
Abstract
Climbing shoe comprising a substantially sock-shaped shoe-upper
formed so as to completely cover the foot of the user; a front sole
which is fixed on the bottom part of the shoe-upper so as to cover
the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of the foot; and a
elastomeric-material, front tensioning strip which is fixed on the
toe of the shoe-upper and is shaped so as to cover the shoe-upper
in the area surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of
the foot; said front tensioning strip being provided with a middle
portion that is shaped so as to cover the toe of the shoe-upper in
the area surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of
the foot, and with two lateral flaps which prolong on the bottom
part of the shoe-upper while converging towards each other up to
join to one another at the insole arch region.
Inventors: |
Mariacher; Heinz; (Asolo,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CALZATURIFICIO S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A. |
Asolo |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
51230098 |
Appl. No.: |
14/723253 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/16 20130101;
A43B 5/003 20130101; A43B 13/42 20130101; A43B 13/141 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00; A43B 13/14 20060101 A43B013/14; A43B 13/42 20060101
A43B013/42; A43B 13/16 20060101 A43B013/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2014 |
IT |
TV2014A000076 |
Claims
1. A climbing shoe comprising a substantially sock-shaped
shoe-upper formed so as to completely cover the foot of the user; a
front sole which is fixed on the bottom part of the shoe-upper so
as to cover the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of the foot;
and an elastic-material, front tensioning strip which is fixed on
the toe of the shoe-upper and is shaped so as to cover the
shoe-upper in the area surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region of
the sole of the foot; the climbing shoe being characterized in that
the front tensioning strip is provided with a middle portion which
is shaped so as to cover the toe of the shoe-upper in the area
surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of the foot,
and with two lateral flaps which prolong on the bottom part of the
shoe-upper while converging towards each other up to join to one
another at the insole arch region.
2. The climbing shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that
the middle portion of the front tensioning strip is shaped so as to
prolong also partly over the bottom part of the shoe-upper,
underneath the front sole.
3. The climbing shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that
the two lateral flaps of the front tensioning strip are dimensioned
so as to overlap each other on the bottom part of the shoe-upper,
within the insole arch region.
4. The climbing shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that
the middle portion of the front tensioning strip is substantially
cap-shaped, so as to cover both the two sides and the upper part of
the toe of the shoe-upper to protect also the upper part of the
toes of the foot.
5. The climbing shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that
the shoe-upper is provided with a longitudinal slit which extends
along the area of the shoe-upper immediately over the instep of the
foot, up to reach the upper opening of the shoe-upper, and in that
the middle portion of the front tensioning strip is dimensioned so
as to be locally substantially tangent to the bottom end of said
longitudinal slit.
6. The climbing shoe according to claim 1, characterized by
additionally comprising an elastic-material, rear tensioning strip
which is fixed on the rear part of the shoe-upper, and is
substantially U-shaped so as to cover the rear part of the
shoe-upper in the area immediately over the heel of the foot and
then to extend along the two internal and external lateral sides of
the shoe-upper, up to reach and join the front tensioning
strip.
7. The climbing shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that
the rear tensioning strip joins the front tensioning strip along
the lateral sides of the shoe-upper, close to the border between
the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of the foot and the insole
arch region.
8. The climbing shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that
the rear tensioning strip is structured so as to reach and join
both the middle portion and the two lateral flaps of the front
tensioning strip.
9. The climbing shoe according to claim 8, characterized in that
the two ends of the rear tensioning strip are shaped/structured so
as to extend on the bottom part of the shoe-upper, along the insole
arch region, to cover the insole arch region.
10. The climbing shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that
the two lateral flaps of the front tensioning strip overlap and
join the two ends of the rear tensioning strip on the bottom part
of the shoe-upper, at the insole arch region.
11. The climbing shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that
the two ends of the rear tensioning strip are dimensioned so as to
cover substantially the whole insole arch region.
12. The climbing shoe according to claim 1, characterized by also
comprising a rear sole which is fixed on the bottom part of the
shoe-upper at the talus-calcaneus region of the sole of the foot,
so as to at least partly cover the talus-calcaneus region of the
sole of the foot, and which is discrete and spaced apart from the
front sole.
13. The climbing shoe according to claim 12, characterized in that
the rear sole is shaped so as to prolong also within the insole
arch region, so as to overlap at the two ends of the rear
tensioning strip.
14. The climbing shoe according to claim 12, characterized in that
the rear sole also extends along the rear part of the shoe-upper,
so as to cover and protect the back of the calcaneum of the
foot.
15. The climbing shoe according to claim 12, characterized in that
the rear sole has a substantially ribbon-shaped structure, and is
designed to cover solely the middle strip of the talus-calcaneus
region of the sole of the foot.
16. The climbing shoe according to claim 12, characterized by also
comprising a substantially ribbon-shaped, medial tensioning strip
which is made of elastomeric material or of inextensible material,
and is fixed on the bottom part of the shoe-upper so as to extend
substantially along the center line of the sole of the foot, from
the area of the shoe-upper under the front sole up to the area of
the shoe-upper under the rear sole, following an arched trajectory.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a climbing shoe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As is known, climbing shoes normally consist of a leather
shoe-upper which is substantially sock-shaped so as to embrace and
completely cover the foot, sole of the foot included; a usually
slightly spoon-shaped, semi-rigid midsole made of plastic material
and which is fixed by gluing directly onto the bottom part of the
shoe-upper at the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of the foot;
of a flexible sole made of vulcanized-rubber and which is fixed by
gluing onto the bottom part of the shoe-upper, over the midsole, to
cover the sole of the foot; and of a series of tensioning strips
made of highly-elastic rubber and which are fixed by gluing onto
the shoe-upper and join/connect to the vulcanized-rubber sole so as
to embrace and tighten the foot to the limit of physical pain,
while however giving the shoe an increased capacity to contain the
foot so as to unload the weight stress onto the toe of the foot in
complete safety.
[0003] More in detail, most climbing shoes are normally provided
with a front tensioning strip, traditionally called "toe-band",
which is located on the toe of the shoe-upper and is substantially
U-bent so as to cover the toe of the shoe-upper in the area
surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region of the sole of the foot,
while extending/prolonging also partly on the bottom part of the
shoe-upper, between the vulcanized-rubber sole and the midsole; and
with a rear tensioning strip, traditionally called "side-band",
which is located on the rear part of the shoe-upper, and is
substantially U-bent so as to cover the shoe-upper in the area
immediately over the heel of the foot (i.e. the area of the foot
where the Achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneum), and then to
extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper, up to reach
and join the two ends of the front tensioning strip, so as to form
a sort of annular-shaped elastic tie which embraces and compresses
the foot with containing effect, while bending the toe of the foot
downwards.
[0004] The vulcanized-rubber sole is therefore located on the
bottom part of the shoe-upper so as to partly overlap the front
tensioning strip and is directly glued onto the front tensioning
strip so as to form a kind of containing cap, which is elastically
connected to the heel of the foot through the rear tensioning strip
and is structured so as to compress and bend downwards the toes of
the foot.
[0005] Although operating excellently, the above-described climbing
shoes have highlighted a limited adaptability level to the
morphology of the foot of the user, thus in some manner reducing
the capacity of the climber to perceive, through the toes of the
foot, the quality and conformation of the resting point.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore the aim of the present invention to make a
climbing shoe which is capable of embracing the foot of the climber
in a more complete and effective manner, while at the same time
increasing the comfort of the footwear and the capacity to transmit
features of the resting point to the climber.
[0007] In compliance with the above aims, according to the present
invention there is provided a climbing shoe as defined in claim 1,
and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims
dependent thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, which show a non-limiting embodiment
thereof, in which:
[0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 are two perspective and schematic views of a
climbing shoe made according to the teachings of the present
invention;
[0010] FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are respective perspective views of
the shoe in FIG. 1, with parts removed for clarity; while
[0011] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the shoe in FIG. 1, with parts
removed for clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] With reference to figures from 1 to 8, numeral 1 indicates
as a whole a climbing shoe that may be particularly advantageously
used in climbing indoor climbing walls.
[0013] The climbing shoe 1 basically comprises a shoe-upper 2 which
is preferably, though not necessarily, made of leather and/or other
fabric or breathing synthetic material, and which is substantially
sock-shaped so as to embrace and completely cover the foot of the
user, sole of the foot included; a front sole 3 made of high-grip
vulcanized rubber or other similar elastomeric material (such as,
for example, the compound XS Edge or the compound GRIP 2
manufactured by VIBRAM), which is fixed by gluing directly onto the
bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2 and is shaped/structured so as to
cover the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the sole of the foot
substantially up to the border with the insole arch region 4b; and
lastly a plurality of preferably pretensioned, elastic-material
tensioning strips which are made of highly elastic rubber or other
similar elastomeric material, and are fixed by gluing onto the
shoe-upper 2 so as to embrace and tighten the shoe-upper 2 on the
foot of the user.
[0014] More in detail, the climbing shoe 1 is provided with a front
tensioning strip 5 and with a rear tensioning strip 6, both
preferably pretensioned.
[0015] The front tensioning strip 5 is located on toe 7 of
shoe-upper 2 and is shaped so as to cover shoe-upper 2 in the area
surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the sole of the
foot, also extending/prolonging partly on the bottom part 4 of
shoe-upper 2, underneath sole 3.
[0016] The rear tensioning strip 6, instead, is located on the rear
part 8 of shoe-upper 2 and is substantially U-shaped so as to cover
the rear part 8 of shoe-upper 2 in the area immediately over the
heel of the foot (i.e. the area of the foot where the Achilles
tendon attaches to the calcaneum), and then to extend/prolong along
the two internal and external lateral sides 9 of shoe-upper 2 up to
reaching and joining with the tensioning strip 5.
[0017] More in detail, the rear tensioning strip 6 is preferably
structured so as to join the front tensioning strip 5 along the
lateral sides 9 of shoe-upper 2, close to the border between the
tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the sole of the foot and the insole
arch region 4b.
[0018] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the front
tensioning strip 5, in particular, is provided with a middle
portion 5a which is shaped so as to embrace the toe 7 of shoe-upper
2 in the area surrounding the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the
sole of the foot, while also extending/prolonging partly on the
bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2, underneath sole 3; and with two
lateral flaps 5b which prolong on the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2
while converging towards each other until firmly joining each other
at the insole arch region 4b.
[0019] The sole 3 is therefore partly overlapped and firmly fixed
to the bottom edge of the middle portion 5a of the front tensioning
strip 5, whereas the two lateral flaps 5b of the front tensioning
strip 5 at least partly cover the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2 at
the insole arch region 4b.
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, in the example shown, in
particular, the two lateral flaps 5b of the front tensioning strip
5 are preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to overlap each other on
the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2, within the insole arch region
4b.
[0021] The middle portion 5a of tensioning strip 5, on the other
hand, is preferably substantially cap-shaped, so as to cover
without interruprion both the sides and the upper part of the toe 7
of shoe-upper 2 so as to also protect the upper part of the toes of
the foot.
[0022] More in detail, with particular reference to FIG. 2, the
shoe-upper 2 is preferably provided with a longitudinal slit 10
which extends along the area of shoe-upper 2 immediately over the
instep of the foot, up to reach the upper opening 11 of shoe-upper
2, and is dimensioned so as to allow the user to manually widen the
upper part of shoe-upper 2 thus to be able to more easily insert
his/her foot inside the shoe 1; and the middle portion 5a of
tensioning strip 5 is preferably dimensioned so as to be locally
substantially tangent to the bottom end of the longitudinal slit
10.
[0023] Preferably the climbing shoe 1 is moreover provided with a
manually-operated, footwear closing system (not shown) which is
located on shoe-upper 2 substantially straddling the longitudinal
slit 10 and is structured so as to allow the user to manually close
the longitudinal slit 10 to tighten shoe-upper 2 on the foot.
[0024] In the example shown, in particular, the longitudinal slit
10 of shoe-upper 2 is preferably closed by a piece of breathing
fabric 12, whereas the footwear closing system (not shown) may
comprise laces and/or Velcro straps of known type.
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the rear tensioning
strip 6 is instead structured so as to reach and join both the
middle portion 5a and the two lateral flaps 5b of the front
tensioning strip 5.
[0026] More in detail, the two ends 6a of tensioning strip 6 are
preferably shaped/structured so as to also prolong on the bottom
part 4 of shoe-upper 2, along the insole arch region 4b and
optionally also along the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a and/or the
talus-calcaneus region 4c, to partly or completely cover the insole
arch region 4b and optionally also a small portion of the
tarsal-phalangeal region 4a and/or of the talus-calcaneus region
4c.
[0027] Preferably, the two lateral flaps 5b of the front tensioning
strip 5 furthermore overlap and join at the two ends 6a of the rear
tensioning strip 6 on the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2, at the
insole arch region 4b.
[0028] More in detail, in the example shown the two ends 6a of the
rear tensioning strip 6 are preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to
cover substantially the whole insole arch region 4b and optionally
also a small part of the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the sole of
the foot.
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, preferably the
climbing shoe 1 moreover comprises a rear sole 13 made of
preferably vulcanized rubber, Vibram or other similar elastomeric
material, which is fixed by gluing onto the bottom part 4 of
shoe-upper 2 at the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the sole of the
foot, so as to at least partly cover the talus-calcaneus region 4c
of the sole of the foot, and is discrete and spaced apart from the
front sole 3.
[0030] Preferably the rear sole 13 is moreover shaped/structured so
as to prolong/extend also slightly within the insole arch region
4b, so as to overlap at the two ends 6a of the rear tensioning
strip 6.
[0031] Additionally, the rear sole 13 is preferably furthermore
shaped/structured so as to also extend along the rear part 8 of the
shoe-upper 2, so as to cover and protect the back of the calcaneum
of the foot, preferably up to the rear tensioning strip 6.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, in the example shown, in
particular, rear sole 13 preferably has a substantially
ribbon-shaped structure and is located and dimensioned so as to
solely cover a narrow strip of the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the
sole of the foot, which is located substantially at the center line
L of the sole of the foot.
[0033] In other words, the rear sole 13 is preferably structured so
as to cover only a middle strip of the talus-calcaneus region 4c of
the sole of the foot.
[0034] With reference to Figures from 1 to 8, preferably the
climbing shoe 1 is moreover provided, on each lateral side 9 of the
shoe-upper 2, with a protective insert 14 which is made of rubber
or other elastomeric material and which is fixed by gluing directly
onto shoe-upper 2 and is structured so as to cover the area of
shoe-upper 2 between the rear tensioning strip 6 and the rear sole
13.
[0035] Preferably, the protective insert 14 is furthermore
shaped/dimensioned so as to extend also on the bottom part 4 of
shoe-upper 2, within the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the sole of
the foot, preferably also while inserting underneath the rear sole
13.
[0036] In other words, the rear sole 13 is fixed on the bottom part
4 of shoe-upper 2 preferably while partly overlapping the
protective insert 14 at the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the sole
of the foot.
[0037] With particular reference to FIG. 2, in the example shown,
in particular, the climbing shoe 1 is preferably provided with a
single protective insert 14 made of rubber or other elastomeric
material, which is shaped/dimensioned so as to cover, at the same
time, the rear part 8 of the shoe-upper 2 and the portions of the
two lateral sides 9 of shoe-upper 2 that are vertically aligned
with the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the sole of the foot, so as
to protect both the lateral sides and the back of the calcaneum of
the foot.
[0038] More in detail, in the example shown the protective insert
14 is preferably substantially cap-shaped and is fixed directly on
shoe-upper 2 at the heel, so as to cover the lateral sides 9 and
the rear part 8 of shoe-upper 2, preferably substantially up to the
tensioning strip 6, and also the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2
within the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the sole of the foot.
[0039] In the example shown, in particular, the protective insert
14 is preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to cover substantially
the whole talus-calcaneus region 4c of the bottom part 4 of
shoe-upper 2, more or less up to the border with the insole arch
region 4b.
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8, preferably the
climbing shoe 1 is lastly also provided with a substantially
ribbon-shaped, medial tensioning strip 16 which is made of rubber
or of other similar elastomeric material, and is fixed by gluing
onto the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2 so as to extend
substantially along the center line L of the sole of the foot, from
the area of shoe-upper 2 under sole 3 up to the area of shoe-upper
2 under the rear sole 13, thus following an arched trajectory
substantially coincident with center line L.
[0041] In other words, the medial tensioning strip 16 is glued to
the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2 underneath the front sole 3 and
the rear sole 13, so as to connect the area of shoe-upper 2 under
sole 3 to the area of shoe-upper 2 under the rear sole 13 for
counteracting/limiting the extension of shoe-upper 2, and thus hold
the foot of the user more firmly within the footwear, with the toes
of the foot pressed against toe 6 of shoe-upper 2.
[0042] The medial tensioning strip 16 thus makes a connection
between the toe and the heel of the foot.
[0043] The medial tensioning strip 16 furthermore has a width which
is always less than the local width of the bottom part 4 of
shoe-upper 2 and extends along the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2,
from the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the sole of the foot to the
talus-calcaneus region 4c, passing, in the insole arch region 4b,
over the two lateral flaps 5b of the front tensioning strip 5 and
of the two ends 6a of the rear tensioning strip 6.
[0044] Moreover, with particular reference to FIG. 6, in the
example shown the front end of the medial tensioning strip 16 is
preferably glued directly onto the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2,
substantially at the middle of the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of
the sole of the foot, so as to be spaced apart from the middle
portion 5a of tensioning strip 5.
[0045] The rear end of medial tensioning strip 16 instead is
preferably glued directly onto the bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2,
within the perimeter of the talus-calcaneus region 4c, preferably
more or less at the talus.
[0046] Preferably, at the insole arch region 4b, the middle portion
of medial tensioning strip 16 is lastly glued directly onto the two
lateral flaps 5b of the front tensioning strip 5 and onto the two
ends 6a of the rear tensioning strip 6.
[0047] Operation of climbing shoe 1 is easily inferable from the
above description, and therefore does not require further
explanations.
[0048] The advantages correlated to the particular shape of front
tensioning strip 5 are noteworthy.
[0049] The front tensioning strip 5 with the cap-shaped middle part
5a and with the two lateral flaps 5b that join to one other on the
bottom part 4 of shoe-upper 2 at the insole arch region 4b, allows
to more effectively wrap and bend/flex downwards the front part of
the foot, thus ensuring--during climbing--a more stable resting of
the toe of the foot on protrusions.
[0050] Furthermore, the cap-like shape of the middle part 5a of
front tensioning strip 5 furthermore increases the containment
capacity of the footwear at the toe of the foot, with all the
advantages this involves.
[0051] Lastly, it is clearly evident that modifications and
variants can be made to the above-described climbing shoe 1 without
however departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0052] For example, the medial tensioning strip 16 may extend
within the talus-calcaneus region 4c of the sole of the foot up to
reach the calcaneum.
[0053] As an option, the climbing shoe 1 may be lastly provided
with a semi-rigid midsole (not shown) made of plastic or composite
material and which is fixed by gluing directly onto the bottom part
4 of shoe-upper 2, underneath the front sole 3, and has a smaller
extension to the tarsal-phalangeal region 4a of the sole of the
foot. Preferably the semi-rigid midsole is furthermore slightly
spoon-shaped with the concavity turned outwards, i.e. towards the
sole 3.
[0054] In another embodiment, the medial tensioning strip 16 may be
made of a plastic or composite material of inextensible type, such
as for example the extruded polypropylene, the NYLON (polyamide),
the PEBAX (polyester-amide) or the FLEXAN PLUS (a composite
material made with the multilayer extrusion technique, and based on
polyester-based fabrics immersed in a matrix of thermoplastic
polymers).
* * * * *