U.S. patent application number 15/261039 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for shoelace fastener for shoes and shoe comprising said shoelace fastener device.
This patent application is currently assigned to K22 STUDIO S.r.l.. The applicant listed for this patent is K22 STUDIO S.r.l.. Invention is credited to Pio BORDIN.
Application Number | 20170065029 15/261039 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57135813 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170065029 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BORDIN; Pio |
March 9, 2017 |
SHOELACE FASTENER FOR SHOES AND SHOE COMPRISING SAID SHOELACE
FASTENER DEVICE
Abstract
A shoelace fastener device for shoes includes an upper having
two sides and a tongue to be tightened using at least one shoelace.
This device includes a guide device of the shoelace, extended and
positioned, in use, substantially longitudinally in relation to the
tongue. The guide device enables one or more portions of the
shoelace to be contained and guided along the tongue so that these
portions are arranged substantially aligned with the longitudinal
direction of the tongue. The guide device includes at least one
flexible strip appropriately shaped so as to form at least one
cavity capable of accommodating and guiding one or more portions of
the shoelace.
Inventors: |
BORDIN; Pio; (Montebelluna,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
K22 STUDIO S.r.l. |
Montebelluna |
|
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
K22 STUDIO S.r.l.
Montebelluna
IT
|
Family ID: |
57135813 |
Appl. No.: |
15/261039 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 1/003 20130101;
A43C 5/00 20130101; A43C 1/04 20130101; A43C 11/165 20130101; A43C
1/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43C 1/04 20060101
A43C001/04; A43C 5/00 20060101 A43C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 9, 2015 |
IT |
202015000050063 |
Jul 18, 2016 |
IT |
202016000074896 |
Claims
1. Shoelace fastener device for shoes comprising an upper having
two sides and a tongue to be tightened using at least one shoelace,
said shoelace fastener device comprising guide means of said at
least one shoelace, wherein said guide means are extended and
positioned, in use, substantially longitudinally in relation to
said tongue, said guide means enabling one or more portions of said
at least one shoelace to be contained and guided along said tongue
so that said one or more portions are arranged substantially
aligned with the longitudinal direction of the tongue.
2. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 1, wherein said
guide means comprise a main body in which is made at least one
cavity to receive one or more portions of said at least one
shoelace.
3. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 1, wherein said
guide means comprise a main body in which are made at least two
cavities to receive one or more portions of said at least one
shoelace.
4. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 1, wherein said
guide means comprise a first support, a second support and a
plurality of pulleys fitted between said first support and said
second support, so that said plurality of pulleys guide said one or
more portions of said at least one shoelace.
5. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 4, wherein at least
one from the first support and the second support has a
substantially rectangular shape and/or rounded corners.
6. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 1, also comprising
means of interface with said tongue, said guide means being
connected to said interface means.
7. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 6, wherein said
interface means comprise at least one plaque.
8. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 6, wherein said
interface means are connected to the tongue by sewing and/or gluing
and/or interlocking or by juxtaposition.
9. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 6, wherein said
guide means are connected to said interface means by sewing and/or
gluing and/or interlocking.
10. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 6, wherein said
guide means comprise at least one wing and said interface means
comprise a raised part and wherein said at least one wing is
surmounted by said raised part when said guide means are connected
to said interface means.
11. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 1, wherein said
guide means comprise at least one flexible strip appropriately
shaped so as to form at least one cavity capable of accommodating
and guiding said one or more portions of said at least one
shoelace.
12. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 7, wherein said at
least one flexible strip is connectable to said at least one plaque
connectable to said tongue.
13. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 12, wherein said at
least one plaque is configured with a pair of lateral raised parts
arranged symmetrically in relation to the centreline of said plaque
and adjacent to at least one through-opening, said raised parts
forming respective lowered seats capable of housing respective
terminal portions of said strip said terminal portions being
connected to said lowered seats.
14. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 13, wherein at
least one intermediate portion of said strip passing through said
at least one opening is shaped into an eyelet to form said at least
one cavity.
15. Shoelace fastener device according to claim 11, wherein said at
least one flexible strip is appropriately shaped so as to form a
first cavity and a second cavity capable of accommodating and
guiding respective and separate portions of said at least one
shoelace.
16. Device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one plaque
configured with a pair of lateral raised parts arranged
symmetrically in relation to the centreline of said plaque and
adjacent to first through-openings, said raised parts forming
respective lowered seats capable of housing respective terminal
portions of said strip, said terminal portions being connected to
said lowered seats, second through-openings being provided in said
plaque separated by a diverter element arranged on the centreline
of said plaque.
17. Device according to claim 16, wherein a first intermediate
portion of said strip passing through one of said first openings
and one of said second openings is shaped into an eyelet to form
said first cavity, a central portion of said strip enwrapping said
diverter element passing through the other of said first openings
and the other of said second openings in order to be shaped into an
eyelet to form said second cavity.
18. Shoe comprising at least one shoelace fastener device according
to claim 1.
19. Shoe according to claim 18 comprising a tongue provided with at
least one central through-opening, the terminal portions of said
strip being secured to said tongue and at least one intermediate
portion of said strip passing through said at least one opening
being appropriately shaped so as to form at least one cavity
capable of accommodating and guiding one or more portions of said
at least one shoelace.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a shoelace fastener device for
shoes and to a shoe comprising said device. In particular, it
relates to a shoelace fastener device for shoes, capable of
improving the performance of the shoe to which it is applied.
[0002] Generally speaking, a shoe comprises a sole and an upper,
i.e. a shaped part, connected to the sole by stitching or gluing,
so as to be able to accommodate the wearer's foot.
[0003] A shoe usually comprises sides, which extend from the sole
to enwrap the instep, and a tongue, which from the front area of
the shoe, corresponding to the tip of the user's foot, extends
towards the ankle to cover the instep.
[0004] The tongue is usually made to be partially covered by the
edges of the sides that face each other over the instep.
Furthermore, in the edges of the sides holes are made through which
a shoelace is passed.
[0005] The shoelace is passed through, usually starting from the
front area of the shoe, a hole in an edge, then through a hole in
the respective opposite side, continuing its alternating path
between one edge and the other until reaching an area of the shoe
closer to the wearer's ankle where the shoelace is tied, for
example in a knot.
[0006] The longitudinal direction of the shoe is deemed to mean all
of the directions that are coplanar with the plane that is
perpendicular to the sole and that passes through the centreline of
the shoe, crossing through it from the tip to the tail.
[0007] The shoelace, made of a flexible material, is therefore
arranged in portions that have directions of development that can
be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the shoe, when the
shoelace is covering the shortest distance between one edge and the
other, or inclined at a certain angle in relation to the
longitudinal direction of the shoe, when the shoelace reaches the
other edge approaching or moving away from the wearer's ankle.
[0008] When a foot is inserted into the shoe, the tongue is usually
enwrapped by the edges of the sides and pressed on the instep by
the shoelace that has been threaded between the relative edges, so
that the tongue is held in contact with the instep and the shoe is
comfortable for the wearer. When the shoe is correctly worn, the
longitudinal direction of the tongue is aligned with the
longitudinal direction of the shoe.
[0009] With the above-described shoes, two issues arise that can
result in irritations and problems for the wearer, even to the
extent of damaging the foot, for example when wearing the shoe for
a prolonged period of time.
[0010] The first problem that can arise is due to the concentration
of pressure on the instep by the tongue, at the crossover points of
the portions of shoelace, that can cause damage to the instep or
muscle or tendon disorders. In fact, in these cases a point-contact
distribution of the pressure on the instep occurs.
[0011] For example, FR616991 discloses a shoe that comprises metal
rings along the edges of the sides and other metal rings secured
along the centreline of the tongue, to accommodate the passage of
the shoelace. When the shoe is worn and laced up, its sides are
brought very close together and the shoelace follows a zigzag path.
In this case too, there is a point-contact distribution of the
pressure on the instep at the rings secured to the tongue.
[0012] The second problem of known shoes is due to the fact that
the tongue, being secured to the front portion of the shoe is free
to move and rotate thus moving from its ideal position, i.e. a
longitudinal position, in which the tongue is aligned with the
longitudinal direction of the shoe.
[0013] This second problem causes the tongue, when the wearer walks
or runs or uses the shoe in any way, to move towards one of the
sides, unbalancing the distribution of the loads or in any event
compromising the optimum balance of the wearer.
[0014] The tongue can also continue in its rotation until it shifts
mainly to one side, thus uncovering the instep near the respective
opposite side. The instep is thus not protected by the tongue and
furthermore can come into contact with the shoelace causing injury
or other undesirable results.
[0015] Document FR616991 does not resolve this second problem if
the sides are at a distance from each other, as is the case with
most known shoes. In sports shoes in particular, when the distance
between the sides can be as much as half the width of the sole, the
construction described in FR616991 does not allow the tongue to
remain aligned with the longitudinal direction of the shoe.
[0016] The main task of this invention is to overcome the drawbacks
of the known art, providing a shoelace fastener device for shoes
that solves one or more of the above-listed problems or yet others
and a shoe that comprises one or more shoelace fastener devices
according to the present invention.
[0017] Within the above-described task, one aim of the present
invention is to devise a shoelace fastener device that reduces the
point-contact concentration of the pressure exerted by the
crossover of the portions of shoelace in a shoe.
[0018] Another aim is to improve the retention of the foot inside
the shoe in a basically uniform manner without creating pressure
points on the foot.
[0019] A further aim of the present invention consists in providing
a shoelace fastener device that keeps the tongue aligned with the
longitudinal direction of the shoe.
[0020] Yet another aim of the present invention is to provide a
shoelace fastener device that is easy to make and simple to
operate.
[0021] Not least the final aim is to produce a shoelace fastener
device for shoes that improves the comfort of the foot of its
wearer during use.
[0022] The above-mentioned task and aims, and others that will
emerge more clearly from the following description, are achieved by
a shoelace fastener device as defined in claim 1 and by a shoe
comprising a shoelace fastener device according to the
invention.
[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will be made clearer by the following description of a
particular, but not exclusive, embodiment given purely by way of a
non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of a shoe comprising a
shoelace fastener device according to the present invention;
[0025] FIGS. 2 to 4 show respectively two top views and one front
view of the shoelace fastener device in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIGS. 4A and 5 show a first and a second component
respectively of the shoelace fastener device in FIG. 1;
[0027] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a front view and a top view respectively
of a second embodiment of a shoelace fastener device according to
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a top schematic view of a shoe comprising a
shoelace fastener device according to a third embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show a top view and two front views of a
shoelace fastener device according to the embodiment in FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 12 shows a top view of a plurality of elements of a
shoelace fastener device according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment of a shoelace fastener
device according to the present invention;
[0032] FIGS. 14 and 15 show a fifth embodiment of a shoelace
fastener device according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the shoelace fastener in
FIGS. 13 and 14;
[0034] FIG. 17 shows a seventh embodiment of a shoelace fastener
device according to the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 18 shows a seventh embodiment of a shoelace fastener
device according to the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the shoelace fastener in
FIGS. 17 and 18.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] With reference in particular to FIG. 1, a shoe 10 is shown
comprising a shoelace fastener device 50 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] The shoe 10, developing in a longitudinal direction 11,
comprises two sides 12 with their edges facing each other and a
tongue 14 interposed between the two sides 12 that develop from the
sole, not visible in the Figure.
[0039] The tongue 14 extends from the area of the tip of the shoe
10 towards the instep of the shoe's wearer (not shown in the
Figure) in a direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of
the shoe 10.
[0040] The longitudinal direction 11 of the shoe 10 means all of
the directions coplanar with the plane that is perpendicular to the
sole and that passes through the centreline of the shoe 10,
crossing it from the tip to the heel area.
[0041] A shoelace 20 is inserted into openings made near the edges
of the facing sides 12, so as to cross over the tongue 14 in order
to exert a pressure on the tongue 14 pressing it against the
instep.
[0042] In particular, the shoelace 20 has an orthogonal portion 22
near the tip of the shoe 10, which is arranged in a direction that
is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 11 of the shoe 10.
[0043] The shoelace 20 also has inclined portions 24, of which only
one is indicated in FIG. 1, i.e. arranged in a direction that is
inclined in relation to the longitudinal direction 11 of the shoe
10.
[0044] The shoelace fastener device 50, also shown in detail in
FIG. 2, comprises a main body 52 connected to a plaque 54.
[0045] The plaque 54 is in turn connected to the tongue 14 of the
shoe 10, for example by gluing, sewing or other connecting means.
The plaque 54 acts as a means of interface with the tongue.
[0046] Thanks to the particular construction of the shoelace
fastener device 50 according to the present invention, the shoelace
20 can be guided so as to obtain one or more longitudinal portions
26, i.e. portions that are aligned with the longitudinal direction
11 of the shoe.
[0047] The shoelace 20, with its longitudinal portions 26, keeps
the tongue 14 centred in a longitudinal direction, preventing a
rotation similar to that which occurs with known shoes.
[0048] The shoelace 20 in fact keeps the tongue 14 aligned, thanks
to the presence of the shoelace fastener device 50 according to the
present invention, which is connected to the tongue 14 itself by
means of the plaque 54 due to the effect of the balanced and
opposing tensions applied to the tongue.
[0049] The plaque 54 also enables the pressure exerted by the
shoelace on the tongue 14 and consequently on the instep of the
wearer's foot to be distributed so that the pressure exerted on the
foot is less than what it would have been without the use of the
shoelace fastener device 50, thanks to the larger contact surface
of the plaque 54, which is greater than the point-contact surface
provided by the crossover of the shoelaces that exists in the known
art.
[0050] The shoelace fastener device 50 and its particular
construction will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to
5.
[0051] In the main body 52 there is a cavity 56 to accommodate
within it the shoelace and to guide the latter to obtain two
longitudinal portions 26. Of course, in the main body 52 there may
be a pair of cavities (not shown in the Figure) to accommodate the
shoelace 20. A single cavity optimises the moulding process, for
example, required to create it or in general simplifies its
production process, or facilitates the assembly of the shoelace
and/or the shoelace fastener and/or the upper. The cavity 56 acts
as a guide means.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, from one end of the main body 52 two
wings 60 extend, one of which is shown in the Figure, that are
surmounted by a raised part of the plaque 54 when the main body 52
and the plaque 54 are connected as shown in FIG. 4.
[0053] Advantageously, the raised part 62 is inserted in a seat 64
made in the main body 52, so that the connection can be achieved by
interlocking, conferring structural solidity to the shoelace
fastener device 50 according to the present invention.
[0054] Advantageously, the main body 52 can be made of a rigid
material and the plaque 54 can be made of a soft material, for
example to make it easier to sew the plaque onto the tongue or
suchlike.
[0055] Advantageously, the main body 52 can be connected to the
plaque 54 or directly to the tongue 14, for example by interlocking
or sewing. FIGS. 4A and 5 show the two elements respectively,
separated.
[0056] In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 6
and 7, a shoelace fastener 100 can comprise a main body 102 in
which a cavity 106 is made. Of course, similar to that described
previously, a pair of cavities (not shown in the Figure) can be
made in the main body 102.
[0057] The main body 102 comprises a base 105 for direct connection
to a tongue of a respective shoe. The base acts as a means of
interface with the tongue.
[0058] This case too has the advantage of achieving a better load
distribution in that the pressure exerted between the shoelace and
tongue is distributed over the bottom 105 and therefore over an
area greater than that of the known art.
[0059] Advantageously, this second embodiment can be applied to
existing shoes by resting by juxtaposition on the tongue or in a
fixed manner.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 8, a shoe 110, comprising a tongue 114, two
sides 112 and a shoelace 120, is connected to a shoelace fastener
device 150 made according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0061] Similar to that previously described, the shoelace fastener
device 150 is connected to the tongue 114 by means of a plaque 154,
for example by gluing, sewing, interlocking or suchlike. The plaque
154 acts as a means of interface with the tongue.
[0062] The shoelace fastener device 150 also comprises a main body
152 in turn comprising, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a first support
160 and a second support 162, the latter having a base 155 whereby
the main body 152 may be connected directly to the tongue 114.
[0063] The first support 160 and the second support 162 are
substantially rectangular, preferably with rounded angles.
[0064] A first pulley 164, a second pulley 166, a third pulley 168
and a fourth pulley 170, henceforth also called pulleys, are fitted
near the top of the first support 160 and second support 162, so
that the axes of rotation of the pulleys are substantially parallel
to each other and substantially perpendicular to the tongue 114.
The pulleys preferably have a C-shaped external profile.
[0065] Between the first support 160, the second support 162 and
the pulleys a cavity 156 is therefore defined in order to
accommodate the shoelace 120 and guide it, as shown in FIGS. 8 and
12, in free portions 127 and longitudinal portions 126, similar to
that previously described. The cavity 156 acts as a guide
means.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 12, 157 indicates a plurality of main
bodies that differ from each other due to the ratio between their
long side 151 and short side 153, each preferably connectable to a
shoe that is provided with sides that define a path for the
shoelace in order to guide it so as to obtain free portions that
are preferably aligned in a direction orthogonal to the
longitudinal direction of the shoe to which they are connected. In
this way too it is possible to achieve the above-described
advantages.
[0067] The interface means can be connected to the tongue of the
respective shoe by sewing and/or gluing and/or interlocking or by
juxtaposition.
[0068] The guide means can be connected to the interface means by
sewing and/or gluing and/or interlocking.
[0069] FIGS. 13 to 19 show additional embodiments of a shoelace
fastener device according to the present invention.
[0070] The embodiment of a shoelace fastener device 250 shown in
FIG. 13 comprises a main body 252, through which two sections of
the shoelace 220 pass, connected to a plaque 254.
[0071] The plaque 254, acting as a means of interface with the
tongue of a shoe according to that previously described, is in turn
connectable to said tongue for example by gluing, sewing or other
means of connection.
[0072] The main body 252 is formed by a flexible strip
appropriately shaped in order to create a pair of cavities 256A,
256B capable of accommodating the shoelace 220 and guiding it so as
to obtain two portions arranged longitudinally 226A, 226B.
[0073] In order to shape the flexible strip so as to create the two
cavities 256A, 256B through which the shoelace 220 passes, the
plaque 254 is advantageously made of a semi-rigid material, such as
for example a thermoplastics material, and is configured with a
pair of lateral raised parts 262 arranged symmetrically in relation
to the centreline of the plaque and adjacent to first
through-openings 263. Near the central portion, the plaque 254 is
provided with second through-openings 265 separated by a diverter
element 266 arranged at the centreline of the plaque 254.
[0074] In order to create the shape illustrated in FIG. 16, the
flexible strip (252) is inserted into one of the first openings 263
and one of the end portions is housed and fixed, for example by
sewing, gluing or equivalent processes, onto the lowered seat
defined by the surface of one of the raised parts 262 facing,
during use, the shoe. The remaining intermediate portion of the
strip is bent into an eyelet to form the first cavity 256A and
inserted into one of the second openings 265 wrapping round the
diverter element 266 to come out of the other of the second
openings 265. The outgoing intermediate portion is bent into an
eyelet to form the second cavity 256B; the terminal portion of the
strip is then passed through the other of the first openings 263
and fixed in the lowered seat formed by the other raised part
262.
[0075] Advantageously, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS.
14 and 15, the strip 252 can be connected directly to the tongue
214 of the shoe, for example by sewing, without interposing the
plaque 254. In this case, the tongue must be provided with the
first and second through-openings 273, 275.
[0076] FIGS. 17 to 19 show additional embodiments of the device,
simpler than the previous ones, in which the main body 352 is again
formed by a flexible strip appropriately shaped so as to create a
single cavity 356 to accommodate and guide the shoelace 320 in
order to obtain two portions arranged longitudinally 326A,
326B.
[0077] The strip 352 can be connected to the plaque 354, provided
with a pair of raised parts 362 to house and fix the terminal
portions of the strip 352 and with at least one opening 363 to
enable the strip to be folded into an eyelet to form the cavity
356, as shown in FIG. 17, or be directly secured to the tongue 314
of the shoe, which must be provided with at least one central
through-opening 373 to enable the strip to be bent into an
eyelet.
[0078] Of course, the present invention is subject to numerous
applications, modifications or variations without departing from
the scope of protection as defined by independent claim 1.
[0079] Furthermore, the materials and tools used to create the
present invention, as well as the forms and dimensions of the
individual components, can be those best suited to satisfying
specific requirements.
* * * * *