U.S. patent application number 15/602854 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-14 for footwear and method of using such footwear.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A.S.. The applicant listed for this patent is SALOMON S.A.S.. Invention is credited to Frederic GIACOBONE, Alisson PERROT, Axelle PORTAILLER.
Application Number | 20170354204 15/602854 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56555436 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170354204 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GIACOBONE; Frederic ; et
al. |
December 14, 2017 |
FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF USING SUCH FOOTWEAR
Abstract
A shoe that includes a sole assembly, an upper including a vamp
and a tightening device. The tightening device includes keepers, a
single lace having a tightening portion in a lacing path, and a
blocking element having an active state for fixing a length of the
tightening portion of the lace. The tightening device includes a
vamp keeper provided on the vamp of the upper, as well as a tension
member configured to reversibly pass the tightening portion of the
lace between the lacing path and a tightening path when the
blocking element is in the active state.
Inventors: |
GIACOBONE; Frederic;
(Annecy, FR) ; PERROT; Alisson; (Annecy, FR)
; PORTAILLER; Axelle; (Annecy, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SALOMON S.A.S. |
Metz-Tessy |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A.S.
Metz-Tessy
FR
|
Family ID: |
56555436 |
Appl. No.: |
15/602854 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 23/0245 20130101;
A43C 3/00 20130101; A43C 11/008 20130101; A43C 1/04 20130101; A43B
13/141 20130101; A43C 1/00 20130101; A43B 5/002 20130101; A43B 5/06
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43C 1/04 20060101
A43C001/04; A43B 23/02 20060101 A43B023/02; A43C 3/00 20060101
A43C003/00; A43B 13/14 20060101 A43B013/14; A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00; A43B 5/06 20060101 A43B005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2016 |
FR |
16/00920 |
Claims
1. A shoe for receiving a foot of a user to practice a physical
activity, the shoe extending along a lengthwise direction and
comprising: a sole assembly on which the foot of the user is
intended to rest, the sole assembly extending along the lengthwise
direction between a tip and a heel; an upper comprising a lower
portion adjoining the sole assembly and configured to cover the
foot of the user, the upper comprising a vamp adjoining the tip of
the sole assembly and configured to cover at least the toes of the
user; and a tightening device configured to adjustably tighten the
upper on the foot of the user; the tightening device comprising:
keepers arranged on the upper in two rows of keepers arranged on
either respective side of a tightening axis extending between the
heel and tip of the shoe; a single lace threaded into the keepers
of each row of keepers along a lacing path so as to be capable of
bringing the rows of keepers closer to one another by pulling on
the lace, the lace having a tightening portion in the lacing path;
and a blocking element having an inactive state in which the
blocking element enables the user to modify a length of the
tightening portion of the lace, and an active state in which the
blocking element fixes the length of the tightening portion of the
lace; the tightening device further comprising: at least one vamp
keeper provided on the vamp of the upper, the lacing path including
the vamp keeper; at least one tension member arranged on the upper
so as to define at least one tightening path including the lacing
path and having a length greater than the lacing path, the tension
member being configured to reversibly pass the tightening portion
of the lace between the lacing path and the tightening path when
the blocking element is in the active state.
2. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the tension member is
arranged on the upper.
3. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the tension member is a hook
arranged at a distance from the tightening axis and having an
opening oriented in a direction opposite the tightening axis.
4. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the tension member is
provided on one of the vamp keepers.
5. Shoe according to claim 4, wherein: the vamp keeper comprises a
body comprising an opening configured to receive a portion of the
lace and the tension member.
6. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the upper extends along the
lengthwise direction between a toe cap and a heel counter, and
along a transverse direction between a medial portion and a lateral
portion; the at least one vamp keeper comprises two end keepers
arranged on respective lower ends of the rows of keepers; the end
keepers are arranged on the respective medial and lateral portions
of the upper; the end keeper arranged on the medial portion is
offset along the lengthwise direction towards the toe cap of the
upper in relation to the end keeper arranged on the lateral
portion.
7. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the upper comprises at least
one slit provided on the vamp; and the tightening device comprises
at least one strap having a first end attached to either one of an
inner surface of the sole assembly or an inner surface of the
upper, and a free second end extending through the slit, the vamp
keeper being provided on the second end of the strap.
8. Shoe according to claim 7, wherein: the lace has a central
section and two end sections on either side of the central section;
and the central section of the lace has a transverse cross section
with a perimeter smaller than a perimeter of a transverse cross
section of each of the end sections.
9. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the upper comprises a tongue
adapted to cover at least a portion of the instep of a foot of the
user and along which the tightening axis extends; and the vamp
comprises a throat adjoining the tongue, the at least one vamp
keeper being provided on the throat.
10. A method of using a shoe according to claim 1, providing:
positioning a foot in the shoe with the blocking element being in
the inactive state; adjustably tightening the upper of the shoe on
the foot by pulling on the lace to modify the length of the
tightening portion of the lace and to bring the rows of keepers
closer to one another; placing the blocking element in the active
state in order to fix the length of the tightening portion of the
lace; and switching the tightening portion of the lace from the
lacing path to the tightening path.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon French Patent Application No.
FR 16/00920, filed Jun. 8, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority
of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to footwear, such as a shoe, and to
the use of such footwear.
[0003] In particular, the invention relates to a shoe adapted to
receive one of the user's feet to practice physical activity.
[0004] The invention is particularly applicable to physical
activity practiced by a user in mountains, such as hiking or
running.
2. Background Information
[0005] To engage in physical activity of the aforementioned type,
it is known to use shoes, each having suitable sole assembly and
flexible upper. The shoe also comprises a suitable tightening
device for adjustably tightening the upper on the foot of the user.
The tightening device conventionally comprises keepers, a lace
threaded through the keepers along a lacing path, and a blocking
element. The blocking element, for example, is formed by the end
portions of the lace itself. The blocking element has has: [0006]
an inactive state in which it enables the user to modify a length
of a tightening portion of the lace in the lacing path when the end
portions are free, and [0007] an active state in which it fixes the
length of the tightening portion of the lace when the end portions
are tied.
[0008] The user may need to improve his/her supports and sensations
along his/her moving path, or to vary the physical activity, as is
the case, for example, when the user switches from hiking or
running to rock climbing. The user then needs to be able to
increase the tightening intensity.
[0009] To carry this out, the user has to switch the blocking
element from the active state to the inactive state by loosening
the laces in the preceding example, pull on the laces, and return
the blocking element to the active state.
[0010] Such tightening adjustment takes a long time to carry out.
Furthermore, it generally occurs in the area of the instep and does
not make it possible to evenly tighten the upper on the foot,
including in the area of the toes. The user, whose foot is not
evenly held, does not have the supports and sensations to enable
control of his/her movements.
SUMMARY
[0011] The invention overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.
[0012] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention,
the invention includes a shoe extending along a direction of its
length the following: [0013] a sole assembly on which the foot of
the user is to be supported, the sole assembly extending along a
direction of its length between a tip and a heel; [0014] a flexible
upper comprising a lower portion adjoining the sole assembly and
configured to cover the foot of the user, the upper comprising a
vamp adjoining the tip of the sole assembly and configured to cover
at least the toes of the user; [0015] an upper tightening device
configured to tighten the upper on the foot of the user, the upper
tightening device comprising: [0016] keepers arranged on the upper
in two rows of keepers arranged on each of respective sides of a
tightening axis extending parallel or substantially parallel to the
length direction; [0017] a single lace threaded into the keepers of
each row of keepers along a lacing path so as to be capable of
bringing the rows of keepers closer to one another by pulling on
the lace, the lace having a tightening portion in the lacing path;
and [0018] a blocking element having an inactive state in which the
blocking element enables the user to modify a length of the
tightening portion of the lace, and an active state in which the
blocking element fixes the length of the tightening portion; [0019]
the keepers comprising at least one vamp keeper provided on the
vamp of the upper, the lacing path including the vamp keeper; and
[0020] the upper tightening device further comprising at least one
tension member arranged on the upper so as to define at least one
tightening path including the lacing path and having a length
greater than the lacing path, the tension member being configured
to reversibly pass the tightening portion of the lace between the
lacing path and the tightening path when the blocking element is in
the active state.
[0021] Thus, the invention makes it possible to simply and quickly
lengthen the path of the lace with the same tightening portion so
as to evenly increase the intensity of the tightening, even in the
area of the toes. The user can thus more easily exert support
forces and more easily receive sensations from the ground to enable
him/her to better control his/her movements.
[0022] The tension member can be positioned on the vamp.
[0023] The tension member can be a hook arranged at a distance from
the tightening axis and can have an opening oriented in a direction
opposite the tightening axis.
[0024] The tension member can be provided on one of the vamp
keepers.
[0025] The vamp keeper may include a body comprising an opening
configured to receive a portion of the lace, and the tension
member.
[0026] The upper can extend along its length between a toe cap and
a heel counter, and along a transverse direction between a medial
side portion and a lateral side portion, and the at least one vamp
keeper can include two end keepers arranged at respective lower
ends of the rows of keepers, the end keepers being arranged on the
respective medial and lateral side portions of the upper, the end
keeper arranged on the medial side portion being offset along the
lengthwise direction towards the tip of the upper in relation to
the end keeper arranged on the lateral side portion. These
arrangements make it possible to obtain tightening that is more
suited to the anatomy of the foot. Indeed, the big toe has an
articulation of the first phalanx located substantially in the area
of one end of the little toe. Because the end keeper located in the
area of the big toe is offset forward in relation to the end keeper
located in the area of the little toe, tightening can be achieved
on all of the toes.
[0027] The upper may comprise at least one slit provided on the
vamp, and the tightening device can include at least one strap
having a first end fixed to either one of an inner surface of the
sole assembly or an inner surface of the upper, and a free second
end extending through the slit, the vamp keeper being provided at
the second end of the strap. These arrangements make it possible to
apply the tightening directly on the toes of the foot.
[0028] The lace may have a central section and two end sections on
either side of the central section, the central section having a
transverse cross section with a perimeter less than a perimeter of
a transverse cross section of each of the end sections. These
arrangements make it possible to limit friction between the lace
and the upper, and to define a location in the area of the toes at
which the increase in tightening intensity is more significant.
[0029] The upper can comprise a tongue for covering at least a
portion of the instep of the user and along which the tightening
axis extends, and the vamp can comprise a throat adjoining the
tongue, the at least one vamp keeper being provided on the
throat.
[0030] According to a second aspect, the invention is also directed
to a method of using a shoe as defined above, providing: [0031]
positioning the foot in the shoe, the blocking element being in the
inactive state; [0032] adjusting tightening of the shoe upper on
the foot by pulling on the lace to modify the length of the
tightening portion of the lace and to bring the rows of keepers
closer to one another; [0033] placing the blocking element in the
active state in order to fix the length of the tightening portion
of the lace; and [0034] switching the tightening portion of the
lace from the lacing path to the tightening path.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0035] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following description of a particular
embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example,
the description being made with reference to the annexed drawings,
in which:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front lateral portion of a
shoe according to one embodiment of the invention, the shoe
comprising a sole assembly, a flexible upper and an upper
tightening device suitable for adjustably tightening the upper on
the foot of the user, the upper tightening device comprising
keepers, including a plurality of vamp keepers, and a lace threaded
through the keepers along a lacing path;
[0037] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the detail II in FIG. 1 of the
lace of the shoe of FIG. 1, the lace having a central section and
two end sections on either side of the central section, the central
section having a transverse cross section with a perimeter less
than a perimeter of a transverse cross section of each of the end
sections;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a front medial portion of
the shoe of FIG. 1, the upper tightening device comprising a
tension member arranged on the upper so as to define a tightening
path;
[0039] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the detail IV in FIG. 3 of the
tension member of the shoe of FIG. 1;
[0040] FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of the shoe of FIG. 1 during use of
the shoe, the tightening portion of the lace switching from the
lacing path to the tightening path; and
[0041] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the detail VII in FIG. 6,
illustrating the tightening portion of the lace of FIG. 1 passing
through the tension member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The same reference numerals designate identical or similar
elements in the drawing figures.
[0043] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a shoe 1 configured to enable a user to
practice a physical activity. Without being limited thereto, the
shoe 1 is particularly configured to physical activities practiced
in mountains, such as hiking or running, during which the user may
encounter various types of terrain along his/her course, including
climbing paths and descending paths, for example.
[0044] The shoe 1 is structured to receive one of the user's feet
and extends generally along a lengthwise direction E. It comprises
a sole assembly 3, that is, an outer sole assembly, having an inner
surface on which the user's foot is supported, and an upper 6
configured to cover the foot of the user.
[0045] The sole assembly 3, which can be deformable to allow a
bending or rolling movement of the sole assembly and, likewise,
bending and rolling of the foot, extends along the lengthwise
direction E between a tip 4 and a heel 5. Such bending or rolling
refers to a longitudinal bending, such as during alternate raising
and lowering of the heel in relation to a forward portion of the
sole assembly, and such as a flexing in a zone corresponding to a
user's metatarso-phalangeal joint.
[0046] In the exemplary illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the
flexible upper 6 comprises only a lower portion 7 adjoining the
sole assembly 3, that is, it does not include an upper portion that
extends above the user's ankle. The upper 6 extends along the
lengthwise direction E between a toe cap 8 and a heel counter 9,
and along a transverse direction T, perpendicular to the lengthwise
direction E, between a medial portion 10, or side, inward of the
foot, and a lateral portion 11, or side, outward of the foot.
Opposite the heel 5 of the sole assembly 3, the upper 6 has an
upper edge 12 demarcating an opening 13 along a vertical direction
V, perpendicular to the lengthwise direction E and transverse
direction T, through which the user can insert his/her foot into
the shoe 1. To make it easier to insert the foot, the upper edge 12
can extend over a portion of the upper 6 corresponding to the
instep of the user's foot between two opposite edges 14. The upper
6 also comprises a tongue 15 extending between the edges 14 so as
to cover at least a portion of the instep of the user.
Alternatively, the edges 14 extending the upper edge 12 could
extend on a medial wall 16 of the medial portion 10 or on a lateral
wall 17 of the lateral portion 11. According to another
alternative, the upper 6 could be devoid of edges 14 that extend
the upper edge 12, the tongue 15 being made integral or unitary
with the medial 16 and lateral 17 walls of the upper 6. The upper 6
further comprises a vamp 18 adjoining the tip 4 of the sole
assembly 3 and configured to cover the toes, and possibly a portion
of the instep of the user. The vamp 18 includes a throat 19
adjoining the tongue 15 and the toe cap 8 of the upper 6.
[0047] In FIGS. 1 and 3, three pairs of slits are provided through
the upper 6 to enable an inner surface of the upper 6 to
communicate with the outside. In particular, a first pair of slits
comprises two slits 20 positioned opposite each other on the
respective medial 16 and lateral 17 walls. A second pair of slits
comprises two slits 20 positioned opposite each other on the vamp
18, in particular on the throat 19, in the vicinity of the tongue
15. A third pair of slits comprises another two slits 20 arranged
on the vamp 18, in particular on the throat 19, in the vicinity of
the toe cap 8 of the upper 6. In this third pair of slits, the slit
20 arranged on the side of the medial portion 10 of the upper 6 is
offset along the lengthwise direction E towards the toe cap 8 of
the upper in relation to the slit 20 arranged on the side the
lateral portion 11 of the upper 6.
[0048] The shoe 1 also comprises a tightening device 25 for
tightening the upper on the foot of the user. The upper tightening
device 25 comprises keepers 26 arranged on the upper in two rows of
keepers arranged on either respective side of a tightening axis S,
each of the two rows extending forwardly toward the tip of the shoe
E. In the illustrated embodiment, the tightening axis S extends
along the tongue 15. The two rows of keepers extend along the
respective edges 14 that extend the upper edge 12 between
respective upper ends, in the vicinity of the upper edge 12, and
respective lower ends, in the vicinity of the toe cap 8 of the
upper 6.
[0049] The upper tightening device 25 comprises straps 28, portions
of which are outlined by broken lines, that project through the
upper 6 in FIG. 1. Each strap 28 has a first end 28a fixed inside
the shoe 1, and in particular to the inner surface of the upper 6,
or to the inner surface of the sole assembly 3, and a free second
end 28b extending through one of the slits 20 of the upper 6. Each
row of keepers includes: [0050] keepers 26, for example four in the
illustrated embodiment, made in the form of eyelets 29 through the
upper 6 on the area of the upper edge 12; and [0051] keepers 26,
for example three in the illustrated embodiment, provided on the
respective second ends of the straps 28 on the area of the toe cap
8 of the upper 6.
[0052] Some of the keepers 26 provided on the straps are made in
the form of a loop at the second end 28b of the strap 28.
[0053] In FIG. 4, one of the keepers 26 arranged on the strap 28
extending through the slit 20 on the side of the medial portion 10
of the second pair of slits includes a body 30 made in one piece,
for example made of plastic, comprising a through opening 31. The
body 30 further comprises a hook 32 arranged at a distance from the
tightening axis S and having an opening oriented in a direction
opposite the tightening axis S. The body 30 is affixed to the
second end 28b of the strap 28.
[0054] On each of the rows of keepers, keepers 26 provided on the
vamp 18 of the upper 6 form vamp keepers 33. In the illustrated
embodiment, the vamp keepers 33 are provided at the second ends 28b
of the straps 28 extending through the slits 20 of the second and
third pairs of slits provided on the throat 19. The vamp keepers 33
on the straps 28 extending through the slits 20 of the third pair
of slits in the vicinity of the toe cap 8 of the upper constitute
end keepers 34 arranged at the respective lower ends of the rows of
keepers. Due to the arrangement of the slits 20 of the third pair
of slits, one of the end keepers 34, arranged on the medial portion
10, is offset along the lengthwise direction E toward the toe cap 8
of the upper 6 in relation to the other end keeper 34, arranged on
the lateral portion 11. Alternatively, one or any other suitable
number of vamp keepers arranged on the vamp of the upper could be
provided according to any other suitable arrangement.
[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the tightening device 25
comprises a single lace 40. In the embodiment shown, the lace 40
has a central section 41 and two end sections 42 on either side of
the central section 41. In the central section 41 the lace has a
transverse cross section, for example circular, with a perimeter
less than a perimeter of a transverse cross section, for example
oblong, of each of the end sections 42. The lace 40 is threaded
into the keepers 26 of each row of keepers, including the opening
31 of the body 30 of the vamp keeper 33, along a lacing path. The
lacing path is then defined by the keepers in which the lace is
threaded, namely, in the illustrated embodiment, the vamp keepers
33 and at least a portion of the eyelets 29. The portion of the
lace 40 located in the tightening path defines a tightening portion
43. On either side of this tightening portion 43, the lace 40 has
two end portions 44 forming a blocking element having: [0056] an
inactive state in which it enables the user to modify a length of
the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40 in the lacing path, when
the end portions 44 are free, that is, untied; and [0057] an active
state in which it fixes the length of the tightening portion 43 of
the lace 40, when the end portions 44 are tied.
[0058] Alternatively, any other type of blocking element having the
aforementioned inactive and active states could be provided
according to the invention. For example, the blocking element could
comprise a body provided with a through bore in which a
user-actuable pin is displaceably mounted in translation between:
[0059] a blocking position in which it extends through the bore to
block the end portions 44 of the lace 40 inserted into the bore;
and [0060] a release position in which it is at least partially
spaced from the bore to enable the end portions 44 of the lace 40
to slide in the bore.
[0061] A use of the shoe 1 is now described with reference to FIGS.
5 to 7.
[0062] As the blocking element is in the inactive state, namely the
lace 40 is loosened and the end portions 44 are free, the user
slips his/her foot into the shoe 1. The foot rests on the inner
surface of the sole assembly 3 and is covered by the upper 6. In
particular, the user's toes are covered by the vamp 18. The strap
28 carrying the end keeper 34 on the medial portion 10 of the upper
6 is arranged in correspondence with the big toe, and the strap 28
carrying the end keeper 34 on the lateral portion 11 of the upper 6
is arranged in correspondence with the little toe.
[0063] The tightening of the upper 6 of the shoe 1 on the foot of
the user is adjusted by pulling on the end portions 44 so as to
modify the length of the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40. In
doing so, the rows of keepers are brought closer to one another,
reducing the fitting volume of the shoe, including in the area of
the toes, due to the vamp keepers 33.
[0064] The end portions 44 of the lace 40 can then be tied to place
the blocking element in the active state and thus fix the length of
the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40 in the lacing path.
[0065] In order to increase the tightening intensity while keeping
the blocking element in the active state, that is to say, by
keeping the lace 40 tied, a strand of the tightening portion 43 of
the lace 40 can be stretched and then placed in the hook 32 of the
body 30 of the vamp keeper 33 as shown in FIG. 7.
[0066] The hook 32 forms a tension member arranged on the upper 6
so as to define a tightening path including the lacing path and
having a length greater than the lacing path. The tension member
makes it possible to reversibly pass the tightening portion 43 of
the lace 40 between the lacing path and the tightening path when
the blocking element is in the active state. By lengthening the
path of the lace with the same tightening portion 43, the
tightening intensity can be increased evenly, if necessary for a
predetermined duration, including in the area of the toes.
[0067] The invention described in connection with a tension member
in the form of a hook arranged on the vamp and, in particular,
provided on one of the vamp keepers is in no way limited to this
embodiment. Alternatively, any other configuration and arrangement
of one or more tension members making it possible to define one or
more tightening paths could be provided.
[0068] Further, at least because the invention is disclosed herein
in a manner that enables one to make and use it, by virtue of the
disclosure of a particular exemplary embodiment, such as for
simplicity or efficiency, for example, the invention can be
practiced in the absence of any additional element or additional
structure that is not specifically disclosed herein.
* * * * *