EP1034712A1 - Shoe having a rigid shell and a variable volume - Google Patents

Abstract

The rigid shell ski boot has a base (3) with a longitudinal opening (14) corresponding to the top of the foot (15) and with a pair of flanges (13) at the pivot zone (12). Locks (5,6) selectively lock the base to the leg section of the boot.. The flanges allow locking of the heel of the boot.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe of the "rigid shell and volume" type. variable "consisting of a rod which surrounds the lower leg, and a shell base, which surrounds the foot, and relates in particular to the means of adjusting the footwear volume of the base shell to foot volume.

Most shoes of this type are sneakers that close, especially on the top of the foot, using flexible transverse flaps which are controlled in release and in approach using clamping devices located outside the shell, respectively on the rod and on the shell base.

By way of example, mention may be made of the ski boots described in the patents FR 2 129 074 and EP 592753.

In these shoes the upper is pivotally mounted on the shell base and covers vertical extensions from the latter in the ankle area, between the foot and the lower leg.

These vertical extensions are intended to ensure a certain seal between the base of shell and stem and allow for differentiated fit and tightening between these parts constituting the shell which are each provided with clamping devices. Extensions vertical are also used to distribute over a certain area the efforts exerted locally by the clamping devices and to facilitate the passage of the foot during putting on and taking off.

To do this, the shell base is open longitudinally on the top, that is to say on its upper front part, where it is provided with at least one pair of flaps relatively flexible transverse to its side walls. These flaps are partially overlap and cover the entire area corresponding to the top of the foot until the ankle where they constitute, in part, the vertical extensions which are covered by the rod. Thus, when the tightening devices are used to bring the flaps closer together between them, the latter bend at the level of the side walls and lower on the top of the foot by jointly causing at least partial deformation of the side walls of which they came from.

This way of carrying out the adjustment and the tightening of the shoe on the foot is easy to execute because the clamping devices act directly on the transverse flaps and can be refined when the clamping devices are fitted with a micrometric adjustment such as this is known elsewhere.

However, because the transverse flaps are curved over the area corresponding to the above the foot and they overlap partially by overlapping, they lose a large part of their flexibility and therefore their ability to adapt exactly to the shapes of the foot they cover. In addition, this loss of flexibility is all the more accentuated when they are curved in the area corresponding to the bending fold where they form the equivalent of a half-tube bent at approximately 90 °. Therefore, the approximation of the flaps transverse in order to adapt the initial footwear volume of the shell base to that of the foot causes both tightening of the instep area and that of the flexion fold without there being a marked differentiation between these different areas of the foot. However, the foot morphologies are variable especially in these areas, where, for example, for a given position of the flexion fold, the instep may be very pronounced or obliterated; the reverse is also common.

Thus, it often happens that we only get a good fit on the instep.

In fact in these shoes the only solution to remove the play that may appear in one of these zones consists in accentuating the tightening of the flaps at the level of the zone affected using the nearest clamps. Obviously, this solution is unsatisfactory because it leads to a significant tightening of the flaps as a whole, given their reduced flexibility, and automatically generates more compression important on the other foot area.

Another disadvantage inherent in these shoes relates to the way of achieving the outfit of the foot. Indeed, in these shoes where the fit is differentiated simply between the upper and the shell base, it is necessary to exert relatively large clamping forces with the clamping devices located on either side of the bending fold to obtain a correct blocking of the heel in the shell base. It usually follows pressure points painful on the instep and a strangulation effect on the lower leg. Moreover, the increase in tightening on the lower leg, i.e. at the level of the upper, decreases by significantly the flexibility of the latter relative to the shell base; this is due to the superimposition of the flaps of the rod and the shell base constitutes a structure laminate which significantly increases the stiffness in the bend fold area. This kind of problem also arises for shoes of the type described in patents EP 500 479 and US 4,974,346 despite the fact that one or both of the transverse flaps of their hull base are divided into two parts by a slit made in front of the bend fold area. Indeed, this division of the and / or the flaps simply makes it possible to differentiate the tightening between the neck of foot and flex bend and makes it easier to put on and take off by providing more flexibility at the top of these flaps. This is also how the holding of the foot is as in the shoes mentioned above with reference to the documents FR 2 129 074 and EP 592 753, that is to say that the quality of the blocking of the heel results essentially tightening the rod on the lower leg and tightening the shell base on the instep.

These problems of dependence on tightening of the lower leg and / or the instep for get a proper heel lock in the shell base also arise in other known shoes which have a tightening device which is applied to the fold area bending; this is the case, for example, in boots intended for ski mountaineering. Indeed, these shoes always have a tightening and sealing hood which covers the entire upper front part of the shell base. Therefore the footwear volume of the shell base is adjusted using the hood in a global manner on the instep and the fold of bending a bit like in the case of the previous shoes with transverse flaps not divided, described in documents FR 2 129 074 and EP 592 753.

• de conserver une différenciation des serrages entre la tige et la base de coque,
• d'ajuster le volume chaussant de la base de coque en respectant avec précision la morphologie du dessus de pied, notamment du cou de pied,
• d'assurer un excellent blocage du talon dans la base de coque indépendamment des serrages du bas de jambe et du cou de pied,
• de faciliter l'entrée et la sortie du pied lors du chaussage-déchaussage.
• de concevoir une structure étanche de partie antérieure supérieure de la base de coque.

The invention aims to overcome this dependence of tightening between them and offers a solution which allows among other things:

• to keep a differentiation of the tightening between the rod and the shell base,
• to adjust the footwear volume of the shell base while respecting with precision the morphology of the uppers, in particular the instep,
• ensure excellent blocking of the heel in the shell base independently of the tightening of the lower leg and instep,
• to facilitate the entry and exit of the foot during putting on and taking off.
• to design a waterproof structure of the upper front part of the shell base.

According to the invention, the shoe is of the rigid shell and variable volume type having a rod pivotally mounted on a shell base open longitudinally in its part front where it is provided with a pair of transverse flaps. Clamping devices located on the upper and the shell base, tighten and adjust the footwear volume of these constituent parts of the shell on the lower leg and on the foot. It is characterized by that the transverse flaps of the shell base are limited only to the fold area of bending of the fact that an opening, generally longitudinal and corresponding at least to the instep area is obtained in front of this area of the flexion fold in the part upper anterior of the shell base. According to another characteristic, a device for clamping located on the shell base specifically controls the flaps of the bending fold constitute for the latter the equivalent of stress distribution plates.

According to a preferred embodiment, two flexible lateral bands are attached each by one of their edges on the shell base so that they extend on either side of the longitudinal opening which corresponds to the instep: a tightening device allows them to be controlled in reconciliation, independently of the clamping device flexion fold flaps, to adapt the fitting volume to the instep.

To this end, and in order to ensure an adjustment that best respects the morphology the uppers, especially at the point of the prominent part of the instep, the bands are relatively narrow so that they determine a certain free central space between them to prevent them from overlapping when brought together using the device Clamping. The latter can be of any known type, for example with a hook-rack, cable reel, strap etc ... and, according to a preferred construction of the lacing type. For a question of efficiency, the clamping device used connects the flexible bands between them by their free edge located as close as possible to the central space they determine.

Advantageously, a tongue is provided and cooperates with the flexible bands in the purpose of protecting the top of the foot.

This tab is attached to the shell base, at the anterior end of the opening longitudinal and extends to the posterior end of the latter where it covers partially the flaps of the bending fold.

According to an interesting embodiment, the flexible lateral bands and the tongue of protection of the top of the foot are obtained in one piece which is then attached to the around the longitudinal opening of the hull base.

As is obvious, these different characteristics allow on the one hand, to differentiate with precision the adjustments of the footwear volume of the shell on the bottom of leg and on the foot and on the other hand, ensure excellent blocking of the heel through the action direct tightening of the flaps on the bending fold, and independently of other tightening located on either side of the latter. Indeed, given the fact that the opening longitudinal corresponding to the instep, interrupts the continuity of the base wall shell relative to the flaps of the bending fold, adjusting the relative position of these the latter does not cause significant deformation of the shell base at the instep. In addition, the structure implemented at the location of the latter, offers the possibility of locating and adjust the support at the instep practically in the same way as in the classic soft shoes closed with lacing. In addition, the flexible side bands play the same role as traditional lacing strips because they provide distribution of the stresses transmitted to the shell base by the clamping device.

According to an improvement, the shell base is sealed in its front part superior. More specifically, a sealing bellows completely closes the opening longitudinal to the flaps of the bending fold which it covers at least partially. In one first construction method, the sealing bellows is fixed around the perimeter of the opening longitudinal and placed under the flexible lateral strips which thus make it sandwich. Of course, the same arrangement of the sealing bellows can be adopted in the case where the flexible side bands and the tongue are obtained in one piece. In a second construction method the sealing bellows is fixed on the flexible lateral bands and / or on the tongue, on the side facing the inside of the shell base.

Advantageously, the wall of the shell base is thinned around the entire periphery of the longitudinal opening of the latter, including at the location of the flaps of the bending fold.

In this way the flaps are provided with greater flexibility which facilitates the entry and exit of the foot of the footwear when they are released from the action of their clamping device. Obviously, this thinning of the shell base wall also provides flexibility around the periphery of the longitudinal opening which is used to perfect the adjustment of the footwear volume on the top of the foot.

La figure 1 représente, vue en perspective, une chaussure du type à coque rigide et volume variable selon l'invention.

La figure 2 illustre, vue en perspective, la base de coque de la chaussure de la figure 1,

La figure 3 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de la base de coque de la figure 2,

La figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon IV - IV de l'avant de la chaussure de la figure 1,

La figure 5 montre, en vue éclatée, une variante de réalisation de la chaussure de la figure 1,

The invention will moreover be better understood by referring to the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a shoe of the rigid shell type and variable volume according to the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in perspective view, the shell base of the shoe of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the shell base of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along IV - IV of the front of the shoe of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 shows, in exploded view, an alternative embodiment of the shoe of FIG. 1,

Shoe 1, designated as a whole and represented in FIG. 1, is of the type with rigid shell and variable volume and relates, in this example, to a sports shoe intended for skiing.

It consists of a hull base 3 open longitudinally and a rod 2 which is pivotally mounted on the latter by means of two connecting pins 4 located, each on a side of the shoe in zone 8 corresponding approximately to the user's ankle joint.

In known manner, the rod 2 opens forward by means of a pair of flaps 11, 11 ' controlled by a clamping device 5 and overlaps by its lower edge 9 of the flexible vertical extensions 10 coming from the hull base 3 in this zone 8 of the ankle joint; this arrangement ensures a certain seal between these parts 2 and 3 constituting the shoe while allowing their relative pivoting.

According to a construction detail, particularly visible in Figures 2 and 3, the flexible vertical extensions 10 extend to the upper front 7 of the shell base 3 and constitute, at the location of the area of the bending fold 12, a pair of transverse flaps 13, 13 '. A clamping device 6 is mounted on the shell base 3, by example on the connecting pins 4, and controls these transverse flaps 13, 13 'of the fold flexion 12 in approach and in release. By this mounting, the tightening and / or adjustment to bending fold, as indicated by the arrows 21 in FIG. 2, is carried out independently of that of the rod 2 on the lower leg. An opening 14, generally longitudinal and corresponding at least to the instep area 15, is obtained in the anterior part upper 7 of the shell base 3 and limits the extent of the transverse flaps 13, 13 'to the area of the bending fold 12. This longitudinal opening 14 is advantageously closed using a sealing bellows 18 which also covers the transverse flaps 13, 13 '. Of flexible side bands 16, 16 ′, which are relatively narrow, are then attached on both sides and other of the longitudinal opening 14 and therefore take the sealing bellows in sandwich around periphery 17 thereof. These flexible lateral bands 16, 16 ′ are intended for serve as clamping bands for a clamping device 19 of the lacing type. To this end, and preferably they are planned relatively narrow so that there is always a free central space between them even when the clamping device 19 is in the position extreme tightening. This prevents the side bands 16, 16 'from interlocking with each other. which would impair their flexibility and therefore their fit on the instep 15. In the same adjustment concerns, the wall of the shell base 3 is advantageously thinned over the whole periphery 17 of the longitudinal opening 14 to the place of the transverse flaps 13, 13 'of the bending fold practically in continuity with flexible vertical extensions 10. These different arrangements thus make it possible to tighten and / or adjust the wrapping on the neck of foot 15 as indicated by the arrows 20 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 without any repercussions on the adjustment of the flaps 13, 13 ′, to the bending fold 12.

This independence of tightening between the zones of the instep 15 and the flexion fold 12 of the shell base 3, as well as with the rod 2, makes it possible to produce an excellent blocking of the heel in the shell base 3 because it does not result from the value of the efforts of tightening exerted with the devices 6 and 12 located on either side of the bending fold 12. thus avoids the appearance of painful pressure points; more the implementation of a tightening device 19 of the lacing type gives the shoe a visual appearance on its capacity adaptation of the footwear volume to the instep area 15 reminiscent of that of shoes flexible traditional.

In order to protect the top of the foot under the clamping device 19, for example to distribute the pressure of the strands of the lace over a certain surface, a tongue of a type known may be expected. This tab, not shown, can be added on the basis of shell 3 at the front end 21 of the longitudinal opening 14 and cover the latter to its posterior end 22 where it at least partially covers the flaps 13, 13 '.

According to a preferred construction method illustrated in FIG. 5, a tongue 23 is obtained in one piece with the flexible side bands 16, 16 'which is then attached to the periphery 17 of the longitudinal opening 14 of the shell base 3. In this case, the strips flexible lateral 16, 16 'are connected together by a bridge of material which extends by the tongue 23 and which covers the front end 21 of the longitudinal opening 14; he this results in a continuity which strengthens the tightness of the shell base 3. As explained previously, the sealing bellows 18 can be sandwiched between the side bands flexible 16, 16 'thus joined and the thinned wall of the shell base 3 which forms the periphery 17 of the longitudinal opening 14. It can also be simply fixed under the single part formed by the flexible lateral strips 16, 16 'and the tongue 23; the seal is then treated first between the periphery 17 of the hull base 3 and the latter 16, 16 ′, 23, then between the sealing bellows 18 and them.

Other embodiments of the shoe are obviously conceivable. Through example, the clamping device 19 can be directly connected to the wall of the base shell 3 at the periphery 17 of the longitudinal opening 14. In this case the strips flexible can be deleted. For reasons of comfort, a tongue 23 can cover the instep area 15, in particular to distribute over a larger area the pressures exerted locally by the lacing of the clamping device 19.

Claims (11)

Shoe of the rigid shell and variable volume type, having a rod (2) mounted swivel on a shell base (3) open longitudinally in its front part upper (7) where it is provided with a pair of transverse flaps (13, 13 ') of the clamping (5, 6, 19) located on the rod (2) and the shell base (3) ensuring the adjustment of these constituent parts of the shell on the foot and the lower leg, characterized in that the flaps transverse (13, 13 ') of the shell base (3) are limited only to the fold area of bending (12) by the fact that an opening (14), generally longitudinal and corresponding to the less at the instep area (15), is obtained in front of the flaps (13, 13 ') of the bend fold in the upper front part (7) of the shell base (3). Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that a tightening device (6) fixed to the base of the shell (3) specifically controls the transverse flaps (13, 13 ') of the bending fold (12), in approach and in release. Shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that a tightening device (19) is implemented on the longitudinal opening (14) corresponding to the instep area (15). Shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that side bands flexible (16, 16 ') are attached to the upper front part (7) of the shell base (3) on either side of its longitudinal opening (14) and by the fact that the clamping device (19) allows them to be controlled independently of the clamping device (6) of the flaps (13, 13 ') of the bending fold (12). Shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that the tightening device (19) which controls the flexible lateral strips (16, 16 ') fixed on either side of the opening longitudinal (14) is a lacing device. Shoe according to claim 5, characterized in that a tongue (23) is attached to the shell base (3) at the anterior end (21) of the longitudinal opening (14), this tongue (23) extending to the rear end (22) of the latter where it partially covers the flaps (13, 13 ') of the bending fold (12) to protect the top of the foot. Shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that the side bands hoses (16, 16 ') and the protective tab (23) above the foot are obtained from a single piece. Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a sealing bellows (18) completely closes the longitudinal opening (14) of the shell base (3) to the flaps (13, 13 ') of the bending fold (12). Shoe according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the sealing bellows (18) is fixed on the periphery (17) of the longitudinal opening (14) of the shell base (3) and placed under the flexible side strips (16, 16 ') and the tongue (23) which sandwich it. Shoe according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the sealing bellows (18) is fixed on the flexible lateral bands (16, 16 ') and the tongue (23). Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the wall of the shell base (3) is thinned over the entire periphery (17) of the opening longitudinal (14) of the latter, including at the location of the transverse flaps (13, 13 ') of the bending fold (12) thus endowed with greater flexibility.

Images