EP1112697B1 - High upper shoe with lacing fastening - Google Patents

Abstract

The lace tightener for a boot with a single, continuous lace (2) which is held in place by a locking toggle (21) consists of a curved handle (3) which fits over the free loop of the lace and assists pulling on it.

Description

The present invention relates to an article of footwear such as a shoe with a high upper comprising a lace tightening device intended to adjust the front part thereof to the user's forefoot and instep.

Footwear of this type such as the shoes described in the DE 18 patents 93 010, IT 19700/83, FR 1 568 397 and EP 629 793 have lace tightening devices which are closed either conventionally by a knot, or using a blocker or a tensioning lever. In addition, depending on the possible tightening differentiation needs, these clamps adjust the upper of the shoe simultaneously on the foot and the bottom user's leg, as in the shoes of IT patents 19700/83 and FR 1,568,397, or only on the foot as in the shoes of patent DE 18 93 010 and of Patent application EP 629,793. In the latter, an additional clamping device specific to the lower leg is then planned. These different ways of using the devices lace or cable tightening allows the footwear volume to be adjusted relatively well user's foot. On the other hand, they require a relatively tensile force important is exerted on the strands of the lace to obtain an effective tightening at the instep. In effect, because the strands are alternately crossed in the transverse direction to the shoe by means of eyelets, while the pulling action carried out on their free ends is directed in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, it follows high friction on the eyelets especially on those located at the instep and which it is necessary to overcome to bring the edges of the rod closer to the foot. Of course, friction occurs also at the place of guiding and returning the strands of the lace in the blocker when such stop means is used as is the case in the shoes of documents EP 629 793 and IT 19700/83.

In the example of the shoe of document FR 1 568 397, the problem of friction and of the tensile force to be produced, as mentioned above, is practically resolved thanks to a "Bowden" clamping system using a single cable under sheath pulled by a tensioning lever. However, such a system has the disadvantage of requiring the implementation of many rigid parts whether for fixing the sheath, the cable anchor, or the mounting the tensioning lever on one of the rod flaps located in the area corresponding to the bottom of the user's leg. In addition, the taught "Bowden" clamping system does not connect the edges of the upper to be adjusted on the foot only at three points, and therefore does not ensure a good distribution of tightening between the forefoot, instep and lower leg. In Korean if you only need to release the foot or lower leg, this system proves to be unsuitable because it's the whole shoe that you loosen. Obviously, this drawback is also present in the shoe of document IT 19700/83 because the cross lacing extends continuously from the forefoot at the bottom of the leg.

Finally, a drawback common to all shoes and other footwear with a cross lacing that goes up to the lower leg concerns the difficulty of provide space for the foot in the bend fold area for its introduction or shoe extraction. In fact, in these shoes it is almost always necessary to relax the strands of the lace by hand at least to the instep. This drawback is not not fitting for shoes with differential tightening using two tightening systems distinct between the foot and the lower leg, as taught by document EP 629 793. On the other hand, the fact that the tie of the strands of the lace is located at the bending fold, and above all if it is a blocker, poses another drawback. Indeed, in this arrangement the attachment is likely to hinder the flexion of the part of the rod which surrounds the lower leg by compared to that which surrounds the foot.

The invention proposes to overcome these various drawbacks of shoes and other articles footwear including inner booties to so-called "shell" shoes, comprising a lace tightening device.

To this end, the shoe with a high upper is defined by the characteristics of claim 1.

Thus implemented, the lace tightening device no longer has crossed strands of lace to the bending fold and the fact that the strands are convergent and then guided in the double tunnel along the longitudinal axis of the shoe, they occur in a direction which coincides with that of the pulling action that the user performs on their free ends before they are to attach.

In order not to cause deformation of the upper part of the tongue when tightening of the strands, these are passed through two semi flexible tubular sheaths and undeformable in the direction of their length which are interposed, each, on one of the edges of the rod to be adjusted, between the last return located at the instep and the double guide tunnel against which they lean. These sheaths thus make it possible to stretch the strands of the same way as a "Bowden" clamping system and allow to maintain the tongue in an upright position from which the strands of the lace are very easily accessible.

According to a construction method, the double guide tunnel, the tongue and the semi sheaths hoses are dimensioned upwards so that the free ends of the strands of the lace protrude from the upper part of the upper which is intended to hold the lower leg.

This upper part of the rod can advantageously be obtained in one piece with the lower part of the stem which surrounds the foot, but also be attached to the latter being understood, in the two construction cases mentioned, that an additional clamping device the one who acts on the foot is then used specifically to hold the lower leg. This lower leg tightening device acts on the upper part of the upper cover of the tongue which is provided with semi flexible sheaths and the double tunnel. Taking into account that semi flexible tubular sheaths are practically non-deformable in the direction of their section, this arrangement does not harm and has no effect on the tightening of the foot. Indeed, the strands of the lace remain free inside the sheaths. It follows from this that is possible to loosen the foot voluntarily without modifying the tightening of the lower leg and vice versa.

According to certain advantageous construction details, the tongue is connected to the edges of the rod to be brought together, to adjust the latter on the foot, by means of at least one means such as a flexible membrane or a bellows seal, and the tongue is provided at least one comfort element intended to distribute the pressure over a larger area than the strands of the lace exert on it. This element of comfort is for example a plate relatively rigid or semi flexible which is attached to the tongue and / or an element of padding for example in microcellular material.

A preferred construction consists in making a foot tightening assembly as defined above, but mounted on flexible wings from a U-shaped part which are then reported on the lower part of the upper of the shoe which is then obtained with a anterior upper opening revealing the top of the foot and adapted to these flexible wings. These are obviously sized to cover at least the top of the foot, or even partially its sides so that their reciprocal approximation by means of the device lace tightening, which acts on the references which are directly linked to the edges of the rod to be adjusted, adapts the footwear volume to that of the user's foot. In fact, these flexible wings serve as mounting support for the clamping assembly and contributes to the sealing of the shoe. In this example construction, the sealing means of the tongue can obviously be connected to these flexible wings instead of the edges of the rod.

To make it easier to tighten and attach the strands of the lace at the end of the double tunnel, a blocker adapted to the spacing of the double tunnel is threaded on the two free strands, and the ends of these are connected to each other via a handle maneuver.

The invention will moreover be better understood by referring to the description which follows in reference to the appended drawing illustrating, by way of example, an embodiment applied to a shoe with high upper.

Figures 1 and 2 show, in perspective view, the shoe with a high upper comprising the lace-up tightening system according to the invention, the shoe having the upper open at the lower leg in Figure 1 and the closed leg in Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows a lace tightening assembly ready to be attached to the lower part of the upper of the shoe of Figures 1 and 2.

The shoe illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has a upper 10, the lower part 14 surrounds the foot, and the upper part 16 of which surrounds the lower leg 15. This shoe is closes on the foot and more precisely from the zone corresponding to the forefoot 12 to that instep 13, by means of a tightening device 1 with lace 18 and on the lower leg 15 by means of a separate clamping device 19.

According to an essential characteristic, the two strands 18 'of the lace 18 are alternately crossed by means of references 20 from one 21 to the other 22 of the edges 21 and 22 of the rod 10 until instep 13, and cover a tongue 23, central and oriented substantially in the axis longitudinal of the shoe. The strands 18 'are then directed convergently beyond from the instep 13 and the bend fold 26 towards the upper part 23 ′ of the tongue 23 up to a double guide tunnel 25 which they pass through. This double guide tunnel 25 is approximately centered on the tongue 23 and also oriented in the longitudinal axis of the shoe. In this way, the path of the strands 18 ′ of the lace 18 generally forms a V overturned from the instep 13 which leaves the area of the bending fold 26 completely free. Of course, a tightening means, such as a strap for example, can be used in overlap on this bending fold area 26 and over the strands 18 'of the lace 18 for ensure, if necessary, a strong return of the heel of the user's foot in the lower part 14 of the rod 10 which fits said heel.

Complementary to this inverted V mounting of the strands 18 'of the lace 18, two sheaths tubular and semi-flexible 27, non-deformable in the direction of their length, are interposed, each, between the last return 20 located at the instep 13 and the double guide tunnel 25 against which they lean. In this example of construction shown, the sheaths 27 are in fact blocked, towards the last return 20 located at the instep 13, on a socket 28 fixed on the lower part 14 of the rod 10. The tightening device 1 with lace 18 thus constructed works as a "Bowden" clamping system because the draw on the ends 29 of strands 18 'at the exit of the double guide tunnel 25 has no effect on the entire sheathed path of the lace 18 which extends above the instep 13.

Furthermore, still thanks to the protection provided by the sheaths 27 in which the 18 'strands of lace 18 slide freely, tightening and / or loosening the upper part 16 of the upper 10 of the shoe has no effect on the tightening device 1. The latter can in particular be loosened and / or tightened independently of the state of tension in which finds the clamping device 19 which holds the lower leg 15.

In addition, due to the semi flexibility of the sheaths 27, the tongue 23 is maintained constantly in an upright position placing the ends 29 of the strands 18 'of the lace 18 very easy to catch. Of course, the tongue 23, the sheaths 27 and the double tunnel of guide 25 are very advantageously dimensioned upwards so that the ends 29 strands 18 'of the lace 18 protrude from the edge 30 of the upper part 16 of the upper 10.

To ensure a good seal, the tongue 23 is connected to the edges 21 and 22 of the rod 10 which are contiguous to it by means of a flexible membrane 31. According to a construction advantageous, a comfort element 32, constituted by a flexible elongated plate, is added on the tongue 23 and extends thereon from the forefoot 12 to the instep 13. From this way the pressure that the strands 18 'of the lace 18 exert on the tongue 23 is distributed on the surface of the comfort element 32 instead of being located at the place and along the strands 18 '.

Additionally, bosses 33 are provided on the comfort element 32 and are spaced from each other in correspondence with references 20. Thus, the strands 18 'of the lace 18 are cross between the bosses 33 which, due to their height, protect them from attack exterior such as edges, for example, and minimizes the erosive action of snow on lace 18.

An interesting solution to attach the 18 'strands of the lace 18 to the exit of the double tunnel 25 consists in using as a fastening means 34 a blocker adapted to the spacing of said double tunnel 25, and, additionally, to connect the ends 29 of the strands 18 'by means of an operating part 35 such as a handle. The maneuver of pulling on the 18 'strands is thus greatly facilitated and the tensioning lock of the lace 18 is carried out without loss of length.

Of course, other attachment means 34 such as a tensioning lever or lace can be used.

• la languette 23,
• les gaines 27 avec les douilles 28 et le double tunnel 25,
• le moyen d'attache 34 du lacet 18 et la poignée de manoeuvre 35,
• le lacet 18 et les renvois 20,
• le moyen d'étanchéité 31,

   et les ailes flexibles 40 qui se substituent alors au moins en partie aux bords 21 et 22 de la tige 10.According to a particularly advantageous mode of construction shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the lace tightening device 1 18 is part of an assembly, comprising flexible wings 40 coming from a part forming a U, which is attached and fixed on the lower part 14 of the upper 10 of the shoe. This set therefore includes all the elements involved in the clamping function of the foot, namely:

• the tongue 23,
• the ducts 27 with the sockets 28 and the double tunnel 25,
• the attachment means 34 of the lace 18 and the operating handle 35,
• lace 18 and references 20,
• the sealing means 31,

and the flexible wings 40 which then replace at least partially the edges 21 and 22 of the rod 10.

The lower part 14 of the rod 10 is then obtained with an anterior opening 41, more largely indented only for a tongue 23, which uncovers the top of the foot. All clamping thus composed is fixed on the lower part 14 of the rod 10, by means 45 such as rivets or by bolts, welding, gluing, ... etc.

Preferably, these means 45 also serve to fix the references 20 directly on the edges. 21 and 22 of the rod 10 which are to be adjusted on the foot. For this purpose, references 20 can be made with a 20 'mounting lug, more or less long depending on the tightening effect desired and / or depending on the dimensions of the flexible wings 40; in this way the effort of tightening exerted on the clamping device 1 is always taken up essentially on the edges 21 and 22.

Obviously, according to an alternative embodiment, the references 20 can be mounted and fixed on the part forming a U defining the flexible wings 40.

Still, according to another embodiment not shown, the shoe is provided with a inner liner which is equipped with the tightening device 1, with a lace 18, and with the tongue 23. In this case of construction, the upper part 16 of the upper 10 of the shoe retains a tightening device 19 separate from the tightening device 1 with lace 18. On the other hand, the two strands 18 'of the lace 18 are alternately crossed on the foot by means of references 20 which are fixed on the edges of the opening of the liner on either side of the tongue 23. Taking into account the relative flexibility of the liner, the double guide tunnel 25 is then preferably extended down to the bend fold area 26 and the semi-flexible tubular sheaths 27 are not used. Of course, the shell of the shoe thus designed can be provided with flaps and / or closing means which cover the central opening of the liner, from the forefoot 12 to the instep 13.

Claims (11)

1. High boot comprising, on its bottom part (14) that surrounds the foot, a tightening device (1) with laces (18) whose strands (18') are alternatively crossed by means of returns (20), from one edge to the other (21, 22) of the upper (10) to be adjusted on the foot, from the forefoot (12) up to the instep (13), and which overlaps a tongue (23) that extends between said edges (21, 22) defined by a front opening (41), characterized in that the strands 18' are directed so as to converge up to a rigid guiding double tunnel (25) oriented in the longitudinal axis of the boot, and with which the tongue (23) is equipped at its top portion (23') beyond the flexion fold (26), and in that the guiding double tunnel (25) and the tongue (23) are proportioned toward the top such that the free ends (29) of the strands (18') of the lace (18) extend beyond a top portion (16) of the upper (10) that is adapted to hold the lower leg (15).
2. Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the top portion (16) of the upper (10) adapted to hold the lower leg (15) is made integral with the bottom portion (14) of the upper (10) that surrounds the foot and cooperates with a tightening device (19) that overlaps the tongue (23) that is provided with the double tunnel (25).
3. Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the top portion (16) of the upper (10) adapted to hold the lower leg (15) is attached on the bottom portion (14) of the upper (10) that surrounds the foot and cooperates with a tightening device (19) that overlaps the tongue (23) that is provided with the double tunnel (25).
4. Boot according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the tongue (23) is connected to the edges (21, 22) of the upper (10) via of a sealing means (31).
5. Boot according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the tongue (23) is provided with at least one comfort element (32) adapted to distribute, over a larger surface, the pressure which the strands (18') of the lace (18) exert on it.
6. Boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the strands (18') of the lace (18) are passed lengthwise through two semi-flexible and non-deformable tubular sheaths (27) which are each inserted, on one of the edges (21, 22) of the upper (10) to be adjusted, between the last return (20) located at the instep (13) and the guiding double tunnel (25) against which they take support.
7. Boot according to claim 6, characterized in that the tongue (23), the semi-flexible sheaths (27), the double tunnel (25) and the returns (20) for the strands (18') of the lace (18) are mounted on flexible wings (40) coming from a U-shaped piece which serve as a substitute, at least partially, for the edges (21, 22) of the upper (10) that are adapted to be adjusted on the foot, the bottom portion (14) of the upper (10) being obtained with a front opening (41) exposing the top of the foot and adapted to the U-shaped piece.
8. Boot according to claim 7, characterized in that the returns (20) are mounted and fixed on the flexible wings (40).
9. Boot according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the returns (20) are directly fixed on the edges (20, 21) of the upper (10).
10. Boot according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the ends (29) of the strands (18') of the lace (18) are attached by means of a locking mechanism (34).
11. Boot according to claim 10, characterized in that the ends (29) of the strands (18') of the lace (18) are connected to one another via a maneuvering handle (25).

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