Patent Application
20090119952
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง119 of French Patent Application No. 07 07951, filed on Nov. 13, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an article of footwear, or boot, and, more particularly, to a boot adapted for walking, skiing, sports, and other activities.
Boots of the aforementioned type can be used in fields such as cross-country skiing or telemark skiing, walking or running on flat terrain or in mountainous areas, mountaineering, snowboarding, snowshoeing, roller skating, skateboarding, cycling, ball-playing sports, or the like.
2. Description of Background and Other Information
A boot, in the general sense of the term, can have a low upper, a high upper, or a mid-upper, i.e., an upper that extends above the ankle, one that is below the ankle, or one that extends up to the level of the ankle. Generally speaking, a wearer desires the foot to be adequately supported. Indeed, good foot support in the upper results in a more efficient use of the boot.
For example, adequate support in a flexible boot, such as that in a boot used in cross-country skiing, facilitates the transmission of sensory information received from the terrain or the transmission of forces during the rolling movement of the foot as the foot is raised from and returns to the ski during skiing. A device for tightening the upper is adapted to support the user's foot, especially in the area of the instep.
Conventionally, a tightening device includes a linkage, such as a lace, on the one hand, and connections, such as eyelets or connections of another type, for the lace to the upper. These connections are typically defined by keepers or guides that are associated with lateral and medial portions or quarters of the upper. The lace typically follows a path along which it runs alternatively from one quarter to the other. Thus, it suffices to pull on the lace to bring the quarters in a direction toward one another to tighten the upper on the foot or on the foot and lower leg. Then, blocking the lace keeps the upper tightened.
One objective that a good tightening device must achieve is holding the foot within the boot. In particular, when skating, i.e., cross-country skiing with skating steps, it is important to hold the foot adequately in a transverse direction of the boot, which enables the skier to exert a more precise transverse thrust. Thus, ill-timed movements of the foot in the boot, especially in the area of the instep, should be avoided.
Indeed, when the foot moves within the upper, in the area of the instep or elsewhere, the sensory information or steering forces are transmitted less precisely. Consequently, performance, especially in sports, is adversely affected.
Moreover, repeated foot movements in the upper can translate into friction that causes discomfort and injury to the foot.
To improve foot support in the upper, it has been proposed to add a linkage to tighten the instep zone.
Such an example is provided in the document DE 77 29 564 U, in which a boot includes not only a conventional tightening device, i.e., one having a lace and keepers arranged to tighten the upper and to allow the upper to be loosened, but also a linkage provided to tighten the instep zone. This linkage extends from a lateral portion to a medial portion of the boot, along a transverse plane. The linkage adds tightening force to that exerted by the device. As a consequence, the foot is more tightly held in the area of the instep and/or in the area of the metatarsus. This means that the foot is biased toward the sole with greater force.
However, a boot according to the document DE 77 29 564 U has shown that foot support is sometimes incomplete. In particular, undesired foot movements are still observed in the upper, in the area of the instep.
In other words, it is still desirable to improve foot support, especially transverse support, in a boot.
In view of the above, among other features, the invention improves foot support in the boot or, in other words, the invention reduces, or even eliminates, ill-timed foot displacements within the boot, especially in the transverse direction.
In addition, the invention provides for a more comfortable boot, whether in a static mode or in a dynamic mode, i.e., whether or not the wearer is in motion. Indeed, whether at rest or in motion, the wearer of a boot according to the invention senses forces, received or transmitted through the boot, that are comfortable, such as forces occurring during cross-country skiing, walking, or while the wearer is engaged in other sports or activities.
To this end, the invention provides a boot having a sole and an upper, the boot extending lengthwise from a heel to a front end, widthwise between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and height-wise from the sole to an upper end.
The boot according to the invention includes a reinforcement that is more rigid than the upper, at least in the region of the instep, the reinforcement including a lateral wall and/or a medial wall, and extending plumb with the instep, i.e., vertically beneath the instep. Further, the boot includes a transverse linkage provided to tighten the instep zone, the linkage extending from the lateral portion to the medial portion in a transverse plane of the boot.
The transverse linkage is tensioned and reversibly kept tensioned by any known arrangement. For example, the transverse linkage can include a lateral portion and a medial portion, as well as a reversible tightening mechanism.
Therefore, the reinforcement, in the boot according to the invention, provides the foot with lateral and/or medial support, and the transverse linkage is capable of holding the user's foot on the lateral wall and/or medial wall. In other words, the transverse linkage biases the foot, not only toward the sole, but also toward the lateral and/or medial wall, i.e., toward the lateral portion and/or medial portion of the boot. As a result, the foot is transversely held better in the upper. In fact, the foot remains in contact better with the upper plumb with the instep, i.e., if not continuously, at least more often than with a prior art boot.
Additionally, the reinforcement is provided to have a bottom portion. In this case, the transverse linkage naturally biases the foot toward the bottom portion of the reinforcement.
Improved foot support in the boot, especially in a transverse direction, in the area of the instep, is among the advantages of a boot according to the invention. Indeed, the foot moves substantially less, or not at all, in the boot. As a result, the transmission of sensory information or of steering impulses is improved. In other words, steering is more precise, especially when performing skating steps, in those embodiments of a boot for cross-country skiing. Indeed, it is when the leg thrusts laterally that the foot presses transversely in the area of the reinforcement.
Another advantage resulting from the invention is increased comfort, particularly in the sense that injuries caused by unwanted movements are avoided.
Generally speaking, the boot according to the invention offers greater comfort, whether in static mode or in dynamic mode.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings showing, by way of non-limiting examples, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:
The first embodiment described hereinafter relates more particularly to boots intended for the practice of cross-country skiing or telemark skiing. However, the invention applies to other fields, such as those mentioned above.
The first embodiment is described hereinafter with reference to
As shown in
As known, the boot 1 includes a walking sole 2, or external sole, and an upper 3. The boot 1 extends lengthwise from a rear end 4, or heel, to a front end 5, or tip, and widthwise between a lateral portion 6 and a medial portion 7.
As shown, the upper 3 includes a lower portion 10, provided to surround the foot, as well as a top portion 11, provided to surround the ankle. Thus, the illustrated boot has a high upper. However, an upper of a boot according to the invention can have only the lower portion, which has a top edge extending below the ankle, i.e., a low upper, or a top edge extending up to the ankle, i.e., a mid-upper.
According to the first embodiment being described, the boot 1 extends height-wise from the sole 2 to an upper end 12, i.e., up to the free end of the top portion 11 or of the upper 3.
The boot 1 is structured so as to enable proper bending of the leg and a good rolling movement of the foot, as well as the transmission of sensory information or steering forces. Thus, the upper 3 is relatively flexible. The sole can be relatively rigid, or it can be much more flexible.
As shown more clearly in
The quarters 15, 16 are affixed to the sole by means of any of a number of known techniques or expedients, such as an adhesive, stitching, or any other equivalent. The quarters 15, 16 are arranged such that the boot 1 has an opening 17 for inserting the foot. The opening 17 extends from the upper end 12 to the front end 5. On the side of the upper end 12, the opening 17 has an upper subdivision 18 adapted to allow the foot to pass through, and also to surround the ankle after the foot has been inserted within the boot. The opening 17 has a lower subdivision 19 that enables the size of the opening and the size of the fitting volume to vary in the area of the instep, between the upper end 12 and the front end 5. The upper 18 and lower 19 subdivisions are continuous one another.
The heel 4 corresponds to the rear end of the upper 3, but also, by extension, to that portion of the upper that is located immediately above the sole and is plumb with the upper subdivision 18 of the opening 17. The heel 4 of the boot envelops the user's heel.
The upper 3 additionally includes a tongue 20, which is arranged between the lateral quarter 15 and the medial quarter 16, in the area of the lower subdivision 19 of the opening 17, in order to provide the upper 3 with continuity. However, the tongue could be omitted, in which case, the quarters 15, 16 can remain separate or overlapped. Alternatively, the quarters could be connected to one another via a gusset.
In addition, the boot 1 optionally includes a flap 25 provided to reversibly cover the lower subdivision 19 of the opening 17. The flap 25 extends from one quarter 15, 16 to the other to improve the imperviousness of the boot.
According to the first embodiment, the flap 25 is fixedly connected to the medial quarter 16. A reversible closure 26 makes it possible to also affix the flap 25 to the lateral quarter 15. For example, the reversible closure 26 includes a slide fastener, such as a zipper. However, any other structure could be provided to obtain the closure. For example, a series of snap fasteners could be used.
The boot 1 further includes a tightening device 30, provided to reduce the opening reversibly. In other words, the tightening device 30 makes it possible to tighten the upper 3 reversibly, i.e., the tightening device can be used to selectively tighten or loosen the upper according to the needs or satisfaction of the wearer, or to enable the boot to be fixed upon or to be removed from the foot and/or lower leg of the wearer.
As is known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the tightening device 30 includes, for example, a first linkage 31, a second linkage 32, as well as connections 33 for the linkages to the upper 3. Each linkage runs from one quarter 15, 16 to the other in the area of the lower subdivision 19. This arrangement makes it possible to reversibly tighten the upper 3 toward the instep, in the area of the lower subdivision 19 of the opening 17. Thus, it is possible to apply tightening to the user's foot. The boot 1 is provided with a removable blocking mechanism 34, not described in detail here, in order to keep the device 30, and therefore the upper 3, temporarily tightened.
Any other arrangement for maintaining the tightening level of the boot can be provided within the scope of the invention. In particular, the blocking mechanism could be eliminated and replaced with a knot made with the linkages.
As shown in
The bottom portion 41 of the reinforcement 40 supports the foot directly or indirectly. Consequently, the lateral 42 and medial 43 walls or sides are opposite the lateral and medial zones of the foot. Thus, in view of the relative rigidity of the reinforcement 40 and the relative rigidity of the upper 3 in the region of the instep, as well as the location of the transverse linkage 50, tightening the latter keeps the foot pressing directly or indirectly on the bottom portion 41 and on one or both walls 42, 43 of the reinforcement. This ensures that the foot is held precisely in the vertical and transverse directions, at least in the area of the transverse plane.
With particular reference to
Still according to the first embodiment of the invention, the bottom portion 41 extends from the heel 4 to the front end 5 of the boot, beyond the lateral and medial front ends 47, 49 of the lateral and medial walls 42, 43 of the reinforcement 40. In other words, the lateral and medial walls 42, 43 of the reinforcement 40 extend over a reduced length of the boot. More specifically, the lateral and medial walls 42, 43 extend from the heel 4 to a position plumb with the instep, i.e., in the area of the tightening device 30. As a result, the user's heel and instep are received in a rigid hollow form demarcated by the bottom portion 41 and the wall 45, and the front end of the foot is received on a flat portion of the reinforcement 40, at the front of the lateral and medial walls 42, 43. In fact, the flat potion of the reinforcement 40 enables bending of the forefoot, or a rolling movement, especially in the area of the toes.
The lateral and medial walls 42, 43 are substantially opposite one another, which, as explained below, makes it easier to position the transverse linkage 50 on the boot.
The reinforcement 40 is made from known materials and techniques. In a particular embodiment, the bottom portion 41 and the walls 42, 43, 44 form a unitary element, i.e., the bottom portion 41 and the walls 42, 43, 44 are made from one and only one piece of material. This element can include fibers of synthetic and/or natural materials embedded in a matrix. For example, carbon and/or glass fibers, impregnated in thermosetting or thermoformable resin, make the reinforcement 40 highly rigid, i.e., more rigid than the remainder of the upper, in particular the quarters 15, 16.
Alternatively, other materials, for example a plastic material loaded with particles and/or cut fibers, can be provided for the reinforcement 40. In such a case, the reinforcement 40 is produced by molding, i.e., injection molding or any of equivalent methods.
To cooperate with the reinforcement 40, the transverse linkage 50 is structured and arranged so as to be reversibly tightened between the lateral and medial walls 42, 43. As shown particularly in
The transverse linkage 50 is affixed to at least a portion of the reinforcement 40.
The first portion 51 extends along its length between a fastening end 54 and a free end 55. The fastening end 54 is affixed to the lateral portion 6 by means, for example, of an articulation 56 having an axis 57. The articulation 56 can include any element, such as a screw, a nut, a rivet, or the like.
More specifically, according to the first embodiment, and in a non-limiting manner, the first portion 51 is affixed directly to the reinforcement 40, in fact to the lateral wall 42 of the reinforcement.
The second portion 52 extends longitudinally between a fastening end 64 and a free end 65. The fastening end 64 is affixed to the medial portion 7 by means of any of various expedients, such as an adhesive, stitching, welding, or any equivalent.
Still in a non-limiting manner, the second portion 52 is affixed directly to the reinforcement 40, in fact to the medial wall 43 of the reinforcement.
The first connecting mechanism 53 is provided to removably connect the second portion 52 to the first portion 51, the free end 55 of the first portion 51 being above the second portion 52. This first connecting mechanism 53 includes, for example, a ratchet tightener 70 affixed to the second portion 52, in the area of the free end 66 of the latter. The connecting mechanism 53 also includes a series of teeth 71 configured and arranged on the first portion 51. The teeth 71 are distributed from the free end 55 to the vicinity of the articulation 56.
The first portion 51 is in the form of a rack, for example, made from a plastic material. The teeth 71 and the core 72 of the first portion 51, according to a particular embodiment, form a unitary element.
The tightener 70 includes a base plate 73 provided to guide the first portion 51. The base plate 73 here includes a first flange 74 and a second flange 75 connected to one another by a bridge 76. The base plate 73 is affixed to the second portion 52 by a means such as a rivet or any equivalent.
The tightener 70 includes a ratchet, articulated along an axis 77 between the flanges 74, 75. An elastic means, such as a spring, constantly biases the ratchet toward the bridge 76.
The tightener 70 further includes a drive lever 78, which includes a handling end 79, on the one hand, and a drive end 80 provided with at least one tooth 81, on the other hand.
The tightener 70 also includes a release button 85, which includes a handling end 86 provided to be actuated by hand.
The drive lever 78 and release button 85 are articulated along the same axis 87, between the flanges 74, 75. An elastic means, such as a spring, constantly biases the lever 78, such that the handling end 79 is biased toward the bridge 76. Thus, absent any outside bias, the constituent elements of the tightener 70 each occupy the positions shown in
The ratchet opposes a lengthening of the linkage 50 when the first portion 51 is positioned along the bridge 76 between the flanges 74, 75, in the base plate 73. From there, the linkage 50 can be shortened, and the upper 3 can therefore be tightened by actuating the lever 78. It suffices to turn it along the axis 87, so that the tooth 81, or teeth, drive the first portion 51. Consequently, the transverse linkage 50 becomes shorter, and the boot is more tightly tightened in the area of the instep.
In this case, the foot housed in the upper 3 is biased toward the reinforcement 40. In other words, the foot is biased toward the bottom portion 41 and toward the lateral and medial walls 42, 43, in the area of the instep. As a result, the foot is held better, i.e., there are fewer height-wise and transverse clearances. A resulting advantage is greater steering precision.
As can be understood particularly by means of
Conversely, the user can loosen the linkage, or even open it, as is the case in
Generally speaking, the reinforcement 40 and the lateral and medial quarters 15, 16 each are a part of the lateral 6 and medial 7 portions of the upper 3. According to the first embodiment of the invention, and in a non-limiting manner, the reinforcement 40 is located outside of the upper 3. Thus, the quarters 15, 16 extend along the wall 45 within the volume demarcated by the reinforcement. This provides the boot with a more pleasing appearance, and also simplifies its manufacture. However, according to an alternative embodiment according to the invention, the reinforcement 40 can be provided to be arranged further within the upper. In this case, the quarters 15, 16 at least partially envelop the reinforcement 40.
Also, the boot 1 includes a connector 89 for removable attachment to a gliding apparatus, such as a ski, via a binding. This attachment 89, for example, includes one or two transverse rods located, in certain embodiments, toward the front of the boot.
Other embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to
The second embodiment, according to
For the second embodiment of the invention, the first portion 51 is affixed directly to the reinforcement 40, more precisely to the lateral wall 42. Conversely, contrary to the first embodiment, the second portion 52 is affixed to the reinforcement 40 indirectly. In fact, the second portion 52 is affixed to the medial quarter 16 by any suitable expedient, such as an adhesive, welding, stitching, any equivalent means, or a combination of such means. It can be said that the connection of the second portion 52 to the upper 3 is farther from the sole 2 than the connection of the first portion 51. In other words, the connection of the transverse linkage 50 to the upper 3 is asymmetrical. This generates a slight difference in the tightening applied between the lateral portion 6 and the medial portion 7. The tightening is a bit stronger toward the lateral portion 6, in view of the flexibility of the quarters 15, 16 with respect to the reinforcement 40. This promotes precise support in the lateral direction.
The third embodiment of the invention is described with reference to
A feature specific to the third embodiment is the structure of the transverse linkage 100 and its position. The transverse linkage 100 includes a first portion 101, a second portion 102, and a connection 103 for permanent connection of the first portion 101 to the second portion 102. In fact, the portions 101, 102 are permanently connected to one another by the connection 103, shown in the form of an articulation. The connection 103 can include a rivet, a screw, or any equivalent.
The second portion 102 is permanently affixed to the medial portion 7, as described above for the portions 52. In addition, a ratchet tightening mechanism 110 is permanently affixed to the lateral portion 6. The transverse linkage 100 can be tightened, loosened, or opened. In this case, the first portion 101 is separated from the tightening mechanism 110. Compared to the previous embodiments, this structure offsets the tightening mechanism transversely. Here, the offset is oriented toward the lateral portion 6.
The fourth embodiment is described with reference to
A transverse linkage 130 of the boot 1 includes a single portion 131 and a tightening mechanism 140. In fact, the linkage 130 extends around the upper 3 in the transverse plane W, in the manner of a belt. In particular, the portion 131 extends through a conduit 141, or pathway, arranged in the area of the sole 2. Here again, the linkage can be tightened, loosened, and opened. Although it is not permanently affixed thereto, the linkage 130 connects the lateral 6 and medial 7 portions to one another. Here, the structure of the linkage 130 is simplified.
In any case, the invention is manufactured from materials and according to implementation techniques that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described hereinabove, but encompasses all of the technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.
In particular, the structure of a transverse linkage can be inverted, in the sense that the specific characteristics associated with a lateral portion can be transposed to a medial portion, and vice versa.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 07951 | Nov 2007 | FR | national |
