CA2055564A1 - Sport equipment with hook-and-loop fasteners - Google Patents
Sport equipment with hook-and-loop fastenersInfo
- Publication number
- CA2055564A1 CA2055564A1 CA 2055564 CA2055564A CA2055564A1 CA 2055564 A1 CA2055564 A1 CA 2055564A1 CA 2055564 CA2055564 CA 2055564 CA 2055564 A CA2055564 A CA 2055564A CA 2055564 A1 CA2055564 A1 CA 2055564A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- hook
- sport equipment
- shoe
- loop fastener
- combination
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 235000001674 Agaricus brunnescens Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 17
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009194 climbing Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003137 locomotive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 241001076195 Lampsilis ovata Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000027455 binding Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009739 binding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
- A63C17/26—Roller skates; Skate-boards with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C1/00—Skates
- A63C1/18—Skates fastened by means of straps
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
- A63C17/26—Roller skates; Skate-boards with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
- A63C17/262—Roller skates; Skate-boards with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices with foot bindings or supports therefor
Landscapes
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A hook-and-loop fastener is used for providing a non-slip connection between a shoe and a sport equipment such as skis, skates, scooters, roller skates, surf boards, snow boards and the like.
Description
2 ~
SPORT_EOUIPMENT WITH HOOK-AND-LOOP FASTENERS
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a novel method of fastening sport footwear to sport equipmant by means of hook-and-loop fasteners.
Backqround of the Invention The firm, non-sliding connection of footwear, particularly sport footwear of all kinds to sport equipment such as ice skates, roller skates, skis and bicycle pedals, is an important prerequisite for the safe use of such sport equipment.
A number of different ways of providing this firm, non-sliding connection between footwear and sport equipment are known, such as the firm, inseparable bolt~d connection with the sport equipment, so that shoe and sport equipment form a unit, as in the case of ice skates and roller skates, for example.
Detachable devices such as sXi bindings of different types for down-hill and cross-country skiing are also known. Another method is to connect the shoe and the sport equipment with the aid of clamps, clamp straps, braces and the like, such as the pedals of racing bicycles or the holding devices on snow shoes.
All of these methods, however, have inherent disadvantages of an economic or structural nature. In the case of inseparably connected units of shoe and sport equipment, the fact that people : . . ~ ,. . ;
~ ' '' `. . ' ` ~ ' :
., 2 ~ 4 have different shoe sizes must be taken into account by the trade, which involves keeping large inventories of thPse expensive units in the most popular sizes. Large inventories inherently make the sport equipment significantly more expensive.
In the case of detachable connections, such as clamp straps, clamps, buckles, clasps and the like, there is always the danger that the connection between the shoe and the sport equipment will become loose after short periods of use, so that the direct transfer of force from the foot of the wearer to the sport equipment is less complete and experiences slippage, which is an impediment to the use of the equipment and may even make the use dangerous. If this situation is to be remedied by making the connection tighter, a considerable pressure is exerted on the foot of the user, which may be very uncomfortable or even painful. To avoid this possibility, shoes made of extremely compression-proof plastic were provided. However, such shoes impede the mobility of the foot itself and the feeling for locomotor events, and greatly limit the influence of the action of forces from the foot upon such locomotor events. As any skier knows, it is almost impossible to walk in such shoes.
Objects of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide means for producing an absolutely slippage-proof connection between the shoe and the sporting equipment, which does not exert an ;
.
" ,.
2~5~
unpleasant pressure on the foot, can be detached in a simple manner from the sport equipment and, when the sport equipment is taken off, makes the shoe suitable for unimpeded walking, hiking and climbing in the country on paths and roads and in the snow.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.
Des ription of the Invention The above object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a sport equipment of the type referred to above in the region which comes in contact with the tread of the user's shoe with at least one hook-and-loop fastener element, and providing the tread of the user's shoe with at least one corresponding hook-and-loop fastener element so that when the shoe and the sport equipment are brought into contact with each other, a firm, non-sliding hook-and-loop fastener connection is made between the shoe and the sport equipment.
Hook-and-loop-fasteners are well known and are used by the millions as fastening elements for clothing, shoes and functional objects such as pocketbooks, knapsacks and the like. They are commonly referred to as Velcro~ fasteners.
Such hook-and-loop fasteners ¢onsist of a sturdy plastic fabric on which a plurality of very fine, stron~ plastic hooks are affixed, and a similar fabric onto which a plurality of very .
, ,.
2 ~
fine, strong loops are woven, which forms the other half of the fastener assembly. When the hook element and the loop element are brought together, an absolutely slippage-proof connection is formed which can, however, be relatively easily undone again by peeling the pieces apart.
The present invention makes use of these properties and advantages of the hook-and-loop fastener for accomplishing the above described object of the invention, and creates therewith a completely new and progressive method of fastening and connecting sport equipment with the shoe of the user, by utilizing the property of hook-and-loop fasteners of providing a firm, inseparable connection in the direction of a horizontal pull and at the same time easy separability by means of a vertical pull, that is, by peeling apart.
Preferably, however, a hook-and loop fastener element is affixed to the equipment in the region of the contact with the tread of the shoe sole, and another hook-and~loop fastener element is affixed to the equipment in the region of the contact with the heel of the shoe. Aside from saving material, such an arrangement also provides design possibilities, for example in the sense that the heel region of a roller skate can be made higher so as to do justice to the posture of the foot.
The novel method of fastening sport equipment to shoes in accordance with the present invention results in appreciably easier handling, improvement in the use of the sport equipment ,~
2 ~
and, in particular, significantly more varied possibilities of using the sport equipment.
For conventional roller skating and ice skating, the shoe and the roller skate or ice skate are usually firmly bolted together and form an inseparable unit. For this reason every member of the family requires this inseparable combination of shoe and sport equipment individually for himself or herself. On the other hand, the hook-and-loop fastener according to the present invention makes it possible for different users with different shoe sizes to use a single unit of sport equipment.
For the trade, this improvement results in a considerable reduction of inventory, because ik is no longer necessary to keep all of the expensive combinations of sport equipment and shoes in all the customary sizes in stock. Instead, only one size is required for the sport equipment itself, and only the shoes must be kept in inventory in all the usual sizes. A further advantage of the method of fastening the sport equipment and the shoe together in accordance with the invention resides in that the shoe is held absolutely firmly against the sport equipment, and every movement of the foot takes place without slippage, so that the mo~ements which are carried out by the user are transferred directly to the sport equipment. A further advantage resides in that, due to the separation of shoe and sport equipment made possible in this way, the hsok-and-loop fastener can be undone quickly by peeling it off, for example, in order to walk Uphill .
' ~
2 ~
in the shoes alone, while carrying khe sport equipment on the shoulders and putting the sport equipment on again when the terrain permits the use of it.
To prevent damage to the hook-and-loop fastening element attached to the shoes while walking in the shoes, the loop element is preferably used for attachment to the shoe, and the hook element is attached to the sport equipment.
The object of a very advantageous further embodiment of the invention is to make it possible to use the shoes which are provided with a hook-and-loop fastener element even when the sport equipment is taken off, for example when walking uphill, without damaging the hook-and-loop element fastened to the shoe sole. This embodiment consists of a protective hook-and-loop fastener element in the form of a sole which is provided with a hook-and-loop fastener element similar to the hook-and-loop fastener element on the sport equipment. When the sport equipment is released and taken off, this protective hook-and-loop ~astener element is affixed to the hook-and-loop fastener element attached to the shoe. The shoe is thus provided with a conventional sole which protects the hooks and loops themselves.
This protective hook-and-loop fastener element can be provided on the reverse side with any profiling that may be desirable, so that a fully adequate hiking or mountain climbing shoe results.
The possibilities of using the method of the invention for attaching sport equipment to shoes are extremely varied.
, 2 ~
preferred use of the hook-and-loop fastening method according to the invention is with skis. Because of the length of skis, it is advisable to construct the hook-and-loop fastener in a single piece approximately the length of a shoe.
Another advantageous method of using the hook-and-loop fastening method according to the present invention relates to ice skates, for which the savings effect becomes particularly noticeable in a larger family, for example. Heretofore, every member of the family required a particular combination of ice skate and shoe which was firmly bolted together. Now, however, a single pair of ice skates can be used by each and every member of the family, and only the individually fitting shoes are required for each person.
Furthermore, the novel method of connecting sport equipment to shoes according to the present invention can be used most effectively with roller skis, a sport equipment which makes it possible to imitate skiing even during the summer and consists of a base plate on which rollers or wheels are mounted. The possibility of putting on the roller ski quickly and safely and of taking it off again just as quickly is particularly advantageous and makes the use of the roller ski easier~
An especially preferred embodiment of the invention resides in the use of the hook-and-loop fastening method of the present invention with roller skates which are used by millions of children and young people. The problems with roller skates are ~, ' 2 ~
~ HLM 207-PFF/WGW
similar to those with ice skates, and until now roller skate and shoe could only be used as a unit by one person.
A further advantageous use of the new means of fastening sport equipment to shoes is with conventional scooters. In its inherent nature, the scooter frequently harbors the danger of slipping off, particularly under wet conditions. The use of the hook-and-loop fastener means provides a much better hold and thus also permits higher speeds because the transfer of force from foot to scooter is far more effective. On the other hand, the hook-and-loop fastener connection separates in the event of a tumble and releases the scooter, because a leverage force generally becomes effective in such a tumble and leads to the undoing of the hook-and-loop fastener assembly.
The use of the hook-and-loop fastener method of the present invention with a surf board or wind surf board has the advantage that the user of a board of such construction has a firm connection with the board, so that the forces derived from the motions of his body can be passed on csmpletely to the board, and because of that higher speeds and more daring turns are possible and the danger of slipping off, which exists especially when surfing and riding waves, no longer exists. On the other hand, under extreme loads such as when tumbling, it is of advantage that because of the then occurring tilting and levering action the connection made by the hook~and-loop fastener is undone and the user is separated from the board.
. .
2 ~
The method of the present invention has also special significance in alpine rescue systems, particularly for use with snow boards with which the victim of an accident must be brought to the valley, frequently under the most difficult conditions, and with which the use of the hook-and loop fastener leads to greater safety and makes a rescue possible even where the use of conventional snow boards was heretofore not possible.
The hook-and-loop fastener method according to the present invention can also find advantageous use on sport equipment equipped with pedals in the widest sense. Such equipment includes primarily bicycles, particularly racing bicycles. For bicycle racing, a firm connection betwaen the foot of the bicycle rider and the pedal is frequently established by means of toe clips and tapes, so that the foot will not slide off the pedal and forces will be optimally transferred to the pedal. The disadvantage of this type of connection resides in that, in the event of a fall, this firm connection remains in existence and very serious injuries may result at the high speeds which a racing bicyclist attains. On the other hand, the use of the hook-and-loop fastener method according to the invention on a bicycle pedal has all the advantages of a firm connection as well as the appreciable benefit that this connection, in the event of a fall, will come undone automatically due to the forces that are exerted perpendicularly to the two-dimensionally formed hook-and-loop fastener connection.
_ g _ 2 ~ g ~
A further area of application on sport equipment equipped with pedals is in the area of the home trainer and medical equipment with pedals, such as that for recording a stress electrocardiogram. Since such equipment is frequently used by older persons, the danger of slipping off and of injuries is particularly great.
It is difficult to give an exhaustive list of the possible uses of the method according to the present invention, because the basic principle is largely the same for all possible applications.
Therefore, in the attached drawings, the invention is illustrated-merely with the aid of the advantageous examples of a roller skate, a roller blade, an ice skate, a ski and a bicycle pedal which have been provided with a hook-and-loop fastener.
The function of the clips and clamp straps shown in the drawings is not to establish a firm connection between the shoe of the user and the sport equipment; instead, they are only intended to prevent any inadvertent leveraging and thereby releasing the hook-and-loop fastener connection.
The examples shown in the attached drawings illustrate the present invention and will enable others skilled in the art to understand it more completely. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited solely to the particular examples shown in these drawings.
; ., ': :
2 ~
UHI~ 207-PFF/WGW
Brief Description of the Drawin~s -FIGS. 1 and 2 show two typical embodiments of a hook-and-loop fastener.
FIG. 3 shows a roller skate attached to a shoe by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
FIG. 4 shows a roller blade attached to a shoe by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
FIG. 5 shows an ice skate attached to a shoe by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
- FIG. 6 shows a bicycle pedal with a closed tread surface and a hook-and-loop fastener element attached thereto.
FIG. 7 shows a bicycle pedal with an open tread surface which has strips of hook and-loop fasteners attachsd thereto.
FIG. 8 shows a ski with a hook-and-loop fastener strip attached to the area which comes in contact with the skier's shoe.
The same reference symbols have been used for individual parts having the same function, even if these parts are present -:.. . . .
. . . .
3~$~
in different embodiments. Regardle5s of whether the entire or only one element of the hook-and-loop fastener is shown, the latter has been labeled uniformly with reference numeral 9.
Referring now to FIGS. l and 2, the loops 2 of a hook-and-loop fastener element for shoes are mounted on a support 1. In the example of FIG. 1, the loops are engaged by hooks 4 on a support 3, while in the example of FIG. 2 the loops are engaged by mushroom head hooks 5 on a support 3.
In FIG. 3 a roller skate has two rollers 7 on each of two axes 6, the rollers 7 being disposed below a base plate 16. In FIG. 4, the four rollers 7 are disposed one behind the other on four axes 6. In both of these Figures, two hook-and-loop fastener pads are attached to the base plate 16 of the skate in the area which will come in contact with the sole and the heel of the shoe, respectively, and these two pads are in firm connection with corresponding hook-and-loop fastener pads attached to the sole and heel of the shoe 11. The combination thus forms the hook-and-loop fastener 9 by means of which the shoe 11 is firmly connected with the base plate 16. The clamp straps lO serve to fasten the shoe 11 vertically on the base plate 16 and can be shifted in the longitudinal direction on a sliding rail 17 on each side, so that an adaptation to different shoe sizes is possible. In FIG. 4 the rear hook-and-loop fastener 9 is set higher than the front one.
2~5~
In FIG. 5, the shoe 11 is connected with an ice ~kate 15 by means of two hook-and-loop fasteners 9 in similar fashion.
In FIG. 6 a hook-and-loop fastener pad 9 is attached to the entire surface of a closed bicycle pedal 12.
In FIG. 7, hook~and-loop fastener pads are attached to the appropriate contact areas of an open bicycle pedal 13.
FIG. 8 shows a ski with a hook and-loop fastener pad 9 attached thereto, which in this case has a length corresponding to that of the largest shoe with which the ski is expected to be used, that is, a length of about 30 cm.
While the present invention has been illustrated with the aid of certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be readily apparent to others skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be made without department from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
, ..
.
SPORT_EOUIPMENT WITH HOOK-AND-LOOP FASTENERS
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a novel method of fastening sport footwear to sport equipmant by means of hook-and-loop fasteners.
Backqround of the Invention The firm, non-sliding connection of footwear, particularly sport footwear of all kinds to sport equipment such as ice skates, roller skates, skis and bicycle pedals, is an important prerequisite for the safe use of such sport equipment.
A number of different ways of providing this firm, non-sliding connection between footwear and sport equipment are known, such as the firm, inseparable bolt~d connection with the sport equipment, so that shoe and sport equipment form a unit, as in the case of ice skates and roller skates, for example.
Detachable devices such as sXi bindings of different types for down-hill and cross-country skiing are also known. Another method is to connect the shoe and the sport equipment with the aid of clamps, clamp straps, braces and the like, such as the pedals of racing bicycles or the holding devices on snow shoes.
All of these methods, however, have inherent disadvantages of an economic or structural nature. In the case of inseparably connected units of shoe and sport equipment, the fact that people : . . ~ ,. . ;
~ ' '' `. . ' ` ~ ' :
., 2 ~ 4 have different shoe sizes must be taken into account by the trade, which involves keeping large inventories of thPse expensive units in the most popular sizes. Large inventories inherently make the sport equipment significantly more expensive.
In the case of detachable connections, such as clamp straps, clamps, buckles, clasps and the like, there is always the danger that the connection between the shoe and the sport equipment will become loose after short periods of use, so that the direct transfer of force from the foot of the wearer to the sport equipment is less complete and experiences slippage, which is an impediment to the use of the equipment and may even make the use dangerous. If this situation is to be remedied by making the connection tighter, a considerable pressure is exerted on the foot of the user, which may be very uncomfortable or even painful. To avoid this possibility, shoes made of extremely compression-proof plastic were provided. However, such shoes impede the mobility of the foot itself and the feeling for locomotor events, and greatly limit the influence of the action of forces from the foot upon such locomotor events. As any skier knows, it is almost impossible to walk in such shoes.
Objects of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide means for producing an absolutely slippage-proof connection between the shoe and the sporting equipment, which does not exert an ;
.
" ,.
2~5~
unpleasant pressure on the foot, can be detached in a simple manner from the sport equipment and, when the sport equipment is taken off, makes the shoe suitable for unimpeded walking, hiking and climbing in the country on paths and roads and in the snow.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.
Des ription of the Invention The above object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a sport equipment of the type referred to above in the region which comes in contact with the tread of the user's shoe with at least one hook-and-loop fastener element, and providing the tread of the user's shoe with at least one corresponding hook-and-loop fastener element so that when the shoe and the sport equipment are brought into contact with each other, a firm, non-sliding hook-and-loop fastener connection is made between the shoe and the sport equipment.
Hook-and-loop-fasteners are well known and are used by the millions as fastening elements for clothing, shoes and functional objects such as pocketbooks, knapsacks and the like. They are commonly referred to as Velcro~ fasteners.
Such hook-and-loop fasteners ¢onsist of a sturdy plastic fabric on which a plurality of very fine, stron~ plastic hooks are affixed, and a similar fabric onto which a plurality of very .
, ,.
2 ~
fine, strong loops are woven, which forms the other half of the fastener assembly. When the hook element and the loop element are brought together, an absolutely slippage-proof connection is formed which can, however, be relatively easily undone again by peeling the pieces apart.
The present invention makes use of these properties and advantages of the hook-and-loop fastener for accomplishing the above described object of the invention, and creates therewith a completely new and progressive method of fastening and connecting sport equipment with the shoe of the user, by utilizing the property of hook-and-loop fasteners of providing a firm, inseparable connection in the direction of a horizontal pull and at the same time easy separability by means of a vertical pull, that is, by peeling apart.
Preferably, however, a hook-and loop fastener element is affixed to the equipment in the region of the contact with the tread of the shoe sole, and another hook-and~loop fastener element is affixed to the equipment in the region of the contact with the heel of the shoe. Aside from saving material, such an arrangement also provides design possibilities, for example in the sense that the heel region of a roller skate can be made higher so as to do justice to the posture of the foot.
The novel method of fastening sport equipment to shoes in accordance with the present invention results in appreciably easier handling, improvement in the use of the sport equipment ,~
2 ~
and, in particular, significantly more varied possibilities of using the sport equipment.
For conventional roller skating and ice skating, the shoe and the roller skate or ice skate are usually firmly bolted together and form an inseparable unit. For this reason every member of the family requires this inseparable combination of shoe and sport equipment individually for himself or herself. On the other hand, the hook-and-loop fastener according to the present invention makes it possible for different users with different shoe sizes to use a single unit of sport equipment.
For the trade, this improvement results in a considerable reduction of inventory, because ik is no longer necessary to keep all of the expensive combinations of sport equipment and shoes in all the customary sizes in stock. Instead, only one size is required for the sport equipment itself, and only the shoes must be kept in inventory in all the usual sizes. A further advantage of the method of fastening the sport equipment and the shoe together in accordance with the invention resides in that the shoe is held absolutely firmly against the sport equipment, and every movement of the foot takes place without slippage, so that the mo~ements which are carried out by the user are transferred directly to the sport equipment. A further advantage resides in that, due to the separation of shoe and sport equipment made possible in this way, the hsok-and-loop fastener can be undone quickly by peeling it off, for example, in order to walk Uphill .
' ~
2 ~
in the shoes alone, while carrying khe sport equipment on the shoulders and putting the sport equipment on again when the terrain permits the use of it.
To prevent damage to the hook-and-loop fastening element attached to the shoes while walking in the shoes, the loop element is preferably used for attachment to the shoe, and the hook element is attached to the sport equipment.
The object of a very advantageous further embodiment of the invention is to make it possible to use the shoes which are provided with a hook-and-loop fastener element even when the sport equipment is taken off, for example when walking uphill, without damaging the hook-and-loop element fastened to the shoe sole. This embodiment consists of a protective hook-and-loop fastener element in the form of a sole which is provided with a hook-and-loop fastener element similar to the hook-and-loop fastener element on the sport equipment. When the sport equipment is released and taken off, this protective hook-and-loop ~astener element is affixed to the hook-and-loop fastener element attached to the shoe. The shoe is thus provided with a conventional sole which protects the hooks and loops themselves.
This protective hook-and-loop fastener element can be provided on the reverse side with any profiling that may be desirable, so that a fully adequate hiking or mountain climbing shoe results.
The possibilities of using the method of the invention for attaching sport equipment to shoes are extremely varied.
, 2 ~
preferred use of the hook-and-loop fastening method according to the invention is with skis. Because of the length of skis, it is advisable to construct the hook-and-loop fastener in a single piece approximately the length of a shoe.
Another advantageous method of using the hook-and-loop fastening method according to the present invention relates to ice skates, for which the savings effect becomes particularly noticeable in a larger family, for example. Heretofore, every member of the family required a particular combination of ice skate and shoe which was firmly bolted together. Now, however, a single pair of ice skates can be used by each and every member of the family, and only the individually fitting shoes are required for each person.
Furthermore, the novel method of connecting sport equipment to shoes according to the present invention can be used most effectively with roller skis, a sport equipment which makes it possible to imitate skiing even during the summer and consists of a base plate on which rollers or wheels are mounted. The possibility of putting on the roller ski quickly and safely and of taking it off again just as quickly is particularly advantageous and makes the use of the roller ski easier~
An especially preferred embodiment of the invention resides in the use of the hook-and-loop fastening method of the present invention with roller skates which are used by millions of children and young people. The problems with roller skates are ~, ' 2 ~
~ HLM 207-PFF/WGW
similar to those with ice skates, and until now roller skate and shoe could only be used as a unit by one person.
A further advantageous use of the new means of fastening sport equipment to shoes is with conventional scooters. In its inherent nature, the scooter frequently harbors the danger of slipping off, particularly under wet conditions. The use of the hook-and-loop fastener means provides a much better hold and thus also permits higher speeds because the transfer of force from foot to scooter is far more effective. On the other hand, the hook-and-loop fastener connection separates in the event of a tumble and releases the scooter, because a leverage force generally becomes effective in such a tumble and leads to the undoing of the hook-and-loop fastener assembly.
The use of the hook-and-loop fastener method of the present invention with a surf board or wind surf board has the advantage that the user of a board of such construction has a firm connection with the board, so that the forces derived from the motions of his body can be passed on csmpletely to the board, and because of that higher speeds and more daring turns are possible and the danger of slipping off, which exists especially when surfing and riding waves, no longer exists. On the other hand, under extreme loads such as when tumbling, it is of advantage that because of the then occurring tilting and levering action the connection made by the hook~and-loop fastener is undone and the user is separated from the board.
. .
2 ~
The method of the present invention has also special significance in alpine rescue systems, particularly for use with snow boards with which the victim of an accident must be brought to the valley, frequently under the most difficult conditions, and with which the use of the hook-and loop fastener leads to greater safety and makes a rescue possible even where the use of conventional snow boards was heretofore not possible.
The hook-and-loop fastener method according to the present invention can also find advantageous use on sport equipment equipped with pedals in the widest sense. Such equipment includes primarily bicycles, particularly racing bicycles. For bicycle racing, a firm connection betwaen the foot of the bicycle rider and the pedal is frequently established by means of toe clips and tapes, so that the foot will not slide off the pedal and forces will be optimally transferred to the pedal. The disadvantage of this type of connection resides in that, in the event of a fall, this firm connection remains in existence and very serious injuries may result at the high speeds which a racing bicyclist attains. On the other hand, the use of the hook-and-loop fastener method according to the invention on a bicycle pedal has all the advantages of a firm connection as well as the appreciable benefit that this connection, in the event of a fall, will come undone automatically due to the forces that are exerted perpendicularly to the two-dimensionally formed hook-and-loop fastener connection.
_ g _ 2 ~ g ~
A further area of application on sport equipment equipped with pedals is in the area of the home trainer and medical equipment with pedals, such as that for recording a stress electrocardiogram. Since such equipment is frequently used by older persons, the danger of slipping off and of injuries is particularly great.
It is difficult to give an exhaustive list of the possible uses of the method according to the present invention, because the basic principle is largely the same for all possible applications.
Therefore, in the attached drawings, the invention is illustrated-merely with the aid of the advantageous examples of a roller skate, a roller blade, an ice skate, a ski and a bicycle pedal which have been provided with a hook-and-loop fastener.
The function of the clips and clamp straps shown in the drawings is not to establish a firm connection between the shoe of the user and the sport equipment; instead, they are only intended to prevent any inadvertent leveraging and thereby releasing the hook-and-loop fastener connection.
The examples shown in the attached drawings illustrate the present invention and will enable others skilled in the art to understand it more completely. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited solely to the particular examples shown in these drawings.
; ., ': :
2 ~
UHI~ 207-PFF/WGW
Brief Description of the Drawin~s -FIGS. 1 and 2 show two typical embodiments of a hook-and-loop fastener.
FIG. 3 shows a roller skate attached to a shoe by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
FIG. 4 shows a roller blade attached to a shoe by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
FIG. 5 shows an ice skate attached to a shoe by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
- FIG. 6 shows a bicycle pedal with a closed tread surface and a hook-and-loop fastener element attached thereto.
FIG. 7 shows a bicycle pedal with an open tread surface which has strips of hook and-loop fasteners attachsd thereto.
FIG. 8 shows a ski with a hook-and-loop fastener strip attached to the area which comes in contact with the skier's shoe.
The same reference symbols have been used for individual parts having the same function, even if these parts are present -:.. . . .
. . . .
3~$~
in different embodiments. Regardle5s of whether the entire or only one element of the hook-and-loop fastener is shown, the latter has been labeled uniformly with reference numeral 9.
Referring now to FIGS. l and 2, the loops 2 of a hook-and-loop fastener element for shoes are mounted on a support 1. In the example of FIG. 1, the loops are engaged by hooks 4 on a support 3, while in the example of FIG. 2 the loops are engaged by mushroom head hooks 5 on a support 3.
In FIG. 3 a roller skate has two rollers 7 on each of two axes 6, the rollers 7 being disposed below a base plate 16. In FIG. 4, the four rollers 7 are disposed one behind the other on four axes 6. In both of these Figures, two hook-and-loop fastener pads are attached to the base plate 16 of the skate in the area which will come in contact with the sole and the heel of the shoe, respectively, and these two pads are in firm connection with corresponding hook-and-loop fastener pads attached to the sole and heel of the shoe 11. The combination thus forms the hook-and-loop fastener 9 by means of which the shoe 11 is firmly connected with the base plate 16. The clamp straps lO serve to fasten the shoe 11 vertically on the base plate 16 and can be shifted in the longitudinal direction on a sliding rail 17 on each side, so that an adaptation to different shoe sizes is possible. In FIG. 4 the rear hook-and-loop fastener 9 is set higher than the front one.
2~5~
In FIG. 5, the shoe 11 is connected with an ice ~kate 15 by means of two hook-and-loop fasteners 9 in similar fashion.
In FIG. 6 a hook-and-loop fastener pad 9 is attached to the entire surface of a closed bicycle pedal 12.
In FIG. 7, hook~and-loop fastener pads are attached to the appropriate contact areas of an open bicycle pedal 13.
FIG. 8 shows a ski with a hook and-loop fastener pad 9 attached thereto, which in this case has a length corresponding to that of the largest shoe with which the ski is expected to be used, that is, a length of about 30 cm.
While the present invention has been illustrated with the aid of certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be readily apparent to others skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be made without department from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
, ..
.
Claims (11)
1. In combination, a sport equipment, a shoe and means for attaching said sport equipment to said shoe, said means comprising a hook-and-loop fastener element attached to said sport equipment and a hook-and-loop fastener element attached to the sole of said shoe, said hook-and-loop fastening elements being in interlocking contact with each other to form a hook-and-loop fastener connection.
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said hook-and-loop fastener element attached to said sport equipment is comprised of a hook-and-loop fastener element in the region of the tread of the sole of said shoe and another hook-and-loop fastener element in the region of the tread of the heel of said shoe.
3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the hook-and-loop fastener element attached to the sport equipment comprises hooks or mushroom heads attached to a support.
4. The combination of claim l, wherein said sport equipment is a ski.
5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is an ice skate.
6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is a scooter.
7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is a roller skate.
8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is a surf board.
9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is a wind surf board.
10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is a snow board.
11. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sport equipment is the pedal of a bicycle.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19914123844 DE4123844A1 (en) | 1991-07-18 | 1991-07-18 | Sports-gear for attachment to a shoe or boot - has interlocking fastening with hooks and flat-headed protuberances, for skates, boards etc. |
| DEP4123844.3 | 1991-07-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2055564A1 true CA2055564A1 (en) | 1993-01-20 |
Family
ID=6436469
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2055564 Abandoned CA2055564A1 (en) | 1991-07-18 | 1991-11-14 | Sport equipment with hook-and-loop fasteners |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH05200140A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2055564A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4123844A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE29609525U1 (en) * | 1996-05-29 | 1996-08-22 | Bader, Eugen, 86381 Krumbach | spat |
| DE202004007264U1 (en) * | 2004-05-06 | 2005-09-15 | Machens Roman | Roller skating device for roller skating on the spot comprises a ramp covered with an exchangeable friction coating |
| US8381616B2 (en) | 2009-05-27 | 2013-02-26 | Huffy Corporation | Pedal for tricycles, bicycles, and similar vehicles having graphic designs |
| KR102137030B1 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2020-07-23 | 배이지 | Bicycle Pedal Assist |
| JP7410587B2 (en) * | 2022-05-16 | 2024-01-10 | 一成 宮城 | surf skateboard |
| KR102781595B1 (en) * | 2022-12-29 | 2025-03-13 | 경희대학교 산학협력단 | Damping shoes for providing resistive force |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE8008225U1 (en) * | 1980-10-16 | Thimm-Dorner, Ute-Ursula, 8000 Muenchen | Roller skate, ice skate or the like | |
| DE7315491U (en) * | 1973-08-02 | Biancone B | Single-track roller skate with the possibility of attaching an ice skate | |
| US2998260A (en) * | 1960-01-26 | 1961-08-29 | Meyer Paul | Combined shoe and interchangeable skates |
| CH466771A (en) * | 1965-11-11 | 1968-12-15 | Voester Reinhold | Safety bindings |
| US4108452A (en) * | 1976-12-06 | 1978-08-22 | Richard Alan Baron | Skate board safety accessory |
| DE2745040A1 (en) * | 1977-10-06 | 1979-04-12 | Tec T T Wang | SHOE WITH ATTACHABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE ROLLER OR SKATE ACCESSORIES |
| DE8005010U1 (en) * | 1980-02-25 | 1981-06-11 | Donner, Arno, 8711 Abtswind | Sole for an indoor tennis shoe |
| DE8011003U1 (en) * | 1980-04-22 | 1981-03-19 | Donner, Arno, 8711 Abtswind | Sole for an indoor tennis shoe |
| CH684570A5 (en) * | 1987-10-06 | 1994-10-31 | Ferag Ag | Velcro closure, flexible strip with such a closure and use of the tape. |
-
1991
- 1991-07-18 DE DE19914123844 patent/DE4123844A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-11-14 CA CA 2055564 patent/CA2055564A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-11-15 JP JP30028791A patent/JPH05200140A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH05200140A (en) | 1993-08-10 |
| DE4123844A1 (en) | 1993-01-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |