EP0298721A1

EP0298721A1 - Article of footwear

Info

Publication number: EP0298721A1
Application number: EP88306156A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Corinne Le Menn; Stephanie Girod
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-07-09
Filing date: 1988-07-06
Publication date: 1989-01-11
Also published as: KR890001482A; BR8803458A; AU1874888A; ZA884797B; JPS6427504A; FR2617685A1; PT87966A; CN1036128A

Abstract

Article of footwear, constituted by two distinct elements (l00, 200), a first, lower element (100) constituting the sole and preferably made of polyurethane, the upper face (102) of which is arched and which is integral with a toe-cap (107) at the front and with a stiffening (111) at the rear, both extending above the said upper face (102), and a second, upper element (200) constituting, by itself alone, a complete slipper comprising an upper (201) integral with a fine wearing sole (220) which is flexible to conform to the arching (103, 104) of the first element (100). Detachable means (117, 223) are provided to hold the two elements removably in assembled conditions in use when the second (200) is placed in position on the first (100), between the toe-cap (107) at the front and the stiffening (111) at the rear.

Description

Traditional articles of footwear comprise, in a single piece, a sole and an upper, themselves composed of various parts. It is sufficient to recall that the sole is the part situated under the foot, while the upper is the part which is situated above the sole: the front of the upper covers the top of the foot and, at the rear, surrounds the sides of the foot and the heel.
A well-designed article of footwear must comply with the following requirements:
the ability to be put on and taken off easily, to cover the foot comfortably,
to permit the variations of volume of the foot during walking,
to maintain the internal and external arches, not to obstruct the circulation of the blood, to permit the dynamic "progress" of the foot during walking without the article of footwear coming off.
The present invention proposes a novel solution which permits advantageous combination of the essential physiological requirements, aesthetic and other qualities.
According to the invention, the article of footwear comprises two distinct elements, which can be combined and separated.
Consideration has already been given to the use of two distinct elements. In Europe, traditionally, country people have worn light slippers with clogs, these two articles being quite independent of one another.
More recently, use has been made of shoe protectors, currently called "galoshes", consisting of water-proof ankle boots moulded in a single piece and worn over ordinary shoes.
The present invention provides a solution which is entirely different from those just mentioned.
The article of footwear according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises two distinct elements which can be held assembled in use by separable means, a first, lower element constituting the sole, the upper face of which is arched and which is integral with a toe-cap at the front and with a stiffening at the back, both extending above the said upper face, and a second, upper element constituting, by itself alone, a complete slipper comprising a flexible upper integral with a fine wearing sole, which is likewise flexible in order to match the arching of the first element, means being provided to hold the two elements removably in assembled conditions in use when the second is placed in position on the first, between the toe-cap at the front and the stiffening at the back.
The toe-cap can have an opening for the toes, and may be simply a strap-like retaining member for the front of the foot.
The invention comprises also the lower element separately, and the upper element separately, and left and right hand pairs of each such elements. Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.
One preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic perspective views of first and second elements respectively of an article of footwear according to the invention; and
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view, in longitudinal cross-section, of the two elements mentioned in combination.

The illustrated article of footwear comprises two distinct elements: a sole 100 (Figure 1) and a slipper 200 (Figure 2).
As illustrated, the sole 100 is made in a single piece, moulded in synthetic material such as polyurethane. It comprises a lower face 101 forming the wearing sole and an upper face 102 which is arched to match the normal plantar arch of the user. To this end, the arching comprises a part 103 ascending from the front to the rear, combined with a curved portion 104 rising from the side referred to as "exterior" 105 to the side referred to as "interior" 106.
The sole 100 comprises a toe-cap 107 at the front, which toe-cap is hollow. For a conventional article of footwear, the toe-cap at the front is called a "hard toecap" or "stiffening", since customarily it is effectively hard on account of its shape and, in some instances, on account of the presence of reinforcements made of leather, or even of metal. Athletic shoes for sport (basketball, tennis etc.) exhibit a flexible stiffening, laterally enveloping but of small extent on the top of the shoe, for example made of synthetic material, intimately associated with the leg. In this instance, the toe-cap 107 is flexible and even elastic, but independent, as it is intended to cover the toe-cap of the second element 200 and, consequently, to fasten the sole 100 to the second element 200, the latter being held by the foot of the user.
The toe-cap 107 at the front is curved to exhibit flanks 108 and an upper turnback 109, since this configuration is particularly adapted to the comfort of the user and helps rigidify the sole 100. However, it is possible to provide variants, particularly, as is known per se, a toe opening (not shown). When this opening is very large, it permits the passage of the entire front of the foot; this amounts to saying that the "toe-cap" 107 becomes a transverse strap (not shown).
The sole 100 likewise comprises, at the rear, a heel piece or stiffening 111 which embraces the heel of the user. This stiffening 111 may, as represented, have a median slot 112, which defines two lugs 113 and 114 which permit rolling movements of the foot without creating stresses on the stiffening 111 and which facilitate positioning of the second element 200, but, as the stiffening 111 has to help retain the user's foot, preferably slot 112 affects only the upper part of the stiffening 111, leaving the lower part intact.
The sole 100 also comprises two lateral lugs 115 and 116, which rise from the upper face 102, slightly in front of the arching 103.
The lugs 113, 114, 115 and 116 each carry the female part of a snap fastener 117, the cap of which is situated on the outside and the spring on the inside.
Before describing the second element 200, it should be noted that the sole 100 is unusable by itself, since it carries lugs 113 and 116 and snap fasteners 117, which have no reason for their existence except to interact with specially designed counterparts.
The second element 200 constitutes a light slipper, the upper 201 which is made of fabric, possibly doubled, and exhibits the essential parts of a current article of footwear: toe-cap 202, top 203, tongue 204, quarters 205 and heel piece (or stiffening) 206. In this instance, the fabric is shown with edgings 207 and 208 on the free edges of the tongue 204, quarter 205 and the heel piece 206.
For the sake of aesthetic considerations, an edging 209 has also been represented at the junction of the upper 203 and of the parts 202-205.
It is noted, in this connection, that the same shape has been given to the convex front end 210 of the upper 203 as to the concave opening 118 of the toe-cap 107 at the front. In this way, when the two elements are assembled (Figure 3) they merge into a harmonious assembly, without any effect of disparity.
The upper 201 is fixed to a wearing sole 220, enabling the element 200 to be used as a slipper, independently of the sole 100. The sole 200 must be sufficiently flexible to conform substantially to the archings 103-104 when the user puts on the assembly 100-200 (Figure 3). The sole 220 therefore functions as a wearing sole for the element 200 and an insole for the element 100.
The wearing sole 220 may comprise an extension 221 which covers the toe-cap 202 of the slipper, so that this extension 221 is situated, at least in part, below the toe-cap 107 when the two elements are combined. Thus, the toe-cap 202 is protected against wear, and an anti-slip effect is obtained, which promotes the correct retention of the elements 100 and 200.
The element 200 may have its own insole 222, especially if the upper 201 includes seams.
On its sides, the upper 201 carries the male parts 223 of four snap fasteners positioned in correspondence with the snap fasteners 117 of the element 100.
Finally, in order to facilitate the engagement of the foot in the element 200, a tab 224 is provided at the top of the heel piece 206.
When the user wishes to use the assembly of the two elements 100 and 200, especially for walking outside, he puts on the element 200, and then he places the element 100 in position, by engaging the toe-cap 202 under the toe-cap 107 and by taking care to leave the stiffening 111 outside.
He ensures the cohesion of the entire assembly by fastening the snap fasteners 117 to their counterparts 223. Instead of the snap fasteners, velcro fasteners can be used.
The lugs can be replaced by a long strap from the inside of the lower element which passes over the foot of the user to fasten to a short strap at the outside by velcro fastening. Alternatively the lower element could have an elastic loop at about the instep, passing around the user's foot. Instead of fastenings acting directly between the element at the heel, an ankle strap from the heel piece of the lower element can fasten about the user's ankle. In these arrangements, the two elements are removably held together in use with the aid of means passing around the user's foot or ankle, rather than by fasteners acting directly between the element.
It is observed, in particular in Figure 3, that the thickness of the sole 100 is variable. Moreover, it is raised by a distance x for a good "progress" of the foot during walking. This value, in practice, may be of the order of eight millimeters. The differences of thickness at the front and at the rear impart to the sole a great flexibility in its front third and a greater rigidity on its rear two-thirds. The part in line with the heel must have an average height y which is of the order of twentyfive millimeters for an article of footwear intended for a woman.
The lateral lugs 115 and 116 well maintain the sole on the slipper 200, just in front of the archings 103, 104.
The sole 100, made of polyurethane, can be washed without difficulty; this is clearly excellent from the point of view of the hygiene of the user.
It is good to provide the slipper 200 with materials which are likewise machine-washable.
The assembly according to the invention constitutes an entire assembly, but it has been understood that the slipper 200 can be used alone. Consequently, it is possible to acquire a single pair of soles and several pairs of assorted slippers, in order to modify the assembly and to harmonise it with the clothes: colour, materials, style.
It is clearly possible to have several pairs of soles 100 having, for example, basic colours: black, white, brown, grey, sea blue etc., and slippers 200 which can be coordinated with them.

Claims

1. Article of footwear, characterised in that it comprises two distinct elements (100 and 200) which can be held assembled in use by separable means (117-223), a first, lower element (100) constituting the sole, the upper face (102) of which is arched and which is integral with a toe-cap (107) at the front and with a stiffening (111) at the rear, both extending above the said upper face (102), and a second, upper element (200) constituting, by itself alone, a complete slipper comprising an upper (201) integral with a fine wearing sole (220) which is flexible to conform to the arching (103, 104) of the first element (100), means (117, 223) being provided to hold the two elements (100 and 200) removably in assembled condition in use when the second (200) is placed in position on the first (100), between the toe-cap (107) at the front and the stiffening (111) at the rear.

2. Article of footwear according to Claim 1, the second element also including a toe-cap, characterised in that the toe-cap (107) of the first element, is substantially curved and hollow so as to exhibit flanks (108) and an upper turnback (109) to cover the toe-cap (202) of the second element (200) when the latter is placed in position on the first (100).

3. Article of footwear according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the first element (100) has integral lateral lugs (115) which extend above the edges of its upper face (102) and are situated in front of the arching (103-104), the lugs carrying means for removable connection to the second element (200) when the latter is positioned on the first (100).

4. Article of footwear according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the stiffening (111) at the rear comprises components (117) for removable connection to the second element (200).

5. Article of footwear according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the first element (100) is made in a single piece, by moulding of a synthetic material such as polyurethane.

6. Article of footwear according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the arched upper face (102) of the first element (100) and the wearing sole (220) of the second element (200) are designed in a coordinated manner to avoid their relative sliding when they are in contact with one another, at least one of them having an anti-slip surface.

7. Article of footwear according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the stiffening (111) at the rear is sub-divided, at its upper part, into two lugs (113 and 114).

8. Article of footwear according to Claim 1, characterised in that the means for removably connecting the two elements (100 and 200) consist of snap fasteners (117-223) acting between said elements.

9. Article of footwear according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the second element (200) comprises an upper (201) made of fabric and an attached wearing sole (220), as well as, possibly, an insole (222), the wearing sole (220) being preferably constructed of synthetic material such as an elastomer.

10. Article of footwear according to Claim 9, the second element having a toe-cap, characterised in that the wearing sole (220) comprises an extension (221) which extends around the toe-cap (202) of the second element (200) to be situated at least partly under the toe-cap of the first element (100) when the said second element (200) is positioned thereon.