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EP0465223A2 - Chaussure de loisir - Google Patents

Chaussure de loisir Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0465223A2
EP0465223A2 EP91305998A EP91305998A EP0465223A2 EP 0465223 A2 EP0465223 A2 EP 0465223A2 EP 91305998 A EP91305998 A EP 91305998A EP 91305998 A EP91305998 A EP 91305998A EP 0465223 A2 EP0465223 A2 EP 0465223A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
boot
improved
foot
section
apertures
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91305998A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0465223A3 (en
Inventor
John F. Swigart
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rollerblade Inc
Original Assignee
Rollerblade Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rollerblade Inc filed Critical Rollerblade Inc
Publication of EP0465223A2 publication Critical patent/EP0465223A2/fr
Publication of EP0465223A3 publication Critical patent/EP0465223A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
    • A43B5/16—Skating boots
    • A43B5/1666—Skating boots characterised by the upper
    • A43B5/1683—Skating boots characterised by the upper characterised by the lower part of the upper or by the shell

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to activity boots formed of a substantially stiff, synthetic material such as may be found on footwear utilized in activities such as in-line roller-skating, ice-skating, grass or roller skiing, hiking, and the like.
  • a substantially stiff synthetic material such as polyurethane as a shell for activity boots of the just described types serves at least three important functions.
  • a relatively stiff shell functions to provide increased ankle support by resisting side to side flexing in the ankle region of the footwear.
  • a relatively stiff shell provides increased foot protection due to the shell hardness, an important factor when used in sports such as skiing, ice-skating and roller-skating where falls are common, especially for beginners.
  • shells are more durable than footwear made of leather or canvas and can better survive the abrasions suffered when employed on the asphalt or concrete surfaces typically utilized by in-line roller skaters.
  • Such boots are usually constructed to have an overall form similar to what is commonly known as a high top sneaker. That is, the boot includes an extended upper portion that reaches above the ankle, sometimes as high as the mid-calf region of the user, to provide the desired ankle support.
  • This ankle support portion may be integral with the remainder of the boot or can be a separate cuff joined to the boot.
  • these boots commonly possess a closure opening that extends along the top front portion of the boot between the area near the toe to the top of the ankle support portion. This opening, as with all such footwear openings, allows a boot to flex open for easy insertion and removal of a foot.
  • closure means such as eyelets for laces, or a plurality of buckle means, for example, are disposed on each side of the closure opening and provide a means to tighten the boot onto the foot.
  • footwear is sold with a removable liner.
  • the liner serves to protect the foot from chafing caused by the movement of the foot within the boot, the stiffness of the shell, and from the rivets by which the boot may be attached to a blade or frame holding a set of roller wheels.
  • a disadvantage of this stiff type of activity boot is that the stiffness provided by these shells prevents a close fitting of the footwear to the feet of many users. That is, the stiffness does not allow a boot to conform closely to the shape of a particular user's foot. For example, while a proper fit may be obtained in the heel and the length of the boot, a particular user's low arch may present problems obtaining a completely proper fit because the stiff shell prevents the boot from being tightened down upon the midfoot/arch region. This problem has its origin in the fact that, to be cost effective in the use of a stiff shell, manufacturers must manufacture them so that each shell fits a certain prescribed range of foot sizes.
  • the relative motions in the mid-foot can produce user discomfort as well as an energy loss and a consequent reduction in muscular efficiency. These motions could be eliminated by individually molding shells around a foot to completely personalize the fit of a boot. Such a boot would not be cost effective for the mass market, however.
  • Such a boot must be flexible enough to suit the variability of the human foot and still provide the stiffness in those shell areas where usage creates large forces. These shell areas include the sole, the heel, the ankle, and the lateral bone of the mid-foot.
  • Flexibility should be provided in the side and top of the mid-foot area to hold the foot down against the inner sole by enabling the boot to be cinched up around the varying foot heights and widths in this area. Better fitting foot wear would provide additional comfort, reduce relative motion between the boot and the foot, thereby transferring more energy into motion and thereby reducing user fatigue, provide a user with better overall balance, and provide a user with better overall control over the position of the footwear.
  • an improved activity boot providing a better fit, selectively improved flexibility, improved performance, and reduced weight
  • said boot comprising a stiff shell including an upper band, said upper band defined in part by an ankle section and a mid-foot section extending substantially from said ankle section forward to the front of said boot, said upper band including an upright opening extending from said ankle section to said front of said boot and including closure means selectively disposed along said opening for at least partially closing said opening, whereby said boot may be tightened onto a foot
  • the improvement comprising: a plurality of upright, elongated fitting apertures selectively disposed longitudinally along said mid-foot section, whereby said fitting apertures add flexibility to said stiff shell where it is desired to provide a close conformance to a user's foot while retaining stiffness in desired locations.
  • the present invention provides an activity boot having an improved fit and a method of manufacturing the same.
  • the boot includes a substantially stiff shell having an upper shell portion including a mid-foot section.
  • the mid-foot section includes a plurality of elongated apertures, each aperture having a longitudinal axis oriented along a line extending between the boot closure means and the sole of the boot.
  • each of the plurality of apertures is selectively centrally located in an area defined in part by adjacent closure means.
  • Disclosed also is a method of manufacturing such a boot comprising the steps of manufacturing the shell of the boot, determining the direction of stress forces along a line connecting the closure means, and cutting a plurality of elongated apertures in the boot, each of the apertures being orientated such that the major axis of each aperture lies parallel to the line of greatest force in the vicinity of the aperture.
  • FIG. 1 shows an in-line roller-skate 10 having a boot 16 of the type in which the present invention may find application.
  • Boot 16 is manufactured from a substantially stiff material such as polyurethane and is mounted to a frame 12 carrying wheels 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d respectively.
  • the skate includes a brake assembly 18 that may be used by a skater to stop.
  • Frame 12 is attached to boot sole 20 by known attachment means, such as rivets 22.
  • frame 12 is at:ached to boot sole 20 with a front sole plate 24 at a front sole location 26 and with a rear sole plate 28 at a rear sole location 30.
  • Frame 12 rotatably supports wheels 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d. While the in-line roller-skate shown in Figure 1 is typical of those commonly found in today's market, a more complete description of an exemplary boot can be found in U.S. Patent 4,909,523, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.
  • boot 16 includes a boot upper 36 integral with sole 20.
  • Boot upper 36 comprises a lower, protective band 38 extending upwardly from sole 20 and an upper band 40 extending upwardly from band 38 to the top of the boot.
  • Band 38 provides necessary stiffness and resistance to lateral bending in the lower portion of boot 16.
  • Band 38 is the area most subject to stresses arising from the use of boot 16 on an in-line roller skate or the like. Additionally, it protects the foot from damaging impacts due to falls.
  • Upper band 40 includes a mid-foot section 42 and an ankle supporting cuff section 44.
  • Support section 44 is a separate piece of material of the same the forming boot 16.
  • Supporting section 44 is pivotally attached to the boot at a pivot 46 disposed approximately ankle high near the front side of the boot.
  • Midfoot section 42 extends forward from supporting section 44 to the front of boot 16.
  • Boot 16 includes a foot insertion opening is disposed at the top 47 of the boot.
  • a closure opening 49 extends from foot insertion opening 45 forwardly to a boot toe 52.
  • Closure opening 49 facilitates insertion and removal of a foot into and out of boot 16 and defines a left side 51 and a right side 53 of boot 16.
  • Boot 16 includes means for closure such as lace eyelets 58 and bosses 60 whereby boot 16 may be laced tightly around a foot.
  • Other closure means such as buckles, are known in the art and are equally functional on a boot employing the present invention though they form no part thereof.
  • the lower protective band 38 includes a heel portion 48, an arch 50, and a boot toe 52.
  • boot 16 has a plurality of similar, but not necessarily identical, elongated fitting apertures 70a-70f formed in the mid-foot region of the boot.
  • Each of the apertures includes a pair of sides 74 and 76 that symmetrically diverge from a longitudinal axis 72 of the aperture from the bottom of the foot towards the closure means.
  • Sides 74 and 76 are joined at their closest confluence by a lower corner 80 and at their point of widest divergence by an upper corner 78.
  • corners 78 and 80 approximate semi-circles wherein upper corner 78 has a diameter U d and lower corner 80 has a diameter L d .
  • the ratio of L d to U d generally should be no greater than 3 to 4.
  • each aperture is defined in part by a pair of lateral sides 74 and 76, each lateral side 74, 76 having top ends 75, and 77 respectively and bottoms end 79 and 81 respectively.
  • Bottom ends 79 and 81 are spaced a distance L d apart while top ends 75 and 77 are spaced a distance U d apart, where L d ⁇ U d .
  • Lateral sides 74 and 76 are connected by a top side 78 joining top ends 75 and 77 respectively.
  • a bottom side 80 joins bottom ends 79 and 81 of lateral sides 74, 76 respectively.
  • Top and bottom sides 78 and 80 preferably have a curved configuration. Such a curved configuration need not be of a circular nature but could also be any curve that provides the upper and lower corners with rounded rather than angled corners.
  • Apertures 70a-70f are shown having the same basic geometrical shape, but of differing size. It is easily observed that aperture 70a is slightly longer than aperture 70b, that aperture 70b is slightly longer than aperture 70c, an so on. While the lengths of the apertures grow shorter from rear to front, the distances U d and L d remain substantially equal from aperture to aperture.
  • Fitting apertures such as those shown in Figures 3a and 3b are preferred over other configurations because the limited number of symmetry axes thereof provides directional properties. Thus, flexibility can be provided in desired directions rather than in all directions. Additionally, it is preferred that the fitting apertures are oriented with their longitudinal axis directed substantially parallel to the stress forces created within the boot by the closure means, rather than at an angle thereto to reduce the likelihood of material failure.
  • apertures 70a-70f decreases the overall stiffness of the material forming boot 16 in the mid-foot region, thereby providing a tighter fit around the bones of the mid-foot. That is, removal of the boot material in the locations of the various apertures enables the boot to flex more readily in the vicinity of each of the apertures. Each individual aperture then provides a localized area of extra pliancy in the area surrounding it as well as increases the overall flexibility in the mid-foot region. This additional flexure enables a boot user to close a boot more tightly in this region, thereby restraining both the relative amount of motion between the boot and the foot as well as between the bones of the mid-foot. While laces are the most commonly used kind of closure means, buckles further enable a user to obtain a tight but comfortable fit since each buckle is typically capable of being individually and locally adjusted whereas laces ultimately draw with a uniform tightness across the entire foot.
  • closure means such as lacing through eyelets 58 or buckles (not shown) may be more tightly drawn, thereby more closely confining individual feet and hence reducing the amount of relative motion between both the foot and the boot and the bones of the mid foot region with themselves. Because less energy is lost due to the relative motions just listed, additional energy is transmitted to the ground during push-off, the user can skate further and faster for the expenditure of the same amount of energy, the user is better able to control the position of his footwear, and in addition, the user is provided with better balance.
  • a boot such as that depicted in Figure 3a provides a user with a more comfortable fit.
  • FIG. 3b An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3b. Contrasting Figures 3a and 3b, it can be seen that each aperture 70 of Figure 3a is positioned such that its longitudinal axis substantially bisects a chord drawn between adjacent enclosure means, in this case eyelets 58. In Figure 3b however apertures 71a-71f of boot 16a are disposed such that each longitudinal axis of an aperture is aligned with the center of an eyelet 58. In all other respects, apertures 71a-71f are similar to apertures 70a-70f. The positioning of the apertures shown in Figure 3b, however, is not preferred since that particular embodiment results in greater stresses within the boot than the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3a.
  • FIGS. 3a and 3b are shown having curved upper and lower corners
  • the present invention contemplates the use of corners of other configuration.
  • the use of curved corners, particularly those having a substantially semi-circular configuration, is preferred because boot cracking and failure modes are reduced.
  • other shapes may be employed and fall within the scope of the present invention, such other shapes may increase the likelihood of boot cracking and deterioration.
  • Each boot aperture is configured such that a larger amount of material is removed from the uppermost portion of the aperture.
  • each apertures tapers from a wider top portion to a narrower bottom portion. Across the length of the boot, then, from front to back, progressively lesser material is removed from boot 16 as one progresses from the top of the boot toward the sole area. Because flexibility is related to that amount of boot material present in a particular area, this particular configuration of the apertures retains the rigidity needed in the sole area of the boot to firmly hold the foot while allowing flexibility at the top of the boot such that it may be closely fitted over the top of the foot. Utilization of slots having a larger width results in more flexible boots than those boots which have slots of a relatively narrow width.
  • the present invention contemplates varying the slot widths from top to bottom to achieve the desired flexibility and stiffness characteristics for the particular use in which the boot is found. Care must be taken to avoid making the fitting apertures too large or having too many since that would reduce the lateral support that the boot is intended to provide. Furthermore, apertures which are too small or too few in number will not provide the desired flexibility to enable a boot to be closely conformed to a user's foot.
  • the number of fitting apertures should not exceed n+l, where n is equal to the number of closure means, i.e., lace eyelets or buckles.
  • the size of the apertures will naturally vary with the size of boot upon which they are placed also, and, therefore, precise measurements for a particular boot cannot be given.
  • the diameter of the upper corner of a size 13 boot should not exceed 1.3cm(1/2 inch) while the diameter of the lower corner of the same size boot should be not larger than 1.0 cm ( 3/8 inch).
  • Figure 4 represents in a side view a relative positioning of the eyelets shown in Figures 3a and 3b and depicts a method of determining the proper orientation of the apertures relative to the boot shown in Figures 3a and 3b.
  • a curved line 82 is drawn through the center of the closure means, here eyelets 58.
  • a tangent line 84 to curved line 82 is drawn through a point below which an aperture is to be located.
  • An orientation line 86 is then drawn perpendicular to tangent line 84 through the same point.
  • a properly oriented aperture 88 will have its major or longitudinal axis 89 lying substantially coincident with orientation line 86.
  • An improperly oriented aperture 90 will have its major axis 91 lying at an angle to orientation line 86. Slight angular deviations from perfect colinearity are within the scope of the invention, although such deviations can alter the useful life of the boot.
  • the apertures shown have been selectively located in the mid-foot region of boot 16 only. Because boot flexibility increases with the proper placement and number of fitting apertures, a distribution of apertures is not recommended in the areas immediately adjacent the sole 20 of the boot, such as lower protective band 38.
  • the boot must remain stiff in this area in order to support the roller means or skating blade attached to the sole.
  • the boot must also be stiff at the base and sides of the heel portion 48 so that the rear portion of the user's foot does not slip within the boot.
  • adding apertures in lower portion 38 is not advisable since that results in reduced stiffness where stiffness is desirable.
  • the apertures of the present invention will provide an activity boot having improved flexibility, improved performance, greater user comfort, and will conform better to the individual foot.
  • the presence of the apertures results in a lighter boot due to removal of the shell material formed the apertures with little or no extra manufacturing costs.
  • This weight reduction further results in an improvement in performance and user efficiency and comfort over and above that provided by the better fitting boot that results from the addition of the apertures thereto.
  • all of these salutary goals can be accomplished without a reduction in ankle support that the beginner and even experienced users find necessary or helpful in performing certain activities. It is within the scope of the present invention, however, that the present invention may also find application on an activity boot excluding ankle supporting cuff portion 44, thereby providing desirable flexibility in stiff shell footwear formed for activities where ankle support is not as necessary as it is in in-line roller skating.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
EP19910305998 1990-07-03 1991-07-02 Improved activity boot Withdrawn EP0465223A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US54719590A 1990-07-03 1990-07-03
US547195 2000-04-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0465223A2 true EP0465223A2 (fr) 1992-01-08
EP0465223A3 EP0465223A3 (en) 1992-10-14

Family

ID=24183709

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910305998 Withdrawn EP0465223A3 (en) 1990-07-03 1991-07-02 Improved activity boot

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0465223A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH0686701A (fr)
CA (1) CA2046041A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2740305A1 (fr) * 1995-10-27 1997-04-30 Salomon Sa Chaussure de sport de glisse
EP0774218A1 (fr) * 1995-11-20 1997-05-21 Salomon S.A. Patin à roulettes
US5896683A (en) * 1997-05-30 1999-04-27 Nike, Inc. Inversion/eversion limiting support
US8418381B2 (en) 2003-12-10 2013-04-16 The Burton Corporation Lace system for footwear
US8474157B2 (en) 2009-08-07 2013-07-02 Pierre-Andre Senizergues Footwear lacing system

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1017946B (de) * 1955-01-31 1957-10-17 Schuhfabrik Koeflach Ag Skischuh mit Doppelschnuerung
DE1485588A1 (de) * 1965-04-30 1969-03-27 Bruetting Eugen Skistiefel
FR2032834A5 (fr) * 1969-02-10 1970-11-27 Austin Luther Sons Ltd
US3829111A (en) * 1972-10-26 1974-08-13 Meltoy Co Ltd Skates
US3807060A (en) * 1973-03-05 1974-04-30 Hanson Ind Inc Ski boot having multi-directional flexure means and canting means
CA1266174A (fr) * 1986-12-29 1990-02-27 Canstar Sports Group Inc. Bottillon de patinage
US5048848A (en) * 1987-06-12 1991-09-17 Rollerblade, Inc. In-line roller skate with axle aperture plugs for simplified wheel installation

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2740305A1 (fr) * 1995-10-27 1997-04-30 Salomon Sa Chaussure de sport de glisse
WO1997015205A1 (fr) * 1995-10-27 1997-05-01 Salomon S.A. Chaussure de sport de glisse
EP0770339A1 (fr) * 1995-10-27 1997-05-02 Salomon S.A. Chaussure de sport de glisse
US5839735A (en) * 1995-10-27 1998-11-24 Salomon S.A. Skate providing ventilation
EP0774218A1 (fr) * 1995-11-20 1997-05-21 Salomon S.A. Patin à roulettes
FR2741277A1 (fr) * 1995-11-20 1997-05-23 Salomon Sa Patin a roulettes
WO1997018725A1 (fr) * 1995-11-20 1997-05-29 Salomon S.A. Patin a roulettes
US5931479A (en) * 1995-11-20 1999-08-03 Salomon S.A. Roller skate
US6047975A (en) * 1995-11-20 2000-04-11 Salomon S.A. Roller skate
US5896683A (en) * 1997-05-30 1999-04-27 Nike, Inc. Inversion/eversion limiting support
US8418381B2 (en) 2003-12-10 2013-04-16 The Burton Corporation Lace system for footwear
US8474157B2 (en) 2009-08-07 2013-07-02 Pierre-Andre Senizergues Footwear lacing system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0465223A3 (en) 1992-10-14
CA2046041A1 (fr) 1992-01-04
JPH0686701A (ja) 1994-03-29

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