FR3052341A1 - SHOE AND USE OF SUCH A SHOE - Google Patents

Abstract

Shoe (1) comprising a sole (3), a rod (6) comprising a upper (18), and a clamping device (25), in which the clamping device (25) comprises loops (26), a single lace (40) having a tightening portion (43) in a lacing path, and a locking member (44) having an active state for fixing a length of the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40), wherein the clamping device (40) comprises an upper loop (33) formed on the upper (18) of the rod (6), and and wherein the clamping device (25) further comprises a tension member ( 32) adapted to reversibly pass the clamping portion (43) of the lace (40) between the lacing path and a clamping path when the locking member (44) is in the active state.

Description

The invention relates to a shoe and to a use of such a shoe.

In particular, the invention relates to a shoe intended to receive one of a user's feet for practicing physical activity. The invention applies in particular to the practice of a physical activity exerted by a user in the mountains, such as hiking or running.

By practicing this kind of physical activity, it is known to use shoes including a flexible sole and flexible rod adapted. The shoe also includes a clamping device adapted to adjust a clamping of the rod on the foot of the user. The clamping device conventionally comprises loops, a lace threaded into the loops according to a lacing path and a locking element. The locking element is, for example, constituted by end portions of the lace itself. The blocking element then has: when the end portions are free, an inactive state in which it allows the user to modify a length of a tightening portion of the lace in the lacing path, and - when the end portions are knotted, an active state in which it fixes the length of the tightening portion of the lace.

During its course or to diversify the physical activities practiced, the user may need to improve his supports and sensations. This is the case, for example, when the user goes from hiking or running to rock climbing. It must then be able to increase the intensity of tightening.

To do this, it must pass the bocage element from the active state to the inactive state, by loosening the laces in the previous example, exert a traction on the laces and return the locking element in the active state.

Such an adjustment of the tightening is long to implement. It is, moreover, generally located at the level of the instep and does not allow to tighten uniformly the stem on the foot, including at the level of the toes. The user whose foot is not maintained uniformly does not have the support and sensations allowing him to control his movements. The invention aims to overcome the problems mentioned above. For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a shoe extending in a direction of extension and comprising: - a sole on which the foot of the user is intended to rest, the soleing extending according to the direction of extension between a tip and a heel, - a flexible rod which has a lower portion adjoining the sole and intended to cover the foot of the user, the rod having xme vamp adjoining the tip of the sole and intended to cover at less toes of the user's foot, and - a clamping device adapted to tighten the rod on the foot of the user. in which the clamping device comprises: - loops arranged on the rod in two rows of loops respectively arranged on either side of a clamping axis extending substantially parallel to the extension direction, - a single lace threaded through the loops of each row of loops in a lacing pattern so as to bring the rows of loops by pulling on the lace, the lace having a tightening portion in the lacing course, and - a locking element having an inactive state in which said locking member allows the user to modify a length of the lace tightening portion, and an active state wherein said locking member sets the length of the lace tightening portion, wherein the clamping device comprises at least one upright loop on the upper of the upper, the lacing path including the upper vamp, and wherein the clamping device further comprises at least one tension member disposed on the shaft so as to define at least one clamping path including the lacing path and having a length greater than the lacing path, the tension member being adapted to reversibly pass the lace tightening portion between the lacing path and the clamping path when the locking member is in the active state.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to lengthen the lace path in a simple and rapid manner with the same tightening portion so as to increase the intensity of the tightening in a uniform manner, including at the level of the toes. The user can thus have a simple way of better supports and sensations to allow him to better control his movements. The tension member may be disposed on the upper. The tension member may be a hook arranged at a distance from the clamping axis and having an opening oriented in a direction opposite to the clamping axis. The tension member may be provided on one of the upper loops.

The upper loop may comprise a body having a port adapted to receive a portion of the lace, and the tension member.

The rod may extend in the direction of extension between an end and a buttress, and in a transverse direction between a medial portion and a lateral portion, and said at least one vamp passer may comprise two end loops arranged respectively at lower ends of the rows of loops, the end loops being arranged respectively on the medial and lateral parts of the rod, the end loop arranged on the medial portion being shifted in the direction of extension towards the end of the rod relative to the end pass arranged on the side portion. These provisions make it possible to obtain a tightening better adapted to the anatomy of the foot. Indeed, the big toe has an articulation of the first phalanx located substantially at one end of the small toe. The end passer located at the big toe being shifted forward with respect to the end passer located at the level of the small toe, the clamping can be obtained on all toes.

The shank may have at least one slot on the upper, and the clamp may comprise at least one lanyard having a first end attached to one of an inner surface of the sole and an inner surface of the shank. and a second free end extending through the slot, the vamp passing being provided on the second end of the strap. These provisions make it possible to directly apply the tightening on the toes.

The lace may have a central section and two end sections on either side of the central section, the central section having a perimeter cross section less than a perimeter of a cross section of each of the end sections. These arrangements make it possible to limit a friction between the lace and the upper and to define a location, at the level of the toes, at which the increase in the intensity of the clamping will be obtained in a more significant manner.

The rod may comprise a tab intended to cover at least a portion of the user's elbow and along which the clamping axis extends, and the upper may comprise a tab adjoining the tongue, said less a passer of vamp being formed on the slap.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a use of xme shoe as defined above, providing for: - putting the foot in the shoe, the locking element being in the inactive state, - adjusting a tightening of the rod the shoe on the foot by pulling on the lace to change the length of the tightening portion of the lace and bring the rows of loops, - put the locking element in the active state to fix the length of the portion tightening the lace, - pass the lace tightening portion of the lacing path to the tightening path. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example, the description being made with reference to the appended drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a front lateral portion of a boot according to one embodiment of the invention, the boot comprising a sole, a flexible upper and a tightening device adapted to adjust a tightening of the rod on the foot of the user, the clamping device comprising passers-by including several loops of the upper, and a lace threaded in the loops according to a lacing path, - Figure 2 is an enlarged representation of the detail referenced II on Figure 1 of the lace of the shoe of Figure 1, the lace having vm central section and two end sections on either side of the central section, the trunk central one having a cross section perimeter less than a perimeter of a cross section of each of the end sections. FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of a front medial portion of the shoe of FIG. 1, the tightening device comprising a tension member disposed on the rod so as to define a tightening path, FIG. an enlarged representation of the detail referenced IV in FIG. 3 of the tension member of the shoe of FIG. 1; FIGS. 5 and 6 are representations of the shoe of FIG. 1 during use of the shoe; , the tightening portion of the lace passing from the lacing path to the tightening path, - Figure 7 is an enlarged representation of the detail referenced VII in Figure 6, illustrating the tightening portion of the lace of Figure 1 passed in the organ Of voltage.

In the figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

Figures 1 to 4 show a shoe 1 adapted to allow a user to practice physical activity. Without being limited to it, the boot 1 is particularly adapted to physical activities of mountain, such as hiking or running, during which the user can, in his route, meet different types of passage including, for example , paths and climbing passages.

The boot 1 intended to receive one of the feet of the user extends generally in an extension direction E. It comprises im sole 3 having an inner surface on which the foot of the user is intended to rest, and a rod 6 intended to cover the foot of the user.

The sole 3, preferably deformable to allow flexion or unwinding of the foot, extends in the direction of extension E between a tip 4 and a heel 5.

The rod 6, flexible, comprises, in the embodiment shown, only a lower portion 7 adjacent to the sole 3. The rod 6 extends in the direction of extension E between an end 8 and a buttress 9, and according to a transverse direction T, perpendicular to the direction of extension E, between a medial part 10, towards the inside of the foot, and a lateral part 11, towards the outside of the foot. The rod 6 has, facing the heel 5 of the sole 3, an upper edge 12 defining an opening 13 in a vertical direction V, perpendicular to the directions of extension E and transverse T, by which the user can put his foot in the shoe 1. To facilitate the threading of the foot, the upper edge 12 may extend on a portion of the rod 6 corresponding to the instep of the user by two edges 14 opposite. The rod 6 also includes a tongue 15 extending between the edges 14 so as to cover at least a portion of the instep of the user. Alternatively, the edges 14 extending the upper edge 12 could extend on a medial wall 16 of the medial portion 10 or on a side wall 17 of the lateral portion 11. According to another variant, the rod 6 could be free of edges 14 extending the upper edge 12, the tongue 15 being made in one piece with the medial walls 16 and side 17 of the rod 6. The rod 6 further comprises a vamp 18 adjacent to the tip 4 of the sole assembly 3 and intended for cover the toes and, possibly, part of the user's instep. The upper 18 includes a slap 19 attached to the tongue 15 and the end 8 of the rod 6.

In Figures 1 and 3, three pairs of slots are formed through the rod 6 to communicate an inner surface of the rod 6 with the outside. In particular, a first pair of slots comprises two slots 20 formed substantially facing in the transverse direction T respectively in the medial and lateral walls 16 and 17. A second pair of slots comprises two slots 20 formed substantially facing in the transverse direction T on the upper 18, in particular on the slap 19 near the tongue 15. A third pair of slits further comprises two slots 20 formed on the upper 18, in particular on the slap 19 near the end 8 of the rod 6 In this third pair of slots, the slot 20 arranged on the side of the medial portion 10 of the rod 6 is shifted in the direction of extension E towards the end 8 of the rod 6 relative to the slot 20 arranged on the side of the lateral part 11 of the rod 6.

The boot 1 also comprises a clamping device 25 adapted to tighten the rod on the foot of the user. The clamping device 25 comprises loops 26 arranged on the rod in two rows of loops respectively arranged on either side of a clamping axis S substantially parallel to the extension direction E. In the embodiment shown, the clamping axis S extends along the tongue 15. The two rows of loops extend respectively along the edges 14 extending the upper edge 12 between respective upper ends, close to the upper edge 12, and respective lower ends, near the end 8 of the rod 6.

The clamping device 25 comprises straps 28, part of which is shown in transparency of the rod 6 sm in Figure 1. Each strap 28 has a first end 28a fixed inside the shoe 1 and in particular to the inner surface of the rod 6 or the inner surface of the sole 3, and a second free end 28b extending through one of the slots 20 of the rod 6. Each row of loops comprises: - loops 26, for example in number of four in the embodiment shown, made in the form of eyelets 29 through the rod 6 on the side of the upper edge 12, and - loops 26, for example three in the embodiment shown, provided respectively on the second ends of the strips 28 at the end 8 of the stem 6.

Some of the loops 26 provided on the straps are made in the form of a loop at the second end 28b of the strap 28.

In FIG. 4, one of the loops 26 arranged on the strap 28 passing through the slot 20 on the side of the medial portion 10 of the second pair of slots comprises, for its part, a body 30 of a single piece, for example plastic, having a through hole 31. The body 30 further comprises a hook 32 arranged at a distance from the clamping axis S and having an opening oriented in a direction opposite to the clamping axis S. The body 30 is secured to the second end 28b of the strap 28 .

On each of the rows of loops, loops 26, formed on the upper 18 of the rod 6, form upper loops 33. In the embodiment shown, the loops 33 are provided at the second ends 28b of the strips 28 passing through the slots 20 of the second and third pairs of slots provided on the slug 19. The loops 33 on the straps 28 passing through the slots 20 of the third pair of slits, in the vicinity of the end 8 of the rod, constitute end loops 34 disposed respectively at the lower ends of the rows of loops. Due to the arrangement of the slots 20 of the third pair of slots, one of the end loops 34, arranged on the medial portion 10, is shifted in the direction of extension E towards the end 8 of the rod 6 relative to the other end runner 34, arranged on the side portion 11. Alternatively, one or any other suitable number of vamp runner on the vamp of the rod could be provided in any other suitable arrangement.

The clamping device 25 comprises a single lace 40. In the embodiment shown, the lace 40 has a central section 41 and two end sections 42 on either side of the central section 4L. The central section 41 has a section transverse, for example circular, perimeter less than xm perimeter of a cross section, for example oblong, of each of the end sections 42. The lace 40 is threaded in the loops 26 of each row of loops, including the orifice 31 of the body 30 of the uppers 33, according to a lacing path. The lacing course is then defined by the loops in which the lace is threaded namely, in the embodiment shown, the loops of upper 33 and at least a portion of the eyelets 29. The portion of the lace 40 located in the course clamping means defines a clamping portion 43. On either side of this clamping portion 43, the lace 40 has two end portions 44 which form a locking element having: - when the end portions 44 are free an inactive state in which it allows the user to modify a length of the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40 in the lacing path, and - when the end portions 44 are tied, an active state in which he fixes the length of the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40.

Alternatively, any other type of blocking element having the inactive and active states mentioned above could be provided. For example, the blocking element could comprise a body provided with a through bore in which a pin actuable by the user is mounted displaceably in translation between: a locking position in which it extends through the bore to lock the end portions 44 of the lace 40 inserted into the bore, and - a release position in which it is at least partially spaced from the bore to allow the end portions 44 of the lace 40 to slide in the bore.

In connection with FIGS. 5 to 7, a use of the shoe 1 is now described. The locking element being in the inactive state, namely the lace 40 being loosened and the end portions 44 free, the user puts his foot in the shoe 1. The foot rests on the inner surface of the sole 3 and is covered by the rod 6. In particular, the toes of the user are covered by the upper 18. The strap 28 carrying the end loop 34 on the medial portion 10 of the rod 6 is arranged in correspondence with the big toe, and the strap 28 carrying the end loop 34 on the side portion 11 of the rod 6 is arranged in correspondence with the small toe.

The tightening of the upper 6 of the boot 1 on the user's foot is adjusted by exerting traction on the end portions 44 so as to modify the length of the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40. In so doing, the rows of passers-by approach each other, reducing a footwear volume of the shoe including at the toes, because of the passers-uppers 33.

The end portions 44 of the lace 40 can then be tied to put the locking element in the active state and thus set the length of the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40 in the lacing path.

To increase the tightening intensity while keeping the locking element in the active state, that is to say by keeping the lace 40 knotted, xm strand of the tightening portion 43 of the lace 40 can be stretched to then be placed in the hook 32 of the body 30 of the vamp 33 as shown in FIG.

The hook 32 forms a tension member disposed on the rod 6 so as to define a tightening path including the lacing path and having a length greater than the lacing path. The tension member reversibly passes the clamping portion 43 of the lace 40 between the lacing path and the clamping path when the locking member is in the active state. By lengthening the lace path with the same clamping portion 43, the intensity of the clamping can be increased, if necessary for a predetermined period, uniformly including the toes. The invention described in connection with a tension member in the form of a hook disposed on the upper and, in particular, provided on one of the upper loops is not limited to this embodiment. As a variant, any other conformation and arrangement of one or more tensioning members making it possible to define one or more tightening paths could be provided.

Claims (10)

1. Shoe (1) intended to receive one of the feet of a user for practicing physical activity, the shoe (1) extending in an extension direction (E) and comprising: - a sole assembly (3) on which the foot of the user is intended to rest, the sole (3) extending in the direction of extension (E) between a point (4) and a heel (5), - a rod (6) flexible which comprises a lower portion (7) adjoining the sole assembly (3) and intended to cover the foot of the user, the upper (6) comprising a vamp (18) adjoining the tip (4) of the sole assembly (3) and intended covering at least the toes of the user's foot, and - a clamping device (25) adapted to adjust a clamping of the rod (6) on the user's foot, wherein the clamping device (25) comprises: passers (26) arranged on the rod (6) in two rows of loops respectively arranged on either side of a clamping axis (S). extending substantially parallel to the direction of extension (E), - a single lace (40) threaded into the loops (26) of each row of loops in a lacing course so as to bring the rows of passers by a pull exerted on the lace (40), the lace (40) having a tightening portion (43) in the lacing path, and - a locking member (44) having an inactive state in which said locking member (44) allows the user modifying a length of the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40), and an active state wherein said locking member (44) sets the length of the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40) , the boot (1) being characterized in that the clamping device (25) comprises at least one upper loop (33) formed on the upper (18) of the upper (6), the lacing path including the passing vamp (33), and in that the clamping device (25) further comprises at least s a tension member (32) disposed on the rod (6) so as to define at least one tightening path including the lacing path and having a length greater than the lacing path, the tension member (32) being adapted for reversibly passing the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40) between the lacing peircourse and the clamping path when the locking element (44) is in the active state 2. Shoe (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tension member (32) is disposed on the upper (18). 3. Shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the tension member is a hook (32) arranged at a distance from the clamping axis (S) and having an opening oriented in one direction. opposite to the clamping axis (S). 4. Shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tension member (32) is formed on one of the upper loops (33). The shoe (1) of claim 4, wherein the vamp (33) includes a body (30) having an orifice (31) adapted to receive a portion of the lace (40), and the tension member (32). 6. Shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rod (6) extends in the direction of extension (E) between end (8) and a buttress (9), and in a transverse direction (T) between a medial portion (10) and a lateral portion (11), and wherein said at least one upper loop (33) comprises two end loops (34) respectively disposed at ends lower rows of loops, the end loops (34) being arranged respectively on the medial (10) and lateral (11) of the rod (6), the end pass (34) arranged on the medial part ( 10) being offset in the direction of extension (E) towards the end (8) of the rod (6) relative to the end pass (34) arranged on the side portion (11). 7. Shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rod (6) comprises at least one slot (20) formed on the upper (18), and wherein the clamping device (25) ) comprises at least one strap (28) having a first end (28a) attached to one of an inner surface of the sole (3) and an inner surface of the shank (6), and a second end (28b) ) free extending through the slot (20), the upper loop (33) being provided on the second end (28b) of the strap (28). 8. Shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lace (40) has a central section (41) and two end sections (42) on either side of the central section ( 41), the central section (41) having a perimeter cross section smaller than a perimeter of a cross section of each of the end sections (42). 9. Shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rod (6) comprises a tongue (15) for covering at least a portion of the instep of the user and along of which extends the clamping axis (S), and wherein the upper (18) has a slam (19) adjacent to the tongue (15), said at least one vamp (33) being formed on the slap (19). 10. Use of a shoe (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, providing for: - putting the foot in the shoe, the locking element (44) being in the inactive state, - adjust a tightening the upper (6) of the shoe (1) on the foot by pulling on the lace (40) to change the length of the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40) and bring the rows of loops, - putting the locking element (44) in the active state to fix the length of the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40), - passing the tightening portion (43) of the lace (40) of the lace of lacing to the clamping path.