Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
206729
2
The present invention relates to a sports shoe
structure, particularly but not exclusively usable for
skating, parachute gliding and cross-country skiing.
The problem of protecting and supporting the ankle from
the considerable stresses due to the particular sport is
currently felt in known types of these shoes.
These sports can currently be practiced by using a
known sports shoe, which is usually constituted by a
complete upper with which a reinforcement element is
l0 laterally associated; said reinforcement element is
constituted by a plate which is rigidly associated therewith
by sewing.
Said supporting element is thus arranged inside an
appropriate seat defined on each of the two sides of the
upper at the malleolu:~ .
Said known structure is bare and simple in its
construction, and ha:a, in use, deformations which are not
very correct from an anatomical point of view during the
practice of the sport: the ankle is in fact not optimally
2o supported.
Therefore, said structure does not completely comply
with the particular morphology of the ankle.
The supporting elements for supporting the ankle
furthermore often break due to the considerable intensity of
the stresses applied to the shoe during sports activity;
furthermore, said supports cannot be replaced due to the
fact that they are rigidly associated insidefthe upper.
This situation therefore forces a user to purchase a
new shoe which, in the course of time, will be replaced as
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3
well.
It is therefore evident that said shoe structure, due
to the above described facts, does not perform its
orthopedic function correctly.
In known shoes there is also a protrusion on the upper
which is due to the presence of the reinforcement element.
The aim of the :present invention is to eliminate the
problems described .above in known types by providing a
sports shoe structure which allows to optimally support the
ankle without however limiting movements thereof.
Another object of the invention is to have no elements
subject to breakage during the practice of the sport which
compromise the further use of the shoe.
A further object is to provide a sports shoe structure
which allows to adapt the degree of ankle support to the
specific requirements of the athlete.
Another object is to provide a sports shoe structure
which allows to assure a support which generally corresponds
to the characteristic requirements of the ankle.
Not least object is to provide a sports shoe structure
which associates with the preceding characteristics that of
being reliable and safe in use.
This aim, these objects and others are achieved by a
sports shoe structure which is characterized in that it
comprises an upper with which a cuff is associated, an
elastically deformable supporting means for the ankle being
removably associable with said structure, skid supporting
;A~
means having a plurality of tabs which can be associated
with said upper and which can be interposed laterally
CA 02067292 2001-04-09
4
between the latter and the cuff.
More specifically, the present invention provides a
sports shoe structure, comprising an upper, a cuff
connected to the upper, an elastically deformable ankle
supporting element defining a median axis, the supporting
element having a central tab located at the median axis,
and a pair of lateral wings connected to the central tab,
the pair of lateral wings and the central tab together
imparting to the supporting element an M-shaped plan
configuration, the tab being removably laterally
interposable between the upper and the cuff, a circular
seat formed in the central tab at a portion thereof
connected to the wings, a rivet at least temporarily
accommodated in the seat, a tongue connected to the
supporting element by the rivet, and protruding rearwardly
of the upper, and a pocket defined at the tongue, and
defining a seat for temporary engagement with the central
tab and the supporting element.
The present invention also provides a sports shoe
structure comprising an upper, a cuff connected to the
upper and protruding upwardly therefrom, an elastically
deformable ankle supporting element defining a median axis,
the supporting element having a central tab located at the
median axis, and at least two lateral wings connected to
CA 02067292 2001-04-09
4a
the central tab, the at least two lateral wings and the
central tab together imparting to the supporting element an
M-shaped plan configuration the tab being removably
laterally insertable between the upper and the cuff.
The present invention also provides a sports shoe
structure comprising an upper, a cuff connected to the
upper and protruding upwardly therefrom, at least one
elastically deformable ankle supporting element defining a
median axis, the supporting element having a central tab
located at the median axis, and at least two lateral wings
connected to the central tab, the at least two lateral
wings and the central tab together imparting to the
supporting element an M-shaped plan configuration the tab
being removably laterally insertable between the upper and
the cuff, wherein the upper has an inner lateral surface
and wherein the cuff has an outer surface, each of the
wings being interposed between the inner lateral surface of
the upper and the outer surface of the cuff.
Further characteristics and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the detailed
description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by
way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
CA 02067292 2001-04-09
4b
Figure 1 is a rear view of the supporting element
associated with the sports shoe structure;
Figure 2 is a front view of the supporting element;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the structure, taken
along the plane III-III of Figure 1.
With reference to the above figures, the sports shoe
structure, generally designated by the reference numeral l,
includes an upper 2 to which a cuff 3 is sewn; the cuff
protrudes upwardly from the upper.
The structure 1 further comprises a supporting element
4 which is specular with respect to a median axis,
designated by the numeral 5, and is preferably made of
plastic material.
The supporting element 4 has an M-shaped plan
configuration; it is thus composed of a pair of side wings
6a and 6b which are connected by a central tab 7 which is
arranged along the median axis 5.
A plurality of ridges 8a and 8b, suitable for
stiffening the supporting element 4, is present on each
wing of the pair of wings 6a and 6b.
Grooves may alternatively be provided instead of the
ridges.
A circular seat 9 is provided in the region which
~. 5
connects the wings 6a. and 6b and the central tab 7, for the
possible temporary accommodation of a rivet 10 for
connecting the supporting element 4 to a tongue 11 which
protrudes to the rear of the upper 2.
A plurality of through slots 12a and 12b, arranged
perpendicular to the median axis 5, is defined laterally to
the circular seat 9.
The two wings 6a and 6b converge toward the median axis
5 and thus have a given angle.
Said pair of wings can vary in thickness starting from
the central tab 7 up ~to their free end.
Said supporting element 4, and in particular the wings
6a and 6b, can deform elastically.
A pocket 13, which acts as seat for temporary
engagement with the central tab 7 of the supporting element
4, is defined at the tongue 11.
Each wing 6a and 6b can be interposed between the inner
lateral surface of the upper 2 and the outer surface of the
cuff 3.
The temporary insertion of the wings 6a and 6b between
the upper and the cuff' therefore allows to stiffen the shoe
structure 1 in the ankle region.
In addition to supporting the ankle rearwardly, the
central tab 7 also allows to stop the backward stroke of the
cuf f 3 .
It has thus been observed that the invention has
achieved the intended aim and objects, a sports shoe
structure having been provided wherein tie supporting
element 4, connected between the cuff 3 and the upper 2,
optimally supports the lateral rear region of the ankle
6
without however limiting its movements.
Specifically, said supporting element 4, by cooperating
with the upper 2 <~nd the cuff 3, assures the effective
stopping of the return of the ankle during the movements
produced during sports practice and supports said ankle
laterally in an optimum manner.
During said sports practice, even after lateral flexing
or sudden bending, t:he ankle is always correctly arranged
inside the upper.
This allows the athlete to serenely achieve, by using
this particular sports shoe, a sports practice which is free
from physical problems, such as aches or pains localized at
the ankle; by virtue of the particular structural
configuration of said sports shoe one thus achieves correct
ankle support.
The described invention furthermore allows to provide a
shoe, for example for skating, which lasts longer since it
withstands wear much better than the known art.
The removability of the supporting element 4 allows to
use said element on different types of shoes in the sizes
most appropriate for the sports activity and for the
anatomical configuration of the users foot.
S,S
