Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a sports shoe particularly usable for
stunts such as the so-called "grinding", which essentially consists in
jumping on, for example, handrails or low walls, and sliding transversely on
s their top.
This practice is currently performed by using, in particular, skates with
wheels arranged mutually in-line at a frame which is usually essentially U-
shaped: for this purpose, the skater jumps onto, for example, a handrail and
arranges the wheel supporting frame transversely to said handrail, letting the
io support slide on the handrail.
A first considerable drawback is the fact that the wheel support is
subjected to rapid wear which is only partly limited by connecting the wings
of the support with a plate, which can be replaced once worn.
The second drawback is that this practice is highly dangerous, since it is
is performed with an unstable balance and in case of a fall the user cannot
regain his balance on impact with the ground owing to the presence of the
wheels.
Finally, it is noted that in the prior art the practice of grinding is
performed by sliding: accordingly, it is subjected to a sliding-type friction
ao which in any case slows down the gliding action of the skate.
US-5,388,350 discloses a skating shoe wherein the sole has, along its
entire longitudinal extension, a plurality of transverse rollers which are
mutually equidistant and are interposed between a front pad and a rear pad
which allow braking.
?s The above skate suffers some of the above mentioned drawbacks,
worsened by the fact that the large number of rollers used makes it
troublesome to perform lateral steering owing to the intense friction
generated with the ground, which allows to use the shoe only with respect to
a given travel direction.
3o US-4,076,263 discloses a skate composed of a shoe below which there is
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a frame with which balls are associated in the front and rear regions and
protrude partially below said frame.
A region is accordingly formed in the interspace between the two balls,
approximately below the plantar arch of the foot, at which the skater can
s practice grinding; however, this structure entails rapid wear of the frame
owing to sliding thereon.
US-4,691,453 discloses a shoe for roller skates which is essentially
constituted by an upper associated with a sole which has, only at the heel
and toe regions, a plurality of balls protruding below the sole.
io This shoe does not allow the user to use it for normal walking and cannot
be used effectively for grinding, because the region of the sole affected, for
example, by the handrail which acts upon the plantar arch region would
wear considerably and quickly.
WO-98/03092 discloses a shoe constituted by an upper and a sole and
is having, a curved plate associated with the plantar arch region, below the
sole.
Although this shoe allows walking and grinding, it still has some
drawbacks, such as the rapid deterioration of the plate during grinding,
which requires its continuous replacement, thus generating an additional
2o cost for the user.
Again for cost-related reasons, it is not feasible to use a plate made of a
material which is highly resistant to abrasion, because the cost of the plate
would be an important factor in the overall cost of the shoe. Furthermore,
since the lateral surface of the plate is affected during grinding, the forces
zs applied to the plate bear on the points where it is coupled to the sole,
which
must be reinforced appropriately, thus creating possible localized very hard
regions which can lead to a decrease in comfort for the user during normal
walking.
Furthermore, the sliding at the surface of the plate can lead to a
3o considerable and sudden heating thereof due to the large surface in
contact,
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for example, with the handrail on which grinding is performed.
An aim of the present invention is to solve the mentioned technical
problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited prior art by providing a
s shoe which can be used both for normal walking and to perform grinding in
safety and comfort for the user.
An object is to provide a shoe which allows optimum execution of the
practice of grinding, improving performance and generating limited friction.
A further obj ect is to provide a shoe which is not subj ect to considerable
to wear during the practice of grinding.
A further object is to provide a shoe which allows the user to improve
directional behavior.
A further object is to provide a shoe which allows to perform grinding at
angles other than transversely.
m A further object is to provide a shoe which allows the user to promptly
regain his balance if he/she falls while grinding.
A further obj ect is to provide a shoe which is structurally simple and has
low manufacturing and maintenance costs.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent
2o hereinafter are achieved by a sports shoe, particularly for performing
stunts,
comprising a sole, characterized in that said sole comprises at the plantar
arch region, at least one recess which can be closed by means of a first plate
provided with at least one seat for a plurality of rolling members which at
least partially protrude externally to said first plate.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment,
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the shoe, taken from below;
3o Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along a first plane which lies
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transversely to said shoe at elements for locking said plate;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along a second plane which lies
transversely to said shoe at said balls;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a further aspect of the
s invention;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane V-V of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a bottom exploded partial view of the shoe of Figs. 4 and 5.
With reference to Figures 1-3, 1 designates a sports shoe which can be
to used in particular to perform stunts such as the so-called "grinding".
The shoe comprises an upper 2 below which a sole 3 is associated.
At the sole, and particularly in the plantar arch region 4, there is a cavity
which can be closed by means of a complementarily shaped first plate 6.
The first plate has, in transverse cross-section, an undulated shape so as
is to form longitudinal lateral edges 7 and 8 which are rounded not only in
order to achieve optimum blending of the upper 2 with the sole 3 but also in
order to allow, during grinding, for example, the handrail not to interact
directly with the sole or upper.
The first plate 6 can be detachably associated at the cavity 5 by virtue of
ao suitable connecting means, such as for example screws 9 which are
associated with the sole 3 and the shank of which is rotatably associable at
second seats formed in the first plate 6.
A second plate 10 can be interposed between the sole 3 and the first
plate 6. The second plate 10 makes the entire structure more rigid and
as resistant to the stresses applied during grinding.
Third through seats 11 are formed at the surface of the first plate 6 that is
directed toward the ground. The seats preferably have a circular plan shape
and are suitable to accommodate balls 12.
Advantageously, the third seats 11 have a diameter which is constant
3o starting from the end that is directed toward the sole 3 and tapers at the
end
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13 that is directed toward the ground.
This allows to insert the balls 12, which partially protrude externally
below the first plate 6, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The third seats 11 together with the balls 12, also accommodate inserts
s 14 which have a cylindrical shape and are arranged in said third seats
starting from their end that lies adjacent to the second plate 10.
The inserts 14 are preferably made of antifriction material, so that the
friction generated during grinding between the lower surface of said inserts
and the facing surface of the ball is as low as possible.
io This embodiment allows, during grinding, to make the balls interact
directly with for example the handrail or low wall. The balls allow the user
to glide in an optimum manner because essentially rolling friction occurs.
Furthermore, the fact that the balls roll prevents the gradual wear of the
first plate, thus ensuring a longer life of the shoe and a lower expense over
is time.
Furthermore, the balls allow to achieve better directional behavior of the
gliding action, which can be performed not only in a transverse position but
also in a position which is oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of
the shoe.
ao With reference to Figures 4-6, 101 designates a sports shoe, according to
a further aspect of the invention.
The shoe comprises an upper 102 below which a sole 103 is associated.
At said sole, and particularly in the plantar arch region 104, there is a
longitudinal recess 105 which can be closed by means of a complementarily
Zs shaped plate 106.
The recess 105 has, in transverse cross-section, an undulated shape
which is suitable to accommodate complementarily shaped cylindrical or
tubular elements 107 which protrude longitudinally from the surface of the
plate 106 which can be arranged at the recess 105.
3o Said cylindrical or tubular elements 107 have an axial cavity which
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forms a first seat 108 for rollers 109 which can be arranged thereat so as to
rotate freely.
The plate 106 is detachably associated at the recess 105 by way of
connection means, such as for example screws 110 which can be arranged at
s second seats 113 formed in the sole 103, the shank 112 of said screws being
associable with complementarily threaded third seats 111 formed at the plate
106.
The screws 110 are inserted from the inside of the upper 102, as shown
in Figure 5.
to The plate 106 has rounded longitudinal edges 114a and 114b in order to
achieve not only optimum blending with the sole 103 of the upper 102 but
also to prevent, during the practice of grinding, for example the handrail
from not interacting directly with said sole or upper.
The shape of the tubular elements 107 is such that a longitudinal opening
is 116 is provided thereon at the surface 115 of the plate 106 and allows the
corresponding roller to partially protrude outside said plate, as shown in
Figure 5.
This embodiment allows, during the practice of grinding, to make the
rollers 109 interact directly with, for example, the handrail or low wall. The
ao rollers allow the user to slide in an optimum manner, since the friction
coefficient is very low because there is an essentially rolling friction.
Furthermore, the fact that the rollers rotate avoids gradual wear of the
plate, thus ensuring a longer life of the shoe and a lower expenditure over
time.
2s At least one ridge 117 can be provided on at least one side of the sole
103. The ridge protrudes laterally with respect to the upper 102 and acts as a
device for controlling the advancement speed; by inclining the boot
transversely, the user can in fact cause the interaction of the ridge 117 with
the handrail or railing and reduce the speed.
3o It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim
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and objects, a shoe having been provided which can be used both for normal
walking and for the specific practice of grinding.
The user can practice grinding in safety, since if he/she loses his/her
balance or falls he can regain his balance simply by resting the shoe on the
s ground, achieving optimum and safe grip by the fact that the sole is of the
conventional type for walking in the tip and heel regions.
The practice of grinding is also greatly facilitated thanks to the presence
of the balls in the plantar arch region, which by generating a rolling
friction
allow to achieve a higher speed of execution and therefore to improve
io performance.
Furthermore, since contact with, for example, the handrail or step or low
wall is entrusted to the balls, there is no wear of the first plate except
possibly at the longitudinal edges 7,8,114a,114b.
The removability of the first plate allows to use an embodiment with
a balls which are freely chosen in terms of dimensions and number.
