Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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I - TITLE OF INVENTION
"UNIVERSAL ANTISLIP CLAW FOR FOOTWEAR"
2 - DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
In the hierarchical scale of needs, after satisfying his primary needs, such
as,
above all, physiological needs ( food, water, sex), man feels the need for
security (*): that is to say, the necessity to be protected from illness,
injury,
and, more generally, from unexpected events which restrict his own physical
integrity.
The dangers which threaten his personal safety, are often connected to
slippery, uneven unexpected terrain, to be found at any latitude: in the
mountains, on the plain, in the town or in the c:>untry.
Such dangers affect the entire civil population of the world, without
distinction of age, sex and behavioural habits.
With reference tci the World Healt Oranisation's - Report of 2001, on which
we based our research, the causes of disability through falls in people aged
(15 to 44) inclusive are in third place after Hiv/Aids and ischeamic cardiac
disease (**).
The prevention of traumatic episodes resulting in falls because of lack of
grip
on terrain which has become slippery through rain, constant wetness, grass,
(')A. H. Marlow - Motivations and Personality - New Yor=k Haiper & Rowe 1954
(**) Causes of I)isability in age t=ange 15-44 years : Hiv/Aids &,1,
Ischaen:ic cardiac
disease 3.0-Falls 1,3. Font WHO Report 2001 1
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unevenness, sloping ground and for other reasons , represents the first and
most important accident- prevention function performed by the device we are
going to illustrate.
"Universal Antislip Claw For Footwear " is a device created as a technical
25 response to all the safety problems of a person walking on , slippery,
steep or
in some way, dangerous terrain,
Inserted into the heel of an ordinary shoe, at the time of manufacture, with
an
antislip function, it ensures maximum grip of the terrain and eliminates the
risk of falls.
30 Bearing in mind that the traumatic effects from falls have particularly
serious
consequences for older people ( social unprod-ttctivity; the costs of medical
treatment and rehabiliitation therapy ; and other things ), whose costs fall
to
the collectivity, as we have already outlined, we can guarantee that
"Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear " plays an important social role.
35 BACKGROUND ART
While we have come across a variety of device designed to be mainly on heavy
boots fo use in icy and snowy conditions , up till now we have not yet come
across any universal accident- prevention syst.,ms which can be used reliably
in all dangerous situations including asphalt pavements as well as risky
40 terrain in the courrtryside and can be built into any type of footwear.
We envisage "Claw" as a simple universal device, for immediate use,
effective in solving problems of balance and risk of falls.
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"Claw" is designed for occasional use like an umbrella, but without being a
hinderance in the absence of rain, because it remains enclosed witih the heel
45 when not in use and does not affect the look or= effectiveness of the shoe.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
"Universal Antisilip Claw foa~ Footwear "(see Fig. 1 and Fig.5) is a universal
device designed to be fitted in all types of shoes at the time of industrial
manufacture and designed to provide safe conditions to people who have to
50 walk on slippery terrain.
"Universal Antislip Claw foa= Footwear " is btiilt into the heel or sole of a
normal shoe, a sports shoe, made of any material, for example, leather,
rubber,
polyurethane, vinyl resin and others.
It is constructed out of stainless steel, protected from water infiltration,
easy to
55 use, requiring no maintenance and it can carry weigths many times greater
than
that of an average person.
It can be activated easily by hand at any time, even by a child or an old
person, without the help of any external device.
"Universal Antislip Claw for Footwear" is ar.i invention which comprises
60 the following structures and usese:
-Vertical Piston with a circular groove (see Fig.2 and Fig.6) forming the
central mechanism forming and permitting all the multiple mechanical
functions illustrated as follows:
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A)- it supports the " Serrated Horse-shoe shaped rod "or alternatively
65 the "Serrated tranverse rod "; (see Fig.1 and Fig.5)
B)- its movements causes the release and retraction of the serrated
rod;(see Fig.2,4 and Fig.6,7)
C)- the special "Circular groove (see Fig.2 and Fig.6) construction
ensures smooth operation and the ability to position "Claw "anyhere in
70 the heel, without impeding the optional operational angle of the rod on
the terrain.
The release and retraction of the serrated bar is effected by the Piston
driven
by the manual rotation of projecting flaps (see Fig.3) located on the outside
of
a simple key with an eccentric nose that turns in the circular grove. (see
75 Fig.2,4 and Fig.6,7).
The serrated rod is available in two different versions with the follwing two
different functions:
-"Serrated Horse shoe shaped rod" ( See Fig.1 ) for use in the heel of the
shoe ;
s0 -"Serrated tranverse rod"(see Fig.5) for use in the sole.
The use of the circular groove piston also allows "Claw" to be positioned
anywehre in the sole, without affecting the optimal operational angle of the
rod on the terrain.
The positions of the rods are interchangeable; however laboratory tests on the
85 operation of "Claw" have demostrated best results with the horseshoe shaped
rod fitted in the heel and the transverse rod, in the sole.
The complete retraction of the serrated bar can be effected by carrying out
the
manual procedure in reverse, thus returning the shoe to normal use.
The special above mentioned "circular grove" construction of the piston,
90 which enables "Claw" to be fitted anywhere in the heel without changing the
rod's angle of grip on the terrain, (see Fig.1 and Fig.5), requiresin certain
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positions -the length " L" of the key arm to be adjusted.
The key is adapted to operational requirements of "Claw" by employing:
-O -ring washer wihch prevents water inffltration;(see Fig.2)
95 -Fixing check -pin;(see Fig.2)
-no extra device is required to effect its activation/ disactivation;
"Claw" does not hinder normal walking, because the person 's weight is
uniformally distributed over the whole surface of the person's heel, by
means of the thickness of the rod.
10o The 5 mm, raising of the shoe heel is psychologically tolerable in
conditions
where there is risk of falls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The attached drawings include the full description and technical data
required to demonstrate the construction and operation of the "Claw ".
105 In Fig 1 and Fig.5 the positions of the nosed key are drawn in dotted
lines,
illustrating all its different possible locations on the outside of the heel ,
depending on requirements.
The drawings are on a scale of 1:1
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
110 The techical operational features of the device descibed above demonstrate
that it is an invention suitable for universal use in any type of fotowear and
is
therefore in a position to provide a concrete solution to the social problems
of falls.
The invention will be implemented primarily through accident - prevention
115 organisations relating to any field, but above all through those concerned
with safety at work.
At the same time, the invention will be promoted and introduced to the
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general footwear industry, with particular reference to those who manufacture
work shoe, hiking, boots, sport shoe and fashion shoes.
120 Promotional further initiatives will adress Insurance Companies, providing
them with conclusive laboratory test results which prove the reliable
operation of "Claw ".
It would seem to us a priority requirement to ruake the use of "Claw"
compulsory in situations involving high risk of falls, bearing in mind the
125 above- mentioned implication which the resulting traumas have for the
whole of society,.
"Claw" aims to make a unique contribution to rectifing this problem.
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