Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
Accessory for footwear.
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to an accessory for footwear
whose closure system involves the use of laces.
It is known that a traditional lace-up shoe has significant
drawbacks related to the use of laces to close it. In fact,
the excess of the shoelaces, that is the part of the
shoelaces that remains loose after making a knot, being free
to move, can annoy the user, get entangled, unfasten, get
dirty and also easily deteriorate.
There are shoes on the market that have a pocket in the
tongue of the upper suitable to receive the excess of the
laces used to close the shoe.
US2016/0353842A1 discloses a shoe with a pocket for the laces
fixed to the tongue of the upper.
One of the main drawbacks of footwear lies in the fact that
said pocket is inside the tongue of the same upper, and
therefore, incorporated into the shoe itself and not
removable, which causes drawbacks both in terms of higher
manufacturing costs and product reliability.
The main object of the present invention is to overcome the
aforementioned drawbacks.
This result has been achieved, in accordance with the present
invention, by adopting the idea of making a removable
accessory for lace-up shoes having the characteristics
indicated in claim 1. Other features of the present invention
are the subject of the dependent claims.
As further highlighted in the following description, the
following advantages can be listed among the advantages
offered by the present invention: versatility and
adaptability, since it can be applied to any type of lace-
up shoe without remaining irreversibly constrained to the
shoe and without compromising its integrity, insofar as it
is removable and can also be used in combination with
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additional closure systems, such as for example the so-called
lace fasteners; the possibility to customize the accessory
with logos, decorations, designs or badges etc., as well as
the reproducibility in any color and in different shapes and
materials also in order to make it more pleasant according
to the particular shoe to which the accessory is applied.
Further advantages of the present invention are found: in
terms of hygiene, since the final part of the laces that is
usually handled by the user, being contained in the pocket,
does not come into contact with the ground, mud, snow, etc.
as well as in terms of safety, since, for the same reason,
the laces do not get caught shrubs and bushes, favoring their
use by sportsmen, runners, trekking enthusiasts, hiking,
trail running etc. ; in terms of durability ,since the use
of this system to collect the laces allows to preserve their
integrity.
These and further advantages and characteristics of the
present invention will be better understood by each person
skilled in the art from the description that follows and
with the help of the attached drawings, given as a practical
example of the invention, but not to be considered in a
limiting sense, in which:
Fig. 1 is a top view of the external surface of an accessory
for footwear in accordance with the present invention in an
open configuration;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the internal surface of an
accessory for footwear in accordance with the present
invention in an open configuration;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the accessory for footwear of Figs.
1-2 in a closed configuration;
Figs. 4-9 are perspective views of the accessory for footwear
in combination with a system for closing the laces of the
type comprising a lacing lock;
Fig. 10 is a top view of the external surface of the accessory
for footwear according to a further embodiment;
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Fig. 11 is a view from below of the external surface of the
accessory for footwear according to the further embodiment;
Figs. 12-17 are further embodiments of the accessory for
footwear in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an accessory in accordance
with the present invention in a closed configuration and
anchored to the shoe lace.
Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the
attached drawings, an accessory for lace-up shoes in
accordance with the present invention comprises a body (1)
with a first part (1A) for containment of the excess of the
shoelaces, and a second part (1B) which serves to secure
said body (1) to the lace (L).
In said containment part (1A) of the body (1) a pocket (1T)
is formed which is adapted to receive the excess of the lace
inside it.
In the context of this description, excess of the laces means
the part of the laces that remains loose after making a knot.
The containment part (1A) of the body (1) in the examples
shown in figures 1 and 2 of the attached drawings, has a
substantially trapezoidal shape seen from the above.
The second part (1B) of the body (1) is joined to the first
part (1A). In the examples shown in figures 1 and 2 the said
second part (1B) also has a substantially trapezoidal shape,
but it is more elongated and narrower than the first part
(1A). The parts (1A, 1B) are joined together at the
respective major bases.
Said second part (1B) is adapted to constrain the body (1)
to the laces (L) used for closing the shoe (C) thus
performing the function of anchoring the body (1) to the
shoe as further described below.
The anchoring part (1B) of the body (1), in the example shown
in fig. 1 of the attached drawings, has a stiffening surface
(I), preferably made of plastic material, which facilitates
its sliding under the lace (L) during the application of the
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accessory. Said stiffening surface is on the external side
(11B) of the anchoring part (1B).
Both parts (1A, 1B) have an internal and an external side
respectively indicated by references (10A, 11A, 10B, 11B) in
figures 1 and 2.
With reference to the example shown in figures 1 and 2 on
the internal side (10B) of the part (1B) there are coupling
means, for example a first and a second Velcro strip (V1,
V2) at a predetermined distance from each other. On the inner
side (10A) of the part (1A) there is a third Velcro strip
(V3). Furthermore, on the external side (11B) of the part
(1B) there is a fourth Velcro strip (V4).
Said Velcro strips (V1, V2, V3 and V4), anchored to each
other, the first strip (V1) with the second strip (V2) and
the third strip (V3) with the fourth strip (V4), allow the
attachment of the accessory to the shoelaces as further
described below.
The part (1B) of the body (1) is made to pass under a lace
(L) of the shoe, and the internal side of the free end (F)
of the part (1B) is folded on itself along the fold line
(PB) so that the first Velcro strip (V1) comes into contact
with the second Velcro strip (V2) thus providing a reversible
connection of the accessory to the lace that remains between
the Velcro strips (V1) and (V2) in correspondence of the
fold line (PB).
A knot for closing the lace (L) of the shoe is made, which
knot results above the body (1) and in correspondence of the
fold line (PA). Once the knot has been made, the excess of
the lace is inserted into the pocket (1T) provided by the
containment part (1A) and the internal side (10A) of the
part (1A) is folded on the internal side (11B) of the part
(1B) of so that the third Velcro strip (V3) comes into
contact with the fourth Velcro strip (V4), thus closing the
accessory. Figure 3 shows the accessory in a closed
configuration.
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Figures 4 to 9 illustrate a procedure which, in place of the
knot, involves the use of a lace lock (BL) to lock the lace
(L). For example, the lace lock (BL) can be of the type
described in PCT/IT2019/050027.
It is understood that different systems for fastening the
present invention to the laces can be used even without the
use of Velcro strips, for example by using press-studs.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, as
shown in Fig. 10 and Fig.11, the containment part (1A) of
the body (1) consists of the internal surface of the body
itself which forms the pocket (1T) to collect the excess of
laces. In this case, the anchoring part (1B) of the body (1)
consists of two holes (F) formed on the part (1A) and
specular to each other, between which there is a slot (1S)
which constitutes an access to the pocket (1T). Said holes
(S) allow the anchoring of the body (1) to the shoelace
through the passage of the shoelace in the holes themselves
and subsequent closure through the creation of a knot, or
through the aid of alternative locking systems, such as a
lace lock as previously mentioned. Figures 12 to 17
illustrate a possible way of using the accessory represented
in Fig.10 and Fig.11. Also in this case, the internal pocket
(1T) is used to receive a lace lock (BL) and the excess of
the lace, i.e. the parts of the lace protruding from the
lace lock.
In general, an accessory for lace-up shoes in accordance
with the present invention is made of a relatively soft
material, preferably a textile material such as fabric for
example, to allow the excess of the laces to be inserted
more easily into the pocket (1T).
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, an
accessory for footwear provided with a lace closure system,
comprises a body (1) with a containment part (1A) and an
anchoring part (1B), wherein in the containment part (1A) a
pocket (1T) of predetermined width is formed, wherein the
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anchoring part (1B) is shaped to be anchored to the shoe,
and wherein said anchoring part is provided with anchoring
means for its anchoring to the lace, such that said body (1)
can be anchored to the shoe by means of the lace only.
According to a construction method described above, said
anchoring means consist of said second part (1B) which is an
extension of the first part (1A) and can be folded over
itself and around the lace.
In addition, said first part (1A) and second part (1B) can
have a substantially trapezoidal shape and be joined to each
other at the major bases.
As described above, said second part (1B) can be provided
with joining means adapted for reversibly joining free
portions of said first and second part to each other.
According to a further embodiment, the anchoring means can
consist of a passage - for example formed by two through
holes (S) - through which two different branches of the lace
pass and which are formed on the sides of the pocket (1T).
The pocket (1T) is of a size suitable to contain free
portions of the lace and/or a lace lock.
In the examples shown in figures 1, 9 and 18 on the external
side of the first part (1A) there is a logo ("NBS").
It is understood that the invention is not limited to what
is described and illustrated, but can be widely modified as
regards the individual details, the nature and the
disposition of the materials used without thereby departing
from the scope of protection as defined by the attached
claims.
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