FECHO PARA TIRA DE CALÇADO

Description

1 / 6 SHOE STRAP CLOSURE Technical sector

[001] The present utility model belongs to the technical sector of footwear and refers more specifically to a new fastening arrangement for use in footwear in general which results in functional improvement in its use in relation to existing conventional fasteners. State of the art

[002] The buckle is an essential element in the design and functionality of footwear, playing a fundamental role in securing and adjusting the shoe to the foot, ensuring comfort and safety for the user. The evolution of this component reflects, over time, advances in materials technology, as well as transformations in the aesthetic and practical needs of consumers.

[003] There are some known models of traditional sandal buckles which consist of a metal structure (usually made of steel, aluminum or other resistant metal) that has a tongue (or loop) and an adjustment pin. The shoe strap (usually made of leather or synthetic material) is passed through the buckle. The user pulls or adjusts the strap until it reaches the desired position to adjust the shoe to the foot. When it is desired to loosen the sandal, the tongue is simply removed from the pin, allowing the shoe to be opened.

[004] Although traditional buckles, such as pin and tongue buckles, allow for some level of adjustment, they do not always offer perfect precision. Adjusting the buckle can be a delicate task, as it may be necessary to pass the pin through the correct hole to ensure the shoe is comfortable, which is not always easy, especially in shoes with multiple straps or in situations of prolonged use. For some people, especially those with reduced mobility, the act of adjusting the buckle properly can be uncomfortable or time-consuming. The lack of a quick and precise adjustment can be inconvenient, particularly in situations where it is necessary to put on and take off the shoe frequently.

[005] Patent document GB1028476 discloses a means of fastening Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 5 / 20 2 / 6 shoe comprising a pair of C-shaped fasteners, anchored by flanged tubular portions or pins (bent after insertion) in eyelets on the separable flap or bridge portions of a shoe, and connected by a flat wire of elastic material having an end clip and an adjustable clip sized to lock through the hook portions of the right-hand fastener and wrapped back over the top of this fastener.

[006] US patent document 3206819 describes a shoe buckle comprising an upper part with two spaced flaps, one of which is provided with a transverse fastening strap of a length to span the space between the flaps and cover the other of the flaps, the shoe buckle being capable of loosely attaching the fastening strap to the other flap, and including: (a) a generally horizontal base having a conforming lower surface and resting against the upper surface of the other flap; (b) means for attaching said base to said other flap with said lower surface of said base resting against said upper surface of said other flap; (c) a generally horizontal shell connectable to said fastening strap and adapted to cover said base;(d) means for connecting said enclosure to said closure strip; (e) said base having on its upper side a locking element inclined upwards from its upper surface in a direction away from said flap; (f) said enclosure having an engageable hook-shaped locking element with said locking element on said base in response to the movement of said enclosure relative to said base in said direction; (g) said enclosure having at the nearest end of a flap a vertical wall engageable by one of the user's fingers when moving said enclosure relative to the base in the direction to engage the locking elements in a hook-related manner; and (h) interconnecting means on said base and said enclosure for guiding said locking elements to an interconnected engagement in response to the movement of said enclosure relative to said base in said direction.

[007] Document US3217371 contains a buckle for shoes, clothing and Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 6 / 20 3 / 6 similar comprising in combination (a) a C-shaped fastening element having opposite ends forming a retaining loop and means for anchoring to a part to be fastened, (b) a wire for being inside the loop of the C-shaped fastener, and (c) an anchoring piece adjustablely positioned on said wire and adapted for engagement in said loop, comprising a body receivable in said loop having at one end a gap for receiving said wire, and a return tab in said body having a recessed portion for engaging the sides of said loop and a return portion for covering the ends of said retaining loop, said recessed portion serving as a support portion for said wire in a return bend over said element in the assembly.

[008] These buckles described in documents GB1028476, US3217371 and US3206819, which use C-shaped fasteners and pins, have the disadvantage of difficulty in precise and quick adjustment, since the C-shaped fasteners can be difficult to position correctly and the pins require an exact fit, which can make the process of closing or opening the buckle time-consuming and inconvenient. In addition, with time and constant use, the mechanism may wear out, compromising the safety and durability of the buckle. Another potential problem is the tendency of the pins and C-shaped fasteners to loosen or weaken, which can cause malfunctions in the buckle and even damage to the footwear.

[009] Document US998471 discloses an accessory containing a button and reinforcement for shoe buttonholes, which is attached to the shoe and comprises an articulated loop adapted to engage the shoe button and guide it into the hole or opening. The disadvantage of this fastener is the possibility of wear and tear on the articulated loop and button due to repeated use, which can lead to engagement failures or even breakage of the mechanism. Furthermore, the process of engaging the button can be more time-consuming and less intuitive compared to other fastening systems, requiring greater precision in aligning the button with the opening. This can cause discomfort for the wearer. Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 7 / 20 4 / 6 user, especially in situations where quick adjustment is needed.

[010] Document US2016331084 discloses a footwear item that has an upper with multiple components. The upper includes a fastening system with a movable assembly. The movable assembly may include a flap portion and a throat portion. The movable assembly is attached to the upper. The movable assembly can be easily moved to facilitate the entry of a foot into the shoe item, or the exit of a foot from the shoe item. The movable assembly includes a medial edge, where at least a portion of the medial edge of the movable assembly is attached to the medial side of the upper along a flexion portion, and the movable assembly is configured to be rotated about the flexion portion.

[011] However, this system has the disadvantage of potentially wearing down the flexing portion and the fastening over time, which can compromise the functionality of the assembly's movement. Furthermore, the assembly's movement process may be susceptible to failure in situations of intensive use, such as during activities requiring high physical demands, making the footwear less reliable and comfortable for the user. The system can also increase the complexity of footwear manufacturing, which can raise production costs. Novelty and objective of the proposed model.

[012] The new constructive arrangement introduced in the shoe closure proposed by the present utility model effectively resolves the limitations of the prior art previously mentioned.

[013] A quick-release, practical and easy-to-use fastener was developed, which allows continuous adjustment of the strap length, so that adults and children themselves can close it quickly and easily.

[014] The arrangement solves the problem of current fasteners by means of a latch (2) arranged on the fixed strap (3), where this latch engages with the fastener (1) and is held in place after rotating 90°, making putting on more practical, easy and quick.

[015] The clasp has an eyelet (25) that makes it impossible to remove, so the user cannot remove the clasp, preventing accidents. Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 8 / 20 5 / 6 Functional improvement of the proposed model

[016] The new constructive arrangement consists of a fastener (1) equipped with loops (11) for the buckle strap (4) and an elongated slot (12), where the elongated head (21) of the lock (2) is fitted, which also contains a rod (24), a washer (22) with claws (23), the assembly being locked in the eyelet (25) for fixing to the fixed strap (3) of the footwear.

[017] In this way, the utility model results in the following functional improvements: - The clasp was designed with a quick and practical fastening system, allowing both adults and children to close the clasp easily and efficiently, without the need for external assistance; - The closure allows for continuous, i.e., non-stepped, adjustment of the back strap length, providing a customized and suitable fit for different sizes and needs. - It does not use pins and holes in the buckle strap, eliminating the need to select the hole in the buckle strap, match it, and insert the pin; - The locking system uses a latch, which has an elongated head that fits into the latch and remains locked after rotating 90°, ensuring a secure closure without risk of release; - The inclusion of an eyelet at the end of the fixed strap prevents the fastener from being completely removed from the shoe, which reduces the risk of accidents. List of attached drawings

[018] In order for the present model to be fully understood and put into practice by any technician in this technological sector, it is described in a clear, precise and sufficient manner, based on the attached drawings, listed below, which illustrate ways of implementing the shoe closure: Figure 1 - Exploded perspective view of the lock assembly; Figure 2 - perspective view of the isolated latch; Figure 3 - Perspective view of the locked latch assembly; Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 9 / 20 6 / 6 Figure 4 - Perspective view of the clasp mounted on the fixed strap and locked, but without the buckle strap; Figure 5 - Perspective view of the clasp mounted on the fixed strap without the buckle strap, but in the released position; Figure 6 - Side view of the fully assembled and locked latch. Model description

[019] Figure 1 illustrates the set of parts of the fastener, the fastener (1) consisting of the loop (11) for the passage of the buckle strap (4) and an elongated opening (12) for the insertion of the elongated head (21) of the latch (2). The latch (2) also consists of a washer (22) with claws (23) and a rod (24) with eyelets (25) for fixing to the fixed strap (3).

[020] The operation of the closure is facilitated by the latch (2) located at the bottom, which fits into the elongated opening (12) of the closure (1) and is locked after a simple 90° rotation. This mechanism makes closing more practical, quick and secure, eliminating the need to select and insert a pin into a hole in the buckle strap.

[021] In addition, an eyelet (25) was incorporated at the end of the rod (24) to ensure the retention of the lock (2) on the fixed strip (3).

[022] To adjust the footwear, the user inserts the buckle strap (4) into the loop (11) of the closure (1) with the appropriate travel and rotates this assembly 90° to align the elongated slot (12) with the elongated head (21) of the lock (2) and releases the buckle strap (4) which returns to the rest position, ensuring the closure is locked.

[023] To adjust the closure, the user simply pulls the buckle strap (4) already mounted on the closure (1).

[024] Maintaining the buckle strap (4) at the correct length around the user's leg is achieved through the following friction points: - tightening of the thickness of the buckle strap (4) against the surface of the fixed strap (3) caused by the pressure of the buckle loop (11) and - friction of the elongated head (21) of the lock (2) against the inner surface of the buckle strap (4). Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 10 / 20

Claims

1 / 1 CLAIM 1 - SHOE STRAP CLOSURE, characterized by being made up of: - a latch (1) equipped with loops (11) for the passage of the fastening strap (4) and an elongated opening (12) for fitting the elongated head (21) of the latch (2) and - a lock (2) equipped with an elongated head (21), a rod (24), a washer (22) with claws (23) and the eyelet (25) for fixing to the fixed strip (3). Petition 870250006295, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, p. 11 / 20

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