Cycling shoes

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of cycling shoes, including shoe sole, extensible whole vamp connected with shoe sole, movable tongue connected outside the extensible whole vamp, and first fastening structure, the first fastening structure includes the first knob button of first position being set to the movable tongue, first wire member being set on the first anchor point of the first side of the cycling shoe, second wire member being set on the second anchor point of the second side of the cycling shoe, and first tie between the first knob button, the first wire member and the second wire member, the first fastening structure is configured as operating first knob button to tighten the first tie to the movable tongue is pressed in the first position in the first area of the extensible whole vamp.The cycling shoe provided in the application is differentiated and designed according to the functional requirements of different areas of foot, and precise, firm and uniform locking is realized in metatarsal and dorsal area requiring high stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of sports footwear technology, and more specifically, to a professional cycling shoe that is particularly suitable for cycling. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, professional cycling shoes on the market mainly focus on achieving efficient force transmission between the foot and pedal through rigid soles and fastening systems. However, they generally suffer from the following inherent contradictions in terms of upper breathability, fit, and comfort design:

[0003] Traditional one-piece rigid uppers are typically made of leather, synthetic leather, or rigid composite materials, with the tongue placed underneath to directly contact the instep. Multiple Velcro fasteners or knobs are used for locking. The advantages are a secure lock and high energy transfer efficiency. However, the disadvantages are equally prominent. Firstly, the upper itself has poor deformation capacity. To achieve a secure lock, significant pressure must be applied to the instep and metatarsal areas, easily leading to poor blood circulation and localized pressure pain – the so-called "tightness causes pain." Secondly, during long rides, the foot undergoes slight deformation due to blood flow and exertion, but rigid uppers cannot adaptively adjust, causing discomfort to worsen over time. Loosening the fastening system results in a loose feel, also known as "looseness causes wobbling." Uneven pressure points may still occur under stress, sacrificing the precision of energy transfer. Furthermore, traditional cycling shoes often employ complex processes involving multi-layered materials and multi-section splicing to balance lockdown and comfort, resulting in a cumbersome upper structure, numerous production steps, lower efficiency, and high manufacturing complexity.

[0004] In conclusion, existing products have failed to effectively resolve the fundamental contradiction between high-strength locking and dynamic comfort fit in cycling shoes, and there is room for optimization in structural design and manufacturing processes. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a novel cycling shoe structure to achieve at least one improvement in terms of precise dynamic fit, enhanced overall experience, and optimized production process.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, some embodiments of this utility model provide a cycling shoe, including a sole, an extendable integral upper connected to the sole, a movable tongue connected to the outside of the extendable integral upper, and a first fastening structure. The first fastening structure includes a first button disposed at a first position of the movable tongue, a first guide wire disposed at a first anchor point on a first side of the cycling shoe, a second guide wire disposed at a second anchor point on a second side of the cycling shoe, and a first tie wire connected between the first button, the first guide wire, and the second guide wire. The first fastening structure is configured to operate the first button to tighten the first tie wire to press the movable tongue at the first position against a first area of ​​the extendable integral upper.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first and / or second conductor is a rotating conductor or a fixed conductor. The rotating conductor is, for example, a bearing conductor, and the fixed conductor is, for example, a sleeve, especially an elastic sleeve, or a webbing or plastic part.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first anchor point and the second anchor point are located on the heel wrapping of the first and second sides of the cycling shoe, respectively.

[0009] In some embodiments, the system further includes a first and a second upper tensioning piece disposed on both sides of the overall upper. The first or second upper tensioning piece each includes a rear section that is at least partially fixed to the stretchable overall upper. The first anchoring point is located at the rear section of the first upper tensioning piece, and the second anchoring point is located at the rear section of the second upper tensioning piece.

[0010] In some embodiments, a second fastening structure is further included, the second fastening structure comprising a second button disposed at a second position of the movable tongue, a third guide wire disposed at a third anchor point on a first side of the cycling shoe, a fourth guide wire disposed at a fourth anchor point on a second side of the cycling shoe, and a second lacing line connecting the first button, the third guide wire, and the fourth guide wire, the second fastening structure being configured to operate the second button to tighten the second lacing line to press the movable tongue at the second position against a second region of the stretchable integral upper.

[0011] In some embodiments, the third anchor point and the fourth anchor point are located on the toe cap of the first side and the second side of the cycling shoe, respectively.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first and second upper fastening pieces further include a front section at least partially fixed to the stretchable integral upper, and a separable mid-section between the rear section and the front section and the stretchable integral upper; the third and fourth anchoring points are located at the mid-sections of the first and second upper fastening pieces, respectively; thereby, the second fastening structure is configured to press the first, second, and movable tongues against a second region of the stretchable integral upper; The first fixing guide wire in the middle section of the first shoe upper tensioning piece, the second fixing guide wire in the middle section of the second shoe upper tensioning piece, and the second lacing wire connecting the second button, the first fixing guide wire, and the second fixing guide wire; wherein, the first position and the second position of the movable shoe tongue are arranged along the front-to-back direction of the shoe, and the second position of the movable shoe tongue is located near the front of the shoe; the second fastening structure is configured to operate the second button to tighten the second lacing wire to press the movable shoe tongue at the second position into the second area of ​​the stretchable overall shoe upper.

[0013] In some implementations, the third and / or fourth conductors are either rotating conductors or fixed conductors. The rotating conductor is, for example, a bearing conductor, and the fixed conductor is, for example, a sleeve, particularly a flexible sleeve.

[0014] In some embodiments, the midsection is configured to extend to a position adjacent to the active tongue.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first rotating guide member and the second rotating guide member are rotating guide members with bearings.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first region of the extendable overall upper corresponds to the metatarsal region of the cyclist's foot adjacent to the toes, and the second region corresponds to the metatarsal region of the cyclist's foot away from the toes.

[0017] In some embodiments, the stretchable overall upper is a one-piece knitted upper, such as a flyknit upper; or an ultralight mesh / engineered mesh / hot melt mesh upper, etc.

[0018] In some embodiments, the movable tongue is fixed to the stretchable overall shoe upper by a sewing process. The surface material of the movable tongue is a composite material with low elongation or a high-density fabric, and the lower layer of the movable tongue is provided with a cushioning pad.

[0019] The benefits of this application include: the cycling shoe provided by this application features a zoned, differentiated design to meet the functional needs of different areas of the foot. It achieves precise, secure, and even locking in the metatarsal and instep areas, where high stability is required, while providing a soft, adaptive elastic wrap in other non-critical stress areas. This fundamentally solves the pain points of traditional cycling shoes—"tight when too tight, loose when too loose"—allowing cyclists to ensure efficient power transmission and continuous comfort during long, high-intensity rides. Through an innovative zoned, modular upper structure design, the complex upper construction and manufacturing process of traditional cycling shoes are simplified, improving production efficiency and product consistency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a side view of a cycling shoe according to an embodiment of the present application with the active tongue in a secured state, viewed from the first side.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a side view of the cycling shoe according to an embodiment of the present application in a fastened state, viewed from the second side.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a side view of a cycling shoe according to an embodiment of the present application with the active tongue in an open state, as viewed from the first side. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The specific embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Some embodiments of this application provide a cycling shoe 100, including a sole 10, such as a carbon fiber outsole, an extendable integral upper 20 fixedly connected to the sole 10, a movable tongue 30 connected to the outside of the extendable integral upper 20, and a first fastening structure 40. The first fastening structure 40 includes a first knob 41 disposed at a first position 31 of the movable tongue 30, a first rotating guide 42 disposed at a first anchor point on a first side of the cycling shoe, a second rotating guide 43 disposed at a second anchor point on a second side of the cycling shoe, and a first lacing 44 connected between the first knob 41, the first rotating guide 42, and the second rotating guide 43. The first fastening structure 40 is configured to operate the first knob 41 to tighten the first lacing 44 to press the movable tongue 30 at the first position 31 against a first region of the extendable integral upper 20.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first anchor point and the second anchor point are located on the heel wrap 70 of the first and second sides of the cycling shoe, respectively. The provided first fastening structure 40 can additionally provide pressure on the foot provided by the active tongue 30, thereby allowing the cycling shoe to better fit the cyclist's foot and provide fastening force to the metatarsal area away from the toes, especially the upper part.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first rotating guide and / or the second rotating guide may be a bearing guide.

[0027] In some embodiments, the first rotating guide and / or the second rotating guide may be replaced by a fixed guide, such as a wire sleeve, especially an elastic wire sleeve.

[0028] In some embodiments, the system further includes a first shoe upper tensioning piece 50A and a second shoe upper tensioning piece 50B disposed on both sides of the overall shoe upper. The first shoe upper tensioning piece 50A and / or the second shoe upper tensioning piece 50B respectively include rear sections 51A, 51B and front sections 53A, 53B that are at least partially fixed to the stretchable overall shoe upper, and middle sections 52A, 52B that are separable from the stretchable overall shoe upper between the rear section and the front section. The first anchoring point is located at the rear section 51A of the first shoe upper tensioning piece 50A, and the second anchoring point is located at the rear section 51B of the second shoe upper tensioning piece 50B. By providing a first upper tensioning piece 50A and a second upper tensioning piece 50B, and with the first anchor point located at the rear section 51A of the first upper tensioning piece 50A and the second anchor point located at the rear section 51B of the second upper tensioning piece 50B, especially when only a portion of the rear section is fixed to the heel cover 70 or the sole, additional lateral support can be provided to the cyclist's foot, thereby allowing the cycling shoe to better fit the cyclist's foot and providing further lateral fastening force to the metatarsal area away from the toe, especially the metatarsal area away from the toe.

[0029] In some embodiments, the cycling shoe 100 further includes a second fastening structure 60, which includes a second button 61 disposed at a second position 32 of the movable tongue 30, a third guide wire 62 disposed at a third anchor point on a first side of the cycling shoe, a fourth guide wire 63 disposed at a fourth anchor point on a second side of the cycling shoe, and a second lacing line 64 connecting the second button 61, the third guide wire 62, and the fourth guide wire 63. The second fastening structure 60 is configured to operate the second button 61 to tighten the second lacing line 64 to press the movable tongue 30 at the second position 32 against the second region of the stretchable overall upper 20. The first position 31 and the second position 32 of the movable tongue 30 are arranged along the fore-aft direction of the shoe, with the second position 32 of the movable tongue located near the forefoot. The second fastening structure 60 is configured to operate the second button 61 to tighten the second lacing line to press the movable tongue at the second position against the second region of the stretchable overall upper.

[0030] In some embodiments, the third anchor point and the fourth anchor point are located on the toe cap 80 of the first side and the second side of the cycling shoe, respectively, and the toe cap 80 is, for example, composed of a TPU protective sheet.

[0031] In some embodiments, the third anchor point and the fourth anchor point are located at the middle section 52A of the first upper tension piece 50A and the middle section 52B of the second upper tension piece 50B, respectively. Thus, the second fastening structure 60 is configured to press the first upper tension piece 50A, the second upper tension piece 50B, and the movable tongue 30 into a second region of the stretchable integral upper 20.

[0032] In some embodiments, the third and / or fourth rotating guide wires may be rotating guides, such as bearing guide wires or bearingless guide wires. In some embodiments, the third and / or fourth rotating guide wires may be fixed guide wires, such as wire sleeves, especially elastic wire sleeves, plastic sleeves, and webbing.

[0033] As an alternative embodiment, the second fastening structure 60 includes a second button located at a second position 32 of the movable tongue 30, a third rotating guide member located on the middle section 52A of the first shoe upper tensioning piece 50A, a fourth rotating guide member located on the middle section 52B of the second shoe upper tensioning piece 50B, and a second lacing thread connecting the second button, the third rotating guide member, and the fourth rotating guide member. The second fastening structure is configured such that operating the second button configuration tightens the second lacing thread to press the movable tongue at the second position against the second region of the stretchable integral upper.

[0034] By providing a second fastening structure 60, whether a fixed or rotating guide wire is used, additional clamping force can be provided near the second position of the active tongue. Combined with the lateral support provided by the midsection, this provides a fastening force for the rider's foot above and to the side in the metatarsal area adjacent to the toe.

[0035] The middle sections 52A and 50B can be configured to extend to the second position 32 adjacent to the active shoe tongue 30, thereby reducing the difficulty of operation.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in the figure, the stretchable integral upper 20 is a one-piece knitted upper, such as a flyknit upper. It should be understood that the stretchable integral upper 20 can also be made of ultralight mesh, engineered mesh, hot-melt mesh, or other stretchable uppers. The characteristics of this type of upper are that it can fit snugly over the cyclist's foot, is breathable, and provides some support. Using an elastic and comfortable flyknit upper is particularly advantageous, as flyknit fabric has excellent longitudinal, lateral, or multi-directional stretch, allowing it to gently wrap around the entire foot area like a sock, conforming to the foot shape and providing even pressure.

[0037] The movable tongue 30 can be fixed to the stretchable overall upper 20 by sewing. The movable tongue 30 is a component independent of the main part of the stretchable overall upper, and its main coverage area is the mid-rear part of the instep. The surface material of the movable tongue 30 is usually a composite material with low elongation or a high-density fabric to ensure stability when locked. The lower layer of the movable tongue 30 can be equipped with a cushioning pad to improve tactile comfort and prevent the buckle from pressing on the instep when tightened. The movable tongue 30 is not traditionally fixed to the upper by sewing, but is connected to the heel cover at the rear or the toe cover at the front of the cycling shoe, or to the shoe body tightening plates on both sides, through fixed or rotating guide wires on both sides, such as sewn webbing, elastic connecting pieces, or bearing rotating guide wires. This connection method allows the tongue to act as a relatively independent "pressure plate" for vertical, horizontal, and angular fine adjustment under the action of the first and / or second fastening structures.

[0038] A linear locking knob system based on a knob and a tether is a conventional fastening system in the field. Selecting the knob allows for easy one-click unlocking after removal, and reversing the knob left or right allows for tightening and fine-tuning. The use of a rotating guide makes the knob operation smoother, especially in configurations like the first fastening structure where the two anchor points are far from the first knob 41. The rotating guide makes operation smoother and reduces the risk of tether breakage due to jamming with the guide. The first, second, third, and fourth rotating guides can be bearing-equipped. Alternatively, they can be bearingless.

[0039] The cycling shoe of this application has an overall structure of "external movable cover and internal integrated wrap": the separate movable tongue 30 covers the outer surface of the flyknit upper, that is, from the outside, the movable tongue 30 looks like an independent cover. The flyknit upper, as the inner layer, directly contacts and naturally wraps around the entire foot of the cyclist.

[0040] When the cyclist tightens the first buckle 41, the pressure applied by the first lacing cable 44 is primarily distributed and transmitted over a large area through the movable tongue 33. Due to its low elasticity, the movable tongue 30 precisely, centrally, and evenly applies pressure to the instep area it covers, achieving a secure lock on this crucial force-generating area. Simultaneously, the knitted upper beneath the movable tongue 30, due to its elasticity, primarily deforms rather than rigidly resists pressure, gently distributing the locking pressure while adapting to slight foot movements, avoiding the "cutting" sensation and localized pressure from hard material edges on the instep. The metatarsal area is secured by two upper fastening plates, serving the same functional zoning.

[0041] It should be understood that in some embodiments, it is advantageous to use fixed conductors, such as webbing, especially elastic webbing, for the first fastening structure, as elastic webbing allows for slight deformation in the lateral direction, further enhancing the self-adaptive capability.

[0042] In some embodiments, in order to cooperate with the first lacing of the first fastening structure and / or the second lacing of the second fastening structure, a plurality of guide holes may be provided on both sides of the first and / or second positions of the active shoe tongue 30 to allow the first lacing and / or the second lacing to pass through, thereby constraining the movement of the first lacing and / or the second lacing.

[0043] Compared with the prior art, the dynamic fit cycling shoe provided by this utility model has the following significant advantages:

[0044] 1. Superior Dynamic Fit and Comfort: Through a zoned design of "moderately rigid tongue locking + upper tightening plate + elastic flyknit upper wrapping," it achieves "even tightness where it needs to be tight, and natural looseness where it needs to be loose." The deformation caused by foot engorgement and force exertion during cycling is effectively absorbed and adapted by the elastic flyknit upper, while the locked areas remain stable, completely resolving the contradiction of "tightness causing pain" and "looseness causing wobbling."

[0045] 2. Highly efficient and precise power transmission: The split tongue locks onto the instep, and the shoe's cleat plate locks onto the metatarsal area, forming a stable and reliable power transmission platform. This ensures efficient and lossless transmission of pedaling power from the foot to the pedals / cranks, with performance comparable to traditional hard-upper cycling shoes. Furthermore, both the tongue and cleat plate are self-adjusting during cycling.

[0046] 3. Simplified Structure and Optimized Production: The modular upper structure (independent tongue plus one-piece flyknit upper) reduces the multi-layer cutting, compounding, and sewing processes previously required to achieve a complex wrapping effect. The flyknit upper can be woven into a single piece, and the independent tongue can be standardized in production. The two are assembled through simple connectors, greatly simplifying the production process, improving production efficiency and product consistency, and reducing production costs.

[0047] 4. Enhance product adaptability: Elastic flyknit shoes are more accommodating to different foot shapes, and combined with an independently adjustable tongue, they can adapt to a wider range of users, reducing discomfort caused by differences in foot shape.

Claims

1. A cycling shoe, characterized in that: The shoe includes a sole, an extendable integral upper connected to the sole, a movable tongue connected to the outside of the extendable integral upper, and a first fastening structure. The first fastening structure includes a first button located at a first position of the movable tongue, a first guide wire located at a first anchor point on a first side of the cycling shoe, a second guide wire located at a second anchor point on a second side of the cycling shoe, and a first tie wire connected between the first button, the first guide wire, and the second guide wire. The first fastening structure is configured to operate the first button to tighten the first tie wire to press the movable tongue at the first position against a first area of ​​the extendable integral upper.

2. The cycling shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first anchor point and the second anchor point are located on the heel wrapping of the first and second sides of the cycling shoe, respectively.

3. The cycling shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a first and a second shoe upper tensioning piece disposed on both sides of the overall shoe upper. The first or second shoe upper tensioning piece each includes a rear section that is at least partially fixed to the stretchable overall shoe upper. The first anchor point is located at the rear section of the first shoe upper tensioning piece, and the second anchor point is located at the rear section of the second shoe upper tensioning piece.

4. The cycling shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a second fastening structure, which includes a second button located at a second position of the movable tongue, a third guide wire located at a third anchor point on a first side of the cycling shoe, a fourth guide wire located at a fourth anchor point on a second side of the cycling shoe, and a second lacing wire connecting the first button, the third guide wire, and the fourth guide wire. The second fastening structure is configured to operate the second button to tighten the second lacing wire to press the movable tongue at the second position against the second area of ​​the stretchable overall upper.

5. The cycling shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that: The third anchor point and the fourth anchor point are located on the toe cap of the first side and the second side of the cycling shoe, respectively.

6. The cycling shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first and second upper fastening plates further include a front section at least partially fixed to the stretchable integral upper, and a separable middle section between the rear section and the front section from the stretchable integral upper; the third and fourth anchoring points are respectively located in the middle sections of the first and second upper fastening plates; thus, the second fastening structure is configured to press the first upper fastening plate, the second upper fastening plate, and the movable tongue against a second region of the stretchable integral upper; provided on the first upper... The second shoe upper includes a first fixing guide member in the middle section of the tightening piece, a second fixing guide member in the middle section of the second shoe upper tightening piece, and a second lacing line connecting the second button, the first fixing guide member, and the second fixing guide member; wherein the first and second positions of the movable tongue are arranged along the front-to-back direction of the shoe, and the second position of the movable tongue is located near the front of the shoe; the second fastening structure is configured to operate the second button to tighten the second lacing line to press the movable tongue at the second position into the second area of ​​the stretchable overall shoe upper.

7. The cycling shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first and / or second wire components are either rotating or fixed wire components; the rotating wire component is a bearing wire component, and the fixed wire component is a wire sleeve, webbing, or plastic part; the third and / or fourth wire components are either rotating or fixed wire components. The rotating guide wire is a bearing guide wire, and the fixed guide wire is a wire sleeve, webbing, or plastic part.

8. The cycling shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that: The midsection is configured to extend to a position adjacent to the active shoe tongue.

9. The cycling shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first area of ​​the extendable overall upper corresponds to the metatarsal area of ​​the cyclist's foot adjacent to the toes, and the second area corresponds to the metatarsal area of ​​the cyclist's foot away from the toes.

10. The cycling shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stretchable overall upper is a one-piece knitted upper, including a flyknit upper; or an ultralight mesh / engineered mesh / hot melt mesh upper; the movable tongue is fixed to the stretchable overall upper by a sewing process; the surface material of the movable tongue is a composite material with low extensibility or a high-density fabric, and the lower layer of the movable tongue is provided with a cushioning pad.

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