Multi-purpose and multi-size crampon and spike for such crampon

Abstract

A crampon (2) adapted to be associated with a footwear (1 ) comprising at least one part adapted to be associated with and cover a corresponding area of the sole (3) of the footwear (1 ), constraint means arranged above the upper (4) being provided for fixing the crampon (2) to the footwear (1 ). The crampon (2) comprises a first and a second portion (6,7) adapted to be arranged at the sole (3A) and at the heel (3 B) of the footwear (1 ) and which can be fixed to the latter by constraining said first and second portion (6,7) to a third portion (8) at least partly superimposed to the upper (4), such fixing being easily adaptable to any size of the footwear.

Description

[0001] “MULTI-PURPOSE AND MULTI-SIZE CRAMPON AND SPIKE FOR SUCH CRAMPON”

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a crampon according to the preamble of the main claim. Such preamble is disclosed in WO2016 / 205667.

[0004] As known, available on the market are various models of anti-slip crampons which can be worn on footwear of different types, for example trekking shoes and / or hiking shoes or boots, depending on the need, for example if there is snow, firm snow or ice on the ground to be covered.

[0005] However, these products have various limitations. One of the most important limitations is that commercial crampons are catalogued in various sizes, usually approximate or including predetermined but still generic numeric ranges. This forces a buyer to make a careful choice of product. However, even if one buys the right size, the crampons may not perfectly fit on the shoe, because crampons are generic and related to a more or less wide range of numerical interval. As a result, each crampon may move and be displaced on the footwear, which will require the user to make continuous adjustments to its position on the footwear.

[0006] Besides the inconvenience of having to make such continuous adjustments, the use of said crampons that do not perfectly fit to the sizes of the footwear could be dangerous and jeopardize safety when walking.

[0007] Besides the above, it should be observed that the current crampons are mostly designed to be used during hiking in the mountains and therefore designed for use with hiking shoes or boots. Therefore, the known crampons are unlikely to fit into casual footwear, such as sneakers, leisure shoes or rubber boots.

[0008] Furthermore, the known crampons may also not fit into footwear of the same size and type due to different shapes of such shoes and boots, for example, and the generic “size” of the crampon.

[0009] Lastly, crampons currently on the market are usually suitable for use only on snow or firm snow. They are unlikely to be used on ice, but they are not suitable for use on asphalted surfaces or firm grounds covered by frost with frost or a thin layer of ice, or on ground covered with stones, grass or scrub or where different types of grounds alternate, for example dry and hard, grassy or muddy or rocky, covered by snow, ice, or a thin layer of frost.

[0010] Overall, therefore, the known crampons available on the market cannot be used on grounds and surfaces that are even very different from each other, they cannot be customised according to the individual sizes of footwear, and they could be dangerous if they are not stably fixed to the corresponding footwear.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved crampon that overcomes the problems highlighted above relating to known crampons.

[0012] In particular, an object of the invention is to provide a crampon which is adaptable to different sizes of footwear, while being safe to use for the users.

[0013] Another object is to provide a crampon of the type mentioned that can be safely and effectively used on different types of footwear in a variety of situations not limited to those in which there is snow.

[0014] A further object is to provide a crampon that can be used on any type of hard ground, even in the presence of stones or rocks, as well as on ice or asphalt. Another object is to provide a crampon which, in use, is perfectly and stably adherent to the sole of the footwear and to the foot of the user offering the latter a high stability in the movement on any kind of terrain and safety when walking.

[0015] A further object is to provide a crampon designed for the installation - thereon - of spikes of different sizes adapted to allow the use of the crampon and of the footwear to which it is fixed on different occasions and for excursions of various levels of difficulty, whether in the presence of and in the event of switching from ice and / or snow to a dry, grassy or rocky terrain and, of course, in the presence of very hard ice and snow.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide is a crampon provided with a spike that is easy to couple to the first and to the second portion of the crampon. In particular, the object of the invention is also to provide a spike of the type mentioned above which can be fixed in the correct position, that is perpendicular to the said first and second portion of the crampon or in any case which can be fixed in such correct position to the part of any crampon placed under the sole the footwear to which the crampon is integrally joined. Another object is to provide a spike for crampon which can be fixedly stabilised to the sole of the footwear with which the crampon is associated.

[0017] These and other objects which shall be apparent to the person skilled in the art are attained by a crampon according to the main claim.

[0018] For a greater understanding of the present invention, attached below - purely by way of nonlimiting example - are the drawings, wherein: figure 1 shows a bottom perspective view of a first portion of a crampon according to the invention; figure 2 shows a top perspective view of the portion of figure 1 ; figure 3 shows a bottom plan view of the portion of figure 1 ; figure 4 shows a lateral view of the portion of figure 1 ; figure 5 shows a bottom perspective view of a second portion of a crampon according to the invention; figure 6 shows a top perspective view of the second portion of figure 5; figure 7 shows a bottom plan view of the portion of figure 5; figure 8 shows a lateral view of the portion of figure 5; figure 9 shows a top perspective view of a third portion of the crampon according to the invention; figure 10 shows a top plan view of the portion of figure 9; figure 1 1 shows a top perspective view of a further component of the crampon according to the invention; figure 12 shows a top plan view of the component of figure 1 1 ; figure 13 shows a lateral view of the component of figure 1 1 ; figure 14 shows a front view of the component of figure 1 1 ; figures 15, 16, 17, and 18 respectively show a lateral, front perspective, front and bottom view of a footwear with which there is associated a crampon according to the invention.

[0019] Figures 19 -23 respectively show a front, lateral, and perspective view from various angles of a spike which can be used with the crampon according to the invention; and figure 24 shows a view of a detail of the crampon with which there is associated a spike as shown in figures 19 - 23. With reference to figures 15 -18, they show a footwear (boot) 1 with which there is associated a crampon 2 obtained according to the invention. This crampon can adapt to several types of footwear, sizes of footwear and offers the user a high stability and safety during use.

[0020] The footwear 1 comprises a sole 3 having a front part 3A and a heel 3B. The sole 3 is associated with an upper 4.

[0021] The crampon 2 comprises three distinct portions: a first portion 6 is adapted to be arranged at the front part 3A of the sole 3, a second portion 7 is adapted to be arranged at the heel 3B and a third portion 8 is adapted to be arranged on the upper 4. Adjustably fixed to this third portion is the first and the second portion 6 and 7, this allowing the latter to be adapted to the specific size of the footwear, irrespective of the range between number 35 and number 50, and to stably fix said first and second portion 6 and 7 to the footwear 1 .

[0022] More particularly, the first portion 6 of a crampon comprises a large flat part 10 adapted to be arranged in contact with the front part 3A of the sole 3 and from whose peripheral there protrude elongated elements or antennas 1 1 . Depending on the relative position of such antennas with respect to the footwear, they may be subdivided into front antennas 1 1 A, which are adapted to be arranged in proximity of the front part of the footwear, and rear antennas 1 1 B.

[0023] The part 10 supports a plurality of plugs 13, whose number and whose arrangement may vary, increasing from a first surface 14 of the part 10 adapted to be faced towards the ground on which footwear 1 rests when used, said first surface 14 opposing a second surface 15 of the part 10 facing towards to the sole 3 and in contact with it.

[0024] The plugs 13 can be joined together (as shown in figures 1 - 8) by a rib 19 which, by connecting plugs 13, decreases the smooth part of the first surface 14 of the crampon increasing the “grip” on the ground further reducing the risk of slipping.

[0025] The plugs 13 each have a seat 16 adapted to removably house a spike W (see figures 15, 17 and 18) made of steel with a tungsten tip which confers - to the spike - greater resistance to wear and a longer service life with respect to the spikes full and solely made of steel. The spikes W may be inserted into each plug or only in some. Each spike is adapted to directly contact with the ground and it may have different length as a function of the surface on which the footwear is to be used (for example snow, ice, mud, stones, silt or moss- covered surfaces).

[0026] With reference to figures 19 -24, they show the spike W. Such spike comprises a body 100 having a first substantially conical part 101 having the tip 102 (preferably made of tungsten).

[0027] Such tip is usually braze-welded to a substantially truncated cone portion 104 protruding from a first side 105 of an intermediate portion of the body 100 or flange 106 of the body 100.

[0028] From the second side 107 opposite that 105 of such flange, there protrudes a threaded part 1 10 adapted to penetrate into a corresponding plug 13 through the seat 16. Such seat is initially closed and it is drilled on the threaded part 1 10.

[0029] The portion 104 and the tip 102 define a substantially conical part.

[0030] In order to facilitate such drilling, the threaded part 1 10 terminates with an end 1 12 having a pointed part 1 13 which substantially continues the thread 1 14 of the threaded part 1 10. Such pointed portion protrudes laterally from the end 1 12 and, gripping the material (plastic, natural or synthetic which the crampon is made of), it creates the pilot hole for the introduction of the spike into the relative seat.

[0031] It should be observed that the flange 106 is designed so as to facilitate the screwing of the spike W into the respective seat 16 or into the plug 13: for example, in the flange 106 there is obtained a lateral recess 1 19 adapted to house a usual protruding notch of a tool (not shown, but per se known) used for screwing the spike into the aforementioned plug. The flange 106 also has the function of stabilising the spike after screwing into the respective plug, preventing such spike from flexing or bending and keeping it in fixed position and perpendicular to the sole.

[0032] Alternatively, the flange 106 may have a perimeter edge shaped to facilitate gripping by the tool, for example a polygonal edge.

[0033] Therefore, the pointed portion or cusp 1 13 on the end 1 12 is designed to guide the insertion of the spike W into the respective plug 13, ensuring that the latter is inserted in a straight position and perpendicular with respect to sole of the footwear. This prevents the spike from being twisted or bending when being introduced . Furthermore, the pointed portion 1 13 also helps the crampon 2 to be fixed and fixedly stabilised to the sole of the footwear 1 through friction between the surface 15 of part 10 of crampon 2 (that is its portion 6 or 7) and the sole of the footwear.

[0034] This characteristic is clearly observable when the ground on which footwear 1 moves is wet.

[0035] Returning to the crampon 2, the second surface 15 of the part 10 has cusps 17 which improve the gripping of the part 10 on the sole 3 and they allow to keep such part 10 in fixed position with respect to the sole.

[0036] The front and rear antennas 1 1 A, 1 1 B protrude from opposite peripheral ends of the part 10 and they have a first surface 20 and a second surface 21 , opposite to the first and supporting a plurality of constraint members 23, for example, mushroomshaped and adapted to cooperate with reinforced holes or through-seats 25 obtained in the third portion 8 of the crampon 1 . More particularly, the front antennas 1 1A and rear antennas 1 1 B fold on the upper 4.

[0037] More precisely, only the constraint members 23 of the front antennas 1 1 A cooperate with said reinforced seats 25. The constraint members 23 of the rear antennas 1 1 B instead cooperate with a first of two tensioning and tightening elements 30, one of which is shown in figures 1 1 to 14, having an elongated body 31 provided with reinforced holes or seats, for example through holes or seats 32 adapted to house said constraint elements 23 of the rear antennas 1 1 B.

[0038] The tensioning and fastening elements 30 are made of a silicone material with a hardness that enables them to be stretched without breaking. For example, such hardness may be comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A.

[0039] Returning to the third section 8, it has a body 35 provided with an opening 36 adapted to allow to arrange such portion on the upper 4 of the footwear, but to allow the user to wear the footwear.

[0040] There is also present a tab 37 which acts as a grasping element so as to allow an easy positioning of the crampon on the footwear.

[0041] Obviously, the shapes of openings 36 and tab 37 may vary with respect to those shown in the figures. The reinforced seats or holes 25 (to which there are connected the constraint members 23 of the front antennas 1 1 A of the first portion 6) are obtained within a front part 35A of the body 35, with reference to the position of such part on the upper (or rather on the part of the upper 4 which terminates with the tip of the footwear).

[0042] Other reinforced seats or holes 40 are obtained within a rear part 35B of the aforementioned body 35: such reinforced holes or seats 40 are adapted to be connected with constraint members 45 of the second portion 7 of the crampon 2 arranged at the heel 3B of the footwear.

[0043] The second portion 7 is shown in figures 5-8: it comprises a large flat part 48 having two opposite surfaces 49 and 50, the first of which faces towards heel 3B and the second towards the ground. Like the first portion 6, the second portion 7 also has plugs 51 , varying in number and arrangement, with seats 52 for the spikes W on the surface 50 and cusps 53 on the surface 49 (having the same function as cusps 17).

[0044] From the large part 48, at the opposite peripheral ends thereof, there protrudes antennas 58 for constraining the second portion 7 to the third portion 8 and for tensioning such portion on the footwear. More particularly, the antennas 58 comprise (with reference to the footwear) rear antennas 58A and front antennas 58B. The antennas have opposite surfaces 55 and 56: present on the surface 55 are constraint members 45 for example shaped like a mushroom. The surface 56 is flat.

[0045] The constraint members 45 of the rear antennas 58A are adapted to cooperate with the third portion 8 of the crampon 2 as described.

[0046] The constraint members 45 of the front antennas 58B are instead adapted to cooperate with a second of the tensioning and fastening elements 30. Particularly, the second tensioning and fastening element cooperating with the front antennas 58B of the second portion 7 of the crampon is arranged above the upper 4 and tab 37 of the third portion 8 (see for example figure 17), the first tensioning and fastening element 30 which connects the rear antennas 1 1 B of the first portion 6 is arranged in the heel of the footwear (see figure 15). Such first tensioning and fastening element 30 is connected to the constraint members 45 of the front antennas 58B of the second section 7 therefore securing the crampon to the footwear.

[0047] Through the cooperation with the corresponding constraint members 23 and 45, said tensioning and fastening elements 30 allow to tension said first and second part 6,7 of the crampon after being constrained to the third part 8 of the of the latter. In this manner, the crampon is securely fastened to the footwear and the portion of its first and second portion appropriately adjusted on the sole 3 so as to adapt to size of the footwear.

[0048] While, as described, the tensioning and fastening elements 30 can be elastically deformed but retain memory always restoring the initial shape, the first and the second portion 6,7 of the crampon are made of ultra-hard material, for example equal (but not exclusively as they can be higher or lower) than 100 Shore A. Such portions are made of TPU or equivalent material for hardness and mechanical strength, although they do not necessarily have to be entirely made from the same material.

[0049] On the contrary, the third portion 8 of the crampon is made of yieldable material (it may be like that of elements 30), which is softer and more elastic with respect to that of the portions 6 and 7; the material of the third portion has a lower hardness than the other two portions 6 and 7 of the crampon.

[0050] For example, the third portion may have a hardness comprised between 25 and 40 Shore A. Such third portion 8 cooperates with the front antennas 1 1 A of the first portion 6 more or less close to the tip of the footwear. This allows to customise the crampon depending on the needs of the person wearing the footwear and the fitting thereof, choosing whether to have more grip on the ground in the tip area of the footwear or more grip in its central area.

[0051] Lastly, the reinforced holes 25 close to the front edge of the third portion can be anchored to the constraint members 23 of the first portion 6 (arranged on the front antennas 1 1 A) so as to adjust the front part ("tip", still with reference to its position on the footwear) of the crampon by conferring it a different shape depending on the footwear, right or left.

[0052] A particular embodiment of the invention has been described . However, others are still possible. For example, the constraint members 23 and 45 may have shapes different from the mushroom shape described and shown in the figures, the number thereof may be different from the one shown, they can be more or less close to each other, and they can be made of different materials.

[0053] Similarly, the plugs 13 and 51 may have any crosssection (parallel to the respective part 10 or 48), not necessarily polygonal as shown in the drawings. The arrangement and the amount of plugs may vary. The plugs may be solid or have seats such as through holes or threaded holes or bored holes designed for inserting spikes or any nuts.

[0054] The number and portions of antennas 1 1 and 58, the length thereof, the number of cusps (and the material they are made of) and the third portion 8 may also be different from those shown in the figures and described in the present document.

[0055] The invention allows to provide a single crampon, adaptable to various sizes, perfectly adjustable because it perfectly fits on every type of footwear, and designed to accept different types of spikes W (also with special characteristics) depending on the type of ground on which the crampon is used.

[0056] The shape of the first portion 6 and of the second portion 7 is neutral, so that they can be used both on a left and right footwear, even if such portions 6 and 7 can be created already “preformed” for the right and the left footwear.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Crampon adapted to be associated with a footwear (1 ) and comprising at least one part adapted to be arranged at a sole (3) of the footwear and constraint means adapted to be superimposed to an upper (4) of the footwear and connected to the part at the sole (3), said constraint means fixing such part to the footwear (1 ), the sole (3) having a front part (3A) which starts from a tip of the footwear and a heel (3B), the part arranged at the sole (3) comprising a first portion (6) adapted to be arranged at the front part (3A) of the sole (3), and a second portion (7) adapted to be arranged at the heel (3B) of the footwear (1 ), said first portion (6) and said second portion (7) comprising constraint members (23; 45) adapted to adjustably connect said portions (6,7) and a third portion (8) of the crampon arranged above the upper (4) of the footwear, said constraint fixing the crampon (2) to the footwear, characterised in that said constraint members (23,45) are protruding elements adapted to cooperate with reinforced seats or holes (25,40) provided for in the third portion (8) of the crampon, said crampon comprising tensioning and fastening elements (30) adapted to cooperate with said first and secondportion (6, 7) to fasten and tension said portions on the sole (3) of the footwear (1 ), said fastening and tensioning elements (30) having an elongated body (31 ) provided with reinforced holes or seats (32) adapted to cooperate with constraint elements (23;45) of the first and of the second portion ( 6,7) of the crampon.2) Crampon according to claim 1 , characterised in that said constraint members (23,45) are mushroom-shaped.3) Crampon according to claim 1 , characterised in that each of the first and of the second portion (6,7) comprise an extensive flat part (10, 48), from whose peripheral and opposite ends there extend elements or antennas (1 1 ,58) carrying the constraint members (23,45) adapted to cooperate with the third portion (8) of the crampon.4) Crampon according to claim 3, characterised in that said elements or antennas (1 1 ,58) have opposite surfaces (20 ,21 ; 55,56), only one (21 ,55) of such surfaces carrying the constraint members (23,45), said elements or antennas (1 1 ,58) being foldable and being arranged around the upper (4) to cooperate with the third portion (8) of the crampon.5) Crampon according to claim 1 , characterised inthat said first and second portion (6,7) are made of ultra-hard material, the third portion (8) being made of a material less hard than the hardness of the first and of the second portion (6,7).6) Crampon according to claim 1 , characterised in that said third portion (8) comprises a body (35) provided with an opening (36) adapted to allow the arrangement of the aforementioned body (35) on the upper (4), while allowing the use of the footwear, said body (35) having a front part (35A) facing towards the tip of the footwear (1 ) adapted to cooperate with the constraint means (23) of the first portion (6) of the crampon, the aforementioned body (35) having a rear part (35B) adapted to cooperate with the constraint members (45) of the second portion (7) of the crampon, said body (35) being deformable and yieldable.7) Crampon according to claim 3, characterised in that said first and second portion (6,7) have the flat part (10,48) having two opposite surfaces (14, 15; 49,50), a first surface (15;49) facing towards the sole (3), from the second surface (14,50) opposite to the first surface there protruding spikes (W), the latter being interchangeable and removable and being of different size and / or type depending on theground on which the crampon is used.8) Crampon according to claim 7, characterised in that the second surface (14 , 50) comprises a plurality of protruding elements or plugs (13), each plug (13) having a seat (16) adapted to removably house the corresponding spike (W), the latter comprising two opposite ends (102, 1 12), a first end (102) being adapted to contact the ground, the second end (1 12) having a sharp portion (1 13) adapted to allow the insertion of the spike (W) in the seat (16) of the respective plug (13).9) Crampon according to claim 8, characterised in that the spike (W) has a body (100) having an intermediate portion or flange (108) from whose first side (105) there protrudes a substantially truncated cone portion (104) terminating with said first end (102) of the spike, from a second side (107) of such intermediate portion or flange there protruding a threaded part ( 1 10) with thread (1 14) terminating with said second end (1 12) of the spike, said sharp portion (1 13) protruding laterally from said second end (1 12) and continuing said threaded part (1 10).10) Spike adapted to be associated with a crampon (2) for footwear (1 ) according to claim 1 , said spike (W) comprising a body (100) having an intermediateportion of flange (106) from whose first side (105) there protrudes a substantially truncated cone portion (104) having, at an end thereof, a tip (102), from a second side (107) of such flange (106) opposite to the first (105) there protruding a threaded part (1 10) with thread ( 1 14) terminating at an end ( 1 12) of such threaded part (1 10), characterised in that at such end (1 12) there is provided for a sharp portion (1 13) adapted to allow the insertion of the spike (W) into the crampon (2).11 ) Spike according to claim 10, characterised in that such sharp portion (1 13) protrudes laterally from the end (1 12) of the threaded part (1 10).12) Spike according to claim 10, characterised in that such sharp portion (1 13) continues the thread

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