Production process of an ankle boot with elastically expandable inlet

Abstract

Ankle boot provided with two lateral inserts made of elastic fabric suitable for favoring the expansion of the boot leg during the insertion and extraction of the user's foot, wherein each of said lateral inserts is covered by a flap preferably made with the same material used for the upper of the ankle boot, at least in correspondence with the external surface of said boot leg.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a production process of an ankle boot with an elastically expandable inlet, and to the ankle boot obtained with such a process.

[0002] As it is well known, a specific type of ankle boots has been available on the market for a long time, in which the upper is usually made of natural or synthetic leather and comprises a boot leg that extends upwards to surround the user's ankle; wherein said boot leg is provided on one or both sides with respective elastic fabric inserts that facilitate the insertion of the foot due to their ability to temporarily widen the section of the boot leg of the ankle boot. Each one of said elastic fabric inserts is sewn around the perimeter of a substantially U-shaped vertical window that cuts the respective side of the upper part of the ankle boot.

[0003] Although such a traditional structural design is functionally satisfactory, its main limitation is the trivial, not to say poor external appearance of such an ankle boot. In particular, such a simple shape and appearance derive above all from the conspicuous presence of the two elastic fabric inserts on both sides of the boot, also considering that the "woven" surface of such an insert does not lend itself to being decorated or finished with truly appealing and distinctive solutions.

[0004] Evidently, the two large interruptions on the leather surface of the boot leg of said ankle boots, which are due to the presence of the two fabric inserts, do not permit the creation of a decorative motif that might develop, perhaps in a spiral, around the entire perimeter of the boot leg. Moreover, the ankle boots that use a side zipper to widen the inlet are no less deficient in terms of aesthetics.

[0005] Ankle boots with a fully leather boot leg devoid of a lateral interruption are more aesthetically pleasing, even though such ankle boots are impaired by the difficulty encountered by the user during the insertion or extraction of the foot.

[0006] It was precisely the observation of this less than satisfactory technological situation that led to the conception of the new invention in question, whose main purpose is to finally enhance the aesthetic appeal of the ankle boots provided with elastic fabric side inserts, in a situation in which the unaesthetic presence of the side inserts is not instantly seen by those observing such an ankle boot from the outside.

[0007] The ankle boot obtained with the new process in question combines the advantages of the two traditional types of similar footwear, while eliminating their respective defects.

[0008] In fact, on the one hand, the new ankle boot offers a high degree of comfort during the insertion and extraction of the user's foot, due to the provisions of the elastic fabric side inserts, whereas, on the other hand, it is appreciated for its ability to conceal the presence of the elastic fabric inserts, thus giving the impression that the ankle boot belongs to the type of ankle boots provided with a high-quality upper that is entirely made of leather.

[0009] The process according to the invention can be advantageously implemented both on ankle boots (known in the trade as Beatles) designed to have a pair of opposite elastic fabric inserts on both sides of the respective boot leg, and on ankle boots designed to have a single elastic fabric insert on only one side of the boot leg.

[0010] The main purpose of the present invention has been achieved in accordance with the characteristics listed in the attached independent claim 1.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of this invention appear in the dependent claims.

[0012] For greater clarity, the description of the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting, wherein: Fig. 1 shows the upper suitable for being used in the ankle boot obtained with the new process in question; Fig. 1A shows an elastic fabric insert suitable for being mounted in one of the lateral cutouts provided on the upper in Fig. 1; Fig. 1B shows a leather flap suitable for covering the elastic fabric insert of Fig. 1A on both sides; Fig. 2 shows the flap of Fig. 1C mounted on the respective elastic fabric insert; Figs. 3 and 3A show the upper of Fig. 1, from the inside and the outside respectively, following the assembly of the semi-finished product of Fig. 2; Fig. 3B is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 3A; Figs. 4 and 4A sequentially show the two operating steps relating to the assembly of a lining inside the upper shown in Figs. 3 and 3A; Figs. 5 and 5A are two different views of the ankle boot obtained with the new process in question.

[0013] With reference to the above Figures, the operating steps of the new process in question are illustrated below.

[0014] The first step (step A) consists of the fabrication of the structural parts of the innovative upper (T) suitable for being assembled on the ankle boot (SL) in question, wherein said parts consist of: a leather upper (T) for ankle boots provided with at least one vertical lateral window (1) occupying the boot leg of said upper (T) for its entire length; an elastic fabric insert (2) suitable for being mounted at a respective lateral window (1) of the upper (T); wherein said insert (2) has a profile that corresponds to that of the respective lateral window (1), albeit with a larger surface area; wherein said insert (2) comprises an upper transverse edge (2a), a lower transverse edge (2b), a rear longitudinal edge (2c), and a front longitudinal edge (2d); a leather flap (3) suitable for covering said elastic fabric insert (2) on both sides; wherein, with respect to a transverse median axis (X-X), said flap (3) comprises a first edge (3a) suitable for covering the outer surface of said elastic fabric insert (2), and a second edge (3b) suitable for covering the inner surface of said elastic fabric insert (2) during use; wherein said two edges (3a, 3b) of said flap (3) have such a profile and surface area as to exactly occupy the respective lateral window (1) of the upper (T).

[0015] The second step (step B) consists of assembling said flap (3) astride the insert (2), in a condition wherein: said transverse median axis (X-X) of said flap (3) is disposed at said upper transverse edge (2a) of the insert (2); said first edge (3a) of said flap (3) is brought into contact with the outer surface of said insert (2), after being overturned from up downwards, as shown in Fig. 3A; said second edge (3b) of said flap (3) is brought into contact with the inner surface of said insert (2), after being overturned from up downwards, as shown in Fig. 3; said rear longitudinal edge (2c) and said front longitudinal edge (2d) of the insert (2) protrude from opposite sides relative to said edges (3a, 3b) of said flap (3), as shown in Fig. 2.

[0016] The third step (step C) consists of stabilizing the assembly of said flap (3) on the elastic fabric insert (2) by means of a first, substantially L-shaped stitch line (L1) made at the inferior-posterior corner of the flap (3); wherein said first stitch line (L1) is suitable for sewing together the first edge (3a) of the flap (3), the elastic fabric insert (2), and the second edge (3b) of the flap (3).

[0017] The fourth step (step D) consists of assembling said elastic fabric insert (2), which is now covered by said flap (3) on both sides, at a respective lateral window (1) of the upper (T); wherein such assembly is performed by means of a second, substantially U-shaped stitch line (L2) that attaches the rear longitudinal edge (2c), the lower transverse edge (2b) and the front longitudinal edge (2d) of the insert (2) on the corresponding perimeter edges of the lateral window (1) of the upper (T), as shown in Fig. 3.

[0018] The observation of Fig. 3A shows that, at the end of the previous operation, the first edge (3a) of the flap (3) is positioned exactly internally and flush with the respective lateral window (1) of the upper (T), in such a condition that said first edge (3a) produces the visual effect of restoring the structural continuity of the upper (T), also considering that the flap (3) is preferably made of the same material used for the upper (T).

[0019] The fifth step (step E) consists of assembling said upper (T) on a respective sole (S) to finally obtain the ankle boot (SL) shown in Figs. 5 and 5A.

[0020] While, on the one hand, the ankle boot (SL) thus obtained is appreciated for the particularly linear, elegant appearance guaranteed by the presence of the first edge (3a) of the flap (3) at each respective lateral window (1), on the other hand, it maintains the comfort features that are typical of an ankle boot with elastic fabric side inserts.

[0021] Being made only at one corner of the semi-finished product shown in Fig. 2, the first stitch line (L1) that is necessary to join the flap (3) to the respective elastic fabric insert (2) does not affect in any way the capability of the elastic fabric insert (2) to extend in width, also at its lower transverse edge (2b), during the insertion or extraction of the user's foot into / from the upper (T) of the ankle boot (SL).

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, three additional operating steps are provided and performed between step D and step E.

[0023] The additional operating steps relate to the assembly of a lining (4) inside the upper (T).

[0024] The additional steps are described as follows: D1) provision of a lining (4) suitable for being assembled inside said upper (T) of the ankle boot (SL), wherein said lining (4) is provided with a cutout (4a) having the same shape and position as the respective lateral window (1) of said upper (T), so as to be exactly aligned with said lateral window (1); wherein said cutout (4a) is circumscribed by a perimeter edge (4b) suitable for being disposed inside the respective window (1) of the upper (T) during use; D2) assembly of said lining (4) inside said upper (T), wherein said assembly provides for making a third stitch line (L3) to sew the lining (4) at the inlet (IM) of the upper (T) and to sew said perimeter edge (4b) of the cutout (4a) of said lining (4) to the perimeter edge of the lateral window (1) of said upper (T), with the interposition of the perimeter edge of the elastic fabric insert (2); D3) trimming said edge (4b) that circumscribes the cutout (4a) of the lining (5) for the part that protrudes inside the lateral window (1) of the upper (T), downstream of said third stitch line (L3).

[0025] The process in question can also be advantageously implemented, in the same manner as described above, also in the case in which the window (1) provided on the upper (T) has a different profile from that shown in the attached Figures; it being provided that, in such a case, the elastic fabric insert (2) and the flap (3) must have a profile compatible with that of the window (1).

Claims

1. Production process of an ankle boot (SL) comprising an upper (T) provided with at least one lateral insert made of elastic fabric (2), wherein said process comprises the following operating steps: A) fabrication of the structural parts suitable for being provided in the ankle boot (SL), wherein said parts consist of: - an upper (T) for ankle boots provided with at least one vertical lateral window (1) occupying the boot leg of said upper (T) for its entire length; - an elastic fabric insert (2) suitable for being mounted at a respective lateral window (1) of the upper (T); wherein said insert (2) has a profile that corresponds to that of the respective lateral window (1), albeit with a larger surface area (1); wherein said insert (2) comprises an upper transverse edge (2a), a lower transverse edge (2b), a rear longitudinal edge (2c) and a front longitudinal edge (2d); - a flap (3) suitable for covering said elastic fabric insert (2) on both sides; wherein, with respect to a transverse median axis (X-X), said flap (3) comprises a first edge (3a) suitable for covering the outer surface of the said elastic fabric insert (2), and a second edge (3b) suitable for covering the inner surface of said elastic fabric insert (2) during use; wherein said two edges (3a, 3b) of said flap (3) have such a profile and surface area as to exactly occupy the respective lateral window (1) of the upper (T); B) assembly of said flap (3) astride the insert (2), in a condition wherein: - said transverse median axis (X-X) of said flap (3) is disposed at said upper transverse edge (2a) of the insert (2); - said first edge (3a) of said flap (3) is brought into contact with the outer surface of said insert (2), after being overturned from up downwards; - said second edge (3b) of said flap (3) is brought into contact with the inner surface of said insert (2), after being overturned from up downwards; - said rear longitudinal edge (2c) and said front longitudinal edge (2d) of the insert (2) protrude from opposite sides relative to said edges (3a, 3b) of said flap (3); C) attachment of said flap (3) on the elastic fabric insert (2) by means of a first, substantially L-shaped stitch line (L1) made at the inferior-posterior corner of the flap (3); wherein said first stitch line (L1) is suitable for sewing together the first edge (3a) of the flap (3), the elastic fabric insert (2) and the second edge (3b) of the flap (3); D) assembly of said elastic fabric insert (2), which is now covered by said flap (3) on both sides, at a respective lateral window (1); wherein such assembly is performed by means of a second, substantially L-shaped stitch line (L2) that attaches the rear longitudinal edge (2c), the lower transverse edge (2b) and the front longitudinal edge (2d) of the insert (2) on the corresponding perimeter edges of the lateral window (1) of the upper (T); E) assembly of said upper (T) on a respective sole (S) to obtain the ankle boot (SL).

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said process comprises the following additional steps to be performed between step C and step F: D1) provision of a lining (4) suitable for being assembled inside said upper (T) of the ankle boot (SL), wherein said lining (4) is provided with a cutout (4a) having the same shape and position as a respective lateral window (1) of said upper (T), so as to be exactly aligned with said lateral window (1); wherein said cutout (4a) is circumscribed by a perimeter edge (4b) suitable for being disposed inside the respective window (1) of the upper (T) during use; D2) assembly of said lining (4) inside said upper (T), wherein said assembly provides for making a third stitch line (L3) to sew the lining (4) at the inlet (IM) of the upper (T) and to sew said perimeter edge (4b) of the cutout (4a) of said lining (4) to the perimeter edge of the lateral window (1) of said upper (T), with the interposition of the perimeter edge of the elastic fabric insert (2); D3) trimming of said edge (4b) that circumscribes the cutout (4a) of the lining (5) for the part that protrudes inside the lateral window (1) of the upper (T), downstream of said third stitch line (L3).

3. Ankle boot (SL) comprising an upper (T) with at least one lateral elastic fabric insert (2), wherein said one insert (2) is internally and externally covered by a flap (3) made of a material compatible with the material of the upper (T) and having a configuration and size such as to conceal said insert (2), at least at its external surface; wherein said flap (3) comprises a first edge (3a) suitable for covering the outer surface of said elastic fabric insert (2), and a second edge (3b) suitable for covering the inner surface of said elastic fabric insert (2); the flap (3) is attached to the insert (2) by means of a first stitch line (L1) with a substantially L-shape, that is made at an inferior-posterior corner of the flap (3); wherein said first stitch line (L1) is suitable for sewing together the first edge (3a) of the flap (3), the elastic fabric insert (2) and the second edge (3b) of the flap (3); and the elastic fabric insert (2) covered with the flap (3) is attached to the upper (T) by means of a second stitch line (L2) with a substantially U-shape

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