Climbing shoe

Abstract

A climbing shoe (1) comprising an upper (2) contoured to accommodate the user's foot and a sole (3) which is at least partially fixed to the lower part (2a) of the upper (2), the sole (3) having at least one front sole portion (3a) adapted to face the metatarsophalangeal region of the sole of the foot accommodated in the climbing shoe (1); at least one front sole portion (3a) has at least one plate-like body having at least one first portion (13a) made of a first material with a high friction coefficient material having a first hardness, the first portion (13a) extending at least at the region of the distal and intermediate phalanges, the sole (3) comprising at least one second portion (13b) comprising a multilayer structure having at least one first layer (23) made of a second elastically yielding material and having a second hardness lower than the first hardness, the first layer (23) being arranged toward the upper (2), the multilayer structure having at least one second protective layer (24) which is stably coupled to the first layer (23) and faces oppositely with respect to the upper (2) to be arranged between the upper (2) and the first layer (23), the second protective layer (24) having a hardness that is greater than the second hardness of the first layer (23).

Description

[0001] CLIMBING SHOE

[0002] The present invention relates to a climbing shoe.

[0003] Currently, climbing shoes comprise an upper (made of leather, synthetic leather, or even fabric), which is shaped substantially like a bag or sock and is intended to contain the user's foot, a front grip and tensioning border, typically called a toe cap, which is substantially U-shaped and glued to the upper so as to cover the tarsophalangeal portion of the foot, usually made of elastomeric material, a sole, normally made of elastomeric material, vulcanized rubber or polymeric material with a high coefficient of friction, and stably coupled to the lower portion of the upper so as to cover at least the front portion, and more advantageously the entire sole of the user's foot.

[0004] Some solutions also provide for a rear tensioning band made of highly elastic rubber, which is stably attached to a rear portion of the upper so as to cover the region above the heel to extend along the sides and join the front grip border so as to provide a sort of tension member that grips the foot tightly.

[0005] In some cases, the climbing shoe may also have a semirigid midsole, for example made of plastic material, which in some cases is cambered and is intended to be interposed between the upper and the sole.

[0006] Typically, the front part of the sole is positioned on the front part of the upper in such a way as to overlap at least partially the front grip border.

[0007] The evolution of climbing shoes has tried to focus at seeking solutions that can most of all optimize grip on small footholds (by acting on the shape of the toe and on structures that can keep the foot more curved), or at developing new types of compounds that have a particularly high performance.

[0008] However, known solutions often have a poor performance in some situations, typical of bouldering activities, in particular on artificial structures, which may be characterized by very small footholds arranged on inclined surfaces. The aim of the present invention is to provide a climbing shoe that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the above- mentioned aspects.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a climbing shoe capable of ensuring, on the one hand, effective support with classical footholds, but also of adapting to route settings or routes with very small footholds on inclined surfaces.

[0010] Not least object of the invention is to provide a climbing shoe that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide and at competitive costs.

[0011] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a climbing shoe according to claim 1 , optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the climbing shoe according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 is a lateral elevation view of a climbing shoe according to the invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the climbing shoe according to the invention;

[0015] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the front portion of the sole of a climbing shoe according to the invention;

[0016] Figures 4 to 7 are bottom views of three different embodiments of a climbing shoe according to the invention;

[0017] Figure 8 is a top view of a further embodiment of the climbing shoe according to the invention.

[0018] With reference to the figures, the climbing shoe according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises an upper 2, which is contoured to accommodate the user's foot, and a sole 3, which is attached to the lower part 2a of the upper 2.

[0019] Advantageously, the upper 2 is shaped substantially like a bag or sock.

[0020] The lower part of the upper 2a is the part designed to form a resting element for the sole of the user's foot.

[0021] The sole 3 has at least one front sole portion, designated by the reference numeral 3a, which is adapted to face the metatarsophalangeal region of the sole of the foot accommodated in the climbing shoe 1.

[0022] Of course, the sole 3 may also comprise a rear portion 5, designed to face the heel region, which is separate or provided monolithically with respect to the front sole portion 3 a.

[0023] According to the present invention, the at least one front sole portion 3a has at least one plate-like body having at least one first portion 13a made of a first material with a high friction coefficient having a first hardness: said first portion 13a extends at least at the region of the distal and intermediate phalanges.

[0024] Moreover, the sole 2 comprises at least one second portion 13b comprising a multilayer structure having at least one first layer 23 made of a second elastically yielding material and having a second hardness lower than the first hardness; the first layer 23 is arranged toward the upper 2.

[0025] The multilayer structure has at least one second protective layer 24 which is stably coupled to the first layer 23 and faces oppositely with respect to the upper 2 to be arranged between the upper 2 and the first layer; the second layer 24 has a hardness that is greater than the second hardness of the first layer 23.

[0026] The expression plate-like structure refers to a structure that is extended predominantly on a plane of arrangement. The plate-like structure can of course be produced starting from a plate or by molding, or with other manufacturing methods, as explained more fully below.

[0027] As already explained, the plate-like body has at least one first portion 13a made of a first material with a high friction coefficient having a first hardness and at least one second portion 13b, advantageously arranged adjacent to the first portion 13a.

[0028] The first portion 13a extends at least at the region of the distal and intermediate phalanges.

[0029] In practice, the first layer 23 is arranged between the second layer 24 and the lower part 2a of the upper 2.

[0030] In particular, the second layer 24 has a hardness that is greater than the second hardness of the first layer 23.

[0031] Preferably, the second layer 24 is made of the first material.

[0032] With reference to the embodiments shown in the figures, the second layer 24 is provided monolithically with said at least one first portion 13 a.

[0033] In this regard, it is thus possible to provide a base body forming both the first portion 13a and the second layer 24 of the second portion 13b, in which the region that forms the second layer 24 has a reduction in thickness with respect to the thickness of the first portion 13a.

[0034] The base body is of the materials usually used to provide the soles of climbing shoes, for example, elastomeric material, vulcanized rubber or polymeric material with a high friction coefficient.

[0035] Conveniently, the toe region of the upper 2 is stably associated with a toe cap 4.

[0036] Preferably, the first portion 13a also extends at the region of the first metatarsal bone.

[0037] Conveniently, the second portion 13b extends at least partially so as to straddle the distal and intermediate phalanges (phalanx I for the hallux and phalanx II from the second toe to the fifth toe) and the proximal phalanges (phalanx II for the hallux to phalanx III from the second toe to the fifth toe).

[0038] Conveniently, the second portion 13b extends at least partially at said metatarsal bones. According to a particularly important aspect of the present invention, the first portion 13a has substantially the same thickness as the second portion 13b.

[0039] The first portion 13a has a thickness comprised between 3 mm and 8 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm.

[0040] With reference to the second portion 13b, the first layer 23 has a thickness comprised between 1 mm and 4 mm, and correspondingly the second layer 24 has a thickness comprised between 2 mm and 5 mm, so that the overall thickness of the second portion, formed by the overlap of the first layer 23 and the second layer 24, is also comprised between 3 mm and 8 mm, and more preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm.

[0041] The first layer 23 is made of a material chosen from the group comprising:

[0042] - a polyurethane-based polymer;

[0043] - a latex;

[0044] - a rubber;

[0045] - foamed materials in general.

[0046] A particularly important aspect of the first layer 23 relates to its springback properties over time, since elastic deformation of the region in which the second portion 13b is formed must be guaranteed over time.

[0047] With regard to the manner of provision of the front sole portion 3a, it is possible to provide a base body which forms both the first portion 13a and the second layer 24 by proceeding equally by molding or by starting from a sheet to obtain a die-cut element from which to remove a part, for example by mechanical, chemical or laser removal, to form the region intended to be stably associated with the first layer 23.

[0048] Of course, there is nothing to prevent the direct production of a base body which already forms at the outset the first portion 13a and the second layer 24.

[0049] The first layer 23 can be stably associated with the second layer 24 either by adhesive bonding or by comolding or casting the material with which to provide said first layer 23 in liquid or fluid form.

[0050] The second layer 24 may also form slits or openings 24a or outlets which are perimetric to the sole 24b to allow the user to see the underlying first layer 23.

[0051] Of course, there is nothing to prevent the provision of further second portions 13b, thus having a multilayer structure, in other regions of the sole 3, for example at the heel or arch of the foot, depending on the user's needs.

[0052] Provision can also be made for the second portion 13b' to be arranged at the toe cap 4, for example at the region of the upper 2 that is directed upward and arranged at the upper metatarsal region. This allows to ensure a deformation also of said second portion 13b' intended to improve the grip of the foot in case of any inverted hooking or interlocking with the metatarsal region.

[0053] Moreover, one or additional second portions 13b may also be provided at the heel region.

[0054] In this case also, the second portions 13b may be provided by stably coupling a first layer 23 and a second layer 24 with mutually different hardness and / or densitiy.

[0055] The use of the climbing shoe, according to the invention, is as follows.

[0056] The sole 3 of the climbing shoe 1 allows, in “normal” situations with footholds on the vertical or overhangs, to have optimal support at the toe or the inner part of the foot, thanks to the presence of the first portion 13a, which has support properties that are substantially similar to those of known climbing shoes.

[0057] However, by virtue of the presence of the second portion 13b the shoe 1 allows, in the case of very small footholds on inclined surfaces, to be able to increase friction due to a greater possibility of mechanical deformation of the sole region 3 that is in resting contact, due to the pliability of the first layer 23.

[0058] In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a climbing shoe that is extremely flexible in its uses and performs well even in the presence of very small footholds.

[0059] In particular, the solution devised allows the very small foothold to “penetrate” into the sole region arranged just behind the toe region; the toes, as shown in Figure 2, by receding slightly due to compression in the upper 2, create a slight hollow at which the very small foothold can easily penetrate by virtue of the reduced resistance due to the fact that the second layer 24 has a lower thickness than the first portion 13a, said lower thickness being compensated by the presence of the first layer 23, which is more pliable and has an elastic behavior.

[0060] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0061] For example, the shoe according to the invention may be provided with a midsole interposed between the lower portion 2a of the upper 2 and the sole 3.

[0062] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0063] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000016782 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0064] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A climbing shoe (1) comprising an upper (2) contoured to accommodate the user's foot and a sole (3) which is at least partially fixed to the lower part (2a) of said upper (2), said sole (3) having at least one front sole portion (3a) adapted to face the metatarsophalangeal region of the sole of the foot accommodated in said climbing shoe (1), characterized in that said at least one front sole portion (3 a) has at least one plate-like body having at least one first portion (13a) made of a first material with a high friction coefficient having a first hardness, said first portion (13a) extending at least at the region of the distal and intermediate phalanges, said sole (3) comprising at least one second portion (13b) comprising a multilayer structure having at least one first layer (23) made of a second elastically yielding material and having a second hardness lower than said first hardness, said first layer (23) being arranged toward said upper (2), said multilayer structure having at least one second protective layer (24) which is stably coupled to said first layer (23) and faces oppositely with respect to said upper (2) to be arranged between said upper (2) and said first layer (23), said second layer (24) having a hardness that is greater than said second hardness of said first layer (23).

2. The climbing shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second portion (13b) is arranged adjacent to said first portion (13a), said first layer (13a) being arranged toward said lower part (2a) of said upper (2), said at least one second protective layer (24) being stably coupled to said first layer (23) and facing oppositely with respect to said lower part (2a) of said upper to be arranged between said lower part (2a) of said upper (2) and said first layer (23).

3. The climbing shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one protective second layer (24) is made of said first material.

4. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protective second layer (24) is providedmonolithically with said at least one first portion (13a).

5. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first portion (13a) extends further at the first metatarsal bone.

6. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion (13b) extends at least partially so as to straddle the distal and intermediate phalanges (phalanx I for the hallux and phalanx II from the second toe to the fifth toe) and the proximal phalanges (phalanx II for the hallux to phalanx III from the second toe to the fifth toe).

7. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion (13b) extends at least partially at said metatarsal bones.

8. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first portion (13a) has substantially the same thickness as said second portion (13b) comprising said first layer (23) and said second protective layer (24), which are mutually superimposed.

9. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first portion (13a) has a thickness comprised between 3 mm and 8 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm.

10. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion (13b) comprises said first layer (23) which has a thickness comprised between 1 mm and 4 mm and said second protective layer (24) which has a thickness comprised between 2 mm and 5 mm.

11. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first layer (23) is made of a material selected from the group comprising:- a polyurethane-based polymer;- a latex;- a rubber;- a foamed material.

12. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion (13b') is arranged at said toe cap (4) and faces a portion of said upper (2) that substantially faces the dorsal region of the foot.

13. The climbing shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion (13b) is arranged at the heel region.

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