Shoe and method of manufacturing such a shoe

The shoe design with a removable closure system for longitudinal slots in the sole allows controlled deformation, addressing the issue of inconsistent comfort by enabling repeatable width expansion in response to foot pressure.

FR3156012B1Active Publication Date: 2025-10-24MFC
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2023013590
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-05
Publication Date
2025-10-24
Estimated Expiration
2043-12-05

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing shoe designs fail to consistently provide increased comfort through controlled deformation in the width direction due to lack of repeatability in deformation characteristics.

Method used

A shoe design featuring a sole extensible in the width direction with longitudinal slots, equipped with a removable or deactivatable closure system to control the deformation of the longitudinal slots, allowing transition between closed and open positions.

Benefits of technology

Enables controlled and repeatable deformation of the shoe, enhancing comfort by allowing the sole to widen in response to foot pressure, ensuring consistent user experience.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Shoe (1) comprising a sole (2) extensible in the width direction, an upper (3) and a first (4) for mounting being provided with one or more longitudinal slots (5) each delimited by two longitudinal edges (6), the position close to each other of the longitudinal edges (6) corresponding to a closed position of the slot (5), the position separated from the longitudinal edges (6) corresponding to an open position of the slot (5). The shoe (1) comprises a first configuration in which it comprises a system (7) for closing the longitudinal slot(s) (5) configured to ensure that the longitudinal slot(s) (5) of the first (4) for mounting are kept in the closed position and a second configuration in which said shoe (1) is devoid of said closing system (7) and / or the closing system (7) is inactive. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1
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Description

Title of the invention: Shoe and method of manufacturing such a shoe

[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe and the method of manufacturing such a shoe.

[0002] It relates in particular to a shoe comprising a sole, an upper and a first assembly at least partially applied to the sole and associated with the upper, said sole being a sole extensible in the width direction and the first assembly being provided with one or more longitudinal slots, the or each slot being delimited at least by two longitudinal edges, the position close to each other of the longitudinal edges corresponding to a closed position of the slot, the position spaced apart from each other of the longitudinal edges corresponding to an open position of the slot.

[0003] Shoe manufacturers are constantly seeking increased comfort in shoes. The ability for a shoe to deform in the width direction is a solution for increasing this comfort. However, the construction solutions envisaged to date do not allow for repeatability of the shoe's deformation characteristics, so that an improvement in comfort is not guaranteed.

[0004] An aim of the invention is to propose a shoe whose design allows improved comfort, in particular an increased feeling of extension in the width direction.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a shoe comprising a sole, an upper and a first assembly at least partially applied to the sole and associated with the upper, said sole being a sole extensible in the width direction and the first assembly being provided with one or more longitudinal slots, the or each slot being delimited at least by two longitudinal edges, the position close to each other of the longitudinal edges corresponding to a closed position of the slot, the position spaced apart from each other of the longitudinal edges corresponding to an open position of the slot,characterized in that the shoe comprises a first configuration in which it comprises a system for closing the longitudinal slot(s) configured to ensure that the longitudinal slot(s) of the first mounting are kept in the closed position and a second configuration in which said shoe is devoid of said system for closing the longitudinal slot(s) and / or the system for closing the longitudinal slot(s) is inactive.

[0006] The closure system of the longitudinal slot(s) of the first mounting is a temporary closure system. The presence of such a closure system allows control of the subsequent deformation of the insole, the coupling of the insole with the sole being perfectly controlled. This closure system is at least partially removable or deactivatable to allow the shoe to pass from the first to the second configuration. In the first configuration, said closure system of the longitudinal slot(s) for maintaining the longitudinal slot(s) of the insole in the closed position is present and active. In the second configuration, the shoe does not have a closure system of the longitudinal slot(s) and / or the closure system of the longitudinal slot(s) is inactive to allow the passage of the or each longitudinal slot from the closed position to the open position or vice versa. The first configuration and the second configuration are successive configurations.The shoe is capable of successively presenting the first and second configuration.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the system for closing the longitudinal slit(s) is a sewing closure system. This results in simplicity and speed of implementation of the closure system.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the seams comprises at least one hot-melt sewing thread. Thus, a simple increase in temperature allows inactivation or elimination of the closure system.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the seams is in chain stitch. This results in the possibility of unstitching said seam by simply pulling on the thread.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the closure system comprises, for the or at least one of the longitudinal slots, at least one handle coupled to the first mounting at at least two points extending on either side of said longitudinal slot to form a bridge transverse to said longitudinal slot and spanning said longitudinal slot. The closure system can be deactivated or eliminated by simply cutting the handle.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first mounting is connected to the rod by a Strobel assembly and the or at least two of the connection points of the handle or at least one of the handles to the first assembly are arranged at the level of said assembly.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sole is a sole made of at least two materials and / or has at least two parts of different density to form at least one rigid zone and one flexible zone. At least the flexible zone of the sole participates in the width deformation of the sole.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the flexible zone of the sole extends at least opposite the longitudinal slot(s). Thus, the deformation of the sole allows for the parallel generation of a width deformation of the first assembly in the direction of widening by opening the longitudinal slot(s).

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the flexible zone of the sole has longitudinal folds or longitudinal undulations capable of deforming in the direction of an increase in the width of the sole under the effect of pressure exerted on a part of the sole in contact with the first mounting. The deformation of the sole occurs by simply pressing the foot on said sole.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a shoe comprising a sole, an upper and a first assembly coupling to the upper, said sole being a sole extensible in the width direction and the first assembly being provided with one or more longitudinal slots, the or each slot being delimited at least by two longitudinal edges, the position close to each other of the longitudinal edges corresponding to a closed position of the slot, the position spaced apart from each other of the longitudinal edges corresponding to an open position of the slot, said method comprising a step of coupling the first assembly to the upper and coupling the sole to the upper / first assembly, characterized in that the method comprises, for the manufacture of a shoe conforming to that described above,before the step of coupling the insole to the upper and coupling the sole to the upper / insole assembly, a step of placing on the insole a system for closing the longitudinal slot(s) for keeping the longitudinal slot(s) of the insole in the closed position, the shoe being said to be in the first configuration at the end of the placing and coupling steps, and in that the method comprises, for the shoe to move from the first to the second configuration, a step of removing and / or inactivating the closing system.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the method, the step of removing and / or inactivating the closure system comprises a mechanical operation or modification of the temperature of at least one part of the shoe. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] represents a partial view of a shoe in the second configuration, in exploded position of the elements of said shoe;

[0019] [Fig.2] represents a partial view of a shoe in the second configuration, in exploded position of the elements of said shoe;

[0020] [Fig.3] represents a top view of the first assembly in the active state of the sewing closure system;

[0021] [Fig.4] represents a top view of the first assembly in the active state of the sewing closure system;

[0022] [Fig.5] represents a top view of the first assembly in the active state of the closure system in the form of a handle;

[0023] [Fig.6] represents a top view of a sole / insole assembly to illustrate the relative positioning of the longitudinal slots and the flexible zone of the sole;

[0024] [Fig.7] represents two top views of the first assembly to illustrate in the second configuration of the shoe the passage of the longitudinal slots from the closed position to the open position;

[0025] [Fig.8] represents in schematic form, the step of positioning a rod and a first assembly equipped with a closing system on a form;

[0026] [Fig.9] represents in schematic form, the step of assembling a rod and a first assembly equipped with a closing system in the positioned state of the rod and the first assembly on a form;

[0027] [Fig. 10] represents in schematic form, the step of assembling a sole to the upper / instep assembly to obtain a shoe in the first configuration;

[0028] [Fig. 11] shows in schematic form the first assembly after removal of the closing system.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the shoe 1 comprises a sole 2, an upper 3 and a mounting insole 4. The mounting insole 4 is, in a traditional manner, fittable to the upper 3 and positionable as an applique on the sole 2 which can be glued or welded to the upper 3 / sole 2 assembly. The upper 3 can be made of leather or fabric. This upper 3 delimits an opening for inserting a foot inside the cavity defined by the upper 3 in cooperation with the mounting insole 4 in a manner known per se. The sole 2 is a sole which is extensible in the width direction.

[0030] For this purpose, this sole 2 is made of at least two materials and / or has at least two parts of different density to form at least one rigid zone 12 and one flexible zone 13.

[0031] In the example shown in [Fig.l], the sole 2 comprises, on its ground support face, a pad 15 preventing premature wear of the sole 2, this pad 15 having openings at the level of the deformable zones of the sole 2. This pad 15 also allows a traditional welded assembly of the sole 2.

[0032] This sole 2 is, at its rigid zone 12, made of thermoplastic rubber and, at its flexible zone 13, of an extensible material, such as a thermoplastic rubber.

[0033] The sole 2 has, at the level of a part of its flexible zone 13, folds 141 Ion- longitudinal undulations or longitudinal undulations 142 capable of deforming in the direction of an increase in the width of the sole 2 under the effect of pressure exerted on a part of the sole 2 in contact with the first mounting 4. These longitudinal undulations and / or folds can be arranged, on the one hand, at the front, on the other hand, at the rear of the sole 2 to allow alternating transverse deformation of the front zone, that is to say at the level of the metatarsals, and of the rear zone, that is to say at the level of the heel, of the sole 2 during walking.

[0034] The first mounting is, for its part, connected to the rod 3 by a Strobel mounting 11. The stitching which results from this mounting is visible in [Fig. 10]. The first mounting 4 is provided with one or more longitudinal slots 5. In the example of [Fig. 2], these longitudinal slots 5 are 2 in number.

[0035] These curved longitudinal slots 5 are arranged opposite each other and face each other by their concavity. These longitudinal slots 5 extend opposite a part of the flexible zone 13 of the sole 2. Each longitudinal slot 5 is delimited by two longitudinal edges 6.

[0036] The position close to each other of the longitudinal edges 6 corresponds to a closed position of the shape 5. The position spaced apart from each other of the longitudinal edges 6 corresponds to an open position of the slot 5.

[0037] In a manner characteristic of the invention, the shoe 1 has a first configuration in which it comprises a system 7 for closing the longitudinal slots 5. This closing system 7 is configured to, in the active state, prevent the passage of the longitudinal slot(s) 5 of the first assembly 4 from the closed position to the open position. This closing system 7 can have a large number of shapes, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0038] This system 7 for closing the longitudinal slit(s) 5 may be a system for closing by stitching 8, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each longitudinal slit 5 is closed by a stitch 8 for holding its longitudinal edges 6 in a position close to each other corresponding to the closed position. This stitch 8 may comprise at least one hot-melt stitching thread 81. The melting temperature of the thread is generally around 170°C. In the example of [Fig. 3], this stitch 8 is formed by a zigzag stitch. In the example of [Fig. 4], the stitch 8 is in chain stitch to allow said seam to be unstitched by simple traction exerted on the thread.

[0039] Alternatively and / or additionally, as illustrated in [Fig. 5], the system 7 for closing the longitudinal slot(s) 5 may comprise at least one handle 9 coupled to the first mounting 4 at at least two points 10 extending on either side of the or at least one of the longitudinal slots 5 to form a bridge transverse to the or at least one of the longitudinal slots 5, this bridge spanning the or at least one of the longitudinal slots 5.

[0040] When the first mounting 4 is connected to the rod 3 by a Strobel mounting 11, the or at least two of the points 10 for connecting the handle 9 to the first mounting 4 are arranged at the level of the mounting 11. In the example of [Fig.5], a single handle 9 is provided, this handle spanning the two longitudinal slots 5.

[0041] The shoe 1 has a second configuration in which said shoe 1 is devoid of said system 7 for closing the longitudinal slit(s) and / or the system 7 for closing the longitudinal slit(s) is inactive. The closing system 7 is a closing system 7 whose elimination and / or inactivation may result from a thermal or mechanical action.

[0042] Once the closure system 7 has been removed and / or inactivated, the deformation of the shoe 1 may be consistent with that shown in [Fig. 7] where the two views illustrate the combined deformation of the sole 2 and the first shoe 4 under the effect of pressure exerted by the foot on the first shoe 4 when walking. This pressure causes, by crushing the sole 2, at its flexible zone 13, a widening of the sole 2 in parallel with the passage of the longitudinal slots 5 of the first shoe 4 from a position close to the longitudinal edges 6 of the longitudinal slots 5 to a position spaced apart from said longitudinal edges 6.

[0043] The details of the manufacturing process of such a shoe 1 are provided in figures 8 to 11.

[0044] The method comprises a step of preparing the first assembly 4 during which the latter is equipped with the closing system 7 for maintaining the longitudinal slots 5 in the closed position. The first assembly 4 and the rod 3 are positioned on a form 16 as illustrated in [Fig.8] and assembled to each other as illustrated in [Fig.9]. The assembly is carried out here by sewing following a Strobel assembly 11.

[0045] The sole 2 is then welded or glued to the upper 3 / first assembly 4. The shoe 1 is removed from the last 16. An operation is then carried out to remove or deactivate the closing system 7 for the shoe 1 to move into the second configuration.

[0046] In the case of a sewing closure system 7, the first assembly 4 may be heated when the sewing thread of the longitudinal slits 5 is a hot-melt thread to obtain melting of the thread. This heating may be carried out by projecting a flow of hot air inside the rod in the direction of the first assembly 4.

[0047] In the context of a sewing closure system 7, a pull may also be applied to the sewing thread to remove the sewing thread when the seam is for example in chain stitch.

[0048] Alternatively and / or additionally, when the closure system is a closure system using a handle, said handle may be removed by cutting.

[0049] Alternatively and / or additionally, the closure system 7 may be a glue closure system. In this case, the closure system 7 is deactivated by cutting.

Claims

Claims

1. Shoe (1) comprising a sole (2), an upper (3) and a first (4) for mounting at least partially applied to the sole (2) and associated with the upper (3), said sole (2) being a sole extensible in the width direction and the first (4) for mounting being provided with one or more longitudinal slots (5), the or each slot (5) being delimited at least by two longitudinal edges (6), the position close to each other of the longitudinal edges (6) corresponding to a closed position of the slot (5), the position spaced from each other of the longitudinal edges (6) corresponding to an open position of the slot (5),characterized in that the shoe (1) comprises a first configuration in which it comprises a system (7) for closing the longitudinal slot(s) (5) configured to ensure that the longitudinal slot(s) (5) of the first mounting (4) is kept in the closed position and a second configuration in which said shoe (1) is devoid of said system (7) for closing the longitudinal slot(s) (5) and / or the system (7) for closing the longitudinal slot(s) (5) is inactive.,

2. Shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the system (7) for closing the longitudinal slit(s) (5) is a sewing closure system (8).

3. Shoe (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the or at least one of the seams (8) comprises at least one hot-melt sewing thread (81).

4. Shoe (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the or at least one of the seams (8) is in chain stitch.

5. Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closing system (7) comprises, for the or at least one of the longitudinal slots (5), at least one handle (9) coupled to the first mounting (4) at at least two points (10) extending on either side of said longitudinal slot (5) to form a bridge transverse to said longitudinal slot (5) and spanning said longitudinal slot.

6. Shoe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first (4) mounting is connected to the upper (3) by a Strobel mounting (11) and in that the or at least two of the connection points (10) of the handle (9) or of at least one of the handles to the first (4) mounting are arranged at the level of said assembly (11).

7. Shoe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sole (2) is a sole made of at least two materials and / or has at least two parts of different density to form at least one rigid zone (12) and one flexible zone (13).

8. Shoe (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the flexible zone (13) of the sole (2) extends at least opposite the longitudinal slot(s) (5).

9. Shoe (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the flexible zone (13) of the sole (2) has longitudinal folds (141) or longitudinal undulations (142) capable of deforming in the direction of an increase in the width of the sole (2) under the effect of pressure exerted on a part of the sole (2) in contact with the first (4) mounting.

10. A method of manufacturing a shoe (1) comprising a sole (2), an upper (3) and a mounting insole (4) coupleable to the upper (3), said sole (2) being a sole (2) extensible in the width direction and the mounting insole (4) being provided with one or more longitudinal slots (5), the or each slot (5) being delimited at least by two longitudinal edges (6), the position close to each other of the longitudinal edges (6) corresponding to a closed position of the slot (5), the position spaced from each other of the longitudinal edges (6) corresponding to an open position of the slot (5), said method comprising a step of coupling the mounting insole (4) to the upper (3) and coupling the sole (2) to the upper (3) / mounting insole (4) assembly, characterized in that the method comprises for the manufacture of a shoe (1) conforming to one of claims 1 to 9,before the step of coupling the first mounting (4) to the upper (3) and coupling the sole (2) to the upper (3) / first mounting (4) assembly, a step of placing on the first mounting a system (7) for closing the longitudinal slot(s) (5) for holding the longitudinal slot(s) (5) of the first mounting in the closed position, the shoe (1) being said to be in the first configuration at the end of the placing and coupling steps, and in that the method comprises, for the passage of the shoe (1) from the first to the second configuration, a step of removing and / or inactivating the closing system (7).,

11. A method of manufacturing a shoe according to claim 10, ca- characterized in that the step of removing and / or inactivating the closing system (7) comprises a mechanical operation or modification of the temperature of at least one part of the shoe.