Footwear item including a pull-on frame

Abstract

The invention relates to a footwear item comprising an upper (1) having a rear portion (5) with a heel portion (5a) extended by lateral (5b) and medial portions, and a frame (9) surrounding the heel portion (5a), with lateral (9b) and medial arms each positioned against the respective lateral (5b) and medial portions, each having a front end (12) coupled to the lower edge of the corresponding portion (5b). The frame is arranged to present, with the rear portion (5), a stable raised wearing configuration and a lowered configuration by resting on the heel portion (5a), which is elastically constrained to allow a return to the wearing configuration after putting on the footwear. The front ends (12) are sewn to the lower edge of the portion (5b). The sole structure (2) comprises extensions (2b) bonded to the sewn ends (12). Figure 1a

Description

Title of the invention: Footwear article comprising a pull-on frame

[0001] The invention relates to footwear. It applies in particular to footwear intended for the practice of a sporting and / or leisure activity, in particular walking or running.

[0002] Such footwear articles classically comprise an upper which has a lower edge fixed to a sole structure, forming with it a space for receiving a user's foot.

[0003] The presence of a portion of the heel of the upper, combined with a more or less significant rigidity of said upper, can make such footwear articles difficult to put on.

[0004] To overcome this drawback, we know in particular from document EP-3 445 198 of a footwear article whose rear part of the upper is equipped with a frame which is arranged to be able to present, with the rear part of the upper, a stable raised configuration for carrying the footwear article and a lowered configuration by support on the portion of the heel, in particular by means of the foot when putting on said article, said lowered configuration being elastically constrained so as to allow a return to the carrying configuration after said putting on.

[0005] The known solutions do not give complete satisfaction, in that they rely, in order to allow the elastic movements of the reinforcement between its two configurations, on a complex realization of said reinforcement to make it elastically deformable and / or on the use of complex additional means to allow its elastic integration into the footwear article.

[0006] The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a footwear article in which the rear part of the upper is equipped with a frame which is arranged to allow a lowering and elastic return of said rear part in order to facilitate putting on said article, in which the structure of the frame and its integration into the rear part of said upper are carried out in a particularly simple manner while making the elastic movements of said frame reliable.

[0007] To this end, the invention proposes a footwear article comprising an upper having a lower edge which is fixed to a sole structure, forming with it a space for receiving a user's foot, said upper having a rear portion having a heel portion which is extended on either side by a lateral and medial portion respectively, forming a superior opening for inserting the foot into said space, said rear portion being equipped with a frame having a heel segment which is extended on either side by a branch respectively lateral and medial, said heel segment surrounding the heel portion by being coupled to said heel portion at the level of the upper opening, the lateral branch - respectively the medial branch - being arranged against the lateral portion - respectively against the medial portion -, each of said branches having a front end which is coupled at the level of the lower edge of the corresponding portion, said frame being arranged to be able to present with the rear part of the shaft a stable raised carrying configuration and a lowered configuration by support on the heel portion during donning, said lowered configuration being elastically constrained so as to allow a return to the carrying configuration after said donning, the front ends of the branches being sewn onto the lower edge of the corresponding portion,The sole structure comprises at least one medial and one lateral extension, respectively, which is glued to the corresponding stitched end.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0009] [Fig.la] and

[0010] [Fig.lb] schematically represent, in perspective seen from the article, a footwear article according to an embodiment of the invention, with the rear part of the upper in the respectively raised carrying configuration ([Fig.la]) and lowered putting-on configuration ([Fig.lb]) of said article;

[0011] [Fig.2] schematically represents, in frontal section, the assembly of the rod and the framework of such an article fitting on the sole structure;

[0012] [Fig.3] schematically represents, in perspective seen from the rear, the article fitting figures 1a and 1b in which the major part of the upper has been omitted;

[0013] [Fig.4] schematically represents a front end of the armature of the figures previous assembly to a part of the stem.

[0014] In relation to these figures, a footwear article is described below, particularly intended for the practice of a sporting and / or leisure activity such as walking, or even running.

[0015] The footwear article comprises an upper 1 which has a lower edge la which is fixed to a sole structure 2, in particular by gluing, forming with it a space 3 for receiving a user's foot.

[0016] The upper 1 can be made of natural leather (smooth, nubuck, suede, etc.) or synthetic leather (imitation leather), or even of polymer material (mesh, nylon, etc.). In particular, the upper 1 can be formed by joining, notably by stitching, several textile pieces together, said pieces being able to be made of materials of different composition, appearance and / or properties, for example depending on their relative position with respect to the user's foot, the properties sought in each location (reinforcement at the instep for lacing...or the overall aesthetic appearance sought for the item.

[0017] In the description, the terms relating to positioning in space are taken with reference to the footwear article as shown in the figures, and in particular with respect to its position on the user's foot. Thus: - the terms "front" and "back" refer to arrangements which are close respectively to the front and back of the foot, and located respectively on the left and right in figures 1a, 1b and 3; - the term "frontal" refers to an anatomical plane of section, said plane of section being in particular vertical and perpendicular to a vertical anatomical plane of section, called "sagittal", which extends from the front to the back of said footwear; - the terms "lateral" and "medial" refer to arrangements close to the lateral and medial parts of the foot respectively.

[0018] The stem 1 has a front part 4 and a rear part 5 intended to cover each respectively the front and rear of a foot disposed in space 3.

[0019] In the embodiment shown, the front part 4 has two portions respectively lateral 4a and medial (not visible in the figures), between which extends an upper portion 4b intended to cover the toes and the neck part of the user's foot.

[0020] In particular, the front portions 4a, 4b have loops 6 arranged especially on their periphery, and arranged to form loops in which slides at least one cord 7 to allow tightening of the stem 1 around the foot, said cord forming crossings on the upper portion 4b to allow it to be brought closer to the instep during said tightening.

[0021] The rear part 5 has a heel portion 5a which is extended on either side by a lateral portion 5b and a medial portion 5c respectively, each formed in the sagittal extension of the corresponding lateral portion 4a or medial portion of the front part 4, forming a superior opening 8 for threading the foot into the space 3.

[0022] To facilitate quick donning and doffing of the footwear, in particular without having to loosen the cord 7, the rear part 5 is equipped with a frame 9 which has a heel segment 9a extended on either side by a lateral branch 9b and a medial branch 9c respectively, said heel segment surrounding the heel portion 5a, being coupled to it at the level of the upper opening 8.

[0023] To this end, as shown in Figures 1a and 1b, the heel portion 5a is equipped with a insert 10 which is associated in the lower and upper parts of said heel portion, so as to form a housing in which the heel segment 9a is arranged. In particular, the frame 9 is arranged on the outside of the rear part 5 relative to the space 3.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the frame 9 is formed of a polymer material hoop which is U-shaped, forming in one piece the heel segment 9a, formed by the curved base of said U, with each of the lateral 9b and medial branches 9c. In particular, the hoop has a cylindrical cross-section.

[0025] Furthermore, the lateral branch 9b - respectively medial 9c - is arranged against the lateral portion 5b - respectively medial 5c - of the rear part 5 of the stem 1.

[0026] In particular, as for the heel segment 9a, each lateral 9b and medial 9c rear portion of the stem 1 is equipped with a insert 11 which is associated peripherally with said portion, so as to form a housing in which a lower portion of the lateral branch 9b - respectively medial 9c - of the frame 9 is disposed.

[0027] In addition, each branch 9b, 9c has a front end 12 which is coupled at the lower edge of the corresponding lateral portion 5b or medial portion 5c.

[0028] The frame 9 is arranged to be able to present, with the rear part 5 of the stem 1, a stable raised carrying configuration, in which said rear part covers the rear of the user's foot, and a lowered configuration by support on the heel portion 5a, in particular by means of the foot when putting on the footwear, said lowered configuration being elastically constrained so as to allow a return to the carrying configuration after said putting on.

[0029] In particular, the stem 1 is formed, at least at the level of its rear part 5, in a material(s) sufficiently flexible to allow it to deform easily under the effect of pressure exerted on it by the foot of a user.

[0030] In addition, the hoop of the frame 9 is made of a substantially rigid polymer material, and the front ends 12 of the branches 9b, 9c are fixed by stitches 13 on the lower edge of the corresponding portion 5b, 5c, the sole structure 2 comprising at least one medial extension 2a and lateral extension 2b respectively which is glued onto the corresponding stitched end 12.

[0031] Thus, the movement of the rear part 5 of the stem 1 and of the frame 9 between their two configurations is achieved by pivoting around the seams 13, the elastic return being favored by the gluing of the extensions 2a, 2b on them, in particular by elastic deformation of said extensions during lowering.

[0032] Advantageously, the front ends 12 of the branches 9b, 9c are flattened at least at the level of their seam 13 on the lower edge of the corresponding portion of stem 5b, 5c, in order to facilitate the making of said seams and to allow their pressing against said portion of stem.

[0033] Furthermore, the front ends 12 of the arms 9b, 9c are sewn between the lower edges of the corresponding stem portion 5b, 5c and insert 11, and the lower portions of the arms 9b, 9c are tightly fitted into the corresponding housing. This ensures coordinated movement of the frame 9 and the rear portion of the stem 5 between their raised and lowered positions, limiting the risk of play between said frame and said stem portion during these movements, while also promoting elastic return.

[0034] As shown more particularly in [Fig.2], the extensions 2a are integrated into a peripheral rim 14 of the sole structure 2, said rim being glued around the lower edge la of the upper 1, covering the sewn ends 12. In particular, the extensions 12 extend vertically above a foot support area 3a in the receiving space 3.

[0035] Advantageously, the sole structure 2 comprises a block of polymer material, from which the extensions 2a, 2b are formed in one piece. In particular, the polymer material and / or the dimensions of the extensions 2a, 2b are chosen to promote the elastic recovery of the reinforcement 9 after donning.

[0036] The sole structure 2 has a lower surface 2c equipped with a wear sole, on which patterns may be formed in relief and / or intaglio, in particular to improve the grip of said wear sole on the ground. This wear sole may be formed from the same material as the lower surface 2c, or be formed on an additional layer which may be attached by bonding or overmolding to said lower surface.

[0037] In relation to figures 1a and 1b, the front stem part 4 is equipped with a frame 15 forming a loop which is associated at the periphery of the instep portion 4b, in particular by being arranged in textile loops 16 formed along said periphery, among which an upper loop 16a is arranged at the level of the upper opening 8.

[0038] Thus, the user can grasp the loop 16a to move the frame 15 forward while lowering the heel part 5a, as indicated by the double arrow F on the [Fig.lb], so as to enlarge the upper opening 8.

Claims

Demands

1. Footwear article comprising an upper (1) having a lower edge (la) which is fixed to a sole structure (2) forming with it a space (3) for receiving a user's foot, said upper having a rear part (5) having a heel portion (5a) which is extended on either side by a lateral (5b) and medial (5c) portion respectively, forming a superior opening (8) for inserting the foot into said space, said rear part being equipped with a frame (9) having a heel segment (9a) which is extended on either side by a lateral (9b) and medial (9c) branch respectively, said heel segment surrounding the heel portion (5a) by being coupled to said heel portion at the level of the superior opening (8), the lateral branch (9b) - respectively the medial branch (9c) - being disposed against the lateral portion (5b) - respectively against the medial portion (5c) -,each of said branches having a front end (12) which is coupled at the lower edge of the corresponding portion (5b, 5c), said frame being arranged to be able to present with the rear part (5) of the upper (1) a stable raised carrying configuration and a lowered configuration by pressure on the heel portion (5a) when putting on the shoe, said lowered configuration being elastically constrained so as to allow a return to the carrying configuration after said putting on, said footwear article being characterized in that the front ends (12) of the branches (9b, 9c) are sewn onto the lower edge of the corresponding portion (5b, 5c), the sole structure (2) comprising at least one medial (2a) and lateral (2b) extension respectively which is glued onto the corresponding sewn end (12).

2. Footwear article according to claim 1, characterized in that the extensions (2a, 2b) are integrated into a peripheral rim (14) of the sole structure (12), said rim being glued around the lower edge (la) of the upper (1) by covering the sewn ends (12).

3. Footwear article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the extensions (2a, 2b) project outwards above a foot support area (3a) in the receiving space (3).

4. Footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sole structure (2) comprises a block of polymer material, the extensions (2a, 2b) being formed in one piece with said block.

5. Footwear article according to claim 4, characterized in that the block has a lower surface (2c) equipped with a wear sole.

6. Footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the medial portion (5c) - respectively the lateral portion (5b) - of the rear part (5) of the upper (1) is equipped with a insert (11) associated peripherally with said portion to form a housing in which a lower portion of the medial branch (9c) - respectively the lateral branch (9b) - of the frame is disposed.

7. Footwear article according to claim 6, characterized in that the front ends (12) of the temples (9b, 9c) are sewn between the lower edges of the corresponding portion (5b, 5c) and yoke (11).

8. Footwear article according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the lower temple portions (9b, 9c) are arranged tightly in the corresponding housing.

9. Footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the frame (9) is formed of a U-shaped polymer material arch.

10. Footwear article according to claim 9, characterized in that the arch has a cylindrical section.

11. Footwear article according to claim 10, characterized in that the front ends (12) of the temples (9b, 9c) are flattened at least at the level of their seam (13) on the lower edge of the corresponding portion (5b, 5c).

12. Footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heel portion (5a) is equipped with a insert (10) associated in the lower and upper part of said heel portion to form a housing in which the heel segment (9a) of the frame (9) is disposed.