Pumps or high heels

Abstract

A pump or high-heeled shoe (100) with an insole (1) and a heel (4), the insole (1) having a front insole (2) located in a forefoot region (20) and a rear insole (3) extending across a midfoot region (21) and a rear foot region (22), at least the rear insole (3) being made from a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to heeled shoes, also called pumps, high heels or stilettos, having a support structure with a sole, in particular an insole, and a heel. [Background technology]

[0002] Shoes with a significantly higher rear foot area compared to the forefoot area, known as heeled shoes, have been very popular among women for many years already. For example, heeled shoes can be defined by the fact that the rear foot area, also referred to as the heel area, is positioned at least 2 cm higher than the forefoot area. This height difference, achieved mainly by the heel height, gives the shoe wearer an overall very sophisticated look.

[0003] An insole is a layer of the sole of a shoe that is oriented toward the foot or footbed. The sole generally includes everything that is under the foot in the shoe, such as the outsole, midsole, heel, frame, insole, and footbed. The upper part of the shoe, also called the shaft, is usually attached to the insole. Thus, the insole generally forms the foundation of the shoe and provides it with stability and shape retention.

[0004] Insoles generally have a shape corresponding to the foot or footbed, specifically as a plate designed as thin as possible, which extends over the entire foot, i.e. from the forefoot region through the midfoot region to the rearfoot region, and generally as a full plate with raised side edges. Currently, insoles are generally made from leather, thermoplastic materials, specially impregnated cardboard, or felt.

[0005] In flat shoes, the force of gravity or the pressure acting on the person's foot is distributed almost evenly over the forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot regions, whereas in heeled shoes, due to the elevated heel position, the main load is mainly concentrated in the forefoot region. In particular, the front part of the foot, i.e. the ball of the foot, is exposed to pressure, especially in the case of high and thin heeled shoes. This may result in wearing heeled shoes feeling uncomfortable and uncomfortable compared to flat shoes. It is known that with the specific flexibility of heeled shoes, together with the targeted footbed support, localized support of the foot and therefore improved pressure distribution can be achieved over the entire footbed, resulting in improved comfort.

[0006] In addition to the aforementioned flexibility of heeled shoes, their strength and stability, especially in the sole area, are particularly important factors in the development and manufacture of heeled shoes, in order to guarantee sufficient stability and transmission of the movements coming from the foot during walking. Thus, in order to guarantee stability, the connection between the sole and the heel must be particularly permanently rigid and solid. This is often only possible with very strong materials in the case of rather narrow or thin heels, such as the so-called stiletto heels. Thus, heeled shoes generally comprise a thin metal plate that serves as an insole, which is connected to the heel in the transition area towards the heel, especially via a metal screw made of titanium. However, this makes the shoe rather heavy. Furthermore, the production and assembly of such shoes is very complex and costly. This design requires in particular coordination between at least three specific suppliers, which leads to a significant increase in complexity and delays in production. In the era of faster production cycles, the adjustment of the insole and the outsole, which is often performed manually, becomes more and more problematic.

[0007] In particular, in order to avoid the relatively heavy weight of such shoes, lightweight materials are increasingly used, in particular epoxy resins or plastics are used for the heels of the shoes. Shoes with heels having a lightweight inner core are known, for example from EP 2 143 354 A1.

[0008] However, it has been found that the use of epoxy resin or plastic cannot completely prevent the heel or the shoe from separating due to their material properties. Therefore, epoxy resin or plastic is only used as a support element, in particular as an augmenting element, which is generally a metal part in other cases. In particular, such a general part is additionally enveloped by the augmenting element. However, this still results in a relatively heavy shoe weight, a relatively large manufacturing and assembly effort, and even a relatively thick-walled shoe structure, which may have a negative effect on the appearance of the shoe.

[0009] Furthermore, it has been found that such shoes can become loose due to vibrations and shocks, particularly during walking, by the metal connecting screws becoming embedded in the softer adjacent material, which can lead to the heel breaking off or separation.

[0010] Finally, since sustainable disposal and even recycling of such heels is often only possible by destroying the parts and / or materials of the shoe, periodic joining of basic components such as the sole renders the heels unusable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 2143354 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a heeled shoe which remedies at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks, in particular to provide a heeled shoe which has the flexibility required for comfortable wear, the stability required for safe use, and an uncomplicated structure required for easy and cost-effective manufacture and assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a heeled shoe having the characteristics set forth in the main claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0014] The heeled shoe according to the invention comprises an insole, which includes a front insole arranged in the forefoot region and a rear insole formed separately and extending over the midfoot region and the rear foot region. This allows the necessary flexibility in the forefoot region for a comfortable fit and smooth foot roll, as well as the necessary stability and rigidity in the rear foot region for a firm stand and walk, thereby maintaining the shape of the heeled shoe. In particular, the rear insole can form a particularly dimensionally stable foundation for supporting the shoe, while the front insole, as a relatively flexible element, allows a certain degree of bending and twisting during walking.

[0015] For this purpose, at least the rear insole is designed as a flat component and made of fiber-reinforced plastic. In particular, the entire rear insole can be produced exclusively from fiber-reinforced plastic. The fibers can be natural fibers, such as flax, or industrially produced fibers, such as carbon fibers. The fibers can in particular provide the necessary strength to the plastic without the need for additional casing material to support the load-bearing core.

[0016] This allows the weight of the shoe to be significantly reduced, while the two-part design allows the creation of a certain cushioning effect within the shoe, significantly improving comfort. Furthermore, the complexity of production can be reduced, especially in that the insole and the outsole can be produced as a single component, or at least from the same material, which can come from a single manufacturer, thereby greatly simplifying the supply chain and facilitating very rapid digital production. Since the new chassis of heeled shoes are now mainly based on a single component, at the end of the shoe's life, the material can be even more easily separated from other components, such as leather, and directly recycled or reused. In the case of flax, the material can also be obtained from nature, reducing the reliance on chemicals and fossil raw materials that are harmful to the environment.

[0017] The insole thus produced is particularly rigid, so that the arrangement of additional support frames or plates, in particular metal frames or metal plates, is not necessary and can be avoided, resulting in an overall very lightweight shoe. The reinforcing fibers in plastic can be arranged in multiple layers in the rear insole. Preferably, in the rear insole, two fiber layers are oriented in the longitudinal extension direction of the rear insole, while another fiber layer is oriented at another angle that varies with respect to this longitudinal extension direction. The number of fiber layers is preferably reduced towards the forefoot region, thereby allowing greater flexibility in the forefoot. The rear insole formed and finished as a thin-walled carbon shell can thus have, for example, a material strength or material thickness of 1.0 to 2.5 mm, preferably a material thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 mm, most preferably a material thickness of about 1.8 mm. Of course, it is also basically possible to make the front insole from fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0018] Furthermore, insoles made of fiber-reinforced plastics allow very precise and individually customized contouring and shaping of the sole. In particular, the rear insole can have a contour that is individually adapted to the pre-measured foot. For example, the size and shape and / or the high and low parts arranged on the upper side of the rear insole can be individually adapted according to the pre-measured foot, resulting in an optimal design of the sole contour. The surface of the rear insole shaped in this way can support and / or define a footbed that is additionally arranged, alternatively or additionally, by further structures of the heel shoe. This allows a very good wearing comfort.

[0019] The front insole and the rear insole are preferably manufactured and / or designed as two separate parts, with the rear insole and the front insole partially overlapping in the forefoot area. In particular, the rear insole can partially cover the front insole, which means that the rear insole rests on the upper side of the front insole facing the foot. This allows for sufficient stability in the midfoot area and the rear foot area, as well as very high flexibility, especially in the forefoot area of ​​the heeled shoe, to facilitate the rolling of the foot during walking. The front insole and the rear insole can be connected, for example, by using an adhesive. This creates a permanent fixation and a firm connection between the front insole and the rear insole.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flat rear insole has an upper side and an underside, the upper side facing the footbed and the underside arranged to be at least partially visible from the outside, in particular in the part between the heel and the front insole. In particular, the insole made of fiber-reinforced plastic is not surrounded by a covering material, at least in this part. This allows both high inherent stability and a very thin-walled shoe shape, giving the shoe a very light weight and resulting in a particularly sophisticated heeled shoe appearance. The term "visible from the outside" is to be understood as the possibility of directly viewing the rear insole, without another material layer, in particular without a covering layer that would impede the view.

[0021] Preferably, the footbed and the shoe upper are arranged at least above the rear insole, in particular against the rear insole. The shoe upper generally comprises a shoe upper structure with a shaft that laterally surrounds the foot of the person wearing the shoe. The footbed can extend beyond the rear insole into the area of ​​the front insole. The footbed is preferably formed in a single piece. This allows a particularly firm hold of the foot in the heeled shoe and facilitates direct control of the heeled shoe's movements.

[0022] Essentially, an adhesive connection can be provided between the heel and the rear insole. Preferably, for a particularly rigid connection between the heel and the rear insole, a plug connection is provided. In general, such a plug connection is a joining of a component of the heel on the one hand with a corresponding component of the rear insole on the other hand. For example, it can be a connection between at least one pin and at least one corresponding hole. Preferably, this plug connection only comprises components that form part of the heel and / or the insole. In particular, the plug connection does not comprise any additional separate parts, such as screws. This allows, on the one hand, a very rigid connection between the insole and the heel, and, on the other hand, an uncomplicated and cost-effective production and assembly of heeled shoes.

[0023] For example, at least one protruding pin can be provided on the side of the heel facing the insole and a corresponding recess can be provided on the rear insole. These pins inserted into the recess can additionally be glued on the side of the recess. Particularly preferably, three pins protruding towards the insole are provided on the heel, while three corresponding recesses are provided on the insole. This allows the plug connection to be designed as a plug-in mechanism, facilitating both a very solid connection between the insole and the heel and an uncomplicated and cost-effective production and assembly of the heeled shoe. Preferably, at least one pin comprises the same material as the heel in this region. Particularly preferably, the pin is not made of metal. The recess can be formed, for example, as a blind hole or a completely through hole.

[0024] The pins can be arranged parallel or offset with respect to each other, in particular in a regular pattern on the respective surface of the heel or insole. The pins can be straight, curved, inclined, or serrated along the extension of the pins. In particular, the pins can extend at an angle from the upper side of the heel or the lower side of the insole. In particular, the pins can be formed at an angle of 30 to 60° with respect to the respective surface. In this regard, all the pins are generally inclined towards the rear end of the heeled shoe, but they can also be inclined in different directions, which can further improve the connection between the heel and the insole. The pins can have various cross-sectional shapes, for example circular, oval, or angular. As a result, the connection between the heel and the insole can also be reinforced.

[0025] These pins may have an end face at their outer end, which is preferably formed substantially horizontally when the heeled shoe is in an upright position. In the case of, in particular, a fully through recess in the insole, this end face may also be visible on the upper side of the insole after the pin has been fully inserted into the recess. In this case, the end face of the pin may advantageously correspond to a portion of the upper surface of the insole, so that the end face of the pin and the upper side of the insole form the same plane, without protruding from the heel.

[0026] Preferably, the plug connection comprises an interference fit between at least one protruding pin and a recess correspondingly arranged to said pin, which allows for a very tight connection between the insole and the heel, as well as a very easy and cost-effective production and assembly of the heeled shoe.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all components of the heeled shoe, i.e. the entire heeled shoe, are made of non-metallic materials. The absence of metals brings additional advantages, such as with regard to the increasingly important social issues of product sustainability and biodegradability. In this way, highly biodegradable materials can be used for the components of the shoe. A further advantage is obtained when passing through a checkpoint in a public building or airport, etc., without the need to remove the shoes to go through a metal detector. Removing the shoes is particularly undesirable when wearing nylon stockings, which often tend to wear out and run in combination with heeled shoes.

[0028] In another development of the invention, the front insole has, on its upper side facing the footbed, a particularly flat recess into which a cushioning element is inserted. The cushioning element is intended to allow a certain degree of immersion in the forefoot during walking and the associated rolling movement of the foot. The foot of the person wearing the shoe can be appropriately clamped or pressed in the shoe via the material of the cushioning element, which is slightly softer compared to the front insole. This allows a large connection surface between the shoe and the foot, which allows a very high level of comfort to be achieved.

[0029] The cushioning element can extend over the entire forefoot area, in particular over almost the entire width and / or over almost the entire length of the front insole. Advantageously, the cushioning element can be designed as a flat impact insert. This allows it to be fully inserted into a corresponding recess in the front insole. The cushioning element can be fixed in the recess using an adhesive. The cushioning element can have a thickness or material strength of about 1-15 mm, preferably 8-12 mm, more preferably about 10 mm. The material thickness can vary over the width and length of the cushioning element. In particular, certain areas of the cushioning element can be made thicker than other areas. A rear insole can also be provided that extends over the cushioning element. Additionally, the rear insole can be provided connected to the cushioning element. For example, the rear insole can be glued to the cushioning element.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the outsole is arranged under the front insole. The outsole can be deployed directly under the front insole. The outsole can be formed only in the area of ​​the front insole, in particular only in the forefoot area. In this way, the outsole can form, together with the heel tip located at the heel, the contact surface with the ground on which the heeled shoe is located. The outsole mainly serves to protect the front insole. It is generally made of rubber.

[0031] Particularly preferably, at least one of the front insole, the heel and the cushioning element is made of a foamed thermoplastic polyurethane, called ETPU for short. In particular, the front insole and / or the cushioning element inserted therein may be made of ETPU. Additionally, at least the heel core may also be made of ETPU. This allows the heeled shoe to be very light, while at the same time maintaining a high dimensional rigidity.

[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heel shoe according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the heel shoe shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the heel shoe shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a detailed exploded view of the heel and rear insole of the heeled shoe shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a detailed exploded view of the front insole and cushioning element of the heel shoe shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] 1 and 2 each show a schematic diagram of a heeled shoe 100 according to the present invention. The heeled shoe 100 mainly comprises an insole 1, a heel 4, and a shoe upper 6. Additionally, a footbed 5 is provided on the insole 1, in particular on the side of the insole 1 facing the person who wears the shoe 100. It is substantially adapted to the dimensions of the person's foot.

[0035] The heeled shoe 100 is characterized by positioning the footbed 5, or foot within the shoe, at least 2 cm higher in the rearfoot region 22 than in the forefoot region 20. This is achieved primarily through the placement and design of the heel 4. The forefoot region 20 extends longitudinally of the heeled shoe 100 from the distal end of the toes to generally the distal region of the metatarsals. The midfoot region 21 extends longitudinally of the heeled shoe 100 from generally the distal metatarsals to the distal end of the heel joint. The rearfoot region 22 extends longitudinally of the heeled shoe 100 from generally the distal end of the heel joint to the proximal end of the heel.

[0036] The heeled shoe 100 has a distal or anterior half and a proximal or posterior half separated by a central transverse axis disposed across its longitudinal extension, the central transverse axis being located generally proximal to the metatarsal region. Additionally, the heeled shoe 100 has a lateral lateral foot side and a medial medial foot side separated by the longitudinal axis.

[0037] The insole 1 together with the heel 4 serves as the load-bearing structure of the heeled shoe 100 and provides stability and shape retention to the shoe. The insole 1 is designed as a relatively thin, flat and partially curved plate, with a shape that corresponds in particular to the foot or footbed. It extends in particular from the forefoot region 20, through the midfoot region 21 to the rearfoot region 22. The upper 6 of the shoe, also called the shaft, is attached to the insole 1. Generally, the outsole is placed below the insole, and in this case the outsole 7 is provided only in the forefoot region 20.

[0038] As shown in detail in Fig. 3, the insole 1 is divided into two parts, comprising a front insole 2 arranged in the forefoot region 20 and a separately formed rear insole 3 extending along the midfoot region 21 and the rearfoot region 22. The two-part design of the insole 1 makes it possible, on the one hand, to achieve the flexibility required in the forefoot region 20 for a comfortable fit and a good foot roll, and, on the other hand, the stability and rigidity required in the rearfoot region 21 for a good stand and walk, thereby maintaining the shape of the heeled shoe 100. In this way, the rear insole 3 can form a rigid base to support the shoe 100, while the front insole 2, as a relatively flexible element, allows the heeled shoe 100 to bend and twist to a certain extent during walking.

[0039] The heeled shoe 100 therefore comes into contact with the ground on which it stands only through the so-called heel tip 8 located on the heel 4 and the outsole 7 arranged on the underside 18 of the front insole 2 .

[0040] In order to achieve sufficient stability and strength, especially of the rear insole 3, while at the same time maintaining the relatively thin-walled profile of the load-bearing plate, it is proposed according to the invention that at least the rear insole 3 is made of fiber-reinforced plastic. The reinforcing fibers embedded in the plastic can be arranged in several layers. For example, two fiber layers are aligned in the longitudinal extension of the rear insole 3, and at least one other fiber layer is arranged at a different angle, for example 45° to the longitudinal extension. The number of fiber layers can be varied, in particular decreasing towards the forefoot region, thereby improving the flexibility of the forefoot. The rear insole 3 formed as a particularly thin-walled shell with a material thickness of only about 1.8 mm not only provides a very attractive appearance of the heeled shoe 100, but also the necessary stability for a comfortable and secure fit.

[0041] The fibers for reinforcing the plastics can be industrially produced fibers, in particular carbon fibers. Natural fibers such as flax are particularly preferred. This choice is particularly in line with the demands of sustainability and improved biodegradability of new products.

[0042] As shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3, the rear insole 3 has an underside 13, where at least the area between the heel 4 and the front insole 2 is visible from the outside. This means that in this area there is no additional sole or covering material underneath the insole. As a result, the heeled shoe 100 is given more taper and narrowing in this area, which is often desirable.

[0043] For a firm connection between the rear insole 3 and the front insole 2, in the example shown the two sole parts 2, 3 are arranged overlapping in the forefoot region 20, in particular in the front region 15 of the rear insole 3.

[0044] For a similarly firm connection in the rearfoot area 22 of the rear insole 3, in particular between the rear insole 3 and the heel 4, a plug connection 10 is provided, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. The plug connection 10 is designed as an interference fit between three pins 11a, 11b, 11c protruding above the heel 4 and three corresponding recesses 12a, 12b, 12c arranged to accommodate the layout of the pins.

[0045] The pins 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged in a triangular configuration, which is particularly advantageous for the stability of the connection. In this regard, all three pins have a circular cross section and are straight or cylindrical along their extension, but they are angled with respect to the upper side 19 of the rear insole 3. Thus, the pins 11a, 11b, 11c are inclined towards the rear end of the heel shoe 100 in relation to the upper side 19, and they appear essentially upright when considering the entire shoe 100 due to the inclination of the rear insole 3 towards the front insole 2. This allows a very easy insertion of the rear insole 3, in particular the recesses 12a, 12b, 12c and the pins 11a, 11b, 11c arranged therein, during manufacture. To improve the strength, the pins 11a, 11b, 11c are additionally adhesively bonded to the rear insole 3 in the recesses 12a, 12b, 12c. This creates a very strong connection between the rear insole 3 and the heel 4.

[0046] As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the front insole 2 has on its upper side 17 facing the footbed 5 a flat recess 16 into which the cushioning element 9 is inserted.

[0047] The cushioning element 9 is designed as a flat impact insert, which corresponds in size and shape to the recess 16. In particular, the cushioning element 9, approximately 10 mm thick, extends over most of the forefoot area 20, in particular over almost the entire width and length of the front insole 2. To prevent slipping, the cushioning element 9 is fixed in the recess 16 by means of an adhesive. Additionally, the cushioning element 9 can also be adhesively bonded to the rear insole 3. The cushioning element 9 is made from a softer material than the front insole 2, allowing a certain degree of foot immersion during walking and the associated foot rolling movement.

[0048] It should be noted that in this example, in addition to the rear insole 3, all other components in the heeled shoe 100, such as the front insole 2, the heel 4, the footbed 5 and the upper 6 of the shoe, can also be made from sustainable and biodegradable materials, in particular non-metallic materials. Thus, in this example, the heel 4, the front insole 2 and the cushioning element 9 are produced from an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, called ETPU for short. The outsole 7 and the heel tip 8 are conventionally made of rubber.

[0049] It should be understood that the subject claim is not limited to the examples given above, but that heeled shoes can be manufactured or designed in other configurations not described. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 100 Heeled Shoes 1 Insole 2 Front insole 3 Rear insole 4 Heal 5 Footbed 6 Shoe uppers and shafts 7 Outsole 8 Heel tip 9 Cushioning Elements 10 Plug connection 11a pin 11b Pin 11c Pin 12a Recess 12b Recess 12c Recess 13 Lower side 14 Upper side 15 Front Area 16 Recess 17 Upper 18 Lower side 19 Upper 20 Forefoot area 21 Midfoot area 22 Hindfoot area

Claims

1. A heeled shoe (100) with an insole (1) and a heel (4), wherein the insole (1) comprises a front insole (2) arranged in a forefoot region (20) and a separately formed rear insole (3) extending across a midfoot region (21) and a midfoot region (22), and at least the rear insole (3) is made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

2. 2. The heel shoe (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the front insole (2) and the rear insole (3) are designed as two separate parts (2, 3) that partially overlap in the forefoot area (20).

3. 3. The heeled shoe (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rear insole (3) is at least partially visible from the outside, in particular the underside (13) of the rear insole (3) is visible between the heel (4) and the front insole (2).

4. 3. The heel shoe (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the footbed (5) and the shoe upper (6) are provided at least on the upper side (14) of the rear insole (3).

5. Heeled shoe (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a plug connection is provided for a rigid connection between the heel (4) and the rear insole (3).

6. 6. The heeled shoe (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the plug connection (10) comprises an interference fit between at least one protruding pin (11a, 11b, 11c) and a correspondingly arranged recess (12a, 12b, 12c).

7. Heel shoe (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that all parts of the shoe (100) are made of non-metallic materials.

8. A heeled shoe (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the front insole (2) has a recess (16) on its upper side (17) into which a cushioning element (9) is inserted.

9. The heeled shoe (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an outsole (7) is arranged on the underside (18) of the front insole (2), and the underside (18) of the front insole (2) rests on the outsole (7).

10. A heeled shoe (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the front insole (2), the heel (4) and the cushioning element (9) is made of foamed thermoplastic polyurethane.

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