Article of footwear comprising a reinforcement for putting on the footwear

Abstract

The invention relates to an article of footwear comprising an upper (1) which has a rear portion (5) having a heel portion (5a) extended by medial side portions (5b), and a reinforcement (9) surrounding the heel portion (5a) and having medial side arms (9b) each arranged against the medial side portion (5b), each having a front end (12) coupled at the lower edge of the corresponding portion (5b), the reinforcement being arranged so as to be able to have, together with the rear portion (5), a stable raised support configuration and a configuration which is lowered by bearing on the heel portion (5a), which is elastically stressed to allow a return to the support configuration after putting on the footwear, the front ends (12) being sewn onto the lower edge of the portion (5b), the sole structure (2) comprising extensions (2b) which are adhered to the sewn ends (12).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Footwear item including a pull-on frame

[0003] 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.

[0004] Such footwear articles classically include an upper which has a lower edge attached to a sole structure, forming with it a space for receiving a user's foot.

[0005] The presence of a heel portion of the upper, combined with a greater or lesser degree of rigidity of said upper, can make such footwear difficult to put on.

[0006] 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.

[0007] Existing solutions are not entirely satisfactory because, to allow elastic movement of the frame between its two configurations, they rely on a complex design of the frame to make it elastically deformable and / or on the use of complex additional means to enable its elastic integration into the footwear. The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing, in particular, a footwear in which the rear portion of the upper is equipped with a frame arranged to allow lowering and elastic return of said rear portion to facilitate donning the footwear. The structure of the frame and its integration into the rear portion of said upper are achieved in a particularly simple manner while ensuring reliable elastic movement of said frame.

[0008] 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 part 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 part being equipped with a frame having a heel segment which is extended on either side by a lateral and medial branch respectively, said heel segment surrounding the heel portion by being coupled to said heel portion at the level of the superior 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 lower edge of the corresponding portion, said frame being arranged to present with the rear part of the upper a stable raised carrying configuration and a lowered configuration by pressure on the heel portion 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 the shoe, the front ends of the branches being sewn onto the lower edge of the corresponding portion, the sole structure comprising at least one medial and one lateral extension respectively which is glued onto the corresponding sewn end.

[0009] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, made with reference to the attached figures, in which: [Fig.1a] and [Fig.1b] 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 (figure 1a) and lowered putting-on configuration (figure 1b) of said article;

[0010] [Fig. 2] schematically represents, in frontal section, the assembly of the upper and the frame of such an article of footwear on the sole structure;

[0011] [Fig.3] schematically represents, in perspective seen from the rear, the footwear article of figures 1a and 1b in which the greater part of the upper has been omitted;

[0012] [Fig.4] schematically represents a front end of the armature of the previous figures assembled to a part of the rod.

[0013] In relation to these figures, we describe below a footwear item, specifically intended for the practice of a sporting and / or leisure activity such as walking, or even running.

[0014] The footwear article includes an upper 1 which has a lower edge 1a which is fixed to a sole structure 2, in particular by gluing, forming with it a space 3 for receiving a user's foot.

[0015] 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 assembling, notably by stitching, several textile pieces together, these pieces being able to be made of materials of different composition, appearance and / or properties, for example according to their relative position with respect to the user's foot, the properties desired in each position (reinforcement at the instep for lacing, etc.), or the overall aesthetic appearance desired for the item.

[0016] In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken with reference to the footwear item as represented in the figures, and in particular in relation to its position worn on the foot of a user. 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;

[0017] - 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;

[0018] - the terms "lateral" and "medial" refer to arrangements close to the lateral and medial parts of the foot respectively.

[0019] The stem 1 has a front part 4 and a rear part 5 intended to cover respectively the front and rear of a foot arranged in space 3.

[0020] 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 instep of the user's foot.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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 space 3.

[0023] 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.

[0024] To achieve this, as shown in Figures 1a and 1b, the heel portion 5a is fitted with a insert 10 which is joined to the lower and upper parts of said heel portion, so as to form a recess in which the heel segment 9a is arranged. In particular, the reinforcement 9 is positioned on the outside of the rear part 5 relative to the space 3.

[0025] In the embodiment shown, the frame 9 is formed of a polymer material hoop which is shaped into a U, forming in one piece the heel segment 9a, formed by the curved base of said U, with each of the lateral 9b and medial 9c branches. In particular, the hoop has a cylindrical cross-section.

[0026] 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.

[0027] In particular, as with 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.

[0028] In addition, each branch 9b, 9c has an anterior end 12 which is coupled at the lower edge of the corresponding lateral portion 5b or medial portion 5c.

[0029] 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.

[0030] In particular, the stem 1 is formed, at least at its rear part 5, of a material (or materials) sufficiently flexible to allow it to deform easily under the effect of pressure exerted on it by the foot of a user.

[0031] In addition, the frame hoop 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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 stem portion 5b, 5c, in order to facilitate the making of said seams and to allow their pressing against said stem portion.

[0034] 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 their respective recesses. This ensures coordinated movement of the frame 9 and the rear stem portion 5 between their raised and lowered positions, minimizing the risk of play between the frame and the stem portion during these movements, while also promoting elastic recovery. As shown more particularly in Figure 2, the extensions 2a are integrated into a peripheral rim 14 of the sole structure 2, said rim being glued around the lower edge 1a 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, particularly 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 that 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 in figure 1b, so as to enlarge the upper opening 8.

Claims

8 DEMANDS 1. Footwear article comprising an upper (1) having a lower edge (1a) 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 shaft (1) a stable raised carrying configuration and a lowered configuration by support 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 (1a) of the upper (1) by covering the sewn ends (12). 9 3. Footwear article according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the extensions (2a, 2b) project outwards above a foot support zone (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 of 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 one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the lower portions of the temple (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 hoop.

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 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 panel (10) attached to the lower and upper parts of said heel portion to form a housing in which the heel segment (9a) of the frame (9) is disposed.

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