Upper for footwear and footwear

Abstract

Upper for footwear provided with a closure unit (GC) comprising a traction and locking device (3; 8) for putting a cable (5) in traction and locking it when traction is performed, a plurality of cable-guide bodies (4; 40) and said cable (5) which passes through the cable-guide bodies (4, 40). The traction and locking device (3; 8) is bound to a flexible plate (6) which, in turn, is positioned on the upper (2). The traction and locking device (3; 8) is positioned on an axis of symmetry (X) of the flexible plate (6). The flexible plate (6) is applied on the upper (2) in a region between a part (20) corresponding to the top of the vamp and a part (21) corresponding to the toe of the upper. The closure unit (GC) exerts a symmetrical traction on the right and left sides of the upper (2) by means of the flexible plate (6) and the cable (5) operated by the traction and locking device (3; 8).

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] Upper for footwear and footwear.

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an upper for footwear and a footwear provided with such an upper.

[0005] An upper in accordance with the present invention is particularly suitable for the production of so-called “technical” footwear and footwear for sports, such as mountain or trekking shoes and footwear for sports activities, such as cycling, in which cable-winding rotors are used that allow the footwear to be put on or taken off more easily and quickly than traditional laces and offer a greater degree of safety than closures made with tongues equipped with Velcro fastenings made with so-called “hook and loop” materials such as Velcro. Other footwear uses closing tongues with toothed buckles with snap closure. In sports footwear with rotor closure, in particular those for cycling, a pair of cable-winding rotors applied to one side of the upper is generally used.

[0006] The traction exerted by the cable on the flaps of the upper to be tightened develops mainly from the inside of the foot towards the outside so that these flaps do not symmetrically enclose the instep during the closing action. The same inconvenience occurs when the footwear is equipped with tongues with Velcro fastenings or tongues with toothed buckles with snap closure.

[0007] The main purpose of the present invention is to overcome the typical drawbacks of traditional closing systems and to promote the further use of simplified actuation closing systems in the production of footwear particularly intended for the practice of both professional and amateur sports activities and recreational activities such as trekking and in the production of safety footwear.

[0008] This result has been reached, in accordance with the present invention, by adopting the idea of realizing an upper for footwear having the features indicated in claim 1. Other features of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Among the advantages of the present invention, the following are cited by way of example: - the closure of the shoe is determined by a traction of the cable that symmetrically wraps around the instep; an upper in accordance with the present invention can be advantageously used in the production of footwear for sports and recreational use, such as footwear for cycling and trekking and other similar activities, as well as in the production of so-called safety footwear in which thespeed of opening of the footwear in the event of accidents and at the same time comfort are particularly privileged; - it is possible to make the upper also in such a way that the closure unit can be applied and removed entirely without the use of special tools to easily replace it in the event of breakage or wear or to replace it with another aesthetically different one, to separate it from the rest of the shoe at the end of the product's life cycle, and to reduce the production costs of the footwear related to the assembly of the closure unit; it is possible to make the upper also in such a way that transpiration is favoured.

[0009] These and further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be better understood by any person skilled in the art thanks to the following description and the attached drawings, provided by way of example but not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which:

[0010] - Fig.1 represents a schematic perspective view of a shoe provided with an upper in accordance with a possible embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] - Fig.2 represents a perspective view of the flexible plate (6) applied to the upper of the shoe of Fig.1;

[0012] - Fig.3 is an exploded drawing that schematically represents the positioning of the base (30) of the rotor (3) in the seat (61) of the flexible plate (6) represented in Figs.l and 2 and a cable guide (40);

[0013] - Fig.4 is a drawing similar to that of Fig.3 in which the base (30) of the rotor is shaped differently;

[0014] - Fig.5 represents a perspective view of the aforementioned flexible plate (6) with the base (30) of the rotor (3) positioned in the seat (61);

[0015] - Fig.6 represents a perspective view of the closure unit applied to the upper of the shoe of Fig.1;

[0016] - Fig.7 represents a further embodiment of the flexible plate (6);

[0017] - Figs.8A-8F represent a component for the removable application of the flexible plate of Fig.7 on the upper of the shoe according to a first perspective view (Fig.8A), a second perspective view (Fig.8B), a plan view from below (Fig.8C), a plan view from above (Fig.8D), a front view (Fig.8E) and a section view along the line A-A of Fig.8E (Fig.8F);

[0018] - Fig.9 represents a further embodiment of the closing unit (GC);

[0019] - Fig.10 represents a shoe with the closing unit of Fig.9;

[0020] - Figs.llA-llF are different views of the traction and locking device (8) of theclosing unit of the embodiment shown in Figs.9 and 10.

[0021] The following description provides possible examples of the embodiment of an upper in accordance with the present invention with reference to the attached exemplary drawings.

[0022] The attached drawings show a shoe (1) with an upper (2) equipped with a closing unit (GC) comprising a cable-winding rotor (3), a plurality of cable-guide bodies (4, 40), and a cable (5) that is wound and unwound by means of the rotor (3) and passes through the cable-guide bodies (4, 40).

[0023] The rotor (3) is arranged on a plate (6) of flexible material which, in turn, is applied to the upper (2). The rotor (3) can be any known type of cable-winding rotor for footwear. For example, the rotor (3) may be of the type described in US9339089B2. In practice, the rotor (3) is of the type, known in itself, comprising a base body (30) and a reel (31), in which the reel is housed in the base body and the cable (5) is wound onto the reel, and vice versa, depending on the rotation manually set to the reel by the user. Depending on the rotation manually set to the reel (31), the edges of the upper (2) intended to be on the right and left side of the instep move closer or further apart, determining the closing or opening of the shoe.

[0024] The rotor (3) is configured to block the cable (5) when the user wishes, once the desired traction has been reached. In other words, the rotor (3) is a traction and blocking device to put a cable (5) into traction and block it once the traction has been achieved.

[0025] For example, said plate (6) can be sewn onto the upper (2). In Fig.l the reference “62” indicates a sewing line that connects the plate (6) with the upper (2).

[0026] Alternatively, the plate (6) can be glued onto the upper (2).

[0027] The plate (6) can also be applied removably onto the upper (2). The removability of the plate (6), with the other elements of the closure unit integral with it, allows the production cost of the shoe to be reduced as the application phase of the closure unit in the production cycle of the shoe is eliminated. The user can in fact easily apply the closure unit and possibly replace it with equal ease. Furthermore, at the end of the product's life, it will be easier to separate the various components of the shoe for differentiated disposal and recycling. For example, with reference to Fig.7 and Figs.8A-8F, the flexible plate (6) has a slot (63) in its front part to allow its insertion on an anchoring element (7) fixed to the upper (2). For example, the anchoring element (7) has an extended base (70) that can be sewn to the upper (2)at the chosen application point, and an appendix protruding upwards on which the slot (63) of the flexible plate (6) is fitted. Said appendix has a head (71) and a foot (72) that joins the head (71) to the base (70). Preferably, the depth and width (M, N) of the head (71) are greater than the depth and width (P, Q) of the foot (72) to ensure more effective anchoring of the flexible plate (6) to the element (7). Preferably, the dimensions of the slot (63), i.e. width and length of the slot (63), are slightly smaller than those of the head portion (71) of the anchoring element (7). In this way, when applying the flexible plate (6) to the anchoring element (7), a slight elastic forcing of the slot (63) will be necessary which, once it has passed the head portion (71) of the element (7), will be more effectively anchored to the latter. Preferably, the depth (R) of the base (70) of the anchoring element (7) is greater than that (M) of the head portion of the appendix (71).

[0028] The cable guides (4) are mounted on the upper (2) by the shoe factory. In this configuration, the flexible plate (6) remains constrained to the upper (2) through the element (7) and the cable (5) that passes through the cable guides (4).

[0029] A pre-established number of cable guide bodies (4) of the closing unit (GC) is fixed on the upper (2), preferably on the two sides of the same.

[0030] Additional cable guide bodies (40) are integral with the plate (6).

[0031] For example, with reference to the attached drawings, the cable guide bodies (40) integral with the plate (6) are distributed on two opposite sides and on a front part of the plate itself. Preferably, in the proximity of at least two cable guide bodies (40) integral with the plate (6) there are two tubes (41) converging towards the respective cable guide body (40) that facilitate the sliding of the cable (5). The cable guide bodies (40) integral with the plate (6) have a base (400) and an area (401) for guiding and passing the cable (5). For example, the tubes (41) can have a straight axis.

[0032] The plate (6) can also be injected onto the upper (2). A technique for forming the plate (6) by injecting onto the upper (2) is described in WO2020 / 178869 to which reference can be made for a more detailed description. This technique involves hot injecting a plastic material into a mould, with a shape corresponding to the desired shape for the plate (6), provided with seats for positioning the base of the cable winding rotor and a pre-established number of cable guides (40) so that the base of the cable winding rotor and a pre-established number of cable guides (40) are integral with the plate (6). For example, the said plastic material may be athermoplastic polyurethane resin (TPU) commercially available under the name ELASTOLLAN. Similarly, to make the plate (6) to be applied removably on the upper (2), a mould with seats for positioning the base of the rotor (3) and the cable guides (40) may be used. During the hot injection phase of the thermoplastic material, the tubes (41) are also formed. The same procedure may be carried out to make the plate (6) to be sewn or glued on the upper (2), without preparing the means of removable application.

[0033] The plate (6) has a seat (61) for the base (30) of the rotor (3). In Fig.3 the base (30) of the rotor (3) has a perimeter edge (30B) intended to be sewn to the plate (6) in the area of the seat (61) and a raised edge (30U) which in turn defines a seat for the spool (31) of the rotor (3). The arrows “G” in Fig.3 represent the positioning of the base (30) of the rotor (3) in correspondence with said seat (61). In Fig.4 the base (30) of the rotor (3) has a perimeter edge (30C) provided with openings (30D) and a raised edge (30U) which in turn defines a seat for the spool (31) of the rotor (3). Both to produce the plate configured in Fig.3 and the plate configured as in Fig.4, a mould (not shown in the drawings) is used into which the chosen material is injected. The same mould has seats for the positioning of the cable guide bodies (40) whose bases (400) will therefore be incorporated into the plate (5). In the case of Fig.4, the holes (30D) in the base (30) of the rotor allow the material injected into the mould to flow through the same holes and, with the subsequent solidification, to definitively join the same base with the plate.

[0034] The flexibility of the plate (6) ensures the necessary adaptability of the same to the use of the shoe (1).

[0035] In accordance with the example of embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, the plate (6) has:

[0036] - two sides on each of which a recess is formed on whose edges the tubes (41) are formed and on whose vertex a cable gluide body (40) is arranged;

[0037] - a front part on which a further cable guide body (40) is arranged in a central position; and

[0038] - a rear part where the rotor (3) is arranged in a central position.

[0039] The flexible plate (6) is applied to the upper (2) so that it is on the instep when the shoe is worn, i.e. it is applied in the region between a part (20) corresponding to the top of the vamp and the part (21) corresponding to the tip.

[0040] The symmetrical arrangement of the closure unit (GC), with the rotor (3) in a centralposition between the two sides of the plate (6), allows, during the closure phase of the shoe, to exert a symmetrical traction on the right and left sides of the instep through the cable (5). In the attached drawings, the reference “X” indicates an axis of symmetry of the closure unit (GC) oriented along the heel-toe direction in the application position on the upper (2). Therefore, the closure of the shoe, determined by the unit (GC), through the flexible plate (6) involves symmetrically compressing the upper on the right and left sides of the instep and on the back with obvious benefits for the user, both in terms of comfort and safety of the closure. And, as previously stated, an upper provided with a closure unit in accordance with the present invention can be advantageously used in the production of footwear for sports and recreational use, such as footwear for cycling and trekking and other similar activities, as well as in the production of so-called safety footwear in which the speed of opening of the footwear in the event of accidents and at the same time comfort are particularly privileged. Since, as seen, it is also possible to make the upper so that the closure unit can be applied and removed entirely without the use of special tools, it is possible to easily assemble and also replace the closure unit, to separate it from the rest of the footwear at the end of the product's life cycle, and to reduce the production costs of the footwear related to the assembly of the closure unit itself. Furthermore, unlike traditional closure units, in which there are cable winding rotors placed on an external side of the upper, the risk of tripping over natural obstacles is reduced, especially when the footwear is used for trekking or similar activities.

[0041] Preferably, the plate (6) has at least one opening (60) that promotes transpiration, in particular when the upper (2) is made of breathable material. For example, said openings (60) are made of mesh structures as shown in the attached exemplary drawings. By way of example, said openings (60) are four in number, or two pairs of openings (60) on each side of the plate (6). The operation of the rotor (3) itself is known, as it is a device commonly available on the market. In practice, the rotor (3) has a first position for loosening or unwinding and a second position for winding and locking the cable (5).

[0042] It is understood that, in place of the rotor (3), any other device can be provided that allows traction to be applied on the two sides of the flexible plate (6) by means of a cable. For example, in place of the rotor (3) a device of the so-called “quick-lace” type can be provided, i.e. a device that allows the cable (5) to be blocked in thetraction position and that has a permitted sliding arrangement of the cable (in the traction phase or in the release phase) and a locking arrangement of the cable (once traction is complete). In Fig.9 and Fig.10 the reference “8” indicates such a traction and cable locking device. The traction and locking device (8) shown in Fig.9 and Fig.10 has a body with an input section (800) for the cable (5) formed in a lower part (81) and an output section with two holes (801) formed on an upper part (82) with a toothed slide (84) sliding inside the lower part (81) which is hollow. By means of a pin (83) it is possible to arrange the upper part (82) spaced from the lower part (83), allowing the traction of the cable (5), and respectively placed close to the lower part (83) allowing the cable itself to be locked. The pin (83) passes perpendicularly through a slot (85) formed in the lower part (82). When the upper part (82) is spaced from the lower part, the cable (5) is free to slide between the teeth of the slide (84) and the internal wall of the lower part (81). When the upper part (82) is placed next to the lower part, the cable (5) is blocked between the teeth of the slide (84) and the internal wall of the lower part (81) which is also toothed. In Fig.llAthe upper part (81) is spaced from the lower part (81). In Figs.llB, 1 IF the upper part (81) is placed next to the lower part (81). In Fig.llC the teeth (CD) formed on the internal wall of the lower part (81) are visible. In Fig.1 ID the teeth (D) on two sides of the slide (84) are partially visible. In this embodiment, the traction and locking device (8) remains constrained to the flexible plate (6) by means of the cable (5) which passes through the cable guides (40) and the tubes (41). From the preceding description it is evident that a shoe upper in accordance with the present invention is equipped with a closure unit (GC) comprising a traction and locking device (3; 8) to put a cable (5) under traction and lock it once the traction has been performed, a plurality of cable-passage bodies (4; 40) and said cable (5) which passes through the cable guide bodies (4, 40), in which the cablewinding rotor (3) is integral with a flexible plate (6) which, in turn, is positioned on the upper (2), in which the traction and locking device (3; 8) is positioned on an axis of symmetry (X) of the flexible plate (6), in which the flexible plate (6) is applied to the upper (2) in a region between a part (20) corresponding to the top of the vamp and a part (21) corresponding to the tip of the upper, so that the closure unit (GC) is configured to exert a symmetrical traction on the sides right and left of the upper (2) by means of the flexible plate (6) and the cable (5) operated by the traction and locking device (3; 8).From the preceding description it also appears evident that an upper for footwear in accordance with the present invention can present one or more of the following additional characteristics possibly combined with each other:

[0043] - a pre-established number of cable guide bodies (4) are arranged on the upper (2) and a pre-established number of cable-passage bodies (40) are arranged on the flexible plate (6). in proximity of the cable guide bodies (40) arranged on the flexible plate (6) there are also tubes (41) for guiding the cable (5).

[0044] - the flexible plate (6) is integral with the upper (2). the flexible plate (6) is removably applied to the upper (2).

[0045] - the flexible plate (6) has at least one opening (60) for transpiration, the transpiration opening (60) is a reticulated structure, the flexible plate (6) is made of thermoplastic material.

[0046] In practice, the execution details can however vary in an equivalent way with regard to the individual elements described and illustrated without departing from the idea of the solution adopted and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection conferred by this patent in accordance with the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Upper for footwear provided with a closure unit (GC) comprising a traction and locking device (3; 8) for putting a cable (5) in traction and locking it when traction is performed, a plurality of cable-guide bodies (4; 40) and said cable (5) which passes through the cable-guide bodies (4, 40), wherein the traction and locking device (3; 8) is bound to a flexible plate (6) which, in turn, is positioned on the upper (2), wherein the traction and locking device (3; 8) is positioned on an axis of symmetry (X) of the flexible plate (6), wherein the flexible plate (6) is applied on the upper (2) in a region between a part (20) corresponding to the top of the vamp and a part (21) corresponding to the toe of the upper, such that the closure unit (GC) is configured to exert a symmetrical traction on the right and left sides of the upper (2) by means of the flexible plate (6) and the cable (5) operated by the traction and locking device (3; 8).2) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein a predetermined number of cable-guide bodies (4) are arranged on the upper (2) and a predetermined number of cable-guide bodies (40) are arranged on the flexible plate (6).3) Upper for footwear according to claim 2 wherein in proximity to the cable-guide bodies (40) arranged on the flexible plate (6) there are also arranged tubes (41) for guiding the cable (5).4) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein the flexible plate (6) is integral with the upper (2).5) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein the flexible plate (6) is removably applied to the upper (2).6) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein the flexible plate (6) has at least one transpiration opening (60).7) Upper for footwear according to claim 6 wherein the at least one transpiration opening (60) is a reticulated structure.8) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein the flexible plate (6) is made of thermoplastic material.9) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein the traction and locking device of the cable (5) is a device with a rotor (3) provided with a reel for winding / unwinding the cable (5).10) Upper for footwear according to claim 1 wherein the traction and locking device of the cable (5) has a body with two inlets for the cable (5) formed in a lower partmeans of a pin (83), it is possible to arrange the upper part (82) spaced from the lower part (83) allowing the traction of the cable (5), and respectively placed close to the lower part (83) allowing the cable itself to be locked.11) Footwear (1) provided with an upper (2) with a closing unit according to one or more of the preceding claims.

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