Footwear for sporting activity having tightening belts

A footwear for sporting activity having tightening belts comprises a plurality of adjustable belts, at least two securing pins configured to pass in a one on one manner through a plurality of holes disposed on each of the plurality of adjustable belts for enabling a partially releasable fastening mechanism of the plurality of adjustable belts on a first surface of the footwear device, and a plurality of hook and loop units disposed on a second surface of the footwear device in a predetermined position proximate to the plurality of adjustable belts for retaining a loose end of each of the plurality of adjustable belts in a relievable configuration. Each of the plurality of adjustable belts is configured to tighten the footwear device while the footwear device is worn by a user.

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Description

This application claims priority based on provisional application 61/042,352 filed Apr. 4, 2009

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sporting footwear but more particularly to a footwear footwear for sporting activity having tightening belts instead of laces or clips and having a notch for better ankle flexibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most sporting footwear such as hiking footwear or ice skates use laces. There are some skates, however, whether inline skates or ice skates, that use straps, belts, clips or any combination of the above, including laces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main advantage of this invention to provide for a sporting footwear not having any laces.

It is another advantage of this invention to provide for careful placement of the belts so that they provide adequate support for the user.

In order to do so, the invention comprises a plurality of adjustable belts, at least two securing pins configured to pass in a one on one manner through a plurality of holes disposed on each of the plurality of adjustable belts for enabling a partially releasable fastening mechanism of the plurality of adjustable belts on a first surface of the footwear device, and a plurality of hook and loop units disposed on a second surface of the footwear device in a predetermined position proximate to the plurality of adjustable belts for retaining a loose end of each of the plurality of adjustable belts in a relievable configuration. Each of the plurality of adjustable belts is configured to tighten the footwear device while the footwear device is worn by a user.

At least one notch is positioned between at least two adjustable belts of the plurality of adjustable belts to enable a flexible ankle movement for the user.

Preferably, each of the plurality of hook and loop units is configured to retain the loose end of at least one of the plurality of adjustable belts.

In a preferred embodiment, the first surface is an upper surface of the footwear device and the plurality of adjustable belts is used as padding means for protecting feet of the user from shocks.

Each of the plurality of adjustable belts is of a predetermined length for covering maximal space across an opening surface of the footwear device. The opening surface of the footwear device is proximate to the upper surface.

The footwear has a method of securely tightening a footwear device consisting in the steps of enabling a releasable coupling between a plurality of securing pins and a plurality of holes disposed in an adjustable belt, whereby the releasable coupling is enabled in an one on one configuration, and retaining a loose end of the adjustable belt responsive to enabling the releasable coupling.

Additionally, the steps can involve enabling the releasable coupling comprising a step of enabling a releasable fixation between at least one securing pin and at least one hole. Also, the step of retaining a loose end of the adjustable belt comprising a step of hooking and looping of the loose end of the adjustable belt, and enabling flexibility of ankle movement for a user wearing the footwear device through a notch means.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 Perspective view with the belts opened to see the hook and loop means.

FIG. 3 Side view of the invention.

FIGS. 4-5 Sides views of alternate embodiments such as an inline skate and a hiking boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A footwear (10) for use in sporting activities skate has a plurality of adjustable belts (12) with double securing pins (14) passing through belt holes (16).

The footwear (10) also has hook and loop means (18) to retain the loose end (20) of the belt (12).

The footwear (10) has a notch (22) positioned in such a way so as to allow the wearer of the footwear (10) flexibility for ankle movement.

The belts (12) are used as padding means to protect a user's foot against hits that are common when playing hockey or any other sporting activity which involves walking, jumping, and running. It is thus preferred that the belts (12) be as long as possible and that the loose ends (20) be retained by hook and loop means (18) as described hereinabove.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. For example, the footwear (10) can be used for many activities including, but not limited to hiking, cross country skying, snowboarding, and skating, all variations that would be obvious for an artisan in the footwear trade.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A footwear device, comprising:

a plurality of adjustable belts;
at least two securing pins configured to pass in a one on one manner through a plurality of holes disposed on each of the plurality of adjustable belts for enabling a partially releasable fastening mechanism of the plurality of adjustable belts on a first surface of the footwear device; and
a plurality of hook and loop units disposed on a second surface of the footwear device in a predetermined position proximate to the plurality of adjustable belts for retaining a loose end of each of the plurality of adjustable belts in a relievable configuration.

2. The footwear device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable belts is configured to tighten the footwear device while the footwear device is worn by a user.

3. The footwear device of claim 1, wherein at least one notch is positioned between at least two adjustable belts of the plurality of adjustable belts to enable a flexible ankle movement for the user.

4. The footwear device of claim 2, wherein at least one notch is positioned between at least two adjustable belts of the plurality of adjustable belts to enable a flexible ankle movement for the user.

5. The footwear device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of hook and loop units is configured to retain the loose end of at least one of the plurality of adjustable belts.

6. The footwear device of claim 1, wherein the first surface is an upper surface of the footwear device.

7. The footwear device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable belts is used as padding means for protecting feet of the user from shocks.

8. The footwear device of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable belts is used as padding means for protecting feet of the user from shocks.

9. The footwear device of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable belts is made of a leather material.

10. The footwear device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable belts is of a predetermined length for covering maximal space across an opening surface of the footwear device.

11. The footwear device of claim 6, wherein the opening surface of the footwear device is proximate to the upper surface.

12. The footwear device of claim 10, wherein the opening surface of the footwear device is proximate to the upper surface.

13. A method of securely tightening a footwear device, the method comprising:

enabling a releasable coupling between a plurality of securing pins and a plurality of holes disposed in an adjustable belt, whereby the releasable coupling is enabled in an one on one configuration; and
retaining a loose end of the adjustable belt responsive to enabling the releasable coupling.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of enabling the releasable coupling comprising a step of enabling a releasable fixation between at least one securing pin and at least one hole.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of retaining a loose end of the adjustable belt comprising a step of hooking and looping of the loose end of the adjustable belt.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising a step of enabling flexibility of ankle movement for a user wearing the footwear device through a notch means.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090249646
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2009
Inventor: Michel Sylvestre (Cantley)
Application Number: 12/417,631
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Ankle Support (36/89); Closure (36/50.1); Athletic Shoe Or Attachment Therefor (36/114)
International Classification: A43B 7/20 (20060101); A43C 11/00 (20060101); A43B 5/00 (20060101);