BOOT
Boot (10), in particular a motorcyclist's boot, with a leg-piece (12) and closing means for varying the dimensions of the boot (10) in the zone of the heel (11), characterized in that said closing means comprise at least one elongated part (22) which extends between two sides of the leg-piece (12) above the heel (11), surrounding it at the rear, and is tightened around the heel (11) in an adjustable manner.
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The present invention relates to an improvement for a boot, in particular a motorcyclist's boot.
At present, most of the boots for motorcycling use, to which reference is made here by way of example, use for closing the bottom part of the leg zip fastening systems (called “zip fasteners” in short), in particular in the zone of the ankles or the heel. Reference may be made, for example, to the documents EP 1,256,286, DE 19523669, DE3204260 for known zip fastening systems. Zip fasteners are generally used to close the boot by moving two flaps or two parts thereof towards each other, resulting in the effect of joining together or closing the two parts of the boot, or adjusting the distance between the two flaps, so as to adapt the boot to the shape of the foot. However a zip fastener is not adjustable, because it is left opened or closed. For the purposes described it is obviously possible to have one or more zip fasteners which are arranged in various configurations and in different closing positions.
Each of these solutions, however, has the same drawbacks. The zip fasteners are subject to stresses both at the time of closing, when the sliding piece is pulled, and during use, when the tractional forces present in the boot are transmitted to the zip fastener teeth. The reliability and the operating efficiency of the zip fasteners are negatively affected, not only for this reason, but also because of the dirt which inevitably accumulates there, the boots being practically in contact with the ground. Moreover a zip fastener, because of the way in which it is designed, during opening or closing, may only act in one direction and therefore represents a limitation of the boot closing or adjusting devices. It is also not easy, in view of the type of design of the present boots, to replace the zip fastener in the event of breakage, except by unstitching or ungluing parts of the boot. Finally, a zip fastener adjustment system is unable to move the edges of the fastener towards each other by more than the amount which can be obtained with the fastener completely closed. Therefore, the users with a too small or too large foot are at a disadvantage because of the size of the boot, since it is not possible to tighten the latter further once it is worn.
The object of the invention is to obtain a boot, in particular a motorcyclist's boot, which has an easy and safe closing system in the ankle zone and which is not subject to the limitations of closing systems of the zip fastener type.
This object is achieved with a boot, in particular a motorcyclist's boot, with a leg-piece and closing means for varying the dimensions of the boot in the zone of the heel, characterized in that said closing means comprise at least one elongated part which extends between two sides of the leg-piece above the heel, surrounding it at the rear and is able to be tightened around the heel in an adjustable manner.
The advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of a boot according to the invention, which is presented solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
With reference to
The strip 18 extends towards the heel 11 with a flexible elongated part 22 which is able, as will be described below, surround the heel 11 (or its upper part) at the rear and can be tightened in an adjustable manner on both sides of the said heel 11 (
The part 22 has substantially the form of a tapered belt so that, when it is arranged above the zone in the region of the Achilles tendon, it has a narrowed zone 29 where a pass-through opening is also formed. The figures show a single eyelet 23 with opening in the region of the narrowed zone 29, but it is possible to envisage many such eyelets with a different shape and different arrangement. In order to form the opening 23 in the narrowed zone 29, above the heel 11, the flexible part 22 divides into two separate thin straps 24 which are substantially parallel and which beyond the heel 11 join together again in the form of an eyelet and are connected to a toothed lug 26 (see
The opening 23 and/or narrowing of the flexible part 22 are such that the latter can be compressed in a direction Y (see
The part 22 may in fact be tightened around the heel 11 using adjustable tensioning means 30, for example such as known devices described in EP 1,611,811.
The user, in order to tighten and adapt the fit of the boot 10 to his/her own foot on and/or above the heel 11, must grip the part 22, pass it behind (or above) the heel 11 and fix it to the side of the boot 10 using the tensioning means 30. By operating the means 30, it is possible, in a known manner, to vary the tension of the part 22 on the zone 13 and therefore vary the space inside the boot 10 for the heel and the foot of the person wearing it.
It is clear that the advantages of the invention are many: any type of zip fastener is eliminated, this being, as already mentioned, a delicate component, the part 22 allows flexing of the heel zone, the position and the ease of closing the part 22 also allow an improvement in gripping of the heel, the design of the boot is simple and strong, in the event of breakage the components of the invention may be easily replaced, and closing adjustment which is not possible with a zip fastener is achieved.
Let us now consider
In
In
Other variants are possible, for example by envisaging tensioning means on both sides of the leg-piece and/or an elongated tightening part, which is permanently separable from the boot or fixed to it at two points.
Claims
1. Boot (10), in particular motorcyclist's boot, with a leg-piece (12) and closing means for varying the dimensions of the boot (10) in the zone of the heel (11), characterized in that said closing means comprise at least one elongated part (22) which extends between two sides of the leg-piece (12) above the heel (11), surrounding it at the rear, and is able to be tightened around the heel (11) in an adjustable manner.
2. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one elongated part (22) is flexible and preferably also longitudinally extendable.
3. (Boot (10) according to claims 1, in which the at least one elongated part (22) is can be compressible in a direction substantially perpendicular to its length at least above the zone of the boot (10) in the region of the Achilles tendon (11).
4. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one elongated part (22) is an extension of the leg-piece (12) of the boot (10).
5. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one elongated part (22) is in the form of a belt.
6. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one elongated part (22) is rigid.
7. Boot (10) according to claim 5, in which the at least one elongated part (22) above the zone of the boot (10) in the region of the Achilles tendon (11) has at least one narrowed zone (29).
8. Boot (10) according to claim 5, in which the at least one elongated part (22) above the zone of the boot in the region of the Achilles tendon (11) has a pass-through opening.
9. Boot (10) according to claim 8, in which the at least one elongated part (22) above the zone of the boot where it has thean opening divides into two separate thin straps (24) which are substantially parallel.
10. Boot (10) according to claim 1, comprising adjustable tensioning means (26, 30; 50; 60) with which the at least one elongated part (22) may be tightened around the heel (11) in an adjustable manner.
11. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one elongated part (22) is integral with a toothed strip (26) which engages with the adjustable fixing means.
12. Boot (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one elongated part is connected to the boot (10) by means of a strip of different material.
13. Boot (10) according to claim 12, in which the strip of different material consists of elastic material.
14. Boot (10) according to claim 12, in which the strip of different material is arranged on top of and combined with a strip of non-extendable material (18) having through-incisions which are able to widen and allow elongation of the strip of different material.
15. Boot (10) according to claim 10, in which the tensioning means comprise a tongue (52, 58) having a strip of Velcro (50; 60) which may be retained by another strip of Velcro fixed onto the at least one elongated part (22).
16. Boot (10) according to claim 15, in which the at least one elongated part (22) comprises a ring (56) inside which the tongue (52; 58) may be inserted.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2009
Applicant: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL (Coste di Maser)
Inventor: Giovanni Mazzarolo (Coste di Maser (Treviso))
Application Number: 12/293,378
International Classification: A43B 5/00 (20060101);