SHOE STRUCTURE
An open-toed shoe structure having a flexible sole having a predetermined shape; an engagement strap for the foot of a user, the engagement strap having a central part and two strap ends connected by two respective anchor points at two side edges opposite to the flexible sole; the engagement strap being configured in such a way that a user can put the foot under, so that the foot can be arranged between the sole and the engagement strap, wherein the engagement strap extends between the anchor points at the side edges and has a length between the strap ends substantially the same as the distance between the anchor points on the sole when the sole is in a planar arrangement without the foot, in order to move from a planar arrangement of the strap substantially parallel to the sole, to a raised arrangement of the central part of the strap with respect to the sole by the introduction of the foot.
The present invention relates to a light open-toed sandal-type shoe.
In particular, the invention relates to a structure of such a shoe for use at swimming pools, hotels, wellness centers, on a journey, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTMany common methods are known to make light open-toed shoes.
For example, US2004000070A1 proposes to die-cut a flexible lamina, in order to determine a shaped sole that can be bent on itself to form an arch in which to put the foot P like flip flops.
It is desirable to provide a shoe that, even if made as die-cut of leather or synthetic material, like the above cited document, is stronger and long-lasting, as well as provides comfort and stability to the foot P of the user.
A shoe also exists with plane shape having an upper that is flattened on the sole when the foot is not present, as described in FR2904919. The upper is made of a resilient material in such a way that, by the introduction of the foot, it stretches up to a length suitable for containing the foot. Such solution imposes a trade-off between elasticity and lengthening, to avoid of either choking the foot or leaving the foot too free, to attempt giving stability and safety to the gait.
This solution is not suitable for open-toed shoes, which can be used like a sandal, since the elasticity of the upper would render instable the foot during the gait.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a shoe structure that meets such needs.
It is also a feature of the present invention to provide an open-toed shoe that is light and of minimum encumbrance for easy transportation.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide an open-toed shoe that provides comfort and stability during the gait, for example at swimming pools, in hotels and wellness centers, on a journey, for example on an airplane, on a boat, etc.
This and other objects are achieved by a shoe structure comprising:
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- a flexible sole having a predetermined shape;
- at least one engagement strap for engagement of the foot of a user, said at least one engagement strap comprising a central part and two ends connected by two respective anchor points at two opposite side edges of said flexible sole, said or each engagement strap being configured in such a way that a user can put the foot under, so that the foot can be arranged between the sole and the engagement strap,
- wherein said engagement strap extends between said anchor points at said side edges and has a length between said ends substantially the same as the distance between said anchor points determined on said sole when said sole is in a planar arrangement without said foot, in order to move from a planar arrangement of said strap substantially parallel to said sole, to a raised arrangement of said central part of said strap with respect to said sole by the introduction of the foot,
- wherein said engagement strap and said sole are configured so that, with the introduction of the foot of the user between said engagement strap and said sole, said engagement strap pulls said side edges of said sole without that said engagement strap substantially is lengthened, and said sole, by the pulling action of said side edges by said strap, causes said side edges to bend assuming a “half pipe” like configuration that wraps partially the foot increasing the comfort.
This way, the side edges of the sole, which bend by the pulling action of the strap, give an extremely comfortable wrapping effect to the sole.
Furthermore, since the sole is flexible, it adapts to the foot giving the sensation of a gait similar to that with naked feet, and also giving good grip to the ground, minimizing the risks of slipping, for example on board of swimming pools, on a boat, etc.
Since the engagement strap has the same length as the distance between two anchor points it causes the strap to level with the sole when not used, causing the sole to be very flat, like a “sole fish”, with minimum encumbrance, for example in a suitcase or in sports bag used when going to the swimming pool.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said sole has a predetermined length and a predetermined transversal maximum width, determined at said anchor points, and the ratio between said length and said transversal maximum width is less than or equal to 2.3, preferably less than or equal to 2, so that said side edges protrude laterally with respect to the part of the sole which actually supports the foot and by the pulling action of said side edges by said strap cause said half-pipe like shape. This way, with respect to a shoe that normally has a ratio between sole length and width between the strap anchor points about 3, in this exemplary embodiment of the invention the side edges protrude laterally with respect to the foot sole in a remarkable way, allowing their appropriate bending with wrapping effect on the foot, by the pulling action of the engagement strap.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said sole has thickness set between 2-6 mm, preferably between 3-5 mm, in order to assist the side edges to bend by the pulling action of said strap in the presence of the foot. A thinner sole, between a half and one third of a normal flip-flop type sandal or similar, makes it possible an easy bending and an adhesion to the foot, in order to have a sensation of gait like with naked feet, with the sole that partially follows the plantar arch, and avoids a flat shape with risk of slipping, for example with wet ground like around swimming pools, on a boat, etc.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said strap is anchored to said sole by a junction selected from the group consisting of: seaming, welding, gluing, integral. The various anchoring techniques lets the strap of being as far as possible level with the sole without the foot.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said sole has a shape substantially “leaf-like”, with small width in a rear zone configured to receive the heel of the foot, a central portion of maximum width at the or each strap, and a front portion of width less than the central portion, but larger than the rear portion. Such shape allows the central zone of the sole, at the or each strap, to bend and wrap partially the foot.
This shoe can be made from a flexible lamina is an easy and quick way since it can be die-cut from a single flexible flat sheet.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said sole comprises
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- a first flexible lamina having said predetermined shape;
- a second flexible lamina overlapped and glued to said first flexible lamina,
- said second flexible lamina having a plurality of cuts arranged to define said strap for engagement of the foot with said two ends at said anchor points at the two opposite side edges of said second flexible lamina, said engagement strap being free from said first flexible lamina and configured to move from a planar arrangement laying on the same plane of said second flexible lamina, to a raised arrangement, in which said central part is raised with respect to said second flexible lamina and pulls said side edges, causing said first and said second flexible lamina to assume said “half pipe” like configuration
This way, the or each strap, when the shoe is not used, is arranged level with the second flexible lamina. In fact, the or each engagement strap that has the same length as the distance between two anchor points causes the strap to flatten back onto the sole when not used, and lays down within the second flexible lamina, causing the sole to be very flat, like a “sole fish”, with minimum encumbrance.
Furthermore, the addition of the first flexible lamina mediates the direct contact with the ground, resulting a more comfortable and hygienic shoe. Furthermore, the two sheets can be made of two different materials, for example the lower lamina of EVA and the upper lamina of TPU. Other configurations can provide both the flexible laminas of TPU. Alternatively, one or both laminas can be made of leather or rubber for shoes.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said second flexible lamina has a top plan shape identical to said first flexible lamina. This way, the boundary of both flexible laminas can be made with a single die-cut operation.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said cuts end with holes, in particular circular, for discharging stresses at the ends of said cuts, for reducing the intensification of stresses at said ends and to stop any propagation said cuts. This way, it is avoided that wearing actions trigger the formation of a tear that could reduce drastically the useful life of the object.
Advantageously, a plurality is provided of engagement straps, each engagement strap of said plurality defined by a couple of cuts, said plurality of engagement straps comprising:
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- a proximal engagement strap substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said shoe structure, said proximal engagement strap arranged to overlap to the instep of the foot of the user;
- at least one distal engagement strap, said distal engagement strap arranged to overlap, in use, to at least one finger of the foot.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, a first distal engagement strap and a second distal engagement strap are provided, said first distal engagement strap and said second distal engagement strap being at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis according to angles of opposite sign, the strap ends present between said first distal engagement strap and said second distal engagement strap acting as Y support between the first and second toes of the foot of the user.
In an alternative embodiment, a proximal engagement strap and a distal engagement strap can be provided, said proximal engagement strap housing all the toes of the foot. Such solution makes it possible, for example, the use of the shoe wearing normal socks.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, said distal engagement strap is anchored to said sole in an intermediate position by a Y strap portion allowing an agile ab-adduction movement of the first and second toes.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, an engagement strap defined by three cuts is provided, said engagement strap is adapted to overlap to the instep and to the toes of the foot of the user, the portion of said engagement strap between two distal cuts acting as Y support between the first and second toes of the foot of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for construction of a shoe structure, according to anyone of the embodiments above defined, comprises the steps of:
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- forming said first and said second flexible lamina;
- gluing said second flexible lamina to said first flexible lamina, overlapping the external shapes;
- wherein, upstream of the step of gluing, a step is provided of die-cutting said second flexible lamina
- said second flexible lamina having a plurality of cuts arranged to define at least one strap for engagement of the foot of a user, said at least one engagement strap comprising a central part and two ends at two opposite side edges of said second flexible lamina,
- and during said step of gluing said engagement straps are separated from the laying plane of said second flexible lamina, so that said engagement straps turn out not glued with respect to said first flexible lamina, in order to pass, in use, from a planar arrangement laying on the same plane of said second flexible lamina, to a raised arrangement, in which said central part is raised with respect to said second flexible lamina.
Advantageously, said step of gluing is made prearranging a plane template between said engagement straps and said second flexible lamina, so that an application of glue on said second flexible lamina opposite to said plane template prevents the distribution of glue on said engagement straps.
According to another aspect of the invention, a die-cutter structure for construction of a shoe structure as above defined, comprises a plurality of removable knives arranged to make said cuts on said second flexible lamina for defining said engagement straps for the foot, said removable knives of said plurality being in variable number and according to the number of engagement straps that are to be to provide on said second flexible lamina, and being connected to the die-cutter through a connection means, in particular bolts, said connection means being releasable for the removal and/or the change of said removable knives, and making it possible the use of a same die-cutter to provide selectively a variety of types of cuts on said second flexible lamina.
The invention will be now shown with the following description of an embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings in which:
With reference to
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- a flexible sole 30 having a predetermined shape;
- an engagement strap 20, for the foot P of a user, with a central part 25 and two strap ends 26, which are connected by two respective anchor points 50′ at two opposite side edges 50 to flexible sole 30.
The engagement strap 20 is configured in such a way that a user can put the foot P under it, so that the foot can be arranged between sole 30 and engagement strap 20.
According to the invention, the engagement strap 20 extends between the anchor points 50′ of the side edges 50 for a distance between strap ends 26 substantially the same as the distance between the anchor points 50′ determined on sole 30 when sole 30 is in a planar arrangement without foot P.
This way, by the introduction of the foot P, the shoe 10 turns from a planar arrangement of the sole, where strap 20 is substantially parallel to sole 30, to a raised arrangement of the central part 25 of strap 20 with respect to sole 30.
In the raised position, by the force applied to the strap by the introduction of foot P, the side edges 50 move up, in such a way that sole 30 assume a half-pipe like shape that wraps partially the foot P of the user increasing the comfort. In particular, strap 20 is configured so that, with the introduction of the foot, it pulls the side edges 50 of the sole without substantially lengthening, and sole 30, by the pulling action at side edges 50, bend assuming such half-pipe like shape that wraps partially the foot increasing the comfort.
In particular, sole 30 may have a predetermined length L and a predetermined maximum transversal width I, determined at the height of the anchor points 50′, in such a way that the ratio between the length L and the maximum transversal width I is less than or equal to 2.3, preferably less than or equal to 2.
With reference to
Strap 20 can be connected to sole 30 by seaming, welding, gluing, or integral.
As shown in
A possible embodiment of the strap “integral” is the solution of
More in detail, in
As shown in
Still with reference to
Such engagement straps 120, 121, 122 are configured for being raised from the plane where the second flexible lamina 130 lays, and are used for engaging the foot P of a user with the shoe structure 100. In particular, each engagement strap 120, 121, 122 comprises a central part 125, which can be raised from the plane of the second lamina 130, and two side ends 126, which pull the side edges 50 of the second flexible lamina 130.
The straps 120, 121, 122 are configured so that, with the introduction of the foot they pull the side edges 50 of the sole without lengthening the straps, and sole 30, by the pulling action of the side edges 50, bends assuming a half-pipe like shape that wraps partially the foot increasing the comfort.
As shown in
With reference to
More in detail, in the exemplary embodiment of
This structure with holes for discharging stresses is used also, as advantageous exemplary embodiment, to the shoe of
Always as also shown in
With reference to
In this exemplary embodiment, with reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
Obviously, the shape of the engagement straps 120, 121, 122, 123 can be customized according to the model of shoe, and also can be different concerning the layout of the cuts and for anatomical reasons of the user.
In
The die-cutter 200 has a plurality of removable knives 215 arranged to provide the cuts 115, by compression, actuated by a press 250, against the second flexible lamina 130 by removable knives 215.
At the ends end of such removable knives 215 cylindrical punches 216 are arranged to provide the circular holes for discharging stresses 40, at the ends of the cuts 115.
Removable knives 215 are connected to the die-cutter 200 through a connection means, in particular bolts, 240, which allow its removal and/or the change, making it possible the use of a same die-cutter 200 to provide a variety of types of cuts 115 on the second flexible lamina 130.
The die-cutter 200 is also provided with a further blade 216 at its own outer perimeter, which allows forming the first and the second flexible lamina 110, 130;
This way, it is possible to glue the second flexible lamina 130 to the first flexible lamina 110, allowing that the engagement straps 120, 121, 122 are kept raised.
So, during the distribution of the glue, a plane template 20 is arranged, of plastics, cardboard or other material, between the engagement straps 120, 121, 122 and the second flexible lamina 130.
The foregoing description exemplary specific embodiments will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and, accordingly, it is meant that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology that is employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Claims
1. An open-toed shoe structure (10, 100) comprising:
- a flexible sole (30) having a predetermined shape;
- at least one engagement strap (20, 21, 22, 23, 120, 121, 122, 123) for a foot (P) of a user, said at least one engagement strap comprising a central part (25) and two strap ends (26) connected by two respective anchor points (50′) at two side edges (50) opposite to said flexible sole, said or each engagement strap being configured in such a way that a user can put the foot (P) under, so that the foot can be arranged between the sole and the engagement strap,
- wherein said engagement strap extends between said anchor points at said side edges and has a length between said strap ends (26) substantially the same as the distance between said anchor points (50′) determined on said sole (30) when said sole is in a planar arrangement without said foot (P), in order to move from a planar arrangement of said strap substantially parallel to said sole, to a raised arrangement of said central part (25, 125) of said strap with respect to said sole (30) by the introduction of the foot (P),
- characterized in that
- said engagement strap and said sole are configured so that, with the introduction of the foot (P) of the user between said engagement strap and said sole, said engagement strap pulls said side edges (50) of said sole without that said engagement strap substantially is lengthened, and said sole (30), by the pulling action of said side edges (50) by said strap, causes said side edges to bend (50) assuming a half-pipe like shape that wraps partially the foot (P) increasing the comfort.
2. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 1, wherein said sole has a predetermined length (L) and a predetermined transversal maximum width (1), determined at said anchor points (50′), where the ratio between said length and said transversal maximum width is less than or equal to 2.3, preferably less than or equal to 2, so that said side edges protrude laterally with respect to the part of the sole which actually supports the foot and by the pulling action of said side edges (50) by said strap determines said half-pipe like shape.
3. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 1, wherein said sole (30) has thickness set between 2-6 mm, preferably between 3-5 mm, in order to assist the side edges to bend by the pulling action of said strap in the presence of the foot.
4. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 1, wherein said strap is anchored to said sole by a junction selected from the group consisting of: seaming, welding, gluing, integral.
5. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 1, wherein said sole has a shape substantially “leaf-like”, with small width in a rear zone configured to receive the heel of the foot, a central portion of maximum width at the or each strap, and a front portion of width less than said central portion but larger than the rear portion.
6. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 1, wherein said sole (30) comprises
- a first flexible lamina (110) having said predetermined shape;
- a second flexible lamina (130) overlapped and glued to said first flexible lamina (110),
- said second flexible lamina (130) having a plurality of cuts (115) arranged to define said engagement strap (120, 121, 122, 123) for the foot (P) with said two ends (126) at said anchor points at the two side edges (50) opposite to said second flexible lamina (130), said engagement strap (120,121,122,123) being free from said first flexible lamina (110) and configured to move from a planar arrangement laying on the same plane of said second flexible lamina (130), to a raised arrangement, in which said central part (125) is raised with respect to said second flexible lamina (130) and pulls said side edges (50), causing said first (110) and said second (130) flexible lamina to achieve said “half pipe” like configuration.
7. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 6, wherein said second flexible lamina (130) has a top plan shape identical to said first flexible lamina (110).
8. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 6, wherein said cuts (115) end with holes, in particular circular, for discharging stresses (40) at the ends of said cuts (115), for reducing the intensification of stresses on said ends and to stop a propagation of said cuts (115).
9. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of engagement straps (120,121,122,123) is provided, each engagement strap (120,121,122,123) of said plurality defined by a couple of cuts (115), said plurality of engagement straps (120,121,122,123) comprising:
- a proximal engagement strap (120) substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis (10) of said shoe structure (100), said proximal engagement strap (120) arranged to overlap to the instep of the foot (P) of the user;
- at least one distal engagement strap (121,122, 123), said distal engagement strap (121,122, 123) arranged to overlap, in use, at least one finger of the foot (P).
10. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 9, wherein a first distal engagement strap (121) and a second distal engagement strap (122) are provided, said first distal engagement strap (121) and said second distal engagement strap (122) being at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis (10) according to angles of opposite sign, the end (126) present between said first distal engagement strap (121) and said second distal engagement strap (122) acting as Y support between the first and second toes of the foot (P) of the user.
11. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 8, wherein a proximal engagement strap (120) and a distal engagement strap (123) are provided, said proximal engagement strap arranged to house all the toes of the foot (P).
12. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 10, wherein said distal engagement strap (123) is anchored to said sole in an intermediate position by a Y strap portion (123a).
13. Shoe structure (100), according to claim 8, wherein an engagement strap (120) is provided defined by three cuts (115a,115)b, (115)c), said engagement strap (120) arranged to overlap to the instep and to the toes of the foot (P) of the user, the portion of said engagement strap (120) between two distal cuts (115b, 115c) acting as Y support between the first and second toes of the foot (P) of the user.
14. A method for construction of a shoe structure (100), according to claim 6, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming said first (110) and said second (130) flexible lamina;
- gluing said second flexible lamina (130) to said first flexible lamina (110), overlapping the external shapes;
- characterized in that it comprises, upstream of the step of gluing, a step of die-cutting of said second flexible lamina (130)
- said second flexible lamina (130) having a plurality of cuts (115) arranged to define at least one engagement strap (120,121,122,123) for the foot (P) of a user, said at least one engagement strap (120,121,122,123) comprising a central part (125) and two ends (126) at two side edges (50) opposite to said second flexible lamina (130),
- and in that during said step of gluing said engagement straps (120,121,122,123) are separated from the laying plane of said second flexible lamina (130), so that said engagement straps (120,121,122,123) turn out not glued with respect to said first flexible lamina, in order to pass, in use, from a planar arrangement laying on the same plane of said second flexible lamina (130), to a raised arrangement, in which said central part (125) is raised with respect to said second flexible lamina (130).
15. Method according to claim 14, wherein said step of gluing is made prearranging a plane template (20) between said engagement straps (120,121,122,123) and said second flexible lamina (130), so that an application of glue on said second flexible lamina (130) opposite to said plane template (20) prevents the distribution of glue on said engagement straps (120,121,122,123).
16. A die-cutter structure for construction of a shoe structure (100), according to claim 6, said die-cutter (200) comprising a plurality of removable knives (215) arranged to make said cuts (115) on said second flexible lamina (130) for defining said engagement straps (120,121,122,123) for the foot (P), said removable knives (215) of said plurality being in variable number and according to the number of engagement straps (120,121,122,123) that are to be to provide on said second flexible lamina (130), and being connected to the die-cutter (200) by connection means (240), in particular bolts, said connection means (240) being releasable for the removal and/or the change of said removable knives (215), and for making it possible the use of the same die-cutter (200) to provide a variety of types of cuts (115) on said second flexible lamina (130).
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 10, 2013
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2015
Inventor: Narciso Tiziano VALIA
Application Number: 14/435,279