NON-SLIP ARRANGEMENT FOR FOOTWEAR

Abstract

A non-slip arrangement for footwear, comprising a) a lower (1) and upper (2) layer, and at least one non-slip element, such as a stud (5), fastened in relation to the upper layer (2). The non-slip element is arranged in a non-slip device opening (7) formed in the lower layer (1) and extending through said lower layer (1). The arrangement further comprises a shift element (3), which is adapted between the upper and lower layers (1, 2) to be moved between said layers and, in relation to them, from a first position to a second position and vice versa. The shift element (3) comprises shapes which in its first position settle in said three-dimensional shapes of the upper and/or lower layer (1, 2). The shapes of the shift element (3) are arranged to move the upper layer (2) farther from the lower layer (1) in said second position, thus widening the distance between the layers (1, 2). In the first position, the tip (8) of said at least one non-slip element extends through the non-slip device opening (7) to the side of the bottom surface (9) of the lower layer, and in the second position, said tip (8) of the non-slip element remains in the non-slip device opening (7). Both the upper and lower layer (1, 2) comprise three-dimensional shapes on the surface adapted in the direction of the other layer, so that the protrusion-like shapes of the upper layer (2) are shaped to fit in the recess-like shapes of the lower layer (1).

Description

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a non-slip arrangement for footwear.

In Finland, there are approximately 100000 slips that lead to a visit to a doctor every year. The slips cause approximately 7000 hip fractures in Finland per year, causing an annual cost of approximately EUR 420 million to society.

Numerous solutions are known for the slipperiness of footwear, which are based on non-slip devices. However, a fully satisfactory non-slip arrangement is not known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The non-slip arrangement for footwear according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the characterising parts of the independent claims. Other embodiments of the invention are characterised by what is disclosed in the other claims.

The advantage of the invention is that the non-slip devices are easy to adopt when required by the conditions and as easy to move to be protected inside the non-slip arrangement when the non-slip devices are not needed or when they are an actual inconvenience. A further advantage is that the non-slip arrangement may be implemented as a very lightweight structure. Further still, an advantage is that the non-slip arrangement may be adapted either directly in the footwear or in a separate non-slip device to be fixed to the footwear and detachable from it.

Inventive embodiments are also disclosed in the description and drawings of this application. The inventive content of the application can also be defined differently than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may also consist of separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of explicit or implicit sub-tasks or in terms of benefits or groups of benefits achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous in terms of separate inventive concepts. Various features of the embodiments of the invention may be applied within the scope of the inventive idea in connection with other embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in closer detail in the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional bottom view of a non-slip arrangement for footwear,

FIGS. 2a, 2b are schematic sectional side views of a non-slip arrangement for footwear according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of a detail of a second non-slip arrangement,

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view of a detail of a third non-slip arrangement,

FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c are schematic sectional views of a fourth non-slip arrangement,

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a shift element of a fifth non-slip arrangement,

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a detail of a sixth non-slip arrangement, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional side view of a non-slip arrangement including the shift element of FIG. 6.

In the figures, the invention is shown in a simplified manner due to reasons of clarity. Like parts are denoted with like reference numbers in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional bottom view of a non-slip arrangement for footwear, and FIG. 2a, 2b sectional side views.

The non-slip arrangement 100 is adapted in the sole structure of the footwear, or to be more specific, in its heel portion 17. In a second embodiment, the non-slip arrangement 100 is arranged elsewhere in the sole portion of the footwear, such as a ball part of the footwear. In a third embodiment, the non-slip arrangement 100 is arranged to a non-slip device attachable to and detachable from the footwear.

The non-slip arrangement 100 comprises a lower 1 and upper 2 layer which are adapted at least partly overlapping. According to an idea, at least one of the layers 1, 2, in an embodiment both, is/are of an elastic material, such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. It is, however, pointed out that both layers 1, 2 may use a non-elastic material, too.

Both the upper and lower layer 1, 2 comprise three-dimensional shapes on the surface pointing towards the other layer, such as recess-like and/or protrusion-like shapes. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 2b, the three-dimensional shapes are wavelike shapes. In other embodiments, the three-dimensional shapes may be more angular, such as wedge-shaped. The protrusion-like shapes on the upper layer 2 are formed to fit in the recess-like shapes of the lower layer 1, and vice versa.

The non-slip arrangement 100 comprises at least one, but typically a plurality of non-slip elements. In the embodiments shows in FIGS. 1 to 2b, the non-slip element is a stud 5. According to an idea, the stud 5 comprises a hard metal tip 8 and a body 15 surrounding it along with its base. The stud 5 is fastened substantially immovable in relation to the upper layer 2 to an imaginary fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element. Said fastening plane 6 may be located on the upper layer 2, as is the case in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 2b, or in another part of the arrangement 100. The essential matter is that the non-slip element stays in place in the arrangement 100 in all its use situations.

It is, however, pointed out that the non-slip element may be of another type, too: such as a stud of a different type, or something other than a stud.

The stud 5 is further arranged to an opening 7 for the non-slip device, arranged in the lower layer 1 and extending through said lower layer from its top surface 4 to its bottom surface 9. The non-slip device opening 7 is dimensioned at the top so that the stud 5 is able to move in its longitudinal direction in the non-slip device opening 7, but on the other hand so that the body 15 of the stud and the non-slip device opening 7 fit in each other substantially without play.

The non-slip arrangement 100 further comprises a shift element 3, which is adapted between the upper and lower layer 1, 2, movably between said layers and from a first position to a second position, and vice versa, in relation to them. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 2b, the shift element 3 is a round disc to which an operating lever 16 is adapted. The shift element 3 may be made of, for example, metal, plastic, or plastic composite. At the centre of the shift element there may be an opening to which the non-slip element is adapted.

The shift element 3 is formed of a material of at least substantially constant thickness, the shapes of which settle to the shapes of the lower 1 and upper 2 layer when the shift element 3 is in its first position.

The shift element may be rotated around a rotation axis adapted to its centre point by a specific rotation angle from the first position to the second position. The rotation is carried out by turning the operating lever 16.

The shift element 3 comprises shapes that in its first position settle in said three-dimensional shapes of the lower 1 and upper 2 layer, which is shown in FIG. 2a. In this case, the tip 8 of the non-slip element, that is, of the stud 5 in this embodiment, extends through the non-slip device opening 7 onto the side 9 of the bottom surface of the lower layer, and the non-slip arrangement 100 acts as the non-slip device. The protrusion of the tip may be 1 to 2 mm, for example 1.5 mm.

When the shift element 3 is rotated from the first position to the second position by rotating the operating lever 16, the shapes of the shift element 3 force the layers further from each other, as FIG. 2b shows. The layers move farther away from each other to such an extent that the tip 8 of the non-slip element stays in the non-slip device opening, in other words the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer has moved farther from the fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element by at least the protrusion of the tip compared to the situation of the first position of the shift element 3. In such as case, footwear provided with the non-slip arrangement 100 works as any conventional footwear without a non-slip device. It is pointed out that when the shift element 3 is in its second position, the distance between the lower 1 and upper 2 layer has increased substantially more than by the material thickness of the shift element 3, because the distance of the shift element 3 itself has increased in relation to the fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element due to the shapes of the upper layer 2 and the shift element 3, in addition to which the distance between the shift element 3 and the lower layer 1 has increased, forced by the shapes of it and the lower layer 1.

In an embodiment of the invention, the shift element 3 moves linearly instead of the rotating movement.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional side view of a detail of a second non-slip arrangement. In it, the shift element 3 is not formed of a sheet with a constant thickness, but it comprises thinner 13 and thicker 14 portions.

When the shift element 3 is in its first position, the thicker portions 14 are in the recesses of the lower 1 and upper 2 layer. In such a case, the situation corresponds to the situation shown in FIG. 2a and the tip 8 of the non-slip element extends through the non-slip device opening 7 on the bottom side 9 of the lower layer, and the non-slip arrangement 100 acts as the non-slip device.

When the shift element 3 is in its second position, the thicker portions 14 have moved out of said recesses, as a result of which the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer has moved farther from the fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element to such an extent that the tip 8 of the non-slip element stays in the non-slip device opening 7.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view of a detail of a third non-slip arrangement. This embodiment closely resembles the one shown in FIG. 3, but with the exception that the lower layer 1, only, has three-dimensional shapes. Contrary to this, the bottom surface of the upper layer 2, which is adapted against the shift element 3, is at least substantially even. When the shift element 3 is moved from its first position shown in FIG. 1 to the second position, the distance of the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer from the fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element increases to the extent of the difference between the thicknesses of the thicker portion 14 and thinner portion 13, as a result of which the tip 8 of the non-slip element moves inside the non-slip device opening 7.

In a second embodiment, the non-slip arrangement 100 is implemented the other way round, in other words the three-dimensional shapes are adapted on the upper layer 2, only, whereas the top surface of the lower layer is at least substantially even.

FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c are schematic sectional views of a fourth non-slip arrangement. This comprises the lower layer 1, on whose tip surface 4 there are three-dimensional shapes that comprise protrusion-like shapes.

The shift element 3 is adapted on the side of the top surface 4 of the lower layer and movably in relation to it from the first position to the second position and vice versa. In the present embodiment, the shift element 3 has 4 openings 18 to which the protrusion-like shapes of the lower layer 1 settle when the shift element 3 is in its first position. Obviously, the quantity of the openings 18 and the corresponding protrusion-like shapes may be other than four.

In the present embodiment, the opening 18 has at its edge a bevelled surface 19 of the opening, directed towards the direction of the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer. When the shift element 3 is rotated from the first position to the second position, the bevelled surface 19 of the opening pushes the protrusion of the lower layer 1, which is in the opening, away from the opening 18 to the direction of the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer. According to an idea, said protrusion also has a bevelled surface of the direction of the bevelled surface 19 of the opening to facilitate the moving of the protrusion away from the opening 18. As the shift element 3 continues its movement towards its second position, the protrusions of the lower layer rise from the openings 18 and move onto shift element bridges 20 between the openings 18. As a result, the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer moves farther from the fastening plane 6 of the shift element so that the tips 8 of the non-slip elements move inside the non-slip device openings 7.

In a second embodiment, the shift element 3 has two types of openings 18, in addition to which both the lower 1 and upper 2 layer have protrusion-like shapes. When the shift element 3 is in its first position, part of the openings 18 are adapted to receive the protrusions of the lower layer, and the second part correspondingly the protrusions of the upper layer. The bevelled surfaces 19 of the openings receiving the protrusions of the upper layer are directed in the direction of the upper layer, and correspondingly the bevelled surfaces 19 of the openings receiving the protrusions of the lower layer are directed in the direction of the lower layer and additionally on the edge opposite the opening. This way the movement of the shift element 3 pushes both layers 1, 2 away from the shift element 3.

The embodiment of a non-slip arrangement 100 for footwear, shown in FIGS. 5a to 5c, comprises a frame element 10 which is adapted to surround the lower layer 1 and in relation to which the lower layer 1 may be moved by means of the shift element 3. The frame element 10 is made of a substantially rigid material, such as metal, plastic, or plastic composite. The inner rim of the frame element 10 has an upward bevelled surface 11 which partly extends under the lower layer 1. The bevelled surface 11 presses and forces the lower layer 1 upward, that is, towards the fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element. Due to this, the lower layer 1 stays up in the first position.

In the described embodiment, the non-slip elements are studs 5. Their vertical movement towards the bottom surface 9 of the lower layer is prevented by a fold 21 adapted on the outer rim of the shift element, to the opposite direction by structures (not shown) adapted on top of the non-slip arrangement 100, and sideward by the surfaces of the non-slip device opening 7.

When the shift element 3 is rotated to its second position, it forces the lower layer to move downward, that is, away from the fastening plane 6 of the non-slip element and partly past the bevelled surface 11 of the frame element, as shown 1 on the right in FIG. 5a, whereby the tips 8 of the non-slip elements stay in the non-slip device openings 7. When the shift element 3 is moved to the first position, the lower layer 1 is released from the pressure of the shift element 3, whereby the lower layer 1 moves upward, partly forced by the bevelled surface 11, and the tips 8 emerge from the non-slip device openings 7.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a shift element of a fifth non-slip arrangement, and FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional side view of a non-slip arrangement including the shift element of FIG. 6.

The shift element 3, made of a rigid material, advantageously rigid polymer material, comprises an elongated non-slip device opening 22 for the shift element in connection with each non-slip device (here comprising the stud and the stud body). The non-slip device is adapted through said opening 22, and the non-slip device may move in the direction penetrating the opening when the shift element is rotated from the first position to the second position or vice versa. In an embodiment, the rotation angle of the shift element 3 from the first position to the second position is no more than 20°. The advantage is a fast shifting motion from a position to another.

In the described embodiment, each non-slip device opening 22 comprises a narrowing 23 where the transverse dimension of the non-slip device opening 22 is smaller at the ends of the opening in question. The narrowing 23 is dimensioned to resist the moving of the non-slip device in said non-slip device opening 22 from one end thereof to the other, but not, however, to prevent said moving. Due to the narrowing, the user may clearly feel the shift element 3 moving from one position to the other. At the same time, the shift element 3 becomes locked to its position so that unintentional movement of the shift element from one position to the other is minimised.

In a second embodiment, only part of the non-slip device openings 22 comprise the narrowing 23 while the rest of the non-slip device openings 22 are without the narrowing.

The shift element 3 comprises openings 18a, 18b of the shift element, some 18a of which comprise bevelled surfaces 19 bevelled in a first direction and the other 18b bevelled surfaces 19 bevelled in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The lower layer 1 comprises lower layer protrusions 25 that have a bevelled surface which is bevelled in said first direction, and correspondingly the upper layer 2 comprises upper layer protrusions 26 which have bevelled surfaces bevelled in said second direction.

When the shift element 3 is in the first position, the protrusions 25, 26 reside in the openings 18a, 18b of the shift element, as shown in the left section of FIG. 8. At the same time, the shift element 3 and protrusions 25, 26 are arrayed in the recesses 27 of the lower layer and the recesses 28 of the upper layer, whereby the upper and lower layer 1, 2 form a very thin structure, and the studs 5 or their tips (not shown in FIG. 8) extend through the non-slip device opening (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 8) and on the side of the bottom surface of the lower layer, in other words, the studs 5 are in use.

When the shift element 3 is rotated from the first position to the second position, the bevelled surfaces guide said protrusions 25, 26 out of the recesses 27, 28 and the openings 18a, 18b of the shift element, at the same time moving the upper layer 2 farther from the lower layer 1. In such a case, the tips of the studs retract from the bottom surface of the lower layer to inside the non-slip device openings, in other words, out of use.

The advantage of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 is that a substantial change is established for the distances of the lower and upper 1,2 layer when compared to the thickness of the lower and upper 1, 2 layers. This way, the structure of the sole of the footwear and the non-slip device may be made thin while being able to activate and deactivate the non-slip devices in an effective manner depending on the needs at any one time.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a detail of a sixth non-slip arrangement. According to an idea, the non-slip arrangement comprises a protective casing 29. This may act in the footwear, for example, as the ball part or heel part, for example, or in an equivalent manner in a non-slip device attachable to or detachable from footwear. Hence, the bottom 33 of the protective casing may in at least some cases act as the lower layer referred to in the above. The non-slip device openings 7 are formed in this. The material of the protective casing 29 may be an elastic material, such as elastomeric material like rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. It is, however, pointed out that the protective casing 29 may be made of a plurality of materials, also comprising non-elastic material.

The protective casing 29 comprises an edge 31 connected to its bottom 33, and on the top surface a protective casing opening 34, this opening being surrounded by a protective casing lip 32, connecting to the edge 31 from at least one direction, so that the opening 34 is smaller than the diameter of the shift element 3 (not shown) adapted inside the protective casing 29. The lip 32 of the protective casing is flexible so that it may be bent to adapt the shift element 3 inside the protective casing 29 through the opening.

The protective casing 29 protects the non-slip arrangement and, in particular, the shift element 3 from dirt and moisture.

In an embodiment, the protective casing 29 comprises a centre pin 30 which forms an axle for the shift element 3. The centre pin 30 may be, for example, elastic material and dimensioned to be thicker than the centre opening of the shift element 3 whereby the shift element will be securely held in place.

The edge 31 of the protective casing may comprise an opening through which the operating lever 16 extends, so that the shift element 3 may be rotated from one position to the other. In a second embodiment, there is no opening in the edge of the protective casing, but a thinned-down section where the operating lever 16 settles. The operating lever 16 tensions the thinned-down section and may be felt through the thinned-down section so that the lever may be turned from one position to the other. The advantage of this is that the shift element 3 is extremely well protected.

In some cases, the features disclosed in this application may be used as such, disregarding other features. On the other hand, features disclosed in this application may be combined, if need be, to form combinations of various kinds.

To summarise, it may be noted that the inventive non-slip arrangement for footwear comprises

a) an upper and lower layer adapted at least partly overlapping,

b) at least one of said upper and lower layers comprises, on the surface adapted in the direction of the other layer, three-dimensional shapes such as recess-like and/or protrusion-like shapes,

c) at least one non-slip element, such as a stud, fastened in relation to the upper layer,

d) which non-slip element is arranged in a non-slip device opening formed in the lower layer and extending through said lower layer,

e) a shift element, which is adapted between the upper and lower layers to be moved between said layers and, in relation to them, from a first position to a second position and vice versa,

f) which shift element comprises shapes which in its first position settle in said three-dimensional shapes of the upper and/or lower layer, and

g) which shapes of the shift element are arranged to move the upper layer farther from the lower layer in said second position, thus widening the distance between the layers,

h) whereby in the first position the tip of said at least one non-slip element extends through the non-slip device opening to the side of the bottom surface of the lower layer, and

i) in the second position, said tip of the non-slip element remains in the non-slip device opening, characterised in that both the upper and lower layer comprise three-dimensional shapes on the surface adapted in the direction of the other layer, so that the protrusion-like shapes of the upper layer are shaped to fit in the recess-like shapes of the lower layer.

The above description of the invention is only intended to illustrate the basic idea of the invention. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above, in which the invention is described by means of some examples, but many modifications and different embodiments of the invention are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the following claims.

REFERENCE MARKINGS

1 lower layer

2 upper layer

3 shift element

4 top surface of lower layer

5 stud

6 fastening plane of non-slip element

7 non-slip device opening

8 tip

9 bottom surface of lower layer

10 frame element

11 bevelled surface

13 thinned-out portion

14 thicker portion

15 stud body

16 operating lever

17 heel part of footwear

18, 18a, 18b opening of shift element

19 bevelled surface of opening

20 bridge of shift element

21 fold

22 non-slip device opening of shift element

23 narrowing

24 centre opening of shift element

25 protrusion of lower layer

26 protrusion of upper layer

27 recess of lower layer

28 recess of upper layer

29 protective casing

30 centre pin

31 edge of protective casing

32 lip of protective casing

33 bottom of protective casing

34 opening of protective casing

100 non-slip arrangement for footwear

Claims

1. A non-slip arrangement for footwear, comprising

a) a lower (1) and upper (2) layer adapted at least partly overlapping,

b) at least one of said upper and lower layers (1, 2) comprises, on the surface adapted in the direction of the other layer, three-dimensional shapes such as recess-like and/or protrusion-like shapes,

c) at least one non-slip element, such as a stud (5), fastened in relation to the upper layer (2),

d) which non-slip element is arranged in a non-slip device opening (7) formed in the lower layer (1) and extending through said lower layer (1),

e) a shift element (3), which is adapted between the upper and lower layers (1, 2) to be moved between said layers and, in relation to them, from a first position to a second position and vice versa,

f) which shift element (3) comprises shapes which in its first position settle in said three-dimensional shapes of the upper and/or lower layer (1, 2), and

g) which shapes of the shift element (3) are arranged to move the upper layer (2) farther from the lower layer (1) in said second position, thus widening the distance between the layers (1, 2),

h) whereby in the first position the tip (8) of said at least one non-slip element extends through the non-slip device opening (7) to the side of the bottom surface (9) of the lower layer, and

i) in the second position, said tip (8) of the non-slip element remains in the non-slip device opening (7), characterised in that both the upper and lower layer (1, 2) comprise three-dimensional shapes on the surface adapted in the direction of the other layer, so that

the protrusion-like shapes of the upper layer (2) are shaped to fit in the recess-like shapes of the lower layer (1).

2. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shift element (3) is formed of material of at least substantially constant thickness, the shapes of which settle to the shapes of upper and/or lower layer (1, 2) when the shift element (3) is in its first position, and wherein

when the shift element (3) is in its second position, the distance between the upper and lower layer (1, 2) has increased more than the material thickness of the shift element (3).

3. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shift element (3) comprises thinner (13) and thicker (14) portions, which thicker portions (14) are in the recesses of at least one layer (1, 2) when the shift element is in its first position, and

which thinner portions (13) are at a protrusion of at least one layer (1, 2) when the shift element is in its second position.

4. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shift element (3) comprises an elongated non-slip device opening (22) of the shift element, and the non-slip device is adapted through said opening, and

the shift element (3) further comprises openings (18a, 18b) of the shift element, some (18a) of which comprise bevelled surfaces (19) bevelled in a first direction, and the other (18b) bevelled surfaces (19) bevelled in a second direction,

the lower layer (1) comprises a lower layer protrusion (25) that has a bevelled surface which is bevelled in said first direction, and correspondingly

the upper layer (2) comprises an upper layer protrusion (26) which has a bevelled surface bevelled in said second direction, whereby

the protrusions (25, 26) are in the openings (18a, 18b) of the shift element when the shift element (3) is in the first position, and when the shift element (3) is rotated from the first position to the second position, the bevelled surfaces guide said protrusions (25, 26) out of the openings (18a, 18b) of the shift element, at the same time moving the upper layer (2) farther from the lower layer (1).

5. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one non-slip device opening (22) comprises a narrowing (23), dimensioned to resist the movement of the non-slip device in said non-slip device opening (22) but not prevent said movement.

6. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising a protective casing (29), which has on its top surface a protective casing opening (34), this opening being surrounded from at least one direction by a protective casing lip (32) so that the opening (34) is smaller than the diameter of the shift element (3) adapted inside the protective casing (29), and the lip (32) of the protective casing being flexible so that the shift element (3) may be adapted inside the protective casing (29) through the opening.

7. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shift element (3) is adapted to be rotatably moved from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

8. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rotating angle of the shift element (3) from the first position to the second position is 20°, at most.

9. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, which is adapted in the sole structure of footwear, such as the heel part or ball part.

10. A non-slip arrangement as claimed in claim 1, which is adapted to a non-slip device attachable to and detachable from footwear.