Shoe with a flexible shoe top and pull-together closure therefor

The subject of the invention is a shoe with an elastic upper, equipped with a closing device, in particular a sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoe with, susceptible to tensile stress in the area of ​​the closure, material of the upper or several susceptible materials of the upper, such as leather, artificial leather or fibrous fabric. The shoe is preferably equipped with leather or leatherette overlays and, in the instep covering the instep, which is removed by means of a tightening element with closing flaps located on both sides of the shoe. The wings run essentially in parallel, but at a distance from the instep cover, the tie member being positioned in the guides, especially in the form of guide channels of the instep covers and closing wings.

A sports shoe, namely a soccer shoe, with a closing device of this type is known, for example, from the German description DD-PS 89796. In this soccer shoe, each side of the instep cover, in the instep area, is taken together with, provided on the side parts of the upper of the shoe, overlays by lacing. The shoelace is threaded through the lacing holes in the instep cover and side overlays, and is laced behind the heel of the shoe. With this type of lacing, the point pressure that occurs when pulling the lacing, usually running through the instep, is reduced. Therefore, the circulation of blood in the instep area is not so disturbed. However, when lacing or pulling, the laces on both sides of the instep cover cannot be evenly laced from the lowest to the highest lacing hole. This is because the tensile stress, from the free end of the shoelace to the last lacing hole, decreases very quickly due to friction forces. Particularly high friction forces between the instep cover and the side pads - on the one hand, and the shoelace - on the other, occur during tightening. They are caused by pressure of closing instep covers and side caps on the ground and shoelace clamped between them.

In these known football boots, the wings of the closure are attached directly to the sole, between the sole and the upper material. This makes it impossible to pull between the instep cover and the upper material. The instep cover may only be pulled down and back there in the direction of the wearer's instep, as follows from the description on page 3, last paragraph, lines 14 and 15.

It is also known, from the French patent description A-2 598 292, to use on the edges of each side part of the upper of the shoe, facing the instep, a guide in the form of a tube. Tensioning these two side parts of the upper of the shoe is done by means of a ball chain, one end of which is suspended in a fastening element placed on the tongue. The side part of the upper of the shoe is permanently attached to the tongue with a seam. The ball chain is

165 553 at the other end blocked in the guiding area attached to the tongue through a swinging guiding section. As a result, the movable side part of the upper of the shoe must be pulled over a long section of the tongue during the pulling process. The bending of the usually flexible tongue is inevitable due to the significant friction between the lateral part and the tongue.

The use of central tightening closures as closing devices for ski boots with crusted plastic, practically not susceptible to tensile stress in the closing area, is known from German Patent No. AS 2046890. This type of closing devices, however, does not apply to boots with , susceptible to tensile stress in the closure area, uppers' materials. The closing area of ​​these known closing devices comprises only a short section of the closing wings of rigid alpine ski boots.

The same is also the case with another known central closure for Alpine ski boots, described in German Patent No. AS 2213 720, in which cable loops are used as the winding element.

Another central locking with cord loops is known from the German patent application OS 3 626 837 for alpine ski boots.

Known central locks cannot be manufactured as finished, checked and assembled assemblies. In these Alpine ski boots, the central zippers must be matched to each other from time to time.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve this previously known double lacing in the instep area, so that the instep and lateral part covers can be tightened all over the closure area in a simple manner and using as uniform a closing force as possible, and to regulate this tightening. This is to ensure that the pressure is distributed as evenly as possible along the entire bulge area of ​​the instep, and thus transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

Shoe with an elastic upper, equipped with a closing device and having in the closing area at least one tensile material susceptible to tensile stress, preferably equipped with overlays made of leather or artificial leather and an instep protector removed with closing wings by means of a tightening element located in the guides of the cover the instep and closure wings, according to the invention, have the closure wings attached to, adjacent the instep cover, edges of both side parts of the upper material of the shoe upper. The guide channels are arranged in the plane of the closure flaps and the instep cover. There is a central tightening closure on the instep cover. At least one astringent element is connected to the tightening closure, arranged in the guide channels at least in the upper and lower part of the closure flaps and in the instep cover. The tightening element is located in the upper part and the lower part of the closure area, between the first closure flap and the instep cover - on one side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, and on the other side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe - between the second closure flap and the instep cover. The closing wings and the front edge of the instep cover, closer to the toe of the shoe, are articulated with each other. The closing wings are deflected relative to the instep cover at, at most, a small sharp angle.

Preferably, the tightening element in the entire closure area is located in the instep leading channels on one side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, between the first closure flap and the instep cover, and on the other side of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, between the second closure flap and the instep cover.

The shoe may have one intersection of the astringent member in the middle region of the instep guard, with a low-upper shoe shape, or at least two intersections of the astringent member in the central region of the instep protector, with a high-upper shoe shape.

Preferably, the instep cover in the crossing area has crossing grooves arranged in accordance with the arrangement of the tie member with approximately the cross section of the tie member. One of the intersecting grooves has a depth greater by at least the thickness of the tightening element than the depth of the other groove intersecting with it.

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Preferably, the instep cover is provided with the instep cover and the wings have closure of the wing cover. Between the sides of the instep cover and the closing wings, the shoe has gaps covered with slip films or membranes, especially in the form of a corrugated bellows. The sides of the lining of the instep sheath can be connected to the sides of the wing cover of the closure with membranes, especially in the form of a corrugated bellows.

The instep cover together with both closure flaps can be a single unit, while in the free state the instep cover and closure flaps are tilted apart.

Preferably, the shoe on the closure wings has bending blocks with guides for at least one astringent member.

Preferably, on the closure flaps and on the instep cover, the shoe has bending blocks and guide channels for at least one astringent member. The blocks on the closure wings are placed opposite each other, and the blocks on the instep cover are offset from the blocks on the closure flaps.

The shoe guide channels are to have an arcuate shape, with their outlet openings located on the facing sides of the closure wings and instep cover, facing each other. Preferably there are at least two guide channels on each flap of the closure and at least one guide channel in the instep cover.

Preferably, at least one astringent member connected to the central astringent closure is arranged successively: in the guide channels of the first closure flap, instep guard, again the first closure flap, second closure flap, instep protector, second closure flap and is connected again to the central astringent closure .

Preferably, the guide channels and guides have guide surfaces covered with a material with higher abrasion resistance and a lower coefficient of friction than the material from which they are made.

The guide channels may have the shape of arches with a radius of 5 to 15 mm, with the arches based on a center angle β of 100 ° to 180 °.

The tightening element is preferably a metal cord, a plastic cord, or a Bowden cable.

Preferably, at each flap of the closure, at least one tension strap is provided in the metatarsal area, which wraps the shoes from the edge of the upper in the closure area to the inner part of the sole, preferably on the inside of the upper material. The tensioning straps of both closure flaps are connected to each other and / or to the sole material. Tension straps located on both side parts of the upper of the shoe can be connected with each other by means of a bow that passes through the sole.

Preferably, the shoe, at least on the outside of the foot, has at least two tensioning straps. These tapes are located approximately parallel to each other, or are arranged at an angle in relation to each other in the shape of the letter V

Preferably, the band connecting the tensioning straps is located under the inner sole, and folding blocks are arranged at the ends of the tensioning straps.

Preferably, the bending blocks of two adjacent tensioning bands are connected to each other by a rib, the stop edge of which is on the side of the central tightening closure.

Tensioning straps can be made of transparent material.

Preferably, the closure wings have on the narrow side facing the instep, at least one internal groove in the shape of a longitudinal gap, in which at least one bending block with an arcuate sliding surface is attached.

Preferably, the folding blocks located in the area of ​​the lower part of the closing area are placed on the narrow side of the wings with a small distance from the edges of the wings. A part of the closure flap groove formed in this way is recessed part of the instep cover panel.

Preferably, the two folding blocks positioned opposite each other on the instep cover are one structural element. The middle section of said console element 1653 Ί is attached to the instep cover to its inner side, or is positioned in the recess of the inner side of the instep cover.

Preferably, the instep guard tapers towards its former edge when viewed from above.

It is ensured by the present invention that the mutual position of the puller guides in the instep sheath and in the closure flaps is precisely defined and optimized. The tightening elements are not jammed by the pressure of the closing instep guards and closing flaps. Also, they are not stapled in parts of the closure area. Thanks to the central tightening closure it is possible to carry out, in a simple way, far-reaching regulation of the shoe's tightening.

The closing device made according to the invention can, with the use of a compact construction, be made as a whole with the instep cover and closing wings, pre-checked and, as a reliably functioning closing assembly, attached to suitable shoes, especially sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoes.

Laying of the tightening elements can be carried out in principle without crossing them.

However, depending on the height of the upper of the shoe, there may be one or more crosses. Due to the special design of the intersecting grooves, also in these embodiments of the present invention, low-friction and even frictionless crossing of the astringent members is provided, since they do not lie directly on each other in any place. This makes it easy to attach and loosen the closing device. In addition, the wear of the tightening elements is completely eliminated by eliminating high pressures where they cross.

By using a flexible material for the closing device at the opening of the shoe, at the end of the closing area, a relatively stable closing edge is formed. It can, in another embodiment of the invention, serve to stabilize or possibly fix the position of the tongue relative to the closure by special design of the tip of the tongue. In addition, it can allow deliberate guidance of the opening or closing upper ends of the shoe upper.

By using separate individual parts, on the one hand for the instep cover and, on the other hand, for the closing wings there was a further advantage. Namely, that with the unchanged high longitudinal bending capacity in the instep area, the high lateral adaptability of these parts of the central closing device to the uppers area is guaranteed. This is especially the case in further embodiments of the shoe with hinged or flexibly shaped connection points between the instep cover and closing wings.

The significant advantages of the sports shoe described so far, according to the invention, with a central closing device in relation to known lace-up closures should be seen in the safety of the closing device. In particular, loops or parts of loops must not loosen. It is also possible to operate the central tightening closure with one hand, which is especially helpful in sports for invalids, as well as in using the inventive closing device in rehabilitation shoes. By removing hanging loose shoelaces the risk of an accident is significantly reduced. Infinitely variable, or at least approximately infinitely variable, adjustment of the closing pressure throughout the entire closing area is important. The central locking enables, in particular, quick and uncomplicated adjustment of the closing pressure.

The invention will be illustrated in more detail in the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a section of a sports shoe, showing the instep area with the closing device, in a top view; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in Fig. 1; figure 3 is a section along line II-ϊί in figure 1; fig. 4 - perspective view of the sport shoe with central tightening closure and Bowden cable as the tightening element, fig. 5 - the instep cover with the closing flaps and the central tightening closure, with the cover removed, in top view; Fig. 5a is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in Fig. 5; Fig. 6 is a cover of the instep cover and wings for the closure of Fig. 5; Fig. 6a is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 6; Figure 7 is a top view of the closing device without the cover, with additional side tensioning straps, Figure 8

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- side view of a sports or leisure shoe with V-shaped tensioning straps; Fig. 9 - Side view of a shoe with parallel tensioning straps ·, Fig. 10 - a section along the line VV in Fig. 9; Figure 11 - longitudinal section of the thickened end of the tongue of a shoe; Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section through the thickened end of the tongue of the shoe in another embodiment; fig. 13 - section of the tip of the tongue of the shoe along the line V1- \^FROMAnd from Fig. 12. Fig. 14 - an embodiment of the closing device with a particularly flexible front area in a top view; 15 is a top view of another embodiment of the instep and wing cover; 16 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a closing device with connected tensioning straps; Figure 17 is a top view of an embodiment of the closing device with the tensioning strips separated from the closing wings; FIG. 18 - a cross-section of the left part of the closing device of the embodiment shown in Fig. 19, seen from behind; Fig. 19-perspective view of the closing device in fig. 18 with tensioning tapes inserted into the closure flaps of the closing flap, Fig. 20 - perspective view of the closing device with two connected, joined together by means of transverse ribs, tensioning straps; FIG. 21 - a fragment of the closing device with tensioning tapes not connected to the closing wings, in a top view; Figures 22 to 25 - possible variants for placing the folding blocks; Figure 26 - section of a sports shoe with a further implementation of the instep area with the locking device, in top view; Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in Fig. 26; Fig. 27A - an enlarged fragment of the closure flap with a folding block embedded in its groove; FIG. 28 - a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 26; Fig. 29 - top view with closure flaps and central tightening closure with an intersecting tightening element, in top view; Figure 30 is a top view of the lining of the instep cover and of the closure flaps with a membrane provided between these parts; Fig. 30A - perspective view of the folding block used in the embodiment according to Fig. 30; FIG. 30B a partial view, similar to the enlarged fragment shown in FIG. 27A, embedded in a groove, of a folding block; Fig. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the instep cover with folding blocks embedded in the recess of the instep cover; Figure 32 is a top view of the bottom of the closing device facing the tip of the shoe; figure 33 is a section ΙΧ-ΙΧ in figure 32; FIG. 34 - the closing device with the wings of the closure separated from the instep cover, with tensioning straps located separately from them, in partial top view.

In figure 1 the instep 1 of the sports shoe is shown. Above the instep 1 there is a instep protector 2 that forms, together with the two wings of the closure 3 and 4, one element. The closure wings are connected, in the area close to the toe of the shoe, to the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2 and from there run at a small, sharp angle a (about 5 ° to 15 °) to the instep cover 2. The closure wings 3 and 4 can be articulated with the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2, by means of a hinge or spring joint. The closure wing 3 is permanently connected to one side part 6 and the closure wing 4 to the other side part 7 of the outer material, possibly upper 8 of this sports shoe, by sewing and / or gluing. Fig. 2 shows the gluing site 9.

The instep cover 2 and the closing flaps 3 and 4 are made of an elastic-elastic or hard-elastic material. In the unloaded state, these parts keep the closing device open, which is shown in Fig. 1. As materials for the lining of the instep 2 and the wings of the closures 3 and 4, in particular thermoplastics or duroplastics, for example polyamide, polyimide, polyurethane, etc. are used.

The upper material of the upper of shoe 8 is leather, artificial leather or fabric. It may also be provided with a coating, for example of leather, leatherette or other materials. In Fig. 1 below the instep protector 2, a weight-reducing fabric layer 8a is marked.

The side parts 6 and 7 of the uppers 8 that connect to it are usually made of leather, usually suede. The upper material of the upper of the shoe 8 may contain an insole and may also be provided with an inner lining layer.

Below the side parts 6 and 7 of the sports shoe there is a tongue 10 covering the closure area that can also be padded. Usually serves as lining

165 553 9 thermoplastic, pressure-transfer, lining material in the form of foamed polyethylene, polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate.

The closure wings 3 and 4 can be pressed against the instep cover 2 by means of a puller element 11 made of steel wire, metal rope or plastic rope. For this purpose, the puller element 11 from the instep 2 located on the guard , the central tightening closure 12 is alternately guided from the instep guard 2 to the closure flaps 3 or 4 and back again in the arcuate guide channels 13 therein. The guide channels 13 are arranged in the instep sheath 2 and in the wings of the closures 3 and 4. They are offset relative to each other in such a way that the pull member 11 extends, at least approximately, in the shape of the letter S or the serpentine line. In this way, it is ensured that the tightening element 11 is not stuck in the entire closing area SB when pulled, neither in the partial areas nor in the central area MB. The arrangement of the guide channels 13 is so selected that, when the instep closure 2 is pulled against the cover 2, the outlet opening 14 of one guide channel 13 lies exactly opposite the outlet opening 14 of the opposite guide channel 13.

Even if one or several crossings of the puller element or puller elements 11 are recommended in the central area MB, the design, in all embodiments, is chosen such that in the lower and upper parts 27 and 28 of the instep guards 2 element or puller elements 11 run without crossing.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each closure flap 3 and 4 has two guide channels 13, and the instep cover 2 has one guide channel 13 on each side. In the case of sports, leisure or rehabilitation shoes with a high uppers, several guide channels 13 can be placed in the closure wings 3 and 4 as well as in the instep cover 2.

The radius R of the guide channels 13 is selected as large as possible and ranges from at least about 7 mm to about 15 mm depending on the size of the shoe. The arch of the guide channel 13 rests on an obtuse central angle β equal to approximately 100 ° to 180 °.

To achieve the lowest possible friction between the tightening element 11 and the walls of the guide channels 13, the instep cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 are made of wear-resistant material with a low friction coefficient, or the guide channels 13 are lined with this type of material. The guide channels 13 can also be made in the form of a bent sleeve made of a low friction material. Suitable materials are, for example, polyamide, polyimide, polyester, polyurethane as well as metals with good sliding properties, which are used, for example, in slide bearings. In special cases, the bent bushings can be made of stainless steel, titanium or bronze.

The central tightening closure 12 is made in such a way that the tightening element 11 can be removed and loosened on both sides in small strokes, almost or even quite amorphous. It is advantageous to equip the shoe with a central tightening closure 12, made as a rotary lock, pivotally mounted in the instep cover 2.

The guide channels 13 are positioned in the closure flaps 3 and 4 at an equal distance between the two outlet openings 14 of the guide channel 13 opposite, on the instep cover 2. The guide channel 13 of the instep cover 2 is in the gap between the guide channels 13 of the wing. In the cited embodiment, a single tie member 11 is provided, which is pulled from the central tie member 12 over the closure flap 3, through the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2, to the second closure flap 4, and back to the central puller closure 12. In principle, however, it is also possible to use two central tightening closures, by means of which two tightening elements 11 between the closure flap 3 and the instep cover 2 - on the one hand, and between the closure flap 4 and the instep cover 2 - on the other hand, would be operated.

Because the instep cover is made of hard-elastic, or elastically-elastic plastic, in order to perform its function well as a plate with a large surface distributing pressure, it is good to increase the flexibility of the instep cover 2, with

165 553 least in the lower area, by using transversely thinning points of the material. These can be grooves 15, shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Instead of grooves 15, a corrugated profile or a meandering profile can also be used, so that, in addition to the required flexibility, there are also sufficient reserves for elongating the material.

Under the cover of the instep 2 and the closure flap 3 and 4, sliding films 17 covering the gap 16 are provided, for example in the form of plastic sheets with a thickness of about 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. These sliding films 17 are on one side formed or fixed either on the instep cover 2 or on each of the wings of the closure 3 and 4, usually by gluing. The sliding films 17 allow easy, low friction pulling of the closure flaps 3 and 4 against the instep cover 2 and the same, characterized by low friction, loosening them in an unloaded state. The sliding films 17 thus facilitate parallel or wedge closing movements of the closure flaps 3 and 4 in relation to the instep cover 2.

In the case of one-piece execution of the instep cover 2 with closure flaps 3 and 4, in the places of their connection in the lower area of ​​the instep cover 2, and therefore at the beginning of the slot 16, round or rounded recesses 18 are made in order to eliminate the possibility of a notch in these places of connection .

A steel wire or a metal cable can be used as the tightening element, or possibly the tightening elements 11, which in a given case can also be surrounded by a plastic sleeve with good sliding properties.

The tie member 11 can also be made of a Bowden cable 19, as shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, the sleeve 20 of the Bowden cable 19 has, between the fixed intersection points 2la and 21b on the instep guard 2 and on the closure flaps 3, 4, compressible areas 22. These compressible areas 22 of the sleeve 20 are preferably made as an elongated and swellable bellows. For the remaining parts of the closing device, the embodiment of figure 4 corresponds to the device of figure 1 up to 3.

In the embodiments described so far shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the elements 2,3, 4 of the closing device are made entirely of one homogeneous construction element. It may also be that the instep guard 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 are in themselves individual structural elements joined together by appropriate means in accordance with their function.

For technological reasons, or also due to the loading of the materials used, a two-part design can also be used, which is further described in the explanation of Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5 shows another central closure device consisting of a instep guard 2, central tightening closure 12 and two closing flaps 3 and 4.

In the wings of closures 3 and 4, in this embodiment of the invention, instead of guide channels 13 (Figures 1 and 2), it is provided to guide the pull member 11 by means of bending blocks 23 raised upwards. These bending blocks 23 have, at least in the guiding region 11, the protruding upper edge 24 (Fig. 5a). In this way, the guide 25 is formed in the form of a groove in which the puller element 11 can slide. The tightening element 11 is secured against unexpected lifting from the folding block 23 due to the edge 24.

The folding blocks 23 are placed on the wings of the closure 3 and 4 in mutually opposite places, and the instep cover 2 does not have any guide channels 13 or folding blocks 23. The tightening element 11 is therefore wrapped in the area of ​​the closing SB folding blocks 23, alternating from one closure flap 3 to the other closure flap 4, and can be stretched and relaxed by the central tightening closure 12. In this way, in the central area MB of the closing device, a crossing point 26 of the tie member 11 is created, while in the upper part 27 and in the lower part 28 of the closing area SB, the closing wings 3 and 4 are connected to each other without crossing.

The tie member 11 is guided through the instep guard 2 in the grooves 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. In this way, good guiding of the tie member 11 in these areas is ensured. In addition, the pressure of the tensioned puller element 11 on the instep cover 2 is reduced.

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As shown in Fig. 5, at the intersection 26, the grooves 31 and 32 intersect. In order to eliminate the slipping of the material of the tightening element 11 at the intersection 26, or to exclude this phenomenon to a large extent, one of the grooves (here the groove 31), it is made deeper than the second groove 32. The deeper groove 31 extends, usually by at least the approximate thickness of the tie member 11, deeper in relation to the second groove 32, so that the friction of the intersecting parts of the tie member 11 is negligible. The grooves 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 are made as sliding channels with low friction of the tie member 11.

In order to cover the grooves 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the instep cover 2, a cover of the instep cover 34 may be applied thereto. This type of cover for the instep cover 34 is shown in Fig. 6. It has a recess 35 in which a central closure engages. astringent 12. Cover 34 may be glued onto the instep cover 2 and / or sewn and / or grafted with it using the instep cover 34 and the instep cover 2 on the known latch elements, e.g. latch hooks, latch nose pads, etc.

Similarly, the wings of the closures 3 and 4 can be applied, as shown in Fig. 6, to cover the wings 36 and 37 to cover the arcuate guides 25 for the puller element 11 shown in Fig. 5a. In this case, the coverings of the wings 36 and 37 have recesses 38 in their respective locations, into which the folding blocks 23 enter or the upper protruding edge engages in them.

In order to prevent dirt from entering the closure area through the slits 16, a sliding foil 17 may be inserted between the cover 34 of the instep cover and the adjacent coverings of the wings 36 and 37.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 6a, the cover 34 of the instep guards and the coverings of the wings 36 and 37 are made in the form of a single detection, injection or cast element. In this embodiment, instead of the slide film 17, or a suitably shaped overlay, a membrane 39, in particular formed together with them, for example by spraying, can be provided as a connection between adjacent parts of the structure. This membrane 39 can be slipped or folded, made mainly in particular as a corrugated bellows (Fig. 6a).

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, at each closure flap 3 and 4, in the midfoot area (Figures 8 and 9), at least one tensioning strap 41 and 42 may be placed which covers the foot from the side up to the inner surface area 43 of the sole of the shoe (Fig. 10) and is usually permanently attached to the sole material of the shoe, for example glued, stitched or riveted. Tension straps 41 and 42 of this kind are indicated in Fig. 5 on the inner flap of the closure there is one tensioning strap 41 and on the outer flap of the closure two tensioning straps 42.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, on both wings of closures 3 and 4, two tensioning straps 41 and 42 are arranged, which run parallel or approximately parallel to each other.

When two tensioning straps 41 and 42 are used, on one closure flap 3 or alternatively on the other flap 4, they can run relative to each other in accordance with the shape of the letter V. This embodiment is shown in Fig. 8.

The tensioning straps can be connected to each other by means of a bow 44 that passes through the entire sole 45 (Figures 7 and 10). The instep guard 2, closure wings 3 and 4, and tensioning straps 41 and 42 together with the hoop can be made of one injected, cast or shaped element.

Tension straps 41 and 42 may be located on the inside 46 of the material of the upper 47 or within it, for example between the outer material and the lining of the upper, or outside the upper (Fig. 10). When placed outside the upper, they may be placed under or over the top layer of the upper material.

The tensioning straps 41 and 42 end below the inner sole 48, or the bow 44 runs under this part of the shoe.

Thanks to the mechanical connection of the tensioning straps 41 and 42 with the closing flaps 3 and 4, and thanks to the combination of the tensioning straps 41 and 42 into a single, passing through the sole 45, bow 44, a modern fine-tuning system has been created, with which dimensions

165 553 inner shoe uppers can be precisely adjusted to the foot circumference. The central tightening closure 12 thus performs a variety of functions in these embodiments. It is used not only to create a uniformly controlled and evenly distributed on the instep cover, closing pressure, but also causes increased stability of the entire shoe. The risk of stretching sensitive joints and tendons of the foot is greatly reduced.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the shoe tongue 10 has a shoulder 53, as shown in Figures 11 to 13. The thickening 53 is located at the upper edge of the tongue 10, above the upper edge 49 of the SB closure area, i.e. above the upper edges 50 and 51 of the closure flaps 3 and 4 and the upper 'edge 52 of the instep cover 2. The thickening 53 has a retaining wall 54 abutting the upper edges 50,51 and 52. As a result, the tongue 10 is maintained in the correct position relative to the SB closing area and secured against slipping inside the shoe. This is especially the case when the retaining wall 54 of the thickening 53 of the tongue 10 forms with the non-thickened portion of the tongue 10 at least approximately a right angle. It is recommended that the thickening 53 of the tongue 10 tapers towards its upper free end and ends there with rounding 53, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The lateral regions of the tongue 10 narrow from the center to the edges of the tongue 56 and 57, as shown in Figure 13.

In connection with the various advantages presented so far, made according to the invention, the shoes with the described central closing device are suitable not only for ordinary street walking shoes, sports and leisure shoes, but also for rehabilitation shoes, and therefore shoes in which the advantages of handling and the strength of the central locking system are particularly important.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the connection of the closure flaps 3 and 4 to the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2 can be made movable. This can be achieved, for example, by using the hinges or joints mentioned above, especially elastic joints. As shown in fig. 14 an embodiment, the connection of these parts of the central locking device in the connection area 58 is accomplished by using corrugated or corrugated membranes 39.1. They can be a continuation of the membrane 2 between the cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4, and in the left part of the closing device, membrane 39.2 and reach up to the end edge 5.1 of the cover 2 or almost to it.

Similarly, corrugated or corrugated membranes 39.11 can, in accordance with Fig. 15, also be used in the front connection area 58.1 of the instep cover 34 and covers of the wings 36 and 37. In order to ensure the smooth possible movement of these parts, the connection of the wings 3 can be completely removed and 4 with instep cover 2.

Typically, the corrugated membrane 39.1 extends towards the actual or theoretical junction 59 between the instep cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 (which is shown in Fig. 14), and the membrane 39.11 from the connection point 59.1 between the instep cover 34 and the wing covers 36 37 (as shown in Fig. 15), to the edge 5.1 of the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2 (according to figure 14) and to the edge 5.11 of front edge 34.1. covers of the instep cover 34 (according to Fig. 15).

In order to increase the flexibility of said joint area 58 of the instep cover 2 and the joint area 58.1 of the instep cover 34, their end edges 5.1 and 34.1 are made by appropriate means. For example, by using thin materials and by providing additional transverse grooves or transverse waves 15.1 thereon (see Figures 14 and 15). In particular, by using a corrugated or corrugated membrane as a highly flexible and bendable material.

In this way, the places of pressing the front of the foot by the mentioned edge areas, possibly connecting areas 58 or 58.1, have been eliminated. Transverse grooves 15.1. they may coincide with folds of membranes 39.1 or 39.11.

Fig. 15 shows the recess 35 for the passage of the central tightening closure 12. Also, at the respective locations of the wings 36 and 37, the recesses 38 provided for

165 553 13 bending blocks 23 overlapping in these recesses protruding upper rim. Reference numbers 39 indicate extendable or folded lap membranes.

The tensioning straps 41 and 42 can, as shown in Fig. 7, be shaped together with the wings of the closure 3 and 4 during their manufacture. They can also be attached to them in a suitable manner, for example by sewing, riveting, gluing or the like. In this case, the folding blocks 23 are intentionally placed on the wings of the closures 3 and 4 in such a way that they converge with the tensioning straps 41 and 42, as shown in Fig. 16. In this way, the tension of the puller element 11 is directly transferred to the tensioning straps 41 and 42.

In another embodiment of the invention, separate tensioning straps 41 and 42 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 21, with folding elements 23 being provided at each end of the tensioning straps 41 and 42.

Instead of the bending blocks 23 described so far, bending blocks of a different form and structure may also be used, in particular in the form of loops, holes, ears, Ghilly ears or the like. The bending blocks 23 can be strapped, riveted or fastened on the tensioning straps 41 and 42.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tensioning straps 41 and 42 can be inserted into the cutouts 60 of the closure flaps 3 and 4, where they can be permanently or slideable, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Ends 41.1 possibly 42.1. tensioning straps 41 and 42 are underneath overlapping the wings of closures 3 and 4, threaded through cutouts 60. On each of the 60 non-tensioning sections of the straps 11, a bending block 23 'can be made (glued, riveted or secured in another way), which can be in the form of a bending block made in a completely different way. Each folding block 23 'has an abutment edge 61 in the upper part. This abutment edge 61 is initially, in the open state of the closing device, intentionally spaced from the upper edge of the closure 62, at a distance, for example, from 5 mm to 20 mm. Thanks to this, during the closing process, with the help of the tightening element 11, at the appropriate rotation of the central tightening closure 12, the tensioning straps 41 and 42 are first tensioned. As a result, the foot is fixed in the shoe. Only when the tightening element 11 is further pulled up does the abutment edge 61 hit the upper edge of the closure 62 and thus bring the wings of the closure 3 and 4 into the closed position. This ensures that the foot sits well in the shoe. Accordingly, when the central tightening closure 12 is unlocked, the closing device is first opened, and by further loosening the tensioning straps 41 and 42, the foot in the shoe is loosened.

In order to distribute the pressure evenly, the folding blocks 23 on the tensioning tapes 41 and 42 can be connected by a rib 23a, as shown schematically in Fig. 20. Due to this, the common abutment edge 61a hits a large surface on each of the flaps of closures 3 and 4.

In order to be able to increase the required exact adjustment range when using tensioning straps 41 and 42 of the same size, the tensioning straps 41 and 42 can be equipped with snap elements 41.2 and 42.1 and 42.1 adjacent to the closing flaps adjacent to the flaps. 42.2. known type, such as pin connections, screw connections or the like. They allow the bending blocks 23 ', or otherwise bending elements, to be secured at various locations at the end areas of the tensioning tapes 41 and 42. Such latching elements 41.2 or 42.2 are schematically shown in Fig. 19.

According to another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 20, when two or more tensioning straps 41 and 42 are used, preferably one or more connecting ribs 63 are provided between adjacent tensioning straps 41, 42. The tensioning straps 41 and 42 can also be provided with one or both sides of the closing device connected to each other by means of the bow 44, and adjacent straps 44 also connected to each other by means of the next connecting rib 64, as also shown in Fig. 20.

In this way, it is easy to assemble this complete cage consisting of tensioning straps 41 and 42, connecting ribs 63 and 64, brackets 44 and instep guards 2 or

165 553 separate instep cover 2, partial basket. Both when forming a partial and complete basket, it is possible to easily minimize the tensioning straps 41 and 42 in the finished shoe upper, because said basket can be easily pushed onto the shoe upper and due to the elasticity of the material it can be easily attached there.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is that, as shown in Fig. 21, in the case of tensioning straps 41 and 42 not connected to the closure flaps (only the tensioning straps 42 are shown in the drawing), the tensioning straps 41 and 42 are fixed bending blocks 23. In addition, bending blocks 23 are provided on the wings of closures 3 and 4, which are located between the bending blocks 23 on the tensioning straps 41 and 42 and on the instep cover 2. In this way, also when not attached to the wings of the closure 3 and 4, tensioning straps 41 and 42, when closing the central tightening closure 12, the closing flaps 3 and 4 are pulled together.

As shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, externally (see Fig. 22), or internally (see Fig. 23), the folding blocks 23 or other shaped folding elements are located on the instep guard 2 and on the wings of closures 3 and 4, preferably also on tensioning straps (not shown here). The bending blocks 23, or other formed bending elements, can be placed in the slots 65 each at the edge of the instep guard 2, the closing flaps 3 and 4 and / or the tensioning tapes (Fig. 24), or only in the slots 65 of the closing flaps 3 and 4 and preferably in tensioning straps (Fig. 25). The folding blocks 23, preferably, can be formed as a semicircular disc 66 or also as a pin, pin and the like (compare Figures 24 and 25).

As shown in Fig. 25, in this embodiment of the invention, the folding blocks 23 or otherwise formed folding elements are mounted in the instep cover 2 externally, and in adjacent closing wings 3 and 4, in slots 65.

When the tension tapes 41 and 42 run out over the material of the shoe upper 47, transparent or translucent material, which can also be colored, can be used as the material for the tension tapes 41 and 42. Thanks to this, it is possible to quickly notice and remove any impurities under the tensioning straps 41 and 42. In this case, the upper material underneath is also visible, thanks to which the aesthetic appearance of the shoe is obtained and the trademarks on the shoe are visible.

According to another embodiment of the shoe according to the invention shown in Figs. 26, 27 and 28, the guide channels are made in such a way that the wings of the closure 3 and 4 have at least one narrow side 3.1 and 4.1 on the instep facing towards the cover 2. , inner groove 101 shaped like an elongated slot. Into the grooves 101 in each flap of closures 3 and 4 is inserted and fixed, for example by gluing and / or welding, at least one bending block 23. The tightening element 11 wraps around the arcuate sliding surface of the folding block 23. The width 101.1 of the grooves 101 is equal to, or only slightly larger than, the thickness of the folding blocks 23. On the outer edge 23.1 of the folding block 23 there is a guide 25 serving as a sliding surface (Fig. 27A) in which the tightening element 11 is placed. The bending blocks 23 are made of a material that is harder than the material of the instep cover 2 and of the closure flaps 3 and 4 and very resistant to abrasion, with a hardness usually greater than 75 on the Shor A scale, for example polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane or the like.

Thanks to the separate execution and attachment of the folding blocks 23, on the one hand, and the instep cover 2 and the closing flaps 3 and 4, on the other, a variety of material selection for these structural parts is possible, suitable for the optimal solution of the task. The material of the instep cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 can be selected more from the viewpoint of elasticity and flexibility, and less from the viewpoint of abrasion resistance.

In Figs. 26 and 29, on the right side of the drawing, instead of the sliding foil 17 - or in addition to it - on the free side edge of the instep cover 2 there is a covering panel 17.1, especially shaped directly there, which sinks into one common or several individual pocket slots 102 placed on the narrow side 4.1 of the wings of the closure 4, and which

165 553 when clamping the closing device through the central tightening closure 12, it enters these pocket slots 102 deep enough. In the pocket slots 102, areas are provided which may be in the form of a longitudinal internal groove 101 in which, as already mentioned, folding blocks 23 with an arcuate sliding surface can be arranged. The bending blocks 23 are inserted into the grooves 101 and fixed in them so that the front sides 23.2 of the blocks 23 are recessed in the grooves 101. The free portion 101.2 of the groove 101 thus formed can sink into the cover sheet 17.1 as long as it extends over the entire the instep cover length 2. It is also possible, however, to limit the length of the cover panel 17.1 such that it enters the gap or slots 102 only in the area above the highest folding block 23 (Fig. 26) or only between the upper and lower folding block 23.

As shown in Fig. 30, the shape of the folding blocks 23 and the shape of the groove 101 of the closure flaps 3 and 4 are so mutually compatible that with the folding block 23 inserted it is not possible to twist the block 23 parallel to the flat surface 23.3 (Fig. 30A ). This was achieved by giving the block 23 a rectangular, top view, an external outline and a correspondingly rectangular groove 101. A secure fixing of the position, without additional adhesive means or the like, is in accordance with Figs. 30 and 30A, possible due to the fact that the bending block 23 has a mandrel passing through it, whose protruding on both sides, tips 23.4 go into the internal or through. recesses, if appropriate in interruption 105, of the side walls 103, 104 of the groove 101. The side walls 103, 104 are elastically and elastically pulled away from each other and after inserting the folding block 23 of the tip of the mandrel 23.4, they enter the break 105.

With the insertion of a mandrel with endings 23.4 passing through the folding block 23 and breaks 105 in at least one side wall 103, 104 (Fig. 30B), the folding block can be inserted first into the groove 101 and then fixed in its position by sliding the mandrel bending block 23. It is also possible to use other snap and / or adhesive means for fixing and / or positioning the bending block 23. In addition, to block against rotation, each block may have two or more mandrels or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, especially on the inner side 2.1, or also on the upper side, the instep guards 2 (Fig. 31) in the intermediate space formed by the two wings of the closure 3 and 4, two folding blocks 23 can be arranged side by side to the longitudinal axis of the instep sheath 2. Around these folding blocks 23, after exiting the closure flap 3 or 4, loop 11.1 (fig. 26) is wrapped so that the pull member 11 does not cross. Preferably, these bending blocks 23 can be combined into one structural member 23.5, as shown in Fig. 31, in cross section of the instep guard 2. The central section 23.6 of the structural member 23.5 is, on the basis of a plug and / or snap connection, fixed on the inside 2.1 instep guards 2. In the embodiment according to fig. 31, the pivot 2.2 of the instep cover 2 is used for fastening, which passes through the corresponding hole of the central section 23.6 of the structural element 23.5.

The bending blocks 23 can be attached to the inner side 2.1 of the instep cover 2 by thermal welding, gluing, snapping, riveting or the like.

The instep cover 2 preferably has on its inside 2.1 a recess 106 (Fig. 31) in which the construction element 23.5 is mounted so that pressure on the instep is eliminated.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the structural element 23.5, or its usually recessed central section 23.6, can be fixed by means of a closing plate 107. In addition, the closing plate 107 is mounted on the spigot 2.2 and glued and / or latched, riveted, or thermally welded (fig 31).

In the embodiment according to Fig. 30, the instep cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 constitute a structural element, for example a detected, injected or cast element. In this embodiment, instead of sliding films 17 (Fig. 26 left side) or suitably shaped cover panels 17.1 (Figs. 26 and 29 right side) are provided, connected to adjacent

165 553 components, membranes 39.2, in particular shaped together with them, for example injected. These 39.2 membranes are usually made with the possibility of slipping or folding, usually as a bellows. Membranes 39.2 are usually located above the tightening element, so that a completely tight enclosure from the outside is ensured.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the instep cover 2 is attached to the wings of the closure 3 and 4 or to a connecting rib on the front of the shoe 5 of the front of the instep cover 2, releasably, by means of a snap connection.

Such an embodiment is shown in Figs. 32 and 33. On the lower side of the front edge 5 of the instep guards 2 in the recess 67, downwardly projecting suppositories 68 are formed, which engage in the matching holes 69 of the thinned cap 70 of the tongue of the instep protector 2 and preferably snap into place. in them. In addition, gluing and / or thermal welding of the parts to be connected together can be carried out.

Furthermore, in Figs. 32 and 33, the closing flanges 3 and 4, shaped at the outer edges of the wings, are thinned in cross section and converging sharply towards the outer periphery 72, the mounting flanges 73. With the use of these mounting flanges 73, the closing device can be glued or glued and / or sewn or sewn, on or under, the upper material of a shoe, or between, made of at least two layers of a shoe, or between, made of at least two layers, an upper material. Also, a second attachment flange 74 may be provided on the tab 70 of the instep cover 2. In Figure 29, the closure flap 3 is marked by a dotted line 75, located on all outer edges 71 of the closure flap 3 and the front edge 5, the mounting flange 73. Such the fixing flange can of course also be made on the closure flap 4 and on the front edge 5 joining it.

According to another embodiment shown in Fig. 34, the instep cover 2, seen from above, may taper towards its front edge 5 in particular conically or wedge-shaped. This is advantageous, especially when making a narrow shoe. By applying material weakness and / or by using waves and / or grooves 15.1, a particularly flexible area is created on the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 34, the instep cover 2 is, as mentioned at the beginning, completely separated from the wings of the closure 3 and 4. These parts are made as individual elements. The instep cover 2 is here on the front edge 5, depending on the type of tongue, connected to the upper material of the shoe by means of stitching and / or gluing and / or riveting, or otherwise. The closure wings 3 and 4 can be attached to the edge surfaces of the upper material by sewing and / or gluing and / or riveting or similar. Bending blocks 23 can be provided on the instep cover 2 and on the flaps of the closures 3 and 4, as has already been illustrated and described in the example by way of figures 1 to 5, 14, 16, 20, 26, 29 and 30. However, the folding blocks 23 can also, as shown in Fig. 34, be positioned in their end areas 41.1 and 42.1, using separate tensioning straps 41 and 42. As previously described, based on Figs. 18 and 19, cut-outs 60 in the closure wings 3 and 4 are made to cut the end areas 41.1 and 42.1 tensioning straps 41 and 42. The bending blocks 23 preferably have one abutment edge 61, which cooperates in the closing process with the cutout edge, for example with the upper edge 62 of the cutout 60. The folding blocks 23 of the instep guards 2 can be located on its outer or inner side, as already described.

Also, if the instep guards 2, closure flaps 3 and 4, and tensioning straps 41 and 42 are separate as separate elements on the tips of the closure flaps facing the tip of the shoe and on the front edge 5 of the instep guards 2, there may be transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shoe , weakening the material and / or waves and / or grooves 15.1 to obtain high flexibility in these areas.

Especially in the embodiment of the invention with the anterior-tapered instep cover 2, for example according to Fig. 34, the narrow sides 3.1 and 4.1 of the closure flaps 3 and 4 usually run parallel to the adjacent edges of the instep cover 2.

The use of separate individual elements for the instep cover 2 and closure flaps 3 and 4 provides, with high longitudinal flexibility of these, good flexibility in the direction of

165 553 transverse, between the instep cover 2 on one side and the closing flaps 3 and 4 on the other. Thanks to this, a particularly good bendability of the closing device is obtained, and therefore the part of the shoe located above the instep. At the same time, an even, stepless closing process is maintained and a parallel movement of the closing wings during the closing process can be practically achieved, which ensures an even distribution of the clamping forces when closing.

In the closing device according to the invention, according to the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 33, the instep cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 form a single structural component or component consisting of individual parts, with the parts 2, 3, 4 usually made of elastic-elastic plastic with a hardness of 75 to 90 on the Shore A scale. These plastic components therefore belong to the "hard plastic" part.

In the closing device according to the invention according to Fig. 34, the structural elements 2, 3 and 4 can be made of plastic with a lower hardness, in particular 60 to 70 on the Shore A scale. In this embodiment, the bending blocks 23 are made of very hard plastic, usually with a hardness in the range of 75 to 90 on the Shore A scale.

Finally, it should be noted that in addition to the embodiment of Fig. 34, also in the embodiments of Figures 16, 17, 20 and 21, the instep cover 2 and the closure flaps 3 and 4 may consist of separate components.

Alternatively, it is also possible, also in these embodiments, to interconnect elements 2,3 and 4 of the central closing device in the shape of hinges or joints, whereby the joints can be formed as folded or otherwise highly flexible shaped membranes. In a comparable manner, as described earlier, also in these embodiments, the front edge 5 of the instep cover 2 and the connection of this element with the shoe upper can be shaped highly flexibly, by means of wavy or folded membranes, as described in the examples shown in Fig. 14 and 15.

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UP Department of Publications. Circulation of 90 copies

Price: PLN 10,000