EP1082919A2

EP1082919A2 - Shoe, particularly sandal

Info

Publication number: EP1082919A2
Application number: EP00118122A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Camillo Cavallin; Oriano Perin; Lorenzo Perin; Roberto Perin
Original assignee: Perin SpA
Current assignee: Perin SpA
Priority date: 1999-09-07
Filing date: 2000-08-25
Publication date: 2001-03-14
Also published as: CA2317177A1; EP1082919A3; IT1311653B1; ITTV990097A1

Abstract

A shoe, particularly a sandal, which comprises a sole (2) provided with at least three through holes (3) which accommodate fixing elements (4) which are associated with, or obtained monolithically with, an upper (5). The fixing elements (4) can be locked by complementarily shaped nuts (6) arranged underneath the sole (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe, particularly a sandal.
Conventional sandals are currently constituted by a sole, mainly made of plastics, and by an upper, made of plastics or cloth, said sole and said upper being associated one another by gluing, stitching or by a combination of these methods.
With many conventional sandals, problems arise at these joining regions after a certain period of use, also because the very movement of the foot, during walking, generates traction stresses on the upper, which are contrasted by the friction of the sole on the ground, which is orientated substantially in the opposite direction.
Another conventional type of sandals, so-called thongs, are instead constituted by an upper composed of a Y-shaped band-like element whose ends are associated with the sole by an interlocking coupling.
Said interlocking coupling is achieved by inserting the ends of the upper, which are for example T-shaped, through holes provided in the sole, so as to create, as mentioned, an interlocking coupling produced by interposing parts.
The disadvantage of these conventional sandals is the fragility of the interlocking coupling, since the ends of the upper make contact with the ground and are thus affected by the wear damage typical of the sole.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited prior art by providing a structure for shoes, particularly sandals, which is unquestionably sturdy, particularly but not exclusively in the connection between the upper and the sole.
Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a shoe which allows to combine functionality with peculiar aesthetic characteristics.
Another important object is to provide a shoe which allows optional disassembly of the main parts of the sandal in a very simple manner even by the user, in order to replace damaged parts or combine components in a different manner, so as to obtain different aesthetic results.
Another object is to provide a shoe which is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoe, particularly a sandal, characterized in that it comprises a sole provided with at least three through holes which accommodate threaded fixing elements associated with, or obtained monolithically with, an upper and can be locked by complementarily shaped threaded nuts which abut against said sole.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of some particular embodiments, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of the components of a sandal i.e. of an upper, a sole and nuts in a first embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side view and a bottom view of said sandal;
Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of the components of a third embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 is a lateral sectional view of a detail of the third embodiment of Figure 5.
With reference to the above figures, 1 designates a sandal, constituted by a sole 2 in which four through holes are provided, each designated by the reference numeral 3.
Said through holes define appropriate seats for threaded fixing elements, designated by the reference numeral 4, which are associated or monolithic with an upper 5 of any kind and can be locked by complementarily threaded nuts, designated by the reference numeral 6, which are arranged in appropriate slots 7 formed underneath said sole.
Conveniently, each threaded fixing element 4 has an annular ridge or one or more flat tabs 30, whose purpose is to abut against the upper surface of the sole 2.
Advantageously, the holes are provided proximate to the peripheral edge 8 of the sole 2, and in the illustrated embodiment they are arranged in pairs on a same plane which lies transversely to the sole and passes approximately at the metatarsal region and at the malleolar region of the foot.
The length of the threaded fixing elements 4 and the depth of the slots 7 are such that the threaded fixing element protrude by approximately the entire depth of the slots once they are fully inserted in the through holes 3.
The height of the nuts 6 is approximately equal to the depth of the slots 7.
Said slots are sized so as to accommodate the nuts 6 and allow their rotation.
Once the nuts 6 are locked, they abut against the flat base 9 of each slot.
Use is as follows: with reference to Figure 1, it can be seen that the four threaded fixing elements 4 are matched by a corresponding number of through holes 3 through which the fixing elements are inserted.
Said threaded fixing elements protrude downwards beyond the holes, affecting the slots 7, where each of the four complementarily threaded nuts is to be placed, screwing onto the respective threaded fixing element and thus detachably coupling the upper to the sole in a simple and effective way, the fixing elements abutting against the base 9.
Externally, said nuts can have any shape and color, thus also performing an effective aesthetic function.
If necessary, it is possible at any time to easily and straightforwardly unscrew the nuts and perform aesthetic or functional modifications to the sandal.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a shoe having been provided in which the components are detachably associated in order to constitute a sandal which is sturdy and easy to repair and whose elements also have an aesthetic function.
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Thus, for example, it is possible to vary the number of connections between the sole 2 and the upper 5, for example by increasing to six the number of the nuts 6 and of the corresponding through holes 3 and threaded inserts 4, as shown in the second embodiment of Figure 4.
A third embodiment, shown in Figure 5 and 6, consists in using a different method for fixing the upper 105 to the sole 102, by means of inserts, designated by the reference numeral 110, which are shaped complementarily to said slot 107.
Said inserts 110 are axially perforated and can be connected to respective fixing elements 111 which are part of the upper 105 and have a selected shape, for example a cylindrical one, with an annular ridge 130 which abuts on the upper surface or cavities of the sole 2; the fixing element 111 ends with a tip, designated by the reference numeral 112, which is frustum-shaped and flexible, has a larger cross-section than the hole formed in said insert 110, and can be inserted therein so as to form an interlocking coupling.
Said tip 112, by passing through the through hole 103 of said upper 105, interlocks in a complementarily shaped cavity 113 which is formed in the lower part of said insert 110 at the axial hole.
The materials used, as well as the number of holes, the dimensions and the shapes that constitute the individual components of the invention may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV99A000097 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A shoe, particularly a sandal, characterized in that it comprises a sole (2,102) provided with at least three through holes (3,103) which accommodate fixing elements (4,111) associated with, or obtained monolithically with, an upper (5,105) and can be locked by complementarily shaped removable locking nuts (6,110) which abut against said sole (2,102).
The shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that it has slots (7,107), formed in the lower surface of said sole (2,102), which are adapted to accommodate said removable nuts (6,110).
The shoe according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises four through holes (3,103) which are formed at said slots (7,107).
The shoe according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said slots (7,107) extend over part of the thickness of said sole (2,102) so as to form an abutment base (9,109) for said nuts (6,110) once they are associated with said fixing elements (4,111).
The shoe according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said fixing elements (4) are threaded and extend in said slots substantially along their entire depth once they are placed in said through holes (3,103).
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that fixing nuts (6) are threaded, said slots (7) allowing seating and rotation of said nuts (6).
The shoe of claim 1, characterized in that the sole (102) has at least three through holes (103) which accommodate fixing elements (111) associated with the upper (105) and connectable by interlocking with said locking nut, which is constituted by an insert (110) arrangeable in the slot (107) formed underneath said sole (102) at said through holes (103).
The shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that said insert (110) is axially perforated, can be connected to the respective fixing element (111), which has a selected shape, preferably a cylindrical one, and ends with a frustum-shaped flexible tip (112) which has a larger cross-section than the perforation formed in said insert (111).
The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing elements (4,111) have an annular ridge or tabs (30,130) which abut on the upper surface of, or on adapted cavities formed in said sole (2,102).
The shoe according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said end, by passing through the through hole (103) of said sole (102), interlocks in a complementarily shaped cavity (113) which is formed in the lower part of said insert (110) at the axial perforation.