WO2000044253A1

WO2000044253A1 - Shoe with offset lateral lacing

Info

Publication number: WO2000044253A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/000261
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leslie Rosenbaum
Original assignee: Custom Footwear Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-02-01
Filing date: 2000-02-01
Publication date: 2000-08-03
Also published as: WO2000044253A8; GB9902113D0; AU2555500A; GB2346066A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoe having a side lacing (L) formed from a slit laterally offset from a central line of the shoe upper. The shoe also includes a tongue (T) which is coupled to the upper in a region extending substantially along said central line. The tongue is arranged to extend along the slit from the toe area towards the foot opening (F). An upper side of the slit (4) is offset from a lower side of the slit (3) at the foot opening.

Description

SHOE WITH OFFSET LATERAL LACING

This invention relates to a new type of shoe closure where both the lacing and vamp opening are on the lateral or side part of the shoe compared with their traditional position directly over the instep. Prior art focuses almost exclusively on variations of the lace position and upper configuration, designated as side or lateral lacing where the vamp opening (as distinguished from the lace opening) is positioned directly over the instep area in the traditional manner.

Exceptions to this are few but it is precisely these instances of prior art that are relevant to the present invention. This is best exemplified in Rosenbaum (US Patent 4,517,753) and Bunch (US Patent 4,616,432), a variation of the Rosenbaum patent. Both patents employ a pronounced offset vamp opening which is secured or closed from this side or lateral position. Both employ a centrally but somewhat differently positioned and very long stitch, extending more than half the length of the lace opening, to attach the tongue to the upper. While Bunch regards the tongue as an optional feature, Rosenbaum considers it a key element, functioning as an interactive link between the tongue and upper. In this respect the Rosenbaum construction is dynamic and expansive, in contrast with the Bunch variation which is more static and constrictive.

Sport shoes made according to the Rosenbaum patent achieved for the most part their stated objective of providing a high degree of foot conformity and flexibility, combined with good stability. Despite such improvements, serious athletes, soccer players in particular, felt these shoes fit too loosely. Tying the laces more tightly did not overcome this objection. The present invention overcomes this problem. It also directly addresses the problem of providing a method of achieving varying degrees of snugness of fit for shoes of different sports. This is important since our research clearly indicated that each sport has what can be described as an ideal or desirable degree of snugness unique to it and this cannot be achieved by the traditional shoe construction with a centrally positioned vamp opening - whether using either a conventional or side lace closure. Our research and development showed, however, this can be achieved by offsetting the upper and lower sections of the lace opening from each other as described below. The Rosenbaum patent shows the top edges of the upper and lower parts of the lace opening in direct alignment with each other. The present invention offsets the top and bottom edges of the lace opening whereby the upper edge (10) meets the lower edge (11) at least 10mm forward of the foot opening (F) . This has shown to increase snugness of fit because it creates substantial internal forces which are transmitted directly through the central stitch (E) to the upper, the tongue, and the foot itself. These forces are multiplied with increasing degrees of offset . The relationship between the degree of offset and force generated (which determine pressure and fit) were essentially linear through an initial range, becoming nonlinear with increasing offset. At about 25-30mm offset, larger forces were created by increasingly smaller degrees of offset, reaching a limit at about 35-40mm offset when excessive pressure was experienced. Creasing of the upper and tongue also occurred in this range.

The degree of offset that proved workable was ultimately determined to be from 10mm to 30mm. Offset greater than about 30mm meant undesirable, uncomfortable, even painful, pressure on the instep. Offset less than 10mm was perceived by most wearers as marginal or not felt at all.

Designing a shoe for a particular sport required information on how pressure was experienced by wearers. It was then possible to determine the optimal degree of offset suitable for a given sport. This meant a soccer shoe could be designed for maximum snugness, while at the other end of the spectrum, a golf shoe could be designed with relatively low pressure (particularly over the sensitive instep) yet still maintaining a sufficiently snug fit to hold the foot securely during swinging. Other sport shoes, with pressure and snugness requirements between these extremes, could be designed according to the same principles and method.

The present invention can be regarded as a dynamic, interactive system, unlike the conventional shoe construction. The offset can be thought of as potential energy, creating and then sending forces through the system as a function of the degree of offset. These forces can be modified (increased or decreased) to meet specific requirements of the sport for which the shoe is intended. The present invention relates to a shoe comprising: an upper having a side lacing formed from a slit extending longitudinally along the upper from a foot opening to a toe area, the slit being laterally offset from a central line of the upper; a tongue covering, the tongue covering being coupled to the upper in a region extending substantially along said central line, the tongue being arranged to extend along the slit from the toe area towards the foot opening; and a base, and wherein an upper side of the slit is offset from a lower side of the slit at the foot opening.

Accordingly, the shoe operates by having a side lacing formed from a slit which is offset from the centre line of the shoe. The slit has upper and lower sides which are relatively offset to allow internal forces generated within the shoe to provide varying pressures on the foot suitable for the particular sport, thus providing a more ideal (for that sport) and in this respect, better fit.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings set out below. Figure 1 is a plan view of a shoe according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a modified version of the shoe of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the shoe of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the shoe showing forces generated by a conventional side lacing and a lacing according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows the shoe from above, the side lace opening designated L. Tongue T is attached to the upper by stitch E. This stitch runs approximately parallel to lace opening L from upper finishing point 9 just below foot opening F to its lower finishing point 8 in front of slit A. The lace opening has two additional slits, B on the upper edge and C on the lower edge, positioned approximately midway on the opening. The offset relates to the relative positions of the upper finishing point 4 on the upper edge of the opening relative to the upper finishing point 3 on the lower edge of the opening.

The minimum desirable offset as required by this invention is about 10mm measured along the longitudinal axis or centre line through the lace opening projected at right angles to this longitudinal centre line from point 4 above and from point 3 below as seen from the side of the shoe. The maximum desirable offset is about 30mm. These measurements are based on the upper and lower edges of the lace opening exhibiting, relative to each other, a 5-10mm gap, without a foot in the shoe.

Figure 2 shows section D which can be designated the operational area of the invention, the "cut" falling somewhere in this area depending on the degree of offset . It should be noted that this cut becomes more concave with increasing offset . Another change with increasing offset is how far forward the cut is in relation to the foot opening, which moves from point 6 with minimum offset to point 5 with maximum offset . With increasing offset the foot opening becomes larger and may need to be compensated for, otherwise foot slippage inside the shoe could be a problem. This can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the shape and configuration of the lace opening, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

Figure 3 shows the shoe from the side, indicating the nature and degree of offset viewed from this perspective.

Figure 4 shows, very simplified, (W) the direction of forces generated in a conventional side lace shoe (vamp opening over the instep) , and (V) the direction of forces as per the present invention.

Claims

1 . A shoe comprising : an upper having a side lacing formed from a slit extending substantially longitudinally along the upper from a foot opening to a toe area, the slit being laterally offset from a central line of the upper; a tongue covering, the tongue covering being coupled to the upper in a region extending substantially along said central line, the tongue being arranged to extend along the slit from the toe area towards the foot opening; and a base, and wherein an upper side of the slit is offset from a lower side of the slit at the foot opening.

2. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe is a sport shoe.

3. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extends at least one third of the way along the slit from the toe area towards the foot opening.

4. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tongue is coupled to the opening using a stitching extending substantially along the central line.

5. A shoe according to claim 4, wherein the stitching in the toe area extends laterally from the central line towards the slit.

6. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower sides of the slit are offset by at least 5mm.

7. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the lower sides of the slit are offset by less than 20mm.