Boots – shoes – and leggings – Uppers – Closure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2001-04-10
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Uppers
Closure
C036S088000, C036S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212796
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an ice-skate having a high shoe upper part made from leather, textiles, synthetic materials, metal or net structures, which comprises a foot insertion opening which extends substantially in parallel with the foot middle plane.
In the case of high shoes of conventional tongue-design and lacing, in particular in the area of sport, on the one hand relatively rigid upper parts are used and on the other hand the soles are completely rigid owing to the attachment of a device (ice-skate/roller skate/ski-boot). Even if the edges of the foot insertion opening are cut relatively widely, this does not adequately suit the spatial requirements in the ankle region, because the straight-cut edges open extremely wide apart from each other thus in the event of a forwards inclined movement unpleasant to painful pressure of the relatively hard edges is exerted upon the arch of the instep—and owing to material stress—the pressure on the ankle also increases.
In the case of leather, which even in a reinforced design assumes the shape of the user's foot and is therefore in demand, the ankle region thus tends gradually to become floppy and folded, whereby the danger of injury is increased, on the other hand it is only possible to use the old lacing-up method, because each other method would cause even earlier material fatigue owing to lever forces.
The reason for this behaviour resides not only in the fact that the foot bones, in the proximity of the ankle, spread out but also in the fact that the outline of the ankle bone is trapezoidal in shape—spread out in a forwards direction—and thus drives apart the ankles as soon as the forward lean position is taken up. In the case of a trained athlete there is therefore an increased spatial requirement for the ankle, on the one hand because he/she is more powerfully built, on the other hand takes up the forward lean position more frequently. In the case of ice-skates for figure skating the sole is also cambered to an increased extent caused by the heels of the skate, which essentially causes the ankle to lean forward.
Many efforts have been made without success in order to remedy this lack of fit, such as additional lacing or reinforcements, or incisions at the lacing edges. Since these measures did not increase space, they acted either in a blocking manner or in such a manner as to cause material fatigue because excessive flexion was provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,957 discloses a construction, wherein particularly the tab 22A, applied on to rigid leather, would only cause unnecessary pressure, at least owing to its edge formation. In the case of a possible attachment beyond the curvature 3, 4 or the holes thereof (FIG. 2, 2
a
) this would cause pain in the case of leather material. The allowance does not show any improved surface formation, which can be applied when the entire upper part consists of a solid material.
In the case of the design in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,969 with the aim of a specific division of pulling force, the pull on the strips at the uppermost shoe edge is localised in the narrowest position and therefore a pressure site would also be produced in the event that the ice-skate consists of a rigid material. Furthermore, this design does not correspond to a formation or distribution which requires space with respect to pressure relief.
The precurvatures [not illustrated in detail] of U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,806 relate only to the front part of the foot or instep region and do not permit any spherical adaptation. The latter also applies to the precurvatures in the region of the numeral 30 of FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,613. The sleeve of the last-named document would also cause unnecessary pressure owing to the edge formation and also does not illustrate any improvement in the surface formation which can be applied when the entire upper part consists of a solid material.
The object of the wave-like structure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,342 is merely to overcome spatial problems and first and foremost relates merely to the front part of the foot. CH 181 838 A describes a high ice-skate having lacing, wherein the iron fitting of the skate, i.e. the runner, can be adjusted against the skate in a transverse and longitudinal direction, so that it is possible to make an optimum adaptation to suit the skater, e.g. also with respect to the centroidal axis. The ice-skate does not display any other particular aspects which are of interest here.
The object of the present invention is to provide an ice-skate with an improved fit, wherein the above described obvious spatial problems can be solved. This solution should be as convenient as possible and should be able to be produced in a cost-effective manner whilst still using current production methods.
On the basis of an ice-skate of the type mentioned in the introduction, this object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the edging of the foot insertion opening, in the region directly above the ankle joint, comprises at least on one side, preferably on both sides, a convex arcuate extension which is directed to the foot middle plane, and that this extension is engaged upon by a closure means for the skate. In a similar manner to the case of cartographic spheroid developments, it is not only an improved surface adaptation which is produced thereby in an advantageous manner, the increase in material also allows an improved rounded bend, whereby the pressure upon the ankle and the closure strips decreases.
Preferably, a closure means for the shoe acts upon this extension. In so doing, the pulling force upon the lacing-up edges causes tangential and fewer radial resulting closing forces, which also causes a relief in pressure.
In the case of a preferred embodiment of the ice-skate in accordance with the invention, the extension or extensions extends/extend, commencing approximately 15 mm below the shaft edge, approximately along the upper shaft third. In the case of an ice-skate, in which the closure means is lacing, which acts by way of closure parts, e.g holes or hooks, upon the skate, a preferred embodiment is provided, wherein the arcuate extensions extend on the one side from the second closure part as far as to the fourth closure part or as far as to the first closure part lying above the joint region, wherein preferably at least one closure part is disposed in the middle portion of the substantially symmetrical extension and the closure parts, which are disposed in the region of the end portions of the extension, can be disposed both within the extension or on the outside thereof. In the case of this embodiment at least one closure part (hooks, eyelets, rivets) is therefore located approximately in the middle region of the said extension, where it produces a genuinely tangential pulling force. In contrast, further closure parts within the edge regions of the extension or on the outside thereof produce pulling lines which are directed approximately vertically and horizontally, allocated preferably to the front part of the foot and the lower leg, whereby the centre of movement is localised. The extensions are dimensioned in a manner which is suitable for practical circumstances by virtue of the fact that in the case of the design on both sides the arcuate extensions of the edges are formed so as to protrude ca. 12 mm. Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention there is the possibility that the extensions of the edges can be larger or at least overlapping to the extent that the closure parts do not prevent them from being closed.
In order to achieve an improved anatomic adaptation of the effect of the extensions, the extensions can be formed or disposed, corresponding to the anatomic characteristics and their application, in an asymmetrical manner both in the transverse and skate longitudinal direction.
It is an advantage in practice if the shaft tongue is placed under the extensions and the shaft tongue comprises for this purpose a specific lining or padding. Alternatively, the extensions can also be disposed, however, so as to lie on an inner skate
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
MRK Handels AG
Patterson M. D.
LandOfFree
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