WO2004016123A2

WO2004016123A2 - Part for footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2004016123A2
Application number: PCT/ES2003/000426
Authority: WO
Inventors: José SIERRAS PEREZ
Original assignee: Sierras Perez Jose
Priority date: 2002-08-16
Filing date: 2003-08-14
Publication date: 2004-02-26
Also published as: WO2004016123A3; AU2003260517A8; AU2003260517A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a part that is intended for footwear. The inventive part is characterised in that at least one part thereof is hollow and at least partially transparent, defining an inner housing (4) therein. The part is further characterised in that it comprises means (3) of filling the aforementioned inner housing (4). Said filling means can include at least one opening (3) which comprises closure means (5). The invention enables the manufacturer or even the consumer to alter the outer appearance or aesthetics of the part simply and economically.

Description

PIECE FOR FOOTWEAR

The present invention relates to a piece for all types of footwear, which is totally or partially hollow and with means for filling. In addition, it allows to see the inner filling of the same through its manufacture with totally or partially transparent materials.

The term "piece" is intended to indicate any part of a shoe or the like, such as the sole or a strip.

The soles of the shoes can comprise several pieces joined together forming a compact body or with various cavities or be formed by a single solid piece. In all cases, the composition and decoration of the sole always appears linked to the use of predetermined elements and materials before manufacturing with different properties and appearances that cannot be modified once the sole or shoe is finished. .

The disadvantage of all these systems is that, on the one hand, the external appearance of the sole is unalterable, unless one of the originally used parts is removed or replaced, and therefore it is not possible to make subsequent variations on its design.

In the case of soles with interchangeable parts, problems with their durable assembly are also added.

In the footwear industry it is widely known to use decorative strips of very diverse materials and shapes.

These strips or decorative elements in general used in any type of shoe are usually independent elements whose composition and decoration always appears linked to the use of materials and ornaments preset before manufacturing, defined in advance.

The drawback is that, the external appearance of these decorative elements once conceived is unalterable, unless the originally used piece is removed or replaced, and therefore it is not possible to make subsequent variations on its design.

In the case of interchangeable pieces or decorative elements, there are also problems of union and adaptation that are durable.

With the sole of the invention, the aforementioned drawbacks are resolved, presenting other advantages that will be described.

The footwear piece of the present invention is characterized by the fact that at least a part thereof is hollow and at least partially transparent, defining an inner housing, and by the fact that it comprises means for filling said interior housing. Preferably, said filling means consist of at least one opening.

Said opening or openings preferably comprise closing means which, according to two alternative embodiments, can be removable or fixed. Thanks to these characteristics, it allows the manufacturer and even the consumer itself to modify their aesthetics or external appearance easily by means of the inclusion of different materials in their interior housing and even provide it with relaxing / stimulating therapeutic properties, antistress, against the fatigue, among others, depending on the materials used as filler and the use of footwear.

For the best understanding of what is described herein, some drawings are attached in which, by way of example only, a case study of the sole of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe piece of the present invention according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shoe piece of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail of the back of the shoe piece of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a shoe piece of the present invention according to a second embodiment;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the shoe piece of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a plan view of the footwear part of Figure 4.

First, it should be noted that the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 3 is a sole for footwear, while the embodiment depicted in Figures 4 to 6 is a strap for footwear. However, it should be noted that the shoe piece of the present invention can be any suitable part of a shoe or the like.

In the case of the first embodiment, the sole is formed by a hollow base body 1 with any conventional configuration, which defines an inner housing 4, and an upper part or template 2 that can be manufactured either separately or forming a single structure. Both the base body 1 and the upper part 2 can be made of any suitable material that allows to fully or partially appreciate the interior thereof, preferably plastic material.

If it is necessary to assemble both pieces 1, 2, this is preferably done by any of the known techniques of gluing or sewing although any other known technique can also be used.

The base body 1 or the upper part or template 2 may include one or more openings 3 on its surface, sides, top or bottom.

According to the embodiment shown, the base body comprises a single opening 3 in the rear part, through which the desired filling material is introduced; such as small colored plastic elements, liquid products or any other decorative, therapeutic element or with characteristics suitable for use.

Said opening 3 comprises closing means, which can be removable or fixed, so that it can be completely sealed or allow its opening and closing indefinitely, as in the other openings if any.

These closing means can be, for example, a tape 5 provided with Velero® (removable closure) or sewn (fixed closure).

A second embodiment of the part of the present invention, in this case a shoe strap, is shown in Figures 3 to 6. The same numerical references are used to indicate equivalent parts in the two embodiments represented.

In this case, the strip is formed by a hollow body 1 defining an inner cavity 4, which is provided, according to the embodiment shown, with an opening 3.

Said opening 3 is closed in a removable or fixed manner by means of a strip 5, for example by Velero® (removable closure) or sewn (fixed closure). Although reference has been made to a Concrete embodiment of the invention, it is evident to one skilled in the art that the described footwear piece is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the mentioned details can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Footwear piece, characterized by the fact that at least a part of it is hollow at least partially transparent, defining an inner housing (4), and by the fact that it comprises means (3) for filling of said interior housing

(4) .

2. Footwear piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said filling means consist of at least one opening (3).

3. Footwear piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said opening or openings (3) comprise closing means (5).

4. Footwear piece according to claim 3, characterized in that said closure means

(5) They are removable.

5. Footwear piece according to claim 3, characterized in that said closing means (5) are fixed.