WO2008087145A1

WO2008087145A1 - Upper for footwear with improved elasticity

Info

Publication number: WO2008087145A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/050410
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vicente GARCÍA MATARREDONA; Carlos Pla Amat
Original assignee: Garcia Matarredona Vicente; Carlos Pla Amat
Priority date: 2007-01-17
Filing date: 2008-01-15
Publication date: 2008-07-24
Also published as: EP2086363A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an upper (1) for footwear with improved flexibility, applicable to footwear of any type. Said upper comprises elastic portions (4) between non-elastic pieces (3) of the upper in order to give elasticity to the footwear.

Description

UPPER FOR FOOTWEAR WITH IMPROVED ELASTICITY

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cut for footwear with improved flexibility, applicable to footwear of any type.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, conventional lasts for footwear are usually manufactured in materials which do not have great elasticity, such as leather, synthetic leather, fabric, etc.

This lack of elasticity may be the cause of abrasions or wounds on walking, especially when the footwear is used for a prolonged period of time.

A possible solution to this problem typically consists of improving the anatomical form of the footwear, so that this moulds perfectly to the user's foot. Nevertheless, the feet of all the users are not the same, and therefore it does not fully solve the problem.

Another solution used consists of manufacturing the footwear individually in accordance with the shape of the user's foot, as in the case of orthopaedic footwear. This solution entails a great increase in costs which the user is obliged to pay.

These drawbacks are resolved by the use of the cut for footwear with improved flexibility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cut for footwear of the invention consists of incorporating elastic pieces which give flexibility to the footwear, so that this adapts perfectly to the shape of the users' foot. This constitution permits avoiding the appearance of abrasions or wounds due to the rubbing between the inner surface of the footwear with the user's skin.

The use of these elastic pieces has, in addition to increasing comfort, the advantage that it avoids the deterioration of the shoe produced due to the folds formed on certain places because of use.

In accordance with the invention, the cut is constituted in flexible and essentially non-elastic material (leather, synthetic leather, fabric, etc.), and can adopt the most convenient shape according to the footwear design.

Therefore, and in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a cut is provided for footwear with improved flexibility, made in flexible and essentially non-elastic material, and which is fixed to the sole of the footwear according to different configurations, which is characterized in that it comprises one or several pieces of said flexible or non-elastic material joined by elastic pieces in order to give elasticity to the footwear. The elastic pieces are inserted between each pair of flexible pieces, which achieves that the shoe, as a whole, behaves as if it were elastic and can perfectly mould to any foot. The form in which the pieces of flexible and non-elastic material are joined with the elastic pieces can be carried out in various forms, such as heat welding, by glue, sewing...

Another preferred embodiment of the invention alternatively discloses a single elastic piece whereto the pieces of flexible material are joined. A further preferred embodiment of the invention relates to an elastic piece which constitutes the inner lining of the footwear in that area. In this case, the pieces of elastic material meet the additional function of serving as a surface whereon the foot directly rests during use.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention refers that the pieces of flexible material are joined to the elastic pieces by sewing.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastic piece or pieces are made in elasto-fibres. By elasto-fibres we understand any elastic fibre capable of recovering its shape after deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a shoe made with the cut in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the shoe of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows an elevation view of the shoe of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The cut for footwear 1 of the present invention is made from leather, synthetic leather, fabric or any other material of flexible but essentially non- elastic characteristics, and is fixed to the sole 2 of the footwear, it being possible to adopt various configurations: for example, be constituted by one or several pieces, have different shapes of the toe or the instep, etc. In this example, we see that it relates to a women's shoe with a series of seams in the area of the inner and outer instep of the shoe.

The cut 1 in accordance with the invention is made so that the front area of the shoe is constituted by independent or discontinuous pieces 3 which remain joined together and to the rest of the cut by elastic pieces, preferably by a single elastic piece 4, whereto they are sewn, as observed in the figures. Furthermore, piece 4 constitutes the inner lining of the footwear in this area and is materialized preferably in elasto-fibres, such as, for example, lycra®, whilst the rest of the shoe can be made from the same or any other material, and even lack lining.

The joints of the front area of the shoe are made similarly to that described with respect to the heel.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the form of practical embodiment, it should be placed on record that the previously indicated provisions represented in the attached drawings can have detail modifications as long as they do not alter the fundamental principle.

Claims

1. A cut for footwear with improved flexibility, made in flexible and essentially non-elastic material, and which is fixed to the sole of the footwear according to different configurations, characterized in that it comprises one or several pieces of said flexible and non-elastic material joined by several elastic pieces in order to give elasticity to the footwear.

2. The cut in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that it alternatively comprises a single elastic piece whereto the pieces of flexible material are joined.

3. The cut in accordance with any of the preceding claims, where the elastic piece constitutes the inner lining of the footwear in that area.

4. The cut in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that the pieces of flexible material are joined to the elastic pieces by sewing.

5. The cut in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic piece or pieces are made in elasto-fibres.