SOLE WITH EXTENSIBLE STRUCTURE, FOOTWEAR EQUIPPED WITH SAME AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING SAME

• US 20100024249A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exten.S
• Original Assignee: Exten.S
• Inventors: DURAND, Jean-Jacques
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/97
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/12 Special watertight footwear overshoes A43B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/12 Stuck or cemented footwear

Abstract

Sole with stretchable structure, a footwear article provided with such a sole and its assembly method

The invention relates to a footwear sole where the forepart is associated with a stretchable material making it possible to fit differing foot widths easily; it also relates to the footwear equipped with such a sole and the method for mounting this footwear.

It is constituted of a sole base (1) comprising openings (4) in which the lugs (3) of the stretchable part (2) are positioned in a sealed manner.

The insole (5) comprises a deformable structure (6) in its forepart. When the wearer'"'"'s foot is put into a footwear article provided with such a complex, it exerts pressure on the edges of the upper (10) thus causing deformation of the sole. This ability of deforming the sole avoids feelings of compression of the foot.

The device according to the invention is intended in particular for the manufacture of footwear with the ability of adapting to differing foot anatomies.

Claims

1. Stretchable sole for a shoe, said sole comprising:

a sole base having attachment zones for attachment of said base to edges of an upper, and

an insert mounted to said sole base between the attachment zones,

wherein said insert is relatively stretchable transversally as compared to the sole base,

wherein said insert is in a material with shape memorization,

wherein said insert is provided with at least one lug on its lower surface and a forepart of said sole base is provided with at least one opening into which the at least one lug is countersunk.

2. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is glued or soldered by injection on the sole base.

3. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole base has properties suitable for gripping.

4. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 1 and an upper attached to the sole.

5. Footwear according to claim 4, further comprising an insole, wherein the insole has a deformable forepart and of a rigid back part.

6. Footwear according to claim 5, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises at least one longitudinal slit or cut-out zone.

7. Footwear according to claim 6, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises several parallel longitudinal slits or cut-out zones.

8. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is glued or molded to the base.

9. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a plurality of inserts in deformable material with shape memorization attached to the sole base.

10. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a flat upper surface.

11. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is assembled to the base so as to ensure a seal between the insert and the base.

12. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the base is glued or molded on the insert.

13. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is filled with the at least one insert.

14. Stretchable sole according to claim 13, wherein the sole has a flat upper surface.

15. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein said insert is provided with a single lug on its lower surface and a forepart of said sole base is provided with a single opening into which the lug is countersunk.

16. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 2 and an upper attached to the sole.

17. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 9 and an upper attached to the sole.

18. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 10 and an upper attached to the sole.

19. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 11 and an upper attached to the sole.

20. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 13 and an upper attached to the sole.