FOOTWEAR WITH IMPROVED UPPER

• US 20110138656A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: DURANTE, Paolo, CODORO, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US12/967,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20110138656A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0401 Snowboard boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0427 characterised by type or construction details
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0452 Adjustment of the forward inclination of the boot leg

Abstract

A boot including a sole assembly and an upper, the boot extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from the sole assembly up to an upper end, the boot including a first envelope that extends along a lower portion and an upper portion. For at least one of the lateral side and medial side, the first envelope includes a front lower flap, a rear lower flap, as well as a rear upper flap, the front lower flap partially extending along the rear lower flap, and the rear upper flap partially extending along the rear lower flap, the front lower flap and rear upper flap extending along the same surface of the rear lower flap.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole assembly;

an upper extending upwardly from the sole assembly;

a length extending between a rear end and a front end;

a width extending between a lateral side and a medial side;

a height extending between the sole assembly and an upper end;

the upper comprising an envelope demarcating an outer portion of the upper and comprising a lateral side and a medial side, said envelope comprising;

a lower portion structured and arranged to cover at least a part of a foot of a wearer; and

an upper portion extending upwardly from the lower portion;

at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the envelope comprising;

a front lower flap comprising at least part of the lower portion of the envelope;

a rear lower flap comprising at least part of the lower portion of the envelope;

a rear upper flap comprising at least part of the upper portion of the envelope;

the front lower flap and partially extending along the rear lower flap;

the rear upper flap partially extending along the rear lower flap;

the front lower flap and rear upper flap extending along an identical surface level of the rear lower flap.

2. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

the front lower flap partially overlaps the rear lower flap;

the rear upper flap (43, 53) partially overlaps the rear lower flap.

3. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

the front lower flap partially underlaps the rear lower flap;

the rear upper flap partially underlaps the rear lower flap.

4. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

on the lateral side the envelope includes a lateral front lower flap, a lateral rear lower flap, and a lateral rear upper flap;

the lateral front lower flap partially covers a surface of the lateral rear lower flap, and the lateral rear upper flap partially covers a surface of the lateral rear lower flap.

5. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

on the medial side, the envelope includes a medial front lower flap, a medial rear lower flap, and a medial rear upper flap;

the medial front lower flap partially covers a surface of the medial rear lower flap, and the medial rear upper flap partially covers a surface of the medial rear lower flap.

6. An article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein:

on the medial side, the envelope includes a medial front lower flap, a medial rear lower flap, and a medial rear upper flap;

the medial front lower flap partially overlaps the medial rear lower flap, and the medial rear upper flap partially overlaps the medial rear lower flap.

7. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein:

the lateral front lower flap and the medial front lower flap have respective rear edges;

the rear edge of the lateral front lower flap and the rear edge of the medial front lower flap extend rearward of a transverse plane level with a frontal surface of the upper portion.

8. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein:

the lateral rear lower flap and the medial rear lower flap have respective rear edges;

the front edge of the lateral rear lower flap and the front edge of the medial rear lower flap are proximate a transverse plane level with a frontal surface of the upper portion.

9. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein:

the sole assembly is separated from the upper edge of the lateral rear lower flap by a distance equal to a distance separating the sole assembly and a limit between the lower portion and the upper portion of the envelope;

the sole assembly is separated from the upper edge of the medial rear lower flap by a distance equal to a distance separating the sole assembly and the limit between the lower portion and the upper portion of the envelope.

10. An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein:

the limit between the lower portion and the upper portion of the envelope is a transverse plane extending through a flexion crease in an instep area of the boot.

11. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein:

the sole assembly is separated from the lower edge of the lateral rear upper flap by a distance which is less than a distance separating the sole assembly and a limit between the lower portion and the upper portion of the envelope;

the sole assembly is separated from the lower edge of the medial rear upper flap by a distance which is less than a distance separating the sole assembly and the limit between the lower portion and the upper portion of the envelope.

12. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

the upper includes an inner lining.

13. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for reversibly tightening the envelope, which acts on the flaps.

14. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for reversibly tightening the envelope, said mechanism comprising a plurality of lateral keepers, a plurality of medial keepers, and a lace extending through said lateral and medial keepers;

15. An article of footwear according to claim 14, further comprising:

a device for blocking the lace to maintain a tension in the lace.

16. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein:

the envelope includes exactly six flaps consisting of said lateral front lower flap, said medial front lower flap, said lateral rear lower flap, said medial ear lower flap, the lateral rear upper flap, and the medial rear upper flap.