METHOD FOR FASTENING A SHOE, IN PARTICULAR, A SPORTS SHOE, AND SHOE, IN PARTICULAR SPORTS SHOE

• US 20190328085A1
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Puma SE
• Original Assignee: Puma SE
• Inventors: Bock, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 11,805,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/08 Clamps drawn tight by laces

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for fastening a shoe (1), having an upper part (2) and a sole (3) connected thereto, a rotary closure (4) for fastening the shoe (1) on the wearer'"'"'s foot by means of at least one tensioning element (5), the rotary closure (4) having a rotatably arranged tensioning roller (6), and the tensioning roller (6) being driven by means of an electric motor (7), and a switching element (8), which is connected to control means (9), wherein the switching element (8) and the control means (9) can actuate the electric motor (7), wherein the operation of fastening the shoe (1) takes place by virtue of the person using the shoe (1) using a finger (15) to actuate the switching element (8). In order for it to be possible for the shoe to be fastened on the wearer'"'"'s foot in a particularly straightforward and reproducible manner, the invention provides for the switching element (8) to have a number of touch-sensitive sensors (10) which are arranged one beside the other and form a surface (11) which is accessible to a user'"'"'s finger (15), wherein the method comprises the following steps: The finger (15) is passed over the surface (11) of the touch-sensitive sensors (10) in a first direction (R1), the control means (9) detects the signal from the touch-sensitive sensors (10) and the control means (9) and the electric motor (7) cause the shoe to be fastened on the wearer'"'"'s foot with a first level of fastening force. The invention also relates to a shoe.

Claims

1. A method for fastening a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, wherein the shoe comprises:

an upper part and a sole which is connected with the upper part,

a rotary closure for fastening the shoe on a wearer'"'"'s foot by means of at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by means of an electric motor,

a switching element which is arranged at the instep and which is connected to control means, wherein the switching element and the control means can actuate the electric motor,

wherein the operation of fastening the shoe takes place by actuating of the switching element by the user of the shoe, preferably using a finger,

wherein the switching element comprises a number of touch-sensitive sensors which are arranged one beside the other and form a surface which is accessible to a user,

wherein the method comprises the steps;

passing over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors by the user, preferably with the finger, in a first direction,

detecting of the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the control means and causing the fastening of the shoe at the foot of the wearer at a first level of fastening force by the control means and the electric motor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

passing a finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in the first direction, and

detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the control means and causing the fastening of the shoe at the foot of the wearer at a second level of fastening force which is higher than the first level of fastening force by the control means and the electric motor.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in the first direction,

detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the control means and causing the fastening of the shoe at the foot of the wearer at a third level of fastening force which is higher than the second level of fastening force by the control means and the electric motor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

passing a finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors, in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and

detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the control means and causing the opening of the shoe or a reduction of the level of the fastening force by the control means and the electric motor.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a number of illumination elements, including a plurality of LEDs, are arranged along the switching element, and

wherein a level of the fastening force is displayed by the number of activated illumination elements.

6. A shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising:

an upper part and a sole which is connected with the upper part,

a rotary closure for fastening the shoe on a wearer'"'"'s foot by means of at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by means of an electric motor,

a switching element which is arranged at the instep and which is connected to control means, wherein the switching element and the control means can actuate the electric motor,

wherein the switching element is formed by a number of touch-sensitive sensors which are arranged one beside the other which form a surface which is accessible to a user.

7. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the single touch-sensitive sensors are designed as capacitive sensors.

8. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the single touch-sensitive sensors are arranged side by side in a linear formation, and

wherein between 3 and 7 touch-sensitive sensors are arranged side by side.

9. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the switching element includes a number of illumination elements, especially LEDs, arranged therealong.

10. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the switching element and the rotary closure are arranged at different locations of the shoe.

11. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the rotary closure is arranged in the sole of the shoe.

12. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein spring means are arranged in the upper part which bias the upper part against the force of the tensioning element in an open-position.

13. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein a rechargeable battery is arranged in the shoe which is rechargeable inductively and/or contactless.

14. A shoe, comprising:

an upper part and a sole which is connected with the upper part,

a rotary closure for fastening the shoe on a wearer'"'"'s foot via tensioning of at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor, and

a switching element which is arranged at the instep, and which is connected to control means, wherein the switching element receives an input that actuates the electric motor.

15. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the switching element includes a touch-sensitive sensor.

16. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of LEDs are disposed adjacent the switching element.

17. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the switching element includes a number of illumination elements arranged therealong.

18. The shoe according to claim 17, wherein the illumination elements include one or more LEDs that light up the more the shoe is tightened.

19. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the rotary closure and the switching element are both arranged as a unit on the instep.

20. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the rotary closure is arranged in the sole.