Footgear structure

• US 5,339,544 A
• Filed: 09/07/1993
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lotto Sport Italia S.P.A
• Original Assignee: Lotto S.p.A.
• Inventors: Caberlotto, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US08/117,957
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 36/126-130, 36/47, 36/102, 36/132, 36/69, 36/114, 36/45, 36/9 R, 36/103, 36/105, 36/55, 36/44, 36/43
• US Class Current: 36/102
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0295 Pieced uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts

Abstract

The footgear structure includes a first component, made of a single piece of synthetic material, having a rear upper portion which extends from an insole, and a second component having a front upper portion and a lining. The first and second components are mutually united, with the lining accommodated inside the rear upper portion.

Claims

1. Footgear structure having a toe region, a ball region, an arch region and a heel region, the structure including a prefabricated one piece first component of synthetic material and a prefabricated composite second component of pre-selected size, wherein:

said first component includes;

a sole comprising integral therewith a partial insole portion and a partial sole portion,

said partial insole portion extending from the toe region of the footgear over the ball region of the footgear up to the arch region thereof,

said partial sole portion extending from the arch region end of said partial insole portion up to the heel region of the footgear,

integral with said sole, a first upper portion longitudinally extending from the ball region of the footgear up to the heel region thereof and extending upwardly from said sole,

said partial insole portion being flexible and thinner than said partial sole portion and having a perimetric edge surface for cooperation with said second component and a lower surface defining surface means for connection with a tread sole,

said second component includes;

a second upper portion extending from the toe region of the footgear up to said first upper portion, said second upper portion having upwardly extending perimetric surface means portions for connection with said first upper portion and lower surface means portions extending along said sole for connection with said means,

a lining for said second upper portion, said lining including a rear lining part protruding beyond said second upper portion towards the heel region of the footgear, said rear lining part being inserted in said first upper portion of said first component and having marginal surface means for connection with said first upper portion.

2. A footgear structure according to claim 1, further comprising an inner sole inserted therein above said sole of the footgear and a partial tread sole, wherein said second upper portion has a lower marginal edge fixed to said partial insole and wherein said partial tread sole is fixed to said partial insole portion.

3. A footgear structure according to claim 2, wherein said lower surface means of said second upper portion are folded below said partial insole portion and are fixed between said partial insole portion and said tread sole.

4. A footgear structure according to claim 3, wherein said perimetric edge surface of said partial insole portion is in the form of a containment edge, said lower surface means of said second upper portion being fixed inside said containment edge.

5. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first upper has thinned top and front edges providing marginal seam surfaces for surface connection with said perimetric surface means of said second upper portion and marginal surface means of said lining.

6. A footgear structure according to claim 3, wherein said surface connection is selected from the group of techniques consisting of sewing, gluing, riveting and ultrasonic welding.

7. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said partial sole portion has a stiffening grid of ridges.

8. A footgear structure according to claim 1, further comprising an abutment step between said partial insole portion and said partial sole portion.

9. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said partial insole portion has a series of transverse sectional depressions arranged along substantially parallel lines.

10. A footgear structure according to claim 1;

wherein said first component of synthetic material is constituted by a plurality of component parts made of different synthetic molding materials.

11. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said lower surface means of said second upper portion extend continuously over the bottom side of said second upper portion thereby defining a tubular shape of said second upper portion and wherein said lining is tubular.

12. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first prefabricated one piece component is made of high-performance plastics by injection.

13. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first prefabricated one piece component is made of high-performance plastics by casting.

14. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first prefabricated one piece component is made of successively molded materials of different characteristics.

15. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first prefabricated one piece component has a portion thereof located in said toe and ball region of the footgear structure made of very soft material, a further portion thereof located in said arch and heel regions of the footgear structure made of rigid material and has said first upper portion thereof made of soft material.

16. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said sole has seats for heel members and studs.

17. A footgear structure according to claim 1, further comprising studs fixed on said sole.

18. A footgear structure according to claim 17, wherein said studs have tips in the form of metallic heads with self-threading stems.

19. A footgear structure according to claim 17, wherein said studs are monolithic with said sole :

means.

20. A footgear structure according to claim 17, wherein said studs are constituted by molding inserts embedded in said sole.

21. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said sole include seats for plate elements with internally threaded protrusions passing through said sole and studs with threaded pins screwed within said protrusions.

22. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first upper portion has a variable thickness for selectively supporting and securing the heel of the user'"'"'s foot.

23. A footgear structure according to claim 1, wherein said first upper portion has aeration holes.

24. A footgear structure according to claim 1, further comprising a shock-absorbing element within said sole.

25. A footgear structure having a toe region, a ball region, an arch region and a heel region, the structure including a prefabricated one piece first component of synthetic material and a prefabricated composite second component of pre-selected size, wherein:

said first component includes;

a sole comprising integral therewith a partial insole portion and partial sole portion and further comprising an abutment step between said partial insole portion and said partial sole portion,

said partial insole portion extending from the toe region of the footgear over the ball region of the footgear up to the arch region thereof,

said partial sole portion extending from the arch region end of said partial insole portion up to the heel region of the footgear and having a stiffening grid of ridges,

integral with said sole, a first upper portion longitudinally extending from the ball region of the footgear up to the heel region thereof and extending upwardly from said sole,

a tread sole fixed below said partial insole portion and abutting against said abutment means,

an inner sole inserted above said sole of the footgear,

said partial insole portion being flexible and thinner than said partial sole portion and having a perimetric edge surface for cooperation with said second component and a lower surface defining surface means for connection with said tread sole,

said second component includes;

a second upper portion extending from the toe region of the footgear up to said first upper portion, said second upper portion having upwardly extending perimetric surface means portions for connection with said first upper portion and lower surface means portions extending along said sole for connection with said sole,

a lining for said second upper portion, said lining including a rear lining part protruding beyond said second upper portion towards the heel region of the footgear, said rear lining part being inserted in said first upper portion of said first component and having marginal surface means for connection with said first upper portion.

26. A footgear structure according to claim 25, wherein said upwardly extending surface means portion of said second upper portion is connected with said first upper portion at a region extending upwardly from said ball region of the footgear.