Climbing shoe

A climbing shoe comprising: a shoe-upper which is shaped so as to accommodate and cover substantially the whole foot of the user; a sole made of polymeric material, which is fixed to the bottom of the shoe-upper so as to cover the front part of the bottom of said shoe-upper; a front tensioning band made of elastomeric material, which is substantially U-bent and is fixed to the toe of the shoe-upper so as to embrace/surround the front part of the bottom of the shoe-upper, while joining to the front sole; a rear patch made of soft and flexible material, which is arranged astride of the rear part of the shoe-upper, in the area above the heel portion of the shoe-upper; and a rear tensioning band which is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper so that the central elbow/bend of the rear tensioning band covers the plantar arch portion of the bottom, and the two branches of the rear tensioning band extend obliquely along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper up to reach and firmly join said rear patch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102018000010719 filed on Nov. 30, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a climbing shoe.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, the currently most popular climbing shoes comprise: a leather and/or fabric shoe-upper that is substantially sock-shaped so as to accommodate and cover the user's foot, including the sole of the foot; a front tensioning band that is made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, is substantially U-bent, and is fixed to the toe of the shoe-upper by gluing so as to surround the tarsus-phalangeal portion of the user's foot; a rear tensioning band that is made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, is substantially U-bent, and is fixed by gluing to the rear part of the shoe-upper so as to cover the area above the Calcaneus of the user's foot, and then to extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper up to reach and join the front tensioning band; and a lower sole which is made of a soft and flexible polymeric material with a high friction coefficient and substantially inextensible, and is fixed by gluing to the bottom of the shoe upper, partially overlapping the front and rear tensioning bands, so as to cover the whole of the sole of the user's foot.

Patent EP2274994 additionally describes a climbing shoe provided with an additional tensioning band, again made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, which is substantially V-shaped and is fixed by gluing to the lower part of the shoe-upper, beneath the sole, so as to cover the bottom of the shoe-upper in the metatarsophalangeal area of the sole of the foot, and then extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper, up to reach and join the rear tensioning band.

Unfortunately, although working very well, the climbing shoe described above has a limited capability to adapt to the morphology of the user's foot with the comfort problems that this entails, and is excessively rigid with the operating limits that this entails.

The climbing shoe described above, in fact, is not very suitable for climbing rock walls that are grade IV or higher.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Aim of the present invention it to provided a climbing shoe which is lighter than those currently in use, and is moreover capable of binding the climber's foot better adapting itself to the morphology of the user's foot, so as to improve the foot-containment capacity of the footwear.

In compliance with these aims, according to the present invention there is provided a climbing shoe as defined in claim1and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent claims.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS.1,2,3, and4, reference number1denotes as a whole a climbing shoe that may be particularly advantageously used for climbing on rock walls classified as grade IV or higher.

The climbing shoe1basically comprises: a shoe upper preferably made of leather and/or fabric, which is substantially sock-shaped so as to accommodate and completely cover the user's foot, including the sole of the foot; and a front sole3that is made of a soft and flexible polymeric material with a high friction coefficient and substantially inextensible, and is firmly fixed to the bottom4of the shoe-upper2preferably by gluing, so as to cover the front part of the bottom4of shoe upper2.

In more detail, the bottom4of shoe-upper2, i.e. the part/sector of shoe-upper2that covers the sole of the user's foot, is longitudinally divided into a front or tarsus-phalangeal portion4athat is immediately underneath the tarsus-phalangeal region of the sole of the user's foot; a central or plantar-arch portion4bthat is immediately underneath the plantar-arch region; and a rear or talus-calcaneal portion4cthat is immediately underneath the talus-calcaneal region of the sole of the user's foot.

The front sole3is preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to substantially cover solely the front or tarsus-phalangeal portion4aof the bottom4of shoe-upper2.

Preferably, the front sole3is moreover made of a polymeric material having a hardness (UNI 4916) preferably lower than 80 Shore A and optionally ranging between 50 and 75 Shore A.

In more detail, in the example shown, the front sole3is preferably made of a soft and flexible polymeric material such as, for example, the XS Edge compound or the GRIP2compound manufactured by the Italian firm VIBRAM S.P.A.

The climbing shoe1additionally comprises a plurality of tensioning bands that are made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, are preferably pre-tensioned, and are finally firmly fixed to the shoe-upper2preferably by gluing, so as to embrace and tighten the shoe upper2against the user's foot.

In more detail, each tensioning band has a monolithic structure, and is preferably made of an elastomeric material having an elastic modulus (also known as Young's modulus) significantly lower than that of the polymeric material forming the front sole3.

In other words, the tensioning bands are preferably made of elastomeric materials having an elastic modulus 2-10 times lower than that of the polymeric material forming the sole3, and preferably also a hardness (UNI 4916) greater than that of the polymeric material forming the sole3.

Preferably the tensioning band or bands are moreover pre-tensioned so as to tighten the shoe-upper2on the user's foot, to the limit of physical pain.

With reference toFIGS.1,2,3and4, in particular, the climbing shoe1is preferably provided with a front tensioning band5and with a rear tensioning band6, both with a monolithic structure and preferably pre-tensioned.

The front tensioning band5is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the toe7of the shoe-upper2preferably by gluing, so as to surround/embrace the front part of the bottom4of shoe-upper2, firmly joining at same time the front sole3preferably by gluing.

In more detail, the front tensioning band5is firmly fixed to the toe7of shoe-upper2so as to cover the area of shoe upper2that surrounds/flanks the tarsus-phalangeal portion4aof the bottom4, preferably also extending on the bottom4of shoe-upper2, underneath the sole3.

In other words, the lower edge of the front tensioning band5extends on the bottom4of shoe-upper2so as to be at least partially overlapped by the sole3, and is firmly fixed to the sole3preferably by gluing.

Preferably, the front tensioning band5moreover extends along the two inner and outer lateral sides of shoe-upper2, towards the heel portion8of shoe-upper2(i.e. towards the portion of shoe-upper2that covers and protects the Calcaneus of the user's foot), so that the two ends5aof the band5reach and, optionally, also go beyond the boundary line between the tarsus-phalangeal portion4aand the plantar arch portion4bof the bottom4, preferably remaining spaced one from the other.

Moreover, with particular reference toFIG.2, the central part of front tensioning band5is preferably also shaped so as to extend along the upper part of shoe-upper2towards the in step of user's foot, preferably substantially up to meet and, optionally, surround/embrace the front end of the upper fitting opening9of shoe-upper2, so as to substantially cover the upper-front part10of shoe-upper2without any interruptions.

The front part of the user's foot is thus protected, on the bottom, by the sole3and, on top, by the central part of front tensioning band5.

Preferably, the front tensioning band5is finally made of an elastomeric material with a hardness (UNI 4916) greater than or equal to 80 Shore A.

With reference toFIGS.1,2,3and4, the climbing shoe1additionally comprises a small rear patch11made of soft and flexible material, which is arranged astride the rear part of shoe-upper2in the area immediately adjacent and above the heel portion8of shoe-upper2; and the rear tensioning band6is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper2preferably by gluing, so that the central elbow/bend of the band covers the plantar arch portion4bof bottom4, preferably locally also overlapping the lower edge of front tensioning band5, while the two branches of the rear tensioning band6extend obliquely along the two inner and outer lateral sides of shoe-upper2up to reach and firmly join the rear patch11.

Clearly, the two ends6aof rear tensioning band6reach the rear patch11from opposite sides of the latter and remain spaced/distanced from each other.

More specifically, the two ends6aof rear tensioning band6are preferably overlapped by the rear patch11, and are firmly fixed to the rear patch11preferably by gluing.

At the overlap points, moreover, the rear tensioning band6surmounts and is firmly fixed to the front tensioning band5preferably by gluing.

In addition, the central elbow of rear tensioning band6is preferably dimensioned so as to also extend within the tarsus-phalangeal portion4aof the bottom4of shoe-upper2, underneath the front sole3.

The rear patch11, on the other hand, is preferably made of a soft and flexible polymeric material that is optionally also substantially inextensible, and is preferably firmly fixed to the rear part of shoe-upper2preferably by gluing.

In addition, the rear patch11is preferably arranged astride of the midplane M of the shoe, immediately above the heel portion8of shoe-upper2, so as to extend substantially astride the point where the Achilles tendon attaches to the Calcaneus of the user's foot.

The two ends6aof rear tensioning band6, therefore, are preferably located on opposite sides of the shoe midplane M.

Preferably, the polymeric material forming the rear patch11is moreover less hard than the elastomeric material forming the rear tensioning band6.

In the example shown, in particular, likewise the front tensioning band5, the rear tensioning band6is preferably made of an elastomeric material having a hardness (UNI 4916) greater than or equal to 80 Shore A.

The rear patch11, in turn, is preferably made of a soft and flexible polymeric material having a hardness (UNI 4916) lower than 80 Shore A and optionally ranging between 50 and 75 Shore A.

With reference toFIGS.1,3, and4, in addition the climbing shoe1preferably also comprises a rear protective sheet12which is made of a soft and flexible, and optionally substantially inextensible, polymeric material, and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper2preferably by gluing, so as to cover the rear part of the bottom4of shoe upper2while remaining spaced from the front sole3.

In addition, the rear protective sheet12is preferably also shaped so as to rise up along the rear part of shoe-upper2, towards the rear patch11, while remaining substantially astride the shoe midplane M, so as to also cover the heel portion8of shoe-upper2.

In other words, the rear protective sheet12is preferably oblong in shape and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper2so as to cover the rear part of bottom4and the heel portion8.

Preferably, the polymeric material forming the rear protective sheet12moreover has a hardness lower than that of the elastomeric material forming the rear tensioning band6, and optionally also a hardness greater than that of the polymeric material forming the front sole3.

In more detail, the rear protective sheet12is preferably dimensioned so as to cover the talus-calcaneal portion4cof the bottom4of shoe-upper2, optionally also extending over the plantar-arch portion4bof the bottom4preferably while remaining underneath the rear tensioning band6.

Preferably the protective sheet12is furthermore substantially L-bent and is shaped/dimensioned so as to also cover the heel portion8of shoe-upper2, while remaining spaced from the rear patch11.

In other words, the rear protective sheet12is preferably oblong in shape, and is preferably substantially L-bent so as to cover the talus-calcaneal portion4cof the bottom4and the heel portion8of shoe upper2, while remaining substantially astride of the shoe midplane M.

In the example shown, in particular, the rear protective sheet12is preferably made of a polymeric material having a hardness (UNI 4916) preferably lower than 75 Shore A and optionally ranging between 50 and 65 Shore A.

With reference toFIGS.1,3and4, finally the climbing shoe1is preferably provided with a semi-rigid front insert13and/or with a semi-rigid rear insert14, both preferably made of semi-rigid polymeric material.

The semi-rigid front insert13has a plate-like structure that preferably underapproximates the shape of the front sole3and is firmly fixed to the bottom4of shoe-upper2, or rather to the tarsus-phalangeal portion4aof the bottom4of shoe-upper2, underneath the front sole3and preferably also underneath the front tensioning band5and/or the rear tensioning band6, so as to stiffen the front part of the climbing shoe1.

In more detail, the semi-rigid front insert13is preferably made of nylon or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and is preferably firmly fixed to the front sole3and to the bottom4of shoe-upper2by gluing.

The semi-rigid rear insert14, on the other hand, has a ribbon-like structure, is substantially L-bent, and is firmly fixed to the rear part of the bottom4, or rather on the talus-calcaneal portion4cof the bottom4, and to the heel portion8of shoe-upper2, beneath the rear protective sheet12and substantially astride the midplane M, so as to stiffen the rear part of the climbing shoe1.

Similarly to the semi-rigid front insert13, also the semi-rigid rear insert14is preferably made of nylon or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and is preferably firmly fixed to the shoe-upper2and to the rear protective sheet12by gluing.

The functioning of the climbing shoe1is easily inferable from the above description, and does not require further explanation.

The advantages connected to the particular shape and arrangement of the rear tensioning band6are remarkable.

First of all, the thus-made rear tensioning band6enables the elastic force to be distributed, in the rear part of the shoe, over a wider surface that, in addition, excludes the part of the foot where the Achilles tendon attaches to the Calcaneus, thus noticeably improving the comfort of the fit.

In more detail, the rear tensioning band6, being interrupted in the area of the foot where the Achilles tendon attaches to the Calcaneus, enables the small rear patch11located there to distribute the pressure over a wider area of the foot, with a considerable increase in the shoe's comfort. All this, of course, without compromising in any way the foot-containment capacity of the shoe1.

In addition, the special shape of the rear tensioning band6enables differentiated pre-tensioning of the inner and outer sides of the shoe, making it possible for the climbing shoe1to better adapt to the morphology of the user's foot.

Lastly, the climbing shoe1is considerably lighter than climbing shoes currently on the market, with all the advantages that this entails.

It is finally clear that modifications and variations may be made to the climbing shoe1without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the semi-rigid front insert13and/or semi-rigid rear insert14may be made of a polymeric material loaded with carbon nanoparticles. Preferably the carbon nanoparticles are moreover graphene particles and/or carbon nanotubes.

In addition, with reference toFIG.5, in a different embodiment the rear patch11can be made in one piece with the protective sheet12.

In other words, the rear patch11can be an extension of the rear protective sheet12.

Finally, with reference toFIG.6, in a more sophisticated embodiment, the two ends5aof front tensioning band5extend/prolong on the bottom4of shoe-upper2, one towards the other, so as to firmly reach/join to one another preferably at the plantar arch portion4bof the bottom4, obviously underneath the rear tensioning band6.

The front tensioning band5is, thus, designed to form a preferably pre-tensioned, elastic ring that surrounds and tightens the tarsus-phalangeal portion4aof the bottom4of shoe-upper2.

In more detail, in the example shown, the two ends5aof the front tensioning band5are preferably overlapped and glued one on the other.

Preferably, the two ends5aof the front tensioning band5, in addition, connect to each other near the border between the tarsus-phalangeal portion4aand the plantar arch portion4bof the bottom4.