INNER SHOE FOR SKI BOOTS

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inner shoe (1) for ski boots comprising an upper (2) provided with a perimetral border (5) at the end (3) associated with an inner sole (4). The inner sole (4) is furthermore provided with at least one raised portion (8) and at least one perimetral tab (12) facing and connected to the border (5) of the upper (2). Advantageously, the central raised portion (8) of the inner sole (4) defines a perimetral edge (9) having a thickness approximately equal to that of the border (5) provided on the upper (2).

Description: The present invention relates to an inner shoe for ski boots. Inner shoes are currently known which are sewn and fitted on a last; the assembly initially entails the perimetral sewing of an inner insole, the insertion of the last, the application of an adhesive and the reactivation thereof by heating, the glueing of an inner sole by pressing and then the extraction from the last. The main disadvantage of such known types of shoes resides in the fact that they have very high costs due to the various processes required, which increase the production times of each individual shoe. As a partial solution to said disadvantages, a shoe is also known which has a strobel sewing on the perimetral border of the sole for fixing it to the upper. Though it does not require assembly on a last, this shoe has a less than optimum aesthetical appearance since the sewing of the inner sole is visible, and the shoe itself provides poor heat insulation. It is furthermore noted that the sewing defines, at the joined perimetral borders, a sharp edge which does not allow correct adaptation to the interior of the shell of the ski boot. AT-B-247 191 discloses a inner sole provided with downwardly projecting central protrusions to which folded vertical edges of an upper are connected. The main aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate all of the disadvantages of the known types of inner shoes for ski boots. Within this main aim, another aim of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types, by devising an inner shoe for ski boots which is simple, rapid and economical to manufacture and which simultaneously provides an aesthetical appearance comparable to similar shoes obtained with the above mentioned more expensive prior art. Within the scope of these aims, an important object of the invention is to provide an inner shoe for ski boots which associates the previous characteristics to that of providing optimum heat insulation and the possibility of achieving in a simple, rapid and economic manner, characterizing aesthetical finishings for said shoe. Another important object is to provide an inner shoe which furthermore allows an optimum adaptation to the interior of the shell of the ski boot. The aim and the objects mentioned above and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an inner shoe for ski boots as defined in the appended claim 1. Advantageously, said raised portion of said inner sole has a thickness which is approximately equal to that of said border of said upper. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings wherein: fig. 1 is a lateral perspective view of the shoe in which, for the sake of clarity, the upper and the inner sole are not coupled; fig. 2 is a sectional view along a transverse cross section plane of the shoe, illustrating a preferred solution for the upper-inner sole assembly; figure 3 is a view, similar to figure 2, of a further aspect of the inner shoe according to the invention. With reference to the above described figures, the inner shoe 1, particularly usable for ski boots, consists of an upper 2 having, at the end 3 associable with an inner sole 4, a perimetral border 5. Said perimetral border 5 protrudes approximately perpendicular to the outer lateral surface 6 of the upper 2, said border partially occluding the opening 7 provided at the end 3 of the upper 2. Furthermore, it can be seen that in the embodiment shown in figure 1, the perimetral border 5 is provided at the extreme lower edge of the end 3 of the upper 2. The inner sole 4, which can be moulded, heat-formed, electrically formed at high frequency or made by hand with the most suitable materials, with or without a lining, is provided with a raised portion 8 shaped complementarily with respect to the opening 7 defined on the upper 2. As seen in the drawing figure 1, the raised portion 8 vertically protrudes from the plane of lay of the inner sole 4 in the upward direction towards the opening 1 of the upper 2. This raised portion 8 has a perimetral edge 9 with thickness approximately equal to that of said perimetral border 5, its surface 10 facing towards the inside of the upper 2 being possibly provided with the most suitable configuration depending on the structure of the foot. At the surface 11 of the inner sole 4 facing towards the outside of the upper 2, a plurality of knurlings is provided, adapted to increase the grip to the inside of the ski boot shell, in said inner sole there being defined, on the plane of arrangement of the surface 11, a perimetral tab 12 with width approximately equal to that of said perimetral border 5. The assembly of the upper 2 to the inner sole 4 can occur without the insertion of the last, it being sufficient to insert, practically coupling, the raised portion 8 in the opening 7 of the upper, causing the upwardly facing surface of the perimetral tab 12 to mate with the downwardly facing surface of the perimetral border 5. The coupling between the upwardly facing surface of said tab 12 and the downwardly facing surface of the border 5 can be effected for example with chain stitching or with another type of stitching, by means of a suitable sewing machine, preferably of the type having an oscillating arm 13. The lining of the shoe on the border 5 is preferably performed with zig-zag stitching so as to improve the aesthetics. Naturally, the coupling between the border 5 and the tab 2 can be effected by glueing. It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the intended aims, an inner shoe for ski boots having been obtained which can be assembled in a rapid and simple manner which entails for the latter a very modest cost. The shoe thus obtained also has a good aesthetical appearance and optimum heat insulation, of a greater degree than that obtainable with known stitched shoes. The shoe is furthermore provided with a good coupling between the inner sole and the upper, this allowing the optimum adaptation thereof to the interior of the shell of the ski boot. Moreover, the possibility of applying to the upper's inner soles having the surfaces 10 and 11 with different or specific configurations, depending, for example, on the shape of the foot, allows the achievement of an optimum fit for the user, as well as a desirable aesthetical finish for the shoe. Naturally, the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept. Thus, for example, fig. 3 illustrates a further aspect of the shoe according to the invention, in which the edge of the perimetral border 205 of the upper 202 has an abutment 203 for the accommodation of the perimetral tab 212 of the inner sole 204. In this manner a double reference is achieved for the assembly of the inner sole 204 and the upper 202 and most of all both the outer surface and the inner surface of the shoe are absolutely free from raised portions. Naturally, all the materials, as well as the dimensions of the individual components, may be any according to the specific requirements.

Claims: Inner shoe for ski boots, comprising an upper (2;202) and an inner sole (4;204) associated to a lower end (3) of said upper (2;202), said inner sole (4;204) defining a plane of lay and being provided with a central raised portion (8) which vertically projects from said plane of lay, a perimetral tab (12;212) being defined on said inner sole (4;204) which lies in said plane of lay and which extends perimetrally around said central raised portion (8), said upper (2;202) defining an opening (7) at its lower end (3), said lower end (3) of said upper (2;202) being provided with a perimetral border (5;205) which is arranged on a plane which is approximately perpendicular to the lateral surface of said upper (2;202) and which partially occludes said opening (7) of said upper (2;202), said perimetral border (5;205) of said upper (2;202) defining a downwardly facing surface, said inner shoe characterized in that said central raised portion (8) of said inner sole vertically projects upwardly from said plane of lay in the direction of said opening (7) of said upper (2;202) and said perimetral tab (12;212) of said inner sole (4;204) defines an upwardly facing surface which is connected to said downwardly facing surface of said perimetral border (5;205) to thereby associate said inner sole (4;204) to said upper (2;202), said inner shoe being further characterized in that said upwardly facing surface of said perimetral tab (12;212) and said downwardly facing surface of said perimetral border (5,205) of said upper (2;202) have substantially identical configurations, thereby said inner shoe has a smooth flush outer surface at the points of connection between said upper (2;202) and said inner sole (4;204). Inner shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that said perimetral border (5) which partially occludes said opening (7) of the upper (2) is provided at the extreme edge of the lower end (3) of the upper. Inner shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that said perimetral border (205) which partially occludes said opening (7) of the upper (2) is provided at a point which is slightly inside said opening (7) to thereby define and abutment (203) for said perimetral tab (212). Inner shoe according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said raised portion (8) has a configuration facing towards the interior of said upper (2) which is selectively shaped with respect to the sole of the user's foot. Inner shoe according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said raised portion (8) defines a perimetral edge (9) having a height which is equal to that of said perimetral border (5). Inner shoe according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said inner sole (4) defines an outside surface (11) which is provided with a plurality of knurlings adapted to increase the grip on the inside of a ski boot shell.

Inventors: POZZEBON, ADOLFO
Applicants: NORDICA S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A43B5
IPC codes: A43B5, A43B19