Abstract:
Series, combination of series and method to produce sports shoes of different size, in which each sports shoe of different size comprises a casing substantially rigid and defining an internal compartment for containing the user&#39;s foot, a sole associated below the casing and an inner boot disposed in the internal compartment, in order to make putting the foot into the casing more comfortable. The sole has always the same length for all the sports shoes, and the casing has a different size to each other so as to define, on each occasion, an internal compartment with a different volume for each of the sports shoes of different size, so as to cover a plurality of foot sizes, within a determinate range, keeping the length of the sole always the same.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention concerns a series of sports shoes of different sizes, such as for example ski boots, snowboard boots or suchlike, having at least a casing or upper, substantially rigid, and underneath a sole suitable to be associated with an attachment device, for example for a ski, a snowboard or other. In particular, the present invention concerns a series of sports shoes that allow to keep unvaried the opening adjustment of the ski attachment, inside a certain range of foot sizes of the boot, while still guaranteeing excellent wearability and functional efficiency of the boot. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known that, particularly in commercial activities of renting footwear and other sporting equipment, such as ski boots and ski equipment, in order to accelerate delivery times and personalization of the material provided, there is a need to intervene as little as possible for the specific adjustment of the opening sizes of the attachment of the skis, with respect to the size of the boot. 
         [0003]    For this reason, ski boots have been designed that comprise a rigid casing and sole in which, in order to adapt a fixed length of the sole, corresponding to an adjustment of the attachment, to a certain range of sizes, inner boots are used which have padding of different thicknesses. 
         [0004]    The inner boots of known boots are inserted on each occasion into the casing in order to compensate, with the different thickness of their padding, the difference between the fixed internal size of the rigid casing and the specific size, and variable in said range, of the user&#39;s foot. 
         [0005]    It is also known that, to cover substantially all the possible sizes, three or four series, different in size, of casings and soles of fixed length are made, into which an equal number of inner boots, padded with different thicknesses, are selectively inserted, so that each series of casings and soles of fixed length can be adapted to three or four different foot sizes. 
         [0006]    However, with boots of these known series, with prolonged use, the padding of the inner boot progressively loses its consistency, especially in the case of rented inner boots, and therefore subjected to intensive use, until the user&#39;s foot is allowed to move excessively and uncontrollably inside the casing, and the necessary functional rigidity is not guaranteed. 
         [0007]    This uncontrolled movement of the foot, when the sport is practiced, can also cause the risk of accidents, even very serious, and falls. 
         [0008]    The risk of accidents due to the yielding of the inner boots is particularly increased if we consider that the market of ski boots and equipment for rent is mainly addressed to beginners or occasional users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    One purpose of an embodiment of the present invention is to achieve a series of sports shoes, such as ski boots, snowboard boots or suchlike, which is simple and economical to make and which overcomes the disadvantages of the state of the art. 
         [0010]    Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method for making a series of sports shoes of different sizes having the sole of a fixed length. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the above purposes, a series of sports shoes of different size according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a plurality of boots, each of which comprises a substantially rigid casing able to define an internal containing compartment for the user&#39;s foot, a sole associated below the casing, and an inner boot disposed in the internal compartment of the casing to make putting the boot on the foot more comfortable. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sole has always the same length for all the sports shoes, of different size, of the series, whereas the casing has a different size to each other so as to define, on each occasion, an internal compartment with a different volume for each sports shoe, of different size, of the series, so that the series according to such an embodiment of the invention can cover a plurality of foot sizes, inside a determinate range, keeping the length of the sole always the same. 
         [0013]    The sports shoes of the series according to one embodiment of the invention are made in a molding step, by means of at least a molding equipment having a first part always the same for all the sports shoes, of different size, of the series, in which the sole with always the same length is made, and a second part, modified or modifiable in a front segment and/or a rear segment, for each sports shoe of the series, in which the casings of different size to each other are made with the respective internal compartments different for each sports shoe, of different size, of the series, so as to obtain different sizes of the casing. 
         [0014]    With one embodiment of the present invention a series of sports shoes is therefore made, or a plurality of said series, each one defined by a specific length of sole, which has different casings, each of a discrete size and different from the other, so as to satisfy the different foot sizes of the users, whereas the length of the sole remains always unvaried for the whole series. 
         [0015]    In this way, a possible attachment to relative skis or snowboards does not require specific opening adjustments of the attachments, according to the different foot sizes of the boots, inside the same series. 
         [0016]    By the term “discrete size” we mean that the variation in size of the casing can vary so as to correspond to a variation by half a size, or a size, from each other. 
         [0017]    Moreover, with one embodiment of the present invention, the only function of the inner boot is to make it more comfortable to put the foot in, and not to compensate, with the thickness of its padding, the difference in size between the size of the internal compartment of the casing and the user&#39;s foot. 
         [0018]    In this way, it is the rigidity of the casing that guarantees that the correct positioning of the foot is maintained in the sports shoe, substantially with no risk that possible loosening of the padding of the inner boot can allow excessive or uncontrolled movements of the foot inside the casing. 
         [0019]    Therefore, with one embodiment of the present invention, the risk of accidents and/or falls due to the loosening of the padding in the inner boot is reduced to a minimum, and the functionality and efficiency of the shoe is maintained unchanged. 
         [0020]    It is clear that to cover the highest number of possible sizes, it may be provided to make a number of series of sports shoes according to one embodiment of the present invention as desired, for example four, each one having a specific sole length, and each one having different discrete sizes of the casings. 
         [0021]    According to one embodiment, the mold equipment with which the series according to the present invention are made comprises a dedicated mold for each sports shoe, where the mold has its second part specifically shaped to define the internal volume of the relative casing. 
         [0022]    According to another embodiment, the mold equipment with which the series according to the present invention are made comprises a single mold, selectively modifiable in its second part by inserting suitable inserts, thicknesses, shapes or other, into its front segment and/or rear segment, in order to define, on each occasion, the internal volume of the relative casing. 
         [0023]    The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a schematic lateral view of a first series of sports shoes according to the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a schematic lateral view of a second series of sports shoes according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a schematic lateral view of a third series of sports shoes according to the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a schematic lateral view of a fourth series of sports shoes according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    With reference to the attached drawings, four series, respectively a first  10  ( FIG. 1 ), a second  110  ( FIG. 2 ), a third  210  ( FIG. 3 ) and a fourth  310  ( FIG. 4 ) of sports shoes  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311 , of variable size, are shown schematically. 
         [0030]    In general, in all the series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  according to the present invention each ski boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  comprises a respective casing  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312  of a different size for each series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  and with which a sole  13 ,  113 ,  213  and  313  is associated underneath, of a fixed length for each series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310 . Moreover, each ski boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  comprises inside it an inner boot  15 ,  115 ,  215  and  315 , able only to make the ski boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  more comfortable for the user to put on and wear. 
         [0031]    With particular reference to  FIG. 1 , a first series  10  is shown in which the boots  11  all have a sole  13  of fixed length L 1 , for example comprised between about 285 mm and about 290 mm, advantageously 288 mm. 
         [0032]    In this first series  10 , on three soles  13  of equal length, three respective distinct casings  12  are provided, each shaped in a different way from the others, so as to define respective three internal compartments  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c , of a different size, variable in a discrete manner (half a size, a size or a desired fraction of a size), into which the specific inner boot  15  is inserted. 
         [0033]    In this case, the internal compartment  12   a  has a usable internal length of about 235 mm, that is, about size 36 or 36½ European, the internal compartment  12   b  has a usable internal length of about 245 mm, that is, about size 37½, 38, while the internal compartment  12   c  has a usable internal length of about 255 mm, that is, about size 39, 39½. 
         [0034]    With particular reference to  FIG. 2 , a second series  110  is shown in which the boots  111  all have a sole  113  with a fixed length L 2 , for example comprised between about 315 mm and about 320 mm, advantageously 318 mm. 
         [0035]    In this second series  110 , on three soles  113  of equal length, three respective distinct casings  112  are provided, each shaped in a different way from the others, so as to define respective three internal compartments  112   a ,  112   b  and  112   c , variable in a discrete manner, of a different size, into which the specific inner boot  115  is inserted. 
         [0036]    In this case, the internal compartment  112   a  has a usable internal length of about 265 mm, that is, about size 40, 41, the internal compartment  112   b  has a usable internal length of about 275 mm, that is, about size 42, 42½, while the internal compartment  112   c  has a usable internal length of about 285 mm, that is, about size 43, 44. 
         [0037]    With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , a third series  210  is shown in which the boots  211  all have a sole  213  with a fixed length L 3 , for example comprised between about 340 mm and about 350 mm, advantageously 348 mm. 
         [0038]    In this third series  210 , on three soles  213  of equal length, three respective distinct casings  212  are provided, each shaped in a different way from the others, so as to define respective three internal compartments  212   a ,  212   b  and  212   c , variable in a discrete manner, of a different size, into which the specific inner boot  215  is inserted. 
         [0039]    In this case, the internal compartment  212   a  has a usable internal length of about 295 mm, that is, about size 45, 45½, the internal compartment  212   b  has a usable internal length of about 305 mm, that is, about size 46½, 47, while the internal compartment  212   c  has a usable internal length of about 315 mm, that is, about size 48, 48½. 
         [0040]    With particular reference to  FIG. 4 , a fourth series  310  is shown in which the boots  311  all have a sole  313  with a fixed length L 4 , for example comprised between about 375 mm and about 380 mm, advantageously 378 mm. 
         [0041]    In this fourth series  310 , on three soles  313  of equal length, three respective distinct casings  312  are provided, each shaped in a different way from the others, so as to define respective three internal compartments  312   a ,  312   b  and  312   c , variable in a discrete manner, of a different size, into which the specific inner boot  315  is inserted. 
         [0042]    In this case, the internal compartment  312   a  has a usable internal length of about 325 mm, that is, about size 49, 49½, the internal compartment  312   b  has a usable internal length of about 335 mm, that is, about size 50, 50½, while the internal compartment  312   c  has a usable internal length of about 345 mm, that is, about size 51, 51½. 
         [0043]    In this way, by combining together the four series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  made according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to cover, with only four different lengths L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  of soles  13 ,  113 ,  213  and  313 , a number of foot sizes that goes from 36 to 51½. 
         [0044]    The boots  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  of each of the series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  described above are made by pressure die-casting of polymer material. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the molding equipment, not shown, has a first part substantially the same for all the boots  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  of the same series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  and has pre-determined size. In this first part the sole  13 ,  113 ,  213  and  313  of each ski boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  is made. 
         [0046]    In this embodiment, the molding equipment also comprises a second part, modified or selectively modifiable in a front segment and/or in a rear segment thereof, for each boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  of the same series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  so as to make different casings  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312  for each series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310 . 
         [0047]    As shown schematically by a line of dashes in the attached drawings, the variation in thickness and/or inclination of the tip of the casing  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312  and/or the variation in thickness and/or inclination in the heel part of the same determines the discrete variation of the relative internal volume  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ;  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ;  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c ;  312   a ,  312   b ,  312   c , of the casings  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312  and hence of the foot size of the boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311 . 
         [0048]    According to an alternative embodiment, a specific mold is made for each boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  to be made. In this embodiment, the second part is shaped specifically to define the relative internal volume  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ;  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ;  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c ;  312   a ,  312   b ,  312   c , of the casings  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312 . 
         [0049]    According to another alternative embodiment, a single mold is made, at least one for each series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310 . In this solution, the second part of the mold is selectively modifiable by suitably positioning inserts, thicknesses, blocks or other, in the front segment and/or rear segment of the mold, so as to define, on each occasion, a desired internal volume  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ;  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ;  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c ;  312   a ,  312   b ,  312   c , of the casings  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312 . 
         [0050]    In this way, whether distinct molds are used for every boot  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311 , or whether the same modifiable mold is used for each series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310 , we have the advantage of being able to provide the common production of at least a part of the mold for all the boots  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311  of the same series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310 . 
         [0051]    It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. 
         [0052]    For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that there is a different number of series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  other than four, and also that each series  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  provides a different number of boots  11 ,  111 ,  211  and  311 , other than three, between one series and the other. For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide a combination of five series of sports shoes, in which the first series comprises two boots, the second series comprises four boots, the third series comprises three boots and the fourth and fifth series each comprises two boots of different sizes. 
         [0053]    It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of series of sports shoes, such as ski boots, snowboard boots or suchlike, of different sizes, and relative production method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.