Abstract:
Sport shoe, particularly adapted to use in cross-country skiing, including a sole, a vamp, and an overshoe. The vamp is positioned in the overshoe and includes a tightening means for tightening the vamp around the instep. Both the vamp and the overshoe include a posterior portion surrounding the rear portion of the leg. The vamp and overshoe are attached to one another along their posterior portions. This attachment extends from the top of the shoe to the bottom of the shoe along the posterior portion of the vamp and the overshoe. As a result of this arrangement, when the tightening means tightens the vamp around the instep, the posterior portions of the vamp and the overshoe also tighten, thereby firmly holding the rear of the foot and the heel in the shoe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sport shoe, particularly a shoe of the type used in cross-country skiing. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Sport shoes, such as those of the cross-country type, comprise a sloe, preferably made of molded plastic, on which a flexible vamp is attached. Such shoes or boots are generally tightened around the foot by, for example, passing lace through holes provided in an upper lacing zone which extends along the length of the longitudinal edges of a slit provided in the upper portion of the vamp. This type of shoe firmly holds the front of the foot. However, this is not necessarily true of the heel of the wearer, which is not well maintained. Although this poor heel maintenance is not a major inconvenience during normal walking, it is a major inconvenience when practicing a sport requiring a substantial flexion of the foot, as is the case when practicing cross-country skiing. This inconvenience arises because the edge of the upper surrounding the instep tends to open during flexion of the foot. As a result, snow can enter the boot and there is overheating due to friction, which can be annoying to the skier. 
     To overcome these disadvantages, a sport shoe has been developed with an elongated tightening element, of adjustable length, extending behind and against the upper and posterior portion of the upper. In addition, the tightening element is inclined, on each side of the shoe, from the top to the bottom of the shoe and from the rear to the front of the shoe, to tighten the upper edge of the upper around the foot of the wearer. Such a shoe is described in French application No. 81 03085 filed by Applicant on Feb. 17, 1981. Although such a shoe makes it possible to improve the maintenance of the heel in the shoe, it does not overcome the inconvenience of having the tightening element on the exterior of the upper, which spoils the aesthetic appearance of the shoe and can, in certain cases, be bothersome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages discussed above by providing a shoe having a tightening means and means for effectively maintaining the heel and rear portion of the foot which are not visible from the exterior. 
     More particularly, the sport shoe according to the invention, which is particularly useful in cross-country skiing, comprises a sole on which a vamp is attached. The vamp comprises, at its upper portion, tightening means for tightening the vamp on the instep. The shoe itself comprises an overshoe made of flexible material extending from the front end to the rear end of the shoe and covering substantially the anterior and upper portion of the vamp, assuring the tightening of the instep. The overshoe is attached, at its posterior portion, to the vamp by attachment means such as stitching, gluing, or heat welding. The stitching extends, along at least part of the length of the upper edge of the posterior portion of the vamp comprising the upper of the shoe, and, also extends between this upper edge and the sole. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the overshoe has a rapid attachment means, as its upper portion, above the tightening means of the vamp on the instep, which assures a waterproof closure of the overshoe and which provides an opening to easily access the tightening means of the vamp. 
     The advantage of this boot is that the tightening means of the vamp assures a perfect tightening of the upper edge of the upper of the shoe around the foot. In addition, the tightening means is entirely recessed within the overshoe, which enhances the aesthetic appearance of the shoe and avoids the annoyance inherent in an exterior tightening element. 
     In one embodiment, the invention comprises a shoe for housing the instep and rear portions of a foot. The shoe comprises a sole, a vamp, and a flexible overshoe covering the vamp. The vamp is attached to the sole and comprises an instep, a posterior portion, and a tightening means for tightening the vamp around the instep of the foot. In addition, the posterior portion of the overshoe is connected to the vamp. In one embodiment, the shoe is a sports shoe, and in another embodiment the shoe is a cross-country ski shoe. 
     The overshoe is connected to the vamp such that the overshoe comprises means for firmly maintaining the heel of the wearer in the shoe. In addition, the vamp comprises a means for maintaining the front of the foot and the heel of the foot firmly in the shoe during substantial forward flexion. In another embodiment, the shoe has an upper edge surrounding the rear portion of the foot. In this embodiment, the tightening means contracts the upper edge of the shoe around the rear portion of the foot. In an alternative embodiment, the vamp comprises an upper portion and the tightening means is provided on the upper portion of the vamp. The overshoe may be composed of flexible material, as may be the vamp. 
     The shoe comprises a front end and an instep. In addition, the vamp further comprises an anterior portion which comprises the instep and an upper portion. The overshoe extends to the front end of the shoe and substantially completely covers the anterior and upper portions of the vamp to assure tightening of the instep of the shoe when the tightening means tightens the vamp on the instep of the foot. The overshoe further comprises a posterior portion which is attached to the posterior portion of the vamp. 
     In addition, the shoe further comprises an attachment means for attaching the posterior portion of the overshoe to the vamp. The posterior portion of the vamp comprises an upper portion having an upper edge. The attachment means attaches at least a portion of this upper portion of the posterior portion of the vamp to the posterior portion of the overshoe. More particularly, the attachment means attaches at least a portion of the upper edge of the posterior portion of the vamp to the posterior portion of the overshoe. The vamp also comprises a portion between the upper edge of the posterior portion of the vamp and the sole. In this embodiment, the attachment means attaches this portion of the vamp to the posterior portion of the overshoe. The attachment means may comprise stitching, glue or a heat weld. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the vamp comprises an anterior portion and the tightening means is positioned on this anterior portion. In this embodiment, the overshoe comprises an upper portion above the tightening means of the vamp which is adapted to be opened and closed. In addition, the overshoe further comprises a rapid attachment means on this upper portion of the overshoe for relatively rapidly opening and closing this upper portion of the overshoe to provide access to the tightening means of the vamp. The rapid attachment means may comprise a waterproof closure for the upper portion of the overshoe. 
     In still another embodiment, the shoe comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, and a front and a rear portion. In this embodiment, the anterior portion of the vamp is spaced from the front end of the shoe. In addition, the anterior portion comprises an anterior edge which is inclined from the top to the bottom portion of the shoe and is inclined from the front to the rear portion of the shoe. 
     The tightening means may be positioned on the anterior portion of the vamp. In such an embodiment, the overshoe further comprises an upper portion above this tightening means. This upper portion of the overshoe comprises two spaced apart lips which are adapted to be overlaid, one on the other. Each lip comprises a self-sticking portion adapted to stick to the self-sticking portion of the other lip. In addition, the vamp may be one integral piece, as may be the overshoe. Also, the shoe may also comprise a heel. In this embodiment, the posterior portion of the overshoe comprises two posterior edges. The attachment means attaches the overshoe to the vamp along substantially the entire length of these two posterior edges of the overshoe. The attachment means may be parallel to these posterior edges and extends from the upper edge of the vamp to the heel of the shoe. 
     In still another embodiment, the vamp comprises an anterior portion which comprises the instep, and a posterior portion. The anterior and posterior portions of the vamp are independent of one another. In other words, they are spaced apart from one another. In this embodiment, the anterior portion comprises two wings, each having longitudinal edges. Each wing is attached to the sole along these longitudinal edges. The wings further comprise an upper edge. The tightening means is positioned along substantially the entire length of this upper edge. In addition, the shoe is adapted to house the heel of the wearer. The posterior portion of the vamp is adapted to surround the rear portion and the heel of the wearer and comprises means for mating tightly with the rear portion of the foot and the heel of the wearer in response to the tightening means tightening the vamp at the front portion or the instep. In addition, the posterior portion of the vamp extends frontwardly on both sides of longitudinal plane of the symmetry of the shoe. More particularly, the posterior portion of the vamp comprises a tongue which extends frontwardly on both sides of the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the shoe. This tongue extends upwardly, and comprises the tightening means. 
     The overshoe may also comprise a posterior portion which is attached to the posterior portion of the vamp by stitches. The posterior portion of the vamp may comprise a cutaway portion, open at the front thereof, and comprising an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion comprises the tongue, referred to above, and the lower portion comprises an extension, extending toward the front of the shoe and which is attached to the sole. In addition, the anterior portion of the vamp comprises a lower posterior zone which overlaps the extension referred to above. In addition, the shoe further comprises a reinforcement attached to the sole. The posterior portion of the vamp is attached to this reinforcement. In addition, the posterior portion of the vamp may be spaced from the sole, so that the posterior portion of the vamp is attached to the sole via this reinforcement. Alternatively, the posterior portion of the vamp may be attached directly to the sole. This extension discussed above may have a rounded edge. 
     In an alternative embodiment, in which the anterior and posterior portions of the vamp comprise one piece, the shoe comprises top and bottom portions and rear and front portions. The vamp further comprises a cutaway portion separating the anterior and posterior portions from each other on each side of the shoe. The cutaway portion is inclined from the top to the bottom portions of the shoe and from the front to the rear portions of the shoe. This cutaway portion comprises two upper anterior tongues comprising the tightening means. 
     In still another embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a shoe for housing the front and rear portions of a foot. The shoe comprises an exterior portion, an interior portion, and a rear tightening means positioned on the interior portion of the shoe. The rear tightening means tightens the shoe on the rear portion of the foot in response to tightening of the shoe on the front portion of the foot. A front tightening means is also provided to tighten the shoe on the front portion of the foot. The shoe further comprises a vamp on the interior portion. The vamp comprises the front tightening means and the rear tightening means. In addition, the vamp comprises a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion comprises two spaced apart lateral wings, adapted to be displaced towards each other. The lateral wings comprise the front tightening means. The rear portion surrounds the rear portion of the foot and is connected to the front portion. In response to displacement of the lateral wings towards each other, the rear portion diminishes in size. 
     The shoe further comprises holding means for holding the lateral wings in a first position, which is the position in which the lateral wings are displaced toward each other. This holding means comprises at least one opening in each lateral wing, and lace adapted to be threaded and tied through the openings. 
     The shoe further comprises an overshoe, having a rear portion and covering the vamp and attached to the vamp such that the rear or posterior portion of the overshoe diminishes in size in response to the displacement of the lateral wings toward each other. The overshoe further comprises a front portion having two spaced apart lips, adapted to be overlaid one on the other. The lips comprise a waterproof seal when overlaid one on the other. Each lip comprises a self-sticking surface adapted to contact the self-sticking surface of the other lip when the lips are overlaid one on the other. These lips comprise means for gaining access to the front tightening means. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a shoe comprising an upper. The upper comprises a rear portion, an overshoe, and a vamp inside the overshoe. The vamp comprises a front portion, a rear portion and a contraction means for contracting the rear portion of the shoe in response to contraction of the front portion of the vamp. The overshoe comprises a rear portion and is attached to the vamp such that the rear portion of the overshoe contracts in response to contraction of the front portion of the vamp. The front portion of the vamp is attached to the rear portion of the vamp and comprises two spaced apart lateral wings adapted to be displaced towards each other. The rear portion of the vamp contracts in response to the displacement of the lateral wings towards each other. The contraction means comprises these lateral wings. The shoe further comprises means for maintaining the position of the lateral wings after the lateral wings are displaced toward each other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of a first embodiment of a cross-country ski shoe according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, a shoe similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but with a high upper; and 
     FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are elevational views, partially broken away, of alternative embodiments of the shoe according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The ski shoes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which are, respectively of the low and high upper type, each comprise a sole 1 at their lower portions, which is preferably made of molded plastic. An overshoe 2 is attached to sole 1 and extends substantially over the entire length of the shoe from the anterior and 1a of sole 1 to substantially the heel 1b of the shoe. This overshoe 2 is of one piece construction and is made of a flexible and waterproof material such as coated leather cloth or synthetic fabric. A vamp 3 is positioned within overshoe 2 and is also formed of a flexible material. Vamp 3 is one integral piece and comprises a posterior portion 3a surrounding and mating with the external surface of the heel, and an anterior portion 3b  extending to both sides of the front of the foot and which is pressed against the instep of the foot. 
     The vamp also comprises a front portion, connected to posterior portion 3a. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front portion is identical to the anterior portion 3b and covers the instep of the shoe. However, the front portion may be separate from anterior portion 3b, as in the embodiment seen in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the front portion comprises tongue 14b. It is this front portion that causes posterior portion 3a of vamp 3 and the posterior portion of overshoe 2 to tighten in response to tightening of this front portion of the vamp. 
     Anterior portion 3b of vamp 3 comprises two spaced apart lateral wings ending in respective edges 3c. Tightening elements for the instep are provided over the length of edges 3c. These tightening elements can be formed of eyelets of rings 4 distributed over the length of the two upper edges 3c. Rings 4 are adapted to receive a tightening lace 5, which passes therethrough. 
     The lateral wings are adapted to be displaced toward each other and can be held in this displaced position by lace 5. When this is accomplished, anterior portion 3b firmly holds the front of the foot. These wings, therefore, comprise front tightening means for tightening the shoe on the front portion of the foot. Because the lateral wings are connected to posterior portion 3a, when the lateral wings are contracted or displaced toward each other, posterior portion 3a tightens or diminishes in size or contracts on the rear portion of the foot. 
     Anterior portion 3b of vamp 3 does not extend to the end of the shoe, but rather ends in an anterior edge 3d spaced from the front end of the shoe. Anterior edge 3d is preferably inclined from the top to the bottom of the shoe and and from the front to the rear of the shoe. Anterior edge 3d begins at the end of the corresponding upper edge 3c and extends to the lateral edge of sole 1. 
     The upper anterior portion of overshoe 2 is split, in the zone which covers edges 3c of vamp 3 and which is provided with eyelets 4 and lace 5. Overshoe 2 is split in a manner so as to form two spaced apart lips 6 which can be overlaid, one in the other, above lace 5 while being maintained firmly closed in a waterproof manner. In order to rapidly open and close lips 6 two auto-stick bands of the type known commercially as &#34;VELCRO&#34; can be used. One of these bands 7 is positioned on the peripheral portion of the lower lip 6 while the other band 7 is placed under the corresponding peripheral portion of the other upper lip 6. When the two lips are overlaid, one on the other, the two auto-stick bands contact each other. In this manner, lips 6 comprise a rapid attachment means. 
     Overshoe 2 and vamp 3 are attached to one another along the length of the two posterior edges 2a of overshoe 2. This attachment is accomplished by a stitching 8 which extends substantially parallel to posterior edge 2a of overshoe 2. Stitching 8 begins at or near upper edge 9 of posterior portion 3a of vamp 3. Posterior portion 3a forms the upper of the shoe which surrounds the rear portion of the foot. The posterior edge 2a of overshoe 2 and, consequently, stitching 8 extend along the curvature of overshoe 2, from upper edge 9 of the upper to sole 1, in a zone positioned substantially under the malleoli of the wearer. Upper edge 9 extends along the upper edge of vamp 3 and overshoe 2, and can also refer to a zone extending slightly below the upper edge of the boot. In other words, edge 9 can refer to the upper portion of vamp 3 and overshoe 2 that borders the upper edge of these elements. 
     Overshoe 2 and vamp 3 are also attached to and integral with one another along the length of upper edge 9 of the upper. This attachment is made by lateral stitches 11 extending substantially from a point spaced a small distance from posterior edge 2a of overshoe 2 to the point where upper edge 3c separates from upper edge 9 of vamp 3. In other words, overshoe 2 and vamp 3 are stitched to one another over substantially the entire length of upper edge 9 of the upper, with the exception of the posterior portion of edge 9. This posterior portion which has no stitching comprises the posterior portion of vamp 3. Stated in another manner, stitching 11, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 is spaced from posterior edge 2a of overshoe 2, and does not contact posterior portion 3a of vamp 3. Of course, depending upon the materials employed to form overshoe 2 and vamp 3, it is within the scope of the invention to replace the stitches 8 and 11, which comprise attachment means for the attachment of vamp 3 and overshoe 2, with heat welding, gluing, or any other method of attachment. 
     Reinforcements 12 are provided in the posterior portion of the shoe, in the heel zone and they are attached in an appropriate manner to the posterior portion 3a of the vamp, by, for example, being glued on the internal surface thereof. 
     It may be seen, from the preceding description, that the tightening of laces effectively maintains the heel in the shoe for the following reason. The tightening of the laces contracts the anterior portion of vamp 3, which in turn causes a shrinking or contraction of upper edge 9 of the vamp of the upper around the entire rear portion of the foot. This tightening of the posterior portion of upper edge 9 of vamp 3 is transmitted to the corresponding zone of overshoe 2 which is integral therewith. As a result, overshoe 2 tightens or contracts, and therefore, both vamp 3 and overshoe 2 firmly maintain the front and the rear portion and heel of the wearer in the shoe. In addition, the instep of the vamp and overshoe do not open during forward flexion of the foot. 
     In other words, vamp 3 comprises a rear tightening means positioned on the interior of the shoe, for tightening the shoe on the rear portion of the foot in response to tightening of the shoe on the front portion of the foot. In addition, a front tightening means is provided for tightening the shoe on the front portion of the foot. The lateral wings of vamp 3 comprises the front tightening means. The lateral wings are held in their displaced, contracted position by lace 5. The posterior portion of overshoe 2 diminishes in size or contracts or tightens in response to displacement of the lateral wings toward each other. In addition, the shoe comprises a contraction means for contracting the rear portion of shoe 1 in response to contraction of the front portion of the vamp, for example, when the lateral wings of vamp 3 are displaced toward each other. 
     In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the interior vamp is formed of two portions which are independent from one another, i.e., an anterior portion 13 and a posterior portion 14. 
     Anterior portion 13 of the vamp comprises two wings attached to sole 1, along the length of the longitudinal edges thereof. Anterior portion 13a has eyelets along the length of its upper edges 13c. These eyelets make it possible to tighten one wing to the other and on the instep. The two wings comprise the anterior portion 13 of the vamp. 
     The posterior portion 14 of the vamp which generally forms a rear upper for the shoe, comprises a posterior portion 14a surrounding the rear portion of the heel of the wearer and mates tightly therewith. This posterior portion 14a extends frontwardly on both sides of the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the shoe by means of an upwardly extending tongue 14b. Posterior portion 14a comprises a reinforcement on the inside thereof, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, mating with the rear of the heel and extending towards the front and ending substantially beneath the malleoli of the ankle. 
     Posterior portion 14 of the vamp and overshoe 2 are attached to one another, on each side of the shoe by stitching 15 which extends between sole 1 and upper edge 9 of the upper, surrounding the rear of the foot. Stitching 15 preferably follows (i.e., is substantially parallel to) the posterior edge 2a of overshoe 2. Posterior edge 2a can form a point 2b which is rearwardly directed. By virtue of the attachment of vamp 4 and overshoe 2 by means of stitches 15, the two anterior tongues 14b are substantially free to be dislaced and can, consequently, be tightened (i.e., displaced toward each other) on the instep, independently of anterior portion 13, which assures the maintenance of the shoe on the front of the foot. In order to tighten the instep, the two anterior tongues 14b preferably each have at least one eyelet 16, positioned at an end tongue 14b, facing the other eyelet 16 on the other tongue. Each eyelet is adapted to allow for the passage of a tightening lace which can be the same lace as lace 5, assuring the tightening of the front of the foot. Alternatively, the tightening lace passing through each eyelet of tongues 14b can be different from lace 5 so that this lace is independent from lace 5. When lace 5 is tied it holds the tongues 14 in their contracted, tightened position. 
     From the above description, it is clear that the shoe provides a perfect nesting of the heel in the periphery of the upper of the shoe and also tightly maintains the upper around the heel, by means of the tightening or contraction of the posterior portion 14 of the vamp. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each tongue 14b is defined by a lower edge 14c which is inclined from the bottom to the top of the shoe and from the rear to front of the shoe, beginning with the sole. Edge 14c extends substantially parallel to the posterior edge 13a of the anterior portion 13 of the sole. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, posterior portion 14 of the vamp has, on each side, a cutaway portion 17. Cutaway portion 17 is open at the front and defines a tongue 14b at an upper portion thereof. Cutaway portion 17 also has a pointed extension 14c at a lower portion thereof, which is directed to the front and attached to sole 1. Pointed extension 14c can overlap the lower posterior zone of the anterior portion 13 of the vamp. In other respects, the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 are the same. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which cutaway portion 17, provided in posterior portion 14 of the vamp, defines a lower tongue 14d extending frontwardly and having a rounded edge. Tongue 14d can be spaced from anterior portion 13 of the vamp or can overlap it as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the posterior portion 14 of the vamp is spaced from and does not extend to sole 1, but, rather, it is attached to a reinforcement 12 which, in turn, is attached to sole 1. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the anterior portion 13 and posterior portion 14 of the vamp are one integral piece and are separated from one another, on each side of the shoe, by a cutaway portion 18 which is inclined from the top to the bottom of the shoe, and from the front to the rear of the shoe so as to define the two upper and anterior tongues 14b which assure a tightening of the heel. 
     Although the description which has preceded emphasizes sport shoes having uppers that are small, it is self-evident that the invention also applies to sport shoes having a raised upper which is illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, in FIG. 2. 
     Furthermore, although the invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and inventions it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars disclosed and extends to all equivalents within the scope of the claims.