Abstract:
A shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The upper includes a heel portion movable relative to a mid portion from an open position to a closed position. A securing mechanism (e.g., a lace and a dial for tightening the lace) is coupled between the heel portion and the mid portion. Preferably, the dial is secured near an edge of the mid portion near an instep opening, and the lace is positioned in a passageway in the mid portion. The heel portion can comprise a flexible fabric that acts as a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of the heel portion relative to the mid portion at a pivot point positioned above the sole and rearward of the mid portion. Preferably, the heel portion includes a wide portion and a narrow portion (e.g., defining the pivot point) below the wide portion.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/218,762 filed Jun. 19, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cycling equipment, and particularly to cycling shoes adapted for use by triathletes. 
         [0003]    In the modern sporting event called a triathlon, triathletes compete in swimming, cycling, and running segments with the goal of crossing the finish line in the shortest elapsed time. In order to improve one&#39;s time for the event, it is helpful to have short transitions between the segments of the event. In order to reduce the transition time from the swimming segment to the cycling segment, triathletes commonly have their bikes prepared with cycling shoes already attached to the pedals. With this arrangement, when transitioning from the swimming segment to the cycling segment, the triathletes do not need to put the shoes on first, but instead can mount the bicycle and pedal and/or coast with their feet on top of the shoes before they slip their feet in to the shoes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention is designed to facilitate easy insertion of the triathlete&#39;s foot into the cycling shoe in order to shorten the time it takes to fully mount the bicycle, and to facilitate securing the shoe to the foot. More specifically, in one aspect, the present invention provides a shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The upper includes a mid portion and a heel portion movable relative to the mid portion from an open position, which allows insertion of a user&#39;s foot into the shoe, to a closed position, which secures the user&#39;s foot in the shoe. A securing mechanism is coupled between the heel portion and the mid portion. The securing mechanism includes a lace extending from the heel portion to the mid portion. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the securing mechanism further includes a rotary dial (e.g., secured to the mid portion) coupled to the lace such that rotation of the dial tightens the lace. Preferably, the mid portion includes an instep opening in an instep region, and the upper further includes a tongue positioned in the instep opening. In this embodiment, the dial can be secured near an edge of the mid portion near the instep opening. 
         [0006]    The mid portion can further include a passageway, and the lace can be positioned in the passageway. For example, the mid portion can include opposing left and right passageways on opposing left and right sides of the mid portion, and the lace can be positioned in the left and right passageways. Preferably the lace passes over an instep region of the mid portion. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the heel portion comprises a flexible fabric that acts as a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of the heel portion relative to the mid portion. Preferably, the flexible fabric also extends toward and forms part of the mid portion. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect, the heel portion pivots relative to the mid portion at a pivot point positioned above the sole (i.e., outsole and insole) and rearward of the mid portion. Preferably, the heel portion includes a wide portion and a narrow portion below the wide portion, and wherein the pivot point substantially corresponds with the narrow portion. In addition, the wide portion of the heel portion can include left and right arms extending toward left and right sides of the mid portion, respectively. 
         [0009]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a cycling shoe according to one aspect of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is another front perspective view of the cycling shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the cycling shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the cycling shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the cycling shoe of  FIG. 1  in an intermediate position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cycling shoe according to another aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a shoe  10  having a sole comprising an outsole  14  and an insole  16 , an upper  18  secured to the outsole  14 , and a securing mechanism  22  for securing the shoe  10  onto a rider&#39;s foot. The illustrated shoe  10  is a cycling shoe  10  for use with a bicycle. Specifically, the shoe  10  is for use with “clipless” or “clip-in” style bicycle pedals. However, the shoe  10  may be used without “clipless” style bicycle pedals, as desired. 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the illustrated outsole  14  is made of a rigid polymer. However, other rigid materials may be used, such as a fiber-matrix composite, wood, or other materials, as is known in the art. The illustrated outsole  14  also includes a heel pad  26  and a mounting portion  30  for mounting a pedal clip, as desired. In other constructions, the heel pad  26  and mounting portion  30  may be different or eliminated. 
         [0019]    The illustrated insole  16  is a flexible insert that includes padding and arch support for the rider&#39;s foot and provides a more comfortable fit. The insole  16  is supported on the outsole  14  and is removable. In another construction, the insole  16  may be connected to the outsole  14  such that it is inhibited from removal. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upper  18  includes a toe portion  34 , a heel portion  38 , and a mid portion  42  connecting the toe portion  34  and the heel portion  38 . The illustrated upper  18  is constructed of a composite of flexible fabrics. Specifically, the illustrated upper  18  is constructed of a fabric weave and a synthetic leather. 
         [0021]    The mid portion  42  includes an instep region  46  generally in the longitudinal center of the upper  18  and defining a right side  50  ( FIG. 2 ) and a left side  54  ( FIG. 1 ). An instep opening  58  is formed in the instep region  46  between the right side  50  and the left side  54  and extends forward from a foot opening  62  to the toe portion  34 . A right passageway  66  ( FIG. 2 ) is formed in the right side  50  and a left passageway  70  is formed in the left side  54 . A sleeve  74  connects the entrance and exit of the right passageway  66  and left passageway  70 . The illustrated sleeves  74  are made of plastic and run internal the upper  18 . The left and right passageways  66 ,  70  are configured to receive a lace  114 , as will be described below in more detail. In other constructions, the left and right passageways  66 ,  70  may be placed differently, be longer or shorter than illustrated, or start and stop in different places, as desired. 
         [0022]    A tongue  78  is positioned across the instep opening  58  and cooperates with the upper  18  to form the foot opening  62 . The illustrated tongue  78  is connected to the left side  54  and wraps across the instep opening  58  and under the right side  50 , leaving a portion of the instep opening  58  open. Alternatively, the tongue  78  may wrap over the top of the right side  50 . In other constructions, the tongue  78  may be shaped differently or extend along more or less of the instep opening  58 . For example,  FIG. 8 . shows an example where the tongue  78  is connected to the toe portion  34  and extends substantially the full length of the instep opening  58  to the foot opening  62 . 
         [0023]    A front closure mechanism in the form of a flexible strap  82  is positioned across the instep opening  58  substantially adjacent the toe portion  34 . The illustrated flexible strap  82  includes a hook and loop fastener and may be tightened with the rider&#39;s foot held in the shoe  10  to provide a more secure hold and support to the rider&#39;s foot. In other embodiments, the front closure mechanism may be a lace or employ other fasteners, as desired. 
         [0024]    The heel portion  38  includes a wide portion  86  defining a right arm  90  and a left arm  94 , and a narrow portion  98  below the wide portion  86 . The right arm  90  and the left arm  94  extend toward the right and left sides  50 ,  54  of the mid portion  42 , respectively. The heel portion  38  is formed of a flexible fabric that forms a living hinge at the narrow portion  98 . In the illustrated shoe  10 , the living hinge is located above the outsole  14  and insole  16 , and rearward of the mid portion  42 . The mid portion  42  and the heel portion  38  are formed of the same flexible fabric. A closure-assist member in the form of a loop  102  of flexible fabric is connected to the back of the heel portion  38 . A heel passageway  106  is formed through the wide portion  86  from the right arm  90  to the left arm  94 . A sleeve  74  extends from the entrance to the exit of the heel passageway  106 . The illustrated sleeve  74  is made of plastic and runs internal the heel portion  38 . 
         [0025]    The heel portion  38  is movable between an open position (broken lines in  FIG. 3 ) where the heel portion  38  is folded down to allow direct access to the foot opening  62  and a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) where the heel portion  38  is up to hold the rider&#39;s foot in the shoe  10 .  FIG. 5  shows the heel portion  38  in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. The heel portion  38  pivots at the living hinge. 
         [0026]    The securing mechanism  22  includes a rotary dial  110  and the lace  114 . The rotary dial  110  is secured near an edge  118  of the left side  54  of the instep region  46  near the instep opening  58 . The lace  114  passes through the right passageway  66 , the left passageway  70 , and the heel passageway  106  and connects at the rotary dial  110 . The passageways  66 ,  70  allow the lace  114  to pass through the upper  18  such that a substantial portion of the lace  114  is not exposed. 
         [0027]    The rotary dial  110  includes grips around the circumference to enable the rider to grasp and turn the rotary dial  110  about an axis. The lace  114  is connected to the rotary dial  110  such that rotating the rotary dial  110  in a first direction tightens the lace  114 , and lifting the rotary dial  110  away from the shoe  10  allows the lace  114  to loosen. Alternatively, rotating the rotary dial  110  in a second direction may loosen the lace  114 . An exemplary dial is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,050 assigned to Boa Technology, Inc., the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. When the lace  114  is loosened, the heel portion  38  may be moved to the open position. When the lace  114  is tightened, the heel portion  38  is held in the closed position. In the illustrated construction, the tongue  78  also includes a loop  102  that the lace  114  passes through. In another construction, the rotary dial  110  may be a ratcheting dial and a push button may be utilized to loosen the lace  114  by releasing the ratchet dial. 
         [0028]    In operation, a rider loosens the flexible strap  82  and rotates the rotary dial  110  to loosen the lace  114 . The heel portion  38  is then moved to the open position. The rider then inserts the rider&#39;s foot into the foot opening  62  and forward fully into the shoe  10 . The rider then tightens the flexible strap  82  such that the shoe  10  is secured about the front of the rider&#39;s foot. The rider then grasps the loop  102  of flexible fabric and pulls the heel portion  38  toward the closed position. Once the heel portion  38  is in the closed position, the rotary dial  110  is rotated to tighten the lace  114  to secure the heel portion  38  in the closed position and hold the rider&#39;s foot securely in place  114  within the shoe  10 . 
         [0029]    To remove the rider&#39;s foot from the shoe  10 , the rider lifts the rotary dial  110  to loosen the lace  114 . The heel portion  38  is then moved to the open position, the flexible strap  82  is loosened, and the rider&#39;s foot is removed. Alternatively, the rider&#39;s foot may be placed in the shoe  10  and removed without loosening the flexible strap  82 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate construction of the shoe  10 . The front closure mechanism is a rotary dial  122  with a lace  126  similar to the rotary dial  110  used to tighten the heel portion  38 . The rotary dial  122  may be turned in one direction to loosen the lace  126  and in the other to tighten the lace  126 . Alternatively, a button may be employed to release the lace  126  for loosening. 
         [0031]    It is noted that, the shoes described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the outsole  14  comprises a unitary structure. That is, the outsole  14  does not include parts that move with the heel portion  38 . Rather, the rear entry feature of these designs is accomplished by moving the heel portion  38  relative to the outsole  14  and relative to the mid portion  42  of the upper  18 . 
         [0032]    One advantageous use of the shoe  10  is for triathlon athletes. The shoes  10  may be clipped into the pedals of a bicycle with the heel portion  38  in the open position before an athlete approaches the bicycle. Then the athlete positions his or her foot within the shoe  10  while the shoe  10  is still clipped into the bicycle. The athlete can then move the heel portion  38  to the closed position and tighten the closures to secure the foot in the shoe  10 . Likewise, the athlete can remove the foot from the shoe  10  without removing the shoe  10  from the bicycle pedals. This advantage provides a faster transition time between swimming and bicycling, and between bicycling and running. Additionally, the shoe  10  provides an easier entry and exit to the shoe  10  even when not already attached to the bicycle pedal.