Abstract:
A sport shoe comprises a sole and an upper portion attached to the sole and defining an inner space with the sole, and having an entrance opening for receiving a user&#39;s foot therethrough, into the inner space, and an attachment system to secure the user&#39;s foot therein, the sport shoe having, in longitudinal succession, a heel cage, a middle section, and a toe box, the middle section having at least four generally transversally-oriented strips in the upper portion, including tightening strips receiving the attachment system externally and having a heat-moldable layer internally, and flexibility strips, the tightening strips and flexibility strips being in longitudinally alternating succession, at least a section of the flexibility strips being heat moldable layer free.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to sport shoes and, more particularly, it relates to a sport shoe having a thermoformable upper portion. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    In relatively high performance sport shoes, such as cycling shoes for instance, a layer of a heat moldable polymer is added to provide a custom fit around the athlete&#39;s feet. Heat molding is known to improve comfort and thereby lower fatigue of the feet. 
         [0003]    However, the heat moldable layer rigidities the sport shoes and rigid shoes are harder to tighten to the feet and obtain the desired tightening adjustment. Consequently, sport shoes are conceived with only particular sections of the shoe that are heat moldable and thus custom fit. 
         [0004]    For instance, for cycling shoes, a layer of a heat moldable material has been applied to the outer side of the upper portion, opposed to the arch side, and the heel. Thus, the arch side and the fastening section, extending between the outer and the arch sides, are heat moldable layer free and provide flexibility to the resulting shoe for tightening purposes. However, they are not custom fit around the athlete&#39;s feet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an aim to address the above mentioned issues. 
         [0006]    According to a general aspect, there is provided a sport shoe comprising: a sole; an upper portion having a heat moldable layer, a bottom outer edge on an outer side of the shoe and a bottom arch edge on an arch side of the shoe, opposed to the bottom outer edge, and defining an entrance aperture, the bottom outer and arch edges being attached to the sole; at least two shoe tighteners mounted to the upper portion, frontwardly of the entrance aperture, the shoe tighteners defining tightening segments extending from the bottom outer edge to the bottom arch edge, the heat moldable layer extending on the outer side and the arch side of the tightening segments, at least two of the shoe tighteners being spaced apart and defining therebetween a flexibility segment extending from the bottom outer edge to the bottom arch edge, at least a section of the flexibility segment being heat moldable layer free. 
         [0007]    According to a general aspect, there is provided a cycling shoe comprising: an upper portion defining an inner space sized and shaped to receive a foot of a rider therein, the upper portion having a toe box, a heel cage and a middle section extending between the toe box and the heel cage, the middle section having an inner layer, an outer layer, and a discontinuous heat moldable layer extending between the inner and the outer layers, the cycling shoe having a longitudinal axis extending from the heel cage to the toe box; and tightening straps mounted to the upper portion, in the middle section, and defining tightening strips extending from an arch end of the upper portion to an outer end of the upper portion, the heat moldable layer extending upwardly from the arch end and from the outer end in the tightening strips, the tightening straps being spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis and defining tightening discontinuity strips in between the tightening strips, the tightening discontinuity strips extending from the arch end of the upper portion to the outer end of the upper portion, the heat moldable layer being discontinuous over a flexibility area located in at least one of the tightening discontinuity strips. 
         [0008]    According to another general aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing a cycling shoe. The method comprises: assembling an inner layer, an outer layer, and a discontinuous heat moldable layer extending between the inner and the outer layers to define a middle section of a cycling shoe upper portion having an arch side and an opposed outer side; mounting at least two shoe tighteners to the upper portion of the cycling shoe in the middle section, spaced-apart from one another for defining tightening strips and tightening discontinuity strips in between the tightening strips, the tightening strips and the tightening discontinuity strips extending from a lower arch edge of the upper portion to a lower outer edge of the upper portion; and aligning at least one discontinuity of the heat moldable layer in at least one of the tightening discontinuity strips to provide flexibility to the middle section; aligning a section of the heat moldable layer with the arch side of the tightening strips; and aligning a section of the heat moldable layer with the outer side of the tightening strips. 
         [0009]    According to another general aspect, there is provided a sport shoe comprising a sole and an upper portion attached to the sole and defining an inner space with the sole, and having an entrance opening for receiving a user&#39;s foot therethrough, into the inner space, and an attachment system to secure the user&#39;s foot therein, the sport shoe having, in longitudinal succession, a heel cage, a middle section, and a toe box, the middle section having at least four generally transversally-oriented strips in the upper portion, including tightening strips receiving the attachment system externally and having a heat-moldable layer internally, and flexibility strips, the tightening strips and flexibility strips being in longitudinally alternating succession, at least a section of the flexibility strips being heat moldable layer free. 
         [0010]    According to still another general aspect, there is provided a sport shoe comprising a sole and an upper portion attached to the sole and defining an inner space with the sole, and having an entrance opening for receiving a user&#39;s foot therethrough, into the inner space, and, in longitudinal succession, a heel cage, a middle section, and a toe box, the middle section having an arch side extending upwardly from a lower arch edge, an opposed outer side extending upwardly from a lower outer edge, and a fastening section extending between the arch side and the outer side, the middle section including internally a heat-moldable layer extending upwardly from the lower arch edge and from the lower outer edge towards the fastening section, the middle section having at least four generally transversally-oriented strips including tightening strips receiving an attachment system externally to secure the user&#39;s foot therein and flexibility strips, the tightening strips and flexibility strips being in longitudinally alternating succession, at least a longitudinally extending area of the fastening section extending along the four transversally-oriented strips being heat moldable layer free. 
         [0011]    According to a further general aspect, there is provided a sport shoe comprising a sole and an upper portion attached to the sole and defining an inner space with the sole, and having an entrance opening for receiving a user&#39;s foot therethrough, into the inner space, and, in longitudinal succession, a heel cage, a middle section, and a toe box, the middle section having an arch side extending upwardly from a lower arch edge and an opposed outer side extending upwardly from a lower outer edge, the middle section including a first flap extending upwardly from one of the lower arch edge and the lower outer edge towards the opposite one of the lower arch edge and the lower outer edge and secured to the opposite one through a resilient band, the resilient band extending from a front end of the middle section, proximate to the toe box, to approximately an opposite end of the first flap, the resilient band preventing formation of improper folds of the first flap when the user&#39;s foot is inserted in the inner space. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a cycling shoe in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the outer side of the shoe; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the upper layer is partially removed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an outer side perspective view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the upper layer is partially removed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an arch side perspective view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the upper layer is partially removed; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a cycling shoe in accordance with another embodiment wherein the upper layer is partially removed and the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections are divided in several sub-sections; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the cycling shoe in accordance with another embodiment wherein the upper layer is partially removed and having an alternate heat moldable layer discontinuity pattern; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an outer side perspective view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 8  wherein the upper layer is partially removed; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an arch side perspective view of the cycling shoe shown in  FIG. 8 , wherein the upper layer is partially removed; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view, partly sectioned, of the cycling show shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein a section of the arch side is removed. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Now referring to the drawings and, more particularly, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a cycling shoe  10  having a sole  12  and an upper portion  14  extending upwardly from the sole  12  and mounted thereto with conventional techniques. 
         [0025]    The upper portion  14  defines an inner space  16  ( FIG. 3 ) and an entrance opening  18  sized and shaped to receive a foot of a rider therein. The upper portion  14  has an arch side  20 , an opposite outer side  22 , and a fastening section  23  extending between the arch side  20  and the outer side  22 . 
         [0026]    The upper portion  14  extends longitudinally from a toe box  24 , i.e. the front of the shoe containing the rider&#39;s toes, and a heel cage  26 , which wraps around the back or the rider&#39;s heel. A shoe longitudinal axis  28  is defined and extends between the toe box  24  and the heel cage  26 . A middle section  30  of the upper portion  14  extends between the toe box  24  and the heel cage  26 . 
         [0027]    The middle section  30  includes a tightening section  32 , frontwardly of the entrance opening  18 . The tightening section  32  extends between the arch and the outer sides  20 ,  22  of the shoe  10 . 
         [0028]    In the tightening section  32 , an outer flap  33  extends from a lower outer edge  46  to approximately the middle of the arch side  20  and is secured to a lower arch edge  44  through an elastic band  34  ( FIG. 11 ), as it will be described in more details below in reference to  FIG. 11 . An arch flap  35  extends from the lower arch edge  44  towards the outer side  22  to approximately the middle of the tightening section  32 . The arch flap  35  overlaps a section of the outer flap  33  extending in the arch side  20  and the fastening section  23 . The outer flap  33  and the arch flap  35  are secured together via shoe tighteners, as it will be described in more details below. 
         [0029]    It is appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment, the arch flap  35  can extend from the lower arch edge to approximately the middle of the outer side  22  and the outer flap  33  can extend from the lower outer edge  46  towards the arch side  20  and overlap a section of the arch flap  35 . In this embodiment, the arch flap  35  can be secured to the lower outer edge  46  through an elastic band  34 . It is also appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment, the shoe  10  can include a shoe tongue  34  extending over the tightening section  32 . 
         [0030]    Three tightening straps  36 , as shoe tighteners, and, more particularly, an upper tightening strap  36   a,  a middle tightening strap  36   b,  and a lower tightening strap  36   c,  are mounted to the upper portion  14  in the tightening section  32 . Complementary portions of each tightening straps  36  are respectively mounted to the outer flap  33  and the arch flap  35 . Each tightening strap  36  extends from the arch side  20  to the outer side  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, the tightening straps  36   b  and  36   c  have a fixed end  38  pivotally mounted to the outer flap  33 , extends towards the arch side  20 , engage an elliptic free ring  40  mounted to the arch flap  35 , which has a pair of opposing, linear catching portions, and folds back towards the outer side  22 . Each tightening strap  36   b  and  36   c  includes a pair of hook-and-loop type gripping elements, such as “VELCRO®” for securing the upper portion  14  in a selected tightened configuration. 
         [0031]    The upper tightening strap  36   a  includes a buckle  37  and, more particularly, a ratchet buckle to securely stabilize the rider&#39;s foot in the inner space  16  and allow subtle tightening adjustments. It is appreciated that the rachet buckle  37  can be replaced by any buckle that offers precise adjustments or that the upper tightener  36   a  can be buckle free. 
         [0032]    In alternate embodiments, the three tighteners  36  can be similar, different or any combination thereof. Each tightener  36  can include a buckle  37  or a pair of hook-and-loop type gripping elements. 
         [0033]    In alternate embodiments, the shoe tighteners can extend in the opposite direction, i.e. their fixed end  38  is mounted to the arch flap  35 , the shoe  10  can include more or less shoe tighteners in the tightening section  32 , and the shoe tighteners can differ from the ones described above in reference with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The shoe  10  can include a combination of various types of shoe tighteners. Moreover, the fixed ends of the straps can be offset from one another to prevent pressure points. It is thus appreciated that alternate attachment system can be used. 
         [0034]    The tightening straps  36  are spaced apart from one another along the shoe longitudinal axis  28 . They define tightening strips  42  (or segments), transversally oriented, which extend from a lower arch edge  44  (inner end), located at the junction of the sole  12  and the arch side  20  of the upper portion  14 , to a lower outer edge  46  (outer end), located at the junction of the sole  12  and the outer side  22  of the upper portion  14 . 
         [0035]    The tightening strips  42  are aligned with the tightening straps  36 , i.e. the attachment system is externally received in the tightening strips. In the embodiment shown, the shoe tighteners  36  have two opposed tightener edges  43  (shown in dashed lines), substantially parallel to one another, extending along a shoe tightening curved axis  50 , which is substantially perpendicular to the shoe longitudinal axis  28 . The tightener edges  43  and their extensions define the boundaries of the tightening segments  42  along the shoe longitudinal axis  28 . 
         [0036]    Tightening discontinuity strips  48  (or flexibility segments or strips) are defined between the tightening strips  42 , since the tightening straps  36  are spaced apart from one another along the shoe longitudinal axis  28 . The tightening strips  42  and the tightening discontinuity strips  48  are in a longitudinally alternating succession. Consequently, the tightening discontinuity strips  48  are also spaced apart from one another along the shoe longitudinal axis  28 . Their boundaries along the shoe longitudinal axis  28  correspond to the boundaries of the tightening segments  42 . 
         [0037]    The tightening strips  42  and the tightening discontinuity strips  48  extend substantially parallel to one another, in a longitudinally alternating succession, and along the shoe tightening curved axis  50 . The tightening strips  42  are the sections that compress the rider&#39;s foot in the inner space  16  and prevent or at least minimize relative movement of the foot in the inner space  16 . On the opposite, the tightening discontinuity strips  48  are sections that provide flexibility to the upper portion  14  of the shoe  10 . 
         [0038]    In the embodiment shown, the tightener edges  43  extend parallel to one another. Therefore, the tightening segments  42  have substantially a uniform width along their entire length. However, in an alternate embodiment, it is appreciated that the tightener edges  43  can either be convergent or divergent and the tightening segments  42  can have a variable width along their length. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown that the upper portion  14  has an outer layer  52 , an inner layer  54 , opposed to the outer layer  52 , and a discontinuous heat moldable layer  56  extending between the outer and the inner layers  52 ,  54 . As it will be described in more details below, the outer layer  52  and the heat moldable layer  56  are discontinuous over flexibility areas of the middle section  30 , i.e. in these heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58 , the upper portion  14  is heat moldable layer free and outer layer free and includes solely the inner layer  54 . It is appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment, in the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58 , the inner layer  54  can be directly juxtaposed to the outer layer  52 , i.e. the upper portion  14  is solely heat moldable layer free. 
         [0040]    It is appreciated that the upper portion  14  can include more material layers. For instance and without being limitative, it can include a synthetic or natural leather layer, a PVC layer, a polyester microfiber layer, a polyurethane layer or any combination thereof. 
         [0041]    The heat moldable layer  56  is located between at least two material layers, i.e. the inner and the outer layers. The heat modable layer  56  is laminated on both faces. 
         [0042]    The outer layer  52  is the outer layer of the shoe  10 . In embodiments, it is made from leather, synthetic or natural. In a particular embodiment, it is made from synthetic micro-fibre leather, made from 100% wt polyester, for its lightweight, durability, breathability, water resistance, and relatively easy care. It can also be made of other materials such as, and without being limitative, any appropriate thermal insulative material or impervious membranes. The thickness of the outer layer  52  can vary between 1.5 to 3 mm. 
         [0043]    The inner layer  54  is the inner lining of the shoe  10 . In embodiments, it is made from superposed layers of nylon mesh fabric, which can be made from 100 wt % polyester, for its high breathability and lightness, and foam material for its padding properties. For example, the foam material layer can be sandwiched between two nylon mesh fabric layers. It can also be made of other materials such as and without being limitative any appropriate padding material, foam, mesh, polyurethane, a foam and mesh laminate, or any combination thereof. The thickness of the inner layer can vary between 1.5 to 5 mm. 
         [0044]    The heat moldable layer  56  extends between the outer layer  52  and the inner layer  54 . It is made of a thermoformable material and, in an embodiment, a thermoformable polymer. Therefore, the upper portion  14  of the shoe can be formed to the rider&#39;s foot for a custom fit, as it will be described in more details below. 
         [0045]    In an embodiment, the heat mouldable layer  56  is made of EVA (Ethylene vinyl-Acetate), urethane or Teflon™, for instance. 
         [0046]    The thickness of layer  56  can range between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm (16 to 32 mils). A thicker thermoformable layer  56  is heavier, less flexible for tightening purposes but harder to deform once thermoform. On the opposite, a thinner thermoformable layer  56  is lighter, more flexible for tightening purposes but easier to deform once thermoform. 
         [0047]    The upper portion  14  of the shoe  10 , including or not the sole  12 , can be anatomically fitted to the rider&#39;s foot by heat molding means such as a conventional or specialized oven. The upper portion  14  is heated to a temperature to cause the heat moldable layer  12  to become pliable. It is appreciated that the temperature and heating time varies in accordance with the heat moldable layer material and its thickness. In an embodiment, for an urethane heat moldable layer having 0.6 mm (24 mils), the shoe, including the heat moldable layer, can be heated at a temperature ranging between 65 and 135° C. for 5 and 30 minutes. The upper portion  14  can be anatomically fitted to the rider&#39;s foot by placing the foot in the inner space  16  and allowing the heat moldable layer  56  to cool and harden in a shape conforming to the rider&#39;s foot. If a thermoplastic polymer is used as heat moldable material, the same molding process can be repeated several times. 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , there is shown the shoe  10  wherein the outer layer  52  is partially removed, i.e. it is removed over the middle section to show the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  but the tightening straps  36  are shown to show the tightening segments  42  and the tightening discontinuity strips  48 . 
         [0049]    As mentioned above, the heat moldable layer  56  is discontinuous over heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  or flexibility areas. Most of the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  are located in the tightening discontinuity strips  48  of the middle section  30 . Therefore, a section of the tightening discontinuity strips  48  is heat moldable layer free and outer layer free. 
         [0050]    In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  can extend in the tightening segments  42 . The heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  in the tightening segments  42  can be continuous with the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  in the tightening discontinuity strips  48  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  in the tightening discontinuity strips  48  are shown in dashed lines since they are covered by the shoe tighteners. 
         [0051]    These discontinuities of the heat moldable layer  56  increases the flexibility of the shoe upper portion  14  for tightening purposes. The heat moldable layer  56  rigidities the outer portion  14  and makes it harder for the rider to tighten the shoe  10  over its foot. Subtle tightening adjustments are thus prevented. 
         [0052]    By creating flexibility areas in the tightening discontinuity strips  48 , i.e. heat moldable layer free sections  58 , more flexibility is provided for tightening purposes. Moreover, the middle section  30  of the shoe upper portion  14  can still be formed to the rider&#39;s foot for a custom fit. 
         [0053]    Furthermore, providing a heat moldable layer discontinuity section  58  along the longitudinal axis  28  of the shoe  10  and partially covered by the shoe tighteners provides more flexibility for tightening purposes since this section can be compressed, if needed. 
         [0054]    In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  are substantially elongated areas aligned along the shoe tightening curved axis  50 . In the embodiment shown in reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , one heat moldable layer discontinuity section  58 , having a tetragon shape such as a substantially rectangular shape, is provided on one side  20 ,  22  of the shoe  10  in one tightening discontinuity strip  48 . In an alternate embodiment, several smaller heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  can be provided on one side  20 ,  22  of the shoe  10  in one tightening discontinuity strip  48 , as it will be described in more details below in reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0055]    In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  are narrower than the tightening strips  46 . Similarly, in an embodiment, the tightening discontinuity strips  48  are narrower than the tightening strips  46 . In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  do not extend to either the lower arch edge  44  or the lower outer edge  46 . In an embodiment, the width of the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  is substantially similar to the width of the tightening discontinuity strips  48 , i.e. they extend over substantially the entire tightening discontinuity strip width. 
         [0056]    It is appreciated that a relative narrow section of the heat moldable layer discontinuity section  58  can partially extend over in the tightening strip  46 . 
         [0057]    The heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  can be located either on the arch side  20 , the outer side  22  or centrally in the tightening section  32 . They can also extend partially over two or three sections. For instance and without being limitative, a section of one heat moldable layer discontinuity section  58  can extend over the outer side  22  and the remaining section can extend over the tightening section  32 . 
         [0058]    As mentioned above, the middle section  30  can include other heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  than the one located in the tightening discontinuity strips  48 . In the embodiment shown in reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , two heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  are located in the middle section  30 , frontwardly of the tightening section  32 . 
         [0059]    In an embodiment, at least a section of the tightening segments  42 , overlapped externally by one of the shoe tighteners  36 , includes heat moldable material. The heat moldable layer discontinuity sections can have a closed shape figure surrounded by the heat moldable material. 
         [0060]    In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer  56  extends upwardly from the bottom arch edge and from the bottom outer edge in the tightening segments  42  and each of the tightening segments  42  have an area and more than 50% of the tightening segment area includes the heat moldable material. 
         [0061]    Referring back to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is shown that, to provide aeration between the inner space  16  and the exterior of the shoe  10 , through holes  60  extend continuously through the outer layer  52 , the inner layer  54  and the middle heat moldable layer  56 , i.e. they are free of outer, inner and middle layers  52 ,  54 ,  56 . They have a first port opening on the inner space  16  and a second port, opposite to the first port, opening on the exterior of the shoe  10 . Through holes  60  increase the breathability of the upper portion  14  of the shoe  10 . 
         [0062]    In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  are located between the shoe tighteners and have a length ranging between 2 mm to 12 mm. In another embodiment, the length of the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  ranges between 5 and 1200 mm and, in another alternate embodiment, its length ranges between 10 and 1100 mm. The width of the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  58  ranges between 5 and 500 mm and, in another alternate embodiment, its length ranges between 10 and 50 mm. It is appreciated that the heat moldable layer discontinuity section  58  extending along the longitudinal axis  28  is typically longer than the heat moldable layer discontinuity section  58  extending along the shoe tightening curved axis  50 . In an embodiment, its length can range between 500 mm to 1200 mm and, in an alternate embodiment, between 700 and 1000 mm. 
         [0063]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown an alternate configuration for the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections. As for  FIGS. 4-6 , the outer layer is partially removed. The features are numbered with reference numerals which correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiment in the 100 series. In this alternate embodiment, several smaller heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  158  are provided on one side  120 ,  122  of the shoe  110  in one tightening discontinuity strip  148 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Thus, each heat moldable layer discontinuity section  158  has a smaller area. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , there is shown another alternate configuration for the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections. As for  FIGS. 4-7 , the outer layer is partially removed. The features are numbered with reference numerals which correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiment in the 200 series. In this alternate embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  258  are provided on each side  120 ,  122  of the shoe  210 . On the opposite of shoe  10 , the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections  258  do not extend in the tightening section  32 . 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , there is shown that the outer flap  33 , which extends from the lower outer edge  46  to approximately the middle of the arch side  20 , is secured to a lower arch edge  44  through an elastic band  34 . The elastic band  34  extends from approximately the beginning of the middle section  30 , proximate to the toe box  24  to approximately the opposite end of the outer flap  33 . The elastic band  34  prevents the formation of improper folds of the outer flap  33  when the rider&#39;s foot is inserted in the inner space  16 . The elastic band  34  can be made of any relatively thin elastic/resilient material such as stretch fabrics (Lycra®, for instance). 
         [0066]    As mentioned above, in an alternate embodiment, the arch flap  35  can extend from the lower arch edge to approximately the middle of the outer side  22  and the outer flap  33  can extend from the lower outer edge  46  towards the arch side  20  and overlap a section of the arch flap  35 . In this embodiment, the arch flap  35  can be secured to the lower outer edge  46  through an elastic band  34 . 
         [0067]    In an embodiment, the elastic band has a similar width than the flap  33 ,  35  to minimize improper fold formation. 
         [0068]    The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. 
         [0069]    It is appreciated that the heat moldable layer discontinuities can be applied to other sport shoes than cycling shoes. 
         [0070]    It is appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment, a substitute material layer can extend between the outer layer and the inner layer in the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections. 
         [0071]    In an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections can be wider than the tightening strips or the tightening discontinuity strips can be wider than the tightening strips. Similarly, in an embodiment, the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections can extend to the lower arch edge and/or the lower outer edge. In an embodiment, the width of the heat moldable layer discontinuity sections can be different than the width of the tightening discontinuity strips. 
         [0072]    The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.