Patent Publication Number: US-5291671-A

Title: Foot securing device particularly for trekking boots

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a foot securing device particularly usable for trekking boots. 
     Trekking boots are currently usually constituted by a sole and an upper which is provided, in a forward position, with a resting tab for the foot instep region and with flaps closeable by means of adapted laces. 
     Such trekking boots usually have an upper whose height is such as to rise above the malleolar region in order to allow optimum securing of the user&#39;s ankle. The following characteristics are usually required of these known boots: in view of their particular use, the sole employed must have a given degree of rigidity in order to support the foot while walking on rough paths, while the upper must be rather soft so as to facilitate the articulation of the foot. 
     These two characteristics entail a problem in known boots: the foot can in fact move rather freely inside the upper, with consequent shifting while walking which results in lower stability for the user. 
     The act of tightening the laces of the boots as much as possible in order to stabilize the foot inside the upper is not sufficient, and indeed such tightening causes high tension in the front part of the boot, leading to user discomfort while walking, since the foot flexes several times when walking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the problems described above in known types by providing a trekking boot wherein the foot is correctly accommodated within the upper and can optimally transmit efforts while walking. 
     Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a device which allows the foot to adhere optimally to the upper and to the sole, maintaining optimum fit for said device. 
     Another important object is to provide a device which prevents the foot from sliding forward while walking downhill and from sliding backward while walking uphill. 
     Another important object is to provide a device which can be easily activated by the user. 
     Another important object is to provide a device which creates no discomfort for the user while walking. 
     Not least object is to provide a device which is reliable and safe, which is constituted by an extremely limited number of components, and which has modest manufacturing costs. 
     The above aim and objects, as well as others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a foot securing device, particularly for trekking boots, which is characterized in that it is constituted by a single traction element which has a first portion which embraces the upper heel and malleolar region, a second portion which is curved at the foot instep region so as to define grip means for laces, and a third portion which passes below approximately the median region of the sole of the foot, means being finally provided for accommodating said traction element and for displaying the degree of tension thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the device applied to a trekking boot; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially sectional side view of the device and trekking boot; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device and trekking boot, with a cutout taken at the sole in order to show the passage of the cable; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device and trekking boot taken along a plane which is median and longitudinal with respect to the sole; 
     FIG. 5 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 1, of a variated passage for the cable. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the above figures, the securing device, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, can be used for a trekking boot 2. 
     Said boot 2 comprises an upper 3 which is associated with a sole 4; a semirigid insole 5 is interposed between said upper and said sole and has a given flexibility at the metatarsal region. 
     Said upper 3 is frontally provided with an opening 6 which defines a pair of flaps 7a and 7b on whose edges there are grip means, such as a plurality of rings 8 or curved hooks 9, for laces 10. 
     A tongue 11 is arranged at said opening 6 so as to conceal it and is rigidly associated, at one end, with the front part of said upper 3. 
     The securing device 1 is constituted by a single i.e. continuous traction element, such as a cable 12 which is slidingly accommodated inside a protective sheath 13. It is evident therefore that the traction element is flexible. 
     Said cable 12 has a first U-shaped portion 14 which traverses the region 15 arranged above the heel and the malleoli, approximately up to the lateral foot instep region 16. 
     The first portion 14 is followed by a second portion 17 which is arranged transversely to the foot instep region 16 and in which the cable 12 is curved so as to define, laterally to the upper and proximate to the edges of the opening 6, grip means for the laces 10, such as a pair of loops 18a and 18b which can thus be accessed by the user. 
     The second portion 17 is followed by a third portion 19 which, starting from the foot instep region 16, moves the cable 12 so that it arranges itself transversely to the upper 3 between the sole 4 and the semirigid insole 5; said cable may not be contained in the sheath at the sole and may be fixed to the sole itself. 
     In other words, as clearly visible from the drawing the cable 12 is a single continuous cable having a first cable portion 14 having a U-like formation extending around the upper heel region 15 and therefrom in the longitudinal direction of the boot at opposite sides thereof up to the instep region 16. The cable 12 has further second cable portions 17 extending from the first cable portion 14 at opposite sides of the instep region 16, the second cable portions 17 including opposite loop like formations 18a and 18b extending in the upwards direction of the boot at opposite sides of the instep region 16 near the opening 6 thereof, the opposite loop-like portions 18a, 18b being arranged near the opening 6 at a distance from each other thereby to define grip means for laces 10. The cable 12 has further a third cable portion 19 joining the second opposite cable portions 17 and having a section extending along the transverse extent of the boot between the sole 4 and the insole 5 at the median region thereof thereby to embrace the upper heel and upper malleolara region 15, the instep region 16 and the insole 5 at the median region. 
     Said sole 4 advantageously has, at the passage of the cable 12, a cavity 20 for containing the sheath 13. 
     The device furthermore comprises means for accommodating the cable 12 and the sheath 13 which are constituted by at least one adapted band 21 which is sewn to the upper 3 so as to define a seat for the containment and/or sliding of the cable and/or sheath. 
     Said band 21 thus traverses the region 15 above the heel, then is joined laterally to the upper 3 at the sole 4 and is partially arranged at the foot instep region 16. 
     Means for displaying the degree of tension of the cable, such as bellows 22a, 22b and 22c arranged at said first portion 14 and said second portion 17 except for the loops, are furthermore provided. 
     As clearly visible from the drawing the extension of the cable 12 around the boot is of symmetrical nature with respect to the longitudinal extent of the boot and the cable is endless. 
     The use of the device is as follows: once the foot has been inserted in the upper, the user applies tension to the laces 10, which allow to close the upper 3 and, at the same time, to secure the foot, since tension is also applied to the cable which interacts with the laces 10 by virtue of the presence of the loops 18a and 18b which protrude from the respective bands 21. 
     It has thus been observed that the device has achieved the above mentioned aim and objects, a securing device having been obtained which allows to optimally support the foot while walking, since said foot is secured in the regions overlying the heel and the foot instep. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the securing device 101. 
     Said device is again constituted by a single cable 112 which is contained in a protective sheath 113. 
     Said cable 112 has a first end 123 which is rigidly associated with the sheath 113 and/or with the sole 104. 
     Said cable 112 then has a first portion 114 which wraps around the upper heel and malleolar region 115 and then passes approximately at the medial region of the sole of the foot, in the interspace between said sole 104 and a semirigid insole. 
     Said cable 112 then has a second portion 117 which is arranged transversely to the foot instep region 116; the cable is subsequently rigidly associated, at its second end 124, with the upper 103 and/or with the sole 104, on the side opposite to said first end 123. 
     Means for adjusting the degree of tension of said cable may be present which could be substantially of the kind shown in the first embodiment in FIG 1. 
     The materials and dimensions of the individual elements which constitute the securing device may naturally be the most appropriate according to the specific requirements.