Abstract:
The present invention concerns a footwear intermediate element ( 11 ), comprising an element made of natural or synthetic material, said element being positioned inside of a recess machined in a sole body ( 14 ) made of natural or synthetic material. Said intermediate element is provided with a plurality of protuberances ( 12 ) radially disposed in correspondence of the edge ( 16 ) of said intermediate element ( 11 ), said prominences ( 12 ) engaging correspondent recesses ( 13 ) machined in the sole ( 14 ) to which the intermediate element ( 11 ) is coupled.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a footwear intermediate element suitably produced to assure an effective and excellent coupling of said intermediate element to the footwear sole.  
           [0002]    More particularly, said invention is advantageously applied to shoes, boots, amphibious and military shoes.  
           [0003]    Said intermediate element is mainly applied in the field of footwear industries.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0004]    The use of intermediate elements in the footwear industry is well known, said intermediate elements being advantageously made of rather soft materials so that a comfortable support can be assured to the user.  
           [0005]    Generally, the intermediate element is inserted by pressure inside of the shoe sole, said sole being provided with a suitable recess or a preformed seat to receive it.  
           [0006]    Furthermore, said intermediate element is retained inside of its predetermined seat by means of a cork sole which is arranged throughout said intermediate element.  
           [0007]    However, when walking, said form of embodiment has the main drawback to cause a relevant deformation of the external edges of the sole to which said intermediate element is coupled.  
           [0008]    In fact, since the intermediate element is not suitably retained inside of its seat, a relevant deflection of the external sole edges occurs, the sole thickness of the central zone being not suitable for rigidly supporting the user&#39;s weight.  
           [0009]    Said drawback is even more emphasized when the user walks on irregular grounds which do not allow a flat and uniform support of the sole.  
           [0010]    Thus, the sole is caused to make rotations, movements and pressures only on specific portions of the same, thereby inducing a relevant deflection of the sole edges of a given footwear.  
           [0011]    It must be noted that said deflection does not only affect the aesthetical value of the shoe, but it determines a non uniform support of the sole, what results in a consequent discomfort for the user who is even unable to wear said shoes anymore.  
           [0012]    DE-U-92 07 287 discloses a shoe having a sole with a recessed portion within which an intermediate element is seated. Said recessed portion is found to be running all around the sole. The intermediate element is fastened to the sole by snapping.  
           [0013]    A specific drawback of the above cited document is that the assembly of the sole and the intermediate element is achieved only by resosrting to pressure, this complicating the production process. Furthermore, an accidental disengagement of the intermediate element from the underlying sole would yield to damages in the form of cracks and crevices, this leading to the impossibility to make any further use of the sole-intermediate element assembly, therefore causing the need to dispose of the whole damaged shoe.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,894 discloses a snap shoe whose intermediate element is exactly based on its snapping interaction wuth the underlying sole, to be ascribed to the specific shape of the protrusions present on it and the corresponding recesses present on the underlying sole itself.  
           [0015]    In the above case, too, the assembly is made possible by the application of a certain pressure onto the intermediate element, in order for the snapping thereof with the underlying sole to occur, the above requirement being time consuming.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    The present invention aims to set aside the disadvantages and drawbacks which are typical of the background art and, thus, to provide for a footwear intermediate element which can be easily and cheaply realized, and which can provide for an effective and long lasting coupling of the intermediate element to the sole, thereby assuring a good lateral preservation of the sole edges.  
           [0017]    This is obtained by means of an intermediate element having the features disclosed in claim  1 .  
           [0018]    The dependent claims describe particularly advantageous forms of embodiment of the intermediate element according to the present invention.  
           [0019]    According to a particular form of embodiment of the invention, the footwear intermediate element is provided with a plurality of protuberances which are radially disposed in corrispondence of the edge of the intermediate element and which engage a plurality of conjugated recesses obtained inside of the sole to which said intermediate element is coupled.  
           [0020]    Therefore according to the present invention, the intermediate element is made to lie over the sole by a simple coupling.  
           [0021]    Said protuberances, as well as the corresponding recesses, can vary their number and shape and can be placed along the whole perimetral edge of the intermediate element or along a portion of it, e.g. the proximity of the heel or of the tip of the foot.  
           [0022]    According to this form of embodiment, said protuberances are moulded simultaneously with the intermediate element to obtain a single moulded piece.  
           [0023]    Generally, the materials which are used to produce the intermediate element, as well as the sole, are thermoplastic rubbers, advantageously cured rubbers, PVC polyurethan and polyolefines, e.g. Adiflex®.  
           [0024]    Besides, the intermediate element is advantageously made of materials which are sufficiently soft for assuring a comfortable foot support, though sufficiently rigid in order to assure a firm base for bearing the foot.  
           [0025]    The presence of said protuberances, which are positioned along the perimetral edge of the intermediate element, allows an advantageous and reliable coupling of the intermediate element inside of the sole, said coupling preventing the intermediate element to escape from its seat.  
           [0026]    In fact, in this way, even when the user walks on irregular grounds or makes clumsy movements, the present invention assures an excellent adhesion of the intermediate element to the sole, thereby avoiding any disadvantageous deflection of the sole, in particular at the edges of the same.  
           [0027]    According to a further form of embodiment of the present invention, the coupling of the intermediate element to the sole of a given footwear can be realized by using suitable brackets which provide for the fastening of said intermediate element to the sole.  
           [0028]    More particularly, at both ends, said brackets are provided with a suitable protuberance which is introduced into a conjugated recess which is worked inside of the sole to obtain the desired coupling mentioned above.  
           [0029]    Thus, said intermediate element is fastened by two or more brackets which transversally cross it and which are fastened to the sole portion surrounding the intermediate element.  
           [0030]    In order to obtain the most effective and resistent coupling of the intermediate element to the sole, generally the portion of the intermediate element which is crossed by the bracket is suitably shaped to provide for a suitable groove in which the bracket is advantageously located.  
           [0031]    Thus, this form of embodiment allows to obtain a satisfactory coupling of the intermediate element to the sole, as well as a correct positioning of the bracket, thereby avoiding an uncomfortable thickness increase in the area where the user&#39;s foot is supported.  
           [0032]    According to a further form of embodiment, said brackets cross only the perimetral portions of the intermediate element and not the whole width of the latter.  
           [0033]    Thus, a suitable series of correspondent recesses is provided not only in the sole, but also in the intermediate element which is fastened to said sole along the perimetral edge of the intermediate element itself.  
           [0034]    According to the present invention, the intermediate element is provided with a plurality of differently shaped cells and/or chambers which are advantageously distributed on the surface of the intermediate element which directly contacts the sole.  
           [0035]    When walking, the pressure exerted by the ground on the sole and, consequently, on the intermediate element provided with said cells, causes the deformation and deflection thereof and allows the air contained therein to move upwardly, i.e. towards the user&#39;s foot.  
           [0036]    Said air circulation is particularly advantageous since it allows the foot to be ventilated and avoids, or at least reduces, the foot perspiration, thereby providing a comfort and well-being feeling to the user.  
       
    
    
     ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following description, given as a non-limiting example, with the help of the figures illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 shows a schematic plant view of the coupling intermediate element/sole according to the present invention, and  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 shows a schematic section view of an intermediate element according to a particular form of embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A FORM OF EMBODIMENT  
       [0040]    In the figures, reference sign  10  indicates a coupling intermediate element/sole according to the present invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 1 shows a particular form of embodiment of the present invention, according to which a footwear intermediate element  11  is provided with a plurality of protuberances  12 .  
         [0042]    Saids protuberances  12  are radially disposed in corrispondence of edge  16  of the intermediate element and they engage corresponding recesses  13  machined in sole  14  of a given footwear.  
         [0043]    In the figures, said protuberances, as well as the respective recesses, have an oval shape and are equally distributed along the whole perimetral edge of intermediate element  11 .  
         [0044]    The number and shape of said protuberances  12  and recesses  13  can be variable and they can be located in a specific portion of intermediate sole  11  such as, for instance, the tip or the heel portions.  
         [0045]    Generally, said protuberances  12  are moulded together with intermediate element  11  by using materials such as thermoplastic rubbers, advantageously cured rubbers, PVC, polyurethan and polyolefins, e.g. Adiflex®, said materials being also used to produce sole  14 .  
         [0046]    Protuberances  12  allow a reliable and effective coupling of intermediate element  11  to sole  14  and avoid the escape of the intermediate element from its seat even when the user walks on irregular grounds or makes clumsy movements.  
         [0047]    According to a further form of embodiment of the present invention (not shown in the figures), coupling  10  of intermediate element  11  to sole  14  of a given footwear is advantageously obtained by means of brackets which fasten said intermediate element  11  to the sole from one side to the other.  
         [0048]    In fact, at each end thereof said brackets are provided with a suitable protuberance.engaging a recess  13  of conjugated shape, said recess being machined inside of a sole  14 .  
         [0049]    Consequently, intermediate element  11  is fastened by two or more brackets which transversally cross it, and a suitable groove is provided in the portion of intermediate element  11  which is crossed by said bracket so that an uncomfortable thickness increase can be avoided in the correspondence of user&#39;s foot position.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 2 shows a further form of embodiment of the present invention, according to which intermediate element  11  presents a plurality of cells and/or chambers  15  advantageously distributed on its surface contacting sole  14 .  
         [0051]    When walking, said cells  15 , hemispherically shaped according to FIG. 2, are deflected and deformed causing the discharge of the air contained therein, said air being advantageously directed towards user&#39;s foot.  
         [0052]    It is apparent that, according to other forms of embodiment, said cells have different shapes in respect of the one which has previously been described and shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0053]    The invention has previously been described with reference to some particular forms of embodiment.  
         [0054]    However, it is apparent that the present invention as it is defined by the appended claims is not limited to these forms of embodiment, but it comprises several variants falling within the range of technical equivalences because for the attainment thereof there is not found to arise the need to apply a sufficient inventive step.