Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a climbing shoe.

As is known, the currently most popular climbing shoes comprise: a leather and/or fabric shoe-upper that is substantially sock-shaped so as to accommodate and cover the user's foot, including the sole of the foot; a front tensioning band that is made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, is substantially U-bent, and is fixed to the toe of the shoe-upper by gluing so as to surround the tarsus-phalangeal portion of the user's foot; a rear tensioning band that is made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, is substantially U-bent, and is fixed by gluing to the rear part of the shoe-upper so as to cover the area above the Calcaneus of the user's foot, and then to extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper up to reach and join the front tensioning band; and a lower sole which is made of a soft and flexible polymeric material with a high friction coefficient and substantially inextensible, and is fixed by gluing to the bottom of the shoe upper, partially overlapping the front and rear tensioning bands, so as to cover the whole of the sole of the user's foot.

These climbing shoes are disclosed, for example, in <CIT>.

Patent <CIT> additionally describes a climbing shoe provided with an additional tensioning band, again made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, which is substantially V-shaped and is fixed by gluing to the lower part of the shoe-upper, beneath the sole, so as to cover the bottom of the shoe-upper in the metatarsophalangeal area of the sole of the foot, and then extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper, up to reach and join the rear tensioning band.

Unfortunately, although working very well, the climbing shoe described above has a limited capability to adapt to the morphology of the user's foot with the comfort problems that this entails, and is excessively rigid with the operating limits that this entails.

The climbing shoe described above, in fact, is not very suitable for climbing rock walls that are grade IV or higher.

Aim of the present invention it to provided a climbing shoe which is lighter than those currently in use, and is moreover capable of binding the climber's foot better adapting itself to the morphology of the user's foot, so as to improve the foot-containment capacity of the footwear.

In compliance with these aims, according to the present invention there is provided a climbing shoe as defined in Claim <NUM> and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent claims.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, reference number <NUM> denotes as a whole a climbing shoe that may be particularly advantageously used for climbing on rock walls classified as grade IV or higher.

The climbing shoe <NUM> basically comprises: a shoe upper <NUM> preferably made of leather and/or fabric, which is substantially sock-shaped so as to accommodate and completely cover the user's foot, including the sole of the foot; and a front sole <NUM> that is made of a soft and flexible polymeric material with a high friction coefficient and substantially inextensible, and is firmly fixed to the bottom <NUM> of the shoe-upper <NUM> preferably by gluing, so as to cover the front part of the bottom <NUM> of shoe upper <NUM>.

In more detail, the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, i.e. the part/sector of shoe-upper <NUM> that covers the sole of the user's foot, is longitudinally divided into a front or tarsus -phalangeal portion 4a that is immediately underneath the tarsus-phalangeal region of the sole of the user's foot; a central or plantar-arch portion 4b that is immediately underneath the plantar-arch region; and a rear or talus-calcaneal portion 4c that is immediately underneath the talus-calcaneal region of the sole of the user's foot.

The front sole <NUM> is preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to substantially cover solely the front or tarsus-phalangeal portion 4a of the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>.

Preferably, the front sole <NUM> is moreover made of a polymeric material having a hardness (UNI <NUM>) preferably lower than <NUM> Shore A and optionally ranging between <NUM> and <NUM> Shore A.

In more detail, in the example shown, the front sole <NUM> is preferably made of a soft and flexible polymeric material such as, for example, the XS Edge compound or the GRIP <NUM> compound manufactured by the Italian firm VIBRAM S.

The climbing shoe <NUM> additionally comprises a plurality of tensioning bands that are made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, are preferably pre-tensioned, and are finally firmly fixed to the shoe-upper <NUM> preferably by gluing, so as to embrace and tighten the shoe upper <NUM> against the user's foot.

In more detail, each tensioning band has a monolithic structure, and is preferably made of an elastomeric material having an elastic modulus (also known as Young's modulus) significantly lower than that of the polymeric material forming the front sole <NUM>.

In other words, the tensioning bands are preferably made of elastomeric materials having an elastic modulus <NUM>-<NUM> times lower than that of the polymeric material forming the sole <NUM>, and preferably also a hardness (UNI <NUM>) greater than that of the polymeric material forming the sole <NUM>.

Preferably the tensioning band or bands are moreover pre-tensioned so as to tighten the shoe-upper <NUM> on the user's foot, to the limit of physical pain.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in particular, the climbing shoe <NUM> is preferably provided with a front tensioning band <NUM> and with a rear tensioning band <NUM>, both with a monolithic structure and preferably pre-tensioned.

The front tensioning band <NUM> is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the toe <NUM> of the shoe-upper <NUM> preferably by gluing, so as to surround/embrace the front part of the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, firmly joining at same time the front sole <NUM> preferably by gluing.

In more detail, the front tensioning band <NUM> is firmly fixed to the toe <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM> so as to cover the area of shoe upper <NUM> that surrounds/flanks the tarsus-phalangeal portion 4a of the bottom <NUM>, preferably also extending on the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, underneath the sole <NUM>.

In other words, the lower edge of the front tensioning band <NUM> extends on the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM> so as to be at least partially overlapped by the sole <NUM>, and is firmly fixed to the sole <NUM> preferably by gluing.

Preferably, the front tensioning band <NUM> moreover extends along the two inner and outer lateral sides of shoe-upper <NUM>, towards the heel portion <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM> (i.e. towards the portion of shoe-upper <NUM> that covers and protects the Calcaneus of the user's foot), so that the two ends 5a of the band <NUM> reach and, optionally, also go beyond the boundary line between the tarsus-phalangeal portion 4a and the plantar arch portion 4b of the bottom <NUM>, preferably remaining spaced one from the other.

Moreover, with particular reference to <FIG>, the central part of front tensioning band <NUM> is preferably also shaped so as to extend along the upper part of shoe-upper <NUM> towards the instep of user's foot, preferably substantially up to meet and, optionally, surround/embrace the front end of the upper fitting opening <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, so as to substantially cover the upper-front part <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM> without any interruptions.

The front part of the user's foot is thus protected, on the bottom, by the sole <NUM> and, on top, by the central part of front tensioning band <NUM>.

Preferably, the front tensioning band <NUM> is finally made of an elastomeric material with a hardness (UNI <NUM>) greater than or equal to <NUM> Shore A.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the climbing shoe <NUM> additionally comprises a small rear patch <NUM> made of soft and flexible material, which is arranged astride the rear part of shoe-upper <NUM> in the area immediately adjacent and above the heel portion <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>; and the rear tensioning band <NUM> is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper <NUM> preferably by gluing, so that the central elbow/bend of the band covers the plantar arch portion 4b of bottom <NUM>, preferably locally also overlapping the lower edge of front tensioning band <NUM>, while the two branches of the rear tensioning band <NUM> extend obliquely along the two inner and outer lateral sides of shoe-upper <NUM> up to reach and firmly join the rear patch <NUM>.

Clearly, the two ends 6a of rear tensioning band <NUM> reach the rear patch <NUM> from opposite sides of the latter and remain spaced/distanced from each other.

More specifically, the two ends 6a of rear tensioning band <NUM> are preferably overlapped by the rear patch <NUM>, and are firmly fixed to the rear patch <NUM> preferably by gluing.

At the overlap points, moreover, the rear tensioning band <NUM> surmounts and is firmly fixed to the front tensioning band <NUM> preferably by gluing.

In addition, the central elbow of rear tensioning band <NUM> is preferably dimensioned so as to also extend within the tarsus-phalangeal portion 4a of the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, underneath the front sole <NUM>.

The rear patch <NUM>, on the other hand, is preferably made of a soft and flexible polymeric material that is optionally also substantially inextensible, and is preferably firmly fixed to the rear part of shoe-upper <NUM> preferably by gluing.

In addition, the rear patch <NUM> is preferably arranged astride of the midplane M of the shoe, immediately above the heel portion <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, so as to extend substantially astride the point where the Achilles tendon attaches to the Calcaneus of the user's foot.

The two ends 6a of rear tensioning band <NUM>, therefore, are preferably located on opposite sides of the shoe midplane M.

Preferably, the polymeric material forming the rear patch <NUM> is moreover less hard than the elastomeric material forming the rear tensioning band <NUM>.

In the example shown, in particular, likewise the front tensioning band <NUM>, the rear tensioning band <NUM> is preferably made of an elastomeric material having a hardness (UNI <NUM>) greater than or equal to <NUM> Shore A.

The rear patch <NUM>, in turn, is preferably made of a soft and flexible polymeric material having a hardness (UNI <NUM>) lower than <NUM> Shore A and optionally ranging between <NUM> and <NUM> Shore A.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in addition the climbing shoe <NUM> preferably also comprises a rear protective sheet <NUM> which is made of a soft and flexible, and optionally substantially inextensible, polymeric material, and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper <NUM> preferably by gluing, so as to cover the rear part of the bottom <NUM> of shoe upper <NUM> while remaining spaced from the front sole <NUM>.

In addition, the rear protective sheet <NUM> is preferably also shaped so as to rise up along the rear part of shoe-upper <NUM>, towards the rear patch <NUM>, while remaining substantially astride the shoe midplane M, so as to also cover the heel portion <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>.

In other words, the rear protective sheet <NUM> is preferably oblong in shape and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper <NUM> so as to cover the rear part of bottom <NUM> and the heel portion <NUM>.

Preferably, the polymeric material forming the rear protective sheet <NUM> moreover has a hardness lower than that of the elastomeric material forming the rear tensioning band <NUM>, and optionally also a hardness greater than that of the polymeric material forming the front sole <NUM>.

In more detail, the rear protective sheet <NUM> is preferably dimensioned so as to cover the talus-calcaneal portion 4c of the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, optionally also extending over the plantar-arch portion 4b of the bottom <NUM> preferably while remaining underneath the rear tensioning band <NUM>.

Preferably the protective sheet <NUM> is furthermore substantially L-bent and is shaped/dimensioned so as to also cover the heel portion <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, while remaining spaced from the rear patch <NUM>.

In other words, the rear protective sheet <NUM> is preferably oblong in shape, and is preferably substantially L-bent so as to cover the talus-calcaneal portion 4c of the bottom <NUM> and the heel portion <NUM> of shoe upper <NUM>, while remaining substantially astride of the shoe midplane M.

In the example shown, in particular, the rear protective sheet <NUM> is preferably made of a polymeric material having a hardness (UNI <NUM>) preferably lower than <NUM> Shore A and optionally ranging between <NUM> and <NUM> Shore A.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, finally the climbing shoe <NUM> is preferably provided with a semi-rigid front insert <NUM> and/or with a semi-rigid rear insert <NUM>, both preferably made of semi-rigid polymeric material.

The semi-rigid front insert <NUM> has a plate-like structure that preferably underapproximates the shape of the front sole <NUM> and is firmly fixed to the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, or rather to the tarsus-phalangeal portion 4a of the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, underneath the front sole <NUM> and preferably also underneath the front tensioning band <NUM> and/or the rear tensioning band <NUM>, so as to stiffen the front part of the climbing shoe <NUM>.

In more detail, the semi-rigid front insert <NUM> is preferably made of nylon or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and is preferably firmly fixed to the front sole <NUM> and to the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM> by gluing.

The semi-rigid rear insert <NUM>, on the other hand, has a ribbon-like structure, is substantially L-bent, and is firmly fixed to the rear part of the bottom <NUM>, or rather on the talus-calcaneal portion 4c of the bottom <NUM>, and to the heel portion <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, beneath the rear protective sheet <NUM> and substantially astride the midplane M, so as to stiffen the rear part of the climbing shoe <NUM>.

Similarly to the semi-rigid front insert <NUM>, also the semi-rigid rear insert <NUM> is preferably made of nylon or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and is preferably firmly fixed to the shoe-upper <NUM> and to the rear protective sheet <NUM> by gluing.

The functioning of the climbing shoe <NUM> is easily inferable from the above description, and does not require further explanation.

The advantages connected to the particular shape and arrangement of the rear tensioning band <NUM> are remarkable.

First of all, the thus-made rear tensioning band <NUM> enables the elastic force to be distributed, in the rear part of the shoe, over a wider surface that, in addition, excludes the part of the foot where the Achilles tendon attaches to the Calcaneus, thus noticeably improving the comfort of the fit.

In more detail, the rear tensioning band <NUM>, being interrupted in the area of the foot where the Achilles tendon attaches to the Calcaneus, enables the small rear patch <NUM> located there to distribute the pressure over a wider area of the foot, with a considerable increase in the shoe's comfort. All this, of course, without compromising in any way the foot-containment capacity of the shoe <NUM>.

In addition, the special shape of the rear tensioning band <NUM> enables differentiated pre-tensioning of the inner and outer sides of the shoe, making it possible for the climbing shoe <NUM> to better adapt to the morphology of the user's foot.

Lastly, the climbing shoe <NUM> is considerably lighter than climbing shoes currently on the market, with all the advantages that this entails.

It is finally clear that modifications and variations may be made to the climbing shoe <NUM> without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the semi-rigid front insert <NUM> and/or semi-rigid rear insert <NUM> may be made of a polymeric material loaded with carbon nanoparticles. Preferably the carbon nanoparticles are moreover graphene particles and/or carbon nanotubes.

In addition, with reference to <FIG>, in a different embodiment the rear patch <NUM> can be made in one piece with the protective sheet <NUM>.

In other words, the rear patch <NUM> can be an extension of the rear protective sheet <NUM>.

Finally, with reference to <FIG>, in a more sophisticated embodiment, the two ends 5a of front tensioning band <NUM> extend/prolong on the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>, one towards the other, so as to firmly reach/join to one another preferably at the plantar arch portion 4b of the bottom <NUM>, obviously underneath the rear tensioning band <NUM>.

The front tensioning band <NUM> is, thus, designed to form a preferably pre-tensioned, elastic ring that surrounds and tightens the tarsus-phalangeal portion 4a of the bottom <NUM> of shoe-upper <NUM>.

In more detail, in the example shown, the two ends 5a of the front tensioning band <NUM> are preferably overlapped and glued one on the other.

Claim 1:
A climbing shoe (<NUM>) comprising: a shoe-upper (<NUM>) which is shaped so as to accommodate and cover substantially the whole foot of the user; a sole (<NUM>) made of polymeric material and which is fixed to the bottom (<NUM>) of the shoe-upper (<NUM>) so as to cover the front part of the bottom (<NUM>) of said shoe-upper (<NUM>); and a front tensioning band (<NUM>) made of elastomeric material and which is substantially U-bent and fixed to the toe (<NUM>) of the shoe-upper (<NUM>) so as to embrace/ surround the front part of the bottom (<NUM>) of the shoe-upper (<NUM>), while joining to the front sole (<NUM>); wherein
the climbing shoe (<NUM>) additionally comprises: a rear patch (<NUM>) made of soft and flexible material and which is arranged astride of the rear part of the shoe-upper (<NUM>), in the area above the heel portion (<NUM>) of the shoe-upper (<NUM>); and a rear tensioning band (<NUM>) which is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper (<NUM>) so that the central elbow/bend of the rear tensioning band (<NUM>) covers the plantar arch portion (4b) of the bottom (<NUM>) of said shoe-upper (<NUM>), and the two branches of the rear tensioning band (<NUM>) extend obliquely along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper (<NUM>) up to reach and firmly join said rear patch (<NUM>), characterised in that:
the two ends (6a) of the same rear tensioning band (<NUM>) reach said rear patch (<NUM>) from opposite sides of the latter and remain spaced/distanced from each other.