INTERMEDIATE FOOTWEAR ELEMENT
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an intermediate footwear element, produced in a suitable manner to ensure an effective and excellent coupling of the intermediate element to the sole of the footwear. More particularly, the invention is advantageously applied to shoes, boots, amphibious and military shoes. This intermediate element is mainly applied in the field of footwear industries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of intermediate elements in the footwear industry is well known, these intermediate elements being advantageously made of rather soft materials so that a comfortable support for the user can be ensured. In general, the intermediate element is inserted by the pressure inside the sole of the shoe, the sole provided with a suitable depression or a preformed seat to receive it. Additionally, the intermediate element is retained within its predetermined seat by means of a cork sole that is arranged along the entire length of the intermediate element. However, when walking, the form of the modality has the main disadvantage of causing a relevant deformation of the outer edges of the sole to which the intermediate element engages. In fact, since the intermediate element is not adequately retained within its seat, a corresponding deviation of the outer edges of the sole occurs, the thickness of the sole of the central zone which is not adequate to rigidly support the weight of the sole. user. This disadvantage is emphasized when the user walks on uneven floors that do not allow a flat and uniform support of the sole. In this way, the sole is caused to rotate, move and press only on specific portions of the sole, thereby inducing a relevant deviation of the sole edges of a given footwear. It should be noted that the deviation does not affect only the aesthetic value of the shoe, but determines a non-uniform support of the sole, which results in a subsequent discomfort for the user who is already unable to wear any of the shoes. DE-U-92 07 287 describes a shoe having a sole with a depressed portion within which an intermediate element sits. The depressed portion is found running the entire length of the sole. The intermediate element attached to the sole by snaps. A specific disadvantage of the document cited above is that the assembly of the sole and the intermediate element is achieved only by resorting to pressure, this complicates the production process. Additionally, an accidental decoupling of the intermediate element from the underlying sole would cause damage in the form of cracks and crevices, which leads to the impossibility of making any additional use of the sole / intermediate element assembly, thereby causing the need to eliminate the full shoe, damaged. US-A-4 420 894 describes a brooch shoe whose intermediate element is based exactly on its interaction with clasps with the underlying sole, which is going to be assigned to the specific shape of the projections present therein and the corresponding depressions present in it. the underlying sole, same. In the previous case, too, the assembly is made possible by the application of a certain pressure on the intermediate element, in order that the fastening of the same occurs with the underlying sole, the previous requirement that is a consumer of time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention has the purpose of setting aside the disadvantages and drawbacks that are typical of the prior art and thus providing an intermediate footwear element that can be easily and inexpensively made, and which can provide a coupling effective and durable from the intermediate element to the sole, thus ensuring a good lateral conservation of the edges of the sole. This is obtained by means of an intermediate element having the features described in claim 1. The dependent claims describe particularly advantageous forms of the mode of the intermediate element according to the present invention. In accordance with a particular form of the embodiment of the invention, the footwear intermediate element is provided with a plurality of protuberances which are placed radially in correspondence of the edge of the intermediate element and which couple a plurality of conjugate depressions obtained inside the sole to which the intermediate element is coupled. Therefore, according to the present invention, the intermediate element is made to be on the sole by a simple coupling. These protuberances, as well as the corresponding depressions, can vary in their number and shape and can be placed along the entire perimeter edge of the intermediate element or along a portion of it, for example, the proximity of the heel or tip of the foot - According to this form of the mode, the protuberances are molded simultaneously with the intermediate element to obtain a molded, individual piece. In general, the materials used to produce the intermediate element, as well as the sole, are thermoplastic rubbers, advantageously cured rubbers, PVC polyurethane and polyolefins, for example, Adiflex®. Furthermore, the intermediate element is advantageously made of materials that are sufficiently soft to ensure a comfortable support of the foot, although sufficiently rigid in order to ensure a firm base to support the foot. The presence of the protuberances, which are placed along the perimetric edge of the intermediate element, allow an advantageous and reliable coupling of the intermediate element inside the sole, this coupling which prevents the intermediate element from escaping from its seat. In fact, in this way, even when the user walks on uneven floors or makes awkward movements, the present invention ensures excellent adhesion of the intermediate element to the sole, thereby avoiding any diantageous deviation of the sole, particularly at the edges. Of the same. According to a further form of the embodiment of the present invention, the coupling of the intermediate element to the sole of a given footwear can be realized by using suitable supports which provide the fastening of the intermediate element of the sole. More particularly, at both ends, the supports are provided with a suitable protrusion which is inserted into a conjugate depression which is worked into the sole to obtain the desired coupling mentioned above. In this way, this intermediate element is held by two or more supports that cross it transversely and that are fastened to the sole portion surrounding the intermediate element. In order to obtain the most effective and resistant coupling of the intermediate element to the sole, in general, the portion of the intermediate element which is crossed by the support is suitably formed to provide a suitable notch in which the support. In this way, this form of the modality allows obtaining a satisfactory coupling of the intermediate element to the sole, as well as a correct placement of the support, thus avoiding an uncomfortable thickness increase in the area where the user's foot is supported. According to a further form of the mode, the supports cross only the perimetric portions of the intermediate element and not the full width of the latter. In this way, a suitable series of corresponding depressions are provided not only in the sole, but also in the intermediate element which is fastened to the sole along the perimeter edge of the intermediate element itself. According to the present invention, the intermediate element is provided with a plurality of preferably formed cells and / or chambers which are advantageously distributed on the surface of the intermediate element which makes contact directly with the sole. When walking, the pressure exerted by the floor in the sole and consequently, in the intermediate element provided with the cells, causes the deformation and deviation of the same and allows the air contained therein to move upwards, that is, towards the foot of the user. This circulation of air is particularly advantageous, since it allows the foot to be ventilated and avoids, or at least reduces, the perspiration of the foot, thus providing a comfortable and good feeling to the user.
ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, given as a non-limiting example, with the help of the figures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which:
Figure 1 shows a plan view, schematic of the coupling, intermediate element / sole according to the present invention, and - Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an intermediate element according to a particular form of the embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A FORM OF THE MODALITY In the figures, a reference sign 10 indicates a coupling of the intermediate element / sole according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows a particular form of the embodiment of the present invention, according to which an intermediate shoe element 11 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 12. These protuberances 12 are positioned radially in correspondence of the edge 16 of the intermediate element and they engage the corresponding depressions 13 machined in the sole 14 of a given shoe. In the figures, the protuberances, as well as the respective depressions, have an oval shape and are distributed equally along the entire perimeter edge of the intermediate element 11.
The number and shapes of the protuberances 12 and depressions 13 can be variable and can be located at a specific portion in the midsole 1 such as, for example, the tip portions or the heel. In general, these protuberances 12 are molded together with the intermediate element when using materials such as thermoplastic rubbers, advantageously cured rubbers, PVC, polyurethane and polyolefins, for example, Adiflex®, these materials which are also used to produce the sole 14. The protuberances 12 allow a reliable and effective coupling of the intermediate element 11 to the sole 14 and prevent the escape of the intermediate element from its seat even when the user walks on uneven floors or makes awkward movements. According to a further form of the embodiment of the present invention (not shown in the figures), the coupling 10 of the intermediate element 11 to the sole 14 of a given footwear is advantageously obtained by means of supports that hold the intermediate element 11 to the sole from one side to the other. In fact, at each end thereof the supports are provided with a suitable protuberance which engages a depression 13 of the conjugate form, the depression being machined within a sole 14. Consequently, the intermediate element 11 is held by two or more supports transversely traversing it, and a suitable notch is provided in the portion of the intermediate element 11 that is crossed by the support, so that an uncomfortable increase in the thickness in the correspondence of the position of the user's foot can be avoided. . Figure 2 shows a further form of the embodiment of the present invention, according to which the intermediate element 11 has a plurality of cells and / or chambers 15 advantageously distributed on its surface that makes contact with the sole 14. When walking , the cells 15, formed hemispherically according to Figure 2, deviate and deform causing the discharge of the air contained therein, the air that is advantageously directed towards the foot of the user. It is evident that, according to other forms of the embodiment, the cells have different shapes with respect to one of those previously described and shown in Figure 2. The invention has been previously described with reference to some particular forms of the invention. modality.
However, it is evident that the present invention as defined by the appended claims is not limited to these forms of the modality, but comprises several variants that fall within the range of technical equivalences because for the achievement of the same does not arise the need to apply a sufficient inventive activity.