AU2002350388A1 - Shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

An athletic shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper, connected thereto, which surrounds the front of the foot, the ankle region and the heel region of the foot. The shoe is able to be collapsed down to a low height for packing, without negatively affecting the ability of the shoe to hold the wearers foot in an optimal manner in use. This ability is achieved the shoe upper being provided with an incision in the heel region, running at least nearly in a direction perpendicular to the sole, whereby the parts of the shoe upper, on both sides of the incision can be folded or turned inwards down toward the sole.

Description

VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION RE: INTERNATIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NO. PCT/DE D2/04177 - Puma Aktiengesellschaft I, Christopher Francis Hatton, of Columbia House, Columbia Drive, Worthing, West Sussex, hereby declare that I am the translator of the documents attached and certify that the following is a true translation to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signature Dated this twenty-sixth day of April 2004 Dated this twenty-sixth day of April 2004 WO 03/049564 1 PCT/DEO2/04177 Shoe The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper which is connected to the latter and surrounds the front part of the foot, the ankle area and the heel area of the foot. US-PS 6,298,583 discloses a shoe of this type which is designed so that it can be folded relatively flat. This is advantageous above all when the shoe is to be taken on trips. For this, the shoe upper exhibits a number, of incisions which are located in side areas and allow the shoe upper to be folded. Although these incisions make it possible to fold the shoe up into a small size, which is advantageous when fitting the shoe in a case, a carrying bag or the like, it has proved to be disadvantageous that the strength of the shoe is impaired by these measures, particularly during sporting activities. DE 43 29 594 Al discloses an orthopaedic sports shoe with a heal cap which exhibits a circular recess which is located in the area of attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel bone and is arranged approximately symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg in the horizontal direction. The recess is closed by flexible material. However, this orthopaedic sports shoe cannot be folded up. Lastly, DE 26 37 277 Al shows a sports shoe with an integral heel stiffener. This consists of an essentially rigid heel shell which is designed to fit around the heel and matched to the contour of the heel and its rear ward upper part exhibits a slit-like opening running from 30-01-2004 2 DE0204177 above to below the upper heel protrusion. This, sports shoe also cannot be folded flat to be accommodated in a space-saving manner in a case for example. A shoe is known from WO 01/47385 Al in which it is possible to design a part of the shoe upper in the heel area so that it can be removed or folded over in order to convert the shoe from a half shoe into a shoe without a heel cap and back. US 5,127,170 discloses a sports shoe which is designed so that it can be folded up. For this, an articulation mechanism is arranged in the heel area with which the heel cap can be folded inwards in the direction of the shoe sole when necessary and immobilised these by means of the mechanism. From DE 24 61 701 A it is known for a child's shoe to be designed so that the heel area can be folded by means of a hook and loop fastening and a press stud fastening in order to make it easier to put the shoe on. Lastly, US 3,192,651 discloses a shoe which is designed so that a part of the shoe upper can be removed in its heel area. The removable part can be fixed detachably to the shoe upper by means of a buckle fastening or by means of a press stud fastening. Therefore, the underlying object of the invention is to develop a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, of the kind named initially such that firstly it should remain possible to fold up the shoe into a tiny height, and secondly the ability of the shoe to hold the foot of the wearer in optimum fashion - in particular in the heel area - is not effected adversely. AMENDED PAGE 30-01-2004 2a DE0204177 The achievement of this objective by the invention is characterised in that in the heel area, preferably in the central heel area, the shoe upper exhibits a single incision which runs at least approximately in the vertical direction to the sole, with the parts of the shoe upper in the heel area lying on both sides of the incision being embodied so that they can be folded inwards in the direction of the sole for folding up into a shallow form for transport of the shoe. Preferably provision is made for the incision to extend at least over half, preferably at least over two thirds of the height of the shoe upper. With the design according to the invention, the shoe upper remains relatively strong and allows sufficiently firm support of the area of the heel of the wearer. In spite of this, it is possible to fold up the shoe into a relatively shallow form so as to be able to transport it while taking up minimal space. In a development of the invention provision is made for means to be arranged on the shoe upper in the heel area, with which the parts of the shoe upper lying on both sides of the incision can be prevented from gaping outwards. These means can be at least one band arranged AMENDED PAGE WO 03/049564 3 PCT/DEO2/04177 in the upper edge area of the shoe upper. Here, it is advantageous if the band or plurality of bands extend around the parts of the shoe upper on the outside and embrace these. Simple fixture of the band or bands can be achieved by means of a hook and loop fastening or plurality of hook and loop fastenings the effective length of which can be fixed. The hook and loop fastening or fastenings can be immobilised in the side area of one of the parts of the shoe upper. Alternatively, the means can be hinge-like means of articulation which are provided with a lock which prevents the parts of the shoe upper located on both sides of the incision from gaping outwards beyond a predetermined angle, in particular beyond the vertical. The shoe upper preferably consists essentially of textile material. It can be reinforced with leather or plastic parts in highly stressed areas, in particular in the area of the toe and/or in the area of the shoe fastening. An embodiment example of the invention is illustrated in the drawing in which: Fig. 1 shows a sports shoe in a side view; Fig. 2 shows this sports shoe in a plan view which belongs with Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows this sports shoe in a view from the rear which belongs with Fig. 1. The shoe 1, in particular the sports shoe, exhibits a sole 2 and a shoe upper 3 which is connected to the latter. In the heel area 4 of the shoe 1 the shoe upper WO 03/049564 4 PCT/DEO2/04177 3 surrounds the heel of the wearer of the shoe 1. To be able to fold up the shoe 1 for transport, the shoe upper 3 exhibits an incision 5 in the heel area 4. This incision 5 is aligned in the direction of the vertical V, preferably in the central heel area for 4a. The incision 5 divides the shoe upper 3 in the heel area 4 in to two parts Ga and 6b, as can be seen best in Fig. 3. These parts 6a, 6b can be folded in the direction of the inside of the sole 2 to fold up the shoe 1 so that the shoe upper 3 rests on the sole 2 in this area. Above all when the shoe upper 3 is made of textile material, this makes it possible to fold up the shoe 1 so that it only takes up a very small volume. A band 7 or a plurality of bands are arranged in the upper edge area 8 of the shoe upper 3 so that when in use, the shoe 1 gives the foot and in particular the heel area 4 of the wearer stable support and the parts 6a and 6b of the shoe upper 3 do not gape outwards. This band or these bands extend around the outer area of the parts 6a and 6b. In the embodiment example, the band or bands are fixed to the desired length by a hook and loop fastening 9 or a plurality of hook and loop fastenings. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the incision 5 extends over a height hE which in the embodiment example corresponds to roughly 80% to 90% of the height h of the shoe upper 3 at the location of the incision 5.

WO 03/049564 5 PCT/DEO2/04177 List of References 1 Shoe 2 Sole 3 Shoe upper 4 Heel area 4a Central heel area 5 Incision 6a Part of shoe upper 6b Part of shoe upper 7 Means for preventing gaping 8 Upper edge area 9 Hook and loop fastening V Vertical direction h Height of shoe upper hE Height of incision

Claims (4)

1. Shoe (1), in particular sports shoe, with a sole (2) and a shoe upper (3) which is connected to the latter and surrounds the front part of the foot, the ankle area and the heel area (4) of the foot, characterised in that in the heel area (4), preferably in the central heel area (4a), the shoe upper (3) exhibits a single incision (5) which runs at least approximately in the vertical direction (V) to the sole, with the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3) in the heel area (4) lying on both sides of the incision (5) being embodied so that they can be folded inwards in the direction of the sole (2) for folding up into a shallow form for transport of the shoe (1).

2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the incision (5) extends at least over half, preferably at least over two thirds of the height (h) of the shoe upper (3).

3. Shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that means (7) are arranged on the shoe upper (3) in the heel area (4), with which the parts (6a, 6b) of the shoe upper (3) lying on both sides of the incision (5) can be prevented from gaping outwards.

4. Shoe according to claim 3, characterised in that the means (7) are at least one band arranged in the upper edge area (8) of the shoe upper (3). AMENDED PAGE