DE29601890U1 - Shoe, in particular sports shoe, with ankle stabilization - Google Patents

Description

Shoe/especially sports shoe, with ankle stabilization

Description

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a reinforcement that partially or completely surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and extends on one or both sides of the foot to above the upper ankle joint, the reinforcement having a stirrup element that at least partially surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and a cuff element that at least partially surrounds the lower leg above the upper ankle joint.

A cross-country ski boot with these features is known from EP 0 416 437 Bl. In this cross-country ski boot, the cuff element on the inside and outside of the foot is connected to the stirrup element via a joint in order to transfer at least tensile forces between the stirrup element and the cuff element. The cuff element is connected via a joint to the laterally raised flaps of a rear foot heel cup, so that for safe ski guidance, corresponding ski guidance forces can be transferred to the lower leg while relieving the ankle joints. Both joints are arranged vertically at the same height and at the same distance from the lower end of the boot, so that a straight line connecting the two joints runs parallel to the transverse shoe axis, which is perpendicular to the shoe's longitudinal axis. Both joints enable an extension movement and flexion movement, as is required for cross-country skiing.

Another shoe with the features mentioned above is known from EP 0 356 400 A2. This known shoe is a ski boot in which the cuff element is also on the inside and outside of the foot.

side is connected to the bracket element via a joint for transmitting at least tensile forces between the bracket element and the cuff element. The ski boot is designed for optimal guidance of the skis, in particular optimal gliding when skiing in the forward position. The disclosure document is based on the following assumption: Provided that the foot is left immobile on a support (the ski) in its normal, straight forward position, the relative movement between the foot and

The lower leg can be described by a pivot axis that runs diagonally from the lateral (outside of the foot) front to the medial (inside of the foot) back and forms an angle of about 3° to 4° with a transverse axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the foot. This makes it possible to clearly explain the direction of movement of the knee diagonally forwards and inwards that is evidently observed when the lower leg is bent forwards under the above-mentioned conditions according to the information in the disclosure document. In order to take this movement of the knee into account, the disclosure document suggests arranging the two joints of the ski boot on the assumed pivot axis. The joint on the outside of the foot is therefore offset forwards compared to the joint on the inside of the foot. In relation to a shoe transverse axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the shoe, this means that a straight line connecting the two joints and coinciding with the pivot axis forms an angle of approximately 3° to 4° with the shoe transverse axis. In this context, the disclosure document highlights the importance of the fact that the joint on the inside of the foot is as concentric as possible to the inner ankle of the foot.

3d is arranged.

In both the cross-country ski boot known from EP 0 416 437 Bl and the ski boot known from EP 0 356 400 A2, the two joints are precisely located and essentially stationary with respect to the boot. The connecting line connecting the two joints therefore runs through two lines that indicate the position of the joints and are stationary with respect to the boot.

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ary joint or fixed points, so that the position of the joint connection line does not change substantially during a flexion or extension movement of the foot in relation to the shoe.

Furthermore, reference should be made to WO 95/22264 filed by the applicant of the present application. The WO 95/22264 application was published on August 24, 1995 and therefore does not represent prior art to be taken into account for the present application according to Section 3 of the Utility Model Act. The disclosure content of WO 95/22264 (attached to the present application as an appendix) is fully part of the disclosure content of the present application.

is WO 95/22264 discloses a shoe that also has the features mentioned above. According to a preferred embodiment, its cuff element is connected to the cuff element via a joint on the inside and outside of the foot, as in the known cross-country ski boot and the known ski boot, for transmitting at least tensile forces between the cuff element and the cuff element.

WO 95/22264, like the present application, is based on the following anatomical facts: The relative movement between the foot and the lower leg can essentially be described by two axes. A first axis is the axis of the upper ankle joint, which runs approximately transversely through the inner and outer ankle of the foot, i.e., corresponding to the slight offset of the two ankles in the longitudinal direction of the foot (the ankle on the inside of the foot is slightly offset forwards in comparison to the ankle on the outside of the foot in the longitudinal direction of the foot), slightly diagonally from lateral (outer side of the foot) back to medial (inner side of the foot) front. The second axis, which essentially characterizes the mobility of the foot relative to the lower leg, is the so-called "Henke axis", which runs diagonally from lateral (outer side of the foot) back bottom to medial (inner side of the foot) front top and is connected to the

The muscles grouped around the two axes can essentially cause two movements: the so-called "inversion", which plantarflexes the foot and orients the sole of the foot medially and is necessarily combined with a supination and an adduction movement, and the so-called "eversion", which dorsallyflexes the foot and makes the sole of the foot look laterally and is necessarily combined with an abduction and a pronation movement. These movements can also be caused by external forces acting on the foot or the lower leg. In the case of excessive external forces, which occur, for example, when the foot is accidentally twisted, there is a high risk of ankle and

is ligament injuries, especially of the upper ankle joint.

In order for the shoe, in particular a sports shoe, to offer protection against ankle and ligament injuries, in particular of the upper ankle joint, WO 95/22264 proposes a special arrangement of the two joints relative to each other or relative to the two ankles. In relation to the ankles, the joint on the outside of the foot is arranged offset forwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction compared to a middle position between the outside ankle and the inside ankle of the upper ankle joint, and/or the joint on the inside of the foot is arranged offset backwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction compared to the middle position.

The joint on the outside or inside of the foot does not have to be a joint with a stationary joint point in relation to the shoe. WO 95/22264 proposes, among other things, to provide vertical joint play in one or both joints, for example by connecting the bracket element to the cuff element to form the joint via a joint pin element that passes through a slot in the bracket element. According to another embodiment, the two joints are connected by a respective,

The accordion-like or zigzag-like course of the bellows sections allows elastic stretchability and elastic compression of the bellows sections in the vertical direction when the material of the bellows sections is rigid but flexible, so that there is inherent joint play in the vertical direction. The vertical joint play means that the joint axis (joint connection line) of the shoe

Î is not necessarily stationary in relation to the shoe during a flexion or inversion movement, but can shift to a certain extent during this movement, thus creating an effective joint zone (area of possible joint points) on the inside and outside.

is position).

The object of the invention of the present application is to provide a shoe, in particular a sports shoe with the features mentioned above, which offers protection against ankle and ligament injuries, in particular of the upper ankle joint, while being very comfortable to wear and inexpensive to manufacture.

To achieve the object, the invention proposes that the bracket element on the inside and outside of the foot each comprise at least one connecting element made of elastic material, in particular with at least one elastic band, connecting the cuff element to a shoe bottom, in particular the sole, whereby the connecting elements allow a pivoting movement between the cuff element and the shoe bottom, which pivoting movement is determined by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the inside of the foot that fulfills a joint function and by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the outside of the foot that fulfills a joint function, whereby the joint zone on the outside of the foot is offset forwards in relation to the joint zone on the inside of the foot in the longitudinal direction of the shoe.

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Protection against ankle and ligament injuries can also be achieved with at least one connecting element made of elastic material on just one side of the shoe. According to a first variant, it is therefore proposed that the bracket element on the inside of the foot and possibly on the outside of the foot each comprise at least one connecting element made of elastic material, in particular with at least one elastic band, connecting the cuff element to a shoe bottom, in particular the sole, whereby the connecting element or the connecting elements permit a pivoting movement between the cuff element and the shoe bottom, which pivoting movement is determined by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the inside of the foot that fulfills a joint function and possibly by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the outside of the foot that fulfills a joint function, whereby the joint zone on the inside of the foot is arranged offset backwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction compared to a middle position between the outer ankle and the inner ankle of the upper ankle.

According to a second variant, it is proposed that the bracket element on the outside of the foot and optionally on the inside of the foot each comprise at least one connecting element made of elastic material, in particular with at least one elastic band, connecting the cuff element to a shoe bottom, in particular sole, whereby the connecting element or the connecting elements allow a pivoting movement between the cuff element and the shoe bottom, which pivoting movement is determined by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the outside of the foot, which fulfills a joint function, and optionally by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the inside of the foot, which fulfills a joint function, whereby the joint zone on the outside of the foot is arranged offset forwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction relative to a middle position between the outer ankle and the inner ankle of the upper ankle joint.

Preferably, the shoe has at least one connecting element made of elastic material on both the inside and outside of the foot, the connecting element on the inside of the foot being arranged according to the first variant and the connecting element on the outside of the foot being arranged according to the second variant.

The inventive arrangement of the inner and outer joint zones of the foot relative to the ankles and the

Îó joint zones relative to one another means that during a pronation movement, especially an eversion movement, or during a supination movement, especially an inversion movement, of the foot, forces are increasingly transferred via the connecting element on the inside or outside of the foot from the sole of the foot to the cuff element and thus to the lower leg, with corresponding braking and restriction of further pronation or supination movement of the foot. Pronation or eversion damage, especially fractures of the outer ankle, as well as supination or inversion damage, especially ligament tears, and especially bone fractures, can thus be effectively avoided. The training according to the first variant is particularly effective in preventing pronation or eversion damage, and the training according to the second variant is particularly effective in preventing supination or inversion damage. In this regard, reference is made to the information in WO 95/22264.

According to the invention, the full mobility of the foot within the shoe according to the invention is deliberately not aimed at in order to exclude foot injuries or ankle and ligament injuries as far as possible. Due to the design of the connecting element or elements from elastic material, the counterforces of the reinforcement according to the invention that slow down and limit further pronation (eversion) or supination (inversion) movement do not set in suddenly, but gradually.

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In contrast to the solution proposed in WO 95/22264, which involves realizing joint play by using a joint bolt within a slot, according to the invention there is no sharply defined, permitted area for the joint points, but rather an indistinct area (= joint zone) for the joint points that is only limited by gradually increasing counterforces, which results in a particularly high level of wearing comfort, in particular due to easier mobility with a certain adjustment of the joint axis to the respective shoe wearer and above all due to the avoidance of sudden braking during use.

The invention can be used for both two-shell (two-part) and single-shell (one-part) shoes.

is. In the case of double-shell shoes, the reinforcement according to the invention can be arranged on the outer shoe, but it is preferred to provide the reinforcement on the inner shoe in order to bring the reinforcement as close as possible to the foot and to exclude separate foot movements within the shoe. In any case, the reinforcement according to the invention can be arranged on the inside of the inner shoe, outer shoe or single-shell shoe, whereby the reinforcement according to the invention is brought particularly close to the foot. When we talk about the inside here, this also means cases in which the reinforcement according to the invention is covered towards the inside of the shoe by a lining or the like.

The joint zone on the outside of the foot can be offset downwards compared to the outer malleolus of the upper ankle joint. The same applies to the joint zone on the inside of the foot, which can be offset downwards compared to the inner malleolus of the upper ankle joint.

A limitation of the inversion or eversion movement that reliably reduces joint injuries while at the same time maintaining sufficient basic mobility is preferably achieved by connecting the cuff element to the shoe

terteil on both the inside and outside of the foot via at least one connecting element in each case, the projection of the connecting line between the two joint zones onto a horizontal plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shoe, containing the shoe transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shoe and the shoe transverse axis encloses an angle of 10° to 30°, preferably from 15° to 25°, most preferably of about 20°.

&iacgr;&ogr; A wide variety of designs for the stirrup element and cuff element are conceivable. The stirrup element can be integrated with a sole, in particular formed as a single piece. To form the stirrup element, a rear foot heel cup of the shoe bottom, which is closed at the back, can also be pulled up laterally to the joint zones. Other possible designs of the cuff element or stirrup element are specified in the claims and in this regard, reference is expressly made to WO 95/22264, in which, above all in the claims, further design variants of individual shoe components that can be transferred to the shoe according to the invention, as well as advantageous suggestions regarding the positioning of the joints or joint zones in the vertical direction, are specified.

With regard to the design of the at least one connecting element made of elastic material, it is particularly preferred that two bands or band sections of the respective connecting element are provided on the outside of the foot and on the inside of the foot, each band offset from one another in the longitudinal direction of the shoe. This makes it possible to provide the effective joint zone on the inside or outside of the foot particularly precisely in a well-defined area of the shoe, so that a particularly precisely defined limitation of the movement of the foot in directions of movement that are likely to cause injury can be achieved. For this purpose, connecting elements, bands or band sections with different levels of elasticity can also be provided. For example,

a band or band section on the outside of the foot has a different, preferably lower, tensile elasticity than a band or band section on the inside of the foot. Connecting elements, bands or band sections with different tensile elasticities can also be provided on the outside of the foot and/or on the inside of the foot, preferably in such a way that of the two bands or band sections on the inside of the foot, the band or band section at the front in the longitudinal direction of the shoe has a greater tensile elasticity than the band at the back

&iacgr;&ogr; or band section, or that of the two bands or band sections on the outside of the foot, the band or band section at the back in the shoe's longitudinal direction has a greater tensile elasticity than the front band or band section. This can, for example, be achieved in a simple manner.

It is sufficient that the joint zone on the outside of the foot is offset forwards to the desired extent in the shoe's longitudinal direction compared to the joint zone on the inside of the foot, that the joint zone on the outside of the foot is offset forwards to the desired extent in the shoe's longitudinal direction compared to the middle position between the two ankles, or that the joint zone on the inside of the foot is offset backwards to the desired extent in the shoe's longitudinal direction compared to the middle zone.

A connecting element, a band or a band section has 2s a greater tensile elasticity than another connecting element, another band or another band section if its elasticity can be described by a smaller elasticity constant {spring constant). For the same stretch, the more tensile elastic band therefore exerts a lower tensile force than the less tensile elastic band.

In addition to designing the connecting elements, bands or band sections in such a way that the tensile force (counterforce) exerted during stretching increases linearly with the stretching, it is also possible to design at least one connecting element, band or band section in such a way that the tensile force increases progressively with the stretching. In other words, less

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a connecting element or band or band section with progressively decreasing tensile elasticity when stretched can be provided. This can, for example, ensure that the counterforces of the reinforcement according to the invention that slow down and limit the further pronation movement (eversion movement) or supination movement (inversion movement) can be relatively low in an initial area of the movement and then increase exponentially in the course of the further movement, for example, so that on the one hand through the initial

&iacgr;&ogr; area with the low counterforces, a particularly easy mobility is provided with certain options for adjusting the joint axis to the respective shoe wearer and, on the other hand, the progressively increasing counterforces reliably prevent a movement that could cause injury beyond the initial area without a sudden braking of the movement occurring. This ensures a high level of comfort with extremely effective protection against injuries.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the figures.

Figure 1 shows a medial view of an inner shoe according to the invention for a double-shell shoe with a reinforcement according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a lateral view of the inner shoe of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the inner shoe of Figures 1 and 2 in a medial view, wherein the cuff of the reinforcement according to the invention is pivoted relative to a shoe bottom that encompasses the shoe sole in accordance with an extension movement of the foot.

In addition, reference is made to WO 95/22264, in particular to Figures 1 to 3 and the related

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Description. In the present application, the same reference numbers as in these figures are used to designate analogous parts. In the following, the differences between the shoe according to the invention shown in the present figures 1 to 3 and the shoe of figures 1 to 3 of WO 95/22264 are discussed in particular and, in addition, reference is expressly made to the description of this first embodiment of WO 95/22264.

&iacgr;&ogr; The view according to Figure 1 of the present application corresponds to the view of Figure 2 of WO 95/22264 and the view of Figure 2 of this application corresponds to the view of Figure 3 of WO 95/22264. Figure 1 of the present application accordingly shows the inside of the shoe according to

Viewing direction II in Figure 1 of WO 95/22264 and Figure 2 of the present application accordingly show the outside of the shoe in view of viewing direction III in Figure 1 of WO 95/22264. Reference numerals in brackets below refer to Figures 1 to 3 of WO 95/22264.

The inner shoe 10, shown in simplified form in Figures 1 to 3, consisting of sole 12 and shaft 14 including tongue 16, is provided with a cuff 18 as part of a reinforcement, designated overall by 20. The cuff 18 can be closed with a closure element in the form of a closure band 22 around the lower leg of the shoe wearer above his outer and inner ankle (indicated in the figures by a circle 24 and 26 respectively). This can be a Velcro closure band.

The reinforcement 20 mentioned above is formed by a stirrup element 28 that surrounds the foot below both ankle joints, as well as a cuff element 30 that surrounds the cuff 18. The stirrup element comprises an inner-foot connecting element 291 and an outer-foot connecting element 29A, each made of elastic material, which connect the cuff element 30 to the sole 12. The two

Connecting elements each form a tensile elastic band with a front band section 29IV and a rear band section 29IH of the connecting element 29I on the inside of the foot and a front band section 29AV and a rear band section 29AH of the connecting element 29A on the outside of the foot (each in the shoe's longitudinal direction A). The two band sections on the outside of the foot or on the inside of the foot move towards each other in the direction of the cuff element and merge into a correspondingly wider upper band section 29AO or 2910 γ, which engages the cuff element 30. The three band sections 29AV, 29AH and 29AO or 29IV, 29IH, 2910 each form an approximately inverted V-shaped connecting element 29A or 291.

is The connecting element 291 on the inside of the foot is offset backwards in relation to a middle position (M) in the shoe's longitudinal direction A, and the connecting element 29A on the outside of the foot is offset forwards in relation to the middle position (M) in the shoe's longitudinal direction A (in each case in relation to a middle area of the connecting element 291 or 29A in the shoe's longitudinal direction A). Accordingly, the connecting element 291 on the inside of the foot is offset backwards in relation to the connecting element 29A on the outside of the foot. In relation to the band sections, the rear band section 29IH on the inside of the foot is offset backwards in relation to the rear band section 29AH on the outside of the foot, and the front band section 29IV on the inside of the foot is offset backwards in relation to the front band section 29AV on the outside of the foot, in each case in the shoe's longitudinal direction A.

Pivoting movement between the cuff element 3 0 and the shoe bottom part comprising the sole 12. This pivoting movement can be described by an effective joint zone 34 of the shoe on the inside of the foot, which fulfills a joint function, and an effective joint zone 3 2 of the shoe on the outside of the foot, which fulfills a joint function. These joint zones are indicated by hatching in Figures 1 and 2 and are shown in the

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The area of the upper band section 29A0 or 2910 is arranged in or close to the transition area to the two lower band sections 29AV and 29AH or 29IV and 29IH.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the joint zone 32 on the outside of the foot is arranged offset forwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction A relative to the middle position (M) between the outer ankle 24 and the inner ankle 26 of the upper ankle joint, whereas the joint zone 34 on the inside of the foot is arranged offset backwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction A relative to the middle position (M). Accordingly, the joint zone 32 on the outside of the foot is arranged offset forwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction A relative to the joint zone 34 on the inside of the foot.

The extent of the displacement of the joint zones relative to one another can be described by an angle α which is enclosed by a projection (P) of a connecting line (G) between the two joint zones 32 and 34 onto a horizontal plane (E) containing a shoe transverse axis (B) and the transverse axis (B) (cf. Figure 1 of WO 95/22264). The angle a is 10° to 30°, preferably 15° to 25°, most preferably about 20°.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the joint zone 34 on the inside of the foot is slightly higher than the joint zone 32 on the outside of the foot. In relation to the ankles, the joint zone 34 on the inside of the foot is just below the inner ankle 26 and the joint zone 32 on the outside of the foot is just below the outer ankle 24. The connecting elements or bands can also be designed in such a way that a vertical arrangement of the joint zones 32 and 34 results relative to one another or relative to the ankles, as in the case of the joints 32 and 34 of the first embodiment (Figures to 3) of WO 95/22264, so that the joint zone 34 on the inside of the foot is lower than the joint zone 32 on the outside of the foot. The angle of inclination β of the joint zones 32 and 34 is 0.1 to 0.5.

Ot « e < ·

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nen connecting line (G) to the horizontal plane (E) (cf. Figure 1 of WO 95/22264) is then preferably 5° to 15°, most preferably about 10°.

The arrangement of the joint zones 3 2 and 34 provides effective protection for the shoe wearer against pronation and supination damage to the ankle. At the same time, sufficient mobility is guaranteed while avoiding shock loads.

The forward or backward displacement of the joint zones 32 and 34 according to the angle α contributes in particular to the protection against injuries. This forward or backward displacement of the joint zones leads to an increasing tensile load on the connecting element 29A on the outside of the foot with increasing supination movement or inversion movement. This is because in the course of the supination movement or inversion movement the foot increasingly pivots around the Henke axis. This axis is oriented opposite to the connecting line (G) between the two joint zones 32 and 34, i.e. from the back lateral to the front medial. Accordingly, the connecting element 29A is increasingly subjected to tensile load and the further supination movement or inversion movement is inhibited.

During a pronation movement or eversion movement, the connecting element 291 is increasingly subjected to tensile stress due to the described relative arrangement of the Henke axis and the joint connection line G, with a corresponding restriction of the ankle joint load or a corresponding inhibition of the pronation movement or eversion movement.

The injury protection according to the invention is thus achieved by transmitting tensile forces between the cuff element 30 and the shoe bottom or sole 12 via the connecting elements 291 and 29A, which corresponds to a transmission of tensile forces between the sole of the foot and the lower leg via the two connecting elements.

Due to the design of the connecting elements from elastic material, according to the described embodiment as elastic bands, the counterforces limiting the supination movement (inversion movement) or pronation movement (eversion movement) do not set in suddenly, but these forces build up gradually as the supination or pronation movement increases until a counterforce preventing further supination or pronation movement is reached. The inherent joint play in the vertical direction due to the elasticity of the connecting elements and the gradual onset of the counterforces limiting the movement of the foot ensure easier mobility of the foot and thus a particularly high level of comfort. The connecting elements can also be loaded in such a way that

It should be statistical that the counterforces increase progressively during the supination movement (eversion movement) and/or during the pronation movement (eversion movement) in order to optimize the wearing comfort on the one hand and the protection against injuries on the other.

As in the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 of WO 95/22264, the shoe according to the invention of Figures to 3 of the present application can also be referred to in accordance with the terminology of WO 95/22264 as having an inner and an outer hinge point, the positions of which are variable within the hinge zone 34 and 32, respectively, whereby the hinge zones 32 and 34 are not sharply delimited due to the elastic design of the connecting elements.

In comparison to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 of WO 95/22264, an exact localization of the articulation points is not given, but this is not detrimental to the protective function according to the invention, since the foot movement is also not characterized purely physiologically by a fixed axis.

«ft «ft» ■*· 4 · * * «■* · t

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The cuff element 30, the connecting elements 291 and 29A and the sole 12 can be designed integrally, for example as a one-piece part injection-molded using different plastics, comprising the cuff, the connecting elements and the sole. A substantially tensile-stiff plastic could then be used for the cuff element 30 and the sole 12, whereas a tensile-elastic plastic would be used for the connecting elements 291 and 29A. The individual connecting element

Î 291 or 2 9A could be injection molded using different plastics with (when cooled) different tensile elasticities. In order to move the joint zone 34 on the inside of the foot further back, for example, the rear band section 29IH on the inside of the foot could be more tensile than

the front band section 29IV on the inside of the foot is designed. Accordingly, for a displacement of the joint zone 32 on the outside of the foot further forward, the front band section 39AV on the outside of the foot could be designed to be more tensile than the rear band section 29AH on the outside of the foot.

It is also possible to design the connecting element 29A on the outside of the foot to be more tensile than the use element 291 on the inside of the foot in order to limit a supination movement or inversion movement more than a pronation movement or eversion movement. The reverse design with a more elastic connecting element on the outside of the foot than on the inside of the foot is also possible in order to limit a pronation movement or eversion movement more than a supination movement or inversion movement.

Progressively increasing counterforces when a respective connecting element is stretched can be achieved by the connecting element having a tensile elasticity that progressively decreases when stretched. This can be achieved, for example, by the connecting element being made up of several parts, for example with several bands that do not all stretch equally as the connecting element stretches.

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tensile stresses are not applied to the joints at the same time, but one after the other. The number of bands that are subjected to tensile stress therefore increases as the connecting element stretches.

Figures 1 and 2 show the shoe in a relative position of the cuff element 3 0 and the shoe bottom that includes the sole 12, which corresponds to a neutral zero position of the foot, in which the sole of the foot is at a right angle to the lower leg axis. This relative position corresponds to the relative position of the cuff element 3 0 and the shoe bottom without the foot inserted into the shoe. Figure 3 shows a relative position of the cuff element 3 0 and the shoe bottom that corresponds to a dorsal extension position of the foot (the back of the foot has approached the front surface of the lower leg). The angle enclosed by the sole of the foot and the lower leg axis is now about 75°; the dorsal flexion angle is therefore about 15°. As can be seen from Figure 3, at this dorsal flexion angle the rear ligament sections 29IH and 29AH are only slightly stretched compared to their state in the relative position of Figures 1 and 2. If one takes into account that the anatomically possible dorsal flexion angle range is approximately 20° to 30°, it becomes clear that the connecting elements compensate for the dorsal flexion that occurs during normal walking when the foot rolls over.

2s movement is not or only slightly hindered. The same applies to the plantar flexion movement of the foot that occurs during normal walking, in which the top of the foot moves away from the front of the lower leg.

In summary, it is proposed for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe with a reinforcement that partially or completely surrounds the foot below the ankle joints, on one or both sides of the foot up to above the upper ankle joint, comprising a stirrup element that at least partially surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and a cuff element that at least partially surrounds the lower leg above the upper ankle joint, that

the bracket element has at least one connecting element made of elastic material on the inside of the foot or on the outside of the foot, connecting the cuff element to a shoe bottom, in particular the sole. The connecting element, which in particular comprises at least one elastic band, allows a pivoting movement between the cuff element and the shoe bottom, which is determined by an effective joint zone of the shoe on the inside of the foot that fulfills a joint function or an effective joint zone of the shoe on the outside of the foot that fulfills a joint function. According to the invention, the joint zone on the inside of the foot is arranged offset backwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction relative to a middle position between the outer ankle and the inner ankle of the upper ankle, or the joint zone on the outside of the foot is arranged offset forwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction relative to the middle position, or the joint zone on the outside of the foot is offset forwards in the shoe's longitudinal direction relative to the joint zone on the inside of the foot.

Claims (17)

- 20 - Protection claims 1. Shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a reinforcement (20) that partially or completely surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and extends on one or both sides of the foot to above the upper ankle joint, the reinforcement (20) having a stirrup element (28) that at least partially surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and a cuff element (30) that at least partially surrounds the lower leg above the upper ankle joint, wherein the bracket element (28) comprises on the inside of the foot and on the outside of the foot at least one connecting element (291 or 29A) made of elastic material, in particular with at least one elastic band (291 or 29A), connecting the cuff element (30) to a shoe bottom, in particular sole (12), wherein the connecting elements (291, 29A) allow a pivoting movement between the cuff element (30) and the shoe bottom (12), which pivoting movement is determined by an effective joint zone (34) of the shoe on the inside of the foot that fulfills a joint function and by an effective joint zone (32) of the shoe on the outside of the foot that fulfills a joint function, wherein the joint zone (32) on the outside of the foot is offset forwards in relation to the joint zone (34) on the inside of the foot in the shoe's longitudinal direction (A). 2. Shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a reinforcement (20) that partially or completely surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and extends on one or both sides of the foot to above the upper ankle joint, the reinforcement (20) comprising a stirrup element (28) that at least partially surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and a - 21 - upper ankle joint, wherein the bracket element (28) comprises on the inside of the foot and optionally on the outside of the foot at least one connecting element (291 or 29A) made of elastic material, in particular with at least one elastic band (291 or 29A), which connects the cuff element (30) to a shoe bottom, in particular sole (12), wherein the connecting element (291) or the connecting elements (291, 29A) allow a pivoting movement between the cuff element (30) and the shoe bottom (12), which pivoting movement is carried out by an effective joint zone (34) of the shoe on the inside of the foot, which fulfills a joint function, and optionally by an external ls side, an effective joint zone fulfilling a joint function (32) of the shoe, wherein the joint zone (34) on the inside of the foot is arranged offset to the rear in the shoe longitudinal direction (A) relative to a middle position (M) between the outer ankle (24) and the inner ankle (26) of the upper ankle joint, in particular according to claim 1. 3. Shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a reinforcement (20) that partially or completely surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and extends on one or both sides of the foot to above the upper ankle joint, the reinforcement (20) having a stirrup element (28) that at least partially surrounds the foot below the ankle joints and a cuff element (30) that at least partially surrounds the lower leg above the upper ankle joint, the stirrup element (28) having at least one connecting element (29A or 291) made of elastic material, in particular with at least one elastic band (29A or 291) on the outside of the foot and optionally on the inside of the foot, connecting the cuff element (30) to a shoe bottom, in particular sole (12). wherein the connecting element (29A) or the connecting elements (29A, 291) permit a pivoting movement between the cuff element (30) and the shoe bottom (12), which pivoting movement is determined by an effective joint zone (32) of the shoe on the outside of the foot that fulfills a joint function and optionally by an effective joint zone (34) of the shoe on the inside of the foot that fulfills a joint function, wherein the joint zone (32) on the outside of the foot is arranged offset forwards in the shoe longitudinal direction (A) relative to a middle position (M) between the outer ankle (24) and the inner ankle (26) of the upper ankle joint, in particular according to claim 1 or 2. is 4. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint zone (32) on the outside of the foot is arranged offset downwards relative to the outer ankle (24) of the upper ankle joint, or that the joint zone (34) on the inside of the foot is arranged offset downwards relative to the inner ankle (26) of the upper ankle joint. 5. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the cuff element (30) is connected to the shoe bottom (12) both on the inside of the foot and on the outside of the foot via at least one connecting element (291 or 29A), the projection (P) of the connecting line (G) between the joint zone (34) on the inside of the foot and the joint zone (32) on the outside of the foot onto a horizontal plane (E) parallel to the shoe longitudinal direction (A) and containing the shoe transverse axis (B) perpendicular to the shoe longitudinal direction (A), and the shoe transverse axis (B) enclose an angle α of 10° to 30°, preferably 15° to 25°, most preferably of about 20°. ·* ···&diams; »· e# *v mn - 23 - 6. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shoe is a single-shell shoe, wherein the bracket element (28) and the cuff element (30) are preferably arranged on the inside of the shoe. 7. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shoe is a two-shell shoe, wherein the bracket element (28) and the cuff element Ø (3 0) are preferably arranged on the inside of the inner shoe (10) or the outer shoe, in particular on the inside of the inner shoe (10). 8. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cuff element (30) partially forms the shaft (14) of the shoe. 9. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cuff element (30) has a cuff (18) which encompasses the lower leg and can preferably be closed by a closure element (22). 10. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bracket element (28) is integrated with a sole (12), in particular is formed in one piece. 11. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that to form the bracket element (2 8) a rear foot heel shell of the shoe bottom, which is closed in particular at the back, is pulled up laterally up to the joint zones. 12. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cuff element and the bracket element are integral, in particular one-piece. - 24 - 13. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the outside of the foot and on the inside of the foot two bands or band sections (29AV, 29AH or 29IV, 29IH) of the respective connecting element (29A or 29I) are provided, which are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction (A) of the shoe. 14. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that connecting elements, straps or &iacgr;&ogr; Band sections (29AV, 29AH, 29IV, 29IH) with different tensile elasticities are provided. 15. Shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that a connecting element, band or band section on the outside of the foot has a different, preferably a lower tensile elasticity than a connecting element, band or band section on the inside of the foot. 16. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that connecting elements, bands or band sections with different tensile elasticities are provided on the outside of the foot and/or on the inside of the foot, preferably in such a way that of the two bands or band sections on the inside of the foot (29IV, 2 9IH), the band or band section (29IV) at the front in the shoe's longitudinal direction (A) has a greater tensile elasticity than the band or band section (29IH) at the back, or that of the two bands or band sections on the outside of the foot (29AV, 2 9AH), the band or band section (2 9AH) at the back in the shoe's longitudinal direction (A) has a greater tensile elasticity than the band or band section (29AV). 17. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one connecting element (291, 29A) or band (291, 29A) or band section - 25 - (29IV, 29IH, 29AV, 29AH) rait progressively decreasing tensile elasticity when stretched is provided.