NL2008680C2

NL2008680C2 - Shoe with hinged sole.

Info

Publication number: NL2008680C2
Application number: NL2008680A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Albert Adriaan Flinterman; Hendrik Diederik Willem Groen
Original assignee: Buckney Shoes B V
Priority date: 2012-04-23
Filing date: 2012-04-23
Publication date: 2013-10-28
Also published as: JP2015514540A; US20150047223A1; CN104684429A; WO2013162356A1; BR112014026529A2; EP2840922A1

Description

Shoe with hinged sole

The present invention relates to a shoe comprising a front part and a back part placed on a sole wherein the sole 5 incorporates a hinge pivotally connecting the front part and the back part for opening and closing the shoe. The shoe also comprises a locking mechanism for locking the shoe in closed position. The invention further concerns a hinge for a shoe with a hinged sole.

10 Such shoe, that may be opened and closed by turning the front part of the shoe relative to the back part of the shoe, facilitates stepping in and out the shoe. This is beneficial in any case but in particular for persons that for whatever reason experience difficulties in stepping in and out 15 a shoe.

EP 2 173 208 discloses such shoe. The locking mechanism is integrated in the axis of the hinge. The drawbacks of this shoe are that the locking mechanism is relatively small for the forces exercised on it and that the locking mechanism 20 may show considerable wear in time, resulting in failure. For comfort reason the tolerance in the locking mechanism should be small, however this results in a less reliable and less smooth locking of the locking mechanism. Moreover the user of the shoe is clearly aware of the presence of the hinge, which 25 is perceived as unpleasant.

Also Dutch patent 1020208 discloses such shoe. The locking mechanism consists of a slide in the back part of the sole that is forced by a spring in a cavity in the front part of the sole. The hinge consists of two small pins and the pins 30 together may not suffice to absorb all power exerted on it.

The pins are consequently vulnerable for deformation. Also the slide absorbs part of the forces exerted on the shoe and as a result of these forces the slide and the cavity may deform. Such deformations may hinder a correct locking and unlocking. 35 Moreover in time this may result in wear and larger tolerances between slide and cavity, which is unacceptable for comfort reasons. The presence of the guideway for the slide in the back part of the sole results in a less stiff sole. The shoe is also unstable in open position and may, simply placed on 40 the ground and under gravity, turn itself in the closed and 2 locked position. Moreover, the user of this shoe is clearly aware of the presence of the hinge, which is perceived as unpleasant .

The present invention intends to solve one or more of 5 the problems of the prior art described above, and it is in particular an objective of the invention to provide a shoe with a hinged sole that is robust, durable and is perceived as pleasant to operate and to wear.

The shoe according to the invention is characterized 10 by one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the hinge consist of a first hinge part and a second hinge part, the first and the second hinge parts being connected at a pivot, the first part of the hinge extending from one side of the pivot to the 15 other side of the pivot. As the first part of the hinge extends from one side of the pivot to the other side, the hinge is less perceived by the user, which provides additional comfort to the user. Moreover, the force exercised at the extended first part, by the foot of the user, during closing of 20 the shoe, has an action point at distance from the pivot of the hinge. Due to the resulting leverage, a less large closing force is required, which makes it more easy to step in.

According to a further aspect of the invention the second hinge part is provided with one or more bearing sur-25 faces for supporting the first hinge part. In this way, in closed position of the shoe, the first and second hinge part provide a solid basis for the sole, which further enhances the comfort. Also, such bearing surfaces will absorb a substantial part of the forces exerted between the first and the second 30 hinge part during walking. The pivot and in particular also the locking mechanism experience therefore less load. Because of these bearing surfaces the required manufacturing tolerances are less strict. The shoe is therefore more easy to design and to manufacture.

35 In again a further aspect of the invention the second hinge part surrounds the first hinge part at least partly. The extended part of the first part of the hinge is then, in closed position of the shoe embedded in the second part of the hinge. This will promote wearing comfort. It also provides the 40 possibility to have the bearing surface of the second part of 3 the hinge around a major part of the circumference of the first part of the hinge and therefore the first part of the hinge will be optimal supported.

The locking mechanism may according to the invention 5 be provided at distance of the pivot of the hinge. Because of this distance to the pivot and due to resulting leverage, the counterforce, which the locking mechanism has to exert on the hinge, in reaction to the forces that tend to open the hinge, are much lower. The hinge is consequently less loaded and will 10 therefore be less vulnerable and more durable. Such locking mechanism at distance of the pivot may according to a further aspect of the invention be provided at the rear of the shoe, in particular at the position of the heel of the shoe. The sole at the rear part of the shoe is in most cases thicker than 15 the other part of the sole and therefore provides more installation space for a locking mechanism. This applies in particular for the heel and according to the invention the locking mechanism may, at least partly, be integrated in the heel.

According to the invention the locking mechanism may 20 be provided with an operating mechanism for releasing and/or locking the locking mechanism. The user of the shoe may operate the locking mechanism by this operating mechanism. For safety reasons, the invention provides a locking mechanism that is provided with means forcing the operating mechanism in 25 a position for locking the locking mechanism. In this way the locking mechanism is maintained in locked position or is forced in that position. The user will only operate the operating mechanism in order to unlock the locking mechanism. According to the invention the operating system may be spring 30 forced.

For comfort reasons the shoe according to the invention may have a locking mechanism that is designed for automatic locking when the shoe is closed. In a further aspect of the invention the locking mechanism may comprise a first con-35 tact area connected with the first part of the hinge and a second contact area connected with the operating mechanism, the first and second contact area interacting when closing the shoe such that the operating mechanism temporary is forced in its unlocking position until the shoe is closed. The first and 40 the second contact area may be provided on a first respec- 4 tively a second hook of the locking mechanism, the first and the second hook interconnecting and locking the shoe in closed position.

According to the invention the hinge of the shoe may 5 be provided with one or more torsion springs, forcing the shoe in open position. This improves ease of use as the shoe will automatically open after unlocking the shoe. The legs of a torsion spring may be embedded in a recess in the first part and/or in the second part of the hinge. This guarantees an op- 10 timal transfer of the spring force onto both hinge parts and prevents that the legs of the spring legs are felt through the sole .

The various aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail and will be elucidated, by way of exam- 15 pie only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows in - Figure 1, a shoe according to the invention in open position; - Figure 2, a shoe according to the invention in 20 closed position; - Figure 3, a hinge of a shoe according to the invention in closed position; - Figure 4, the hinge of figure 3 in open position; - Figure 5, the hinge of figure 3 in cross section; 25 - Figure 6, the hinge of figure 3 provided with a torsion spring; - Figure 7, a hinge according to the invention with automatic locking mechanism, in cross section and in locked position; 30 - Figure 8, the hinge of figure 7 in unlocked posi tion; - Figure 9, the hinge of figure 7 and 8 in intermediate position, while moved from unlocked to locked position; 35 - Figure 10, a hinge with an alternative locking mechanism; - Figure 11, a form-closed type locking mechanism; - Figure 12, a locking mechanism provided with a tilt closure; 40 - Figure 13, a locking mechanism with a gear rack; and 5 - Figure 14, a locking mechanism provided with a sideward tilt closure.

With reference to Figure 1, the shoe 1 according to 5 the invention is shown in open position (for instance with a maximum opening angle of 40 degrees) with a foot 2 of person stepping in the open shoe. The shoe comprises a front part 3 and a back part 4 and is provided with a sole 5. The front part consists of upper 6 connected to stiffening means 9. The 10 back part consists of upper 7 connected to stiffening means 10. A hinge 8 is incorporated in the sole 5. The hinge consists of a first hinge part 8a, second hinge part 8b, and a pivot 8c. The back part 4 of the shoe may be turned around this pivot 8c of the hinge 8 towards the front part 3 of the 15 shoe 1 such that the shoe 1 is closed and the edges 11 and 12 rest against each other, as is shown in Figure 2. The shoe 1 is locked in closed position.

The hinge 8 as shown in figure 3 consists of a first hinge part 8a and a second hinge part 8b. Both hinge parts 8a 20 and 8b are pivotally connected at pivot 8c. The hinge 8, shown in figure 3 in closed position, is in figure 4 shown in open position. The first hinge part 8a has an extended part 16, extending over the pivot 8c in the area of second hinge part 8b. As a result of the extended first part 8a of the hinge, the 25 hinge 8, in particular the pivot 8c thereof, is less perceived by the user. The force exercised at extended part 16 of the extended first part 8a has an action point at distance from the pivot 8c of the hinge 8. Due to leverage, a less large closing force is reguired and consequently it is more easy to 30 step in.

The extended part 16 of the first hinge part 8a has at its bottom a stair profile which provides several surfaces 13a and 14a. The same hinge 8 is also shown in figure 4, in cross section. The second hinge part 8b is also provided with 35 a stair profile with several bearing surfaces 13b and 14b. The surface 13a and 14a of the first hinge part 8a interact, in closed position of the hinge 8, with the corresponding bearing surfaces 13b and 14b of the second hinge part 8b. The first and second hinge part 8a and 8b of this embodiment provide a 40 solid basis for the sole, which further enhances the comfort.

6

Also, the bearing surfaces 13b and 14b will absorb a substantial part of the forces exerted between the first and the second hinge part 8a and 8b during walking. The pivot 8c and in particular a locking mechanism, as hereinafter described, ex-5 perience therefore less load. Because of these bearing surface 13a/b and 14a/b the required manufacturing tolerances are less strict. The shoe is therefore more easily to design and manufacture .

As shown in the figures 3-5, the second hinge part 8b 10 surrounds the extended part 16 of the first hinge part 8a. The extended part 16 of the first hinge part 8a of the hinge 8 is, in closed position of the shoe 1 embedded in the second part 8b of the hinge 8. This provides wearing comfort. Also, the first part 8a of the hinge 8 is optimal supported along the 15 circumference of the extended part 16.

The hinge 8 of figure 3 is in figure 6 provided with a torsion spring 17 around pivot 8c. The legs 18 and 19 of the torsion spring 17 are embedded in recesses 20 and 21 in the first part 8a respectively in the second part 8b of the hinge 20 8. Several torsion springs 17 may be provided around pivot 8c to obtain a sufficient strong force. The torsion spring 17 forces the hinge 8 and, therefore the shoe 1, in open position. This improves ease of use as the shoe 1 will automatically open after unlocking the shoe 1. As the legs 18 and 19 25 of a torsion spring 17 are embedded in the recesses 20 respectively 21, an optimal transfer of the spring force onto both hinge parts 8a and 8b is guaranteed and same it prevents that the legs of the spring are felt through the sole.

The hinge 8 of figure 7 consists of the first hinge 30 part 8a, that extends from one side of the pivot 8c to the other side of pivot 8c, with the extended part 16 of the first hinge part 8a at the pivot side of the second hinge part 8b. Around the pivot 8c a torsion spring 17 is placed, of which also one of the spring legs 19 is shown. The torsion spring 17 35 forces the hinge 8 in open position in order to facilitate stepping in and out of the shoe. When the foot of user has entered the shoe and pushes the extended part 16 of the first hinge part 8a downward, this will provide a sufficient counterforce to the force of torsion spring 17 to close the 40 shoe. In order to maintain the shoe in closed position a lock- 7 ing mechanism 22 is provided. This locking mechanism 22 is provided at distance of the pivot 8c of the hinge 8. Because of this distance to the pivot and due to resulting leverage, the counterforce, which the locking mechanism has to exert on 5 the hinge in reaction to the forces that tend to open the hinge, are much lower. The hinge 8 will therefore be less vulnerable and more durable.

The locking mechanism 22 is provided at the rear of the shoe, at the position of the heel of the shoe. The sole at 10 the rear part of the shoe is in most cases thicker than the other part of the sole and therefore provides more installation space for a locking mechanism. This applies in particular for the heel.

The locking mechanism 22 is provided with an operat-15 ing mechanism 23 for releasing and/or locking the locking mechanism. The operating mechanism 23 extends rearward from the shoe so that it may be operated by the user. The operating mechanism 23 is slide-able positioned in the heel of the shoe and is secured there by a pin 24. The pin 24 extends in a slot 20 at the bottom of the operating mechanism 23. The operating mechanism 23 is connected with hook 25. This hook 25 may in locked position interact with hook 26, which hook 26 is connected to the extended part 16 of the first hinge part 8a. Operating mechanism 23 is spring loaded by spring 27. This 25 spring 27 forces the operating mechanism 23 in a position for locking, such that the hooks 25 and 26 interconnect. This is a safe construction. The locking mechanism 22 will during wear-ing/walking be maintained in closed position. Only when the user operates the operating mechanism 23, by pushing it in, 30 the hooks 25 and 26 will be released and, if the user reduces foot pressure, the torsion spring 19 will push the shoe in open position. The operating mechanism 23 is designed for soft touch operation by hand, however, is also easy to operate by pushing it with the other foot. In the latter case the user 35 does not even have to bend. This is comfortable for any user and even more for users that are handicapped or observe tempo rarily restricted mobility.

The other way around, when the user enters the shoe, the first and second hinge parts 8a and 8b will be pushed 40 against the force of the torsion spring 17 into closed posi- 8 tion. The locking mechanism 22 will now automatically be closed, as has been shown in figure 9. Booth hook 25 and 26 are provided with respectively contact areas 28 and 29. When closing the shoe the contact areas 28 and 29 interact such 5 that the operating mechanism 23 temporary is forced in its unlocking position until the shoe is closed. In closed position the spring 27 forces the operating mechanism 23 in its locked position.

In order to further improve strength of the locking 10 mechanism 22, the locking mechanism may be provide with several interacting hooks 25, 26. Application of several hooks may also further enhance proper closing and may reduce play and wear.

The locking mechanism of the hinge may have different 15 embodiments and may be tuned to the requirements of a specific shoe. For instance in figure 10 a simple pin 30 is provided in the second hinge part 8a. In closed position of the shoe the pin also reaches in a bore or sleeve in the first hinge part 8a, interconnecting both hinge parts.

20 In figure 11 the pin 32 has a profile matching a cor responding profile of the sleeve 33. When closing the shoe and pushing the pin 32, against the pressure of spring 40, both profiles are aligned. If after closing the pin 32 is released, it will return to its starting point. Both the profile of pin 25 32 and that of sleeve 33 are then no longer aligned and the hinge will be maintained in closed position until the pin 32 is pushed again.

The locking mechanism of figure 12 consists of a tilt closure 34, which may tilt around a pivot 41. The tilt closure 30 34 is spring loaded so that it will maintain its locking posi tion with the hook 41 engaging the first hinge part 8a, until the tilt closure 34 is pushed. A similar, however sideward, tilting closure 38 is provide in figure 14. The vertical pivot 39 is again spring loaded by a torsion spring and the hook 42 35 of tilt closure 38 reaches in a sideward bore 43 in the first hinge part 8a.

In figure 13 a smooth operating gear rack 44 is provided. The gear rack 44 consists of a pin 35 interacting with gear 36. Gear 36 on its turn interacts with pin 37. Pin 37 may 40 be pushed in or pulled out of bore 45 of the first hinge part 9 8a by pulling respectively pushing pin 35.

To the person skilled in art it is obvious that the above given embodiments represent only a few of the many possible variations in which the shoe according to the invention 5 may be embodied. Therefore the embodiments given here must be understood as an elucidation to the appended claims without limiting the scope of the invention. Within the protective scope numerous variations are conceivable, which may include for example, embodiments wherein the hinge or parts thereof 10 are provided with ribs to strengthen and/or to stiffen certain areas of the hinge. In this way the hinge may be designed for a low overall weight and still be sufficient strong and stiff. Another variation may be the position of the operating mechanism for locking and/or releasing the locking mechanism. This 15 position of the operating mechanism is not restricted to the rear of the shoe, however may alternatively be provided at the lateral or medial side of the shoe, or even at the upper side of the shoe.

Claims

A shoe (1) comprising a front part (3) and a rear part (4) mounted on a sole (5), the sole (5) comprising a hinge (8) which comprises the front part (3) and the rear part (4) rotatably connects for opening and closing the shoe (1), as well as a locking mechanism (22) for locking the shoe (1) in the closed position, characterized in that the hinge (8) is a first hinge part (8a) and a second hinge part (8b), wherein the first hinge part (8a) and the second hinge part (8b) are connected at a hinge point (8c) and the first hinge part (8a) of the hinge (8 ) extends from one side of the pivot point (8c) to the other side of the pivot point (8c).

Shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second hinge part (8b) is provided with one or more supporting surfaces (13b, 14b) for supporting the first hinge part (8a).

3. Shoe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second hinge part (8b) at least partially surrounds the first hinge part (8a).

Shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) is arranged at a distance from the hinge point (8c) of the hinge (8).

5. Shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) is arranged at the rear of the shoe (1), in particular at the heel of the shoe (1).

6. Shoe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) is integrated at least partially in the heel.

Shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) is provided with an operating mechanism (23, 30, 32, 34, 35, 38) for releasing and / or locking the 35 locking mechanism (22).

Shoe (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) is provided with means (11, 27, 40) that force the operating mechanism (23, 30, 32, 34, 38) into a position wherein the locking mechanism (22) is locked.

Shoe (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the operating mechanism (23, 30, 32, 34, 38) is forced by a spring.

10. Shoe (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) is designed for automatic locking when the shoe (1) is closed.

Shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking mechanism (22) has a first contact surface (29) connected to the front part (8a) of the hinge (8), and a second contact surface (28) connected to the Operating mechanism (22), wherein the first and second contact surfaces (29 and 28, respectively) interact with each other when the shoe (1) is closed, such that the locking mechanism (22) is temporarily forced into the unlocked position until the shoe is closed.

Shoe (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first and the second contact surface (29 and 28, respectively) are arranged on a first (26) and second hook (25), respectively, which engage one another and the shoe (1) lock in closed position.

Shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge (8) is provided with one or more torsion springs (17) which force the shoe into the open position.

Shoe (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that one or more legs (18, 19) of the torsion spring (17) are received in a recess (20, 21) in the first part (8a) and / or the second part (8b) of the hinge (8).

A hinge (8) for a shoe (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims.