EP4424199A1 - Lacing shoe with quick tensioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoe with a lacing system that includes at least one shoelace, as well as a quick-tensioning device for tightening and holding the shoelace, which has a lace spool for winding and tightening the shoelace and a drive spool for driving the lace spool. According to the invention, a driver device with a freewheel in one direction of rotation is provided between the lace spool and the drive spool, which transmits a rotation of the drive spool in one tensioning direction to the lace spool and allows the drive spool to rotate freely relative to the lace spool in the opposite direction of rotation.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe with a lacing system comprising at least one shoelace, as well as a quick-tensioning device for tightening and holding the shoelace, which has a lace spool for winding and tightening the shoelace and a drive spool for driving the lace spool.

In order to make it easier to get in and out of shoes and to ensure that the upper fits well when put on, lacing is often used. This is assigned to a widening and/or opening section of the upper and can extend over a tongue of the shoe, for example. If the shoe is a low shoe, for example, the lacing can extend in the area of the instep. If the shoe is a boot, for example, the lacing can extend in the area of the shaft and possibly also in the area of the instep. Regardless of the type of shoe, two or more separate laces can be used in different lacing sections, for example with one lace for the lacing area on the instep and one lace for the lacing area on a shaft, whereby If necessary, two parallel lacings can also be provided, for example on an inside and an outside of a shaft or generally of the upper shoe.

In order to avoid the annoying task of tying a shoelace bow, it is already known to use holding and/or clamping devices with the help of which the shoelace can be fixed or held in a tightened position. This also makes it easier to precisely adjust the tension of the laces and to fix the desired tension of the shoelaces, which often comes loose or loosens again when tying a bow if the shoelace cannot be held in place parallel to the tying of the bow.

Such holding and/or clamping devices are known in various designs. For example, the shoelace can be guided through a clamping sleeve, which is pulled along the shoelace after it has been tightened until the clamping sleeve is at the last lacing eyelet, from which the shoelace is pulled out. Such clamping eyelets can comprise a spring-loaded cross slider, which can reduce the opening through the clamping eyelet and clamp the shoelace there. On the other hand, clamping clips or other holding means can also be attached to the upper shoe, to which the shoelace is clamped as soon as it is tightened.

The part of the lace that is pulled out when tightening and that protrudes beyond the holding and/or clamping device must then be stowed away to avoid creating a tripping hazard. This can basically be done by tying a bow, but this is laborious and does not fully exploit the advantage of the holding and/or clamping devices.

In this respect, it has already been proposed to provide spring-loaded winding devices for the protruding part of the shoelace. For example, the document EP 14 21 867 B1 a lace-up shoe whose laces are wound around a ratchet drum that can be rotated in the tightening direction and locked in the opposite direction by means of locking pawls, so that the ratchet drum can hold the tightened laces in the tightened position. To be able to loosen the lacing again, the ratchet drum's locking mechanism can be released so that the drum can also be rotated in the loosening direction. In order to store the excess lace part that is pulled off the ratchet drum when tightening, this previously known shoe is provided with a spring-loaded winding storage device, which is actually only attached to the loosely dangling, pulled-out section of the lace, but pulls this section of the lace in using spring tension and thus comes to rest in the area of the upper shoe when the protruding section of the lace is pulled in.

The rope storage for the tensioning rope that is pulled out when tightening the lacing is relatively bulky in order to be able to wind up the required length of rope. Especially for boots with relatively long lacing, the laces must have a relatively long working length, i.e. a sufficiently large additional length to be able to loosen the lacing in the shaft area sufficiently far for comfortable getting in and out, which then conversely means that when tightening the lacing, the laces have to be pulled and tightened a long distance or length in order to achieve a good fit of the shoe. However, the laces have to be pulled out accordingly far and wound up on the rope storage, which makes the rope storage bulky.

Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of creating an improved shoe of the type mentioned, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and develops the latter in an advantageous manner. In particular, a lacing that is easy to fix and has a finely adjustable tension with a large or long adjustment range of the laces is to be created, without the need for bulky and visually disturbing mechanisms that take up a lot of space.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a shoe according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed that the lace spool and the drive spool should no longer be designed as a one-piece winch with two winding areas, but rather that they should be separated from one another and arranged so that they can rotate relative to one another. According to the invention, a driver device with a freewheel in one direction of rotation is provided between the lace spool and the drive spool, which transfers a rotation of the drive spool in one tensioning direction to the lace spool and allows the drive spool to rotate freely relative to the lace spool in the opposite direction of rotation.

The aforementioned driver device and its freewheeling in one direction of rotation allow the drive spool to be rotated back and forth like a ratchet in order to rotate the lace spool further and further in the tensioning direction in the desired manner and thereby tighten the shoelace. When the drive spool is rotated back freely or freely, the aforementioned drive spool can, so to speak, catch or grip, so that a relatively large rotational adjustment path of the lace spool can be achieved with only a limited adjustment path of the drive spool. In contrast to the state of the art, a tensioning cable with a long adjustment path does not need to be pulled out or removed in order to achieve a correspondingly long adjustment path of the shoelace.

When tightening the shoelace, the lace spool is continually rotated in the same direction, namely the tensioning direction, while the drive spool is rotated back and forth intermittently with pump-like movements. During the pumping phases, in which the drive spool is rotated back to gain further adjustment or tensioning travel, the lace spool can be held or secured against turning back so that the lace tension already gained is not lost again.

To operate the drive coil, a flexible traction device, for example in the form of a tensioning cable, a belt or a chain, can be provided as the actuating means, which can be wound around the drive coil so that the drive coil is rotated in the tensioning direction by pulling off the traction device. When turning back in a ratchet-like manner the drive spool in the opposite direction, the traction device is wound back onto the drive spool so that the traction device can then be pulled off again and the drive spool can be rotated in the tensioning direction.

Alternatively or additionally, other actuating means for rotating the drive coil can also be provided, for example an adjusting lever that is connected to the drive coil in a rotationally fixed manner and that protrudes outwards towards the circumference and can be gripped by a hand or fingers and moved back and forth in order to be able to rotate the drive coil back and forth in the manner mentioned or to be able to operate it in an intermittent rotational manner. In the case of finer footwear that only requires less lacing tension, a hand-accessible edge bar of the drive coil can also be provided with a groove so that the drive wheel can be turned in the tensioning direction with the thumb or a fingertip.

For bulkier footwear or shoes that require stronger lace tension, such as ice skates or work boots, it is advantageous to use a traction device such as a tensioning cable as the actuating means in order to be able to actuate the drive coil with sufficient force or torque.

The separate design of the drive coil and lace coil advantageously also allows a modular design of the quick-release device and therefore easy adaptation of the quick-release device to different shoe types that require different lacing tensions. In particular, the drive coil and/or the lace coil can be easily exchanged in order to achieve different drum diameter ratios and thus different force transmission ratios. In principle, the drive coil and the lace coil can have at least approximately the same drum diameter, so that the shoelace winding onto the lace coil on the one hand and the tensioning cable unwinding from the drive coil on the other hand have at least approximately the same lever arms and thus the tensile force on the tensioning cable achieves an approximately equal tensile force on the shoelace.

Alternatively, a drive spool can be combined with a lace spool, which - compared to the lace spool - has a larger drum diameter and thus gives the tensioning cable a larger lever arm than the shoelace running onto the lace spool. Accordingly, a relatively higher shoelace tension can be achieved with a relatively small tensioning cable tensile force.

Conversely, if a relatively quick tightening of the lacing is to be achieved, i.e. a long adjustment path of the lace with a short stroke of the tensioning cable, a drive spool with a smaller drum diameter than the lace spool can be selected.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it can be provided that the tensioning cable or traction means has an upward actuation direction - when the shoe is on the ground - or can be pulled upwards away from the shoe in order to actuate the drive coil. For example, the said actuation direction of the tensioning cable or traction means can be aligned approximately parallel to the shaft axis of a boot or shoe shaft and/or run approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shin when the shoe is put on.

Advantageously, an outlet opening or removal guide for the traction means can be provided on an upper side of the quick-release device, through which the traction means exits from the drive coil or is held ready on an upper side of the quick-release device, so that a section of the traction means lying ready or standing on the upper side and accessible can be easily grasped by one hand of the shoe wearer.

In order to achieve simple and rapid actuation, an advantageous development of the invention can provide an elastic return device that tries to rotate the drive coil in the freewheeling direction relative to the lace coil. If the actuating means - for example the tensioning cable - is released or slackened, the return device rotates the drive coil relative to the lace coil. back, whereby the advantageously provided tensioning cable can be wound around the drive spool so that the quick-release device is ready for a further tensioning stroke.

By means of such an elastic return device, the quick-release device can be easily actuated in a pump-like manner in several strokes by tightening and releasing the actuating means coupled to the drive coil in several strokes, whereby when the actuating means is tightened, the drive coil takes the lace coil with it in the tensioning direction and when the actuating means is released, the return device turns the drive coil back relative to the lace coil.

Such an elastic return device can, for example, act on the drive coil on the one hand and on the lace coil on the other hand, for example in the form of a spiral spring that is suspended on the drive coil on the one hand and on the lace coil on the other. Alternatively or additionally, the return device can also have a support point on a housing part in order to be able to rotate the drive coil back by supporting it on the housing or support part. For example, a spiral spring can be suspended or supported on the drive coil on the one hand and on the housing or support part on the other, so that the rotary movement in the freewheeling direction is generated by supporting it on the housing or support part.

In order to hold the shoelace in the tightened position and/or temporarily when the drive spool is re-tightened or to prevent it from loosening accidentally, the lace spool can be blocked in the tightened rotational position or secured against turning back against the tensioning direction so that the lace spool holds the tightened shoelace in the tightened position. Alternatively or additionally, the tightened shoelace running onto the lace spool can be held or blocked before or after the lace spool or secured against running back so that the drive spool can be easily turned back relative to the lace spool when the actuator is released or released.

For this purpose, the lace spool can be assigned a retaining device that automatically blocks or fixes or brakes the lace spool against the rotational tensioning direction and releases it in the rotational tensioning direction. In particular, such a retaining device can be designed in the manner of a return brake that automatically blocks or brakes in the slackening direction and automatically releases or is free to move in the tensioning direction. The retrieval device can have a return lock with free movement in the tensioning direction and locking direction in the opposite direction of rotation.

In order to be able to hold larger coil torques with favorable leverage ratios, the retaining device can advantageously have a retaining wheel that can be coupled to the lace coil in a rotationally fixed manner and that has force-locking and/or positive-locking retaining means in the area of its outer circumference that can be brought into engagement with cooperating retaining means on a housing part surrounding the retaining wheel. For example, the retaining wheel mentioned can have locking teeth arranged on the circumference that can be brought into locking engagement with a locking toothing, for example on the inner circumference of a housing part. Alternatively, a locking toothing can also be provided on the outer circumference of the retaining wheel, into which one or more retaining teeth on the surrounding housing part can be brought into engagement.

Advantageously, the at least one retaining tooth can be elastically spring-mounted, for example on a spring arm, in order to automatically jump into the locking position and, on the other hand, to be able to slide over one or more locking projections when the lace spool is rotated in the tensioning direction.

Alternatively or in addition to retaining means acting on the shell surface in the form of the aforementioned toothing or locking teeth, axially effective retaining means can also be provided. For example, a surrounding housing part could be provided with a front-side toothing and the aforementioned retaining wheel could have one or more retaining teeth on an opposite front surface section, which can axially lock into the aforementioned retaining toothing, whereby the reverse constellation with an annular locking toothing on the retaining wheel and one or more locking teeth on the surrounding housing part.

The said retaining device, for example in the form of the said retaining wheel, can form an integrally formed part of the lace coil, for example be formed by a flanged disk that axially limits the winding area of the lace coil. For example, the said flanged disk can be provided on the outer circumference with latches or with a locking toothing, which can interact with corresponding, interacting retaining means on a carrier or housing part.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the said retaining device can also be designed separately from the lace spool and can be coupled to the lace spool in a rotationally fixed manner. In particular, a detachable coupling can be provided between the said retaining device and the lace spool in order to allow the tensioned shoelace to be released by uncoupling the lace spool from the retaining device.

For example, an axially operable or axially movable coupling can be provided between the aforementioned retaining wheel and the lace coil, whereby such an axially operable coupling can be designed, for example, in the form of a claw coupling, which can comprise axially projecting and recessed coupling projections and recesses on the aforementioned retaining wheel on the one hand and an end face of the lace coil on the other. Alternatively or additionally, spur gears can also be provided on the retaining wheel and the lace coil as an axially operable coupling, which can be brought into engagement and disengaged by axially adjusting the lace coil and the retaining device relative to one another.

Alternatively or additionally, the retaining device can be released and the lace coil released in another way. For example, the retaining device itself, possibly together with the lace coil, can be axially a carrier or housing part in order to disengage locking pawls and the locking contours interacting with them, so that the retaining device can rotate together with the lace coil.

Alternatively or additionally, an axially adjustable uncoupler, for example in the form of a wedge, could disengage and/or engage a spring-loaded latch arm in order to unlock or lock the retaining device. However, such an actuator or uncoupler could also have a different actuation direction, for example be radially depressible in order to uncouple or unlock and lock the retaining device.

By axially actuating the release or the coupling, a relatively large-area actuating element for unlocking or uncoupling can be provided without requiring a bulky design of the quick-release device. In particular, the actuating element can be attached to the front of the drive coil and/or the lace coil on an accessible front side of the quick-release device and, for example, its diameter can essentially correspond to the diameter of the lace coil and/or drive coil. At the same time, the actuating direction is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the upper shoe, in particular approximately perpendicular to the shinbone, intuitive for the user to operate or unlock the quick-release device.

Depending on the alignment or orientation of the lace and drive coils, it may also be advantageous to design the release mechanism so that it can be actuated tangentially or transversely to the shoe shaft or shin, for example to design it so that it can be pressed in like a release button or so that it can be pulled out or swung out like a latch.

Alternatively or additionally, the backstop can also comprise a retaining unit that acts directly on the shoelace, for example in the form of a rope or lace clamp that allows the shoelace to run through in the tensioning direction, but blocks a return in the opposite direction. For example, such a retaining unit can comprise two clamping jaws that have a limit the pull-through gap and can be provided with a tooth-like clamping profile on the flanks facing each other. The clamping jaws can be rigidly arranged or alternatively can be movable towards and away from each other, for example in conjunction with a pre-tensioning device that presses the clamping jaws towards each other. If the rope or lace running through the clamping jaws is pulled in the tensioning direction, the movable clamping jaws can open, while in the opposite direction the friction of the lace and/or the pre-tension presses the clamping jaws together and fixes the rope in place. For example, the clamping jaws can be pivoted, preferably about pivot axes that are offset towards the inlet side, so that self-clamping occurs if the rope tries to run back due to the tension.

Such a backstop, which acts on the shoelace itself, can relieve the lace spool when the lacing is fully laced, but also during the pumping movements of the drive spool, since the lace spool itself and the retaining device associated with it do not have to absorb the entire lace tension.

Preferably, the release device for unlocking the retaining device, be it the backstop that prevents the lace spool from rotating backwards, or the backstop that acts directly on the lace, can be designed to be axially actuated, i.e. have an actuation approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the lace spool. For example, the release can have an actuation button that can be pressed in parallel to the axis of rotation of the lace spool or pushed towards the shoe shaft or upper and/or pulled out in the opposite direction or pulled away from the shaft or upper in order to unlock the retaining device. Such an actuation button can also be actuated tangentially to the shoe shaft or upper, for example horizontally in front of the instep or shin. Such an actuation direction transverse to the shin or transverse to the foot allows intuitive operation of the quick-release device.

Fig. 1:

eine Frontansicht eines Schnürschuhs mit einer Schnellspannvorrichtung gemäß einer vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, wobei die Teilansicht a die Schnürung in noch ungespanntem Zustand zeigt, die Teilansicht b die Schnellspannvorrichtung beim Spannen zeigt und die Teilansicht c die Rückstellung der Antriebsspule des Schnellspannmechanismus nach Loslassen des Spannseils zeigt,

Fig. 2:

eine Seitenansicht des Schuhs aus Fig. 1, wobei die Teilansicht a den Schuh mit noch gespannter Schnürung zeigt und die Teilansicht b das Lösen der Schnürung bei entriegelter Senkelspule zeigt,

Fig. 3:

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung der Schnellspannvorrichtung des Schuhs aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, die die Senkelspule und die Antriebsspule sowie die dazwischen vorgesehene Rückhaltevorrichtung zeigt,

Fig. 4:

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Schnellspannvorrichtung, die die Drehrichtungen der beiden Spulen beim Spannen zeigt,

Fig. 5:

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Schnellspannvorrichtung beim elastischen Zurücklaufen der Antriebsspule bei blockierter Senkelspule, wobei die Teilansicht a beide Spulen und deren Bewegung und die Teilansicht b die Rückhaltevorrichtung zum Sperren des Rücklaufs der Senkelspule zeigt,

Fig. 6:

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Schnellspannvorrichtung bei entriegelter Senkelspule zum Lösen der Schnürung, die die Bewegung des Entrieglers und der Senkelspule zum Lösen der Schnürung zeigt,

Fig. 7:

eine Schnittansicht durch die Schnellspannvorrichtung aus den vorherge-henden Figuren, wobei die Teilansicht Fig. 7a die Senkelspule im einge-kuppelten, antriebsverbundenen Zustand zum Antreiben durch die Antriebsspule zeigt und die Teilansicht 7b die Senkelspule im ausgekuppelten, gegenüber der Antriebsspule frei verdrehbaren Zustand zeigt, und

Fig. 8:

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Schnellspannvorrichtung für einen Schnürschuh ähnlich Fig. 4 nach einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausführung, bei der im Vergleich zu den Figuren 1 bis 4 die Senkel- und Antriebsspulen nebst ihren Drehachsen um 90° verdreht an einem Träger montiert sind, sodass sich die Drehachse der Spulen tangential zum Schienbein bzw. tangential zu einem Schuhschaft erstreckt.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings:

Fig.1:

a front view of a lace-up shoe with a quick-release device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein the partial view a shows the lacing in the still untensioned state, the partial view b shows the quick-release device during tensioning and the partial view c shows the resetting of the drive coil of the quick-release mechanism after the tensioning cable is released,

Fig. 2:

a side view of the shoe Fig.1 , where partial view a shows the shoe with the lacing still tightened and partial view b shows the loosening of the lacing with the lace reel unlocked,

Fig. 3:

an exploded perspective view of the quick-release device of the shoe from the preceding figures, showing the lace spool and the drive spool as well as the retaining device provided therebetween,

Fig.4:

a perspective view of the quick-release device showing the directions of rotation of the two spools during tensioning,

Fig.5:

a perspective view of the quick-release device during elastic retraction of the drive spool when the lace spool is blocked, with partial view a showing both spools and their movement and partial view b showing the retaining device for blocking the retraction of the lace spool,

Fig.6:

a perspective view of the quick release device with the lace reel unlocked to release the lacing, showing the movement of the releaser and the lace reel to release the lacing,

Fig.7:

a sectional view through the quick-release device from the previous figures, the partial view Fig. 7a shows the lace coil in the coupled, drive-connected state for driving by the drive coil and the partial view 7b shows the lace coil in the uncoupled state, freely rotatable relative to the drive coil, and

Fig.8:

a perspective view of a quick release device for a lace-up shoe similar Fig.4 according to a further advantageous embodiment, in which, compared to the Figures 1 to 4 the lace and drive coils, together with their axes of rotation, are mounted on a support rotated by 90° so that the axis of rotation of the coils extends tangentially to the shinbone or tangentially to a shoe shaft.

As the figures show, the shoe 1 comprises an upper 2 which is arranged on a sole 3 and has a lacing 4.

The lacing 4 can be assigned to an opening and/or widening section 5 of the upper shoe 2 and cover a tongue 6 located underneath, wherein the lacing 4 can extend back and forth from edge to edge of the opening and/or widening section 5 in order to be able to lace up and unlace the upper shoe 2 more or less in the area of said opening and/or widening section 5.

The said lacing 4 can comprise a lacing section 4a, for example, in the area of an instep zone of the upper shoe 2. If the shoe 1 is designed in the form of a boot with a shaft 7, the lacing 4 can - alternatively or in addition to the lacing section 4a in the instep zone - also comprise a lacing section 4b in the area of the shaft 2.

The lacing 4 can comprise a common lace 8 passing through all lacing sections 4a, 4b. Alternatively, different lacing sections 4a, 4b can be laced with separate laces, as is the case, for example, Figure 1 shows, according to which a first lace 8a the lacing section 4a in the instep zone and a second lace 8b laces the lacing section 4b on the shaft 2.

Depending on the shoe or upper shoe design, the lacing 4 can also run differently and include other lacing sections, whereby the shoelace 8 can be guided differently regardless of this.

As the figures show, a quick-tensioning device 9 is provided for tightening the lacing 4 and thus for narrowing the widening section 5, by means of which the lace(s) 8 of the lacing 4 can be tightened and also stowed.

The quick-tensioning device 9 comprises a lace reel 10 onto which the lace(s) 8 can be wound and thus tensioned or tightened, cf.

Fig.3 and Fig.4 . The lace reel 10 mentioned can be designed in the manner of a cable drum and have a drum body which is delimited at its axial end regions by two flanges in order to form a winding area for the shoelace(s) 8. The shoelace 8 can be attached or fastened to the drum body or to the side flanges, for example threaded through a hole and held by means of a knot. Alternatively, sufficient wrapping with several winding turns can also be sufficient to hold the shoelace on the lace reel 10.

The said lace spool 10 can be held or mounted on a support part 12 of the quick-release device 9 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 11, wherein the said rotation axis 11 can extend approximately perpendicular to the surface of the upper shoe 2, cf. Figures 1 , 3 and 4 . Preferably, the axis of rotation 11 can be aligned approximately perpendicular to a shaft section or to a shin section surrounded by it, cf. Figures 1 , 3 and 4 in order to be able to operate the quick-release device 9 by pulling a tensioning cable 13 upwards, as will be explained below.

Alternatively, the quick-release device with the mentioned axis of rotation 11 can also be aligned tangentially to the surface of the upper shoe 2, in particular tangentially in front of a shaft section or a shin section surrounded by it, that is to say in comparison to the mentioned Figures 1 , 3 and 4 be positioned rotated by 90°. Such a twisted arrangement of the quick release device 9 shows the Figure 8 , whereby in this case too the said axis of rotation 11 can be arranged horizontally in order to be able to actuate the quick-release device 9 by pulling up the tensioning cable 13. Such a tangential orientation of the axis of rotation 9, as Figure 8 shows, advantageously allows the quick-release device or its coils to be mounted on both sides, in particular between the legs of a U-shaped support part 12, which can be attached, for example, to the shaft of the lace-up shoe, cf. Fig.8 Such a two-sided bearing can be built more easily and can support the rotating coils or their axis of rotation more stably, since, unlike with a cantilevered suspension, bending moments do not have to be carried on one side. In addition, unlocking the lace coil can be accomplished more easily, as will be explained below.

The quick-release device 9 can - regardless of a radial or tangential orientation of the axis of rotation 11 - be attached, for example, to the tongue 6 of the shoe 1 in the region of an upper end of the lacing 4, although depending on the lacing 4, the quick-release device 9 can also be provided, for example, on an inside or outside of the shaft of the upper shoe 2.

In order to be able to drive the lace spool 10 in rotation and thus tighten the shoelace 8, a drive spool 14 is provided, to which a traction means 15 separate from the shoelace 8 engages in order to be able to twist the drive spool 14. The traction means 15 mentioned can be designed to be flexible in order to be able to be wound onto the drive spool 14. The drive spool 14 can also be designed in the manner of a cable drum or winch and have an essentially cylindrical drum body, which can be enclosed by flanged disks at its front end sections, cf. Fig.3 .

Advantageously, the drive coil 14 can be arranged coaxially to the lace coil 10 and can be mounted on the carrier part 12 of the quick-release device 9 so that it can rotate about the same or a separate axis of rotation 11, so that the drive coil 14 and the lace coil 10 can be rotated about coaxial axes of rotation or can be rotated together.

The mentioned support part 12 can, for example, comprise a base plate that can be attached to the upper shoe 2, for example the tongue 6, wherein a housing can be provided around the drive coil 14 and/or the lace coil 10, which can be connected to the mentioned base plate. The mentioned housing 16 can surround or accommodate the two coils 10, 14, so that the two coils 10, 14 are closed or covered. The mentioned housing 16 can have inlet and outlet openings 17 on the circumference, through which the lace(s) 8 and the tensioning cable 13 can run in and out when they are wound onto or unwound from the respective coil.

The inlet/outlet opening 17 for the tensioning cable 13 is advantageously provided on an upper side of the housing 16, so that the tensioning cable 13 can be pulled out upwards, in particular approximately along the shin or the shaft of the upper shoe, in order to tighten the lacing 4.

Between the drive coil 14 and the lace coil 10, a driver device 18 is provided, which has a freewheel in one direction of rotation and drives the lace coil 10 in the other direction of rotation. In other words: If the drive coil 14 is rotated in the tensioning direction 19 by pulling on the tensioning cable 13, cf. Fig.4 , the drive coil 14 takes the lace coil 10 with it, so that the lace coil 10 also rotates in the mentioned tensioning direction 19, cf. Fig.4 This causes the shoelace 8 to be wound onto the lace spool 10 and tightened.

The said driver device 18 can be designed in the manner of a ratchet mechanism or latching pawl mechanism and/or a driver clutch which transmits torque in one direction of rotation and transmits no torque or no significant torque in the opposite direction of rotation.

How Fig.3 shows, the driver device 18 can have, for example, tooth-shaped or wedge-shaped driver pawls 20, which can project from the front side of the drive coil 14 towards the lace coil 10 in order to latch into or engage with driver recesses 21 which are complementary or interact with it and which are connected to the lace coil 10 or arranged thereon in a rotationally fixed manner.

The one or more driving pawls 20 mentioned and the driving recesses 21 interacting therewith can have a sawtooth-like profile in order to lock with one another in the manner of a ratchet in one direction of rotation or to support one another in a rotationally fixed manner, and to slide over one another in the opposite direction of rotation.

In the drawn version according to Fig.3 three such driving pawls 20 are provided, but only one or two driving pawls 20 or more than three, for example five or ten driving pawls, can be provided. In particular, an annular sawtooth profile can also be provided, which can engage in an annular sawtooth groove.

The driver pawls 20 can be provided on the drive coil 14 or on the lace coil 10 or on the retaining element 21 to be described below, wherein the driver pawls 20 can be mounted axially movably, in particular can be elastically pre-tensioned. Alternatively, the driver pawls 20 and the associated driver recesses 21 can also be rigidly provided on the drive coil 14 or the lace coil 10 or the intermediate retaining device 22, wherein the drive coil 14 and the lace coil 10 or the retaining device 22 can then be axially movable relative to one another, for example can be adjusted relative to one another along the aforementioned axis of rotation 11 in order to allow engagement or locking on the one hand and release of the driver device 18 on the other.

For example, the driver pawls 20 can be elastically pressed axially into the drive coil 14 in order to be able to slide over the interacting driver recesses 21 in the freewheeling direction, and conversely spring out towards the lace coil 10 in order to engage in the tensioning direction. Alternatively or additionally, the two coils 10 and 14 can be pressed axially away from each other in order to allow the sawtooth-like driver profiles to slide away when twisted in the freewheeling direction, and conversely moved towards each other, for example moved towards each other in an elastically pre-tensioned manner in order to engage in the tensioning direction.

The elastic prestressing of the driver pawls 20 and/or the coils 10, 14 relative to one another can, for example, be effected by a suitable prestressing device, in particular a spring device, for example a disc spring or the like, which can sit on the rotation axis 11.

If the traction device 15 is tensioned and thereby the drive coil 14 is rotated and the lace coil 10 is accordingly driven, as Fig.4 shows, the traction means 15 unwinds from the drive spool 14. In order to enable a new stroke and/or to stow the traction means 15 in the form of the tensioning cable 13 again when the fully tensioned lacing position is reached, the said drive spool 14 can advantageously be rotated in the freewheeling direction relative to the lace spool 10 by a retrieval device 23, wherein the said retrieval device 23 can have, for example, a spring device 24, for example in the form of a spiral spring, which attempts to rotate the drive spool 14 in the freewheeling direction relative to the lace spool 10. Alternatively or additionally, the retrieval device 23 can also be rotated in the freewheeling direction, for example via a rubber band or a coil spring which acts eccentrically on the drive spool 14.

Fig. 5a shows the retrieval of the tensioning cable 13 by elastically twisting the drive spool 14 in the freewheel direction 25, by which the tensioning cable 13 is rewound onto the drive spool 14 after the operating handle 26 is released.

However, the lace coil 10 does not rotate with the drive coil 14, but is blocked or held in place by the aforementioned retaining device 22.

The retaining device 22 can block the lace spool 10 rotationally, wherein the retaining device 22 can advantageously be designed as a backstop which only prevents the lace spool 10 from rotating in a loosening direction counter to the tensioning direction 19, but on the other hand allows the tensioning movement of the lace spool 10 in the tensioning direction 19 in the manner of a freewheel.

The aforementioned retaining device 22 can in particular have one or more locking pawls 27, which can be profiled like a sawtooth and can engage in complementary locking recesses or contours 28. For example, the locking pawls 27 can protrude on the circumference and engage in a sawtooth-like locking contour profile 28 on the inner circumference of the housing 16, wherein the locking pawls 27 can be mounted on spring arms 29, which press or clamp the locking pawls 27 into the locking contours or recesses 28, but on the other hand allow the locking pawls 27 to slide over the locking contours 28 when rotated in the clamping direction 19.

The one or more locking pawls 27 can protrude on the outer circumference and be attached to the lace coil 10 or connected thereto, while the locking contours or recesses 28 can be provided on an inner circumference side, for example of the housing 16. Alternatively or additionally, however, a reverse arrangement is also possible, for example locking pawls that protrude from the inner circumference side of the housing 16 to the inside, and locking recesses in an outer circumference surface of the lace coil 10 or a part connected thereto.

How Fig.3 and 5 , the retaining device 22 can have a retaining wheel 30 which is arranged adjacent to a front side of the lace coil 10 and can be brought into rotationally fixed engagement with the said lace coil 10. In particular, the said retaining wheel 30 can be arranged between the lace coil 10 and the drive coil 14, in which case the previously described driver device 18 can be provided between the drive coil 14 and the retaining wheel 30 in order to drive the retaining wheel 30 and the lace coil 10 connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner when the drive coil 14 is rotated in the tensioning direction 19.

The described locking pawls 27 and/or the locking contours 28 can be provided on the said retaining wheel 30, cf. Fig.3 For example, the retaining wheel 30 can have spring arms 29 provided on the outer circumference, which carry the locking pawls 27 and/or locking contours 28.

Advantageously, the lace spool 10 can be uncoupled from the retaining wheel 30 in order to be able to be rotated against the tensioning direction 19 despite the backstop and to be able to release the cords 4 again.

The detachable, rotationally fixed coupling 31 between the retaining wheel 30 and the lace spool 10 can, for example, be designed in the form of a claw coupling, which can comprise claws 32 projecting from the front side on the retaining wheel 30 and/or on the lace spool 10 and cooperating coupling recesses in the front side of the lace spool 10 and/or the retaining wheel 30, cf. Fig.3 .

If the lace spool 10 is pulled or pushed axially away from the retaining wheel 30, the rotationally fixed coupling 31 between the retaining wheel 30 and the lace spool 10 is disengaged, so that the lace spool 10 can rotate in the release direction 33 and the shoelace 8 can thus be unwound.

For example, the lace coil 10 can be mounted axially displaceably on the rotation axis 11, wherein an unlocking element 34, for example in the form of a housing cover, can be connected to the lace coil 10 in order to be able to uncouple the lace coil 10 from the retaining device 22 by pulling out the aforementioned unlocking element 34, cf. Fig. 7b compared to Fig. 7a .

If the coil arrangement is supported on both sides, as Figure 8 shows, for example arranged tangentially to the top of the shoe, so that the quick-release device 9 is accessible from both front ends, the unlocking can also be achieved quite simply by unlocking the lace coil 10, for example from the opposite end of the quick-release device 9, i.e. from the front side of the drive coil 14 facing away from the lace coil 10, for example by pressing in an axle pin connected to the lace coil 10, which can pass through the drive coil 14 and emerge at the opposite front side, in order to move the lace coil 10 axially away from the drive coil 14 or the aforementioned retaining wheel 30.

When the lace and drive coils are mounted on both sides, for example between two legs of the U-shaped support part 12, as Figure 8 shows, the lace coil 10 on the one hand and the drive coil 14 on the other hand can also easily have separate axes of rotation, which can nevertheless be arranged coaxially to one another.

Claims (17)

Shoe with a lacing (4) which comprises at least one shoelace (8), and a quick-tensioning device (9) for tightening and holding the shoelace (8), which has a lace spool (10) for winding up and tightening the shoelace (8) and a drive spool (14) for driving the lace spool (10), characterized in that a driver device (18) with a freewheel is provided between the lace spool (10) and the drive spool (14), which transmits a rotation of the drive spool (14) in a tensioning direction (19) to the lace spool (10) and allows the drive spool (14) to rotate freely relative to the lace spool (10) in the opposite direction of rotation. Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein an elastic return device (23) which attempts to rotate the drive coil (14) in the freewheel direction (25) is provided. Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein the return device (23) has a spring (24), in particular a spiral spring, for elastically pretensioning the drive coil (14) relative to the lace coil (10) in the freewheeling direction (25). Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an automatic retaining device (22) is provided for automatically holding the lace (8) in a tensioned position even during a reversing of the drive spool (14) in the freewheeling direction. Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein the retaining device (22) has a backstop for locking the lace spool (10) against rotation in the freewheeling direction (25) and allowing the lace spool (10) to run through in the tensioning direction (13). Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein the backstop of the retaining device (22) comprises at least one latching pawl (27) and at least one latching contour (28) engageable therewith, which have a preferably sawtooth-like profile which, in the engaged position, prevents a relative movement of the latching pawl (27) and latching contour (28) in the freewheeling direction (25) and permits a relative movement in the tensioning direction. Shoe according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the retaining device (22) comprises a retaining wheel (30) which can be coupled or is coupled to the lace spool (10) in a rotationally fixed manner and has locking pawls (27) and/or locking contours (28) on the circumference which can be brought into locking engagement with locking contours (28) and/or locking pawls (27) on a housing (16) surrounding the lace spool (10). Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining device (22) is releasable. Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein a releasable coupling (31) is provided between the retaining device (22) and the lace reel (10), said coupling (31) in the coupled position the retaining device (22) is connected to the lace coil (10) in a rotationally fixed manner and, in the uncoupled position, allows the lace coil (10) to rotate relative to the retaining device (22). Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein said coupling (31) has an axial actuation direction parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the lace coil (10), in particular can be locked and unlocked by axially moving the retaining device (22) and/or the lace coil (10) in the direction of the axis of rotation (11) of the lace coil (10). Shoe according to the preceding claim, wherein the quick-release device (9) has an actuating element (34) on a front end section for unlocking the lace reel (10) and loosening the lacing (4), wherein said actuating element (34) can be actuated in a direction perpendicular or frontal to a shoe surface or perpendicular or frontal to a shoe upper (7) or in a direction tangential to the shoe surface, in particular tangential to the shoe upper (7). Shoe according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the actuating element (34) has an actuating surface whose size is at least 50% or at least 75% of the front surface of the lace coil (10). Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a flexible traction means (15), in particular a tensioning cable (13), is provided for actuating the drive coil (14) and can be wound onto the drive coil (14), wherein the drive coil (14) is provided with a winding/unwinding guide, in particular in the form of an inlet/outlet opening (17) in a housing (16) surrounding the drive coil (14), for holding and pulling off the traction means (15) in an upward pulling direction, in particular approximately parallel to a shinbone of a foot wearing the shoe. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive coil (14) and the lace coil (10) are arranged coaxially one behind the other, in particular sitting on a common axis of rotation (11). Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive coil (14) and/or the lace coil (10) have an axis of rotation (11) which is aligned perpendicularly or frontally to a surface of an upper shoe (2) and is arranged in the region of an upper end section of the lacing (4), wherein the axis of rotation (11) of the drive coil (14) and the lace coil (10) is arranged in particular at the upper end of a tongue (6) and is aligned perpendicularly or frontally to the surface of the tongue (6). Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the drive coil (14) and/or the lace coil (10) have an axis of rotation (11) which is aligned tangentially or horizontally transversely to a surface of an upper shoe (2) and is arranged in the region of an upper end section of the lacing (4), wherein said axis of rotation (11) of the drive coil (14) and the lace coil (10) is arranged in particular at the upper end of a tongue (6) and is aligned horizontally transversely or tangentially to the surface of the tongue (6). Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive coil (14) and the lace coil (10) are accommodated in a common housing (16).

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