WO1989000386A1 - Shoe counter protector, particularly for heel shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

Shoe counter protector provided as a concave envelope (1') forming a single casting part and characterized in that it comprises at least a flat part (17) in the transition zone between the upper part (A') and the lower part (B') of the envelope (1'). On the upper edge (13) of said envelope there are arranged a notch (9) and two hooks (8) cooperating with a fixing strap (2') cast with the envelope or removable. Application to shoes and particularly to heel shoes.

Description

 SHOE PROTECTORS,

ESPECIALLY SHOES WITH HEELS

The present invention relates to a shoe buttress protector, in particular ladies' heeled shoes, and more particularly to heeled shoes worn by female drivers. A plastic buttress protector is known which only has a fixing strap around an ankle of a female driver and which is therefore unbalancedly supported by the buttress.

Another known embodiment, made of relatively rigid plastic, has no attachment means and is intended to be fixed to a buttress by elastic deformation, the position being maintained by tightening the buttress. This involves, on the one hand, the risk of damaging the shoe and, on the other hand, the risk of undesirable play with respect to the buttress.

In addition, because of the mounting by manual expansion and subsequent elastic tightening of the wings of this second buttress protector, it is not easy to mount and, moreover, creates an unpleasant feeling of tightening of the driver's foot.

The present invention aims to improve the production and performance of known buttress protectors, while allowing better adaptation to the buttress and the upper part of the heel. The subject of the present invention is a shoe buttress protector, produced in the form of a concave envelope delimited by an upper edge, two lateral edges and a lower edge and forming a single piece of molding comprising an upper part and a part lower, characterized in that the buttress protector is provided with at least one flat menaqé substantially in the transition zone between the upper part and the lower part of the buttress protector.

The existence of the flat surface according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate an empty zone which - although weak - exists normally between the buttress protectors of the prior art and the buttocks of the shoes to which they apply. This results in a better perception (or sensitivity) of the contact with the floor of the motor car, the absence of this perception - specific to the buttress protectors of the prior art - being detrimental for the bucket driven on the part of the drivers. of automobiles

According to a preferred embodiment of the pre-centerfort according to the present invention, its upper edge is provided with two clean hooks to be applied by overlapping on the upper edge of the buttress.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the buttress protector according to the invention, its upper edge is provided with an axial notch for adjusting the protέge-ccntrefort to the different widths of the buttress. According to another advantageous embodiment of the buttress protector according to the present invention, the flat part is also formed substantially in the axial zone of the buttress protector. According to another advantageous embodiment of the buttress protector according to the present invention, the flat part is also formed substantially in the axial region of the center protector.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the buttress protector according to the present invention, the height of the flat is substantially between one quarter and one sixth of the total height of the buttress protector.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the buttress protector according to the present invention, the length of the flat is substantially between one third and one quarter of the transverse length of the buttress protector, in the transition zone between the upper part and the lower part of the buttress protector. According to an advantageous embodiment of the object of the invention, a temporary fixing strap in the lower part of the pretège-centrefort is provided on its face internal, on the side of its free end, of a fastening strip of the "VELCRO" type capable of cooperating with a corresponding adhesion tab fixed at the edge of the segment of the lower edge of the buttress protector, adjacent to the lateral edge opposite to the one in the vicinity of which the strap is fixed.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the temporary fixing strap is made in one piece with the buttress protector. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fixing strap, which is made of elastic rubber tape, is removably attached, at its two ends, to the bottom wall of the prctège-ccntre- fort, at the using nipples carried by the buttress protector. Also in accordance with the invention, the segments of the lower edge of the buttress protector adjacent to the lateral edges thereof make, with the corresponding lateral edge, an angle which can be a right angle or a slightly obtuse angle. In addition to the foregoing provisions, the invention also comprises other provisions, which will emerge from the description which follows.

The invention will be better understood using the additional description which follows, which refers to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, and

- Figure 2 is a view of the outer face of the buttress protector according to the present invention.

It should be understood, however, that this drawing and the corresponding descriptive parts are given solely by way of illustration of the subject of the invention, of which they do not in any way constitute a limitation. The buttress protector according to the present invention is molded, preferably by injection molding, or by compression, in a single piece of a material to the both flexible and non-deformable, such as a suitable plastic, to a synthetic or natural elastomer, such as rubber.

It has the form of a concave envelope I 'whose concavity is intended to wrap and protect a shoe buttress and at least the upper part of the adjacent heel.

The envelope l 'is delimited, externally at its upper part A', by a substantially straight "back" line 15, slightly inclined on the vertical so as to be "re-entrant" in the upward direction, while its lower part B 'has a “back” line 16 of orientation also “re-entering” towards the top. The back lines 15 and 16 form an obtuse angle α, but without joining, being separated by a flat 17.

More specifically, seen in profile, the buttress protector has a substantially vertical orientation of its upper part A ', while its lower part B' has an orientation such that it forms an obtuse angle to with the orientation of the the top part. The transition zone to which reference is made in the present invention and in which the flat is located is defined as the zone which is situated on either side of an imaginary line, substantially transverse, which cuts the top of said angle obtuse α.

The dimensions of the flat 17 are calculated so as to provide the desired protection at the base of the buttress and at its junction with the heel, whatever the width and height of the latter, while keeping the buttress protector in accordance with this invention its flexibility and wrapping properties of the buttress and at least the upper part of a shoe heel. In this yes concerns the shape of the envelope concave, the upper parts A 'and lower parts B', seen from the front, are substantially trapezoidal and have their large base in common.

The small base of the upper trapezoidal part A 'constitutes the upper edge 13 of the buttress protector, which is slightly convex to adapt to the upper edge of the buttress.

The lateral sides of the upper part A ′ constitute the symmetrical lateral edges 12 ′ of the buttress protector which, seen in profile (cf. FIG. 1) and from top to bottom, are substantially defined by two successive slopes of angles treble different from the vertical, the upper slope being more slightly inclined to the vertical than the lower slope, so that the side edges 12 'have a concave profile.

The lateral, straight and symmetrical sides 14 ′ of the lower trapezoidal part B ′ constitute, together with its small base 11, the lower edge of the buttress protector. This small base 11, of connection between the segments 14 ′ adjacent to the lateral edges 12 ′, is a central convex segment.

The shape of the buttress protector, as described and illustrated in the figures, makes it possible to wrap the buttress so as to effectively protect it while driving a motor vehicle.

It has also been found that the wrapping of the shoe parts to be protected can be further improved by giving the segments 14 ′, adjacent to the lateral edges 12 ′, and possibly also to the latter, an orientation such that they form between them a slightly obtuse angle β ((see Figure 1).

In addition, in order to simplify the temporary fixing by strap, it is proposed, in accordance with the present invention, to provide this strap, 2 ′, on its internal face, on the side of its free end 18, a fastening strip 19, of the "VELCRO" type, which cooperates with an adhesion tongue 20 fixed to the affixing of the fixing 3 'of the strap 2', in the vicinity of the base of the buttress protector, to ensure the adjustable temporary fixing of the latter on the shoe elements to be protected.

Although the strap 2 'has been shown as being attached to the buttress protector by the fixing zone 3', it may be advantageous to make it in one piece with it. Sometimes it may also be advantageous to attach the strap to the counter guard removably at both ends. To this end, two pins, for example made of plastic (not shown), can be secured to the buttress protector, in particular by fitting, by overmolding, by welding or gluing, the strap (made of elastic material) being provided with perforations intended to receive the nipples and ensure its adjustable fixing.

The attachment of the buttress protector to the buttress can be improved by arranging on the upper edge 13 of the concave casing, two hooks 8 adapted to be applied by overlapping on the upper edge of the buttress. The presence of these two hooks 8 stabilizes the temporary fixing of the buttress protector, which is an advantage compared to the fixing by simple strap of the prior art.

Of course, these hooks 8, which are preferably made of plastic material so as not to hinder the driver, can be fixed to the buttress protector like the pins for fixing the removable strap, namely by fitting, by overmolding, by welding or collage.

The hooks and the pins can advantageously be made of polyamide. In addition, the adaptation of the cover guard to the different dimensions of shoe heels can be improved by providing an axial cut 9 on the upper edge 13 of the buttress protector.

It is easy to understand that it is the meeting of all the characteristics of the buttress protector according to the invention, namely the flat, the two hooks and the fixing strap as well as its shape and possibly the axial notch. mentioned above, which makes the buttress protector able to exercise its protective function more effectively.

As is apparent from the above, the invention is in no way limited to those of its embodiments and of application which have just been described in a more explicit manner; on the contrary, it embraces all the variants which may come to the mind of the technician in the matter, without departing from the scope or the scope of the present invention. In particular, although the shape of the flat has been represented as being rectangular, it is possible to choose it from other shapes, such as square, triangular (with apex directed upwards or downwards), trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal (with rounded angles or not), or circular or oval.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Shoe buttress protector, produced in the form of a concave envelope (1 ') delimited by an upper edge (13), two lateral edges (12') and a lower edge (14 ', 11) and forming a single piece coming from molding comprising an upper part (A ') and a lower part (B'), characterized in that the buttress protector is provided with at least one flat (17) formed substantially in the transition zone between the upper part (A ') and the lower part (3') of the buttress protector. 2.- buttress protector according to claim 1, characterized in that its upper edge (13) is provided with two hooks (8) adapted to be applied by overlapping on the upper bcrd of the buttress. 3. A buttress protector according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that its upper edge (13) is provided with an axial notch (9) for adjusting the buttress protector to the different widths of the buttress. 4.- buttress protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the height of the flat (17) is substantially between a quarter and a sixth of the total height of the buttress protector, and in that the length of the flat is substantially between a third and a quarter of the transverse length of the buttress protector, in the transition zone between the upper part (A ') and the lower part (B') of the buttress protector. 5.- buttress protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower and upper parts (A ', B') of the concave envelope (1 '), seen from the front, are substantially trapezoidal with their large base in common, the upper part (A ') having, seen in profile, a substantially vertical orientation, while its lower part (B') has an orienta tion such that it forms an obtuse angle (α) with the orientation of the upper part, in that the upper edge (13) of the concave envelope is slightly convex, while the two lateral edges (12 ′), symmetrical, are concave and are substantially defined, seen in profile and from top to bottom, by two successive slopes of different acute angles with respect to the vertical, the upper slope being more slightly inclined on the vertical than the lower slope, the lower edge of the buttress protector being convex and defined by two symmetrical rectilinear segments (14 ') adjacent to the lateral edges (12') of the envelope and joined by a substantially curvilinear central segment (11), and in that said rectilinear segments (14 ') from the lower edge of the buttress protector, each with the corresponding side edge (12') a slightly obtuse angle (3). 6. A buttress protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a strap (2 ') for temporary fixing, in the lower part, of the buttress protector is provided, on its internal face, on the side from its free end (18), a fastening strip (19) able to cooperate with a corresponding adhesion tongue (20), fixed at the edge of the segment (14 ') of the lower edge of the buttress protector, adjacent at the lateral edge (12 ') opposite to that in the vicinity of which the strap (2') is fixed. 7. A buttress protector according to claim 6, characterized in that the fixing strap is made in one piece with the buttress protector. 8. A buttress protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fixing strap is removably fixed, at its two ends, to the bottom wall of the buttress protector, using nipples carried by the buttress protector. 9.- Buttress protector according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flat (17) is formed substantially in an axial zone of the buttress protector, and in that it has a shape chosen from the group of shapes: rectangular, square, triangular with directed top upwards or downwards, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, with rounded or non-rounded angles, circular or oval. 10.- Shoe buttress protector, produced in the form of a concave envelope (1 ') delimited by an upper edge (13), two lateral edges (12') and a lower edge (14 ', 11) and forming a single piece coming from molding comprising an upper part (A ') and a lower part (B'), characterized in that the buttress protector is provided with at least one flat (17) formed substantially in the transition zone between the upper part (A ') and the lower part (B') of the buttress protector, and in that its upper edge (13) is provided with two hooks (8) suitable for being applied by overlapping on the upper edge of the buttress.