Method for fastening a shoe, in particular, a sports shoe, and shoe, in particular sports shoe

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for fastening a shoe (1), having an upper part (2) and a sole (3) connected thereto, a rotary closure (4) for fastening the shoe (1) on the wearer's foot by means of at least one tensioning element (5), the rotary closure (4) having a rotatably arranged tensioning roller (6), and the tensioning roller (6) being driven by means of an electric motor (7), and a switching element (8), which is connected to control means (9), wherein the switching element (8) and the control means (9) can actuate the electric motor (7), wherein the operation of fastening the shoe (1) takes place by virtue of the person using the shoe (1) using a finger (15) to actuate the switching element (8). In order for it to be possible for the shoe to be fastened on the wearer's foot in a particularly straightforward and reproducible manner, the invention provides for the switching element (8) to have a number of touch-sensitive sensors (10) which are arranged one beside the other and form a surface (11) which is accessible to a user's finger (15), wherein the method comprises the following steps: The finger (15) is passed over the surface (11) of the touch-sensitive sensors (10) in a first direction (R1), the control means (9) detects the signal from the touch-sensitive sensors (10) and the control means (9) and the electric motor (7) cause the shoe to be fastened on the wearer's foot with a first level of fastening force. The invention also relates to a shoe.

Claims

1. A shoe, in particular a sports shoe that includes a heel region and a forefoot region, and, comprising: an upper part having a medial side and a lateral side, and defining a heel cavity, a sole which is connected with the upper part, a rotary closure for fastening the shoe on a wearer's foot by means of at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by means of an electric motor, and a switching element which is arranged at the instep and which is connected to control means, wherein the switching element and the control means can actuate the electric motor, wherein the switching element is formed by a number of capacitive sensors which are arranged one beside the other which form a surface which is accessible to a user, wherein the switching element is located at the instep between the forefoot region and the heel region, and between the lateral side and the medial side and entirely forward of the heel cavity of the upper, and wherein the switching element includes a plurality of illumination elements.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensors are configured to receive a first swipe signal from a user, wherein the first swipe signal is a swipe in a first direction along the capacitive sensors, and wherein the first swipe signal causes the rotary closure to tighten the shoe.

3. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the capacitive sensors are configured to receive a second swipe signal from the user, wherein the second swipe signal is a swipe in a second direction along the capacitive sensors, different than the first direction, and wherein the second swipe signal causes the rotary closure to loosen the shoe.

4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensors are arranged side by side in a linear formation, and wherein between 3 and 7 capacitive sensors are arranged side by side.

5. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of illumination elements includes two or more LEDs.

6. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein a greater number of LEDs light up the more the shoe is tightened.

7. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the switching element and the rotary closure are arranged at different locations of the shoe.

8. The shoe according to claim 7, wherein the rotary closure is arranged in the sole of the shoe.

9. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein a rechargeable battery is arranged in the shoe which is rechargeable inductively and/or contactless.

10. The shoe according to claim 9, wherein a greater number of illumination elements light up the more the shoe is charged.

11. A shoe that includes a heel region and a forefoot region, comprising: an upper part having a medial side and a lateral side, and defining a heel cavity, a sole which is connected with the upper part, a rotary closure for fastening the shoe on a wearer's foot via tensioning of at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor, and a switching element which is arranged at the instep, and which is connected to control means, wherein the switching element receives an input that actuates the electric motor, wherein the switching element includes a plurality of capacitive sensors, wherein the switching element is located at the instep between the forefoot region and the heel region, and between the lateral side and the medial side and forward of the entire heel cavity of the upper, and wherein the switching element includes a plurality of illumination elements.

12. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the capacitive sensors along the switching element are configured to receive a first swipe signal from a user, wherein the first swipe signal is a swipe in a first direction along the capacitive sensors, and wherein the first swipe signal causes the rotary closure to tighten the shoe.

13. The shoe according to claim 12, wherein the capacitive sensors are configured to receive a second swipe signal from the user, wherein the second swipe signal is a swipe in a second direction along the capacitive sensors, different than the first direction, and wherein the second swipe signal causes the rotary closure to loosen the shoe.

14. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of LEDs are disposed adjacent the switching element.

15. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of illumination elements includes two or more LEDs.

16. The shoe according to claim 15, wherein a greater number of the LEDs light up the more the shoe is tightened.

17. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the rotary closure is arranged in the sole.

18. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein a rechargeable battery is arranged in the shoe, which is rechargeable inductively.

19. The shoe according to claim 18, wherein a greater number of illumination elements light up the more the shoe is charged.

Description

(1) In the drawings an embodiment of the invention is shown.

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematically in the side view a sports shoe, depicted partially cut, which can be fastened with a rotary closure and

(3) FIG. 2 shows in perspective view a switching element for the actuation of the rotary closure by the finger of the person which uses the sports shoe.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a shoe 1, being a sports shoe, which comprises an upper part 2 and a sole 3. The lacing of shoe 1 is carried out by means of a rotary closure 4 (i.e. a central closure), whereby by turning a tensioning roller 6 at least one tensioning element 5 is wound onto the tensioning roller 6 and so the upper part 2 is tensioned or laced at the foot of the wearer of shoe 1. The tensioning element 5 and its course are only very schematically indicated in FIG. 1. The shoe 1 includes a forefoot region 1A and a heel region 1B, and the upper 2 includes a lateral side 2A and a medial side (not shown) opposite the lateral side 2A. A heel cavity 2B is also shown, which is disposed within the heel region 1B.

(5) The rotary closure 4 is located in the sole 3 of shoe 1. A switching element 8 for actuating the rotary closure 4 is arranged on a tongue 13A of the instep 13 of the shoe 1 at a distance from the rotary closure 4. This provides easy access to the switching element 8 for operating the rotary closure 4.

(6) The electric motor 7 required to operate the rotary closure 4 is indicated; it drives the tensioning roller 6 via a gearing 16. The operation of the electric motor 7 to open and close the rotary closure 4 is initiated by control means 9 which are connected to the switching element 8. A battery 14 is provided for the power supply of electric motor 7 and control means 9. The switching element 8 is located at the instep 13 between the forefoot region 1A and the heel region 1B, and between the lateral side 2A and the medial side (not shown) of the upper.

(7) To close and open shoe 1, the user proceeds as follows:

(8) As shown in FIG. 2, the switching element 8 has a surface 11 which is equipped with a number of touch-sensitive sensors 10. Specifically, five touch-sensitive sensors 10 are arranged linearly next to each other. The individual touch-sensitive sensors 10 are designed as capacitive sensors, which are known as such in the state of the art. They react to contact with the finger 15 of the user of shoe 1.

(9) To close the shoe, the user uses his finger 15 to sweep the touch-sensitive sensors 10 in a first direction R1. If the control means detects said contacting of the sensors 10, it causes a first lacing force level to be reached, i.e. the electric motor 7 is operated with a first, predetermined maximum value for the motor current, e.g. 1.5 A.

(10) Illumination elements 12 in the form of LEDs are arranged on switching element 8. By activating one or more of the illumination elements 12, the user can be informed of the lacing force level.

(11) If the passing of the sensors 10 is repeated with the finger 15 in the first direction R1, a second, higher lacing force level can be approached; a second, preset maximum value for the motor current can now be 2.5 A, for example.

(12) If the sensors 10 are passed again, the lacing force level can be further increased; a third, preset maximum value for the motor current can now be 3.5 A, for example.

(13) The illumination elements 12 can in turn be used to indicate the current lacing force level.

(14) To open the shoe 1, the user sweeps the surface 11, i.e. the touch-sensitive sensors 10, in a second direction R2, opposite to the first direction R1, with his finger 15. The control means 9 then initiate the complete opening of the shoe. The electric motor 7 then moves to the fully relaxed state, which can be determined by a corresponding rotation angle sensor on the tensioning roller 6.

(15) This means that the user does not have to operate a closing or opening switch for a longer period of time—as in the state of the art; it is sufficient to pass over the touch-sensitive sensors 10 in the manner described.

(16) This is an advantage for the user as it allows him to select the appropriate lacing force level for his requirements without having to adjust this by pressing the closing switch for a corresponding length of time.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(17) 1 Shoe 2 Upper part 3 Sole 4 Rotary closure 5 Tensioning element 6 Tensioning roller 7 Electric motor 8 Switching element 9 Control means 10 Touch-sensitive sensor 11 Surface 12 Illumination element (LED) 13 Instep 14 Battery 15 Finger 16 Gearing R1 First direction R2 Second direction