SHOE, ESPECIALLY SPORTS SHOE

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, comprising a shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe upper (2) consists at least partially of a knitted fabric, wherein the shoe upper (2) has a plurality of loops (3) for threading a lace (4) to allow the tying of the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer by means of the lace (4). To provide an easy and efficient possibility to adjust the lacing or tying of the shoe at the foot of the wearer individually, the invention is characterized in that at least a part of the loops (3) consist of a knitted fabric, wherein the loops (3) have the shape of a tubular body which forms a passage (8) for the lace (4).

Claims

1. Shoe (1), especially sports shoe, comprising a shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe upper (2) consists at least partially of a knitted fabric, wherein the shoe upper (2) has a plurality of loops (3) for threading a lace (4) to allow the tying of the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer by means of the lace (4), characterized in that at least a part of the loops (3) consist of a knitted fabric, wherein the loops (3) have the shape of a tubular body which forms a passage (8) for the lace (4).

2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the knitted fabric of the shoe upper (2) and the knitted fabric of the loops (3) form a unitary knit construction.

3. Shoe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a part of the loops (3) have an outer diameter (D) and an inner diameter (d) to form the tubular body for receiving the lace (4), wherein the tubular body has a length (c), wherein the length (c) is at least 100% of the outer diameter (D).

4. Shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the length (c) is at least 150%, preferably at least 200%, of the outer diameter (D).

5. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tubular body of the loops (3) has an axial direction (a), wherein the axial direction (a) is oriented in the longitudinal direction (L) of the shoe (1) or draws an angle (a) to the longitudinal direction (L) below 30, preferably below 25.

6. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a number of loops (3) is arranged in such a manner that the loops (3) have the same axial direction (a).

7. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the loops (3) are distanced from another by a distance (b), measured perpendicular to the axial direction (a), wherein the distance (b) is between 2 mm and 25 mm.

8. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the loops (3) are connected with the knitted fabric of the shoe upper (2) only by the knitted construction and are free from any means for transferring a tying force.

9. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the knitted fabric of the shoe upper (2) forms a single layer which bears the loops (3).

10. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the knitted fabric of the shoe upper (2) has at least two layers (5, 6), wherein the upper layer (5) bears the loops (3).

11. Shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that the layer (6) below the upper layer (5) is connected with the upper layer (5) but has no contact with the loops (3).

12. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the yarn of the shoe upper (2) consists of polyester or polyamide.

13. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the yarn of the loops (3) consists of polyester or polyamide.

14. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the yarns of the shoe upper (2) and of the loops (3) are different in at least one property.

15. Shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that the yarns of the shoe upper (2) and of the loops (3) have different colors.

Description

[0025] In the drawings embodiments of the invention are shown.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sports shoe,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of the upper side of a shoe upper according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0028] FIG. 3 shows the depiction according to FIG. 2 with a lace being threaded through a loop,

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a part of the upper side of a shoe upper according to a second embodiment of the invention and

[0030] FIG. 5 shows the depiction according to FIG. 4 with a lace being threaded through a loop.

[0031] In FIG. 1 a shoe 1 is shown which is a sports shoe. The shoe 1 has a shoe upper 2 and a sole 7 which is connected with the shoe upper 2. In the present case the shoe upper 2 consists completely from a knitted fabric. A specific design is provided to allow an individual tying of the shoe at the foot of a wearer.

[0032] As can be seen from FIG. 1 a plurality of loops 3 are arranged at the outer surface of the shoe upper 2. The loops 3 consist as well from a knitted fabric and form a unitary knitted construction together with the base layer of the shoe upper 2.

[0033] Each loop 3 is designed as a tubular body which could also be defined as channel or tunnel and is arranged for threading a lace 4. Thus, each loop 3 forms a passage 8 for the lace 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0034] As can be also seen from FIG. 1 the plurality of loops 3 is distributed at the outer side of the shoe upper 2 according to a specific pattern: A number of loops 3 is arranged in line along their axial direction a. A number of such sets of loops 3 are arranged with a certain distance perpendicular to the mentioned axial direction a (details see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0035] That is, a plurality of possibilities is given for threading the lace 4 through respective loops 3 so that the shoe 1 can be tied according to individual demands at the foot of the wearer.

[0036] Details concerning the geometry of the loops 3 become apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, it can be seen that each loop 3 forms a hollow-cylindrical body, i. e. the loop 3 has a tubular shape. Each loop 3 has an outer diameter D and an inner diameter d as well as a length c, which extends in axial direction a of the loop 3.

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates the top surface of the shoe upper 2 without lace 4, while the lace 4 is threaded through a loop 3 in FIG. 3.

[0038] From FIG. 2 it becomes apparent that a number of loops 3 can be arranged coaxially, i. e. the axial direction a of a number of loops 3 is identical. A number of those rows of loops 3 is arranged side by side, i. e. parallel to another at a distance b measured perpendicular to the axial direction a.

[0039] The axial direction a of the loops 3 is substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction L of the shoe 1 (see FIG. 1). That is, the axial direction a draws only a small angle a to the longitudinal direction L which is below 30, preferably below 25. This allows an optimal threading of the lace 4 and a good transfer of forces from the loop 3 to the shoe upper 2.

[0040] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 the shoe upper 2 has only a single layer of knitted fabric (Single Jersey). In FIGS. 4 and 5 an embodiment is depicted in which the shoe upper 2 consists of two layers 5 and 6, namely of an upper layer 5 of the shoe upper 2 and a bottom layer 6 of the shoe upper 2 (Double Jersey). The loops 3 are formed as a unitary knitted construction with the upper layer 5 while the bottom layer 6 is connected with the upper layer 5 but not with the loops 3.

[0041] The depiction according FIG. 1 shows an embodiment which is substantially on scale with regard to the dimensions of the loops 3.

[0042] The whole knitting construction of the shoe upper 2 including the loops 3 can be produced on a knitting machine which is well known as such and allows an economical production of the shoe upper 2.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0043] 1 Shoe

[0044] 2 Shoe upper

[0045] 3 Loop

[0046] 4 Lace

[0047] 5 Upper layer of the shoe upper

[0048] 6 Bottom layer of the shoe upper

[0049] 7 Sole

[0050] 8 Passage

[0051] D Outer diameter of the loop

[0052] d Inner diameter of the loop

[0053] c Length of the loop

[0054] a Axial direction of the loop

[0055] b Distance between the loops

[0056] L Longitudinal direction of the shoe

[0057] a Angle