IMPROVED SOLE PROVIDED WITH OVERTURNING ANTI-SLIPPING MEANS

Abstract

In an anti-slipping device for a shoe sole having an anti-slipping or anti-sliding component such as nails or spikes which are not secured to the sole but are secured on support elements which can be overturned to be hidden in slots made on the sole itself, each overturning support element is hinged at its ends on cubic blocks which are anchored to the sole due to a mushroom-shaped coupling element which is molded in once piece to the cubic block itself, made of the same thermo-polyurethane material as the support elements and which is snap-fitted in its seat arranged in the sole next to the slot where the overturning support element is accommodated after the overturning, without interfering with the integrity of the sole itself and thus allowing the replacement thereof without difficulty. Also included is a mechanism for avoiding the accidental loss of the support element when walking.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A shoe sole (1) provided with an anti-slipping device of the type in which anti-slipping or anti-sliding means such as nails or spikes (12) are provided, which are not directly secured to the sole but are secured on rigid or semirigid support elements (2,3) which can be overturned to be hidden in slots (6a,6b) obtained on the sole itself, wherein the overturning of the support elements (2,3) of the spikes (12) occurs about horizontal axes, i.e. parallel to the resting plane of the sole, by means of snap-fitted pins (5) within respective rotation seats consisting of cubic blocks (4) each laterally provided with a corresponding hinging hole, and wherein the cubic blocks (4) are secured to the sole, each by means of a pin, wherein: the anchoring of each cubic block (4) forming the rotation seat of the overturning support element (2, 3) to the sole (1) occurs due to a mushroom-shaped coupling element (13), which is made in one piece, in the manufacturing step, with the cubic block (4) itself and which is removably snap-fitted in a corresponding seat (14) arranged by molding in the sole next to the slot (6) where the overturning support element(2, 3) is accommodated after the overturning, without interfering with the integrity of the sole itself, thus avoiding a simple torsion of the bottom from causing the detachment and loss thereof; and both the cubic blocks (4) forming the rotation seat of the overturning support element and the mushroom-shaped coupling element (13) for positioning them in place on the sole (1), are made of a material having the same elastic module as the overturning support elements (2, 3), but less than that of the material with which the sole (1) is made, thus obtaining that both the support elements (2, 3) of the spikes and the cubic blocks (4) forming the rotation seats may be replaced, in the case of loss, breaking and abrasion due to use, by means of simple maneuvers by the user him/herself, which maneuvers do not require particular tools due to the elasticity of the couplings; wherein both the overturning pin (5) of the support element (2, 3) of the spikes (12) and the related seat (4b) in the cubic block (4) acting as pivot for the rotation thereof, have oval geometry which forces the switching from an extracted position of the spikes to a retracted position thereof, or vice versa, there being no stable intermediate positions, thus ensuring that the support elements (2,3) are securely located in one or other of the operating position and the rest position.

10. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 9, wherein in order to ensure that the support elements of the spikes perfectly return to the rest position, each support element (2, 3) is provided, in distal position with respect to the overturning axis thereof, on the face opposite to that where there are the spikes (12), with a protrusion or sphere-like pin (9), adapted to be positioned in a corresponding cavity (10) obtained on the bottom of the slot (6b) and which in the case of improper use, i.e. when the support elements of the spikes did not retract accurately to the rest position in the housing slots, is capable of exerting a pressure on the elements themselves sufficient to sink them properly into the corresponding slot at simple contact with the ground, without the need to use hands, which is unpleasant in the case of snow, ice and mud.

11. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 10, wherein: each overturning support element is further provided with a tooth (8), which blocks the pin (9) in place by snap-fitting in a specific concave seat (15) created by an undercut on the inner vertical wall of both mirror-like slots (6a, 6b) where it is accommodated, in the rest and working positions in order to safely block in place the support element in the positionsalso when walkingthus allowing tightening which is directly proportional to the bending exerted on the sole.

12. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 9, wherein characterized in that the pin (5) has a tapered head (5b) having increased diameter, which once inserted in the related seat (4b) of the cubic block (4), is configured to allow the rotation thereof but to prevent the accidental release thereof, thus avoiding the possible loss of the overturning support element (2, 3).

13. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 12, wherein the sphere-like pin does not touch the ground when the support elements (2, 3) of the spikes are perfectly retracted in the housing slots in the rest position, because it is in a raised position with respect to the ground due to the grip threads obtained on the face of the sole in contact with the ground, and thus it does not interfere in any manner with the resting stability.

14. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 9, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

15. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 9, wherein the grip treads, the slots (6a, 6b), the holes (11), as well as the seats (14) of the mushroom-shaped pins (13), are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above the bottom (16) thereof so as to leave a free volume with respect to the upwards protruding side edges (20) of the sole (1) sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

16. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 10, wherein the pin (5) has a tapered head (5b) having increased diameter, which once inserted in the related seat (4b) of the cubic block (4), is configured to allow the rotation thereof but to prevent the accidental release thereof, thus avoiding the possible loss of the overturning support element (2, 3).

17. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 11, wherein the pin (5) has a tapered head (5b) having increased diameter, which once inserted in the related seat (4b) of the cubic block (4), is configured to allow the rotation thereof but to prevent the accidental release thereof, thus avoiding the possible loss of the overturning support element (2, 3).

18. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 10, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

19. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 11, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

20. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 12, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

21. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 13, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

22. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 16, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

23. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 17, wherein specific tapered slots facilitating the change of position only with the intervention of the user's fingers are provided between the grip threads of the sole in order to promote the operation of overturning the support elements of the spikes from the rest position to the working (anti-slipping) position.

24. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 10, wherein the grip treads, the slots (6a, 6b), the holes (11), as well as the seats (14) of the mushroom-shaped pins (13), are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above the bottom (16) thereof so as to leave a free volume with respect to the upwards protruding side edges (20) of the sole (1) sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

25. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 11, wherein the grip treads, the slots (6a, 6b), the holes (11), as well as the seats (14) of the mushroom-shaped pins (13), are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above the bottom (16) thereof so as to leave a free volume with respect to the upwards protruding side edges (20) of the sole (1) sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

26. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 12, wherein the grip treads, the slots (6a, 6b), the holes (11), as well as the seats (14) of the mushroom-shaped pins (13), are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above the bottom (16) thereof so as to leave a free volume with respect to the upwards protruding side edges (20) of the sole (1) sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

27. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 13, wherein the grip treads, the slots (6a, 6b), the holes (11), as well as the seats (14) of the mushroom-shaped pins (13), are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above the bottom (16) thereof so as to leave a free volume with respect to the upwards protruding side edges (20) of the sole (1) sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

28. A shoe sole provided with a device according to claim 14, wherein the grip treads, the slots (6a, 6b), the holes (11), as well as the seats (14) of the mushroom-shaped pins (13), are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above the bottom (16) thereof so as to leave a free volume with respect to the upwards protruding side edges (20) of the sole (1) sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example.

[0026] In the drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the face of the sole intended to come into contact with the ground, the sole according to the invention being provided, where illustrated, by way of example, with two overturning spike holder elements or brackets in the shape of brackets arranged in the slots thereof with the spikes in operating position, i.e. facing outwards;

[0028] FIG. 2 again shows a top view on the same scale, of the sole of FIG. 1, shown from the inner side, with the housings of the spike holder elements and of the spikes themselves, obtained by molding on the other face of the sole;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the sole according to the invention, with two overturned spike holder brackets in the rest position, i.e. with the spikes facing the inside of the housing slots;

[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 are two vertical sectional views according to the layout plan X-X and Y-Y of FIG. 3, which show the mushroom-shaped pins which vertically secure the blocks of hinges of the two spike holder brackets to the sole, both brackets being overturned by 90 with respect to the rest position of FIG. 3 to note the tooth and sphere, respectively, which ensure the stop thereof in the two overturned positions, and the anti-slipping spikes;

[0031] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows, on a larger scale, the rotation of a spike holder bracket from a vertical position into the two overturned rest and operating positions, respectively;

[0032] FIG. 7 is a sectional view according to the layout plan Z-Z of FIG. 1, and on a larger scale, which in particular shows the snap-fitting blocking tooth of a spike holder bracket when it is in the operating position thereof;

[0033] FIG. 8 shows a spike holder bracket like in FIGS. 4 and 5, which shows the horizontal overturning pin on one side and the cubic block forming the rotation seat thereof on the other;

[0034] FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c are sectional views according to the layout plans A-A, B-B and C-C of FIG. 8, respectively, which show the cubic block with the mushroom-shaped coupling, the oval geometry of the horizontal overturning pin and the tapered head thereof;

[0035] FIGS. 9 and 10 show sectional views of the sole with a tooth, carried by the spike holder element or bracket and positioned in the specific concave seat created by an undercut in the inner vertical wall of the slot of the sole in normal condition and in folded condition when walking, respectively, where the proportional tightening to the bending of the sole is noted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] With reference to the figures, a shoe sole 1 is shown, made of moderately plugged synthetic material which allows good performance on almost all surfaces (tartan, asphalt, grass, sand, linoleum, etc.) but which loses its adherence features on dirt and muddy surfaces, and even more so on snowy or icy surfaces. Footwear made specifically for such a use is provided for such surfaces. The main features are found in a significantly sturdier structure which however is accompanied by an increased weight and a highly plugged sole, which allows an optimal grip on hard surfaces. However, such soles strongly affect the general appearance of the footwear whereby such a solution is limited to sports shoes or boots made specifically for this purpose.

[0037] According to the present invention, the anti-slipping sole 1 with spikes to be hidden according to the invention instead has a limited thickness which allows the use thereof in various types of footwear without the general appearance thereof being compromised.

[0038] This is obtained by providing, on the moderately plugged face of FIG. 1, that intended to come into contact with the treading surface, both on the front part and on the rear area, at least one slot 6a capable of housing a rail or bracket which carries a certain number of nails or spikes 12 embedded due to molding, conveniently distributed and spaced apart. In the accompanying drawings, there are two brackets, indicated with reference numerals 2 and 3, respectively.

[0039] Such rails or brackets 2, 3 may be shaped in the most different ways: for example, like in the case illustrated, in the shape of a half-circle bracket 2 crossed with a circle having smaller diameter, or in the shape again of a half-circle bracket 3 crossed with another arc of circle having similar radius.

[0040] Said brackets 2, 3 are provided (see FIG. 1, FIG. 6), at the ends thereof, with rotation pins 5 which are inserted into respective rotation seats. Said seats simply consist of cubic blocks 4 provided with a hinging hole arranged according to the overturning axis of the two brackets 2, 3.

[0041] FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b show in detail the features both of pin 5 and of the hinging hole 5b. Advantageously, as described above, both pin 5 and hole 5b have an oval geometry which forces the bracket to move to the extracted position of the nails or to the retracted position thereof. Moreover, as shown in particular in FIG. 8c, pin 5 has a tapered head 5b having increased diameter, which once inserted in the related seat 4b of the cubic block 4 having different diameter, allows the rotation thereof but avoids it from coming out, thus avoiding the possible loss of the bracket or of the overturning support rail.

[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cubic blocks 4 are rigidly secured to the sole by means of a mushroom-shaped pin 13 which serves to block in place such a cubic block and which, for this purpose, is inserted in a seat 14 which, originating from the outwards-facing face of the sole, extends vertically on the inner face of the sole itself, next to the respective slots 6, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0043] There are second corresponding slots 6b both in the front part of the sole and in the rear part, and arranged to mirror the first slots 6a which define the operating position, which second corresponding slots 6b differ from the first ones only because, as illustrated in FIG. 1, they have blind holes 11 on the bottom intended to receive the corresponding spikes 12 of the brackets 2 and 3 when they are overturned in the non-operating position of FIG. 3.

[0044] As is worth noting in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, in order to lighten the sole, the tread plugs, the slots 6a, 6b, said holes 11, as well as the seats 14 of the mushroom-shaped pins 13, are not obtained in the thickness of the sole, rather are made in specific closed seats which protrude upwards in the shape of ribs, from the inner face of the sole, above bottom 16.

[0045] This allows a free volume to be left with respect to the upwards protruding side edges 20 of sole 1, which is sufficient to use all the modern technologies relating to the cushioning and control factors of the movement which may be introduced with the midsole to which the sole is glued.

[0046] To ensure the brackets 2 and 3 are properly accommodated in the housing slots thereof, both in the rest position and after overturning, a system for blocking in place said brackets (illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) is provided. As illustrated in such drawings, said brackets 2 and 3 indeed are both provided in distal position with respect to the overturning axis thereof, at the centerline thereof, on the face opposite to that where there are the spikes 12, with a vertical pin 9 which, when bracket 2 is in the anti-slipping operating position, is positioned in a corresponding cavity 10 obtained on the bottom of the slot 6b (FIGS. 3 and 7). Said pin 9 is blocked in place due to a tooth 8 which is snap-fitted in a seat 15 obtained by undercut on the inner vertical wall of slot 6b itself and configured so as to allow a proportional tightening to the bending exerted on the sole when walking.

[0047] Indeed, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, seat 15 created by undercut has a concave geometry. Accordingly, tooth 8, which is inserted in a snap-fitting manner, is increasingly tightened during the bending due to such a shape because the thickness of the wall progressively increases in direction of the undercut.

[0048] Pin 9 itself also serves the purpose of ensuring the proper positioning of the bracket in the rest position because by protruding from the face of the bracket not provided with spikes, if the bracket is not completely retracted in its housing slot for any reason, said pin is intended to first come into contact with the ground and is capable of exerting a sufficient pressure to bring the bracket itself to the correct rest position without the need to manually intervene, with tooth 8 which is snap-fitted in the corresponding cavity 15 obtained on the inner vertical wall of slot 6a.

[0049] A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described hereto. Moreover, it is apparent that several changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without however departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.