Self-Fastening Indoor Protecting Device

Abstract

The invention relates to gum shoe-type footwear and a mechanism both for fixing the shoes and for fastening normal footwear provided with this mechanism which allows a person to perform this operation without leaning and without using their hands. According to the invention, the device comprises a Subassembly (A) drive mechanism and a Subassembly (B) of lower fastening of the Subassembly (A), a Subassembly (C) of upper fastening of the Subassembly (A) and footwear positioning and a pneumatic Subassembly (D).

Claims

1. Multifunctional lower subassembly for automatic shoeing/unshoeing a footwear containing said subassembly, characterized in that it comprises: a sole (3) provided with a contour rim, having a plurality of projections (10) supporting and contacting a lid (17), the sole (3), the rim, a wall (13) and the lid (17) define a tank (4) for water drainage, that is isolated from the rest of the elements situated on the sole's (3) surface by means of the wall (13) which contacts the lid (17) in the lid (17) are partially fixed lower (11) and respectively upper tubular guides (14) provided with inner thread, for positioning a control wheel (5), toothed on about half of its circumference, and a driving wheel (6), toothed on its whole circumference and overlapping the control wheel (5), and respectively a first driven wheel (9), toothed on its whole circumference and a second driven wheel (9), toothed on its whole circumference, successively arranged, between the first driven wheel (9) and the driving wheel (6) as well as between the first driven wheel (9) and the second driven wheel (9) is mounted in gear a respective rack (7, 7), said racks (7, 7) being simultaneously movable in opposite ways, to a first end of the first rack (7) as well as to a second end of the second rack (7), opposite to said first end, is fixed a respective semirigid sling (1, 1), curved towards the inside of the sole (3), to each of the lower (11) and upper guides (14) is fixed a respective cylindrical fastening member (12), provided at its ends with outer threads that pass respectively through the centers of the control wheel (5), of the driving wheel (6) and of the driven wheels (9, 9).

2. Subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each rack (7, 7) is provided at its lower part with a respective guiding rail (20) that guides the movement of the respective associated rack (7, 7) along a respective associated sliding rail (19) arranged transversely on the upper surface of the sole (3), and at its upper part, each rack (7, 7) is in contact with a respective elongated support element (21) fixed to the lower part of the lid (17) and arranged transversely on the surface thereof.

3. Subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (17) is provided with: a plurality of through holes (16) for draining water inside the tank (4), a flexible hitch (18) and a plurality of adherence boots (15) arranged on an upper surface of the lid (17).

4. Subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the contour rim is provided with a cut-out (8), through which a toothed portion, of the toothed circumference of the control wheel (5), partially extends outside the sole (3) two opposed slots (2), through which slings (1, 1) can slide, either in order to shoe/unshoe a separate footwear in/from the subassembly, or in order to shoe/unshoe the footwear containing said subassembly.

5. Subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that between the driving wheel (6) and the first rack (7) are further provided, successively arranged in gear, a third driven toothed wheel (9) and a fourth driven toothed wheel (9).

6. Multifunctional lower subassembly for automatic shoeing/unshoeing a footwear containing said subassembly, comprising: two semirigid slings (1, 1), shaped according to the zone shape of a footwear corresponding to the upper part of the foot, and that can be brought in contact with said zone, a flexible hitch (18) characterized in that the subassembly further comprises: a tank pump (30) in which pressurized air can be stored, and arranged on the upper surface of a sole (3), at the heel side thereof, a flexible pipe (29), provided with a one-way valve (28), and connected to the tank pump (30) on the sole (3) is mounted a cylindrical housing (27) open to both of its ends, comprising: a bracket (40) on which is arranged an inflatable cylinder (39), two pads (37) in contact respectively with an associated end of the cylinder (39), a spring (35), normally compressed, whose ends are respectively affixed to an associated pad (37), two sliding guides (36) arranged on the bracket (40) under the cylinder (39), along two associated arms (21, 38) to which slings (1, 1) are respectively affixed, cylinder (39) is in communication with the tank pump (30) by means of the flexible pipe (29) and of the valve (28) a flap (24), preferably shaped towards the inside, in contact with and capable to press the tank pump (30), the flap (24) being hinged, by means of a hinge (23), to a frame (26) arranged in a hole (25) of a lid (17) that is situated above the sole (3), a lever (31), operable by a button (22) situated outside the sole (3), and capable to unlock the valve (28) in order to allow supplying of the tank pump (30) with pressurized air from the cylinder (39).

7. Multifunctional lower subassembly for automatic shoeing/unshoeing a footwear containing said subassembly, comprising: a flexible hitch (18) characterized in that the subassembly further comprises: a tank pump (30) in which pressurized air can be stored, and arranged on the upper surface of a sole (3), at the heel side thereof, a flexible pipe (29), provided with a one-way valve (28), and connected to the tank pump (30) a flap (24), preferably shaped towards the inside, in contact with and capable to press the tank pump (30), the flap (24) being hinged, by means of a hinge (23), to a frame (26) arranged in a hole (25) of a lid (17) that is situated above the sole (3), the lid (17) having a rim, the flexible pipe (29) is branched in three separate secondary pipes, each provided at their respective extremity opposed to the flexible pipe (29) with one respective orifice (41) for supplying air to a respective inflatable cushion (42), concave towards the inside of the sole, and arranged on the rim of the lid (17), above the lid, as follows: a first cushion (42) arranged antipodally in respect to the tank pump (30) a second (42) and a third cushion (42) arranged transversely on the lid (17) and antipodally one in respect to the other a lever (31), operable by a button (22) situated outside the sole (3), and capable to unlock the valve (28) in order to allow supplying of the tank pump (30) with pressurized air from the cushions (42).

8. Multifunctional lower subassembly for automatic shoeing/unshoeing a footwear containing said subassembly, characterized in that it comprises: a tank pump (30) in which pressurized air can be stored, and arranged on the upper surface of a sole (3), at the heel side thereof, a flexible pipe (29), provided with a one-way valve (28), and connected to the tank pump (30) a flap (24), preferably shaped towards the inside, in contact with and capable to press the tank pump (30), the flap (24) being hinged, by means of a hinge (23), to a frame (26) arranged in a hole (25) of a lid (17) that is situated above the sole (3), the lid (17) having a rim, the flexible pipe (29) is connected, after the valve (28), to a manifold (44) that distributes pressurized air in a plurality of inflatable slings (45), that are concave towards the foot of the wearer, and arranged on the footwear in the area corresponding to the upper zone of the foot, and following the shape of said area a first lever (31), operable by a button (22) situated outside the sole (3), and capable to unlock the valve (28) in order to allow supplying of the tank pump (30) with pressurized air from the inflatable slings (45) a second lever (31), operable by a second button (43) situated outside the sole (3), and capable to unlock a second one-way valve (33) provided in the manifold (44) in order to allow the controlled discharge of the pressurized air in the surrounding environment.

9. Subassembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the inflatable slings (45) can be supplied through the second one-way valve (33) with pressurized air coming from the exterior, preferably from a pump.

10. Subassembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the subassembly further comprises a concave semirigid member (46), fixed permanently to or detachable in respect to the footwear area corresponding to the upper zone of the foot, above and in contact with the inflatable slings (45), and limiting the movement of the inflatable slings (45) towards upwards.

Description

[0030] Here are some examples of design of the invention named SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE, related to FIG. 118, which represent:

[0031] FIG. 1Side and perspective view of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICEprotecting premises by inserting and fixing the footwear inside it.

[0032] FIG. 2Top view of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICEprotecting premises by inserting and fixing the footwear inside it.

[0033] FIG. 3Perspective view of Subassemblies A, B and C belonging to the mechanism.

[0034] FIG. 4Perspective view of drive and fixed elements that are part of the Subassembly A, which ensures the operation of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE.

[0035] FIG. 5Top view of the Subassemblies A and B belonging to the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE.

[0036] FIG. 6Top view of the Subassemblies A, B and C belonging to the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE.

[0037] FIG. 7Perspective view of the Subassembly C.

[0038] FIG. 8View from a lateral position of how the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE is inserted into the sole of a normal footwear for daily outdoors wearing, the method by which the person can shoe or unshoe the footwear without leaning or using the hands to clip/unclip a shoe.

[0039] FIG. 9Perspective view of the Subassembly C of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE in another constructive shape.

[0040] FIG. 10a), b) Perspective view of the Subassemblies A, B and C of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE, in another constructive shape.

[0041] FIG. 11Perspective view of drive elements belonging to the Subassembly A of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE in another constructive shape.

[0042] FIG. 12Side view of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICEprotecting premises by inserting and fixing the footwear inside it, in another constructive shape.

[0043] FIG. 13a), b) Perspective view of the Subassemblies A, B and C of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE, in another constructive shape.

[0044] FIG. 14-FIG. 10Perspective view of the Subassembly C of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE, in another constructive shape.

[0045] FIG. 15Side view of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICEprotecting premises by inserting and fixing the footwear inside it, in another constructive shape.

[0046] FIG. 16Open position of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICESide view of the way in which the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE may be used in the direction in which the Subassemblies A and B of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE are inserted into the sole of a normal footwear for daily outdoors wearing, the method by which the person can shoe or unshoe the footwear without leaning or using the hands to clip/unclip a shoe sling.

[0047] FIG. 17Open position of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICESide view of the way in which the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE may be used in the direction in which the Subassemblies A and B of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE are inserted into the sole of a normal footwear for daily outdoors wearing, the method by which the person can shoe or unshoe the footwear without leaning or using the hands to clip/unclip a shoe, in another constructive shape.

[0048] FIG. 18 a), b) Open/closed position of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICETop view of the way in which the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE may be used in the direction in which the Subassemblies A and B of the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE are inserted into the sole of a normal footwear for daily outdoors wearing, the method by which the person can shoe or unshoe the footwear without leaning or using the hands to clip/unclip a shoe, in another constructive shape.

[0049] Basically, the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE, according to the invention, is a device consisting of two lower and upper brackets, operated by a relatively simple mechanism, formed in a first constructive shape of a toothed wheel assembly, which conveys the gearshift movement from the steering wheel to the wheels and then to the gear racks for the shoe fastening slings. In another constructive shape, the device can be operated by a person by heel, both without leaning and without using their hands, by directing the air in an inflatable tank by a pneumatic mechanism to the sliding slings or to an inflatable sling system. The SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE can be used in two ways. In the first way, the SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE is especially used to insert and fix in it the footwear which the person is wearing when wanting to get indoors from outside the premises without getting off their shoes, while protecting the premises from the bacteria on the sole of the shoes with which they came from outdoors. In the second way, the mechanism SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE can be inserted into the sole of a daily footwear, in which case people can benefit from an automatic shoe attachment on the foot. The SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE previously named can be easily manipulated by any person regardless of age, both without leaning and without using their hands. The SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE is composed of the following main parts: [0050] 1.Subassembly Aa mechanical drive device formed, in a first constructive shape, from a toothed wheel gear which simultaneously conveys the movement imparted by the control wheel to the gear racks of the shoe fastening slings by means of the operation by a person by moving forwards and backwards one of the shoes, stacked to the side of the other; or, in another constructive shape, from a pneumatic system that directs air in an inflatable tank to a system of sliding or inflatable shoe fastening slings, in another constructive shape. [0051] 2.Subassembly Bmounting and ground contact device represents the sole and the lower mounting frame of the Subassembly A in any constructive shape, also having the role of tank for the water drained from the shoes worn outdoors. [0052] 3.Subassembly Ca device for mounting and actuating the device in any constructive shape, represents the upper mounting frame of the Subassembly A but also for sealing it, as well as the contact surface and the fixing surface of the footwear (high-grade insole), but also for capturing and directing the water through the drain holes on the surface of its sole in the tank inside the Subassembly B. [0053] 4.Subassembly Da cylindrical pneumatic device for driving the sliding slings or blowing the inflatable slings by inflating/deflating an inflatable cylinder, driven by the transfer of air from the inflatable tank, in a certain constructive shape.

[0054] Subassembly (A), the main mechanical device, is formed by a closing/opening control wheel (5) for operating the entire device on the upper surface in which a toothed wheel (6) is mounted, which engages the first toothed wheel of a succession of toothed wheels (9) acting simultaneously by sliding by guiding rails (19) the gear racks (7) which support the sliding slings (1) for fastening/releasing the footwear inserted through the guiding slots (2). In another constructive shape, the Subassembly (A) consists of the Subassembly (D) which ensures the fastening by transferring air through the transport manifold (29) through the one-way valve (28) by compressing the driving surface (24) through the flexible supply manifold (44) to the shoe fastening cushions (42) or to the inflatable slings (45) compressed for inflation towards the inside of the shoe against the compression surface (46), and for relaxing the shoe strain by deflating the slings (45) by pressing the external button (22) which fully or partially opens the valve (28) by pressing the button (43) for dosing the shoe strain by exhausting the air from inside to the outside of the air circuit which can be inflated again with air using the filling valve (33).

[0055] Subassembly (B), secondary support and mounting device fixes the shoe by means of the flexible shoe hitch for positioning the footwear and forms the ground contact soleplate-type device (3) and the lower frame of the water tank and the device for mounting the Subassembly (A) parts by first inserting and fastening the concentric threaded cylinders (12) into the concentric holes of the control and drive teethed wheels (5), (6) and (9) and subsequently in the lower fixed axles (11), and for the shoe support located on the surface of the Subassembly (C) it is provided with a plurality of rigid support points (10)

[0056] Subassembly C, secondary support and mounting device is the lid and insole type device for positioning the shoe and upper/sealing mounting of the Subassembly (A) parts by inserting and fastening the concentric threaded cylinders (12) firstly into the concentric holes of the toothed wheels and the control and drive wheels (5), (6), and (9) and then in the fixed upper axles (14) being formed by a surface of contact with the shoe sole and a mounting surface (17) on the upper surface on which the upper brackets (21) are provided for gear racks and more rubber boots (15) for fastening the footwear, and for providing water drainage out of the shoe surface inside the water and waste tank (4) formed by sealing the Subassembly (B) to the Subassembly (C), it is provided with several holes (16) with filtering sieve to block drainage of bulky residues;

[0057] Subassembly D, a pneumatic device which is formed by a mounting cylindrical housing (27) fixed to the Subassembly (C) surface comprising the guiding slots (19) on the surface of which slings (1) are sliding horizontally by means of the arms (38) driven by removing/nearing the pads (37) sliding on the surface of the bracket (40) through the sliding rails (34) by means of the guiding slots (36) by inflating/deflating the inflatable cylinder (39) through the hole (32) which is compressed to open the slings by means of a spring (35).

[0058] The SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE can be easily used by people of all ages both for the protection of the premises by the bacteria on the footwear sole by inserting it into the footwear holders and for the automatic fastening of the daily footwear without the need to lean for persons to shoe/unshoe or tie the shoelaces or other types of shoe sling types.

[0059] This invention can be applied industrially by manufacturing a large number of SELF LACING AND INDOOR PROTECTION DEVICE, both for the manufacture of footwear for the protection of the premises by the bacteria on the footwear sole, and for the application of the device to the daily footwear.

[0060] The List of Positions with the Names of the Items in the Drawings: [0061] Pos. 1Sliding sling to clip the footwear. [0062] Pos. 2Sliding rail for the passage and guiding of the shoe fastening sling. [0063] Pos. 3Rubber body of the bracket of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0064] Pos. 4Tanks for drainage of liquid residues from the shoe surface. [0065] Pos. 5Closing/opening control wheel of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0066] Pos. 6Toothed wheel attached to the closing/opening control wheel of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0067] Pos. 7Gear rack type slider for pushing/pulling the sliding sling for attaching/fastening the shoe. [0068] Pos. 8Sliding rail for the passage and guiding of the closing/opening control wheel of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0069] Pos. 9Toothed wheels for driving the other wheels or the second gear rack for pushing the second shoe attaching/fastening sling. [0070] Pos. 10Insole-type lid support point of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0071] Pos. 11Lower fixed threaded cylinder, for screwing the teethed wheels of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0072] Pos. 12Concentric threaded cylinder, for fixing and screwing the teethed wheels of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0073] Pos. 13Insulating/guiding/fixing area on the sole of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0074] Pos. 14Upper fixed cylinder, with conical thread, for screwing the teethed wheels of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0075] Pos. 15Rubber boots for shoe attachment when positioned in the bracket of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0076] Pos. 16Drill holes in the bracket of the automatic shoe fastening device for drainage of dirty water on the sole of the shoe. [0077] Pos. 17Lid sole of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0078] Pos. 18Flexible hitch for positioning and fastening the footwear into the bracket of the automatic shoe fastening device. [0079] Pos. 19Horizontal sliding rail of gear racks. [0080] Pos. 20Guiding rail for fixing gear racks in the sliding rails. [0081] Pos. 21Upper gear rack bracket. [0082] Pos. 22External button for full opening of the one-way valve. [0083] Pos. 23Swinging hinge of the compression driving surface of the inflatable tank. [0084] Pos. 24Compression driving surface of the inflatable tank. [0085] Pos. 25Expansion hole of the inflatable tank. [0086] Pos. 26Fastening frame of the driving surface of the inflatable tank. [0087] Pos. 27Mounting housing for the sling pneumatic drive mechanism. [0088] Pos. 28One-way air valve. [0089] Pos. 29Air transport manifold from the inflatable tank to the device drive circuit. [0090] Pos. 30Inflatable air tank. [0091] Pos. 31One-way valve opening lever for return of air from the drive circuit to the inflatable tank. [0092] Pos. 32Coupling of the air transport manifold for inflation/deflation of the inflatable cylinder of sliding slings. [0093] Pos. 33Air circuit supply valve. [0094] Pos. 34Sliding slots of contact pads with the inflatable cylinder. [0095] Pos. 35Spring for straining and compression of the inflatable cylinder. [0096] Pos. 36Sliding guides for contact pads. [0097] Pos. 37Inflatable cylinder contact pads. [0098] Pos. 38Sliding sling drive arms. [0099] Pos. 39Inflatable cylinder. [0100] Pos. 40Inflatable cylinder bracket. [0101] Pos. 41Air circuit holes connecting with inflatable cushions for shoe fastening. [0102] Pos. 42Inflatable cushions for shoe fastening in the device. [0103] Pos. 43External controlled opening button for one-way valve for controlled circuit air discharge. [0104] Pos. 44Flexible air supply manifold for inflatable slings. [0105] Pos. 45Inflatable slings for fastening the foot in the shoes. [0106] Pos. 46Compression surface of the inflatable slings for exhausting the air from them to the air tank.