SWIM SHOE

Abstract

A swimming shoe for learning and/or for supporting of the leg kick in breaststroke swimming is described. The swimming shoe has a shoe body and a sole flap connected thereto via a hinge coupling. The invention is characterized by the fact that the hinge coupling has a flexible strap through which the sole flap is connected with the shoe body, with the strap flexibly pressing the sole flap with pre-tensioning against a floor space of the shoe body.

Claims

1. Swimming shoe for learning the leg kick and/or for support of breaststroke swimming, with a shoe body and a sole flap connected to the shoe body via a lateral hinge coupling, characterized in that wherein the hinge coupling comprises a flexible strap by means of which the sole flap is connected with the shoe body, with the strap flexibly pressing the sole flap under pre-tension to a floor space of the shoe body.

2. Swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein the strap has a swiveling section and a non-swiveling section between which a swivel axis is located, extending essentially in a longitudinal direction of the shoe body; and in that wherein the sole flap has an outer section to which the swivel section is attached and an inner section which are separated from each other by the swivel axis.

3. Swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein a stop for limiting the swivel angle of the sole flap is installed on the shoe body for the sole flap.

4. Swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein the strap is an integral part of the shoe body.

5. Swimming shoe according to claim 2, wherein the non-swiveling section of the strap is attached to the shoe body.

6. Swimming shoe according to claim 2, wherein the swivel section of the strap has at least one fastening tongue.

7. Swimming shoe according to claim 2, wherein the sole flap additionally has a bridge, whereby a slot is formed between an outer section and the bridge, into which slot at least one fastening tongue of the swivel section of the curved strap can be inserted.

8. Swimming shoe according to claim 2, wherein the sole flap has at least one row of long holes, which contains an inner long hole and an outer long hole across the longitudinal direction of the shoe body, with the at least single fastening tongue of the swivel section being interlaced with the long holes.

9. Swimming shoe according to claim 8, wherein the swivel section furthermore has at least one additional pre-tensioned tongue, which rests under bending pre-tension against a top side of the outer section of the sole flap.

10. Swimming shoe according to claim 2, wherein the swivel section of the strap is loosely connected with the outer section of the sole flap.

11. Swimming shoe according claim 2, wherein numerous ribs are installed at a bottom of the sole flap.

12. Swimming shoe according to claim 11, wherein the ribs extend in a crosswise direction of the shoe body.

13. Swimming shoe according to claim 7, wherein the sole flap furthermore has two recesses at the outer section.

14. Swimming shoe according to claim 7, wherein the strap has a ridge, which extends along the swivel axis between the swiveling section and the non-swiveling section.

15. Swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein the strap is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

16. Swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein the strap has a thickness of 3 mm to 5 mm.

17. Swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe body is aligned symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis.

18. Method for producing a swimming shoe according to claim 1, wherein the method comprised comprises the following steps: a) molding a shoe body with a left strap and a right strap which respectively protrude with a swivel section over a floor space of a shoe body, or molding a shoe body with identical fastening sections for a separate strap on both sides of the shoe body; b) cutting off the left strap or the right strap, or attaching the separate strap to the fastening section of the shoe body; and, c) attaching sole flap to the swivel section by bending the sole flap outward.

19. Swimming shoe according claim 8, wherein at least one fastening tongue is inserted from above into the inner long hole and then from below into the outer long hole.

20. Swimming shoe according claim 15, wherein the strap is made of a thermoplastic elastomer based on urethane.

Description

[0028] Example embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail by means of schematic drawings, which show:

[0029] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a swimming shoe according to this invention for the right foot in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2 a view from below of the swimming shoe in accordance with the first embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 3 the cross-section A-A in FIG. 2, wherein the nib is omitted;

[0032] FIG. 4 a perspective view of a swimming shoe according to this invention in a mounted condition in accordance with the first embodiment, in which the sole flap is omitted;

[0033] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a shoe body and a strap in the raw form in accordance with the first embodiment after it is taken out of an injection mold;

[0034] FIG. 6 a perspective view from a top side of a sole flap for a swimming shoe in accordance with the first embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 7 a perspective view from the bottom of a sole flap of the swimming shoe in accordance with the first embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 8 a perspective view of a swimming shoe for the right foot in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 9 a view from the bottom of the swimming shoe in accordance with the second embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 10 the cross-section B-B in FIG. 9;

[0039] FIG. 11 a perspective view of a swimming shoe according to this invention in a mounted condition in accordance with the second embodiment, in which the sole flap is omitted;

[0040] FIG. 12 a perspective view from a top side of a sole flap for the swimming shoe in accordance with the second embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 13 a perspective view of an alternative of the second embodiment of the sole flap similar to FIG. 12 at a somewhat magnified scale; and

[0042] FIG. 14 the perspective view of the sole flap in accordance with FIG. 13 as seen from below.

[0043] A swimming shoe, particularly the right swimming shoe, for learning and/or for support of the leg kick for breaststroke swimming is assigned the reference number 10 in the figures. No description of the left swimming shoe is provided here, since it is a mirror image of the right swimming shoe.

[0044] The swimming shoe is described in accordance with a first embodiment is hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the swimming shoe 10 mainly consists of two parts, i.e. the actual shoe body 12 and a sole flap 14 shown separately in FIGS. 6 and 7, which is attached thereto via a hinge coupling 18, which is to be described in greater detail. The hinge coupling 18 has an elastic strap 20 by means of which the sole flap 14 is connected with the shoe body 12, such that, through its elastic bending deformation, the strap 20 flexibly presses the sole flap 14 with pre-tension against a floor space 32 of the shoe body 12. When the swimming shoe is used as a swimming aid and/or as an aid in learning to swim, the flexible strap 20 builds up a pre-tension via additional elastic bending deformation when the sole flap 14 is swung away from the shoe body 12, and this pre-tension is used to swing the sole flap 14 back onto the shoe body.

[0046] In this embodiment, the strap 20 is produced as an integral part of the shoe body 12 by injection molding, i.e. it is molded onto the shoe body. The shoe body 12 with the strap 20 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer based on urethane (TPU). The sole flap 14 is configured as a synthetic injection molded part.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows the flexible strap 20 in a relaxed state, for example in the form in which it comes out of the injection mold together with the shoe body. The sole flap is not mounted yet. The strap is as yet unprocessed. In this relaxed state, a part of the flexible strap 20 projects over the floor space 32 of the shoe body 12.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the section of the strap 20 protruding above the floor space is bent outward in the mounted state of the sole flap and is connected with the sole flap 14. It is because of this elastic bending deformation of the strap 20 that a pre-tension builds up, through which the sole flap 14 is flexibly pressed against the floor space 32 of the shoe body 12. This projecting section of the strap 20 forms a swivel section 30, which can swivel along with the sole flap 14 due to water resistance when kicking. The section protruding over the floor space 32 forms a not swiveling or non-swiveling section 28, which is connected with the shoe body 12. A swivel axis 16 of the hinge coupling 18 lies between the swiveling section 30 and the non-swiveling section 28. The entire length of the strap can thus be used for providing the hinge function.

[0049] The strap 20 in the form of a piece of cloth has a uniform wall thickness anddepending on the materiala thickness din the range of 3 mm to 5 mm. It can be shown in experiments that long-term functionality can be ensured.

[0050] The strap does not necessarily have to be made with same wall thickness everywhere. A reinforcing ridge 60, which extends along the swivel axis 16 (this alternative is shown with cross-hatches in FIG. 5), can, for example, be placed between the swiveling section 30 and the non-swiveling section 28).

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a view of the swimming shoe 10 in accordance with the first embodiment as seen from below. The sole flap 14 has an outer section 22 to which the swiveling section 30 of the strap 20 is fastened and an inner section 24, which rests against the floor space 32 of the shoe body 12 when it is at rest. The sections 22 and 24 are separated from each other by the swivel axis 16.

[0052] The nature of the connection between the strap 20 and the sole flap 14 in accordance with the first embodiment is hereinafter described in greater detail.

[0053] As shown best by FIGS. 6 and 7, the sole flap 14 has a bridge 26, which projects upward from the sole flap 14 and contains a first end section 34, a second end section 36 and a base plate 38, whereby a slot 40 is formed between the bridge 26 and the outer section 22, into which the swivelable section 30 of the strap 20 can be introduced as a fastening tongue 42, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0054] To fasten the sole flap 14, the fastening tongue 42 is inserted into the slot 40 from inside. The outer contour of the fastening tongue 42 thus follows the contour of the slot 40. The fastening tongue 42 and thus the strap 20 can be loosely connected to the sole flap 14. In the embodiment shown, there are three drilled cutouts and/or drill holes 58 in the base plate 38 of the bridge 26 of the sole flap 14, three drilled cutouts and/or drill holes 61 in the outer section 22 of the sole flap 14 and three drilled cutouts and/or drill holes 59 in an end section 43 of the fastening tongue 42 of the strap 20, which are mutually aligned and can be respectively introduced into a nib and/or a stud. The cutouts 58, 59, 61 are aligned with each other regarding their position, such thatas shown in FIG. 3the sole flap 14 lies flat on the floor space 32. The three connecting points are essentially located along the longitudinal direction of the swimming shoe 10. The strap 20 is thus positioned by the bridge 26 and is attached to the sole flap 14 in a sandwich-like manner.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows the state of the swimming shoe 10 with the mounted sole flap 14. One can see that the sole flap 14 is pressed against the floor space 32 of the shoe body 12 by pre-tension, with the swiveling section 30 of the strap 20 bent outward at about 90. The sole flap 14 can also jut out slightly beyond the floor space on the side opposite the hinge configuration. If the leg kick is performed correctly, the sole flap goes up because of the water resistance. As long as the water pressure is higher than the pre-tensioned force of the strap 20, the water is pushed into the space between the sole flap 14 and the floor space 32 of the swimming shoe 10, whereby the sole flap 14 is pushed to about 90 by the water resistance and a topside 27 of the bridge 26 strikes the sidewall of the shoe body 12. When the legs, more accurately the shanks, are pulled toward the buttocks, the sole flap 14, which essentially experiences no resistance, closes because of the drag and the pre-stressed state of the strap 20, while the water is displaced from the space between the sole flap 14 and the floor space 32 of the swimming shoe 12. The sole flap 14 is again opened up during the subsequent rotary swinging movement until the legs stretch out. The swimmer thus feels very soon whether his foot position is correct or wrong.

[0056] The sole flap 14 according to this embodiment furthermore has numerous ribs 44. These ribs 44 are located at the bottom 47 of the sole flap 14 and extend across the longitudinal axis of the shoe body 12. Selected ribs 62 of the ribs 44 extend through the three junction points. When the swimmer wears the swimming shoes and walks outside of the water, the sole flap with pre-tensioning of the strap rests against the floor space of the shoe body. The pre-tensioning of the strap and the ribs extending in the transverse direction prevent the sole flap from unintentionally moving and/or swinging out, while a rolling motion of the swimming shoe is not obstructed because the ribs extend in the transverse direction.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the outer section 22 of the sole flap 14 furthermore has two recesses 46, which are located under the bridge 26 between the three ribs 62 extending through the three junction points.

[0058] As can be concluded best from FIG. 3, the shoe body 12 is designed so that it is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal center axis MA. This makes it possible to use an identical injection molding tool for a left and a right swimming shoe.

[0059] The details provided hereinafter refer to the FIGS. 8 to 12 of the swimming shoe in accordance with the second embodiment. For purposes of simplifying the description, those components that correspond to the components of the first embodiment are assigned similar reference numbers, which are however prefixed by 1.

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a swimming shoe 10 for the right foot in accordance with a second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the swimming shoe 10 mainly consists of two parts, i.e. the actual shoe body 12 and a sole flap 114 shown separately in FIG. 12, which is connected with the shoe body 12 via a hinge coupling 18 still to be described in greater detail. The hinge coupling 18 has a flexible strap 120 by means of which the sole flap 114 is connected with the shoe body 12, with the strap 120 flexibly pressing the sole flap 114 with pre-tension against a floor space 32 of the shoe body 12.

[0061] In this embodiment, the strap 120 is again produced by injection molding as an integral part of the shoe body 12. The shoe body 12 with the strap 120 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer based on urethane (TPU). The sole flap is a synthetic injection molded part.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the section of the strap 120 projecting over the floor space is bent outward in the mounted state of the sole flap and is connected with the sole flap 114. This is the swiveling section 130, which can swivel with the leg kick along with the sole flap 114 due to water resistance. The section that does not project over the floor space 32 constitutes a not swiveling and/or non-swiveling section 128, which is connected with the shoe body 12. A swivel axis 116 of the hinge coupling 18 lies between the swiveling section 130 and the not-swiveling section 128. The entire length of the strap can thus be used to provide the hinge function.

[0063] The strap 120 made of a piece of cloth has a uniform wall thickness anddepending on the materiala thickness din the range of 3 mm to 5 mm.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a view of the swimming shoe 10 in accordance with the second embodiment as seen from below. The sole flap 114 has an outer section 122, to which the swiveling section 130 of the strap 120 is attached, and an inner section 124, which rests against the floor space 32 of the shoe body 12 when it is at rest. The sections 122 and 124 are separated from each other by the swivel axis 116.

[0065] The nature of the connection between the strap 120 and the sole flap 114 in accordance with the second embodiment is described in greater detail below.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 12, the sole flap 114 has two rows of long holes, which respectively contain an inner oblong hole 50 and an outer oblong hole 52 in the transverse direction of the longitudinal direction of the shoe body. The swiveling section 130 of the strap 120 furthermore has two fastening tongues 142.

[0067] The fastening tongue 142 is laced into the long holes so as to fasten the sole flap. More accurately, the fastening tongues 142 are respectively inserted from above into the appropriate inner long hole 50 and then from below into the corresponding outer long hole 52. The fastening tongues 142 and thus the strap 120 can be loosely connected with the sole flap 114. In the embodiment shown here, there are two drilled cutouts and/or drilled holes 161 on the outer section 122 of the sole flap 114 and two drilled cutouts and/or drilled holes 159 at an end section 143 of the fastening tongue 142 of the strap 120, which are mutually aligned and can be respectively introduced into a nib and/or a stud. The cutouts 159, 161 are aligned with each other regarding their position, such thatas shown in FIG. 10the sole flap 114 lies flat on the floor space 32. The two connecting points are essentially located along the longitudinal direction of the swimming shoe 10.

[0068] The resistance of the water can push the sole flap 114 along with the swiveling section 130 of the strap 120 to an angle of at most 90, until a top side 48 of the end section 143 of the fastening tongue 142 strikes the shoe body 12.

[0069] The swiveling section 130 furthermore has a pre-tensioning tongue 56. The pre-tensioning tongue 56 is located between the two fastening tongues 142 and rests under bending pre-stress in a mounted state of the sole flap 114 against the top side 54 of the outer section 122 of the sole flap 114. It is possible to do without fastening the pre-tensioning tongue 56 to the sole flap 114.

[0070] In accordance with the embodiment shown here, the sole flap 114 furthermore has numerous ribs 144. These ribs 144 are located at the bottom 147 of the sole flap 114 and extend across the longitudinal axis of the shoe body 12.

[0071] As can best be concluded from FIG. 10, the shoe body 12 is positioned symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal center axis MA. It is in this way that it is possible to use the same injection molding tool for a left and a right swimming shoe.

[0072] A variant of the sole flap in accordance with FIGS. 8 to 12 is hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the FIGS. 13 and 14. For purposes of simplifying the description, those components that correspond to the components of the previously described second embodiment are assigned similar reference numbers in which the prefix 1 is replaced by 2.

[0073] Deviating from the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 12, the sole flap 214, which is preferably designed as an injection molded part, has a cutout 253, over the approximate center of which a bridge 255 extends, in place of the long holes 50, 52. The fastening tongues 142 not shown in greater detail and forming the outer strap segments can thusas shown in FIGS. 10 and 11be woven into the sole flap 214. The reference number 261 refers to cutouts, which serve the purpose of taking up rivets by means of which the woven-in fastening tongues are connected with the sole flap 214. The reference number 263 refers to a cutout for producing of a further riveted joint with the pre-tensioned tongue 56, which takes care of an additional pre-tensioning force for pressing the sole flap against the floor space of the shoe body under flexible elastic pre-tension.

[0074] In further deviation from the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 12, the ribs 244 are installed on the side of the sole flap 214 facing the shoe body. A fixing flap 270 serving a cutout 272 for receiving a pushbutton connecting element not shown, with which the sole flap 214 can be affixed so that it is separable from the shoe body when the hinge function is deactivated is lastly fitted onto the sole flap 214 on the side opposite to the cutouts 253. In this way, the sole flap can additionally be affixed to the shoe body by means of a separate holding device if the shoe is to be used outside of the water. The pushbutton connection can, for example, be implemented in a manner such as that, e.g., shown in FIG. 8 of the German patent DE 2007 003508 B3 or as described in the older German patent application DE 10 2015 101287 with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 7. The disclosure in these older patent applications of relevance here likewise becomes the subject of the present application by reference.

[0075] The strap 270 can be stowed away to save space in the swimming mode, which is suggested by the dash-dotted line in FIG. 13. A pushbutton connection, for which a cutout 274 is provided in the sole body 214, can be used in this case as well. This configuration is achieved in that the folded up strap 270, which is fixed in place via the pushbutton connection, does not extend over the ribs 244, and in that the pushbutton connecting components also do not extend over the ribs, so that the sole flap 214 is pressed against the floor area of the shoe body without any gap, and neither the strap 270 nor the push-button connection is felt when walking with the shoe.

[0076] It can be deduced from the view of the sole flap 214 from below in accordance with FIG. 14 that the bottom has numerous nubs 278, which provide for a skid-proof hold when walking with the swimming shoe. It is furthermore evident that the cutouts 261, 263 and 274 are configured so that the pushbutton connecting components can be taken up in the sole body 214 in a positive locking and as far as possible recessed manner so that they do not show and do not impair the function of the sole flap 214.

[0077] Experiments have shown that the construction of the swimming shoe of this invention with both embodiments ensures that heretofore unachievable long term functionality can be achieved via good user friendliness. In other words, the function supporting the leg kick of the person learning to perform the breast stroke is sustained for the long term via the simplified construction of the flexible strap. The swimming shoe can, at the same time, be kept relatively small, and the production of the swimming shoe is further simplified compared with past solutions. Due to the construction of the hinge design with the flexible strap, the sole flap in the non-swiveled condition remains safely in a neutral position near the shoe body, even when walking outside of the water, so that the hinge is treated with care and the risk of falling is reduced. The swimming shoe is lastly characterized by being comfortable to wear, particularly when walking with the swimming shoes on.

[0078] The production of the swimming shoe is described below.

[0079] In the first step, the shoe body (12) that is integrated with a left strap and a right strap, which respectively extend over a floor space (32) of a shoe body (12) with a swivel section (30; 130), is preferably produced by an injection molding process. As an alternative to the first step, the shoe body (12) can be produced with identical fastening sections for the separate strap (20; 120) on both of its sides, preferably by the injection molding process. The left strap or the right strap is cut off in the second step. As an alternative to the second step, the separate strap (20; 120) can be attached to the fastening section of the shoe body (12). At the end, the sole flap (14; 114) is attached to the swiveling section (30; 130), in that it is bent outward. The swimming shoe of this invention can be produced by this simplified production process.

[0080] Modifications of the embodiments shown are of course possible without departing from the basic concept of this invention.

[0081] The long-term functionality can be improved by different modifications based on the first embodiment. The material TPU can thus be replaced with other materials having similar physical characteristics.

[0082] The flexible strap also does not have to be of one piece with the shoe body. The non-swiveling section of the strap can, for example, be attached to the shoe body via a separable connection. The production process can accordingly be varied. The swimming shoe thus consists of three parts, i.e. of a shoe body, a strap and a sole flap, which can be used for both shoes, the left shoe and the right shoe.

[0083] An additional strap whose length is adjustable can, for example, be used for fastening the sole flap as described with reference to the FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 10 of the German patent DE 2007 003508 B3. The relevant disclosure of the German patent DE 2007 003508 B3 is hereby expressly referred to in the present application.

[0084] The pin-like connection between the strap and the sole flap can also be established by means of an adhesive or a pushbutton connection.

[0085] The number of connecting points can of course also be varied.

[0086] It is possible to vary the number of rows of long holes and the number of fastening tongues based on the second embodiment. A row of long holes and fastening tongues or several sets of long holes and several fastening tongues can accordingly be installed. The number of pre-tensioning tongues can be also varied and can be zero or more than two.

[0087] The position of the strap can also be varied. In the embodiments described above the strap is located on the side wall of the shoe body. The strap can also be located within the side wall of the shoe body.