DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A WEIGHT ON THE INSTEP OF A SHOE

Abstract

A device for attaching a weight on the instep of a shoe comprising a body having: a first coupling to releasably fasten the body to a central area of the instep of a shoe, such that when the device is in use a part of the body overlaps the longitudinal axis (L) of the shoe, and a second coupling to fasten a weight to the body;
the second coupling being offset from the first coupling such that, when the device is in use, the second coupling is offset from the longitudinal axis (L) of the shoe, and when a weight is attached to the second coupling it exerts a torque on the body about the longitudinal axis (L) of the shoe.

Claims

1. A device for attaching a weight on an instep of a shoe comprising a body having: a first coupling to releasably fasten the body to a central area of the instep of a shoe, such that when the device is in use a part of the body overlaps the longitudinal axis of the shoe, and a second coupling to fasten a weight to the body; the second coupling being offset from the first coupling such that, when the device is in use, the second coupling is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shoe, and when a weight is attached to the second coupling it exerts a torque on the body about the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

2. The device according to claim 1, the second coupling being offset from the first coupling an offset distance of between 10 mm and 35 mm in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe when the device is in use.

3. The device according to claim 1, the body being curved in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe when the device is in use attached to a shoe.

4. The device according to claim 1, at least one of first and second couplings being clamping elements.

5. The device according to claim 1, the coupling elements being snap-fit binding elements.

6. The device according to claim 1, the second coupling being disposed to releasably fasten the weight to the body.

7. The device according to claim 1, the body being made of a plastic material.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting base with a third coupling matching the first coupling of the body.

9. The device according to claim 8, the mounting base being configured to be attached on the instep of the shoe under the shoelaces and fastened with the shoelaces.

10. The device according to claim 1, the first coupling comprising two clamping elements arranged at opposite ends of one side of the body, and the second coupling comprising two clamping elements arranged at opposite ends of the other side of the body.

11. A device for releasably attaching a weight on an instep of a shoe such that the weight is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shoe, the device comprising a body having: a first coupling to releasably fasten the body to the instep of a shoe, with the body overlapping the longitudinal axis of the shoe, and a second coupling to fasten a weight to the body; the second coupling being offset from the first coupling such that, when the device is in use attached to the instep of a shoe and there is a weight fastened to the body, the weight is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shoe and exerts a torque about the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

12. The device according to claim 11, the first coupling of the body being arranged on a bottom side of the body that faces the shoe when the device is in use attached to the instep of a shoe, and the second coupling is arranged on an upper side of the body, opposite the bottom side.

13. The device according to claim 11, the second coupling comprising snap-fit elements that match snap-fit elements provided on the weight.

14. The device according to claim 11, comprising a mounting base to be attached on the instep of a shoe under the shoelaces and fastened with the shoelaces, the mounting base comprising a plate with a curved bottom surface adapted to the instep of the shoe, and a third coupling matching the first coupling of the body.

15. The device according to claim 14, the first coupling of the body comprising snap-fit elements, and the third coupling of the mounting base comprising snap-fit elements matching the snap-fit elements of the first coupling of the body.

16. The device according to claim 11, the body having a curved shape, in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe when the device is in use attached to the shoe.

17. A device for attaching a weight on the instep of a shoe, the device comprising: a mounting base having a curved bottom surface to adapt to the instep of a shoe, the mounting base to be attached on the instep of a shoe having shoelaces and to be fastened to the shoe with the shoelaces, and a body to be releasably fastened to the mounting base; the body having a first coupling to fasten the body to the mounting base, and a second coupling to fasten a weight to the body, and the mounting base having a third coupling matching the first coupling of the body; the second coupling of the body being offset from the first coupling of the body such that, when the device is in use attached to the instep of a shoe, the second coupling is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shoe, and when a weight is attached to the second coupling, the weight exerts a torque on the body about the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a device and a weight, according to one example of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a body of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective assembled view of the exemplar of FIG. 1, before attaching the weight;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an elevation assembled view of the exemplar of FIG. 1; and

[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the device shown in FIG. 1 when assembled on the instep of a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

[0023] FIGS. 1 and 3 show an assembly 10 including a device 1 according to an example of the present disclosure and a weight 4. In this example, the device 1 includes a body 2 and a mounting base 3, as disclosed in the following.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows schematically a device 1 according to an example of the present disclosure, in use, that is, when the device 1 is assembled on the instep 100 of a shoe 101. The longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101 is also illustrated herein.

[0025] The standing or upright position of the shoe 101 may be understood herein as a position where the sole of the shoe 101 is laying on a substantially horizontal ground. For clarity, in FIGS. 3 to 5, a reference system with three coordinate axes X,Y,Z is illustrated, thus showing a substantially horizontal plane XY containing the substantially horizontal ground where the shoe 101 is positioned in the substantially upright position, and a central vertical plane ZY which contains the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101 in the direction of the axis Y.

[0026] In the example disclosed herein, the mounting base 3 is configured to be attached on the instep 100 of the shoe 101 under the shoelaces (not shown) and fastened with the shoelaces, such that it remains firmly attached to the shoe 101 when the shoelaces are fastened. Furthermore, the mounting base 3 is configured with a plate having a curved bottom surface (see e.g. FIG. 4) suitable for adapting it to the instep 100 of the shoe 101.

[0027] In this example, the body 2 includes two parts 21 and 22, configured as a first longitudinal plate and a second longitudinal plate, respectively, both parts 21, 22 being fixedly attached to each other in a substantially parallel position.

[0028] Regarding FIGS. 1 to 3, on the one hand, the first longitudinal plate 21 includes a first coupling 23, 24 to releasably fasten the body 2 to the mounting base 3, such that in turn said mounting base 3 is attached to a central area of the instep 100 of the shoe 101 under the shoelaces, as explained above. On the other hand, the second longitudinal plate 22 includes a second coupling 25, 26 to fasten a weight 4 to the body 2. Therefore, as can be appreciated in FIG. 5, the first longitudinal plate 21 of the body 2, when attached to the mounting base 3, is positioned overlapping the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101, and the second longitudinal plate 22 of the body 2 is placed cantilevered on a lateral part of the shoe 101, as explained in more detail below.

[0029] In this example, the first coupling 23, 24 includes clamping elements arranged at opposite ends of a bottom side of the first longitudinal plate 21, and the second coupling 25, 26 includes clamping elements arranged at opposite ends of an upper side of the second longitudinal plate 22.

[0030] In this some example, the mounting base 3 is provided with a third coupling 31, 32 matching the first coupling 23, 24 to releasably fasten the body 2 to the mounting base 3. Furthermore, the weight 4 is provided with a fourth coupling 41, 42 matching the second coupling 25, 26 to releasably fasten the weight 4 to the body 2.

[0031] In the examples disclosed herein, the first coupling 23, 24 and second coupling 25, 26 of the body 2 are clamping elements, such as for example snap-fit binding elements.

[0032] In other alternative examples, the first coupling and second coupling of the body 2 may be magnets, threaded connectors, a hook-and-loop system, e.g. Velcro, among others fastening systems.

[0033] For clarity, in FIG. 5, both first coupling 23, 24 and second coupling 25, 26 of the body 2 are illustrated schematically.

[0034] As can be appreciated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second coupling 25, 26 is offset from the first coupling 23, 24, such that when the device 1 is in use, the second coupling 25, 26 is offset from the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101, when a weight 4 is attached to the second coupling 25, 26 it exerts a torque on the body 2 about the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101.

[0035] According to an example, the second coupling 25, 26 is offset from the first coupling 23, 24 an offset distance d of between 10 mm and 35 mm in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101 when the device 1 is in use. In preferred examples, the offset distance d is between 15 mm and 30 mm, for example 23 mm. Herein, it is understood that a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101, when the device 1 is in use, is a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central vertical plane ZY containing the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0036] In the present example, the offset distance d is calculated between a first central point P1 of the first coupling 23, 24 and a second central point P2 of the second coupling 25, 26 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), in such a way that the first central point P1 is positioned on the central vertical plane ZY which contains the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101, and the second central point P2 is positioned offset from the first central point P1. Therefore, the offset distance d is understood herein as the substantially perpendicular distance d between the second central point P2 and the central vertical plane ZY which contains the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101.

[0037] Furthermore, in the example disclosed herein, the body 2 is curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the shoe 101 when the device 1 is in use, the second longitudinal plate 22 being arranged in a tilted position (see e.g. FIG. 4). This curved configuration of the body 2 allows the weight 4 to be positioned close to the contour of a lateral part of the shoe 101, thus reducing possible undesirable movements of the weight 4 during the use of the device 1, and therefore increasing the comfort of the user.

[0038] The body 2 may be made of a plastic material or other suitable material sufficiently rigid to not deform during a normal use of the device 1 when a weight 4 is attached to the body 2.

[0039] In other alternative examples, the device for attaching a weight on the instep of a shoe may include a single mounting part (not shown) suitable to be attached to the instep of the shoe, e.g. under the shoelaces and held by the shoelaces, and having a releasable coupling suitable to attach a weight with a matching coupling.

[0040] Such a single, integral mounting part may include a plate such as that of mounting base 3 and a coupling such as the second coupling 25, 26 of body 2. According to an example, said single, integral mounting part may include a plate extending from the underside of the body 2 and suitable to be slid under the shoelaces, to be fastened. Therefore, in this alternative example, the mounting base 3 as disclosed above is omitted.

[0041] In other alternative examples, the second coupling may be permanent, i.e. an unreleasable coupling, such that the weight is an integral part of the body.

[0042] Alternatively, a device having features as disclosed in the examples of the present specification may include the weight molded as part of the body 2.

[0043] An assembly 10 may in some implementations may include one or more devices 1 as disclosed above. For example, such an assembly 10 may include a pair of devices 1 to be applied to a pair of shoes 101.

[0044] In some examples, a pair of devices 1 may include two types of bodies 2, that is, each type of body 2 having the second coupling 25, 26 arranged at one different lateral side (right side or left side) with respect to the first coupling 23, 24. Therefore, a weight 4 may be placed to one lateral side or the other lateral side of the instep of the shoe (e.g. overlapping the external or internal side of the ankle), depending on the required treatment of each user.

[0045] Furthermore, the assembly 10 may include a number of weights 4, for example two identical weights 4 for the feet, and/or weights 4 having different weight values, for allowing the user to vary the effort during the exercises.

[0046] Although only a number of examples have been disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses and/or equivalents thereof are possible. Furthermore, all possible combinations of the described examples are also covered. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow. If reference signs related to drawings are placed in parentheses in a claim, they are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim, and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim.