Footwear element to be mounted on an apparatus, and equipment including such footwear element and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016366985-A1
Application number	US-201615188226-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A footwear element includes a sole assembly extending along an extension direction between opposite front and rear ends; a flexible upper includes a lower portion adjoining the sole assembly and configured to receive a shoe of a user, and an upper portion extending from the lower portion away from the sole assembly; and a fastening element configured to cooperate with a locking mechanism provided on the apparatus for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the apparatus. The fastening element is removably mounted on the footwear element.

First claim

1 . A footwear element to be mounted on at least one apparatus to enable a user to perform a physical activity, the footwear element comprising:
a sole assembly extending lengthwise along an extension direction between a front end and a rear end; a flexible upper comprising:
a lower portion adjoining the sole assembly and having an inner volume sized and configured to receive a shoe of the user; and
an upper portion extending from the lower portion away from the sole assembly; and
a fastening element configured to cooperate with a locking mechanism provided on the apparatus for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the apparatus; the fastening element comprising a plurality of parts configured to enable the fastening element to be removably mounted on the footwear element.

2 . Footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the footwear element is configured to be mounted on a plurality of apparatuses respectively provided with different locking mechanisms; the fastening element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a plurality of different fastening elements each configured to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms.

3 . Footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the sole assembly comprises an outer surface configured to be oriented towards the apparatus; and the sole assembly and the fastening element comprise fixing members configured for removably mounting the fastening element on the outer surface of the sole assembly.

4 . Footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fastening element comprises:
at least a front portion configured to be mounted in a vicinity of the front end of the sole assembly; and
a fastening device configured to be reversibly retained in the locking mechanism, the fastening device being at least partially provided on the front portion of the fastening element.

5 . Footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the fastening device is provided only on the front portion of the fastening element so as to allow the rear end of the sole assembly to remain free for movement when the footwear element is mounted on the apparatus.

6 . Footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the fastening device and the locking mechanism is configured to form, with the locking mechanism, an articulation on the front portion of the fastening element, such articulation being rotatable about a transverse axis perpendicular to the extension direction.

7 . Footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the front portion of the fastening element comprises two openings extending coaxially in relation to one another perpendicular to the extension direction, the openings being configured to cooperate with two fingers of the locking mechanism that are movable between a locking position in which said fingers are brought closer to one another so as to be able to penetrate into the respective openings, and a retracted position in which said fingers are spaced apart from one another so as to enable the openings to be positioned between said fingers.

8 . Footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the fastening element has an outer surface configured to be oriented towards the apparatus; and the front portion of the fastening element comprises at least one pin extending perpendicular to the extension direction at a distance from the outer surface of the fastening element, the pin being configured to cooperate with two jaws of the locking mechanism that are movable between a locking position in which said jaws are brought closer to one another so as to be able to clamp the pin, and a retracted position in which said jaws are spaced apart from one another so as to allow the pin to be positioned between said jaws.

9 . Footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the front portion of the fastening element comprises a fastening head extending along the extension direction; and the fastening head is configured to cooperate with a housing for receiving the locking mechanism; and the locking mechanism further comprises at least one locking member movable between a locking position in which said locking member retains the fastening head in the receiving housing, and a retracted position in which said locking member allows displacement of the fastening head in relation to the receiving housing.

10 . Equipment to enable a user to perform a physical activity, such equipment comprising:
a footwear element according to claim 1 ; and at least one apparatus provided with a locking mechanism with which the fastening element of the footwear element is configured to cooperate for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the apparatus.

11 . Equipment according to claim 10 , comprising:
a plurality of apparatuses provided respectively with different locking mechanisms; and a plurality of fastening elements comprising a plurality of different fastening elements each configured to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms; and one of the fastening elements from the plurality of fastening elements is removably mounted on the footwear element.

Assignees

• Salomon Sas

Inventors

• Girard Francois
• Margolliet Philippe

Classifications

• A63C13/006

  Shoe support thereof, e.g. plate, movable relative to the frame · CPC title

• A43B5/1633

  Multipurpose skate boots (roller skates convertible to ice skates A63C17/18, with fixable wheels permitting walking A63C17/20) · CPC title

• A43B7/12

  Special watertight footwear (overshoes A43B3/16) · CPC title

• A43C11/008

  Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening · CPC title

• A43C19/00 Primary

  Attachments for footwear, not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title