Footwear element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9936768-B2
Application number	US-201313857463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2013
Priority date	Apr 6, 2012
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A footwear element that includes an outer sole assembly and a flexible upper, as well as spikes projecting in the area of an outer surface of the outer sole assembly, the flexible upper including a lower portion adapted to cover the foot of a user, the flexible upper having a shoe insertion opening. The upper includes an upper portion extending the lower portion in a direction away from the outer sole assembly, the upper portion being provided to cover at least the ankle of the user, or the ankle and a portion of the lower leg.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A footwear element configured to removably receive a low-upper shoe within the footwear element, the shoe having an outer sole and an upper, the footwear element comprising:
an outer sole assembly comprising an outer surface;
the outer sole assembly being flexible, allowing the foot to flex during walking and running;
a flexible upper extending upwardly from the outer sole assembly;
at least one crampon, each of the at least one crampon comprising a body and a plurality of spikes projecting from the body in a direction outwardly away from the outer surface of the outer sole assembly;
permanent attachment fasteners permanently attaching the at least one crampon to the outer sole assembly; and
the flexible upper comprising:
a lower portion configured to cover a foot of a wearer;
an upper portion extending from the lower portion in a direction away from the outer sole assembly, the upper portion being configured to cover at least an ankle of the wearer, or the ankle and a portion of a lower leg of the wearer; and
a shoe insertion opening configured to receive the shoe of the wearer.

2. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lower portion and the upper portion form a continuous envelope for the shoe.

3. The footwear element according to claim 2 , wherein:
the continuous envelope of the lower and upper portions of the upper has no passage for entry of water through a front surface of the upper from a front end to an upper end and from the front surface of the upper and more than 50% around each of medial and lateral sides in a direction toward a rearmost end of the upper.

4. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the shoe insertion opening of the upper has a lower subdivision structured and arranged to enable the size of the shoe insertion opening and the size of the fitting volume to be varied; and
the footwear element further comprising a device to selectively open and close the lower subdivision of the shoe insertion opening.

5. The footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the device comprises a slide fastener.

6. The footwear element according to claim 4 , wherein:
the lower subdivision of the opening is positioned at the rear of the upper.

7. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one crampon comprises a rear crampon and a front crampon.

8. The footwear element according to claim 1 , further comprising wherein:
the at least one crampon consists of only a single crampon.

9. The footwear element according to claim 8 , wherein:
the crampon comprises a rear subdivision and a front subdivision, the subdivisions being articulated relative to one another.

10. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the at least one crampon comprises a body positioned on a side of the outer surface of the outer sole assembly.

11. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the permanent attachment fasteners are rivets.

12. The footwear element according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tightening device positioned on the flexible upper and extending at least downwardly at least to a metatarsus area of the outer sole assembly, the tightening device designed to tighten the upper onto a wearer's foot positioned within the upper.

13. The footwear element according to claim 12 , wherein:
the tightening device comprises straps.

14. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one crampon comprises a rear subdivision and a front subdivision; and
an articulation connecting the front and rear subdivisions to be articulated in relation to each another.

15. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one crampon comprises four spikes connected to the body.

16. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the at least one crampon comprises a body positioned either below the outer sole assembly or above the outer sole assembly.

17. The footwear element according to claim 16 , wherein:
the body of the crampon is fixed against movement in relation to at least a portion of the outer sole assembly directly beneath the body of the crampon.

18. The footwear element according to claim 16 , wherein:
the body of the crampon and the plurality of spikes are fixed against movement in relation to at least a portion of the outer sole assembly directly beneath the body of the crampon.

19. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the permanent attachment fasteners are permanently attached to the body of the at least one crampon.

20. The footwear element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the permanent attachment fasteners provide an irremovable connection between the at least one crampon, including the body and the plurality of spikes, to the outer sole assembly.

21. An assembly comprising:
a low-upper shoe configured to be worn by a wearer, the shoe having an outer sole and an upper; and
a footwear element to removably receive the low-upper shoe within the footwear element, the low-upper shoe having an outer sole and an upper, the footwear element comprising:
an outer sole assembly comprising an outer surface;
the outer sole assembly being flexible, allowing the foot to flex during walking and running;
a flexible upper extending upwardly from the outer sole assembly;
at least one crampon, each of the at least one crampon comprising a body and a plurality of spikes projecting from the body in a direction outwardly away from the outer surface of the outer sole assembly;
permanent attachment fasteners permanently attaching the at least one crampon to the outer sole assembly of the footwear element; and
the flexible upper comprising:
a lower portion configured to cover a foot of wearer;
an upper portion extending from the lower portion in a direction away from the outer sole assembly, the upper portion being configured to cover at least an ankle of the wearer, or the ankle and a portion of a lower leg of the wearer; and
a shoe insertion opening configured to receive the low-upper shoe when worn by the wearer.

22. The footwear element according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tightening device comprising an instep strap extending around an instep of the upper and downwardly to a heel area of the outer sole assembly.

23. The footwear element according to claim 22 , wherein:
the tightening device further comprises an upper rear strap extending at least partially around the upper portion of the upper.

24. The assembly according to claim 21 , wherein:
the lower portion and the upper portion of the upper form a continuous envelope for the shoe; and
the continuous envelope has no passage for entry of water through a front surface of the upper from a front end to an upper end and from the front surface of the upper and more than 50% around each of medial and lateral sides in a direction toward a rearmost end of the upper.

25. The assembly element according to claim 21 , wherein:
the permanent attachment fasteners are rivets.

26. The assembly according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a tightening device positioned on the flexible upper and extending at least downwardly at least to a metatarsus area of the outer sole assembly, the tightening device designed to tighten the upper onto a wearer's foot positioned within the upper.

27. The assembly accor

Assignees

• Salomon Sas

Inventors

• Girard Francois
• Derrier Aude

Classifications

• A43C11/14

  Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers · CPC title

• A43C15/063

  with ice-gripping means projecting from the front foot region · CPC title

• A43C11/12

  Slide or glide fastenings · CPC title

• A43B5/18 Primary

  Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes · CPC title

• A43C15/066

  with ice-gripping means projecting from the heel area, e.g. ice spurs · CPC title