HOOK FOR FOOTWEAR DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a hook for footwear .

In particular, in a hook for footwear according to the present invention, the upper part, destined for contact with the shoe lace, is separable from the base' anchored to the shoe vamp and can therefore be replaced with an identical one or with a different one having a different external shape, colour or size or being made of a different material, in case the upper part (more exposed to the risk of breaking or to the risk of evident defects) breaks or is defective, or in order to modify the aspect without the need of removing the base, and this proves particularly advantageous, both for shoe manufacturers and for users. Moreover, a shoe hook according to the present invention can be applied both on classical, sports , technical or work shoes. In the latter case, as it is possible to remove the upper part of the shoe hook from the base anchored to the vamp, a further advantage of taking off one' s shoes more quickly in case of danger or in case of accident can consequently be obtained. Besides this, a shoe hook according to the present invention can be realized in a plurality of different materials, particularly those commonly used in this field. Further advantages for shoe manufacturers arise from the possibility of using a single base to be anchored to the shoe vamp, to which it is possible to associate upper parts which are equally connectable to the base but different as regards their shape, size, material or colour. Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to control production and stock more efficiently both for shoe manufacturers and for hook manufacturers. On the consumer side, further advantages are offered by the possibility of lacing or unlacing shoes more quickly, of cleaning shoes more easily, by acting on normally inaccessible points, which proves particularly advantageous in the case of mountain or trekking shoes, as well as the possibility of replacing the upper part of the hooks due to technical or fashion requirements. Moreover, a shoe hook according to the. present . invention can be realized in a size which is identical to the size of traditional hooks for footwear.

Every technician who works in this field will better understand these advantages,- and further advantages and features of the present invention thanks to the following description and to the enclosed drawings which are referred to possible embodiments of the invention and should not be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a hook for footwear according to the present invention; - Fig. 2 shows a side view of the hook of Fig.

1 in an assembled position;

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the upper part of the hook . shown in the previous figures ;

Fig.4 shows a schematic perspective view of the lower part of the hook shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a ring of elastomeric material positioned between the crown (11) and the wings ( 13 ) ;

- · Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a bottom plan view, a side view and a top plan view of the lower part of the hook for. footwear ;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a bottom plan view, a lateral view and a longitudinal section view of the upper part of the hook.

A hook for footwear (G) according to the present invention comprises a lower part or base (1) destined to be anchored to a predetermined point of a shoe vamp and an upper part (2) that can be engaged to the lower part (1) in a movable and replaceable manner.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the upper part (2) of the hook exhibits a channel or an eyelet (20) for a shoe lace. However, the seat for the shoe lace can also have an open mouth configuration.

With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures of the enclosed drawings, the base (1) of the hook features a stem (10) destined to be introduced into a predetermined point of a shoe vamp, where it remains anchored.

For example, said stem (10) can be of the so called "self piercing" type.

Above the stem (10), the base (1) of the hook exhibits a crown (11) with a radial tooth (12) whose function is described in the following. Above the crown (11), at a predetermined distance from the latter, the base (l)of the hook exhibits two wings (13) . Said wings, as further described in the following, constitute resolvable hooking surfaces for their hooking with a corresponding portion (23) of the upper part (2) of the hook. As shown in Fig.4, a ring (3) of elastomeric material is positioned on the base (1) of the hook, between the crown (11) and the wings (13) which, in practice, define a seat for said ring. The upper part (2) of the hook according to the present invention exhibits, on the back side of the zone (20) in contact, with the lace, a tail (21) with a central hole (22) on whose internal wall two counterposed radial appendixes (23) jut out .

Said tail (21) is raised with respect to the lower face (24) of the front side of the upper part (2) of the hook, so that between the tail (21) and the front side (the side which exhibits an open mouth or channel 20 for the shoe lace) ^' there is a step (25) . Said step is suitably smoothed so as to avoid the formation of cutting zones.

Therefore, when the upper part of the hook (2) is applied on the lower part (1), the lower face (24) of the upper part (2) of the hook is at the same height as said crown (11) .

The assembly of. the hook takes place as follows. After positioning the ring (3) on the base (1), the upper part of the hook is moved nearer to the base so that the external wings (13) of the head of the base (1) are entered into the space (26) between the internal wings of the hole (22) provided by the tail (21) of the upper part (2). At this point, the upper part (2) is rotated so that the wings (13) and (23) can interact and determine the locking of the upper part of the hook on the lower part, like in a screw connection.

For this purpose, as shown in detail in Fig. 6, the wings (13) of the base (1) exhibit an inclined lower face (130). Analogously, the wings (23) of the upper part exhibit an inclined upper face (230 ) .

Moreover, said lower face (24) of the upper part (2) of the hook (2) exhibits a cavity (240) into which the tooth (12) of the crown (11) is inserted when the upper part (2) is positioned onto the base (1). Said cavity (240)· exhibits a shoulder surface (241) for the tooth (12) which defines a stop for the ideal positioning of the upper part (2) of the hook with respect to the lower part (1) .

The ring (3) acts as a friction element between the parts (1) and (2)of the hook.

However, to friction the parts (1) and (2) of the hook it is possible to use any other means. It is evident form the previous description and from the enclosed drawings that the connection between the base (1) and the upper part (2) of the hook takes place within the area delimited by the hole (22) .

The base (1) can obviously be anchored to the shoe vamp in any manner known in this field.

Although the device subject of the present invention is defined as hook for footwear, it can also be advantageously used in the production of clothing or leather articles.

As regards the materials usable to realize said hook, said materials can be all those normally used for the production of hooks for footwear, including plastic materials.

In practice, the construction details may vary in any equivalent way as regards the shape, dimensions, disposition of elements, nature of the used material, without nevertheless departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and thereby remaining within the limits of the protection granted to the present patent.