BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to molded athle footwear and, more particularly, to molded a footwear integrate with ice skates, roller skates, or running shoes, and which include a molded, lower shell and a semi-rigid, upper tongue integrally to the lower shell which is adapted to be quickly an easily secured to the shell, preferably by the use of ratchet-t closure devices.

Heretofore, integrated ice skates, roller skates and ot athletic footwear utilized relatively flexible upper portions made, for example, from leather or a synthetic material with closure means for permitting the upper portion to conform to th foot and secure the foot therein.

With the development of synthetic materials and the refinement of molding processes, there has been a recent trend toward molded athletic footwear such as, for example, ski boots and ice skates and running shoes which are molded from synthetic materials. In some sports, particularly skiing and skating mold footwear has become increasingly popular because of the security and protection accorded the foot. The molded footwear conforms the foot, thus protecting it from outside forces. Molded footwe does, however, present certain problems, particularly with respe to the manner in which the various articles of the footwear are

secured about the foot of the wearer and the closure systems whi may be used in conjunction therewith.

Perhaps the most common type of closure system for all types of footwear, including athletic footwear, has been the classic lace-type, closure, system. An example of footwear integrated with ice skates which incorporates such a lace-type closure system is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,509,276 which issued on April 9, 1985 to R. Bourque. Lace-ty closure systems, while used extensively in athletic footwear, present certain problems, particularly to the competitive athlet whose footwear must fit snuggly, yet not too tightly. In order achieve such a snug, tight fit, strenuous pulling forces must be applied to the laces which, oftentimes, leads to material breakage. Moreover, such lace type closure systems are not practical when used in combination with such molded footwear.

Other types of closure systems have been used frequently in non-athletic footwear. For example, children's sneakers frequently use Velcro-type fastening devices to replace conventional lace-type closure systems.

U.S. Patent No. 4,107,856, which issued on August 22,

1978 to R. Bourque, discloses a fast closing, athletic boot whic includes a pivotably mounted upper leg portion. The closure mea provided in Bourque is, however, .generally unacceptable for use athletic competition as it may be tightened only at a point abov

the ankle and, therefore, does not provide a snug, tight overal closure about the athlete's foot within the shoe or boot.

As described above, the prior art has yet to provide an article of molded athletic footwear which includes securing mea ₅ which are capable of providing a secure, overall snug-tight fit for the wearer while remaining relatively easy to put on and ta off.

Against the foregoing background, it is a primary objec of the present invention to provide molded athletic footwear wh 10 provides an overall snug, secure fit for the wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provid athletic footwear which is relatively easy to put on and take o and has consistent foot security in both tightness about the foo and protection of the foot.

■ _j _5 It is still another object of the present invention to provide athletic footwear which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is yet still another object of the present invention provide athletic footwear integrated with ice skate hardware.

2o Another object is to provide integrally molded athletic footwear which may be integrated with ice skates or roller skate

It is still yet another object of the present invention t provide athletic footwear in the form of a running shoe.

Still a further object is to provide integrally molded athletic footwear in the form of a running shoe which retains an overall tight fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and - advantages, the present invention, in brief summary, comprises integrally molded article of athletic footwear which may be

5 integrated with ice skates or roller skates to form what is commonly referred to as ice skates or roller skates. Such footwear may also be molded onto other athletic footwear such a running shoe or the like. The article of footwear comprises a molded, substantially rigid, lower shell portion which is adapt o to receive and substantially encase the sole, heel and toe of a wearer. The instep portion of the lower shell is open to permi access to and from the interior of the shell portion. A molded semi-rigid, tongue portion is further provided which is integra with the shell adjacent the open instep. The tongue portion

15 includes a center instep support and at least one pair of complimentary wing portions extending outwardly from the center instep support. The complimentary wing portions are adapted to wrap around the shell portion of the footwear and be secured ab the wearer's foot or ankle. A set of securing devices are ₀ provided at the outer ends of each of the wings and are adapted secure one wing to the other wing thereby securing the wings of the tongue portion about the shell portion. The securing devic are adjustable and serve to securely retain the foot within the footwear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the inventio in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side illustration of the footwea of the present invention integrated with ice skate hardware forming an unitary ice skate;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ice skate.of FIG. 1 with th instep portion illustrated in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the ice skate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the ice skate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the footwear illustrated in FIG. 1 with the skate hardware and wing portions removed;

FIG. 6 is a side, perspective view of the running shoe o the present invention; in the form of a running shoe;

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FIG. 7 is a top view of the running shoe of the FIG. 6 i an open forϊri;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate closure means which may be use in conjunction with the athletic footwear of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to Figures 1 to 5 thereof _r the article of athletic footwear of the present invention is illustrated as an ice skate 10 including a blade portion 15 which is attached to a boot portion 20 by one o more couplers 18. It will be appreciated that the article of molded footwear of the present invention can also be used for other applications such as walking shoes, sandals or any footwea The blade portion 15 is illustrated in conventional design and includes a blade 19 and front, center and rear support couplers 18. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of grooves 36 are provided at th bottom 21 of the boot portion 20 which are adapted to receive adjustable studs (not shown) which extend from each of the couplers 18 for securing the blade portion 15 to the boot portio 20.

} As shown in Fig. 1, the boot portion 20 includes an integrally molded, lower shell 22 adapted to receive and retain, in the interior thereof, the foot of a wearer. The shell 22 is preferably molded from rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic materia such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride and may include appropriate padding and the like. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shell 22 is injection molded. The shell 22 is open at the instep area to permit easy access to the interior of the shell 22.

The tongue 30 is provided for securely retaining the fo within the shell 22 when closed over the shell 22. The tongue is integrally molded with the shell 22, being integral at 32, essentially forming a flexible hinge or brige between the tongu and the shell. The flexible bridge 32 permits the tongue 30 to hinge open, exposing a substantial, unencumbered portion of the interior of the shell 22 so that the foot may be easily inserte into and/or removed from the shell 22 with ease and comfort. S substantial, unencumbered exposure of the interior of the shell by the open tongue 30 permits insertion of the foot into the sh 22 without cramping, crushing or wrinkling socks covering the inserted foot so that any intimate foot covering may be fold-fr and/or wrinkle-free prior to securing the footwear about the fo The tongue 30 includes the connecting bridge 32 and a center instep support 30A which extends to the upper portion of the footwear when the tongue 30 is closed, supporting and protectin the instep and upper portion of the foot in the high-top footwe form of the invention. In the low cut shoe form, as illustrate in Figure 6, the tongue portion extends lower on the foot permitting more exposure of the foot.

In the high-top shoe embodiment, the instep portion 30A the tongue 30 is adapted to conform, cover, protect and be positioned above and over the instep of the wearer's foot when foot is contained in the interior of the shell 22 and the tongu 30 is closed over the foot. The center instep 30A extends into complimentary pair of upper wings 30B which are provided to wra

around the upper portion of the shell 22, in the region of the ankle.

In the high-top shoe embodiment in Figures 1, 2 and 3, an in the low cut or Oxford type shoe of Figure 6, the tongue 30 extends at its sides into a pair of complimentary lower or bottom wings 30C which extend outwardly from the center instep portion 30A to wrap around lower and under portions of the foot further securing and protecting part of the arch and the under side of th foot.

The shape, configuration and overall embracing characteristics of the tongue 30 permit it to be closed over the instep and conform to the shape of the instep of the wearer thereby providing uniform support of the foot as well as a high degree of protection without tight spots or spotted tighteners when the tongue 30 is closed. When the tongue 30 is substantiall opened, the full upper extent of the foot and almost all of the side of the foot are exposed permitting easy entry and/or removal of the wearer's foot into and out or the shell 22.

A set of fastening or securing devices 40 are provided a the outer ends of the upper wings 30B for securing the wings abo the upper portion of the footwear. One set or pair of securing elements or devices 40 is connected to each of the upper wings 30B, respectively, so that the upper wings 30B are secured about- the ankle portion of the footwear. Another set or pair of

securing elements or devices 42 are provided at the outer ends the lower wings 30C for securing the lower wings 30C about the under portion of the footwear. One element of the set or pair securing elements device 42 is connected to each end, respectively, of the lower wings 30C so that the lower wings 30 may be secured about the bottom portion of the footwear.

Preferably, each set or pair of securing device is adjustable so that the footwear will accommodate and/or permit wide range of foot shapes of sizes while still obtaining comfortable, secure and uniform fitness of the footwear. One f of fastening device is illustrated in Figure 8 and 9. A ring o loop 50 is secured at the end of a strap 51 which is connected one of the wings 3OB, for example. The ring 50 latches in one the grooves of the lever 54 and pulling in its direction of arr 55, the ratchet lever 54 passes across the pivot 56 thereby snapping the tongue closed. The loop 50 can be located in any of several grooves provided in the ratchet lever 54. If the lo 50 is located in the closest groove, "A", the lever 54 is pulle longer distance over the pivot. If the loop 50 is located in t furthest groove, "C", the loop 50 is pulled a shorter distance over the pivot. It will be appreciated that many different closures may be used, if desired. A loop and lever device will serve to secure the wings around the shell, however the ring an the tongue is preferred because it is easy to operate for closi and opening alike. It is highly adjustable and, when closed, snaps closed securely.

It will be appreciated that a wearer uses the article of footwear as illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 in the following manner. The wearer first bends back the tongue 30 at the bridge 32 to permit access to the interior 23 of the shell 22. The foot is inserted into the interior 23 of the shell 22, so as to lie full inside the shell. The tongue 30 is bent at the bridge 32, of th shell, drawing the instep portion 30A over the shell 22. The outer ends of the upper wings 3OB are wrapped around the outside of the ankle portion of the shell 22 and the outer ends of the lower wings 30c are wrapped around the outside or bottom 21 of t shell 22, between the brackets 18. The set of securing devices and 42 which are provided at the outer ends of the upper wings 3 and the lower wings 30C are then engaged to positively secure th tongue 30 to the shell 22.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of th article of footwear of the present invention particularly in the form of a low cut shoe 110, suitable for running. The running shoe may, if desired, also be provided in a high-top form. The running shoe 110 includes an upper portion 120 connected at its bottom 115 to a shock absorbing sole portion 116. One or more lateral cut-out portions 116 are provided in the sole portion 11 to assist in shock absorption for the running shoe 110.

The upper portion 120 of the shoe 110, as shown in great detail in FIG. 7, includes an integrally molded shell 122 which

adapted to receive and retain, in its interior 123, a wearer's foot. The shell 122 is preferably molded from a rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic material such as, for example, polyviny chloride. In a particularly preferred embodiment of low cut footwear, the shell 122 may be injection molded. The interior 1 of the shell 122 is open at the tongue or instep area to permit easy insertion of the foot into, and removal of the foot from th footwear.

A tongue 130 is provided for positively retaining the fo within the shell 122. The tongue 130 is integrally attached to the shell 122 by a bridging hinge or self-hinge 132. The tongue 130 includes a center instep 130A which is adapted to conform to and be positioned above the wearer's instep thereby supporting t instep while positively retaining the wearer's foot therein. A complimentary pair of center wings 130B are provided which exten outwardly from the center instep 130A. A set of securing device 140 are provided at the outer ends of the center wings 130B. At least one of the outer ends of the center wings 130B with the securing devices 140 contained thereon is adapted to pass throug one of the lateral cut-outs 116 in the sole portion 115 of the shoe 110. The tongue 130 is thus secured in place over the shel 122 by engaging the set securing devices 140.

Having thus .described the invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious tha various changes and modifications may be made therein without

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined b the appended claims.