Technical Held

The present invention relates to a shoe or item of footwear, with particular reference to slippers, sandals, gymnastic shoes, moccasins, lace- up shoes, ankle-boots and boots.

In practice, for the purposes of the present description, the expression "item of footwear" is understood to reference any item to be worn on the foot which follows the shape thereof.

Background art

The main function of a shoe is to protect the foot against direct contact with the ground and to cover the foot, retaining its heat in winter (isolating it from the outside environment). It also has an aesthetic function, which in recent years has become a preponderant aspect in determining the sales volume.

The shoe is formed by a part that is in contact with the ground, the sole, which is made of leather (hide), rubber or plastics, and by an upper part, which covers the foot, the upper. At the level of the heel of the foot, under the sole, there is often a raised portion known as heel.

In traditional shoes, the sole is fixed (by sewing and/or gluing) to the upper and any plantar inserts and other similar elements are inserted subsequently in the item of footwear thus formed.

This "traditional" constructive solution creates items of footwear that substantially conform to each other: in practice, any differences of an aesthetic type are to be attributed exclusively to decorative work which is entirely independent of the structural characteristics of the item of footwear itself.

What often constitutes a limitation of traditional footwear is the difficulty linked to repairs.

If reference is made exclusively to leather footwear, it is possible to resort to a cobbler to replace damaged parts; in the case of footwear made of another material, this operation becomes much more complicated and difficult to perform.

At the same time, it is not infrequent that a change in taste caused by a particular fleeting fashion makes an item of footwear obsolete a very short time after its purchase.

It is in practice not possible to modify its characteristics in order to adapt it to the new fashion or new taste unless spending extremely large sums, resorting to the work of an expert craftsman.

The modification of aesthetic and functional characteristics of an item of footwear, which in practice is impossible with an item of footwear of the traditional type, could be an enticing requirement for certain types of customer, particularly for children and young people.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by proposing an item of footwear that is very easy to repair on the part of any user without resorting to specialized craftsmen.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose an item of footwear whose appearance and functional characteristics can be modified by any user without resorting to specialized craftsmen.

Another object of the invention is to propose an item of footwear that is particularly enticing for young people and children thanks to the possibility to use it as a toy and/or by creating rules of play linked to its use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an item of footwear that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

This aim and these objects, as well as others which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an item of footwear of the type that comprises a sole and an upper, characterized in that said sole is constituted by a shell and a complementary shell, which can be mutually coupled detachably by way of mating means that have a substantially complementary shape, said upper comprising end edges which are shaped complementarily with respect to at least one of said mating means, said end edges, in the configuration for the mutual mating of said shell and said complementary shell, engaging at least one of said mating means and being clamped between said shell and said complementary shell.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the item of footwear according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an item of footwear according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the item of footwear according to the invention, with the upper shell turned over;

Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the item of footwear according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the item of footwear according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a partially sectional perspective view of a different embodiment of the item of footwear according to the invention.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an item of footwear according to the invention.

The item of footwear 1 according to the invention comprises, like all items of footwear of the traditional type, a sole 2 and an upper 3 : the sole 2 is the part of the item of footwear that comes into contact with the ground (in a lower region) and on which the sole of the foot of the user rests (in an upper region), and the upper 3 is the part that wraps around the foot in an upper region and can be simply constituted by a strap (slipper), by a plurality of straps (sandal), or by a continuous covering (closed shoe).

The sole 2 of the item of footwear 1 according to the invention is constituted by a shell 4 and a complementary shell 5, which can be mutually coupled detachably by way of suitable mating means 6 which are substantially shaped complementarily.

The upper 3 of the item of footwear 1 according to the invention comprises end edges 7 which are shaped complementarily with respect to at least one of the mating means 6.

In particular, the end edges 7, in the configuration for the mutual mating of the shell 4 with the complementary shell 5, are engaged on the at least one mating means 6 and are clamped between the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5.

The fact that the edges 7, independently of the coupling of the end edges 7 of the respective means 6, are clamped between the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5 ensures the locking of the upper 3, since its edges 7, while the user walks, are clamped between the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5 also by the weight of the user.

The shell 4 comprises a lower surface of a type which is substantially similar to the lower surface of a sole of an item of footwear of the traditional type and an upper surface provided with at least one mating means 6 of the first type 6a.

The complementary shell 5 comprises an upper surface of a type that is substantially similar to the upper surface of a sole of footwear of the traditional type (with possible shapes aimed at optimum ergonomics, such as plantar inserts and the like) and a lower surface provided with at least one mating means 6 of the second type 6b.

The mating means 6 of the first type 6a and the mating means 6 of the second type 6b are shaped substantially complementarily.

The mutual coupling of the mating means 6 of the first type 6a to the means of the second type 6b is of a type that is stable and optionally detachable as a consequence of mechanical forcing applied from the outside. In practice, once the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5 are mated, in order to separate them it is necessary to submit both to traction (with oppositely oriented forces) so as to uncouple all the means 6 that are present on the shell and on the complementary shell.

According to a particular embodiment of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the mating means 6 of the first type 6a are protruding pins which are provided with a tip whose profile protrudes substantially with respect to the base shaft (which is jointly connected to the shell 4).

In this case, the mating means 6 of the second type 6b are seats which are shaped complementarily with respect to the pins: said seats are suitable for stably accommodating such pins.

The pins, in an embodiment of unquestionable effectiveness, are substantially mushroom-shaped, and the seats are cavities which also are substantially mushroom-shaped (cavities which are complementary to the pins) and are adapted to accommodate stably the respective pins.

According to a further embodiment that can be applied validly from a production standpoint, the pins are elongated protruding bands, which are provided with a rim whose edge protrudes at least partially with respect to said band.

In this particular case, the seats are substantially slot-shaped cavities, which are provided with a perimetric end groove (on the bottom) and are adapted to accommodate stably the respective bands. In particular, the groove is adapted to accommodate the rim.

The possibility is not excluded to adopt mating means 6 of the first type 6a and of the second type 6b which are constituted by respective strips of material such as Velcro®.

In particular, the possibility is noted to provide the shells 4 and the complementary shells 5 so that they have means 6 of heterogeneous types: for example by providing some Velcro strips, some mushroom-shaped pins with the corresponding seats, and some bands with the corresponding slots.

Depending on the type of footwear 1 to be provided (slippers, sandals, gymnastic shoes, closed shoes and others), the type or set of types of means 6 indicated above are used.

The upper 3, for example, comprises at least one strap 8 which is associated with the front portion of the shell 4 and of the complementary shell 5 so as to produce, in the configuration for use, a slipper-like configuration of the item of footwear 1. If the single strap 8 that is present is in fact arranged at the front portion of the item of footwear 1, said item, in the configuration for use, surrounds the forefoot of the user, in a perfect analogy with what occurs when wearing a slipper.

According to a further possible embodiment, the upper 3 comprises a variety of straps 8, 9, 10, which are associated with respective portions of the shell 4 and of the complementary shell 5 so as to determine a sandal-like configuration of the item of footwear 1 in the configuration for use.

In the case shown in the accompanying figures, the strap 8 and the strap 9 wrap around the forefoot, while the strap 10 wraps around the ankle and the heel, in a perfect analogy with what occurs when wearing a sandal.

An embodiment is in any case not excluded which has an upper 3 that comprises a covering associated with the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5, producing, in the configuration for use, a closed shoe-like configuration of the item of footwear 1.

In practice there are no structural limitations for the item of footwear 1 according to the invention and therefore shoes with platforms and high heels can also be provided.

Likewise, it is possible to use all the materials that are normally used in the shoemaking field and other materials taken from other sectors and/or experimental materials.

What is particularly interesting is the possibility to reconfigure the item of footwear 1 according to the invention by changing its components as a function of the requirements (the functional and/or aesthetic requirements of the user).

It is in fact sufficient to separate the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5 by applying a force from the outside that is aimed at mutually spacing these components and at mutually disengaging all the mating units 6 to release the upper 3.

It is then necessary to detach the upper 3 (for aesthetic reasons and/or as a consequence of damage to a portion thereof) from the component with which it is associated, chosen between the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5, disengaging it completely from said component (detaching it from the respective means 6 with which it is associated).

It is then possible to apply an upper 3 (a different one, or more simply a new undamaged one) on at least one component, chosen between the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5: what is obtained is an item of footwear 1 that is perfectly repaired (if there is damage on the upper 3) or has a different appearance with respect to the initial version (if the upper 3 has a different appearance than the one that has been removed).

The item of footwear 1 in the usable and final version is obtained by joining the shell 4 and the complementary shell 5 by juxtaposing the mating means 6 and forcing them into conditions for stable mutual coupling.

It is obvious that if one wishes to change the color of the shell 4 and/or of the complementary shell 5, or if one of said components is damaged, it can be replaced by disassembling the item of footwear 1 in a manner similar to the method that has just been described.

Advantageously, the item of footwear 1 is therefore extremely easy to repair on the part of any user without resorting to specialized craftsmen: anyone will be able to disassemble it in order to replace any damaged component thereof.

Conveniently, the item of footwear 1 will be modifiable and reconfigurable in its appearance and functional characteristics by any user without resorting to specialized craftsmen.

This means that it will always be possible to convert a sandal into a closed shoe, a slipper into a boot, et cetera.

Moreover, each type of item of footwear 1 that can be provided

(slippers, sandals, closed shoes, boots...) can be modified by changing the color of its components and/or their shape and appearance. For example, a sandal can be modified by replacing the straps 8, 9 and 10 with others made of a different material, in a different color and/or with a different shape.

Positively, the item of footwear 1 is particularly enticing for young people and children thanks to the possibility to use it as a toy and/or by creating rules of play linked to its use.

It is in fact sufficient to consider the opportunity given to a child to wear sandals with the picture of a character of comics and/or cartoons, replacing and swapping its components by combining the shells 4 that bear a certain effigy with the complementary shells 5 which have a further effigy and the uppers 3 with yet another effigy.

The components in this case might be sold separately, with the purpose of collecting a series of components related to a certain range of effigies.

For young people and adolescents, the item of footwear 1 instead will ensure maximum customization of one's own item of clothing without having to resort to the work of specialized craftsmen and without risking damage to the item of footwear 1.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.