SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY PUTTING ON/TAKING OFF

A FOOTWEAR

[001] The invention relates to a system for automatically putting on/taking off a footwear.

[002] By footwear is meant any type of footwear item, such as a street shoe, a protection shoe, a sport shoe, etc. The term "shoe" must be understood in its broadest meaning, and can be, for example, a boot. The term "sport shoe" also covers any special sport footwear, such as ski boots, skates, etc.

[003] Document WO/2017/188833, whose applicant-inventor is identical to that of the present patent application, discloses a footwear embodiment provided with a system for automatically putting on / taking off the footwear, wherein the operation of the system is provided exclusively by actuation with the sole of the user’s foot, the reliability being increased and the outer appearance of the footwear remaining unchanged.

The system for automatically putting on / taking off a footwear according to

WO/2017/188833 comprises:

- a lower inflatable tank, capable of storing pressurized air, fixed inside the footwear in the area of the rear part of the user’s sole;

- an upper inflatable structure fixed in an area of the footwear where the laces are usually located;

- a hose provided with a one-way valve (the direction being from the lower inflatable tank into the upper inflatable structure), the hose ensuring the fluid communication between the lower inflatable tank and the upper inflatable structure;

- an insole hinged to the sole of the footwear, which, when actuated by the user’s heel, compresses the lower inflatable tank, causing the air from the lower inflatable tank to enter the upper inflatable structure, increasing its internal pressure and volume, and consequently to press on the user’s foot, thus fixing it within the footwear; - a lever operable by means of a button, which unlocks the one-way valve and allows air from the upper inflatable structure to return in the lower inflatable tank, thus allowing the release of the user’s foot.

[004] Although it provides reliability and ease of operation, the system according to WO/2017/188833 faces, nevertheless, the disadvantage of not optimally adapting the compression force applied by the upper inflatable structure to the user’s foot.

More precisely, said compression force depends somewhat on the shape of the user’s foot (namely the width and the height thereof), reason why some users may feel the footwear too tight on the foot, while other users may feel the footwear insufficiently tight on the foot.

[005] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide a system for automatically putting on / tacking off a footwear, that ensures an optimal compression force on the user’s foot (irrespective of the foot’s’shape), and implicitlly an optimal tightening.

[006] The system according to the invention has the following further advantages:

- it is simple, easy to manufacture and cheap;

- the system operation is carried out such that the user does not have to bend over and use his hands;

- high reliability and lifespan;

- does not alter the outer appearance of the footwear;

- allows the use of the footwear for a longer time in activities such as jogging, hiking, cycling, etc., the adjustment of the tightening being done automatically.

[007] The system for automatically putting on / tacking off a footwear, according to the invention, comprises:

- a fixed insole, for supporting the front part of the sole of a user's foot, fixed to a sole of the footwear, inside the latter;

- a movable insole, for supporting of the heel rear part of the sole of the user's foot, the movable insole being connected to the fixed insole by means of a joint, and being movable between a first extreme position and a second extreme position; - a deformable tank, fixed between the movable insole and the sole of the footwear,

- a deformable elastic chamber, fixed to an upper area of the footwear, where the laces are usually located;

- a hose, non-deformable in terms of volume, capable to ensure the fluid communication between the tank and the chamber;

- an amount of pressurized fluid, wherein substantially the entire amount of fluid is in the tank when the movable insole is in its first extreme position in contact with the undeformed tank, and wherein substantially the entire amount of fluid is in the hose and in the chamber when the movable insole is in its second extreme position and compresses and deforms the tank to the maximum; wherein when the movable insole is in its second extreme position, the chamber is elastically deformed, increasing its volume, thus generating a compression force on the upper area of the footwear, directed towards the sole of the footwear,

- a first one-way valve, arranged inside the hose, provided with an unlocking system, and which, when it is not unlocked, allows the fluid to pass through the hose, exclusively from the tank into the chamber, and which when it is unlocked, allows the fluid to pass from the chamber into the tank,

- an elongated container, capable to be in fluid communication with the chamber by means of a first two-way valve, and capable to be in fluid communication with the environment’s atmosphere by means of a second two-way valve, wherein the first two-way valve opens automatically when the pressure within the chamber or within the container exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

[008] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the unlocking system of the first one-way valve consists either of a lever operable by the user by means of an actuating button, or of a remotely operable electronic system. If the unlocking system consists of a lever and a button, the user may operate the button with his other foot.

[009] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the joint is provided with a first spring capable of holding the movable insole in its first extreme position when the footwear is not put on by the user. [010] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the chamber is in contact, at its upper part, with a rigid portion of the footwear, and at its lower part with a flap fixed by means of a hinge to the rigid portion, at the extremity closer to the tip of the footwear.

[011] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the hinge is provided with a second spring, that pushes the flap towards the rigid portion of the footwear.

[012] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the fluid is a liquid and the container is further provided with:

- a second one-way valve connected to the hose, between the tank and the first one way valve, the second one-way valve allowing the liquid to pass exclusively from the container into the hose;

- a plurality of apertures, provided in the vicinity of the first two-way valve, and sized such that they allow the passing of the air from the atmosphere but they do not allow the passing of the liquid.

[013] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system is further provided with two elastic, deformable primary compartments, fixed inside the footwear, arranged laterally, on either side of the chamber, and in fluid communication with the chamber by means of associated primary pipes that are non- deformable in terms of volume, wherein substantially the entire amount of fluid completely fills the hose, the chamber, the primary pipes and the primary compartments when the movable insole is in its second extreme position wherein it compresses and deforms the tank to the maximum, situation where the primary compartments are elastically deformed by their increase in volume, in the direction towards the inside of the footwear.

[014] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system is further provided with at least two elastic, deformable secondary compartments, fixed inside the footwear, arranged laterally, on either side of the chamber, preferably at the heel area of the footwear, each secondary compartment being in fluid communication with the primary compartment situated on the same side, via an associated secondary pipe, wherein substantially the entire amount of fluid completely fills the hose, the chamber, the primary pipes, the primary compartments, the secondary pipes and the secondary compartments when the movable insole is in its second extreme position wherein it compresses and deforms the tank to the maximum, situation where both the primary compartments and the secondary compartments are elastically deformed by their increase in volume, in the direction towards the inside the footwear.

[015] The following are several non-limiting embodiments of systems according to the invention for automatically putting on/taking off a footwear, in connection to Figures 1-15, which represent:

- Fig.1 -7 : a first embodiment of the system according to the invention

- Fig.8A-8B: exemplification of how the footwear is tightened to the foot

- Fig.9-13: a second embodiment of the system according to the invention

- Fig.14-15: an alternative of the second embodiment of the system according to the invention.

[016] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the system according to the invention, for automatically putting on/taking off a footwear, comprising:

- a fixed insole, 1 for supporting the front part of the sole of a user's foot, fixed to a sole 2 of the footwear S, inside the latter;

- a movable insole 3, for supporting the heel rear part of the sole of the user's foot, the movable insole 3 being connected to the fixed insole 1 by means of a joint 4, and being movable between a first extreme position and a second extreme position. The term "joint” must be understood in its broadest sense, which can also mean, for example, a hinge, a folding line, etc.

- a deformable tank 5, fixed between the movable insole 3 and the sole 2 of the footwear S,

- a deformable elastic chamber 6, fixed to an upper area of the footwear S where the laces are usually located; - a hose 7, non-deformable in terms of volume, capable to ensure the fluid communication between the tank 5 and the chamber 6. By "non-deformable in terms of volume" is meant that the inner volume of hose 7 remains substantially constant when a fluid transfer occurs between the tank 5 and the chamber 6. However, the outer appearance of the hose 7 may vary (for instance, in the direction of its length it can take the shape of a circular arc with a variable radius).

- an amount of pressurized fluid 8, sufficient to entirely fill the tank 5. Fluid 8 may be a gas (for example air) or a liquid (for exemple water). Substantially the entire amount of fluid 8 is in the tank 5 when the movable insole 3 is in its first extreme position in contact with the undeformed tank 5. On the other hand, substantially the entire amount of fluid 8 is in the hose 7 and in the chamber 6 when the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position and compresses and deforms the tank 5 to the maximum.

The volume of the tank 5, when full of fluid and in the undeformed state, is greater than the sum of the volumes of the hose 7 and of the undeformed chamber 6.

When the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position, the pressure within the chamber 6 has a clearly higher value compared to the pressure within the chamber 6 when the movable insole 3 is in its first extreme position. Due to the pressure increase, the chamber 6 is elastically deformed, increasing its volume, thus generating a compression force on the upper area of the footwear S, directed towards the sole 2 of the footwear S, thus causing the foot to be fixed in the footwear S.

In other words, when the movable insole 3 is in its first extreme position, the tank 5 has a maximal volume and the chamber 6 implicitly has a minimal volume. When the user puts on the footwear S, he progressively compresses, with the heel, the movable insole 3 and implicitly the tank 5 until the movable insole 3 reaches its second extreme position, shown in Figure 2, wherein the tank 5 is compressed/deformed to the maximum, and substantially the whole fluid amount is in the hose 7 and in the chamber 6, the latter being elastically deformed and implicitly having a maximal volume.

The system according the first embodiment further comprises a first one-way valve 9, arranged inside the hose 7, and provided with an unlocking system. The unlocking system may preferably be a lever 10 operable by the user by means of an actuating button 11, or may be a remotely operable electronic system. The remotely operable electronic system may be, for example, a locking system provided with an electronic chip, an electric battery and a wi-fi or bluetooth antenna, and remotely controlled by means of a dedicated application installed on the mobile phone. The electric battery may be replaceable or rechargeable by means of the mains power source or by means of charging-by-moving systems of the piezoelectric type.

The first one way valve 9, when it is not unlocked, allows the fluid 8 to pass through the hose 7, exclusively from the tank 5 into the chamber 6, and when it is unlocked, allows the fluid 8 to pass from the chamber 6 into the tank 5, under the action exerted by the volume and pressure difference between them.

The system according the first embodiment further comprises an elongated container 12, capable to be in fluid communication with the chamber 6 by means of a first two- way valve 13, and capable to be in fluid communication with the environment’s atmosphere by means of a second two-way valve 14, wherein the first two-way valve

13 opens automatically when the pressure within the chamber 6 or within the container 12 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The second two way valve

14 serves to introducing or evacuating the fluid 8 in, respectively out, of the system.

[017] In Figure 1 , the footwear S is shown in the position wherein it is not worn (i.e. put on) by the user, thus the tank 5 is not deformed and the entire amount of fluid 8 is inside the tank 5, and the movable insole 3 is in its first extreme position.

[018] In Figure 2, the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position (for example by pressing with the heel of the user), wherein it compresses the tank 5, deforming it to the maximum, such that the fluid 8 is pushed into the hose 7 and through the one way valve 9 into the chamber 6. Since the volume of the tank 5, when full of fluid, in the undeformed state, is greater than the sum of the hose 7 volume and of the undeformed chamber 6 volume, when the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position, as In Figure 2, the chamber 6 is elastically deformed, increasing its volume, thus generating a compression force on the upper area of the footwear S, directed towards the sole 2 of the footwear S. [019] Preferably, the value of the ratio between the maximum and minimum volume of the chamber 6 is at least two. This ratio allows, on one hand, when the volume of the chamber 6 is minimal, to provide sufficient space for the insertion of the foot in the footwear S, and on the other hand, when the volume of the chamber 6 is maximal, to ensure an effective fixation of the foot in the footwear S.

When the fluid 8 is a gas, its pressure within the chamber 6 when the movable insole 3 is in its first extreme position is at least 1 atm.

[020] The compresion force exerted by the chamber 6 on the user's foot is optimal when the volume of the chamber 6 (and implicitly the pressure within the chamber 6) has an optimal corresponding value.

In order for the respective compression force not to exceed the optimal value (and not to create discomfort for the user), the value of the pressure within the chamber 6 must not exceed the pressure associated with the optimal compression force.

Keeping the pressure within the chamber 6 below a maximum threshold value is achieved by means of the container 12, which can be put in fluid communication with the chamber 6 by means of the first two-way valve 13 which opens automatically when the pressure within the chamber 6 or within the container 12 exceeds said threshold value (also called the threshold pressure).

Since every user has a particular kind of foot anatomy, both in terms of width of the sole and of height of the foot arch, each user also having a generally accepted pressure on the foot, if the chamber 6 exerts too much compression force, within the chamber 6 will arise a pressure higher than the threshold pressure, which will lead to the automatic opening of the first two-way valve 13, and a certain amount of fluid 8 will pass from the chamber 6 into the container 12, as shown in Figure 3. Due to the passage of said amount of fluid 8 from the chamber 6 into the container 12, the pressure within the chamber 6 will drop below the threshold value, and the first two- way valve 13 will close automatically.

[021] When the footwear is new and is tried for the first time by the user, the amount of fluid 8 that that passed into the container 12 can be permanently expelled to the exterior, through the second two-way valve 14, as shown in Figure 4. In this way, for the next uses that do not require increased effort (for example walking or easy running over short distances) the compression force exerted by the chamber 6 will be optimal from the beginning and overpressure will not occur within said chamber 6.

[022] On the other hand, the next uses that require intense effort (e.g. intense running, cycling, hiking, all over long distances and long durations), the foot will usually swell and exert contextual pressure - depending on the activity performed in that moment - increased on the chamber 6, which will determine the increase of the pressure within the chamber 6 above the threshold value, the opening of the first two- way valve 13 and the passing of a new amount of fluid 8 from the chamber 6 into the container 12.

[023] Upon unshoeing (i.e. taking off the footwear), the respective amount of fluid 8 within the container 12 is transferred back into the chamber 6 by mechanical compression (for example by manual squeezing or pressing) of the container 12, such that the pressure within the latter exceeds the threshold pressure, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Then, also upon unshoeing, the fluid 8 from the chamber 6 passes into the hose 7 and into the tank 5 when the user unlocks the first one-way valve 9 simultaneously with bringing the movable insole 3 to its first extreme position - Figure 7.

[024] In order to maximize the compression force on the user's foot, it is necessary that when its volume increases, the chamber 6 moves mainly towards the inside of the footwear S. For this purpose, the chamber 6 is, preferably, in contact at its upper part with a rigid portion 15 of the footwear S, and at its lower part with a flexible flap 16, fixed by means of a hinge 17 to the rigid portion 15, at the extremity closer to the tip of the footwear S. The term "hinge” must be understood in its broad meaning, which can mean, for example, a joint, a folding line, etc.

The rigid portion 15 covers only the area where the laces are usually located on a normal footwear. If the rigid portion 15 would extend to the vicinity of the tip of the footwear, then the bending of the footwear (by flexing of the toes) would be virtually prevented, which would create significant discomfort when walking. Whether the chamber 6 is undeformed or deformed, the rigid portion 15 does not move in the vertical direction (i.e. perpendicular to the sole of the footwear). [025] Figure 8A shows, in front view, the footwear and the undeformed chamber 6, as well as the user’s foot prepared to shoeing the footwear.

[026] Figure 8B shows, also in front view, the footwear completely shoed on the user's foot. In this position, the chamber 6 is deformed, having maximum volume and exerting pressure on both the user's foot and the rigid portion 15, causing the upper part of the footwear S to move upwards in the direction of the arrow, and the sides L1 and L2 of the footwear to tighten in the direction of the arrows on the laterals of the foot, and possibly, depending on the seams of the footwear, also on the user's ankle, ensuring an additional fixation of the foot in the footwear.

[027] The joint 4 may be provided with a first spring (not shown in the figures) for holding the movable insole 3 in its first extreme position when the footwear S is not put on.

[028] The hinge 17 may be provided with a second spring (not shown in the figures) that pushes the flap 16 towards the rigid portion 15 of the footwear S.

[029] Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the system for automatically putting on / taking off a footwear S, according to the invention. The differences with respect to the first embodiment are that the fluid 8 is a liquid and the container 12 is further provided with:

- a second one-way valve 18 connected to the hose 7, between the tank 5 and the first one-way valve 9, the second one-way valve 18 allowing the liquid 8 to pass exclusively from the container 12 into the hose 7;

- a plurality of apertures 19, provided in the vicinity of the first two-way valve 13, and sized such that they allow the passing of the air from the atmosphere but they do not allow the passing of the liquid 8; consequently, it is prevented a situation where vacuum forms within the container 12 and the liquid 8 is traped inside.

[030] The operation of the second embodiment is identical to that corresponding to the first embodiment (as shown in Figures 9-12), the only difference being that (see Figure 13) that for the return of the liquid 8 from the container 12 and from the chamber 6 back into the tank 5 it is sufficient to unlock the first one way valve 9, such that the liquid 8 from the chamber 6 will be transferred into the tank 5, passing through the hose 7, and the liquid 8 from the container 12 will be transferred into the tank 5 by passing through the second one way valve 18, being attracted by suction by the flow of liquid 8 passing from the chamber 6 into the tank 5.

[031] Both the first and the second embodiment may be further provided with two elastic, deformable primary compartments 20, fixed inside the footwear S, arranged laterally, on either side of the chamber 6, and in fluid communication with the chamber 6 by means of associated primary pipes 21 that are non-deformable in terms of volume. Substantially the entire amount of fluid 8 is in the hose 7, in the chamber 6, in the primary pipes 21 and in the primary compartments 20 when the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position wherein it compresses and deforms the tank 5 to the maximum, situation where the primary compartments 20 are deformed, by their increase in volume, in the direction towards the inside of the footwear S.

[032] In addition to the primary compartments 20, there may be provided at least two elastic, deformable secondary compartments 22, fixed inside the footwear S, arranged laterally, on either side of the chamber 6, preferably at the heel area of the footwear S, each secondary compartment 22 being in fluid communication with the primary compartment 20 situated on the same side, via an associated secondary pipe 23. Substantially the entire amount of fluid 8 is in the hose 7, in the chamber 6, in the primary pipes 21, in the primary compartments 20, in the secondary pipes 23 and in the secondary compartments 22 when the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position wherein it compresses and deforms to the maximum the tank 5, situation where both the primary compartments 20 and the secondary compartments 22 are deformed, by their increase in volume, in the direction towards the inside of the footwear S.

[033] Figure 14 shows the position wherein the movable insole 3 is in its first extreme position and the chamber 6, the primary compartments 20 and the secondary compartments 22 are undeformed. [034] Figure 15 shows the position wherein the movable insole 3 is in its second extreme position and the chamber 6, the primary compartments 20 and the secondary compartments 22 are elastically deformed, having their corresponding volumes increased.