MULTI-PURPOSE SHOE Technical Field

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose shoe. Background Art As is known, shoes provided at the front with a flipper, allowing easier movement in water, are widely used in underwater sports or in swimming.

However, when such shoes are worn outside the water they make walking awkward. Moreover, due to their bulk they are scarcely practical to carry.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by providing a multi-purpose shoe which allows not only to move effectively in water but also to walk comfortably and conveniently. Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose shoe which can be used simply and intuitively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe which is constructively simple to manufacture and can be obtained starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials, so as to have a very low cost.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a multi-purpose shoe according to the invention, as defined in claim 1. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the shoe according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in phantom lines, of the shoe according to the invention, provided with a flipper shown in the active

position;

Figure 2 is a partially cutout perspective view of the shoe according to the invention, with the flipper in the active position;

Figure 3 is a view of a detail of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along a horizontal plane, of the shoe according to the invention, with the flipper in the inactive position and in the folded condition;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 4, but with the flipper shown in the active position and in the extended condition; Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along a horizontal plane, of an alternative embodiment of the shoe according to the invention; Figure 7 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an exploded and partially cutout perspective view of a detail of the embodiment of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a sectional view, taken along a horizontal plane, of another constructive variation of the invention, shown with the flipper in the inactive position;

Figure 10 is a view, similar to Figure 9, with the flipper in the active position; Figure 11 is a sectional view, taken along the line XI-XI of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a partially cutout sectional view, taken along a horizontal plane, of another constructive variation of the invention, in which the flipper is shown in phantom lines in the inactive position;

Figure 13 is a view, similar to Figure 12, in which the flipper is shown in the active position and partially in phantom lines;

Figure 14 is a sectional view, taken along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 14. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the multi-purpose shoe according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a

body 2 which can be worn by the foot of the user and supports at least one flipper 3.

The body 2 can have a sandal-shaped configuration, as in the example shown in Figure 1, or a boot-like configuration or the configuration of any other type of footwear.

In particular, the body 2 is preferably formed by a top portion or upper, which is intended to wrap around the foot of the user, and by a sole 4, which is arranged below.

As shown in Figure 1, the top portion of the body 2 can be provided for example by a band 5, which is intended to wrap around the foot transversely, and conveniently by a strap 6, which is intended to wind around the rear portion of the foot or heel in order to prevent the shoe from slipping easily off the foot and is optionally connected to the band 5 by means of hinges 6a, which are constituted for example by press-studs, in order to allow it to fold over onto the band 5 or to adjust its height along the heel.

The peculiar aspect of the invention consists in that the flipper 3 can be moved on command with respect to the body 2 of the shoe between an active position, in which it extends from the front end of the body 2 outwardly, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 10 in different exemplary embodiments, and an inactive position, in which it is accommodated at least partially in a receptacle 7, which is formed by the body 2, as shown in Figures 4 and 9 in different embodiments.

In this manner, the shoe according to the invention can be used effectively, according to requirements, for sports activities in water, by arranging the flipper 3 in the active position, or as a normal shoe for walking, once the flipper 3 has been moved to the inactive position.

Advantageously, the flipper 3 is connected to the body 2 of the shoe so that it can rotate about a positioning axis 3 a in order to allow its passage from the active position to the inactive position and vice versa.

Preferably, the flipper 3 is further structured so that it can pass from an extended condition, shown for example in Figure 1, to a folded condition, which is shown for example in Figure 4 and in which it has, with respect to the extended condition, a smaller space occupation, and vice versa.

Conveniently, the flipper 3 can be arranged in an extended condition when it is in the active position, and can be arranged in a folded condition when it is in the inactive position.

In greater detail, the flipper 3 comprises advantageously at least two elongated elements 8, which are connected to the body 2.

Conveniently, such elongated elements 8 can be moved with respect to each other closer or further apart in order to allow respectively the passage of the flipper 3 from the extended condition to the folded condition or vice versa. For example, as shown in Figures 6 to 11, the elongated elements 8 can be constituted by strips, each of which defines opposite rather large flat faces, so as to define as a whole the useful surface of the flipper 3 when it is moved into the extended condition.

In a different embodiment, shown in Figures 1 to 5, the several elongated elements 8 can be joined to each other by a deformable membrane 9, so that in practice they reinforce the flipper 3.

It should be noted that in this case the number of elongated elements 8 provided can be changed depending on the degree of stiffness to be given to the flipper 3. Conveniently, the elongated elements 8 are individually articulated, at one of their ends 8a, about a rotation pivot 10 which is provided on the body 2 and is arranged so that its axis is substantially perpendicular to the sole of the foot. Advantageously, the pivot 10 in practice allows to determine, by means of its own axis, the positioning axis 3 a of the flipper 3. In particular, the several elongated elements 8 are stacked at mutually

different heights along the axis of the pivot 10, so as to be mutually superimposable when they are turned about the pivot 10 toward each other.

With this structure, in practice the flipper 3 is able to pass from its extended condition to the folded condition and vice versa by way of a substantially fan-like closure movement or respectively an opening movement of the elongated elements 8.

As can be seen in the figures, the receptacle 7 of the flipper 3 is conveniently provided in the sole 4 and is provided with an access opening 11 which extends along at least a lateral region 4a of the sole 4. Advantageously, the rotation pivot 10 of the elongated elements 8 is arranged within the receptacle 7 in a forward region of the sole 4.

Moreover, on the sole 4 there is an abutment region 12, which acts as a stop element for limiting the possibility of rotation of the elongated elements 8 about the pivot 10 in the direction which produces the transition of the flipper 3 from its inactive position to its active position.

As shown in the example of Figures 9 to 11, between the elongated elements 8 it is possible to provide advantageously mutual locking means, which allow to keep such elements removably in a mutually divaricated position when the flipper 3 is moved into the extended condition and in a mutually superimposed position when the flipper 3 is moved to the folded condition.

In particular, the mutual locking means are constituted by one or more protrusions 11, which have preferably a rounded shape and are defined on each elongated element 8 at an annular region 12 which is arranged around the pivot 10. Such protrusions 11 are intended to engage selectively complementarily shaped seats 13, which are provided on the annular region 12 which faces them of a contiguous elongated element 8 and are mutually angularly spaced about the axis of the pivot 10 in order to define at least two positions of mutual locking between the elongated elements 8, respectively a mutually divaricated position and a mutually superimposed position. It

should be noted that in this case the elongated elements 8 are fitted on the pivot 10 so that they can perform a translational motion along the axis of the pivot 10, so that they can be mutually spaced in order to allow the disengagement of their complementarily shaped seats 13 from the protrusions 11 arranged on the adjacent elongated element 8 and thus achieve the possibility to turn freely the elongated elements 8 about the pivot 10. It is optionally also possible to provide an elastic element, not shown, which is connected between the sole 4 and the elongated elements 8 in order to keep elastically in mutual contact the annular regions 12 of the elongated elements 8.

It should be noted that the protrusions 11 of the elongated element 8 which is arranged at the upper end of the stack of elongated elements 8 can engage appropriately provided complementarily shaped seats 13 which are provided in the sole 4 in order to allow to lock the flipper 3 with respect to the sole 4 when it is moved into the active position.

According to a different constructive embodiment, shown in Figures 6 to 8, it is possible to lock individually the several elongated elements 8 to the pivot 10 in the position that they assume when the flipper 3 is in the extended condition and in the active position. In greater detail, in this case on the side wall of the pivot 10 engagement teeth 14 are provided, each located at the same height as a respective elongated element 8 and mutually angularly spaced with respect to the axis of the pivot 10, so that they can be engaged detachably by a recess 15, which is provided on the inner edge of the annular region 12 of the corresponding elongated element 8, when said element is moved into the position which allows to have the flipper 3 in the extended condition and active position.

With reference in particular to the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, it is also possible to provide elastic loading means which are adapted to contrast the passage of the flipper 3 from its active position to its inactive

position.

Moreover, such elastic loading means can advantageously act by pushing on one or more of the elongated elements 8 so that they can also contrast the transition of the flipper 3 from its extended condition to its folded condition.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the elastic loading means can be constituted conveniently by a coiled spring 16, which is arranged so as to act between the sole 4 and the elongated element 8 which is located at one end of the stack of elongated elements 8 and is designed to reach the greatest angular distance, about the axis of the pivot 10, from the access opening 11 of the receptacle 7 with respect to the other elongated elements 8.

It should be noted that in this solution it is possible conveniently to also provide locking elements which are structured for example in a manner which is similar to those described previously for other embodiments, which allow to keep locked, with respect to the body 2 of the shoe and more particularly with respect to the sole 4 of such shoe, at least the elongated element 8 which is designed to be arranged, with respect to the others, in the position, about the pivot 10, which is angularly closer to the access opening 11 of the receptacle 7, when the flipper 3 is moved into the extended condition and active position.

Advantageously, at the receptacle 7, there are also removable means for locking the flipper 3 in the inactive position, which are designed to prevent the accidental exit of the flipper 3 from the receptacle 7. In general, such removable locking means are constituted by a retention element 17, which is supported by the body 2 and can engage at least one of the elongated elements 8 when the flipper 3 is positioned in a folded condition within the receptacle 7.

According to a first exemplary embodiment, shown in particular in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the retention element 17 is provided by a slider 18 which

is fitted in a sliding seat 19 which is formed in the sole 4 and is provided with a locking tooth 20, which is retained so that it protrudes from the sliding seat 19 substantially at the access opening 11 of the receptacle 7 by a pusher spring 21, which acts between the slider 18 and the bottom of the sliding seat 19. A maneuvering portion 18a is conveniently formed on the slider 18 and can be accessed from the outside of the sole 4 through a slot 22, which is arranged in a rear and lateral region of the sole 4. Advantageously, the locking tooth 20 is provided, on its side directed toward the outside of the receptacle 7, with an inclined portion 20a, which blends with an abutment portion 20b which is directed toward the inside of the receptacle 7.

In another embodiment, shown in particular in Figures 6, 9 and 10, the retention element 17 is obtained by means of a protrusion 23 made of elastically deformable material which is provided on the sole 4, substantially at the access opening 11 of the receptacle 7, and is intended to engage engagement regions 24 which are formed at the free ends 8b of the elongated elements 8.

Advantageously, according to another constructive variation, shown in Figures 12 to 14, the flipper 3 can be associated with the body 2 of the shoe so that it can perform a translational motion, along a sliding direction 3b, between the inactive position and the active position and vice versa. In this constructive variation, the access opening 11 of the receptacle 7 is provided in a forward region of the sole 4 and at least one sliding pin 25 is conveniently associated with the flipper 3 and engages along a respective longitudinal guide 26, which is provided within the sole 4, on the inner walls of the receptacle 7 and extends substantially parallel to the sliding direction 3b.

Advantageously, the longitudinal guide 26 has, at its opposite ends, stroke limiting regions 27, which can be engaged respectively by the sliding pin 25 when the flipper 3 is moved to the active position and to the inactive

position, after moving beyond elastically yielding means, constituted by mutually opposite elastically deformable walls 28 which delimit, along the sliding guide 28, a respective narrower region 29 for contrasting the disengagement of the sliding pin 25 from the corresponding stroke limit region 27.

For the sake of completeness, it should also be added to the above that it is optionally possible to provide an auxiliary element, not shown in the figures, which can be coupled or connected to the body 2 of the shoe and is designed to close the access opening 11 of the receptacle 7 when the flipper 3 is moved to the active position, in order to avoid penetration of foreign objects, such as sand or others, within the receptacle 7.

The use of the shoe according to the invention is as follows. When the user wishes to use the shoe according to the invention in water, he moves the flipper 3 to the active position and to the extended condition.

To do this, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the user acts on the maneuvering portion 18a of the slider 18 so as to move back the locking tooth 20 within the sliding seat 19, until he achieves its disengagement from the elongated elements 8 of the flipper 3. At this point, the elongated element 8 connected to the coiled spring 16 can rotate freely automatically about the pivot 10 due to the action of said coiled spring 16, gradually pulling in its rotation also the other elongated elements 8 which are connected thereto by means of the membrane 9, until it stops against the abutment region 12, so as to achieve automatic positioning of the flipper 3 in the extended condition and in the active position.

In the case of the example of Figures 6 to 8, the user has to act manually on the elongated elements 8 in order to disengage them from the protrusion 23 and then make them rotate one by one about the pivot 10, until they engage, with their recess 15, the respective engagement tooth 14. In the case instead of the embodiment of Figures 9 to 11, the

elongated elements 8, which are mutually locked in a mutually superimposed position by the engagement of the corresponding protrusions 11 with the corresponding complementarily shaped seats 13, are manually disengaged from the protrusion 23 so as to extract the flipper 3 from the receptacle 7. At this point, the several elongated elements 8 are moved manually mutually apart by way of their rotation about the pivot 10, until they are mutually locked in a mutually divaricated position due to the engagement of the protrusions 11 in the corresponding complementarily shaped seats 13. In this manner, the flipper 3 is moved to the extended condition; thereafter, the user manually moves the flipper 3 to the active position, by making it rotate about the pivot 10, until the elongated element 8 arranged, at the upper end of the stack of elongated elements 8 is locked with respect to the sole 4 due to the engagement of its protrusions 11 with the complementarily shaped seats 13 formed in the sole 4. If the user wishes to use the shoe according to the invention for normal walking, he positions the flipper 3 within the receptacle 7, returning it to the folded condition.

In particular, with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the user, in order to arrange the flipper 3 in the inactive position, has to push the elongated element 8 which is connected to the coiled spring 16 in order to overcome the contrasting action of such coiled spring 16 and turn it about the pivot in the direction toward the receptacle 7. During this rotation, the flipper 3 is closed in the folded condition.

As the rotation continues, the flipper 3 is pushed against the inclined portion 20a of the locking tooth 20 toward the inside of the receptacle, so as to cause the automatic retraction of the locking tooth 20 into its sliding seat 19 and thus allowing the flipper 3 to enter the receptacle 7. Once the flipper 3 has entered the receptacle 7, the locking tooth 20 returns to the position in which it is extracted from the receptacle 7, firmly retaining in position the flipper 3 within the receptacle 7.

In the embodiment of Figures 6 to 8, the flipper 3 can be returned to the inactive position by initially disengaging each elongated element 8 from the respective engagement tooth 14 and by moving the elongated elements

8, by turning them about the pivot 10, into engagement with the protrusion 23 at the corresponding engagement region 24.

In the case of the example of Figures 9 to 11, the several elongated elements 8 are first positioned and mutually locked in the mutually superimposed position and then they are engaged with the protrusion 23.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves, in all of its embodiments, the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that it allows to have available a shoe which, if needed, can be used effectively as a flipper for sports activities in water or as a normal shoe for a walking. .

All the characteristics of the invention cited above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The individual characteristics presented with reference to general teachings or particular embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may replace characteristics in these embodiments.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements. All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.