Parts for footwear that allow for the easy lacing and unlacing of the lace on the neck of the shoe.

SPECIFICATION

The present invention relates to a Plastic Part for footwear that provides an easy, safe and quick system for opening and closing the lace in order to remove or wear the shoe from the foot. The present invention provides the ability to customize and memorize the desired closing tension of the lace, eliminating the need to collect the unused terminals in the classic knot or in the other methods known today. The system includes a shoe (2), the lace (3), and a plastic part (1) to be fixed first to the terminals of the lace (3/1) and then in the end holes of the upper (4) in a removable manner.

It is a plastic part for footwear, with two front ends (1/A) intended for the reversible lacing in the holes (4) of the upper, made from a non-deformable, rigid material having a "L" cuneiform shape, with the main purpose of facilitating the entry and the lock in the holes (4) formed on the end neck of the upper on both sides. However, the shape of two front parts of the plastic part (1/A) can also be substituted with any another shape for a similar technical function. The upper has two holes (4) intended to be the established anchorage points of the two front parts of the plastic part (1/A), and e.g. the said two holes (4) can be also different in shape or number. In absence of the holes on the upper (4), metal or plastic accessories can be applied, externally to the upper and in correspondence of the same holes (4), that allow to eliminate the need for perforating the upper. It is a Plastic Part, or another structural material suitable for the end purpose, whose operation basis consists in the fact that the lace instead of sliding inside all the holes made on the upper, as in the traditional lacing systems, it utilizes only a part of the holes, i.e. it leaves free two end holes (4) on the neck of the shoe, while allowing thus the utilization of the present removable plastic part for the fact that the terminals of the lace will not be longer locked in the holes (4] of the upper, but they will be easily removable as forming a single body with the plastic part for footwear.

The plastic part reversibly anchored to the application surface can be therefore replaced with an equal one or with another one, different in outer shape, color, size or material, and can also be eliminated easily, in case of deciding to back to utilizing the traditional lacing method while the shoe does not undergo modifications in term of technical functionality.

Since the top of the plastic part is removable and replaceable, the drawbacks that arise when a plastic part breaks or becomes worn by time are eliminable, and the user can also easily change the appearance of the article on which it is mounted.

The plastic part in accordance with the present invention can be realized with a variety of different materials, and especially with those commonly employed in the field, and it is suitable for the application on leathers, coated leather, natural and synthetic textile plastic materials. Further advantages for the footwear manufacturers derive from the possibility of not revolutionize the construction of the footwear to try to associate the present invention. The closing movement of the plastic part, called the lock, and the opening movement of the plastic part, called the unlock, are done manually. The operation of closing and opening of the lace on the neck of the shoe is carried out by means of two different opposing movements. The first case of closing is created by exerting manually a tension on the plastic parts (1/1,1/2), both of which are anchored to the terminals of the lace (3/1), crossing the lace (3), and inserting the two front ends of the plastic part (1/A) inside the two holes (4) on the upper, exerting a movement by a rotating pin located on the two front ends of the plastic part (1/A) within the holes (4) of the upper, that in succession lead the both sides to make a rotation in closing from 60 to 180 degrees in the direction of the rear surface of the outer upper (2/1,2/2,2/3), so as to ensure the closing thereof by inserting the pins of the terminal (1/F) in the holes (1/G).

The second case of opening is created by exerting manually a pressure on the terminal (1/F), which allows the two pins to get out from the seats of the holes (1/G) and the plastic parts (1/1,1/2) to be detached from the surface of the outer rear upper (2/1,2/2,2/3) by means of a movement by a rotating pin located inside the two holes (4) of the upper and on the two front ends of the plastic part (1/A), that in succession lead both the detached sides (1/1,1/2) to make a rotation in opening from 60 to 180 degrees in the direction of the front neck of the shoe.

The present invention relates to two Parts for footwear (1/ 1,1/2), that provide an easy, safe and quick system for opening and closing the lace (3) and its two terminals (3/1), in order to remove or wear the shoe from the foot. The present invention provides the ability to customize and memorize the desired closing tension of the lace (3) on the neck of the shoe (2), eliminating the need to collect the unused terminals (3/1) in the classic knot or in other methods known today. The system includes a shoe (2), the lace (3), and two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) intended to be fixed first to the terminals of the lace (3/1), and then to the end holes of the upper (4) in a removable " manner. These are two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), with two front ends (1/A) intended for the reversible lacing in the holes (4) of the upper, made from a non- deformable, rigid material having a "L" uneiform shape, with the main purpose of facilitating the entry and the lock in the holes (4) formed on the neck of the upper on both sides. However, the shape of the front part (1/A) of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) can also be substituted with any other shape for a similar technical function. The upper has two holes (4), intended to be the established points of anchorage of the two front parts (1/A) of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), and e.g. the said two holes (4) can be also different in shape and number, and can be also substituted or added to other present holes on the shoe (2), which have the function of sliding of the lace (3) for the lacing of the shoe (2). In absence of the holes (4) on the upper of the shoe (2), metal or plastic accessories can be applied, externally to the upper and in

correspondence of the same holes (4), that allow to eliminate the need for perforating the upper. These are two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) made from plastic, metallic or another structural material suitable for the end purpose, whose operation basis consists in the fact that the lace (3) instead of sliding inside and through all the holes made on the upper, as in the traditional lacing systems, it utilizes only a part of the holes, i.e. it leaves free the two holes (4) on the neck of the shoe (2), while allowing thus the utilization of the present removable plastic parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) for the fact that the terminals of the lace (3/1) will not be longer locked in the holes (4) of the upper, but they will be easily removable from the shoe (2) as forming a single body with the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2). The parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) reversibly anchored to the holes (4) of the shoe (2) can be therefore replaced with an equal one or with another one, different in outward shape, color, size or material, and can also be eliminated easily, in case of deciding to back to utilizing the traditional lacing method while the shoe does not undergo modifications in term of technical functionality. Since the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) are removable and replaceable, the drawbacks that arise when a part for footwear breaks or becomes worn by time are eliminable, and the user can also easily change the appearance of the article on which it is mounted. The parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) in accordance with the present invention can be realized with a variety of different materials, and especially with those commonly employed in the field, and are suitable for the application on leathers, coated leather, natural and synthetic textile plastic materials. Further advantages for the footwear manufacturers derive from the possibility of not revolutionize the construction of the footwear to try to associate the present invention. The movements of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), which allow the closing and the opening of the lacing on the neck of the shoe (2), are both performed manually and by means of two equal and mutually opposite rotating movements. The first case of closing is created starting to cross the terminals (3/1) of the lace (3) centrally on the neck of the shoe (2), and exerting manually a tension on the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), which are both linked to the lace (3) and to its terminals (3/1), in the side/outer direction, opposing between them, compared to the neck of the shoe (2), until the two front ends (1/A) of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) are both anchored in the two holes (4), so as to subsequently undergo to a manual force that gives rise to a rotating movement that has its two rotation axes located inside the two holes (4) made on the Upper. The rotating movement of the two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) is performed in contact with the surface of the Upper in clockwise or anticlockwise direction, and the rotation degrees are variable as required by the closing or opening needs of the lacing. The lock of the lacing of the two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) is carried out by inserting the terminals (IF), up to an limit stop imposed by the terminal (1/E), inside the slot of the perimetric edge (2/1) that joins the Upper and the Tab on the neck of the shoe (2). The second case of opening is created by exerting manually the same rotating movement, but in opposing direction oh the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), by performing a manual pressure on the terminal (1/E) that allows the sliding of the terminal (1/F) and the exit of it from the slot of the perimetric edge (2/1) that joins the Upper and the Tab on the neck of the shoe (2).

The features of the invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art thanks to the following description and with the help of the attached drawings, provided by way of example but not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which: Figs. A, B represent some normal and sectional views, placed at different angles with each other, of the plastic part for footwear (1) provided with its components, wherein are emphasized the two front parts of the plastic part (1/A) linked to two cross members (l/I) and to the sliding and fixing holes of the terminals of the lace (1/B, 1/C, 1/D, 1/E), the rivets (1/L) which Fix and join the two cross members l/I with two straps in flexible material 1/H, the holes 1/G made on the strap 1/H, and the terminal 1/F also applied on another strap 1/H, having the function of obtaining the joining or the opening of the plastic part (1).

Figs. C, D represent some views, placed at different angles with each other, of the footwear (2) provided with the plastic part (1) applied to the lace (3), and anteriorly and posteriorly locked by means of the insertion of the terminals (1 /A) in the holes (4) applied on the upper and the terminal (1/F) closed on the holes (1/G).

Fig. E represents a rear view of the footwear (2), provided with the separate plastic part (1/1,1/2) applied to the two terminals of the lace (3/1) and anteriorly locked by means of the insertion of the terminals 1/A in the holes (4) applied to the upper. Fig. F represents a side view of the footwear (2), provided with the separate plastic parts [1/1,1/2) applied to the two terminals of the lace [3/1) during the insertion phase in the holes [4) of the upper for the lock or the unlock of the lacing.

Fig. G represents a front and side view of the footwear [2), provided with the separate plastic parts [1/1,1/2), emphasizing the beginning of the operation of closing of the lacing on the neck of the shoe by crossing the lace [3), in order to bring then the two terminals [4) in the two holes [1/A) adjacent to them.

Fig. H represents a front and side view of the footwear [2), provided with the plastic part [1) applied to the lace [3), which emphasizes the occurred unlock of the lacing on the neck of the shoe, after the extraction of the terminals 1/A from the holes [4) applied on the upper.

Fig. I represents a front view of four parts for footwear [1/1,1/2). On the first two parts, its shape and composition is emphasized [1/A = Front end intended to be anchored manually and reversibly in the holes [4) from the upper of the shoe (2) having a "L" cuneiform shape) - [1/B = First hole having a sliding and locking function of the terminal of the lace [3/1) - (1/C = Second hole having a sliding and locking function of the terminal of the lace (3/1) - [1/D = Third hole having a sliding and locking function of the terminal of the lace (3/1) - (1/E = Folding of the Parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), forming an "U" curvature having a locking function on the shoe (2) - (1/F = Final end intended to the anchoring function on the shoe (2). On the second parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), the application of the lace (3) and of its two terminals (3/1) is emphasized, wherein there is indicated clearly that the terminals of the lace (3/1) are first inserted superiorly on the holes (1/B), in order to then slide and to be inserted again posteriorly on the holes (1/C), and then to slide further and to be locked automatically, once having been inserted again on the holes (1/D) superiorly from the surface.

Fig. L represents a front view of the footwear (2), provided with two parts (1/1,1/2) to which the two terminals (3/1) of the lace (3) are applied. The figure shows the beginning of the locking phase of the lacing of the lace on the neck of the shoe (2). The locking phase begins by tightening manually the two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) on the neck of the shoe (2), and then the two terminals (3/1) of the lace (3), towards the two side/outer, mutually opposed directions, and by inserting the two terminals (1A) of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) inside the holes (4) applied on the upper of the shoe (2).

Fig. M represents a front view of the footwear (2), provided with the parts (1/1,1/2) to which the terminals (3/1) of the lace (3) are applied. The terminals (1/A) of the parts (1/1,1/2) once inserted in the two holes (4) applied on the upper of the shoe (2), undergo a manual rotation having the respective two rotation axes located inside the two holes (4) of the shoe (2). The figure shows the beginning of the manual rotation phase of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2), that brings both of them towards the central direction of the neck of the shoe (2).

Fig. N represents a front view of the footwear (2), provided with the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) to which the terminals (3/1) of the lace (3) are applied. The figure shows the application of two terminals (IF) of the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) ready to be inserted inside the slot located on the perimetric edge (2/1) of the shoe (2). Fig. 0 represents a front view of the footwear (2), provided with the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) to which the terminals (3/1) of the lace (3) are applied. The figure shows the lock of the lacing and of the two parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) due of the conformation of the terminal (1/E) that creates a sliding limit stop on the edge of the perimetric slot (2 /I) of the shoe (2).

Fig. P represents a front view of the footwear (2), provided with the parts for footwear (1/1,1/2) to which the terminals (3/1) of the lace (3) are applied. The figure shows the occurred lock of the lacing.

In practice, the details of execution may vary, however, in equivalent way for what concerns the individual members described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and thus remaining within the limits of the protection granted by this patent.