The invention relates to a shoe, especially to a sports shoe, comprising a shoe upper, wherein the shoe upper consists at least partially of a knitted fabric, wherein the shoe upper has a plurality of loops for threading a lace to allow the tying of the shoe at the foot of a wearer by means of the lace.

Usual lacing devices of shoes, especially of sports shoes, have loops which are arranged at a tying strip which is connected with the shoe upper or is part of the same. The loops are arranged near the tongue of the shoe.

Thus, the ability of the shoe to adapt the lacing or tying to an individual shape of the foot of the wearer is limited. Individual demands can normally not be fulfilled. This can lead to a lose fit of the shoe or to pressure marks at the foot of the wearer.

It is an o b j e c t of the present invention to propose a shoe, especially a sports shoe, which provides an easy and efficient possibility to adjust the lacing or tying of the shoe at the foot of the wearer very individually. The s o l u t i o n of this object according to the invention is characterized in that at least a part of the loops consist of a knitted fabric, wherein the loops have the shape of a tubular body which forms a passage for the lace. The knitted fabric of the shoe upper and the knitted fabric of the loops form preferably a unitary knit construction.

At least a part of the loops can have an outer diameter and an inner diameter to form the tubular body for receiving the lace, wherein the tubular body has a length, wherein the length is at least 100 % of the outer diameter. Preferably, the length is at least 150 %, specifically at least 200 %, of the outer diameter. Each loop consists of a plurality of knitted rows of yarn.

The tubular body of the loops can have an axial direction, wherein the axial direction is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the shoe or draws an angle to the longitudinal direction below 30°, preferably below 25 °. But this orientation of the loops is not mandatory. It is also possible to orient the loops under another angle up to 90° to the longitudinal direction (i. e. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction).

Preferably a number of loops is arranged in such a manner that the loops have the same axial direction.

The loops are preferably distanced from another by a distance, measured perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein the distance is between 2 mm and 25 mm.

The loops can be connected with the knitted fabric of the shoe upper only by the knitted construction and are free from any means for transferring a tying force (like for example tensile strands which are arranged on or in the shoe upper).

The knitted fabric of the shoe upper can form a single layer which bears the loops.

An alternative embodiment provides that the knitted fabric of the shoe upper has at least two layers, wherein the upper layer bears the loops. In this case it can be provided that the layer below the upper layer is connected with the upper layer but has no contact with the loops.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the yarn of the shoe upper can consist of or comprise polyester or polyamide. Also, the yarn of the loops can consist of or comprise polyester or polyamide. Of course, also other kinds of yarn are suitable.

The yarns of the shoe upper and of the loops can be different in at least one (physical) property. Specifically, the yarns of the shoe upper and of the loops can have different colors. Of course, it is also possible to use the same yarn for the shoe upper and the loops.

By the proposed concept it is possible to provide a plurality of loops for threading of the lace which can be selected according to individual demands. The loops for the lace are distributed along a quite large area of the shoe upper so that the user can select the required loops according to his or her individual demands. So the lacing or tying of the shoe can be adapted perfectly not only to the shape of the foot of the wearer; it is also possible to take specific demands in consideration which depend on the type of sports and specific training situations. It is also possible for specific types of sport or training situations to tie the shoe at the foot of the wearer to fix the shoe specifically for lateral or forward movements or to give more hold in the heel region.

„ Also with respect to this aspect the proposed shoe has advantages compared with pre-known solutions.

Thus, a knitted section of the shoe upper - which is relevant for tying the shoe at the foot of the wearer - is supplied at the outer surface with a plurality of loops or channels (tunnels) which are designed and dimensioned for defining a passage for a lace. The loops are made in such a manner that they are firmly connected with the knitted fabric to avoid pulling out the loops from the knitted fabric below.

A double layer knitted fabric (Double Jersey) is preferred, wherein the loops step out from the upper layer. The bottom layer is flat and ensures the stability of the whole fabric. Also a knitted fabric as a single layer (Single Jersey) is possible which then bears the plurality of loops (tubes, channels or tunnels).

The shoe upper can consist completely of the knitted fabric.

The knitted tubular body which forms the loops can be produced with well- known methods so that a specific description is not necessary here. Reference is made to the so-called Ottoman Stitch which allows the knitting of the loops on a respective knitting machine.

It was found that the knitted base material (made preferably from polyester or polyamide) as well as the number of filaments in the knitting yarn define the tensile strength. Also the length of the loops (channels, tubes) has a respective influence with respect to the stability. Accordingly, it can be taken in consideration to enlarge the length of the loops in the case of types of sports where specific high forces must be expected.

With regard to the knitting technique it should be mentioned that a preferred method is knitting the shoe upper from the right to the left side (i. e. from the lateral side to the medial side of the shoe upper (or vise versa); normally, the shoe upper is knitted from the shoe tip to the heel (or vice versa).

In the drawings embodiments of the invention are shown.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a sports shoe,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of the upper side of a shoe upper according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows the depiction according to Fig. 2 with a lace being threaded through a loop,

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a part of the upper side of a shoe upper according to a second embodiment of the invention and

Fig. 5 shows the depiction according to Fig. 4 with a lace being threaded through a loop.

In figure 1 a shoe 1 is shown which is a sports shoe. The shoe 1 has a shoe upper 2 and a sole 7 which is connected with the shoe upper 2. In the present case the shoe upper 2 consists completely from a knitted fabric. A specific design is provided to allow an individual tying of the shoe at the foot of a wearer.

As can be seen from figure 1 a plurality of loops 3 are arranged at the outer surface of the shoe upper 2. The loops 3 consist as well from a knitted fabric and form a unitary knitted construction together with the base layer of the shoe upper 2.

Each loop 3 is designed as a tubular body which could also be defined as channel or tunnel and is arranged for threading a lace 4. Thus, each loop 3 forms a passage 8 for the lace 4 (see figures 2 and 4).

As can be also seen from figure 1 the plurality of loops 3 is distributed at the outer side of the shoe upper 2 according to a specific pattern: A number of loops 3 is arranged in line along their axial direction a. A number of such sets of loops 3 are arranged with a certain distance perpendicular to the mentioned axial direction a (details see figure 2 and 3).

That is, a plurality of possibilities is given for threading the lace 4 through respective loops 3 so that the shoe 1 can be tied according to individual demands at the foot of the wearer.

Details concerning the geometry of the loops 3 become apparent from figures 2 and 3. Here, it can be seen that each loop 3 forms a hollow-cylindrical body, i. e. the loop 3 has a tubular shape. Each loop 3 has an outer diameter D and an inner diameter d as well as a length c, which extends in axial direction a of the loop 3. Figure 2 illustrates the top surface of the shoe upper 2 without lace 4, while the lace 4 is threaded through a loop 3 in figure 3.

From figure 2 it becomes apparent that a number of loops 3 can be arranged coaxially, i. e. the axial direction a of a number of loops 3 is identical. A number of those rows of loops 3 is arranged side by side, i. e. parallel to another at a distance b measured perpendicular to the axial direction a.

The axial direction a of the loops 3 is substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction L of the shoe 1 (see figure 1). That is, the axial direction a draws only a small angle a to the longitudinal direction L which is below 30°, preferably below 25°. This allows an optimal threading of the lace 4 and a good transfer of forces from the loop 3 to the shoe upper 2. In the embodiment according to figure 2 and 3 the shoe upper 2 has only a single layer of knitted fabric (Single Jersey). In figures 4 and 5 an embodiment is depicted in which the shoe upper 2 consists of two layers 5 and 6, namely of an upper layer 5 of the shoe upper 2 and a bottom layer 6 of the shoe upper 2 (Double Jersey). The loops 3 are formed as a unitary knitted construction with the upper layer 5 while the bottom layer 6 is connected with the upper layer 5 but not with the loops 3.

The depiction according figure 1 shows an embodiment which is substantially on scale with regard to the dimensions of the loops 3.

The whole knitting construction of the shoe upper 2 including the loops 3 can be produced on a knitting machine which is well known as such and allows an economical production of the shoe upper 2. Reference Numerals:

1 Shoe

2 Shoe upper

3 Loop

4 Lace

5 Upper layer of the shoe upper

6 Bottom layer of the shoe upper

7 Sole

8 Passage

D Outer diameter of the loop

d Inner diameter of the loop

c Length of the loop

a Axial direction of the loop

b Distance between the loops

L Longitudinal direction of the shoe a Angle