[0001] The present invention relates to a sports shoe, particularly for use on board watercraft
and in particularly wet conditions.
[0002] Currently it has been noted that one considerable problem in the use of sports shoes
on board watercraft is that waves often break over the deck, and this is a particularly
common situation on sailboats in certain points of sailing with respect to the sea
and wind; this fact entails the flooding of the areas of the boat occupied by the
crew, with consequent penetration of the water inside the shoes.
[0003] Such water then remains inside the shoes, causing discomfort and inconveniencies
for the skin of the user.
[0004] In order to prevent the penetration of water in shoes, it is known to use boots which,
by way of the nature of the material used to manufacture them or by way of the additional
use of gaiters, help to keep the water outside the boot.
[0005] Besides the fact that water may still enter the boots, in this type of footwear there
is no outlet for the water, and this fact makes the above-mentioned problems even
more important.
[0006] Solutions are also known which allow drainage of water in shoes in which the upper
is perforated and therefore allows water to enter and exit the upper through suitable
through holes.
[0007] This solution, too, has drawbacks, since the shoe is light and therefore more suitable
for summer and spring conditions, therefore for recreational and competitive sailing
in non-extreme conditions; moreover, a film of water still remains inside the shoe.
[0008] A shoe by the US firm The Timberland Company, the model marketed under the trade
name "Break Away", is also known; this shoe includes an upper inside which there is
a perforated insole below which a sole is associated; through holes are formed in
the sole and are connected to the inside of the shoe, face the ground, and are suitable
to allow the outflow of any water that enters the shoe.
[0009] Although this known solution allows to solve partially the problems noted above,
it still has a residual problem, since the water tends to remain partially inside
it; moreover, although the holes are formed in the sole in a region that is slightly
raised with respect to the tread, due to the high compressibility of the material
of which the tread is made the holes may become blocked when the sole is in direct
contact with the ground or with the deck of the boat, and therefore the water can
still remain inside the shoe; therefore potential discomfort may still occur, and
such discomfort would be increased during long sailing periods, in which the crew
assumes a static sitting or standing position and the holes would remain blocked.
[0010] Moreover, due to the compression of the rubber-like materials of which the soles
are made, this solution potentially has an additional residual problem, which is constituted
by the potential tendency to aspirate water, as occurs in a membrane pump.
[0011] This additional residual problem is particularly relevant in situations in which
the water taken onboard forms a film, even only a few millimeters thick, on which
one is forced to walk until complete drainage occurs by means of suitable discharge
holes, known as scuppers, which are formed in watercraft above the waterline.
[0012] In these known solutions, however, there are other residual problems, such as the
possibility that blunt objects possibly present on the ground or deck may penetrate
through the sole, and most of all the loss of grip, which is a critical factor in
boating and therefore is a factor of insecurity for the user owing to the possible
formation of "water cushions" at the discharge holes of the shoe, which can potentially
trigger aquaplaning.
[0013] US-4,438,573 discloses a ventilated sports shoe that has an outsole, or tread, on
which a wedge-shaped heel is associated; a grid of longitudinal and transverse grooves
or seats is in turn formed on the upper surface of the heel, and these grooves or
seats affect the entire width of the heel and are therefore connected to the outside
of the heel.
[0014] A mid-sole is associated above the wedge-shaped heel and is provided with vertical
holes that allow the passage of air from the inside of the shoe, which in turn has
a vertically perforated partition and a shallow insole, which is again provided with
a longitudinal channel and with a plurality of vertical holes for the passage of air.
[0015] However, even this known solution cannot be used on board watercraft, since water
enters the transverse and longitudinal grooves or seats through the holes provided
laterally in the wedge-shaped heel and can therefore be pumped, like the air, into
the shoe; moreover, any water that enters the upper in any case stagnates inside the
grooves or seats formed transversely and longitudinally to the wedge-shaped heel when
the user remains seated or standing on the deck or hull of the watercraft.
[0016] A shoe is also known which is marketed by the US company Sperry and is designated
as the BILGE H2O model (viewed on the Website www.sperrytopsider.com/new.asp even
today), which is constituted by an upper that is closed downward and has thereat,
at the heel and upper metatarsal region, perforated regions that allow the outflow
of any water that enters it.
[0017] The upper is associated, in a lower region, at a sole, which has, in the regions
below said perforated regions formed in the upper, respectively two vertical holes
and three transverse channels.
[0018] The Applicant believes that the two vertical holes are connected to two scuppers
for the outflow of the water laterally with respect to the sole, while the transverse
channels affect the entire width of the sole and have an identical and constant depth,
like the two scuppers.
[0019] Even this solution has a residual problem, since the water that has entered through
the upper still remains partly at the vertical holes, at the scuppers and at the transverse
channels and therefore can, during walking, be sucked into the shoe due a pump effect.
[0020] Therefore, a film of water may still remain inside the upper, especially at the parts
where the perforated regions that act as a reservoir are not present.
[0021] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems noted in the cited prior
art, eliminating the drawbacks noted in known types, by providing a shoe, particularly
for use on board watercraft and in particularly wet conditions, that allows the water
that enters the upper also to exit rapidly from the shoe, so as to allow rapid drying
of the inside of the upper.
[0022] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a shoe for use on board
watercraft that allows the continuous outflow of the water that has entered through
the upper out of the shoe even when the user is sitting or standing.
[0023] Another object is to provide a shoe for use on board watercraft that allows to prevent
possible suction of water drained from the upper due to a pump effect while walking.
[0024] A further object is to provide a shoe for use on board watercraft that can ensure
good grip on the ground or deck of the boat even if it is flooded or in the presence
of a film of water.
[0025] A still further object is to provide a shoe for use on board watercraft that allows
the user to move in full safety even if blunt objects are accidentally present on
the ground.
[0026] A still further object is to provide a shoe for use on board watercraft that associates
with the preceding characteristics that of being structurally simple, lightweight,
not susceptible to increasing in weight in the presence of water, and of having low
manufacturing costs.
[0027] A still further object is to provide a shoe for use on board watercraft that associates
with the preceding characteristics that of having low manufacturing costs and of being
obtainable with conventional and known machines and equipment.
[0028] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter
are achieved by a sports shoe, particularly a boat shoe, which comprises an upper
that is perforated in one or more regions and is characterized in that it is associated
with a mid-sole, which is closed in a lower region and is provided in an upper region
with a plurality of first channels that lie on planes that are inclined toward the
lateral edge of the mid-sole in order to convey the liquids at at least one second
perimetric channel for collecting the liquids, which is connected to lateral drainage
openings.
[0029] Advantageously, the lateral drainage openings are arranged at suitable through holes
formed on the lateral edge of a sole that is associated with the mid-sole.
[0030] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent
from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment thereof, illustrated
by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a first side view of a shoe;
Figure 2 is a first side view of the mid-sole;
Figure 3 is a first side view of the sole;
Figure 4 is a second side view of the mid-sole;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the mid-sole;
Figure 6 is a second side view of the sole;
Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the sole;
Figures 8 and 9 are a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of the mid-sole;
Figures 10 and 11 are a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of the
sole;
Figure 12 is a sectional view of the invention, taken along the line XII-XII of Figure
5;
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the shoe in the assembled condition, taken along
the line XIII-XIII of Figure 5, in which the mid-sole and the sole have been uncoupled
for the sake of clarity;
Figure 14 is a sectional view of the shoe in the assembled condition, taken along
the line XIV-XIV of Figure 5, in which the mid-sole and the sole have been uncoupled
for the sake of clarity, arranging them side by side.
[0031] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a sports shoe used
in particular on a boat, which comprises an upper 2 in which one or more perforated
regions, designated by the reference numeral 3, are formed.
[0032] The upper 2 can be constituted, particularly in the perforated regions 3, by a perforated
or mesh-like material, or it is possible to use highly breathable materials such as
meshes and/or perforated membranes.
[0033] The upper 2 is provided, preferably but not exclusively, by using an inner sock 4
that is perforated and is sewn perimetrically and externally to a mid-sole 5.
[0034] Said mid-sole is closed in a lower region and has a first lower surface 6 that has
no openings and is advantageously smooth.
[0035] The mid-sole 5 is provided in an upper region with a plurality of first channels
7, which are arranged both longitudinally and transversely to the mid-sole and whose
particularity is that they are arranged on planes that are inclined transversely toward
a lateral edge 8 and longitudinally, preferably toward a toe region 9 of said mid-sole.
[0036] The first channels 7 can have, in the transverse arrangement as shown in Figure 12,
mutually opposite inclinations from their central region toward the right and left
sides of the lateral edge 8, with a same angle or with different angles, as shown
in Figure 14.
[0037] As an alternative, as shown instead in Figure 13, the inclination can be chosen to
have a single orientation and therefore be directed toward a chosen side of the lateral
edge 8.
[0038] Since the toe region 9 is usually slightly raised with respect to the ground, the
inclination of the first channels 7 in said region can also be modified.
[0039] The first channels 7 force the conveyance by gravity of the liquids that arrive from
the upper through the inner sock 4 and the perforated regions 3 at at least one second
perimetric channel 10 for collecting the liquids; said second channel is therefore
formed adjacent to the lateral edge 8 and affects the entire inner region that is
adjacent to the perimeter of said mid-sole.
[0040] The second channel 10 therefore acts as a drainage duct for the liquids conveyed
by the first channels 7.
[0041] Advantageously, the second perimetric channel 9 also has a surface that is inclined
toward the lateral edge 8 in order to facilitate the outflow of liquids.
[0042] The presence of the first channels 7 and of the second perimetric channel 10 produces,
at the second internal surface 11 of the mid-sole 5, a plurality of raised portions
12, which have a chosen plan shape.
[0043] The second perimetric channel 10 is further connected to suitable lateral openings
13 formed at the lateral edge 8 of the mid-sole 5, said lateral openings preferably
having a drainage plane that is inclined toward the first lower surface 6 of said
mid-sole.
[0044] Said lateral openings may have the intended shape, for example slotted and arranged
on an axis that is approximately longitudinal to the lateral edge 8, and can be provided
in a chosen number and arranged in one or more points of the lateral edge 8.
[0045] The particular illustrated embodiment shows two lateral openings 13 provided on the
inner side of the foot in regions that are adjacent to the toe region 9 and the heel
region 14, while at the outer side of the foot there are two openings approximately
at the heel region 14 and there is another lateral opening proximate to the forefoot.
[0046] The position of the lateral openings 13 with respect to the first lower surface 6
of the mid-sole 5 may of course vary according to the chosen inclination given in
the respective regions to the second perimetric channel 10.
[0047] If the upper 2 wraps around the mid-sole 5 so as to also affect the first lower surface
6 thereof, at each lateral opening 13 there are, in said upper, suitable openings
15 that allow the outward passage of liquids.
[0048] The combination of upper and mid-sole is therefore associable with a suitable sole
16 by way of a mutual nondetachable connection.
[0049] The sole 16 wraps around the mid-sole 5 and contains it and has a third upper surface
17 that is shaped approximately complementarily to the first lower surface 6 of the
mid-sole 5; a perimetric ridge 18 protrudes from the third upper surface 17 and partially
wraps around the upper.
[0050] The sole 16 has a fourth lower surface 19, on which a chosen tread is provided in
order to improve friction with the ground.
[0051] In the particular embodiment shown, the fourth lower surface 19 has a groove 20 that
is approximately cross-shaped and allows to avoid aquaplaning.
[0052] Advantageously, the groove 20 is slightly arc-shaped both longitudinally and transversely.
[0053] One or more through holes 21 are provided on the perimetric ridge 18 of the sole
16, at the lateral openings 13 of the mid-sole 5 and optionally at the openings 15
of the upper 2, if provided.
[0054] The holes 21 have an axis that is advantageously inclined toward the ground in order
to further facilitate the evacuation of the liquids that have entered the upper and
are in any case spaced from the fourth lower surface 19.
[0055] Advantageously, the one or more holes 21 are provided at suitable recesses 22 formed
in the lateral edge 18.
[0056] The particular embodiment shown illustrates two holes 21 formed on the inner side
of the foot in a region that is adjacent to the heel region 14 and a single hole in
the toe region 9; at the outer side of the foot there are instead four holes approximately
at the heel region 14 and there is a single hole proximate to the toe region 9.
[0057] It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects,
a shoe particularly for use on board watercraft and in particularly wet conditions
having been provided which allows the water that enters the upper also to exit rapidly
from the shoe, so as to allow rapid drying of the inside of the upper, the outflow,
out of the shoe, of the water that has entered from the upper occurring continuously
even when the user is sitting or standing motionless.
[0058] The invention allows continuous outflow also by way of the inclined arrangement of
the first channels 7, which allow to collect the water at the second perimetric channel
9, which is in turn connected to inclined lateral drainage openings 13.
[0059] The openings 15, if provided, allow the fluids to pass, again by gravity, at the
holes 21, thus being discharged outside the shoe.
[0060] This configuration allows to prevent any suction of water drained from the upper
due to a pump effect while walking, and is adapted to ensure good adhesion to the
ground or boat deck even if it is flooded or in the presence of a film of water.
[0061] The invention therefore allows to have a shoe that drains water in an optimum manner,
allows optimum fit, protects against blunt bodies that are present on the ground,
and allows to hold an excellent balance, since the sole 16 is shaped so as to prevent
slipping.
[0062] The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations,
all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
[0063] The materials employed, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual
components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific
requirements.
[0064] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2002A000052 from which this application
claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
[0065] 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.
1. A sports shoe, particularly a boat shoe, comprising an upper that is perforated in
one or more regions and characterized in that it is associated with a mid-sole, which is closed in a lower region and is provided
in an upper region with a plurality of first channels that lie on planes that are
inclined toward the lateral edge of said mid-sole in order to convey the liquids at
at least one second perimetric channel for collecting said liquids, which is connected
to lateral drainage openings.
2. A sports shoe, particularly a boat shoe, comprising an upper that is perforated in
one or more regions and characterized in that it is associated with a mid-sole, which is closed in a lower region and is provided
in an upper region with a plurality of first channels that lie on planes that are
inclined toward the lateral edge of said mid-sole in order to convey the liquids at
at least one second perimetric channel for collecting said liquids, which is connected
to lateral drainage openings arranged at through holes formed on the lateral edge
of a sole that is associated with said mid-sole.
3. The sports shoe according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said lateral drainage openings are inclined toward the ground.
4. The sports shoe according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said suitable through holes formed in said lateral edge of said sole associated with
said mid-sole are inclined toward the ground.
5. The sports shoe according to claims 1 or 2, comprising an upper that has one or more
perforated regions and is provided by using a perforated inner sock that is sewn perimetrically
and externally to a mid-sole, characterized in that said mid-sole is closed in a lower region and has a first lower surface that has
no openings and is smooth, said mid-sole being provided with a plurality of first
channels in an upper region.
6. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 5, characterized in that said first channels are arranged both longitudinally and transversely to said mid-sole.
7. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 6, characterized in that said first channels lie on planes that are inclined transversely toward the lateral
edge of said mid-sole.
8. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 6, characterized in that said first channels lie on planes that are inclined longitudinally to said mid-sole,
preferably toward the toe region of said mid-sole.
9. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 5, characterized in that said first channels have mutually opposite transverse inclinations directed from
their central region toward the right and left sides of the lateral edge of said mid-sole
with a same angle.
10. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 5, characterized in that said first channels have opposite transverse inclinations directed from their central
region toward the right and left sides of the lateral edge of said mid-sole with different
angles of inclination.
11. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 5, characterized in that said first channels have the same orientation of their transverse inclination, which
is therefore directed toward a chosen side of the lateral edge of said mid-sole.
12. The shoe according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first channels force the conveyance, at least by gravity, of the liquids that
arrive from said upper through said inner sock and said perforated regions, at at
least one second perimetric channel, for collecting said liquids.
13. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 12, characterized in that said second channel is formed adjacent to said lateral edge and affects the entire
internal region adjacent to the perimeter of said mid-sole.
14. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 12, characterized in that said second channel acts as a drainage duct for the liquids conveyed by said first
channels.
15. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 12, characterized in that said second perimetric channel has a surface that is inclined toward said lateral
edge in order to facilitate the outflow of the liquids.
16. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2, 5 and 12, characterized in that said first channels and said second perimetric channel form a plurality of raised
portions at the second inner surface of said mid-sole.
17. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 12, characterized in that said second perimetric channel is connected to lateral openings provided at said
lateral edge of said mid-sole.
18. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that said lateral openings have a drainage plane that is inclined toward said first lower
surface of said mid-sole.
19. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that said lateral openings have a slotted shape and are arranged along an axis that is
approximately longitudinal to said lateral edge.
20. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that said lateral openings are arranged in one or more points of said lateral edge.
21. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that said lateral openings are two and are formed on the inner side of the foot in regions
that are adjacent to the toe and heel regions.
22. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that said lateral openings are two and are formed on the outer side of the foot approximately
at the heel region, and in that an additional lateral opening is formed proximate to the forefoot region.
23. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that on said upper, at each one of said lateral openings provided in said mid-sole, there
are openings that allow the passage of the liquids.
24. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 17, characterized in that said upper and said mid-sole are associable with a suitable underlying sole.
25. The shoe according to claims 1 or 2 and 24, characterized in that said sole surrounds and contains said mid-sole and has a third upper surface that
is shaped approximately complementarily to said first lower surface of said mid-sole,
a perimetric ridge protruding from said third upper surface and partially wrapping
around said upper.
26. The shoe according to claim 25, characterized in that said sole has a fourth lower surface on which a chosen tread is formed in order to
improve friction with the ground.
27. The shoe according to claim 25, characterized in that said sole has a fourth lower surface on which there is an approximately cross-shaped
groove, which is slightly arc-shaped both longitudinally and transversely.
28. The shoe according to claim 25, characterized in that on said perimetric ridge of said sole there are one or more through holes at said
lateral openings of said mid-sole and optionally at said openings of said upper, if
provided.
29. The shoe according to claim 28, characterized in that said holes have an axis that is inclined toward the ground.
30. The shoe according to claim 28, characterized in that said holes are spaced from said fourth lower surface.
31. The shoe according to claim 28, characterized in that said one or more holes are formed at recesses provided on said lateral edge.
32. The shoe according to claim 28, characterized in that on the inner side of the foot there are two holes in a region that is adjacent to
the heel region, another hole being formed in the toe region.
33. The shoe according to claim 28, characterized in that on the outer side of the foot there are four holes in a region that is adjacent to
the heel region, another hole being formed proximate to the toe region.