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(11) | EP 4 533 974 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | INSERTABLE EXTERNAL TONGUE FOR SPORTS FOOTWEAR AND SPORTS FOOTWEAR |
| (57) Disclosed is an insertable external tongue for sports footwear, intended to be incorporated
into a sports boot or other type of sports footwear (2) as a separate and easily removable
element, the tongue comprising a piece of strong material of variable thickness, hardness,
size and flexibility and having an ergonomic design including a concave curved channel
(1a) with a bend (1b) at the bottom, such that the tongue fits to the shape of the
internal upper front part of the footwear (2) and to the upper front part of the sports
persons foot, covering the instep and part of the leg. Preferably, the tongue is made
of a semirigid material such as plastic or carbon fibre. Preferably, the tongue comprises
a covering of soft material such as silicone or foam rubber. Preferably, the tongue
comprises means for fastening to the user's leg. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention, as stated in the title of the present specification, relates to an insertable external tongue for sports footwear that contributes advantages and features to the function intended, which are described in detail further on.
[0002] The object of the present invention relates to a tongue that is an accessory element intended to be incorporated into sports footwear, particularly sports boots, but also trainers or other types of sports footwear, as an external piece, in other words, separate from the footwear. Said tongue is designed to be inserted in an easily removable manner between the footwear and the user's foot or, in the case of an inner liner, normally in the case of sports boots, between said liner and the outer shell, such as ski or snowboard boots, but without ruling out other similar types of sports boots, but without ruling out other similar types of sports boots. In any case, the tongue thereof is made of a semirigid, strong material, which deforms under pressure exerted by the user but returns to its original position when pressure ceases, and having a design so as to provide, among other advantages, protection to the sports person's joints and reinforcement for the boots or sports footwear in question.
FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of sports accessories, specifically covering the field of accessories for sports footwear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] As is well known, there are many sports that require the use of specific footwear to practise them correctly. A clear example of this is skiing or snowboarding, where the sports person wears special boots to be able to practise said sports safely, and for which reason said boots are essentially composed of an outer shell, which can be more or less hard to withstand friction and provide grip, and an inner liner made of fabric, which is the part that is in contact with the sports person's foot.
[0006] The problem is that, although nowadays sports boots for these and similar sports are usually designed to adequately withstand the demands of the activity for which they are intended, due to the considerable effort required by the type of sport for which they are intended, specifically in the forefoot area due to the traction force of both skis and snowboards, both the front part of the boots and the sports person's joints are particularly affected by continuous overexertion that would be desirable to mitigate.
[0007] Furthermore, there are many other sports that require the use of sports footwear that, despite not being boots, also suffer from the effort to be made, for example boots without a shaft or trainers.
[0008] The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide an accessory element in the form of a removable tongue on the market to avoid said problem by placing it between the footwear and the user's foot or, as the case may be, between the outer shell and the inner liner of the boots.
[0009] Moreover, and as a reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that at least the applicant is unaware of the existence of any other insertable external tongue for sports footwear that has the same or similar technical and constitutive features to those claimed herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The insertable external tongue for sports footwear proposed by the invention is configured as the ideal solution to the aforementioned objective, the characterising details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description.
[0011] Specifically, and as stated above, the invention proposes an accessory element comprising a tongue intended to be incorporated as a separate piece in sports boots, particularly ski boots, snowboard boots or boots for similar sports, said boots being made up of an outer shell and an inner liner. Nevertheless, it is also for any other type of sports footwear with or without an inner liner, which advantageously comprises a piece of strong material designed with an ergonomic design suitable for being inserted in a removable manner between the foot and the footwear or, as the case may be, between the shell and the inner liner, fitting to the shape of the upper front part of the boot or footwear and the user's foot, covering the instep and the lower part of the leg, so as to provide protection to the sports person's joints and reinforcement for the boots or sports footwear in question.
[0012] In fact, the insertable external tongue of the invention is a means for strengthening, reinforcing and reactivating sports footwear, in particular sports boots, by protecting joints, where its main advantages and effects are the following:
- It eliminates pressure points and empty spaces inside the boot caused by grip systems, and said tongue is evenly distributed across the entire front part of the foot, which will provide a greater sense of comfort. This, in turn, makes it possible to enjoy practising the sport for longer without discomfort.
- Transmission: The force used in the sporting activity is transmitted to the sports equipment (skis, board, etc.) in a more efficient way and with less physical effort, as the insertable external tongue provides reactivity to the boot and accompanies the movements to be performed.
- Durability: Excessive flex of the sports boots is prevented so that they have better performance and their life will be extended.
- Prevention and post-treatment of joints: The insertable external tongue achieves protection from a biomechanical point of view of the foot in general terms, avoiding maximum dorsal flexion of the ankle in situations of reactive rebound on the ground where the sports person slides. This results in greater stability of the ankle structure, thus considerably reducing the risk of injury.
- Stiffness and flex: Depending on the sporting activity and the type of sport, more or less stiffness and flex will be required in sports boots. The insertable external tongue provides the possibility of having different stiffness.
[0013] The insertable external tongue is suitable for use in all types of sports, such as alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, skating, etc., the practice of which requires the use of boots, in particular boots made up of an outer shell and an inner liner. Nevertheless, it is also for other types of sports footwear, with or without said inner liner, as it strengthens, reinforces and reactivates said boots or sports footwear, protecting the user's joints.
[0014] The insertable external tongue is fully adaptable to any type and system of boots or sports footwear and, depending on the various sporting activities for which it is intended, it may have different thickness, hardness, size and flexibility.
[0015] Thus, when the sports footwear comprises a boot with an inner liner, the tongue is preferably incorporated between the boot and the liner, as noted above.
[0016] However, when the footwear, whether it is a boot or not, does not have said inner liner, the tongue is incorporated between the boot or footwear and the sports person's foot directly.
[0017] In this case, the tongue may include means for fastening the same to prevent it from moving out of place when practising sport. Such means for fastening may comprise, for example, one or more Velcro straps to secure the tongue to the sports person's footwear or sock, or to a sock that embraces the tongue on the outside and prevents the tongue from moving relative to the sports person's foot and thus ensures the correct position of the tongue.
[0018] Optionally, if the boot or footwear does not have an inner liner, said boot or footwear may be fitted with a pocket or other means for attaching the tongue, which will have been designed and incorporated into the boot or footwear during its manufacture so that it can be used with said tongue.
[0019] Preferably, the manufacture of sports footwear specifically made to be marketed with a tongue as described above, which will be incorporated in a removable manner inside said footwear, is envisaged.
[0020] In any case, the insertable external tongue of the invention is formed by a piece with an ergonomic design in the form of a concave curved channel with a bend at the bottom, such that it fits comfortably to the user's instep, covering the lower part of said user's leg which, in the case of boots, is the part that covers the boot shaft.
[0021] Furthermore, said piece is made of strong material, in other words, in its resting position it has the described grooved shape and it deforms by the pressure exerted by the user when practising the sports activity, but returns to its initial resting position when the pressure ceases, completely regaining its original shape.
[0022] Finally, it should be noted that the tongue, although it can be made of any type of material that provides the described strong technical behaviour suitable for the various sporting activities for which it is intended, is preferably made of a semirigid material, for example plastic material or carbon fibre, and it can optionally have a covering of soft material, for example silicone or foam rubber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] To complete the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represents the following:
Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the accessory tongue object of the invention and an example of a snowboard boot, as the sports footwear for which it is intended, the two elements being represented separately so that their shape and configuration can be seen;
figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of the tongue when placed in the ski boot shown in figure 1, showing the manner of use;
figure 4 shows a perspective view of another example of the tongue of the invention, in this case also with a boot fitted with an inner liner, but the boot being a ski boot, shown separately; and
figures 5 and 6 show perspective views of the boot shown in figure 4 with the tongue once incorporated into the same.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0024] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one may observe therein a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the insertable external tongue for sports footwear of the invention, comprising what is described in detail below.
[0025] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the tongue (1) of the invention, intended to be incorporated as a separate element in sports footwear (2) to be inserted between said footwear and the user's foot, comprises a piece of strong material with an ergonomic design including a concave curved channel (1a) with a bend (1b) at the bottom, such that the tongue fits to the shape of the internal upper front part of the footwear (2) and to the upper front part of the sports person's foot, covering the user's instep and a part of their leg.
[0026] Preferably, when the footwear (2) is made up of an outer shell (2a) and an inner liner (2b), the tongue (1) is insertable between said outer shell (2a) and said inner liner (2b).
[0027] And, when the footwear (2) is a boot, the tongue (1) fits to the shape of the internal upper front part of the boot (2) and to the upper front part of the sports person's foot, covering the user's instep and the part of their leg that covers the boot shaft.
[0028] In any case, said piece forming the tongue (1) is of variable thickness, hardness, size and flexibility, depending on the type of footwear (2) or sports boot and the sport for which it is used.
[0029] Preferably, the tongue (1) of the invention is made of a semirigid material, for example, a plastic material or carbon fibre.
[0030] Optionally, the tongue (1) has a covering of soft material, for example, silicone or foam rubber.
[0031] Optionally, the tongue (1) includes means for fastening to the user's leg, for example, Velcro straps.
[0032] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the ways in which it may be implemented, it is not considered necessary to elaborate on the explanation thereof in order for a person skilled in the art to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom.
1. An insertable external tongue for sports footwear which, intended to be incorporated
into a sports boot or other type of sports footwear (2) as a separate and easily removable
element, characterised in that the tongue comprises a piece of strong material of variable thickness, hardness,
size and flexibility and has an ergonomic design including a concave curved channel
(1a) with a bend (1b) at the bottom, such that the tongue fits to the shape of the
internal upper front part of the footwear (2) and to the upper front part of the sports
person's foot, covering the instep and part of the leg.
2. The insertable external tongue for sports footwear, according to the preceding claim,
characterised in that it is made of a semirigid material such as plastic or carbon fibre.
3. The insertable external tongue for sports footwear, according to any of the preceding
claims, characterised in that it has a covering of soft material such as silicone or foam rubber.
4. The insertable external tongue for sports footwear, according to any of the preceding
claims, characterised in that it includes means for fastening to the user's leg.
5. Sports footwear characterised by including an insertable external tongue (1) according to any of claims 1-4.
6. The sports footwear, according to claim 5, characterised in that, when the footwear (2) is made up of an outer shell (2a) and an inner liner (2b),
the piece forming the tongue (1) is insertable between said outer shell (2a) and said
inner liner (2b).
7. The sports footwear, according to any of claims 5-6, characterised by including a pocket or other means for attaching the tongue (1).