EP0562697A1

EP0562697A1 - Shoe provided with two separated sole portions

Info

Publication number: EP0562697A1
Application number: EP93200874A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ercole Spada
Original assignee: ZAGATO OVEST SNC di MAURA E ANDREA ZAGATO
Current assignee: ZAGATO OVEST SNC di MAURA E ANDREA ZAGATO
Priority date: 1992-03-27
Filing date: 1993-03-26
Publication date: 1993-09-29
Also published as: IT226402Z2; ITMI920294V0; ITMI920294U1

Abstract

A shoe (10), in particular for sports car driving, comprises two sole portions (12, 13) separated from each other, corresponding to the toe area and heel area of the shoe, respectively. The vamp (11) is such shaped that it provides a laterally projecting flap (15) to be folded under the foot arch region so as to form a lower closing area for the shoe between the sole portions.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe having improved features, in particular for car driving.
It is known that especially in the field of sports car driving a particularly light footwear is required, which is capable of putting the driver's foot in responsive contact with the car pedals, so as to offer the necessary driving accuracy.
The general object of the present invention is to provide a shoe which is particularly studied for ensuring a light footwear and an excellent responsiveness of the foot in driving.
In view of the above object, in accordance with the invention, a shoe particularly adapted for sports car driving has been devised which comprises two sole portions separated from each other and respectively corresponding to the toe area and heel area of the shoe, the vamp being such shaped that it provides a laterally projecting flap to be folded under the foot arch region so as to constitute the lower closing area of the shoe between the sole portions.
For better explaining the innovatory principles of the present invention and the advantages it offers as compared to the known art, a possible embodiment of the invention putting said principles into practice will be given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a shoe in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a lower plan view of the shoe shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows the vamp forming the shoe of Fig. 1 in an unfolded condition.

Referring to the drawings, a shoe generally identified by reference numeral 10 and made following the innovatory principles herein claimed, is shown in Fig. 1. The shoe 10 comprises a vamp 11, advantageously of one piece construction, to which two sole portions 12 and 13 are applied by gluing and/or sewing, which sole portions correspond to the toe area and heel area of a shoe respectively and are such shaped that they partly enclose the corresponding shoe ends. Such sole portions may be made of natural rubber, for example.
As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the sole portions are separated from each other and cover only those parts of the shoe that rest on the ground. The portion intermediate the soles corresponding to the foot arch, is formed with a vamp portion or flap 15 folded back and sewn sideways at 16.
Shown in Fig. 3 is a possible vamp conformation before its being folded and suitably shaped for obtaining a shoe as shown in Fig. 1. As can be seen, the vamp is a piece of material, leather for example, generally cut in the form of a U and provided with a laterally projecting flap 15.
The free end of the flap 15 is advantageously pierced with holes 17 and matching holes 18 are provided on the other side of the U leg. In this way it is sufficient to generally fold and shape the vamp along one longitudinal axis, fold the flap 15 back underneath the shoe and sew it along the holes 17, 18 so as to achieve the shoe blank to which the sole portions are to be applied.
Advantageously, in order to enable a comfortable and close-fitting footwear, the vamp portion close to the instep is comprised of two side cuts 19, 20 to the edges of which, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, elastic strips 14 are applied, as well known to a person skilled in the art.
Obviously, an insole (not shown) may be put inside the shoe, which insole will be disposed over the whole sole extension in order to eliminate unevennesses and irregularities caused by the junction between the vamp and soles. In addition, the upper shoe edge 21 may be turned down and padded for comfort and stiffness purposes.
It has been surprisingly found that a shoe of the type as above described enables high responsiveness in car driving.
It has also been found that such a shoe allows a comfortable walking, which makes it appropriate as a leizure shoe. In addition, making this shoe is not particularly difficult even if usual shoe-making machines are used, and there is no need for particular adaptations or adjustments.
Using two separated sole portions for each shoe is also economical, in that the same two sole portions suitably spaced apart from each other by an appropriate vamp can be utilized for shoes of several different sizes, which enables a lower number of soles to be produced and stored.
Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovatory principles of the invention is given for purposes of illustration only and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. For example, the outer shape of the shoe may vary depending on requirements and the intended aesthetic purposes.

Claims

A shoe, in particular for sports car driving, comprising two sole portions separated from each other, corresponding to the toe area and heel area of the shoe respectively, the vamp heing such shaped that it provides a laterally projecting flap to be folded under the shoe arch region so as to constitute the lower closing area of the shoe between the sole portions.
A shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the folded side flap has its end sewn close to the vamp side area opposite that from which said flap projects.
A shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the vamp is of one piece construction.
A shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the vamp is comprised of two side cuts close to the area in contact with the instep, the edges of said cuts being joined by an elastic strip
A shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two sole portions encloses the corresponding shoe end at least partly.