Closing part for a shoe and corresponding shoe system

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) that includes an upper ( 3 ) comprising an open area ( 5 ) for facilitating the insertion of the foot into said shoe ( 2 ), said closing part ( 1 ) being designed so as to close said open area ( 5 ), said closing part ( 1 ) being characterized in that it comprises a unitary portion ( 100 ) to be attached to said upper ( 3 ) by means of at least first and second zip fasteners provided on either side of said open area ( 5 ), respectively. The invention also relates to a shoe closing device.

1 . A closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ), which shoe comprises at least an upper ( 3 ) that includes an open area ( 5 ) for facilitating the insertion of a foot into said shoe ( 2 ), said closing part ( 1 ) being adapted for closing said open area ( 5 ), said closing part ( 1 ) being characterized in that it comprises a unitary part ( 100 ) intended to be fastened to said upper ( 3 ) by means of at least a first and a second sliding connections provided on either side of said open area ( 5 ), respectively. 
     
     
         2 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the unitary part ( 100 ) is adapted for being removably fastened to said upper ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the open area ( 5 ) is delimited by at least a first and a second lateral edges ( 5 A,  5 B), to each of which said unitary part ( 100 ) is adapted to be fastened by means of the first and second sliding connections, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the unitary part ( 100 ) is adapted for being connected to each of said first and second lateral edges ( 5 A,  5 B) through a male/female coupling. 
     
     
         5 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the unitary part ( 100 ) comprises a first and a second lateral grooves ( 7 A,  7 B), and in that the first and second lateral edges ( 5 A,  5 B) comprise a first and a second lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B), respectively, said first and second lateral grooves ( 7 A,  7 B) being adapted for being fastened to said first and second lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B), respectively, by means of the first and second sliding connections, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the lateral grooves ( 7 A,  7 B) of the unitary part ( 100 ) have the shape of a laterally open cylinder forming a female part, whereas the lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B) have a male cylinder shape 
     
     
         7 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that each of said lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B) comprises at least one tab ( 10 ), which tab is intended to be held in the upper ( 3 ), between the inner wall ( 11 ) and the outer wall ( 12 ) of the upper ( 3 ) delimiting the contour of the latter, wherein the inner wall ( 11 ) is intended to be in contact with the foot, whereas the outer wall ( 12 ) is intended to be oriented toward the outside. 
     
     
         8 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that each lateral guide ( 6 A,  6 B) is adapted for being covered, at least in part, with a textile material ( 14 ) adapted for allowing the holding of said lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B) in the lateral grooves ( 7 A,  7 B) of the unitary part ( 100 ). 
     
     
         9 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the unitary part ( 100 ) has a U-shape, wherein each leg ( 100 A,  100 B) of the U is adapted for being fastened to said upper ( 3 ) by means of said first and second sliding connection, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one lace ( 8 ) adapted for being fastened to the unitary part ( 100 ). 
     
     
         11 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 9 , characterized in that each leg ( 100 A,  100 B) of the unitary part ( 100 ) comprises at least one orifice ( 9 ), in which said at least one lace ( 8 ) is intended to be introduced. 
     
     
         12 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the unitary part ( 100 ) has its own mechanical strength. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe system ( 40 ) comprising:
 a shoe ( 2 ), which shoe comprises at least an upper ( 3 ) that includes an open area ( 5 ) for facilitating the insertion of a foot into said shoe ( 2 ),   a closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) adapted for closing said open area ( 5 ),   the closing part ( 1 ) comprising a unitary part ( 100 ) fastened to said upper ( 3 ) by means of at least a first and a second sliding connections provided on either side of said open area ( 5 ), respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The closing system ( 40 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the upper ( 3 ) comprises a first and a second quarters ( 23 ), and in that said shoe ( 2 ) comprises, under each of said quarters ( 23 ), a first and a second elastic portions ( 21 ), respectively, adapted for reducing the stresses applied by the closing part ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . A method for fabricating a shoe system ( 40 ) comprising:
 a step of fabricating or providing a shoe ( 2 ), which shoe comprises at least an upper ( 3 ) that includes an open area ( 5 ) for facilitating the insertion of a foot into said shoe ( 2 ),   a step of fabricating or providing a closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 1 ), adapted for closing said open area ( 5 ) and comprising a unitary part ( 100 ),   a step in which the unitary part ( 100 ) and the upper ( 3 ) are provided with means adapted for providing at least a first and a second sliding connections between said unitary part ( 100 ) and said upper ( 3 ).   
     
     
         16 . A method for fabricating a shoe system ( 40 ) according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the step of fabricating or providing the closing part ( 1 ) comprises a sub-step of fabricating the unitary part ( 100 ), by molding of a plastic material. 
     
     
         17 . A method for closing a shoe ( 2 ), which shoe comprises at least an upper ( 3 ) that includes an open area ( 5 ) for facilitating the insertion of a foot into said shoe ( 2 ), said closing method comprising a step of closing the open area ( 5 ) by means of a closing part ( 1 ), said method being characterized in that said closing part ( 1 ) comprises a unitary part ( 100 ) intended to be fastened to said upper ( 3 ) by means of at least a first and a second sliding connections provided on either side of said open area ( 5 ), respectively, and in that the closing step comprises a sub-step of sliding in which the unitary part ( 100 ) is slid with respect to said upper ( 3 ) by means of said first and second sliding connections. 
     
     
         18 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the open area ( 5 ) is delimited by at least a first and a second lateral edges ( 5 A,  5 B), to each of which said unitary part ( 100 ) is adapted to be fastened by means of the first and second sliding connections, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to claim  4 , characterized in that the unitary part ( 100 ) comprises a first and a second lateral grooves ( 7 A,  7 B), and in that the first and second lateral edges ( 5 A,  5 B) comprise a first and a second lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B), respectively, said first and second lateral grooves ( 7 A,  7 B) being adapted for being fastened to said first and second lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B), respectively, by means of the first and second sliding connections, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The closing part ( 1 ) for a shoe ( 2 ) according to  claim 6 , characterized in that each of said lateral guides ( 6 A,  6 B) comprises at least one tab ( 10 ), which tab is intended to be held in the upper ( 3 ), between the inner wall ( 11 ) and the outer wall ( 12 ) of the upper ( 3 ) delimiting the contour of the latter, wherein the inner wall ( 11 ) is intended to be in contact with the foot, whereas the outer wall ( 12 ) is intended to be oriented toward the outside.