Footwear with improved tightening of upper

Abstract

An article of footwear, such as a boot, including an outer sole assembly and an upper, the boot extending lengthwise from a heel to a tip, widthwise between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and heightwise from the outer sole assembly to an upper end, the boot having an opening for inserting the foot, and including a reinforcement which is integral with the upper and is more rigid than the remainder of the upper, at least in the region of the instep, the reinforcement including a lateral and/or a medial edge extending over a reduced length of the boot at least plumb with the instep, the boot including a transverse linkage provided to tighten the instep zone, the linkage extending from the lateral portion to the medial portion. The linkage includes a first subdivision extending in the longitudinal direction of the boot, over a distance between 25% and 70% of the length thereof.

1 . A boot comprising:
 an outer sole assembly;   an upper extending upwardly beyond the sole assembly;   a length extending in a longitudinal direction between a heel and a tip, a width extending transversely between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and a height extending between the outer sole assembly and an upper end;   an opening for receiving a wearer's foot;   a reinforcement integral with the upper and more rigid than a remainder of the upper;   at least in an instep region, the reinforcement comprising a lateral wall and/or a medial wall extending less than an entirety of the length of the boot and extending forwardly at least as far as plumb with the instep;   a transverse linkage structured and arranged to tighten an instep zone, the linkage extending from the lateral portion to the medial portion;   the linkage comprising a first subdivision extending in the longitudinal direction of the boot, over a distance between 25% and 70% of the length of the boot.   
     
     
         2 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first subdivision of the linkage extends from the posterior tarsus to the metatarsus.   
     
     
         3 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first subdivision is medial.   
     
     
         4 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first subdivision is lateral.   
     
     
         5 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first subdivision is affixed directly to the reinforcement.   
     
     
         6 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reinforcement is located on an outside of the upper.   
     
     
         7 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reinforcement comprises the lateral wall and the medial wall.   
     
     
         8 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage comprises a first portion;   the first subdivision is integral with of the first portion;   the first subdivision has a generally triangular shape.   
     
     
         9 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first subdivision comprises three branches.   
     
     
         10 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 a rear edge of the first subdivision forms, together with a plane tangent to the outer sole assembly, an angle having a value between 35 and 70 degrees.   
     
     
         11 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 a front edge of the first subdivision forms, together with a plane tangent to the outer sole assembly, an angle having a value between 60 and 85 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage comprises a second portion and a connecting mechanism provided to removably connect the second portion to the first portion.   
     
     
         13 . A boot according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the second portion comprises a strip;   the width of the strip is between 5% and 20% of the length of the boot.   
     
     
         14 . A boot according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the linkage comprises a second subdivision extending in the longitudinal direction of the boot, over a distance between 25% and 70% of the length of the boot.   
     
     
         15 . A boot according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flap provided to cover the foot insertion opening.