Shoe with Hinged Sole

Abstract

A shoe comprising a front part and a back part placed on a sole, wherein the sole incorporates a hinge pivotally connecting the front and the back part for opening and closing the shoe. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the shoe in closed position. The hinge consist of a first hinge part and a second hinge part, the first and the second hinge parts being connected at a pivot. The first part of the hinge extends from one side of the pivot to the other side of the pivot. The invention also concerns a hinge for such shoe.

1 . A shoe comprising a front part and a back part placed on a sole and a locking mechanism for locking the shoe in closed position, wherein the sole incorporates a hinge for opening and closing the shoe pivotally connecting the front and the back part characterized in that, the hinge comprises a first hinge part and a second hinge part, the first and the second hinge parts being connected at a pivot, wherein at least one of the first hinge part and the second hinge part of the hinge has its extremities on opposite sides, both distant from the pivot. 
     
     
         2 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second hinge part is provided with one or more bearing surfaces for supporting the first hinge part. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second hinge part surrounds the first hinge part at least partly. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking mechanism is provided at distance of the pivot of the hinge. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the locking mechanism is provided at the rear of the shoe, in particular at the position of the heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the locking mechanism is, at least partly, integrated in the heel. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe according to  claim 1  one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism is provided with an operating mechanism for releasing and/or locking the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the locking mechanism is provided with means forcing the operating mechanism in a position for locking the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the operating mechanism is spring forced. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking mechanism is designed for automatic locking when the shoe is closed. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe according to  claim 10 , characterized in that locking mechanism comprises a first contact area connected with the first part of the hinge and a second contact area connected with the operating mechanism, the first and second contact area interacting when closing the shoe such that the operating mechanism temporary is forced in its unlocking position until the shoe is closed. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the first and the second contact area are provided on a first respectively a second hook of the locking mechanism, the first and the second hook interconnecting and locking the shoe in closed position. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the hinge is provided with one or more torsion springs, forcing the shoe in open position. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe according to  claim 13 , characterized in that one or more of the legs of a torsion spring are embedded in a recesses in the first part and/or in the second part of the hinge. 
     
     
         15 . A hinge for a shoe according to  claim 1 .