Shoe structure

Abstract

An open-toed shoe structure having a flexible sole having a predetermined shape; an engagement strap for the foot of a user, the engagement strap having a central part and two strap ends connected by two respective anchor points at two side edges opposite to the flexible sole; the engagement strap being configured in such a way that a user can put the foot under, so that the foot can be arranged between the sole and the engagement strap, wherein the engagement strap extends between the anchor points at the side edges and has a length between the strap ends substantially the same as the distance between the anchor points on the sole when the sole is in a planar arrangement without the foot, in order to move from a planar arrangement of the strap substantially parallel to the sole, to a raised arrangement of the central part of the strap with respect to the sole by the introduction of the foot.

1 . An open-toed shoe structure ( 10 ,  100 ) comprising:
 a flexible sole ( 30 ) having a predetermined shape;   at least one engagement strap ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123 ) for a foot (P) of a user, said at least one engagement strap comprising a central part ( 25 ) and two strap ends ( 26 ) connected by two respective anchor points ( 50 ′) at two side edges ( 50 ) opposite to said flexible sole, said or each engagement strap being configured in such a way that a user can put the foot (P) under, so that the foot can be arranged between the sole and the engagement strap,   wherein said engagement strap extends between said anchor points at said side edges and has a length between said strap ends ( 26 ) substantially the same as the distance between said anchor points ( 50 ′) determined on said sole ( 30 ) when said sole is in a planar arrangement without said foot (P), in order to move from a planar arrangement of said strap substantially parallel to said sole, to a raised arrangement of said central part ( 25 ,  125 ) of said strap with respect to said sole ( 30 ) by the introduction of the foot (P),   characterized in that   said engagement strap and said sole are configured so that, with the introduction of the foot (P) of the user between said engagement strap and said sole, said engagement strap pulls said side edges ( 50 ) of said sole without that said engagement strap substantially is lengthened, and said sole ( 30 ), by the pulling action of said side edges ( 50 ) by said strap, causes said side edges to bend ( 50 ) assuming a half-pipe like shape that wraps partially the foot (P) increasing the comfort.   
     
     
         2 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole has a predetermined length (L) and a predetermined transversal maximum width ( 1 ), determined at said anchor points ( 50 ′), where the ratio between said length and said transversal maximum width is less than or equal to 2.3, preferably less than or equal to 2, so that said side edges protrude laterally with respect to the part of the sole which actually supports the foot and by the pulling action of said side edges ( 50 ) by said strap determines said half-pipe like shape. 
     
     
         3 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole ( 30 ) has thickness set between 2-6 mm, preferably between 3-5 mm, in order to assist the side edges to bend by the pulling action of said strap in the presence of the foot. 
     
     
         4 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein said strap is anchored to said sole by a junction selected from the group consisting of: seaming, welding, gluing, integral. 
     
     
         5 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole has a shape substantially “leaf-like”, with small width in a rear zone configured to receive the heel of the foot, a central portion of maximum width at the or each strap, and a front portion of width less than said central portion but larger than the rear portion. 
     
     
         6 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole ( 30 ) comprises
 a first flexible lamina ( 110 ) having said predetermined shape;   a second flexible lamina ( 130 ) overlapped and glued to said first flexible lamina ( 110 ),   said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) having a plurality of cuts ( 115 ) arranged to define said engagement strap ( 120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123 ) for the foot (P) with said two ends ( 126 ) at said anchor points at the two side edges ( 50 ) opposite to said second flexible lamina ( 130 ), said engagement strap ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) being free from said first flexible lamina ( 110 ) and configured to move from a planar arrangement laying on the same plane of said second flexible lamina ( 130 ), to a raised arrangement, in which said central part ( 125 ) is raised with respect to said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) and pulls said side edges ( 50 ), causing said first ( 110 ) and said second ( 130 ) flexible lamina to achieve said “half pipe” like configuration.   
     
     
         7 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 6 , wherein said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) has a top plan shape identical to said first flexible lamina ( 110 ). 
     
     
         8 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 6 , wherein said cuts ( 115 ) end with holes, in particular circular, for discharging stresses ( 40 ) at the ends of said cuts ( 115 ), for reducing the intensification of stresses on said ends and to stop a propagation of said cuts ( 115 ). 
     
     
         9 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) is provided, each engagement strap ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) of said plurality defined by a couple of cuts ( 115 ), said plurality of engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) comprising:
 a proximal engagement strap ( 120 ) substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis ( 10 ) of said shoe structure ( 100 ), said proximal engagement strap ( 120 ) arranged to overlap to the instep of the foot (P) of the user;   at least one distal engagement strap ( 121 , 122 ,  123 ), said distal engagement strap ( 121 , 122 ,  123 ) arranged to overlap, in use, at least one finger of the foot (P).   
     
     
         10 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 9 , wherein a first distal engagement strap ( 121 ) and a second distal engagement strap ( 122 ) are provided, said first distal engagement strap ( 121 ) and said second distal engagement strap ( 122 ) being at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis ( 10 ) according to angles of opposite sign, the end ( 126 ) present between said first distal engagement strap ( 121 ) and said second distal engagement strap ( 122 ) acting as Y support between the first and second toes of the foot (P) of the user. 
     
     
         11 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 8 , wherein a proximal engagement strap ( 120 ) and a distal engagement strap ( 123 ) are provided, said proximal engagement strap arranged to house all the toes of the foot (P). 
     
     
         12 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 10 , wherein said distal engagement strap ( 123 ) is anchored to said sole in an intermediate position by a Y strap portion ( 123   a ). 
     
     
         13 . Shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 8 , wherein an engagement strap ( 120 ) is provided defined by three cuts ( 115   a , 115 ) b , ( 115 ) c ), said engagement strap ( 120 ) arranged to overlap to the instep and to the toes of the foot (P) of the user, the portion of said engagement strap ( 120 ) between two distal cuts ( 115   b ,  115   c ) acting as Y support between the first and second toes of the foot (P) of the user. 
     
     
         14 . A method for construction of a shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 6 , said method comprising the steps of:
 forming said first ( 110 ) and said second ( 130 ) flexible lamina;   gluing said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) to said first flexible lamina ( 110 ), overlapping the external shapes;   characterized in that it comprises, upstream of the step of gluing, a step of die-cutting of said second flexible lamina ( 130 )   said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) having a plurality of cuts ( 115 ) arranged to define at least one engagement strap ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) for the foot (P) of a user, said at least one engagement strap ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) comprising a central part ( 125 ) and two ends ( 126 ) at two side edges ( 50 ) opposite to said second flexible lamina ( 130 ),   and in that during said step of gluing said engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) are separated from the laying plane of said second flexible lamina ( 130 ), so that said engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) turn out not glued with respect to said first flexible lamina, in order to pass, in use, from a planar arrangement laying on the same plane of said second flexible lamina ( 130 ), to a raised arrangement, in which said central part ( 125 ) is raised with respect to said second flexible lamina ( 130 ).   
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein said step of gluing is made prearranging a plane template ( 20 ) between said engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) and said second flexible lamina ( 130 ), so that an application of glue on said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) opposite to said plane template ( 20 ) prevents the distribution of glue on said engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ). 
     
     
         16 . A die-cutter structure for construction of a shoe structure ( 100 ), according to  claim 6 , said die-cutter ( 200 ) comprising a plurality of removable knives ( 215 ) arranged to make said cuts ( 115 ) on said second flexible lamina ( 130 ) for defining said engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) for the foot (P), said removable knives ( 215 ) of said plurality being in variable number and according to the number of engagement straps ( 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ) that are to be to provide on said second flexible lamina ( 130 ), and being connected to the die-cutter ( 200 ) by connection means ( 240 ), in particular bolts, said connection means ( 240 ) being releasable for the removal and/or the change of said removable knives ( 215 ), and for making it possible the use of the same die-cutter ( 200 ) to provide a variety of types of cuts ( 115 ) on said second flexible lamina ( 130 ).