Footwear element to be mounted on an apparatus, and equipment including such footwear element and apparatus

Abstract

A footwear element includes a sole assembly extending along an extension direction between opposite front and rear ends; a flexible upper includes a lower portion adjoining the sole assembly and configured to receive a shoe of a user, and an upper portion extending from the lower portion away from the sole assembly; and a fastening element configured to cooperate with a locking mechanism provided on the apparatus for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the apparatus. The fastening element is removably mounted on the footwear element.

1 . A footwear element to be mounted on at least one apparatus to enable a user to perform a physical activity, the footwear element comprising:
 a sole assembly extending lengthwise along an extension direction between a front end and a rear end;   a flexible upper comprising:
 a lower portion adjoining the sole assembly and having an inner volume sized and configured to receive a shoe of the user; and 
 an upper portion extending from the lower portion away from the sole assembly; and 
   a fastening element configured to cooperate with a locking mechanism provided on the apparatus for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the apparatus;   the fastening element comprising a plurality of parts configured to enable the fastening element to be removably mounted on the footwear element.   
     
     
         2 . Footwear element according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the footwear element is configured to be mounted on a plurality of apparatuses respectively provided with different locking mechanisms;   the fastening element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a plurality of different fastening elements each configured to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms.   
     
     
         3 . Footwear element according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sole assembly comprises an outer surface configured to be oriented towards the apparatus; and   the sole assembly and the fastening element comprise fixing members configured for removably mounting the fastening element on the outer surface of the sole assembly.   
     
     
         4 . Footwear element according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fastening element comprises:
 at least a front portion configured to be mounted in a vicinity of the front end of the sole assembly; and 
 a fastening device configured to be reversibly retained in the locking mechanism, the fastening device being at least partially provided on the front portion of the fastening element. 
   
     
     
         5 . Footwear element according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fastening device is provided only on the front portion of the fastening element so as to allow the rear end of the sole assembly to remain free for movement when the footwear element is mounted on the apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . Footwear element according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fastening device and the locking mechanism is configured to form, with the locking mechanism, an articulation on the front portion of the fastening element, such articulation being rotatable about a transverse axis perpendicular to the extension direction.   
     
     
         7 . Footwear element according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the front portion of the fastening element comprises two openings extending coaxially in relation to one another perpendicular to the extension direction, the openings being configured to cooperate with two fingers of the locking mechanism that are movable between a locking position in which said fingers are brought closer to one another so as to be able to penetrate into the respective openings, and a retracted position in which said fingers are spaced apart from one another so as to enable the openings to be positioned between said fingers.   
     
     
         8 . Footwear element according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fastening element has an outer surface configured to be oriented towards the apparatus; and   the front portion of the fastening element comprises at least one pin extending perpendicular to the extension direction at a distance from the outer surface of the fastening element, the pin being configured to cooperate with two jaws of the locking mechanism that are movable between a locking position in which said jaws are brought closer to one another so as to be able to clamp the pin, and a retracted position in which said jaws are spaced apart from one another so as to allow the pin to be positioned between said jaws.   
     
     
         9 . Footwear element according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the front portion of the fastening element comprises a fastening head extending along the extension direction; and   the fastening head is configured to cooperate with a housing for receiving the locking mechanism; and   the locking mechanism further comprises at least one locking member movable between a locking position in which said locking member retains the fastening head in the receiving housing, and a retracted position in which said locking member allows displacement of the fastening head in relation to the receiving housing.   
     
     
         10 . Equipment to enable a user to perform a physical activity, such equipment comprising:
 a footwear element according to  claim 1 ; and   at least one apparatus provided with a locking mechanism with which the fastening element of the footwear element is configured to cooperate for reversibly retaining the footwear element on the apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . Equipment according to  claim 10 , comprising:
 a plurality of apparatuses provided respectively with different locking mechanisms; and   a plurality of fastening elements comprising a plurality of different fastening elements each configured to cooperate with one of the locking mechanisms; and   one of the fastening elements from the plurality of fastening elements is removably mounted on the footwear element.