Shoe with an energized quarter portion

Abstract

A shoe with a quarter portion, having an upper, a sole, and a midsole, which further includes a pair of rigid rod-like elements which are coupled rigidly to the sole and/or midsole. The shoe further includes a pair of longitudinally extended flexing springs which are deformable and elastic around the axis of the malleolus of a user who wears the shoe. The flexing springs are adapted to accumulate and return elastic mechanical energy and are integral with the pair of rigid rod-like elements. The shoe further includes a quarter portion assembly that is associated with the pair of flexing springs and is adapted to make contact with a front tibial portion and two lateral portions of the leg of the user.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A shoe with a quarter portion, the shoe comprising: an upper, a sole and a midsole, a pair of rigid elements coupled rigidly to said sole and/or midsole, a pair of longitudinally extended flexing springs which are deformable and elastic around the axis of the malleolus of a user wearing said shoe and are adapted to accumulate and return elastic mechanical energy and are integral with said pair of rigid elements, and a quarter portion assembly associated with said pair of flexing springs and adapted to contact a front tibial portion and with two lateral portions of the leg, which are contiguous to said portion, of said user. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein said quarter portion assembly comprises a rigid support and a resting element which are mutually associated, said rigid support being articulated to the upper end of said pair of flexing springs. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe according to  claim 16 , wherein said pair of flexing springs comprises respective rigid upper terminals arranged at said upper end of said flexing springs. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe according to  claim 16 , wherein said rigid support is articulated to said upper end of said pair of flexing springs by respective spherical joints, each of said spherical joints comprises a hollow support inside said spherical joint in which a spherical pivot rotates. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe according to  claim 18 , wherein said hollow support is comprised in said rigid upper terminal of said flexing spring and is oriented toward said quarter portion assembly; and in that said spherical pivot is comprised in said rigid support of said quarter portion assembly and is oriented toward said flexing spring. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe according to  claim 16 , wherein said rigid support is articulated to said upper end of said pair of flexing springs by respective coupling elements with a retention element. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein an upper end of said rigid element comprises a cylindrical seat and a lower end of said flexing spring comprises an insert, said insert being inserted in said cylindrical seat, said insert being locked longitudinally in said cylindrical seat by a locking screw engaged in said insert and a locking washer. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein said insert is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical seat and said flexing spring is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of said rigid element. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein the assembly comprising the upper, the sole and the midsole has a flexural rigidity, in a region of the metatarsal joint, that is proportional to the rigidity of said pair of flexing springs, with respect to their preferential inward flexing plane, said midsole being interposed between said upper and said sole. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein said quarter portion assembly is associated but rotatable with respect to the rigid support around a rotation element that is connected thereto. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein said pair of rigid elements comprises at least one adjustment element configured for adjusting an inclination of said pair of rigid elements. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein said pair of flexing springs is constituted by a material with a ratio between a maximum bending strength expressed in MPa and a flexural elastic modulus, or Young's modulus, expressed in GPa, both understood along a direction of the main flexing plane, greater than or equal to 30. 
     
     
         27 . The shoe according to  claim 16 , wherein said resting element of said quarter portion assembly comprises a padding which is arranged on the internal face and is adapted to contact said front tibial portion and with two lateral portions of the leg that are contiguous to said portion of said user. 
     
     
         28 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , further includes a closure system.