Sports shoe provided with a selectively pivotable tongue

Abstract

A sports shoe including a shell, adapted to receive the foot of a user in use, provided with a longitudinal front opening adapted to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user, a covering tongue to cover at least the front opening, the covering tongue including at least a first rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at least at the instep of the foot of the user, and which can be connected to the shell through fixing means. The tongue further includes at least a second rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion in the instep region of the foot of the user, the tongue further including selective locking means for selectively locking/unlocking the rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

1 . Sports shoe comprising a shell, adapted to receive, in use, the foot of a user, the shell comprising a longitudinal front opening adapted to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user, a covering tongue being provided to cover at least the front opening, the tongue comprising at least a first rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at least at the instep of the foot of the user, and connectable to the shell through fixing means,
 wherein the tongue further comprises at least a second rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion in the instep region of the foot of the user, the tongue further comprising selective locking means for selectively locking/unlocking the rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion.   
     
     
         2 . Sports shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is rotatably connected to the first portion around a rotation axis defined by pivoting means comprising a pair of pins insertable into a corresponding pair of articulating openings. 
     
     
         3 . Sports shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein the selective locking means comprise an elongated rigid member hinged with a first end to the first portion of the tongue around an eccentric axis with respect to the rotation axis, and provided with an engaging member selectively engageable with the second portion to lock/unlock the rotation of the latter with respect to the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . Sports shoe according to  claim 3 , wherein the engaging member is formed of a pin housed in a casing slidable along the elongated rigid member and adapted to selectively engage a corresponding seat or opening obtained on the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . Sports shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the tongue is also slidably movable with respect to the first portion between a first position, wherein the selective locking means, lock the rotation thereof with respect to the first portion, and a second position, wherein the selective locking means allow the rotation thereof with respect to the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . Sports shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the pair of articulating openings is defined by a lower lobe and an upper lobe, the pair of pivoting pins being adapted to slidably cooperate with the articulating openings to selectively engage one of the lobes and allow the second portion to pass through between the first and the second position. 
     
     
         7 . Sports shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the selective locking means comprise at least one rib obtained on an upper surface of the first portion and a counter-shaped seat obtained on the second portion, said rib portion, the rib being adapted to be engaged the seat when the second portion is in the first position, and to be disengaged from the seat when the second portion is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . Sports shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the selective locking means comprising at least one engaging member formed of a wall projecting from the second portion along the internal surface thereof for defining a recess wherein a free end of the extension portion is adapted to be selectively received. 
     
     
         9 . Sports shoe according to  claim 1 , the selective locking means comprise an engaging member formed of a plate-like insert slidably connected to the second portion and movable between a first position, wherein it integrally joins the second portion with the first portion, and a second position, wherein it disengages the second portion with respect to the first portion thus allowing the rotation thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Sports shoe according to  claim 9 , wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the plate-like insert being slidably connected to the second portion by means of a pin adapted to cooperate with an opening defined by a lower lobe and an upper lobe, to selectively engage one of the lobes and allow the plate-like insert to pass through between the first position, wherein it defines a recess whereon a free end of the extension portion engages, and the second position, wherein it disengages the free end of the extension portion. 
     
     
         11 . Sports shoe according to  claim 6 , wherein the selective locking means comprise at least one rib obtained on an upper surface of the first portion and a counter-shaped seat obtained on the second portion, the rib being adapted to be engaged in the seat when the second portion is in the first position, and to be disengaged from the seat when the second portion is in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . Sports shoe according to  claim 6 , wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the selective locking means comprising at least one engaging member formed of a wall projecting from the second portion along the internal surface thereof for defining a recess wherein a free end of the extension portion is adapted to be selectively received. 
     
     
         13 . Sports shoe according to  claim 2 , the selective locking means comprise an engaging member formed of a plate-like insert slidably connected to the second portion and movable between a first position, wherein it integrally joins the second portion with the first portion, and a second position, wherein it disengages the second portion with respect to the first portion thus allowing the rotation thereof. 
     
     
         14 . Sports shoe according to  claim 13 , wherein the first portion is provided with at least one extension portion adapted to extend at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the plate-like insert being slidably connected to the second portion by means of a pin adapted to cooperate with an opening defined by a lower lobe and an upper lobe, to selectively engage one of the lobes and allow the plate-like insert to pass through between the first position, wherein it defines a recess whereon a free end of the extension portion engages, and the second position, wherein it disengages the free end of the extension portion.