EP1421867A1

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Publication number: EP1421867A1
Application number: EP03027046A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Edoardo Motta; Flavio Frigo; Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: Bencom SRL
Current assignee: Bencom SRL
Priority date: 2002-11-25
Filing date: 2003-11-24
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-24
Also published as: DE60316523D1; ATE373966T1; ES2292895T3; EP1421867B1; DE60316523T2

Abstract

Shoe with improved closure device, said shoe comprising a sole (60), an upper (62)with seats for a lace (19) fixed at one end to said shoe upper, and a closure deviceacting on said lace (19), characterized in that said closure device comprises:

a tightener (1) fixed to said shoe and connected to said lace (19);
a driving member for said tightener, comprising a cable (27) having one endconnected to said tightener (1) and the opposite end being associated to said shoeat a location easy to be reached by a user;
a releasing mechanism for said tightener (1), to allow opening of said shoe.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe with improved closure device.
To lace one's shoes it is required that a person performs a series of actions including:1) bringing the foot within reach of the hands; 2) adjusting the tension of the laces bypulling or loosening them typically through a series of holes or hooks provided inflaps of a shoe upper, designed to allow opening of the upper to put on and take offthe shoe; 3) making a knot with the ends of the lace, to keep the flaps of the shoeupper in the desired closed position. Such actions require a certain degree of manualskill, and may be difficult to perform by children or people who have a limited degreeof manual skill. Moreover, the type of knot typically made with shoelaces may not betight enough to withstand shocks and vibrations, particularly in case of shoes used forlong walks or to run.
Italian patent application No. TV2002A000063 filed on 29 May 2002 by BenettonGroup SpA, a company belonging to the same group of companies to which thepresent applicant pertains, discloses a device to lace shoes that are part of a ski boot ora skate, for example a roller skate or an ice skate. Such device allows to lace a skiboot or a shoe which is part of a skate by essentially pulling one end only of a lacejoining the two flaps of a shoe upper, as it will be described in more detail later. Suchpatent application, however, discloses a device to lace shoes mounted on a structureexternal to the shoe itself, namely mounted on a rigid frame on which a shoe in turn ismounted.
Therefore, the difficulties associated with the closure of a normal shoe, namely a shoenot associated to a sport tool, like a skate or a ski, remains unsolved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide shoes with an improved closure device that eliminate or reduce the drawbacks associated to conventional shoelacesdescribed above, such that the act of lacing one's shoes be easier and faster than withconventional shoes.
Another object of the invention is that of providing a shoe with improved closuredevice which is tight enough to withstand shocks and vibrations, so that unintentionalloosening of the shoelaces and opening of the flaps of a shoe is avoided, therebyenhancing safety of use of the shoes.
The above and other objects of the inventions are achieved by a shoe with improvedclosure device, said shoe comprising a sole, an upper with seats for a lace fixed at oneend to said shoe upper, and a closure device acting on said lace, characterized in thatsaid closure device comprises:

a tightener fixed to said shoe and rigidly connected to said lace;
a driving member for said tightener, said driving member being associated to saidshoe and comprising a cable rigidly connected to said tightener, at least a portionof said cable being accessible to a user;
a releasing mechanism for said tightener, to allow opening of said shoe.

In a preferred embodiment, the shoe with improved closure device according to theinvention comprises a sole, an upper with seats for a lace fixed at one end to said shoeupper, and a closure device acting on said lace, and is characterized in that saidclosure device comprises:

a tightener fixed to said shoe and rigidly connected to said lace;
a driving member for said tightener, said driving member being associated to saidshoe and comprising a cable rigidly connected at one end to said tightener, atleast a portion of said cable being accessible to a user;
a releasing mechanism for said tightener, to allow opening of said shoe;

wherein said tightener comprises:

i) a first and a second pulley connected to each other, said lace beingwound on said first pulley and fixed to it;
ii) a cable fixed at one end on said second pulley and wound on saidsecond pulley in a direction opposite to the direction of winding saidlace on said first pulley;
iii) a ratchet gear rigidly connected to said first or second pulley, to blockthem in a desired position;

and said driving member comprises:

i) a third pulley on which said cable is fixed at its other end;
ii) an elastic element acting on said third pulley to control the winding ofsaid cable on said third pulley;

so that the length of the portion of said cable between said tightener and said
driving member is kept substantially constant.

With the word "shoe" in this application it is meant a shoe that is not part of, orassociated to, a sport tool like a skate, a ski or the like. The shoe of the invention isany kind of "normal" shoe, closed by means of laces, to be used for walking orrunning or mountain excursions or the like, which normally do not require that theshoe is mounted on, or fixed to, external sport tools.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken inconjunction with the attached drawings, where:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a closure device usable in the shoe of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of a first embodiment of a shoe according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of a shoe according to the invention ;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a shoe according to theinvention;

Fig. 7 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a shoe according to theinvention;

Fig. 9 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a shoe according tothe invention;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Figs. 10 and 11;

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a different version of the fifth embodimentof a shoe according to the invention;

Fig. 14 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of a sixth embodiment of a shoe according to theinvention;

Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 16;

Fig. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the shoeaccording to the invention;

Fig. 21 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the shoeaccording to the invention;

Fig. 24 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 23;

Fig. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the shoe accordingto the invention;

Fig. 27 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a side elevational view of a tenth embodiment of the shoe according to theinvention;

Fig. 29 is a schematic perspective view of an eleventh embodiment of the shoeaccording to the invention;

Fig. 30 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of theshoe according to the invention;

Fig. 31 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is an exploded schematic perspective view of an thirteenth embodiment of theshoe according to the invention;

Fig. 33 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a fourteenth embodiment of theshoe according to the invention;

Fig. 34 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a fifteenth embodiment of theshoe according to the invention;

Fig. 35 is a partially sectioned front view of the shoe of Fig. 34;

Fig. 36 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a sixteenth embodiment of ashoe according to the invention;

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of a component of a shoe according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 38 is a an exploded perspective view of the component of the shoe of Fig. 37;

Fig. 39 is an exploded side elevational view of the shoe according to the seventeenthembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 40 is a side elevational view of an eighteenth embodiment of the shoe accordingto the invention;

Figs. 41 and 42 are side elevational views of different versions of the shoe of Fig. 40;and

Fig. 43 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a nineteenth embodiment of ashoe according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the main components of a closure device to be used in shoes according tothe invention. This closure device comprises atightener 1 contained in a casingconsisting of two half-shells 12a and 12b provided withseats 14 for a rotatablymountedpin 15 on which a first pulley 17a, a second pulley 17b connected to saidfirst pulley and aratchet gear 18 connected to said second pulley are mounted throughacentral hole 16. Preferably, said pulleys and said ratchet gear are made as a onepiece. Alace 19 is wound on the first pulley17a in a anti-clockwise direction, and isfixed to such pulley at one end, so that when pulley 17a is rotated in a clockwisedirection,lace 19 is wound on it.Lace 19 leaves casing 1 throughhole 21 in half-shell12a and is fixed at its other end to a shoe upper, as it will be described later. Acable27 is wound on the second pulley 17b according to a winding direction opposite tothat oflace 19.Cable 27 leaves casing 1 throughopening 33 in a funnel-shapedextension 31 projecting from half-shell 12a.Ratchet gear 18 is operatively associatedto apawl 44 mounted onpin 46 throughhole 45.Pawl 44 comprises alever 52 that, inone operative position, engages the teeth ofratchet gear 18 to block the tightener in such position.

A manually-operated releasing mechanism for said ratchet gear is also providedwithincasing 1. It comprises arod 49 projecting fromcasing 1, at one end of which aknob 50 is mounted, for easy operation. At the other end,rod 49 engagestongue 44cofpawl 44, so that by pushingknob 50,pawl 44 is tilted andlever 52 disengages fromthe teeth ofratchet 18, thereby allowing to unwindlace 19 from pulley 17a.

Tightener 1 is operated by a drivingmember 2 contained in two half-shells 34a and34b. In drivingmember 2,cable 27 enters throughhole 42 and is fixed to athirdpulley 35 rotatably mounted throughhole 37 onpin 36 projecting from half-shell 34a.Acoil spring 39 is mounted inseat 38 ofpulley 35 and engages arecess 40a by aterminal tongue 32. When drivingmember 2 is pulled,cable 27 is also pulled andcoilspring 39 is loaded. When pulling of the driving member ceases,spring 39 unloadsand causescable 27 to wind onpulley 35, thereby shortening the portion ofcable 27between drivingmember 2 andtightener 1.

It is appears from the description above that this closure device functions in thefollowing way. By pulling drivingmember 2, one unwindscable 27 from pulley 17b,thereby causing winding oflace 19 on pulley 17a. This in turn causes pulling oflace19, which, as will be described hereinafter, causes closing of flaps of a shoe in a quickand easy way. Whenratchet gear 18 is released by manually pushingknob 50, lacecan be unwound from pulley 17a, thereby loosening lace 17 which joins the flaps of ashoe, so that the shoe can be taken off the foot.

A more detailed description of such closure device is provided in Italian patentapplication No. TV2002A000063 mentioned above.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of a shoe with improved closure deviceaccording to the invention is illustrated.

In a shoe generally comprising a sole 60 and an upper 62, said upper is formed withtwoflaps 4a and 4b spaced apart and defining a central longitudinal opening closed byaflexible tongue 5 positioned below said flaps.U-shaped elements 7 such as ropes orhooks or the like are fixed toflaps 4a and 4b to define a series of opposed slots 6a and6b. Alace 19 is fixed with its end 8a to the shoe upper and is thread through theopposed slots 6a and 6b to join flap 4a andflap 4b together. The opposite end oflace19 is fixed to atightener 1, for example of the type described with reference to Fig. 1.In this first embodiment,tightener 1 is fixed to the upper portion oftongue 5 and isoperated by a drivingmember 2, connected totightener 1 via acable 27, for exampleas described with reference to Fig. 1. It is apparent from the description above that apulling action on drivingmember 2 causes winding oflace 19 withintightener 1,which in turn causeslace 19 to shorten and pullflaps 4a and 4b one toward the other.When the pulling force ceases andmember 2 is released,ratchet gear 18 contained intightener 1 as described above is blocked bypawl 44, so thatshoelace 19 keeps thedesired tightened condition. Any portion ofcable 27 unwound fromtightener 1 iswound onmember 2, so thatmember 2 remains in a position close totightener 1, andthe length of the portion ofcable 27 betweenmember 2 andtightener 1 is keptsubstantially constant. Toopen flaps 4a and 4b it is necessary to loosenlace 19, whichbecomes possible after having releasedratchet gear 18 contained intightener 1 bymeans of a manually operated releasing mechanism not shown in Figs. 2 and 3 butdescribed in connection to Fig. 1. It is apparent that a shoe with the improved closuredevice described above is easy to put on, since no knots are to be made and noparticular manual skill is required. To lace one's shoes it is simply required to pullmember 2 until the desired degree of tightness is achieved. To take the shoe off it issimply required to push a knob of a release mechanism, and loosening of the laces becomes possible in a easy and quick way, since no unlacing of knots is required.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of a shoe with improved closuredevice according to the invention is illustrated. In this and any further embodiment,the reference numerals used may be the same used in the previous embodiment whensame or corresponding elements are to be designated. In this second embodiment, theshoe is generally comprised of a sole 60 and an upper 62 made at least partially of aresilient material, so that it can expand to fit the shape of a foot. Aplate 15 with acurved shape to fit the shape of a foot is attached to the central frontal portion of upper62. As in the previous embodiment,U-shaped elements 7 such as ropes or hooks orthe like are fixed to upper 62 to define a series of opposed slots 6a and 6b. Alace 19 isfixed with its end 8a to the shoe upper and is thread through the opposed slots 6a and6b to tighten the shoe upper andplate 15. The opposite end oflace 19 is fixed to atightener 1, as described above, fixed toplate 15.Tightener 1 is operated by a drivingmember 2 via acable 27, as previously described. The operation of the improvedclosure device of this embodiment is the same as described above, the main differencebeing that the shoe does not have flaps but is put on by expanding a resilient upperand is closed by tighteninglace 19 which causes a movement of ropes orbands 7 onetoward the other, which in turn causes a compression of the frontal central portion ofthe upper around the foot. In terms of structure, the main difference with the firstembodiment described above is thattightener 1 is fixed to a plate on the upper insteadof being fixed to a tongue onto which the flaps rest.

A third embodiment of the shoe according to the invention is shown in Figs 6 and 7.As previously described, the shoe comprises a sole 60 and an upper 62 formed withtwoflaps 4a and 4b spaced apart and defining a central longitudinal opening closed byaflexible tongue 5 positioned below said flaps.U-shaped elements 7 such as ropes or hooks or the like are fixed toflaps 4a and 4b to define a series of opposed slots 6a and6b. Alace 19 is fixed with its end 8a to the shoe upper and is thread through theopposed slots 6a and 6b to join flap 4a andflap 4b together.Lace 19 is movablyhoused in the end portion of asheath 13 on a flank of upper 62, whichsheath 13 isplaced inside the shoe structure between sole and upper to reachtightener 1, to whichit is fixed.Tightener 1, which is for example of the type described previously, isplaced in a corresponding seat between the bottom side of anarch support 14 and thetop of sole 60, as shown in Fig. 7. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1 and ismovably housed in asecond sheath 65 placed nearsheath 13.Cable 27 is pulled bymeans of aring 59 to drivetightener 1 as previously described. The portion ofcable27 unwound fromtightener 1 by effect of pullingring 59 can be wound around upper62 or temporarily positioned on a hooking device or the like, not shown, to avoid anyhindrance to the use of the shoe. Opening offlaps 4a and 4b is obtained by looseninglace 19 by means of a manually operated releasing mechanism acting ontightener 1,not shown.

A fourth embodiment of the shoe according to the invention is shown in Figs 8 and 9.As previously described, the shoe comprises a sole 60 and an upper 62 formed withtwoflaps 4a and 4b spaced apart and defining a central longitudinal opening closed byaflexible tongue 5 positioned below said flaps.U-shaped elements 7 such as ropes orhooks or the like are fixed toflaps 4a and 4b to define a series of opposed slots 6a and6b. Alace 19 is fixed with its end 8a to the shoe upper and is thread through theopposed slots 6a and 6b to join flap 4a andflap 4b together.Lace 19 goes then into theend portion of asheath 13 on a flank of upper 62, wheresheath 13 goes through theshoe upper to reach, and be connected to,tightener 1.Tightener 1, which is of the typedescribed previously, is placed in a seat made in a flank of upper 62, as shown in Fig. 9. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1 and is contained in a second sheath, notshown, so thatcable 27 is brought to the rear portion of upper 62 and projectsupwardly from it. Aneyelet 59a is fixed at the end ofcable 27, so thattightener 1 isoperated to tightenlace 19 wheneyelet 59a is pulled. The portion ofcable 27unwound fromtightener 1 by effect of pullingeyelet 59a can be wound around upper62 or temporarily positioned on a hooking device or the like, not shown, to avoid anyhindrance to the use of the shoe. Opening offlaps 4a and 4b is obtained by looseninglace 19 by means of a releasing mechanism acting ontightener 1, not shown,manually operated by pushingknob 50a.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show a fifth embodiment of a shoe with improved closuredevice according to the invention. In this embodiment a shoe upper 62 is attached to asole 60 that has anopening 84 in the plantar arch area.Opening 84 is the seat for aU-shapedbracket 85 supporting in its central lower portion atightener 1, as previouslydescribed.Tightener 1 hasholes 88 and is fastened tobracket 85 by means ofscrews87 passing throughholes 88 and engaging threadedholes 86 ofbracket 85. Alace 19is connected totightener 1 and is contained, for at least part of its length, insheath 13.For the remainingpart lace 19 is associated to upper 62 in a way described previouslyand not shown here, to tighten the shoe. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1, toperform the function described previously. Adisc 59b is fixed at one end ofcable 27,for easy manual operation. As described earlier, the portion ofcable 27 unwound fromtightener 1 by effect of pullingdisc 59b can be wound around upper 62 or temporarilyfastened by a strap-type device made of material known with the commercial name ortrademark VELCRO or the like, not shown, to avoid any hindrance to the use of theshoe. Opening of flaps is obtained by looseninglace 19 by means of a manuallyoperated releasing mechanism acting ontightener 1, not shown.

Figure 13, 14 and 15 correspond to Figures 10, 11 and 12 but show a version in whichtightener 1 is fastened tobracket 85a by glue or other adhesive means instead of beingfastened by screws, ortightener 1 andbracket 85a are made as one piece.

Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 show a sixth embodiment of a shoe with a closure deviceaccording to the invention. In this embodiment a shoe upper 62 is attached to a sole 60that has anopening 84 in the plantar arch area.Opening 84 is the seat for aU-shapedbracket 85b supporting, on its sideexternal portion 85b', atightener 1. Alace 19 isconnected totightener 1 and is contained, for at least part of its length, insheath 13.For the remainingpart lace 19 is associated to upper 62 in a way described previouslyand not shown here, to tighten the shoe. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1, toperform the function described previously. Adisc 59b is fixed at one end ofcable 27,for easy manual operation. As described earlier, the portion ofcable 27 unwound fromtightener 1 by effect of pullingdisc 59b can be temporarily fastened to the shoe upper.Opening of the shoe is obtained by looseninglace 19 by means of a manually operatedreleasing mechanism acting ontightener 1, not shown.

Figures 20, 21 and 22 show a seventh embodiment of a shoe with a closure deviceaccording to the invention. In this embodiment a shoe upper 62 is attached to a sole 60that has anopening 84 in the plantar arch area.Opening 84 is the seat for aU-shapedbracket 85c supporting, on its bottom side, atightener 1. Alace 19 is connected totightener 1 and is contained, for at least part of its length, insheath 13. For theremainingpart lace 19 is associated to upper 62 in a way described previously and notshown here, to tighten the shoe. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1, to performthe function described previously by pulling adisc 59b is fixed at one end ofcable 27.Cable 27 is housed insheath 65, which is fastened to the bottom side of aprojection89 ofbracket 85c.Projection 89 is housed in alongitudinal groove 88 made in sole 60, so thatcable 27 is brought to the rear side of the shoes anddisc 59b can be pulledfrom the area behind the heel. As described earlier, the portion ofcable 27 unwoundfromtightener 1 by effect of pullingdisc 59b can be temporarily fastened to the shoeupper. Opening of the shoe is obtained by looseninglace 19 by means of a manuallyoperated releasing mechanism acting ontightener 1, not shown.

Figures 23, 24 and 25 show an eighth embodiment of a shoe with a closure deviceaccording to the invention. In this embodiment, opening 84 is the seat for aU-shapedbracket 85c supporting, on its bottom side, atightener 1. Alace 19 is connected totightener 1 and is directed toward the shoe upper 62 in a way described previously andnot shown here, to tighten the shoe. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1, toperform the function described previously ofactuating tightener 1 by pulling adisc59b is fixed at one end ofcable 27.Cable 27 is contained insheath 65, which ishoused through hole 84a in the shoe, in a longitudinal position, so thatcable 27 isbrought to the rear side of the shoes anddisc 59b can be pulled from the area behindthe heel. As described earlier, the portion ofcable 27 unwound fromtightener 1 byeffect of pullingdisc 59b can be temporarily fastened to the shoe upper. Opening ofthe shoe is obtained by looseninglace 19 by means of a manually operated releasingmechanism acting ontightener 1, not shown.

Figures 26 and 27 show a ninth embodiment of a shoe with a closure device accordingto the invention. In this embodiment, agroove 90 is made in the plantar arch area ofthe sole to house atightener 1, as described before.Lace 19 is connectstightener 1 tothe shoe upper, to tighten the shoe. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1 and iscontained insheath 65 housed in alongitudinal groove 91 made in the lower side ofheelpiece 92. In the version of Fig. 27,cable 27 is housed in agroove 91a made inheelpiece 92, internally. Adisc 59b, with or without a system to automatically windcable 27 as described previously in this application, is provided at the end ofcable 27.

In the embodiment of Fig. 28 a shoe is shown which comprises a sole 60 and an upper62 withU-shaped elements 7 around which alace 19 is wound to tighten the shoe, asdescribed previously.Lace 19 is fixed at one end to the shoe upper. At theother endlace 19 is housed in asheath 13 and is connected to atightener 1 fixed to a side of theshoe, about in the area of the plantar arch. Acable 27, partially housed in asheath 65,is connected totightener 1 and is directed backwards and upwards, towards the heelzone. At the end of cable 27 adisc 59b is fixed, for easy pulling and actuation of thetightener, as described previously.

In the embodiment of Fig. 29,lace 19 partially housed insheath 13 is connected totightener 1, which is placed onheel 92 at the rear of the shoe. Acable 27 is alsoconnected totightener 1 and is directed upwardly. A drivingmember 2, for exampleof the type described in connection with Fig.1, is connected to the end ofcable 27, toactuatetightener 1 and determine winding ofcable 27, if necessary. Abutton 50b ontightener 1 allows releasing of the tightener to loosenlace 19 and open the shoe, asdescribed before.

Figures 30 and 31 show a twelfth embodiment of a shoe with a closure deviceaccording to the invention. In this embodiment, arecess 98 is provided inheel 92,within the shoe, but in an area at the edge of the heel toward the rear of the shoe.Tightener 1 is housed inrecess 98 and is connected to alace 19 which reaches theupper of the shoe in a way not shown. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1 and,throughwindow 99, is directed upwardly. A drivingmember 2, for example of thetype described in connection with Fig.1, is connected to the end ofcable 27, to actuatetightener 1 and determine winding ofcable 27, if necessary. A mechanism that allowsreleasing of the tightener to loosenlace 19 and open the shoe is provided, as described before, but it is not shown.

In the embodiment of Fig. 32, arecess 98a is provided inheel 92, within the shoe, butin the area of the plantar arch and at the edge of the heel.Tightener 1 is housed inrecess 98a and is connected to alace 19, movably housed in asheath 13, from which itreaches the upper of the shoe through window 99a. Acable 27 is also connected totightener 1 and exitsrecess 98a throughwindow 99b or, according to a differentversion of this embodiment, through alongitudinal groove 100 made in the sole anddirected to the rear of the shoe. A drivingmember 2, for example of the typedescribed in connection with Fig.1, is connected tocable 27, to actuatetightener 1and determine winding ofcable 27, if necessary. A mechanism that allows releasingof the tightener to loosenlace 19 and open the shoe is provided, as described before,but it is not shown.

In the embodiment of Fig. 33, an upper 62 is fixed to a sole 60 where arecess 98b isprovided in the area of the plantar arch and at the edge of the heel. Atightener 1 ishoused inrecess 98b, and is connected to laceportions 19a and 19b, movably housedinsheaths 13a and 13b, from which they reach the upper of the shoe throughwindow99c and groove 99d and join together to formlace 19. By pulling at least one oflaceportions 19a or 19b, a tightening oflace 19 is caused bytightener 1, with the effectdiscussed previously. More particularly,lace portion 19a is fixed totightener 1 andlace portion 19b can be wound intightener 1 to cause closing of the shoe. Accordingto a different version of this embodiment, bothlace portions 19a and 19b can bewound intightener 1, if suitable winding means is provided. Acable 27 is connectedtotightener 1, to perform the function described previously, and can be housed ingroove 99f to reach a position from which it can be manually operated, or viaopening99e in the sole. Actuation and release oftightener 1 is as described previously.

Figures 34 and 35 show a fifteenth embodiment of a shoe with a closure deviceaccording to the invention. In this embodiment, arecess 98c is provided in sole 60 tohouse tightener 1, which is fixed to the bottom of anarch support 103.Lace 19 isconnected totightener 1 and reaches the upper of the shoe throughwindow 105. Acable 27 is connected totightener 1, to perform the function described previously, andcan be housed ingroove 104 of sole 62, to reach a position from which it can bemanually operated, in the rear portion of the shoe. Actuation and release oftightener 1is as described previously.

Referring to Figs. 36, a sixteenth embodiment of a shoe with a closure deviceaccording to the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, an arch support 103a isprovided on sole 60. Arecess 108 is provided in the area of the plantar arch of support103a, near its edge, to house atightener 1. Alace 19 is connected totightener 1 and ispartially housed in asheath 13 that reaches the upper of the shoe throughwindow105a in shoe upper 62. Acable 27 is connected totightener 1, to perform the functiondescribed previously, and can be housed ingroove 108 in arch support 103a, to reacha position from which it can be manually operated, at the rear portion of the shoe. Tothis purpose, awindow 109 is provided in the rear portion of upper 62. Actuation oftightener 1 is obtained by pullingcable 27 by means of drivingmember 2, asdescribed previously. A release mechanism actuated by button 111 is provided intightener 1, to allow loosening oflace 19. Button 111 protrudes from opening 110 inupper 62.

In the embodiment of Figs. 37, 38 and 39, a shoe according to the invention comprisesa heel-supportingelement 120, shaped to surround the heel area. Such shaped elementis fixed to the sole, and the rear portion of upper 62 abuts on it. To the bottom side ofelement 120 atightener 1, as described for example with reference to Fig. 1, is fixed.

A funnel-shapedextension 31a projects laterally fromtightener 1, and houses alace19 partially housed in asheath 13.Lace 19 is connected at one end totightener 1 andat the opposite end to shoe upper 62, as described previously. A corresponding recess,not shown, is provided in sole 60 tohouse tightener 1 andextension 31a. Acable 27 isalso connected totightener 1 to actuate it, as described previously.Cable 27 is housedinsheath 65 associated to the bottom ofelement 120 and positioned longitudinallytoward the rear of the shoe. Amember 2 to allow actuation by pulling and winding ofcable 27, as already explained, is fixed at the end ofcable 27. Functioning is the sameas described in connection with other embodiments.

In the embodiment of Fig. 40 a heel-support element 120a is fixed onto the rearportion of sole 60 so that upper 62 abuts on it, as described in connection with theprevious embodiment. However,tightener 1 is fixed to a side ofelement 120a, not tothe bottom.Lace 19 is connected totightener 1 and is at least partially housed insheath 13.Cable 27 is also fixed totightener 1, is at least partially housed insheath 65and can be pulled at the rear ofelement 120a by means of a drivingmember 2, withcable winding means in it, or by a simple ring or the like, as described previously forother embodiments.

Fig. 41 shows a slightly different version of the embodiment of Fig. 40, wheretightener 1 is fixed at the rear area ofelement 120a, and shows abutton 115 to actuatea release mechanism intightener 1, to allow loosening oflace 19.

Fig. 42 shows another version of the embodiment of Fig. 40, wheretightener 1 isfixed at the rear area ofelement 120a andsheath 13 forlace 19 is at least partiallyhoused within the shoe, in a hollow space betweenelement 120a and upper 62, notshown.

In the embodiment of Fig. 43 a heel-support shapedelement 122 is fixed onto the rear portion of sole 60 so that upper 62 abuts on it, as described in connection with theprevious embodiment. However,element 122 is formed with alower wing 122adirected rearwards, substantially parallel to the bottom ofelement 122, defining ahollow space 125 withelement 122.Lower wing 122a is preferably made of elasticmaterial.Tightener 1 is fixed to the bottom side ofelement 122 and occupies part ofhollow space 125. A couple oflateral projections 127 ofelement 122 are designed tobe inserted into a couple ofcorresponding seats 128 made incentral wings 129 of sole60.Lace 19 is connected totightener 1 and is at least partially housed insheath 13.Cable 27 is also fixed totightener 1 and is at least partially housed insheath 65,directed rearwards. Drivingmember 2, with or without cable winding means in it, ispulled to actuatetightener 1, as described previously for other embodiments. Whenthe shoe is put on,lower wing 122a ofelement 122 is elastically deformed againstsole 60 and act as a cushioning element on the foot of the user. A release mechanismfortightener 1, not shown, is used to loosenlace 19.

The foregoing represent preferred embodiments of the invention. Variations andmodifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, without departing from theinventive concepts disclosed herein. For example, the structure and functioning oftightener 1 and drivingmember 2 can be different from that described with referenceto Fig. 1, provided that upon a pulling action exerted on drivingmember 2,tightener 1is actuated, which causeslace 19 to be wound intightener 1 and the shoe to be closedor tightened. All such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scopeof the invention, as defined in the following claims.