Footwear in Plastic Made by Pressure Casting with Fastening Supports

Europäisches Patentamt & (19) European Patent Office

Office européen des brevets (11) EP 1 712 146 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 18.10.2006 Bulletin 2006/42 A43B 3/12 (2006.01) B29D 31/50 (2006.01) A43C 11/02 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 05425404.0

(22) Date of filing: 31.05.2005

(84) Designated Contracting States: (71) Applicant: Patent Production s.r.l. AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR 50051 Castelfiorentino FI (IT) HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: (72) Inventor: Montalbano, Maria Angela AL BA HR LV MK YU 50053 Empoli (FI) (IT)

(30) Priority: 14.04.2005 IT PI20050008 (74) Representative: Turini, Laura P.za S. Giovanni, 8 56038 Ponsacco (PI) (IT)

(54) Footwear in plastic made by pressure casting with fastening supports

(57) This invention consists of footwear (1) in plastic and a button (2) that enters the buttonhole of a buckle made by pressure casting, which includes, realized in a (4) in stiffer plastic material, where the open end of said single body by same pressure casting, a back strap (3) strap stops. EP 1 712 146 A1

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 1 712 146 A1 2

Description ther by seam, with the above- described hygienic conse- quences, or by soldering, with the technological need to Technical Field find materials anyway compatible with casting. Which not only involves a further manufacturing process generating [0001] The present invention concerns the technical 5 costs, but it’s also always still subject, like all the varied sector relative to the production of footwear and specif- components, to possible divisions, cuts, breaks or man- ically of plastic footwear, such as clogs, sandals and sim- ufacturing imperfections that make it a critical point of ilar. resistance in time. As a matter of fact, the buckle cannot [0002] In particular, this invention concerns the specif- be realized with the same material as the footwear, be- ic production of footwear in antistatic plastic material, 10 cause the soft plastic wouldn’t realize a firm clasp of the made by pressure casting and commonly used by health strap, coming out from its place and so leaving the foot workers in hospitals or closed health structures, where free. Therefore, the buckle must be made of more rigid the bacterial hygienic control is very important. Despite plastic that, being different from the plastic used for the this particular purpose, this footwear has also conquered footwear, cannot be soldered to it, but must be closed by a wider public, beyond that specific sector, thanks to its 15 other means and principally by a metal rivet subject to comfortable and practical use. It has the main character- wear and tear, oxidation and other technical problems. istic to be simply manufactured, in this specific case with [0007] From the opposite side of the footwear, the one a single material, with surfaces easy to clean and accu- holding the fastening, the use of the metal buckle, natu- rately disinfect, features that, together with the above- rally subject to corrosion, not only endangers the total mentioned comfort, make it essential in the clothing of 20 safety of the footwear, but this accessory also needs a hospital personnel or anyone standing for many hours separate element, fixed to the external side of the clog, during the day. which involves all the problems already described in the [0003] This product is perfect in rooms with specific rough fastening of the buckle. bacterial hygienic needs, such as certain hospital wards [0008] In practice, this drawback is confirmed by the and obviously the operating theatres. It’s certainly easier 25 fact that the fastening strap is often ignored or removed, to clean and sterilize footwear homogeneously manufac- if existing, or even eliminated at all by choosing a different tured, stamped, with no seams and no porous or absorb- kind of footwear without it. ing materials, or however shaped so that it creates few bends or small gaps, natural receptacles of impurity, Disclosure of invention which make the cleaning and sterilizing operations more 30 complex. [0009] This invention aims at solving the above-mentioned and other drawbacks, supplying footwear made Background Art by plastic pressure casting, comprising in a single body all the essential elements that allow the fastening of the [0004] Nowadays, this footwear is almost totally made 35 strap over the heel. In particular, in said footwear, both in plastic material, by pressure casting, except for the the strap and the buckle are realized by the same plastic strap, which is made apart, in a second manufacturing pressure casting employed for the footwear. phase, and then soldered to the inner surface of the foot- [0010] The advantages resulting from the present in- wear, while, when put on, it passes on the back over the vention essentially consist of the fact that it’s possible to heel and is closed by a buckle on the external side of the 40 eliminate the metal components and realize footwear same footwear. completely made of plastic; that it’s easy to wear and [0005] Unfortunately, this manufacturing technology easy to clean and sterilize, thanks to its manufacturing necessarily alters the above-mentioned characteristics uniformity; that the production costs are reduced, avoid- of uniform and simple maintenance when cleaning the ing operations of soldering, sewing or rivets, using for product, by overlapping different materials, creating45 the fastening support the same plastic material used for bends and small gaps possible receptacles of germs and the footwear. In addition, said footwear realized in a sin- bacteria. In addition, the fastening of the buckle on the gle body, involves a minimum risk of break in critical external part of the footwear is often made of metal, like points, differently from the shoes assembled with various in the common shoes with similar type of fastening. Which supports. eventually involves an inevitable oxidation of the foot- 50 [0011] This invention consists of footwear in plastic, wear and makes it not suitable for certain purposes when made by pressure casting. In the internal back portion, it’s necessary to eliminate all the infecting agents. the strap (3) is applied at suitable height for closing the [0006] Furthermore, the current manufacturing tech- ankle. Said strap, having prefixed length according to the nology, generally designed for the production in a single various physical needs, extends from the wearing edge body of the footwear, needs a different manufacturing 55 until it fastens by suitable buckle (4) over one of the but- process for strap and buckle, involving more and different tons (6) placed on the same buckle. Said buckle (4) is working phases, since it’s later necessary to apply the made in a single body and has a surface (8) comprising buckle to the inside. This process can be carried out ei- one or more buttons (6), for fastening the strap, and a

2 3 EP 1 712 146 A1 4 loop (7). Said surface (8) also comprises a buttonhole equipped with suitable holes, will find the right place for (5) for the insertion of the button (2), also realized by the its size, regulated on shaped buttons (6), realized in the same pressure casting employed for the footwear. middle part of the same strap. [0012] The flexible, soft, antistatic and rough stamped [0020] This invention, thanks to its characteristic of surfaces making the footwear, are suitable for its purpos- 5 manufacturing in a single body, involves many econom- es, both in the portion holding the foot, obviously ana- ical advantages, avoiding successive necessary opera- tomically shaped, and in the fastening strap that is elastic tions of soldering or sewing the fastening support. The and soft so as not to cause unpleasant sensations in same manufacturing characteristic guarantees a safer contact with the user’s heel. and longer life of the footwear, eliminating the critical [0013] On the contrary, the detail of the buckle fixing 10 points that naturally arise where different materials over- the strap to the button is conveniently made of plastic lap. material being harder and stiffer, which ensures a longer [0021] This invention combines the soft wearing por- life and a safer hold, without causing any physical trouble, tion with the resistant and hard fastening support, the since this support is out of the footwear and not in direct only detail not connected with the manufacturing. Thanks contact with the foot. 15 indeed to the particular type and material of the fastening [0014] Reduced to its essential structure and with ref- support, this invention permits to prevent to use metal erence to the figures of the enclosed drawings, the foot- parts at all, but preserving the same functional efficacy, wear in plastic made by pressure casting, according to so avoiding natural oxidation and corrosion. the invention, includes on its body a back strap (3), pass- [0022] Conveniently, the single material used, togeth- ing over the heel, and a button (2), extending on the op- 20 er with the possibility given by the manufacturing tech- posite side to the one where the strap starts out, which nology of realizing the invention in a single body, permits is inserted by pressure into the buttonhole (5) of a buckle to eliminate angles, gaps, "shadow" sectors or difficult to inside which the open end of the same strap stops. All achieve, so as to easily get a perfect bacterial cleaning these components are made by the same plastic pres- of the footwear, which makes it perfect for its specific sure casting used for the footwear. 25 purpose as well as for any other use. [0015] Conveniently, the strap (3) starts out from one [0023] In practice, the manufacturing details may how- side of the footwear and proceeds with a compatible di- ever equally vary as regards shape, size, position of el- rection and for a prefixed length sufficient to cover the ements and type of materials used, but still remain within back portion of the foot. Said strap extends from the wear- the range of the idea proposed as a solution and, con- ing edge until it fastens, by suitable buckle (4), over one 30 sequently, within the limits of the protection granted by of the buttons (6) placed on the same buckle. this patent for invention. [0016] Said buckle (4) is made in a single body in stiffer plastic material than the one used for the footwear and Brief description of drawings has a surface (8) comprising one or more buttons (6) for fastening the strap, a loop (7) and a buttonhole (5) for 35 [0024] These and further advantages, purposes and the insertion of the button (2). characteristics of the present invention can be better un- [0017] The projecting button (2), realized by pressure derstood by every expert in this field by reading the fol- casting together with the footwear, can have any shape lowing description and referring to the enclosed draw- as long as it enters the buttonhole (5) on the buckle. Said ings, given as practical examples of the invention, but button can either be circular, square, hexagonal or have 40 not to be considered restrictive. any other shape providing it is realized in a single body with the footwear. This button is made of a body and a - Fig. 1 shows a side external view of the footwear projecting head, greater than the body, which, thanks to (1). On this side we can see the button (2), made by the elastic material it is made of, perfectly enters the but- pressure casting together with the footwear, where tonhole (5) extending later beyond that and locking the 45 the buckle (4) is fastened. Said buckle is an inde- buckle. pendent piece made of plastic material less flexible [0018] The footwear includes a supporting base, of but more resistant. On the opposite side, still con- standard thickness, internally shaped for getting an an- nected to the footwear (1) and manufactured by the atomical sole, and a top surface, less thick and sufficiently same process, we have the strap (3) that is going to soft. From the inner portion of this top surface, the strap 50 enter the buckle (4). extends, suitably orientated, while on the outer part, there - Fig. 2 shows the opposite side of the footwear (1), is a button similarly manufactured. from the inside. It shows that no seams or soldering [0019] In order to fasten strap and button, we use a exist between the footwear (1) and the strap (3), said particular buckle made of plastic material, being stiffer strap being integral part of the manufacturing by and resistant to wear and tear, provided with a buttonhole 55 pressure casting. for the simple insertion by pressure of the external button - Fig. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the (2) of the footwear and, on the opposite side, with a loop components: button (2) and strap (3) are integral (7) for the insertion of the strap of the footwear that, parts of the footwear (1), while the buckle (4) is fixed

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to the button by means of the buttonhole (5), thanks indeed to the flexible and soft plastic of the same button, which is the same as the wearing portion of the footwear. The surface (8) of the buckle (4) also includes a loop (7) and one or more buttons (6) that 5 enters one of the holes placed on the strap (3). - Fig. 4 shows how the button (2a)can haveany shape as long as compatible with the buttonhole (5a) of the buckle (4) to insert. 10

Claims

1. Footwear in plastic made by pressure casting characterized in that it includes on its body a back strap 15 (3), passing over theheel, and a button(2), extending on the opposite side to the one where the strap starts out, which is inserted by pressure into the buttonhole (5) of a buckle inside which the open end of the same strap stops; all these components are made by the 20 same plastic pressure casting used for the footwear.

2. Footwear in plastic made by pressure casting as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the strap (3) starts out from one side of the footwear and pro- 25 ceeds with a compatible direction and for a prefixed length sufficient to cover the back portion of the foot; said strap extends from the wearing edge until it fastens, by suitable buckle (4), over one of the buttons (6) placed on the same buckle. 30

3. Footwear in plastic made by pressure casting as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said buckle (4) is made in a single body in stiffer plastic material than the one used for the footwear and has a surface 35 (8) comprising one or more buttons (6) for fastening the strap, a loop (7) and a buttonhole (5) for the insertion of the button (2).

4. Footwear in plastic made by pressure casting as40 claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the projecting button (2), realized by pressure casting together with the footwear, can have any shape as long as it enters the buttonhole (5) on the buckle. 45 5. Footwear in plastic made by pressure casting as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that this button is made of a body and a projecting head, greater than the body, which, thanks to the elastic material it is made of, perfectly enters the buttonhole (5) ex- 50 tending later beyond that and locking the buckle.

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