초록 ▼

An article of footwear including a sole and having a low upper that is at least partially elastic, with an instep portion provided with an elastic tightening system extending from the top of the instep to the area of the sole. The elastic tightening system has a central portion extending over the to

An article of footwear including a sole and having a low upper that is at least partially elastic, with an instep portion provided with an elastic tightening system extending from the top of the instep to the area of the sole. The elastic tightening system has a central portion extending over the top of the instep and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole. Additionally, the elastic tightening system has a branch extending toward the heel on at least a lateral and medial side of the footwear article, and a branch extending toward the toes on at least a lateral and medial side of the footwear article.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An article of footwear comprising:a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear; a sole; an elastic tightening system comprising an el

1. An article of footwear comprising:a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear; a sole; an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and extending continuously from the instep area to an area of the sole. 2. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tightening system comprises a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole.3. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the central portion and the branches of the elastic tightening system form a unitary element.4. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tightening system comprises at least one branch extending toward a heel portion on a lateral side of the article of footwear and at least one branch extending toward the heel portion on a medial side of the article of footwear.5. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tightening system comprises at least one branch extending toward a toe portion on a lateral side of the article of footwear and at least one branch extending toward the toe portion on a medial side of the article of footwear.6. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tightening system is made of rubber.7. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper is made of an elastic material.8. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear according to claim 1, said method comprising:affixing the elastic tightening system flat to a precut form of the upper; shaping and assembling the upper; gluing the outer sole to the shaped and assembled upper. 9. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tightening system comprises no lace.10. An article of footwear comprising:a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear; a sole; an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole; the elastic tightening system comprising a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole, each of said branches including a respective lower end; and a lower border, the lower ends of each of said branches being connected to the lower border. 11. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tightening system is affixed to the upper.12. An article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the elastic tightening system is affixed to the upper in the area of a central portion of the upper and in the area of the sole.13. An article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein the elastic tightening system includes a plurality of branches affixed to the upper.14. An article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the border constitutes a portion of strapping for protecting the upper.15. An article of footwear comprising:a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear; a sole; an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole; a strapping extending along at least a part of a lower periphery of the upper, the elastic tightening system comprising portions on medial and lateral sides of the upper, the strapping being non-adjustably fixed to said portions of the elastic tightening system. 16. An article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the upper comprises a portion adapted to extend over a foot of a wearer at least from an instep of the wearer to and including an entirety of the wearer's toes.17. An article of footwear comprising:a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear; a sole; an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole; the elastic tightening system comprising a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole; the central portion and the branches of the elastic tightening system being made of the same elastic material. 18. An article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein at least the central portion of the elastic tightening system is permanently affixed to the upper.19. An article of footwear comprising:a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear; a sole; an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole; the elastic tightening system comprising a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole; the central portion and the branches of the elastic tightening system forming a unitary element; at least the central portion of the elastic tightening system is permanently affixed to the upper. 20. A climbing shoe comprising:a sole; an upper fixed to the sole, the upper comprising an elastic material adapted to stretch upon insertion of a foot within the shoe, the upper fixed to the sole at least along a continuous peripheral extent along a medial side of the shoe, along a front of the shoe, and along a lateral side of the shoe; a tightening system comprising: an instep portion adapted to be positioned over an instep of a foot of a wearer when the foot of the wearer is within the shoe; a lower medial portion and a lower lateral portion, the lower medial and lateral portions being fixed relative to the sole; a plurality of medial branches connecting the instep portion to the lower medial portion, and a plurality of lateral branches connecting the instep portion to the lower lateral portion; at least the instep portion and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches comprising a continuous connection from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe. 21. A climbing shoe according to claim 20, wherein:the instep portion, the lower medial and lateral portions, and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches comprise a single material. 22. A climbing shoe according to claim 20, wherein:the lower medial and lateral portions of the tightening system comprise respective borders fixed to the sole. 23. A climbing shoe according to claim 20, wherein:the instep portion, the lower medial and lateral portions, and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches are comprised of a single elastic material. 24. A climbing shoe according to claim 20, wherein:the instep portion, the lower medial and lateral portions, and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches are comprised a single rubber material. 25. A climbing shoe according to claim 20, wherein:the elastic tightening system comprises no lace. 26. A climbing shoe according to claim 20, wherein:the upper comprises a portion adapted to envelop a foot of a wearer at least from an instep of the wearer to and including an entirety of the wearer's toes. 27. An article of footwear according to claim 20, wherein:the tightening system overlies the upper and the upper is visible between the medial and lateral branches of the tightening system. 28. An article of footwear comprising:a sole; an upper fixed to the sole, the upper comprising an elastic material adapted to stretch upon insertion of a foot within the shoe, the upper fixed to the sole at least along a continuous peripheral extent along a medial side of the shoe, along a front of the shoe, and along a lateral side of the shoe; a tightening system comprising: an instep portion adapted to be positioned over an instep of a foot of a wearer when the foot of the wearer is within the shoe; a lower medial portion and a lower lateral portion, the lower medial and lateral portions being fixed relative to the sole; a plurality of medial branches connecting the instep portion to the lower medial portion, and a plurality of lateral branches connecting the instep portion to the lower lateral portion; at least the instep portion and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches comprising a continuous connection from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe. 29. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the instep portion, the lower medial and lateral portions, and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches comprise a single material. 30. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the lower medial and lateral portions of the tightening system comprise respective borders fixed to the sole. 31. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the instep portion, the lower medial and lateral portions, and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches are comprised of a single elastic material. 32. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the instep portion, the lower medial and lateral portions, and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches are comprised a single rubber material. 33. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the elastic tightening system comprises no lace. 34. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the upper comprises a portion adapted to envelop a foot of a wearer at least from an instep of the wearer to and including an entirety of the wearer's toes. 35. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein:the tightening system overlies the upper and the upper is visible between the medial and lateral branches of the tightening system.