US20030196350A1

US20030196350A1 - Climbing shoe with lateral sling shot band

Info

Publication number: US20030196350A1
Application number: US10/128,074
Authority: US
Inventors: Young Chu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-23
Filing date: 2002-04-23
Publication date: 2003-10-23

Abstract

A climbing shoe with a sling shot band that wraps around the heel part of the climbing shoe and is connected to the toe part. The sling shot band is set at an angle substantially the same as the sole to increase comfort and fitness of the climbing shoe.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a rock-climbing shoe with a lateral sling shot band that will assist rock-climbers in maintaining a firm foothold by increasing comfort and fit of the climbing shoe.

2. Description of Prior Art

Rock-climbers need a comfortable and tight fitting shoe. Rock climbers often spend long periods of time on a rock surface with no means to take their shoes off. Often, a rock climber must stay immobile on a rock surface to rest. In this immobile position, a rock climber must perch himself or herself on a small protrusion in the rock face. While in this resting position, a rock climber must support his entire weights with one or both toe parts of his feet. While in the resting position, a rock climber is unable to move to stretch or tighten his shoe because his feet are needed to prevent falling. During the entire climb, the rock-climber's feet are in constant use in both climbing and resting. As a result, comfortable shoes are needed to prevent pain in the heel including Achilles' tendon and toes of the rock climber's feet.

Rock climbers also need tight fitting shoes to maximize rigidity in the toe area of their feet. Often, rock climbers use the toe part of their feet to wedge into small irregularities in the rock surface. A rock climber must often support his entire weight with his toes. As a result, the rock climber needs tight fitting shoes to provide a firm and rigid support to his toe area. If the shoe is loose, then the toes may move inside the shoe weakening the rock-climber's support.

Rock climbers wear their shoes without socks or protective covering. As a result, the bare skin of the foot is in direct contact with the rock climbing shoes. As a result, pressures on the shoes can cause chaffing and pain during climbs. Rock climbers must often trade comfort for pain because of the need for tight fitting shoes. Discomfort and pain will cause a rock climber to tire earlier and will distract a rock climber's concentration. Thus, the traditional rock climbing shoe with a sling shot band set off in an angle through-Achilles' tendon poses problems of pain on Achilles' tendon, which in turn affect the safety of the rock climber.

Traditional rock-climbing shoes consist of a sole connected to an upper portion and a sling shot band built into the heel area of the upper portion through Achilles' tendon. The sole is made of rubber and covers the entire bottom surface of the rock-climber's foot. The traditional rock climber shoe has a built in sling shot band that wraps around the rock climber's upper heel area through Achilles' tendon. The sling shot band is usually made rubber and reinforces and tightens the shoe in the heel area. The sling shot band is connected to the sole and wraps around the heel through Achilles' tendon at approximately 45-degree angle. Traditionally, the sling shot band is set at an angle of 45 degrees from the horizontal sole.

The traditional sling shot band is not comfortable because it is set off in an angle that causes pressure on the Achilles' tendon of the rock climber's foot. This pressure increases when the foot flexes during climbing. Often, the sling shot band is made of a rigid rubber material that causes chaffing or pain in the climber's Achilles' tendon. Finally, the sling shot band in the traditional rock climber's shoe is built into the upper sole and, thus, there, is no way to adjust the band to fit comfortably on the heel of the rock climber's foot.

Consequently, the design of the traditional rock-climbing shoe presents problems unique to rock-climbers: pain on Achilles' tendon and looseness.

There is a need for a climbing shoe with a lateral sling shot band to provide the comfort and fitness for the rock-climber's foot.

The lateral sling shot band will set the sling shot band at a more comfortable angle than the traditional climbing shoe and will provide a tight fit for the toe area. A lateral sling shot band will also allow a climber to adjust the fitness of his shoe to the individual shape of his foot. The lateral sling shot band will give the rock-climber additional safety and confidence in rock-climbing by increasing comfort and fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rock-climbing shoe with lateral sling shot band fulfills the objectives of a rock-climbing shoe that: will provide the better comfort and fit. A rock-climbing shoe with a lateral sling shot band fulfills the objective of a rock-climbing shoe that provides the better comfort by allowing the shoes to wrap around the heel of the foot at a more comfortable angle. A rock-climbing shoe with a lateral sling shot band fulfills the objective of a rock-climbing shoe with a better fit by pulling the toe part of the shoes into the toes for better rigidity.

The rock-climbing shoe with a lateral sling shot band includes an upper portion, a sole and a sling shot band.

The upper portion is made of various materials and conforms to the shape of the foot. The upper portion varies in size according to the size the wearer's foot. The upper portion covers the flash sides of the wearer's foot.

The sole is made of rubber and covers the bottom of the foot and is attached to the upper portion. The sole varies in size according to the size of the wearer's foot.

The sling shot band is made of rubber and is attached to the toe part of the shoe and extends back towards the heel. The sling shot band wraps around the heel part of the rock climber's foot and covers the outside of the upper portion. The sling shot band is set at substantially the same angle as the sole.

The rock-climbing shoe with a lateral sling shot band is further described with detail in the appended figures, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exterior side view of the climbing shoe. [0018]
FIG. 2 is an exterior top view of the climbing shoe.[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 2, a [0020] climbing shoe 10 includes an upper portion 11 and a sole 12 attached to the upper portion 11. There is an opening 16 in the shoe 10 to allow a foot to enter. The toe part 13 is at the front of the climbing shoe 10 and is connected to the sole 12 and the upper portion 11. The sling shot band 14 is connected to the toe part 13 and covers the heel area 15. The sling shot band 14 covers the exterior of the upper portion 11. The sling shot band 14 is set at substantially the same angle as the sole 12.
Referring to the exterior side view of FIG. 1, the upper portion [0021] 11 can include any material commonly used for shoes, such as leather, nylon and cotton fabrics. There is an opening 16 at the top for a foot to enter. The heel of the foot would rest in the heel area 15 of the shoe 10, and the toes in the toe part 13-of the shoes 10. The bottom of the shoe 10 is covered by a sole 12. The sole 12 can be made of rubber polymer. The sole 12 is substantially flat and covers the bottom of the foot. The sling shot band 14 can be made of rubber. The sling shot band 14 is attached to the toe part 13 of the climbing shoe 10 and wraps around the heel part 15. The sling shot band is set a substantially the same angle as the sole 12.
Referring to the exterior top view of FIG. 2, the sling shot [0022] band 14 is located around the heel part 15 of the shoe 10. The toe part 13 covers the front of the shoe 10. The sling shot band 14 is connected to the toe part 13 and wraps around the heel part 15. The sling shot band 14 is behind the and around the opening 16.

Reference Numerals in Drawings

[0023] 10 climbing shoe
[0024] 11 upper portion
[0025] 12 sole
[0026] 13 toe part
[0027] 14 sling shot band
[0028] 15 heel part
[0029] 16 opening

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A climbing shoe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) a sole attached to the upper portion; and

c) a sling shot band, wherein the sling shot band wraps around the heel part of the upper portion.

2. The climbing shoe of claim 1, wherein the sling shot band is connected to the toe part.

3. The climbing shoe of claim 2, wherein the sling shot band covers the heel part of the upper portion.

4. The climbing shoe of claim 3, wherein the sling shot band is set at substantially the same angle as the sole.

5. A climbing shoe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) a sole attached to the upper portion;

c) a toe part; and

d) a sling shot band, wherein the sling shot band is attached to the toe part.

6. The climbing shoe of claim 5, wherein the sling shot band wraps around the heel of the climbing shoe.

7. The climbing shoe of claim 6, wherein the sling shot band is not attached to the upper portion.

8. The climbing shoe of claim 7, wherein the sling shot band is set at a horizontal angle and covers the flash sides of the foot.

9. The climbing shoe of claim 8, wherein the sling shot band is made of rubber.

10. The climbing shoe of claim 9, wherein the sling shot band is movable.

11. The climbing shoe of claim 10, wherein the sling shot band is adjustable.

12. A climbing shoe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) a sole attached to the upper portion; and

c) an elastic band.

13. The climbing shoe of claim 12, wherein the elastic band wraps around the rear of the climbing shoe.

14. The climbing shoe of claim 13, wherein the elastic band pulls on the toe part of the shoe.

15. The climbing shoe of claim 14, wherein the elastic band is substantially flat.

16. The climbing shoe of claim 15, wherein the elastic band is flexible.

17. The climbing shoe of claim 16, wherein the elastic band can be tightened and adjusted by means such as a buckle.