Sports Footwear Having a Custom Fitting Device

Abstract

The present invention refers to sports footwear having a custom fitting device comprising a plurality of expandable bladders arranged within the footwear at a respective plurality of regions of the wearer's foot; an actuation unit can be associated to the footwear in fluid communication with the bladders by means of suitable connection means to actuate the selective expansion of the bladders; the bladders and the connection means are integrally formed on a support element made in one piece at least partly wrapping the wearer's foot and fastened to the footwear.

1 . Sports footwear having a custom fitting device comprising
 a plurality of expandable bladders arranged within said footwear at a respective plurality of regions of the wearer's foot,   an actuation unit for actuating the selective expansion of said plurality of bladders being associable to said footwear, wherein   said actuation unit is in fluid communication with said plurality of bladders by means of suitable connection means,   said plurality of bladders and said connection means being integrally formed on a support element made in one piece at least partly wrapping the wearer's foot and fastened to said footwear.   
     
     
         2 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said support element is formed by at least two material sheets superimposed and joined to each other at least at the peripheral areas of said plurality of bladders and said connection means. 
     
     
         3 . Sports footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least two sheets are also joined to each other at the peripheral areas of said support element. 
     
     
         4 . Sports footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least two sheets are joined to each other at one or more internal areas of one or more bladders of said plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         5 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said support element, obtained flat and in which said plurality of bladders and said connection means are formed, is joined at least two peripheral edges to be shaped so as to at least partly wrap the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         6 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , comprising a shell or upper and a cuff internally having a padded lining or a removable inner boot. 
     
     
         7 . Sports footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein said custom fitting device is interposed between said shell or upper and said padded lining or removable inner boot. 
     
     
         8 . Sports footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein said support element can be constrained to the lateral inner walls of said shell or upper. 
     
     
         9 . Sports footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein said support element can be constrained to the inner surface of the sole or of the insole of said shell or upper. 
     
     
         10 . Sports footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein said support element can be constrained to the inner surface of said sole or said insole by means of a base to which said support element can be associated. 
     
     
         11 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said custom fitting device comprises at least one first expandable bladder arranged approximately at an upper and lateral region of the forefoot and at least one second expandable bladder, independent from said first bladder, arranged around a malleolar region. 
     
     
         12 . Sports footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said custom fitting device is provided according to a substantially symmetric configuration, said first bladder at least partly wrapping both sides of the forefoot and said second bladder at least partly surrounding both sides of the malleolar regions. 
     
     
         13 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection means comprise a first tube and a second tube separate and independent from said first tube. 
     
     
         14 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said custom fitting device is constituted by a pneumatic system for inflating said plurality of bladders. 
     
     
         15 . Sports footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said actuation unit comprises a first pump and a second pump in fluid communication respectively with said first bladder and with said second bladder. 
     
     
         16 . Sports footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein said first tube connects said first bladder in fluid communication with said first pump and said second tube connects said second bladder in fluid communication with said second pump. 
     
     
         17 . Sports footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein said actuation unit further comprises a first release control and a second release control in fluid communication with said first bladder and, respectively, with said second bladder through said first tube and, respectively, second tube, said first release control and second release control being adapted to actuate the controlled release of fluid from said first bladder and second bladder. 
     
     
         18 . Sports footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said custom fitting device comprises a system for filling said plurality of bladders by injecting an expandable material through said actuation unit and along said connection means, said actuation unit comprising a pair of nozzles provided with a valve. 
     
     
         19 . Alpine skiing, mountaineering or snowboarding boot having a custom fitting device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . Ice or roller skate having a custom fitting device according to  claim 1 .