JP7649060B2 - footwear - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a new type of footwear that can be easily put on and taken off without using hands or a shoehorn, that can hold the foot properly without putting strain on the foot so that the footwear does not come off accidentally while walking, and that has a shape that fits the shape from the heel to the ankle, improving support for the Achilles tendon.

There was a demand for footwear that could be easily put on and taken off without using one's hands, even when both hands were full, and footwear that elderly people suffering from foot swelling could put on and take off without having to sit or bend over.

In view of this, the following footwear has been proposed:
Patent Document 1 discloses footwear in which a hard protrusion extending diagonally upward and backward is formed on the upper end of the heel part at the rear end of the upper so that the footwear can be easily put on without using hands. As a result, the protrusion reliably guides the heel of the foot into the footwear, making it easy to put on the footwear without using hands or a shoe horn. However, since the protrusion is only formed long and diagonally upward and backward, the heel holding effect is only obtained by the pad part located on the side of the heel part, and the feeling of holding the foot is weak.

Patent Document 2 discloses footwear in which the upper part of the footwear is provided with zippers on both the upper and heel parts, allowing them to be opened to the left and right. This allows the upper part and heel part to be opened to the left and right, making it easy to put on and take off the footwear. However, opening and closing the zippers on the upper and heel parts requires the wearer to sit or bend down.

Patent Document 3 discloses footwear in which a heel guide section that guides the underside of the heel when the foot is put on is integrally formed with a reinforcing member provided in the heel section, and the height of the heel guide section is specified. This makes it easy to put on the foot, provides adequate support for the foot, and allows the ankle to bend freely. However, because the height of the heel guide section is limited to the height of the calcaneus at most, the foot is not held firmly by the calcaneus.

Patent Document 4 discloses a shoe with a protrusion on at least one side or the other side of the inner circumferential surface of the heel. This makes it difficult for the footwear to slip off while walking. However, because the protrusion structure uses an elastic body on the side of the heel, it is difficult to obtain a proper hold on the foot, as the pressure is too strong.

While these prior art technologies allow footwear to be easily put on and taken off without using hands or a shoehorn, they also have problems with the foot slipping out or floating when walking, causing the footwear to come off accidentally, and problems with the elastic members that are meant to prevent the footwear from coming off easily applying too much pressure. As a result, it has not been possible to create footwear that is easy to put on and take off and that properly holds the foot in place without putting strain on the foot, preventing the footwear from coming off accidentally.

JP 2022-139151 A JP 2012-019953 A Patent No. 6569154 JP 2011-041590 A

The present invention was made in light of these circumstances, and aims to provide footwear that can be easily put on and taken off while standing without using hands or a shoehorn, that prevents the foot from slipping out or floating when walking, that holds the foot properly without putting strain on the foot so that the footwear does not come off accidentally, and that has a shape that fits the shape from the heel to the ankle, improving support for the Achilles tendon.

The footwear according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, comprises an upper in which an opening, a main body into which the toes are inserted and a heel with which the heel comes into contact are integrally formed, and a sole, the upper being formed with a heel guide section curved upward toward the rear of the opening, a cushion section made of an elastic member formed on the inner surface of the heel section in a shape curved forward and coming into contact with the wearer's Achilles tendon, and a heel support section formed on the inner surface of the heel section in a smooth arch shape in the horizontal direction and thickening upward, the heel guide section and the heel support section including a commonly integrated heel core made of a hard material, the heel core section gradually inclining forward from the sole as it rises. The heel support part has a shape such that the heel portion rises toward the ankle and is formed in an arch shape surrounding the heel horizontally, and that the heel portion thickens upward so as to protrude maximum forward at the point where the inclination angle between the horizontal plane and the outer curve of the rear wall of the heel portion is minimum and where the footwear begins to curve backward , and above the point where the heel portion curves backward in the footwear to follow the shape of the ankle, and below the point where the heel portion starts to curve backward in the footwear, the heel portion core material of the heel support part abuts against the heel to hold it, and the cushion part covers the thick part of the heel portion core material that protrudes maximum forward, and is arranged to abut against the wearer's ankle above the point where the heel portion core material starts to curve backward in the footwear .

It is preferable that the heel portion has an outline curve of the rear wall of the heel that rises from the sole and slopes toward the ankle at an angle ranging from 50 degrees to 60 degrees upward as measured from a horizontal plane at the front of the footwear.

It is preferable that a part or the whole of the main body of the upper is stretchable.

It is preferable that the hues of the materials and structures constituting the upper body be complementary or accent colors.

It is preferable that a strip - shaped reinforcing member containing a fluorescent or reflective material is attached in the vertical direction to the boundary between the side wall portion and the heel portion of the upper.

The footwear of the present invention has a heel support part formed in a smooth horizontal arch shape on the inner surface of the heel part, which is thicker toward the top. The thick arch part on the inner surface of the heel part can firmly press down on the calcaneal protuberance from all sides, improving the foot hold.

In particular, the effect is further enhanced by providing the thick portion in the heel core material made of a hard material in the heel support section. This provides an extremely high level of foothold when the footwear is worn, suppresses the foot from slipping out or floating when walking, and prevents the footwear from accidentally coming off. This makes it possible to realize footwear that can be easily put on and taken off while standing, hands-free, and that can hold the foot properly without putting strain on the foot when walking, etc.

1 is a side view of footwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view of a footwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rear heel wall of the footwear according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along line AA of FIG. 2. 3 is a diagram illustrating the cross-sectional structure of the rear heel wall of the footwear according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the inclination angle α of the outer curve of the rear heel wall. FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view of footwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which two types of stretchable materials are used in the upper cover portion.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 4 are schematic diagrams showing footwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of footwear according to the first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a front view from above. Footwear according to this embodiment is composed of an opening 1, an upper 4 in which a main body 2 into which the toes are inserted and a heel part 3 with which the heel comes into contact are integrally formed, and a sole 5.

The main body 2 of the upper 4 is made up of an upper cover 7 that covers the instep from the opening 1 to the toe 6, a tab 8 for lifting the upper cover 7, and a side wall 9 that extends from the side of the opening 1 to the heel 3. The heel 3 is attached to the heel, with a reinforcing material 10 interposed between the boundary between the upper cover 7 and the side wall 9 that continues from the opening 1, and has a heel rear wall 11 at the rear end of the opening 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heel rear wall 11 in Figure 2 taken along line A-A. The upper 4 is formed of an outer skin 12 arranged on the outside of the footwear and an inner skin 13 arranged on the inside of the footwear. The material may be the same for the entire footwear, or different materials may be used depending on the part of the footwear, or between the outer skin 12 and the inner skin 13.

In the rear heel wall 11, a heel core 14 made of a hard material such as synthetic resin is provided between the outer skin 12 and the inner skin 13 to reinforce the heel 3 and maintain the shape of the opening 1.

At the top end of the heel core 14, a heel guide 15 is formed integrally with the heel core 14, and when the foot is inserted into the opening 1, the heel slides along the top surface of the heel guide 15, guiding the toes into the opening 1. The heel guide 15 is curved upward toward the rear of the opening 1, making it possible to prevent the end of the heel guide 15 from being caught or folded inside the footwear when the heel is inserted.

The inner surface of the heel part 3 of the heel core 14 is provided with a cushion part 16 made of an elastic material that is curved forward and comes into contact with the wearer's Achilles tendon. When the foot is inserted through the opening 1, the cushion part 16 is compressed and deformed to allow the foot to pass through, and after the foot is inserted, the restoring force of the cushion part 16 presses against the Achilles tendon, making it possible to hold the ankle appropriately without putting strain on it. The elastic material of the cushion part 16 can be sponge, urethane, rubber, silicon, felt, memory foam, or other elastic materials.

Here, the heel support 17 is formed in an arch shape in the horizontal direction of the heel 3, and is thicker toward the top. The heel support 17 is formed by making the heel core 14 arch-shaped so as to surround the heel in the horizontal direction, with the cushion part 16 at the center, and being thicker in the vertical direction than other parts. This emphasizes the vertical step on the inside of the heel support 17, and the calcaneal protuberance of the heel is inserted below the step in the heel support 17 and is wrapped in the heel support 17, so that the foot is appropriately held in the footwear without burdening it, and the effect of preventing the footwear from accidentally coming off can be further improved.

When forming a heel support portion 17 on the inner surface of the heel portion 3 that is thicker toward the top, if the structure is such that it protrudes only due to the thickness of the heel core material 14 and the cushion portion 16, this is not preferable from the viewpoint of smooth putting on and taking off of the footwear. Therefore, it is preferable to make the inner surface of the heel portion 3 smooth by using a curved structure that is approximately S-shaped (inverted S) formed on the cross section of the heel rear wall 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the heel rear wall 11 rises upward from the sole 5 to accommodate the heel and hold the ankle, then tilts forward of the footwear to follow the ankle, and after the tilt angle α between the horizontal plane and the outer curve of the heel rear wall reaches a minimum angle, it curves backward of the footwear to fit the shape of the ankle.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the heel core 14 of the heel support 17 is preferably shaped to abut against the heel below the point where the shoe rises upward from the sole 5, tilts forward along the heel, and then begins to curve backward along the shape of the ankle, i.e., the point where the angle of inclination α between the horizontal plane and the contour curve of the rear wall 11 is minimum, and the cushion 16 is preferably shaped to abut against the ankle above the point where the heel core 14 of the heel support 17 is shaped to abut against the heel.

The optimal angle of inclination α of the contour curve of the rear wall 11 is preferably in the range of 50 degrees to 60 degrees measured from the horizontal plane at the front of the footwear. If the inclination angle α of the contour curve is less than 50 degrees, the space for the heel becomes narrow, making the foot less comfortable to wear, and if it is more than 60 degrees, the heel does not catch sufficiently. By setting the angle in the above range, the step of the heel support part 17 catches the protruding calcaneal protuberance more effectively, thereby improving the foot hold, suppressing the foot from slipping out or floating when walking, and further improving the effect of preventing the footwear from accidentally coming off. Furthermore, the inclination angle α of the contour curve is more preferably in the range of 55 degrees to 60 degrees.

For this reason, the cross-sectional shape of the heel core material 14 is made of a material of uniform thickness overall, with a smooth thick section provided in the heel core material 14 from the point where the inclination angle α of the contour curve exceeds the minimum angle upward to the heel guide section, and the cushion section 16 is abutted against the thick section of the heel core material 14 to form a smooth structure, thereby realizing footwear that is easy to put on and take off, and has appropriate holding power without putting strain on the foot.

As another structure for making footwear easy to put on and take off, the upper cover 7 of the upper can be made stretchable by using a stretchable material in part or the entirety of the upper cover 7. Specifically, mesh materials, knit materials, synthetic leather, etc. can be used, but are not limited to these. Depending on the purpose of the footwear, the stretchable material such as mesh material is not limited to one type, and multiple materials with different stretchability or materials with different stretch directions can be combined, and further the locations and proportions of use can be appropriately combined.

In the first embodiment, only one type of material was used as the stretchable material for the upper cover 7, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this. Figure 5 shows footwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which has the same basic structure as the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the upper cover 7 is made of a first stretchable material 18 and a second stretchable material 19, and in order to make the footwear easier to put on, a more stretchable material is used for the first stretchable material 18, and a less stretchable material is used for the second stretchable material 19, reinforcing the structure of the footwear.

As a result, even if the instep of the foot is pushed toward the front of the footwear when the toes are inserted through the opening 1 and the heel is slid along the heel guide 15 to put on the footwear, the elastic material of the instep cover 7 can absorb this deformation, and after putting on the footwear, the restoring force of the elastic material of the instep cover 7 can hold the foot properly within the footwear without putting any strain on it.

As another structure that makes it easier to put on and take off, markers can be provided to make it easier to see the position and orientation of the footwear when putting on the footwear in the dark. One example of a method of providing markers using simple means is to provide a fluorescent or reflective material on part of the footwear, which emits light to inform the wearer of the position and orientation of the footwear. For this reason, reinforcing members 10 containing fluorescent or reflective material can be attached in the vertical direction as strip-shaped reinforcing material provided at the boundary between the side wall portion 9 and the heel portion 3 of the upper 4, making it easier for the wearer to see the footwear.

To enhance the design, a mesh material is used as the second stretchable material 19 as an example. In this case, the mesh part of the mesh material is dark gray, and the base part is golden yellow, creating a contrasting color relationship. By placing the bright golden yellow in the overall calm color tone of dark gray, a single accent is added as a contrasting color, making it possible to create footwear with excellent design.

The hues of such accent colors are not limited to the color scheme of the disclosed form. For example, if one side is dark gray, the other side can be accented with light blue, pink, red, or green to create a lively impression. Other complementary color combinations that can be used include red and blue-green, orange and blue, yellow and purple, red-purple and green, and light blue and vermilion.

The belt-shaped reinforcing member 10 attached to the boundary between the instep cover portion 7 and the heel portion 3 is preferably, but not limited to, an L-shape inclined toward the front of the footwear. In addition, a material containing fluorescent or reflective material can be used along the center of the belt portion, and the fluorescent or reflective material may be fixed with an adhesive, by thermocompression, or by sewing.

The function of the footwear of the present invention will now be described.
When putting on footwear, the foot is inserted into the opening 1 from the toe while standing, without using hands or a shoehorn. When the instep of the foot is slipped under the instep cover 7, the heel is placed on the heel guide 15, and the foot is slid along the upper surface of the heel guide 15 while applying body weight, the heel passes through the cushioning material 16 while pushing and deforming it, and the calcaneus of the heel slips into the heel support 17, fixing the foot in the footwear.

When the footwear of the present invention is worn, the calcaneal protuberance of the heel is inserted under the thick portion of the heel support part 17 and is wrapped in the heel part 3, so that the foot is appropriately held without any burden on the foot, and the calcaneal protuberance is held down by the step of the heel support part 17, so that the footwear does not come off accidentally, and the shape that fits the shape from the heel to the ankle improves support for the Achilles tendon.

The present invention provides footwear that can be easily put on and taken off without using hands or a shoehorn, that can hold the foot properly without putting strain on the foot so that the footwear does not come off accidentally while walking, and that has a shape that fits the shape from the heel to the ankle, improving support for the Achilles tendon.

Reference Signs List 1: Opening 2: Main body 3: Heel 4: Upper 5: Sole 6: Toe 7: Upper cover 8: Knob 9: Side wall 10: Reinforcement 11: Heel rear wall 12: Outer skin 13: Inner skin 14: Heel core 15: Heel guide 16: Cushion 17: Heel support 18: First elastic material 19: Second elastic material

Claims (5)

A shoe comprising an upper having an opening, a main body into which the toes are inserted, and a heel part with which the heel comes into contact, all of which are integrally formed, and a sole,
A heel guide portion formed by bending upward toward the rear side of the shoe opening;
a cushion portion formed on the inner surface of the heel portion in a shape curved forward and made of an elastic member that contacts the wearer's Achilles tendon;
The heel support is formed in a smooth arch shape in the horizontal direction on the inner surface of the heel portion and is thickened toward the top.
the heel guide portion and the heel support portion include a common, integrated heel core made of a hard material, the heel core rising upward from the sole while gradually inclining forward, and being formed in an arch shape so as to surround the heel horizontally, and being thickened upward so as to protrude maximally forward at a point where the inclination angle between the horizontal plane and the contour curve of the rear wall of the heel is minimum and where the heel core begins to curve backward of the footwear , above the point where it protrudes maximally, the heel core curves backward of the footwear in line with the shape of the ankle, and below the point where the heel core begins to curve backward of the footwear, the heel core of the heel support portion abuts against the heel to hold the heel,
The footwear is characterized in that the cushion portion covers the thick portion that protrudes most forward of the heel core material and is positioned so as to abut against the wearer's ankle above the point where the heel core material begins to bend backward . 2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the heel portion has an inclination angle of an outline curve of the rear wall of the heel portion that rises from the sole and slopes toward the ankle in the front of the footwear, the inclination angle being in the range of 50 degrees to 60 degrees upward as measured from a horizontal plane in the front of the footwear. Footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that a part or all of the main body of the upper is stretchable. Footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that the hues of the materials and structures that make up the upper body of the shoe upper are complementary or accent colors. Footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that a strip-shaped reinforcing member containing a fluorescent or reflective material is attached in the vertical direction to the boundary between the side wall portion and the heel portion of the upper.

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