JP7758400B2 - shoe structure - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies. Website address where the invention is published: https://www.attenir.co.jp/corporate/news/data/20220826sneakers.pdf https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000241.000010341.html Date of publication: August 26, 2022 [Publications, etc.] Website address where the invention is published: https://bmz.jp/news/news20221012. html Date of publication: October 12, 2022 [Publications, etc.] Places where it was sold: Attenir Yurakucho Marui store (1st floor, 2-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) Attenir Fancl Ginza Square store (2nd floor, 8-16 Ginza 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Attenir Yokohama Kannai store (1st floor, Fancl Building, 89-1 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa) Attenir Kobe Sanchika store (1-10-1 Sannomiya-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo) Website Attenir official online shop (https://www.attenir.co.jp/collection/sneaker/index.html) Seller: Attenir Co., Ltd. Date of sale: September 15, 2022

The present disclosure relates to shoe structures.

Patent Document 1 discloses shoes that can improve fit. The shoes have a sole on which the foot rests and an upper that covers the foot, and by providing a loose portion in the sole, stretchability in the front-to-back direction is ensured.

JP 2015-002850 A

This type of shoe uses a structure called a toe spring, in which the bottom surface of the sole toward the toes curves upward. Wearers of these shoes land on their heels and roll their feet forward, shifting their center of gravity forward as they walk. This makes it difficult for wearers of conventional shoes to grip their toes while walking. This can lead to insufficient use of the muscles in the lower legs and feet, potentially resulting in reduced physical function.
Therefore, the present invention provides a shoe structure that allows the toes to easily grip the shoe when worn.

The shoe structure of the present invention comprises an outsole, in which a first underside surface on the underside of the portion on which the heel of the foot rests and a second underside surface on the underside of the portion on which the balls of the big toe and little toe rest are formed flush with each other, and a third underside surface on the underside of the portion on which the toes rest is formed flat with a step portion so that it is positioned higher than the second underside surface.

According to the present invention, a step is provided between the third lower surface and the second lower surface, and the third lower surface has a flat shape, so the third lower surface on which the toes rest easily bends downward. This makes it easier for the wearer to grip the toes.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a shoe according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the skeletal structure of the foot. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the outsole according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the outsole. FIG. 6 is a side view of the outsole. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view of an outsole according to another embodiment. FIG. 9 is a side view of an outsole according to another embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view of an outsole according to another embodiment 2.

[1. Configuration]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a shoe 1 according to this embodiment. The following description will be given with reference to a right-foot shoe 1, but the same explanation applies to a left-foot shoe. Also, FR, UP, and IN in the drawing refer to the front, top, and inner sides of the foot, respectively. The inner side of the foot in the width direction is the left side for the right foot and the right side for the left foot. The outer side of the foot in the width direction is the right side for the right foot and the left side for the left foot.

The shoe 1 is footwear that protects the wearer's foot from the toes to around the ankles. Specifically, the shoe 1 of this embodiment is a golf shoe.
The shoe 1 has an upper 3, an inner sole 5, a midsole 7, and an outsole 70. The upper 3 covers the wearer's foot horizontally and from above in the shoe 1. The inner sole 5 is the part on which the wearer's foot directly rests, absorbing shock to the foot and improving the fit of the shoe 1 to the foot. The midsole 7 is the part provided between the inner sole 5 and the outsole 70, and mainly absorbs shock to the foot. The outsole 70 is the part of the shoe 1 that comes into contact with the ground and is located below the midsole 7. The outsole 70 protects the wearer's foot from shocks received from the ground and from unevenness in the ground. For this reason, it is generally desirable for the outsole 70 to have a sufficient thickness.

Figure 2 is a bottom view showing the skeletal structure 10 of the foot. This drawing shows the skeletal structure 10 of the foot as seen from below, with some of the bones hidden because they overlap. A plan view of the front of the foot shows the bones overlapping differently than the bottom view of Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2, the skeletal structure 10 of the foot is composed of the calcaneus 12, talus 14, navicular bone 16, cuboid bone 18, first to third cuneiform bones 20, 22, 24, first to fifth metatarsals 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, first to fifth proximal phalanges 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, second to fifth middle phalanges 46, 48, 50, 52, and first to fifth distal phalanges 54, 56, 58, 60, 62. The anterior ends of the first to fifth metatarsals 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 are the first to fifth metatarsal heads 26A (also referred to as the ball of the foot 26A), 28A, 30A, 32A, 34A (also referred to as the ball of the foot 34A). The stepped portion located at the front of the calcaneus 12 is the anterior calcaneus (also called the calcaneal tuberosity) 12A.

The skeleton of the big toe (also called the first toe) has the first proximal phalange 36 and the first distal phalange 54. The big toe flexes primarily at the first joint (also called the interphalangeal joint) 54B connecting the first proximal phalange 36 and the first distal phalange 54, and the second joint (also called the metatarsophalangeal joint) 36B connecting the first proximal phalange 36 and the first metatarsal 26. In other words, the big toe has two bones and two joints, and flexes at both joints.

On the other hand, the skeleton of the index, middle, ring, and little toes (also called the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes, respectively) includes the second to fifth proximal phalanges 38, 40, 42, and 44, the second to fifth middle phalanges 46, 48, 50, and 52, and the second to fifth distal phalanges 56, 58, 60, and 62. The second to fifth distal phalanges 56, 58, 60, and 62 are connected to the second to fifth middle phalanges 46, 48, 50, and 52 via first joints (also called distal interphalangeal joints) 56B, 58B, 60B, and 62B. The second to fifth middle phalanges 46, 48, 50, 52 are connected to the second to fifth proximal phalanges 38, 40, 42, 44 via second joints (also called proximal interphalangeal joints) 46B, 48B, 50B, 52B. The second to fifth proximal phalanges 38, 40, 42, 44 are connected to the second to fifth metatarsal heads 28A, 30A, 32A, 34A via third joints (also called metatarsophalangeal joints) 38B, 40B, 42B, 44B. In other words, the index finger to the little finger each have three bones and three joints, and flex at the three joints.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the outsole 70. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the outsole 70 taken along the line IV-IV. In Fig. 3, the general positional relationship of the skeletal structure 10 of the foot relative to the outsole 70 is shown by superimposing imaginary lines.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower surface 70A of the outsole 70, which is the surface that comes into contact with the ground, is formed with a first lower surface 71, a force pad (second lower surface) 73, and a third lower surface 75.

The first lower surface 71 is the underside of the first support portion 72 of the outsole 70, which is the portion on which the heel of the foot rests, i.e., the lower surface 70A side of the first support portion 72. More specifically, the first support portion 72 is the portion that roughly overlaps with the calcaneus 12 in a plan view when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1. The first lower surface 71 has a circular spike 71a and multiple spikes 71b and 71c formed around spike 71a.

Spike 71a is a portion of the first lower surface 71 that supports the load received from the heel of the foot and digs into the ground to prevent slippage between the outsole 70 and the ground. Spike 71a has a downward-protruding annular ridge that defines the outer shape of spike 71a, and a downward-protruding circular protrusion located in the center of the annular ridge. The annular ridge has a series of downward-protruding circular protrusions arranged at equal intervals. A rib extends from the side of each of the arranged protrusions toward the center of the annular ridge, with the height direction of the central ridge decreasing.

Spikes 71b and 71c are portions of the first lower surface 71 that dig into the ground to prevent slippage between the outsole 70 and the ground. Spikes 71b are trapezoidal protrusions arranged in a ring shape around spike 71a, and are inclined so that their height increases toward the center of spike 71a. Spikes 71c are roughly triangular prism-shaped protrusions located between spikes 71b and protrude downward.

The force pad 73 is located on the back side of the second support portion 74 of the outsole 70, which is the portion on which the ball of the big toe 26A and the ball of the little toe 34A rests, i.e., on the underside 70A side of the second support portion 74. The force pad 73 has spikes 73a, 73b and multiple spikes 73c.

Spikes 73a and 73b are parts of the force pad 73 that support the load received from the ball of the big toe 26A and the ball of the little toe 34A, respectively, and dig into the ground to prevent slipping. Spikes 73a and 73b have the same shape as spike 71a, but vary in size depending on the magnitude of the load they receive. That is, spike 71a, which supports the largest load from the heel, is the largest of spikes 71a, 71a, and 73b. Spike 73a, which supports the load from the ball of the big toe 26A, is the second largest of spikes 71a, 73a, and 73b. Spike 73b, which supports the load from the ball of the little toe 34A, is the smallest of spikes 71a, 73a, and 73b.

Spikes 73c are the parts of the force pad 73 that dig into the ground to prevent slipping. Spikes 73c are triangular prism-shaped protrusions arranged in a circle around each of spikes 73a and 73b, and protrude downward.

The third lower surface 75 is the underside of the third support portion 76 of the outsole 70, which is the portion on which the toes of the foot rest, i.e., the lower surface 70A side of the third support portion 76. Specifically, when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1, the first to fifth proximal phalanges 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, the second to fifth middle phalanges 46, 48, 50, 52, and the first to fifth distal phalanges 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 generally overlap the third support portion 76 in a plan view. The third lower surface 75 has a big toe support portion 75a and a little toe support portion 75b.

The big toe support portion 75a is the portion that mainly overlaps the wearer's big toe in a plan view. Numerous spikes 75c are formed on the big toe support portion 75a. Each spike 75c is formed by two consecutive oval protrusions that protrude downward. Each spike 75c formed on the big toe support portion 75a is tilted so that its front side is positioned outward in the width direction of the foot.

The little toe support portion 75b is the portion that generally overlaps the wearer's index to little toes in a plan view. Numerous spikes 75d are formed on the little toe support portion 75b. Each spike 75d is formed by two consecutive oval protrusions that protrude downward. Each spike 75d formed on the little toe support portion 75b is positioned with its front side tilted toward the inside of the foot widthwise direction.

Between the big toe support portion 75a and the little toe support portion 75b, a groove 75e is formed by recessing the underside 70A of the outsole 70 upward. This allows the big toe support portion 75a and the little toe support portion 75b to move easily independently of each other.

As shown in Figure 4, the lower ends of spikes 71a and 71b and 71c of the first lower surface 71 are formed to be approximately flush with each other in the height direction. Therefore, the first lower surface 71 can be considered to be a flat surface formed at the same height as the lower ends of spikes 71a and 71b and 71c.

Similarly, the lower ends of spikes 73a and 73b and the lower end of spike 73c of force pad 73 are formed to be approximately flush with each other in the height direction. Therefore, force pad 73 can be considered to be a flat surface formed at the same height as the lower ends of spikes 73a and 73b and the lower end of spike 73c.

Furthermore, the lower ends of spikes 75c and 75d on the third lower surface 75 are formed to be approximately flush with each other in the height direction. Therefore, the third lower surface 75 can be considered to be a flat surface formed at the same height as the lower ends of spikes 75c and 75d.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a step portion 77 extending in the width direction of the foot is formed on the underside 70A of the outsole 70 between the force pad 73 and the third underside 75. The step portion 77 has a recess 77a and steps 77b and 77c. The recess 77a is a portion of the underside 70A that is recessed upward. The step 77b is a step that connects the recess 77a to the force pad 73. The step 77c is a step that connects the recess 77a to the third underside 75. The height difference between the recess 77a and the force pad 73 caused by step 77b is greater by a difference d than the height difference between the recess 77a and the third underside 75 caused by step 77c. In other words, by forming the step portion 77, the third underside 75 is positioned higher than the force pad 73 by the difference d.

Furthermore, the first lower surface 71 is approximately flush with the force pad 73. Therefore, when a wearer is wearing the shoe 1 and standing upright on flat ground, the portions of the lower surface 70A of the outsole 70 that come into contact with the ground are the first lower surface 71 and the force pad 73, and the third lower surface 75 is spaced apart from the ground by a difference d. In this way, there is likely to be room for downward curvature below the third lower surface 75, where the toes of the foot rest.

In this embodiment, the front side of the outsole 70, i.e., the upper surface 70B of the outsole 70, is gently sloped so that the rear side is higher than the front side. Therefore, the first upper surface 72B, which is the front side of the first support portion 72, is located higher than the second upper surface 74B, which is the front side of the second support portion 74, and the third upper surface 76B, which is the front side of the third support portion 76. This configuration in which the first upper surface 72B is located at a higher position within the upper surface 70B is considered suitable for, for example, a golf swing, because it keeps the wearer's calcaneus 12 in a higher position, making it easier for the pelvis to tilt forward. Furthermore, on the upper surface 70B, the front portions of the second upper surface 74B and the third upper surface 76B are formed flat.

Figure 5 is a plan view of outsole 70, showing the configuration of upper surface 70B. In outsole 70, the third upper surface 76B on which the toes rest is formed with two first lateral grooves 81 and 82 and three second lateral grooves 83, 84, and 85, which are lateral grooves extending in the width direction to increase the range of motion of the big toe and the index finger through the little finger.

The first transverse grooves 81, 82 are each formed in the thumb rest portion 80A, which is the portion of the third upper surface 76B on which the thumb rests, and are recessed downward. The first transverse grooves 81, 82 each extend in the width direction and are gently curved so that the front side is convex. In a plan view, the first transverse groove 81 is located in a position that aligns with the first joint 54B of the big toe when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1. The first transverse groove 82 is located in a position that aligns with the second joint 36B of the big toe when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1. In this way, the thumb rest portion 80A has two first transverse grooves 81, 82 aligned in the front-to-back direction of the foot, corresponding to the number of joints in the big toe.

The first transverse grooves 81, 82 are arranged in an order in which their front-to-rear widths gradually increase toward the front of the foot (toward the tip of the toes). That is, the front-to-rear width W1 of the first transverse groove 81 located further forward of the foot than the first transverse groove 82 is wider than the front-to-rear width W2 of the first transverse groove 82. Specifically, in this embodiment, the width W1 is set to 3.0 mm, and the width W2 is set to 2.0 mm.

The second transverse grooves 83-85 are each formed in the toe placement portion 80B of the third upper surface 76B, which is the portion on which the index finger, the second finger, and the little finger rest. They are downwardly recessed grooves. The second transverse grooves 83-85 each extend in the width direction and gently curve in a convex forward direction in accordance with the arrangement of the joints. The second transverse groove 83 is located, in a plan view, along the first joints 56B, 58B, 60B, and 62B of the index finger, the second finger, and the little finger when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1. The second transverse groove 84 is located, in a plan view, along the second joints 46B, 48B, 50B, and 52B of the index finger, the second finger, and the little finger when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1. The second transverse groove 85 is located, in a plan view, along the third joints 38B, 40B, 42B, and 44B of the foot when the wearer is wearing the shoe 1. In this way, the other finger placement portion 80B is provided with three second transverse grooves 83 to 85 aligned in the front-to-back direction of the foot, corresponding to the number of joints of each of the index finger, the little finger, and the little finger. In addition, the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 are located on the extension lines of the second transverse grooves 84 and 85.

Like the first transverse grooves 81 and 82, the second transverse grooves 83-85 are arranged in an order in which their longitudinal widths gradually increase toward the front of the foot. That is, the longitudinal width W3 of the second transverse groove 83 is wider than the longitudinal width W4 of the second transverse groove 84. Furthermore, the width W4 is wider than the longitudinal width W5 of the second transverse groove 85. Specifically, in this embodiment, the width W3 is set to 2.0 mm, the width W4 is set to 1.5 mm, and the width W5 is set to 1.0 mm. Furthermore, the widths W1 and W2 of the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 are set to be equal to or greater than the widths W3 to W5 of the second transverse grooves 83-85. In particular, the width W1 of the first transverse groove 81, which is located on an extension of the second transverse groove 84, is wider than the width W4 of the second transverse groove 84. Furthermore, the width W2 of the first transverse groove 82 located on the extension line of the second transverse groove 85 is wider than the width W5 of the second transverse groove 85.

Figure 6 is a side view of the outsole 70, showing the outsole 70 as seen from the front of the foot. As shown in Figure 6, the lengths L1 and L2 of the first lateral grooves 81 and 82 corresponding to the big toe are shorter than the lengths L3 to L5 of the second lateral grooves 83 to 85 corresponding to the index finger to little finger.

As shown in Figure 6, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 are arranged in an order in which their vertical depths gradually increase toward the front of the foot. That is, the depth D1 of the first transverse groove 81 on the front side of the foot from the first transverse groove 82 is greater than the depth D2 of the first transverse groove 82. Specifically, in this embodiment, the depth D1 is set to 4.0 mm, and the depth D2 is set to 3.0 mm.

Similarly, the second transverse grooves 83-85 are arranged in order of increasing vertical depth toward the front of the foot. That is, the depth D3 of the second transverse groove 83, which is located furthest forward of the foot, is greater than the depths D4 and D5 of the second transverse grooves 84 and 85. Furthermore, the depth D4 of the second transverse groove 84, which is located further forward of the foot than the second transverse groove 85, is greater than the depth D5 of the second transverse groove 85. Specifically, in this embodiment, the depth D3 is set to 3.0 mm, the depth D4 is set to 2.0 mm, and the depth D5 is set to 1.0 mm. Furthermore, the depths D1 and D2 of the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 are set to be greater than the depths D3 to D5 of the second transverse grooves 83-85. More specifically, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 are located on the extension lines of the second transverse grooves 84, 85, respectively, but the depths D1, D2 of the first transverse grooves 81, 82 located on the inner side in the width direction of the foot are greater than the depths D4, D5 of the second transverse grooves 84, 85.

The formation of the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83-85 locally reduces the thickness of the third support portion 76. As a result, the bending rigidity in the vertical direction is locally reduced in the portions of the third support portion 76 where the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83-85 are formed.

The amount of reduction in local bending rigidity of the third support portion 76 due to the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85 increases as the front-to-rear widths W1-W5 increase. Similarly, the amount of reduction in local bending rigidity of the third support portion 76 due to the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85 increase as the depths D1-D5 increase. Therefore, the portion of the third support portion 76 where the first lateral groove 81 is located forward has lower bending rigidity in the vertical direction than the portion where the first lateral groove 82 is located rearward. Similarly, the portion of the third support portion 76 where the second lateral groove 83 is located forward of the second lateral groove 84 has lower bending rigidity in the vertical direction than the portion where the second lateral groove 84 is located. Furthermore, the portion of the third support portion 76 where the second lateral groove 84 is located forward of the second lateral groove 85 has lower bending rigidity in the vertical direction than the portion where the second lateral groove 85 is located.

Furthermore, the depths D1 and D2 of the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 are greater than the depths D4 and D5 of the second transverse grooves 84 and 85. Therefore, the portion of the third support portion 76 where the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 are formed tends to have lower bending rigidity than the portion where the second transverse grooves 83 to 85 are formed. As a result, when the wearer bends their thumb, the force of the thumb is less likely to escape outward in the width direction, and the portion of the third support portion 76 where the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 are formed tends to bend more easily.

[2. action, action]
Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of Fig. 4. In Fig. 7, the approximate positions of the index fingers of a wearer wearing the shoe 1 are indicated by imaginary lines.

As described above, the step portion 77 is formed on the underside 70A of the outsole 70, so that the third underside 75 is positioned higher than the force pad 73 by the difference d. Furthermore, the force pad 73 is in contact with the ground when the wearer wearing the shoe 1 stands upright. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 , a gap with a height equivalent to the difference d is created between the third underside 75 and the ground G. Because a gap is created between the third underside 75 and the ground G, the wearer can bend their big toe through their little toe to bend the third support portion 76 downward. Furthermore, because the third underside 75 is formed flat, the wearer can easily bend the third support portion 76 downward.

When the wearer bends their big toe through little toe, the portions of the big toe that correspond primarily to the first through fifth distal phalanges 54-62, which are the most distal bones of the big toe through little toe, press against the third upper surface 76B. The first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85 are formed along the joints of the big toe through little toe. Therefore, the portions of the big toe through little toe that primarily press against the third upper surface 76B are located on the third upper surface 76B forward of the lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85. Specifically, in the case of the index finger illustrated in FIG. 7, the second toe pad 56C corresponding to the second distal phalange 56 presses against the load area P on the third upper surface 76B, which is located forward of the second lateral groove 83. As a result, the load area P on the third upper surface 76B receives a downward force, causing the third support portion 76 to bend downward.

As described above, the bending rigidity of the third support portion 76 is locally reduced in the portions where the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83-85 are formed. Therefore, when the wearer bends their thumb through little finger and the third upper surface 76B receives a downward force, the third support portion 76 is likely to bend from the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83-85 as starting points.

As described above, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83-85 are formed in positions that align with the joints of the thumb through little finger, respectively. Therefore, by causing the third support portion 76 to curve from the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83-85 as starting points, the third upper surface 76B can more easily follow the bending of the thumb through little finger.

As described above, the areas of the third upper surface 76B where the thumb through little finger primarily press against are located forward of the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85. Therefore, the bending moment acting on the third support portion 76 is smaller in the more forwardly positioned portions of the third support portion 76 where the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85 are formed. In contrast, the reduction in local bending rigidity of the third support portion 76 due to the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85 is greater in the more forwardly positioned portions of the third support portion 76 where the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83-85 are formed. Therefore, the first lateral grooves 81 and the second lateral grooves 83 in the outsole 70, which are less likely to be subjected to a large bending moment, are more easily bent. Furthermore, the first joints 54B, 56B, 58B, 60B, and 62B of the thumb through little finger bend significantly when gripping the toes. Therefore, by making the portions of the third support portion 76 where the first lateral grooves 81 and the second lateral grooves 83 that are aligned with the first joints 54B, 56B, 58B, 60B, and 62B are formed easy to bend, the third upper surface 76B becomes easy to bend in accordance with the bending of the thumb through little finger.

[3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, the shoe 1 of this embodiment has an outsole 70, and the first lower surface 71 on the back side of the first support portion 72, which is the portion on which the heel of the foot rests, and the force pad 73 on the back side of the second support portion 74, which is the portion on which the ball of the big toe 26A and the ball of the little toe 34A of the foot rests, are formed flush, and the third lower surface 75 on the back side of the third support portion 76, which is the portion on which the toes rest, is formed flat with a step portion 77 so that it is positioned higher than the force pad 73.
Therefore, the step portion 77 tends to create a gap between the flat third lower surface 75 and the ground, and the third lower surface 75 on which the toes rest tends to bend downward, making it easier for the wearer to grip the toes.

In the shoe 1 of this embodiment, a third upper surface 76B, which is the outer side of the third support portion 76 that is the portion of the outsole 70 on which the toes of the foot rest, is formed with a plurality of first transverse grooves 81, 82 and second transverse grooves 83 to 85 extending in the width direction of the third support portion 76 along the joints of the big toe and other toes so as to increase the range of motion of the big toe and other toes.
Therefore, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83 to 85 make it easier for the third lower surface 75 to bend. This makes it easier for the wearer to grip their toes. Furthermore, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83 to 85 make it easier for the wearer to grip their toes while minimizing the thinned portions of the outsole 70. This makes it easier for the wearer to grip their toes while adequately protecting their feet.

In the shoe 1 of this embodiment, the first lateral grooves 81, 82 and the second lateral grooves 83 to 85 include a plurality of first lateral grooves 81, 82 formed in the thumb placement portion 80A, which is the portion on which the thumb is placed, and a plurality of second lateral grooves 83 to 85 formed in the other toe placement portion 80B, which is the portion on which the other toes are placed.
Therefore, by forming the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83 to 85 separately, the wearer can easily move the big toe and other fingers independently, which makes it easier for the wearer to grip the toes.

In the shoe 1 of this embodiment, the number of first transverse grooves 81, 82 is two, corresponding to the number of joints of the big toe, and the number of second transverse grooves 83 to 85 is three, corresponding to the number of joints of the other toes.
Therefore, the first transverse grooves 81 and 82 and the second transverse grooves 83 to 85 can bend easily to fit the joints between the big toe and the other fingers, respectively, making it easier for the wearer to grip the toes.

In the shoe 1 of this embodiment, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and second transverse grooves 83 to 85 are formed so that the widths W1 to W5 of the respective grooves become gradually wider toward the tip of the toe.
Therefore, the outsole 70 is more likely to bend significantly at the first transverse grooves 81 and the second transverse grooves 83 on the tip side, where a moment is less likely to be applied. This makes it easier for the wearer to grip the toes.

In the shoe 1 of this embodiment, the plurality of first transverse grooves 81, 82 and second transverse grooves 83 to 85 are curved along the joints of the big toe and other toes.
Therefore, the first transverse grooves 81, 82 and the second transverse grooves 83 to 85 can be easily aligned with the positions of the toe joints, making it easier for the wearer to grip the toes.

4. Other Embodiments
The above-described embodiment merely shows one aspect of the present invention, and any modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Other embodiments are exemplified below.

In the above-described embodiment, the shoe 1 has first lateral grooves 81, 82 formed in the thumb rest portion 80A and second lateral grooves 83-85 formed separately from the first lateral grooves 81, 82 in the other toe rest portion 80B, but this is just one example.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an outsole 70 according to another embodiment.
As shown in Fig. 8, the outsole 70 may have lateral grooves 181-183 formed on the third upper surface 76B across the thumb rest portion 80A and the other toe rest portion 80B. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, the lateral grooves 181-183 may be linear rather than curved. The lateral grooves 181-183 are formed such that the widths W11-W13 of the lateral grooves 181-183 in the front-to-rear direction gradually increase toward the tip of the toe.

Figure 9 is a side view of the outsole 70 according to another embodiment shown in Figure 8, viewed from the front. As shown in Figure 9, the lateral grooves 181-183 are formed with an inclination such that the depths D11b-D13b on the inner side of the toe width direction are shallower than the depths D11a-D13a of the lateral grooves 181-183 on the outer side of the toe width direction. This makes it difficult for force to escape to the outer side of the foot when the wearer bends the big toe, making it easier to bend the big toe.

That is, in the outsole 70 of this embodiment, the multiple lateral grooves 181 to 183 are formed so that the depth of each groove increases toward the inside in the width direction of the toe.
This allows the wearer to bend their big toe more easily, which in turn tends to activate larger muscles than those that activate other toes.

Figures 8 and 9 show an example in which three linear lateral grooves 181-183 are provided, but this is just one example. Two or more lateral grooves may be provided, and they may be curved along the joints of the toes.

In the above-described embodiment, the shoe 1 is described as a golf shoe, but this is merely an example, and the shoe 1 may be any other footwear. For example, the shoe 1 may be a sneaker or other footwear suitable for paved surfaces.

Figure 10 is a side view of an outsole 270 according to another embodiment 2. The outsole 270 is used as the sole of a sneaker. As shown in Figure 10, the outsole 270 of another embodiment 2 does not have spikes or force pads on the lower surface 270A. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the upper surface 270B of the sneaker outsole 270 is flatter and has a smaller upward slope at the rear than the upper surface 70B of the outsole 70 of the above embodiment used for golf shoes. That is, the first upper surface 272B, which is the outer side of the first support portion 272 on which the heel of the foot rests, is generally flat relative to the second upper surface 274B, which is the outer side of the second support portion 274 on which the balls of the big toe and little toe rest, and the third upper surface 276B, which is the outer side of the third support portion 276 on which the toes rest.

Similar to the above embodiment, the outsole 270 of another embodiment 2, which is applied to sneakers, also has a first lower surface 271, a second lower surface 273, and a third lower surface 275. In the outsole 270, the third lower surface 275, which is the back side of the third support portion 276, is formed flat so as to be positioned higher than the second lower surface 273, which is the back side of the second support portion 274, by a step portion 277. Furthermore, the outsole 270 of another embodiment 2, which is applied to sneakers, may also be configured to have multiple lateral grooves, as shown in Figure 5 or Figure 8.

It is also possible to combine elements of the embodiments described so far, other embodiments, and other embodiment 2 to form new embodiments.

The present invention is applicable to shoe structures with outsoles. Specifically, it is applicable to shoes used for specific purposes such as specific sports, such as golf shoes, as well as everyday shoes such as sneakers.

1 Shoe 3 Upper 5 Inner sole 7 Midsole 70 Outsole 71 First lower surface 72 First support portion (part on which the heel of the foot rests)
73 Force Pad (Second Lower Surface)
74 Second support part (part on which the ball of the foot and the ball of the little toe rest)
75 Third lower surface 76 Third support portion (portion on which the toes of the foot rest)
76B Third upper surface (the outer side of the part where the toes rest)
77 Step portion 81 First lateral groove (lateral groove)
82 First Horizontal Groove (Horizontal Groove)
83 Second Horizontal Groove (Horizontal Groove)
84 Second Horizontal Groove (Horizontal Groove)
85 Second Yokomizo (Yokomizo)
181 Lateral groove 183 Lateral groove 270 Outsole 271 First lower surface 272 First support portion (portion on which the heel of the foot rests)
273 Second lower surface 274 Second support portion (portion on which the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe rest)
275 Third lower surface 276 Third support part (part on which the toes of the foot rest)
276B Third upper surface (the outer side of the part where the toes rest)
277 Step

Claims (5)

Equipped with an outsole,
The outsole is formed with a first lower surface on the back side of a portion on which the heel of the foot rests and a second lower surface on the back side of a portion on which the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe rest,
Of the outsole,
a third lower surface on the back side of the portion on which the toes of the foot rest is formed flat with a step portion provided so as to be positioned higher than the second lower surface;
On the front side of the part on which the toes rest, a plurality of horizontal grooves extending in the width direction of the part on which the toes rest are formed along the joints of the big toe and the other toes so as to widen the range of motion of the big toe and the other toes, and the width of each groove is gradually increased toward the tip end of the toes.
shoe structure. Equipped with an outsole,
The outsole is formed with a first lower surface on the back side of a portion on which the heel of the foot rests and a second lower surface on the back side of a portion on which the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe rest,
Of the outsole,
a third lower surface on the back side of the portion on which the toes of the foot rest is formed flat with a step portion provided so as to be positioned higher than the second lower surface;
On the front side of the part on which the toes rest, a plurality of lateral grooves extending in the width direction of the part on which the toes rest are formed along the joints of the big toe and the other toes so as to widen the range of motion of the big toe and the other toes, and the depth of each groove is increased toward the inside in the width direction of the toes.
shoe structure. The lateral grooves include a plurality of first lateral grooves formed in the portion on which the thumb rests and a plurality of second lateral grooves formed in the portion on which the other fingers rest.
The shoe structure according to claim 1 or 2. The number of the first transverse grooves is two, corresponding to the number of joints of the thumb, and the number of the second transverse grooves is three, corresponding to the number of joints of the other fingers.
The shoe structure of claim 3. the plurality of lateral grooves are curved along the joints of the thumb and the other fingers;
The shoe structure according to claim 1 or 2.