JP7795196B2 - Shoelaces and shoes - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to shoelaces and shoes.

Conventionally, shoelaces that can maintain a tight fit around the instep of a shoe without tying include shoelaces with multiple knobs at both ends that are larger in diameter than the shoelace holes and elastically deform in the direction of pulling, thereby becoming smaller in diameter than the shoelace holes (see, for example, Patent Document 1, a prior application of the present applicant).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-33923

As mentioned above, with shoelaces that have multiple knobs on both ends, the tightness around the instep can be adjusted in stages by changing the knob that catches on the last lace eyelet (however, this may cause some discomfort in the fit, especially when wearing bare feet).

The present invention is an improvement over the conventional shoelaces described above, and aims to provide a new shoelace and shoe that allows for stepless adjustment of the tightness of the instep.

The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.

An elastic shoelace arranged on the instep part 2 of the shoe 1,
The diaper bag is configured to include a core material (4a) made of an elastic material and a tubular outer layer material (4b) made of an elastic material that covers the core material (4a),
large-diameter lace portions 5 of a substantially constant thickness, provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lace, and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the lace holes 3 of the shoe 1, which are stretched and elastically deformed in the pulling direction by a pulling operation to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace holes 3;
a small-diameter cord portion 6 provided at the center of the cord in the longitudinal direction, the small-diameter cord portion 6 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord-threading hole 3 and a substantially constant thickness ;
a connecting portion (7) provided between the large diameter cord portion (5) and the small diameter cord portion (6), the connecting portion (7) having a diameter smaller than that of the small diameter cord portion (6),
The outer layer material 4b is a woven, knitted or braided fabric containing polyester fibers, and the fiber density is set so that it becomes denser in the order of the large diameter cord portion 5, the small diameter cord portion 6 and the connecting portion 7,
The core material 4a is a rubber cord formed by bundling a large number of thin rubber fibers, and is set to have a higher elastic force than the outer layer material 4b.
a shoelace configured such that at the connecting portion 7, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are tightly secured together, whereas at the large diameter portion 5 and the small diameter portion 6, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are not tightly secured together and the core material 4a is expanded in the direction of the lace diameter, and the core material 4a of the large diameter portion 5 and the small diameter portion 6 expands and contracts when pulled, thereby deforming the large diameter portion 5 and the small diameter portion 6 to smaller diameters. Also, the present invention relates to the shoelace described in claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion 7 provided between the large diameter portion 5 and the small diameter portion 6 and having a diameter smaller than that of the small diameter portion 6, wherein the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are tightly secured together at the connecting portion 7.

The present invention also relates to a shoelace according to claim 1, wherein the large-diameter lace portions 5 are each set to a length of 1/6 to 1/4 of the overall length of the shoelace 9 .

Furthermore, a shoe equipped with the shoelace 9 according to any one of claims 1 and 2 ,
A plurality of lace holes 3 are arranged in a row on each of the left and right sides of the instep portion 2 in a direction from the toe toward the opening, and a shoelace tip locking portion 16 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the shoe 1 for locking the free end 15 of the shoelace 9 at the tip end thereof inserted through the lace holes 3, the shoelace tip locking portion 16 being located vertically below the uppermost lace hole 3;
The shoelace tip locking portion 16 has a through hole, and the through hole is drilled in a direction along the side surface of the shoe 1,
The shoelace relates to a shoe characterized in that the large-diameter lace portion 5 of the free end portion 15 of the shoelace pulled out of the uppermost lace hole 3 is deformed to a smaller diameter by pulling and inserted into the through-hole, and then restored to its original shape, thereby engaging with the shoelace tip engaging portion 16 and preventing the shoelace 9 from moving back, and the free end portion 15 of the shoelace inserted through the through-hole is positioned along the side surface of the shoe 1 .

The present invention is configured as described above, resulting in a never-before-seen shoelace and shoe that allows for stepless adjustment of the tightness of the instep.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a shoelace. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the shoelace. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the large diameter cord portion and the cord hole. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the small diameter cord portion and the cord hole.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be briefly explained below, illustrating the operation of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

A small-diameter lace 6 is placed in the lace hole 3 on the lower side of the instep 2 of the shoe 1, and a large-diameter lace 5 is placed in the lace hole 3 on the upper side. The large-diameter lace 5 is engaged with the lace hole, thereby maintaining the instep 2 in a tight state.

When the large diameter cord portion 5 is pulled, it elastically stretches in the pulling direction, deforming to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord hole 3, allowing the tightness to be adjusted (see Figure 4). Unlike a knob, the large diameter cord portion 5 has a substantially constant thickness along its entire length, allowing the tightness to be adjusted continuously along its entire length.

Therefore, compared to conventional shoelaces with multiple knobs at both ends, not only is more precise adjustment possible, but coupled with the small-diameter lace section 6 being located at the lower (tip) side of the instep 2, which is thinner than the lace holes 3 and less likely to get caught in them, the shoelace 9 can be smoothly and comfortably fitted to the shape of the instep (even when barefoot) simply by pulling on both ends of the lace.

Specific examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is a shoe 1 equipped with shoelaces 9 that can keep the instep 2 tight without tying, as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shoelace 9 is composed of a core material 4a made of an elastic material and a tubular outer layer material 4b made of an elastic material that covers the core material 4a. It has two large-diameter sections 5, located at both longitudinal ends of the lace, that are larger in diameter than the diameter of the lace holes 3 of the shoe 1 and have a generally uniform thickness. When pulled, they are stretched and elastically deformed in the pulling direction to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace holes 3. It also has a small-diameter section 6, located in the longitudinal center of the lace, that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the lace holes 3 and has a generally uniform thickness.

The shoelace 9 of this embodiment also has a connecting portion 7, which is located between the large diameter portion 5 and the small diameter portion 6 and has a smaller diameter than the small diameter portion 6, and which tightly connects the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b. Similar connecting portions 7 are also provided between the large diameter portion 5 and attachment portions 8, to which synthetic resin cell chips are attached at both ends of the lace (the attachment portions 8 are formed by attaching cell chips to portions of the connecting portion 7 on the outer side of the large diameter portion 5 in the longitudinal direction of the lace).

The outer layer material 4b is a stretchable fibrous body (woven, knitted, or braided) primarily containing polyester fibers. The core material 4a contains rubber threads bundled along the length of the cord, and this core material 4a is bulged in the radial direction of the cord at the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6. In other words, the outer layer material 4b is tightly fixed at the connecting portions 7 so that the appropriate length of excess is left in each of the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6. In this embodiment, a rubber cord (braided cord; cord rubber) formed by bundling many thin rubber fibers is used as the core material 4a.

The outer layer material 4b is knitted in an appropriate way so that the fiber density is loose in the large diameter cord section 5, dense in the connecting section 7, and intermediate (slightly loose) in the small diameter cord section 6, thereby varying the adhesion (tightness) of the outer layer material 4b to the core material 4a. This allows the core material 4a to bulge in the large diameter cord section 5 and small diameter cord section 6, but is tightly fastened thinly in the connecting section 7 so that the core material 4a does not bulge. In other words, the core material 4a is free from the outer layer material 4b in the large diameter cord section 5 and small diameter cord section 6.

As a result, when pulling, the core material 4a contracts (decreases in degree of expansion) and deforms to a smaller diameter in the large-diameter lace portion 5 and small-diameter lace portion 6 as the outer layer material 4b and core material 4a stretch during pulling. Furthermore, when pulling stops, the core material 4a and outer layer material 4b quickly return to their original state due to their elasticity (elastic return force). Furthermore, because both the core material 4a and outer layer material 4b have elasticity (elastic return force), the tightness of the instep portion 2 is well maintained (the large-diameter lace portion 5 is less likely to slip out of the lace holes 3 during exercise).

In this embodiment, the connecting portion 7 is provided on both sides of the large diameter cord portion 5 in the longitudinal direction of the cord, but it may also be provided only between the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6. In other words, it may not be provided between the large diameter cord portion 5 and the fastening portion 8.

In addition, in this embodiment, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b have different elastic forces (stretchability). Specifically, the elastic force of the core material 4a is made higher than that of the outer layer material 4b. Under normal circumstances, the core material 4a expands with an appropriate amount of excess length in both the large diameter cord section 5 and the small diameter cord section 6, forming the large diameter cord section 5 and the small diameter cord section 6. Its lower elasticity (harder) than the outer layer material 4b prevents the cords from overstretching, and the elasticity is such that when the pulling force is released after the large diameter cord section 5 and the small diameter cord section 6 have become roughly the same thickness as the connecting section 7, the rubber returns to its original thickness, allowing them to quickly shrink and return to their original thickness.

More specific details are provided below.

The shoelace 9 of this embodiment is composed of large-diameter lace sections 5, each on either side of the shoe 1 in the longitudinal direction, that are larger in diameter than the lace holes 3 on the left and right sides of the instep 2 of the shoe 1. These large-diameter lace sections 5 are elastically deformable and stretchable, and when pulled, they are stretched in the direction of the pulling operation to a shape smaller in diameter than the lace holes 3. Also, small-diameter lace sections 6 of uniform thickness are formed between the large-diameter lace sections, with a smaller diameter than the lace holes 3 and a uniform thickness over almost the entire area except for each large-diameter lace section and the connecting sections.

When the large-diameter lace 5 is inserted through the lace holes 3 and attached to the instep 2 of the shoe 1, pulling on the large-diameter lace 5 that has passed through the last lace hole 3 causes the portion that engages the inside of the lace hole 3 to elastically stretch and deform, becoming smaller in diameter than the lace holes 3 and moving through each lace hole 3 to tighten (Fig. 4(a) → (b)). When the pulling operation is released in this tightened state, the middle portion of the large-diameter lace 5 that passed through the lace holes 3 deforms from its small diameter to a non-deformed state with a diameter larger than the original diameter of the lace holes 3, preventing it from moving back through each lace hole 3 (Fig. 4(b) → (c)). This prevents the tightened state from being loosened by pulling, even if the large-diameter lace 5 that has been pulled out from the last lace hole 3 is not tied together.

In other words, the large-diameter cord portion 5 is formed in a rod-like shape with a fixed diameter larger than the diameter of the cord-threading hole 3, and cannot pass through the cord-threading hole 3 in its current state (shape). For example, when the outer end of the large-diameter cord portion 5 in the longitudinal direction of the cord is manually pulled, the pulling operation causes it to stretch and elastically deform in the pulling direction, deforming it into a shape with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord-threading hole 3, thereby enabling it to pass through each cord-threading hole 3. Furthermore, when the pulling operation is released, the reduced-diameter portion returns to its original shape with a diameter larger than the diameter of the cord-threading hole 3.

The large-diameter lace portion 5 is set to a length that is approximately 1/6 to 1/4 of the overall length of the shoelace 9. In this embodiment, it is set to a length that is approximately 1/5. By engaging the large-diameter lace portion 5 with each corresponding lace hole 3, the tightness is maintained well, and the tightness can be finely adjusted using stepless adjustment.

As mentioned above, the small diameter lace section 6 in this embodiment is formed in a rod shape with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace hole 3 and a substantially uniform thickness (see Figure 5), and is set to a length that spans substantially the entire area between the large diameter lace sections 5 on both sides of the shoelace 9 (excluding the connecting section 7).

Specifically, in this embodiment, when the shoelace 9 is attached to the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1 (when the shoelace 9 is threaded alternately through the lace holes 3 provided on the left and right sides of the instep portion 2), the small-diameter lace portion 6 is set to a length that occupies more than half of the entire instep portion 2 (is threaded over more than half of the entire instep portion 2).

Because the small-diameter lace portion 6 is smaller than the lace hole 3, the lace threading process is smooth and easy without any snagging. Furthermore, just like the lace threading process, the tightening adjustment process is also easy and smooth because there is no snagging. Furthermore, the tightness of the shoelace 9 around the instep 2 can be adjusted more smoothly and naturally. As a result, even if swelling occurs from walking or standing for long periods of time, the tightness is smoothly and naturally adjusted in accordance with the swelling, so blood flow to the instep is not obstructed, preventing health problems caused by poor blood flow.

The shoe 1 of this embodiment, which is equipped with the shoelaces 9 described above, is configured in the shape of a typical sneaker, as shown in the figure, with multiple lace holes 3 arranged side by side on each side of the instep 2, running from the toe toward the opening.

In addition, the shoe 1 of this embodiment is configured with shoelace tip locking sections 16 on each of the left and right sides for locking the tip portion of the shoelace 9 inserted through the shoelace holes 3, i.e., the free end portion 15 of the shoelace 9 inserted through the shoelace holes 3 and pulled outward through the last shoelace hole 3 located on the opening side, to the shoe 1.

Specifically, the shoelace tip fastening portion 16 of this embodiment is configured with a through-hole set to a diameter approximately equal to that of the lace hole 3, through which the large-diameter lace portion 5 cannot pass in an undeformed state, but which can pass through the portion that has been stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter by pulling.

In other words, the shoelace tip retaining portion 16 of this embodiment is configured so that when the free end 15 of the shoelace is pulled by hand after being pulled out of the last lace hole 3, the large-diameter portion 5 at this free end 15 is stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter, allowing the free end 15 of the shoelace to pass through the hole. After this, the pulling operation is stopped, and the stretched and deformed portion returns to its original state, where it cannot pass through the hole as it is. Even if the shoelace 9 attempts to move back, the large-diameter portion 5 of the free end 15 of the shoelace returns to the periphery of the hole, i.e., the shoelace tip retaining portion 16, and the shoelace 9 is prevented from moving back.

In other words, this embodiment has a multiple-locking structure that maintains the tightened state of the shoelace 9 at the shoelace tip locking portion 16 along with each lace hole 3, thereby maintaining the tightened state well and ensuring that the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1 remains tight even without tying the shoelace 9.

Furthermore, regarding the shoelace tip retainer 16 of this embodiment, the shoelace tip retainer 16 of this embodiment is configured to be located (positioned) closer to the tip of the shoe 1 than the extension line in the lacing direction connecting the last lace hole 3 located on the opening side of the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1 and the lace hole 3 just before the last lace hole 3 on the opposite side through which the shoelace 9 is inserted before being inserted through this last lace hole 3. Specifically, in this embodiment, the shoelace tip retainer 16 is configured to be located almost directly below the last lace hole 3.

In other words, in this embodiment, the free end 15 of the shoelace 9 that has passed through the last lace hole 3 and been pulled outward is inserted into the hole in the shoelace tip locking portion 16 located directly below the last lace hole 3. This causes the shoelace 9 to bend significantly at the last lace hole 3, changing the direction of pulling. If the shoelace 9 attempts to return, this bent portion acts as a resistance to the return movement, making it even more difficult to return.

Furthermore, the hole provided in the shoelace tip fastening portion 16 of this embodiment is configured to be drilled in a direction that follows the side of the shoe 1. When the free end 15 of the shoelace is pulled out of the last lace hole 3 and manually pulled, the large-diameter lace portion 5 at this free end 15 of the shoelace is stretched and reduced in diameter, allowing it to be inserted through the hole. After this, when the pulling operation is stopped and the stretched and reduced-diameter portion returns to its original state, where it cannot pass through the hole as it is, the free end 15 of the shoelace that has been inserted through the hole is positioned along the side of the shoe 1.

In other words, the shoelace tip fastening portion 16 in this embodiment is configured as the final holding portion that keeps the shoelace 9 in a tightened state, and also functions as a shoelace end positioning portion that secures the remaining free end 15 of the shoelace 9 in a predetermined position to prevent it from flapping during exercise.

As this embodiment is configured as described above, the small-diameter lace 6 is placed in the lace hole 3 on the lower side of the instep 2 of the shoe 1, and the large-diameter lace 5 is placed in the lace hole 3 on the upper side. The large-diameter lace 5 is engaged with the lace hole 3, maintaining the tightness of the instep 2. When the large-diameter lace 5 is pulled, it elastically stretches in the pulling direction, deforming to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace hole 3, allowing the tightness to be adjusted. The tightness can then be adjusted continuously along the entire length of the large-diameter lace.

As a result, the large-diameter lace section 5 not only allows for more precise adjustment of the tightness, but also, combined with the small-diameter lace section 6 being located on the lower (tip) side of the instep section 2, it becomes possible to smoothly adjust the shoelace 9 to fit the shape of the instep simply by pulling on both ends.

Specifically, the large-diameter lace portion 5 is stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter while the shoelace 9 is pulled by hand, and the lace 9 is then inserted alternately through the multiple lace holes 3 arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1, and the shoelace 9 is routed and arranged in a cross pattern around the instep portion 2. After that, one or both of the free ends 15 of the shoelace 9 that has passed through the last lace hole 3 are pulled to tighten it. Then, after the free end 15 is inserted through the hole of the shoelace tip locking portion 16, if the pulling operation is released, the large-diameter lace portion 5 that passed through the lace hole 3 and the large-diameter lace portion 5 that passed through the hole of the shoelace tip locking portion 16 are released from their stretched, reduced-diameter deformation. The large-diameter lace portion 5 returns to its original shape, unable to pass through the lace hole 3 or the hole. If the shoelace 9 attempts to move back, the large-diameter lace portion 5 will engage with the periphery (grommet member) of the lace hole 3 and the periphery of the hole, i.e., the shoelace tip locking portion 16, preventing the shoelace 9 from moving back. This keeps the shoelace 9 tight, ensuring that the instep 2 is securely fastened even without tying the shoelace 9, eliminating the need to tie the shoelace 9.

This embodiment therefore offers a unique feature that allows for stepless adjustment of the tightness of the instep area.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 shoe 2 instep 3 lace hole 4a core material 4b outer layer material 5 large diameter lace portion 6 small diameter lace portion 7 connecting portion 9 shoelace
15 shoelace free end
16 Shoelace tip fastening part

Claims (3)

An elastic shoelace arranged on the instep of a shoe,
The diaper is configured to include a core material made of an elastic material and a tubular outer layer material made of an elastic material that covers the core material,
large-diameter lace portions of a substantially constant thickness provided at both ends of the lace in the longitudinal direction, the large-diameter lace portions having a diameter larger than the diameter of the lace holes of the shoe and elastically deforming in the pulling direction when pulled to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace holes;
a small-diameter cord portion provided in the center of the cord in the longitudinal direction, the small-diameter cord portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord-threading hole and a substantially constant thickness ;
a connecting portion provided between the large diameter cord portion and the small diameter cord portion and having a diameter smaller than that of the small diameter cord portion,
the outer layer material is a woven, knitted or braided fabric containing polyester fibers, and the fiber density is set so that it becomes denser in the order of the large diameter cord portion, the small diameter cord portion and the connecting portion,
The core material is a rubber cord formed by bundling a large number of thin rubber fibers, and is set to have a higher elastic force than the outer layer material,
a shoelace configured such that the core material and the outer layer material are tightly attached to each other at the connecting portion, while the core material and the outer layer material are not tightly attached to each other in the large diameter lace portion and the small diameter lace portion, and the core material is expanded in the lace diameter direction; and a pulling operation causes the core materials of the large diameter lace portion and the small diameter lace portion to expand and contract, thereby deforming the large diameter lace portion and the small diameter lace portion to have smaller diameters . 2. The shoelace according to claim 1, wherein each of the large diameter lace portions has a length set to 1/6 to 1/4 of the entire length of the shoelace . A shoe equipped with the shoelace according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A plurality of lace holes are arranged in a row on each of the left and right sides of the instep portion in a direction from the toe toward the opening, and a shoelace tip locking portion is provided on each of the left and right sides of the shoe to lock the free end of the shoelace at the tip of the shoelace inserted into the lace hole, and the shoelace tip locking portion is located vertically below the uppermost lace hole,
The shoelace tip fastening portion has a through hole, and the through hole is drilled in a direction along the side of the shoe,
The shoelace is configured such that the large-diameter lace portion of the free end of the shoelace pulled out of the uppermost lace hole is deformed to a smaller diameter by a pulling operation and inserted into the through-hole, and then restored to its original shape, whereby the large-diameter lace portion is engaged with the shoelace tip engaging portion to prevent the shoelace from moving back, and the free end of the shoelace that has passed through the through-hole is positioned along the side of the shoe .