heel counter

Abstract

To provide a heel counter having sufficient flexibility and at the same time rigidity and durability for hands-free use. [Solution] A heel counter is fitted between the outer material and lining material of a shoe upper, and has a counter body with a heel top region along the upper depression of the heel, a heel cup region covering the rounded portion of the heel, and heel side regions located on both sides of the heel, and the counter body has a plurality of through-holes arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical midline in a rear view. The outline shape of each of the plurality of through-holes is either approximately triangular, approximately rhombic, or approximately rectangular, and the parts of the counter body between adjacent through-holes extend in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction in a rear view.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heel counter that can be installed in a shoe to allow hands-free putting on. [Background technology]

[0002] A core material called a heel counter (moon-shaped) is provided in the heel part of the upper of a shoe. Some heel counters are attached to the outside of the upper, while others are sandwiched between the outer and inner lining materials of the upper. The heel counter reinforces the heel part of the shoe, providing stability when walking and helping to maintain the shape of the shoe.

[0003] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, hands-free shoes, i.e., shoes that can be put on while standing without bending over and using hands, employ a hard, rigid heel counter to maintain the shape of the heel. Although such heel counters are hard, they also have elastic restoring properties that allow them to quickly return to their original shape when deformed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3246100 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, although the heel counter in Patent Document 1 has been designed with an ingenious arch shape in each part to simultaneously achieve rigidity, ease of deformation, and elastic recovery, it is composed entirely of a single molded piece with a certain thickness, which causes a problem of insufficient flexibility. The object of the present invention is to provide a heel counter that has sufficient flexibility while also having the rigidity and durability to be able to handle hands-free movements. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The present invention is directed to a heel counter that is installed between the outer material and the lining material of a shoe upper, The counter body has a heel top region along the upper depression of the heel, a heel cup region covering the rounded portion of the heel, and heel side regions located on both sides of the heel, The counter body is characterized by having a plurality of through holes arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical midline in rear view. (2) In the above aspect, the contour shape of each of the plurality of through holes is either approximately triangular, approximately diamond-shaped, or approximately rectangular, and the components of the counter body between adjacent through holes extend in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction when viewed from the rear. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a heel counter is realized that has sufficient flexibility while also having the rigidity and durability to allow hands-free use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1(a), (b), and (c) are a front view, a back view, and a side view of the heel counter of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the heel counter of the present invention installed in a shoe. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view diagrammatically showing the detailed structure of the heel counter of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1(a), (b), and (c) are front, rear, and side views of one embodiment of a heel counter 10. FIG.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the heel counter 10 of the present invention has an overall shape that conforms to the shape of the heel of a shoe so that it can be fitted into the heel. The counter body 11, which is the component that forms the heel counter 10, is a synthetic resin molded product with a predetermined thickness of, for example, approximately 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a suitable material for the counter body 11. TPU combines the elasticity of rubber with the strength of hard plastic. However, the material for the counter body 11 is not limited to this, and other materials include thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), silicone, neoprene, etc.

[0011] The counter body 11 has a plurality of through holes 12 that penetrate the material of the counter body 11 in the thickness direction. The plurality of through holes 12 are preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical midline X when viewed from the back of the counter body 11. More preferably, the plurality of through holes 12 have a variety of contour shapes, with a mixture of approximately triangular 12a, approximately rhombic 12b, and approximately rectangular 12 shapes. In the area of ​​the counter body 11 where the plurality of through holes 12 are provided, bridge portions 11a, 11b, 11c, etc. made of the material of the counter body 11 extend between adjacent through holes 12. The shape, number, and arrangement of the plurality of through holes 12 shown in the figure are merely examples.

[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the heel counter of the present invention shown in Figure 1 installed in a shoe. As shown in Figure 2, the heel counter 10 is installed in the heel portion of a shoe 20 having an upper 21 and a sole 22. The shoe 20 shown is extremely simplified, and the heel counter 10 is applicable to shoes 20 of various structures. The heel counter 10 of the present invention is installed between the outer material 21a and the lining material 21b in the heel portion of the upper 21.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the detailed structure of the heel counter 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the counter body 11 includes a heel top region A along the top of the heel, a heel cup region B covering the rounded portion of the heel, and heel side regions C and D located on both sides of the heel. These regions do not have clear boundaries. The heel top region A is located on the upper rear-dorsal side of the heel and has a shape that curves upward and backward from the Achilles tendon depression as shown in FIG. 1(c). The heel cup region B is located on the lower rear-dorsal side of the heel and curves downward to protrude backward along the rounded portion of the heel below the Achilles tendon. The heel side regions C and D are located on the sides of the heel below the ankle and have upper edges that gradually slope downward from the rear to the front as shown in FIG. 1(c).

[0014] Preferably, the plurality of through holes 12 are not provided in the heel top region A, but are provided in the heel cup region B and the heel side regions C and D.

[0015] FIG. 3 also shows imaginary lines k1-k6 and m1-m8 that pass through the center of the width of each bridge portion 11a, 11b, 11c, etc. of the counter body 11 shown in FIG. 1(a). The imaginary lines k1-k6 and m1-m8 extend in a direction inclined relative to the vertical direction in a rear view. The imaginary lines k1-k3 of the bridge portion in the heel side region C and the imaginary lines k4-k6 of the bridge portion in the heel side region D are positioned symmetrically with respect to the midline X, and both are inclined downward from the front to the rear. The imaginary lines m1 and m2, m3 and m4, m5 and m6, and m7 and m8 of the bridge portion that are mainly in the heel cup region B are inclined in opposite directions relative to the vertical midline X in a rear view and intersect on the midline X.

[0016] The plurality of through holes 12 provided in the counter body 11 have the effect of imparting flexibility to the heel counter 10. This allows the heel portion to easily deform when putting on shoes hands-free, making them easier to put on.

[0017] Furthermore, the bridge portions 11a, 11b, 11c, etc. extending between the multiple through-holes 12 provided in the counter body 11 ensure the strength of the heel counter 10. In particular, they extend in a direction inclined relative to the vertical direction when viewed from the rear, and by crossing each other, they act as diagonal braces, so to speak. This contributes to the structural stability of the heel counter 10 and has the effect of increasing its rigidity. Therefore, the heel counter 10 can quickly and elastically recover from deformation when wearing shoes.

[0018] Furthermore, the plurality of through holes 12 also has the effect of improving ventilation. Also, by providing the plurality of through holes 12, the counter body 11 can be made of less material.

[0019] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment, the present invention is susceptible to various modifications other than the embodiment disclosed herein, and these modifications are also intended to be included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 10 Heel Counter 11 Counter body 11a, 11b, 11c Bridge section 12a, 12b, 12c through hole A. Heel top area B Heel cup area C, D Lateral heel area X midline

Claims

1. A heel counter is mounted between the outer material and the lining material of the shoe upper, The counter body has a heel top region along the upper depression of the heel, a heel cup region covering the rounded portion of the heel, and heel side regions located on both sides of the heel, A heel counter characterized in that the counter body has a plurality of through holes arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides with respect to a vertical midline when viewed from behind.

2. The heel counter of claim 1, characterized in that the contour shape of each of the plurality of through holes is either approximately triangular, approximately rhombus, or approximately rectangular, and the members of the counter body between adjacent through holes extend in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction when viewed from behind.

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