Footwear

Abstract

A footwear comprises a foot base 10 having: a thin heel part 12a in which the thickness of a portion facing the heel of a user is reduced; a fifth toe-side thin part 12b, 11f in which the thickness of a portion facing the fifth toe of the user is reduced; and a placement part 11b which is formed in a portion excluding the thin heel part 12a and the fifth toe-side thin part 12b, 11f and on which the foot sole of the user is placed. The fifth toe-side thin part 12b, 11f comprises a fifth toe-side flat portion 12b and a downwardly inclined portion 11f. The fifth toe-side flat portion 12b is a portion which, in a state in which the user wears the footwear, faces at least the fourth toe, the fifth toe, the base regions thereof, and a region of the transverse head adductor hallucis muscle, which is located closer to the heel as compared to said base regions, of the foot of the user. The downwardly inclined portion 11f is a portion which, in a state in which the user wears the footwear, faces the fifth toe abductor muscle of the foot sole of the user, and is downwardly inclined from the upper surface of the placement part 11b toward the upper surface of the fifth toe-side flat portion 12b. The upper surface of the fifth toe-side flat portion 12b and the upper surface of the thin heel part 12a are continuous.

Description

FOOTWEAR Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a footwear that keeps the foot below the ankle open, such as zoris (Japanese sandals) or sandals. Background art

[0002] An open footwear that keeps the foot below the ankle open, such as zoris or sandals, is generally formed by attaching a belt or a strap to a flat plate-like sole having the shape of the bottom of a foot. Zoris or sandals having a function beneficial to health, such as having protrusions on the sole to stimulate acupuncture points on the bottom of the foot while walking or laterally inclining the sole to correct bowlegs or knock knees are conventionally in widespread use.

[0003] The applicant has proposed a technique described in Patent Literature 1. Patent Literature 1 discloses a footwear where at least regions facing the third toe, the fourth toe, the fifth toe, the base parts thereof of a foot of a user, and a part of the adductor hallucis transverse head located nearer the heel than the base parts, and a region facing the heel on a footbed on which the foot of the user is to be mounted are removed. According to this footwear, when a user walks with the footwears, a region of the bottom of each foot on a tiptoe side and an outer side is separate from the ground. Therefore, the body weight of the user is concentrated on an inner side part of the bottom of each foot of the user. This enables the center of gravity of each leg of the user to be corrected toward the inner side. When the user has bowlegs, the distance between the knees of the user can be narrowed. Further, the user is brought to a position like tiptoeing, so that muscles of the calves and from the back of the thighs to the hips can be naturally trained by walking with the footwear. Citation List Patent Literature

[0004] Patent Literature 1: Patent Publication No. 7166035 Summary Technical Problem

[0005] Persons wearing footwears with high heels, such as high-heeled shoes, are likely to position the knees forward because the center of gravity is positioned relatively forward. Accordingly, there is a tendency that the ankles are inclined inward and that the knees are positioned inward, in other words, the knees are twisted inward. If such a state continues for a long time, there is a risk that the pelvis opens, resulting in so-called knock knees. There is also a risk of a so-called straight neck where the neck bones are fixed in a straight state. As described above, due to wearing footwears with high heels, there is a risk that the skeleton becomes out of alignment, which causes pain in the legs or the neck.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of these problems and has an object to provide a footwear having a function to correct postures. Solution to Problem

[0007] To achieve the object described above, the present invention has a configuration described below.

[0008] [1] An aspect of the present invention provides a footwear comprising a footbed (10) on which a foot is to be mounted, the footbed (10) including a heel thin part (12a) having a thickness reduced in a region facing a heel of a user, a fifth-toe-side thin part (12b and 11f) having a thickness reduced in a region facing a fifth toe side of the user, and a mounting part (11b) that is formed in a region from which the heel thin part (12a) and the fifthtoe-side thin part (12b and 11f) have been removed, and on which a bottom of the foot of the user is to be mounted, wherein the fifth-toe-side thin part (12b and 11f) is constituted of a fifth-toe-side flat part (12b) and a downward inclined part (11f), the fifth-toe-side flat part (12b) is a region faced at least by a fourth toe, a fifth toe, and base parts thereof of the foot of the user, and a part of an adductor hallucis transverse head located near the heel relative to the base parts in a state where the user wears the footwear, the downward inclined part (11f) is a region faced by an abductor digiti minimi muscle of the bottom of the foot of the user in a state where the user wears the footwear and is inclined downward from an upper surface of the mounting part (11b) to an upper surface of the fifth-toe- side flat part (12b), and the upper surface of the fifth-toe-side flat part (12b) and an upper surface of the heel thin part (12a) are continuous.

[0009] [2] In the above aspect [1], the footwear includes a strap (20) that includes a front strap part (21) foot, and a side strap part (22) to be placed over an instep of the foot, and that is attached to the footbed (10).

[0010] [3] In the above aspect [2], the side strap part (22) includes an outer side strap part (22b) to be placed over the instep of the foot on a fifth toe side, and an inner side strap part (22a) to be placed over the instep of the foot on a first toe side, and the outer side strap part (22b) and the inner side strap part (22a) extend from the front strap part (21) and each have an end attached to the heel thin part (12a).

[0011] [4] In the above aspect [2], the side strap part (22) extends from the front strap part (21) to be placed over the instep of the foot on a first toe side and is not placed over the instep on a fifth toe side.

[0012] [5] In the above aspect [4], an end of the side strap part (22) is attached to the mounting part (11b).

[0013] According to the aspect [1], when a user regularly wearing footwears with high heels wears the present footwear, the heel thin part and the fifth-toe-side thin part face a part of the abductor digiti minimi muscle of the bottom of a foot of the user. Accordingly, an outer side (a fifth-toe-side side part) of the bottom of each foot of the user is separate from the surface of the footbed, so that the outer side (a side part on the fifth toe side) of the bottom of each foot is brought to a state of being easily moved down. With downward movement of the outer side of the bottom of each foot of the user, the knees of the user are likely to open outward. As a result, the knees twisted inward due to wearing of high-heeled footwears can be returned to the original state and the foot skeleton can be turned back to normal.  When a user enabled to be put on a surface of the heel thin part in a state where the foot is mounted on the footbed. Therefore, the heel side becomes lower than the tiptoe side and the center of gravity of the user can be shifted backward, so that the body weight is likely to be applied on the heel side. This enables correction of a forward-leaning posture and enables the user to move up and down the heel in a state where the foot is mounted on the footbed while walking. Therefore, muscles of the calves and from the back of the thighs to the hips of the user can be efficiently trained. Furthermore, since the fifth-toe-side side part of the bottom of each foot first abuts on the downward inclined part when the fifth-toe-side side part is moved down in a state where the user is wearing the footwear, downward movement of the outer side of the bottom of the foot of the user more than necessary can be restricted. Accordingly, the knees twisted inward can be returned to the original state and the user is enabled to walk more easily.

[0014] According to the aspect [2], the user can wear the footwear by sandwiching the front strap part by the first toe and the second toe of the foot and placing the side strap part over the instep.

[0015] According to the aspect [3], since the outer side strap part and the inner side strap part are attached to the heel thin part, a great separation between the bottom of the foot of the user and the heel thin part caused by walking with the footwear by the user can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes easier to walk with the footwear.

[0016] According to the aspect [4], when a user wears the footwear, an outer side part of the bottom of the foot of the user faces the fifth-toe-side thin part and the heel thin part. At that time, the outer side part of the bottom of the foot of the user is brought to a state of being easily moved down. Furthermore, since there is no side strap part to be placed over the instep part on the fifth toe side of the user, the outer side part of the bottom of 5 the foot of the user becomes likely to be separate from the footbed.  Accordingly, the user seeks to grip the footbed with an arched part near the arch of the bottom of the foot of the user to keep the posture.  When the user wears the footwear, this gripping motion can be promoted and, 10 consequently, a motion to normalize the skeleton of the user can be induced.

[0017] According to the aspect [5], the side strap part can be reliably placed over the instep on the first toe side. 15 Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a footwear having a function to correct postures. 20 Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior appearance of a footwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 25        Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a footwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4. 30        Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 4. Description of Embodiments explained below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0021] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior appearance of a footwear 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1. The footwear 1 is a so- called flip-flop and includes a footbed 10 and a strap 20. Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate the footwear 1 to be worn on the left foot of a user. Since a footwear 1 to be worn on the right foot is bilaterally symmetrical to the footwear 1 to be worn on the left foot, detailed descriptions of the footwear 1 to be worn on the right foot are omitted. In the descriptions, the side of the first toe of the footwear 1 in the right-left direction is assumed as an inner side and the side of the fifth toe is assumed as an outer side. Further, the tiptoe side in the front-back direction of the footwear 1 is assumed as the front side and the heel side is assumed as the back side.

[0022] The footbed 10 is made of, for example, a rubber material or an EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) urethane material and has a two-layer structure including a first layer 11 located on the upper side and a second layer 12 located on the lower side.

[0023] The first layer 11 is a plate-like member having a contour at least partially shaped like an outer circumference of a foot in a planar view. The first layer 11 includes a heel missing part 11a, a mounting part 11b, a fifth-toe-side missing part 11c, and a downward inclined part 11f. Although the heel missing part 11a and the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c that are spaces where there are no substantive members are also regarded as constituent elements of the first layer 11 for explanatory convenience, mounting part 11b and the downward inclined part 11f.

[0024] The heel missing part 11a of the first layer 11 is formed by removing a portion faced by a heel of a user.

[0025] The mounting part 11b of the first layer 11 is a portion on which the bottom of the foot of the user is to be mounted and has an upward inclined part 11d and a horizontal part 11e. An upper surface of the upward inclined part 11d is an inclined surface on which the first toe, the second toe, and portions near the bases thereof of the user abut. An upper surface of the horizontal part 11e is a horizontal surface on which a range from the adductor hallucis transverse head of the user to a vicinity of the front edge of the heel abuts. The upward inclined part 11d is formed by gradually increasing the thickness of a platelike member from the front edge of the horizontal part 11e toward the tiptoes. Accordingly, the inclined surface of the upward inclined part 11d is inclined upward toward the tiptoes to be continuous with the horizontal surface of the horizontal part 11e. A lower surface of the first layer 11 is a flat surface.

[0026] As an example, it is preferable to set a height H from the upper surface of the horizontal part 11e in the mounting part 11b to the top of the inclined surface of the upward inclined part 11d in a range not less than 7 mm and not more than 22 mm and is particularly more preferable to set the height H to be not less than 15 mm and not more than 20 mm.

[0027] The fifth-toe-side missing part 11c of the first layer 11 is formed by making a cut in a plate-like member from a substantial center of an end on the tiptoe side along the longitudinal direction, cutting the plate-like member in a gentle arc to a vicinity of a side part on the fifth-toe side through a region slightly outer than a front strap part 21 of the strap 20 and through a region slightly near the tiptoes relative to an edge of the mounting part 11b on the heel side, and further cutting the plate-like member to the heel missing part 11a along the longitudinal direction.

[0028] The downward inclined part 11f of the first layer 11 is formed among the heel missing part 11a, the mounting part 11b, and the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c of the footbed 10. The downward inclined part 11f is inclined downward from an upper surface of the mounting part 11b to an upper surface of the second layer 12. An upper surface of a fifth-toe-side side part 12b1 being a part of a fifthtoe-side flat part 12b of the second layer 12 is located next to a base portion of the downward inclined part 11f.

[0029] The second layer 12 is a flat plate-like member having a contour shaped like the entire outer circumference of a foot in a planar view. A lower surface of the second layer 12 is formed in a rough surface with wavy asperities. Accordingly, the second layer 12 is less likely to slip on the ground.  Lower surfaces of the mounting part 11b and the downward inclined part 11f of the first layer 11 are bonded to a part of the upper surface of the second layer 12. Upper surfaces of a heel-side flat part 12a and the fifth-toe-side flat part 12b of the second layer 12 are exposed and correspond to lower surfaces of the heel missing part 11a and the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c of the first layer 11, respectively.

[0030] A portion that is a part of the fifth-toe-side flat part 12b and that is near an outer side surface of the footbed 10 is referred to as the "fifth-toe-side side part 12b1".  The upper surface of the fifth-toe-side flat part 12b and the upper surface of the heel-side flat part 12a fifth-toe-side side part 12b1.

[0031] When a user places the bottom of a foot on the footbed 10, the bottom of the foot of the user abuts on the mounting part 11b while the bottom of the foot is separate from the footbed 10 at the heel missing part 11a, the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c, and the downward inclined part 11f. The abductor digiti minimi muscle of the bottom of the foot of the user faces the downward inclined part 11f. However, when the user inclines the bottom of the foot outward (to the side of the fifth toe), the user enables the bottom of the foot to abut on the downward inclined surface of the downward inclined part 11f.

[0032] The first layer 11 preferably has a two-layer structure including an upper area 31 and a lower area 32. The upper area 31 and the lower area 32 are constituted of the same member and have the same shape in a planar view. The upper area 31 is made of a plate-like member having a uniform thickness and the bottom of a foot of the user abuts on the upper surface of the upper area 31. The upper surface of the upper area 31 is formed in a rough surface including fine asperities. Accordingly, the bottom of the foot of the user is less likely to slip on the upper surface of the upper area 31.  An edge of the upper area 31 on the heel side, in other words, an edge as a boundary with the heel missing part 11a is chamfered.  An edge of the upper area 31 on the fifth toe side, in other words, an edge as a boundary with the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c is also chamfered.

[0033] The lower area 32 is adhesively fixed to a lower surface of the upper area 31.  The lower area 32 is constituted of a lower-area horizontal part 32a and a lower-area inclined part 32b.  The lower-area horizontal upper area 31 on which the adductor hallucis transverse head abuts to a region on the heel side with the upper area 31 interposed therebetween. The lower-area inclined part 32b has a thickness gradually increasing from the lower- area horizontal part 32a toward the tiptoe side. The upper surface of the lower-area inclined part 32b is a portion inclined upward from the upper surface of the lower-area horizontal part 32a.

[0034] The upper layer 11 can be fixed to the upper surface of the second layer 12 in a state where the upper area 31 is deformed to follow the upper surface of the lower area 32 by adhesively fixing the lower surface of the upper area 31 to the upper surface of the lower area 32. Accordingly, the upper area 31 is inclined to follow the lower-area horizontal part 32a and the lower-area inclined part 32b of the lower area 32, and the horizontal part 11e and the inclined part 11d are formed in the first layer 11.

[0035] The upper area 31 and the lower area 32 are colored with colors different from each other. It is desirable that the colors of the upper area 31 and the lower area 32 are colors that can be clearly distinguished from each other. As one example, it is possible to apply black to the upper area 31 and white to the lower area 32. The inclined surface of the downward inclined part 11f is formed from the upper area 31 to the lower area 32.

[0036] The footbed 10 is formed by bonding the lower surface of the first layer 11, that is, the lower surface of the lower area 32 to the upper surface of the second layer 12. As a result, a step between the upper surface of the first layer 11 and the upper surface of the second layer 12 is formed by the heel missing part 11a, the fifthtoe-side missing part 11c, and the downward inclined part 11f.

[0037] In other words, the heel-side flat part 12a of the second layer 12 forms a heel thin part of the footbed 10. That is, the heel thin part 12a is a region that faces the heel of the user and that is a portion having a reduced thickness in the footbed 10.

[0038] In still other words, the fifth-toe-side flat part 12b of the second layer 12 and the downward inclined part 11f of the first layer 11 form a fifth-toe-side thin part of the footbed 10. That is, the fifth-toe-side thin part is a portion that is a region facing the side of the fifth toe of the user and that has a reduced thickness in the footbed 10.

[0039] The mounting part 11b is surrounded by a plurality of peripheral wall surfaces. One of the peripheral wall surfaces is a first wall surface 11g extending between an inside side surface and the fifth-toe- side side part of the footbed 10 on the tiptoe side relative to the terminating ends of the strap 20. The first wall surface 11g marks off the mounting part 11b and the heel missing part 11a. The first wall surface 11g preferably extends in a concave curve toward the heel side in a planar view.  This is a shape following the front edge of a heel of the user.

[0040] Another one of the wall surfaces of the mounting part 11b is a second wall surface 11h that marks off the mounting part 11b and the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c. The second wall surface 11h extends along the longitudinal direction of the footbed 10 from a substantial center of the end of the footbed 10 on the tiptoe side and extends in an arc to a vicinity of the fifth-toe-side side part through the outer side than the front strap part 21 and further through a region slightly near the tiptoe side relative to the edge of the mounting part 11b on the heel side in a planar view.

[0041] The downward inclined part 11f is one of the peripheral wall surfaces of the mounting part 11b, which extends in the longitudinal direction in a vicinity of the fifth-toe-side side part and connects the first wall surface 11g and the second wall surface 11h to each other on the fifth toe side. A remaining peripheral wall surface 11i connects the first wall surface 11g and the second wall surface 11h to each other on the first toe side.  The peripheral wall surface 11i overlaps the contour of the second layer 12 in a planar view.

[0042] The strap 20 is made of, for example, cloth or synthetic resin and is constituted of the front strap part 21 and a side strap part 22. The front strap part 21 is a part extending upward from the plate surface of the footbed 10 and sandwiched by the first toe and the second toe of a foot of the user. The front strap part 21 is arranged on the upward inclined part 11d of the first layer 11. The side strap part 22 is constituted of a string-like or band like member and is divided into two parts of an inner side strap part 22a extending toward a side part on the first toe side of the footbed 10 from an upper end part of the front strap part 21 as a base end, and an outer side strap part 22b extending toward a side part on the fifth toe side.

[0043] Terminating ends of the inner side strap part 22a and the outer side strap part 22b are fixed to the second layer 12. Specifically, the terminating end of the inner side strap part 22a is fixed to a first-toe-side side part in the vicinity of the step between the upper surface of the first layer 11 and the upper surface of the second layer 12 at the heel missing part 11a. The terminating end of the outer side strap part 22b is fixed to a fifth-toe- side side part in the vicinity of the step between the upper surface of the first layer 11 and the upper surface of the second layer 12 at the heel missing part 11a. Accordingly, when the user walks with the footwears, the bottom of each foot of the user and the heel missing part 11a are prevented from being greatly separated from each other and the user becomes easier to walk with the footwears 1.

[0044] A state where a user wears the footwears 1 is described next.

[0045] The user can wear each of the footwears 1 by inserting a foot through the strap 20 and sandwiching the front strap part 21 by the first toe and the second toe of the foot of the user.

[0046] In a state where the user wears the footwears 1, the fifth-toe-missing part 11c faces the third toe, the fourth toe, the fifth toe, and the base parts thereof of each foot of the user, the adductor hallucis transverse head located nearer the heel than the base parts, and a part of the flexor digiti minimi brevis lateral to the arch of the foot. That is, when the bottom of the foot is divided near the arch of the foot into two parts of a tiptoe side and a heel side and the tiptoe side is further divided into a first toe side (the inner side) and a fifth toe side (the outer side), an outer half of the tiptoe side substantially faces the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c. Further, the whole of each heel of the user faces the heel missing part 11a. Since the downward inclined part 11f is formed in a region on the fifth toe side (the outer side) near the boundary between the arch of the foot and the heel, a portion of the abductor digiti minimi muscle of the user faces the downward inclined part 11f.

[0047] That is, when the user wears the footwears 1, the entire fifth-toe-side side part of the bottom of each foot is in a state of floating. Therefore, the fifth-toe-side side part of the bottom of each foot is brought to a state of being easily moved down. With downward movement of the outer side of the bottom of each foot of the user, the knees of the user are likely to open outward. As a result, the state where the knees are twisted inward can be returned to the original state.

[0048] As described above, according to the footwear 1 of the first embodiment, particularly with wearing thereof by a person wearing footwears with high heels such as highheeled shoes, the center of gravity can be shifted backward and the knees twisted inward can be returned to the original state.  Furthermore, by the return of the knees twisted inward to the original state, the opened pelvis can be turned back to normal. The pelvis connects also to the backbone via the sacrum. Therefore, with shifting of the center of gravity backward, the backbone can be returned to its original S-shape. When the backbone returns to the normal state, the position of the head is aligned with the line of the backbone, the neck bones are returned to the original state from the forward inclined state, and the straight neck is corrected. As a result, the misaligned skeleton is turned back to normal and pain in the legs or the neck can be reduced.

[0049] When having the straight neck, the user is brought to a state where thin fasciae covering the skull are raised upward, so that mimic muscles become slack and the entire face looks like sagging. According to the footwear 1 of the first embodiment, the neck bones are returned to the normal state from the straight neck, whereby an effect of eliminating sagging of the face and slimming the face is expected.

[0050] Furthermore, when the outer side of the bottom of each foot of the user moves down, the outer side first abuts on the downward inclined part 11f, so that downward movement of the outer side of the bottom of each foot of the user more than necessary can be restricted. Accordingly, the user is enabled to walk more easily. An inclination angle x of the downward inclined part 11f can be set in a range of 0°<x^90°.  However, if the inclination angle is too small, the amount of movement of the outer side of the bottom of each foot of the user becomes small and the effect of turning the knees twisted inward back to normal is less likely to be obtained. If the inclination angle is too large, the footbed 10 is likely to slip out of place on the bottom of each foot and there is a risk that the user has difficulty in walking. Accordingly, it is preferable that the inclination angle of the downward inclined part 11f is in the range of 30°<x<60°.

[0051] When the user walks while having a consciousness of keeping the outer side part of the bottom of each foot faced by the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c away from the ground, the center of gravity of each leg of the user can be corrected toward the inner side. When the user has bowlegs, the distance between the knees of the user can also be narrowed.

[0052] When the user wears the footwears 1, the inner side strap part 22a of the strap 20 runs on the base of the first toe of the user and the outer side strap part 22b runs on the instep of the foot of the user, thereby causing each of the footwears 1 to be less likely to come off the user’s foot.

[0053] Since the front strap part 21 is arranged on the upward inclined part 11d, the first toe, the second toe, and the bases thereof of the user abut on the inclined surface of the upward inclined part 11d. Accordingly, only the first toe, the second toe, and the base parts thereof in the bottom of each foot of the user are positioned higher than the upper surface of the horizontal part 11e.

[0054] As described above, since the first toe, the second toe, and the base parts thereof in the bottom of each foot of the user are at a higher position than the remaining parts, the heel side is easily moved down and the center of gravity is likely to shift backward, so that the user becomes less likely to slouch.  Even when the line of the backbone is inclined forward with time and the user is about to slouch, the user is less likely to slouch because the first toe, the second toe, and the base parts thereof are mounted on the upward inclined part 11d. Even when the user slouches, the line of the backbone can be returned to follow the perpendicular direction to the ground. In this way, the posture of the user can be corrected.

[0055] Since the user is less likely to slouch, the time of a posture in which the gravity is applied to the face, such as a downward-facing posture, can be reduced.  This can decrease occurrence of swollenness due to accumulation of water in the face and, consequently, a face sliming effect is also expected. Furthermore, the user is less likely to slouch and is corrected from a forward-leaning posture to a better posture, whereby the eyeballs can be released from being pushed against fasciae and the eyestrain can be relieved. The correction from the forward-leaning posture to a better posture can provide other effects, such as improving the posture during walking, enabling the legs to be lifted easier, alleviating shoulder stiffness, and improving the bloodstream at the back of the neck.

[0056] According to the first embodiment, the height H from the upper surface of the horizontal part 11e to the top of the inclined surface of the upward inclined part 11d is set in the range not less than 7 mm and not more than 22 mm. The line of the backbone is difficult to be shifted backward if the height H is too small, and the line of the backbone has a risk of being shifted backward more than necessary in the normal posture if the height H is too large. Therefore, when the height H is in the range not less than 7 mm and not more than 22 mm as in the first embodiment, the line of the backbone can be shifted backward to correct the posture to be in a state of being upright with respect to the ground when the user becomes in a forward-leaning posture and the line of the backbone is inclined forward. More preferably, with setting of the height H to be not less than 15 mm and not more than 20 mm, the posture of the user can be stably corrected when the user leans forward and the line of the backbone is inclined forward.

[0057] Some users (so-called persons walking on heels) have a habit of walking while putting the center of gravity on the heel side and other users (so-called persons walking on tiptoes) have a habit of walking while putting the center of gravity on the tiptoe side. The users walking on heels can correct the center of gravity to be shifted forward by having a consciousness of walking in such a manner that the heel is kept away from the upper surface of the second layer 12. The users walking on tiptoes can correct the center of gravity to be shifted backward by walking in such a manner that the heel is brought to contact with the upper surface of the second layer 12. In this way, the footwears 1 can correct both the walking posture of the users walking on heels and the walking posture of the users walking on tiptoes.

[0058] Since the step portion formed by the heel missing part 11a has an arc shape, a vicinity of the arch of each foot near the arc-shaped heel part can be stimulated while walking.  Since a portion of the first layer 11 between the heel missing part 11a and the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c is formed to be narrow, the user can stimulate a part lateral to the arch of each foot by moving an outer part of the bottom of each foot up and down. Accordingly, an effect beneficial to health due to stimulation of foot pressure points can be expected.

[0059] Further, the upward inclined part 11d is formed in the first layer 11 by adhesively fixing the lower surface of the upper area 31 to the upper surface of the lower area 32 in a state where the upper area 31 is deformed to follow the lower-area inclined part 32b. Accordingly, by adhesively fixing the upper area 31 where a surface (the upper surface) of the upper area 31 has been processed to form slip resistance such as asperities to the lower area 32, the first layer 11 having the slip resistance such as the asperities formed on a surface (the upper surface) of the upward inclined part 11d can be easily created.

[0060] Since the upper area 31 and the lower area 32 are colored with colors different from each other, it is possible to visually give the user an impression that the lower area 32 is thickened toward the tiptoe side and that an area where the first toe is to be placed is higher when the footwear 1 is laterally viewed.

[0061] [Second embodiment] Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior appearance of a footwear 2 in a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 4. The footwear 2 is a so-called flip-flop and includes the footbed 10 and a strap 25. Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate the footwear 2 to be worn on the left foot of a user. Since a footwear 2 to be worn on the right foot is bilaterally symmetrical to the footwear 2 to be worn on the left foot, detailed descriptions of the footwear 2 to be worn on the right foot are omitted.

[0062] The footwear 2 of the second embodiment is obtained by attaching the strap 25 to the footbed 10, instead of the strap 20 in the footwear 1 of the first embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. The footbed 10 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0063] The strap 25 is made of, for example, cloth or synthetic resin and is constituted of a front strap part 26 and a side strap part 27 similarly to the strap 20. The front strap part 26 is a part extending upward from the plate surface of the footbed 10 and sandwiched by the first toe and the second toe a foot of a user.  The front strap part 26 is arranged on the upward inclined part 11d of the first layer 11 similarly to the strap 20. The side strap part 27 is constituted of a string-like or band-like member and extends toward an inner side part of the footbed 10 from an upper end part of the front strap part 26 as a base end.

[0064] A terminating end of the side strap part 27 is fixed to a corner part of the first layer 11 on the side of the heel missing part 11a and on the side of the first toe. That is, the strap 25 is obtained by removing the outer side strap part 22b from the strap 20 and arranging the terminating end of the inner side strap part 22a on the first layer 11.

[0065] According to the footwear 2 in the second embodiment configured as described above, when a user wears the footwears 2, the fifth-toe-side side part of the bottom of each foot of the user faces the fifth-toe-side missing part 11c, the downward inclined part 11f, and the heel missing part 11a similarly in the footwear 1. At that time, the fifth-toe-side side part of the bottom of each foot of the user is brought to a state of being easily moved down. Furthermore, since there is no side strap part to be placed over the instep part on the fifth toe side of the user, the fifth-toe-side side part of the bottom of each foot of the user is likely to be separate from the first layer 11. Therefore, the user seeks to grip the first layer 11 with an arched part near the arch of the bottom of each foot using the abductor digiti minimi muscle and the like to keep the posture.  When the user wears the footwears 2, this gripping action can be promoted and, consequently, a motion of the user to normalize the skeleton can be induced.

[0066] Although there is only one side strap 27 to be placed over the instep on the side of the first toe, the terminating end is arranged on the first layer 11 and is relatively short. Therefore, the side strap 27 can be reliably placed over the instep on the first toe side. This can reduce the length of a separation of the footbed 10 from the bottom of the foot of the user while walking and can stabilize walking.

[0067] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above. For example, while the above embodiments have been described with flip-flops as an example, the embodiments are also applicable to zoris.  While the foot board is made of a rubber material, an EVA urethan material, or the like, the material of the footbed is not limited thereto.  For example, the footbed may be made of wood.

[0068] While the footbed 10 is formed in the two-layer structure in the embodiments of the present invention, the footbed 10 may have one layer (a single plate) as long as the footbed has a thin part having a reduced thickness formed in a region of the footbed faced by an outer half of the bottom of each foot of a user on the tiptoe side and a region faced by the heel portion.  Each of the first layer 11 and the second layer 12 may be configured in a plurality of layers. While the first layer 11 is illustrated as the two-layer structure, the first layer 11 may have one layer (a single plate). Reference Signs List

[0069] 1, 2 footwear 10 footbed 11 first layer 11a heel missing part 11b mounting part 11c fifth-toe-side missing part 11d upward inclined part 11e horizontal part 11f downward inclined part 12 second layer 12a heel-side flat part (heel thin part) 12b fifth-toe-side flat part 12b1 fifth-toe-side side part 20, 25 strap 21, 26 front strap part 22, 27 side strap part 22a inner side strap part 22b outer side strap part 31 upper area 32 lower area 32a lower-area horizontal part 32b lower-area inclined part

Claims

1. A footwear comprising a footbed (10) on which a foot is to be mounted, the footbed (10) including a heel thin part (12a) having a thickness reduced in a region facing a heel of a user, a fifth-toe-side thin part (12band 11f) having a thickness reduced in a region facing afifth toe side of the user, and a mounting part (11b) thatis formed in a region from which the heel thin part (12a)and the fifth-toe-side thin part (12b and 11f) have beenremoved, and on which a bottom of the foot of the user isto be mounted, whereinthe fifth-toe-side thin part (12b and 11f) is constituted of a fifth-toe-side flat part (12b) and a downward inclined part (11f),the fifth-toe-side flat part (12b) is a region facedat least by a fourth toe, a fifth toe, and base partsthereof of the foot of the user, and a part of an adductorhallucis transverse head located near the heel relative tothe base parts in a state where the user wears thefootwear,the downward inclined part (11f) is a region faced byan abductor digiti minimi muscle of the bottom of the footof the user in a state where the user wears the footwear and is inclined downward from an upper surface of themounting part (11b) to an upper surface of the fifth-toe-side flat part (12b), andthe upper surface of the fifth-toe-side flat part(12b) and an upper surface of the heel thin part (12a) are continuous.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a strap (20) that includes a front strap part (21) to be sandwiched by a first toe and a second toe ofthe foot, and a side strap part (22) to be placed over aninstep of the foot, and that is attached to the footbed(10).

3. The footwear according to claim 2, whereinthe side strap part (22) includes an outer side strappart (22b) to be placed over the instep of the foot on afifth toe side, and an inner side strap part (22a) to beplaced over the instep of the foot on a first toe side, andthe outer side strap part (22b) and the inner sidestrap part (22a) extend from the front strap part (21) andeach have an end attached to the heel thin part (12a).

4. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein theside strap part (22) extends from the front strap part (21)to be placed over the instep of the foot on a first toeside and is not placed over the instep on a fifth toe side.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein an endof the side strap part (22) is attached to the mountingpart (11b).

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