Vamp structure matched with telescopic sole

Abstract

The vamp structure is characterized in that an opening is formed in a vamp body, and the opening extends to the front side of a collar from a corresponding instep area; the opening is provided with a supporting frame, the supporting frame comprises a plurality of sawteeth which are symmetrically arranged along the edges of the two sides of the opening, and a stress releasing groove is formed between every two adjacent sawteeth; a plurality of stress release holes are distributed in the areas, corresponding to the two sides of the foot, of the vamp body, each stress release hole is provided with a bent hole channel, and the convex side of each stress release hole faces the stretching direction of the vamp. The vamp structure can stretch out and draw back in a coordinated and consistent mode with the shoe sole, the three-dimensional shape of the vamp is kept, and stable and reliable wrapping and supporting are provided for the foot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of footwear technology, specifically relating to an upper structure adapted to a stretchable sole. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional shoe soles are mostly rigid or semi-rigid structures with fixed dimensions. Their length and girth cannot be changed, making them unable to adapt to the dynamic changes in the wearer's foot and the changes in children's growth stages. A pair of shoes can only fit a specific size and foot shape. When the user's feet develop or swell due to exercise, the shoes no longer fit properly, causing compression or loosening, affecting comfort and safety. Especially because children's feet grow rapidly, shoes often become unusable due to being too small before the soles wear out, resulting in significant economic waste and resource consumption.

[0003] To address sizing issues, existing technologies have proposed some adjustable shoe designs, such as using Velcro, straps, or knob systems to adjust the tightness of the upper. However, these solutions are primarily limited to minor adjustments to the upper's circumference, failing to effectively alter the fundamental length of the shoe. Their limited adjustment range cannot meet the long-term wear needs of children and adults. Even with stretchable soles, there is still a lack of matching upper structures that can coordinate with the stretch while maintaining structural integrity.

[0004] Existing shoe uppers are typically made of fixed-size textile or leather components, their shape permanently fixed to a specific-sized sole. Forcibly combining such a fixed upper with a stretchable sole would result in the following fatal flaws:

[0005] 1. Functional Failure: When the sole stretches, the upper is overstretched, generating significant internal stress. This not only hinders the smooth expansion and contraction of the sole but may also cause the upper material to tear or permanently deform. When the sole contracts, the upper will wrinkle due to excess material buildup, severely affecting comfort and aesthetics, and may create pressure points that could injure the feet.

[0006] 2. Loss of support: One of the key functions of a shoe upper is to provide lateral support for the foot. An upper that passively adapts to stretching and contraction solely through material elasticity will become loose when stretched, failing to provide the necessary stability and protection, posing a safety hazard, especially in sports scenarios.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for an innovative upper structure specifically designed to accommodate stretch soles. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an upper structure adapted to a stretch sole, which solves the problem of incompatibility between the upper and the stretch sole in the background art, and further solves the problem of the upper and sole stretching and contracting together while maintaining structural integrity and providing stable wrapping and support for the foot.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: a shoe upper structure adapted to a stretchable sole is provided, the shoe upper body is provided with an opening, the opening extends from the corresponding instep area to the front side of the collar; the opening is provided with a support frame, the support frame includes a plurality of serrations symmetrically arranged along the two sides of the opening, and stress relief grooves are formed between adjacent serrations; the shoe upper body is provided with a plurality of stress relief holes in the area corresponding to both sides of the foot, the stress relief holes have curved channels and the convex side faces the stretching direction of the shoe upper.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stress relief hole is composed of a first channel and a second channel, wherein the extension direction of the first channel is consistent with the extension direction of the serration, and the extension direction of the second channel is perpendicular to the length direction of the shoe.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the serrations extend obliquely upward from back to front, and the front end of the serrations is provided with a shoelace hole for threading shoelaces.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front end of the serration is provided with a Velcro strap, the number of the Velcro straps is no more than the number of serrations on one side, the opening of the shoe upper is fully open when the Velcro strap is opened, and the connection is made from one side of the serrations to the other side when closed.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame has an arc-shaped profile at the junction of the root of the serration and the upper body. The number of arcs in the arc-shaped profile is adapted to the number of serrations, and the curvature of the arc is greater than the curvature of the serration flange and the groove.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting frame further includes a connecting rib, which connects the front ends of adjacent saw teeth and forms a closed hole in the stress relief groove.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting frame further includes an edge banding strip, which extends from the serrations toward the shoe collar and covers the shoe collar.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shoe upper body further includes a toe portion that wraps around the toes and a heel portion that wraps around the heel. The heel portion is designed to be low-cut, mid-cut, or high-cut, and through holes are provided on the toe portion and the heel portion.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper of the shoe is integrally formed with the toe, heel and the area between them corresponding to the two sides of the foot, and the material includes ETPU and TPE.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper and sole of the shoe are integrally formed, including the toe, heel, and the area between them corresponding to the two sides of the foot.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material of the supporting frame includes TPU.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, this technical solution has the following advantages:

[0021] 1. The upper structure of this invention achieves "full life cycle" adaptation of footwear, effectively solving the waste problem caused by foot growth; the upper of this invention has a structure that matches the stretchable sole, and its stress relief holes are precisely matched with the stretching direction of the sole, enabling it to expand in tandem with the sole and achieve synchronous stretching and adjustment.

[0022] 2. The upper structure of this invention is not simply stretched, but rather maintains its three-dimensional shape effectively during stretching by pre-setting a support frame, a serrated structure, and an arc-shaped structure at the opening in the instep area. Combined with stress relief grooves and stress relief holes, the stress relief grooves can open relatively to enlarge the instep opening, and the stress relief holes can adapt to the stretching direction (including changes in length and circumference) and maintain lateral support performance. This effectively avoids the problem of support force attenuation that occurs after stretching in traditional flexible uppers, and also achieves lightweighting while ensuring strength. It is suitable for different types of footwear (such as casual shoes, outdoor shoes, and sports shoes), providing safe and reliable foot protection for various sports scenarios.

[0023] 3. The upper structure of this invention can be precisely adjusted according to the subtle differences in the user's foot shape (such as length, width, and arch height) to achieve a truly "custom-made" fit, providing dynamic and stable wrapping performance, ensuring the safety and comfort of wearing the shoes, and also helping to develop a healthy gait. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a diagram of the initial state of the shoe upper structure in Example 1;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a diagram of the shoe upper structure in the stretched state as shown in Example 1.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a top view of the shoe upper structure in Example 1;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the lacing method in Example 2;

[0028] Figure 5This is a structural diagram of the high-top shoe upper in Example 3;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a diagram of the initial state of the shoe upper structure in Example 4;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a diagram of the shoe upper structure in the stretched state as shown in Example 4.

[0031] Figure 8 This is a diagram of the shoe upper structure in Example 5.

[0032] Among them, 111-groove, 21-opening, 22-support frame, 221-serration, 222-stress relief groove, 223-arc contour, 224-shoelace hole, 225-connecting rib, 226-edge strip, 227-hook and loop strap, 23-stress relief hole, 24-toe of shoe, 241-through hole (toe of shoe), 25-heel, 251-through hole (heel), 252-collar of shoe. Detailed Implementation

[0033] It should be noted that the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] This embodiment provides an upper structure adapted to a stretch sole. The upper body has an opening 21 extending from the corresponding instep area to the front of the collar 252. The opening 21 has a support frame 22, which can be used directly as a structural component or attached to the surface of the upper body of a corresponding shape as a reinforcing layer. The support frame 22 includes several serrations 221 symmetrically arranged along the two edges of the opening 21, with stress relief grooves 222 formed between adjacent serrations 221. The upper body has several stress relief holes 23 arranged in the areas corresponding to both sides of the foot. The stress relief holes 23 have curved channels and their convex sides face the stretching direction of the upper.

[0036] The stress relief hole 23 consists of a first channel and a second channel. The extension direction of the first channel is consistent with the extension direction of the serration 221, and the extension direction of the second channel is perpendicular to the length direction of the shoe. In this embodiment, the serration 221 extends obliquely upward from back to front. The matching sole has a groove 111 with a stretching function in the length direction of the shoe. Therefore, the first channel of the stress relief hole 23 faces obliquely upward forward, while the second channel is adapted to the position of the groove 111 and is perpendicular to the length direction of the shoe. The two converge at an obliquely upward backward direction to form a convex side, ensuring that the stretched upper always completely wraps the heel 25. In addition, the stress relief hole 23 of this structure also has the ability to extend in the circumferential direction, which can accommodate different sizes of the instep area. When the upper of this embodiment is combined with the stretchable sole, the stress relief hole 23, especially the second channel, can precisely match the stretchable components of the sole (such as grooves) and expand synergistically.

[0037] The shoe upper also includes a toe cap 24 that covers the toes and a heel cap 25 that covers the heel. The heel cap 25 is designed to be low-cut or mid-cut and has through holes 251. The toe cap 24, heel cap 25, and the area between them corresponding to the sides of the foot are integrally molded, and even the sole is integrally molded. The materials include ETPU and TPE. The supporting frame 22 is made of TPU.

[0038] In this embodiment, the front end of the serration 221 is provided with a shoelace hole 224 for threading shoelaces. The serration 221 forms a shoe ear-like structure that can open relatively to enlarge the instep opening 21, accommodating a wider range of circumference changes. Simultaneously, to ensure the strength of the supporting frame 22, the supporting frame 22 has an arc-shaped contour 223 at the connection between the root of the serration 221 and the upper body. The number of arcs in the arc-shaped contour 223 matches the number of serrations 221, and the curvature of the arc is greater than the curvature of the flange and groove of the serration 221. Besides "connection," the arc-shaped contour 223 also facilitates the transition between different materials, absorbing minor displacements caused by stiffness differences. This results in an effective stress transmission chain in the overall structure, guided by "primary stress dispersion through the serrations 221 and stress relief grooves 222, and secondary stress release from the tooth root to the upper body," avoiding cracks caused by high stress concentration at right-angle connections.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the front end of the serration 221 is provided with several Velcro straps 227. Specifically, the original shoelace hole position at the front end of one side of the serration 221 is changed to a Velcro velvet surface, and the other side of the serration 221 is connected to a strip of Velcro with the hook side facing down. This embodiment allows the shoe opening to be widened, making it easier to put on.

[0041] Example 3

[0042] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the heel portion 25 of the shoe upper, which wraps around the heel, is designed as a high-top style. In addition, the supporting frame 22 also includes an edge banding strip 226, which extends from the serrations 221 toward the collar 252 and covers the collar 252, ensuring the elasticity, stability, and durability of the shoe upper.

[0043] Example 4

[0044] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the supporting frame 22 further includes a connecting rib 225, which connects the front end of the adjacent sawtooth 221 and makes the stress relief groove 222 form a closed hole.

[0045] Example 5

[0046] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the toe cap 24 is also provided with a through hole 241, which can be used to thread an insole rope or webbing fixing system. When an insole is provided, it is fixed to the inside of the sole by Velcro or other means. The insole is connected to an insole rope or webbing, which is passed through the through hole 241 and connected to the upper and shoelaces, thereby further fixing the insole inside the shoe and preventing it from shifting when putting on or taking off the shoes.

[0047] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shoe upper structure adapted to a stretchable sole, characterized in that: The upper body has an opening that extends from the corresponding instep area to the front of the collar; the opening has a support frame that includes several serrations symmetrically arranged along the two sides of the opening, with stress relief grooves formed between adjacent serrations; the upper body has several stress relief holes arranged in the areas corresponding to both sides of the foot, the stress relief holes having curved channels and the convex side facing the direction of expansion and contraction of the upper.

2. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stress relief hole consists of a first channel and a second channel. The extension direction of the first channel is consistent with the extension direction of the serrations, and the extension direction of the second channel is perpendicular to the length direction of the shoe.

3. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The serrations extend diagonally upwards from back to front, and the front end of the serrations is provided with a shoelace or Velcro strap.

4. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support frame has an arc-shaped profile at the junction of the root of the serration and the upper body. The number of arcs in the arc-shaped profile is adapted to the number of serrations, and the curvature of the arc is greater than the curvature of the serration flange and groove.

5. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting frame also includes connecting ribs that connect the front ends of adjacent saw teeth and form closed holes in the stress relief grooves.

6. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting frame also includes an edge banding strip that extends from the serrations toward and covers the collar.

7. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper body also includes a toe section that wraps around the toes and a heel section that wraps around the heel. The heel section is designed to be low-top, mid-top, or high-top, and through holes are provided on the toe section and the heel section.

8. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 7, characterized in that: The upper of the shoe is integrally molded from the toe, heel, and the areas on both sides of the foot between them, and the materials include ETPU and TPE.

9. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 7, characterized in that: The upper, including the toe, heel, and the area between them corresponding to the sides of the foot, as well as the sole, are integrally formed.

10. The upper structure for adapting to a stretchable sole according to claim 7, characterized in that: The supporting frame is made of TPU.

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