A footwear upper assembly having lateral support for the forefoot, a footwear
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522534924.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-20
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-11-28
AI Technical Summary
[0002]传统的排球鞋的鞋面多采用织物或皮革材质，该些材质虽然具有一定的透气性能该些材质在面对需要快速横向移动进行拦网的排球运动时，在足部前掌区域容易因自身侧向支撑性能差，导致运动员前掌无法得到有效的侧向支撑，进而影响运动表现或导致损伤
现有技术中针对运动鞋尤其是排球鞋，在足部前掌侧向支撑结构上一般采用单纯地增厚鞋面材料的方式。这种结构虽然在一定程度上提高了侧向支撑，但会导致鞋面整体重量增大，并且导致对应位置刚性过高，束缚足部前掌在运动中自然的弯折和扭转，影响运动灵活性。
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Figure CN224864041U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of footwear technology, specifically to an upper component and a shoe that provides lateral support for the forefoot. Background Technology
[0002] Traditional volleyball shoes often use fabric or leather for the uppers. While these materials offer some breathability, they are prone to poor lateral support in the forefoot area when playing volleyball, which requires quick lateral movement for blocking. This can result in insufficient lateral support for the athlete's forefoot, affecting athletic performance or causing injury. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the aforementioned defects or problems in the prior art and to provide an upper component and a shoe with lateral support for the forefoot, which can provide good lateral support performance for the forefoot area.
[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: Technical Solution 1: A shoe upper assembly with lateral support for the forefoot, comprising: a shoe tongue; an upper having an opening for mounting the shoe tongue and a mounting groove in the metatarsal region corresponding to the lateral side of the forefoot; an opening reinforcement fixed to the outer surface of the upper and at least at the opening position at the front end of the opening; a front reinforcement fixed to the outer surface of the upper and at least at the front end of the shoe; the front reinforcement extending towards the rear end of the upper from one side corresponding to the lateral side of the upper in the width direction to form a reinforcing wing; and a forefoot reinforcement strip, which is a strip-shaped film; the forefoot reinforcement strips are multiple and fixed to the outer surface of the upper, and all the forefoot reinforcement strips are located at the opening position. The shoe collar reinforcement extends towards the outer foot side of the shoe upper; a portion of the forefoot reinforcement extends and connects to the reinforcement wing, and this portion of the forefoot reinforcement is defined as the first reinforcement; a portion of the forefoot reinforcement extends to the bottom edge of the shoe upper and corresponds to the metatarsal region on the outer foot side of the forefoot, and this portion of the forefoot reinforcement is defined as the second reinforcement, the second reinforcement covering the mounting groove; a cushioning member is disposed in the mounting groove and its shape is adapted to the mounting groove, and the cushioning member is covered by the second reinforcement, so as to clamp and fix the cushioning member by the second reinforcement and the shoe upper; the tensile strength of the shoe collar reinforcement and the front reinforcement is higher than the tensile strength of the forefoot reinforcement; the cushioning member is a sheet material with cushioning and energy absorption function.
[0005] Technical Solution 2, based on Technical Solution 1: The size of the cushioning component gradually increases from top to bottom along the length of the shoe upper.
[0006] Technical Solution 3 based on Technical Solution 2: The cushioning element protrudes from the outer and inner surfaces of the shoe upper.
[0007] Technical solution four based on technical solution three: The shoe upper also includes a shoe upper body and an inner lining; the inner lining is fixed inside the shoe upper body and cooperates with the second reinforcing strip to clamp and fix the cushioning component; the shoe upper body is provided with a through hole for installing the cushioning component.
[0008] Technical Solution 5 based on Technical Solution 1: The shoe opening reinforcement is at least spanned across the left and right ends of the opening; of the forefoot reinforcement strips, the first reinforcement strip located at the foremost side is connected to the end of the shoe opening reinforcement located at the opening and near the inner foot side; the second reinforcement strip located at the rearmost side is connected to the end of the shoe opening reinforcement located at the opening and near the outer foot side.
[0009] Technical solution six based on technical solution one: also includes a side reinforcing strip; the shoe opening reinforcement is also provided in the shoelace hole area of the shoe opening; the side reinforcing strip is provided on the outer surface of both sides of the midsection of the shoe upper, and extends backward and downward from the front end of the shoe opening reinforcement located in the shoelace hole area to the bottom edge of the shoe upper.
[0010] Technical solution seven based on technical solution one: also includes a heel reinforcement component; the heel reinforcement component is disposed on the outer surface of the shoe upper corresponding to the heel of the foot, and is connected to the shoe opening reinforcement component; the tensile strength of the heel reinforcement component is equivalent to the tensile strength of the front reinforcement component.
[0011] Technical solution eight, based on technical solution seven, also includes a heel reinforcement; the heel reinforcement is disposed on the outer surface of the heel reinforcement and extends backward and upward from the bottom edge of the upper corresponding to the rear end of the arch.
[0012] In addition, this utility model also provides a ninth technical solution: a shoe, characterized in that it includes an upper component with lateral support for the forefoot based on any one of technical solutions one to eight; and further includes a sole, wherein the upper component is attached to the sole.
[0013] Technical solution ten based on technical solution nine: The sole includes a sole body and a sole reinforcement; the sole reinforcement is disposed on the outer foot side surface of the sole body and extends along the front-back direction corresponding to the position of the metatarsal bone on the outer foot side of the forefoot to the posterior position of the arch of the foot.
[0014] As can be seen from the above description of this utility model, compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following beneficial effects: In existing technologies for athletic shoes, especially volleyball shoes, the lateral support structure in the forefoot generally involves simply thickening the upper material. While this structure improves lateral support to some extent, it increases the overall weight of the upper and results in excessive rigidity in the corresponding areas, restricting the natural flexion and twisting of the forefoot during movement and affecting agility.
[0015] This design specifically features an upper component with lateral support for the forefoot. The upper includes an opening where a tongue connects to the front of the opening and is secured to the laces via eyelets. An opening reinforcement is located along the edge of the opening for added strength. A forefoot reinforcement is located at the front of the shoe to enhance structural strength and prevent toe impacts. The forefoot reinforcement also includes a reinforcing wing to increase its protective coverage. The first reinforcing strip in the forefoot reinforcement connects to this wing. This forefoot reinforcement is a thin, strip-shaped membrane that flexibly conforms to the shape of the upper, preventing foot constriction. The forefoot reinforcement strip connects to the reinforced wing at the shoe opening, establishing a preliminary force transmission path from the reinforced wing to the shoe opening reinforcement. Additionally, the forefoot reinforcement strip includes a second reinforcement strip, which connects to the bottom edge of the upper from the shoe opening reinforcement. Since the bottom edge of the upper is attached to the sole, the second reinforcement strip effectively connects the shoe opening reinforcement and the sole, creating another force transmission path from the sole to the shoe opening reinforcement. Furthermore, a cushioning element is installed in the mounting groove of the upper, covered by the second reinforcement strip. This allows the second reinforcement strip to clamp and secure the cushioning element to the upper, establishing a strong connection between the cushioning element and the second reinforcement strip. The tensile strength of the shoe opening reinforcement and the forefoot reinforcement strip is higher than that of the forefoot reinforcement strip, ensuring reinforcement of the shoe opening and forefoot. The cushioning element is made of a sheet material with cushioning and energy absorption functions, facilitating installation while avoiding affecting the shoe's aesthetic appearance.
[0016] This design creates a continuous force transmission path and a constraint structure for lateral support of the foot in the forefoot area of the upper components. During rapid lateral movement and changes of direction, the forefoot reinforcement strip transfers the pushing force from the foot to the upper to the forefoot reinforcement, sole, and collar reinforcement. This means that lateral support is provided not only through the upper itself but also through the coordinated stress distribution and support from other structurally stronger components. Simultaneously, the forefoot reinforcement uses a strip-shaped membrane, which dynamically conforms to the shape changes of the upper at that location while providing good tensile strength, effectively transferring lateral forces to other components. Meanwhile, the cushioning element, corresponding to the lateral metatarsal area, provides cushioning to the foot through its soft elasticity. Furthermore, the cushioning element and the forefoot reinforcement strip work together to achieve dynamic adjustment of the cushioning force and adaptive lateral support. Conventional shoe uppers can also incorporate cushioning components to provide a soft, springy feel and cushioning. However, these components typically deform with the shoe upper, causing their cushioning force to fluctuate and become ineffective. In this design, the cushioning component is secured to the upper via a second reinforcing strip, and since it's positioned within a mounting groove in the upper, its deformation and compression are constrained by the tension of the second reinforcing strip. When lateral force is low, the second reinforcing strip exhibits low tension, resulting in less pressure on the cushioning component, which retains its inherent softness, providing comfort and cushioning. Conversely, as lateral force increases, the second reinforcing strip's tension rises, strengthening the constraint on the cushioning component, which then exhibits higher rigidity, providing better support and preventing excessive pronation of the outer side of the foot. Therefore, this design provides an upper assembly with lateral support for the forefoot area, offering excellent lateral support performance, improving athletic performance, and reducing the risk of injury during exercise.
[0017] In technical solution two, the size of the cushioning component gradually increases from top to bottom along the length of the shoe upper, forming an equilateral triangle or frustum-shaped structure. This means it is wider closer to the sole and narrower closer to the shoe opening reinforcement. This structure provides a larger contact area at the lower end of the cushioning component to disperse and absorb impact, directly corresponding to the area on the outer side of the foot where the lateral pressure on the shoe upper is greatest during movement. Compared to a cushioning component of uniform width, this structure further optimizes the restraining force exerted by the second reinforcing strip on the cushioning component while providing the same support and cushioning effect. Specifically, the second reinforcing strip, based on the shape of the cushioning component, concentrates pressure more directly on the lower section of the cushioning component, which is more aligned with the outer side of the foot's phalanx area, thereby improving the cushioning and support effect of the cushioning component.
[0018] In technical solution three, setting the cushioning element to protrude from the outer surface of the shoe upper can improve the effectiveness of the contact between the cushioning element and the second reinforcing strip, so that the tension changes of the second reinforcing strip can be better transmitted to the cushioning element, and can also increase the thickness of the cushioning element, so that the cushioning element can provide a better cushioning effect; at the same time, setting the cushioning element to protrude from the inner lining surface of the shoe upper can improve the effectiveness of the contact between the cushioning element and the human foot, providing better cushioning performance for the human foot.
[0019] In technical solution four, the shoe upper includes the shoe upper body and the inner lining. After the cushioning component is set in the through hole on the shoe upper body, the cushioning component is firmly set on the shoe upper by fixing the inner lining to the inside of the shoe upper body and fixing the second reinforcing strip to the outside of the shoe upper body, so that the displacement of the cushioning component in all directions is effectively constrained and the cushioning component is prevented from falling off.
[0020] In technical solution five, one end of the foremost first reinforcing strip is connected to the end of the shoe opening reinforcement near the inner foot side of the opening, and one end of the rearmost second reinforcing strip is connected to the other end of the shoe opening reinforcement near the outer foot side of the opening. This completely connects the shoe opening reinforcement at the opening position with the forefoot reinforcing strip, and avoids stress concentration at a certain position of the shoe opening reinforcement. Instead, the tensile force is transmitted to the shoe opening reinforcement in a more regular manner, and the stress is dispersed by the stronger shoe opening reinforcement.
[0021] In technical solution six, the side reinforcement strip connects to the front end of the shoelace eyelet area of the shoe collar reinforcement and extends backward and downward to the bottom edge of the upper. When the upper assembly is attached to the sole, the side reinforcement is also connected to the sole. This structure is equivalent to adding another force transmission path from the shoe collar reinforcement to the sole. When the side of the upper is subjected to force, the side reinforcement can further improve the overall lateral support performance of the shoe by pulling the shoe collar reinforcement and the sole at both ends.
[0022] In technical solution seven, a heel reinforcement is provided. The heel reinforcement wraps around the heel area of the shoe upper, thereby providing good support for the heel position of the foot, preventing the structure of this part from collapsing and deforming, providing good shape stability, and further improving lateral support for the foot.
[0023] In technical solution eight, a heel reinforcement is provided. The heel reinforcement can connect the heel reinforcement and the sole, thereby distributing the force on the heel reinforcement to the sole and further improving the lateral support for the foot.
[0024] Technical solution nine provides a shoe that uses the above-mentioned upper component with lateral support for the forefoot, which can provide better lateral support performance through the upper component itself and its cooperation with the sole.
[0025] In technical solution ten, the sole includes a sole body and a sole reinforcement. The sole reinforcement is located on the outer side surface of the sole body and extends along the front-to-back direction corresponding to the position of the metatarsal bone on the outer side of the forefoot to the rear end of the arch of the foot. The sole reinforcement can cooperate with the second reinforcement strip to receive the stress transmitted by the second reinforcement strip. At the same time, the sole reinforcement itself can prevent the sole from twisting, thereby providing a more stable foundation for the shoe during lateral movement. Attached Figure Description
[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the shoe according to this utility model. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the shoe according to this utility model. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A partial sectional view of the midshoe upper component.
[0028] Explanation of key figure labels: Upper assembly 100; Tongue 110; Upper 120; Opening 121; Gate 1211; Mounting slot 122; Upper body 123; Lining 124; Opening reinforcement 130; Forefoot reinforcement 140; Reinforced wing 141; Forefoot reinforcement strip 150; First reinforcement strip 151; Second reinforcement strip 152; Third reinforcement strip 153; Cushioning component 160; Side reinforcement strip 170; Heel reinforcement 180; Heel reinforcement 190; Sole 200; Sole reinforcement 210; Forefoot area 310; Arch area 320; Heel area 330. Detailed Implementation
[0029] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present utility model and should not be considered as excluding other embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.
[0030] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the use of terms such as "first," "second," or "third" in the claims, description, and drawings of this utility model is for distinguishing different objects and not for describing a specific order.
[0031] Unless otherwise expressly defined, in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this utility model, the use of directional terms such as "center," "lateral," "longitudinal," "horizontal," "vertical," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise" to indicate orientation or positional relationships is based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and is only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. It does 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, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this utility model.
[0032] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "fixed connection" or "fixed connection" used in the claims, description and drawings of this utility model shall be interpreted broadly to refer to any connection in which there is no displacement or relative rotation relationship between the two parties, including non-removable fixed connection, detachable fixed connection, integral connection and fixed connection through other devices or components.
[0033] In the claims, description and accompanying drawings of this utility model, the terms "comprising," "having," and variations thereof are used to mean "including but not limited to."
[0034] Example This utility model embodiment relates to a shoe, which includes a sole 200 and an upper assembly 100 providing lateral support for the forefoot region 310 of the foot. The upper assembly 100 is attached to the sole 200 to form a shoe providing lateral support for the forefoot region 310 of the foot. (See also...) Figure 1 and Figure 2 The shoe is designed to divide the human foot into three regions: the forefoot region 310, the arch region 320, and the heel region 330. It should be understood that the above division of regions is only a general division based on the shape and composition of the human foot and does not represent a strict boundary. Those skilled in the art can correctly understand this division of regions based on common knowledge in the field.
[0035] First, let's describe the upper component 100.
[0036] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3The upper assembly 100 includes a tongue 110, an upper 120, an opening reinforcement 130, a front reinforcement 140, a forefoot reinforcement strip 150, a cushioning component 160, a side reinforcement strip 170, a heel reinforcement 180, and a heel reinforcement 190.
[0037] The upper 120 includes an upper body 123 and a lining 124. The upper 120 has an opening 121 for mounting the tongue 110 and a mounting groove 122 in the phalanx region corresponding to the forefoot. The upper body 123 is primarily made of fabric, which can be a high-density woven mesh, engineered mesh, or multi-layer composite fabric to provide basic structural support while ensuring lightweight and breathability. A through-hole is provided in the upper body 123 at the phalanx region corresponding to the forefoot area 310. The lining 124 is positioned on the inside of the upper body 123 corresponding to this through-hole, thus forming a non-through mounting groove 122 on the upper 120. The shape and dimensions of the mounting groove 122 are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the cushioning element 160. The lining 124 can be made of foam composite fabric or antibacterial knitted fabric. In addition, sponge or other soft materials can be added to the heel area of the upper body 123 to improve the fit and shape stability of the upper body 123 in the heel area 330.
[0038] The shoe opening 121 formed on the upper 120 includes a portion corresponding to the tongue 110 and a portion for the foot to enter the shoe cavity. The shoe cavity is formed by the upper 120, the sole 200, and the tongue 110. The portion of the shoe opening 121 corresponding to the tongue 110 is an elongated strip of a certain width extending along the length of the shoe. The front end of this portion of the shoe opening 121 is the opening gate 1211, and the two sides of this portion of the shoe opening 121 in the width direction are areas for shoelace eyelets. A shoe opening reinforcement 130 is provided along the edge of the portion of the shoe opening 121 corresponding to the tongue 110. The shoe opening reinforcement 130 can be made of leather or thermoplastic polyurethane sheet, and is fixed to the outer surface of the shoe upper 120 by means of hot pressing, sewing, etc. It is located at least at the opening 1211 at the front end of the shoe opening 121, and further extends at least across the left and right ends of the opening 1211, that is, completely covers all parts of the opening 1211 in the width direction. It is also located in the shoelace hole area of the shoe opening 121, so that the shoelace hole can have higher structural strength and avoid being damaged by the shoelace.
[0039] The front reinforcement 140 is fixed to the outer surface of the upper 120 and is located at least at the front end of the upper 120. Simultaneously, the front reinforcement 140 extends towards the rear end of the upper 120, corresponding to the outer foot side of the upper 120 in the width direction, to form a reinforcing wing 141. Specifically, the front reinforcement 140 can be made of leather or thermoplastic polyurethane sheet, fixed to the outer surface of the front end of the upper 120 by means of heat pressing, sewing, etc., and the covering shape of the front reinforcement 140 is... Figure 1 In the top view shown, it is roughly inverted "U" shaped to expose the instep body 123 corresponding to the toes, thereby ensuring good breathability. At the same time, the front reinforcement 140 extends rearward on both sides in the width direction to form reinforcement wings 141. There are two reinforcement wings 141, located on the outer foot side and the inner foot side of the upper 120, respectively. The reinforcement wing 141 on the outer foot side extends rearward for a longer length than the reinforcement wing 141 on the inner foot side.
[0040] The forefoot reinforcement strip 150 is a strip-shaped film, preferably made of thermoplastic polyurethane film. The tensile strength of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the forefoot reinforcement 140 must be higher than that of the forefoot reinforcement strip 150. The forefoot reinforcement strip 150 can use the same thermoplastic polyurethane material as the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the forefoot reinforcement 140, but its thickness must be significantly less than that of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the forefoot reinforcement 140 to ensure sufficient flexibility and dynamic change with the upper 120. Multiple forefoot reinforcement strips 150 are provided and can be fixed to the outer surface of the upper 120 by heat pressing. All forefoot reinforcement strips 150 extend from the shoe collar reinforcement 130 located at the opening 1211 towards the outer side of the upper 120. A portion of the forefoot reinforcement strips 150 extends and connects to the reinforcement wing 141, and this portion of the forefoot reinforcement strip 150 is defined as the first reinforcement strip 151. A portion of the forefoot reinforcement strips 150 extends to the bottom edge of the upper 120 and corresponds to the metatarsal region on the outer side of the forefoot, and this portion of the forefoot reinforcement strip 150 is defined as the second reinforcement strip 152. The second reinforcement strip 152 covers the mounting groove 122. In this embodiment, there are three forefoot reinforcement strips 150, one of which is the first reinforcement strip 151, one of which is the second reinforcement strip 152, and one of which is the third reinforcement strip 153. The first reinforcement strip 151 is the most forward among all the forefoot reinforcement strips 150, referring to... Figure 1 The first reinforcing strip 151, located at the foremost side, connects to one end of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 at the opening 1211 and near the inner foot side. Simultaneously, the other end of the first reinforcing strip 151 connects to the reinforcing wing 141 on the outer foot side of the front reinforcement 140. The second reinforcing strip 152 is located furthest back among all the forefoot reinforcing strips 150, as shown in the reference section. Figure 1The second reinforcing strip 152, located on the rearmost side, connects to the end of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 located at the opening 1211 and near the outer foot side. Simultaneously, the other end of the second reinforcing strip 152 connects to the bottom edge of the upper 120. After the upper assembly 100 is attached to the sole 200, the second reinforcing strip 152 connects to the sole 200. The third reinforcing strip 153 is located between the first reinforcing strip 151 and the second reinforcing strip 152. The third reinforcing strip 153 connects to the part of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 located at the opening 1211 and in the middle of the width direction. Simultaneously, the other end of the third reinforcing strip 153 connects to the junction of the reinforcing wing 141 on the outer foot side and the bottom edge of the upper 120. In other words, the third reinforcing strip 153 simultaneously connects the front reinforcement 140 and the sole 200. One end of the foremost first reinforcing strip 151 is connected to the end of the shoe opening 121 reinforcement member located near the inner foot side of the opening 1211, and one end of the rearmost second reinforcing strip 152 is connected to the other end of the shoe opening 121 reinforcement member located near the outer foot side of the opening 1211. This completely connects the shoe opening 121 reinforcement member at the opening 1211 position with the forefoot reinforcing strip 150, and avoids stress concentration at a certain position of the shoe opening 121 reinforcement member. Instead, the tensile force is transmitted to the shoe opening 121 reinforcement member in a more regular manner, and the stress is dispersed by the stronger shoe opening 121 reinforcement member.
[0041] The cushioning element 160 is a sheet material with cushioning and energy absorption functions, preferably a foamed material of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or a foamed material of thermoplastic polyurethane. The cushioning element 160 is disposed in the mounting groove 122 and its shape and size are adapted to the mounting groove 122. The cushioning element 160 is covered by a second reinforcing strip 152, which, in conjunction with the shoe upper 120, clamps and fixes the cushioning element 160. Specifically, refer to... Figure 3 The mounting groove 122 on the upper 120 is formed by the upper body 123 and the lining 124. The cushioning member 160 can be embedded into the mounting groove 122, and then fixed to the outer surface of the upper 120 by heat pressing with the second reinforcing strip 152, while simultaneously clamping and fixing the cushioning member 160 to the upper 120 in cooperation with the lining 124. The lower end of the cushioning member 160 is connected to the bottom edge of the upper 120, that is, connected to the sole 200, while the upper end of the cushioning member 160 is close to the shoe opening reinforcement 130. Furthermore, the cushioning member 160 has a certain thickness, and the thickness of the cushioning member 160 is greater than the thickness of the upper body 123, so that the cushioning member 160 can protrude from the outer and inner surfaces of the upper 120. Additionally, referring to… Figure 1 and Figure 2The cushioning element 160 gradually increases in size from top to bottom along the length of the upper 120, making it triangular in side view. The cushioning element 160 is widest at its junction with the sole 200. This gradual increase in size along the length of the upper 120 forms an equilateral triangle or frustum-shaped structure, meaning it is wider closer to the sole 200 and narrower closer to the shoe opening reinforcement 130. This structure provides a larger contact area at the lower end of the cushioning element 160 to disperse and absorb impact, corresponding to the area on the outer side of the foot where the phalanx exerts the greatest lateral pressure on the upper 120 during movement. Compared to a cushioning element 160 with a uniform width, this structure can further optimize the restraining force exerted by the second reinforcing strip 152 on the cushioning element 160 while providing the same support and cushioning effect. Specifically, the second reinforcing strip 152 can concentrate pressure more directly on the lower section of the cushioning element 160, which is more aligned with the lateral metatarsal region of the foot, thereby improving the cushioning and support effect of the cushioning element 160. Protruding the cushioning element 160 from the outer surface of the upper 120 increases the effectiveness of contact between the cushioning element 160 and the second reinforcing strip 152, allowing changes in the tension of the second reinforcing strip 152 to be better transmitted to the cushioning element 160. It also increases the thickness of the cushioning element 160, enabling it to provide better cushioning. Simultaneously, protruding the cushioning element 160 from the surface of the inner lining 124 of the upper 120 increases the effectiveness of contact between the cushioning element 160 and the human foot, providing better cushioning performance. After the cushioning member 160 is installed in the through hole on the upper body 123, the cushioning member 160 is firmly installed on the upper body 120 by fixing the inner lining 124 to the inner side of the upper body 123 and fixing the second reinforcing strip 152 to the outer side of the upper body 123, so that the displacement of the cushioning member 160 in all directions is effectively constrained and the cushioning member 160 is prevented from falling off.
[0042] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2The side reinforcement strip 170 is located on the outer surface of both sides of the midfoot of the upper 120, extending backward and downward from the front end of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 in the lacing eye area to the bottom edge of the upper 120. The side reinforcement strip 170 can be made of leather or thermoplastic polyurethane sheet, connecting the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the sole 200 to provide a lateral force transmission path in the midfoot area. Furthermore, the side reinforcement strip 170 can be designed in a shape related to the brand logo, as long as its ends can connect the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the sole 200. The tensile strength of the side reinforcement strip 170 can be higher than that of the forefoot reinforcement strip 150, which can be achieved by thickening the side reinforcement strip 170 relative to the forefoot reinforcement strip 150. The side reinforcement strip 170 connects to the front end of the shoelace eyelet area of the shoe collar 121 reinforcement and extends rearward and downward to the bottom edge of the upper 120. When the upper assembly 100 is attached to the sole 200, the side reinforcement is also connected to the sole 200. This structure effectively adds another force transmission path from the shoe collar reinforcement 130 to the sole 200. When the side of the upper 120 is subjected to force, the side reinforcement can further improve the overall lateral support performance of the shoe by pulling the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the sole 200 at both ends.
[0043] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The heel reinforcement 180 is located on the outer surface of the upper 120 corresponding to the heel of the foot and is connected to the shoe collar reinforcement 130. The tensile strength of the heel reinforcement 180 is comparable to that of the forefoot reinforcement 140. The heel reinforcement 180 can be made of leather or thermoplastic polyurethane sheet, which wraps around most of the outer surface of the heel region 330 of the upper 120 to enhance the structural strength of the heel region 330. Simultaneously, the heel reinforcement 190 is located on the outer surface of the heel reinforcement 180 and extends backward and upward from the bottom edge of the upper 120 corresponding to the rear end of the arch. The heel reinforcement 190 has higher structural strength than the heel reinforcement 180 and can further reinforce the heel region 330 of the upper 120. The heel reinforcement 180 wraps around the heel region 330 of the upper 120, thereby providing good support for the heel area, preventing structural collapse and deformation, providing good shape stability, and further improving lateral support for the foot. The heel reinforcement 190 can connect the heel reinforcement 180 and the sole 200, thereby distributing the force on the heel reinforcement 180 to the sole 200, further improving lateral support for the foot.
[0044] Based on the aforementioned upper component 100, the shoe in this embodiment also includes a sole 200, as shown in the reference. Figure 1 and Figure 2The sole 200 includes a sole 200 body and a sole reinforcement 210. The sole reinforcement 210 is disposed on the outer side surface of the sole 200 body and extends along the front-to-back direction corresponding to the position of the metatarsal bone on the outer side of the forefoot to the rear end of the arch of the foot. Specifically, the sole 200 body can be a combination of a conventional foam midsole and a rubber outsole. The sole reinforcement 210 is disposed on the outer side surface of the sole 200 body and extends corresponding to the arch position. The front end of the sole reinforcement 210 extends beyond the front end of the bottom edge of the second reinforcement strip 152, and the rear end of the sole reinforcement 210 extends beyond the rear end of the bottom edge of the heel reinforcement 190. This arrangement connects the forefoot reinforcement strip 150 and the heel reinforcement 190 through the sole reinforcement 210, further constructing a force transmission path from the forefoot region 310 to the heel region 330, so that the lateral force on the upper 120 of the forefoot region 310 can also be transmitted to the heel region 330.
[0045] Among them, the shoe opening reinforcement 130, the front reinforcement 140, and the heel reinforcement 180 are preferably polyurethane artificial leather with good toughness and wear resistance; while the sole reinforcement 210 and the heel reinforcement 190 are preferably harder thermoplastic polyurethane resin sheets, which can provide better bending and torsion resistance.
[0046] In existing technologies for athletic shoes, especially volleyball shoes, the lateral support structure in the forefoot generally involves simply thickening the upper material. While this structure improves lateral support to some extent, it increases the overall weight of the upper and results in excessive rigidity in the corresponding areas, restricting the natural bending and twisting of the forefoot during movement and affecting agility.
[0047] This design specifically includes an upper component 100 providing lateral support for the forefoot. The upper component 100 has an upper 120 with an opening 121. A tongue 110 connects to the front opening 1211 of the opening 121 and is secured to the tongue by threading shoelaces through the lace holes on the upper 120. An opening reinforcement 130 is located along the edge of the opening 121 to reinforce it. A front reinforcement 140 is located on the upper 121. The forefoot reinforcement 140 enhances the structural strength of the forefoot upper 120, preventing toe impacts. Simultaneously, the forefoot reinforcement 140 features a reinforcing wing 141, increasing its protective range for the foot. The first reinforcing strip 151 in the forefoot reinforcement 150 connects to the reinforcing wing 141. The forefoot reinforcement 150 is a strip-shaped film, allowing it to flexibly conform to the shape of the upper 120, preventing constriction of the forefoot. Furthermore, the forefoot reinforcement 150... 50 connects to the reinforcing wing 141 from the shoe collar reinforcement 130 at the opening 1211, thus initially establishing a force transmission path from the reinforcing wing 141 to the shoe collar reinforcement 130; in addition, the forefoot reinforcement strip 150 also includes a second reinforcement strip 152, which connects to the bottom edge of the upper 120 from the shoe collar reinforcement 130 at the opening 1211. The bottom edge of the upper 120 is attached to the sole 200, so the second reinforcement strip 152 actually connects the shoe collar reinforcement 130 to the bottom edge of the upper 120. The shoe includes a shoe collar reinforcement 130 and a sole 200. A second reinforcing strip 152 establishes an additional force transmission path from the sole 200 to the shoe collar reinforcement 130. Based on this, a cushioning element 160 is installed in the mounting groove 122 of the upper 120. The cushioning element 160 is covered by the second reinforcing strip 152, allowing the second reinforcing strip 152 to cooperate with the upper 120 to clamp and fix the cushioning element 160. Furthermore, the cushioning element 160 establishes a strong connection with the second reinforcing strip 152. The tensile strength of the shoe collar reinforcement 130 and the forefoot reinforcement 140 is higher than that of the forefoot reinforcing strip 150, ensuring reinforcement of the shoe collar 121 and the forefoot of the upper 120. Simultaneously, the cushioning element 160 is a sheet material with cushioning and energy absorption functions, facilitating installation while avoiding affecting the shoe's aesthetic appearance.
[0048] This configuration creates a continuous force transmission path and a constraint structure for lateral support of the foot in the forefoot region 310 of the upper component 100. During rapid lateral movement and changes of direction, the forefoot reinforcement strip 150 transmits the pushing force of the foot on the upper 120 to the forefoot reinforcement 140, sole 200, and collar reinforcement 130. This means that lateral support is not only provided by the upper 120 itself, but also by other structurally stronger components that collaboratively disperse stress and provide lateral support. Simultaneously, the forefoot reinforcement uses a strip-shaped film, which can dynamically conform to the shape changes of the upper 120 at that location while providing good tensile strength, allowing the lateral force on the upper 120 to be effectively transmitted to other components. Meanwhile, the cushioning element 160, corresponding to the lateral metatarsal region, provides cushioning to the foot through its soft elasticity. Furthermore, the cushioning element 160 and the forefoot reinforcement strip 150 work together to further achieve dynamic adjustment of the cushioning force and adaptive lateral support of the cushioning element 160. A conventional upper 120 can also be fitted with a cushioning element 160 to provide a soft and springy feel and cushioning. However, this cushioning element 160 generally deforms with the deformation of the upper 120, causing its cushioning force to be inconsistent or to fail to provide cushioning. In this design, the cushioning element 160 is clamped and fixed to the upper 120 by a second reinforcing strip 152, and the cushioning element 160 is set in the mounting groove 122 of the upper 120. Therefore, the deformation and compression of the cushioning element 160 are constrained by the tension of the second reinforcing strip 152. When the lateral force is small, the tension of the second reinforcing strip 152 is low, and the compression on the cushioning element 160 is small. The cushioning element 160 exhibits its inherent softness, providing comfort and cushioning. When the lateral force increases, the tension of the second reinforcing strip 152 increases, the constraint on the cushioning element 160 is strengthened, and the cushioning element 160 exhibits higher rigidity, providing better support and preventing excessive pronation of the outer side of the foot. Therefore, the upper component 100 with lateral support for the forefoot region 310 provided by this solution can provide good lateral support performance for the forefoot region 310, enabling athletes to have good lateral support for the forefoot region 310, improving athletic performance and reducing injuries during exercise.
[0049] The foregoing description of the specifications and embodiments is intended to explain the scope of protection of this utility model, but does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. Modifications, equivalent substitutions, or other improvements to the embodiments of this utility model or a portion thereof that can be obtained by those skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation, based on the teachings of this utility model or the foregoing embodiments, should all be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.
Claims
1. An upper assembly (100) providing lateral support for the forefoot, characterized in that, include: Shoe tongue (110); The upper (120) has an opening (121) for setting the tongue (110) and a mounting groove (122) in the metatarsal region corresponding to the outer side of the forefoot. A shoe opening reinforcement (130) is fixed to the outer surface of the shoe upper (120) and is provided at least at the opening (1211) position at the front end of the shoe opening (121); A front-end reinforcement member (140) is fixed to the outer surface of the shoe upper (120) and is provided at least at the front end of the shoe upper (120); the front-end reinforcement member (140) extends toward the rear end of the shoe upper (120) on the side corresponding to the outer foot side of the shoe upper (120) in the width direction of the shoe upper (120) to form a reinforcement wing (141); A forefoot reinforcement strip (150) is a strip-shaped film; the forefoot reinforcement strip (150) has multiple strips and is fixed to the outer surface of the upper (120), and all the forefoot reinforcement strips (150) extend from the shoe collar reinforcement member (130) located at the opening (1211) to the outer foot side of the upper (120); a portion of the forefoot reinforcement strip (150) extends and connects to the reinforcement wing (141), and this portion of the forefoot reinforcement strip (150) is defined as the first reinforcement strip (151); a portion of the forefoot reinforcement strip (150) extends to the bottom edge of the upper (120) and corresponds to the metatarsal region on the outer foot side of the forefoot, and this portion of the forefoot reinforcement strip (150) is defined as the second reinforcement strip (152), and the second reinforcement strip (152) covers the mounting groove (122); A cushioning element (160) is disposed in the mounting groove (122) and its shape is adapted to the mounting groove (122), and the cushioning element (160) is covered by the second reinforcing strip (152) so that the cushioning element (160) is clamped and fixed by the second reinforcing strip (152) in cooperation with the shoe upper (120); The tensile strength of the shoe opening reinforcement (130) and the front end reinforcement (140) is higher than that of the forefoot reinforcement strip (150). The buffer (160) is a sheet material with buffering and energy absorption functions.
2. The upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The size of the cushioning element (160) gradually increases from top to bottom along the length of the shoe upper (120).
3. The upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The cushioning element (160) protrudes from the outer and inner surfaces of the upper (120).
4. The upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The upper (120) also includes an upper body (123) and an inner lining (124); the inner lining (124) is fixed inside the upper body (123) and cooperates with the second reinforcing strip (152) to clamp and fix the cushioning member (160); the upper body (123) is provided with a through hole for installing the cushioning member (160).
5. The upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shoe opening reinforcement (130) spans at least the left and right ends of the opening (1211); of the forefoot reinforcement strips (150), the first reinforcement strip (151) located at the foremost side is connected to the end of the shoe opening reinforcement (130) located at the opening (1211) and close to the inner foot side; the second reinforcement strip (152) located at the rearmost side is connected to the end of the shoe opening reinforcement (130) located at the opening (1211) and close to the outer foot side.
6. An upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a side reinforcing strip (170); the shoe opening reinforcement (130) is also provided in the shoelace hole area of the shoe opening (121); the side reinforcing strip (170) is provided on the outer surface of the two sides of the midsection of the shoe upper (120), and extends backward and downward from the front end of the shoe opening reinforcement (130) located in the shoelace hole area to the bottom edge of the shoe upper (120).
7. The upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a heel reinforcement (180); the heel reinforcement (180) is disposed on the outer surface of the upper (120) corresponding to the heel of the foot, and is connected to the shoe opening reinforcement (130); the tensile strength of the heel reinforcement (180) is comparable to the tensile strength of the front reinforcement (140).
8. An upper assembly (100) for lateral support of the forefoot as described in claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a heel reinforcement (190); the heel reinforcement (190) is disposed on the outer surface of the heel reinforcement (180) and extends backward and upward from the bottom edge of the upper (120) corresponding to the rear end of the arch.
9. A type of shoe, characterized in that, Including the upper assembly (100) with lateral support for the forefoot as described in any one of claims 1-8; Also includes: The sole (200) is to which the upper assembly (100) is attached.
10. A shoe as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The sole (200) includes a sole (200) body and a sole reinforcement (210); the sole reinforcement (210) is disposed on the outer foot side surface of the sole (200) body and extends along the front-back direction to the posterior end of the foot arch, corresponding to the position of the metatarsal bone on the outer foot side of the forefoot.