shoe

Abstract

A shoe S includes a sole 1 and an upper 2 formed with an opening 2A for inserting a foot of a user and positioned above the sole 1; and further includes a pair of wing portions 3, 3 defining a portion of an outer periphery of the opening 2A, a tongue 4 enclosing a portion of a region between the pair of wing portions 3, 3, and an elastic member 5 having an upwardly convex shape embedded in the tongue 4.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is related to a shoe, and in particular, a shoe that can prevent a tongue from slipping into a shoe interior while in its original state without releasing the tongue.BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

[0002] Conventionally, for example, there has been a shoe that prevents a tongue from slipping into a shoe interior (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this shoe in which a tongue (4) is arranged at an upper surface of a notch (2), which is formed at a front of an upper of a shoe body, to cover the notch (2), a pressing hook-and-loop fastener (5) is attached to a back surface of a band (3), which extends from one of an upper side (11) to the other of the upper side (11') with the tongue (4) therebetween, and a fixed hook-and-loop fastener (3) corresponding to the pressing hook-and-loop fastener (5) is attached to the other of the upper (11').PRIOR ART REFERENCESPATENT REFERENCES

[0004] [Patent Reference 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3033984SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONPROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] In the aforementioned shoe, when the pressing hook-and-loop fastener of the band is disengaged from the fixed hook-and-loop fastener on the upper side and the band is released from the upper, the tongue becomes completely detached from the notch at the front of the upper, and when the pressing hook-and-loop fastener of the band is engaged with the hook-and-loop fastener on the upper side and the band is secured to the upper, the tongue completely covers the notch at the front of the upper.

[0006] As a result, a problem arose in which the tongue had to be released every time the shoes were put on, making the shoe-wearing process troublesome,

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a shoe that addresses the above-mentioned problem.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0008] A shoe described in claim 1 is a shoe having a sole, and an upper formed with an opening for inserting a foot of a user and positioned above the sole, the shoe comprising a pair of wing portions defining a portion of an outer periphery of the opening, and a tongue enclosing a portion of a region between the pair of wing portions, wherein the tongue includes an elastic member having an upwardly convex shape, and a covering member covering the elastic member, the elastic member is harder than the covering member, a height of a convex-shaped mountain portion of the elastic member at an end portion close to the opening is higher than a height of a convex-shaped mountain portion of the elastic member at an end portion far from the opening, the tongue and the elastic member are connected to the pair of wing portions or the upper, the tongue, when the shoe is not in use, secures the opening, a strength of an elastic force of the elastic member embedded in the tongue is such that when the tongue is pressed toward an insole of the shoe, the tongue moves toward the insole of the shoe, and when a pressing action is released, the tongue returns to its original position due to the elastic member, a thickness T1 of the elastic member on a side close to the opening is greater than a thickness T2 of the elastic member on a side far from the opening, and a portion of the elastic member with the thickness T2 is connected to the pair of wing portions, and a thickness of the elastic member varies discontinuously or continuously between the side close to the opening and the side far from the opening, and a thin part on the side far from the opening is connected to the pair of wing portions.

[0009] The shoe described in claim 2 is the shoe according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is embedded, by the covering member, in the tongue from the opening to a middle along a longitudinal direction toward a toe direction, and the elastic member is not embedded from a front of the middle to a leading end of the tongue in the toe direction.

[0010] The shoe described in claim 3 is the shoe according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the elastic member, which is at a free end portion of the tongue on the side far from a toe of the shoe and corresponds to a width direction crossing an instep of the foot at the free end portion, is inclined upward.

[0011] The shoe described in claim 4 is the shoe according to claim 1, which has a heel portion, wherein a protruding portion, which has a core embedded therein and protrudes above a top line of the heel portion, is attached to the heel portion, the protruding portion has first and second mountain portions on both sides and a valley portion between the first and second mountain portions, a first guide portion for guiding a heel of the foot to an inside of the shoe is formed on an inner side of the first mountain portion, a second guide portion for guiding the heel of the foot to the inside of the shoe is formed on an inner side of the second mountain portion, the first mountain portion is angled upward and diagonally outward, the second mountain portion is angled upward and diagonally outward, from a front view of the heel portion, the valley portion is positioned in a center, the first mountain portion is positioned to the right, and the second mountain portion is positioned to the left, and the first guide portion and the second guide portion face each other and are inclined to widen outward.EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to the shoe described in claim 1, the tongue includes the elastic member having the upwardly convex shape and the covering member covering the elastic member, the elastic member is harder than the covering member, and the height of a convex-shaped mountain portion of the elastic member at the end portion close to the opening is higher than the height of the convex-shaped mountain portion of the elastic member at the end portion far from the opening, thereby, allowing the elastic member to function as a structural member of the tongue, preventing deformation of the tongue, and maintaining the tongue to the predetermined shape, making it easier to put on the shoe.

[0013] The thickness T1 of the elastic member on the side close to the opening is greater than the thickness T2 of the elastic member on the side far from the opening, and the portion of the elastic member with the thickness T2 is connected to the pair of wing portions, and the thickness of the elastic member varies discontinuously or continuously (continuous means that the thickness of the elastic member gradually decreases from the side close to the opening to the side far from the opening) between the side close to the opening and the side far from the opening, and the thin part on the side far from the opening is connected to the pair of wing portions, thereby, no force acts on the elastic member.

[0014] In other words, when the shoe is not in use, the tongue secures the opening, and when the force is applied to the elastic member (for example, when the foot contacts the tongue), the tongue and the elastic member rotate in a direction of the force. The strength of the elastic force of the elastic member embedded in the tongue is such that when the tongue is pressed toward the insole of the shoe, the tongue moves toward the insole of the shoe, and when the pressing action is released, it has the strength to return to its original position due to the elastic member.

[0015] In other words, when the tongue and the elastic member come into contact with the foot inserted into the opening, the tongue and the elastic member are connected to the wing portions or the upper, the thickness of the elastic member varies discontinuously between the side close to the opening and the side far from the opening, and the thin part on the side far from the opening is connected to the pair of wing portions; thus, there is an effect such that the tongue is made easier to rotate upwards using the connected part as a fulcrum, enlarging the opening and making it easier to put on the shoe; and when the shoe is not in use, the elastic force of the elastic member is used to allow the tongue to return to its original position and be ready for the shoe to be worn next time.

[0016] Further, according to the shoe described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 described above, by the covering member, the elastic member is embedded in the tongue from the opening to the middle along the longitudinal direction toward the toe direction, and the elastic member is not embedded from the front of the middle (meaning not including the middle) to the leading end of the tongue in the toe direction, so that there is an effect that the covering member prevents the hard elastic member from contacting the instep of the foot, thereby, improving the comfort when the shoe is worn.

[0017] Furthermore, according to the shoe described in claim 3, in addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1 described above, the tip of the elastic member, which is at the free end portion of the tongue on the side far from the toe of the shoe and corresponds to the width direction crossing the instep of the foot at the free end portion, is inclined upward; thus, in other words, when the foot comes into contact with the part where the tip of the elastic member is inclined upward, the elastic member moves upward and the foot is guided downward so that when the foot comes into contact with the part where the apex of he elastic member is inclined upward, the elastic member moves upward and the foot is guided downward, thereby, having an effect of making it easier to put on the shoe.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the shoe described in claim 4, in addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1 described above, from the front view of the heel portion, the valley portion is positioned in the center, making it easier for the heel of the foot to enter the shoe. The heel of the foot inside the shoe comes into contact with the first mountain portion and the second mountain portion, and the contacted heel of the foot is guided by the inner side of the first mountain portion and the inner side of the second mountain portion, smoothly leading into the shoe, thereby, allowing the shoe to be put on without a shoehorn and the heel portion from being crushed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a shoe according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of Fig. 1. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1. [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of an elastic member embedded in a tongue of the shoe in Fig. 1. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic rear view of Fig. 4. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic right side view of Fig. 4. [Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 4. [Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of Fig. 4. [Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a schematic bottom view of Fig. 4. [Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of Fig. 4. [Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the elastic member in Fig. 10 viewed diagonally from behind. [Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a photograph taken of a state in which when the tongue of the shoe according to the embodiment in Fig. 1 is pressed toward the insole, the tongue of the shoe is moved toward an insole of the shoe. [Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a photograph taken of a state in which an action of pressing the tongue in Fig. 12 toward the insole of the shoe has been released and the tongue has returned to its original position due to the elastic member. [Fig. 14] Fig. 14(a) is a photograph taken of a moon-shaped core (counter) embedded in a heel portion of the shoe, Fig. 14(b) is a photograph of the moon-shaped core (counter) in Fig. 14(a) taken from above, Fig. 14(c) is a photograph of the moon-shaped core (counter) in Fig. 14(a) taken from the rear, Fig. 14(d) is a photograph of the moon-shaped core (counter) in Fig. 14(a) taken from the right side, and Fig. 14(e) is a photograph taken of the moon-shaped core (counter) in Fig. 14(a) taken from the left side. EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

[0020] SShoe 1Sole 2Upper 2AOpening 3Wing portion 4Tongue 5Elastic member 6Midsole 7Heel portion TTopline BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] A shoe according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings (Figs. 1 to 14).

[0022] The reference S in Figs. 1-3, 12, and 13 represents a shoe. The shoe S includes a sole 1, and an upper 2 formed with an opening 2A for inserting a foot of a user and positioned above the sole 1.

[0023] In Fig. 1, reference numerals 3, 3 represent a pair of wing portions defining a portion of an outer periphery of the opening 2A; reference 4 represents a tongue enclosing a portion of a region between the pair of wing portions 3, 3; reference 5 represents an elastic member embedded in the tongue 4 and having an upwardly convex shape; and the elastic member 5 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, more specifically, TPU, and is capable of maintaining its convex shape, serving as a type of structural member.

[0024] The tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 are connected to the wing portions 3, 3, for example, by sewing with a thread. Reference X in Fig. 1 represents a stitched portion.

[0025] Therefore, when the shoe S is taken off, the tongue 4 returns to its original position due to the elastic member 5 (Fig. 13), thereby, returning the position of the opening 2A to its original position and making it easier to put on the shoe S, and also preventing the elastic member 5 inside the tongue 4 from moving; and when putting on the shoe S, the tongue 4 is prevented from slipping to an inside of the shoe S due to the instep of the foot, thereby, making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0026] In addition, in Fig. 1 of this embodiment, while two stitched portions X are provided on the left and right, there may be only one stitched portion X in some cases.

[0027] Further, although the tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 are connected to the wing portions 3, 3, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 may be connected to the upper 2.

[0028] The tongue 4, when the shoe S is not in use, secures the opening 2A with the elastic member 5, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 13.

[0029] Due to the tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 connected to the wing portions 3, 3 or the upper 2, when the shoe S is not in use, the tongue 4 is maintained in a predetermined position, thereby, securing the opening 2A and making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0030] A strength of an elastic force of the elastic member 5 embedded in the tongue 4 is such that when the tongue 4 is pressed toward an insole 6 of the shoe S, the tongue 4 moves toward the insole 6 of the shoe S (see Fig. 12), and when a pressing action is released, the tongue 4 returns to its original position due to the elastic member 5 (Figs. 1 and 13).

[0031] Accordingly, with the above-described shoe S, the elastic member 5 having the upwardly convex shape and embedded in the tongue 4 causes the tongue 4 at the opening 2A to be in a convex shape, and when putting on the shoe S, the tongue 4 is prevented from slipping to the inside of the shoe S due to the instep of the foot, thereby, making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0032] Furthermore, the tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 are connected to the wing portions 3, 3 or the upper 2; thus, when the shoe S is taken off, the tongue 4 returns to its original position due to the elastic member 5, thereby, returning the opening 2A to its original position and making it easier to put on the shoe S, and also preventing the elastic member 5 in the tongue 4 from moving; and when putting on the shoe S, the tongue 4 is prevented from slipping to the inside of the shoe S due to the instep of the foot, thereby, making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0033] In addition, because the elastic member 5 is harder than the covering member 41 (the outer member of the tongue 4) that covers the elastic member 5, the tongue 4 at the opening 2A is formed harder in its convex shape, so that when putting on the shoe S, the tongue 4 is further prevented from slipping to the inside of the shoe S due to the instep of the foot, thereby, making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0034] In addition, as shown in Fig 3, a thickness T1 of the elastic member 5 on a side close to the opening 2A is greater than a thickness T2 of the elastic member 5 on a side far from the opening 2A (T2 < T1), and the elastic member 5 is connected to the wing portion 2A or the upper 2. Therefore, due to this simple method, the elastic force of the elastic member 5 is increased, and when putting on the shoe S, the tongue 4 is further prevented from slipping to the inside of the shoe S due to the instep of the foot, thereby, making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0035] As described above, the tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 are connected to the wing portions 3, 3 or the upper 2, the tongue 4, when the shoe S is not in use, secures the opening 2A, and the strength of the elastic force of the elastic member 5 embedded in the tongue 4 is such that when the tongue 4 is pressed toward the insole 6 of the shoe S, the tongue 4 moves toward the insole 6 of the shoe S (see Figure 12), and when the pressing action is released, the tongue 4 returns to its original position due to the elastic member 5.

[0036] As a result, due to the tongue 4 and the elastic member 5 connected to the wing portion 3 or the upper 2, the tongue 4, when the shoe S is not in use, is maintained in the predetermined position (Figs, 1, 2, 3, and 13), thereby, securing the opening 2A and making it easier to put on the shoe; and when putting on the shoe S, the tongue 4 is further prevented from slipping into the shoe S due to the instep of the foot, thereby, making it easier to put on the shoe S.

[0037] The shoe S described above is a shoe S having a heel portion 7, and a protruding portion, which has a core 40 (see counter in Figure 14) embedded therein and protrudes above a top line T of the heel portion 7, is attached to the heel portion 7; the protruding portion is formed with first and second mountain portions M1 and M2 on both sides, and a valley portion V between the first mountain portion M1 and the second mountain portion M2; a first guide portion G1 for guiding the heel of the foot to the inside of the shoe S is formed on an inner side of the first mountain portion of the shoe S, and a second guide portion G2 for guiding the heel of the foot to the inside of the shoe S is formed on an inner side of the second mountain portion M1 of the shoe S. The first mountain portion M1 is angled upward and diagonally outward, and the second mountain portion M2 is angled upward and diagonally outward; from a front view of the heel portion 7, the valley portion V is positioned in the center, the first mountain portion M1 is positioned to the right, and the second mountain portion M2 is positioned to the left; and the first guide portion G1 and the second guide portion G2 face each other and are inclined to widen outward. Therefore, the valley portion V is positioned in the center from the front view of the heel portion 7, thereby, making it easier for the heel of the foot to enter the shoe S, and the heel of the foot inside the shoe S comes into contact with the first mountain portion M1 and the second mountain portion M2, and the contacted heel of the foot is guided by the inner side of the first mountain portion M1 and the inner side of the second mountain portion M2, smoothly leading into the shoe S, thereby, allowing the shoe to be put on without a shoehorn and the heel portion from being crushed.

[0038] In addition, reference 401 is a moon-shaped core body, refence 401A is a moon-shaped core valley portion, reference 401B is a first moon-shaped core mountain portion, reference 401C is a second moon-shaped core mountain portion, reference 41 is a first mountain portion, reference 42 is a second mountain portion, and reference 43 is a valley portion.

Claims

1. A shoe having a sole, and an upper formed with an opening for inserting a foot of a user and positioned above the sole, the shoe comprising: a pair of wing portions defining a portion of an outer periphery of the opening; and a tongue enclosing a portion of a region between the pair of wing portions, wherein the tongue includes an elastic member having an upwardly convex shape, and a covering member covering the elastic member, the elastic member is harder than the covering member, a height of a convex-shaped mountain portion of the elastic member at an end portion close to the opening is higher than a height of a convex-shaped mountain portion of the elastic member at an end portion far from the opening, the tongue and the elastic member are connected to the pair of wing portions or the upper, the tongue, when the shoe is not in use, secures the opening, a strength of an elastic force of the elastic member embedded in the tongue is such that when the tongue is pressed toward an insole of the shoe, the tongue moves toward the insole of the shoe, and when a pressing action is released, the tongue returns to its original position due to the elastic member, a thickness T1 of the elastic member on a side close to the opening is greater than a thickness T2 of the elastic member on a side far from the opening, and a portion of the elastic member with the thickness T2 is connected to the pair of wing portions, and a thickness of the elastic member varies discontinuously or continuously between the side close to the opening and the side far from the opening, and a thin part on the side far from the opening is connected to the pair of wing portions.

2. The shoe according claim 1, wherein the elastic member is embedded, by the covering member, in the tongue from the opening to a middle along a longitudinal direction toward a toe direction, and the elastic member is not embedded from a front of the middle to a leading end of the tongue in the toe direction.

3. The shoe according claim 1, wherein a tip of the elastic member, which is at a free end portion of the tongue on the side far from a toe of the shoe and corresponds to a width direction crossing an instep of the foot at the free end portion, is inclined upward.

4. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a heel portion, wherein a protruding portion, which has a core embedded therein and protrudes above a top line of the heel portion, is attached to the heel portion, the protruding portion has first and second mountain portions on both sides and a valley portion between the first and second mountain portions, a first guide portion for guiding a heel of the foot to an inside of the shoe is formed on an inner side of the first mountain portion, a second guide portion for guiding the heel of the foot to the inside of the shoe is formed on an inner side of the second mountain portion, the first mountain portion is angled upward and diagonally outward, the second mountain portion is angled upward and diagonally outward, from a front view of the heel portion, the valley portion is positioned in a center, the first mountain portion is positioned to the right, and the second mountain portion is positioned to the left, and the first guide portion and the second guide portion face each other and are inclined to widen outward.

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