Shoe

Abstract

To provide a shoe that is easy to put on and off, particularly, a shoe for a hemiplegic patient.SOLUTION: The present invention provides a shoe at least including: at least one upper part; a sole part for storing a foot; and at least one connection part that connects an instep part and a bottom part. The shoe is configured such that the upper part can be opened and closed with the connection part as an axis. The present invention further provides a shoe at least including at least one upper part and a sole part for storing a foot, and is configured such that the upper part can be opened and closed. The upper part is opened such that a foot can be arranged in a storage space of the shoe by movement of the foot along a direction substantially perpendicular to an outsole surface of the sole part in a state where the upper part is opened.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to shoes, and more particularly to shoes used by people who have difficulty wearing shoes, and a method for wearing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Stroke (cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage) is an extremely common disease, with approximately 220,000 new cases occurring each year, and the total number of patients surviving reaching approximately 1.7 million. As a sequela of stroke, paralysis of one arm or leg may remain.

[0003] Patients with lower limb paralysis often wear welfare shoes. Several proposals have been made regarding welfare shoes. For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a rehabilitation shoe with a fastening belt attached to the tongue. Patent Document 2 below describes a rehabilitation shoe with an upper, a sole member, a tongue, and a fastening belt. Patent Document 3 below describes a rehabilitation shoe with an upper, a sole member, and a fastening belt. Patent Document 4 below describes a shoe with a curved crescent-shaped core arranged in the heel of the upper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-212134 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-54187 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-54186 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 07-015033 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Due to paralysis of the lower limbs, some people are unable to walk without wearing lower-limb orthotics made of plastic, metal, or carbon fiber. The size (foot length) of a foot wearing such a lower-limb orthotic increases by 1–2 cm compared to a foot without the orthotic. Therefore, it is difficult to wear standard shoes of the same size on both legs. Therefore, people often purchase two pairs of shoes of the same design but in different sizes, wearing the larger pair on the orthotic leg and the smaller pair on the non-orthotic leg. Furthermore, depending on the orthotic, the hook-and-loop fasteners or the sole extending from the sole to the side of the foot may require more space on the instep, ankle, or foot width than the unaffected leg. In such cases, sneakers or pumps with a tight fit from the instep to the toes can be difficult to wear. Due to these size issues, welfare shoes such as those mentioned above are sometimes used.

[0006] Furthermore, when wearing the above-mentioned lower limb orthosis, the sole of the foot from heel to toe is generally covered with plastic or other material. This makes it difficult to slip the foot into the shoe. To address this issue, welfare shoes with hook-and-loop fasteners and a wide-opening tongue are commercially available. However, hemiplegic patients after a stroke often also have paralysis in the ipsilateral upper limb. In such cases, opening and closing the hook-and-loop fastener, grasping the tongue, and putting on the shoe must be performed using only the unaffected upper limb. Similarly, when taking off the shoes, only the unaffected upper limb must be used to operate the hook-and-loop fastener and tongue and take off the shoe. Putting on and taking off shoes using only the unaffected upper limb is often difficult.

[0007] Another problem with many welfare shoes is that they lack design, which can make some patients reluctant to buy them, and even if they do buy them, they may hesitate to wear them when going out or shopping.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems, and in particular to provide shoes that are easy to put on and take off, particularly shoes that can be used by people who have difficulty putting on shoes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The inventors have discovered that shoes with a specific structure are extremely easy to put on and take off. Furthermore, the shoes have excellent design. Furthermore, they can also solve the problem of mal-fitting due to differences in the left and right feet.

[0010] That is, the present invention provides the following. [1] at least one upper part; a sole portion for accommodating a foot; and at least one connecting portion connecting the upper portion to the sole portion; and The upper part is configured to be able to be opened and closed around the connecting part. shoes. [2] The shoe described in [1], wherein the connecting portion is provided in the big toe side area or the little toe side area. [3] A shoe as described in [1] or [2], wherein the upper portion is open so that, when the upper portion is open, the foot can be placed within the storage space of the shoe by moving the foot along a direction approximately perpendicular to the outsole surface of the sole portion. [4] A shoe described in any one of [1] to [3], in which, when the upper part is closed and a foot is placed in the storage space of the shoe, the upper part can be opened by moving the foot while fixing a part of the shoe or by performing a predetermined operation on the shoe. [5] The shoe described in any one of [1] to [4], further comprising a position fixing part that fixes the positional relationship between the upper part and the sole part when the upper part is closed. [6] The shoe described in any one of [1] to [5], wherein the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes or is divided into two or more parts. [7] the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; Shoes described in any one of [1] to [6]. [8] the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The aperture ratio of the region is 30% or more. Shoes described in any one of [1] to [7]. [9] the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The line width of the plurality of lines is 10 mm or less. Shoes described in any one of [1] to [8].

[10] the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The region exists from the thumb side end to the little finger side end of the upper part. Shoes described in any one of [1] to [9].

[11] The shoe described in any one of [1] to

[10] , further comprising a heel fixing portion disposed inside the shoe on the heel side of the foot.

[12] A shoe described in any one of [1] to

[11] , wherein the upper portion is formed from a material configured to maintain the shape of the upper portion when it is closed, even when the upper portion is open.

[13] A shoe according to any one of [1] to

[12] , which is used to put on the feet of a subject who has difficulty putting on shoes.

[14] at least one upper portion; and The sole to accommodate the foot, and The upper part is configured to be able to be opened and closed, the upper part is open so that, in the open state, the foot can be placed in the accommodation space of the shoe by moving the foot along a direction substantially perpendicular to the outsole surface of the sole part; shoes.

[15] A method for wearing shoes according to any one of [1] to

[14] , placing a foot on the sole portion with the upper portion open; The upper part is rotated around the connecting part as an axis, and a space for accommodating a foot is formed by the upper part and the sole part. Including, The foot is accommodated in the accommodation space to be in a worn state. The wearing method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The shoes of the present invention are easy to put on and take off, and can be put on and taken off using, for example, only one foot or hand. For example, if a person has paralysis or deformity in their hand, they may be unable to operate shoelaces, hook-and-loop fasteners, or other shoe fastening components. Furthermore, if a person has paralysis or deformity in their foot, they may be unable to slide their foot into the shoe, or they may be unable to secure the shoe to their foot using standard shoe fastening components. The shoes of the present invention can be easily put on and taken off, even if the person has such hand or foot problems. Furthermore, unlike the welfare shoes described above, the shoes of the present invention can be given various designs on the upper part, which makes it possible to provide shoes with excellent design and to give the shoes designs that meet the preferences or needs of various patients. Furthermore, the shoe of the present invention can also solve the problem of malfitting caused by differences in the size of the left and right feet. For example, if there is a difference in the length, width, or circumference of the left and right feet, a conventional shoe that fits one foot may not fit the other foot. The shoe of the present invention can address such malfitting problems. The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in this paragraph, but may also be those described in any other paragraph in this specification. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe 100 with the upper portion closed. [Figure 1B] 1 is a perspective view showing a shoe 100 with the upper part and the sole part separated. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the shoe 100 viewed from the sole side. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe 100 with its upper portion open. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe 200 with the upper portion closed. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a shoe 200 with the upper part and the sole part separated. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the shoe 200 as viewed from the sole side. [Figure 2D] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe 200 with the upper part open. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified shoe 300. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing the opening and closing operations of the upper part. [Figure 5] 1 is a copy of the 3D-CAD data used to manufacture the shoes of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a copy of a photograph showing an example of a shoe with the upper part open and the foot placed on the sole part, and the action of putting on the shoe. [Figure 7] 1 is a photographic copy of an example upper having a multi-segmented structure. [Figure 8A] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a shoe having a multi-segment upper portion. FIG. [Figure 8B] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a shoe having a multi-segment upper portion. FIG. [Figure 8C] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a shoe having a multi-segment upper portion. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the configuration of a toe portion and a connecting portion. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a connecting portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a sole portion. [Figure 12A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a shoe having a hook-and-loop fastener as a connecting portion. [Figure 12B] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a connecting portion. [Figure 13A] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 13B] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 13C] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 13D] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 13E] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 13F] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 13G] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 14A] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of an upper part having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 14B] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of an upper part having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 14C] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of an upper part having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 14D] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of an upper part having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 14E] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of an upper part having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 15A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe illustrating the curvature of the upper portion. [Figure 15B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe illustrating the curvature of the upper portion. [Figure 16A] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a connecting portion. [Figure 16B]10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining examples of the configuration of a connecting portion attachment position and a position fixing portion. [Figure 16C] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of a heel fixing part. [Figure 16D] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a configuration example of a connecting portion. [Figure 17A] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of a position fixing unit; [Figure 17B] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of a position fixing unit; [Figure 18A] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 18B] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 18C] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 18D] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 18E] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 18F] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 18G] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of the configuration of a shoe including an upper portion having a mesh structure portion. [Figure 19] 1 is a photocopy of the manufactured upper. [Figure 20] 1 is a photocopy of the manufactured upper. [Figure 21] 1 is a copy of a photograph showing the manufactured upper portion in a bent state. [Figure 22] 1 is a copy of a photograph showing the manufactured upper portion in a bent state. [Figure 23] Copies of photographs showing the manufactured shoes and how they are worn. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] 1. Shoe configuration example An example of the configuration of a shoe of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1A to 1D show an example of the configuration of a shoe 100 of the present invention. Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the shoe 100 with the upper part closed. Fig. 1B is a perspective view showing the upper part and the sole part separated. Fig. 1C is a view of the shoe 100 as seen from the sole part side. Fig. 1D is a perspective view of the shoe 100 with the upper part open. As shown in these figures, a shoe 100 of the present invention may include at least an upper part 101, a sole part 102, and a connecting part 103. The shoe may further include a position fixing part 104, a heel fixing part 105, and a shoe fixing part 106. In this specification, the direction from the heel side to the toe side of the shoe is sometimes referred to as the foot length direction. The direction from the big toe side to the little toe side of the shoe is sometimes referred to as the foot width direction, and the direction from the sole side to the upper side of the shoe (particularly, the direction substantially perpendicular to the sole surface) is sometimes referred to as the foot height direction. As shown in the figure, the foot length direction, foot width direction, and foot height direction are sometimes referred to as the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction, respectively, in this specification.

[0014] (Upper part) The upper part 101 is a part located on the instep side of the foot and disposed inside the shoe 100. The upper part may also be called an instep part. The upper part may have a shape that covers the instep when the upper part is closed, and may have, for example, a curved shape. Preferably, the shape may be maintained even when the upper is in an open state, i.e., the upper may be formed from a material configured to maintain the shape (particularly the arched shape) that is present in the closed state of the upper even when the upper is in an open state. The arched shape means a shape that is arched in a cross section that is approximately perpendicular to the X axis (a plane parallel to the Y axis and Z axis).

[0015] The upper part may be configured to cover a portion of the foot on the toe side relative to the ankle, and in particular, the upper part may be configured so that the upper part does not come into contact with the ankle (or a lower-foot orthosis covering the ankle) when closing the upper part. To configure the upper part in this manner, for example, the upper part may be configured to cover the toe side of the ankle, particularly the toe side of the tibia, and more particularly the toe side of the talus, in a plane parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis. Also, the upper part may be configured not to cover the ankle, particularly not to cover the heel side region including the ankle, in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the Z-axis (plane parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis).

[0016] The upper portion may be provided with various designs or decorations, and the designs or decorations may be selected as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the upper portion may have a plurality of holes 120, or may have no holes. The holes reduce the weight of the upper portion and improve the design. These holes can also be used to attach additional decorations (e.g., accessories). The shape of the holes is not limited to a polygonal shape as shown in the figure, but may be a circle, a rectangle, a star, or the like, and may be selected appropriately depending on the desired design. The holes also allow the flexibility of the upper part to be adjusted. For example, as shown in the figure, by providing multiple holes from the base of the toes to the ankle, the upper part becomes more flexible. This contributes to, for example, more comfortable walking. Of course, the flexibility of the upper portion is not limited to being adjusted by the holes, but may also be adjusted by the selection of material or the thickness of the upper portion. Furthermore, flexibility may be adjusted by dividing the upper portion into multiple parts. For example, as a solution to the deflection of the shoe during walking, not only the holes as shown in the figure but also dividing the upper portion into multiple parts may be performed. For example, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 in the examples, the upper portion may be divided into two or more parts. Furthermore, two or more parts may intersect to form an X-shaped structure. Furthermore, the upper portion may have a region with multiple holes, particularly a region with multiple holes formed by multiple intersecting lines. In this specification, a region with multiple holes formed by multiple intersecting lines is also referred to as a mesh structure (also referred to as a net-like structure). Note that, in this specification, "mesh" and "mesh structure" are not limited to a structure in which multiple straight lines intersect at approximately right angles to form multiple holes (a so-called sieve mesh structure), but also include a structure in which multiple holes are formed by the intersection of multiple lines (such as straight lines, curved lines, wavy lines, or broken lines). The intersection is not limited to an intersection at a substantially right angle, and may form an acute angle (or an obtuse angle). An example of the region is the region described in the following examples with reference to Figure 13A and subsequent figures, but the region is not limited to those shown in these figures. Such structural adjustment of the upper portion may solve problems related to flexing, for example, allowing the degree of flexing during walking to be adjusted to a desired degree.

[0017] The upper portion may further include a covering of any material, such as cloth, leather, or resin, or a combination thereof, which may be selected appropriately depending on the design of the shoe. 1A may form the shoe frame (particularly the frame of the upper), and the cover may be placed on the outside of the frame. The fabric constituting the cover may be attached to the outside of the frame by an adhesive material such as glue, or the fabric may be fixed to the frame via connecting elements such as holes provided in the frame and / or by using fasteners such as threads, staples, pins, or screws. That is, in the shoe of the present invention, the upper part may include a skeleton part and an appearance forming part provided on the outside of the skeleton part. The skeleton may be configured to form a shape that covers the instep when the upper is closed. To form this shape, the skeleton may be made of a material configured to maintain this shape, and this material may be appropriately selected by those skilled in the art from the materials described below. Furthermore, this shape may preferably be maintained even when the upper is open, as described above. The appearance-forming portion may cover at least a portion of the skeleton. The appearance-forming portion may include, for example, fabric as described above. Furthermore, various designs may be applied to the fabric. The design of the appearance-forming portion may be appropriately designed by a person skilled in the art, for example, depending on the desired design. By maintaining the shape of the skeleton as described above, the appearance-forming portion may be formed from, for example, a soft material, thereby expanding the range of shoe designs.

[0018] The upper part may have a filler material on the inside (the side of the foot storage space) and may be provided with a filler material storage section (e.g., a pocket) for storing the filler material. The filling material may be provided on the inside of the upper portion and may be attached to the inside by an adhesive material such as glue, or the filling material may be fixed to the inside via connecting elements such as the holes and / or using fasteners such as threads, staples, pins or screws. The filling material may be a cotton-like material, a sponge-like material, or a gel-like material. The cotton-like material may be made of, for example, synthetic fibers or plant fibers. The sponge-like material may be made of, for example, synthetic resin materials or plant materials. The gel-like material may be, for example, silicone gel or urethane gel. The filling material can fill the gap between the shoe and the foot accommodated in the accommodation space, which contributes to fixing the position of the foot inside the shoe and further contributes to realizing a more comfortable walking and / or wearing state. Furthermore, it can also improve the fit due to the difference between the left and right feet. The degree to which the upper portion fills the interior of the shoe may be set appropriately by a person skilled in the art, or may be adjusted by the user. For example, the shoe of the present invention may be provided as a combination of the shoe and a filling material. A user (e.g., a subject or a medical professional) who receives the combination may then fill the interior of the shoe with the filling material depending on the foot to be placed inside the shoe. Alternatively, a shoe with the filling material already inside may be provided to a user, and the user may then reduce or increase the amount of the filling material depending on the foot to be placed inside the shoe. The shoe of the present invention can be envisioned as being designed to have a larger storage space inside the shoe (particularly in the foot height direction) than regular shoes on the market, which makes it easier for people wearing lower-foot orthotics or feet with deformities to put on and take off the shoe, while the filling material described above can also provide a storage space suitable for each foot.

[0019] The upper portion may be formed from, for example, resin, silicone, rubber, cloth, or leather, and the material of the upper portion may be appropriately selected depending on, for example, the desired design. In one embodiment, the upper portion may be a resin, particularly a synthetic resin. The resin may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. The resin may also be a photocurable resin. The type of resin may be appropriately selected by those skilled in the art depending on, for example, the desired physical properties (e.g., hardness or flexibility), the manufacturing method, and / or the design. More specifically, the resin may be a relatively flexible material such as, but not limited to, EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), polyvinyl chloride resin, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin), or polyurethane. The resin may also be an epoxy resin. Alternatively, a relatively hard material may be used, such as a polyolefin-based resin such as PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene), or a polyester-based resin such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). These resins may be derived from fossil resources, recycled resins, or biomass-derived resins, especially plant-derived resins. The upper part may also be provided with a lining made of fabric or the like on the inside thereof, thereby protecting the foot that comes into contact with the upper part.

[0020] Preferably, the material of the upper portion may be a material that allows the upper portion to maintain its shape when opened. Those skilled in the art can appropriately design or select a material that allows the shape to be maintained, and the material may be, for example, a resin such as the above-mentioned resin materials (e.g., EVA, polyvinyl chloride resin, ABS, polyurethane, or epoxy resin), or may be silicone or rubber. Furthermore, fabrics and leathers can also be made to maintain their shape by processing known in the art (e.g., resin coating). The material of the upper part may have a Shore A hardness of, for example, 30° to 100°, preferably 45° to 95°, and more preferably 60° to 90° as measured in accordance with JIS K 6253. By using a material with such hardness, the shape is more likely to be maintained during, for example, opening and closing operations. The material of the upper part may be particularly preferably polyurethane (e.g., urethane rubber), EVA resin, or silicone rubber, or a combination thereof. In particular, these materials having the hardness described above are preferred as the material of the upper part. Preferably, the Shore A hardness of the material of the upper portion is higher than the Shore A hardness of the material of the sole portion, so that the shape of the upper portion is maintained during opening and closing operations of the upper portion, while the softness of the sole portion reduces the burden on the foot. For example, in the case of an upper part having a mesh structure, which will be described with reference to Figure 13A and subsequent figures, the material of the upper part may have a Shore A hardness measured in accordance with JIS K 6253 of, for example, 60° to 100°, preferably 65° to 98°, and even more preferably 70° to 95°, for example, 75° to 90°. By using a material with such hardness, it is possible to achieve deflection and shape recovery of the mesh structure, while also enabling the upper part to maintain its shape when opening and closing.

[0021] For example, as shown in Fig. 1D, the upper part may be open so that, with the upper part open, the foot can be placed in the storage space of the shoe by moving the foot along the foot height direction (for example, by moving the foot in a direction approximately perpendicular to the outsole surface of the sole part). The shoe of the present invention is configured so that the upper part opens in this way, making it very easy to put on and take off. Furthermore, even if a foot is wearing a lower limb orthosis, the open upper part allows the foot to be easily placed on the sole part and also to be easily removed from the sole part. Furthermore, when putting on or taking off such shoes, the heel fixing part (described below) is not located in the direction of foot movement. Therefore, the heel fixing part does not get in the way when putting on or taking off the shoes. This allows the heel fixing part to be made of a hard material. Fixing the heel with a heel fixing part made of a hard material also contributes to improving stability when walking.

[0022] For example, assume that a person starts putting on the shoe with the upper part open. Here, the person places their foot (or a foot wearing a lower limb orthosis) on the sole part 102. Then, for example, they kick up the upper part with the other foot. This kicking up action causes the upper part to rotate around the connecting part 103 as an axis and to enter a closed state. As described above, the shape is maintained even when the upper part is open, making it easier to insert the opposite foot under the upper part during the kicking motion. Furthermore, by maintaining the shape, the upper part is more likely to be connected to the sole part 102 at an appropriate position after the rotation of the upper part, which contributes to forming the desired storage space with a simple operation.

[0023] 1A, when the upper part is closed, the upper part, together with the sole part 102, forms a space for accommodating the foot (or a foot wearing a lower limb orthosis), particularly a space for accommodating the part of the foot from the ankle to the toes. That is, the shape of the upper part may be configured so as to be able to form the accommodating space.

[0024] 1A-1D, upper portion 101 is configured as a single component having a shape that forms the storage space. Alternatively, the upper portion may be configured as a single element formed by integrating multiple components. The single component or the single integrated element may be connected to connecting portion 103. This allows the entire upper portion to be opened with a single opening operation, and allows the upper portion to be closed to form the storage space with a single closing operation. For example, if the shoe of the present invention is a sandal-like shoe as shown in Figures 1A to 1D, various decorations may be applied to the sandal-like upper, and it is desirable that the decorations be integrated with the upper so that they can be opened and closed as a single element. Furthermore, if the shoe of the present invention is a sneaker-like shoe, the upper may include multiple components selected from a toe, tongue, quarter, and shoelaces. It is desirable that these multiple components be integrated with the shoe of the present invention so that they can be opened and closed as a single element. Depending on the design, the shoe of the present invention may have two or more separate upper parts (particularly two or three upper parts) and two or more connecting parts (particularly two or three connecting parts) that connect each upper part to the sole part. The shoe of the present invention may be configured so that opening and closing operations can be performed on each of the two or more separate upper parts.

[0025] The upper part may be connected to the sole part 102 via a connecting part 103 so as to enable the opening and closing operation. By enabling such opening and closing operation, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for inserting a foot on the upper surface of the upper part. Therefore, when designing the upper part, it is not necessary to consider a mechanism for inserting a foot on the upper surface, and the design of the upper part can be easily improved.

[0026] The upper part may have a position fixing part 104U for fixing the positional relationship with the sole part 102 when the upper part is in a closed state. The position fixing portion may include, for example, a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet (for example, a metal or magnetic material that bonds with a magnet). In order to fix the position using the magnetic force of a magnet as shown in Fig. 1A, the position fixing portion may be provided in a connecting region 114U of the upper portion that connects with the sole portion when the upper portion is closed. In other words, a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet may be disposed in the connecting region. The magnet may be, for example, a neodymium magnet, a ferrite magnet, a cobalt magnet, or an alnico magnet, preferably a neodymium magnet, which has a particularly high magnetic force and therefore allows the desired positional fixation to be achieved with a smaller magnet shape. The substance that bonds with the magnet may be, for example, a metal, such as iron, cobalt, or nickel, or an alloy containing these metals, or may be a magnetic material other than a metal. The size of the magnet or material may be such that it is not visible from the outside of the shoe when the upper part is closed. For example, it may be large enough to fit within the connecting region. For example, as shown in FIG. 1D, a small sheet-like magnet or material may be placed within the connecting region. The shape of the magnet or material is not limited to a sheet, and may be, for example, a rod or sphere, or a polyhedron such as a cube or rectangular parallelepiped. It may also be curved so as to match the shape of the connecting region. The position fixing portion may include a fastener (also called a fastener). Examples of the fastener include, but are not limited to, a snap button and a push hook. The fastener may also be a hook-and-loop fastener. The position of the position fixing part may be selected as appropriate depending on, for example, the structure of the shoe. 1A to 1D, the upper part 101 of the shoe 100 has the connecting region 114U on a surface that is approximately parallel to the insole surface when the upper part is closed. The sole part 102 also has the connecting region 114S, which will be described later, on a surface that is approximately parallel to the insole surface. Position fixing portions 104U and 104S are provided in the connecting regions 114U and 114S that are on a surface that is approximately parallel to the insole surface. In this way, in the shoe of the present invention, the position fixing portions may be provided on a surface that is approximately parallel to the insole surface. 1A to 1D, the position fixing portion is provided in a connecting region of the sole portion that is approximately parallel to the insole surface, but the position fixing portion may also be provided in an outer region of the sole portion (for example, an outer surface of the sole portion that is approximately perpendicular to the insole surface). In this case, the position fixing portion of the upper portion may be provided in an inner region of the upper portion when the upper portion is closed (for example, an inner surface of the upper portion that is approximately perpendicular to the insole surface). In this way, when the upper portion is closed, the position fixing portion of the sole portion and the position fixing portion of the upper portion overlap, thereby fixing the positional relationship between the upper portion and the sole portion. Alternatively, the position fixing part may be provided on the heel fixing part, which will be described later, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this case, when the upper part is in a closed state, the positional relationship between the upper part and the sole part can be fixed by the position fixing part provided on the heel fixing part and the position fixing part provided on the upper part.

[0027] The connecting region 114U of the upper portion may be provided to surround the periphery of a foot placed on the sole portion in a plane parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis when the upper portion is closed, as shown in FIG. 1D . In particular, the connecting region 114U may be provided to surround the insole 111 of the sole portion, and in FIG. 1D , it is a narrow region surrounding the insole. The connecting region 114U has a width sufficient to accommodate a position fixing portion (e.g., a magnet or a substance that binds to a magnet). The width is the width indicated by the symbol W in FIG. 1B , and corresponds to, for example, the thickness of the material forming the upper portion, and may be equal to or greater than the width. Therefore, the width may be appropriately selected depending on, for example, the structure of the shoe, and may be, for example, 20 mm or less, particularly 15 mm or less, and even more particularly 10 mm or less. The width may be, for example, 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more, or 3 mm or more. 1B and 1D, the position fixing portion 104U has a recess formed therein so as to fit with the magnet (or a substance that bonds to a magnet) that constitutes the position fixing portion 104S of the sole portion 102 when the upper portion is closed. This prevents the upper portion from shifting position when the upper portion is closed. In this manner, the position fixing portion of the upper portion and / or the position fixing portion of the sole portion may be configured to fit with each other.

[0028] (sole part) The sole portion 102 is the portion located on the bottom side of the foot placed inside the shoe 100, and is the portion on which the foot placed inside the shoe (or a lower limb orthosis attached to the foot) rests when walking. The sole portion may be for accommodating the foot, and together with the upper portion, may form a space for accommodating the foot. The sole portion may also be called the bottom portion. The sole portion 102 may include, for example, an insole 111 and an outsole 112. The sole portion 102 may be configured as an insole and an outsole integrated together, or may be configured as a combination of an insole and an outsole that are prepared separately. The sole portion 102 may further include a midsole. The configuration of the sole portion may be appropriately selected by a person skilled in the art depending on, for example, a desired design or a type of shoe. The insole may have, for example, a planar shape on which a foot (or a lower-foot orthosis attached to the foot) can be placed, particularly a planar shape on which the entire foot can be placed. The shape of the outsole may be appropriately selected depending on, for example, a desired design or a type of shoe. 1A to 1D, the outsole 112 of the sole portion 102 is connected to the connecting portion 103. As shown in FIG.

[0029] When the upper part is closed, the sole part, together with the upper part 101, forms a space for accommodating the foot (or a foot wearing a lower limb orthosis), and also serves as an area on which the foot (or the lower limb orthosis worn on the foot) rests.

[0030] The sole part may have a position fixing part 104S for fixing the positional relationship with the upper part 101 when the upper part is closed. The position of the position fixing part may be provided so as to correspond to the position of the position fixing part 104U provided on the upper part 101, and may be selected appropriately. For example, in order to fix the position using the magnetic force of a magnet as shown in Figures 1B and 1D, a position fixing portion may be provided in a connecting region 114S of the sole portion that connects to the upper portion. For example, a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet may be disposed in the connecting region. The position fixing portion may include, for example, a magnet or a material that bonds with a magnet, or may include a fastener. The description of the material (magnet, metal fastener) for the position fixing portion 104U provided on the upper portion also applies to the position fixing portion 104S provided on the sole portion. The size of the magnet or material may be such that it is not visible from the outside of the shoe when the upper is closed. For example, it may be sized to fit within the connecting region. For example, as shown in FIG. 1D, a small sheet-like magnet or material may be placed within the connecting region.

[0031] 1A to 1D, the connecting region 114S of the sole portion may be provided in a plane parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis to surround the periphery of the foot placed on the sole portion. In particular, the connecting region 114S may be provided to surround the insole 111 of the sole portion, and in the figure, it is a narrow region provided to surround the insole. The region has a width that allows a position fixing portion (e.g., a magnet or a substance that binds to a magnet) to be placed therein. The width may correspond, for example, to the thickness of the material forming the upper portion. Therefore, the width may be, for example, 20 mm or less, particularly 15 mm or less, and even more particularly 10 mm or less. The width may be, for example, 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more, or 3 mm or more.

[0032] The material of the sole portion may also be appropriately selected depending on, for example, the desired design. The above explanation regarding the material of the upper portion also applies to the sole portion. In one embodiment, the sole portion may be a resin, particularly a synthetic resin. More specifically, the resin may be, for example, EVA, vinyl chloride resin, or polyurethane, or may be an epoxy resin, or may be a polyolefin-based resin or a polyester-based resin. The material of the sole portion may be a material having a Shore A hardness of, for example, 30° to 90°, preferably 45° to 85°, and more preferably 50° to 70°, measured according to JIS K 6253. By using a material with such hardness, the shape described above is easily maintained. The material of the sole portion may particularly preferably be polyurethane (e.g., urethane rubber), EVA resin, or silicone rubber, or a combination thereof. In particular, these materials having the above-mentioned hardness are preferred as the material of the sole portion. Furthermore, a lining such as fabric may be provided on the insole surface (the surface on which the foot rests) of the sole portion, thereby protecting the foot that comes into contact with the sole portion. An additional insole may be layered on the insole surface of the sole portion, thereby addressing the problem of incompatibility due to differences between the left and right feet.

[0033] (Connection part) The connecting portion 103 is a portion that connects the upper portion to the sole portion. The connecting portion may be configured so that the upper portion can be opened and closed around the connecting portion. The connecting portion may serve as a rotation axis or a hinge for the opening and closing operations.

[0034] In the connecting portion, the upper portion and the sole portion may be connected via a connecting element such as a pin or a screw. FIGS. 1A to 1D show a connecting structure using a screw as an example of the connecting portion configuration. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the head and drive portion of the screw are inserted into the material (e.g., a resin material) constituting the connecting portion 103S so that they are located on the outside of the shoe. The threaded portion of the screw is then screwed into a hole provided in the material constituting the connecting portion 103U of the upper portion. On the inside of the upper portion, the threaded portion may be fixed, for example, by a fastener, as shown in FIG. 1D. The shape of the fastener may be appropriately selected so as not to adversely affect the foot in the storage space. Alternatively, the storage space side of the connecting portion may be covered with any material (e.g., the resin material described above) to prevent the threaded portion or the fastener from coming into contact with the foot. In addition, in the connecting portion, the upper portion and the sole portion may be connected using a connecting material such as an adhesive instead of a connecting element. The connecting portion may also include a hinge itself, one wing of which may be connected to the upper portion and the other wing of which may be connected to the sole portion. Furthermore, when the upper part and the sole part are molded into an integrated shoe and then the shoe is cut so that the upper part and the sole part can be separated, the cutting may be performed so that only the portion that forms the connecting part is not cut, so that the uncut portion may function as the connecting part in the opening and closing operation.

[0035] For example, the connecting portion may have a notch or a groove to make it easier to keep the shoe open or to make it easier to take the open state. Alternatively, the connecting portion may be made of a material that is softer than the other portions (upper portion and / or sole portion). For example, the material may be, but is not limited to, rubber or silicone.

[0036] The connecting part is located near the big toe of the foot on which the shoe is worn, so that the upper part opens toward the foot opposite the foot on which the shoe is worn, making it easier to perform the closing operation using the opposite foot when closing the upper part. Alternatively, the connection portion may be located near the little toe of the foot on which the shoe is worn. In this way, the connecting portion may be provided in the thumb side region or the little finger side region.

[0037] In this specification, the big toe side region may be a region that allows the upper part to open or close (or rotate) in any direction from the "foot width direction" to the "direction intermediate between the foot width direction and the foot length direction" by opening and closing the upper part via the connecting portion. Furthermore, the region may be a region that can prevent the upper from opening or closing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the foot. The big toe side region may refer to, for example, the region on the side of the shoe on the big toe side, and in particular may be the region from the tip of the big toe to the tip of the ankle in the foot length direction (X-axis direction). The presence of the connecting portion in this region enables opening and / or closing (or rotating) movements along the foot width direction.

[0038] In this specification, the little toe side region may also be a region that allows the upper part to open or close (or rotate) in any direction from the "foot width direction" to the "direction intermediate between the foot width direction and the foot length direction" by opening and closing the upper part via the connecting part. Furthermore, the region may be a region that can prevent the upper from opening or closing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the foot. The little toe side region may mean, for example, the region on the side of the shoe on the little toe side, and in particular the region from the tip of the little toe to the tip of the ankle on the toe side in the foot length direction (X-axis direction). The presence of the connecting portion in this region enables opening and / or closing (or rotating) movements along the foot width direction.

[0039] (Position fixed part) As described above, the upper part 101 has a position fixing part 104U, and the sole part 102 has a position fixing part 104S. These position fixing parts 104U and 104S are collectively referred to as position fixing parts 104. The position fixing parts fix the positional relationship between the upper part 101 and the sole part 102 when the upper part 101 is in a closed state. The positional relationship may be fixed by magnetic force using a magnet as described above, or may be fixed by a fastener.

[0040] As described above, the position fixing portion 104U is provided within the connecting region 114U of the upper portion 101, and the position fixing portion 104S is provided within the connecting region 114S of the sole portion 102. Therefore, when the upper portion is closed, the boundary between these two connecting regions can form a line that surrounds the side of the shoe. This line may correspond to the boundary between the upper portion and the sole portion. In other words, in the shoe of the present invention, the boundary line between the upper portion and the sole portion, which can be opened and closed, may be formed so as to be drawn around the periphery of the shoe. The presence of this boundary line between the connecting regions enables the upper portion to rotate around the connecting portion.

[0041] (Heel fixation part) As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, the shoe 100 may further include a heel support 105. The heel support may be provided to prevent the foot accommodated in the accommodation space from slipping toward the heel and causing the shoe to come off. For example, as shown in the figures, the heel support may be provided on the heel side of the foot placed in the shoe, and may be configured to cover the entire heel like a so-called heel counter. The heel support may be provided like a wall that stands along the Z-axis direction along the heel portion of the insole. Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the heel support may have an inclination such that the height of the wall gradually decreases from the heel to the toe. This can reduce the impact when the foot hits the heel support when placed on the sole.

[0042] The heel fixing part fixes the position of the foot stored in the storage space, making it easier for the wearer to walk. Furthermore, the heel fixing part can also prevent the stored foot from moving toward the heel and causing the shoe to come off.

[0043] When the upper part is closed, the heel fixing part may or may not overlap with the upper part as shown in Figures 1A and 1C. By overlapping the heel fixing part and the upper part, the entire side of the foot can be surrounded by the shoe.

[0044] The material of the heel fixing part may also be selected appropriately, for example, depending on the desired design. The above explanation regarding the material of the upper part also applies to the sole part. In one embodiment, the sole part may be a resin, particularly a synthetic resin. More specifically, the resin may be, for example, EVA, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyurethane, or the like, or may be an epoxy resin, or a polyolefin resin or polyester resin. Furthermore, the material of the heel fixing part and the material of the sole part may be the same. For example, when the heel fixing part is molded integrally with the sole part, these materials may be the same. Furthermore, a portion of the heel support may be made of a different material than the other portions. For example, an upper region of the heel support in the foot height direction may be made of a material that has a higher coefficient of friction or better cushioning properties than the material of the other regions. This can improve heel support. A lining such as fabric may be provided on the inside of the heel support part, thereby protecting the foot that comes into contact with the heel support part.

[0045] (Shoe fixing part) The shoe 100 may further include a shoe fastening part 106 that is used to hold the shoe in place when putting on or taking off the shoe or when opening or closing the shoe. The shoe fastening part 106 may be provided at any position on the sole part 102, and may in particular be integrated with the sole part. In other words, the sole part may include the shoe fastening part. This makes it easier to open and close the upper part. For example, when taking off shoe 100, the upper part 101 opens and the shoe can be taken off by holding the shoe fixing part with the opposite foot and raising the foot contained in the shoe in the foot height direction (Z-axis direction). Furthermore, when wearing the shoe with the upper part closed, the upper part is opened by holding down the shoe fixing part (or any position on the sole part) with one foot while lifting the upper part in the foot height direction (Z-axis direction) with the other foot, allowing the foot to be placed on the sole part.

[0046] The shoe fastening part may have a shape corresponding to the arch part (also called the plantar arch) of the shoe sole of the opposite foot. The arch part can properly hold the shoe fastening part, making it easier to take off the shoe. An example of such an arch part is shown in FIG. 1C by reference numeral 130. The arch part can properly fit with the shoe fastening part, making it easier to take off the shoe.

[0047] (Shoe type) 1A to 1D is a sandal-like shoe, but the type of shoe of the present invention is not limited to this type of shoe. As described above, the shoe of the present invention may be any other type of shoe that is configured to be able to perform opening and closing operations via a connecting part. That is, the shoe of the present invention may have, for example, a sandal shape, a sneaker shape, a leather shoe shape, or a pump shape. As described above, the shoe of the present invention does not need to have an opening and closing mechanism on the upper side of the upper part, so the design of the upper part can be freely changed. Therefore, the present invention may be applied to various types of shoes. As described above, the shoe of the present invention may be a shoe having upper portion 101 and / or sole portion 102 as a skeleton. As described above, the upper portion may be provided with a covering such as fabric, which allows for the provision of a variety of shoes with various designs and makes these shoes easy to put on and take off.

[0048] 2. Modification 1 (Example of changing the position of the connecting part) In the shoe 100 described in 1 above with reference to Figures 1A to 1D, the connecting part is provided on the big toe side. The connecting part may also be provided on the little toe side. An example of a shoe with a connecting part provided on the little toe side is shown in Figures 2A to 2D. The shoe 200 shown in these figures is the same as shoe 100, except that the position of connecting part 203 is located on the little toe side of the foot wearing the shoe. Shoe 200 of the present invention comprises at least upper part 201, sole part 202 (insole 211 and outsole 212), and connecting part 203 (connecting parts 203U and 203S). The shoe further comprises position fixing part 204 (position fixing parts 204U and 204S), connecting regions 214U and 214S where the position fixing parts are provided, heel fixing part 205, and shoe fixing part 206. The contents explained in 1 above also apply to each of these elements of shoe 200. 2D, when the upper portion of shoe 200 is in an open state, the upper portion is open toward the little toe. In this case, the upper portion may be closed by manipulating the upper portion with a means such as a cane or shoehorn, or by using a hand. In this way, in the present invention, the connecting portion may be provided on the little finger side, and in this case too, easy attachment and detachment is possible.

[0049] Shoe 100 described in 1 above with reference to Figures 1A to 1D has a plurality of holes in the upper portion. The design of the upper portion of the shoe of the present invention may be modified as appropriate, and for example, the upper portion may not have holes, as in shoe 300 shown in Figure 3.

[0050] 4, the movement of the upper part of the shoe of the present invention will be described. A in the figure shows a state in which the upper part 301 of the shoe 300 of the present invention is open. In this state, a foot (not shown) is placed on the sole part 302. When placing the foot, there is no need to insert the foot into a narrow space; the foot can be placed on the sole part 302 by moving the foot along the foot height direction.

[0051] Next, for example, the foot opposite to the foot resting on the sole portion is used to kick the upper portion upward (upward in the Z-axis direction in the figure), causing the upper portion to rotate around the connecting portion 303 as an axis, and the upper portion becomes closed, as shown in B, C, and D in the figure. In the state where the upper part is closed as shown in D of the figure, the positional relationship between the upper part and the sole part is fixed by, for example, a position fixing part 304 (a magnet or a button), so that the upper part does not open even when walking while wearing the shoe. In addition, the position fixing portion 304 is provided on the heel fixing portion 305 and the upper portion 301, respectively, and when the upper portion is closed, the positional relationship between the upper portion and the heel fixing portion is fixed, for example, by the magnetic force of a magnet or by engagement with a fastener, and the positional relationship between the heel fixing portion and the sole portion and the upper portion is also fixed. To take off the shoes, for example, the foot is moved upward (upward in the Z-axis direction in the figure) while holding down any position on the sole part 302 (or the shoe fixing part) with the opposite foot, which opens the upper part and allows the shoe to be taken off.

[0052] 3. Modification 2 (Example of upper part formed from two or more parts) A modified example of the shoe of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C. In the shoe 100 described in 1 above with reference to Figures 1A to 1D, the upper portion is formed from one part (for example, one sheet-like material having a predetermined thickness), but the upper portion may be divided into two or more parts. In other words, the upper portion may be composed of two or more parts. Figures 8A to 8C show examples of shoes whose upper portion is formed from two or more parts, and modifications of the present invention will be described with reference to these examples.

[0053] 8A shows an example of a shoe of the present invention in which the upper portion is divided into three parts. The upper portion 501 of the shoe 500 shown in the figure includes a toe portion 501A that covers the toe portion of the foot and two top portions 501B and 501C that cover the instep portion of the foot. The division of the upper portion in this manner makes it easy to form each element from a different material. For example, the toe portion may be formed from a hard material to protect the toes, while the two top portions may be formed from a softer material than the toe portion so that they can deform in accordance with the deformation or movement of the foot during walking. In addition, since each part can be easily replaced, the desired part can be replaced according to the user's preference or in response to damage to a part, and the various needs of users can be met.

[0054] When the upper part 501 is closed, the toe part 501A has a shape that covers the toe portion (for example, at least a part of the portion where the toes are) of the sole part 502. Furthermore, when the upper part 501 is closed, the toe part 501A may be configured to come into contact with the connecting region 514S around the toe portion (for example, at least a part of the portion where the toes are placed) of the sole part 502.

[0055] Toe portion 501A is connected to top portion 501B by connecting portion (also called bridge) 501D. As a result, toe portion 501A also opens and closes in accordance with the opening and closing movement of top portion 501B. As shown in the figure, connecting portion 501D may be provided in two positions, for example, on the thumb side and the little finger side, but is not limited to this and may be provided in three or more positions, or may be provided in one position.

[0056] The structures of the toe portion 501A and the connecting portion 501D are shown in FIG. 9. As shown in (a) and (b) of the same figure, the connecting portion may have a strip shape extending in the lengthwise direction of the foot. The connecting portion may be provided, for example, near the base of the toes, which bend when walking. Therefore, the connecting portion may be made of a soft material (e.g., rubber, elastomer, or resin) that allows bending and / or stretching when walking. In particular, the material forming the connecting portion may be made of a softer and / or more stretchable material than the toe portion (and top portions 501B and 501C). 9(c) shows a state in which a toe part 501A and a top part 521B of a shoe 520 (described later) are connected by a connecting part 501D. Note that although there are two connecting parts, the connecting part at the back of the figure is hidden by the toe part and is not shown.

[0057] The top portions 501B and 501C are each connected to the sole portion 502 via a connecting portion 503. When the upper portion 501 is closed, the top portions 501B and 501C each extend from the connecting portion 503 to the position fixing portion 504 (in the foot width direction), and have a convex shape that covers the instep. The length of the top portions 501B and 501C in the foot length direction may be selected appropriately depending on the shoe size, but may be, for example, 1 cm or more, particularly 2 cm or more. Furthermore, the length in the foot length direction may be, for example, 10 cm or less, particularly 5 cm or less, and more particularly 3 cm or less.

[0058] As shown in the figure, a space may be provided between the toe portion 501A and the top portion 501B located closest to the toe portion 501A. By providing this space, it becomes easier to bend the base of the toes (particularly the metatarsophalangeal joints) when, for example, standing on tiptoes or walking.

[0059] As shown in the figure, a space may also be provided between the two top portions 501B and 501C. By providing this space, it becomes easier to bend the ankle (particularly the ankle joint) when walking, for example.

[0060] The connecting portion 503 serves as a hinge between the upper portion 501 and the sole portion 502 when the upper portion 501 is opened or closed. An example of the configuration of the connecting portion is shown in FIG. 10. (a) and (b) of the same figure are schematic perspective views of the connecting portion as seen from one side and the other side, respectively. As shown in these figures, the connecting portion may be a thin plate-like (or sheet-like) member. As shown in (c) of the same figure, the connecting portion is fixed to the sole portion 502 and also fixed to the upper portion 501 (for example, the top portions 501B and 501C).

[0061] To fix the connecting part 503 to the sole part 502, for example, as shown in the figure, the connecting part 503 may be inserted into a slit 551 provided in the sole part 502. Then, a fixing part 552 at the tip of the connecting part fits into a receiving part 553 provided in the slit, whereby the connecting part 503 is fixed to the sole part 502 and can be prevented from coming off the sole part. The fixing portion 552 may be a portion having a larger dimension along a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the connecting portion than other portions of the connecting portion 503. This prevents the connecting portion from coming off the sole portion. A space for accommodating the fixing portion may be provided inside the slit 551 of the sole portion to fit the shape of the fixing portion. Furthermore, to prevent the connecting portion from coming off the sole portion, as shown in the drawing, a retaining rib 554 may be provided on the connecting portion. The retaining rib can increase the friction force between the connecting portion and the slit or prevent excessive deformation of the connecting portion, which contributes to preventing the connecting portion from coming off the sole portion. The sole portion and the connecting portion may be made of a flexible material such as rubber (e.g., silicone rubber) or resin, which allows the fixing portion to be inserted into the slit. Also, since the connecting portion is made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin, the upper portion can be easily opened and closed.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 10, the sole portion 502 may have a slit 551 into which the connecting portion 503 is inserted. The slit will be further described with reference to FIG. 11. This figure is a schematic perspective view of the sole portion alone as viewed from four directions. The slit has an opening 561 that opens in a plane parallel to the sole surface. Furthermore, the slit also has an opening 562 that opens in a plane parallel to the foot height direction. This allows a hook-and-loop fastener (also known as Velcro (registered trademark)) to be used as the connecting portion, as will be described later, or a tape that can be attached and detached on a surface similar to a hook-and-loop fastener may be used. When the connecting portion has the structure shown in FIG. 10, the latter opening 562 does not need to be provided.

[0063] The sole part 502 has a position fixing part 504 on the little toe side. The upper part and the sole part come into contact at this part, and the positional relationship between them is fixed by, for example, the magnetic force of a magnet.

[0064] To fix the connecting part 503 to the upper part, for example, as shown in the figure, a hole 555 (e.g., a screw hole) may be provided in the connecting part. Then, a hole 556 may also be provided in the upper part at a position corresponding to the hole 555 when the connecting part is inserted into the slit provided in the upper part. With the connecting portion inserted into the slit provided in the upper portion, by inserting and tightening the screw 557, the connecting portion is fixed to the upper portion and can be prevented from coming off the upper portion. In this way, the connecting portion 503 may be a combination of the above-mentioned plate-like member and screw.

[0065] The structure of the connecting portion 503 is not limited to this. For example, the upper portion and the connecting portion may be fixed by fitting the fixing portion and the housing portion together instead of using screws. In this case, the connecting portion may be made of only a plate-like member. Moreover, the sole portion and the connecting portion may be fixed together by a screw instead of the above-mentioned fitting of the fixing portion and the housing portion.

[0066] The thickness Tc of the connecting part 503 (thickness in the foot width direction when the upper part is closed) may be, for example, 1 mm or more, particularly 2 mm or more. The thickness may also be, for example, 10 mm or less, particularly 5 mm or less. This thickness ensures ease of bending suitable for opening and closing the upper part, while also making it less susceptible to breakage. The dimension Dc of the connecting portion 503 in the foot length direction may be selected appropriately depending on the width of the upper portion (e.g., top portion) where the connecting portion 503 is provided, and may be, for example, 10 mm or more, particularly 20 mm or more. The dimension may be, for example, 50 mm or less, particularly 40 mm or less. Such a dimension contributes to achieving a desirable opening and closing operation. The dimension Hc of the connecting portion 503 in the foot height direction may be appropriately selected so as to connect the upper portion and the sole portion and / or may be appropriately selected depending on the shoe design, and may be, for example, 20 mm or more, particularly 25 mm or more. This dimension may be, for example, 50 mm or less, particularly 40 mm or less. This makes it easier to ensure an area for providing elements for connecting the upper portion and the sole portion (such as the above-mentioned fixing portion and screw holes). Note that these dimensions may be applied to shoes with a size of, for example, about 20 to 30 cm. For shoes of the present invention with smaller sizes (for example, for children), smaller dimensions may be applied. In other words, these dimensions may be appropriately changed depending on the shoe size. (Dimension Dc) / (shoe size) may be, for example, 1 / 20 to 1 / 5, particularly 1 / 15 to 1 / 6.

[0067] The position fixing unit 504 fixes the positional relationship between the upper part and the sole part when the upper part is closed. When the upper part is opened, the fixing by the position fixing unit 504 is released so that the upper part and the sole part are separated. As described above, the position fixing unit may include, for example, a magnet or a fastener.

[0068] The shoe 500 further includes a heel fixing part 505. The heel fixing part may be configured similarly to the heel fixing part 105 shown in Figures 1A to 1D, and the description regarding the heel fixing part 105 also applies to the heel fixing part 505.

[0069] The shoe 500 further includes a shoe fixing part 506. While the shoe fixing part 106 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D has one plane parallel to the sole surface, the shoe fixing part 506 of the shoe 500 differs in that multiple planes form a stepped structure. This structure also makes it possible to open and close the upper part using the shoe fixing part described above. In addition, this structure makes it easier for the shoe to move in the foot length direction when a pushing force is applied to the shoe fixing part in the foot height direction, making it less likely that excessive force will be applied to the shoe fixing part, and making it possible to suppress damage to the shoe fixing part, for example.

[0070] Figure 8B shows another example of a shoe of the present invention in which the upper is formed from two parts. Shoe 510 shown in this figure is the same as shoe 500 shown in Figure 8A, except that the configuration of the two top parts is different. That is, in the upper part 511 of the shoe 510, the two top parts 511B and 511C are arranged to cross over the instep. By arranging the two top parts in this way, the two top parts move together when opening and closing the upper part, making the opening and closing operation easier. The two top parts may or may not be bonded together at the intersection, or may be molded as a single, integral top part that already has the intersection shape.

[0071] Figure 8C shows another example of a shoe of the present invention in which the upper is formed in two parts. Shoe 520 shown in this figure is the same as shoe 500 shown in Figure 8A, except for the configuration of the top part closest to the ankle. That is, top portion 521C of upper portion 521 of shoe 520 is formed so as to curve toward the toe side. By forming the top portion closest to the ankle in this way, it becomes easier to ensure a space for a foot wearing an orthosis, for example. In this case too, the two top portions 521B and 521C may or may not be bonded together.

[0072] As mentioned above, a hook-and-loop fastener may be used instead of a plate-like member as connecting portion 503. An example of a shoe in which a hook-and-loop fastener is used as the connecting portion is shown in Fig. 12A. Shoe 600 shown in the figure is the same as shoe 500 described with reference to Fig. 8A, except that a hook-and-loop fastener is used instead of connecting portion 503 which is a plate-like member. As shown in FIG. 12A, the upper part 501 and sole part 502 of the shoe 600 are connected by a connecting part 603, which is a hook-and-loop fastener. (b1) and (b2) of FIG. 12B show an example of the connection between the upper part and the sole part by a hook-and-loop fastener. The hook-and-loop fastener is adhered to the upper part 501. Furthermore, the hook-and-loop fastener is inserted into the slit 551 from one opening 561, exits the slit from the other opening 562, and is then folded back, with the hook-and-loop fasteners adhering to each other. This connects the upper part 501 and the sole part 502. In addition, the same slits also allow connection using plate-like members (and screws), as shown in (a1) and (a2) of the same figure, and this connection is as described above with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Such a slit structure allows various connection methods to be adopted, broadening the range of designs and meeting a variety of user needs. That is, in the shoes 500, 510, and 520, similarly to the shoe 600, a hook-and-loop fastener may be used as a connecting portion instead of a plate-like member. By using such a hook-and-loop fastener (or detachable tape), the connection between the upper and sole can be easily released, allowing the user to freely replace the upper or sole, thereby enabling the shoe to meet the diverse needs and preferences of users and increasing the degree of freedom in design.

[0073] 4. Modification 3 (Upper portion having mesh structure) A further variation of the shoe of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 13A to 13G, which show a shoe 700 according to the present invention. FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the shoe, showing perspective views from two different directions. FIG. 13B is a front view of the shoe. FIG. 13C is a rear view of the shoe. FIG. 13D is a right side view of the shoe (a view of the left side as seen by a wearer of the shoe). FIG. 13E is a left side view of the shoe (a view of the right side as seen by a person wearing the shoe). FIG. 13F is a plan view of the shoe. FIG. 13G is a bottom view of the shoe.

[0074] As shown in these figures, the upper portion 701 of the shoe 700 has an area 711 with a plurality of holes, which are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines. This area is also referred to herein as the "mesh structure portion 711." The mesh structure portion allows the upper portion to bend easily, for example, when walking, making it easier for the user to walk. In addition, the mesh structure portion improves breathability and allows for a lighter shoe. Furthermore, the mesh structure portion also has excellent design appeal. Furthermore, by covering the mesh structure portion with a desired cloth or sheet or by attaching a desired accessory, the design of the shoe can be further enhanced while maintaining its flexibility. Shoe 700 will be described in more detail below.

[0075] 13A to 13G includes an upper part 701, a sole part 702, and a connecting part 703. The shoe may further include a position fixing part 704, a heel fixing part 705, and a shoe fixing part 706. Note that the position fixing part 704 may be arranged so as not to be visible when the upper part is closed, and is not shown in these figures. The position fixing part 704 will be described separately later. The following mainly describes the components of the shoe 700 that differ from the shoe 100 described in 1 above and the components that are characteristic of the shoe 700. Therefore, the description of the shoe 100 in 1 above also applies to the shoe 700.

[0076] (1) Upper part As shown in the figure, the upper part 701 may have a shape such that the mesh structure 711 covers the instep when the upper part is closed, e.g., a curved shape. The multiple holes in the mesh structure and the multiple lines forming the multiple holes are arranged so as to exist continuously from the big toe side to the little toe side in the width direction of the foot. Furthermore, the multiple holes in the mesh structure and the multiple lines forming the multiple holes are arranged so as to exist continuously from the toe side to the ankle side in the length direction of the foot. By forming such a mesh structure in the upper part, the upper part becomes more flexible. In addition, the mesh structure can improve breathability and / or reduce weight. Furthermore, the mesh structure can improve the design of the shoe, providing a superior aesthetic appearance.

[0077] 14A to 14C, the mesh structure is further divided into three main sections: a big toe side section 712, an instep section 713, and a little toe side section 714. These three sections are arranged in this order along the width direction of the foot.

[0078] (Thumb side of upper part) As shown in the figure, the mesh structure of the thumb side portion 712 has a structure in which multiple lines made of the upper portion material intersect. The multiple lines of the mesh structure in the figure correspond to the areas between adjacent squares (particularly diamonds), as shown in Figure 14D. The width of the multiple lines is the dimension indicated by the symbol Wm1 in the figure, and is the dimension perpendicular to the direction of extension of the lines and on a plane along the surface of the upper part. In this specification, the width of the lines is also referred to as "line width." The width Wm1 of each of the multiple lines may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more, preferably 0.7 mm or more, and more preferably 1 mm or more. The line width may be, for example, 10 mm or less, preferably 8 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm or less, and even more preferably 4 mm or less or 3 mm or less. A mesh structure with such a line width facilitates achieving desirable deflection, for example, during walking. Furthermore, the width can achieve desirable strength of the mesh structure. The material portion forming the multiple lines has a thickness, which may be a dimension perpendicular to the surface of the upper portion and may be the same as the thickness of the material forming the upper portion (mesh structure portion). Thickness Tm1 may be, for example, 2 mm or more, preferably 3 mm or more, and more preferably 4 mm or more. Thickness Tm1 may be, for example, 10 mm or less, preferably 8 mm or less, and more preferably 6 mm or less. This thickness may be the same as the thickness of the portion of the upper portion other than the mesh structure portion (e.g., the toe portion and the ankle side region), but may be different from the thickness of the portion other than the mesh structure portion in consideration of design or flexibility. These dimensions may be applied to shoes with a size of, for example, about 20 to 30 cm. If the shoe size of the present invention is smaller (for example, for children), smaller dimensions may be applied, and these dimensions may be changed appropriately depending on the desired design. The same applies to the numerical ranges of various dimensions described below.

[0079] In terms of the perforations of the mesh structure, as shown in the drawings of shoe 700, the mesh structure of the big toe side has a structure in which quadrangular (particularly diamond-shaped) holes are arranged vertically and horizontally (i.e., along the foot length and foot height directions). The length Sm1 of one side of the quadrangular shape may be, for example, 5 mm or more, preferably 6 mm or more, and more preferably 7 mm or more. The length Sm1 of one side may be, for example, 15 mm or less, 12 mm or less, or 10 mm or less. The length Sm1 of one side is as shown in FIG. 14D. By setting the length of one side to such a length, it becomes easier to achieve a desirable deflection while maintaining the strength of the mesh structure. The shape of the hole is not limited to a square shape, but may be other polygonal shapes (triangle, pentagon, hexagon, etc.) or round shapes (circle or ellipse). Depending on the shape, the shapes of the above-mentioned multiple lines may also be changed appropriately.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the width of the line is the same as or smaller than the thickness of the line, and particularly preferably, the width Wm1 of the line is smaller than the thickness Tm1 of the line portion. For example, the width of the line may be 90% or less of the thickness of the line, preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less, 60% or less, or 50% or less. This makes it easier to achieve desirable deflection, for example, when walking. In some embodiments, the width of the lines may be greater than the thickness of the lines, and the mesh structure may be configured such that the width of the lines is greater than the thickness of the lines, depending, for example, on the type of upper material and / or the desired design.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mesh structure has an opening ratio of 30% or more, for example, 40% or more, 45% or more, or 50% or more. This allows for desirable deflection of the upper portion. The opening ratio may be preferably 95% or less, for example, 90% or less, 85% or less, or 80% or less. This allows for increased strength of the mesh structure. The opening ratio is the ratio of the area of ​​the holes in the mesh to the area of ​​the surface of the mesh structure.

[0082] The mesh structure may extend from the end of the upper part on the big toe side to the end of the upper part on the little toe side. By forming the mesh structure from one end of the upper part to the other end in the width direction of the foot in this manner, preferable flexure is achieved. For example, the big toe end of the mesh structure (the lowest part of the diamond in the foot height direction) may be located within 20 mm, preferably within 15 mm, and more preferably within 10 mm of the big toe end of the upper part, which makes it easier to achieve desirable flexure. The thumb side end of the mesh structure may be located, for example, 1 mm or more, or 2 mm or more, away from the thumb side end of the upper part, thereby increasing the strength of the thumb side end. The same applies to the little finger side end. That is, the little finger side end of the mesh structure may be located, for example, within 20 mm, preferably within 15 mm, and more preferably within 10 mm, of the little finger side end of the upper part. This makes it easier to achieve desirable deflection. The little finger side end of the mesh structure may be located, for example, 1 mm or more, or 2 mm or more away from the little finger side end of the upper part, thereby increasing the strength of the little finger side end. If there is a region where there is no mesh at any position in the foot width direction, the region can reduce the tendency for the shoe to flex. Note that the region where there is no mesh may be provided at any position in the foot width direction depending on the desired degree of flex.

[0083] Preferably, the mesh structure occupies, for example, 30% or more of the surface area of ​​the upper part, preferably 40% or more, more preferably 50% or more, and even more preferably 60% or more. This allows for desired flexibility and also improves breathability. The mesh structure may occupy, for example, 90% or less of the surface area of ​​the upper part, such as 85% or less or 80% or less, thereby improving the structural strength of the upper part.

[0084] In some embodiments, the toe side region 721 and / or the ankle side region 722 of the upper part may be regions without a mesh structure. The region of the upper part sandwiched between the toe side region 721 and the ankle side region 722 may be a mesh structure portion 711. With such a structure, it is possible to ensure the strength of the upper part while realizing desirable flexure of the upper part.

[0085] (Upper part of the instep) The mesh structure of the instep portion 713 has a structure in which multiple lines (extending in the foot width direction) made of the upper material are arranged along the length of the foot (i.e., from the ankle side to the toe side). Some of the multiple lines may be configured to form curves (arc-like curves that open toward the toe side), and other portions of the multiple lines may be configured to form straight lines or curves (arc-like curves that open toward the ankle side). The former curves and the latter straight lines or curves intersect to form elongated holes. By arranging the elongated holes in this manner from the ankle side to the toe side, it becomes easier to achieve desirable flexure, for example, when walking. In other words, it is preferable for the instep portion of the upper portion (especially the mesh structure portion) to have multiple elongated holes that extend in the foot width direction. The width Wm2 of each of the multiple lines (the width of the line perpendicular to the direction in which the line extends and along the surface of the upper part; similar to width Wm1; shown in Figure 14E) may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more, preferably 0.7 mm or more, and more preferably 1 mm or more. The width of the line may be, for example, 10 mm or less, preferably 8 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm or less, and even more preferably 4 mm or less or 3 mm or less. Forming a mesh structure from lines having such widths makes it easier to achieve desirable deflection, for example, during walking. Furthermore, this width allows the mesh structure to achieve desirable strength. The thickness of each of the multiple lines (the dimension perpendicular to the surface of the upper part, which is similar to the width) may be, for example, 2 mm or more, preferably 3 mm or more, and more preferably 4 mm or more. The thickness may be, for example, 10 mm or less, preferably 8 mm or less, and more preferably 6 mm or less. The thickness may be, for example, the same as the thickness of the upper part itself, but may be different from the thickness of the upper part in consideration of design or flexibility.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the width of the line is the same as or smaller than the thickness of the line, and particularly preferably, the width of the line is smaller than the thickness of the line. For example, the width of the line may be, for example, 90% or less of the thickness of the line, preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less, 60% or less, or 50% or less. The width of the line may be, for example, 5% or more, 10% or more, or 15% or more of the thickness of the line. This makes it easier to achieve desirable deflection, for example, when walking. In some embodiments, the width of the lines may be greater than the thickness of the lines, and the mesh structure may be configured such that the width of the lines is greater than the thickness of the lines, depending, for example, on the type of upper material and / or the desired design.

[0087] In terms of the perforations of the mesh structure, as shown in the drawings of shoe 700, the mesh structure of the instep can be said to have one or more elongated holes (preferably multiple holes) extending in the width direction of the foot, lined up along the length of the foot (from the ankle to the toes). The length of the elongated holes in the width direction of the foot may be, for example, 10 mm or more, preferably 20 mm or more, and more preferably 30 mm or more. The length of the elongated holes in the width direction of the foot may be, for example, 150 mm or less, 120 mm or less, 100 mm or less, or 80 mm or less, depending on the width of the shoe. In this way, the instep portion of the upper part (particularly the mesh structure part) may have a structure in which one or more holes extending in the width direction of the foot (one or more elongated holes extending in the width direction of the foot) are lined up in the length direction of the foot. Preferably, this structure may have a plurality of such holes. The length of the one or more holes in the leg length direction may be, for example, 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more, or 3 mm or more. The length of the one or more holes in the leg length direction may be preferably 15 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or less, 9 mm or less, or 8 mm or less. By arranging such elongated holes along the length of the foot, a preferable flexure of the upper portion can be obtained, for example, when walking.

[0088] The instep portion 713 of the upper part may have a curve in a cross section parallel to the length of the foot and perpendicular to the width of the foot, or may be horizontal in the cross section. Preferably, the instep portion 713 of the upper part is configured to have a curve in the cross section. By having a curve, desirable flexure is more likely to occur, for example, when walking. This curvature will be explained with reference to Figures 15A and 15B, which show the cross sections of a shoe with a curved upper and a shoe with a flat upper, respectively. As shown in Figure 15A, the upper instep portion 713 of shoe 700 has a curve in cross section, i.e., a shape that is gently concave toward the sole portion side. More specifically, the distance D between the line connecting the toe side and the ankle side in the cross section (the dashed line in the figure) and the lowest point of the concave may be, for example, 2 mm or more, preferably 3 mm or more. This distance may be, for example, 20 mm or less, 15 mm or less, or 10 mm or less. Having a concave shape with such a distance makes it easier to achieve the desired upper deflection. On the other hand, when the upper instep portion is horizontal, as shown in FIG. 15B, the upper instep portion describes a horizontal straight line in the cross section.

[0089] Depending on the user's needs, the instep portion may be bulging, i.e., may be gently bulging as opposed to the gently concave shape described above.

[0090] (Little finger side of upper part) The mesh structure of the little finger side portion 714 may be similar to the mesh structure of the thumb side portion 712, and the same description also applies to the mesh structure of the little finger side portion 714.

[0091] The boundary between the mesh structure on the big toe side and the mesh structure on the instep does not necessarily have to be clear. In shoe 700 shown in the figure, mesh holes are formed by the intersection of lines (especially curves) that describe the mesh pattern, and the mesh pattern is formed of diamond-shaped holes on the big toe side and little toe side, but the diamond shapes gradually become elongated from the big toe side and little toe side toward the instep, forming elongated holes in the instep. Unlike the illustration, the boundaries between the mesh structure on the instep and the mesh structures on the thumb and little finger sides may be clearly visible. Also, the mesh structure on the thumb side and the mesh structure on the little finger side may have different mesh patterns.

[0092] (Toe area) The upper part 701 has a toe side region 721 (also called the toe part) that does not have a mesh structure, at the tip of the shoe in the foot length direction. The tip part is likely to be hit by various objects relatively frequently, so by not having a mesh structure, the strength of the tip part is ensured and the toes of the foot are more reliably protected. This also makes it possible to more reliably protect the toes. Furthermore, a position fixing portion may be provided on the foot side surface (inner surface) of the toe side region to fix the positional relationship with a position fixing portion of the sole portion (particularly a position fixing portion present in the toe side region) described below.

[0093] (Connection attachment point) As shown in Figures 16A and 16B, the upper part 701 has a connecting part attachment site 715U to which the connecting part 703 is attached. In the figure, the connecting part attachment site is provided as a linear hole. For example, a hook-and-loop fastener is passed through this site, and then the hook-and-loop fastener is passed through the sole part 702 (described later), and then the A side (male side) and B side (female side) of the hook-and-loop fastener are attached, thereby connecting the upper part and the sole part. This connection is made so that the upper part can be opened and closed using the connecting part as a hinge.

[0094] The connecting part attachment part 715U is located closer to the heel than the mesh structure in the foot length direction. Furthermore, there is an area without a mesh structure between the mesh structure and the connecting part attachment part. This ensures the strength of the material around the connecting part attachment part, making it less likely to break even when the upper part is opened or closed via the connecting part attachment part. In addition, the connecting part attachment portion is located on the big toe side (inside) in the width direction of the foot, and is particularly located so that the connecting part attachment portion is located near the inner ankle when the shoe is worn (particularly when the upper part is closed). The position of the connecting portion attachment site may be adjusted as appropriate by a person skilled in the art depending on, for example, the desired opening and closing operation or the area where the mesh structure portion is present.

[0095] (Position fixed part) As shown in FIG. 16B, the upper part 701 has a position fixing portion 704U. The position fixing portion may be, for example, a magnet or a material that can be bonded to a magnet, particularly a sheet-like magnet or a material that can be bonded to a magnet. Note that other materials may be used for the position fixing portion 704U as long as the positional relationship between the upper part and the sole part can be fixed. The upper part may be provided with a recess or area corresponding to the shape of the magnet or material so that the magnet or material can be placed therein (particularly, can be accommodated therein). The position fixing portion has a rectangular shape, but the shape of the position fixing portion may be appropriately selected by a person skilled in the art. The position fixing portion is provided on the heel side of the mesh structure portion in the foot length direction, and in an area that is not part of the mesh structure portion, so that the presence of the position fixing portion is not visible through the mesh, providing a better aesthetic appearance of the shoe. In addition, in shoe 700, a position fixing part is provided at one position shown in the figure, but in addition to or instead of this position fixing part, a position fixing part may also be provided in an area such as that shown in shoe 100.

[0096] (2) Sole Regarding the sole portion 702, the following mainly describes the features that differ from the shoe 100 described above (e.g., the outsole 716, the connecting portion attachment portion 715S, the heel fixing portion 705, the position fixing portion 704S, and the shoe fixing portion 706).

[0097] (Outsole) The structure of the outsole 716 of the sole portion 702 is shown in FIG. 13G. As shown in the figure, the outsole has multiple grooves. The multiple grooves include grooves that extend along the length of the foot (grooves that extend from the toe to the heel) and grooves that extend in the width direction of the foot (grooves that extend from the big toe side to the little toe side). The formation of these grooves makes it less likely for a user wearing the shoe to slip. In addition, these grooves make the shoe more flexible, for example, when walking, and also more likely to absorb shock. The design and depth of the grooves may be selected as appropriate by those skilled in the art.

[0098] (Connection attachment point) As shown in Fig. 16A, the sole portion 702 has a connecting portion attachment portion 715S to which the connecting portion 703 is attached. In the same figure, the connecting portion attachment portion is provided as a linear hole. As described above with respect to the connecting portion attachment portion of the upper portion 701, a hook-and-loop fastener is passed through the connecting portion attachment portion 715U of the upper portion 701 and the connecting portion attachment portion 715S of the sole portion 702, and then the A side (male side) and the B side (female side) of the hook-and-loop fastener are attached, thereby connecting the upper portion and the sole portion. This connection is made so that the upper portion can be opened and closed using the connecting portion as a hinge.

[0099] The connecting part attachment site 715S is provided in a part of the heel fixing part 705. Furthermore, the connecting part attachment site 715S is provided so as to be located near the connecting part attachment site 715S of the upper part 701 when the upper part 701 is closed. Furthermore, in cases where the connecting part 703 is a hook-and-loop fastener, the linear hole of the connecting part attachment site 715S and the linear hole of the connecting part attachment site 715U are provided so as to be parallel when the upper part is closed. Furthermore, the connecting part attachment portion 715S is located on the big toe side (inside) in the width direction of the foot, and is particularly located so that the connecting part attachment portion is located near the inner ankle when the shoe is worn (particularly when the upper part is closed). The position of the connecting portion attachment site may be adjusted as appropriate by a person skilled in the art depending on, for example, the desired opening and closing operation or the area where the mesh structure portion is present.

[0100] (Connection part) As shown in Fig. 13D, shoe 700 has a connecting part 703. In the same figure, connecting part 703 is a hook-and-loop fastener as described above. The hook-and-loop fastener passes through connecting part attachment position 715U (linear hole) on the upper part and connecting part attachment position 715S (linear hole) on the sole part as shown in Fig. 16A, and side A (male side) and side B (female side) of the hook-and-loop fastener are attached. An element other than a hook-and-loop fastener may be used as the connecting portion. For example, the connecting portion may be a band-shaped material. The band-shaped material may be a material having a flat string-like shape, and may have a shape that allows it to pass through the connecting portion attachment positions 715U and 715S of the upper and sole portions, similar to the hook-and-loop fastener described above. Examples of the band-shaped material include, but are not limited to, rubber bands, cloth bands, leather bands, resin bands, and silicone bands. The upper and sole portions may be connected by passing such a band-shaped material through the connecting portion attachment positions 715U and 715S, folding it back, and joining it (for example, by heating or sewing it). The band-shaped material may be elastic or inelastic. A zipper may also be used as the connecting portion. The zipper may be provided, for example, in region Ac shown in FIG. 16D. Note that this figure shows an example of a location where a zipper may be provided. Although a hook-and-loop fastener is also shown in this figure, if the zipper is used as a connecting portion, the hook-and-loop fastener is not necessary. The zipper may be provided so that it can be opened and closed by moving it in the direction shown by the arrow in this figure. Note that the position and opening / closing direction of the zipper (the direction in which the zipper moves) are not limited to those shown in this figure and may be appropriately selected by a person skilled in the art depending on, for example, the design of the shoe.

[0101] (Heel fixation part) The sole portion 702 has a heel fixing portion 705. The heel fixing portion forms a wall that stands along the heel portion of the insole in the foot height direction (Z-axis direction). As shown in Figure 16C (a), the wall formed by the heel support may be inclined from the insole surface toward the ankle in the foot height direction, toward the center of the heel. This inclination is shown by the dashed line in the figure. This inclination provides a stronger hold on the heel, improving stability during walking. Figure 16C (b) shows an example of a heel support part where the wall is not inclined toward the center of the heel. As shown by the dashed line in the figure, the wall of the heel support part is formed to open up from the insole surface toward the ankle in the foot height direction. In this case, the heel is held more weakly, which can reduce stability when walking. As shown in Fig. 16C, the inclination is the angle θ of the line connecting the farthest point on the wall from the center of the heel in the foot width direction to the closest point on the wall (the inclined vertical dashed line in Fig. 16C) relative to the plane of the insole surface (the horizontal dashed line in Fig. 16C). In Fig. 16C (a), the angle is less than 90°. In Fig. 16C (b), the angle is 90° or more. The inclination may be set appropriately depending on, for example, the shape of the user's foot, but is preferably less than 90°, more preferably 88° or less, and even more preferably 85° or less. This enhances the feeling of holding the foot. The inclination may be, for example, 70° or more, preferably 73° or more, and even more preferably 75° or more. This prevents the foot from being excessively compressed by the wall of the shoe.

[0102] (Position fixed part) The sole part 702 has a position fixing part 704S. The position of the position fixing part may be selected appropriately so as to correspond to the position of the position fixing part 704U provided on the upper part 701. For example, as shown in Fig. 17A, the position fixing part 704S may be provided on the heel fixing part, particularly on the little toe side. When the connecting portion is provided on the little finger side, the position fixing portion may be provided on the thumb side. The position fixing portion 704S may be any portion that can be coupled to the position fixing portion 704U of the upper portion 701, and may be, for example, a magnet or a material that can be coupled to a magnet, and in particular, a sheet-like magnet or a material that can be coupled to a magnet. In addition, in shoe 700, a position fixing part is provided at one position shown in the figure, but in addition to or instead of this position fixing part, a position fixing part may also be provided in an area such as that shown in shoe 100. For example, in the same figure, a position fixing portion may be provided in the region indicated by the reference symbol 714S. As shown in the same figure, region 714S is a long, narrow, strip-shaped sole region that surrounds the periphery of the toe. For example, a magnet (particularly a thin magnet) or a substance that bonds with a magnet (particularly a thin substance) may be provided throughout region 714S. In this case, a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet may also be provided in the upper part throughout the entire region that contacts sole region 714S when the upper part is closed, or a position fixing portion (particularly a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet) may be provided in at least a portion of the region that contacts sole region 714S when the upper part is closed. The substantially rectangular region of the position fixing portion 704S shown in Fig. 17A may not be provided with a magnet or a material that can be bonded to a magnet, or the magnet or a material that can be bonded to a magnet may be provided in only a part of the region. An example of the configuration of a sole portion having such a magnet or a material that can be bonded to a magnet is shown in Fig. 17B. 17B, ​​the position fixing portion is indicated by the reference symbol 724S. As shown in the drawing, the position fixing portion 724S (particularly, a magnet or a substance that binds to a magnet) may be provided only in a part of the region indicated by the reference symbol 704S in FIG. 17A. 17B, ​​position fixing portions may be provided in three regions indicated by reference numerals 734S-1, 734S-2, and 734S-3. That is, position fixing portions (particularly, magnets or substances that bind to magnets) may be provided in one or more regions within the region indicated by reference numeral 714S in FIG. 17A. 17B, ​​a position fixing portion may be provided in the region indicated by reference symbol 744S. That is, a position fixing portion (particularly, a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet) may be provided in the region of the sole portion located above the toe. In this case, a position fixing portion (particularly, a magnet or a substance that bonds with a magnet) may also be provided in the upper portion over the entire region that comes into contact with the region indicated by reference symbol 744S when the upper portion is closed. These position fixing parts may be the fasteners (e.g., buttons, push hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc.) mentioned above instead of magnets and substances that bond with magnets. Furthermore, these position fixing parts may be composed of two or more types of elements, rather than one type of element. When position fixing parts are provided in multiple locations (e.g., as shown in FIG. 17B ), one or more of the position fixing parts may be magnets or substances that bond with magnets, and the other one or more may be fasteners. For example, one position fixing part provided near the side of the foot may be a fastener, and one or more position fixing parts provided in other locations may be magnets or substances that bond with magnets. Furthermore, the position fixing portions of the upper portion and the corresponding position fixing portions of the sole portion may each have a predetermined shape so that they form a predetermined fitted state when the upper portion is closed. For example, the position fixing portion of the upper part may have a concave shape, and the position fixing portion of the sole part may have a convex shape that fits into the concave shape. Conversely, the position fixing portion of the upper part may have a convex shape, and the position fixing portion of the sole part may have a concave shape that fits into the convex shape. Alternatively, the position fixing portion of the upper part may have a stepped shape, and the position fixing portion of the sole part may have a stepped shape that catches on the stepped shape.

[0103] (Shoe fixing part) The sole part 702 has a shoe fixing part 706. While the shoe fixing part 106 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D has one plane parallel to the sole surface, the shoe fixing part 706 of the shoe 700 differs in that two planes form a stepped structure. This structure also makes it possible to open and close the upper part using the shoe fixing part described above. In addition, this structure makes it easier for the shoe to move in the foot length direction when a pushing force is applied to the shoe fixing part in the foot height direction, making it less likely that excessive force will be applied to the shoe fixing part, and making it possible to suppress damage to the shoe fixing part, for example.

[0104] The specification and drawings of the present application also provide the design of shoe 700 shown in Figures 13A to 13G. Drawings of such a design are shown in Figures 18A to 18G. These drawings are the same as Figures 13A to 13G except that the reference numerals and leading lines extending from the reference numerals have been removed from Figures 13A to 13G. The article to which the design relates may be, for example, a "shoe," "footwear," or "sandals," and may particularly be a "shoe." Any description in this specification may be applied to the description of the article relating to the design. For example, the article relating to the design may be a shoe whose upper can be opened and closed. The article relating to the design also has a mesh structure as described above. The mesh structure is configured to bend when a user wearing the shoe walks, for example. The design is for the right foot. It may be mirrored for the left foot. The shoes may be provided to the user to be worn on only one foot, or a set of shoes for the right and left feet may be provided to the user.

[0105] The specification and drawings of the present application also provide a partial design relating to the upper part 710 of the shoe 700 shown in Figures 13A to 13G. Alternatively, a partial design relating to the mesh structure part 711 is also provided. Furthermore, the specification and drawings of the present application also provide a design relating to the upper part of the shoe 700 shown in Figures 13A to 13G.

[0106] 3. How to use the shoes The method of using the shoe of the present invention will now be described.

[0107] (Example of putting on shoes) As shown in FIG. 1D, with upper part 101 in an open state, a foot is placed on sole part 102. Then, the upper part is kicked up with the foot opposite to the foot in question. This kicking action causes the upper part to rotate around connecting part 103 as an axis and to enter a closed state. This allows the foot to be accommodated within the accommodation space formed by the upper part and the sole part. As described above, the shoe of the present invention may have an open upper portion so that, with the upper portion open, the foot can be positioned inside the shoe by moving the foot along the foot height direction (for example, moving the foot along a direction approximately perpendicular to the outsole surface of the sole portion). The shoe of the present invention is configured so that the upper portion is open in this manner, making it very easy to put on and take off.

[0108] To put on the shoe from a state in which the upper part is closed, for example, one foot is held down by the sole part (or shoe fixing part) of the shoe, while the other foot is inserted into the accommodation space, and the upper part is moved upward in the foot height direction, so that the upper part can be opened. Alternatively, the upper part can be opened using a means other than the foot, such as a hand or a cane.

[0109] The shoes described in the above modified example can also be put on by the same actions.

[0110] That is, the present invention also provides a method for wearing the shoe. The method may include placing a foot on the sole portion with the upper portion in an open state, and rotating the upper portion about the connecting portion as an axis to form a space for accommodating the foot between the upper portion and the sole portion. The foot is then accommodated in the space, thereby achieving a worn state. That is, the rotation described above causes the upper portion to be in a closed state, thereby forming a space for accommodating the foot. The rotation may be performed, for example, by the foot opposite the foot. Alternatively, the rotation may be performed by a hand or a tool (e.g., a cane, a shoehorn, or another tool capable of manipulating the upper portion by hand).

[0111] (Example of taking off shoes) By holding down any position on the sole part or the shoe fixing part with the foot opposite to the foot placed in the shoe storage space and moving the foot in the storage space upward in the foot height direction, the upper part rotates around the connecting part as an axis, thereby opening the upper part and allowing the shoe to be taken off.

[0112] The shoes described in the above modification can also be taken off by a similar action.

[0113] That is, the present invention also provides a method for taking off the shoe. The method may include, with a foot accommodated in the storage space formed by the upper part and the sole part, moving the foot in the storage space upward in the foot height direction while holding down any position of the shoe (particularly any position of the sole part or the shoe fixing part). The operation of holding down the position may be performed, for example, by the foot on the opposite side of the foot in the storage space. Alternatively, the operation may be performed by hand or a tool (e.g., a tool capable of holding down the position by hand, such as a cane or shoehorn). In this way, with the shoe of the present invention, with the upper part closed and the foot placed in the storage space of the shoe, the upper part can be put into an open state by moving the foot while fixing a part of the shoe or by performing a predetermined operation on the shoe.

[0114] The act of opening the upper may also include releasing a positioning device, such as a magnet or a fastener, and may be performed with a hand, the opposite foot, or a tool. The act of opening the upper may be performed, for example, before putting on the shoe or for taking off the shoe.

[0115] (Examples of targets) The subject for whom the shoe of the present invention is intended may be, for example, a subject who has difficulty putting on shoes using their hands. In particular, the subject may have difficulty inserting their feet into typical sneakers, leather shoes, pumps, or the like, or may have difficulty operating shoelaces or hook-and-loop fasteners using their hands. Note that, in this specification, "subjects who have difficulty" putting on shoes may refer to subjects who are unable to put on shoes, but are not limited to this. For example, it may refer to subjects who find putting on shoes inconvenient or who require longer than the usual time to put on shoes. In other words, "difficult" encompasses not only impossibility, but also inconvenience, such as the inconvenience or time required, although not necessarily impossible. The subject may be, for example, a subject (particularly a human) with a disability or disease, such as a subject with a disability or disease in the foot, or a subject who has difficulty putting on or taking off shoes due to a disability or disease in a part other than the foot. The disorder may be, for example, paralysis. The paralysis may be motor paralysis or sensory paralysis, or both. The paralysis may be, for example, spastic paralysis, flaccid paralysis, or ataxic paralysis, or a combination thereof, or may be paralysis of central or peripheral origin. The paralysis may be, for example, paralysis resulting from a brain disorder, in particular paralysis resulting from a stroke. The disorder is not limited to paralysis, but may also be, for example, rheumatic disease, diabetes, diseases such as spasticity and contracture that cause deformation of the toes or fingers, diseases that cause edema in the lower limbs such as fractures and heart failure, diseases that cause decreased dexterity in the upper limbs such as tremors and ataxia, and myositis that causes muscle weakness and muscle atrophy. The shoe may be worn by a patient with paralysis of the foot, or by a patient who has difficulty fastening and unfastening laces or hook-and-loop fasteners when putting on or taking off typical shoes due to impaired hand function, or by a patient who has difficulty bending or crossing their legs due to limited trunk muscle strength or limited joint range of motion, particularly a hemiplegic or monoplegic patient. In other words, the shoe of the present invention may be used for such patients, and may be worn on the paralyzed foot. These patients can put on and take off the shoe of the present invention using their non-paralyzed foot. The shoes of the present invention may also be used by people who do not have the disability but who are particularly required to put on and take off shoes using the opening and closing action described above, such as elderly people with no history of the disability, infants and young children who require assistance putting on shoes, and healthy people with differences in foot length, foot circumference, foot width, etc. between the left and right feet within a physiological range. Furthermore, the subject with the disability is not limited to a subject with paralysis, but may also be a subject who has difficulty crossing their legs, a subject who has difficulty bending over, or a subject who has difficulty inserting their feet into shoes (for example, due to swelling of the feet).

[0116] The foot accommodated in the shoe of the present invention may be fitted with a lower limb orthosis, i.e., the shoe of the present invention may be intended to be worn by a subject wearing a lower limb orthosis. In this specification, a lower limb orthosis refers to an orthosis that externally supports at least a part of a lower limb to restrict or adjust joint movement or protect the joint. Examples of lower limb orthosis include, but are not limited to, short lower limb orthosis worn on the area from the foot to below the knee, long lower limb orthosis worn on the area from the foot to the thigh, and supports and splints for the ankle and toes. The shoes of the present invention can be easily put on and taken off even by subjects whose feet are fitted with such lower limb braces.

[0117] The shoe of the present invention may be worn on only one of the two feet. The other foot may be worn with a shoe other than the shoe of the present invention. That is, the shoe of the present invention may be used or sold as a single shoe to be worn on only one of the left or right feet. The shoe of the present invention does not have to be configured as a pair for both feet. The shoe of the present invention may also be worn on both feet, i.e., the shoe of the present invention may be configured as a pair for both feet.

[0118] The shoes of the present invention are particularly suitable for use by, for example, rehabilitation patients or patients receiving care because of their ease of putting on and taking off. Therefore, the shoes may be rehabilitation shoes, nursing shoes, or even welfare shoes. Furthermore, because the shoes of the present invention have excellent design, particularly in the upper part, they may also be used by people without disabilities, i.e., may be sold to people without disabilities.

[0119] 4.Shoe manufacturing method The shoe of the present invention can be manufactured using a shoe manufacturing method known in the art, which may be appropriately selected by a person skilled in the art depending on the type of shoe. 1A-1D, the sandal-like shoes can be manufactured by molding the upper and / or sole parts using a material (e.g., resin, rubber, or silicone), and then, after molding, introducing connecting parts (and optionally position fixing parts) into the upper and sole parts. The molding method may be selected appropriately by those skilled in the art depending on the shape and / or material of the shoe, and may be, for example, molding using a mold having a desired shape, vacuum molding, or molding using a 3D printer. The heel fixing portion may be molded integrally with the sole portion, or may be molded separately from the sole portion and then bonded or joined to the sole portion. Thus, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the shoe of the present invention. The method may include providing an upper portion and a sole portion, and connecting the upper portion and the sole portion with a connecting portion. The connecting portion may be a connecting portion that allows the upper portion to be opened and closed around the connecting portion.

[0120] Alternatively, a shoe with a closed upper (especially a typical shoe with an upper that cannot be opened) may first be manufactured using a manufacturing method known in the art, and then a cut may be made between the upper and sole to allow the upper to be opened or closed. That is, the method for manufacturing a shoe of the present invention may include preparing a shoe having an upper portion and a sole portion joined together, and cutting the shoe so that the upper portion can be opened and closed. The manufacturing method may further include introducing a connecting portion that enables the opening and closing operations.

[0121] 5. Working Example EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0122] Example 1 3D-CAD data was prepared for a shoe with the design shown in Fig. 5. The shoe has a structure similar to that of shoe 100 described above with reference to Figs. 1A to 1D. That is, as shown in the 3D CAD data, the shoe includes an upper part and a sole part, and the upper part and the sole part are further connected via a connecting part, and the upper part can be opened and closed around the connecting part as an axis.

[0123] Using the 3D-CAD data, the upper and sole parts were each resin-molded using a 3D printer. The resin was an epoxy-based UV-curable resin (SCR712X). A magnetic metal sheet was adhered to the fixed position of the upper part. A neodymium magnet sheet was adhered to the fixed position of the sole part. The upper and sole parts were then connected using a pin as shown in the figure to form a connecting part. In this way, the shoe of the present invention was manufactured.

[0124] With the upper portion of the shoe open, a foot was placed on the sole portion and the upper portion was then kicked up with the other foot. This kick caused the upper portion to rotate around the connecting portion, closing and connecting the upper portion to the sole portion, forming a space for accommodating the foot. When the subject walked in this state, the closed state of the upper portion was maintained. Next, the subject raised their foot up within the space while holding down the sole portion with a foot not wearing the shoe of the present invention. The upper portion rotated around the connecting portion, opening the upper portion, and the shoe could be removed. Thus, the shoe of the present invention can be put on and taken off very easily, as it can be done with only one foot. Furthermore, the design of the upper portion can be freely modified to accommodate the diverse needs and preferences of the wearer of the shoe of the present invention.

[0125] Example 2 A prototype shoe according to the present invention was produced as follows. Specifically, a commercially available sandal was cut to separate the upper and sole. The upper and sole were then connected at the big toe area via a connecting part (ring) so that the upper according to the present invention could be opened and closed, thereby obtaining the shoe. A frame-by-frame video recording the process of putting on the shoe is shown in FIG. 6. A in the figure shows a state in which the upper is open and the foot is placed on the sole of the shoe. In this state, by kicking up the upper with the opposite foot, the upper rotates around the connecting part, closing the upper, as shown in B to G in the figure, allowing the shoe to be put on.

[0126] 7 shows an enlarged image of A in FIG. 6. The shoe of the present invention shown in this figure has an upper portion divided into two parts 401a and 401b. In this way, the upper portion may be divided into two or more parts. This allows the degree of flexion during walking to be adjusted. The two upper portions 401a and 401b shown in the figure are parallel to each other and extend across the upper portion from the thumb end to the little finger end. In this manner, two or more upper portions may be provided across the upper portion from the thumb end to the little finger end. Furthermore, the structure of the two or more divided upper portions is not limited to the structure shown in the figure, and may, for example, have an X-shaped structure formed by two upper portion portions crossing each other. Furthermore, when the upper portion is divided into more upper portion portions, for example, the upper portion may have a mesh-like structure. By adjusting the structure of the upper portion in this way, for example, the degree of flexion during walking can be adjusted to a desired degree. The two parts are covered with fabric 430. As described above, the upper part may have a covering such as the fabric. The covering forms the appearance of the upper part, and various designs may be applied to the covering. This makes it possible to provide shoes that meet the needs and preferences of users, for example.

[0127] Example 3 Masters were prepared for the upper and sole sections, each having a structure similar to that of the shoe shown in Figures 13A to 13G. A silicone mold was created using the masters. A urethane rubber liquid was poured into the silicone mold and cured to create an upper and sole section made of urethane rubber. The Shore A hardness of the urethane rubber, measured according to JIS K 6253, was 60° to 80°. A photograph of the manufactured upper section is shown in Figure 19. This upper section will hereinafter be referred to as upper section 1. As shown in this figure, the upper section has a region (mesh structure section) with multiple holes formed by multiple intersecting lines. The mesh pattern of the mesh structure section is the same as that shown in Figure 13A. The multiple lines are smaller than the thickness of the mesh structure section.

[0128] The upper and sole parts were connected using a hook-and-loop fastener to create a shoe. Figure 23 shows a photograph of the shoe with a foot inserted. The shoe of the present invention may be worn as shown in the figure.

[0129] 20 was also produced by the same manufacturing method. This upper part will hereinafter be referred to as upper part 2. The lines that define the mesh of the mesh structure of upper part 2 are thicker than the lines that define the mesh of upper part 1. The flexibility of upper part 1 and upper part 2 was compared. Fig. 21 shows a photograph of the upper part 1 bent by hand, and Fig. 22 shows a photograph of the upper part 2 bent by hand in the same manner. When comparing the flexibility of these upper parts, upper part 1 was found to be much more flexible than upper part 2. Therefore, flexibility can be improved by forming the mesh structure part like upper part 1. For example, it is believed that at least one of the features of the mesh structure part described above (e.g., narrowing the mesh line width of the mesh structure part, making the mesh line width smaller than the thickness of the mesh structure part, arranging the elongated mesh holes along the length of the foot, etc.) contributes to the improvement in flexibility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 100 shoes 101 Upper part 102 Sole 103 Connection part

Claims

1. at least one upper portion; a sole portion for accommodating a foot; and at least one connecting portion connecting the upper portion to the sole portion; and The upper part is configured to be able to be opened and closed around the connecting part. shoes.

2. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion is provided in the big toe side region or the little toe side region.

3. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper portion is open so that, when the upper portion is open, the foot can be placed within the storage space of the shoe by moving the foot along a direction approximately perpendicular to the outsole surface of the sole portion.

4. 3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein, when the upper portion is closed and a foot is placed in the storage space of the shoe, the upper portion is opened by moving the foot while fixing a part of the shoe or by performing a predetermined operation on the shoe.

5. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a position fixing part that fixes the positional relationship between the upper part and the sole part when the upper part is in a closed state.

6. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes or is divided into two or more portions.

7. the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The shoe according to claim 1 or 2.

8. the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The aperture ratio of the region is 30% or more. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2.

9. the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The line width of the plurality of lines is 10 mm or less. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2.

10. the upper portion includes an area having a plurality of holes; the plurality of holes are formed by a plurality of intersecting lines; The region exists from the thumb side end to the little finger side end of the upper part. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a heel fixing portion disposed inside the shoe on the heel side of the foot.

12. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper portion is formed from a material configured to maintain the shape of the upper portion in a closed state even when the upper portion is in an open state.

13. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, which is used to put on the foot of a subject who has difficulty putting on shoes.

14. at least one upper portion; and The sole to accommodate the foot, and The upper part is configured to be able to be opened and closed, the upper part is open so that, in the open state, the foot can be placed in the accommodation space of the shoe by moving the foot along a direction substantially perpendicular to the outsole surface of the sole part; shoes.

15. A method for wearing the shoe according to claim 1 or 14, placing a foot on the sole portion with the upper portion open; The upper part is rotated around the connecting part as an axis, and a space for accommodating a foot is formed by the upper part and the sole part. Including, The foot is accommodated in the accommodation space to be in a worn state. The wearing method.

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