Counter and footwear provided with the counter

Abstract

To provide a counter which improves deformability while having strength, makes footwear easier to wear, and makes the footwear comfortable to wear.SOLUTION: The present invention for solving the above-described problems is footwear Y including a main body 1 covering a heel of a user, and a protruding portion 2 protruding from an upper edge of the main body 1, in which the protruding portion 2 has an inclined portion 21 that is elastic and inclined in a direction away from the main body 1, and a slit portion 22 that is a cut provided from an end portion in the inclined portion 21, and the slit portion 22 is provided with a counter X extending along the inclination, or a counter X SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lunula core provided in the heel portion of footwear. [Background technology]

[0002] A crescent core is a rigid part designed in an arch shape to maintain the shape of the heel of a shoe. Some crescent cores protrude at an angle from the opening of the shoe, making it easier for the user to put on the shoe by sliding the heel on this protruding part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7355450 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7498450 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a crescent-shaped core that allows the heel resting portion to elastically deform, making it easier to insert the heel. This crescent-shaped core has a triangular cutout formed to enhance deformability. However, with the crescent-shaped core described in Patent Document 1, the cutout comes into contact with the heel during use, and deformability is not significantly improved, so there is room for improvement in achieving both ease of wear, comfort, and deformability. Patent Document 2 also describes a crescent-shaped core with holes drilled to improve flexibility.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a crescent-shaped core that is strong yet has improved deformability, making footwear easier and more comfortable to wear. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention, which solves the above problem, is a crescent-shaped core provided in footwear, comprising a main body that covers the heel of the user and a protrusion that protrudes from the upper edge of the main body, the protrusion having an inclined portion that is elastic and inclined in a direction away from the main body, and a slit portion that is a cut provided from the end of the inclined portion, the slit portion being a crescent-shaped core that extends along the inclination. The crescent-shaped core provided in the inclined portion can enhance deformability and provide a crescent-shaped core that makes the footwear easier and more comfortable to wear. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention, which solves the above problems, can provide a crescent-shaped core that is strong yet has improved deformability, making footwear easier and more comfortable to wear. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective schematic diagram of a crescent-shaped core according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a moon-shaped core according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the moon-shaped core according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a crescent-shaped core according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are a bottom view and a front view of a moon-shaped core according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an end view of the ramp portion of the lunar core according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of a crescent-shaped core according to a first embodiment of the present invention when in use. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are a rear view and a side view of a moon-shaped core according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the lunar core according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The description will be made in detail in the order of the configuration of the embodiment, the method of implementation, and other embodiments. The following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The term "substantially" in the application documents is a concept that includes chamfering or rounding of the subsequent shape, and including deformations or changes in length of the elements that make up the shape within a range that does not impair the purpose or effect of the configuration. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, in the crescent-shaped core (heel core for shoes), the direction in which the curve opens is defined as the front, and the direction in which the protruding portion protrudes is defined as the top, so that up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined.

[0010] First Embodiment The present invention is footwear Y comprising a main body 1 that covers the heel of the user and a protruding portion 2 that protrudes from the upper edge of the main body 1, the protruding portion 2 having an inclined portion 21 that is elastically inclined in a direction away from the main body 1 and a slit portion 22 that is a cut provided from the end of the inclined portion 21, the slit portion 22 being a crescent-shaped core X that extends along the inclination, or the crescent-shaped core X being provided. In the embodiment, the crescent-shaped core X is embedded inside the footwear Y and is assumed to be covered by a fabric material or cushioning material that the footwear Y has, but it may also be a part that can be added later or simply used separately as a shoehorn.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the crescent-shaped core X is a plastic-molded member that is thin and flexible overall. Its thickness is approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and it is preferable that the thickness of the crescent-shaped core X does not change overall. Plastics that can be used for the crescent-shaped core X include PE, PP, ABS, PS, PET, PA, and PC, and are manufactured using manufacturing methods such as injection molding. Its flexibility is such that it can be easily deformed by applying force with a human hand. The crescent-shaped core X is attached to the inside of the heel portion of the shoe opening Y1 and is curved to fit the shape of the heel. In this embodiment, the crescent-shaped core X comprises a main body 1 that is curved to fit the heel of the user, and a protrusion 2 that protrudes from the upper edge of the main body 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the moon-shaped core X according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a left side view, Fig. 3 is a rear view, Fig. 4 is a plan view, Fig. 5(a) is a bottom view, and Fig. 5(b) is a front view. The right side view is symmetrical to the left side view.

[0012] 1 and 2, the main body 1 is a portion that curves to fit the heel of the user, and has a back covering portion 11 that covers the back of the heel of the user, and a side covering portion 12 that covers the side of the heel of the user. The portion of the main body 1 that comes into contact with the sole of the footwear Y is defined as a bottom edge 13.

[0013] The protruding portion 2 has an inclined portion 21 that protrudes while inclining in a direction away from the main body 1, and a slit portion 22 that is a tear cut into the inclined portion 21 from its upper end. That is, when the crescent-shaped core X is attached to the footwear Y, the inclined portion 21 is inclined upward and rearward away from the center of the opening Y1, and substantially expands the range of the horizontal plane in a plan view that includes the upper end of the opening Y1. Note that in the embodiment, the boundary between the main body 1 and the protruding portion 2 is not clearly defined, but the protruding portion 2 is a portion that does not come into contact with the user's foot when the footwear Y is worn.

[0014] Both the edges of the main body 1 and the protruding portion 2 are rounded. More specifically, the rounding is only on the inner periphery, not on the outer side. This increases the radius of curvature at the part that comes into contact with the user's foot, reducing the risk of blisters and improving comfort.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2 , the back covering portion 11 is a portion that curves backward in a vertical cross section. This curve follows the user's heel, and the portion of the back covering portion 11 positioned at the rearmost position is located at least rearward of the frontmost portion of the protruding portion 2, and preferably rearward of the rearmost protruding portion (upper edge) of the protruding portion 2. The concave curved surface formed thereby firmly holds the user's heel in the vertical direction and prevents the shoe from unintentionally coming off. In this embodiment, the rearmost portion of the back covering portion 11 is located slightly above the bottom edge 13, thereby filling the gap between the end of the user's heel and the crescent-shaped core and improving support performance. The back covering portion 11 is also curved in a horizontal cross section to support the user's heel. The radius of curvature of the horizontal curve of the inner surface of the back covering portion 11 gradually increases toward the bottom edge 13, providing a comfortable fit when the shoe is worn.

[0016] The side covering parts 12 extend from the sides of the back covering part 11 and are provided to cover the sides of the heel. The side covering parts 12 are provided symmetrically in the left-right direction, and the distance between them widens toward the front, creating room for comfort. The maximum width of this widening may be larger than the width of the opening Y1, allowing the attachment position on the footwear Y to be temporarily fixed. The end sides of the side surface covering portion 12 have a lower end side 13, a toe side end portion 121 that rises steeply toward the toe side, and an inclined continuous portion 122 that continues from the inclined portion 21.

[0017] The toe-side end 121 is a substantially linear edge that rises steeply from the bottom edge 13. That is, the angle of the toe-side end 121 relative to the bottom edge 13 is greater than 90° and less than 180°, allowing the toe-side end 121 to float without contacting the sole of the footwear Y. Preferably, the angle is 90° to 120° in a side view, and particularly preferably 100° to 110°. This allows the crescent-shaped core X to be smoothly attached to the footwear Y through the opening Y1, and also allows it to be attached to footwear Y of various shapes. Furthermore, the toe-side end 121 is angled in accordance with the direction of movement of the foot when putting on and taking off the shoe, allowing for smoother putting on. Furthermore, the steep angle reduces interference with the user's foot, which is located forward of the heel, improving comfort.

[0018] The inclined continuous portion 122 is a curved edge that smoothly connects the inclined portion 21 and the toe-side end portion 121. The inclined continuous portion 122 is slightly curved so that it widens outward in a plan view, which contributes to smooth putting in and taking out of the foot. In addition, it is curved so that the convex portion faces the heel in a side view, which prevents interference between the user's ankle and the crescent-shaped core X.

[0019] The lower edge 13 is the part that comes into contact with the sole at the bottom of the crescent-shaped core X, and is formed to be roughly U-shaped in end view. The distance between both sides of the lower edge 13 increases toward the front, providing space near the heel, and the tip is also curved outward to prevent interference with the foot at the end.

[0020] The inclined portion 21 has a rear inclined portion 211 that protrudes rearward from near the rear covering portion 11, and a side inclined portion 212 that protrudes rearward from near the side covering portion 12. The rear inclined portion 211 and the side inclined portion 212 are arranged so as to be separated from each other by a slit portion 22.

[0021] The inclined portion 21 is formed so that its horizontal cross section is convex toward the rear, and as shown in the end view of FIG. 6, the radius of curvature gradually decreases from the upper end to the lower end. That is, the area for receiving the heel (in other words, the length of the upper edge) is large at the upper end, and the inner circumferential surface of the inclined portion 21 as a whole approaches the central axis of the main body 1 in the front-to-rear direction at the lower end. This makes it easier to receive the user's heel, and as the heel is pushed downward, the heel is guided toward the central axis of the shoe, making it easier to put on and take off, and to wear with a comfortable fit. Note that FIG. 6(a) is an end view taken along the AA section line, FIG. 6(b) is an end view taken along the BB section line, and FIG. 6(c) is an end view taken along the CC section line.

[0022] The inclined rear portion 211 is a generally rectangular flat plate that curves backward from the base to the top. The width of the inclined rear portion 211 in the left-right direction is generally the same throughout the entire area in the up-down direction, and the degree of curvature in the horizontal cross section is smaller than that of the portion below (the radius of curvature is larger). In addition, the upper end of the inclined rear portion 211 is formed in an arc shape in a plan view, making it easier to support the heel.

[0023] The side inclined portions 212 are flat, approximately triangular portions that curve backward from the base to the top. In this embodiment, a pair of side inclined portions 212 are provided symmetrically. The horizontal width of the side inclined portions 212 is configured to decrease from the base to the top, making them particularly easy to deform at the top, thereby making it easier to accommodate the heel. The side inclined portions 212 are also configured at an angle relative to the left-right direction at their bases, but are smoothly twisted relative to the vertical axis so that the angle relative to the left-right direction at the top is smaller than the angle relative to the base. This improves heel guidance. The width of the bases of the side inclined portions 212 is shorter than that of the rear inclined portion 211, making them more easily deformable.

[0024] Furthermore, the virtual tangent at the end of the upper arc of the back inclined portion 211 and the upper end of the side inclined portion 212 are arranged so as not to interfere with each other in a front view or a plan view. In this embodiment, the corners formed by the edges of the side inclined portion 212 and the slit portion 22 are rounded to prevent the above-mentioned interference. This prevents the tip of the side inclined portion 212 from piercing the heel.

[0025] Slit portion 22 is a cut formed between back inclined portion 211 and side inclined portion 212, and in this embodiment, two slit portions are provided symmetrically with respect to the central axis in the up-down direction. By providing slit portion 22, even if the horizontal cross section of inclined portion 21 is curved, it can elastically deform when pressed, making it easier to guide the heel. Hereinafter, the actual cut will be referred to as slit main body 220, and the end of the cut will be referred to as slit end portion 221.

[0026] The slit body 220 is a cut provided on the inclined portion 21 or a set of opposing sides formed by the cuts. The slit body 220 is provided parallel to the top and bottom directions from the upper end edge of the inclined portion 21 when viewed from the front, but is curved when viewed from the side. The length of the slit body 220 is about 10 mm to 30 mm, and preferably about 15 mm to 25 mm. The width of the slit body 220 is about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, and preferably about 1 mm.

[0027] The slit end 221 is the end of the slit main body 220 on the main body 1 side. The slit end 221 has an oval or circular hole with a maximum inner diameter larger than the width of the slit main body 220, which distributes the force applied to the end when the inclined portion 21 is deformed.

[0028] The method of carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is carried out by a user who intends to wear footwear Y equipped with a crescent-shaped core X. The method of carrying out the present invention is an example, and the method of carrying out the present invention is not limited to this, and the order of the steps may be reversed.

[0029] First, the user places the footwear Y equipped with the crescent-shaped core X on the ground. Next, as shown in Figure 7(a), the user puts their foot into the opening Y1 and steps on the upper end of the crescent-shaped core X. At this time, the upper end of the inclined portion 21 is arranged on an arc as a whole and is inclined in a direction away from the opening Y1, making it easier to step on.

[0030] When stepped on, the inclined portion 21 deforms as shown in FIGS. 2(a), 3(a), and 4(a) to 2(b), 3(b), and 4(b). Specifically, the rear inclined portion 211 deforms toward the rear so that its angle with respect to the horizontal plane becomes gentler. The side inclined portion 212 deforms toward the right rear or left rear so that its angle with respect to the horizontal plane becomes gentler. That is, by making the inclination angle gentler toward the top surface and deforming in a direction that widens the upper edge as a whole, it becomes easier to accommodate the heel and facilitates sliding due to its elasticity. The slit portion 22 works together to facilitate this deformation even if the inclined portion 21 has a certain degree of rigidity.

[0031] Finally, the user steps on the crescent core X and inserts the foot forward. At this time, the inclined portion 21 is inclined to guide the foot toward the front of the shoe opening Y1, allowing the user to easily insert the foot into the footwear Y simply by stepping on it. In particular, the difference in the radius of curvature in the vertical direction as described above enhances the guiding performance. Furthermore, when wearing the footwear Y, interference between the crescent core X and the heel area is unlikely to occur, making it comfortable to wear.

[0032] Second Embodiment The second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. In the description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, deformation holes 3 are provided in the main body 1 and a notch 4 is provided in a part of the lower edge, thereby improving breathability and flexibility and making it easy to attach to various footwear. A plurality of deformation holes 3 are provided on the surface of the main body 1, which contributes to weight reduction and improves flexibility.

[0033] The deformation hole 3 has a back deformation hole 31 provided on the back covering part 11 and a side deformation hole 32 provided in the side covering part 12. The deformation hole 3 has a material inside the hole that bridges the periphery of the hole to improve the restorability after deformation.

[0034] The back deformation holes 31 are spaced apart so as to include the central axis in the vertical direction, and in this embodiment, three back deformation hole bodies 310 are provided. More specifically, the upper hole is approximately inverted triangular, the middle hole is elliptical, and the lower hole is an elliptical shape that is smaller than the middle hole. The shape of the upper hole makes it easier for the upper edge to deform in the direction approaching the bottom edge 13. In other words, when stepped on, the entire protrusion 2 deforms relative to the main body 1 (or the opening), and the inclination relative to the horizontal plane becomes gentler, making it easier to accommodate the heel.

[0035] The rear deformation hole main body 310 has a cross-shaped cross-shaped portion 311 that spans its periphery, enhancing its resilience. The cross-shaped portion 311 is positioned so that its intersection in front view coincides with the vertical central axis, thereby enhancing its resilience in the vertical direction. The cross-shaped portion 311 is also inclined at an angle that resembles an "X" when viewed from the front, and the gap formed between the cross-shaped portion 311 and the rear deformation hole main body 310 is larger on the lower side than on the upper side, facilitating downward elastic deformation. A notch may be formed from bottom to top at this intersection to further facilitate deformation.

[0036] The side surface deformation holes 32 are provided at intervals in the side surface covering portion 12, and are provided symmetrically on both the right and left sides. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8(b), on each of the left and right sides of the side surface deformation holes 32, two consecutive rows are provided from the upper hole in the downward direction of the side surface, and one row is provided from the middle hole in the downward direction of the side surface. By providing rows in this manner, elastic deformation to surround the heel is facilitated. The side deformation holes 32 located on the upper side are generally parallelogram-shaped, with one side generally parallel to one side of the upper hole of the back deformation holes 31. The side deformation holes 32 located in the middle are rectangular, with the sides generally parallel to the sides of the adjacent deformation holes 3, and the side adjacent to the bottom edge 13 generally parallel to the bottom edge 13. These positional shapes achieve both strength and ease of deformation.

[0037] The side deformation hole main body 320 has an inclined bridge portion 321 that bridges opposing sides. Each of these inclined bridge portions 321 is provided parallel to one side of the upper hole of the back deformation hole 31. This allows for maintaining restorability without inhibiting deformation in the up-down direction.

[0038] The notch 4 is provided in the upward direction on the lower edge 13, from the entire back covering portion 11 to a part of the side covering portion 12. The height of the notch 4 is about 3 mm to 8 mm, and when this portion is stepped on, it deforms to become convex downward, thereby improving deformation performance.

[0039] The above configuration increases the flexibility of the crescent-shaped core X, improves breathability, and makes it easier to deform as described in Patent Document 2. If the deformation holes 3 are provided, the slit portions 22 are not necessary, but the deformation holes 3 working in conjunction with the slit portions 22 can greatly widen the opening Y1, making it easier to put on.

[0040] In addition, the slit section 22 has multiple (two) slits arranged parallel to each other, allowing the parts that make up the inclined section 21 (the back inclined section 211 and the side inclined section 212) to deform independently, thereby improving deformation performance.

[0041] In addition, the slit portions 22 are each located away from the central axis in the protruding direction of the protrusion 2, thereby providing a rear inclined portion 211 that deforms toward the rear of the back including the central axis, making it easier to accommodate the heel.

[0042] In addition, the inclined portion 21 has a curved horizontal cross section, and this curve is designed so that the radius of curvature becomes smaller from the upper end to the lower end, making it easier to receive the heel at the upper end and to guide the heel to the correct position (a comfortable position) towards the lower end.

[0043] The main body 1 has a back covering part 11 that covers the back of the heel and a side covering part 12 that covers the side of the heel, and the end of the side covering part 12 on the toe side is inclined downward toward the heel, making it easy to attach the crescent-shaped core X to various types of footwear Y and reducing interference with the user's foot.

[0044] Furthermore, the main body 1 has a plurality of deformation holes 3 that connect the inside and outside, so that the main body 1 itself can be deformed through deformation of the holes, thereby further improving deformation performance and making the shoes easier to wear.

[0045] Also, footwear Y provided with a crescent-shaped core X, which comprises a main body 1 that covers the heel of the user and a protruding part 2 that protrudes from the heel side of the opening Y1, the protruding part 2 having an elastic inclined part 21 that inclines in a direction away from the opening Y1, and a slit part 22 that extends from the end, and the slit part 22 is provided on and along the inclined part 21, makes the footwear Y easy to put on. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] X Moon-shaped core Y Footwear Y1 opening 1 Main unit 11 Rear cover part 12 Side covering part 121 Toe end 122 Inclined section 13 Bottom edge 2 Protrusion 21 Slope 211 Rear slope 212 Side slope part 22 Slit section 220 Slit body 221 Slit End 3 Deformed holes 31 Rear deformation hole 310 Rear deformation hole body 311 Cross section 32 Side deformation hole 320 Side deformation hole body 321 Slanted construction section 4 Notch F foot

Claims

1. A crescent-shaped core provided in footwear, The shoe has a main body that covers the heel of a user, and a protrusion that protrudes from an upper edge of the main body, The protrusion has an inclined portion that is elastically inclined in a direction away from the main body, and a slit portion that is a cut provided from an end of the inclined portion, The slit portion is a crescent-shaped core extending along the slope.

2. The crescent-shaped core according to claim 1, wherein the slit portion has a plurality of slits arranged in parallel.

3. The crescent-shaped core according to claim 2, wherein the slit portion is provided away from a central axis of the protruding portion in a protruding direction.

4. The inclined portion has a curved horizontal cross section, 2. The lunar core according to claim 1, wherein the curvature is formed so that the radius of curvature decreases from the upper end to the lower end.

5. The main body has a back covering part that covers the back surface of the heel and a side covering part that covers the side surface of the heel, 2. The lunar core according to claim 1, wherein the toe-side end of the side covering portion is inclined downward toward the heel.

6. The crescent-shaped core according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main body has a plurality of deformed holes that communicate between the inside and outside.

7. Footwear provided with a crescent-shaped core, The crescent-shaped core comprises a main body that covers the heel of the user and a protruding portion that protrudes from the heel side of the shoe opening, The protruding portion has an inclined portion that is elastically inclined in a direction away from the opening, and a slit portion that is a cut provided from an end of the inclined portion, The slit portion is provided along a slope.

Images