Counter for sandals and sandals incorporating the counter.

Abstract

The objective is to provide a counter for sandals that can be put on without using one's hands, offers a comfortable fit, and possesses sufficient strength, as well as a sandal incorporating the said counter. [Solution] The counter 10 for sandals is integrally formed with a back portion 11, a pair of side portions 12, and a joining projection 13. The back portion 11 and the side portions 12 have an inner surface formed by an arc, in which the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and is the thickest, with the thickness gradually decreasing from the central portion toward the upper and lower ends, respectively. The joining projection 13 is formed such that the amount of protrusion from the lower ends of the pair of side portions 12 gradually increases from the rear end toward the front end, and has notches K1 and K2 on its inner edge.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a counter for sandals that allows a user to easily put on the sandals by slipping the foot into the sandals without using a shoehorn or hands, by inserting the foot into the sandals and placing the weight on the heel, and to a sandal incorporating the counter.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when putting on footwear, it has been common to open the opening and insert the foot, and to insert a shoehorn into the heel and place the heel of the foot against the shoehorn to insert the foot into the footwear. Also, when putting on sandals, it has been common to insert the foot into the sandals and hold the strap provided at the heel with the hand to fasten it to the heel, or to operate the fastener attached to the strap provided at the heel with the hand to fasten it. However, in such conventional footwear and sandals, there has been a problem that it is necessary to bend or use the hands, and the footwear and sandals cannot be put on smoothly. · In order to solve such problems, various types of footwear that can be put on without using hands have been developed in recent years. As an example of such conventional footwear that can be put on without using hands, there is, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The prior art shown in Patent Document 1 above has the advantage that the shoes can be easily put on without separately preparing a shoehorn and without damaging the waist leather part of the shoes. However, the footwear shown in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the heel guide portion 400 is connected to the insole 300, which has the problem of easily causing a foreign body sensation when putting on or after putting on the footwear, resulting in poor fit. Furthermore, regarding sandals, there are still very few sandals that can be put on without using your hands, and the development of such sandals is highly desired.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art and to provide a counter for sandals that can be put on without using hands, have a good fit, and also have sufficient strength, as well as a sandal incorporating the counter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a sandal counter that is built into the heel portion of the upper of the sandal and assists in sliding the foot into the sandal by inserting the foot into the sandal and placing weight on the heel portion, comprising: a back portion formed of a strip-shaped member facing the back of the foot and having a semi-circular cross-section when cut horizontally; a pair of side portions formed of strip-shaped members facing the sides of the foot and hanging diagonally forward from the left and right front ends of the back portion; and a joining projection formed of a strip-shaped member protruding inward for a predetermined length from the lower ends of the pair of side portions, wherein the back portion is inclined diagonally backward. The first feature is that the part is provided at the rear upper end, and in a cross section cut in the vertical direction, the central part in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and has the thickest thickness, and the inner surface is formed of an arc surface such that the thickness gradually decreases from the central part toward the upper and lower ends, respectively, and the side part is formed of an arc surface such that in a cross section cut in the vertical direction, the central part in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and has the thickest thickness, and the thickness gradually decreases from the central part toward the upper and lower ends, respectively, and the joining projection is formed such that the amount of projection from the lower end of the pair of side parts gradually increases from the rear end toward the front end, and the inner edge is provided with a notch. Furthermore, in addition to the first feature described above, the counter for sandals of the present invention has a second feature: the length from the front end to the rear end in a side view of the side portion is at least twice the length from the front end to the rear end in a side view of the rear portion. Furthermore, in addition to the first or second features described above, the counter for sandals of the present invention has a third feature: the angle of inclination of the straight line connecting the front end of the side portion and the rear end of the back portion with respect to the horizontal line in a side view is 30 to 40 degrees. Furthermore, in addition to the first feature described above, the counter for sandals of the present invention has a fourth feature: it is provided with a support projection made of a strip-shaped member that protrudes diagonally upward toward the front, located forward of the central position in the front-rear direction of the side surface. Furthermore, a fifth feature of the present invention is that the counter for the sandal described in claim 1 or 4 is built into the heel portion of the upper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the counter for sandals described in claim 1, the configuration includes an inclined portion that is angled diagonally backward at the rear upper end of the back portion. When attached to a sandal, it is possible to create a sandal that can be easily put on by placing weight on the heel and sliding the foot into the sandal via the inclined portion without using hands. Furthermore, the counter can be made less likely to break even when weight is applied to the heel of the sandal. Furthermore, the back and side sections are constructed such that, in a vertically cut cross-section, the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and is the thickest, with an inner surface formed by an arc shape where the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward the upper and lower ends. This configuration effectively reinforces the strength of the counter, resulting in a highly durable counter with robust strength. In addition, when attached to sandals, the most protruding central portion conforms to the Achilles tendon of the foot when the sandal is worn, securely fixing the foot in place and making the sandal less likely to slip off. Furthermore, the counter is formed so that the amount of protrusion from the lower end of a pair of side sections gradually increases from the rear end to the front end, and a connecting projection with a notch is provided on the inner edge. This configuration allows the bonding surface of the connecting projection to gradually increase from the rear end to the front end when the upper with the counter built in is attached between the sole and the insole, and also allows adhesive to seep out from the notch to the upper surface of the connecting projection. This increases the overall bonding strength of the counter, and further increases the bonding strength of the front end of the connecting projection, which bears the most load when weight is placed on the heel of the sandal. Therefore, it is possible to create a sandal counter that is less likely to peel off during use and has excellent durability.

[0008] Furthermore, according to the counter for sandals described in claim 2, by configuring the side portion so that the length from the front end to the rear end in a side view is at least twice the length from the front end to the rear end in a side view of the back portion, when the counter for sandals is attached to a sandal, the side portion acts like a spring when weight is placed on the heel of the sandal, allowing the back portion to slowly sink in, and after the foot is placed inside the sandal, the back portion can slowly return to its original position. Thus, it is possible to make a sandal that is easy to wear and has excellent fit.

[0009] Furthermore, according to the counter for sandals described in claim 3, in addition to the effects of the configuration described in claim 1 or 2, when the counter for sandals is attached to a sandal, the counter can be made to be gently inclined backward in a side view, making it possible to create a sandal that is easy to put on.

[0010] Furthermore, according to the counter for sandals described in claim 4, in addition to the effects of the configuration described in claim 1, the counter for sandals is provided with a support projection made of a strip-shaped member that protrudes diagonally upward toward the front, located forward of the central position in the front-rear direction of the side surface. As a result, when the counter for sandals is attached to a sandal, the foot inserted into the sandal can be secured more firmly, resulting in a sandal with an even better fit.

[0011] Furthermore, according to the sandal described in claim 5, by incorporating the counter for the sandal described in claim 1 or 4 into the heel of the upper, it is possible to create a sandal that can be easily put on by placing weight on the heel and sliding the foot into the sandal via the inclined part without using the hands. Furthermore, it allows for a secure fit, preventing the foot from slipping out, and resulting in a sandal with excellent comfort. Furthermore, it can be made into a highly durable sandal. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This figure shows a counter for a sandal according to an embodiment of the present invention and a sandal in which the counter for the sandal is built into the heel of the upper, where (a) is a perspective view of the sandal, (b) is a side view of the sandal, and (c) is a perspective view of the counter. [Figure 2] The figure shows a counter for a sandal according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a side view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a bottom view. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a counter for sandals according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a side view, (b) is a cross-sectional view in the direction of line BB in Figure 2(a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view in the direction of line CC in Figure 2(b). [Figure 4] This figure shows a modified example of a counter for a sandal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a sandal in which the counter for the sandal is built into the heel of the upper, where (a) is a side view of the sandal, (b) is a side view of the counter, and (c) is a perspective view of the counter from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a counter for a sandal according to an embodiment of the present invention and a sandal in which the counter for the sandal is built into the heel of the upper will be described to facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, the following description is not intended to limit the present invention as described in the claims.

[0014] First, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a counter 10 for a sandal and a sandal 1 in which the counter 10 for the sandal is built into the heel portion 2a of the upper 2 will be described according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the sandal 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a sandal comprising an upper 2, a sole 3, an insole 4, and shoelaces 5. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper 2 is formed from two members: a heel portion 2a that encloses the heel of the foot and an instep portion 2b that encloses the top of the foot. The heel portion 2a has a built-in counter 10, and the length of the shoelace 5, which is made of elastic cord inserted between the heel portion 2a and the instep portion 2b, can be adjusted with a single touch. Note that since the upper 2, sole 3, midsole 4, and shoelaces 5 are the same as those of a general sandal that constitutes a sandal, the following detailed description is omitted, and in the following, only the counter 10, which is an important component in the present invention, will be described in detail.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the counter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is built into the heel portion 2a of the sandal 1, and when a foot is inserted into the sandal 1 and the weight is placed on the heel portion 2a, it is a member that enables assistance to slide the foot into the sandal 1. This counter 10 is composed of a back surface portion 11, a side surface portion 12, and a joining projection piece 13.

[0016] The back surface portion 11 constitutes a portion that faces the back side of the foot (wraps the back side of the foot) in the counter 10. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2(c), the back surface portion 11 is formed of a resin strip-shaped member having a semi-arc-shaped cross section cut in the horizontal direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1(c), 2(a), 2(c), and 3(c), an inclined portion 11a inclined obliquely rearward is provided at the upper rear end, and in a cross section cut in the vertical direction, the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes most inward, and the thickness H is the thickest, and an inner surface N formed of an arc surface is provided such that the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward the upper end and the lower end, respectively. In FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the portion having the thickest thickness in the back surface portion 11 is indicated by a broken line.

[0017] The side surface portion 12 is connected from the front end of the back surface portion 11 and constitutes a portion that faces the side of the foot (wraps the side of the foot) in the counter 10. In this embodiment, the side portion 12 is formed by a pair of resin strip-shaped members that hang diagonally forward from the left and right front ends of the rear portion 11. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3(a), the upper edge of the side portion 12 is formed by a roughly S-shaped curved line that forms a slightly recessed curved line downward from the front end of the rear portion 11, followed by a slightly bulging curved line upward, and the lower edge of the side portion 12 is formed by a strip-shaped member that forms a slightly bulging curved line upward from the front end of the rear portion 11. In other words, as shown in Figure 3(a), in a side view, the central part of the counter 10 in the front-to-back direction is configured to be narrowest in width as both the upper and lower edges are recessed inward. With this configuration, as shown in Figures 1(c), 2(a), and 2(b), when the joining projection 13 is in contact with the ground, a cavity 12a is formed below the rear portion 11 and the side portion 12, resulting in the counter 10 being positioned as if the rear portion 11 is floating in the air. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1(c), 2(a), 2(b), and 3(b), in a cross-section cut vertically, the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward, and the thickness G is the thickest there, with an inner surface N formed by an arcuate surface such that the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward the upper and lower ends, respectively. In Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the thickest part of the side portion 12 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0018] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3(a), the length D from the front end to the rear end of the side portion 12 in a side view is configured to be twice the length E from the front end to the rear end of the back portion 11 in a side view. Specifically, the length D from the front end to the rear end of the side portion 12 in a side view is 6 cm, and the length E from the front end to the rear end of the back portion 11 in a side view is 3 cm. Of course, the lengths D and E are not limited to those of this embodiment and can be appropriately changed according to the size of the heel portion 2a of the upper 2, but preferably the length D from the front end to the rear end of the side portion 11 in a side view is twice or more the length from the front end to the rear end of the back portion 12 in a side view, and more preferably the length D from the front end to the rear end of the side portion 12 in a side view is about 6 cm, and the length E from the front end to the rear end of the back portion 11 in a side view is about 3 cm.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(a), the inclination angle F of the straight line (shown as a dashed line in Figure 3(a)) connecting the front end of the side portion 12 and the rear end of the rear portion 11 in a side view, with respect to the horizontal line (shown as a dashed line in Figure 3(a)), is set to 36 degrees. Note that the inclination angle F of the straight line connecting the front end of the side portion 12 and the rear end of the rear portion 11 in a side view with respect to the horizontal line is not limited to that of this embodiment and can be changed as appropriate, but preferably it is desirable to set it to 30 to 40 degrees. If it is less than 30 degrees, the function of holding and fixing the heel of the foot when wearing the sandal 1 will be weakened, and if it exceeds 40 degrees, it will be difficult to wear the sandal 1.

[0020] The aforementioned joining projection 13 functions as an adhesive surface when the end of the upper 2, which incorporates the counter 10, is pulled and bonded between the sole 3 and the insole 4. In this embodiment, the joining projection 13 is formed from a resin strip-shaped member that protrudes inward for a predetermined length from the lower ends of a pair of side portions 12. More specifically, the joining projection 13 has a gradually increasing protrusion from the lower ends of the pair of side portions 12 from the rear end to the front end, and is provided with two notches, notches K1 and K2, on its inner edge. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2(c), both notches K1 and K2 are formed in the shape of a triangle, and the size of notch K1, which is provided on the front end side of the joining projection 13, is made larger than the size of notch K2, which is provided on the rear end side of the joining projection 13. Of course, the shape, size, and number of notches are not limited to the configuration of this embodiment and can be changed as appropriate.

[0021] The inclined portion 11, the side portion 12, and the joining projection 13, which have the above configuration, can be formed by integrally molding them using resin and applying heat. Furthermore, thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins can be used as the resin.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration, a sandal 1 having a counter 10 and the counter 10 built into the heel portion 2a of the upper 2 provides the following effects.

[0023] The back portion 11 is configured to have an inclined portion 11a at the rear upper end of the back portion 11, which is angled diagonally backward. This configuration allows the wearer to easily put on the sandal 1 by placing their weight on the heel portion 2a and sliding their foot into the sandal 1 via the inclined portion 11a without using their hands. Furthermore, even when weight is applied to the heel portion 2a of the sandal 1, the inclined portion 11a can bear the load, resulting in a counter 10 that is less prone to cracking. Furthermore, the back portion 11 and the side portion 12 are configured such that, in a cross-section cut vertically, the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and is the thickest, with an inner surface N formed by an arc surface where the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward the upper and lower ends, respectively. This configuration effectively reinforces the strength of the counter 10, resulting in a highly durable counter 10 with solid strength. In addition, when attached to the sandal 1, the central portion that protrudes the most when the sandal 1 is worn follows the Achilles tendon of the foot, securely fixing the foot in place and making the sandal 1 less likely to slip off. Furthermore, the joint projection 13 is formed such that the amount of protrusion from the lower end of the pair of side portions 12 gradually increases from the rear end to the front end, and has notches K1 and K2 on its inner edge. This configuration allows the bonding surface of the joint projection 13 to gradually increase from the rear end to the front end when the upper 2 with the counter 10 built into it is attached to the insole 4, and also allows adhesive to seep out from the notches K1 and K2 to the upper surface of the joint projection 13. In addition, by making the size of the notch K1 on the front end of the joint projection 13 larger than the size of the notch K2 on the rear end of the joint projection 13, the amount of adhesive seeping out to the upper surface of the joint projection 13 can be increased towards the front end of the joint projection 13. This increases the overall adhesive strength of the counter 10, and further enhances the adhesive strength of the front end of the joining projection 13 (indicated by a black dot in Figure 2(a)) where the greatest load is applied when weight is placed on the heel portion 2a of the sandal 1 (indicated by a black arrow in Figure 1(b)). Therefore, it is possible to create a counter 10 for sandals and a sandal 1 that is less likely to peel off during use and has excellent durability.

[0024] Furthermore, by configuring the side portion 12 so that its length D from front to rear in a side view is twice the length E from front to rear in a side view of the back portion 11, when the counter 10 for the sandal is attached to the sandal 1, the side portion 12 acts like a spring when weight is placed on the heel portion 2a of the sandal 1, allowing the back portion 11 to slowly sink in, and after the foot is placed inside the sandal 1, the back portion 11 can slowly return to its original position. Thus, the sandal 1 can be made easy to wear and provides excellent comfort.

[0025] Furthermore, by setting the angle of inclination of the straight line connecting the front end of the side portion 12 and the rear end of the back portion 11 with respect to the horizontal line in a side view to 36 degrees, when the counter 10 for the sandal is attached to the sandal 1, the counter 10 as a whole can be made to be gently inclined backward in a side view, resulting in a sandal 1 that is easy to put on.

[0026] Next, with reference to Figure 4, a modified example of the counter 10 for sandals according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, which is a counter 20, and a sandal 6 incorporating the counter 20 will be described. This modified version is a modification of part of the structure of the counter 10 described above. Therefore, in the counter 20, the same numbers and letters will be used for parts that are the same as those in the counter 10 described above and perform the same function, and further detailed explanations will be omitted below. Similarly, in the sandal 6, the same numbers and letters will be used for parts that are the same as those in the sandal 1 described above and perform the same function, and further detailed explanations will be omitted below.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4, in the modified counter 20, each of the pair of side portions 12 is provided with a support projection 12b made of a resin strip that protrudes diagonally upward toward the front by a predetermined amount, located forward of the central position in the front-rear direction of each side portion 12. Furthermore, in this modified example, the support projection 12b is configured such that, in a side view, its tip is formed by a curved shape that curves in an arc. Furthermore, in this deformation, the inclination angle J of the support projection 12b with respect to the horizontal line (shown as a dashed line in Figure 4(b)) in the side view shown in Figure 4(b) is set to 30 degrees. Note that the inclination angle J of the support projection 12b with respect to the horizontal line (shown as a dashed line in Figure 4(b)) in the side view is not limited to that of this embodiment and can be changed as appropriate, but preferably it is desirable to set it to 30 to 40 degrees. This is because if the setting is less than 30 degrees or more than 40 degrees, the function of holding and fixing the rear side of the foot when wearing the sandal 6 will be weakened. The support projection 12b, which has the above configuration, can be formed by integrally molding it with the inclined portion 11, the side portion 12, and the joining projection 13 using resin and heat. Furthermore, thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins can be used as the resin.

[0028] By providing this support projection 12b, when the counter 20 for the sandal is attached to the sandal 6, the rear side of the foot inserted into the sandal 6 can be supported and fixed more firmly, resulting in a sandal 6 with a superior fit. Furthermore, by forming the tip of the support projection 12b with a curved, arc-shaped shape, the upper 2 can be effectively prevented from tearing at the tip of the support projection 12b when the counter 20 is built into the sandal 6 and the sandal 6 is worn. Thus, a sandal 6 with high safety and durability can be made.

[0029] Furthermore, the configuration of the upper 2, sole 3, insole 4, and shoelace 5 that constitute the sandal 1 according to the embodiment described above is not limited to that of this embodiment. Any other configuration is acceptable as long as it functions as a sandal and can accommodate a counter 10 or counter 20 in the heel. [Industrial applicability]

[0030] According to the present invention, it is possible to create sandals that can be put on without using hands, have a good fit, and possess firm strength, thus providing a counter for sandals. Therefore, it is useful in the footwear industry and has great industrial potential. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Sandals 2 Upper 2a Heel 2b Instep 3 soles 4 Insole 5 Shoelaces 6 Sandals 10 counters 11 Back section 11a Slope 12 Side view 12a Cavity 12b Supporting protrusion 13 Joint protrusion 20 counters D Length E Length F Tilt angle G Thickness H Thickness J Tilt angle N (Inner)

Claims

1. A sandal counter is built into the heel of the upper of the sandal and allows the foot to slide into the sandal by inserting the foot into the sandal and shifting weight onto the heel, comprising: a back portion formed of a strip-shaped member facing the back of the foot and having a semi-circular cross-section when cut horizontally; a pair of side portions formed of strip-shaped members facing the sides of the foot and hanging diagonally forward from the left and right front ends of the back portion; and a joining projection formed of a strip-shaped member protruding inward for a predetermined length from the lower ends of the pair of side portions, wherein the back portion has a sloping portion at its rear upper end that is inclined diagonally backward, and vertically A counter for sandals, characterized in that, in a cross-section cut vertically, the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and has the greatest thickness, and the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward the upper and lower ends respectively, the side portion has an inner surface formed by an arc surface in which, in a cross-section cut vertically, the central portion in the vertical direction protrudes the furthest inward and has the greatest thickness, and the thickness gradually decreases from the central portion toward the upper and lower ends respectively, and the joining projection is formed such that the amount of projection from the lower end of the pair of side portions gradually increases from the rear end toward the front end, and the inner edge is provided with a notch.

2. The counter for sandals according to claim 1, characterized in that the length from the front end to the rear end in a side view of the side portion is at least twice the length from the front end to the rear end in a side view of the rear portion.

3. A counter for sandals according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the straight line connecting the front end of the side portion and the rear end of the back portion with respect to the horizontal line in a side view is 30 to 40 degrees.

4. The counter for a sandal according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a support projection made of a strip-shaped member that protrudes diagonally upward toward the front, located forward of the central position in the front-rear direction of the side surface.

5. A sandal characterized by having a counter for sandals according to claim 1 or 4 built into the heel portion of the upper.

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