Heel retaining member and shoe

Abstract

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a heel-retaining member that is easy to put on and can further improve comfort. [Solution] A heel-holding member according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises an inner layer, a core material, and an outer layer, wherein the core material has a first curved portion that curves inward convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, a second curved portion provided below the first curved portion and curving outward convexly, and a flange portion positioned at the lower end of the second curved portion and projecting outward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heel holding member and shoes.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in casual shoes, from the viewpoint of convenience and the like, it is desirable that they are easy to put on and difficult to take off. Also, it is preferred that casual shoes do not cause shoe friction.

[0003] From the viewpoint of convenience, Patent Document 1 describes a footwear member that makes it easier for a user to insert their foot into the shoe.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes that when a user wears footwear, the heel cup deforms under the load of the user's foot and returns to its pre-deformed state after the load on the user's foot is removed, thereby making it possible to easily insert the user's foot.

[0006] On the other hand, according to the footwear member described in Patent Document 1, when worn, the user's heel is likely to rub against the inner surface of the shoe. As a result, there is a high risk of deterioration of the foothold or the occurrence of shoe friction.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made based on such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a heel holding member that is easy to wear and can further improve the wearing comfort.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A heel-retaining member according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises an inner layer, a core material, and an outer layer, the core material having a first curved portion that curves inwardly convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, a second curved portion provided below the first curved portion and curving outwardly convexly, and a flange portion positioned at the lower end of the second curved portion and projecting outward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] A heel-holding member according to one aspect of this disclosure can make shoes easier to wear and further improve comfort. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a heel-holding member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the heel retaining member shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic rear view of the heel retaining member shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the heel retaining member shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cross-section of the VV line of the heel retaining member in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the core material of the heel retaining member in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the core material in Figure 6, corresponding to Figure 5. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a shoe according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the user wearing the shoes shown in Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described.

[0012] (1) A heel retaining member according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises an inner layer, a core material and an outer layer, The core material has a first curved portion that curves inward convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, a second curved portion that is located below the first curved portion and curves outward convexly, and a flange portion that is located at the lower end of the second curved portion and protrudes outward.

[0013] The heel-retaining member is easy to wear because the core material has a first curved portion that curves inward convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, and a second curved portion that curves outward convexly, located below the first curved portion. In other words, when the heel-retaining member is attached to a shoe, the first curved portion is pressed downward by the user's foot when the user puts on the shoe, widening the opening and making it easier for the user to put on the shoe. Furthermore, the applicant pursued comfort in this easy-to-wear configuration. As a result, the applicant conceived that by providing a flange portion that protrudes outward at the lower end of the second curved portion of the core material, the inner diameter of the lower end of the heel-retaining member can be easily widened, improving the feel against the foot. From this perspective, the heel-retaining member can improve comfort by having the core material positioned at the lower end of the second curved portion and having a flange portion that protrudes outward.

[0014] (2) In the above (1), the flange portion is preferably inclined downward from the base to the tip. This configuration makes it easier to provide a better fit for the user's foot.

[0015] (3) In (1) or (2) above, the core material may consist of the first curved portion, the second curved portion, and the flange portion. According to this embodiment, ease of putting on and comfort can be easily and reliably achieved at the same time.

[0016] (4) In any one of (1) to (3) above, the inner layer may have elasticity, and the inner layer may have a maximum thickness in the region covering the first curved portion. According to this aspect, it is possible to easily and surely achieve both ease of wearing and comfort of wearing.

[0017] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, the outer layer may be made of leather. According to this aspect, it is easy to significantly achieve comfort of wearing.

[0018] (6) In any one of (1) to (5) above, the flange portion is covered from both sides by the inner layer and the outer layer, and the flange portion may form a connecting piece that is sewn to the sole together with the inner layer and the outer layer covering the flange portion. According to this aspect, it is easy to maintain a desired strength and shape in the state of being attached to the shoe. As a result, it is easy and sure to improve ease of wearing and comfort of wearing.

[0019] (7) The shoe according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the heel holding member described in (6) above and a sole that is sewn to the connecting piece.

[0020] Since the shoe includes the heel holding member, it is easy to wear and can further improve the comfort of wearing.

[0021] (8) In (7) above, there may be a gap between the base end portion of the connecting piece and the upper surface of the sole. According to this aspect, it is easier to further improve the comfort of wearing.

[0022] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below. Note that the numerical values ​​described herein can be arbitrarily combined with the upper and lower limits. This specification describes all possible numerical ranges from the upper to lower limits as preferred ranges. Furthermore, the figures are schematic and may not correspond to actual dimensions or proportions. In this disclosure, the designations "First" and "Second" are used to distinguish the components to which they are attached and do not limit the number, order, priority, etc.

[0023] <Heel retaining member> Figures 1 to 5 show a heel retaining member 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5, the heel retaining member 1 comprises an inner layer 11, a core material 12, and an outer layer 13. The inner layer 11, core material 12, and outer layer 13 are arranged in this order from the inside to the outside. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the core material 12 has a first curved portion 12a that curves inwardly convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, a second curved portion 12b provided below the first curved portion 12a and curving outwardly convexly, and a flange portion 12c located at the lower end of the second curved portion 12b and projecting outward.

[0024] The heel-holding member 1 may be configured as a functional member that enables the user to put on shoes without using their hands.

[0025] The heel-retaining member 1 is easy to wear because the core material 12 has a first curved portion 12a that curves inward convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's heel bone or above the heel bone, and a second curved portion 12b that is located below the first curved portion 12a and curves outward convexly. In other words, when the heel-retaining member 1 is attached to a shoe, the first curved portion 12a is pressed downward by the user's foot when the user puts on the shoe, which widens the opening and makes it easier for the user to put on the shoe. Furthermore, the applicant pursued comfort in this easy-to-wear configuration. As a result, the applicant conceived that by providing a flange portion 12c that protrudes outward at the lower end of the second curved portion 12b of the core material 12, it becomes easier to widen the inner diameter of the lower end of the heel-retaining member 1, thereby improving the feel against the foot. From this perspective, the heel-holding member 1 can improve comfort by having a core material 12 positioned at the lower end of the second curved portion 12b and having a flange portion 12c that protrudes outward.

[0026] (Core material) The core material 12 is flexible. The material used to form the core material 12 is not particularly limited, as long as it has the desired flexibility and strength. The core material 12 is mainly composed of, for example, a synthetic resin. The main component of the core material 12 may be, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic polyester elastomer. The core material 12 may have multiple pores from the viewpoint of increasing flexibility, etc. Note that "main component" means the component with the largest mass content, for example, a component with a content of 50% by mass or more.

[0027] The core material 12 is formed to cover the area around the user's heel (more specifically, the rear and sides of the heel). The core material 12 may be, for example, roughly arc-shaped in plan view, or it may be roughly elliptical arc-shaped in plan view. The core material 12 may also be, for example, in the form of a thin plate. The core material 12 compresses when subjected to a load from above by the user's foot. The core material 12 returns to its original state when the load is released. In this configuration, the core material 12 widens the opening when the user puts on the shoe, making it easier to put on, and when the user is wearing the shoe, it returns the opening to its original state, preventing the shoe from unintentionally coming off.

[0028] As described above, the core material 12 has a first curved portion 12a, a second curved portion 12b, and a flange portion 12c. The core material 12 may have other portions, for example, between the first curved portion 12a and the second curved portion 12b, or between the second curved portion 12b and the flange portion 12c. Also, the core material 12 may have other portions, for example, above the first curved portion 12a. However, it is preferable that the core material 12 consists of the first curved portion 12a, the second curved portion 12b, and the flange portion 12c. That is, it is preferable that the second curved portion 12b is directly continuous below the first curved portion 12a, and that the second curved portion 12b and the flange portion 12c are directly connected. According to this embodiment, ease of wearing and comfort can be easily and reliably achieved at the same time.

[0029] (First curved section) The first curved portion 12a is positioned to include the rear side of the user's foot (more specifically, the heel) so that it can be compressed vertically when subjected to a load from above by the user's foot. As described above, the first curved portion 12a is curved inwardly convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus. As described above, the first curved portion 12a may be curved inwardly convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus. However, in the heel retaining member 1, it is preferable that the first curved portion 12a is curved inwardly convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, the first curved portion 12a has a first projection 21 that protrudes inward, a first upward inclined portion 22 located above the first projection 21 and curving upward and backward, and a first downward inclined portion 23 located below the first projection 21 and curving downward and backward. The top of the first projection 21 extends circumferentially (around the ankle) at a position that includes the rear of the foot. When the first curved portion 12a receives a load from above by the user's foot, the first projection 21 moves forward, and the first upward inclined portion 22 and the first downward inclined portion 23 are compressed against each other, widening the opening and making it easier for the user's foot to enter the shoe. At the same time, the user's foot can be slid into the shoe along the first upward inclined portion 22. The inclination angles of the first upward inclined portion 22 and the first downward inclined portion 23 can be set according to the specifications of the shoe, etc. Furthermore, the thickness of the first curved section 12a can be set, for example, from the viewpoint of compression performance, and it is also possible to partially reduce the thickness of the first upward inclined section 22 or the first downward inclined section 23.

[0031] (Second curved section) As shown in Figure 7, the second curved portion 12b has a second projection 24 that protrudes outward, a second upward inclined portion 25 located above the second projection 24 and curving upward and forward, and a second downward inclined portion 26 located below the second projection 24 and curving downward and forward. The top of the second projection 24 extends circumferentially (around the ankle) in a position that includes the rear of the foot. When the second curved portion 12b is subjected to a load from the user's foot, it widens the opening of the shoe by assisting the curvature of the first curved portion 12a while also compressing itself. The first downward inclined portion 23 of the first curved portion 12a and the second upward inclined portion 25 of the second curved portion 12b are continuous. The first curved portion 12a and the second curved portion 12b as a whole may meander in a roughly S-shape. The inclination angles of the second upward inclined section 25 and the second downward inclined section 26 can be set according to the specifications of the shoe, etc. Also, the thickness of the second curved section 12b can be set, for example, from the viewpoint of compression performance, and it is possible to partially reduce the thickness of the second upward inclined section 25 or the second downward inclined section 26.

[0032] (Guard part) The flange portion 12c is connected to the lower end surface of the second curved portion 12b. Preferably, the flange portion 12c is connected to the entire lower end surface of the second curved portion 12b. The flange portion 12c is, for example, a plate with uniform thickness. The flange portion 12c may extend, for example, in the horizontal direction. However, it is preferable that the flange portion 12c slopes downward from the base end (the portion connected to the lower end surface of the second curved portion 12b) toward the tip. This embodiment makes it easier to improve the user's foot contact.

[0033] (Inner layer) The inner layer 11 covers the inner surface of the core material 12, thereby improving the fit of the heel retaining member 1 to the user's foot. In addition, the inner layer 11 deforms to conform to the core material 12, making it easier for the user's foot to be placed in the shoe.

[0034] The inner layer 11 is elastic. The inner layer 11 may be a foamed layer mainly composed of a foamed resin. The foamed resin is not particularly limited, but examples include foamed urethane resin. The inner layer 11 may be a single layer of the foamed layer, or it may be a laminate of the foamed layer and other layers.

[0035] The inner layer 11 may have its maximum thickness in the region covering the first curved portion 12a. In other words, the inner layer 11 may have its maximum thickness at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus. In particular, it is preferable that the inner layer 11 is configured to have its maximum thickness in the region covering the first protrusion 21 of the first curved portion 12a. According to this embodiment, ease of putting on and comfort can be easily and reliably achieved at the same time. That is, in the heel-holding member 1, the first curved portion 12a is curved inwardly convex at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, and the inner layer 11 has its maximum thickness in the region covering the first curved portion 12a, so that the user's foot can easily load the first curved portion 12a, and by compressing the first curved portion 12a and the inner layer 11 covering the first curved portion 12a, the width of the opening can be easily increased. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the inner layer 11 can cover the area around the user's ankle while wearing shoes, thereby properly securing the user's foot.

[0036] (outer layer) The outer layer 13 protects the outside of the core material 12 and also constitutes the outer surface of the shoe. The outer layer 13 may be made of leather, for example. That is, the heel retaining member 1 may be for leather shoes, or more specifically, for leather casual shoes. The heel retaining member 1 is designed for leather shoes, which makes it easier to achieve a comfortable fit. In leather shoes, if the shoe is too tight against the wearer's foot, it can cause blisters. In this regard, for example, if the heel retaining member does not have a flange, the lower end of the heel retaining member is pulled inward and fixed to the sole. However, with this configuration, it is difficult to create a suitable space between the wearer's heel and the inside of the shoe, increasing the risk of blisters. In contrast, with the heel retaining member 1, it is sufficient to fix the flange 12c to the sole, making it easier to create a suitable space between the wearer's heel and the inside of the shoe, and as a result, it is easier to improve the comfort of the shoe.

[0037] The outer layer 13 may be a single layer or a multilayer. If the outer layer 13 is a multilayer, "the outer layer is made of leather" means that the outermost layer of the outer layer 13 is made of leather.

[0038] (connecting piece) The flange portion 12c is covered from both sides by an inner layer 11 and an outer layer 13. The flange portion 12c, together with the inner layer 11 and outer layer 13 covering the flange portion 12c, constitutes a connecting piece 31 that is sewn to the sole. According to this embodiment, the heel retaining member 1 can easily maintain the desired shape and strength when attached to the shoe. As a result, ease of wearing and comfort can be easily and reliably improved.

[0039] The thickness of the heel retaining member 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the heel retaining member 1 has a maximum thickness T1 (see Figure 5) at the part where the thickness of the inner layer 11 is greatest. The lower limit of the maximum thickness T1 may be 10 mm or 12 mm, from the viewpoint of achieving both ease of wear and comfort. On the other hand, the upper limit of the maximum thickness T1 may be 20 mm or 16 mm, from the same viewpoint as above.

[0040] The lower limit of the thickness T2 (see Figure 5) of the connecting piece 31 in the heel retaining member 1 may be 1 mm or 1.5 mm, from the viewpoint of maintaining the necessary strength. On the other hand, the upper limit of the thickness T2 may be 5 mm or 3 mm, from the viewpoint of facilitating sewing.

[0041] The lower limit of the length L (length of the flange portion 12c) of the connecting piece 31 in the heel holding member 1 (see Figure 5) may be 4 mm or 6 mm from the viewpoint of facilitating sewing. On the other hand, the upper limit of the above length L may be 15 mm or 10 mm from the viewpoint of preventing the connecting piece 31 from becoming unnecessarily long.

[0042] <Shoes> The shoe 100 shown in Figures 8 and 9 comprises a heel retaining member 1 and a sole 51 sewn to a connecting piece 31 of the heel retaining member 1. The type of shoe 100 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a leather shoe or a leather casual shoe.

[0043] Because the shoe 100 is equipped with the heel retaining member 1, it is easy to put on and the comfort can be further improved. For example, as shown in Figure 9, because the shoe 100 is equipped with the heel retaining member 1, the inner diameter of the lower end of the heel retaining member 1 can be easily widened, which improves the fit against the foot. Specifically, with the shoe 100, an appropriate space S can be formed on the sole 51 behind the heel of the user's foot 110, so there is room behind the heel. As a result, friction between the user's foot and the heel retaining member 1 can be reduced, and the fit against the foot can be improved.

[0044] The shoe 100 may include the heel retaining member 1 as part of the upper 101. The upper 101 has an opening 102 for the user to insert their foot. Part of the opening edge of the opening 102 is defined by the heel retaining member 1. The heel retaining member 1 defines at least the rear opening edge of the opening 102.

[0045] The specific configuration of the upper 101 is not particularly limited as long as it has the heel-retaining member 1. The upper 101 may, for example, have an expandable member 103 that defines a part of the opening 102. The presence of the expandable member 103 in the upper 101, combined with the compression deformation of the heel-retaining member 1, makes it easier for the user to put their foot into the shoe through the opening 102. The upper 101 may also have a configuration in which a notch is cut out in a part of the opening 102.

[0046] As described above, in the shoe 100, the connecting piece 31 of the heel retaining member 1 and the sole 51 are sewn together. The shoe 100 may be sewn using, for example, a stitch-down method. This embodiment makes it easier to improve ease of wearing and comfort.

[0047] In the shoe 100, the connecting piece 31 is sewn to the sole 51, for example, with a portion of its lower surface adhered to the upper surface of the sole 51. As shown in Figure 9, the shoe 100 preferably has a gap S1 between the base end of the connecting piece 31 and the upper surface of the sole 51. In the shoe 100, for example, in a configuration where the flange portion 12c slopes downward from the base end to the tip, the gap S1 can be formed by not fixing the base end of the connecting piece 31 to the sole 51. Having a gap S1 makes it easier to further improve the comfort of the shoe 100.

[0048] [Other embodiments] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments described above, but is indicated by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included.

[0049] As described above, in the heel retaining member, it is preferable that the inner layer has its maximum thickness in the region covering the first curved portion. However, the thickness of the inner layer can be changed depending on the specifications of the shoe, etc.

[0050] As described above, the heel retaining member can be suitably used for leather shoes. However, the heel retaining member can also be used for shoes other than leather shoes. In this case, the outer layer may be formed from a material appropriate to the type of shoe.

[0051] In the above embodiment, a configuration in which there is a gap between the base end of the connecting piece and the upper surface of the sole has been described. However, this disclosure is not intended to limit to a configuration in which there is a gap between the base end of the connecting piece and the upper surface of the sole. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1. Heel retaining member 11 Inner Layer 12 Core material 12a First curved section 12b Second curved section 12c Tsubabe 13 Outer layer 21 1st protrusion 22 1st upward slope 23 1st downward slope section 24 Second protrusion 25 2nd upward slope 26 2nd downward slope 31 connecting piece 51 Sole 100 shoes 101 Upper 102 Opening 103 Expandable member 110 feet L (Length of connecting piece) S space S1 Gap T1 Maximum thickness in heel retaining member T2 connector thickness

Claims

1. It consists of an inner layer, a core material, and an outer layer. The core material has a first curved portion that curves inward convexly at a position corresponding to the upper part of the user's calcaneus or above the calcaneus, a second curved portion that is located below the first curved portion and curves outward convexly, and a flange portion that is located at the lower end of the second curved portion and protrudes outward. Heel retaining member.

2. The heel retaining member according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is inclined downward from the base end to the tip.

3. The heel-holding member according to claim 1, wherein the core material comprises the first curved portion, the second curved portion, and the flange portion.

4. The above inner layer has elasticity, The heel-holding member according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer has its maximum thickness in the region covering the first curved portion.

5. The heel retaining member according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer is made of leather.

6. The flange portion is covered from both sides by the inner layer and the outer layer. The heel retaining member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flange portion, together with the inner layer and outer layer covering the flange portion, constitutes a connecting piece that is sewn to the sole.

7. The heel retaining member according to claim 6, The sole is sewn to the above connecting piece. Shoes equipped with [something].

8. The shoe according to claim 7, wherein there is a gap between the base end of the connecting piece and the upper surface of the sole.

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