Trip prevention attachment

Abstract

This product provides an attachment that helps prevent falls, has a relatively simple structure, is easy to assemble, and can be easily fitted to various shapes of footwear. [Solution] The attachment 6 is a flat plate with an outer shape that is roughly crescent-shaped when viewed from above. Multiple fragment parts, each having a spacer protruding perpendicular to the view from above near the roughly crescent-shaped protrusion on one side of the attachment 6, are arranged in a fan shape with the side having the spacer facing the back side and connected together to form the attachment 6, which is then attached to the tip of the footwear 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for suppressing falls when walking while wearing footwear.

Background Art

[0002] As background art, there is a technology related to footwear provided with an integrally molded product of rubber, rounded plastic, leather, etc. at the toe part of the footwear described in Patent Document 1 below. (Hereinafter referred to as Background Art 1)

[0003] Also, there is a technology related to footwear having a roller attached to the tip described in Patent Document 2 below. (Hereinafter referred to as Background Art 2)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The shape of Background Art 1 depends on the shape of the entire footwear. Therefore, in the case of footwear with a thin sole such as slippers, there is a problem that the configuration becomes difficult.

[0006] Background Art 2 requires a depression for attaching a roller to the tip of the footwear, and there is a problem that it is difficult to attach it to existing footwear later.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The attachment is formed by connecting multiple fragment parts, each having a roughly crescent shape in plan view and a spacer protruding perpendicularly to the plan view from near the roughly crescent-shaped protrusion on one side, with the side with the spacer facing its back surface, in a fan shape, and then attaching it to the tip of the footwear. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Generally, when the tip of a footwear strikes an obstacle on the ground, as shown in Figure 1, the footwear receives a repulsive force 5 from the obstacle 2 that is equal to the force 4 that propels the footwear forward. The counter-forces of 4 and 5 cause the footwear to become unable to move forward. This is what causes tripping and falls.

[0009] However, according to the technology of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, the shape of the present invention is substantially spherical in side view, so the repulsive force 7 generated from an obstacle is not in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the footwear, but perpendicular to the surface of the present invention. The resultant force 9 of this repulsive force 7 and the force 4 that causes the footwear to move acts upward relative to the ground 3, so this resultant force 9 allows the footwear to overcome obstacles upward. Furthermore, in addition to the repulsive force 7 mentioned above, a frictional force 8 is generated between the surface of the present invention 6 and the obstacle 2. However, this value can be reduced by selecting a hard material for the present invention 6. Moreover, the surface of the present invention 6 can be described as substantially spherical, and therefore the contact surface with the obstacle is extremely small. As a result, an effect similar to rolling friction is obtained, and the frictional force 8 is smaller than that of normal sliding friction. Therefore, this frictional force 8 does not become large enough to counteract the resultant force 9 that propels the footwear upward, and the footwear is guided and propelled by the resultant force 9.

[0010] Thus, the technology of this invention has the excellent effect of allowing footwear to move upwards when it collides with an obstacle. Furthermore, the shape of this invention can be freely modified in terms of its thickness and curvature in plan view by changing the radius of the fragment components that make up this invention, as described later, and the height of the spacers. As will be described later, the shape of this invention is fan-shaped in plan view, making it easy to attach to the toe of footwear. Therefore, compared to background technologies 1 and 2, this invention can be said to be an attachment that can be widely attached to various types of footwear. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the problem. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of a fragment component of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' in the fragment drawing of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a side view of an example in which the fragment components of the present invention are connected by a flexible strip. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view along the B-B' line of an example in which the fragment components of the present invention are connected by a flexible strip. [Figure 8] This is an example of footwear incorporating the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention] [Examples]

[0012] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the fragment components of the present invention. In the figure, the guide 14 is the part that abuts against the bottom of the footwear and contacts the ground, and serves to guide obstacles to the rear end of the footwear; the stay 15 abuts against the upper front of the footwear and, together with the guide 14, serves to grip the footwear; and the holders 16a to 16d serve to grip the flexible band described later by passing it through these four holders. For the fragment component 10, a material such as polyacetal resin, which has rigidity, a low coefficient of friction, and excellent wear resistance, will be used.

[0013] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the fragmentary part 10 of the present invention along the line A-A'. In the figure, the spacer 11 specifies the interval when the fragmentary parts 10 are arranged in a fan shape, and the length of this spacer 11 determines the curvature of the present invention in a plan view. Also, the fitting projection 12 and the fitting hole 13 are fitted to each other, but since the fragmentary parts 10 are arranged at an angle to each other, the size of the fitting hole 13 with respect to the fitting projection 12 is slightly wider.

[0014] Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the present invention in which the fitting projection 12 and the fitting hole 13 are fitted to each other and the fragmentary parts 10 are arranged in a fan shape. Since all the fragmentary parts 10 are symmetrical, the spacers 11 and the fitting projections 12 should appear at the ends if they are continuously joined, but they are cut off for safety reasons. These fragmentary parts 10 are joined to each other with an adhesive or the like to increase the strength, and then joined to the tip of the footwear with an adhesive or the like near the holders 16a and 16d.

Example

[0015] Fig. 6 shows an example in which the fragmentary parts 10 are bundled with a flexible band. Fig. 6 shows a structure in which the space between the holders 16a to 16d is bundled through a flexible binding band 17. As the material of the binding band 17, for example, a urethane sheet is used.

[0016] Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention along the line B-B' in which the fragmentary parts 10 are bundled with the binding band 17. By bundling the fragmentary parts 10 with the binding band 17 in this way, sufficient strength can be obtained even if the fitting projection 12 and the fitting hole 13 are not strongly fixed. As a result, the curvature of the present invention in a plan view can be flexibly changed according to the shape of the front surface of the footwear.

Example

[0017] Fig. 8 shows an example of the footwear 1 equipped with the present invention 6. As described above, the present invention is attached to the tip of the footwear and reduces the risk of falling due to tripping. Note that the present invention is applicable not only to slippers and sandals but also to footwear with a higher heel such as sports shoes and leather shoes.

Industrial Applicability

[0018] This invention, utilizing its strength, could be applied to safety shoes that protect the toes. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0019] 1. Footwear 2 Obstacles 3. Image lines indicating the ground. 4. Imaginary lines indicating the force of movement of footwear 5. Imaginary lines indicating repulsive force from obstacles. 6. This invention 7. Imaginary lines indicating the repulsive force from the obstacle perpendicular to the present invention. 8. Imaginary lines showing the frictional force generated between this invention and an obstacle. 9. Imaginary lines indicating the resultant force of the repulsive force perpendicular to the present invention from an obstacle and the force of the footwear moving forward. 10 fragments 11 Spacers 12. Engaging projection 13 Fitting holes 14 Guide 15 Stay 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d holder 17 Cable ties

Claims

1. An attachment for the tip of footwear, formed by arranging multiple fragment parts in a fan shape and connecting them together, with the surface having the spacer facing the back surface facing each other, near the approximately crescent-shaped protrusion on one side of the flat plate when viewed from above.

2. Fragmentary components constituting the attachment according to claim 1.

3. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein the fragment parts of claim 1 are connected by a flexible band.

4. Footwear fitted with the attachment of claim 1 or 3.

Images