Footwear attachment aids

Abstract

The present invention provides a footwear-wearing aid that allows for the quick and stable wearing of footwear with a tubular section by pushing and widening the opening of the tubular section from the inside. [Solution] A shoe-fitting aid 1 for inserting into the opening of footwear having a cylindrical portion, comprising an elongated plate-shaped shoehorn body 10 and a pair of wing portions 20 integrally provided on both sides in the width direction of the shoehorn body, wherein the shoehorn body is located between the pair of wing portions, the pair of wing portions extend along the longitudinal direction of the shoehorn body and have a planar shape that spreads outward from the shoehorn body, and the pair of wing portions are configured to abut against the opposing inner walls of the opening. The thickness of the pair of wing portions is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the shoehorn body, and a rib 21 is provided on at least one of their surfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a footwear wearing aid. In particular, it relates to a footwear wearing aid that enables quick and stable wearing of footwear having a cylindrical part such as firefighting boots.

Background Art

[0002] Footwear having a cylindrical part, such as boots, work boots, firefighting boots, etc., has a structure that covers from the ankle to near the calf, and the opening part is formed at a higher position compared to general shoes. Such footwear having a cylindrical part is excellent in waterproofness and safety, but on the other hand, the opening part tends to be narrow, and there is a problem that it is particularly difficult to insert the foot when wearing.

[0003] For footwear having a cylindrical part, in order to improve the wearability and make it easier to widen the opening part of the footwear, there is a structure in which a fastener is provided on the side part of the cylindrical part. In such footwear with a fastener, the opening part of the footwear can be expanded by opening the fastener.

[0004] However, even when the fastener is opened, the opening part of the footwear does not open by itself, and the cylindrical part remains in its original shape. Therefore, the user has to insert the foot while holding and widening the left and right sides of the opening part with both hands when wearing, and there is a problem that the wearing operation becomes complicated.

[0005] Especially in footwear such as firefighting boots, where the material around the cylindrical part is thick and highly rigid in order to ensure protection performance and durability, even when the fastener is opened, the opening part is not easily widened enough, and there is a problem that the ankle and heel parts are easily caught by the opening part.

[0006] Here, as an instrument for assisting the wearing of footwear, a shoehorn is widely used. A shoehorn is composed of an elongated plate-like member, and by arranging it along the heel part of the footwear, it prevents the heel from being caught by the edge of the footwear and makes it easier to slide the foot in.

[0007] However, shoehorns primarily act on the heel of footwear and do not have a structure that acts on the left and right inner walls of the opening of the footwear. Therefore, with footwear such as firefighter boots with zippers, where the left and right inner walls of the opening do not open sufficiently, using a shoehorn does not widen the opening sufficiently, making it difficult to insert the foot when putting on the boots.

[0008] Furthermore, when wearing footwear with a tubular section, the wearer must use both hands to widen the opening while inserting their foot, which not only makes the putting-on process cumbersome but also risks losing balance when putting them on while standing. In particular, in firefighting and disaster response situations, where quick and secure footwear wearing is required, there has been a strong demand for improved ease of wear.

[0009] Therefore, a technology has been reported that involves attaching an auxiliary member to footwear, which is used in conjunction with a shoehorn, with the aim of improving the wearability of the footwear. For example, Patent Document 1 reports that by attaching an auxiliary member to the heel or opening of the footwear and changing the opening state of the footwear with the auxiliary member, the footwear can be made easier to put on. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-023661 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] However, auxiliary members like those in Patent Document 1 have the problem of being cumbersome to handle when in use, as they are either attached to the footwear itself or use a separate component from the shoehorn.

[0012] Furthermore, conventional shoehorns and their associated auxiliary components primarily act on the heel of footwear and do not have the function of easily inserting the toe into footwear where the inner walls of the opening on both sides do not open sufficiently, such as firefighter boots with zippers. In particular, it was difficult to put on quickly and securely with footwear that had a narrow opening or when the opening of the boot had deformed due to aging.

[0013] This invention was made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a footwear wearing aid that allows footwear with a tubular portion to be worn quickly and stably by pushing open the opening of the footwear with a tubular portion from the inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] As a result of diligent research by the inventor to solve the above problems, it was discovered that the above problems could be solved by arranging a pair of wing-like parts on both sides of the shoehorn and using the repulsive force of the pair of wings to push open the opening of the footwear from the inside, and thus the present invention was completed. In other words, the present invention is as follows: [1] A footwear fitting aid that is inserted into the opening of footwear having a tubular portion, A long, narrow, flat shoehorn body, A pair of wing portions are integrally provided on both sides in the width direction of the shoehorn body, Equipped with, The shoehorn body is located between the pair of wing portions, The pair of wing portions extend along the longitudinal direction of the shoehorn body and have a planar shape that spreads outward from the shoehorn body. The pair of wing portions are configured to be able to contact the opposing inner walls of the opening portion of the footwear, and this is a footwear attachment aid. [2] The footwear attachment aid according to [1], wherein the pair of wing portions have a fan-shaped planar form. [3] The thickness of the pair of wings is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the shoehorn body, The footwear wearing aid according to [1] or [2], wherein at least one surface of the pair of wing portions is provided with ribs. [4] The footwear wearing aid according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the shoehorn main body is formed with a groove portion for stacking a plurality of the footwear wearing aids. [5] The footwear wearing aid according to any one of [1] to [4], which is made of polypropylene and the shoehorn main body and the pair of wing portions are integrally formed. [Effect of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a footwear wearing aid that can quickly and stably wear footwear having a tubular portion by pushing and expanding the opening of the footwear from the inside. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a front view showing a footwear wearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a side view showing a footwear wearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a plan view showing a footwear wearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a rear view showing a footwear wearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory view showing a usage state in which a footwear wearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the opening of footwear. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the footwear wearing aid of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations described below are examples (representative examples) of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easier to understand, the actual structure, the scale and the number in each structure may be made different.

[0018] (Footwear fitting aid) The footwear attachment aid 1 according to this embodiment is used by being inserted into the opening of footwear having a cylindrical portion, and comprises a shoehorn body 10 and a pair of wing portions 20, 20 integrally provided on both sides of the shoehorn body 10 in the width direction.

[0019] In this specification, "footwear having a tubular portion" refers to footwear having a tubular portion in the footwear body that covers the wearer's leg from the ankle to the calf. The tubular portion may be equipped with opening and closing means such as zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, or buckles, and any structure that forms a tubular shape when worn is included in footwear having a tubular portion. There are no particular limitations on specific examples of footwear having a tubular portion, but examples include rubber boots, work boots, and fire-fighting boots.

[0020] <Shoehorn body> The shoehorn body 10 is a plate-shaped member extending in the longitudinal direction and is positioned in the center of the footwear attachment aid 1. The upper end of the shoehorn body 10 has a gripping portion 10a that can be grasped by the user, and the lower end is formed as a shoehorn portion 10b that guides the user's heel when putting on footwear.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the shoehorn body 10 has a gently curved shape at its lower end, i.e., the shoehorn portion 10b, when viewed from the side. This allows the heel to be smoothly guided into the footwear when inserting the foot.

[0022] Furthermore, it is preferable that the shoehorn body 10 has grooves 11 extending in the longitudinal direction. The grooves 11 are for interlocking with each other when multiple shoe-wearing aids 1 are stacked and stored, and can improve stability during storage and transport.

[0023] The size of the shoehorn body 10 is not limited to specific dimensions or proportions, and can be set appropriately according to actual usage. For example, the length of the shoehorn body in the longitudinal direction may be about 250 to 600 mm, and the length in the width direction may be about 30 to 60 mm.

[0024] The thickness of the shoehorn body 10 is not limited and can be set appropriately according to actual usage. The shoehorn body 10 is preferably formed thicker than the pair of wing parts 20, 20 described later, and it is also preferable to form the shoehorn part 10b at the lower end relatively thicker, and the other parts thinner. Specifically, the shoehorn part 10b at the lower end can be about 3 mm thick, and the other parts can be about 2 mm thick, but these values ​​are not limiting. By forming the shoehorn part 10b at the lower end of the shoehorn body 10 relatively thicker, it is possible to reduce the overall weight while ensuring rigidity when guiding the heel.

[0025] The pair of wing portions 20, 20 are formed extending symmetrically from the side edges of the shoehorn body 10 and are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the shoehorn body 10.

[0026] In footwear having a tubular section, particularly footwear with a zipper, when the opening is widened with the zipper open, the upper part of the opening is relatively wide, and it gradually narrows towards the lower part. In this embodiment, the pair of wing sections 20, 20 have a planar shape that widens outward from the shoehorn body 10 in a plan view, in order to correspond to this shape of the opening, and are configured to be able to abut against the opposing inner walls of the opening. As a result, when the footwear attachment aid 1 is inserted into the opening, the wing sections 20, 20 can abut against the opposing inner walls of the opening, and stable support is provided from the inside of the opening.

[0027] The pair of wing portions 20, 20 can be shaped to spread outward from the shoehorn body 10, but a fan-shaped planar shape is particularly preferred. The upper ends of the fan-shaped wing portions 20, 20 are located above the opening of the shoe, and are positioned to correspond to the area where the left and right inner walls of the opening are widest. Therefore, in the case of a fan-shaped planar shape, the upper ends of the pair of wing portions 20, 20 play a role in supporting the left and right inner walls of the opening over a wide area, and the entire opening can be held in a stable open state.

[0028] On the other hand, the lower ends of the pair of wing portions 20, 20, which have a fan-shaped planar form, are located below the opening of the shoe and are positioned in a region where the distance between the left and right inner walls of the opening is relatively narrow. When the shoe-fitting aid 1 is inserted into the opening of the shoe, these lower ends serve as the starting point for secure contact with the left and right inner walls of the opening, and function to ensure that the entire pair of wing portions 20, 20 are held in the appropriate position within the opening. The fan-shaped planar form makes it easy to insert into the shoe and to hold it in the appropriate position. Furthermore, the fan-shaped planar form is preferable because it makes it easier to stably support the opening from the inside even when it is placed inside the shoe.

[0029] Preferably, each pair of wing portions 20, 20 has a plurality of ribs 21 on at least one of its front and back surfaces. The ribs 21 are arranged to extend in the width direction of the wing portion 20, and by partially increasing the rigidity of the wing portion 20, the support when it comes into contact with the opening of the shoe can be improved. Here, in this specification, the "front side" of the wing portion 20 refers to the inner wall side of the shoe, i.e., the outer surface that the shoe comes into contact with, when the shoe-fitting aid 1 is inserted into the opening of the shoe. On the other hand, the "back side" refers to the surface located on the user's foot side when the shoe-fitting aid 1 is in use, and which is the side on which the wing portion 20 elastically deforms and bends inward when the shoe-fitting aid 1 is inserted. In the embodiment shown in the figure, a plurality of ribs 21 are formed on the front side of each pair of wing portions 20, 20, thereby improving the rigidity when it comes into contact with the inner wall of the opening of the shoe can, and allowing the opening to be stably supported from the inside. On the other hand, by not providing ribs on the back side, the wing portions 20, 20 become more elastically deformable when inserted, allowing the footwear attachment aid 1 to be smoothly inserted into the opening of the footwear.

[0030] The size of the wing portion 20 is not limited to specific dimensions or ratios, and can be set appropriately according to actual usage. For example, the maximum width of the wing portion 20 in the left-right direction in a plan view may be around 50 to 200 mm.

[0031] The thickness of the wing portion 20 is not limited and can be set appropriately according to the actual usage. For example, it is preferable that the pair of wing portions 20, 20 be formed to be relatively thin, and may be about 1 mm thick. Also, as shown in Figure 2, it is preferable that the pair of wing portions 20, 20 are formed to be thinner than the shoehorn body 10 when viewed from the side. This makes elastic deformation easier and provides excellent resilience, and when the footwear attachment aid 1 is inserted into the opening of the footwear, it is easier for it to conform to the shape of the inner wall of the opening.

[0032] The footwear attachment aid 1 according to this embodiment is preferably made from a synthetic resin material. Examples of synthetic resins include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), and polyamide (nylon). These synthetic resins are suitable for use in this invention because they have excellent moldability and sufficient mechanical strength. Among these, polypropylene is preferred because it possesses a combination of appropriate rigidity and elasticity, and the pair of wing portions 20, 20 are resistant to repeated elastic deformation when they come into contact with the left and right inner walls of the opening of the footwear. Furthermore, it is lightweight and has excellent water and chemical resistance, making it suitable for the footwear attachment aid 1 used in environments where water and mud are likely to adhere. In addition, polypropylene is easy to integrally mold by injection molding, and is suitable because it is easy to form the shoehorn body 10 and the pair of wing portions 20, 20 as a seamless, integrated structure. For this reason, in this embodiment, it is preferable to make the footwear attachment aid 1 from polypropylene.

[0033] The footwear attachment aid 1 according to this embodiment can be manufactured using the synthetic resin material described above and conventionally known resin molding methods. For example, by using an injection molding method in which a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene is melted and filled into a mold for molding, the shoehorn body 10 and the pair of wing parts 20, 20 can be formed as an integrated structure. With such a molding method, it is possible to efficiently manufacture the footwear attachment aid 1 in one step without combining multiple parts. However, the manufacturing method of the footwear attachment aid 1 is not limited to this, and conventionally known molding methods such as compression molding, extrusion molding, and vacuum molding may be used in appropriate combinations.

[0034] Next, an example of how to use the footwear attachment aid 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0035] The user first grasps the pair of wing portions 20, 20 located on the back side of the footwear attachment aid 1 and manipulates the pair of wing portions 20, 20 in a direction that brings them closer together. As a result, the pair of wing portions 20, 20 elastically deform due to their respective elasticity, resulting in a reduced width when viewed from above.

[0036] Next, the user inserts the footwear attachment aid 1 into the opening 101 of the footwear 100, while maintaining the elastically deformed state of the pair of wing portions 20, 20. This state corresponds to the usage state shown in Figure 5.

[0037] After the footwear attachment aid 1 is inserted into the opening 101, the user releases the force applied to the pair of wing portions 20, 20 or manipulates the pair of wing portions 20, 20 in a direction that spreads them outward. As a result, the pair of wing portions 20, 20 spread outward due to their elastic restoring force and come into contact with the opposing inner walls of the opening 101 of the footwear 100. Consequently, the opening 101 is held in a state that is pushed outward from the inside by the pair of wing portions 20, 20.

[0038] With the opening 101 fully open, the user grasps the gripping part 10a of the shoehorn body 10 located in the center of the footwear fitting aid 1 and inserts their toes into the footwear 100 through the opening 101. At this time, by grasping the gripping part 10a, the footwear fitting aid 1 and the footwear are held in a stable position.

[0039] After the toes are inserted into the footwear 100, the user, while still holding the gripping part 10a, pushes the heel into the footwear 100 along the shoehorn part 10b of the shoehorn body 10. Since the footwear fitting aid 1 has the shoehorn body 10 in the center, the heel is guided by the shoehorn part 10b and smoothly led to the back of the footwear 100.

[0040] After the heel portion is inserted to the predetermined position inside the footwear 100, the user can remove the footwear attachment aid 1 from the footwear 100 by pulling it out from the opening portion 101 while still holding the grip portion 10a. After the footwear attachment aid 1 is removed, the user can return to the normal wearing state by closing the zipper of the opening portion 101, etc.

[0041] (effect) As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of wing portions 20, 20 integrally provided on both sides in the width direction of the shoehorn body 10 abut against the opposing inner walls of the opening portion 101 of the footwear 100, thereby holding the opening portion 101 of the footwear 100, which has a cylindrical portion, in an expanded state from the inside. Therefore, even if the opening portion 101 of the footwear 100 is narrow or does not open sufficiently even when the zipper is opened, it becomes possible to smoothly insert the foot, and the wearability of the footwear 100 can be greatly improved.

[0042] Furthermore, since the pair of wing portions 20, 20 have a planar shape that widens outward from the shoehorn body 10, they can easily and stably contact the inner wall of the opening portion 101 of footwear 100 that has a shape where the top of the opening portion 101 is wide and narrows towards the bottom. As a result, even when the footwear attachment aid 1 is placed inside the footwear 100, the opening portion 101 can be reliably supported, and the footwear attachment aid 1 can be prevented from shifting or falling off during wearing.

[0043] Furthermore, the footwear attachment aid 1 is configured such that when in use, a pair of wing-shaped parts 20, 20 are elastically deformed and inserted into the opening 101, and the elastic restoring force pushes the opening 101 open. As a result, the user does not need to hold the opening 101 with both hands, and can wear the footwear 100 in a stable posture even while standing. In particular, it can simplify and expedite the wearing process in work sites and disaster response situations where quick donning is required.

[0044] Furthermore, by positioning the shoehorn body 10 in the center of the footwear fitting aid 1, the heel is guided into the footwear by the shoehorn body 10, so that the heel does not get caught on the opening 101 and is smoothly inserted all the way to the back of the footwear 100. As a result, it is not necessary to apply excessive force when putting on the footwear 100, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

[0045] Furthermore, since the shoe-wearing aid 1 according to this invention has a structure in which the shoehorn body 10 and a pair of wing parts 20, 20 are integrally formed, the number of parts can be reduced, and mass production can be carried out without requiring an assembly process. This reduces production costs and the risk of damage or parts falling off during use.

[0046] Furthermore, by making the footwear attachment aid 1 from polypropylene, it is possible to achieve both appropriate rigidity and elasticity, resulting in excellent durability even after repeated elastic deformation and elastic recovery of the pair of wing portions 20, 20. In addition, because it is lightweight and has excellent water resistance, it can be used stably for a long period of time even with footwear used in environments where water and mud are likely to adhere.

[0047] (modified version) Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist.

[0048] For example, the planar shape of the pair of wing portions 20, 20 can be any shape that widens outward from the shoehorn body 10, and is not limited to the aforementioned fan shape. The outer edge of the wing portion 20 is not limited to an arc shape, but may also be a polygon, a partially cut-out shape, or a shape that combines straight lines and curves.

[0049] Furthermore, for example, the pair of wing portions 20, 20 may be formed not only as a symmetrical shape but also as an asymmetrical shape. Furthermore, the pair of wing portions 20, 20 do not need to have a uniform thickness throughout; they may be configured so that only a portion of the area is relatively thicker.

[0050] Furthermore, the opening angle of the pair of wing portions 20, 20 (the angle at which they spread outward from the shoehorn body 10) can be appropriately set according to the type of footwear used and the size of the opening. For example, the opening angle may be set smaller for footwear with a relatively narrow opening, and larger for footwear with a large opening.

[0051] Furthermore, the overall dimensions of the footwear attachment aid 1 can be appropriately changed according to the size of the footwear being used. For example, a smaller version can be provided for users with small feet or for narrow footwear, and a larger version can be provided for users with large feet or for large boots.

[0052] The length, width, and thickness of the pair of wing portions 20, 20 can also be adjusted according to the type of footwear 100 so that the contact and retention with respect to the opening portion 101 is appropriate.

[0053] Thus, as long as the present invention has a basic configuration in which it is inserted into the opening portion 101 of footwear 100 having a cylindrical portion, and a pair of wing portions 20, 20 abut against opposing inner walls of the opening portion 101, various shapes, dimensions, and configurations can be modified. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1...Footwear attachment aid, 10...Shoehorn body, 10a...Grip part, 10b...Shoehorn part, 11...Groove part, 20...Wing part, 21...Rib, 100...Footwear, 101...Opening part

Claims

1. A footwear fitting aid that is inserted into the opening of footwear having a tubular portion, A long, narrow, flat shoehorn body, A pair of wing portions are integrally provided on both sides in the width direction of the shoehorn body, Equipped with, The shoehorn body is located between the pair of wing portions, The pair of wing portions extend along the longitudinal direction of the shoehorn body and have a planar shape that spreads outward from the shoehorn body. The pair of wing portions are configured to be able to contact the opposing inner walls of the opening portion of the footwear, and this is a footwear attachment aid.

2. The footwear attachment aid according to claim 1, wherein the pair of wing portions have a fan-shaped planar form.

3. The thickness of the pair of wing portions is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the shoehorn body. The footwear attachment aid according to claim 1, wherein the pair of wing portions are provided with ribs on at least one surface.

4. The shoehorn body has grooves formed therein for stacking multiple shoe-wearing aids, as described in claim 1.

5. The footwear attachment aid is made of polypropylene, and the shoehorn body and a pair of wing parts are integrally formed, as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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