Upper and shoes equipped with the same

Abstract

Provided is an upper (2) in which an opening (20b) is formed, the upper comprising: a first lateral edge (20d); a second lateral edge (20e); first formed sections (23) that protrude from the first lateral edge (20d) toward the second lateral edge (20e); second formed sections (24) that protrude from the second lateral edge (20e) toward the first lateral edge (20d); outer foot lateral lacing sections (26) that each comprise a pair of one first lacing section (26a) and one second lacing section (26b); inner foot lateral lacing sections (27) that each comprise a pair of one third lacing section (27a) and one fourth lacing section (27b); and a shoelace (22). The first formed sections (23) and the second formed sections (24) are alternately provided in the front-back direction. The shoelace (22) includes: a first portion (22a) which is threaded alternately through the second lacing sections (26b) and the third lacing sections (27a); and a second portion (22b) which is threaded alternately through the first lacing sections (26a) and the fourth lacing sections (27b).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an upper and a shoe including the upper. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, many shoes have been developed and put into practical use in which the upper is fitted tightly to the foot by tensioning the shoelace. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an invention in which an upper is formed with an opening for inserting the wearer's foot, an opening communicating with the opening and extending forward from the opening, and a plurality of holes provided on each of the left and right side edges of the opening and spaced apart in the front-rear direction, in which the shoelace is passed alternately through the left and right holes.

[0003] The shoelace disclosed in Patent Document 1 is passed through the left and right holes while repeatedly crossing the opening diagonally backward, and crosses over the instep. In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the shoelace passed through the left and right holes can be tensioned to make the upper fit closely to the foot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-190351 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the problem that the shoelaces cross over the instep, which can easily put pressure on the instep, which is rich in nerves, causing the wearer to feel excessively constricted.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and has an object to provide an upper that can reduce the feeling of tightness around the instep. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the upper of the present invention is an upper formed with an opening and an opening communicating with the opening and extending forward from the opening, and is equipped with a first side edge which is the edge on the outer foot side of the opening, a second side edge which is the edge on the inner foot side of the opening, a first forming portion protruding from the first side edge toward the second side edge, a second forming portion protruding from the second side edge toward the first side edge, an outer foot side lacing portion formed as a set of a first lacing portion provided on the first forming portion and a second lacing portion spaced apart on the outer foot side from the first lacing portion, an inner foot side lacing portion formed as a set of a third lacing portion provided on the second forming portion and a fourth lacing portion spaced apart on the inner foot side from the third lacing portion, and a shoelace passed through the outer foot side lacing portion and the inner foot side lacing portion. The first and second forming portions are alternately provided in the front-rear direction. The shoelace has a first portion that is alternately passed through the second and third lace-passing portions, and a second portion that is alternately passed through the first and fourth lace-passing portions. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The upper according to the present invention has the effect of reducing the feeling of tightness around the instep. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the upper according to the first embodiment, showing the state before the shoelace is pulled. [Diagram 3] 3 is a top view of the upper according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the shoelace has been pulled from the state shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper according to the second embodiment, showing the state before the shoelace is pulled. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a top view of the upper according to the second embodiment, showing a state in which the shoelace has been pulled from the state shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view of the upper according to the third embodiment, showing the state before the shoelace is pulled. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a top view of the upper according to the third embodiment, showing a state in which the shoelace has been pulled from the state shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An upper and a shoe having the same according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0011] In the embodiment described below, the direction in which the shoe center axis, which is a perpendicular line passing through the center of the shoe when viewed in a plan view, extends is referred to as the front-to-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction when viewed in a plan view is referred to as the left-to-right direction.

[0012] In addition, in the front-to-back direction, the direction from the end of the side where the part of the upper covering the heel of the foot is located to the end of the side where the part of the upper covering the toes of the foot is located is referred to as the forward direction, and the direction from the end of the side where the part of the upper covering the toes of the foot is located to the end of the side where the part of the upper covering the heel of the foot is located is referred to as the rear direction.

[0013] In addition, the midline side of the foot in the anatomical orthogonal position is referred to as the medial foot side, and the side opposite the midline side in the anatomical orthogonal position is referred to as the lateral foot side. In other words, the side closer to the midline in the anatomical orthogonal position is referred to as the medial foot side, and the side farther from the midline in the anatomical orthogonal position is referred to as the lateral foot side.

[0014] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the height direction means the direction perpendicular to both the front-to-back and left-to-right directions, and the thickness means the dimension in the height direction, unless otherwise specified.

[0015] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates only the left shoe 1. Since the left and right shoes 1 have a symmetrical structure, only the left shoe 1 will be described in this embodiment, and a description of the right shoe 1 will be omitted. The shoe 1 is, for example, a shoe for running, walking, mountain climbing, or a shoe for sports such as tennis or basketball. The shoe 1 includes an upper 2 and a sole 3 located below the upper 2. The upper 2 covers the part of the instep of the foot. The sole 3 covers the sole of the foot.

[0016] The upper 2 comprises an upper body 20, a shoe tongue 21, and shoelaces 22.

[0017] An opening 20a for inserting the wearer's foot and an opening 20b communicating with the opening 20a and extending forward from the opening 20a are formed in the upper part of the upper body 20. A plurality of lace-insertion sections 25 are provided around the opening 20b of the upper body 20. The structure around the opening 20b will be described in detail later.

[0018] The shoe tongue 21 is a member for protecting the instep of the wearer. The shoe tongue 21 covers the opening 20b inside the upper body 20. The shoe tongue 21 is fixed to the upper body 20 by sewing, welding, adhesion, or a combination of these. The upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 are made of, for example, woven fabric, knitted fabric, synthetic leather, or resin. In the shoe 1, which requires particular breathability and light weight, the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 are preferably made of a double raschel warp knitted fabric made of woven polyester yarn. The materials of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 are not limited to the materials exemplified above.

[0019] The shoelace 22 is a string-like member that is passed through a plurality of lace-passing portions 25 of the upper body 20, and is detachably attached to the upper body 20.

[0020] The sole 3 includes an outsole 30 and a midsole 31. The sole 3 is fixed to the upper 2 by sewing, welding, adhesion, or a combination of these. The lower surface of the outsole 30 serves as a ground contact surface 30a that is placed on the ground. The midsole 31 is located on the upper surface of the outsole 30 and has cushioning properties. The outsole 30 may be integrated with the midsole 31. The midsole 31 integrated with the outsole 30 is also called a "unisole."

[0021] The sole 3 includes a midsole (not shown) that covers the lower opening of the upper body 20. The midsole is fixed to the upper surface of the midsole 31 by adhesion or welding. The midsole is also fixed to the lower edge of the upper body 20 by stitching. The sole 3 may have a structure that omits the midsole. The shoe 1 may also include an insole. When the shoe 1 includes an insole, the insole is placed on the sole 3 inside the upper 2.

[0022] Next, the structure around the opening 20b will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a top view of the upper 2 according to the first embodiment, showing the state before the shoelace 22 is pulled. Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper 2 according to the first embodiment, showing the state after the shoelace 22 is pulled from the state shown in Fig. 2. Note that the shoe tongue 21 is not shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0023] 2, the upper 2 includes a front edge 20c, a first side edge 20d, a second side edge 20e, a plurality of first forming portions 23, a plurality of second forming portions 24, a plurality of lace-passing portions 25, and a shoelace 22. Hereinafter, when the plurality of lace-passing portions 25 are to be distinguished from one another, they will be referred to as an outer foot side lace-passing portion 26, an inner foot side lace-passing portion 27, a toe side lace-passing portion 28, and a heel side lace-passing portion 29. The outer foot side lace-passing portion 26, the inner foot side lace-passing portion 27, the toe side lace-passing portion 28, and the heel side lace-passing portion 29 are not particularly limited in configuration as long as they can pass the shoelace 22 through them, but in this embodiment, they are through holes that pass through the upper body 20 in the vertical direction.

[0024] The front edge 20c is the front edge of the opening 20b. The front edge 20c extends in the left-right direction. The first side edge 20d is the edge on the outer foot side of the opening 20b. The second side edge 20e is the edge on the inner foot side of the opening 20b. The first side edge 20d and the second side edge 20e extend in the front-rear direction.

[0025] The first forming portion 23 protrudes from the first side edge portion 20d toward the second side edge portion 20e. In this embodiment, the first forming portion 23 is integrally formed with the upper body 20, but may be formed separately from the upper body 20. The planar shape of the first forming portion 23 is not particularly limited, but is a rectangle with rounded corners in this embodiment. The planar shape of the first forming portion 23 may be a polygon or semicircle. The number of the first forming portions 23 is not particularly limited, but is three in this embodiment. The three first forming portions 23 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The first forming portions 23 are disposed above the shoe tongue 21 shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The second forming portion 24 protrudes from the second side edge portion 20e toward the first side edge portion 20d. In this embodiment, the second forming portion 24 is integrally formed with the upper body 20, but may be formed separately from the upper body 20. The planar shape of the second forming portion 24 is not particularly limited, but is a rectangle with rounded corners in this embodiment. The planar shape of the second forming portion 24 may be a polygon or semicircle. The number of second forming portions 24 is not particularly limited, but is three in this embodiment. The three second forming portions 24 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The second forming portion 24 is disposed above the shoe tongue 21 shown in FIG. 1. The first forming portion 23 and the second forming portion 24 are alternately provided in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the first forming portion 23 and the second forming portion 24 are alternately provided from the front to the rear in this order. In this embodiment, the first forming portion 23 and the second forming portion 24 are symmetrical, but may be asymmetrical.

[0027] In this embodiment, the toe side lace-through portion 28 is provided in front of the opening 20b at a position corresponding to the left-right center of the opening 20b. The toe side lace-through portion 28 is provided forward of the outer foot side lace-through portion 26 and the inner foot side lace-through portion 27. The number of the toe side lace-through portion 28 is not particularly limited, but is one in this embodiment.

[0028] The outer foot side lace-through portion 26 is a set of a first lace-through portion 26a provided in the first forming portion 23 and a second lace-through portion 26b spaced away from the first lace-through portion 26a on the outer foot side. The number of sets of the outer foot side lace-through portions 26 is not particularly limited, but is three in this embodiment. The three sets of the outer foot side lace-through portions 26 are spaced away from each other in the front-rear direction. The first lace-through portion 26a and the second lace-through portion 26b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the second lace-through portion 26b is located on the outer foot side of the first forming portion 23.

[0029] The inner foot side lace-passing portion 27 is made up of a set of a third lace-passing portion 27a provided in the second forming portion 24 and a fourth lace-passing portion 27b spaced apart from the third lace-passing portion 27a on the inner foot side. The number of sets of the inner foot side lace-passing portions 27 is not particularly limited, but is three in this embodiment. The three sets of the inner foot side lace-passing portions 27 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The third lace-passing portion 27a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the fourth lace-passing portion 27b is located on the inner foot side of the second forming portion 24.

[0030] The heel side lace-through portion 29 is provided behind the lateral foot side lace-through portion 26 and the medial foot side lace-through portion 27. In this embodiment, two heel side lace-through portions 29 are provided, one on the lateral foot side and one on the medial foot side of the opening 20b. The two heel side lace-through portions 29 are provided at positions symmetrical on either side of the opening 20b. The heel side lace-through portion 29 is provided near the boundary between the edge of the opening 20b and the edge of the opening 20a.

[0031] The shoelace 22 is passed through a toe side lace-passing portion 28, an outer foot side lace-passing portion 26, an inner foot side lace-passing portion 27, and a heel side lace-passing portion 29. Although not shown, both ends of the shoelace 22 in the length direction are tied with a bow or the like. The shoelace 22 is disposed above the shoe tongue 21 shown in Fig. 1. The shoelace 22 has a first portion 22a that is alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a, and a second portion 22b that is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b.

[0032] The first portion 22a extends diagonally backward from the toe side lace-passing portion 28, is alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a, and is then passed through the heel side lace-passing portion 29 on the outside of the foot. As shown in Fig. 2, before the shoelace 22 is pulled, the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a are shifted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Therefore, the first portion 22a, which is alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a, extends in a zigzag pattern in the left-right direction from the front to the rear.

[0033] The second portion 22b extends backward from the toe side lace-passing portion 28, is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b, and is then passed through the heel side lace-passing portion 29 on the inner side of the foot. As shown in FIG. 2, before the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b are shifted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Therefore, the second portion 22b, which is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b, extends in a zigzag shape in the left-right direction from the front to the rear. Before the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other. Before the shoelace 22 is pulled, the portions of the first portion 22a that are alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a and the portions of the second portion 22b that are alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b are parallel to each other.

[0034] 2 to the rear as shown in FIG 3, the first side edge 20d and the second side edge 20e of the upper body 20 are pulled toward each other. As a result, the left-right distance between the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a is shortened, and the left-right distance between the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b is shortened. Therefore, the first portion 22a that is alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a approaches a state in which it extends linearly in the front-rear direction, and the second portion 22b that is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b approaches a state in which it extends linearly in the front-rear direction. When the shoelace 22 passed through the lateral side lace-passing portion 26 and the medial side lace-passing portion 27 is pulled, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other. When the shoelace 22 passed through the lateral side lace-passing portion 26 and the medial side lace-passing portion 27 is pulled, the portions of the first portion 22a that are alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a and the portions of the second portion 22b that are alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b are parallel to each other.

[0035] Next, the effects of the upper 2 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0036] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper 2 includes an outer foot-side lacing section 26, which is a set of a first lacing section 26a provided in the first forming section 23 and a second lacing section 26b spaced apart from the first lacing section 26a on the outer foot side. The upper 2 also includes an inner foot-side lacing section 27, which is a set of a third lacing section 27a provided in the second forming section 24 and a fourth lacing section 27b spaced apart from the third lacing section 27a on the inner foot side. The first forming section 23 and the second forming section 24 are alternately provided in the front-rear direction, and the shoelace 22 includes a first portion 22a that is alternately passed through the second lacing section 26b and the third lacing section 27a, and a second portion 22b that is alternately passed through the first lacing section 26a and the fourth lacing section 27b. With these configurations, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other on the instep when the shoelace 22 is pulled as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, pressure on the instep is reduced compared to when the shoelace 22 crosses over the instep, and the feeling of tightness on the instep can be alleviated.

[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the outer side lace-passing section 26, which is a set of one first lace-passing section 26a and one second lace-passing section 26b, and the inner side lace-passing section 27, which is a set of one third lace-passing section 27a and one fourth lace-passing section 27b, are alternately provided in the front-rear direction. That is, since there are two lace-passing sections 25 alternately on the outer side and the inner side of the opening 20b, the force that draws the first side edge section 20d and the second side edge section 20e together when the shoelace 22 is pulled is stronger than when there is one lace-passing section 25 alternately on the outer side and the inner side of the opening 20b. This allows the upper 2 to be reliably attached to the foot.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, in a configuration in which the first forming portion 23 in which the first string-passing portion 26a is formed and the second forming portion 24 in which the third string-passing portion 27a is formed are alternately provided in the front-rear direction, the first string-passing portion 26a and the second string-passing portion 26b are provided side by side in the left-right direction, and the third string-passing portion 27a and the fourth string-passing portion 27b are provided side by side in the left-right direction, so that the following three effects can be achieved. First, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other on the instep, so that the effect of reducing pressure on the instep can be achieved. Secondly, because there is no separation distance in the front-rear direction between the first and second lace-passing portions 26a and 26b and between the third and fourth lace-passing portions 27a and 27b, it is possible to increase the number of sets of the outer foot-side lace-passing portion 26 and the inner foot-side lace-passing portion 27, thereby improving the effect of tightening the shoelace 22 on the upper body 20. Thirdly, even if the number of sets of the outer foot-side lace-passing portion 26 and the inner foot-side lace-passing portion 27 is increased more than in the example shown in Fig. 2, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other. In other words, by arranging the first and second lace-passing portions 26a and 26b side by side in the left-right direction, and by arranging the third and fourth lace-passing portions 27a and 27b side by side in the left-right direction, the pressure on the instep is reduced while improving the lacing effect of the upper body 20, and a structure can be obtained in which the first and second portions 22a and 22b do not cross each other even if the number of sets of the outer foot side lace-passing portions 26 and inner foot side lace-passing portions 27 is increased.

[0039] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the first forming portion 23 and the second forming portion 24 are integrally formed in the upper body 20, so that a structure in which the shoelaces 22 do not cross can be realized without adding any new components.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not intersect with each other. As a result, there is no frictional resistance between the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b when the shoelace 22 is pulled, making it easier to tighten the shoelace 22.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, when the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b approach a state in which they do not cross each other but extend linearly in the front-rear direction. This makes the angle that the shoelace 22 makes when it enters and exits the lace-threading portion 25 gentler than when the shoelace 22 crosses. This reduces the frictional resistance that occurs between the shoelace 22 and the lace-threading portion 25 when the shoelace 22 is pulled, making it easier to tighten the shoelace 22.

[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other, so that the pressure on the instep is reduced compared to when the shoelace 22 crosses, making it possible to make the shoe tongue 21 shown in FIG. 1 thinner or to eliminate it.

[0043] 3, in the present embodiment, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not cross each other when the shoelace 22 is pulled, which allows the length of the shoelace 22 to be shorter than when the shoelace 22 crosses each other. This allows the shoe 1 to be lighter and less environmentally friendly.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the second lace-passing portion 26b is formed on the outer side of the foot relative to the first forming portion 23, but the second lace-passing portion 26b may be formed in the first forming portion 23. In this manner, the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a can be brought closer to each other in the left-right direction, so that the positions of the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a can be aligned in the front-rear direction when the shoelace 22 is pulled. As a result, the portions of the first portion 22a that are alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26b and the third lace-passing portion 27a extend straight in the front-rear direction, and the frictional resistance generated between the shoelace 22 and the lace-passing portion 25 when the shoelace 22 is pulled is further reduced, making it even easier to tighten the shoelace 22.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the fourth lace-passing portion 27b is formed on the inner side of the foot relative to the second forming portion 24, but the fourth lace-passing portion 27b may be formed in the second forming portion 24. In this manner, the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b can be brought closer to each other in the left-right direction, so that the positions of the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b can be aligned in the front-rear direction when the shoelace 22 is pulled. As a result, the portions of the second portion 22b that are alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26a and the fourth lace-passing portion 27b extend straight in the front-rear direction, and the frictional resistance generated between the shoelace 22 and the lace-passing portion 25 when the shoelace 22 is pulled is further reduced, making it even easier to tighten the shoelace 22.

[0046] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper 2A according to the second embodiment, showing a state before the shoelace 22A is pulled. FIG. 5 is a top view of the upper 2A according to the second embodiment, showing a state after the shoelace 22A is pulled from the state shown in FIG. The upper 2A according to the second embodiment differs from the upper 2 according to the first embodiment in that the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A are stretchable. The upper 2A according to the second embodiment is used in place of the upper 2 according to the first embodiment to form the shoe 1A. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the parts that overlap with those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] The first forming portion 23A has elasticity, for example, like rubber, and can stretch from the first side edge portion 20d toward the second side edge portion 20e. As shown in FIG. 4, before the shoelace 22A is pulled, the first forming portion 23A is contracted so that the length in the left-right direction is the shortest. In the contracted state, the end portion of the first forming portion 23A facing the inner foot side is located on the outer foot side of the center in the left-right direction of the opening 20b. As shown in FIG. 5, when the shoelace 22A is pulled, the first forming portion 23A stretches so that the length in the left-right direction is the longest. In the stretched state, the end portion of the first forming portion 23A facing the inner foot side reaches the second side edge portion 20e.

[0048] The planar shape of the first forming portion 23A is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is a rectangle with rounded corners. The planar shape of the first forming portion 23A may be a polygon or a semicircle. The number of the first forming portions 23A is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is two. The two first forming portions 23A are separated from each other in the front-rear direction. The first lace-passing portion 26c for passing the shoelace 22A is formed in the part of the first forming portion 23A on the inner foot side. In this embodiment, the end portion of the first forming portion 23A facing the inner foot side is folded back to the outer foot side and fixed to the middle part of the first forming portion 23A by means of sewing or the like, thereby forming the annular first lace-passing portion 26c penetrating in the front-rear direction. The end portion of the first forming portion 23A facing the outer foot side is fixed to the first side edge portion 20d by sewing, welding, adhesion, or a combination of these. In this embodiment, the first forming portion 23A is formed separately from the upper body 20, but may be formed integrally with the upper body 20.

[0049] The second forming portion 24A has elasticity, for example, like rubber, and can stretch from the second side edge portion 20e toward the first side edge portion 20d. As shown in FIG. 4, before the shoelace 22A is pulled, the second forming portion 24A is contracted so that the length in the left-right direction is the shortest. In the contracted state, the end portion of the second forming portion 24A facing the lateral side is located on the medial side of the center of the left-right direction of the opening 20b. As shown in FIG. 5, when the shoelace 22A is pulled, the second forming portion 24A stretches so that the length in the left-right direction is the longest. In the stretched state, the end portion of the second forming portion 24A facing the lateral side reaches the first side edge portion 20d.

[0050] The planar shape of the second forming portion 24A is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is a rectangle with rounded corners. The planar shape of the second forming portion 24A may be a polygon or a semicircle. The number of the second forming portions 24A is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is one. The first forming portions 23A and the second forming portions 24A are alternately provided in the front-rear direction. The third lace-passing portion 27c for passing the shoelace 22A is formed in the part of the second forming portion 24A on the lateral foot side. In this embodiment, the end portion of the second forming portion 24A facing the lateral foot side is folded back to the medial foot side and fixed to the middle portion of the second forming portion 24A by means of sewing or the like, thereby forming the annular third lace-passing portion 27c penetrating in the front-rear direction. The end portion of the second forming portion 24A facing the medial foot side is fixed to the second side edge portion 20e by sewing, welding, adhesion, or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, the second forming portion 24A is formed separately from the upper body 20, but may be formed integrally with the upper body 20. In this embodiment, the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A are provided alternately from the front to the rear in this order. In this embodiment, the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A are symmetrical in shape, but may be asymmetrical.

[0051] The toe side lace-passing portion 28A is provided forward of the outer foot side lace-passing portion 26A and the inner foot side lace-passing portion 27A. In this embodiment, the toe side lace-passing portion 28A is provided on the outer foot side and the inner foot side of the opening 20b, for a total of two. The two toe side lace-passing portions 28A are provided at positions symmetrical on both sides of the opening 20b. The outer toe side lace-passing portion 28A is provided near the boundary between the first side edge portion 20d and the front edge portion 20c. The inner toe side lace-passing portion 28A is provided near the boundary between the second side edge portion 20e and the front edge portion 20c. The toe side lace-passing portion 28A is not particularly limited in configuration as long as it can pass the shoelace 22A through it, but in this embodiment, it is a through hole that penetrates the upper body 20 in the vertical direction.

[0052] The lateral foot-side lace-passing portion 26A is a set of a first lace-passing portion 26c provided in the first forming portion 23A and a second lace-passing portion 26d spaced apart from the first lace-passing portion 26c on the lateral foot side. The first lace-passing portion 26c is formed by folding back a part of the first forming portion 23A as described above, as long as it can pass the shoelace 22A through it. The second lace-passing portion 26d is formed by folding back a part of the first forming portion 23A as described above, as long as it can pass the shoelace 22A through it. The second lace-passing portion 26d is formed by a through hole that passes through the upper body 20 in the vertical direction, as described above, in the present embodiment. The number of sets of the lateral foot-side lace-passing portion 26A is not particularly limited, but is two sets in the present embodiment. The two sets of the lateral foot-side lace-passing portion 26A are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The first lace-passing portion 26c and the second lace-passing portion 26d are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The second lacing portion 26d is located on the outer side of the foot than the first forming portion 23A.

[0053] The inner foot side lace-passing portion 27A is a set of one third lace-passing portion 27c provided in the second forming portion 24A and one fourth lace-passing portion 27d separated from the third lace-passing portion 27c on the inner foot side. The third lace-passing portion 27c is not particularly limited in configuration as long as it can pass the shoelace 22A through it, but in this embodiment, it is formed by folding back a part of the second forming portion 24A as described above. The fourth lace-passing portion 27d is not particularly limited in configuration as long as it can pass the shoelace 22A through it, but in this embodiment, it is a through hole that penetrates the upper body 20 in the vertical direction. The number of sets of the inner foot side lace-passing portion 27A is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is one set. The third lace-passing portion 27c and the fourth lace-passing portion 27d are provided side by side in the left-right direction. The fourth lace-passing portion 27d is located on the inner foot side of the second forming portion 24A.

[0054] The heel side lace-through portion 29A is provided behind the outer side lace-through portion 26A and the inner side lace-through portion 27A. In this embodiment, two heel side lace-through portions 29A are provided, one on the outer side and one on the inner side of the opening 20b. The two heel side lace-through portions 29A are provided at positions symmetrical on both sides of the opening 20b. The heel side lace-through portion 29A is provided near the boundary between the edge of the opening 20b and the edge of the opening 20a. The heel side lace-through portion 29A is not particularly limited in configuration as long as it can pass the shoelace 22A through it, but in this embodiment, it is a through hole that penetrates the upper body 20 in the vertical direction.

[0055] The shoelace 22A is passed through the toe side lace-passing portion 28A, the outer foot side lace-passing portion 26A, the inner foot side lace-passing portion 27A, and the heel side lace-passing portion 29A. The shoelace 22A has a first portion 22c that is alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26d and the third lace-passing portion 27c, a second portion 22d that is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26c and the fourth lace-passing portion 27d, and a third portion 22e that extends between the two toe side lace-passing portions 28A and connects the first portion 22c and the second portion 22d. The third portion 22e extends in the left-right direction across the opening 20b.

[0056] The first portion 22c extends diagonally backward from the toe-side lace-passing portion 28A on the outer side of the foot, and is passed alternately through the second lace-passing portion 26d and the third lace-passing portion 27c, and then through the heel-side lace-passing portion 29A on the outer side of the foot. As shown in Fig. 4, before the shoelace 22A is pulled, the second lace-passing portion 26d and the third lace-passing portion 27c are shifted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Therefore, the first portion 22c, which is passed alternately through the second lace-passing portion 26d and the third lace-passing portion 27c, extends in a zigzag pattern in the left-right direction from the front to the rear.

[0057] The second portion 22d extends backward from the toe-side lace-passing portion 28A on the inner side of the foot, and is passed alternately through the first lace-passing portion 26c and the fourth lace-passing portion 27d, and then through the heel-side lace-passing portion 29A on the inner side of the foot. As shown in FIG. 4, before the shoelace 22A is pulled, the first lace-passing portion 26c and the fourth lace-passing portion 27d are shifted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Therefore, the second portion 22d, which is passed alternately through the first lace-passing portion 26c and the fourth lace-passing portion 27d, extends in a zigzag shape from the front to the rear in the left-right direction. Before the shoelace 22A is pulled, the first portion 22c and the second portion 22d partially cross each other. In other words, before the shoelace 22A is pulled, there are some areas where the first portion 22c and the second portion 22d do not intersect with each other, and some areas where the first portion 22c and the second portion 22d do intersect with each other.

[0058] By pulling the first portion 22c and the second portion 22d backward from the state shown in Fig. 4 to the state shown in Fig. 5, the first forming portion 23A extends from the first side edge portion 20d toward the second side edge portion 20e, and the second forming portion 24A extends from the second side edge portion 20e toward the first side edge portion 20d. As a result, the left-right distance between the second string-passing portion 26d and the third string-passing portion 27c is shortened, and the left-right distance between the first string-passing portion 26c and the fourth string-passing portion 27d is shortened. Therefore, the first portion 22c that is alternately passed through the second string-passing portion 26d and the third string-passing portion 27c approaches a state in which it extends linearly in the front-rear direction, and the second portion 22d that is alternately passed through the first string-passing portion 26c and the fourth string-passing portion 27d approaches a state in which it extends linearly in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 4, before shoelace 22A is pulled, first portion 22c and second portion 22d partially intersect, but as shown in FIG. 5, when shoelace 22A is pulled, first portion 22c and second portion 22d do not intersect with each other.

[0059] In this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be achieved. In addition, in this embodiment, the first forming portion 23A can be stretched from the first side edge portion 20d toward the second side edge portion 20e, and the second forming portion 24A can be stretched from the second side edge portion 20e toward the first side edge portion 20d. As a result, the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A can be arranged in a contracted state before the shoelace 22A is pulled, so that the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A do not get in the way when the shoe 1A is put on. On the other hand, after the shoelace 22A is pulled, the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A stretch to cover the opening 20b, so that the instep of the wearer can be protected.

[0060] In this embodiment, a part of the first formed portion 23A is used as the first lace-passing portion 26c, so there is no need to separately form the first lace-passing portion 26c in the upper body 20. Also, in this embodiment, a part of the second formed portion 24A is used as the third lace-passing portion 27c, so there is no need to separately form the third lace-passing portion 27c in the upper body 20.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the first forming portion 23A and the second forming portion 24A are formed from a contractible and extensible material, but they may be formed from a flexible, foldable material.

[0062] (Embodiment 3) FIG. 6 is a top view of the upper 2B according to the third embodiment, showing a state before the shoelace 22B is pulled. FIG. 7 is a top view of the upper 2B according to the third embodiment, showing a state in which the shoelace 22B is pulled from the state shown in FIG. 6. The upper 2B according to the third embodiment differs from the upper 2 according to the first embodiment in the positional relationship between the first lace-passing portion 26e and the second lace-passing portion 26f, and the positional relationship between the third lace-passing portion 27e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f. The upper 2B according to the third embodiment is used in place of the upper 2 according to the first embodiment to form the shoe 1B. In the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to designate parts that overlap with those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] The number of first forming portions 23B is not particularly limited, but is two in this embodiment. The two first forming portions 23B are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The number of second forming portions 24B is not particularly limited, but is two in this embodiment. The two second forming portions 24B are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the second forming portions 24B and the first forming portions 23B are alternately provided from the front to the rear in this order.

[0064] The configuration of the outer foot side lace-through portion 26B, the inner foot side lace-through portion 27B, the toe side lace-through portion 28B and the heel side lace-through portion 29B is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to pass the shoelace 22B through them, but in this embodiment they are through holes that penetrate the upper body 20 in the vertical direction.

[0065] In this embodiment, one toe side lace-through portion 28B is provided on the outer foot side of the opening 20b. The toe side lace-through portion 28B is provided forward of the outer foot side lace-through portion 26B. The toe side lace-through portion 28B is provided near the boundary between the first side edge portion 20d and the front edge portion 20c.

[0066] The outer foot side lace-through portion 26B is a set of a first lace-through portion 26e provided in the first forming portion 23B and a second lace-through portion 26f spaced apart from the first lace-through portion 26e on the outer foot side. The number of sets of the outer foot side lace-through portions 26B is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, there are two sets. The two sets of the outer foot side lace-through portions 26B are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The first lace-through portion 26e and the second lace-through portion 26f are shifted from each other in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In one set of the outer foot side lace-through portions 26B, the second lace-through portion 26f is spaced apart from the first lace-through portion 26e on the outer foot side and rearward. The second lace-through portion 26f is located on the outer foot side of the first side edge portion 20d.

[0067] The inner foot side lace-passing portion 27B is a set of one third lace-passing portion 27e provided in the second forming portion 24B and one fourth lace-passing portion 27f spaced from the third lace-passing portion 27e on the inner foot side. The number of sets of the inner foot side lace-passing portions 27B is not particularly limited, but is two in this embodiment. The two sets of the inner foot side lace-passing portions 27B are spaced from each other in the front-rear direction. The third lace-passing portion 27e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f are shifted in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. In one set of the inner foot side lace-passing portion 27B, the fourth lace-passing portion 27f is spaced from the third lace-passing portion 27e on the inner foot side and forward. The fourth lace-passing portion 27f is located on the inner foot side of the second side edge portion 20e. The fourth lace-passing portion 27f, which is located most forward among the two pairs of inner foot-side lace-passing portions 27B, is provided in a position symmetrical to the toe-side lace-passing portion 28B across the opening 20b. In this embodiment, the first lace-passing portion 26e is spaced rearward and on the outer foot side from the third lace-passing portion 27e, but the first lace-passing portion 26e and the third lace-passing portion 27e may be provided side by side in the front-to-rear direction.

[0068] The heel side lace-through portion 29B is provided behind the outer foot side lace-through portion 26B and the inner foot side lace-through portion 27B. In this embodiment, two heel side lace-through portions 29B are provided, one on the outer foot side and one on the inner foot side of the opening 20b. The two heel side lace-through portions 29B are provided at positions symmetrical on either side of the opening 20b. The heel side lace-through portion 29B is provided near the boundary between the edge of the opening 20b and the edge of the opening 20a.

[0069] The shoelace 22B is passed through the toe side lace-passing portion 28B, the outer foot side lace-passing portion 26B, the inner foot side lace-passing portion 27B, and the heel side lace-passing portion 29B. The shoelace 22B has a first portion 22f that is passed alternately through the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e, a second portion 22g that is passed alternately through the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f, and a third portion 22h that extends between the toe side lace-passing portion 28B and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f located at the most front and connects the first portion 22f and the second portion 22g. The third portion 22h extends in the left-right direction across the opening 20b.

[0070] The first portion 22f extends diagonally backward from the toe side lace-passing portion 28B and is passed alternately through the third lace-passing portion 27e and the second lace-passing portion 26f, and then through the heel side lace-passing portion 29B on the outside of the foot. As shown in Fig. 6, before the shoelace 22B is pulled, the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e are shifted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Therefore, the first portion 22f, which is passed alternately through the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e, extends in a zigzag pattern in the left-right direction from the front to the rear.

[0071] The second portion 22g extends diagonally backward from the fourth lace-passing portion 27f located at the frontmost position, and is passed through the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f alternately, and then passed through the heel-side lace-passing portion 29B on the inner side of the foot. As shown in FIG. 6, before the shoelace 22B is pulled, the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f are shifted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Therefore, the second portion 22g, which is passed through the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f alternately, extends in a zigzag shape from the front to the rear in the left-right direction. Before the shoelace 22B is pulled, the first portion 22f and the second portion 22g do not cross each other. Before the shoelace 22B is pulled, the portions of the first portion 22f that are alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e and the portions of the second portion 22g that are alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f are parallel to each other.

[0072] By pulling the first portion 22f and the second portion 22g backward from the state shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the first side edge portion 20d and the second side edge portion 20e of the upper body 20 are drawn toward each other. As a result, the left-right distance between the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e is shortened, and the left-right distance between the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f is shortened. Therefore, the first portion 22f that is alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e approaches a state in which it extends linearly in the front-rear direction, and the second portion 22g that is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f approaches a state in which it extends linearly in the front-rear direction. When the shoelace 22B passed through the lateral side lace-passing portion 26B and the medial side lace-passing portion 27B is pulled, the first portion 22f and the second portion 22g do not cross each other. When the shoelace 22B passed through the lateral side lace-passing portion 26B and the medial side lace-passing portion 27B is pulled, the portions of the first portion 22f that are alternately passed through the second lace-passing portion 26f and the third lace-passing portion 27e and the portions of the second portion 22g that are alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion 26e and the fourth lace-passing portion 27f are parallel to each other. This embodiment can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0073] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the contents of the present invention, and may be combined with other known techniques, and may be omitted or modified in part without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the above-described first to third embodiments, the string-passing portion 25 is a through-hole, or the string-passing portion 25 is formed by folding back a part of the first forming portion 23A or the second forming portion 24A, but the present invention is not limited to this. The string-passing portion 25 may be, for example, an eyelet, a hook-shaped string-hanging portion, or a ring-shaped member made of metal or resin. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1, 1A, 1B shoe, 2, 2A, 2B upper, 3 sole, 20 upper body, 20a opening, 20b opening, 20c front edge, 20d first side edge, 20e second side edge, 21 shoe tongue, 22, 22A, 22B shoelace, 22a, 22c, 22f first part, 22b, 22d, 22g second part, 22e, 22h third part, 23, 23A, 23B first forming part, 24, 24A, 24B second forming part, 25 lace-through part, 26, 26A, 26B outer foot side lace-through part, 26a, 26c, 26e first lace-through part, 26b, 26d, 26f second lace-through part, 27, 27A, 27B Inner shoe lace-through portion, 27a, 27c, 27e third shoe lace-through portion, 27b, 27d, 27f fourth shoe lace-through portion, 28, 28A, 28B toe shoe lace-through portion, 29, 29A, 29B heel shoe lace-through portion, 30 outsole, 30a ground contact surface, 31 midsole.

Claims

1. An upper having an opening and an opening extending forward from the opening, A first side edge portion which is an edge on an outer foot side of the opening; A second side edge portion which is an edge on an inner foot side of the opening; a first forming portion protruding from the first side edge portion toward the second side edge portion; a second forming portion protruding from the second side edge portion toward the first side edge portion; an outer foot side lace-passing portion formed as a set of one first lace-passing portion provided on the first forming portion and one second lace-passing portion spaced apart from the first lace-passing portion on the outer foot side; an inner foot-side lace-passing portion formed as a set of one third lace-passing portion provided on the second forming portion and one fourth lace-passing portion spaced apart from the third lace-passing portion on the inner foot side; a shoelace that is passed through the outer foot-side lace-passing portion and the inner foot-side lace-passing portion; The first forming portions and the second forming portions are alternately provided in a front-rear direction, The shoe lace is a first portion that is alternately passed through the second string passage portion and the third string passage portion; and a second portion that is alternately passed through the first lace-passing portion and the fourth lace-passing portion.

2. The first string-passing portion and the second string-passing portion are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the third lace-passing portion and the fourth lace-passing portion are provided side by side in the left-right direction.

3. the first formation portion is extendable from the first side edge toward the second side edge; The upper of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second formation is extendable from the second side edge toward the first side edge.

4. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the first forming portion and the second forming portion are integrally formed with the upper.

5. A shoe comprising the upper according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a sole located below the upper.

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