Insole material for footwear and footwear provided with the same

Abstract

Provided is a core material for footwear that is easy to wear and has excellent rigidity that suppresses deformation of the core material when wearing footwear. 【Solution means】A core material arranged at the heel part of footwear, having a lower part that bulges toward the rear side of the footwear so as to wrap around a person's heel, a constricted part that extends upward from the lower part and constricts toward the front side of the footwear, and an upper part that extends from the constricted part toward the rear of the footwear, wherein the thickness of the constricted part is configured to be thicker than the upper part and the lower part, and a cross-shaped first ridge is provided inside the constricted part. The core material for footwear is characterized by this.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a core material for footwear that facilitates the putting on and taking off of footwear and imparts durability to the heel portion.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when putting on footwear, it has been necessary to use tools such as shoehorns or hands and to bend down or sit down to put them on. Therefore, footwear that can be put on without using hands or shoehorns while standing and the core material used for the same are disclosed in the following patent documents.

[0003] Patent Document 1 shows a heel counter for quickly putting on shoes and providing a fitting feeling. This heel counter is composed of a head arch portion, a neck arch portion, an abdominal arch portion, and a foot portion. When a downward pressure is applied to the tray portion of the head arch portion, the tray portion deforms so as to warp according to the pressure, and the neck arch portion deforms so that the width of the V-shaped horizontal opening widens, and when the pressure is released, it returns to its original shape.

[0004] However, when deforming the heel counter by applying pressure when putting on shoes, a burden is applied to the heel portion of the footwear, so the heel portion is easily damaged and the shape is easily distorted.

[0005] Prior Art Document 2 is an article for footwear that assists in easily inserting the foot when putting on footwear. The upper part deforms from a first configuration to a second configuration when putting on shoes, and a heel cup is shown that forms a concave structure configured to receive the heel in the middle and lower parts. However, as with Patent Document 1, since a burden is applied to the heel cup by repeating the deformation, the heel portion of the footwear is easily damaged.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the above prior art, to make it easier to put on footwear, and to provide a footwear core material having excellent rigidity for suppressing deformation of the core material when wearing footwear, and footwear provided with the same.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a core material for footwear according to one aspect of the present invention is a core material disposed at the heel portion of the footwear, and has a lower portion that bulges rearward of the footwear so as to wrap around a person's heel, a constricted portion that extends upward from the lower portion and constricts on the front side of the footwear, and an upper portion that extends rearward from the constricted portion. The thickness of the constricted portion is configured to be thicker than the upper portion and the lower portion, and a cross-shaped first ridge is provided inside the constricted portion.

[0009] According to this configuration, the lower portion of the core material holds a person's heel, the constricted portion holds it along the vicinity of the Achilles tendon of the person's ankle, and together with the upper portion extending rearward, the shape of the core material makes it easy for a person's foot to be inserted into the footwear. Therefore, it is easy to insert the foot into the footwear. In addition, since the constricted portion is thicker than other portions, the rigidity of the portion where the load is likely to be applied is increased, resulting in a stable core material. Furthermore, by providing a cross-shaped ridge in the constricted portion, the rigidity of the constricted portion, which is strong against both vertical and lateral loads, is further enhanced. As a result, when the foot is inserted, the heel portion is securely fixed by this core material, making it easier to insert the foot than before. Also, when wearing the footwear, since the upper portion does not deform, the durability is high and pain in the heel portion is less likely to occur.

[0010] This core material for footwear is characterized in that a lattice-shaped second ridge is formed on the inner surface side of the core material. According to this configuration, the second ridge of the lattice strip formed on the inner surface side of the core material makes the core material even more rigid and stable.

[0011] This insole for footwear is characterized in that the second ridge is in a diagonal lattice pattern. According to this configuration, since the second ridge becomes a diagonal lattice strip, that is, a lattice strip in which rhombuses are arranged, it forms a honeycomb structure like a beehive, so that the rigidity is further increased and a stable insole is obtained.

[0012] This insole for footwear is characterized in that the first ridge is wider and higher than the second ridge. According to this configuration, it becomes a stable insole with high strength against the vertical load and the lateral load in the constricted part where the load is likely to be applied.

[0013] This insole for footwear is characterized in that the thickness of the frontmost part of the constricted part is configured to be 0.5 mm or more thicker than the thicknesses of the thinnest parts of the lower part and the upper part. According to this configuration, since the thickness of the constricted part where stress is likely to concentrate due to the load is configured to be thicker than the upper part and the lower part, it becomes a firm and stable insole and the durability is improved.

[0014] This insole for footwear is characterized in that the material of the insole is polypropylene. While polyethylene is generally used as the material of conventional insoles, by using polypropylene, an insole with higher rigidity than before is obtained, which is less likely to be deformed by external forces, and has a light specific gravity and is lightweight. Also, it is resistant to heat, water, and bending.

[0015] This insole for footwear is characterized in that the material of the insole is semi-transparent or transparent. According to this configuration, while white, black, etc. are generally used for conventional insoles, by making the insole semi-transparent or transparent, when it is enclosed in the heel part, the color bleeding to the outside is suppressed and it is difficult to impair the aesthetic appearance. Thereby, it also becomes possible to use a thin upper fabric.

[0016] In a side view of the insole for footwear, the length from the foremost end of the insole to the rearmost end of the upper part is the same as or 5 mm or less longer than the length from the foremost end of the insole to the rearmost end of the lower part (see Fig. 7). According to this configuration, since the upper part of the insole does not protrude or protrudes slightly from behind the lower part of the insole, it is easy to wear and does not impair the aesthetics. Furthermore, it becomes an insole that is strong against an upward load applied to the upper part of the insole. If the upper part of the insole protrudes greatly backward, when a load is applied from above to that part, the upper part of the insole is likely to deform.

[0017] In a side view of the insole for footwear, the lower part is curved so as to bulge forward from the foremost end of the lower edge. According to this configuration, for example, like the shape of the front of the 0 series Shinkansen, the lower end of the lower part of the insole does not extend to the tip of the insole, but rather bulges upward, so it can prevent interference on both sides of the foot that may occur when the lower end of the lower part of the insole extends to the tip, and the wearing comfort is improved.

[0018] The upper part of the insole for footwear is configured such that the thickness gradually decreases from the constricted part to the end, and the thickness becomes 0 at the end. According to this configuration, since the thickness gradually decreases from the constricted part to the upper part and finally disappears, it becomes a neatly fitting insole. As a result, when enclosed in footwear, it forms a neat heel.

[0019] In a rear view of the insole for footwear, the upper edge of the upper part and the lower edge of the lower part are substantially parallel. According to this configuration, compared to the case where the rear end of the upper part of the insole protrudes upward to form an acute angle or a peak shape, it becomes an insole that is strong against an upward load, and it is easier to wear because it is less likely to interfere with that part when putting the foot in.

[0020] This insole for footwear is characterized in that, when viewed from the side, the front edge curves from the upper end to the lower end, and from the upper end to the most bulging part toward the front of the lower part, it gently descends from the rear to the front, and from the most bulging part toward the front of the lower part to the lower end, it gently descends toward the rear. According to this configuration, since the edges are gently continuous, there is no snagging when worn, and the wearing comfort is good.

[0021] It is characterized in that the inclination angle from the upper end of the front edge to the bulging part toward the front of the lower part is 45 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction. According to this configuration, since the inclination angle is 45 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction, that is, the edge is lying horizontally and not standing upright, the snagging when worn is reduced.

[0022] It is characterized in that the inclination angle of the front edge in the upper part with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller than the inclination angle of the front edge with respect to the horizontal direction from there to the bulging part toward the front of the lower part. According to this configuration, since the upper edge is in a more lying state, the heel part is not standing inadvertently, and it is difficult to interfere during wearing and easy to wear.

[0023] A footwear according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized by including the above-described insole for footwear inside the heel part. According to this configuration, since it includes this insole for footwear whose upper part extends rearward in the heel part, it becomes a footwear that is easy to wear. Also, due to this insole with high rigidity, the heel part is firmly fixed, so it is easy to wear and has high durability.

Effect of the Invention

[0024] The insole for footwear of the present invention makes the footwear easy to wear and strengthens the heel part of the footwear.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Hereinafter, an insole for footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention and a shoe provided with the same will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be replaced and are easy for those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described below can be combined as appropriate. Also, various omissions, substitutions, or changes in the configuration can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following embodiments will be described by taking sneakers as an example, but the present invention is not limited to sneakers and can also be applied to men's business shoes, women's shoes such as pumps, and children's shoes.

[0027] <Configuration of Footwear> FIG. 1 is a side view of a footwear containing an insole for footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. The short wavy line indicates the insole for footwear contained in the heel part. As shown in FIG. 1, a footwear 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper 2 and a sole 3 as main components. The sole 3 is mainly made of materials such as rubber or foamed resin, and an uneven pattern (not shown) is formed on the bottom surface. Note that a material such as leather can also be used for the sole 3.

[0028] The upper 2 of the present embodiment has a heel part 4, a collar 5, a vamp 6, and a shoelace 7. Note that it is also possible to configure the footwear without the vamp 6 and the shoelace 7. The heel part 4 incorporates an insole for footwear 10, which will be described later.

[0029] In the heel portion 4 of this embodiment, a guide portion 41 extending rearward is formed. Note that the guide portion 41 can also be configured as a guide portion extending rearward and upward. Further, the guide portion 41 has a curved shape convex rearward and gradually becomes narrower from bottom to top.

[0030] Also, the footwear 1 is provided with a cushion portion 42 on the rear side of the opening 5, that is, the front side above the heel portion 4. The cushion portion 42 has a shape convex rearward along the shape of the rear side of the opening 5, and thereby holds a person's ankle. Note that the surface of the cushion portion 42 is attached with a slippery lining material, and a cushion material (not shown) is enclosed inside.

[0031] With this cushion portion 42, when putting on the footwear, it is easy to put the foot into the footwear, and after wearing, the cushion portion 42 holds the rear side of the ankle, making it difficult to take off.

[0032] <Configuration of the footwear core material> Next, the footwear core material 10 enclosed in the heel portion 4 of the footwear 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the footwear core material according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the footwear core material according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the footwear core material according to an embodiment of the present invention cut in the height direction. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the footwear core material according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a little above the front. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the footwear core material according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a little above the rear.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the footwear core material 10 has a lower portion 10C that bulges on the rear side of the footwear 1 so as to wrap around a person's heel, a constricted portion 10B that extends upward from the lower portion 10C and constricts on the front side of the footwear 1, and an upper portion 10A that extends rearward from the constricted portion 10B. Further, the cross-section of the footwear core material 10 cut in the height direction at the center of the rear end is formed in a substantially S shape that bulges forward from the upper end, then bulges greatly rearward therefrom, and further curves forward toward the lower end therefrom.

[0034] Also, the lower portion 10C of the footwear core material 10 has a cross-section cut in the horizontal direction that is curved in a substantially U shape convex rearward, forming a shape that wraps around a person's heel. The upper portion 10A also has a cross-section cut in the horizontal direction that is curved in a substantially U shape convex rearward. Also, the curvature of the cross-section of the upper portion 10A is a gentle curve with a greater curvature than the curvature of the cross-section of the lower portion 10C, and is in a small arc shape, forming a shape like a shoe tongue.

[0035] Also, in a side view, the footwear core material 10 is curved so as to bulge forward from the foremost end of the lower edge (the most forward side of the lower edge) of the lower portion 10C. Also, in a side view, the front edge portion is formed to be curved from the upper end to the lower end. From the upper end of the upper portion 10A to the most bulging portion toward the front of the lower portion 10C, it gently descends from the rear to the front, and from the most bulging portion toward the front of the lower portion 10C to the lower end, it gently descends toward the rear.

[0036] That is, the lower portion 10C of the footwear core material 10 is shaped such that the lower end does not reach the foremost end of the footwear core material 10 but bulges upward, like the shape of the front of the 0 series Shinkansen. This suppresses interference on both sides of the foot that could occur if the lower end of the lower portion 10C extended to the foremost end, improving the wearing comfort. Also, since the front edge portion of the footwear core material 10 is smoothly continuous, there is no snagging when worn, improving the wearing comfort.

[0037] In addition, for the front edge of the insole core material 10 for footwear, the inclination angle from the upper end of the upper part 10A to the bulging part toward the front of the lower part 10C is 45 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction. And further, the inclination angle of the front edge in the upper part 10A with respect to the horizontal direction is even smaller than the inclination angle of the front edge from there to the bulging part toward the front of the lower part 10C, and it is configured with a gentle inclination.

[0038] As a result, since the inclination angle is 45 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction, that is, the front edge is lying horizontally and not standing upright, the snagging is reduced when wearing, and since the front edge of the upper part 10A is in a more lying state, the heel part 4 is not standing inadvertently, and it is difficult to interfere when wearing and easy to put on.

[0039] Also, in the insole core material 10 for footwear of the present embodiment, in a side view, the length from the foremost end bulging most forward of the lower part 10C to the rearmost end which is the upper end of the upper part 10A is about 1 mm longer than the length from the foremost end of the lower part 10C to the rearmost end bulging most rearward of the lower part 10C (see Fig. 7). Note that these lengths may be configured to be substantially the same.

[0040] As a result, with respect to the load from above to the upper part 10A, not only the upper part 10A but also the lower part 10C below is directly loaded, so it becomes a core material strong against the load from above, and the deformation of the upper part 10A can also be suppressed. Also, since the upper part 10A does not protrude from behind the lower part 10C or protrudes only slightly, it is easy to wear and the appearance is not impaired.

[0041] Also, in the insole core material 10 for footwear, in a rear view, the upper edge of the upper part 10A and the lower edge of the lower part 10C are substantially parallel. As a result, compared to the case where the rear end of the upper part 10A protrudes upward and forms an acute angle or a peak shape, it becomes a core material strong against the load from above, and when putting the foot in, that part is less likely to interfere and it becomes easier to wear.

[0042] In addition, the insole core material 10 for footwear in this embodiment is configured such that the thickness at the foremost part of the constricted portion 10B is about 1 mm thicker than the thickness of the thinnest parts of the lower portion 10C and the upper portion 10A. Since the thickness of the constricted portion 10B where stress due to load is likely to concentrate is made thicker than that of the upper portion 10A and the lower portion 10C, it prevents breakage and damage and becomes a firm and stable core material. Although it is also possible to configure the constricted portion 10B, the upper portion 10A, and the lower portion 10C to all have the same thickness, in terms of strength, it is desirable that the constricted portion 10B has the above-described thickness.

[0043] Further, the insole core material 10 for footwear is configured such that the upper portion 10A gradually decreases in thickness from the constricted portion 10B to the end, and the thickness becomes 0 at the upper end. As a result, the thickness gradually decreases from the constricted portion 10B to the upper portion 10A and finally disappears, so it becomes a well-fitting and neat core material with excellent aesthetics.

[0044] Moreover, since this insole core material 10 for footwear is made of translucent polypropylene, compared with conventional polyethylene, it becomes a core material with higher rigidity than before, is less likely to deform due to external force, and has a low specific gravity and is lightweight. Also, it is resistant to heat, water, and bending. Further, when the insole core material 10 for footwear is enclosed in the heel part 4, it suppresses color bleeding to the outside and is less likely to damage the aesthetics, so it is also possible to use a thin upper fabric.

[0045] And on the entire inner surface side (front side of the footwear 1) of the insole core material 10 for footwear, diagonal lattice-shaped protrusions 12 are formed. In this embodiment, as an example, the protrusion 12 has a line width of 0.8 mm and a protrusion height of 0.4 mm. According to this configuration, the protrusions 12 become diagonal lattice bars, that is, lattice bars in which rhombuses are arranged, and a honeycomb structure like that of a beehive is formed, so it becomes a highly rigid and stable core material.

[0046] Furthermore, in addition to the ridges 12 of the diagonal lattice pattern, the inner surface side of the constricted portion 10B of the footwear core material 10 is provided with cross-shaped ridges 11. The cross-shaped ridges 11 have vertical ridges 11a extending in the height direction of the footwear and horizontal ridges 11b extending in the width direction of the footwear. Also, the cross-shaped ridges 11 are wide and have a high protruding height with higher strength than the ridges 12 of the diagonal lattice pattern. In this embodiment, as an example, the ridges 11 have a line width of 1.0 mm and a protruding height of 0.6 mm.

[0047] By providing the constricted portion 10B with the cross-shaped ridges 11, it is strong against both vertical and lateral loads, and the rigidity of the constricted portion 10B is further enhanced. As a result, when inserting the foot, the heel is securely fixed by this core material, making it easier to insert the foot than before. Also, when wearing the footwear, since the upper part does not deform, it has high durability and is less likely to cause pain in the heel.

[0048] Since the footwear core material 10 of this embodiment has the above configuration, by enclosing this in the heel portion 4 of the footwear 1, together with the upper portion 10A like a sole of the footwear core material 10 and the cushion portion 42 in front of this, without using a separate sole or the like, it becomes a footwear that is easy to insert and wear a person's foot into the footwear. Also, due to the highly rigid footwear core material 10, the heel portion 4 is firmly fixed, so it becomes an even more comfortable-to-wear footwear and has high durability.

[0049] <Other Embodiments> As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, but various additions, changes, or deletions are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, in the side view of the footwear core material, the length from the foremost end that bulges most forward at the lower part to the rearmost end that is the upper end at the upper part is about 1 mm longer than the length from the foremost end at the lower part to the rearmost end that bulges most backward at the lower part, but these may be configured to have substantially the same length. Also, in the above embodiment, an example of applying the present invention to sneakers has been used for the description, but it is also possible to apply it to footwear such as business shoes and formal shoes.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 1 Footwear 10 Core material for footwear 10A Upper part 10B Narrow part 10C Lower part 11 Ridge 11a Vertical ridge 11b Horizontal ridge 12 Ridge 2 Upper 3 Sole 4 Heel part 41 Guide part 42 Cushion part 5 Top edge of footwear 6 Thong 7 Shoelace

Claims

1. A core material arranged in a heel part of a footwear, The footwear has a lower portion that bulges toward the rear of the footwear so as to encase the heel of a person, a narrow portion that extends upward from the lower portion and narrows toward the front of the footwear, and an upper portion that extends from the narrow portion toward the rear of the footwear, The thickness of the constricted portion is configured to be thicker than the thickness of the upper portion and the thickness of the lower portion, A cross-shaped first protrusion is provided on the inside of the constricted portion. Core material for footwear.

2. A lattice-shaped second protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the core material. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

3. The second protrusions are in a diagonal lattice pattern. The footwear core material according to claim 2.

4. The first protrusions are wider and taller than the second protrusions. The footwear core material according to claim 2.

5. The thickness of the frontmost part of the constricted portion is 0.5 mm or more thicker than the thickness of the thinnest parts of the lower portion and the upper portion. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

6. The core material is polypropylene. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

7. The material of the core material is translucent or transparent. The footwear core material according to claim 6.

8. In a side view of the core material, the length from the front end of the core material to the rear end of the upper part is equal to the length from the front end of the core material to the rear end of the lower part or is longer by within a range of 5 mm. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

9. In a side view of the core material, the lower portion is curved so as to bulge forward from the tip of the lower edge. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

10. The upper portion is configured so that the thickness gradually decreases from the constricted portion to the end portion, and the thickness becomes zero at the end portion. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

11. When viewed from the back of the core material, an upper edge of the upper portion and a lower edge of the lower portion are approximately parallel to each other. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

12. In a side view of the core material, the front edge is curved from the upper end to the lower end, and the section from the upper end to the most bulging part toward the front of the lower part gradually descends from the rear to the front, and the section from the most bulging part toward the front of the lower part to the lower end gradually descends toward the rear. The footwear core material according to claim 1.

13. The inclination angle from the upper end of the front edge to the forward bulging portion of the lower part is 45 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction. The footwear core material according to claim 12.

14. The inclination angle of the front edge of the upper portion with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller than the inclination angle of the front edge from the upper portion to the forwardly bulging portion of the lower portion with respect to the horizontal direction. The footwear core material according to claim 13.

15. Footwear comprising the footwear core material according to any one of claims 1 to 14 inside a heel portion.

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