Footwear

Abstract

Provided is a footwear that can prevent or improve discomfort such as low back pain, stiff shoulders, and coldness by increasing the frequency of moving the toes and exercising the thigh muscles. 【Solution means】A sole that covers the entire sole of the user's foot when viewed from the back side, a strap located on the surface of the sole, and a toe box that is a connection portion of the strap to the sole, wherein the surface of the sole has a step of 30 mm or more so as to be bent to grip the user's toes, the footwear.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to footwear.

Background Art

[0002] It is known that an improper body posture causes symptoms of discomfort such as low back pain, stiff shoulders, and coldness. In modern people who spend a long time wearing shoes in daily life, the fact that toes are not used much during walking is one of the fundamental causes.

[0003] Sandals have been proposed that encourage the use of toes and can improve diseases and physical discomfort caused by the increased posterior pelvic tilt and hunchback in the general modern population (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, even with conventional technologies such as Patent Document 1, the improvement of discomfort such as low back pain, stiff shoulders, and coldness is still not sufficient, and further improvement is required.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The gist of the present invention is as follows. (1) A sole that covers the entire sole of the user's foot when viewed from the back side, A thong located on the surface of the sole, and A forecourt that is the connection portion of the thong to the sole including, The surface of the sole has a step of 30 mm or more so as to be bent to grip the user's toes, Footwear. (2) The sole includes an outsole and an insole positioned on the outsole, and the front part of the insole is shorter than the outsole so as to have the step. The footwear according to (1) above. (3) The front sole has a width of 10 to 20 mm, and the footwear according to (1) or (2) above. (4) The front sole has a convex portion for pressing the user's Taichong, and the footwear according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide footwear capable of preventing or improving discomfort such as low back pain, stiff shoulders, and coldness by increasing the frequency of moving the toes and exercising the inner thigh muscles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The present disclosure relates to footwear (hereinafter also referred to as "this footwear") including a sole that covers the entire sole of a user's foot when viewed from the back side, a thong located on the surface of the sole, and a vamp that is a connection portion of the thong to the sole. The surface of the sole has a step of 30 mm or more so as to be bent to grip the user's toes.

[0010] Conventionally, generally worn shoes have a shape in which the toe portion of the sole is warped upward for easy walking. A user wearing the shoes makes few movements to grip the toes and uses the inner thigh muscles less, so they are likely to feel cold and are also likely to have concave legs, which may induce diseases such as knee pain, low back pain, and stiff shoulders.

[0011] On the other hand, according to this footwear, by increasing the frequency of moving the toes and exercising the inner thigh muscles, it is possible to prevent or improve discomfort such as low back pain, shoulder stiffness, and coldness. A user using this footwear can bend the toes to grip a step of 30 mm or more provided on the surface of the sole while pinching the vamp with the web between the thumb and the index finger. By bending the toes to grip the step while pinching the vamp with the web between the thumb and the index finger, blood circulation is promoted and the inner thigh muscles can be exercised. As a result, it is possible to prevent or improve coldness and also prevent or improve concave legs. By preventing or improving coldness and preventing or improving concave legs, it is possible to prevent or improve knee pain, low back pain, shoulder stiffness, etc.

[0012] Hereinafter, the configuration of this footwear will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of this footwear 100 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 shows a side schematic view of this footwear 100. FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of this footwear 100 as viewed from the back side. FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of this footwear 100 as viewed from the heel side. The footwear 100 in FIGS. 1 to 4 is for the right foot. The footwear 100 can be used in pairs for the right foot and the left foot.

[0013] The footwear 100 includes a sole 10 that covers the entire sole of the user's foot when viewed from the back surface 12 side, a strap 20 located on the front surface 11 of the sole 10, and a toe box 30 that is the connection portion of the strap 20 to the sole 10. The toe box 30 is the portion sandwiched between the knuckles of the user's thumb and index finger. The toe box 30 bears one of the three points on the toe side where the strap 20 is inserted into the sole 10. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the three points where the strap 20 is inserted into the sole 10 may be fastened to the back surface 12 of the sole by the fastening portion 22 of the strap and the fastening portion 32 of the toe box.

[0014] Covering the entire sole of the user's foot means that when viewed from the back surface 12 side, substantially the entire sole of the foot on which the user's weight is applied is hidden by the sole 10. By forming a sole structure in which substantially the entire sole of the foot is hidden by the sole 10, when walking while wearing the footwear 100 and pinching the toe box with the knuckles of the thumb and index finger and bending while gripping a step 40 of 30 mm or more provided on the front surface 11 of the sole 10, the front surface 11 of the sole 10 can strike against the heel when lifting the top of the foot in the advancing direction, making a hitting sound. By walking while listening to this sound, it is possible to confirm that one is walking while pinching the toe box 30 with the knuckles of the thumb and index finger and bending the toes so as to grip the step. That is, it is possible to confirm whether one is walking correctly so as to exhibit the function of the footwear 100 based on the presence or absence of the sound. Bending the toes so as to grip means bending the toes so that the belly of the toes touches the side surface of the step 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a state in which the toes of the foot wearing this footwear are bent so as to grip the step, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a state in which one walks while wearing this footwear and bending the toes of the foot so as to grip the step.

[0015] In addition, since the sole 10 that contacts the sole of the foot covers up to the heel excluding the toes, it is possible to walk in a correct posture with a firm step while pinching the toe box with the knuckles of the thumb and index finger and bending the toes so as to grip the step.

[0016] Furthermore, by adopting a sole structure in which substantially the entire sole of the foot bearing the user's weight is hidden in the sole 10, it is possible to safely walk on a road with stones or protrusions. The footwear 100 has a structure suitable for going out and can be used daily, and the health improvement effect can be obtained efficiently. The footwear 100 can promote the exercise of gripping the toes whether sitting on a chair or walking.

[0017] The time the user wears the footwear 100 is preferably 30 minutes or more, more preferably 45 minutes or more, and even more preferably 60 minutes or more per day. By wearing the footwear 100 for the above preferred time, the health improvement effect due to the action of the footwear 100 can be obtained more efficiently.

[0018] The surface 11 of the sole 10 has a step 40 of 30 mm or more so as to be bent to grip the user's toes. Furthermore, by pinching the front sole 30 with the web between the thumb and the index finger and bending to grip the toes, the inner thigh muscles can be efficiently exercised.

[0019] The step 40 should have a height of 30 mm or more so that the toes can be bent and the fingertips do not strongly hit the lower sole (outsole 121). If the step 40 is 30 mm or more, for an average adult male, the fingertips of the toes do not strongly hit the outsole 121. In the present application, the height of the step 40 is the height in the vertical direction. When the step 40 is less than 30 mm, when walking while bending the toes as if grasping, the fingertips strongly hit the outsole of the step, and it is impossible to walk while sufficiently bending the fingers as if grasping. In the schematic diagram of Fig. 7, when wearing this footwear and walking with the toes of the foot bent as if grasping the step, the fingertips of the toes touch the outsole 121, but the fingertips do not strongly hit the outsole 121 and it is possible to walk while sufficiently bending the fingers as if grasping. The step 40 is 30 mm or more, preferably 35 mm or more or 40 mm or more. The upper limit of the step is not particularly limited, but if the step 40 is too high, the sole becomes thick and it is difficult to walk, so the upper limit of the step 40 may be set to about 50 mm. This footwear 100 can prepare variations with different heights of the step 40 according to the foot size and toe length for adults, children, etc.

[0020] The toes that are bent as if grasping the step may be all the toes or some of the toes. For example, they may be the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, or the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, or the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, or the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger.

[0021] Depending on the position of the edge of the step 40, the toes that can be bent as if grasping the step may change. For example, when the edge 41 corresponding to the position of the thumb of the step 40 is closer to the nail tip side (upper side in Fig. 1), the number of toes that can be bent as if grasping is small, and when the edge of the step 40 is closer to the heel side (lower side in Fig. 1), the number of toes that can be bent as if grasping can be increased. This footwear 100 can prepare variations with different positions of the edge 41 of the step 40 according to the symptoms to be improved.

[0022] The edge 41 of the step 40 is located at a position corresponding to the toe side of the transverse arch connecting the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe shown in Fig. 8, and is located at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the second joint or the vicinity of the first joint from the vicinity of the base of the toe. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the sole. Since the edge 41 of the step 40 is in such a position, the toes can be bent as if grasping them.

[0023] The distance between the heel-side position of the front sole 30 and the edge 41 is preferably within 25 mm, and may also be within 20 mm, within 15 mm, within 10 mm, or within 5 mm. Since the distance between the heel-side position of the front sole 30 and the edge 41 is the above-preferred distance, the toes can be bent sufficiently to grasp them at the step 40 while sandwiching the front sole with the finger webs of the thumb and index finger. The footwear 100 can be prepared in variations where the distance between the heel-side position of the front sole 30 and the edge 41 is different according to the foot size and toe length for adults, children, etc. The sole on the toe side of the front sole 30 may have a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may be resin, plastic, or metal. When the distance between the heel-side position of the front sole 30 and the edge 41 is small, the strength of the sole on the toe side of the front sole 30 may be insufficient, but the provision of a reinforcing member can prevent the sole from breaking.

[0024] The angle θ of the step 40 shown in Fig. 2 may be an angle that is easy to bend the toes as if grasping them. If the angle θ is too small, the strength of the sole near the edge 41 of the step 40 is likely to decrease, and if the angle θ is too large, it becomes difficult to bend the toes as if grasping them. Therefore, the angle θ of the step 40 may be, for example, 60 to 120 degrees, 70 to 110 degrees, 80 to 100 degrees, 85 to 95 degrees, or approximately a right angle.

[0025] The surface 11 of the sole 10 can be flat. Conventionally, in generally worn shoes, the sole surface corresponding to the arch bulges, making it impossible to exercise the cushioning function of the arch and prone to hollow feet. In contrast, in this footwear 100, since the surface 11 of the sole 10 is flat, the cushioning function of the arch of the user's sole can be exerted, and the action of gripping the toes can be performed more efficiently. When a user wears this footwear 100, by stepping on the entire sole of the foot other than the toes on the flat surface 11 of the sole 10 and bending the toes to grip the step 11 of the sole 10, knee pain, low back pain, stiff shoulders, etc. can be prevented or improved more efficiently, and it is also possible to prevent or improve flat feet.

[0026] The surface 11 of the sole 10 can be substantially horizontal. Conventionally, in generally worn shoes, the heel side is high and the toe side is low, with an inclination on the sole surface. However, in this footwear 100, the surface 11 of the sole 10 from the heel side to the toe side can be substantially horizontal, and can also be substantially horizontal in the direction perpendicular to the direction from the heel side to the toe side (the foot width direction).

[0027] Since the surface 11 of the sole 10 is substantially horizontal, one can walk while bending and gripping the toes while attaching the sole from the heel to the base of the toes of the sole of the foot, so that the muscle strength of the ankle can be exercised and flexibility can be improved. When the horizontal angle is set to 0 degrees, the angle of the surface 11 of the sole 10 with respect to the horizontal means within ±20 degrees, within ±10 degrees, within ±5 degrees, within ±2 degrees, or within ±1 degree.

[0028] This footwear 100 can be, for example, sandals, straw sandals, rubber straw sandals, geta, snowshoes, shoes, etc.

[0029] The materials of the sole 10, the thong 20, and the vamp 30 can be the materials conventionally used for the above-mentioned sandals, etc. For example, the sole 10 may be made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) resin or polyethylene resin, and the thong 20 and the vamp 30 may be made of polyvinyl chloride resin.

[0030] The sole 10 may be integral or may be composed of a plurality of members. When the sole 10 is composed of a plurality of members, the sole 10 preferably includes an outsole 121 and an insole 111 located on the outsole 121, as shown in FIG. 5, and the insole 111 is shorter in the front part than the outsole 121 so as to have a step 40. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the footwear 100 having a sole 10 including an outsole 121 and an insole 111 located on the outsole 121.

[0031] Since the sole 10 is composed of the insole 111 and the outsole 121, an outsole 121 that covers the entire sole and an insole 111 with a shorter toe side for forming the step 40 are separately prepared and bonded together with an adhesive or the like, whereby the sole 10 having the step 40 can be easily formed. Further, since the sole 10 is composed of the insole 111 and the outsole 121, soles 10 of a plurality of variations with different positions of the edge 41 of the step 40 can be easily formed. The insole 111 and the outsole 121 may be removable. The outsole 121 may be a shoe, and the insole 111 having the nose strap 20 and the front sole 30 may be inserted into the shoe as the outsole 121 and used as the footwear 100. The insole 111 and the outsole 121 may be one or a plurality of sheets respectively.

[0032] The front sole 30 preferably has a width of 10 to 20 mm. The width means the foot width direction. The front sole 30 can be cylindrical and may have a diameter of 10 to 20 mm. By the front sole 30 having the preferred width or diameter, it is possible to walk by pinching the front sole 30 with the finger crotch while sufficiently spreading the finger crotch between the thumb and the index finger to have a stretching effect, and the inner thigh muscles can be exercised more efficiently.

[0033] The front sole 30 preferably has a convex portion 31 for pressing the Taichong point of the user. A schematic diagram of the convex portion 31 is shown in FIG. 4. Taichong is the second acupoint on the Jueyin Liver Meridian of the foot. Taichong is located in the V-shaped depression where the bones between the big toe (the first toe) and the index finger (the second toe) of the foot intersect. By having the convex portion 31 on the front sole 30, the Taichong point of the user can be stimulated. The position of the convex portion 31 can be on both sides of the front sole 30 at the boundary with the nose strap 20 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0034] The convex portion 31 preferably has a diameter and height of 2 to 8 mm or 3 to 7 mm. By having the preferred diameter and height, the Taichong point can be stimulated more efficiently. The convex portion 31 may be integrally formed with the front sole 30, or a member serving as the convex portion 31 may be attached to the front sole 30 with an adhesive, tape, etc. The material of the convex portion 31 may be any material having a hardness capable of stimulating the Taichong point. For example, it may be made of EVA resin, polyethylene (PE) resin, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin.

Example

[0035] (Example 1) A sandal schematically shown in FIG. 1 was produced. The produced sandal has an EVA outsole with a thickness of 15 mm, and an EVA insole with a thickness of 30 mm located on the outsole, having a short front part on the toe side, a flat and substantially horizontal surface, and forming a step. A PVC nose strap located on the surface of the sole, a cylindrical PVC front sole with a width (diameter) of 15 mm at the connection part of the nose strap to the sole, and a 30 mm step having an edge at a position corresponding to the base of the toes so as to be bent to hold the toes on the surface of the sole.

[0036] Five subjects were made to wear the produced sandals for 60 minutes per day, including a 30-minute walk, for 20 days every day, and the physical symptoms before and after the test were evaluated. The subjects had one or more physical symptoms such as low back pain, stiff shoulders, or coldness, and when all five subjects' physical symptoms disappeared or improved, it was rated 2; when some of the physical symptoms of the five subjects disappeared or improved, it was rated 1; and when no substantial change in the physical symptoms was felt in all five subjects, it was rated 0.

[0037] (Example 2) A sandal with the same configuration as in Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the step was 45 mm.

[0038] (Example 3) A sandal with the same configuration as in Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the width (diameter) of the front sole was 10 mm.

[0039] (Example 4) A sandal with the same configuration as in Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the width (diameter) of the front sole was 20 mm.

[0040] (Example 5) A sandal with the same configuration as in Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the width (diameter) of the front sole was 25 mm.

[0041] (Example 6) A sandal with the same configuration as in Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the width (diameter) of the front sole was 5 mm.

[0042] (Example 7) A sandal with the same configuration as in Example 6 was tested under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the front sole had a convex part for pressing a thick punch with a diameter and height of 5 mm.

[0043] (Comparative Example 1) A sandal having the same configuration as that of Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as those of Example 1, except that the step difference was 15 mm.

[0044] (Comparative Example 2) A sandal having the same configuration as that of Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as those of Example 1, except that it had no nose strap and instead was provided with a band for fixing the instep in the foot width direction.

[0045] (Comparative Example 3) A sandal having the same configuration as that of Example 1 was tested under the same conditions as those of Example 1, except that the heel side of the sole was short and did not cover the heel.

[0046] Table 1 shows the test results of Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

Table 1

Explanation of Signs

[0047] 100 Footwear 10 Sole 11 Surface of the sole 111 Insole 12 Back surface of the sole 121 Outsole 20 Nose strap 22 Fastening part of the nose strap 30 Toe cap 31 Protrusion 32 Fastening part of the toe cap 40 Step difference 41 Edge of the step difference

Claims

1. A sole that covers the entire sole of the user's foot when viewed from the inside, A thong located on the surface of the sole, and A toe cap that is the connection portion of the thong to the sole A footwear including: The surface of the sole has a step of 30 mm or more so as to be bent to grip the user's toes, The surface of the sole is flat and substantially horizontal, The toe cap has a width of 10 to 20 mm, The sole includes an outsole and an insole located on the outsole, The insole is shorter in the front than the outsole so as to have the step, A space exists between the tip of the toe and the surface of the outsole in a state where the user bends the toes of the foot wearing the footwear to grip the step so that the tip of the toe does not contact the surface of the outsole, Footwear.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the toe cap has convex portions on both sides of the toe cap at the boundary with the thong.

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