Last and shoe upper former

Abstract

To facilitate alignment of a shoe upper when molding the shoe upper in a last configured by combining a plurality of parts including plate-like parts.SOLUTION: A last 100A is so configured that at least a part of a specific area, the area corresponding to an upper end of a part to be molded of a shoe upper, out of a molding face S for molding the shoe upper is made of a plurality of plate-like parts 104 included in a plurality of parts. The plurality of plate-like parts 104 are spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the upper end of the shoe upper, so that the specific area of the part made of the plurality of plate-like parts 104 is regulated by respective end faces of the plurality of plate-like parts 104. A recess 109 serving as a mark for alignment with the last 100A when putting on the shoe upper, is provided at the specific area of the part made of the plurality of plate-like parts 104.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a last for molding a shoe upper onto which a shoe upper can be placed to mold the shoe upper, and a shoe upper molding tool including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, when manufacturing shoes, a last (shoe mold) is used to form the shoe upper (hereinafter simply referred to as "upper") into a predetermined shape. This last has a molding surface on its surface, and the fabric or other material that constitutes the upper is placed over this last to form the upper.

[0003] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0014609 discloses manufacturing shoes in a portable housing, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0206049 discloses a remoldable last preform made from shape memory polymers, and Chinese Patent No. 109732913 discloses manufacturing lasts by 3D printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0014609 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0206049 [Patent Document 3] Chinese Patent No. 109732913 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] If it were possible to easily manufacture a last with a molded surface that conforms to the shape of the wearer's foot, it would be possible to widely provide shoes with improved fit. One method for achieving this would be to manufacture a last by assembling multiple parts, including plate-shaped parts.

[0006] However, when a last is manufactured using such a method, a considerable gap is created on the surface of the last (i.e., a portion where no plate-like parts, etc., are placed), which poses a problem when molding the upper: how to align and position the unmolded upper (hereinafter also referred to as the upper molding material) relative to the last.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to make it possible to easily align a shoe upper when molding it in a last constructed by combining multiple parts including plate-shaped parts and in a shoe upper molding tool equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The last according to the present invention is for molding a shoe upper and is constructed by combining multiple parts, onto which the shoe upper is applied to mold it. Of the molding surface for molding the shoe upper, at least a portion of a specific region, which is a region corresponding to the upper end of the portion to be molded, is constructed from multiple plate-like parts included in the multiple parts. The specific region of the portion constructed from the multiple plate-like parts is defined by the end faces of the multiple plate-like parts, with the multiple plate-like parts being arranged at intervals from one another along the circumferential direction of the upper end of the shoe upper. In the last according to the present invention, a recessed portion is provided in the specific region of the portion constructed from the multiple plate-like parts, which serves as a mark for aligning the shoe upper to the last when applying it.

[0009] A shoe upper molding tool according to a first aspect of the present invention includes the last according to the present invention and a string-like fixing member for fixing the shoe upper to the last. In the shoe upper molding tool according to the first aspect of the present invention, the recess has a shape and size that can accommodate at least a portion of the fixing member so that the shoe upper can be sandwiched and held between the recess and the fixing member.

[0010] A shoe upper molding tool according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the last according to the present invention and a string-like fixing member for fixing the shoe upper to the last. In the shoe upper molding tool according to the second aspect of the present invention, the recess has a shape and size that allows the fixing member housed in the recess to be hooked. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, in a last constructed by combining multiple parts including plate-shaped parts and a shoe upper molding tool equipped with the same, it becomes possible to easily align the shoe upper when molding the shoe upper. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a shoe manufactured using a last according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how a wearer's foot is photographed to obtain a foot model. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a foot model. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a last model created based on a foot shape model. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a last according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]8 is a plan view showing a visualized cutting pattern of a wooden board from which some of the plate-shaped parts included in the last shown in FIG. 7 are cut out. FIG. [Figure 9] 8 is a plan view showing a visualized cutting pattern of a wooden board from which the remaining plate-shaped parts included in the last shown in FIG. 7 are cut out. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a method of assembling the last shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating the assembly structure of the plate-like parts in the last shown in FIG. 7.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 12] 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the assembly structure of the plate-like parts in the last shown in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a diagram illustrating a shoe upper molding tool according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by a shoe upper forming tool according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a diagram illustrating a shoe upper molding tool according to a third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by a shoe-upper forming tool according to a third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a last according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by a last according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a last according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 20] 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by a last according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the last according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by a last according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 23]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a last according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a last according to an eighth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, identical or common parts are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and their description will not be repeated. In the following description, terms such as front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-down are used. These directional terms refer to directions as seen from the perspective of a wearer wearing the shoe placed on a flat surface such as the ground. For example, "forward" refers to the toe side, and "backward" refers to the heel side.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a shoe manufactured using a last according to embodiment 1, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe shown in Fig. 1. First, before describing the last according to this embodiment, a shoe 1 manufactured using this last will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, shoe 1 is sock-shaped and covers almost the entire wearer's foot (i.e., the area distal to the ankle), and comprises a shell 10, a sole 20, and an upper 30. An opening 31 is provided at the top of shoe 1, through which the foot is inserted, and a space is formed inside shoe 1 into which the wearer's foot is inserted when the shoe is worn.

[0016] In the shoe 1, the sole 20 is housed in the shell 10, and the upper 30 is housed in the shell 10 so as to be located on the sole 20. As a result, the sole 20 is sandwiched between the shell 10 and the upper 30.

[0017] The shell 10 forms the outermost shell of the shoe 1 and is made of a single flexible member formed in a bag shape. The shell 10 has an opening 11 at its upper end. The shell 10 covers the bottom and peripheral surfaces of the sole 20 and the surface of the upper 30. The outer surface of the bottom of the shell 10 forms the ground contact surface of the shoe 1.

[0018] The shell 10 may be made of basically any material as long as it is flexible, but it is preferable that it has a moderate strength. From this perspective, the shell 10 is preferably made of a resin material or a rubber material. The shell 10 can also be manufactured by, for example, injection molding, cast molding, or modeling using a three-dimensional additive manufacturing device. In particular, if the shell 10 is manufactured by modeling using a three-dimensional additive manufacturing device, it is possible to manufacture shells 10 with a wide variety of structures that are difficult to manufacture by injection molding or cast molding.

[0019] The sole 20 is made of a flat, elastically deformable member that supports the sole of the wearer's foot in the shoe 1. The sole 20 is located in a lower space within the shell 10, close to the ground surface.

[0020] The sole 20 may be made of basically any material as long as it is elastically deformable, but is preferably made of a material that has adequate strength and excellent cushioning properties. From this perspective, for example, a resin foam material containing a resin material as a main component and a foaming agent and a cross-linking agent as secondary components is used for the sole 20. Alternatively, a rubber foam material containing a rubber material as a main component and a plasticizer, foaming agent, reinforcing agent, and cross-linking agent as secondary components may be used.

[0021] The upper 30 constitutes the portion of the shoe 1 that comes into contact with the wearer's foot, and is made of a flexibly deformable bag-like member. The upper 30 is located in an upper space near the opening 11 within the space provided inside the shell 10. The upper end of the upper 30 is positioned so as to protrude outward from the opening 11, and the portion of the upper 30 protruding from the opening 11 constitutes the above-mentioned shoe opening 31.

[0022] The upper 30 may be made of basically any material as long as it is flexibly deformable, but preferably, woven fabric, knitted fabric, nonwoven fabric, synthetic leather, resin, etc. are used. In particular, as will be described later, if a woven fabric, knitted fabric, nonwoven fabric, etc. made of heat-shrinkable synthetic fiber is used, the upper can be made to fit the wearer's foot better. Examples of heat-shrinkable synthetic fibers include those containing polyester, polyurethane, etc. as the main component.

[0023] That is, when the upper 30 is made of a heat-shrinkable synthetic woven or knitted fabric, nonwoven fabric, or the like, it can be formed into a bag shape in advance, and a last (described later) inserted therein and then subjected to a heat treatment. The heat shrinkage caused by the heat causes the upper to change shape and adhere to the molding surface of the last, and the changed shape is maintained. Therefore, by preparing a last that corresponds to the shape of the wearer's foot and using it to mold the upper 30 described above, it is possible to produce an upper 30 that fits the wearer's foot. Furthermore, by performing a heat treatment using the above-described last while the upper 30 is assembled into the shell 10, the upper 30 will also fit the shell 10, further improving fit.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing how a wearer's foot is photographed to obtain a foot last model, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the foot last model. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a last model created based on the foot last model. Next, with reference to Figs. 4 to 6, an example of a method for generating a last model when manufacturing a last that corresponds to the shape of the wearer's foot will be described.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, when generating a last model, first, a photograph of the wearer's foot F is taken using a mobile device capable of taking photographs, such as a smartphone P or a digital camera, to obtain image data of the foot F. The image data of the foot F may be taken at a store visited by the wearer. The store may be a fixed store or a mobile store using a car, trailer, or the like. The image data of the foot F may also be taken at the wearer's home. In this case, for example, the image data of the foot F taken by the wearer himself / herself is transmitted to a server of a shoe manufacturer.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 5, the foot model FM is a three-dimensional model generated from measurement data of each part of the wearer's foot F obtained from image data of the foot F. For example, when the wearer's foot F is photographed using a smartphone P, the foot model FM can be generated based on the image data using software pre-installed on the smartphone P. Alternatively, the foot model FM may be generated by performing a calculation using both the photographed image data and data stored on a server used by a shoe manufacturer.

[0027] The foot last model FM may be formed to have the same shape as the shape of the wearer's foot F. Also, for design or functional reasons, a particular portion of the foot last model FM may be corrected to the shape of the wearer's foot F by a desired dimension.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6, the last model LM is a model customized to fit the shape of the wearer's foot F, created based on the foot shape model FM shown in Fig. 5. By producing a last based on this last model LM, it is possible to manufacture a last that corresponds to the shape of the wearer's foot.

[0029] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a last according to the present embodiment. Next, the configuration of a last 100A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The last 100A according to the present embodiment is manufactured based on the above-described method for generating a last model, and corresponds to the shape of the wearer's foot.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 7, last 100A is made up of a combination of multiple detachable plate-like parts. The multiple plate-like parts include multiple foot length parts 101, multiple toe parts 102, multiple instep parts 103, multiple ankle parts 104, multiple heel circumference parts 105, multiple heel vertical parts 106, and multiple side parts 107.

[0031] Each of the multiple foot length direction parts 101 is made of a plate-like part extending in the front-to-back direction (i.e., the foot length direction) and the up-to-down direction (i.e., a direction perpendicular to both the foot length direction and the foot width direction). The multiple foot length direction parts 101 include two types: long and short (see Figure 8). The long one of the multiple foot length direction parts 101 serves as the base frame of the last 100A and is arranged so as to extend in the front-to-back direction at approximately the center in the left-to-right direction (i.e., the foot width direction). The short one of the multiple foot length direction parts 101 is arranged at a position corresponding to the front end of the wearer's toes.

[0032] Each of the plurality of toe parts 102 is made of a plate-shaped part extending in the left-right and up-down directions. The plurality of toe parts 102 are arranged at positions corresponding to the wearer's toes, and are assembled to the plurality of foot length direction parts 101.

[0033] Each of the instep parts 103 is made of a plate-shaped part extending in the left-right and up-down directions. The instep parts 103 are positioned at positions corresponding to the instep of the wearer, and are assembled to the foot length direction parts 101.

[0034] Each of the multiple ankle parts 104 is made of a plate-shaped part extending in the left-right and up-down directions. The multiple ankle parts 104 are to be placed at positions corresponding to the ankles of the wearer, and are assembled to the multiple foot length direction parts 101.

[0035] Each of the heel circumference parts 105 is made of a plate-shaped part extending in the front-rear and left-right directions. The heel circumference parts 105 are disposed at positions corresponding to the heels of the wearer, and are assembled to the foot length parts 101.

[0036] Each of the heel vertical direction parts 106 is made of a plate-shaped part extending in the vertical direction. The heel vertical direction parts 106 are arranged radially over a range of approximately 180° around an axis extending in the vertical direction. The heel vertical direction parts 106 are arranged at positions corresponding to the wearer's heels and are assembled to the heel circumferential direction parts 105.

[0037] Each of the side parts 107 is made of a plate-like part extending in the front-rear and left-right directions. The side parts 107 are arranged at positions corresponding to the wearer's toes and insteps, and are assembled to the toe parts 102 and instep parts 103.

[0038] When assembled, the end faces (i.e., the faces extending in the thickness direction of the plate-like parts) of the multiple foot lengthwise parts 101, multiple toe parts 102, multiple instep parts 103, multiple ankle parts 104, multiple heel circumference parts 105, multiple heel up-down parts 106, and multiple side parts 107 define a molding surface S of the last 100A. An upper molding material is applied to cover this molding surface S, thereby molding the upper 30.

[0039] Specifically, when molding the upper 30, as described above, an upper molding material is placed on the last 100A so as to cover the molding surface S, and then a heat treatment is performed. As described above, particularly when the upper 30 is made of a heat-shrinkable synthetic fiber woven fabric, knit fabric, nonwoven fabric, or the like, the heat treatment causes the heat-shrinkable yarn contained in the upper 30 to shrink, thereby producing an upper 30 that conforms to the molding surface S of the last 100A.

[0040] Here, slit-shaped grooves, protruding locking portions, and through-hole-shaped locked portions are provided at predetermined positions on each of the multiple plate-shaped parts. These grooves, locking portions, and locked portions all serve as assembly portions when assembling the multiple plate-shaped parts together, and details of these will be provided later.

[0041] Furthermore, a recessed portion 109 is formed at a predetermined position in the last 100A. This recessed portion 109 is used as an index for positioning the upper molding material when molding the upper 30, and details thereof will be described later.

[0042] The above-mentioned multiple foot lengthwise parts 101, multiple toe parts 102, multiple instep parts 103, multiple ankle parts 104, multiple heel circumference parts 105, multiple heel up-down parts 106 and multiple side parts 107 are all made of wooden boards, and more specifically, they are cut out from wooden boards B1 and B2 (see Figures 8 and 9) described below.

[0043] Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a visualized cutting pattern of a wooden board from which some of the plate-shaped parts included in the last shown in Fig. 7 are cut out, and Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a visualized cutting pattern of a wooden board from which the rest of the plate-shaped parts included in the last shown in Fig. 7 are cut out. Next, with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, we will explain wooden boards B1 and B2 from which multiple plate-shaped parts are cut out.

[0044] 8, of the plurality of plate-like parts described above, the plurality of foot length direction parts 101, the plurality of heel circumference direction parts 105, and the plurality of heel up / down direction parts 106 are arranged on the wooden board B1. The plurality of foot length direction parts 101, the plurality of heel circumference direction parts 105, and the plurality of heel up / down direction parts 106 are arranged side by side in areas R1, R5, and R6 defined on the wooden board B1, respectively.

[0045] 9, of the plurality of plate-like parts described above, a plurality of toe parts 102, a plurality of instep parts 103, a plurality of ankle parts 104, and a plurality of side parts 107 are arranged on the wooden board B2. The plurality of toe parts 102, a plurality of instep parts 103, a plurality of ankle parts 104, and a plurality of side parts 107 are arranged side by side in areas R2 to R4, R7 defined on the wooden board B2, respectively.

[0046] Here, cutting of the wooden boards B1 and B2 is performed by, for example, laser irradiation. By cutting the wooden boards B1 and B2 by laser irradiation in this way, multiple plate-shaped parts can be cut out quickly and accurately. Furthermore, when cutting by laser irradiation, it is possible to mark each of the multiple plate-shaped parts cut out by changing the laser irradiation conditions with, for example, numbers or letters (see Figures 8 and 9), which can then be used as an index when assembling the multiple plate-shaped parts. However, the cutting method is not limited to this, and cutting with a metal blade or cutting with a high-pressure water jet may also be used.

[0047] Furthermore, by generating cutting patterns under conditions that minimize the areas of regions R1 to R7 in which multiple plate-shaped parts are arranged on the wooden boards B1 and B2, the amount of waste material can be significantly reduced. For example, when manufacturing a standard pair of shoes, generating cutting patterns that satisfy the above conditions allows the size of each wooden board B1 and B2 to be reduced to 300 mm x 450 mm.

[0048] Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is preferably used for the wood boards B1 and B2. Furthermore, the wood boards B1 and B2 are not limited to MDF, and may also be insulation fiberboard (IB), hard fiberboard (HB), or the like. Class A IB, tatami board, sheathing board, and the like can be used for the IB. Standard board, tempered board, and the like can be used for the HB. Furthermore, boards made of various materials, such as highly recyclable cardboard, cork, metal, and thermoplastic resin, can also be used instead of the wood boards B1 and B2.

[0049] Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a method for assembling the last shown in Fig. 7. Next, with reference to Fig. 10, a method for assembling the last 100A according to this embodiment will be described.

[0050] As shown in Figure 10, the last 100A is assembled by assembling multiple plate-like parts so that they engage with each other in sequence. In the case of the last 100A according to this embodiment, for example, multiple ankle parts 104 are assembled to the longer ones of the multiple foot lengthwise parts 101, and then multiple heel circumference parts 105, multiple heel vertical parts 106, multiple instep parts 103, multiple toe parts 102, multiple side parts 107, and the shorter ones of the multiple foot lengthwise parts 101 are assembled to these plate-like parts in this order.

[0051] This completes the assembly of the last 100A shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 exemplarily illustrates the assembly process, showing the stage where one of the plurality of toe parts 102 is attached to the plurality of foot lengthwise parts 101. Note that the above-described assembly order is merely an example, and the order can be changed as appropriate.

[0052] The plate-like parts are assembled using the slit-shaped grooves, protruding locking portions, and through-hole-shaped locked portions provided on each of the plate-like parts as the assembly portions described above. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, when assembling one of the plurality of toe parts 102 to the plurality of foot length parts 101, the grooves, locking portions, and locked portions provided on each of the plurality of foot length parts 101 and the plurality of grooves, locking portions, and locked portions provided on one of the toe parts 102 are used.

[0053] To explain this point in more detail, reference will be made below to Figures 11 and 12 in addition to Figure 10 mentioned above. Figures 11 and 12 are a partially cutaway perspective view and a schematic cross-sectional view, respectively, for explaining the assembly structure of the plate-like parts in the last shown in Figure 7. Note that Figure 11 shows the state before assembly, and Figure 12 shows the state after assembly.

[0054] Here, in order to facilitate understanding, the following explanation will focus on the assembly portion between one of the plurality of foot lengthwise parts 101 and the one toe part 102, and one of the plurality of foot lengthwise parts 101 will be referred to as the first part 110, and the one toe part 102 will be referred to as the second part 120.

[0055] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, first part 110 has a first plate-shaped portion 111 including a pair of main surfaces 111a, 111b and an end surface 121c, and first plate-shaped portion 111 is provided with groove portion 112, which is a first part side groove portion serving as a first part side receiving portion, a pair of locking portions 113 serving as first part side locking portions, and locking portion 114, which is a first part side locked portion.

[0056] The groove 112 has a notch shape that extends linearly so as to reach the end face 111c of the first plate-shaped portion 111. A pair of locking portions 113 is provided on the inner side surface of the first plate-shaped portion 111 in a portion that defines the groove 112, and each of the pair of locking portions 113 has a protrusion-like shape. The pair of locking portions 113 are provided on one and the other of the pair of inner side surfaces so as to face each other in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the groove 112. Each of the pair of locking portions 113 has a semi-cylindrical shape.

[0057] The locked portion 114 has a through-hole shape and is provided in the first plate-shaped portion 111 so as to reach the pair of main surfaces 111a, 111b of the first plate-shaped portion 111. The locked portion 114 is provided at a position on an extension line of the groove portion 112 in the extension direction. The locked portion 114 has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0058] On the other hand, second part 120 has second plate-shaped portion 121 including a pair of main surfaces 121a, 121b and end surface 121c, and second plate-shaped portion 121 is provided with groove portion 122 which is a second part side groove portion serving as a second part side receiving portion, a pair of locking portions 123 which are second part side locking portions, and locking portion 124 which is a second part side locked portion.

[0059] The groove 122 has a notch shape that extends linearly so as to reach the end face 121c of the second plate-shaped portion 121. A pair of locking portions 123 is provided on the inner side surface of the second plate-shaped portion 121 in a portion that defines the groove 122, and each of the pair of locking portions 123 has a protrusion-like shape. The pair of locking portions 123 are provided on one and the other of the pair of inner side surfaces so as to face each other in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the groove 122. Each of the pair of locking portions 123 has a semi-cylindrical shape.

[0060] The locked portion 124 has a through-hole shape and is provided on the second plate-shaped portion 121 so as to reach the pair of main surfaces 121a, 121b of the second plate-shaped portion 121. The locked portion 124 is provided at a position on an extension line in the extension direction of the groove portion 122. The locked portion 124 has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0061] When assembling the first part 110 and the second part 120, the first plate-shaped portion 111 of the first part 110 and the second plate-shaped portion 121 of the second part 120 are oriented so that they intersect with each other, and the groove portion 122 of the second part 120 is positioned at a position corresponding to the groove portion 112 of the first part 110, and in this state the second part 120 is pushed toward the first part 110 in the direction of the arrow AR1 shown in the figure.

[0062] As a result, the first plate-shaped portion 111 of the first part 110 is received in the groove portion 122 provided in the second part 120, and the second plate-shaped portion 121 of the second part 120 is received in the groove portion 112 provided in the first part 110, thereby engaging the first plate-shaped portion 111 and the second plate-shaped portion 121.

[0063] At this time, when the first plate-shaped portion 111 is inserted into the groove portion 122, not only is the first plate-shaped portion 111 fitted into the groove portion 122, but further, as shown in Figure 12, a pair of protrusion-like locking portions 123 provided on the second part 120 fit into the through-hole-like locked portions 114 provided on the first part 110, so that the locked portions 114 are locked by the pair of locking portions 123.

[0064] At this time, the portion of the engaging portion 114 exposed on one of the pair of main surfaces 111a, 111b of the first plate-shaped portion 111 will be engaged by one of the pair of engaging portions 123, and the portion of the engaging portion 114 exposed on the other of the pair of main surfaces 111a, 111b of the first plate-shaped portion 111 will be engaged by the other of the pair of engaging portions 123.

[0065] In addition to this, when the second plate-shaped portion 121 is inserted into the groove portion 112, not only is the second plate-shaped portion 121 fitted into the groove portion 112, but further, although not shown in the figure, a pair of protrusion-like locking portions 113 provided on the first part 110 fit into through-hole-like locked portions 124 provided on the second part 120, so that the locked portions 124 are locked by the pair of locking portions 113.

[0066] At this time, the engaging portion 124 exposed on one of the pair of main surfaces 121a, 121b of the second plate-shaped portion 121 will be engaged by one of the pair of engaging portions 113, and the engaging portion 124 exposed on the other of the pair of main surfaces 121a, 121b of the second plate-shaped portion 121 will be engaged by the other of the pair of engaging portions 113.

[0067] The first plate-shaped portion 111 and the second plate-shaped portion 121 may be fitted into the groove portion 122 in such a way that they fit closely together, or a slight clearance may be created between them to facilitate insertion or to take into account errors in dimensional accuracy.

[0068] By configuring it in this manner, first part 110 and second part 120 are fixed in the Y-axis direction shown in Figure 11 by fitting first plate-shaped portion 111 into groove portion 122, first part 110 and second part 120 are fixed in the X-axis direction shown in Figure 11 by fitting second plate-shaped portion 121 into groove portion 112, first part 110 and second part 120 are fixed in the X-axis direction shown in Figure 11 by engaging interlocking portion 114 with interlocking portion 123, first part 110 and second part 120 are fixed in the X-axis direction and Z-axis direction shown in Figure 11, and interlocking portion 124 with interlocking portion 113, first part 110 and second part 120 are fixed in the Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction shown in Figure 11.

[0069] Therefore, by employing the above configuration, it becomes possible to firmly fix first part 110 and second part 120 to each other by the simple operation of positioning first part 110 and second part 120 and then pushing second part 120 into first part 110. In last 100A according to the present embodiment, the above-described assembly structure is applied to the assembly portions of all of the plate-like parts included in last 100A.

[0070] Therefore, by configuring it in this manner, it becomes possible to easily and securely fix the multiple plate-like parts contained therein, and it becomes possible to quickly and easily produce a last with sufficient mechanical strength so that the plate-like parts do not easily come off.

[0071] As described above, the last 100A according to this embodiment can be produced quickly and easily, and the wearer can experience this for themselves. For example, the wearer's foot F can be photographed at a store visited by the wearer to obtain image data, a last model LM can be generated based on this, a plurality of plate-like parts can be produced based on this, and the wearer can assemble these parts to produce the last 100A, allowing the wearer to experience this process for themselves.

[0072] 7, in the last 100A according to the present embodiment, as described above, a recessed portion 109 is provided at a predetermined position of the last 100A. This recessed portion 109 is located in a specific region of the molding surface S, which is a region corresponding to the upper end of the portion to be molded of the upper 30 of the shoe 1 to be manufactured. In this embodiment, the upper end of the shoe 1 to be manufactured (the portion indicated by the symbol UP in FIGS. 1 and 2) is the portion where the opening 31 is formed, and therefore the specific region of the molding surface S corresponds to this opening 31.

[0073] Specifically, the recessed portions 109 are formed by cutting out a portion of the end of a plate-like part that is disposed at a position corresponding to the specific region, and are provided so as to form a loop as a whole. More specifically, in the last 100A according to this embodiment, the recessed portions 109 are provided in the long ones of the plurality of foot lengthwise parts 101, the plurality of ankle parts 104, some of the plurality of heel circumference parts 105, and the plurality of heel vertical direction parts 106, respectively.

[0074] By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to use this recessed portion 109 as a mark when molding the upper 30.

[0075] In other words, in the last 100A of this embodiment, since it is constructed by combining multiple plate-shaped parts, multiple gaps (i.e., areas where no plate-shaped parts are placed) will occur on the molding surface S, and if no measures are taken, it will be difficult to align the upper molding material.

[0076] However, as described above, by providing a loop-shaped recess 109 corresponding to the opening 31 in a specific area of ​​the molding surface S, when the upper molding material is placed over the last 100A, the upper end of the upper molding material can be positioned so that it overlaps this recess 109, thereby aligning the upper molding material with the last 100A.

[0077] Therefore, with the use of the last 100A of this embodiment, it becomes possible to easily align the upper 30 when molding the upper 30, which not only improves the quality of the manufactured shoe 1 but also significantly improves its productivity.

[0078] (Embodiment 2) Figures 13(A) and 13(B) are diagrams for explaining a shoe upper molding tool according to embodiment 2, and Figure 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by the shoe upper molding tool. Below, the shoe upper molding tool 200A according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 13(A), 13(B), and 14. Figures 13(A) and 13(B) are diagrams showing, in stages, how an upper molding member 300 is fitted onto a last 100A provided in the shoe upper molding tool 200A, and Figure 14 shows a cross section taken along line XIV-XIV in Figure 13(B).

[0079] As shown in Figures 13(A), 13(B), and 14, the shoe upper molding tool 200A includes the last 100A according to the first embodiment described above and a band 210 as a string-like fixing member. The band 210 sandwiches and holds the upper molding material 300 (which becomes the upper 30 after molding) between itself and the last 100A, and is made of a heat-resistant, elastic, loop-shaped member made of, for example, resin or rubber. The upper molding material 300, on the other hand, has a bag-like shape with an open top.

[0080] 13(A), when molding the upper 30, first, the upper molding member 300 is placed over the bottom surface of the last 100A and the peripheral surface of the portion located on the bottom surface side. More specifically, the last 100A is inserted into the bag-shaped upper molding member 300 through an opening provided at the top end of the upper molding member 300, so that the molding surface S of the last 100A is covered by the upper molding member 300.

[0081] At this time, the upper end of the upper molding material 300 placed over the last 100A is positioned so as to cover the recessed portion 109 provided in the last 100A. This state is shown in Figure 13(A), which only shows one ankle part 104 of the last 100A for ease of understanding.

[0082] 13(A), 13(B), and 14, the band 210 is fitted from the outside onto the upper end of the upper molding material 300. At this time, when an external force is applied to the band 210, the band 210 is elastically deformed so as to expand outward and is arranged so as to surround the upper end of the upper molding material 300. Thereafter, when the external force is removed, the band 210 contracts and is fitted onto the upper end of the upper molding material 300.

[0083] At this time, the contracted band 210 is fitted into a recess 109 provided in the last 100A so as to wrap around a portion of the upper end of the upper molding material 300. As a result, the upper end of the upper molding material 300 is sandwiched and held between the recess 109 and the band 210. When fitting the band 210 into the recess 109, the position of the upper molding material 300 is adjusted using the recess 109 as a positioning mark. Note that this state is shown in Figure 13(B), but for ease of understanding, Figure 13(B) only shows one ankle part 104 of the last 100A.

[0084] By the above steps, the positioning of the upper molding material 300 relative to the last 100A is completed, and then the above-mentioned heat treatment and the like are carried out to form the upper 30.

[0085] Here, in order to enable the above-mentioned positioning work, in the shoe upper molding tool 200A of this embodiment, the recess portion 109 provided in the last 100A is shaped and sized to be able to accommodate at least a portion of the band 210 so that the upper molding material 300 can be sandwiched and held between the band 210.

[0086] Therefore, by configuring in this manner, it becomes possible to easily align the upper 30 when molding the upper 30, which not only improves the quality of the manufactured shoes 1 but also greatly improves productivity.

[0087] (Embodiment 3) Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a shoe upper molding tool according to embodiment 3, and Fig. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by the shoe upper molding tool. Below, the shoe upper molding tool 200B according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 15 and 16. Note that Fig. 16 shows a cross section of a portion including a hook portion 104a provided in a recess portion 109 (described later) in a state in which an upper molding piece 300 is placed over a last 100B provided in the shoe upper molding tool 200B.

[0088] 15 and 16, the shoe upper forming tool 200B includes a last 100B having a similar configuration to the last 100A according to the first embodiment described above, and a wire 220 as a string-like fixing member. Note that, for ease of understanding, only three ankle parts 104 of the last 100B are shown in FIG. 15.

[0089] Last 100B differs from last 100A according to the first embodiment described above only in the shape of recess 109 provided at the end of the plate-like part. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 15, recess 109 has a shape in which the end of ankle part 104 serving as a plate-like part is cut out in a generally L-shape in plan view, thereby providing ankle part 104 with a protruding fastening part 104a.

[0090] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, the wire 220 can be sewn so as to penetrate the upper molding material 300, and is made of a heat-resistant material such as resin or metal.

[0091] 16, the wire 220 is sewn to a predetermined position on the upper end of the upper molding member 300 so as to be in a relaxed state along the circumferential direction of the upper end. That is, the wire 220 is sewn to the upper end of the upper molding member 300 alternately along the circumferential direction so as to penetrate toward the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface of the upper end, and further, particularly on the inner circumferential surface side of the upper end of the upper molding member 300, the wire 220 is in a relaxed state so as to form a gap between the inner circumferential surface and the portion of the wire 220 protruding therefrom. The wire 220 is sewn to the upper molding member 300 before the upper molding member 300 is fitted over the last 100B.

[0092] The upper molding member 300 with the wire 220 sewn thereto is then fitted over the last 100B, with the loosened portion of the wire 220 fitting into the recess 109 provided in the last 100A. Furthermore, at this time, the loosened portion of the wire 220 is hooked onto the hooking portion 104a provided in the ankle part 104, which is the plate-like part described above. At this time, by appropriately adjusting the circumferential length of the wire 220 in advance, it is possible to prevent loosening or wrinkles from occurring in the portion of the upper molding member 300 covering the last 100B.

[0093] As described above, by appropriately adjusting the stitching position of the wire 220 relative to the upper molding material 300, the positioning of the upper molding material 300 relative to the last 100B is completed by performing the above-mentioned operations, and then the above-mentioned heat treatment and the like are performed to form the upper 30. After the upper 30 is formed, the wire 220 is removed from the upper 30.

[0094] Here, in order to enable the above-mentioned positioning work, in the shoe upper forming tool 200B of this embodiment, the recess 109 is shaped and sized so that the wire 220 housed in the recess 109 can be hooked and fastened.

[0095] Therefore, by configuring in this manner, it becomes possible to easily align the upper 30 when molding the upper 30, which not only improves the quality of the manufactured shoes 1 but also greatly improves productivity.

[0096] (Fourth embodiment) Fig. 17 is a diagram for explaining a last according to embodiment 4, and Fig. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by the last. Hereinafter, a last 100C according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 17 and 18.

[0097] As shown in Figure 17, last 100C according to this embodiment differs from last 100A according to the first embodiment described above only in the shape of the recess 109 provided at the end of the plate-like part. Specifically, recess 109 has a shape that is gently tapered compared to the periphery of ankle part 104 as a plate-like part. Note that, for ease of understanding, Figure 17 shows only three ankle parts 104 of last 100B.

[0098] As shown in Figure 18, the last 100C configured in this manner is covered with an upper molding material 300 having an elastic material 301 sewn to the upper end thereof. The elastic material 301 is made of a heat-resistant and elastic sheet-like material made of, for example, resin or rubber. The elastic material 301 may constitute a part of the upper 30, or may be removed after the upper 30 is molded.

[0099] When the upper molding member 300 is fitted onto the last 100C, an external force is applied to the elastic member 301, causing the elastic member 301 to be elastically deformed so as to expand outward, and then the elastic member 301 is arranged to surround the recessed portion 109 of the last 100C, and when the external force is removed, the elastic member 301 contracts, causing the upper end portions of the elastic member 301 and the upper molding member 300 to fit into the recessed portion 109. Note that for ease of understanding, only one ankle part 104 of the last 100C is shown in Figure 18.

[0100] In such a configuration, the upper molding material 300 is placed over the last 100C using the above-mentioned recessed portion 109 as a marker, thereby completing the positioning of the upper molding material 300 relative to the last 100C, and then the upper 30 is molded by carrying out the above-mentioned heating treatment, etc.

[0101] Therefore, even with this configuration, the upper 30 can be easily positioned when being molded, which not only improves the quality of the manufactured shoe 1 but also greatly improves productivity.

[0102] (Embodiment 5) Fig. 19 is a diagram for explaining a last according to embodiment 5, and Fig. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by the last. Hereinafter, a last 100D according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 19 and 20.

[0103] As shown in Figure 19, last 100D according to this embodiment differs from last 100A according to the first embodiment described above only in the shape of the recess 109 provided at the end of the plate-like part. Specifically, recess 109 is formed at the end of the ankle part 104 (which serves as a plate-like part) in the width direction, by gently cutting in from the lower end toward the upper end. This provides hook-shaped locking pieces 104b at the end of the ankle part 104. Note that, for ease of understanding, Figure 19 shows only three ankle parts 104 of last 100D.

[0104] As shown in Figure 20, when the upper molding piece 300 is fitted onto the last 100D, the upper end of the upper molding piece 300 is inserted into a recess 109 provided in the last 100D. As a result, the portion of the upper molding piece 300 inserted into the recess 109 is held in place by being sandwiched between the wall portions of the portion that defines the recess 109 of the last 100D (i.e., the above-mentioned locking piece 104b and the wall portion facing it). Note that, for ease of understanding, Figure 20 shows only one ankle part 104 of the last 100D.

[0105] In such a configuration, the upper molding material 300 is placed over the last 100D using the above-mentioned recessed portion 109 as a marker, thereby completing the positioning of the upper molding material 300 relative to the last 100D, and then the upper 30 is molded by carrying out the above-mentioned heating treatment, etc.

[0106] Here, in order to enable the above-mentioned positioning work, in the last 100D of this embodiment, a recessed portion 109 is formed at the end of each of the multiple plate-shaped parts, and the portion that defines this recessed portion 109 forms a clamping portion for holding the upper molding material 300.

[0107] Therefore, by configuring in this manner, it becomes possible to easily align the upper 30 when molding the upper 30, which not only improves the quality of the manufactured shoes 1 but also greatly improves productivity.

[0108] (Embodiment 6) Fig. 21 is a diagram for explaining a last according to embodiment 6, and Fig. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shoe upper is held by the last. Hereinafter, a last 100E according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 21 and 22.

[0109] 21, last 100E according to the present embodiment differs from last 100D according to the above-described fifth embodiment only in the shape of locking piece 104b provided at the end of the plate-like part. That is, locking piece 104b is configured so that its tip projects outward, and the portion of locking piece 104b facing recess 109 is configured so as to have a curved shape.

[0110] In the last 100E configured in this manner, as shown in Figure 22, when the upper molding material 300 is inserted into the recess 109 of the last 100E, the upper molding material 300 will not come into contact with the tip of the sharp locking piece 104b, and when the upper molding material 300 is held by the last 100E, the upper molding material 300 will be held by the curved portion rather than by the tip of the sharp locking piece 104b.

[0111] Therefore, when configured in this manner, not only can the effects described in the above-mentioned embodiment 5 be obtained, but also the effect of suppressing scratches and tears in the upper molding material 300, and ultimately the upper 30, can be obtained.

[0112] (Embodiment 7) Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a last according to embodiment 7. Hereinafter, a last 100F according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 23. Note that the last 100F according to this embodiment is manufactured in accordance with the above-described method for generating a last model, and basically corresponds to the shape of the wearer's foot.

[0113] 23, last 100F is similar to last 100A according to the first embodiment in that it is configured by combining multiple parts, but differs in that the multiple parts include block-shaped parts in addition to multiple plate-shaped parts. More specifically, the multiple parts include base part 108 as a block-shaped part, and multiple toe parts 102, multiple instep parts 103, and multiple ankle parts 104 as plate-shaped parts.

[0114] The base part 108 includes a front end toe portion 131 which corresponds to the front end of the wearer's toes, a sole portion 132 which corresponds to the sole of the wearer's foot from the rear end of the toes to the front end of the heel, and a rear end heel portion 133 which corresponds to the rear end of the wearer's heel.

[0115] Here, the base part 108 serves as a base frame to which the above-mentioned multiple plate-like parts are assembled, and defines the bottom surface of the last 100F. The base part 108 can be made of, for example, resin, metal, wood, etc., and is preferably made of hard resin.

[0116] Meanwhile, the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, and the plurality of ankle parts 104 are all basically similar in configuration to those in the last 100A according to the above-described embodiment 1, and each is made of a wooden board. Here, the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, and the plurality of ankle parts 104 are arranged in multiple layers along the front-to-back direction (i.e., the foot length direction).

[0117] When combined, the base part 108, the multiple toe parts 102, the multiple instep parts 103, and the multiple ankle parts 104 define the molding surface S of the last 100F. More specifically, the molding surface S of the last 100F is defined by the outer surface of the base part 108, and the molding surface S of the last 100F is defined by the end faces of the multiple toe parts 102, the multiple instep parts 103, and the multiple ankle parts 104 (i.e., the surfaces extending in the thickness direction of the plate-like parts).

[0118] Here, the molding surface S of the portion defined by the base part 108 is the portion of the entire outer surface of the foot that is unlikely to vary in shape from wearer to wearer. On the other hand, the molding surface S of the portion defined by the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, and the plurality of ankle parts 104 is the portion of the entire outer surface of the foot that is likely to vary in shape from wearer to wearer.

[0119] Therefore, by constructing the last 100F by combining the base part 108 as a block-shaped part with a plurality of toe parts 102, a plurality of instep parts 103 and a plurality of ankle parts 104 as a plurality of plate-shaped parts, the base parts 108 are prepared in advance for each size of shoe to be manufactured, thereby making it possible to manufacture the last more efficiently.

[0120] Here, in the last 100F according to this embodiment, a recessed portion 109 is provided at a predetermined position of the last 100F. This recessed portion 109 is located in a specific region of the molding surface S, which is a region corresponding to the upper end of the portion to be molded of the upper 30 of the shoe 1 to be manufactured. In this embodiment, the upper end of the shoe 1 to be manufactured (the portion indicated by the symbol UP in FIGS. 1 and 2) is the portion where the opening 31 is formed, and therefore the specific region of the molding surface S corresponds to this opening 31. Specifically, the recessed portion 109 is provided in each of the multiple ankle parts 104.

[0121] Therefore, even in this configuration, the recessed portion 109 can be used as a marker when molding the upper 30, making it easier to align the upper 30 when molding it, which not only improves the quality of the manufactured shoes 1 but also greatly improves productivity.

[0122] (Embodiment 8) Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a last according to embodiment 8. The last 100G according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 24. The last 100G according to this embodiment is manufactured in accordance with the above-described method for generating a last model, and basically corresponds to the shape of the wearer's foot.

[0123] As shown in Figure 24, last 100G is similar to last 100A according to the first embodiment in that it is configured by combining multiple parts, but differs in that the multiple parts include block-shaped parts in addition to multiple plate-shaped parts. More specifically, the multiple parts include base part 108 as a block-shaped part, and multiple toe parts 102, multiple instep parts 103, multiple heel circumference parts 105, and multiple heel vertical parts 106 as plate-shaped parts. Base part 108 is further divided into two parts: front base part 130 and rear base part 140.

[0124] The front base part 130 includes a front toe portion 134 corresponding to the front ends of the wearer's toes, a front sole portion 135 corresponding to the rear ends of the wearer's toes and the sole of the foot at a position corresponding to the instep, and a front ankle portion 136 corresponding to the front end of the wearer's ankle. On the other hand, the rear base part 140 includes a rear ankle portion 141 corresponding to the rear end of the wearer's ankle.

[0125] The base part 108, consisting of the front base part 130 and the rear base part 140, serves as a base frame to which the above-mentioned multiple plate-like parts are assembled, and defines the bottom surface of the last 100G. More specifically, multiple toe parts 102 and multiple instep parts 103 are assembled to the front base part 130, and multiple heel circumference parts 105 and multiple heel up-down parts 106 are assembled to the rear base part 140. The front base part 130 and the rear base part 140 can be made of, for example, resin, metal, wood, etc., and are preferably made of hard resin.

[0126] Meanwhile, the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, the plurality of heel circumference parts 105, and the plurality of heel vertical direction parts 106 are all basically configured in the same manner as those in last 100A according to the above-described first embodiment, and each is made of a wooden board. Here, the plurality of toe parts 102 and the plurality of instep parts 103 are arranged in multiple layers along the front-to-back direction (i.e., the foot length direction), the plurality of heel circumference parts 105 are arranged in multiple layers along the up-down direction (i.e., the direction perpendicular to both the foot length direction and the foot width direction), and the plurality of heel vertical direction parts 106 are arranged in multiple layers radially over a range of approximately 180° around an axis extending in the up-down direction.

[0127] The base part 108, the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, the plurality of heel circumference parts 105, and the plurality of heel vertical direction parts 106, when combined, define the molding surface S of the last 100G. More specifically, the molding surface S of the last 100G is defined by the outer surface of the base part 108, and the molding surface S of the last 100G is defined by the end faces of the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, the plurality of heel circumference parts 105, and the plurality of heel vertical direction parts 106 (i.e., the surfaces extending in the thickness direction of the plate-like parts).

[0128] Here, the molding surface S of the portion defined by the base part 108 is the portion of the entire outer surface of the foot where the shape is unlikely to vary from wearer to wearer. On the other hand, the molding surface S of the portion defined by the plurality of toe parts 102, the plurality of instep parts 103, the plurality of heel circumference parts 105, and the plurality of heel vertical direction parts 106 is the portion of the entire outer surface of the foot where the shape is likely to vary from wearer to wearer.

[0129] Therefore, by constructing the last 100G by combining the base part 108 as a block-shaped part with the multiple toe parts 102, the multiple instep parts 103, the multiple heel circumferential parts 105, and the multiple heel up-down parts 106 as multiple plate-shaped parts, the base parts 108 are prepared in advance for each size of shoe to be manufactured, thereby making it possible to manufacture the last more efficiently.

[0130] Here, in the last 100G according to the present embodiment, recesses 109, 108a are provided at predetermined positions of the last 100G. The recesses 109, 108a are located in specific regions of the molding surface S, which correspond to the upper end of the portion to be molded of the upper 30 of the shoe 1 to be manufactured. In this embodiment, the upper end (the portion indicated by the symbol UP in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the shoe 1 to be manufactured is the portion where the opening 31 is formed, and therefore the specific region of the molding surface S corresponds to this opening 31. Specifically, the recesses 109 are provided in the plurality of ankle parts 104, the plurality of heel circumference parts 105, and the plurality of heel vertical parts 106, and the recesses 108a are provided in the front ankle portion 136 of the front base part 130 and the rear ankle portion 141 of the rear base part 140.

[0131] Therefore, even in this configuration, the recessed portions 109, 108a can be used as markers when molding the upper 30, making it easier to align the upper 30 when molding it, thereby not only improving the quality of the manufactured shoes 1 but also significantly improving productivity.

[0132] Furthermore, in the last 100G according to this embodiment, an engagement recess 136a is provided in the front ankle part 136 of the front base part 130 so as to reach its upper surface and rear end surface, and an engagement protrusion 141c is provided on the front end surface of the rear ankle part 141 of the rear base part 140. These engagement recess 136a and engagement protrusion 141c are configured to fit together in the vertical direction (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to both the foot length direction and the foot width direction).

[0133] This allows the rear base part 140 to be inserted and removed in the vertical direction relative to the front base part 130, and after the upper 30 has been molded, by separating the rear base part 140 from the front base part 130 at that portion, the rear base part 140 and the front base part 130 can be easily removed from the opening 31 of the upper 30 in that order.

[0134] (Summary of the contents disclosed in the embodiments, etc.) The characteristic configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments and their modifications can be summarized as follows.

[0135] A last according to one aspect of the present disclosure is for molding a shoe upper and is configured by combining multiple parts, and can be molded by placing the shoe upper on the last. Of the molding surface for molding the shoe upper, at least a portion of a specific region corresponding to the upper end of the portion to be molded is configured by multiple plate-like parts included in the multiple parts. The specific region of the portion configured by the multiple plate-like parts is defined by the end faces of the multiple plate-like parts, with the multiple plate-like parts being arranged at intervals from one another along the circumferential direction of the upper end of the shoe upper. In the last according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a recessed portion is provided in the specific region of the portion configured by the multiple plate-like parts, which serves as a mark for aligning the shoe upper to the last when placing it on the last.

[0136] In a last according to one aspect of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of plate-like parts may include a clamping portion into which the shoe upper is inserted to clamp and hold it, and in that case, it is preferable that the recessed portion is formed at the end of each of the plurality of plate-like parts, and the clamping portion is constituted by a portion of each of the plurality of plate-like parts that defines the recessed portion.

[0137] In a last according to an aspect of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of plate-like parts may be made of a wood board.

[0138] A shoe upper molding tool according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a last according to the above-described aspect of the present disclosure and a string-like fixing member for fixing the shoe upper to the last. In the shoe upper molding tool according to the above-described aspect of the present disclosure, the recess has a shape and size that can accommodate at least a portion of the fixing member so that the shoe upper can be sandwiched and held between the recess and the fixing member.

[0139] A shoe upper molding tool according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a last according to any one of the aspects of the disclosure above, and a string-like fixing member for fixing the shoe upper to the last. In the shoe upper molding tool according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the recess has a shape and size that allows the fixing member housed in the recess to be hooked.

[0140] In the shoe upper forming tool according to another aspect of the present disclosure and the shoe upper forming tool according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of plate-like parts may be made of a wood board.

[0141] It should be noted that the lasts according to the above-described embodiments can all be used as shoe trees after the molding of the upper is completed. In this case, the molding surface of the last functions as a retaining surface that maintains the shape of the shoe.

[0142] (Other forms, etc.) In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a last that is manufactured by photographing a wearer's foot to obtain image data, generating a last model specifically for the wearer based on the image data, and then manufacturing a plurality of plate-like parts based on the model. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to such lasts, and it is also possible to apply the present invention to lasts manufactured through different processes. For example, the present invention can be applied to lasts manufactured by conventional methods, rather than lasts specifically for the wearer.

[0143] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, shoes manufactured using a last to which the present invention is applied are exemplified as shoes in which the upper is made using a heat-shrinkable upper molding material, but shoes manufactured using a last to which the present invention is applied are not limited to this and may be any type. In other words, a last to which the present invention is applied can be used in the manufacture of any shoe with a conventionally known configuration.

[0144] Furthermore, the allocation of parts in the lasts disclosed in the above-described embodiments (i.e., the position of each part (including plate-like parts and flock-like parts) in the last, etc.) can, of course, be modified in various ways. In other words, the number and size of each part, their positioning, how each part is combined, etc. in the lasts disclosed in the above-described embodiments and their modified examples are merely examples.

[0145] Furthermore, the shape, size and number of the recessed portions disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be changed as appropriate.

[0146] In addition, the characteristic configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0147] As such, the above-described embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0148] 1 shoe, 10 shell, 11 opening, 20 sole, 30 upper, 31 shoe opening, 100A to 100G last, 101 foot length direction part, 102 toe part, 103 instep part, 104 ankle part, 104a hooking part, 104b locking piece, 105 heel circumference direction part, 106 heel up and down direction part, 107 side part, 108 base part, 108a recessed part, 109 recessed part, 110 first part, 111 first plate-shaped part, 111a, 111b main surface, 111c end surface, 112 groove part, 113 locking part, 114 locked part, 120 second part, 121 second plate-shaped part, 121a, 121b main surface, 121c End surface, 122 groove portion, 123 engaging portion, 124 engaged portion, 130 front base part, 131 front end toe portion, 132 sole portion, 133 rear end heel portion, 134 front end toe portion, 135 front sole portion, 136 front ankle portion, 136a engaging recess, 140 rear base part, 141 rear ankle portion, 141c engaging protrusion, 200A, 200B shoe upper molding tool, 210 band, 220 wire, 300 upper molding material, 301 elastic material, B1, B2 wooden board, F foot, LM last model, P smartphone, R1 to R7 areas, S molding surface.

Claims

1. A shoe upper molding last is made up of a combination of multiple parts, and can be molded by placing a shoe upper over it. At least a part of a specific region, which is a region corresponding to an upper end of a portion to be molded of the shoe upper, of a molding surface for molding the shoe upper is constituted by a plurality of plate-like parts included in the plurality of parts; The plurality of plate-shaped parts are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the upper end of the shoe upper, so that the specific region of the portion formed by the plurality of plate-shaped parts is defined by the end surfaces of each of the plurality of plate-shaped parts, A last in which a recessed portion serving as a mark for aligning the shoe upper to the last when putting it on is provided in the specific area of ​​the portion made up of the plurality of plate-like parts.

2. Each of the plurality of plate-like parts includes a clamping portion into which the shoe upper is inserted to clamp and hold the shoe upper, The last according to claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is formed at the end of each of the plurality of plate-like parts, and the clamping portion is formed by the portion of each of the plurality of plate-like parts that defines the recessed portion.

3. The last according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of plate-like parts is made of a wood board.

4. a last according to claim 1; a string-like fixing member for fixing the shoe upper to the last, The recessed portion has a shape and size that can accommodate at least a portion of the fixing member so that the shoe upper can be sandwiched and held between the fixing member and the recessed portion.

5. a last according to claim 1; a string-like fixing member for fixing the shoe upper to the last, The recessed portion has a shape and size that allows the fixing member housed in the recessed portion to be hooked.

6. 6. The shoe upper forming tool according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of plate-like parts is made of a wood board.

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