Shoelaces and shoes

Abstract

To provide a novel shoe lace capable of adjusting a fastening state of an instep part continuously, and a shoe.SOLUTION: A shoe lace with elasticity is disposed on an instep part 2 of a shoe 1 and includes a core material 4a composed of an elastic member and a cylindrical outer layer material 4b composed of an elastic material covering the core material 4a. The shoe lace has: an almost fixed large diameter string part 5 which is provided at both end parts in a string longitudinal direction, has a diameter larger than a hole diameter of a string through hole 3 of the shoe 1, elastically deforms in a pulling direction by pulling and is deformed to a diameter smaller than the hole diameter of the string through hole 3; and an almost fixed small diameter string part 6 which is provided in a central part in a string longitudinal direction and has a diameter smaller than the hole diameter of the string through hole 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to shoelaces and shoes. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as a shoelace that can keep the instep of a shoe tight without tying, there has been known a shoelace that has a plurality of knobs at both ends that are larger in diameter than the shoelace holes and that, when pulled, stretch and elastically deform in the pulling direction to a smaller diameter than the shoelace holes (see, for example, Patent Document 1, a prior application of the present applicant). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-33923 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As mentioned above, with shoelaces that have multiple knobs on both ends, the tightness of the instep can be adjusted in stages by changing the knob that catches on the last lace hole (although this may cause a slight discomfort in the fit, especially when wearing bare feet).

[0005] The present invention is an improvement over the conventional shoelaces described above, and aims to provide a novel shoelace and shoe that allows for stepless adjustment of the tightness of the instep. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0007] An elastic shoelace arranged on the instep part 2 of the shoe 1, The diaper bag is configured to include a core material (4a) made of an elastic material and a tubular outer layer material (4b) made of an elastic material that covers the core material (4a), large-diameter lace portions (5) of a substantially constant thickness, provided at both ends of the lace in the longitudinal direction, each having a diameter larger than the diameter of the lace holes (3) of the shoe (1), and elastically deforming in the pulling direction when pulled to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace holes (3); a small-diameter cord portion 6 provided in the center of the cord length direction, the small-diameter cord portion 6 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord-threading hole 3 and a substantially uniform thickness; 、 a connecting portion (7) provided between the large diameter cord portion (5) and the small diameter cord portion (6) and having a diameter smaller than that of the small diameter cord portion (6), The outer layer material (4b) is a woven, knitted or braided fabric containing polyester fibers, and the fiber density is set so that it becomes denser in the order of the large diameter cord portion (5), the small diameter cord portion (6) and the connecting portion (7), The core material 4a is a rubber cord formed by bundling a large number of thin rubber fibers, and is set to have a higher elastic force than the outer layer material 4b. At the connecting portion 7, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are fixed in close contact, and at the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are not in close contact and the core material 4a is in a state of expanding in the cord diameter direction, and the core material 4a of the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6 expands and contracts when pulled, so that the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6 are deformed to a smaller diameter. The present invention also relates to a shoelace as described in claim 1, characterized in that the shoelace further comprises a connecting portion 7, which is provided between the large-diameter lace portion 5 and the small-diameter lace portion 6 and has a smaller diameter than the small-diameter lace portion 6, and the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are in close contact with each other at the connecting portion 7.

[0008] Furthermore, in the shoelace according to claim 1, The large diameter lace portions 5 are each set to a length of 1 / 6 to 1 / 4 of the entire length of the shoelace 9. The present invention relates to a shoelace characterized by the above features.

[0009] Also, claim 1 ,2 The shoelace 9 according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided. A shoe, A plurality of lace holes 3 are arranged in a row on each of the left and right sides of the instep portion 2 in a direction from the toe toward the opening, and a shoelace tip locking portion 16 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the shoe 1 to lock the free end 15 of the shoelace 9 at the tip end of the shoelace 9 inserted through the lace holes 3, and the shoelace tip locking portion 16 is located vertically below the uppermost lace hole 3, The shoelace tip locking portion 16 has a through hole, and the through hole is drilled in a direction along the side surface of the shoe 1, The large-diameter lace portion 5 of the shoelace free end portion 15 pulled out from the uppermost lace-threading hole 3 is deformed to a smaller diameter by a pulling operation and inserted into the through-hole, and then restored to its original shape. This engages with the shoelace tip engaging portion 16, preventing the shoelace 9 from moving back, and the shoelace free end portion 15 inserted into the through-hole is positioned along the side of the shoe 1. The present invention relates to shoes characterized by the above features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention is configured as described above, and thus provides a never-before-seen shoelace and shoe that allows for stepless adjustment of the tightness of the instep. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a shoelace. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the shoelace. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the large diameter cord portion and the cord hole. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the small diameter cord portion and the cord hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described below, illustrating the operation of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0013] A small diameter lace portion 6 is arranged in the lace hole 3 on the lower side of the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1, and a large diameter lace portion 5 is arranged in the lace hole 3 on the upper side, and the large diameter lace portion 5 is engaged with the lace hole, thereby maintaining the instep portion 2 in a tight state.

[0014] At this time, when the large diameter cord portion 5 is pulled, it is stretched elastically in the pulling direction and deforms to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord passage hole 3, making it possible to adjust the tightness (see Figure 4). Unlike a knob, the large diameter cord portion 5 has a substantially constant thickness over its entire length, so the tightness can be adjusted continuously over its entire length.

[0015] Therefore, compared to conventional shoelaces that have multiple knobs at both ends, not only is more precise adjustment possible, but coupled with the fact that the small-diameter lace section 6, which is thinner than the lace holes 3 and less likely to get caught in them, is located on the lower side (tip side) of the instep section 2, it is possible to smoothly and satisfactorily fit the shoelace 9 to the shape of the instep (even when wearing bare feet) simply by pulling on both ends of the lace. [Example]

[0016] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] This embodiment is a shoe 1 equipped with a shoelace 9 that can keep the instep 2 tight without tying, as shown in FIG.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shoelace 9 is comprised of a core material 4a made of an elastic material and a tubular outer layer material 4b made of an elastic material that covers the core material 4a. The shoelace 9 has large-diameter sections 5, which are provided at both longitudinal ends of the shoelace and have a diameter larger than the diameter of the shoelace holes 3 of the shoe 1, and which, when pulled, elastically stretch in the pulling direction to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the shoelace holes 3, and which have a substantially constant thickness; and a small-diameter section 6, which is provided in the longitudinal center of the shoelace and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the shoelace holes 3 and a substantially constant thickness.

[0019] The shoelace 9 of this embodiment also has a connecting portion 7 that is located between the large diameter portion 5 and the small diameter portion 6 and has a smaller diameter than the small diameter portion 6, and the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b are in close contact with each other at the connecting portion 7. Similar connecting portions 7 are also located between the large diameter portion 5 and fixing portions 8, to which synthetic resin cell chips are fixed on both ends of the lace (fixing portions 8 are formed by fixing cell chips to parts of the connecting portions 7 on the outer sides of the large diameter portion 5 in the longitudinal direction of the lace).

[0020] The outer layer material 4b is a stretchable fibrous body (woven, knitted, or braided) mainly containing polyester fibers. The core material 4a contains rubber threads bundled along the longitudinal direction of the cord, and this core material 4a has a shape that expands in the radial direction of the cord at the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6. In other words, the outer layer material 4b is tightly fixed at the connecting portion 7 so that an appropriate length remains in each of the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6. In this embodiment, a rubber cord (braided cord, cord rubber) formed by bundling a large number of thin rubber fibers is used as the core material 4a.

[0021] The outer layer material 4b is knitted in an appropriate manner so that the fiber density is sparse in the large diameter cord sections 5, dense in the connecting sections 7, and intermediate (slightly sparse) in the small diameter cord sections 6, thereby varying the adhesion (tightness) of the outer layer material 4b to the core material 4a, so that the core material 4a bulges out in the large diameter cord sections 5 and small diameter cord sections 6, and is tightly fastened thinly so that it does not bulge out in the connecting sections 7. In other words, in the large diameter cord sections 5 and small diameter cord sections 6, the core material 4a is free from the outer layer material 4b.

[0022] Therefore, when pulling, the core material 4a contracts (decreases in the degree of expansion) in the large-diameter lace portion 5 and the small-diameter lace portion 6 as the outer layer material 4b and the core material 4a stretch during pulling, causing the core material 4a to shrink (become less expanded) and deform to a smaller diameter. When pulling stops, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b quickly return to their original state due to their stretchability (elastic return force). Furthermore, because both the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b have stretchability (elastic return force), the tightness of the instep portion 2 is well maintained (the large-diameter lace portion 5 is less likely to slip out of the lace holes 3 during exercise).

[0023] In this embodiment, the connecting parts 7 are provided on both sides of the large diameter cord part 5 in the longitudinal direction of the cord, but they may be provided only between the large diameter cord part 5 and the small diameter cord part 6. In other words, they may not be provided between the large diameter cord part 5 and the fixed part 8.

[0024] In this embodiment, the core material 4a and the outer layer material 4b have different elastic forces (stretchability). Specifically, the elastic force of the core material 4a is set to be higher than that of the outer layer material 4b. Under normal circumstances, the core material 4a expands with an appropriate length remaining in both the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6, thereby forming the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6. The core material 4a has lower elasticity (harder) than the outer layer material 4b to prevent the cords from stretching too much, and also to achieve the effect of quickly shrinking and returning to the original thickness of the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6 when the pulling force is released after the large diameter cord portion 5 and the small diameter cord portion 6 have become approximately the same thickness as the connecting portion 7.

[0025] This will be explained in more detail below.

[0026] The shoelace 9 of this embodiment is composed of large-diameter lace sections 5, each of which is formed on either side in the longitudinal direction of the lace with a diameter larger than the diameter of the lace holes 3 provided on the left and right sides of the instep 2 of the shoe 1. The large-diameter lace sections 5 are elastically deformable and stretchable, and when pulled, they stretch and deform in the direction of the pulling operation to a shape with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace holes 3. The small-diameter lace sections 6 are formed with a uniform thickness and have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the lace holes 3 and a uniform thickness over almost the entire area between the large-diameter lace sections, excluding the large-diameter lace sections and the connecting sections.

[0027] When the large diameter lace 5 is inserted into the lace holes 3 and attached to the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1, and then pulled after passing through the last lace hole 3, the pulling operation causes the portion that engages on the inside of the lace holes 3 to stretch and elastically deform, becoming smaller in diameter than the lace holes 3 and moving through each of the lace holes 3 to tighten (Fig. 4(a) → (b)). When the pulling operation is released in this tightened state, the middle portion of the large diameter lace 5 that passed through the lace holes 3 deforms from its small diameter shape back to an undeformed state with a diameter larger than the original diameter of the lace holes 3, and is no longer able to move back through each of the lace holes 3 (Fig. 4(b) → (c)). As a result, the tightened state will not be loosened by the pulling operation, even if the large diameter lace 5 that was pulled out of the last lace hole 3 is not tied together.

[0028] In other words, the large diameter cord portion 5 is formed in the shape of a rod with a constant diameter larger than the diameter of the cord-passing hole 3, and cannot pass through the cord-passing hole 3 in this state (shape); for example, when the outer end of this large diameter cord portion 5 in the cord longitudinal direction is held by hand and pulled, the pulling operation causes it to stretch and elastically deform in the direction of the pulling operation, and it deforms into a shape with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord-passing hole 3, achieving a state (shape) that allows it to pass through each cord-passing hole 3; and when the pulling operation is released, the small diameter portion returns to its state with a diameter larger than the diameter of the cord-passing hole 3.

[0029] The large diameter lace portion 5 is set to a length that is approximately 1 / 6 to 1 / 4 of the overall length of the shoelace 9. In this embodiment, it is set to a length that is approximately 1 / 5. By engaging the large diameter lace portion 5 with each corresponding lace hole 3, a good tightening state is maintained, and the tightness can be finely adjusted by stepless adjustment.

[0030] As described above, the small diameter lace portion 6 in this embodiment is formed in a rod shape with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace hole 3 and a substantially uniform thickness (see FIG. 5), and is set to a length that spans substantially the entire area between the large diameter lace portions 5 provided on both sides of the above-mentioned shoelace 9 (excluding the connecting portion 7).

[0031] Specifically, in this embodiment, the small diameter lace portion 6 is set to a length that occupies more than half of the entire instep portion 2 (is threaded over more than half of the entire instep portion 2) when the shoelace 9 is attached to the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1 (when the laces are threaded alternately left and right through the lace holes 3 provided on the left and right sides of the instep portion 2).

[0032] Because the small-diameter lace portion 6 is smaller in diameter than the lace hole 3, the lace threading operation is smooth and easy without any snagging, and the tightening adjustment operation is also easy and smooth because there is no snagging, just like the lace threading operation, and the tightness of the shoelace 9 on the instep 2 is adjusted more smoothly and naturally. Due to this action, even if swelling occurs from walking or standing for a long time, the tightness is smoothly and naturally adjusted in accordance with the swelling, so blood flow at the instep is not obstructed and health damage caused by this poor blood flow can be prevented.

[0033] Furthermore, the shoe 1 of this embodiment, which is equipped with the above-mentioned shoelaces 9, is configured in the shape of a typical sneaker, as shown in the figure, and has a plurality of lace holes 3 arranged side by side on each side of the instep 2 in the direction from the toe toward the opening.

[0034] Furthermore, the shoe 1 of this embodiment is configured to have shoelace tip locking portions 16 on each of the left and right sides for locking the tip portion of the shoelace 9 inserted through the shoelace holes 3, i.e., the free end portion 15 of the shoelace 9 inserted through the shoelace holes 3 and pulled outward after passing through the last shoelace hole 3 located on the opening side, to the shoe 1.

[0035] Specifically, the shoelace tip fastening portion 16 of this embodiment is configured to have a through-hole set to a diameter dimension approximately equal to that of the lace hole 3, through which the large-diameter lace portion 5 in an undeformed state cannot pass, but which can pass through the portion that has been stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter by a pulling operation.

[0036] That is, in this embodiment, the shoelace tip locking portion 16 is configured so that, when the free shoelace end 15 is pulled by hand after being pulled out of the last lace hole 3, the large-diameter portion 5 at this free shoelace end 15 is stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter, and the free shoelace end 15 is inserted into the hole, and then the pulling operation is stopped, causing the stretched and deformed portion to return to its original state in which it cannot pass through the hole as it is.As a result, even if the shoelace 9 attempts to move back, the large-diameter portion 5 of the free shoelace end 15 returns to and locks onto the periphery of the hole, i.e., the shoelace tip locking portion 16, and the shoelace 9 is prevented from moving back.

[0037] In other words, this embodiment has a multiple locking structure in which the lace tip locking portion 16, together with each lace hole 3, keeps the lace 9 fastened, thereby maintaining the fastened state in a good condition, and the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1 is kept tightly fastened even without tying the lace 9.

[0038] Further explaining the shoelace tip retaining portion 16 of this embodiment, the shoelace tip retaining portion 16 of this embodiment is configured to be provided (placed) closer to the tip of the shoe 1 than the extension line in the lacing direction that connects the last lacing hole 3 located on the opening side of the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1 and the lacing hole 3 just before the last lacing hole 3 on the opposite side through which the shoelace 9 is inserted before being inserted through this last lacing hole 3; specifically, in this embodiment, the shoelace tip retaining portion 16 is configured to be provided almost directly below the last lacing hole 3.

[0039] That is, in this embodiment, the free end 15 of the shoelace 9 that has passed through the last lace hole 3 and been pulled outward is inserted into the through-hole of the shoelace tip locking portion 16 located directly below the last lace hole 3. This causes the shoelace 9 to bend significantly at the last lace hole 3, changing the direction in which it is pulled. In the event that the shoelace 9 attempts to move back, this bent portion acts as a resistance to the movement, making it even more difficult for it to move back.

[0040] Furthermore, the through-holes provided in the shoelace tip fastening portion 16 of this embodiment are configured to be drilled in a direction that follows the side surface of the shoe 1, and when the free shoelace end 15 that has been pulled out of the last lace-threading hole 3 is pulled by hand, the large-diameter lace portion 5 at this free shoelace end 15 is stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter, allowing it to be inserted into the through-hole. After that, when the pulling operation is stopped and the stretched and deformed portion returns to its original state in which it cannot pass through the through-hole as it is, the free shoelace end 15 that has been inserted through the through-hole is positioned along the side surface of the shoe 1.

[0041] That is, the shoelace tip fastening portion 16 of this embodiment is configured as the final holding portion that keeps the shoelace 9 in a tightened state, and also functions as a shoelace end positioning portion that fixes the remaining shoelace free end 15 of the shoelace 9 in a predetermined position to prevent it from flapping during exercise.

[0042] Since this embodiment is configured as described above, the small diameter lace portion 6 is placed in the lace hole 3 on the lower side of the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1, and the large diameter lace portion 5 is placed in the lace hole 3 on the upper side, and the large diameter lace portion 5 is engaged with the lace hole 3, thereby maintaining a tight state of the instep portion 2. When the large diameter lace portion 5 is pulled, it is stretched and elastically deformed in the pulling direction, deforming to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace hole 3, thereby adjusting the tightness. The tightness can be adjusted continuously along the entire length of the large diameter lace portion.

[0043] Therefore, the large diameter lace section 5 not only allows for more precise adjustment of the tightness, but also, combined with the small diameter lace section 6 being located on the lower side (tip side) of the instep section 2, it becomes possible to smoothly fit the shoelace 9 to the shape of the instep simply by pulling on both ends.

[0044] Specifically, the large-diameter lace portion 5 is stretched and deformed to a smaller diameter while the shoelace 9 is pulled by hand, and the lace is then inserted alternately through a plurality of lace holes 3 arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the instep portion 2 of the shoe 1, and the shoelace 9 is routed around the instep portion 2 in a crosswise manner. Subsequently, one or both of the free ends 15 of the shoelace 9 that has passed through the last lace-threading hole 3 are pulled to tighten it, and then the free end 15 is inserted through the hole of the shoelace tip locking portion 16. When this pulling operation is stopped, the large-diameter lace portion 5 that has passed through the lace-threading hole 3 and the large-diameter lace portion 5 that has passed through the hole of the shoelace tip locking portion 16 are released from their stretched, reduced-diameter deformation, and the large-diameter lace portion 5 is restored to its original shape that prevents it from passing through the lace-threading hole 3 and the hole. If the shoelace 9 begins to move back, the large-diameter lace portion 5 will engage with the peripheral portion (grommet member) of the lace-threading hole 3 and the peripheral portion of the hole, i.e., the shoelace tip locking portion 16, preventing the shoelace 9 from moving back, and the tightened state of the shoelace 9 is maintained in a good condition. Therefore, the tightening state of the instep 2 is reliably maintained even without tying the shoelace 9, eliminating the need to tie the shoelace 9.

[0045] Therefore, this embodiment is a novel device that allows the tightness of the instep portion to be adjusted steplessly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Shoes 2 Instep 3 String holes 4a Core material 4b Outer layer material 5 Large diameter cord section 6 Small diameter string section 7 Connecting part 9. Shoelaces 15 shoelace free end 16 Shoelace tip fastening part

Claims

1. An elastic shoelace arranged on the instep of a shoe, The diaper is configured to include a core material made of an elastic material and a tubular outer layer material made of an elastic material that covers the core material, large-diameter lace portions of a substantially constant thickness provided at both ends of the lace in the longitudinal direction, the large-diameter lace portions having a diameter larger than the diameter of the lace holes of the shoe and elastically deforming in the pulling direction when pulled to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lace holes; a small-diameter cord portion provided in the center of the cord in the longitudinal direction, the small-diameter cord portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cord-threading hole and a substantially constant thickness; a connecting portion provided between the large diameter cord portion and the small diameter cord portion and having a diameter smaller than that of the small diameter cord portion, the outer layer material is a woven, knitted or braided fabric containing polyester fibers, and the fiber density is set so that it becomes denser in the order of the large diameter cord portion, the small diameter cord portion and the connecting portion, The core material is a rubber cord formed by bundling a large number of thin rubber fibers, and is set to have a higher elastic force than the outer layer material, a shoelace configured such that the core material and the outer layer material are tightly attached to each other at the connecting portion, while the core material and the outer layer material are not tightly attached to each other in the large diameter lace portion and the small diameter lace portion, and the core material is expanded in the lace diameter direction; and a pulling operation causes the core materials of the large diameter lace portion and the small diameter lace portion to expand and contract, thereby deforming the large diameter lace portion and the small diameter lace portion to have smaller diameters.

2. 2. The shoelace according to claim 1, wherein each of the large diameter lace portions has a length set to 1 / 6 to 1 / 4 of the entire length of the shoelace.

3. A shoe equipped with the shoelace according to claim 1 or 2, A plurality of lace holes are arranged in a row on each of the left and right sides of the instep portion in a direction from the toe toward the opening, and a shoelace tip locking portion is provided on each of the left and right sides of the shoe to lock the free end of the shoelace at the tip of the shoelace inserted into the lace hole, and the shoelace tip locking portion is located vertically below the uppermost lace hole, The shoelace tip fastening portion has a through hole, and the through hole is drilled in a direction along the side of the shoe, The shoelace is configured such that the large-diameter lace portion of the free end of the shoelace pulled out of the uppermost lace hole is deformed to a smaller diameter by a pulling operation and inserted into the through-hole, and then restored to its original shape, whereby the large-diameter lace portion is engaged with the shoelace tip engaging portion to prevent the shoelace from moving back, and the free end of the shoelace that has passed through the through-hole is positioned along the side of the shoe.

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