Foot covers

Abstract

To provide a foot cover capable of avoiding the disposal of the foot cover by putting on a toe part and a heel part in reverse when the toe part is broken.SOLUTION: A foot cover 100 is used for both right and left sides. A toe part A has a toe side reinforcing part 140 for reinforcing the toe part A. A toe side anti-slip part 130 is disposed on the periphery of an opening OP. When either right or left cover of the foot cover 100 is placed on a plane with the toe part A or a heel part C as the upper side, the upper and lower sides and right and left sides are substantially symmetrical to each other including the opening OP. The toe side reinforcing part 140 and the toe side anti-slip part 130 are vertical-symmetrically disposed as the heel side reinforcing part 140 and the heel side anti-slip part 130. Even when the toe side reinforcing part 140 and the toe side anti-slip part 130 are changed from the toe side to the heel side of the wearer, the range covering the instep is almost the same, the toe is reinforced by the heel side reinforcing part 140, and the foot cover 100 is prevented from slipping off the heel by the toe side anti-slip part 130.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a foot cover that is hidden inside a shoe and becomes invisible (including cases where it becomes difficult to see) when worn. Specifically, even when the front and back of the foot cover (synonymous with front and rear, where the front and the tip indicate the toe side or the toe direction, and the back indicates the heel side or the heel direction) are worn with the toe side and the heel side swapped (for example, even when the toe side with a hole at the tip is worn with the heel side), it is hidden inside the shoe and becomes invisible (including cases where it becomes difficult to see), and the foot cover is prevented from coming off or shifting in position during walking or when putting on and taking off pumps. Further, the present invention relates to a foot cover that can prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting in position during walking or when putting on and taking off pumps when the toe side and the heel side of the foot cover are worn with the positions swapped (regardless of the presence of a hole at the tip, when the toe side is worn with the heel side), and the depth of wearing can be changed by varying the coverage range of the instep by the foot cover.

Background Art

[0002] Wearing shoes such as pumps on bare feet has become established as a fashion. In this case, if the pumps and the sole of the foot are in direct contact, the inside of the shoes becomes stuffy due to the sweat generated on the feet, causing discomfort.

[0003] Therefore, a thin foot cover that covers the sole of the foot including the toes and the heel and exposes the instep and the ankle has been proposed, with a large cut at the opening so that it does not protrude from the pumps when worn (it is difficult to protrude). When wearing this foot cover with pumps, it appears from the outside as if wearing pumps on bare feet. Since the foot cover is interposed between the sole of the foot and the pumps, it is possible to prevent the inside of the shoes from becoming stuffy due to sweat.

[0004] In this specification, such foot coverings are referred to as foot covers, but they may also be referred to as sock covers, inner socks, nude socks, cover socks, etc.

[0005] Such foot covers typically have an anti-slip structure to prevent them from shifting or slipping off during wear. Conventional anti-slip structures can be broadly categorized into (1) application of resins such as silicone or rubber, (2) application of fabric cut into strips, and (3) weaving of elastic parts or insertion of rubber. However, while anti-slip structures using resins such as silicone are highly effective at preventing slippage, if they are applied around the entire circumference of the opening, they can cause skin irritation due to the components, inflammation due to close contact with the skin and dynamic pressure, and skin roughness due to sweat, etc. On the other hand, anti-slip structures using fabric cut into strips or insertion of elastic threads are less likely to cause skin irritation, but their anti-slip effect is not as high as that of resins such as silicone. Furthermore, in either case, applying an anti-slip structure around the entire circumference of the opening can tighten the foot and impair the wearing comfort.

[0006] In view of these problems, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-155889 (Patent Document 1) discloses a foot cover that is gentle on the skin and has an effective anti-slip function. The foot cover disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a main body that covers at least a portion of the sole, toes, and heel of the foot, and an anti-slip portion is disposed on the inside of the periphery of the opening formed in the main body, wherein the anti-slip portion includes a first anti-slip portion disposed on the toe side of the periphery and having lower elasticity than the main body, and a second anti-slip portion separated from the first anti-slip portion and disposed on the heel side of the periphery and having greater friction with the skin than the first anti-slip portion.

[0007] According to the foot cover disclosed in Patent Document 1, the first anti-slip portion and the second anti-slip portion are separated from each other and arranged on the periphery, so it is possible to prevent excessive pressure on the skin, especially the delicate skin on the toe side, caused by excessive tightening that occurs when an anti-slip portion with high friction is placed around the entire circumference of the opening. In this toe cover, a first anti-slip section (such as a nylon knit fabric) with low elasticity that puts less strain on the skin is placed on the toe side where the skin is relatively weak (thin), and a second anti-slip section (a strip-shaped silicone (described as silicone in Patent Document 1) or other resin) that has greater friction with the skin than the first anti-slip section is placed separately from the first anti-slip section on the heel side where the skin is relatively stronger (thick). This makes it possible to reduce the strain on the toe side where the skin is weak while effectively preventing slipping and coming off. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-155889 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] Incidentally, as a material for such foot covers, thin, stretchy knitted fabrics such as pantyhose fabric (a knitted fabric containing polyurethane and nylon threads) are often used, although this is just one example. Patent Document 1 focuses on the toe side, where the skin is relatively weak (thin), and the heel side, where the skin is relatively strong (thick). However, when comparing the toe side and heel side of the human foot (from the ankle to the toes), the toe side has toes and toenails that are not present on the heel side. Furthermore, growing out toenails and coloring or decorating them to improve aesthetics has become a popular summer trend. Due to the presence of toenails (even without growing out toenails, the toe is thinner and pointed compared to the heel), thin foot covers inevitably have the drawback of becoming thin and easily torn at the toe area after repeated wear and washing. For example, many foot covers are reversible (without distinguishing between left and right foot), so if the toe of a foot cover worn on the right foot tears (develops a hole), one can simply discard it and wear either the left or right unused foot cover of the same model on the right foot. However, this often results in discarding a torn or worn-out foot cover (with a hole or a hole developing) or having an unused one left over. To avoid this, if you reverse the front and back of a torn (hole-filled) foot cover (switching the toe and heel ends), the torn hole will not be visible when wearing shoes, and since the heel is thicker and rounder than the toe, the hole is less likely to enlarge. Therefore, using a torn (hole-filled) foot cover instead of discarding it contributes to not discarding foot covers containing synthetic fibers, which are mainly manufactured from petroleum-based synthetic resins, and is beneficial to the SDGs, which are international agreements as described below. Furthermore, it is clearly even more undesirable from the perspective of these SDGs if both foot covers are discarded when one of the toe areas tears (develops a hole) on the left or right side.

[0010] The "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" (2030 Agenda), adopted by the United Nations in September 2015, is a groundbreaking agreement in which the entire international community recognizes the problems caused by human activities that have led to a materially prosperous and convenient lifestyle as urgent issues and resolves them collaboratively. With the adoption of this agreement, the concept of "sustainable development" is becoming deeply ingrained as a common principle in the international community. At the core of the 2030 Agenda are the "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs), which have 17 goals, and Goal 14 (Ocean) is to "conserve and sustainably use marine resources for sustainable development." The background to the setting of Goal 14 (Ocean) is that global marine pollution is becoming increasingly serious due to inappropriate waste disposal and other factors. Marine plastic waste, one of the causes of ocean pollution, includes fishing gear, food and beverage containers and packaging, cigarette lighters and filters, etc. It is estimated that approximately one-third of plastic waste generated from coastal areas is improperly disposed of and flows into the ocean, becoming marine plastic waste. While recognizing the importance of contributing to the suppression and reduction of marine waste originating from land, particularly microplastics (marine plastic waste is broken down into microplastics smaller than 5 mm by the force of waves and ultraviolet rays), the need to address marine waste has been reaffirmed. Furthermore, even if plastic waste does not become marine waste, plastics... From the perspective of the 2030 Agenda, it is undesirable that burning (incinerating) waste emits greenhouse gases, and that the raw materials for plastics are petroleum resources with limited extraction resources. For these reasons, immediately discarding foot covers that are torn (have holes) at the toe is undesirable from the perspective of the SDGs because they contain synthetic fibers made from synthetic resins that are mainly derived from petroleum.

[0011] However, the foot cover disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a first anti-slip section (such as nylon knit fabric) with low elasticity that puts less strain on the skin on the toe side where the skin is relatively weak (thin), and a second anti-slip section (a strip-shaped resin such as silicone) that has more friction with the skin than the first anti-slip section, separated from the first anti-slip section, on the heel side where the skin is relatively strong (thick). This effectively prevents slipping and coming off while reducing the strain on the toe side where the skin is weak. Therefore, wearing a torn (hole-filled) foot cover with the front and back reversed (toe side and heel side swapped) is impossible because it does not reduce the strain on the toe side where the skin is weak and does not effectively prevent slipping and coming off. Thus, a torn (hole-filled) foot cover disclosed in Patent Document 1 must be discarded.

[0012] In light of the problems with the foot cover disclosed in Patent Document 1, the applicant has diligently conducted research in order to contribute to the SDGs, an international agreement, as a manufacturer and distributor of foot covers containing synthetic fibers mainly made from petroleum-based synthetic resins.

[0013] The present invention was developed in view of the prior art, and its objective is to provide a foot cover that can prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, even when the toe side and heel side of the foot cover are swapped (although not limited to this, this can also be done by swapping the toe side with a hole at the tip to the heel side). Another objective of the present invention is to provide a foot cover that can prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, even when the toe side and heel side of the foot cover are swapped (regardless of the presence or absence of a hole at the tip, when the toe side is swapped to the heel side), and that allows the depth of the foot cover to be changed by varying the coverage area of ​​the instep. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] To achieve the above objective, the foot cover according to the present invention employs the following technical means.

[0015] In other words, a foot cover according to a certain aspect of the present invention is a foot cover that covers the sole of the foot, including the toes and heel, while exposing the instep and ankle, and is formed of a sole portion, a side portion, a heel portion and a toe portion that covers the toes, and has an opening for putting the foot in and out, with an opening on the upper and lower sides of the sole portion, and is formed by joining at least one first stretch knitted fabric that forms the parts other than the sole portion and a second stretch knitted fabric that is different from the first stretch knitted fabric and forms the sole portion, so that the foot cover is formed in a three-dimensional shape, the toe portion is provided with a toe-side reinforcing portion that reinforces the toe portion, and a toe-side anti-slip portion is provided on a part of the toe-side of the opening that is shaped along the periphery of the opening, and the toe portion or the heel portion is facing upward When either the left or right foot cover is placed on a flat surface, the foot cover is substantially symmetrical in the left-right and up-down directions, including the opening, and the toe-side reinforcement portion and toe-side anti-slip portion are also provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side of the toe side, as a heel-side reinforcement portion and heel-side anti-slip portion. The toe-side reinforcement portion and the heel-side reinforcement portion are substantially symmetrical in shape and position in the left-right and up-down directions, and are made of the same material. The toe-side anti-slip portion and the heel-side anti-slip portion are substantially symmetrical in shape and position in the left-right and up-down directions, and are made of the same material. The foot cover is characterized in that, whether worn with the toe-side reinforcement portion and toe-side anti-slip portion facing the wearer's toes or facing the wearer's heel, the coverage area of ​​the instep by the foot cover is substantially the same, and it can be used both front and back (forward and backward) with substantially the same depth.

[0016] Furthermore, a foot cover according to another aspect of the present invention is a foot cover that covers the sole of the foot, including the toes and heel, while exposing the instep and ankle, and is formed of a sole portion, a side portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion that covers the toes, with an opening for inserting and removing the foot, above the sole portion. The foot cover is formed into a three-dimensional shape by joining together at least one first stretch knitted fabric, which is provided on the opposite side of the bottom and forms a part other than the sole, and a second stretch knitted fabric, which is different from the first stretch knitted fabric and forms the sole. The toe portion is provided with a reinforcing portion to reinforce the toe portion, and a non-slip portion is provided on a part of the toe side of the opening, shaped to follow the periphery of the opening. When either the left or right side of the foot cover is placed on a flat surface with the toe portion or the heel portion facing upward, it is substantially symmetrical in the left-right and up-down directions, excluding the opening, and the length from the top end of the foot cover to the top end of the opening is different from the length from the bottom end of the foot cover to the bottom end of the opening. The foot cover is characterized in that, including the aforementioned opening, it is substantially symmetrical left to right and asymmetrical up to down, and the toe-side reinforcement portion and the toe-side anti-slip portion are also provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side of the toe side, as a heel-side reinforcement portion and a heel-side anti-slip portion, and the toe-side reinforcement portion and the heel-side reinforcement portion are made of the same material in addition to being substantially symmetrical in shape and position left to right and up to down, and the toe-side anti-slip portion and the heel-side anti-slip portion are made of the same material in addition to being substantially symmetrical in shape up to down, and the coverage area of ​​the instep by the foot cover differs depending on whether the toe-side reinforcement portion and the toe-side anti-slip portion are facing the wearer's toes or facing the wearer's heel, and the depth of the fit can be changed, making it reversible for both front and back (forward and backward).

[0017] Preferably, the opening can be provided with an anti-slip tape that is shaped to conform to the periphery of the opening along its entire periphery, and the anti-slip portion in the form of a tape can be provided on the skin side of the anti-slip tape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the foot cover of the present invention, even if the toe side and the heel side of the foot cover are worn in reverse (for example, wearing the toe side with a hole at the tip on the heel side, although not limited to this), it is possible to provide a foot cover that can suppress the foot cover from coming off or the wearing position from shifting during walking or when putting on and taking off pumps. Also, according to the foot cover of the present invention, when the toe side and the heel side of the foot cover are worn in reverse (even when wearing the toe side on the heel side regardless of the presence of the hole at the tip), it is possible to suppress the foot cover from coming off or the wearing position from shifting during walking or when putting on and taking off pumps, and it is possible to provide a foot cover that can change the wearing depth by varying the coverage range of the toenail by the foot cover.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Fig. 8 is an overall perspective view of the foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from above while being worn. [Figure 2] Figs. 11(A) and (B) are a top view and a bottom view showing a virtual wearing state of the foot cover 100 shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 3] Fig. 14 is a development view (plan view of two pieces of pattern paper) of the foot cover 100 shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 4] Fig. 17 is an overall perspective view of the foot cover 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from above while being worn, in (A) a shallow toe wearing state and (B) a deep toe wearing state. [Figure 5] Figs. 20(A) and (B) are a top view and a bottom view showing a virtual wearing state of the foot cover 200 shown in Fig. 4 (in the shallow toe wearing state). [Figure 6] Figs. 23(A) and (B) are a top view and a bottom view showing a virtual wearing state of the foot cover 200 shown in Fig. 4 (in the deep toe wearing state). [Figure 7] Fig. 26 is a development view (plan view of two pieces of pattern paper) of the foot cover 200 shown in Fig. 4.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] In the following, the foot covers according to embodiments of the present invention (foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment and foot cover 200 according to the second embodiment) are shown in Figure 1, an overall perspective view of foot cover 100 as seen from diagonally above when worn; Figure 2(A), a top view, and Figure 2(B), a bottom view, showing a hypothetical wearing state of foot cover 100; Figure 3, showing an unfolded view of foot cover 100 (plan view of two pattern pieces); and Figure 4(A), an overall perspective view of foot cover 200 as seen from diagonally above when worn, showing a shallow toe position and Figure 4(B), showing a deep toe position; and a hypothetical view of foot cover 200 in a shallow toe position. This will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 5(A), a top view showing the actual wearing state, and Figure 5(B), a bottom view showing the actual wearing state, Figure 6(A), a top view showing the hypothetical wearing state of the foot cover 200 in a deep toe position, and Figure 6(B), a bottom view showing the actual wearing state, and Figure 7, which shows the unfolded diagram of the foot cover 200 (plan view of the two pattern pieces). Note that Figure 6 is an inverted version of Figure 5.

[0021] Here, the difference between foot cover 100 and foot cover 200 is that the first stretchable knit fabric 104 of foot cover 100 is replaced by the first stretchable knit fabric 204 in foot cover 200. Based on this difference, the common features of foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment and foot cover 200 according to the second embodiment will be explained below. Note that the same structural components are denoted by the same reference numerals in foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment and foot cover 200 according to the second embodiment. <Features common to the two embodiments> Generally, there are various structures for foot covers, and the present invention is not limited to any particular structure. Basically, any foot cover structure, the type of fabric used to make up the foot cover, the pattern of the fabric, and the method of joining the fabrics are acceptable as long as they have the features described later. Therefore, the foot cover structure itself and joining methods shown below are merely examples. In the embodiments, foot covers without reference numerals refer to foot cover 100 and foot cover 200, and the description of foot covers without reference numerals in the embodiments applies to both foot cover 100 and foot cover 200.

[0022] The fabric used to form these foot covers is preferably bare jersey (a knitted fabric made by knitting bare polyurethane yarn into a plain knit), tricot (a warp-knitted fabric made on a tricot machine, a type of warp knitting machine), or pantyhose fabric (a knitted fabric containing polyurethane yarn and nylon yarn). In particular, among these, bare jersey is preferable for foot covers because it (1) has excellent elasticity, (2) has good shape retention and little change in shape after washing, (3) has a soft texture and excellent fit, (4) is resistant to wrinkles and creases, (5) has a porous structure that allows for breathability, and (6) if it contains cotton, it has a good feel against the skin and good moisture absorption. Also, in this embodiment, when simply referred to as "fabric," it means fabric including knitted fabrics.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a common feature (structural feature) of the foot cover 100 and the foot cover 200 is that these foot covers cover the sole of the foot, including the toes and heel, while exposing the instep and ankle. They are formed with a sole portion D, a side portion B, a heel portion C, and a toe portion A that covers the toes, and have an opening OP for putting the foot in and out, provided on the upper and lower sides of the sole portion D. At least one first stretchable knitted fabric (first stretchable knitted fabric 104 in the foot cover 100 and first stretchable knitted fabric 204 in the foot cover 200, and the same applies hereinafter) that forms the part other than the sole portion D is joined to a second stretchable knitted fabric 102 which is a different stretchable knitted fabric from the first stretchable knitted fabric 104 and forms the sole portion D, so the foot cover 100 and the foot cover 200 are formed in a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, the toe portion A is the part of the foot cover that covers the toes of the wearer's foot, and the heel portion C is the part of the foot cover that covers the heel of the wearer's foot. The foot cover according to the present invention is reversible (meaning that even if the toe side and heel side are swapped when worn, i.e., the front and back of the foot cover are swapped when worn, the foot cover will function the same way regardless of which side is swapped, and this parenthetical notation will be omitted below). Therefore, the toe portion A and the heel portion C are formed by the upper part 104U or the lower part 104D in Figure 3, or by the upper part 204U or the lower part 204D in Figure 7. It should be noted that in foot cover 100, the toe depth (sometimes referred to as toe depth) is the same (approximately the same) whether toe portion A is formed by the upper part 104U or the lower part 104D as shown in Figure 3. However, in foot cover 200, the toe depth is not the same (approximately the same) whether toe portion A is formed by the upper part 204U or the lower part 204D as shown in Figure 7, and toe portion A is formed by the upper part 204U. When the foot cover is worn with the side with coverage length L(1) shown in Figures 4 to 6 facing the wearer's toes, it becomes a shallow fit at the toes. When the toe area A is formed by the lower part 204D (when the foot cover is worn with the side with coverage length L(2) shown in Figures 4 to 6 facing the wearer's toes), it becomes a deep fit at the toes. Note that a deep fit at the toes means that the area of ​​coverage of the instep by the foot cover is wider (the coverage length is longer) compared to a shallow fit at the toes (coverage length L(1) in Figure 1 = coverage length L(1) in Figure 4(A) < coverage length L(2) in Figure 4(B)).

[0024] These foot covers 100 and 200 are characterized in that, when worn, they become hidden inside the shoe (including cases where they become difficult to see) and are not visible, even if the instep opening is not as wide as that of women's pumps, etc. Furthermore, although not limited thereto, these foot covers 100 and 200 are preferable because they are reversible, preventing the mistake of putting them on the wrong foot and eliminating the need to differentiate between left and right foot covers.

[0025] Here, Figures 1 and 4 show the foot covers 100 and 200 actually being worn on the wearer's feet F. Figures 2, 5, and 6 show a hypothetical wearing state of the foot cover 100 (not the actual wearing state) in plan views (top view, bottom view). The reason for illustrating the hypothetical wearing state is to make it easy to understand, for example, that one of the left or right foot covers is symmetrical left and right and up and down (approximately) in Figures 2(A), 2(B), 5(B), and 6(B), and symmetrical left and right (approximately) in Figures 5(A) and 6(A). In other words, it is to make it easy to understand the points of symmetry left and right and up and down (approximately) in these three figures, Figures 2, 5, and 6. Because these foot covers 100 and 200 are made of stretchable knitted fabric, if they are not depicted in a hypothetical way assuming they are worn (i.e., if the foot covers are simply placed on a flat surface), the stretchable knitted fabric will shrink, making it difficult to understand the characteristic shape of the foot covers. Therefore, these three figures are shown as hypothetical plan views assuming they are worn.

[0026] In particular, in Figures 2(A), 5(A), and 6(A), which show a hypothetical wearing state as a plan view (top view), the foot covers 100 and 200 are depicted as being vertically symmetrical in a hypothetical wearing state, which differs from the actual wearing state on the foot F, in order to easily understand the characteristics of these foot covers 100 and 200 (when one of the foot covers, which is reusable for both left and right feet, is placed on a plane with the toe side or heel side facing upwards, the external shape of the foot cover is vertically symmetrical excluding the opening OP). That is, in the actual (non-hypothetical) state of wearing the foot cover on the foot F, the foot F rises almost vertically from the heel to the ankle, so when these foot covers 100 and 200 are worn, the heel part C rises almost vertically along the heel and ankle. Therefore, in order to avoid the fact that the external shape of the foot cover itself, excluding the opening OP, as well as the opening OP, the anti-slip part 130, and the reinforcing part 140, do not appear vertically symmetrical, these figures depict a hypothetical wearing state.

[0027] Furthermore, the covering length L(1) at the toe portion A of the foot cover 100 shown in Figure 1 corresponds to the covering length L(1) from the upper end of the foot cover 100 to the upper end of the opening OP shown in Figure 2(A). However, since Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the wearing state and Figure 2 is a plan view (top view, bottom view) showing a hypothetical wearing state, strictly speaking, the covering length L(1) in Figure 1 does not necessarily perfectly match the covering length L(1) in Figure 2(A). Similarly, the covering length L(1) at the toe portion A of the foot cover 200 shown in Figure 4(A) corresponds to the covering length L(1) in Figure 5(A). The covering length L(1) in Figure 4(B) corresponds to the covering length L(2) at the toe portion A of the foot cover 200, and the covering length L(2) in Figure 4(B) corresponds to the covering length L(2) at the toe portion A of the foot cover 200, and the covering length L(2) in Figure 5(A) corresponds to the covering length L(2) at the bottom of the foot cover 200, but since Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the wearing state and Figure 5 is a plan view (top view, bottom view) showing a hypothetical wearing state, strictly speaking, the covering length L(2) in Figure 4 does not necessarily perfectly match the length L(2) in Figure 5(A).

[0028] Furthermore, the covering height H(1) at the heel C of the foot cover 100 shown in Figure 1 and the foot cover 200 shown in Figure 4(B) corresponds to the covering length L(1) from the lower end of the foot cover 100 shown in Figure 2(A) and the foot cover 200 shown in Figure 6(A) to the lower end of the opening OP, and the covering height H(2) at the heel C of the foot cover 200 shown in Figure 4(A) corresponds to the covering length L(2) from the lower end of the foot cover 200 to the lower end of the opening OP shown in Figure 5(A). However, since Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the wearing state and Figure 5 is a plan view (top view, bottom view) showing a hypothetical wearing state, strictly speaking, the covering height H(2) in Figure 4 does not necessarily perfectly match the covering length L(2) in Figure 5(A).

[0029] Furthermore, Figures 3 and 6 are unfolded diagrams of the foot cover, and are intended to show the so-called pattern. Therefore, LL(1) shown in Figures 3 and 7, and LL(2) shown in Figure 7, correspond to the covering lengths L(1) and L(2) shown in other figures, respectively. However, because the dimensions change from a planar shape to a three-dimensional shape before and after suturing, they do not coincide (L(1)≠LL(1), L(2)≠LL(2), however, L(1) <L(2)かつLL(1)<LL(2))。

[0030] Furthermore, as mentioned above, since these foot covers 100 and 200 are formed from a stretchable knitted fabric, the fabric (knitted fabric) is soft and stretches and shrinks, so it is not appropriate to understand the left-right symmetry and up-down symmetry as being limited to mathematical perfect symmetry. For a person skilled in the art with ordinary skill in the art to which such foot covers belong, it is common technical knowledge that when mathematically limiting the shape of the foot cover, adding "abbreviated" or "etc." makes it more realistic, and it is also common technical knowledge that the invention can be fully understood even with such "abbreviated" or "etc." added, and adding "abbreviated" or "etc." does not result in a lack of clarity. <First Embodiment> In the following, the foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the second embodiment, the same matters as in the first embodiment will not be repeated in the description of the foot cover 200 according to the second embodiment, so the following description of the first embodiment will include a section describing the second embodiment.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a distinctive feature of this foot cover 100 is that the toe portion A is provided with a reinforcing portion 140 to reinforce the toe portion A, and a non-slip portion 130 is provided on a part of the toe side of the opening OP, shaped to follow the periphery of the opening OP. In these figures, the non-slip portion 130 is shown as an example of a narrow tape made of silicone resin, but it is not limited to such material, shape, and position. For example, it may be a shape other than narrow (e.g., a strip), or silicone resin may be applied in a dot pattern. Also, in these figures, the reinforcing portion 140 is shown as an example of a stretchable knitted fabric that covers (wraps) the toes in the front-to-back direction (rather than wrapping them from the left-to-right direction) and has a surface that directly touches the skin of the foot, but it is not limited to such material, shape, and position.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, when either the left or right foot cover 100, which is designed for both left and right feet, is placed on a flat surface with the toe portion A or heel portion C facing upwards, the foot cover 100 is approximately symmetrical (i.e., point symmetrical) in the left-right and up-down directions, including the position of the opening OP (it should be noted that the length L(1) from the top of the foot cover 100 to the top of the opening OP is the same as the length L(1) from the bottom of the foot cover 100 to the bottom of the opening OP). The toe-side reinforcing portion 140 and the toe-side anti-slip portion 130 are also provided on the heel side (lower 104D side shown in Figure 3), which is the opposite side of the toe side (upper 104U side shown in Figure 3), as the heel-side reinforcing portion 140 and the heel-side anti-slip portion 130. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the toe-side reinforcing portion 140 and the heel-side reinforcing portion 140 are not only approximately symmetrical in shape and position in the left-right and up-down directions, but are also made of the same material. Furthermore, the anti-slip portion 130 on the toe side and the anti-slip portion 130 on the heel side are not only approximately symmetrical in shape and position from left to right and up to down, but are also made of the same material.

[0033] In this configuration, the foot cover 100 is designed so that the reinforcing portion 140 and the anti-slip portion 130 on the toe side (the upper part 104U side shown in Figure 3) are positioned towards the wearer's toes. Whether worn with the heel facing the wearer, the coverage area of ​​the instep by the foot cover 100 is the same (the depth of wear is the same), and it can be used both front and back. As shown in Figures 2(B) and 3(A), the sole portion D of the foot cover 100 and the second elastic knitted fabric 102 forming the sole portion D are symmetrical in all directions, as described above. In addition, the arch portions on both sides extending from the toe side to the heel side are formed in a gently concave arc shape (peanut shape) that moves toward each other. This shape allows the sole portion D to fit snugly against the sole of the foot F, making it less likely to slip off, and also allows it to be used both left and right, and front and back. The sole portion D of the foot cover 100 and the second elastic knitted fabric 102 forming the sole portion D are not limited to this shape, and other shapes are acceptable as long as they conform to the shape of the foot F and are symmetrical in all directions.

[0034] Foot cover 100, with these features, can be worn with the toe and heel sides reversed (although not limited to this, the toe side with the hole at the tip can also be worn on the heel side), remaining hidden inside the shoe (or becoming less visible), and preventing the foot cover from slipping off or shifting position while walking or putting on and taking off pumps.

[0035] Thin foot covers have the drawback of becoming thin and easily torn after repeated wear and washing. Also, since many foot covers are reusable (without distinguishing between left and right feet), if the toe of a foot cover worn on the right foot tears (develops a hole), one can simply discard it and wear either the left or right unused foot cover of the same model on the right foot. However, this often results in discarding the torn (holey) foot cover or having one unused one left over. However, with Foot Cover 100, if one or both left or right Foot Cover 100 that have torn or thinned (with holes or partially torn) at the toe are worn with the front and back reversed (toe / heel swapped), the above-described structure allows for the following effects to be achieved. As described above, when the foot cover is placed on a flat surface with the toe portion A or heel portion C facing upwards, the foot cover 100 is approximately symmetrical (i.e., point symmetrical) in the left-right and up-down directions, including the opening OP. The toe-side reinforcing portion 140 and the toe-side anti-slip portion 130 are also provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side in terms of orientation from the toe side, as the heel-side reinforcing portion 140 and the heel-side anti-slip portion 130. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the toe-side reinforcing portion 140 and the heel-side reinforcing portion 140 are not only approximately symmetrical in shape and position in the left-right and up-down directions, but are also made of the same material. Furthermore, the toe-side anti-slip portion 130 and the heel-side anti-slip portion 130 are not only approximately symmetrical in shape and position in the left-right and up-down directions, but are also made of the same material. Therefore, even if you switch the toe side and heel side when wearing them (although this is not limited to switching the toe side with a hole at the tip to the heel side), they will be hidden inside the shoe and not visible (including cases where they become difficult to see), and it will also help prevent the foot covers from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on and taking off pumps.In other words, even if the toe side and heel side are swapped and the foot is put on, for example, the reinforcing part 140, which is made of a stretchable knitted fabric that wraps around the toe in the vertical direction, can continue to reinforce the toe part A, and for example, the anti-slip part 130, which is made of a narrow silicone resin tape, can continue to suppress the foot cover 100 from shifting away from the heel at the position where the anti-slip effect at the heel is most pronounced (for example, at a height near the subtalar joint) (at this time, the hole made when it was used as a toe part does not affect the suppression of the foot cover 100 from shifting by the anti-slip part 130). In particular, in the foot cover 100, since there is an anti-slip part 130 along the periphery of the opening OP (not around the entire circumference of the opening OP) on both the toe part A side and the heel part C side of the opening OP, the anti-slip part 130 is not provided around the entire circumference of the opening OP, so it does not tighten too much and is less likely to shift or come off than a foot cover where the anti-slip part is only on one side. As a result, this will lead to the reduction of waste on foot covers containing synthetic fibers, which are mainly manufactured from synthetic resins derived from petroleum, and will also be beneficial to the SDGs, which are international agreements.

[0036] Furthermore, an anti-slip tape 120 (in this case, a stretchable narrow knit fabric, but other materials and other shapes are also available) is placed around the entire periphery (skin side) of the opening OP. It is also preferable to provide a non-slip tape 120, and to provide a tape-shaped non-slip portion 130 on the skin side of the non-slip tape 120. When such a non-slip tape 120 is provided around the entire periphery (skin side) of the opening OP, the opening OP can be easily opened wide when putting on the foot cover 100 (especially when the material of the non-slip tape 120 is a stretchable narrow knit fabric), making it easier to put on the foot cover 100, and after putting on the foot cover 100, the foot cover 100 is less likely to slip off the foot F. Furthermore, by using a material other than silicone resin for the non-slip tape 120 provided around the entire periphery of the opening OP, the impact on the skin of the foot can be reduced. Note that this non-slip tape 120 may be provided on the shoe side (outside) rather than the skin side (inside) of the entire periphery of the opening OP so that the non-slip tape 120 does not directly touch the skin of the foot.

[0037] In addition, the first stretch knit fabric 104 and the second stretch knit fabric 102 are sewn together at the bottom seam line 110, but it is also preferable to butt the edges of the first stretch knit fabric 104 and the edges of the second stretch knit fabric 102 together and join them with adhesive tape to create a seamless foot cover. Here, joining other than sewing (in this case, adhesive) includes heat pressing, heat welding, heat fusion, etc., and typically adhesive tape with heat fusion adhesive applied to one side (for example, heel adhesive tape) is used.

[0038] Furthermore, the foot cover 100 is formed in a three-dimensional shape by joining together a first stretchable knitted fabric 104 that forms the side portion B, heel portion C, and toe portion A, and a second stretchable knitted fabric 102 that forms the sole portion D. It is also preferable that these first stretchable knitted fabrics 104 and the second stretchable knitted fabrics 102 be made of fabrics that do not require edge finishing so as the edges do not unravel (so-called raw-edge fabrics, free-cut fabrics).

[0039] As shown in the unfolded diagram (approximately the same as the pattern) of Figure 3, the foot cover 100 is constructed from a first stretch knitted fabric 104, which is a single piece of fabric with a predetermined peripheral shape and an opening OP, for the toe portion A, side portion B, and heel portion C (i.e., all parts of the foot cover 100 except the sole portion D), and the sole portion D is constructed from a second stretch knitted fabric 102, which is a single piece of fabric with a predetermined peripheral shape (approximately the same shape as the sole of the foot). In other words, all parts except the sole portion D are made of the first stretch knitted fabric 104, and the sole portion D is made of the second stretch knitted fabric 102. Note that there may be three (or more) pieces of fabric instead of two.

[0040] Then, as shown by the double arrows in Figure 3, the two stretchable knitted fabrics are brought close together and sewn together along the bottom seam line 110 to give the foot cover 100 a three-dimensional shape. Note that the small triangular protrusions, four on each of the two patterns in Figure 3, are merely markers for joining (sewing, bonding).

[0041] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a non-slip surface (not shown) made of a thin sheet of silicone resin or the like on the sole portion D, on the side opposite to the side that contacts the foot F (the side that contacts the insole of the pump when wearing the pump). This increases the adhesion with the insole of the pump and prevents the foot cover 100 from shifting position inside the pump. Note that this non-slip surface is not an essential component of the foot cover according to the present invention.

[0042] In this foot cover 100, the first stretch knitted fabric 104 forming the foot cover 100 excluding the sole D, the second stretch knitted fabric 102 forming the sole D, the stretch knitted fabric constituting the reinforcement part 140, and the narrow stretch knitted fabric constituting the anti-slip tape 120 may all be made from the same fabric. That is, with the exception of the anti-slip part 130 (for example, a narrow silicone resin tape) and the sewing thread (or adhesive tape for making this foot cover 100 seamless) forming the sole seam line 110, the entire foot cover 100 may be made from the same stretch knitted fabric. Here, in this foot cover 100, the narrow stretch knitted fabric constituting the anti-slip tape 120 is heat-bonded to the periphery of the opening OP of the first stretch knitted fabric 104 by heating with a heat press device, which melts the adhesive applied to the narrow stretch knitted fabric.

[0043] Furthermore, in the foot cover 100, the first stretch knitted fabric 104 forms the part of the foot cover 100 other than the sole D, the second stretch knitted fabric 102 forms the sole D, the stretch knitted fabric constituting the reinforcement part 140, and the stretch narrow knitted fabric constituting the anti-slip tape 120 As mentioned above, the base and the other parts do not have to be made of the same fabric; at least one of them may be made of a different knit.

[0044] As described above, the foot cover 100 according to this embodiment provides a foot cover that can prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, even if the toe side and heel side of the foot cover are swapped (although not limited to this, the toe side with a hole at the tip can also be swapped with the heel side). <Second Embodiment> In the following, the foot cover 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 7. The difference between the foot cover 100 and the foot cover 200 is that the first stretchable knit fabric 104 of the foot cover 100 is replaced by the first stretchable knit fabric 204 in the foot cover 200. The foot cover 200 will be described focusing on this difference, but since it is the same as the first embodiment except for this difference, parts that overlap with the above description will not be repeated in this second embodiment.

[0045] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when either the left or right foot cover 200, which is designed for both left and right feet, is placed on a flat surface with the toe portion A or heel portion C facing upwards, the foot cover 200 is approximately symmetrical horizontally and vertically, excluding the position of the opening OP. However, because the length L(1) from the top of the foot cover to the top of the opening OP is different from the length L(2) from the bottom of the foot cover to the bottom of the opening OP, the foot cover 200 is approximately symmetrical horizontally and asymmetrical vertically when the opening OP is included. The toe-side reinforcement portion 140 and the toe-side anti-slip portion 130 are also provided on the heel side (lower 204D side shown in Figure 3), which is the opposite side vertically from the toe side (upper 204U side shown in Figure 7). As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the toe-side reinforcement portion 140 and the heel-side reinforcement portion 140 are not only approximately symmetrical horizontally and vertically in shape and position, but are also made of the same material. Furthermore, the anti-slip portion 130 on the toe side and the anti-slip portion 130 on the heel side are not only substantially symmetrical in shape vertically but are also made of the same material. In other words, unlike the foot cover 100, the foot cover 200 according to this embodiment is not substantially symmetrical vertically, including the opening OP (position), as shown in Figures 4 to 7, because L(1) ≠ L(2). Even though L(1) ≠ L(2), the shape and position of the reinforcing portion 140 are substantially symmetrical horizontally and vertically, and because L(1) ≠ L(2), the position of the anti-slip portion 130 is not substantially symmetrical vertically.

[0046] With this configuration, the foot cover 200 can be worn both ways, allowing for adjustment of the depth of the foot depending on whether the wearer wears it with the toe-side reinforcement portion 140 and toe-side anti-slip portion 130 facing the wearer's toes or with the wearer wearing it with the toe-side facing the wearer's heel.

[0047] With these features, the Foot Cover 200 can be worn with the toe and heel sides reversed (although not limited to this, it can also be worn with the toe side facing the heel, regardless of whether there is a hole at the tip), and it will remain hidden inside the shoe (including cases where it becomes difficult to see), while also preventing the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on and taking off pumps.

[0048] Similar to the left / right interchangeable foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment described above, with the left / right interchangeable foot cover 200, if one or both foot covers 200 are torn or thinned (with holes or holes forming) at the toe end, and are worn with the front and back reversed (toe / heel swapped), the above configuration can produce the following effects. As described above, when the foot cover is placed on a flat surface with the toe portion A or heel portion C facing upwards, the foot cover 200 is approximately symmetrical horizontally and vertically when excluding the opening OP. However, because the length L(1) from the top of the foot cover to the top of the opening OP and the length L(2) from the bottom of the foot cover to the bottom of the opening OP are different, including the opening OP, it is approximately symmetrical horizontally and asymmetrical vertically. The toe-side reinforcement portion 140 and the toe-side anti-slip portion 130 are also provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side vertically from the toe side, as heel-side reinforcement portion 140 and heel-side anti-slip portion 130. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the toe-side reinforcement portion 140 and the heel-side reinforcement portion 140 are not only approximately symmetrical horizontally and vertically in shape and position, but are also made of the same material. Furthermore, the toe The anti-slip portion 130 on the front and the anti-slip portion 130 on the back are not only nearly symmetrical in shape vertically, but are also made of the same material. Therefore, even if you swap the toe side and the heel side (although this is not limited to this, you can also swap the toe side with the hole at the front to the heel side), although the toe depth will change, it will prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on and taking off pumps. In other words, even if the toe and heel sides are swapped, for example, the reinforcing part 140, which is made of a stretchable knitted fabric that wraps around the toe in the vertical direction, can continue to reinforce the toe part A, and for example, the anti-slip part 130, which is made of a narrow silicone resin tape, can continue to suppress the foot cover 100 from shifting away from the heel at the position where the anti-slip effect at the heel is most pronounced (for example, at a height near the subtalar joint) (even if there is a hole that was made when it was used as a toe cover, it does not affect the suppression of the foot cover 200 from shifting by the anti-slip part 130). Unlike the foot cover 100, with respect to the foot cover 200, as shown in Figures 4(A) and 5, the heel side is deeper when the toe area is shallow compared to when the toe area is deep as shown in Figures 4(B) and 6. However, whether the toe area is shallow or deep, it is preferable to determine the position of both anti-slip parts 130 (including changing the shape of the opening OP (the vertical length of the opening OP in Figure 7, which is consequently LL(2))) so that the anti-slip part 130 is in a position where the anti-slip effect at the heel is best expressed (for example, at a height near the subtalar joint). Furthermore, in the foot cover 200 as with the foot cover 100, there are anti-slip parts 130 along the periphery of the opening OP (not around the entire circumference of the opening OP) on both the toe area A and the heel area C of the opening OP. Since the anti-slip part 130 is not provided around the entire circumference of the opening OP, it does not tighten too much and is less likely to slip or come off than foot covers where the anti-slip part is only present on one side. As a result, this will lead to the reduction of waste on foot covers containing synthetic fibers, which are mainly manufactured from synthetic resins derived from petroleum, and will also be beneficial to the SDGs, which are international agreements.

[0049] Furthermore, unlike the foot cover 100 according to the first embodiment, the foot cover 200 according to this embodiment allows for changing the toe depth by switching the toe and heel sides, regardless of whether one or both foot covers 200 are worn with the front and back reversed (toe / heel swapped) if the toe side is torn or thinned (has a hole or is about to get a hole). The shallow toe state shown in Figures 4(A) and 5 and the deep toe state shown in Figures 4(B) and 6 can be switched using a single pair of foot covers 200 that can be used for both the left and right feet. In other words, the shallow toe state is suitable when wearing shoes with a wide opening at the instep, such as pumps, while the deep toe state is suitable when wearing shoes with a narrow opening at the instep, or when increasing the coverage from the toes to the instep, or when wearing them as room socks.

[0050] Furthermore, as with the first embodiment described above, it is also preferable to provide an anti-slip tape 120 (here made of a stretchable narrow knit fabric, but other materials and other shapes are also acceptable) along the entire periphery of the opening OP, and to provide a tape-shaped anti-slip portion 130 on the skin side of the anti-slip tape 120.

[0051] As shown in the unfolded diagram (approximately the same as the pattern) of Figure 7, the foot cover 100 is made of a first stretch knitted fabric 204, which is a single piece of fabric with a predetermined peripheral shape and an opening OP, for the toe portion A, side portion B, and heel portion C (i.e., all parts of the foot cover 100 except the sole portion D), and the sole portion D is made of a second stretch knitted fabric 102, which is a single piece of fabric with a predetermined peripheral shape (approximately the same shape as the sole of the foot). In other words, all parts except the sole portion D are made of the first stretch knitted fabric 204, and the sole portion D is made of the second stretch knitted fabric 102. Note that there may be three (or more) pieces of fabric instead of two.

[0052] Then, as shown by the double arrows in Figure 7, the two stretchable knitted fabrics are brought close together and sewn together along the bottom seam line 110 to give the foot cover 200 a three-dimensional shape. Note that the small triangular protrusions, four on each of the two patterns in Figure 7, are merely markers for joining (sewing, bonding).

[0053] As described above, with the foot cover 200 according to this embodiment, by switching the toe side and heel side of the foot cover (by switching the toe side to the heel side regardless of the presence of a hole at the tip), it is possible to prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, and it is possible to provide a foot cover that can change the depth of wear by changing the coverage area of ​​the instep with the foot cover. <Effects of the two embodiments> As described above, the foot cover according to the first embodiment described above can be used to prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, even if the toe side and heel side of the foot cover are swapped (although not limited to this, the toe side with a hole at the tip is also used as the heel side). Furthermore, the foot cover according to the second embodiment described above can be used to prevent the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, even if the toe side and heel side of the foot cover are swapped (regardless of the presence or absence of a hole at the tip, the toe side is also used as the heel side), and the foot cover can be used to change the depth of the foot by varying the coverage area of ​​the instep. In particular, both the foot cover according to the first embodiment and the foot cover according to the second embodiment are extremely preferable in that they can be worn with the toe side and heel side reversed, that is, with the front and back (front and back) of the foot cover reversed, and still function as a foot cover without any difference in orientation (in the case of the foot cover according to the second embodiment, the function of being able to change the toe depth is further expressed).

[0054] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Industrial applicability]

[0055] The present invention is particularly preferable as it is suitable for foot covers worn barefoot, and even if the toe side and heel side are reversed (although not limited to this, the toe side with a hole at the tip is also worn on the heel side), it is hidden inside the shoe and becomes invisible (including cases where it becomes difficult to see), and it prevents the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps. Furthermore, if the toe side and heel side of the foot cover are reversed (regardless of the presence or absence of a hole at the tip, the toe side is also worn on the heel side), it prevents the foot cover from coming off or shifting position when walking or putting on or taking off pumps, and it is especially preferable as it allows for changing the depth of the foot by varying the coverage area of ​​the instep with the foot cover. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] A. Toe area B Side part C heel D Plantar part F foot OP opening 100 Foot cover (according to the first embodiment) 102 Second stretch knitted fabric (forms the sole D) 104 First stretch knitted fabric (consisting of toe section A, side section B, and heel section C) 110 Bottom suture line 120 Anti-slip tape (a narrow, stretchable fabric provided around the entire upper edge of the opening OP) 130 Anti-slip section (a narrow silicone resin tape placed at the height near the subtalar joint) 140 Reinforcement section (stretchable fabric that covers the toes in both the front and back directions) 200 Foot cover (according to the second embodiment) 204 First stretch knitted fabric (consisting of toe section A, side section B, and heel section C)

Claims

1. A foot cover that covers the sole of the foot, including the toes and heel, while exposing the instep and ankle, and is formed of a sole portion, a side portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion that covers the toes, An opening for inserting and removing the foot is provided on the upper and lower sides of the sole of the foot, The foot cover is formed in a three-dimensional shape by joining together at least one first stretch knitted fabric that forms the area other than the sole of the foot, and a second stretch knitted fabric that is different from the first stretch knitted fabric and forms the sole of the foot. The toe portion is provided with a toe-side reinforcing portion that reinforces the toe portion, and a toe-side anti-slip portion is provided on a part of the toe-side of the opening, which is shaped to follow the periphery of the opening. When the foot cover is placed on a flat surface with either the toe portion or the heel portion facing upwards, the reinforcing portion and anti-slip portion on the toe side are provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side of the toe side, in a manner that is substantially symmetrical in the left-right and up-down directions, including the opening, and the reinforcing portion and anti-slip portion on the toe side are also provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side of the toe side, as a heel-side reinforcing portion and heel-side anti-slip portion. The toe-side reinforcing portion and the heel-side reinforcing portion are not only substantially symmetrical in shape and position (left-right, up-down, and down-right), but are also made of the same material. The toe-side anti-slip portion and the heel-side anti-slip portion are not only substantially symmetrical in shape and position (left-right, up-down, and down-right), but are also made of the same material. Whether the toe-side reinforcement portion and the toe-side anti-slip portion are positioned towards the wearer's toes or towards the wearer's heel, the coverage area of ​​the instep by the foot cover remains approximately the same, and the depth of wear is approximately the same, allowing it to be worn both ways. The second stretchable knitted fabric is characterized in that, in addition to being symmetrical in all directions, the portions on both sides of the arch of the foot extending from the toe side to the heel side are formed in a gently concave arc shape that moves toward each other, and the overall shape of the second stretchable knitted fabric is formed in a peanut shape with a concave central portion extending from the toe side to the heel side.

2. These foot covers cover the soles of the feet, including the toes and heels, while leaving the instep and ankle exposed. It is formed by the sole portion, the side portion, the heel portion, and the toe portion that covers the toes, An opening for inserting and removing the foot is provided on the upper and lower sides of the sole of the foot, The foot cover is formed in a three-dimensional shape by joining together at least one first stretch knitted fabric that forms the area other than the sole of the foot, and a second stretch knitted fabric that is different from the first stretch knitted fabric and forms the sole of the foot. The toe portion is provided with a reinforcing portion to reinforce the toe portion, and a non-slip portion is provided on a part of the toe side of the opening, which is shaped to follow the periphery of the opening. When the foot cover is placed on a flat surface with either the toe portion or the heel portion facing upwards, it is substantially symmetrical horizontally and vertically if the opening is not included, and because the length from the upper end of the foot cover to the upper end of the opening is different from the length from the lower end of the foot cover to the lower end of the opening, it is substantially symmetrical horizontally and asymmetrical vertically if the opening is included, and the toe side reinforcement portion and the toe side anti-slip portion are also provided on the heel side, which is the opposite side vertically from the toe side, as a heel side reinforcement portion and a heel side anti-slip portion. The toe-side reinforcing portion and the heel-side reinforcing portion are not only substantially symmetrical in shape and position (left-right, up-down, and down-right), but are also made of the same material. The toe-side anti-slip portion and the heel-side anti-slip portion are not only substantially symmetrical in shape vertically, but are also made of the same material. A foot cover characterized in that the coverage area of ​​the instep by the foot cover differs depending on whether the toe-side reinforcement portion and the toe-side anti-slip portion are positioned towards the wearer's toes or towards the wearer's heel, thereby allowing the wearer to adjust the depth of the foot cover and enabling it to be used both forwards and backwards.

3. The foot cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a non-slip tape shaped to conform to the periphery of the opening is provided around the entire periphery of the opening, and a tape-shaped non-slip portion is further provided on the skin side of the non-slip tape.

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