Upper and shoe

Abstract

An upper 2 for covering the instep of a wearer's foot comprises: a foot insertion opening 21; an instep opening 22 extending forward from the foot insertion opening 21; flap parts 23 which are provided along the instep opening 22 and have a plurality of through holes 24 for the insertion of a shoelace formed therein at intervals in the front-rear direction; and belt-shaped members 5 which are positioned on the back surfaces of the flap parts 23 and extend in the front-rear direction across the plurality of through holes 24. The belt-shaped members 5 are fixed to the flap parts 23 in regions at the front and rear of the through holes 24. Loops 6 that are surrounded by the flap parts 23 and the belt-shaped members 5 are formed at positions corresponding to the through holes 24.

Description

Uppers and shoes

[0001] [Cross-reference to related applications] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-150888, filed September 19, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an upper and a shoe including the upper.

[0003] In skateboard park competitions, skaters perform a variety of tricks while riding on a course with a depression. If a skater fails to perform a trick on the slope of the course, they must safely slide down the slope in a position called a knee slide. Because the upper part of the shoe is in a position where it is in contact with the ground, the shoelaces can come into contact with minute steps or irregularities on the surface of the course, damaging the upper part and preventing the skater from continuing the competition.

[0004] Additionally, skateboard decks are covered with deck tape (grip tape), which has a rough, sandpaper-like surface that provides anti-slip properties. Therefore, when you kick the deck with the top of your foot to perform a trick, your shoelaces can get caught on the surface of the deck. Therefore, damage to the upper part of the skateboard can occur not only in park skates, but also in street skates.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a shoelace protector for preventing wear and tear on shoelaces.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-051086

[0007] Because shoelaces are exposed around the holes through which they are inserted, covering the holes is an effective way to prevent the shoelaces from getting caught. However, doing so gives the shoe a heavy, athletic shoe-like impression, which may cause wearers to feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable from a design perspective. Many shoe wearers (skateboarders) prefer the casual look created by the pattern created by the laces, and there is a demand for shoes that have the same appearance as regular lace-up shoes, depending on the situation, such as everyday wear.

[0008] The shoelace protector described in Patent Document 1 has a structure that covers the holes through which the shoelaces are inserted, and therefore does not have the same appearance as a typical lace-up shoe. Even if the shoelace protector could be removed to give the shoe the same appearance as a typical lace-up shoe, the length of the shoelace required for tightening would change considerably before and after putting on and taking off the shoelace protector, which could result in a difference in the fit of the upper and cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and its purpose is to provide an upper and shoes that can prevent damage to the upper, can have an appearance similar to that of general lace-up shoes, and minimize differences in fit.

[0010] The upper of the present disclosure is an upper that covers the instep of a wearer's foot and comprises an opening portion, an instep opening extending forward from the opening portion, a wing portion that is provided along the instep opening and has a plurality of through holes formed at intervals in the front-to-back direction for inserting shoelaces, and a band-shaped member that is disposed on the underside of the wing portion and extends in the front-to-back direction across the plurality of through holes, the band-shaped member being fixed to the wing portion in areas in front of and behind the plurality of through holes, and a loop surrounded by the wing portion and the band-shaped member being formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of through holes.

[0011] The shoe of the present disclosure also includes the upper and a sole disposed below the upper.

[0012] 1 is a perspective view showing a shoe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 2 is a perspective view showing a wing portion of the shoe in a first lacing mode; 3 is a perspective view showing a shoe with a modified lacing mode; 4 is a perspective view showing a wing portion of the shoe in a second lacing mode; 5 is a front view and a back view of the wing portion; 6 is a front view and a back view of the wing portion in a modified example; 7 is a front view and a back view of the wing portion in a modified example; 8 is a front view and a back view of the upper;

[0013] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a shoe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shoe 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a sports shoe intended for use in park skateboarding. However, the shoe 1 is also useful as a sports shoe for street skateboarding and sports other than skateboarding. The shoe 1 can also be used for everyday wear without any problems, and its use is not particularly limited.

[0014] In this embodiment, the shoe 1 for the left foot will be described as an example, but the description can be applied to a shoe for the right foot as well. The shoe for the right foot is formed to have a shape that is symmetrical to the shoe for the left foot or a shape that is roughly similar to the shape of the shoe for the left foot.

[0015] The shoe 1 comprises an upper 2 that covers the instep of the wearer's foot, and a sole 3 that is positioned below the upper 2. The lower part of the upper 2 is fixed to the sole 3 by adhesive or the like. When wearing the shoe 1, the wearer's foot is covered from above by the upper 2 and supported from below by the sole 3. The wearer is assumed to be a person of standard build whose feet fit the size of the shoe 1. However, the wearer may also be a person of non-standard build.

[0016] The upper 2 comprises an opening 21, an instep opening 22 extending forward from the opening 21 (toward the toes of the wearer of the shoe 1), and wings 23 provided along the instep opening 22. The opening 21 is an opening through which the wearer's foot is inserted. The instep opening 22 communicates with the opening 21 and opens between the pair of wings 23 provided on the left and right. The wings 23 extend in the front-to-rear direction from the front end 22e of the instep opening 22 toward the opening 21. The front-to-rear direction corresponds to the length direction of the shoe 1.

[0017] The wing portions 23 are formed with a plurality of through-holes 24 spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction for inserting the shoelace 4 therethrough. In this embodiment, five through-holes 24 are arranged along the front-to-rear direction, but the number of through-holes 24 can be changed as appropriate. The through-holes 24 are eyelets whose peripheries are reinforced with metal fittings, but this is not limited to this. In FIG. 1 , the shoelace 4 stretched between the left and right wing portions 23 is inserted through the through-holes 24, which is a configuration seen in typical lace-up shoes. In this specification, this type of lacing configuration using the through-holes 24 is referred to as the "first lacing configuration."

[0018] When the shoelace 4 is tightened, the resulting downward pressure causes the tongue 25 to fit around the instep. The tongue 25 closes the instep opening 22 from the underside, covering the area from the front of the ankle to the instep of the wearer's foot. In this embodiment, a cover 25c is formed at the rear end of the tongue 25. By folding the cover 25c forward, the knot 4k of the shoelace 4 and its surrounding area can be protected (see Figure 3). The cover 25c is configured to be attachable to the shoelace holder 25h via an engaging member 25f such as a hook-and-loop fastener. The tongue 25 may also be configured without the cover 25c.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wing 23 of the shoe 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates the underside of the wing 23 on the outer side of the shoe, with the shoelace 4 loosened and the wing 23 rolled up so as to be separated from the tongue 25. The underside of the wing 23 on the inner side of the shoe, not illustrated in FIG. 2, is in a similar state. Note that the side of the first toe of the wearer of the shoe 1 is the inner side, and the side of the fifth toe is the outer side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the shoe 1 with a modified lacing method. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wing 23 of the shoe 1 of FIG. 3, illustrated in the same manner as FIG. 2. FIG. 5 illustrates (A) a front view and (B) a back view of the wing 23.

[0020] The upper 2 includes a band-shaped member 5 disposed on the back surface of the wing portion 23. The band-shaped member 5 extends in the front-to-rear direction, straddling the plurality of through-holes 24. In the present embodiment, the band-shaped member 5 extends across four of the five through-holes 24 provided along the front-to-rear direction, excluding the most rear-most through-hole 24r (see FIG. 5 ). The band-shaped member 5 is fixed to the wing portion 23 in areas in front of and behind the plurality of through-holes 24. A loop 6 surrounded by the wing portion 23 and the band-shaped member 5 is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of through-holes 24.

[0021] In the first lacing mode shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shoelace 4 is inserted through the through-hole 24. On the other hand, in the lacing mode shown in Figures 3 and 4, the shoelace 4 stretched between the left and right wing portions 23 is inserted through the loop 6, and is not inserted through the through-hole 24. In this specification, this type of lacing mode using the loop 6 is referred to as the "second lacing mode." The wearer of the shoe 1 can freely choose between the first and second lacing modes. In the first lacing mode, the shoelace 4 is exposed on the surface (upper surface) of the wing portion 23, whereas in the second lacing mode, the shoelace 4 is not exposed on the surface of the wing portion 23.

[0022] In the second lacing mode, the shoelace 4 is not exposed on the surface side of the wing portion 23, which reduces the chance of the shoelace 4 getting caught due to knee sliding or other causes, preventing damage to the upper 2. Furthermore, because multiple loops 6 are formed collectively by the strip-shaped member 5 that spans multiple through-holes 24, strength can be increased compared to when separate members are used for each loop. In this embodiment, the through-holes 24r and the knot 4k are covered with the cover 25c (see FIG. 3), which also reduces the chance of the shoelace 4 getting caught around these areas. Therefore, the second lacing mode can be adopted in situations where damage to the upper 2 is a concern, such as skateboarding park competitions.

[0023] In the first lacing mode, the shoelace 4 is exposed on the surface of the wing portion 23, revealing the pattern created by the shoelace 4. Therefore, the first lacing mode can be used in situations where an appearance similar to that of a typical lace-up shoe, such as everyday wear, is desired. Furthermore, because the loop 6 is formed at a position corresponding to the through-hole 24, the length of the shoelace 4 required for tightening is not significantly different between the first and second lacing modes, resulting in a similar fit of the upper 2. Thus, this embodiment prevents damage to the upper 2, while still achieving an appearance similar to that of a typical lace-up shoe and minimizing differences in fit.

[0024] A webbing tape made of a woven organic fiber such as polyester is preferably used for the belt-shaped member 5. However, the material is not limited to this, and other materials may be used as long as they have the properties (e.g., tensile strength, flexibility, etc.) required to form the loop 6 for threading the shoelace 4. For example, a tape made of artificial leather made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin may be used.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the width W5 of the belt-shaped member 5 is larger than the diameter D24 of the through-hole 24 (in this embodiment, this is the diameter including the metal fittings, but it may be the diameter of the opening). The width W5 is smaller than the width of the eyelet reinforcement part 85, which will be described later. However, the size of the width W5 is not particularly limited and can be changed as appropriate taking into account the strength of the belt-shaped member 5 and the ease of threading the shoelace 4. Therefore, for example, the width W5 may be equal to the width of the eyelet reinforcement part 85. As just one example, for a shoe size of 27.0 cm, a belt-shaped member 5 having a width W5 of 12 mm ± 1 mm is used.

[0026] The fixed portions 7 are the portions where the belt-shaped member 5 is fixed to the wing portion 23. The fixed portions 7 are located in front and behind the through-holes 24 (towards the heel of the wearer of the shoe 1), and the loops 6 and fixed portions 7 are alternately formed along the front-to-back direction (the up-and-down direction in FIG. 5 ). The length L6 of the loops 6 corresponds to the distance between adjacent fixed portions 7 in the front-to-back direction. The length L6 of the loops 6 and the length L7 of the fixed portions 7 are each measured along the length direction of the belt-shaped member 5. The width W6 of the loops 6 corresponds to the width W5 of the belt-shaped member 5.

[0027] From the viewpoint of ensuring ease of insertion of the shoelace 4 through the through-hole 24 and the loop 6, it is preferable that the length L6 of the loop 6 be the same as or greater than the width W6 of the loop 6. From the same viewpoint, it is preferable that the length L6 of the loop 6 be the same as or greater than the length L7 of the fixing portion 7. It is preferable that the length L7 of the fixing portion 7 be smaller than the width W7 of the fixing portion 7, thereby making it easier to ensure the length L6 of the loop 6. In this embodiment, the length L6 and width W6 of the loop 6 are both greater than the diameter D24 of the through-hole 24.

[0028] In this embodiment, the belt-shaped member 5 is positioned so that the widthwise center 5c of the belt-shaped member 5 overlaps with the plurality of through-holes 24. With this configuration, the feeling when tightening the shoelaces 4 in the second lacing mode is made closer to the feeling when tightening the shoelaces 4 in the first lacing mode, thereby better minimizing the difference in fit of the upper 2 between the first and second lacing modes.

[0029] In the first lacing mode of this embodiment, the shoelace 4 inserted into the through-hole 24 must pass through the gap between the wing 23 and the belt-shaped member 5 (see FIG. 2 ). Therefore, if the dimension of this gap in the width direction of the belt-shaped member 5 becomes large, the task of threading the shoelace 4 through the through-hole 24 tends to become cumbersome. From this perspective, it is preferable that the edge 5e of the belt-shaped member 5 on the side closer to the instep opening 22 be spaced apart from the edge 23e of the wing 23. This reduces the distance from the through-hole 24 to the edge 5e, thereby reducing the dimension of the gap and making it easier to thread the shoelace 4 through the through-hole 24.

[0030] While Fig. 5 shows an example in which the widthwise center 5c overlaps with multiple through-holes 24, this is not limiting. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the widthwise center 5c of the belt-shaped member 5 may be offset so as not to overlap with multiple through-holes 24. This configuration is useful for adjusting the position of the edge while maintaining the width W5 of the belt-shaped member 5. In the modified example shown in Fig. 6, the widthwise center 5c is offset away from the edge 23e of the wing portion 23, and the edge 5e is positioned further away from the edge 23e. This makes it easy to insert the shoelace 4 into the through-hole 24 while the belt-shaped member 5 is positioned on the back surface of the wing portion 23.

[0031] While Fig. 5 shows an example in which the through-holes 24 are completely blocked by the band-shaped member 5 on the back surface of the wing portion 23, this is not limiting. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, at least some of the multiple through-holes 24 may be at least partially open and not blocked by the band-shaped member 5 on the back surface of the wing portion 23. In other words, at least some of the multiple through-holes 24 may be exposed when viewed from the back surface of the wing portion 23. In the modified example of Fig. 6, each of the four through-holes 24 straddled by the band-shaped member 5 is partially open (specifically, about half of the through-hole 24) and not blocked by the band-shaped member 5. This results in a structure in which the shoelace 4 can be easily inserted into the through-hole 24, even when the band-shaped member 5 is disposed on the back surface of the wing portion 23.

[0032] While Fig. 5 shows an example in which the width of the belt-shaped member 5 is constant, this is not limiting. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the width of the belt-shaped member 5 may vary. In the modified example shown in Fig. 7, the belt-shaped member 5 is formed so that it is relatively wide in the areas before and after the multiple through-holes 24 and relatively narrow in the positions corresponding to the multiple through-holes 24. This configuration ensures the width of the belt-shaped member 5 at the fastening portion 7, maintaining fastening strength, while also making it easier to insert the shoelace 4 through the through-holes 24.

[0033] In this embodiment, the belt-shaped member 5 is fixed to the wing portions 23 by sewing. The sewing is performed in an area that extends beyond the width of the belt-shaped member 5. In other words, the sewing is performed across the overlapping areas of the belt-shaped member 5 and the wing portions 23 and the areas where they do not overlap. This configuration can effectively improve the fixing strength of the belt-shaped member 5 compared to when sewing is performed within the interior of the belt-shaped member 5. In this case, the width W7 of the fixed portion 7 is greater than the width W5 of the belt-shaped member 5. The stitching forms a sewing line 70 on the fixed portion 7.

[0034] The stitching line 70 formed by this stitching includes a rectangular frame portion 71 and diagonal bracing portions 72 extending diagonally inside the frame portion 71. This configuration effectively improves the attachment strength of the belt-shaped member 5 to the wing portion 23, particularly in the direction of fastening the laces. Because a load is applied to the attachment portions 7 in the second lacing mode, such a structure that increases attachment strength is useful. Providing diagonal bracing portions 72 that cross in an X-shape is also effective. In this embodiment, the stitching line 70 is an outstitch that allows the stitching to be seen on the outside, but is not limited to this.

[0035] 8 is a front view of the shoe 1 in the second lacing mode, with the shoelace 4 omitted. The angle θ is the rising angle of the wing 23 located on the outside of the foot. The inventors have found that increasing this angle θ improves the maneuverability of the skateboard deck and makes it easier to perform tricks. The reason for this phenomenon is thought to be that when the deck is kicked up with the instep (mainly the instep on the outside of the foot) to perform a trick, the upper 2 comes into contact with the deck relatively early, and then the wing 23 continues to contact the deck until it collapses along the instep, lengthening the time it takes to operate the deck.

[0036] In this embodiment, the wing portions 23 have relatively high rigidity due to the placement of the belt-shaped member 5. Furthermore, when the second lacing mode is adopted, the force associated with tightening the shoelace 4 may act via the belt-shaped member 5 in a direction that causes the wing portions 23 to stand up. For this reason, the angle θ tends to be larger than in typical lace-up shoes, making it easier to achieve the effect of improving the deck's operability described above.

[0037] In this embodiment, the front end 23f of the wing 23 located on the outer foot side is the free end. This makes it easier for the wing 23 to rise away from the tongue 25, allowing the angle θ to be relatively large, which is advantageous in achieving the effect of improving the deck's operability described above. The front end 23f is inclined forward toward the outer foot side (see, for example, FIG. 9 ), but this is not limited to this and may extend in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, for example. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the wing 23 located on the outer foot side, the front end of the wing 23 located on the inner foot side may be the free end.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a development view that schematically shows the upper 2. The upper 2 is formed by combining multiple members, including a main body member 81 and a toe side member 82. The main body member 81 is disposed in an area that includes the wing portion 23, and in this embodiment, is disposed in an area from the instep to the heel side of the wearer's foot. A highly durable material such as suede is preferably used for the main body member 81, and the same is true for the heel side member 83 and eyelet reinforcement part 85 described below. The toe side member 82 is disposed in an area that will be the toe side of the wearer. A highly abrasion-resistant material such as thermosetting polyurethane is preferably used for the toe side member 82.

[0039] The main body member 81 is divided into an inner foot side member 81a disposed on the inner side of the foot and an outer foot side member 81b disposed on the outer side of the foot. The inner foot side member 81a and the outer foot side member 81b are fixed to each other by stitching at the heel side. A heel side member 83 disposed under the area that will be the wearer's heel, and an inner member 84 that forms the inner peripheral surface of the opening 21 are fixed to the main body member 81. A material with excellent breathability and flexibility, such as mesh fabric, is preferably used for the inner member 84. Although the heel side member 83 and the inner member 84 are illustrated as being separated into an inner foot side and an outer foot side, in reality, they are a single member.

[0040] The wing portion 23 is provided in a portion of the main body member 81 that is aligned with the instep opening 22 (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, an eyelet reinforcement part 85 is sewn to the surface side of the wing portion 23. The through-hole 24 is formed by passing through the main body member 81 and the eyelet reinforcement part 85. At the fastening portion 7 (see FIG. 5), the eyelet reinforcement part 85, the main body member 81, and the band-shaped member 5 are sewn together in layers. Because the wing portion 23 has such a structure in which multiple members are layered, it has relatively high rigidity and excellent durability. In addition, the wing portion 23 is easily raised, which is advantageous in terms of enhancing the operability of the deck.

[0041] The toe side member 82 is sewn to the main body member 81 (the medial side member 81a and the lateral side member 81b), and the toe side member 82 is sewn to the front side of the main body member 81 along a stitching line 80. The front end 22e of the instep opening 22 is formed by the toe side member 82, and the edge 23e of the wing portion 23 located on the lateral side (and medial side) is connected to the toe side member 82. This allows the wing portion 23 located on the lateral side to easily rise up with the toe side member 82 as a fulcrum. A tongue 25 (not shown in FIG. 9 ) is sewn to the front end 22e, and the left and right edges of the tongue 25 are positioned to overlap the back side of the wing portion 23.

[0042] In this embodiment, the toe-side member 82 includes a first edge 82a that curves convexly backward at the front end 22e of the instep opening 22, and a second edge 82b that connects to the outer foot side (the right side in FIG. 9 ) of the first edge 82a and curves convexly forward. The edge 23e of the wing 23 located on the outer foot side is connected to the second edge 82b. With this configuration, when the upper 2 is curved and molded into a bag shape, the wing 23 located on the outer foot side easily rises up using the second edge 82b of the toe-side member 82 as a fulcrum, which is advantageous in terms of improving the operability of the deck.

[0043] The toe-side member 82 includes a third edge 82c that connects to the medial side of the first edge 82a (the left side in FIG. 9) and curves forward, with edge 82b positioned forward of edge 82c. Edge 23e of the wing 23 located on the medial side is connected to edge 82c. This configuration allows the wing 23 on the lateral side to extend relatively far forward, which is advantageous for improving deck maneuverability. Additionally, it is believed to be effective in raising the wing 23 located on the lateral side, using the second edge 82b as a fulcrum.

[0044] The toe-side member 82 includes a fourth edge 82d extending rearward from the second edge 82b and curving toward the edge of the main body member 81 on the outer foot side, and a fifth edge 82e extending rearward from the edge 82c and curving toward the edge of the main body member 81 on the inner foot side, with the fourth edge 82d extending further rearward than the fifth edge 82e. This configuration makes it easier to position the toe-side member 82 in an area that includes a portion that is likely to rub against the deck when performing a trick. In addition, it is thought to be effective in raising the wing portion 23 located on the outer foot side, using the second edge 82b and the fourth edge 82d as fulcrums.

[0045] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are examples of the following aspects.

[0046] [1] The upper of the present disclosure is an upper that covers the instep of a wearer, and comprises an opening, an instep opening extending forward from the opening, a wing portion provided along the instep opening and having a plurality of through-holes for inserting shoelaces spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, and a strip-shaped member disposed on the underside of the wing portion and extending in the front-to-rear direction across the plurality of through-holes, the strip-shaped member being fixed to the wing portion in areas in front of and behind the plurality of through-holes, and a loop surrounded by the wing portion and the strip-shaped member being formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of through-holes.

[0047] This configuration allows the shoe wearer to freely choose between a lacing mode using the through-holes (first lacing mode) and a lacing mode using the loops (second lacing mode). The second lacing mode prevents the laces from being exposed on the surface of the wing portion, thereby preventing the laces from getting caught due to knee sliding or other reasons and preventing damage to the upper. On the other hand, the first lacing mode allows the laces to be exposed on the surface of the wing portion, allowing for an appearance similar to that of a typical lace-up shoe. Furthermore, because the loops are formed at positions corresponding to the through-holes, the length of the laces required for tightening is not significantly different between the first and second lacing modes, and the fit of the upper does not differ significantly. Therefore, damage to the upper can be prevented, while still allowing for an appearance similar to that of a typical lace-up shoe and minimizing differences in fit.

[0048] [2] In the upper of the above [1], it is preferable that the belt-shaped member is arranged so that the widthwise center of the belt-shaped member overlaps with the plurality of through-holes. With this configuration, the feeling when tightening the shoelaces in the second lacing mode is made closer to the feeling when tightening the shoelaces in the first lacing mode, and the difference in fit of the upper between the first and second lacing modes is more effectively reduced.

[0049] [3] In the upper of the above [1], the belt-shaped member may be positioned so that its widthwise center does not overlap with the plurality of through-holes. This configuration is useful for adjusting the position of the edge of the belt-shaped member while maintaining the width of the belt-shaped member. This makes it easier to insert shoelaces into the through-holes, for example, even while the belt-shaped member is positioned on the back surface of the wing portion.

[0050] [4] In the upper of any one of [1] to [3] above, at least some of the plurality of through-holes may be at least partially open without being blocked by the band-shaped member on the back surface of the wing portion. This configuration allows the shoelace to be easily inserted through the through-holes even while the band-shaped member is disposed on the back surface of the wing portion.

[0051] [5] In the upper of any one of [1] to [4] above, the belt-shaped member may be fixed to the wing portion by stitching, and the stitching may be performed in an area beyond the belt-shaped member in the width direction. With this configuration, the fixing strength of the belt-shaped member can be effectively improved compared to when stitching is performed in an area that fits inside the belt-shaped member.

[0052] [6] In any of the uppers [1] to [5] above, the belt-shaped member may be fixed to the wing portion by sewing, and the stitching line formed by the sewing may include a rectangular frame portion and a diagonal brace portion extending diagonally inside the frame portion. This configuration effectively improves the fixing strength of the belt-shaped member to the wing portion, particularly in the lacing direction.

[0053] [7] In any of the uppers [1] to [6] above, the front end of the wing portion located on the outer foot side may be a free end. This configuration makes it easier for the wing portion to stand up, which is advantageous in terms of obtaining the effect of improving the operability of the deck.

[0054] [8] A shoe according to the present disclosure comprises an upper according to any one of [1] to [7] above and a sole disposed below the upper. By providing such an upper, damage to the upper can be prevented, and the shoe can have the same appearance as a typical lace-up shoe, while minimizing differences in fit.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the upper and shoe according to the present disclosure have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated not only by the description of the above embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0056] The upper and shoes according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and are not limited to the above-described effects. The upper and shoes according to the present disclosure can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the configurations employed in the above-described embodiments can be combined in any desired manner.

[0057] The following [Reference 1] to [Reference 5] are provided as reference examples relating to uppers and shoes having the configurations of the present disclosure.

[0058] [Reference 1] An upper that covers the instep of a wearer's foot, comprising: an opening; an instep opening extending forward from the opening; and a wing portion that is provided along the instep opening and has a plurality of through-holes for inserting shoelaces formed at intervals in the front-to-back direction, wherein the front end of the wing portion located on the outer side of the foot is a free end.

[0059] According to this configuration, the wing portion located on the outer foot side can be easily raised, which is preferable for obtaining the effect of improving the maneuverability of the deck. The characteristic configuration of the upper of the above-mentioned [Reference 1] can be seen, for example, in Figure 9. The configurations described in the above-mentioned embodiments can be applied to the upper of the above-mentioned [Reference 1] without any particular restrictions within the scope of the gist thereof. However, the upper of the above-mentioned [Reference 1] is not limited to a configuration in which a strip-shaped member is arranged on the back surface of the wing portion.

[0060] [Reference 2] An upper that covers the instep of a wearer, comprising: an opening; an instep opening extending forward from the opening; and a wing portion that is provided along the instep opening and has a plurality of through-holes for inserting shoelaces formed at intervals in the front-to-back direction, the upper being constructed by combining a plurality of members including a main body member that is disposed in the area including the wing portion, and a toe side member that is disposed in the area facing the wearer's toes, the front end of the instep opening being formed by the toe side member, and the edge of the wing portion located on the outer side of the foot being connected to the toe side member.

[0061] According to this configuration, the wing portion located on the outer side of the foot is easily raised using the toe-side member as a fulcrum, which is preferable for obtaining the effect of improving the maneuverability of the deck. The characteristic configuration of the upper of [Reference 2] above can be seen, for example, in Figure 9. The configurations described in the above embodiments can be applied to the upper of [Reference 2] above without any particular restrictions within the scope of the spirit thereof. However, the upper of [Reference 2] above is not limited to a configuration in which a strip-shaped member is disposed on the back surface of the wing portion.

[0062] [Reference 3] In the upper of [Reference 2] above, the toe-side member may include a first edge that is curved convexly backward at the front end of the instep opening, and a second edge that is connected to the outer foot side of the first edge and curved convexly forward, and the edge of the wing located on the outer foot side may be connected to the second edge. With this configuration, the wing located on the outer foot side can easily rise up using the second edge of the toe-side member as a fulcrum, which is advantageous in obtaining the effect of improving the operability of the deck.

[0063] [Reference 4] In the upper of [Reference 3] above, the toe-side member may include a third edge portion that is connected to the medial side of the first edge portion and curved in a forward convex direction, and the second edge portion may be located forward of the third edge portion. This configuration provides a relatively long, forward-extending wing portion on the lateral side, which is advantageous for enhancing deck maneuverability. Additionally, it is believed to be effective in raising the wing portion located on the lateral side of the shoe, using the second edge portion of the toe-side member as a fulcrum.

[0064] [Reference 5] A shoe according to [Reference 5] is a shoe comprising an upper according to any one of [Reference 1] to [Reference 4] above and a sole disposed below the upper. With this configuration, the effects achieved by including the upper as described above are achieved.

Claims

1. The upper covers the top of the wearer's foot, The opening of the shoe, The instep opening extending forward from the aforementioned opening, A wing portion provided along the instep opening, having multiple through holes for inserting shoelaces, spaced apart in the front-to-back direction, The wing portion comprises a strip-shaped member positioned on the back surface and extending in the front-rear direction across the plurality of through holes, The upper is such that the strip-shaped member is fixed to the wing portion in the regions before and after the plurality of through holes, and a loop is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of through holes, surrounded by the wing portion and the strip-shaped member.

2. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the strip-shaped member is arranged such that the center of the strip-shaped member in the width direction overlaps with the plurality of through holes.

3. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the strip-shaped member is positioned offset so that the center of the strip-shaped member in the width direction does not overlap with the plurality of through holes.

4. The upper according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of through holes is not obstructed by the strip-shaped member on the back surface of the wing portion and is at least partially open.

5. The aforementioned strip-shaped member is fixed to the wing portion by sewing, The upper according to claim 1, wherein the stitching is performed in a range that extends beyond the width direction of the strip-shaped member.

6. The aforementioned strip-shaped member is fixed to the wing portion by sewing, The upper according to claim 1, wherein the sewing line formed by the sewing comprises a rectangular frame portion and a diagonal bracing portion extending diagonally inside the frame portion.

7. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the front end of the wing portion located on the outer foot side is a free end.

8. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the length of the loop is equal to or greater than the width of the loop.

9. The aforementioned strip-shaped member is fixed to the wing portion by sewing, The upper according to claim 1, wherein the length of the loop is the same as or greater than the length of the fixing portion.

10. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the band-shaped member on the side closer to the instep opening is separated from the edge of the wing portion.

11. It is composed of a combination of multiple members, including a main body member disposed in the region including the wing portion and a toe-side member disposed in the region that is on the wearer's toe side. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the front end of the instep opening is formed by the toe-side member, and the edge of the wing portion located on the outer foot side is connected to the toe-side member.

12. The toe-side member includes a first edge portion that curves in a direction that is convex to the rear at the front end of the instep opening, and a second edge portion that is connected to the outer foot side of the first edge portion and curves in a direction that is convex to the front. The upper according to claim 11, wherein the edge of the wing portion located on the outer foot side is connected to the second edge.

13. The toe-side member includes a third edge portion that is connected to the inner side of the first edge portion and curved in a direction that is convex forward, The upper according to claim 12, wherein the second edge is positioned forward of the third edge.

14. A shoe comprising an upper according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and a sole disposed below the upper.