Footwear

Abstract

The present invention provides footwear that can suppress deterioration of biomechanical characteristics of a foot.　The footwear according to the present invention comprises: a projection projecting downward on a toe ball bottom portion corresponding to a part of a shoe sole on which a big toe ball and a small toe ball of a foot are placed; and a band plate-shaped biasing member in the whole region from at least the bottom of the ball of the foot to the bottom portion on the toe side. When the projection is on the ground, the bottom portion on the toe side is off the ground, and when the toe side is kicked by the toes, the bottom portion is grounded, and a forward propulsive force is obtained on the foot due to the biasing force of the biasing member.

Description

footwear

[0001] The present invention relates to footwear.

[0002] Traditionally, there have been footwear that have an upward curve (toe spring) on ​​the toe side of the sole to improve walking performance. The toe spring has the advantage of keeping the toes higher than the ground, preventing tripping when walking or running.

[0003] JP 2015-002850 A

[0004] However, in conventional structures, the toe spring function causes the toes to be used less when walking or running, which can lead to a deterioration in the biomechanical characteristics of the foot. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide footwear that can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and prevent a deterioration in the biomechanical characteristics of the foot.

[0005] The present invention has a convex portion that protrudes downward at the bottom of the ball of the shoe, which corresponds to the part of the sole on which the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe rest, and has a strip-shaped biasing member in the entire area from at least the bottom of the ball of the shoe to the first bottom portion on the toe side of the sole, so that when the convex portion touches the ground, the first bottom portion on the toe side is raised, and when the toes kick off and step out while walking, the first bottom portion on the toe side touches the ground, and the biasing force of the biasing member provides forward propulsion to the foot.

[0006] The present invention has a configuration in which the first bottom portion on the toe side of the shoe sole and the second bottom portion on the heel side are approximately flush, the third bottom portion between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion is in a floating state, and the third bottom portion has a convex portion that protrudes downward at the bottom of the toe balls corresponding to the part where the balls of the big toe and little toe of the foot rest, and when weight is applied during walking, the convex portion comes into contact with the ground, causing the first bottom portion on the toe side to be in a floating state, and when the toes kick off the toe side, the first bottom portion comes into contact with the ground, providing forward propulsion to the foot.

[0007] The invention makes it possible to have a positive influence on the biomechanical properties of the foot.

[0008] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sole according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side view of a sole according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a sole according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a top view of a sole according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a side view of footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a side view of footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention when worn. Fig. 8 is a side view of footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention in the late stance phase.

[0009] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of footwear 1. In Fig. 1, UP indicates up, FR indicates forward, and IN indicates inside. Footwear 1 includes an upper 2 and a sole 3. The upper 2 forms the upper and side portions of footwear 1 and has a bag-like shape that covers the wearer's foot. The sole 3, on which the wearer's foot rests, is bonded to the bottom of the upper 2. The sole 3 is a member that covers the sole of the foot and has a generally flat shape. The sole 3 includes an outsole 50 and a midsole 60 supported on top of the outsole 50.

[0010] In the first embodiment, an insole 70, which is the middle sole of the footwear 1, is supported on the upper part of the sole 3. A biasing member 100 is disposed between the midsole 60 and the insole 70. The outsole 50, the midsole 60, and the insole 70 are formed to have shapes that follow the internal contour of the footwear 1.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe sole 3 as seen from the front side, Fig. 3 is a side view of the shoe sole 3, Fig. 4 is a rear view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the same.

[0012] The outsole 50 includes a first bottom portion 10 on the toe side, a second bottom portion 20 on the heel side, and a third bottom portion 15 between the first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20. As shown in FIG. 3 , when the outsole 50 is placed on a flat surface M, the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side and the second bottom portion 20 on the heel side contact the flat surface M. The first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20 are substantially flush. When placed on the flat surface M, the third bottom portion 15 between the first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20 is raised above the flat surface M. In the outsole 50, the first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20 are substantially flush, and the third bottom portion 15 has an upwardly convex curved shape.

[0013] The third bottom portion 15 includes a ball bottom portion 40, which is formed with a first support protrusion (protrusion) 51 that protrudes downward. When the outsole 50 is placed on a flat surface M, the first support protrusion 51 is raised above the flat surface M. The ball bottom portion 40 corresponds to the front part of the third bottom portion 15 and corresponds to the area on which the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe rest. Note that the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe are not shown in the figure. The first support protrusion 51 is formed as a single piece on the back surface of the outsole 50. As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 5 , the first support protrusion 51 extends almost the entire width of the footwear 1 and supports the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe. The predetermined width W in the front-rear direction of the first support protrusion 51 may be a width that allows the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe to rest on.

[0014] The outsole 50 has a second support protrusion 52 that protrudes downward from a heel bottom 55 corresponding to the portion on which the heel of the foot rests. The second support protrusion 52 is formed integrally with the back surface of the outsole 50.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1 , a midsole 60 is placed on the surface of the outsole 50. The midsole 60 has a toe-corresponding portion cut away, and when the midsole 60 is placed on the outsole 50, the surfaces of the soles 50, 60 are flush with each other. A plurality of grooves 61 extending in the width direction of the footwear 1 and recessed downward are formed on the surfaces of the outsole 50 and midsole 60 from the front end to between the first support protrusions 51. The provision of the grooves 61 reduces the rigidity of the first bottom 10, making it easier to bend. The grooves 61 are composed of an inner groove 62 formed on the inside in the width direction and an outer groove 63 formed from the center to the outside in the width direction. In this embodiment, two inner grooves 62 are formed, and three outer grooves 63 are formed.

[0016] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , a biasing member 100 is disposed on the surface of the sole 3. The biasing member 100 is made of a material with excellent bending strength and rigidity. In the first embodiment, the biasing member 100 is formed of a carbon band-shaped plate. The biasing member 100 is formed to a shape that follows the internal contour of the sole 3. As shown in FIG. 5 , the biasing member 100 has a first portion 100a that covers the area from the ball of the toe sole 40 to the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side, and a second portion 100b that is continuous with the rear end of the first portion 100a. The second portion 100b covers the rear area of ​​the ball of the toe sole 40. The second portion 100b covers only the middle portion of the sole 3 in the width direction. The first portion 100a extends across the entire width of the sole 3, and the second portion 100b is narrower than the first portion 100a.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of footwear 1. FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing portions of a walking motion. A walking motion has a "stance phase" in which the foot touches the ground. The stance phase is divided into an "early stance phase" in which only the heel sole touches the ground, a "middle stance phase" (see FIG. 7) in which substantially the entire foot touches the ground, a "late stance phase" (see FIG. 8) in which the heel leaves the ground, and a "final stance phase" in which the toe leaves the ground. By transitioning through these phases in order, the foot pushes off the ground, generating a forward thrust.

[0018] In the first embodiment, the footwear 1 is an arch-shaped footwear in which the first sole 10 and the second sole 20 are in contact with the ground and the third sole 15 is in a floating state, as shown in Fig. 6 . When a wearer wears the footwear 1, as shown in Fig. 7 , a load is applied to the entire sole 3 of the footwear 1, and the first support convexity 51 and the second support convexity 52 are in contact with the ground, while the first sole 10 on the toe side is in a floating, generally flat state. This state corresponds to the "mid-stance phase." The heel of the wearer's foot applies load to the second support convexity 52, the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe apply load to the first support convexity 51, and the toes are in a free state.

[0019] When walking begins, as shown in Figure 8, the heel-side second support protrusion 52 moves away from the ground, applying a load to the toe side of the footwear 1 and causing the toe-side first sole 10 and first support protrusion 51 to come into contact with the ground. At this time, the footwear 1 deforms into an inverted arch shape, transitioning from the middle stance phase to the late stance phase. As walking continues, the toe-side first sole 10 remains in contact with the ground, while the first support protrusion 51 and the heel-side second support protrusion 52 move even further away from the ground. Next, by kicking off the toe side during walking, the toe moves away from the ground (not shown). This state corresponds to the "final stance phase."

[0020] At the stage of kicking off with the toe side during walking, the first support protrusions 51 and the second support protrusions 52 on the heel side are significantly separated from the ground surface, so that the weight is no longer applied to the first support protrusions 51 and the second support protrusions 52, and a restoring force to the state shown in FIG. 6 is applied to the sole 3, providing a forward propulsive force to the foot. At the same time, in the first embodiment, a sole restoring force is applied to the sole 3 by the biasing member 100, providing a further forward propulsive force. The biasing member 100 is supported by the sole 3 of the footwear 1. The biasing member 100 changes shape depending on the stance phase, similar to the footwear 1, and a biasing force is applied when the biasing member 100 returns to its original shape, providing a forward propulsive force to the foot.

[0021] This footwear 1 has the following four walking configurations. The first configuration is when the footwear 1 is placed on a flat surface M. In the first configuration, as shown in Figure 6, the first sole 10 on the toe side and the second sole 20 on the heel side are substantially flush with each other, and the third sole 15 is raised above the flat surface M. In other words, the footwear 1 and the biasing member 100 form an arch shape.

[0022] The second configuration is the configuration when the footwear 1 is worn. In the second configuration, as shown in Fig. 7, the sole 3 is in a substantially flat state, the first support protrusions 51 and the second support protrusions 52 are in contact with the ground, and the first bottom portion 10 and the third bottom portion on the toe side are in a floating state. In other words, the footwear 1 and the biasing member 100 are in a substantially flat shape.

[0023] The third mode is the mode when the foot starts walking. In the third mode, as shown in Fig. 8, the first sole 10 on the toe side and a part of the first support protrusion 51 come into contact with the ground, and the second support protrusion 52 on the heel side moves away from the ground surface. In other words, the footwear 1 and the biasing member 100 extend rearward and upward, forming an inverted arch shape.

[0024] The fourth mode is the mode when walking has progressed further. In the fourth mode, the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side and the first support protrusion 51 contact the ground, and the second bottom portion 20 on the heel side is farther away from the ground than in the state shown in Figure 8. In other words, the shoe has a more curved inverted arch shape than the third mode.

[0025] According to the first embodiment, the rigidity and flexibility of the sole 3 are set so that the sole 3 can deform to follow the first to fourth configurations when walking while wearing the footwear 1.

[0026] As shown in Figure 6, the sole 3 of the footwear 1 has the first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20 which are approximately flush, and the third bottom portion 15 which has an upwardly convex curved shape. Therefore, when the footwear 1 is worn, as shown in Figure 7, when the first support convex portion 51 comes into contact with the ground, the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side is slightly raised, leaving the toes free.

[0027] Because the toes are free, they can grip the ground with their toes when starting to walk, which helps prevent a decline in the biomechanical properties of the feet.

[0028] In the state shown in FIG. 8 , weight is not applied to the first support convex portion 51 and the second bottom portion 20 on the heel side, except for the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side. Therefore, a sole restoring force acts on the sole 3 to return it to the state shown in FIG. 6 , i.e., the first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20 are substantially flush with each other and the third bottom portion 15 has an upwardly convex curved shape. According to the first embodiment, when kicking off the toe side during walking, the sole restoring force is applied, providing forward propulsion to the foot. Similarly, the biasing member 100, like the sole, is also subjected to a restoring force that attempts to return to its original shape, providing greater forward propulsion. Because the second portion 100 b of the biasing member 100 is provided only at the center of the sole width of the footwear 1, excessive lateral rigidity is prevented, and weight transfer from side to side during walking is not hindered.

[0029] As described above, according to the first embodiment, by providing the biasing member 100 on the sole 3 of the footwear, the reaction force from the biasing member 100 can be obtained as a forward propulsion force, and footwear 1 can be provided that does not tire the wearer even when walking for a long period of time.

[0030] The biasing member 100 comprises a first portion 100a that covers the entire area from the ball of the foot bottom 40 to the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side, and a second portion 100b that is continuous with the rear end of the first portion 100a and covers the bottom area located behind the ball of the foot bottom 40 of the sole 3, with the second portion 100b covering only the middle portion in the width direction of the sole 3. With this configuration, stiffness generated on the left and right sides is suppressed, thereby reducing the load applied when weight is shifted from side to side during walking.

[0031] The rear end of the second portion 100b terminates just before the heel bottom portion that supports the heel of the sole 3. With this configuration, by providing the biasing member 100 from the tip of the toe portion of the sole 3 just before the heel bottom portion, the reaction force from the biasing member 100 can be obtained as forward propulsion force, and footwear 1 can be provided that does not tire the wearer even when walking for long periods of time.

[0032] In the above-described embodiment, the footwear 1 has been described as having an arched shape. However, the present invention may also be applied to footwear having a raised toe side or a flat toe side. The footwear 1 may have a shape in which the first sole 10, the second sole 20, and the third sole 15 are substantially flush with each other, and the convex portion 51 on the third sole 15 and the second sole 20 come into contact with the ground, thereby raising the toe side.

[0033] In the above-described embodiment, the grooves 61 are provided in the sole 3. However, the number, shape, size, and depth of the grooves 61 can be modified as appropriate. Also, the grooves 61 do not have to be provided.

[0034] The above-described biasing member 100 forms a first portion 100a and a second portion 100b, and is provided from the first bottom portion 10 to the third bottom portion 15. However, the biasing member 100 may be provided on the entire surface of the midsole 60 as long as it can provide a repulsive force during walking.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the biasing member 100 is attached to the upper part of the midsole 60. However, the biasing member 100 may be attached to any part of the sole, for example, the outsole 50 or the insole 70. Furthermore, the biasing member 100 may be attached not only by adhesion but also by embedding or the like.

[0036] In this embodiment, the outsole 50 and the midsole 60 are provided as separate bodies to form the sole 3, but the outsole 50 and the midsole 60 may be formed as a single body. Also, the outsole 50 and the midsole 60 may be formed as a single body, including the insole 70, or the insole 70 and the midsole 60 may be formed as a single body.

[0037] [Embodiment 2] In the above-described embodiment 1, the biasing member 100 is attached to the upper part of the midsole 60. In embodiment 2, the biasing member 100 of the sole 3 is omitted. The rest of the configuration is the same as embodiment 1 shown in Figures 1 to 8. Note that embodiment 2 will be described below with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

[0038] In the second embodiment, the footwear 1 is an arch-shaped footwear in which the first sole 10 and the second sole 20 are in contact with the ground and the third sole 15 is in a floating state, as shown in Fig. 6 . When a wearer wears the footwear 1, as shown in Fig. 8 , a load is applied to the entire sole 3 of the footwear 1, and the first support convexity 51 and the second support convexity 52 are in contact with the ground, while the first sole 10 on the toe side is in a floating, generally flat state. This state corresponds to the "mid-stance phase" described above. The heel of the wearer's foot applies pressure to the second support convexity 52, the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe apply pressure to the first support convexity 51, and the toes are in a free state.

[0039] Because the toes are free, they can grip the ground with their toes when starting to walk, which helps prevent a decline in the biomechanical properties of the feet.

[0040] When the foot starts walking, as shown in Figure 8, the heel-side second support protrusion 52 moves away from the ground surface, causing a load to be applied to the toe side of the footwear 1, and the toe-side first sole 10 and first support protrusion 51 come into contact with the ground. At this time, the footwear 1 deforms into an inverted arch shape, and transitions from the middle stance phase to the late stance phase. As the footwear continues walking, the first support protrusion 51 and the heel-side second support protrusion 52 move even further away from the ground surface, while the toe-side first sole 10 remains in contact with the ground.

[0041] Next, by kicking off the toe side during walking, the toe leaves the ground (not shown). This state corresponds to the "final stance phase" described above.

[0042] In the state shown in Fig. 8, weight is not applied to the first support convex portion 51 and the second bottom portion 20 on the heel side, except for the first bottom portion 10 on the toe side. Therefore, a sole restoring force acts on the sole 3 to return it to the state shown in Fig. 6, i.e., a state in which the first bottom portion 10 and the second bottom portion 20 are substantially flush and the third bottom portion 15 has an upwardly convex curved shape. According to the second embodiment, when kicking off with the toe side during walking, a sole restoring force is applied, providing forward propulsion to the foot.

[0043] According to the second embodiment, the biasing member 100 is omitted, but because the third bottom portion 15 of the footwear 1 is convex upward and the underside of the sole 3 has an arch shape, a sole restoring force acts on the footwear 1 during walking to return the sole 3 from a flat state to the state shown in Fig. 6 in which the underside of the sole 3 has a curved shape, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby providing a forward propulsive force for walking and providing footwear 1 that is less tiring to walk in. According to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the rigidity and flexibility of the sole 3 are set so that the sole 3 can deform to follow the first to fourth configurations when walking while wearing the footwear 1.

[0044] In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration has been described using an arch-shaped footwear 1. However, as long as the third bottom portion 15 of the sole 3 has an upwardly convex curved shape and the underside of the sole 3 has an arch shape, the present invention may be applied to footwear with a raised toe side and footwear with a flat toe side.

[0045] The above-described embodiment merely shows one aspect of the present invention, and any modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0046] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Footwear 2 Upper 3 Sole 10 First bottom portion 15 Third bottom portion 20 Second bottom portion 40 Ball bottom portion 50 Outsole 51 First support convex portion (convex portion) 52 Second support convex portion 55 Heel bottom portion 60 Midsole 61 Groove portion 62 Inner groove portion 63 Outer groove portion 70 Insole 100 Urging member 100a First portion 100b Second portion M Flat surface W Predetermined width

Claims

1. The sole has a convex portion protruding downward at the ball bottom portion corresponding to the portions of the sole where the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe of the foot rest, and has a strip-shaped biasing member in at least the entire region from the ball bottom portion to the first bottom portion on the toe side of the sole. When the convex portion touches the ground, the first bottom portion on the toe side is in a floating state. When the toe kicks and steps forward during walking, the first bottom portion on the toe side touches the ground, and the foot obtains a forward propelling force by the biasing force of the biasing member. Footwear.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first bottom portion on the toe side and the second bottom portion on the heel side are substantially flush.

3. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein the third bottom portion between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion is in a floating state, and the convex portion is provided at the ball bottom portion of the third bottom portion.

4. The biasing member includes a first portion covering the region from the ball bottom portion to the bottom portion on the toe side, and a second portion continuous with the rear end portion of the first portion and covering the region of the bottom portion located behind the ball bottom portion of the sole. The second portion covers only the middle portion in the width direction of the sole. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein the rear end of the second portion terminates in front of the heel bottom portion that supports the heel of the sole.

6. The first bottom portion on the toe side and the second bottom portion on the heel side of the sole are substantially flush, the third bottom portion between the first bottom portion and the second bottom portion is in a floating state, and the ball bottom portion corresponding to the portions of the sole where the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe of the foot rest has a convex portion protruding downward. When weight is applied during walking, the convex portion touches the ground, and the first bottom portion on the toe side is in a floating state. When the toe kicks the toe side, the first bottom portion touches the ground, and the foot obtains a forward propelling force. Footwear.

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