U.S. patent application number 12/933683 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-13 for five toe shoes.
Invention is credited to Soon Kyung Hong.
Application Number | 20110005105 12/933683 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40284475 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110005105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hong; Soon Kyung |
January 13, 2011 |
FIVE TOE SHOES
Abstract
The invention relates to five toe shoes for protecting feet
while working or taking part in leisure activities on land or water
and in the mountains. In particular, a five toe shoe comprises: an
upper which is made out of a moisture-permeable fiber material and
has a toe area to encase each toe separately according to the
shape; an insole which is made out of a porous material; a midsole
which is placed underneath the insole and has a metal mesh to allow
water in the shoe to exit therethrough; and an outsole which has a
drain formed in coincidence with the metal mesh of the midsole and
a toe area for each toe separately according to the shape, being
connected to the toe area of the upper in a one-to-one
correspondence therebetween. Thus, five toe shoes may contribute
greatly to foot health of wearers by improving breathability as
water from the inside of the shoes drains naturally by gravity via
the insole, midsole and outsole and evaporates quickly through the
upper at the same time, and offer more convenience in activities
with the toe area encasing each toe separately according to the
shape.
Inventors: |
Hong; Soon Kyung; (Busan,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTOPHER PAUL MITCHELL
888 16TH ST., NW, SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
40284475 |
Appl. No.: |
12/933683 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
March 19, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/001410 |
371 Date: |
September 20, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3B ;
36/47 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/26 20130101; A43B
5/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/3.B ;
36/47 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06; A43B 23/00 20060101 A43B023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 19, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0025205 |
Claims
1. Five-toe shoes comprising: an upper that is made of
water-permeable fiber that is triple-layer structure textile
composed of an outer skin made of spandex fiber, a middle skin made
of rubber, an outer skin made of spandex fiber, or double raschel
structure formed in a double structure composed of porous fiber and
a cushion material, divided in the toe shapes at the toe portion,
and has a ventilating net made of a fiber net to allow air to flow
in/out through a portion; an insole that is made of a porous
material selected from a group of porous fiber, synthetic resin,
and synthetic rubber, and having a plurality of ventilating holes
when being made of the synthetic resin or the synthetic rubber; a
midsole that is formed under the insole and has a metal mesh
portion through which water is discharged in the shoes; an outsole
that has a drain corresponding to the metal mesh portion and is
divided at the toe portion in the toe shapes to be connected with
the toe shapes of the upper; and a ventilating portion that is made
of hydrophobic textile selected from a group of polyester fiber,
nylon fiber, and composite fiber of polyester and nylon, between
the toe sections formed by connecting the toe portion of the upper
and the toe portion of the outsole.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to five toe shoes for working
or taking part in leisure activities on land or water and in the
mountain, in detail, five-toe shoes that can contribute healthy of
the wearer's toes and provide convenience in activities, because
water in the shoe can be rapidly discharged through the insole,
midsole, and outsole and effectively evaporates through the upper
of this five toe shoes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is inconvenient to walk with naked feet when working or
taking part in leisure activities on land or water and in the
mountain and the feet are frequently hurt by various causes.
However, it is difficult to walk wearing common shoes on in leisure
activities in water to prevent the feet from being hurt, and also
water is not rapidly discharged and evaporated out of the shoes,
such that it has an adverse effect on the feet of the wearer's
feet.
[0003] In order to solve the problem, a study for developing
five-toe shoes worn on feet for water activities has been greatly
conducted. For example, beach shoes with the bottom made of
polyurethane and a zipper at the joint has been disclosed in Korean
Patent Publication No. 2000-12697 (titled, Sea Shoes). The beach
shoes can relatively safely protect the feet, reduce inconvenience
felt from the bottom under the water, and provide buoyancy, but the
toe portion is not divided for the individual toes, such that the
toes are frequently hurt in the water activities. Further, water is
not rapidly discharged and evaporated from the shoes, such that the
wearer gets a blister on the feet and has athlete's feet, or the
feet becomes cold, such that it has an adverse effect on the health
of the feet.
[0004] Further, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0433258
discloses shoes with five divided toe portions at the front end of
the shoes (titled, Five-finger footwear). The five-finger footwear
has separate toe portions and the toes are inserted in
corresponding toe portions, such that it can prevent the toes from
being hurt and provide convenience in walking in water activities,
but it is not provided with a means for discharging and evaporating
water out of the shoes. Therefore, since the water cannot be
rapidly discharged and evaporated out of the shoes, such that it
also has an adverse effect on the health of the wearer's toes.
[0005] Further, other than the shoes for water activities, a study
for developing shoes that can keep the wearer's toes healthy and
improve the wearing comfort by rapidly discharging water out of the
shoes has been increasingly conducted. For example, Korean Utility
Model Registration No. 20-042202 (titled, "Shoes for Aquatic
Leisure") discloses shoes for aquatic leisure having a plurality of
through-holes around the surface. Although the upper of the shoes
is designed to rapidly evaporate and discharge water, since the
outsole is not provided with a means for discharging or evaporating
water, water cannot rapidly discharged and evaporated out of the
shoes, such that it also has an adverse effect on the wearer's
feet.
[0006] Further, Korean Patent Publication No. 1990-0002732 (titled,
"Shoes for Ship") discloses shoes for ship that is provide with an
outsole having a water discharging portion at the front and rear of
the midsole to collect water in the shoe and water channels at the
sides and rear from the water discharging portion in the shoe. The
shoes for ship can theoretically discharge water out of the shoes
through the water channel, but the outlet of the water channel is
formed at not the bottom of the outsole of the shoes that is
influenced by gravity, but at the sides and rear of the outsole of
the shoes that is not influenced by gravity, such that water cannot
substantially discharged out of the shoes. Further, the water
cannot be rapidly evaporated out of the shoes through the
uppers.
[0007] Further, Korean Utility Model Publication No. 1992-1878
(titled, "Water Supply Shoes") discloses shoes having a function of
discharging water at the bottom to discharge water out of the shoes
by forming water-discharging holes at the upper bottom, the middle
bottom, and the lower bottom. Although the shoes having the
function of discharging water at the bottom can discharge water out
of the shoes to the ground through the water-discharging holes at
the upper bottom, middle bottom, and lower bottom, it is not
provided with a means for blocking foreign substances flowing into
the shoes from the ground, such that the foreign substances on the
ground are likely to flow into the shoes through the
water-discharging holes at the upper bottom, middle bottom, and
lower bottom, while the water cannot be rapidly evaporated out of
the shoes through the upper.
[0008] Further, Korean Patent Publication No. 2005-009873 (titled,
"The Structure of Shoes' Sole having Air Vent") discloses shoes'
sole having air vents which includes a double midsole having a
plurality of through-holes and an outsole having a plurality of air
vents, divided up and down, and a waterproof plate inserted
therebetween. Although it may be considered that the outsole of the
shoes can discharge water through the through-holes in the midsole
and the air vent in the outsole, the waterproof plate of the
outsole is designed to transmit only moisture or air and not
transmit water, such that, substantially, the water cannot be
rapidly discharged out of the shoes through the waterproof plate of
the outsole.
[0009] Further, according to the shoes according to the related
art, the inside skin and the outside skin are not divided and some
of the shoes uses only porous fibers that can easily transmit only
moisture. Accordingly, the uppers made of only the porous fiber
have low durability and reduce the lifespan of the shoes. Further,
the porous fiber of the uppers is lack of elasticity and
flexibility, such that the wearers of the shoes feel inconvenience,
and accordingly the shoes are difficult to be made practicable.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0010] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide five-toe shoes that can be conveniently used for activities
in land, water, and mountain, by providing a means for rapidly
discharging and evaporating water out of the shoes such that water
is naturally discharged out of the shoes through the insole,
midsole, and outsole by gravity and rapidly evaporated through the
upper, thereby improving ventilation, while separating the toe
portions taking the shape of toes.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
[0011] In order to achieve the object, the present invention
provides five-toe shoes including an upper that is made of
water-permeable fiber and divided at the toe portion in toe shapes;
an insole that is made of a porous material; a midsole that is
formed under the insole and has a metal mesh portion through which
water is discharged out of the shoes; an outsole that has a drain
corresponding to the metal mesh portion of the midsole and is
divided at the toe portion in toe shapes to be connected with the
toe shapes of the upper; and a ventilating portion that is made of
hydrophobic textile, between the toe sections formed by connecting
the toe portion of the upper and the toe portion of the
outsole.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0012] Five-toe shoes according to the present invention naturally
discharges water out of the shoes through the insole, midsole, and
outsole, using gravity, while rapidly evaporating the water through
the upper to improve porosity, such that it considerably
contributes health of the wearer's feet. Further, since the toe
portion is divided in toe shapes, such that it largely improves
activity and landing performance in walking in the water, and
accordingly, it provides convenience in activities and makes it
easy to move in water. Therefore, the five-toe shoes can be used in
various activities, in land and mountain as well as in water.
[0013] Further, the five-toe of the present invention prevents
foreign substances on the ground from flowing into the shoes by
forming a metal mesh portion at the hole of the bottom through
which water is naturally discharged out of the shoes by
gravity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a view showing the outer shape of a five-toe shoes
according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the five-toe shoes according to the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the structure of the five-toe
shoes according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a structural view showing when the insole of the
five-toe shoes according to the present invention is separated.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a view showing the structure of the bottom of the
five-toe shoes according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a view showing the outer shape of a five-toe shoes
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
TABLE-US-00001 <Reference Numeral> 1: Upper (a, b) 2: Insole
3: Midsole 4: Outsole 5: Ventilating portion 6: Metal mesh portion
7: Drain 8: Ventilating net 9: Ventilation hole
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0020] A five-toe shoes according to the present invention is
described in detail with reference to embodiments and the
accompanying drawings.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows the entire outer shape of a five-toe shoes
according to the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a side of the
five-toe shoes according to the present invention, FIG. 3 shows the
plan structure of the five-toe shoes according to the present
invention, FIG. 4 shows the separating structure of the insole of
the five-toe shoes according to the present invention is separated,
and FIG. 5 shows the structure of the bottom of the five-toe shoes
according to the present invention.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the five-toe shoes according to
the present invention the toe portion of the shoe is separated for
individual toes, such that the toes are individually inserted in
the toe section when wearing the shoe.
[0023] For this configuration, the five-toe shoe according to an
embodiment of the present invention has an upper 1a that is made of
a water-permeable fiber and having toe sections divided in
accordance with the toe shapes.
[0024] That is, the toe-shoe is largely composed of the upper 1a
and a bottom and the bottom is composed of an insole 2, a midsole
3, and an outsole 4. The upper 1a covering the entire instep of the
wearer is divided at the toe portion, that is, at the front end
portion into five sections, similar to the shapes of the five toes,
and the divided toe shapes are individually connected with the
divided toe shapes of the outsole 4, such that the toe portion of
the five-toe shoe is divided into individual toe sections.
[0025] The upper 1a that is divided at the toe portion into the toe
shapes is composed of an outer skin, a middle skin, and an inner
skin, in which the outer skin is made of spandex fiber having
excellent elasticity, the middle skin is made of rubber, and the
inner skin is made of spandex fiber, such that the upper 1a is
formed in a triple-layer structure of textile fabrics. The five-toe
shoe having the upper 1a formed in the triple-layer structure of
spandex fiber, rubber, and spandex fiber has increased elasticity
and flexibility, such that the wearing comfort of the wearer is
significantly increased.
[0026] Further, it is preferable that one or more ventilating nets
8 made of net fiber having excellent air/moisture-permeability are
formed at predetermined portions of the upper 1a, as described
above, in the view of that the upper 1a can be additionally
provided with porosity.
[0027] In detail, a portion of the upper 1a having the triple-layer
structure is cut off, net fiber covers the cut-off opening to form
one or more ventilating net 8 easily transmitting air and moisture,
such that air can smoothly flow into/out of the five-toe shoe
through the one or more ventilating nets 8 of the upper 1a, thereby
easily discharging moisture out of the shoe.
[0028] Further, the five-toe shoe according to an embodiment of the
present invention includes an insole made of a porous material.
[0029] The bottom of the five-toe shoe is composed of the insole 2,
the midsole 3, and the outsole 4, in which the insole 2 contacting
the wearer's foot at the uppermost portion of the bottom is made of
a porous material to easily transmit water out of the shoe.
[0030] In detail, the insole 2 is made of a material selected from
a group of porous fiber, synthetic resin, and synthetic rubber.
When the insole 2 is made of porous fiber, the insole 2 itself
easily transmits water, and when the insole 2 is made of synthetic
resin or synthetic rubber, it is preferable to form a plurality of
ventilating holes 9 through the insole 2 in order to help discharge
water out of the shoe.
[0031] The water is easily discharged to the midsole 3 and the
outsole 4 by the insole 2 in the shoe, which largely improves the
wearing comfort of the wearer of the five-toe shoe, and
considerably contributes health of the foot.
[0032] Further, the five-toe shoe according to an embodiment of the
present invention includes the midsole formed under the insole,
having a metal mesh portion through which water in the shoe is
discharged.
[0033] In the bottom of the five-toe shoe, the midsole 3 disposed
between the insole 2 and the outsole 4 has at least one metal mesh
portion 6 to discharge the water in the shoe.
[0034] In detail, a portion of the midsole 3 made of natural rubber
or synthetic rubber is bored to form at least one or more holes and
foreign substances on the ground may flow into the shoe through the
holes. In the present invention, the metal mesh portion 6 having a
mesh made of metal to cover the hole and transmit air is provided
to prevent the foreign substances on the ground from flowing into
the shoe, such that the water passing through the insole 2 is
discharged out of the shoe through the metal mesh portion 6 of the
midsole 3. Further, since the metal mesh portion 6 is formed in the
midsole 3, water is discharged out of the shoe while the foreign
substances on the ground are prevented from flowing into the
shoe.
[0035] Further, the five-toe shoe according to an embodiment of the
present invention has includes the outsole having a drain
corresponding to the metal mesh portion, divided in the toe shapes
at the toe portion to be connected to the toe shapes of the
upper.
[0036] In the bottom of the five-toe shoe, the outsole 4 disposed
under the midsole 3 to support the midsole 3 is divided in the toe
shapes, similar to the upper 1a, such that the toe shapes of the
divided outsole 4 is individually connected with the toe shapes of
the upper 1a, and accordingly, the toe portion of the five-toe shoe
is divided into individual sections.
[0037] However, water can be easily collected between the toe
sections formed by connecting the toe portion of the upper and the
toe portion of the outsole 4 in the shoe. Therefore, it is
preferable to form a ventilating portion 5 made of hydrophobic
textile between the toe sections in order to easily evaporate water
between the toe sections, in the view of improving porosity of the
five-toe shoe. The ventilating portion 5 providing the five-toe
shoes with porosity is made of a common material used for shoes,
but the material is not composite fiber of polyester and cotton
containing cotton having large hydrophilicity and being lack of
drainability, but hydrophobic textile woven with hydrophobic fiber
having preventing water. The water between the toe sections easily
vaporizes through the ventilating portion 5 made of the hydrophobic
textile.
[0038] The ventilating portion of the five-toe shoe can be made of
textile woven with common synthetic fiber having high drainability,
but is preferably made of textile woven with hydrophobic fiber
selected from a group of a polyester fiber having high drainability
and water-proofness, nylon fiber having high elasticity, and
composite fiber of polyester and nylon, in synthetic fiber.
[0039] At least one drain 7 for discharging water passing through
the metal mesh portion 6 of the midsole 3 to the outside of the
shoe is formed in the outsole 4 having the shape and structure
described above.
[0040] In detail, since the drain 7 of the outsole 4 is formed by
forming the outsole 4 at the same position and shape as the metal
mesh portion 6 of the midsole 3, the water is naturally discharged
out of the shoe by gravity, through the insole 2, the metal mesh
portion 6 of the midsole 3, and the drain 7 of the outsole 4.
[0041] Further, in a second embodiment, referring to FIG. 6, an
upper 1b made of textile having a double raschel structure in which
a cushion material on the inner skin and porous fiber is formed on
the outer skin is used, and there is provided a five-toe shoe
including an insole 2 made of a porous material and covered with
the upper 1b, a midsole 3 having a metal mesh portion 6 for
discharging water out of the shoe, and an outsole 4 having a drain
7 corresponding to the metal mesh portion 6 of the midsole 3 and a
toe portion divided in the toe shapes and connected with the toe
shapes of the upper 1b.
[0042] According to the shoes of related art, the inner skin and
the outer skin are not divided and made of only porous fiber that
can easily transmit only moisture; however, the upper made of the
porous fiber has low durability, such that it considerably reduces
the lifespan of the shoe. Further, the porous fiber of the upper is
lack of elasticity and flexibility, such that the wearers of the
shoes feel inconvenience, and accordingly the shoes are difficult
to be made practicable.
[0043] In order to solve the problems, the upper 1b is made of
water-permeable fiber that is double raschel structure textile
having a double structure composed of porous fiber providing the
upper 1b with water permeability because porosity is excellent and
a cushion material formed on one surface of the porous fiber.
[0044] The five-toe shoe having the upper 1b made of the double
raschel structure textile having a double structure composed of
porous fiber and the cushion material, as described above, easily
evaporates water in the shoe and the upper 1b has largely increased
elasticity and flexibility, such that wearing comfort of the person
wearing the shoes is considerably improved.
[0045] There is provided a five-toe shoe composed of the upper made
of double raschel structure textile, the insole 2 made of a porous
material, the midsole 3 having the metal mesh portion 6 discharging
water in the shoe, and the outsole 4 having the drain 7
corresponding to the metal mesh portion 6 of the midsole 3 and the
toe portion divided in the toe shape and connected with the toe
shapes of the upper 1b.
[0046] Although the configuration of a five-toe shoe of the present
invention was described in detail in the above, only a shoe
including all of the components described above can naturally and
rapidly discharge water out of the shoe by gravity through the
insole, the midsole, and the outsole. Further, since the water is
effectively evaporated through the upper, such that porosity is
improved and it is possible to significantly contribute health of
the wearer's feet. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the object
of the present invention, for providing convenience in activities
by dividing the toe portion in toe shapes. It should be understood
that a shoe not including all of the components cannot achieve the
present invention.
[0047] The five-toe shoes according to the present invention may be
changed and modified in various ways within the scope of the
present invention. Therefore, the embodiments are provided only to
explain in detail the present invention and do not limit the scope
of the present invention, such that the spirit and scope of the
present invention should be determined, including the following
claims and the equivalents.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0048] According to the present invention, it is possible to be
conveniently used for activities in land, water, and mountain, by
providing a means for rapidly discharging and evaporating water out
of the shoes such that water is naturally discharged out of the
shoes through the insole, midsole, and outsole by gravity and
rapidly evaporated through the upper, thereby improving
ventilation, while separating the toe portions taking the shape of
toes.
* * * * *