U.S. patent application number 12/980027 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for footwear.
This patent application is currently assigned to OPEN YOUR EYES KK. Invention is credited to Byeong Gwon AN, Satoshi YAMANE.
Application Number | 20110154694 12/980027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44185750 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110154694 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YAMANE; Satoshi ; et
al. |
June 30, 2011 |
Footwear
Abstract
Footwear is provided which enables each component to be
separated, to be unified as a whole without looseness, and various
combinations of design with color to be realized. The sole holder
assembly 11 has a sole assembly 111 and a holder portion 112 to
cover the sole assembly 111 from a lower side. The sole assembly
111 has the first sole portion 1111, second sole portion 1112, and
pins 1113 to fix these components. Each of the first sole portion
1111 and second sole portion 1112 has a shape that allows these two
portions to be connected in an engaged manner and, with these
components being connected to each other in an engaged manner, at
least part of the first sole portion 1111 is located so as to be in
contact with an upper portion of at least part of the second sole
portion 1112 and at least part of the second sole portion 1112 is
located so as to be in contact with an upper portion of at least
part of the first sole portion 1111.
Inventors: |
YAMANE; Satoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; AN; Byeong Gwon; (Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
OPEN YOUR EYES KK
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
44185750 |
Appl. No.: |
12/980027 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/30R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/244 20130101;
A43B 3/242 20130101; A43B 3/246 20130101; A43B 13/12 20130101; A43B
13/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/30.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/12 20060101
A43B013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 30, 2009 |
JP |
2009-299290 |
Claims
1. Footwear comprising a sole assembly having a first sole portion
and a second sole portion; wherein each of the first sole portion
and the second sole portion has a shape that allows connection, in
an engaged manner, between the first sole portion and the second
sole portion and wherein, in a state in which the first sole
portion and second sole portion are connected, in an engaged
manner, to each other, at least part of the first sole portion is
located so as to be in contact with an upper side of at least part
of the second sole portion and at least part of the second sole
portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of at
least part of the first sole portion.
2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first sole
portion and the second sole portion are connected to each other in
an engaged manner in a state in which the first sole portion has a
hole passing through in up and down directions and the second sole
portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a
nail tip side of the second sole portion is located so as to be in
contact with a lower side of the first sole portion and at least
part of a portion on a heel side of the second sole portion is
located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the first sole
portion.
3. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein an internal surface
portion surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion and
an external surface portion on a nail tip side of the second sole
portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first sole
portion and the second sole portion are connected to each other in
an engaged manner in a state in which the second sole portion has a
hole passing through in up and down directions and the first sole
portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a
heel side of the first sole portion is located so as to be in
contact with a lower side of the second sole portion and at least
part of a portion on a nail tip side of the first sole portion is
located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the second
sole portion.
5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein an internal surface
portion surrounding the hole formed in the second sole portion and
an external surface portion on a nail tip side of the first sole
portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
6. The footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a holder
portion to cover the sole assembly from a lower side, wherein the
sole assembly and the holder portion are connected to each other in
an engaged manner.
7. The footwear according to claim 6, wherein a portion connected,
in an engaged manner, to the sole assembly of the holder portion is
harder than a portion connected, in an engaged manner, to the
holder portion of the sole assembly.
8. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole assembly has
pins each passing through the first sole portion and the second
sole portion, in a region of an arch of a foot, in up and down
directions, wherein the pins prevent the first and second sole
portions from being deviated in back and forth directions.
9. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the holder portion
has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the outer
sole has a protruding portion constructed to be protruded so that
part of the sole assembly passes through the hole of the holder
portion.
10. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
sole portion and second sole portion has an inner sole made of a
first material and an outer sole made of a second material
different from that of the first material.
11. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein, in a state in which
the first sole portion and second sole portion are connected to
each other in an engaged manner, at least one of a portion where
the first sole portion is in contact with the second sole portion
and a portion where the second sole portion is in contact with the
first sole portion has convex and concave portions, which prevent
the first and second sole portions from being deviated in right and
left directions or in up and down directions.
12. The footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an instep
leather portion; wherein the instep leather portion has a first
part extending from the first part in an upward direction, a second
part extending from the second part in an upward direction, and a
connecting mechanism which connects the first part to the second
part so as to be touchable to or detachable from each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to footwear and particularly
to assembly-type footwear.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally-available footwear is formed in a manner in which
an instep leather portion, inner sole portion, and outer sole
portion are fixed as a whole. As a result, it is, in general,
impossible for a user to change design and/or color of the footwear
fixedly assembled.
[0005] Under the present conditions or circumstances, a user
possesses a plurality of pairs of footwear and selects one pair of
footwear each time so as to match the footwear to design and/or
color of clothes to put on and/or a bag or the like to carry.
[0006] To solve such problems as above, following methods for
solving are disclosed. For example, separable-type shoes are
disclosed in Patent Reference 1 (Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2009-512471) which enable only an instep leather
portion to be replaced by separating the instep leather portion
from other components, thereby realizing the same effect as is
obtained by possessing a plurality of pairs of footwear.
[0007] Also, assembly-type sandals are disclosed in Patent
Reference 2 (Examined Utility Model Registration No. 3045031) which
enable a spat belt portion, inner sole portion, and an outer sole
portion to be separated from one another so that the sandals can be
used for a long time and sandal fashion level can be improved by
combinations of design with color.
[0008] Moreover, a module-type footwear structure is disclosed in
Patent Reference 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2008-178687) which enables each component making up the footwear to
be fixed to each other without using a bonding agent. By employing
this structure, various methods of using footwear are achieved by
combining the footwear to be used indoors with footwear to be used
outdoors.
[0009] However, the above conventional technologies have
difficulties described below. That is, in the above technologies,
each component making up footwear can be separated from each other,
however, due to its separable structure, it has now become
difficult to fitly and tightly unify the whole components without
looseness. That is, the weight of a user is loaded on footwear
which causes a fear that the footwear is broken depending on the
application of stress.
[0010] Furthermore, in the conventional technologies, a user can
enjoy various more design and color by combining each portion of
the footwear, there is no description that the further combinations
of design with color that had not existed in the conventional
footwear can be realized by performing new contrivance to
structures of each portion itself making up the footwear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide footwear which enables each component to be
separated, to be unified as a whole without looseness, and various
combinations of design with color to be realized.
[0012] To accomplish the above object, according to a first aspect
of the present invention, there is provided footwear including a
sole assembly having a first sole portion and a second sole
portion, wherein each of the first sole portion and the second sole
portion has a shape that allows connection, in an engaged manner,
between the first sole portion and the second sole portion and
wherein, in a state in which the first sole portion and second sole
portion are connected, in an engaged manner, to each other, at
least part of the first sole portion is located so as to be in
contact with an upper side of at least part of the second sole
portion and at least part of the second sole portion is located so
as to be in contact with an upper side of at least part of the
first sole portion.
[0013] By configuring as above, each component making up the
footwear can be separated from each other and can be unified
tightly without looseness and various combinations of design with
color can be realized.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is the footwear wherein the first sole portion and the second sole
portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a state
in which the first sole portion has a hole passing through in up
and down directions and the second sole portion passes through the
hole and at least part of a portion on a nail tip side of the
second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with a lower
side of the first sole portion and at least part of a portion on a
heel side of the second sole portion is located so as to be in
contact with an upper side of the first sole portion.
[0015] By configuring as above, the footwear assembly is made easy
and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a whole without
looseness.
[0016] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the footwear wherein an internal surface portion
surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion and an
external surface portion on a nail tip side of the second sole
portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
[0017] By configuring as above, the assembly of the footwear is
also made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a
whole without looseness.
[0018] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the footwear wherein the first sole portion and the
second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged
manner in a state in which the second sole portion has a hole
passing through in up and down directions and the first sole
portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a
heel side of the first sole portion is located so as to be in
contact with a lower side of the second sole portion and at least
part of a portion on a nail tip side of the first sole portion is
located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the second
sole portion.
[0019] By configuring as above, the assembly of the footwear is
also made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a
whole without looseness.
[0020] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the footwear wherein an internal surface portion
surrounding the hole formed in the second sole portion and an
external surface portion on a nail tip side of the first sole
portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
[0021] By configuring as above, the assembly of the footwear is
also made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a
whole without looseness.
[0022] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the footwear which further includes a holder portion to
cover the sole assembly from a lower side, wherein the sole
assembly and the holder portion are connected to each other in an
engaged manner.
[0023] By configuring as above, the existence of the holder portion
enables entire components making up the footwear to be unified
tightly as a whole without looseness and various combinations of
design with color to be enjoyed by a user.
[0024] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention,
there is provided the footwear wherein a portion connected, in an
engaged manner, to the sole assembly of the holder portion is
harder than a portion connected, in an engaged manner, to the
holder portion of the sole assembly.
[0025] By configuring as above, the holder portion and sole
assembly are made hard to be disconnected from each other.
[0026] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided the footwear wherein the sole assembly has pins
each passing through the first sole portion and the second sole
portion, in a region of an arch of a foot, in up and down
directions and wherein the pins prevent the first and second sole
portions from being deviated in back and forth directions.
[0027] By configuring as above, the pins make it possible to
prevent deviation between the first sole portion and second sole
portion mainly in back and forth directions.
[0028] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the footwear wherein the holder portion has a hole
passing through in up and down directions and the outer sole has a
protruding portion constructed to be protruded so that part of the
sole assembly passes through the hole of the holder portion.
[0029] By configuring as above, the outer sole made of a suitable
material can be selected and various combinations of design and
color including the outer sole can be enjoyed.
[0030] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the footwear wherein at least one of the sole portion
and second sole portion has an inner sole made of a first material
and an outer sole made of a second material different from that of
the first material.
[0031] By configuring as above, combinations of materials making up
the inner sole and outer sole can be selected and, as a result, it
is made possible to achieve the easiness of assembly,
comfortableness of wearing, gripping performance of the outer sole,
prevention of excessive abrasion of the outer sole and excessive
deformation of an entire configuration of the footwear.
[0032] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention,
there is provided the footwear wherein, in a state in which the
first sole portion and second sole portion are connected to each
other in an engaged manner, at least one of a portion where the
first sole portion is in contact with the second sole portion and a
portion where the second sole portion is in contact with the first
sole portion has convex and concave portions, which prevent the
first and second sole portions from being deviated in right and
left directions or in up and down directions.
[0033] By configuring as above, the deviation of the first sole
portion and second sole portion mainly in right and left directions
and up and down direction can be prevented.
[0034] According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided the footwear which further includes an instep
leather portion, wherein the instep leather portion has a first
part extending from the first part in an upward direction, a second
part extending from the second part in an upward direction, and a
connecting mechanism which connects the first part to the second
part so as to be touchable to or detachable from each other.
[0035] By configuring as above, the inconvenience can be avoided
which is caused by the separation between the portion formed on an
upper side of the first sole portion making up the instep leather
portion and the portion formed on an upper side of the second sole
portion occurring when shoes such as boots having height in an
instep leather position are constructed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sole holder assembly prior to
assembling of the present embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining one example of assembling
methods of a shoe of the present embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane
perpendicular to back and forth directions of the shoe of the
present embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane
perpendicular to back and forth directions of the shoe of the
present embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining a shoe of a modified example
of the present invention.
[0041] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams explaining a difference in
structure between the shoe of the embodiment of the present
invention and the shoe of the modified example of the present
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is
described by referring to drawings. In the embodiment, a shoe 1 is
explained as one concrete example of footwear.
[0043] The shoe 1 is made up of a sole holder assembly 11 on which
a user puts his/her foot and an instep leather portion 12 which is
drawn and extended from side end portions of the sole holder
assembly 11 and covers an instep of the user foot or the like.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the sole holder assembly 11
before being assembled according to the present invention.
[0045] The sole holder assembly 11 has a sole assembly 111 and a
holder portion 112 to cover the sole assembly 11 from its lower
side.
[0046] The sole assembly 111 is made up of a first sole portion
1111, second sole portion 1112, and pins 1113 with which the first
sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are fastened.
[0047] The first sole portion 1111 has a first inner sole 11111 and
a first outer sole 11112.
[0048] The second sole portion 1112 has a second inner sole 11121
and a second outer sole 11122.
[0049] The first inner sole 11111 is made of, for example, ethylene
vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer (hereinafter referred simply to as
"EVA"). The reason for using the EVA as the material is that the
EVA is a comparatively soft material and, therefore, is convenient
for assembling the sole assembly 111 as described later and, since
the first inner sole 11111 is a portion which touches the sole of a
foot, the EVA being soft to some extent is a suitable material.
[0050] In a region near to a nail tip side of the first inner sole
11111 is formed a hole which passes through the sole portions, for
example, in up and down directions.
[0051] The first inner sole 11111 also has, for example, a portion
surrounding the hole and a portion having a disc shape used to put
part of the second sole portion 1112.
[0052] While the shoe 1 is being used, for example, the portion
surrounding the hole is located on the nail tip side of the shoe 1
and the portion having the disc shape is located on its heel
side.
[0053] The first outer sole 1112 is made of, for example, rubber.
As described above, since the first inner sole 11111 is made of the
comparatively soft EVA, by making the first outer sole 11112 of
comparatively hard rubber, distortion of the entire shoe 1 and
excessive wear of the outer sole 11112 is prevented.
[0054] The first outer sole 11112 is a plate-like material having
an approximately semicircular shape.
[0055] An upper side portion of the first outer sole 11112 is
bonded to a lower side portion of the heel of the first inner sole
11111 by using, for example, a bonding agent.
[0056] A portion contacting the ground, while the shoe 1 is being
used, on a lower side of the first outer sole 11112 has convex and
concave portions that provide strong frictional force in back and
forth directions and in right and left directions.
[0057] The second inner sole 11121 is made of, for example, EVA.
The reason for using the EVA as the material is that the EVA is the
comparatively soft material and, therefore, is convenient for
assembling the sole assembly 111 as described later and, since the
second inner sole 11121 is a portion which touches the sole of a
foot, the EVA being soft to some extent is a suitable material.
[0058] The second inner sole 11121 has a portion with a disc shape
being put on the first sole portion 1111 and a portion of a plate
material like a gourd swollen in its body which extends from the
portion having the disc shape and has a plate-like configuration
with its center being contracted as a whole when seen from
above.
[0059] While the shoe 1 is being used, for example, the portion
having the disc shape described above is located on the heel side
of the shoe 1 and the gourd-like plate material is located on its
nail tip side.
[0060] The second outer sole 11122 is made of, for example, rubber.
As described above, since the second inner sole 11121 is made of
the comparatively soft EVA, by making the second outer sole 11122
of comparatively hard rubber, distortion of the entire shoe 1 and
excessive wear of the second outer sole 11122 is prevented.
[0061] The second outer sole 11122 is a plate-like material having
an approximately elliptical shape.
[0062] A portion near to a center on an upper side of the second
outer sole 11122 is bonded, for example, with a bonding agent, to a
lower side portion of the second inner sole 11121.
[0063] The second outer sole 11122, when seen from above, covers an
area wider than that of the second inner sole portion 11121.
[0064] A portion contacting the ground while the shoe 1 is used on
a lower side of the second outer sole 11122 has convex and concave
portions that provide strong frictional force in back and forth
directions and in right and left directions.
[0065] When the first sole portion 1111 is connected to the second
sole portion 1112 in an engaged manner, into the hole formed in the
first inner sole 11111 enters the nail tip side portion of the
second outer sole 11121 from the upper side and the portion
surrounding the hole formed in the first inner sole 11111 is
connected to a plate material portion like the gourd of the second
inner sole 11121 and the first inner sole 11111 and second outer
sole 11122 are put on the second outer sole 11122.
[0066] Then, the portion having the disc shape in the second inner
sole 11121 is put on the portion having the disc shape of the first
inner sole 11111.
[0067] As a result, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole
portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a
state in which the second sole portion 1112 passes through the hole
formed in the first sole portion 1111 and at least part on the nail
tip side of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in
contact with a lower side of the first sole portion 1111 and at
least part of the portion on the heel side of the second sole
portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side
of the first sole portion 1111.
[0068] In this case, the internal surface portion surrounding the
hole formed in the first sole portion 1111 and the external surface
portion on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1112 are
connected to each other in an engaged manner.
[0069] By configuring the shoe 1 as above, when a user puts his/her
foot on the sole assembly 111, on the nail tip side of the foot,
the first sole portion 1111 presses the second sole portion 1112
from an upper side to a lower side and, on the heel side of the
foot, the second sole portion 1112 presses the first sole portion
1111 from an upper side to a lower side, thus realizing, as a
whole, the looseness-free and tightly unified sole assembly
111.
[0070] In the first inner sole 11111 and the second outer sole
11122, on both left and right sides of portions (arch of the foot)
near to a center of each of the directions (hereinafter, back and
forth directions) from the nail tip side to the heel side, holes
passing through the soles which are used to allow pins to run
through the soles in order to connect the first sole portion 1111
and second sole portion 1112 to each other in up and down
directions.
[0071] Each of the pins 1113 has a bowl and an axis and two pins
1113 are used for one sole assembly 111. The existence of the pins
1113 prevents positional deviation caused by movement of the first
sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 mainly in back and
forth directions while the shoe 1 is being used. Since the pins
1113 are located in the portion of the arch of the foot, the pins
1113 are not pushed by pressure directly from a foot of a user in a
downward direction. As a result, there are decreased risks that the
pins 1113 are deformed and broken caused by the use of the shoe
1.
[0072] Additionally, a stopper may be provided to support a portion
near to a tip end of the pin 1113 in a state in which each of the
pins 1113 has passed through the first sole portion 1111 and second
sole portion 1112.
[0073] Moreover, in a state in which the first sole portion 1111
and second sole portion 1112 are connected to each other in an
engaged manner, in a portion where the first sole portion 1111 is
in contact with the second sole portion 1112 and in a portion where
the second sole portion 1112 is in contact with the first sole
portion 1111, convex and concave portions are formed, for example,
in a horizontal direction, which prevents positional deviation of
the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 in right
and left directions and in up and down directions.
[0074] The holder portion 112 is made of a thermoplastic
polyurethane resin (hereinafter simply "PTU").
[0075] The portion being connected, in an engaged manner, to the
sole assembly 111 of the holder portion 112 is harder than the
portion being connected, in an engaged manner, to the holder
portion 112 of the sole assembly 111. As a result, when the holder
portion 112 is connected to the sole assembly 111 in an engaged
manner and the assembling of the sole holder assembly 11 is
completed, the above configuration provides a merit that the holder
portion 112 and sole assembly 111 are hard to be disconnected from
each other.
[0076] On a bottom surface of the holder portion 112 is formed a
plurality of holes which passes through the holder portion 112 in
up and down directions. The existence of the holes causes the first
outer sole 1112 and part of the second outer sole 1112 to come into
direct contact with the ground.
[0077] One example of assembling methods of the shoe 1 having such
configurations as above is explained by referring to drawings. FIG.
2 is a diagram explaining one example of assembling methods of the
shoe 1 of the present embodiment.
[0078] First, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion
1112 are prepared. To each of the first sole portion 1111 and
second sole portion 1112 is attached an instep leather portion
12.
[0079] To the hole formed in the first sole portion 1111 is
inserted, from an upper side, a nail tip side portion of the second
sole portion 1112. Then, the contracted portion located near to an
intermediate point of the second sole portion 1112 is fitted into
the portion surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion
1111.
[0080] In this state, by rotating the second sole portion 1112,
centering on the contracted portion descried above, relative to the
first sole portion 1111, the first sole portion 1111 is connected
to the second sole portion 1112 in an engaged manner.
[0081] More specifically, the portion (that is, portion on the nail
tip side) surrounding the hole in the first inner sole 11111 is
allowed to be connected to the second inner sole 11121 and the
first inner sole 11111 and second inner sole 11121 are put on the
second outer sole 11122. Then, the portion (that is, portion on the
heel side) having the disc shape of the second inner sole 11121 is
allowed to be put on the portion having the disc shape of the first
inner sole portion 11111.
[0082] Then, the right and left two pins 1113 are allowed to pass,
from the upper side, through the holes formed in the first inner
sole 11111 and second outer sole 11122. The portion near the end of
each of the two pins 1113 is supported by the above stopper. This
causes the assembling of the sole assembly 111 with the instep
leather portion 12 to be completed.
[0083] The sole assembly 111 in the above state is held by the
holder portion 112 in a manner to be covered from the lower side.
As described above, when the sole assembly 111 is connected to the
holder portion 112 in an engaged manner, the holder portion 112 is
harder than the sole assembly 111 and, therefore, the sole assembly
111 and holder portion 112, when being connected to each other, are
hard to be disconnected from each other. This makes the assembling
of the sole holder assembly 11 with the instep leather portion 12
be completed, that is, the assembling of the shoe 1 is
completed.
[0084] Moreover, as described above, part of each of the first
outer sole 11112 and of the second outer sole 11122 is protruded
from the hole formed in the holder portion 112 and the protruded
portions constitute the outer soles of the shoe 1, thereby allowing
the shoe 1 to have high gripping performance. Moreover, the first
outer sole 11112 and second outer sole 11122 are made of rubber,
thus enabling the prevention of excessive friction in the outer
soles 11112 and 11122.
[0085] Thus, the connection between the first sole portion 1111 and
second sole portion 1112 in an engaged manner can be very easily
achieved and detachment between the pin 1113 and the stopper
described above is also easy and, as a result, the assembling of
the shoe 1 can be realized very easily.
[0086] Therefore, a user can be ready to change the combinations of
design with color among the first sole portion 1111, second sole
portion 1112, and holder portion 112.
[0087] Next, the state of the connection in an engaged manner is
described between the first sole portion 1111 and second sole
portion 1112 in the shoe 1 in the completed state by referring to
drawings.
[0088] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along plane
perpendicular to back and forth directions of the shoe 1. The shoe
shown in each of FIGS. 3 and 4 has a configuration being a bit
different from the shoe 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the difference
is negligible in terms of explanation and the description of the
difference is omitted accordingly.
[0089] In the cross-sectional view B-B', when the review is started
from the nail tip side, the state is shown in which the first inner
sole 11111 is connected to the second inner sole 11121 in an
engaged manner and the first and second inner soles 11111 and 11121
are put on the second outer sole 11122.
[0090] Next, in the cross-sectional view C-C', the instep leather
portion 12 is higher than that shown in the cross-sectional view
B-B', however, the connection state in an engaged manner between
the first inner sole 11111 and the second inner sole 11121 in the
cross-sectional view C-C' is approximately the same as in the
cross-sectional view B-B'.
[0091] Moreover, in the cross-sectional view D-D', the central
contracted portion is shown as the second inner sole 11121 and, in
its right and left portions, the pins are shown as the pins 1113
and the above-described stopper is seen therein.
[0092] Lastly, in the cross-sectional view E-E', on the portion
having a disc shape on the heel side of the first sole portion 1111
is put the portion having the disk shape on the heel side of the
second sole portion 1112.
[0093] The above-described embodiment can be modified in various
ways within the scope of technical thoughts.
[0094] In the above embodiment, the shoe 1 is provided with the
instep leather portion 12, however, sandals having no instep
leather portion 12 may be also employed in the present
invention.
[0095] Further, in the above embodiment, two pins 1113 are used in
the sole holder assembly 11, however, the number of the pins is not
limited and three pins or one pin can be employed as well and, if
there is no special problem, the use of the pins 1113 is not
required. The same may be applied to the stopper. This is because
the important point is whether or not the shoe 1 can be assembled
easily.
[0096] Still further, in the above embodiment, the first sole
portion 1111 has the first inner sole 11111 and first outer sole
11112, however, the inner and outer sole portions may be integrally
formed.
[0097] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first sole portion
1112 has the first inner sole 11121 and first outer sole 11122,
however, the inner and outer sole portions may be integrally
formed.
[0098] Also, in the above embodiment, the first inner sole 11111 is
made of EVA and first outer sole 11112 is made of rubber, however,
if no special problem arises, any material may be employed for the
first inner sole 11111 and first outer sole 11112. Therefore, both
the first inner sole 11111 and the second outer sole 11112 may be
made of EVA.
[0099] Also, in the above embodiment, in the region near to the
nail tip of the first inner sole 11111 is formed the hole passing
through the soles in up and down directions, however, the present
invention is not limited to this.
[0100] That is, if only the first sole portion 1111 and second sole
portion 1112 have the shapes which allow the connection to each
other in an engaged manner and, in a state in which the first sole
portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected to each
other in an engaged manner, if only at least part of the first sole
portion 1111 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side
of at least part of the second sole portion 1112 and if only at
least part of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be
in contact with the upper side of the first sole portion 1111, the
first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 may have any
shape.
[0101] Therefore, the shape of each of the first inner sole 1111,
first outer sole 11112, second inner sole 11121, and second outer
sole 11122 is not limited to those described above.
[0102] Also, in the above embodiment, the upper side portion of the
first outer sole 11112 is bonded to the lower side portion on the
heel side of the first inner sole 11111, however, the both portions
may be bonded by any other method.
[0103] Also, in the above embodiment, the portion contacting the
ground, while the shoe 1 is being used, on the lower side of the
first outer sole 11112 has convex and concave portions, however,
the present invention is not limited to this. Consequently, it is
not necessary that the portion contacting the ground has convex and
concave portions.
[0104] Also, in the above embodiment, the second inner sole 11121
is made of EVA and second outer sole 11122 is made of rubber,
however, if no special problem occurs, any material may be employed
for the second inner sole 11121 and second outer sole 11122.
Therefore, both the first inner sole 11111 and second outer sole
11112 may be made of EVA and may be integrally constructed.
[0105] Also, in the above embodiment, the portion near to the
center of the upper side portion of the second outer sole 11122 is
bonded to the lower side portion of the second inner sole 11121,
however, the both portions may be connected by any other
method.
[0106] Also, in the above embodiment, the portion contacting the
ground, while the shoe 1 is being used, on the lower side of the
second outer sole 11122 has convex and concave portions, however,
the present invention is not limited to this. Consequently, it is
not necessary that the portion contacting the ground has convex and
concave portions.
[0107] In the above embodiment, in the first inner sole 11111 and
the second outer sole 11122, on both left and right sides of
portions near to a center of each of the back and forth directions
holes passing through the soles which are used to allow the pins
1113 to run through the soles in up and down directions, however,
in the case of the configurations having no pins 1113, it is not
necessary to provide the hole described above accordingly.
[0108] Also, in the above embodiment, each of the pins 1113 has the
bowl and axis, however, if no special problem occurs, the pins 1113
may have any shape. The stopper described above also may have any
shape unless any problem arises.
[0109] In the above embodiment, in the state in which the first
sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected in an
engaged manner, the portion where the first sole portion 1111 is in
contact with the second sole portion 1112 and the portion in which
the second sole portion 1112 is in contact with the first sole
portion 1111 have convex and concave portions, however, the
formation of such convex and concave portions as above is not
required unless any problem occurs.
[0110] Also, it is not necessary that the holder portion 112 is
provided if no problem occurs.
[0111] Also, in the above embodiment, the holder portion 112 is
made of TPU, however, unless any problem occurs, the holder portion
112 may be formed of any other material.
[0112] In the above embodiment, the portion connecting, in an
engaged manner, to the sole assembly 111 of the holder portion 112
is harder than the portion connecting, in an engaged manner, to the
holder portion 112 of the sole assembly 111, however, the present
invention is not limited to this. Therefore, the sole assembly 111
may be harder than the holder portion 112.
[0113] In the above embodiment, a plurality of holes is formed on
the bottom surface of the holder portion 112, however, the present
invention is not limited to this. Therefore, a single hole may be
formed on the bottom surface and the bottom surface may have no
holes.
[0114] The shoe 1 is one example of the footwear and does not limit
the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the footwear such as
sandals falls within the scope of technical thoughts of the present
invention. Thus, according to the present invention, the shoe 1
having various shapes such as boots may be configured by forming
the upper portion on the nail tip side of the first sole portion
1111 integrally with the semi-cylindrical instep leather portion 12
having height in the upper region on the heel side of the second
sole portion 1112 or by making the instep leather portion 12 having
the same shape as above from the material such as leather or the
like and sewing the instep leather to the first sole portion 1111
and second sole portion 1112.
[0115] When height occurs in the instep leather portion 12, part of
the instep leather portion 12 formed in the upper portion on the
nail tip side of the first sole portion 1111 is liable to be
separated from part of the instep leather portion 12 formed in the
upper portion on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112
while the shoe 1 is being used. In order to avoid such separation,
there may be provided a connecting mechanism to connect two parts
making up these instep leather portions 12 in a manner to be
touchable to or detachable from each other. FIG. 5 is a diagram
schematically showing an appearance of the shoe 1 having such a
connecting mechanism.
[0116] In FIG. 5, part of the instep leather portion formed in the
upper portion on the nail tip side of the first sole portion 1111
is shown as a forward part 121 and part of the instep leather
portion formed in the upper portion on the heel side of the second
sole portion 1112 is shown as a backward part 122. Moreover, in
FIG. 5, the sole assembly 111 is covered by the holder portion 112
and, therefore, cannot be seen. The forward part 121 and the
backward part 122 are connected to each other by the connecting
mechanism. On the rear side not seen in FIG. 5 (it is supposed that
the side shown in FIG. 5 is an inner heel side, the side not seen
in FIG. 5 is an external heel side), the forward part 121 and
backward part 122 are also connected to each other by the
connecting mechanism.
[0117] In the shoe 1 illustrated in FIG. 5, the connecting
mechanism 13, by passing the button sewed to the surface on the
external side of the backward part 122 through the button hole
formed in the forward parts 121, connects these parts in a manner
to be touchable or detachable, however, the method used by the
connecting mechanism to connect the forward part 121 and backward
part 122 in a manner to be touchable or detachable is not limited
to the use of the button and button hole. For example, instead of
the button and button hole, a line fastener or surface fastener may
be employed as the connecting mechanism or the method by running
straps through a plurality of strap holes may be used as the
connecting mechanism.
[0118] Additionally, the method for assembling the shoe 1 described
above is simply one example and the present invention is not
limited to the above method.
MODIFIED EXAMPLE
[0119] The modified example of the above embodiment is described by
referring to drawings. It is natural that the modified example
falls in the scope of technical thoughts of the present invention.
The difference in structure between the shoe of the present
embodiment and shoe of modified embodiment is mainly described.
[0120] FIGS. 6A and 6B are the diagram explaining the difference
between the shoe of the embodiment of the present invention and the
shoe of the modified example of the present embodiment.
[0121] As is schematically shown in the above-described embodiment
of FIG. 6A, the first sole portion 1111 is connected, in an engaged
manner, to the second sole portion 1112 in the state in which the
first sole portion 1111 has a hole passing through in up and down
directions in the portion near to the nail tip and the second sole
portion 1112 passes through the hole and at least part of the
portion on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1112 is
located so as to be in contact with the lower side of the first
sole portion 1111 and at least part of the portion on the heel side
of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact
with the upper side of the first sole portion 1111.
[0122] Incidentally, as is schematically shown in the modified
example of FIG. 6B, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole
portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner in
the state in which the second sole portion 1112 has a hole passing
through in up and down directions in the portion near to the nail
tip and at least part of the portion on the heel side of the first
sole portion 1111 is located so as to be in contact with the lower
side of the second sole portion 1112 and at least part of the
portion on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1111 is
located so as to be in contact with the upper side of the first
sole portion 1112.
[0123] Thus, the present invention provides many variations in the
methods for engaged-manner connection between the first sole
portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112, which enables selection
of suitable configurations to correspond to various situations for
assembling normal shoes and/or sandals.
[0124] The shoes of the present invention can be expected to be
used in various situations owing to its excellent and
looseness-free stability and high fashion level and is therefore
attributable to, so-called manufacturing industries.
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