U.S. patent application number 14/975682 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for shoe having lace fitting structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASICS CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Tomoko Ikezawa, Kenta Moriyasu, Moe Nagata, Seigo Nakaya, Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki. Invention is credited to Tomoko Ikezawa, Kenta Moriyasu, Moe Nagata, Seigo Nakaya, Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki.
Application Number | 20160100654 14/975682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43428864 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160100654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishiwaki; Tsuyoshi ; et
al. |
April 14, 2016 |
Shoe Having Lace Fitting Structure
Abstract
A shoe including a sole 1 for absorbing an impact of landing, an
upper 2 for wrapping around an instep, and shoelace means 3 for
fitting the upper 2 to the instep, the upper 2 including: a main
portion 2M covering a medial side surface, a lateral side surface,
a toe, the instep and a back surface of a foot; a side edge portion
having a plurality of first eyelets H1; a first side panel 51
covering the medial side surface of the foot; and a second side
panel 52 covering the lateral side surface of the foot, wherein
each side panel includes: a tip portion 53 having a second eyelet
H2 which is provided at a tip of the side panel and which the
shoelace means passes through and engages with; a bottom portion 54
attached to the main portion and/or the sole; and a middle portion
55 arranged between the tip portion and the bottom portion so as to
allow the tip portion to move in the front-back direction of the
foot with respect to the bottom portion, wherein with at least one
of the side panels, the middle portion 55 can stretch and shrink to
increase a length from the tip portion to the bottom portion.
Inventors: |
Nishiwaki; Tsuyoshi;
(Chuo-ku, JP) ; Nakaya; Seigo; (Kobe, JP) ;
Ikezawa; Tomoko; (Kobe, JP) ; Nagata; Moe;
(London, GB) ; Moriyasu; Kenta; (Chuo-ku,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nishiwaki; Tsuyoshi
Nakaya; Seigo
Ikezawa; Tomoko
Nagata; Moe
Moriyasu; Kenta |
Chuo-ku
Kobe
Kobe
London
Chuo-ku |
|
JP
JP
JP
GB
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
ASICS CORPORATION
Kobe
JP
|
Family ID: |
43428864 |
Appl. No.: |
14/975682 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13380805 |
Feb 14, 2012 |
9247781 |
|
|
PCT/JP2010/051275 |
Jan 29, 2010 |
|
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|
14975682 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 5/00 20130101; A43B
23/0295 20130101; A43B 7/1495 20130101; A43B 23/027 20130101; A43C
1/00 20130101; A43C 11/008 20130101; A43C 1/003 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/02 20060101
A43B023/02; A43C 5/00 20060101 A43C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 6, 2009 |
JP |
PCT/JP2009/003130 |
Claims
1. A shoe having a lace fitting structure, comprising: a sole for
absorbing an impact of landing; an upper for wrapping around an
instep; and a shoelace means for fitting the upper to the instep,
wherein the upper includes a first opening from which a leg of a
wearer of the shoe extends upward when the shoe is worn, and a
second opening provided on a front side of the first opening, the
first opening and the second opening being continuous with each
other in a front-back direction, the upper comprises: a main
portion covering a medial side surface, a lateral side surface, a
toe, the instep, and a back surface of a foot of the wearer; a
first side edge portion provided along a side edge of the second
opening and having a plurality of first eyelets which the shoelace
means passes through and engages with; and a second side edge
portion provided along the side edge of the second opening and
having one or more second eyelets which the shoelace means passes
through and engages with, wherein: the second side edge portion is
connected to the main portion via a stretchable portion, wherein
the stretchable portion is more stretchable than the first and
second side edge portions and the main portion so that the second
side edge portion move with respect to the main portion in a
circumference direction, a front direction and a rear direction of
the foot when the foot is bent, the stretchable portion is
stretchable in the circumference direction of the foot in the
vicinity of the second side edge portion at least in the
circumference direction when the foot is bent, and the stretchable
portion is arranged in such a state that the stretchable portion is
stretchable in the front-back direction on a front side and a rear
side of the second side edge portion; and the main portion which is
less stretchable than the stretchable portion is adapted to cover a
Lisfranc joint and a metatarsal bone base of a fifth toe on a
lateral side of the foot.
2. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the one or more second
eyelets are provided on the lateral side of the foot; and the one
or more second eyelets on the lateral side are adapted to be
arranged only at a position posterior to a metatarsal phalangeal
joint of a fourth toe and anterior to a base of a metatarsal bone
of the fourth toe.
3. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the number of the second
eyelets provided on the lateral side of the foot is only one.
4. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable portion
surrounds the second side edge portion from a front side, a rear
side, and a lower side of the second side edge portion, the
stretchable portion including: a first portion arranged along the
side edge of the second opening on the front side and the rear side
of the second side edge portion; and a second portion arranged on
the lower side of the second side edge portion, the first portion
being less stretchable than the second portion.
5. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein: the stretchable portion
covers a portion of the lateral side surface of the foot and
extends across the main portion of the upper on the lateral side
surface; and a portion of the main portion anterior to the
stretchable portion and another portion of the main portion
posterior to the stretchable portion are connected with each other
only via the stretchable portion.
6. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable portion
surrounds the second side edge portion from a front side, a rear
side, and a lower side of the second side edge portion, the
stretchable portion including: a first portion arranged along the
side edge of the second opening on the front side and the rear side
of the second side edge portion; and a second portion arranged on
the lower side of the second side edge portion.
7. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the number of the one or
more second eyelets is one, two or more first eyelets of the
plurality of first eyelets are positioned posterior to the one
second eyelet, and one first eyelet of the plurality of first
eyelets except the two or more first eyelets is positioned anterior
to the one second eyelet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/380,805, filed Feb. 14, 2012, titled "Shoe Having Lace
Fitting Structure;" which in turn is a National Stage Entry of PCT
Application Serial No. PCT/JP2010/051275, titled "Show Provided
With Lace Fitting Structure," having international filing date Jan.
29, 2010; which in turn claims priority to Japanese application
PCT/JP2009/003130 that has a priority date of Jul. 6, 2009, the
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference each
application in its entirety herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a shoe having a lace
fitting structure.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] A shoelace fits an upper to the foot. The upper fitting the
foot supports the foot.
[0004] However, during dorsal flexion of the MP joint, the foot
shape changes, and therefore the foot circumference also changes.
When shoes are worn over a long period of time, the foot
circumference increases in many cases. In such a case, the foot
inside a shoe will be compressed by the upper. Moreover, the shoe
and the foot are likely to slip against each other during
action.
[0005] [First Patent Document] Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2006-258 (abstract)
[0006] [Second Patent Document] Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 11-18803 (abstract)
[0007] [Third Patent Document] Japanese Utility Model Publication
for Opposition No. 33-5240 (FIG. 1)
[0008] [Fourth Patent Document] Japanese Utility Model Publication
for Opposition No. 5-9843 (FIG. 3)
[0009] [Fifth Patent Document] EPO 329,392 A2 (abstract)
[0010] [Sixth Patent Document] Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 4-44701 (page 2, upper right col.)
[0011] [Seventh Patent Document] WO 2004/93587 A1, US 2006/0162190
A1 (abstract)
[0012] With a shoe of the first document, non-stretchable belts are
fixed to the inner side of a stretchable upper, and the
non-stretchable belts prevent the upper from stretching. In the
shoe of the first document, an eyelet (loop) is provided at the tip
of each non-stretchable belt, and therefore the eyelet will not
move in the foot circumference direction in the shoe (while the
shoe is worn).
[0013] The belts are continuous with each other in the front-back
direction, with the tips of the belts attached to the stretchable
member of the upper, and therefore the belts are prevented from
being displaced freely.
[0014] A shoe of the second document has a size that is variable in
the foot length direction. In order for the size to be variable in
the foot length direction, this shoe includes, provided in the
middle foot portion, a flexible fabric portion that is stretchable
in the front-back direction of the upper. The flexible fabric
portion does not stretch in the circumference direction. Therefore,
since the eyelets provided in the flexible fabric portion do not
move in the circumference direction, the foot will be compressed
while the shoe is worn.
[0015] A shoe of the third document includes a wide stretchable
piece on each side surface of the front foot portion. The wide
stretchable piece may feel less compressive to the foot. However,
the wide stretchable piece will not be able to support the side
surface of the foot.
[0016] Since the ornamental eyelets are continuous with each other
in the front-back direction, the eyelets will not move in the
front-back direction. Therefore, the eyelets are prevented from
moving freely.
[0017] The eyelet members of the fourth document are formed by a
resin whose Shore hardness is 90 to 100. A resin whose Shore
hardness is 90 to 100 will hardly stretch.
[0018] With a shoe of the fifth document, the rear foot portion is
supported by a non-stretching supporting stirrup.
[0019] A shoe of the sixth document includes a pair of side panels
(fastening bands) sandwiched between the inner skin and the outer
skin of the upper. The side panels may be formed by a rubber sheet
or a stretchable fabric, and each includes three eyelets. The aim
of the shoe of the sixth document is that the side panel stretches
and shrinks in the circumference direction depending on the
magnitude of the foot circumference (circumferential length) of the
person.
[0020] However, with the invention of the sixth document, the
object is that the side panels connected together with shoelaces do
not move on the upper skin in the front-back direction and reliably
fasten a predetermined position of the instep of the foot, as
stated on (page 1, right col. or) page 2, lower right col. of the
publication, and the side panels are wide. Therefore, eyelets
formed in the side panels are not at all intended to move in the
front-back direction of the foot, and it is believed that they do
not substantially move so.
[0021] With the invention of the sixth document, the side panels
formed by a rubber sheet or a stretchable fabric cover large areas
of the side surfaces of the foot, and even cover areas posterior to
the metatarsal bones. This will detract from the upper's function
of holding or supporting the foot of the wearer.
[0022] With a shoe of the seventh document, eyelets formed by loops
are provided in the vicinity of stretchable portions. Although it
may appear from FIG. 5 of the seventh document that the loops are
connected to the stretchable portions, the loops are provided on
hard portions of the upper as can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6 of the
publication.
[0023] Therefore, the eyelets formed by loops shown in the
publication cannot move in the circumference direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0024] It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe
capable of supporting the foot in a stable state, and decreasing
the compression on the foot when the foot circumference changes
and/or the slip between the shoe and the foot while in action.
Solution to Problem
[0025] A shoe of an embodiment of the present invention is a shoe
having a lace fitting structure, including: a sole for absorbing an
impact of landing, an upper for wrapping around an instep, and a
shoelace means for fitting the upper to the instep, wherein the
upper includes a first opening from which a leg extends upward when
the shoe is worn, and a second opening provided on a front side of
the first opening, the two openings being continuous with each
other in a front-back direction, the upper including: a main
portion covering a medial side surface, a lateral side surface, a
toe, the instep and a back surface of a foot; and a first side edge
portion and a second side edge portion provided along a side edge
of the second opening and having a plurality of first eyelets and
one or more second eyelets, respectively, which the shoelace means
passes through and engages with, wherein: the second side edge
portion is connected to the main portion via a stretchable portion,
wherein the stretchable portion is more stretchable than the side
edge portions and the main portion so that the second side edge
portion move with respect to the main portion in a circumference
direction, a front direction and a rear direction of the foot when
the foot is bent, the stretchable portion is stretchable in the
circumference direction of the foot in the vicinity of the second
side edge portion at least in the circumference direction when the
foot is bent, and the stretchable portion is arranged in such a
state that the stretchable portion is stretchable in the front-back
direction on a front side and a rear side of the second side edge
portion; and the main portion which is less stretchable than the
stretchable portion covers a Lisfranc joint and a metatarsal bone
base of a fifth toe on a lateral side of the foot, and the main
portion covers a base and/or a head of a metatarsal bone of a first
toe on a medial side of the foot.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
[0026] With this embodiment, the stretchable portion stretches and
shrinks in the circumference direction of the foot in response to a
change in the foot circumference following foot flexion or long
hours of use. Therefore, the upper more easily fits to the
foot.
[0027] The second eyelet being movable also in the front-back
direction of the foot will further improve the fitness property of
the upper.
[0028] That is, the second eyelet moves both in the circumference
direction and the front-back direction of the foot.
[0029] In the present invention, in order to realize advantages
that the upper fits to the foot, it is necessary that the second
side edge portion be connected to the main portion essentially only
via the stretchable portion. For example, if the stretchable
portion is compared to the sea and the main portion to the land,
the second side edge portion is arranged in an island pattern off
the main portion which is the land. While a plurality of eyelets
may be formed in one second side edge portion which is less
stretchable, it is necessary that the second side edge portion be
arranged in an island pattern off the main portion also in such a
case.
[0030] In the present invention, the advantages will be
sufficiently realized if the stretchable portion is not plastically
deformed (but is elastically deformed) when the stretch of the
stretchable portion is in the range of at least 2.0 mm or less,
preferably in the range of 3.0 mm or less, after the second eyelet
is pulled in the circumference direction.
[0031] In the present invention, the advantages will be
sufficiently realized if the stretchable portion undergoes
essentially no plastic deformation when the second eyelet is
displaced (moved) in the front-back direction so that the amount of
movement is in the range of 0.5 mm or less, preferably in the range
of 1.0 mm or less.
[0032] This is because the second eyelet does not move in two
directions (the circumference direction and the front-back
direction) when the foot circumference changes unless a certain
degree of stretch or displacement is gained in the elastic
range.
[0033] The essentially non-stretching main portion covers the
Lisfranc joint and the metatarsal bone base of the fifth toe on the
lateral side of the foot, and the main portion covers the base
and/or the head of the metatarsal bone of the first toe on the
medial side of the foot. This stabilizes the foot support.
[0034] The meaning of the term "a shoelace means" as used in the
present invention is not limited to cases where there is only a
single shoelace, but includes cases where there are two or more
shoelaces.
[0035] The term "eyelet" as used in the present invention means the
hole itself which the shoelace passes through.
[0036] Therefore, an "eyelet" as used in the present invention
includes a through hole formed by an eyelet member of a loop
material, and also includes an eyelet that is formed by an eyelet
member of a U-shaped metal part or a resin.
[0037] In the present invention, the stretchable portion capable of
easily stretching and shrinking may be a sheet-like or band-like
member with rubber elasticity whose material has a small Young's
modulus, as well as a material that essentially is not stretchable
but includes a plurality of circular, rectangular or square through
holes arranged in a staggered pattern so as to reproduce
stretchability. The stretchable portion may be formed by laying two
stretchable fabric-like members on top of each other.
[0038] In the present invention, the main portion which is less
stretchable than the stretchable portion may be obtained by
restricting a stretchable mesh material with a non-stretchable tape
material so that it becomes essentially non-stretching.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a shoe
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the shoe of
the embodiment in a dorsally-flexed state achieved by wearing the
shoe and raising the heel.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the relationship
between the shoe of the embodiment and the foot bone structure as
viewed from the medial side of the foot.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the relationship
between the shoe of the embodiment and the foot bone structure as
viewed from the lateral side of the foot.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the inside of
the shoe of the embodiment as viewed from the medial side of the
foot.
[0044] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the inside of
the shoe of the embodiment as viewed from the lateral side of the
foot.
[0045] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the shoe of the
embodiment as viewed from the medial side of the foot.
[0046] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing the shoe of the
embodiment in a dorsally-flexed state achieved by wearing the shoe
and raising the heel.
[0047] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the upper obtained by
cutting the shoe of the embodiment in an area including the second
eyelet and the side panel.
[0048] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a shoe of a
second embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper obtained by
cutting the shoe of the embodiment in an area including the second
eyelet and the side panel.
[0050] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a shoe
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing the relationship
between the shoe of the embodiment and the foot bone structure as
viewed from the medial side of the foot.
[0052] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing the relationship
between the shoe of the embodiment and the foot bone structure as
viewed from the lateral side of the foot.
[0053] FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view of the upper obtained by
cutting the shoe of the embodiment in an area including the second
eyelet and the stretchable portion, and FIG. 15B is a
cross-sectional view of the upper obtained by cutting the shoe of
the embodiment in an area including the reinforcement material and
the stretchable portion.
[0054] FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing a shoe of a
fourth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the
medial-front side of the shoe.
[0055] FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing the shoe of
the embodiment as viewed from the lateral-front side.
[0056] FIG. 18 is a schematic side view showing the relationship
between the shoe of the embodiment and the foot bone structure as
viewed from the medial side of the foot.
[0057] FIG. 19 is a schematic side view showing the relationship
between the shoe of the embodiment and the foot bone structure as
viewed from the lateral side of the foot.
[0058] FIG. 20A is a cross-sectional view of the upper obtained by
cutting the shoe of the embodiment in an area of the stretchable
portion including the second eyelet, and FIG. 20B is a
cross-sectional view of the upper obtained by cutting the shoe of
the embodiment in an area of the stretchable portion including the
reinforcement portion.
[0059] FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C are graphs showing the relationship
between the amount of heel raise H and the amount of change AD in
the inter-eyelet distance for the shoes of Test Examples 1, 2 and
3, respectively.
[0060] FIGS. 22A and 22B are graphs showing the relationship
between the amount of heel raise H and the amount of change AD in
the inter-eyelet distance for the shoes of Test Example 4 and a
reference example, respectively.
[0061] FIGS. 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, 23E, 23F and 23G are plan views
showing an area corresponding to the second eyelet of Test Examples
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, respectively.
[0062] FIG. 24 is a graph showing the results of a sensual
test.
[0063] FIGS. 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D are graphs showing the
relationship between the amount of heel raise H and the amount of
change AD in the inter-eyelet distance for the shoes of Test
Examples 11, 12, 17 and 16, respectively.
[0064] FIGS. 26A and 26B are a medial side view and a lateral side
view, respectively, showing the positional relationship between the
eyelets and the foot bone structure for the shoe used in Test
Examples 11 to 17.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the
second eyelet is arranged only in the area from the metatarsal
phalangeal joint (so-called the "MP joint") of the first toe to the
Lisfranc joint of the fourth toe in the front-back direction of the
foot.
[0066] In this case, the area has a significant influence on the
fitness property of the upper. Thus, the fitness property of the
upper will increase if the second eyelet is arranged in such an
area.
[0067] In this case, the second eyelet is not arranged in an area
anterior to the MP joint of the first toe or an area posterior to
the Lisfranc joint of the fourth toe. Therefore, the foot support
by the upper will not become unstable.
[0068] In another preferred embodiment, the second eyelet is
provided on each of the medial side and the lateral side of the
foot.
[0069] Where a pair of second eyelets are provided, the positions
of the pair of second eyelets can change individually. Therefore,
the fitness property of the upper will be further enhanced.
[0070] In a more preferred embodiment, the second eyelet on the
medial side of the foot is arranged only at a position posterior to
the metatarsal phalangeal joint of the first toe and anterior to
the base of the metatarsal bone of the first toe; and the second
eyelet on the lateral side is arranged only at a position posterior
to a metatarsal phalangeal joint of the fourth toe and anterior to
a base of a metatarsal bone of the fourth toe.
[0071] In this embodiment, if the second eyelets are arranged at
such positions, the pair of second eyelets move in the
circumference direction of the foot in response to a change in the
foot circumference.
[0072] This movement will prevent an increase in the change of the
tensile force on the shoelace means engaged with the second eyelet.
Thus, the upper will have a high fitness property.
[0073] If second eyelets are not arranged at positions other than
those described above, the foot support will unlikely become
unstable.
[0074] In a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, one or
two, but not three or more, second eyelets are provided on the
medial side of the foot; and one or two, but not three or more,
second eyelets are provided on the lateral side of the foot.
[0075] If three or more second eyelets are provided on the medial
side or the lateral side of the foot, the foot support may become
unstable and the cost may increase. Therefore, it is preferred that
there are two or less second eyelets on each of the medial and
lateral sides of the foot.
[0076] The second eyelet loosens the fastening of the upper by the
shoelace.
[0077] Therefore, it will be preferred that the number of second
eyelets is smaller than the number of first eyelets.
[0078] Moreover, it is presumed that it is more preferred that the
number of second eyelets is only one on each of the medial side and
the lateral side of the foot.
[0079] In view of the above, it will be preferred that the first
eyelets are arranged so as to oppose each other in each of the
first half and the second half of the second opening in the
front-back direction.
[0080] The first eyelets stabilize the foot support. Therefore, a
plurality of second eyelets may be provided on the medial side or
the lateral side, and the first eyelet may be provided between the
plurality of second eyelets on the medial side or the lateral
side.
[0081] In another preferred embodiment of the present embodiment,
the stretchable portion surrounds the second side edge portion from
a front side, a rear side and a lower side of the second side edge
portion, the stretchable portion including: a first portion
arranged along a side edge of the second opening on the front side
and the rear side of the second side edge portion; and a second
portion arranged on the lower side of the second side edge portion,
the first portion being less stretchable than the second
portion.
[0082] In this embodiment, with the first portion which is less
stretchable than the second portion, it is possible to control the
maximum amount by which the second side edge portion moves in the
front-back direction or prevent inadvertent movement of the second
side edge portion in the front-back direction when tying the
shoelace. Thus, the second portion of the stretchable portion can
be given a small rigidity such that it stretches easily.
[0083] In a more preferred embodiment, the second opening is curved
in an area of the first portion, and the first portion is curved
along the second opening; and the curved first portion stretches in
the front-back direction as the curved first portion is deformed
into a straight shape, and shrinks in the front-back direction with
an increase in a curvature of the curved first portion.
[0084] Thus, the first portion which is less stretchable can be
produced easily and at low cost.
[0085] In another preferred embodiment of the present embodiment,
the stretchable portion covers a portion of the medial side surface
or the lateral side surface of the foot, and does not extend across
the main portion of the upper on the medial side surface and the
lateral side surface; and under the stretchable portion, a portion
of the main portion anterior to the stretchable portion and another
portion of the main portion posterior to the stretchable portion
are connected with each other via a member which is less
stretchable than the stretchable portion.
[0086] In this case, since the stretchable portion does not extend
across the side surface of the upper, it is possible to prevent the
foot support from becoming unstable due to the stretchable portion,
regardless of the area of the upper in which the stretchable
portion is provided.
[0087] In this case, another stretchable portion extending across
the main portion of the upper may be provided, as necessary, so as
to make the upper fit to the foot.
[0088] Moreover, the other stretchable portion may be provided on
the medial side of the foot, and another second side edge portion
which has another second eyelet may be provided in the other
stretchable portion.
[0089] A shoe of another embodiment of the present invention is a
shoe having a lace fitting structure, including: a sole for
absorbing an impact of landing, an upper for wrapping around an
instep, and a shoelace means for fitting the upper to the instep,
wherein the upper includes a first opening from which a leg extends
upward when the shoe is worn, and a second opening provided on a
front side of the first opening, the two openings being continuous
with each other in a front-back direction, the upper including: a
main portion covering a medial side surface, a lateral side
surface, a toe, the instep, and a back surface of a foot; a side
edge portion provided along a side edge of the second opening and
having a plurality of first eyelets which the shoelace means passes
through and engages with; a first side panel covering the medial
side surface of the foot and extending in an upward direction or a
diagonally upward direction along the medial side surface in a
space inside or outside the main portion; and a second side panel
covering the lateral side surface of the foot and extending in the
upward direction or the diagonally upward direction along the
lateral side surface in the space inside or outside the main
portion, wherein each of the side panels includes: a tip portion
having a second eyelet which is provided at a tip of each of the
side panels and which the shoelace means passes through and engages
with; a bottom portion attached to the main portion and/or the
sole; and a middle portion arranged between the tip portion and the
bottom portion so as to allow the tip portion to move in the
front-back direction of the foot with respect to the bottom
portion, wherein with at least one of the side panels, the middle
portion can stretch and shrink to increase a length from the tip
portion to the bottom portion.
[0090] In the present embodiment, the middle portion of the side
panel stretches and shrinks in response to a change in the foot
circumference. The middle portion of this side panel can be
provided in a long pattern along the medial and lateral side
surfaces of the foot, and therefore the amount by which the middle
portion stretches and shrinks is large even if the middle portion
is formed by a rigid member. Therefore, the upper has a high
fitness property.
[0091] As the tip portion of the side panel pivots about the bottom
portion as the center, the second eyelet can also move in the
front-back direction of the foot. Therefore, the fitness property
of the upper will be further enhanced.
[0092] That is, the second eyelet moves both in the circumference
direction and the front-back direction of the foot.
[0093] The stretchable portion which stretches easily is provided
in a side panel separate from the main portion. This stabilizes the
foot support by the main portion which does not easily stretch.
[0094] In this embodiment, the side panel is provided in a space
inside or outside the main portion.
[0095] In the present invention, the space inside the main portion
means a space defined by the main portion, referring to a space
inside of the exterior material of the main portion, and includes
the space between the interior material and the exterior material
in a case where the interior material exists. Therefore, where the
main portion includes the exterior material and the interior
material, each panel may be arranged between the interior material
and the exterior material. That is, the present invention
encompasses cases where each panel contacts the side surface or the
instep of the foot via the interior material therebetween. The
panel may be formed by the interior material.
[0096] In the present invention, if the side panel is provided in
the space outside the main portion, the side panel wraps around the
side surface of the foot via the main portion. Also in this case,
the fitness property improves as the stretchable portion of the
side panel stretches and shrinks.
[0097] However, it is preferred that the side panel is provided so
that the side panel is in contact with the side surface of the
foot. In this case, the side panel stretches immediately in
response to a change in the foot circumference.
[0098] In this embodiment, it is preferred that the second eyelets
are arranged only in an area from the MP joint of the first toe to
the Lisfranc joint of the fourth toe in the front-back direction of
the foot.
[0099] According to the present embodiment, the area has a
significant influence on the fitness property of the upper. Thus,
the fitness property of the upper will increase if the second
eyelet is arranged in such an area.
[0100] In another preferred embodiment, the middle portion can
stretch and shrink to increase the length from the tip portion to
the bottom portion on both side panels.
[0101] According to the present embodiment, where a pair of
stretchable middle portions is provided, the length of the pair of
middle portions can significantly change in response to a change in
the foot circumference. Therefore, the fitness property of the
upper will be further enhanced.
[0102] In a more preferred embodiment, the second eyelet on the
medial side of the foot is arranged only at a position posterior to
the metatarsal phalangeal joint of the first toe and anterior to a
base of a metatarsal bone of the first toe; and the second eyelet
on the lateral side is arranged only at a position posterior to a
metatarsal phalangeal joint of the fourth toe and anterior to a
base of a metatarsal bone of the fourth toe.
[0103] According to the present embodiment, if the second eyelets
are arranged at such positions, the pair of middle portions stretch
and shrink in the circumference direction of the foot in response
to a change in the foot circumference. This stretching/shrinking
will prevent the change in the tension of the shoelace means
engaged with the second eyelet from increasing. Therefore, the
upper will have a high fitness property.
[0104] If second eyelets are not arranged at positions other than
those described above, the foot support will unlikely become
unstable.
[0105] In a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, one or
two, but not three or more, second eyelets are provided on the
medial side of the foot; and one or two, but not three or more,
second eyelets are provided on the lateral side of the foot.
[0106] If three or more second eyelets are provided on the medial
side or the lateral side of the foot, the foot support may become
unstable and the cost may increase. Therefore, it is preferred that
there are two or less second eyelets on each of the medial and
lateral sides of the foot.
[0107] The second eyelet loosens the fastening of the upper by the
shoelace.
[0108] Therefore, it will be preferred that the number of second
eyelets is smaller than the number of first eyelets.
[0109] Moreover, it is presumed that it is more preferred that the
number of second eyelets is only one on each of the medial side and
the lateral side of the foot.
[0110] In view of the above, it will be preferred that the first
eyelets are arranged so as to oppose each other in each of the
first half and the second half of the second opening.
[0111] A plurality of second eyelets may be provided on the medial
side or the lateral side, and the first eyelet may be provided
between the plurality of second eyelets on the medial side or the
lateral side.
EMBODIMENTS
[0112] The present invention will be understood more clearly from
the following description of preferred embodiments taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note however that the
embodiments and the drawings are merely illustrative, and the scope
of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals denote like
components throughout the plurality of figures.
First Embodiment
[0113] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0114] A shoe for the left foot will be illustrated in the
following description. In the following figures, the arrow OUT
represents the lateral side direction of the shoe, and the arrow IN
represents the medial side direction of the shoe.
[0115] General Structure of Shoe:
[0116] A shoe having a lace fitting structure shown in FIG. 1
includes a sole 1, an upper 2, and a shoelace 3.
[0117] The sole 1 is for absorbing an impact of landing. The upper
2 is for wrapping around the instep, and includes a tongue 4 (a
portion of the main portion). The shoelace 3 is for fitting an
upper 2 to the instep.
[0118] Although the end portions of the shoelace 3 are not shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the end portions are firmly tied together after the
foot is inserted into the upper 2. With the end portions of the
shoelace 3 tied together, the upper 2 tightly fits to the foot.
[0119] Note that the end portions of the shoelace 3 may be firmly
engaged with a fixture provided on the upper 2.
[0120] The upper 2 has a first opening P1 and a second opening P2.
The first opening P1 is an opening from which a leg Le extends in
the upward direction Z1 when the shoe is worn.
[0121] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second opening P2 is an
opening provided on the front side Y1 of the first opening P1,
i.e., toward the toe T of the foot. In an upper portion of the
upper 2, the second opening P2 is provided to be elongated in the
front-back direction Y. The two openings P1 and P2 are continuous
with each other. The tongue 4 closes the second opening P2 from the
downward direction Z2, and wraps around the instep Is from
above.
[0122] Upper 2:
[0123] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper 2 includes a main upper (main
portion) 2M, a side edge portion 20, and first and second side
panels 51 and 52.
[0124] Main Upper 2M:
[0125] The main upper 2M includes the medial side surface S1 of the
foot of FIG. 3, the lateral side surface S2 of FIG. 4, the toe T,
the instep Is, and the back surface B. The first opening P1 and the
second opening P2 are formed in the main upper 2M, and the main
upper 2M includes the tongue 4 which is continuous at the front
edge of the second opening P2.
[0126] The side edge portion 20 is provided so as to surround the
second opening P2 along the side edge of the second opening P2. The
side edge portion 20 includes a plurality of first eyelets H1 which
the shoelace 3 passes through and engages with. The side edge
portion 20 is formed by an essentially non-stretching material such
as an artificial leather or a tape material, for example. The first
eyelets H1 are small holes formed in the side edge portion 20.
[0127] On the medial and lateral side surfaces 21 and 22 of the
main upper 2M, a large number of tape materials 2t are sewn, for
reinforcement, to the surface of the mesh member which forms a part
of the main upper 2M, as clearly shown in the medial side views of
FIGS. 7 and 8, for example. These tape materials 2t are formed by
an essentially non-stretching material, and therefore the medial
side surface 21 of the main upper 2M and the lateral side surface
22 of FIG. 1 are essentially non-stretching in the front direction
Y1 and the rear direction Y2 of the foot and in the circumference
direction R.
[0128] The tape materials 2t are a well-known structure, and are
therefore not shown or simplified in FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0129] In FIG. 9, the side panels 51 and 52 include second eyelets
112. The side panels 51 and 52 each include a tip portion 53, a
bottom portion 54 fixed to the sole 1 and the main upper 2M, and a
middle portion 55 between the tip portion 53 and the bottom portion
54, which are continuous with one another as an integral
member.
[0130] The tip portion 53 is connected to the main upper 2M and the
sole 1 only via the middle portion 55 and the bottom portion 54.
The bottom portion 54 may be sewn to the main upper 2M without
being fixed to the sole 1.
[0131] In the tip portion 53, an eyelet member 53a is sewn to the
tape material which forms a part of the side panels 51 and 52. In
FIGS. 1 to 8, areas of the side panels 51 and 52 in which the
eyelet member 53a is not provided are dotted.
[0132] The second eyelet H2 is a small hole formed in the tip
portion 53 and the eyelet member 53a, which the shoelace 3 of FIG.
1 passes through and engages with.
[0133] While the first eyelets H1 and the second eyelets H2 are
numbered in subscript from front to back in order to distinguish
the eyelet positions in the front-back direction Y from one another
in FIG. 1, the numbers in subscript are omitted in the description
of the embodiments and in FIG. 2 and subsequent figures.
[0134] The first side panel 51 of FIG. 3 is formed in a band-like
shape, and wraps around the medial side surface S1 of the foot in
an upward or diagonally upward direction (a direction which slopes
up in a front direction) along the medial side surface S1 in the
space inside the main upper 2M, covering a portion of the medial
side surface S1.
[0135] The second side panel 52 of FIG. 4 is formed in a band-like
shape, and wraps around the lateral side surface S2 of the foot in
an upward or diagonally upward direction along the lateral side
surface S2 in the space inside the main upper 2M, covering a
portion of the lateral side surface S2.
[0136] The middle portion 55 is arranged between the tip portion 53
and the bottom portion 54, and is not attached to the main upper
2M, as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Therefore, the middle
portion 55 allows the tip portion 53 to move in the front-back
direction Y of the foot with respect to the bottom portion 54. On
the other hand, the middle portion 55 of the side panels 51 and 52
forms the stretchable portion, and can stretch and shrink to
increase the length from the tip portion 53 to the bottom portion
54.
[0137] The tape material of the side panels 51 and 52 and the
eyelet member 53a are formed by an essentially non-stretching
material.
[0138] However, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of
circular through holes 55h are formed in a staggered pattern in the
middle portion 55 of the side panels 51 and 52 of FIG. 5. When a
substantial tensile force is applied in the direction in which the
side panels 51 and 52 extend, the shapes of the through holes 55h
deform into elliptic shapes, and the middle portion 55 extends in
the circumference direction of the foot.
[0139] The second eyelet 112 on the medial side of FIG. 3 is
arranged in an area from the MP joint MP.sub.1 of the first toe f1
to the Lisfranc joint LJ of the first toe f1. Preferably, the
second eyelet 112 on the medial side of the foot of FIG. 3 is
arranged at a position posterior Y2 to the head B4.sub.1h of the
metatarsal bone B4.sub.1 of the first toe f1 and anterior Y1 to the
base B4.sub.1b of the metatarsal bone B4.sub.1 of the first toe
f1.
[0140] On the other hand, the second eyelet H2 on the lateral side
of FIG. 4 is preferably arranged at a position posterior Y2 to the
head B4.sub.4h of the metatarsal bone B4.sub.4 of the fourth toe f4
and anterior Y1 to the base B4.sub.4b of the metatarsal bone
B4.sub.4 of the fourth toe f4.
[0141] Preferably at least a pair of medial and lateral first
eyelets H1, and more preferably a plurality of pairs of first
eyelets H1, is provided on the front side Y1 of the second eyelet
112, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0142] Preferably at least a pair of medial and lateral first
eyelets H1, and more preferably a plurality of pairs of first
eyelets H1, is provided on the rear side Y2 of the second eyelet
H2.
[0143] The upper is fastened by the shoelace inserted through the
first eyelets H1, thereby stabilizing the support.
[0144] The first side panel 51 of FIG. 3 extends from the bottom
portion 54 toward the tip portion 53 in a diagonally forward and
upward direction. The middle portion 55 of the first side panel 51
is arranged along an area that is posterior Y2 to the head
B4.sub.1h of the metatarsal bone B4.sub.1 of the first toe f1 and
anterior Y1 to the base B4.sub.1b of the metatarsal bone B4.sub.1
of the first toe f1 (the shaft of the metatarsal bone B4.sub.1 of
the first toe f1).
[0145] On the other hand, the second side panel 52 of FIG. 4
extends from the bottom portion 54 toward the tip portion 53 in a
diagonally forward and upward direction. The middle portion 55 of
the second side panel 52 is arranged along an area that is
posterior Y2 to the head B4.sub.4h of the metatarsal bone B4.sub.4
of the fourth toe f4 and anterior Y1 to the base B4.sub.4b of the
metatarsal bone B4.sub.4 of the fourth toe f4 (the shaft of the
metatarsal bone B4.sub.4 of the fourth toe f4).
Second Embodiment
[0146] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a second embodiment.
[0147] In the second embodiment, the main upper 2M includes a
bag-like housing 29 for accommodating the middle portion 55 of the
side panels 51 and 52. The tip portion 53 of the side panels 51 and
52 protrudes from the housing 29.
[0148] The medial and lateral side surfaces 21 and 22 of the main
upper 2M of FIG. 11 are each formed by sewing together a front
surface material 23 and a back surface material 24 as shown in FIG.
10. The housing 29 is formed between the two members 23 and 24 sewn
together.
[0149] The side panels 51 and 52 are each formed in a band-like
shape that conforms to the shape of the housing 29.
[0150] The side panels 51 and 52 may have a stretchable portion
including the through holes 55h formed in the middle portion 55, as
in the first embodiment, or may be formed by a resin tape having
rubber elasticity instead of forming the through holes 55h.
[0151] The term "rubber elasticity" means a property of being able
to repeatedly stretch and shrink (elastically deform) without
substantial plastic deformation, such as vulcanized rubber.
[0152] The configuration of the second embodiment is otherwise
similar to that of the first embodiment, and like elements to those
of the first embodiment are denoted by like reference numerals and
will not be further described below.
Third Embodiment
[0153] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to
FIGS. 12 to 15B.
[0154] In the third embodiment, the first eyelets H1 are provided
in a first side edge portion 20A of the main upper 2M, whereas the
second eyelet H2 is provided in a second side edge portion 20B
which is continuous with the main upper 2M. An eyelet member 53b
forming a portion of the second side edge portion 20B is surrounded
by a stretchable portion 5.
[0155] In FIGS. 12 to 14, the area of the stretchable portion 5 is
dotted. The pair of medial and lateral stretchable portions 5 and 5
opposes each other with the second opening P2 interposed
therebetween.
[0156] A notch 25 is formed in the essentially non-stretching main
upper 2M, and the stretchable portion 5 is formed in the area of
the notch 25. The eyelet member 53b shown in FIG. 15A is sewn onto
the members 57 and 58 forming the stretchable portion 5, and the
second side edge portion 20B is an area where the members 57 and 58
and the eyelet member 53b overlap with each other, and is
continuous with the main upper 2M only via the stretchable portion
5.
[0157] That is, the stretchable portion 5 of FIG. 12 surrounds the
second side edge portion 20B, and if the stretchable portion 5 is
compared to the sea and the main upper 2M to the land, the second
side edge portion 20B is arranged as if it were an island off the
main upper 2M which were the land. That is, the second side edge
portion 20B is connected to the main upper 2M only via the
stretchable portion 5.
[0158] The main upper 2M which is less stretchable than the
stretchable portion 5 covers the Lisfranc joint LJ and the
metatarsal bone base B4.sub.5b of the fifth toe f5 on the lateral
side of the foot of FIG. 14, and the main upper 2M of FIG. 13
covers the base B4.sub.1b and the head B4.sub.1h of the metatarsal
bone of the first toe f1 on the medial side of the foot.
[0159] As clearly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the present
embodiment, the stretchable portion 5 does not extend to the sole
1, with the main upper 2M being continuous to the front-back
direction Y below the stretchable portion 5. Therefore, even with
the stretchable portion 5 being easy-stretchable member, or even if
the two stretchable portions 5 and 5 are arranged at positions
opposing each other, the foot support is stable.
[0160] On the medial side of the foot, the main upper 2M may
include a non-stretching member covering only one of the base
B4.sub.1b and the head B4.sub.1h of the metatarsal bone of the
first toe, with the other covered by a stretchable member.
[0161] As shown in FIG. 15A, the stretchable portion 5 may include
a stretchable, meshed raw fabric 58 and a resin sheet 57 with
rubber elasticity sewn together at the non-stretching tape material
2t.
[0162] The stretchable portion 5 of FIG. 14 includes a first
portion 50 which reinforces the stretchable portion 5 on the front
side and the rear side of the second side edge portion 20B, and a
second portion 59 which is the stretchable portion 5 other than the
first portion 50. The first portion 50 is curved along the side
edge of the stretchable portion 5, and is depressed as if it were
notched. As shown in FIG. 15B, the first portion 50 is obtained by
bonding and sewing a reinforcement material 50a onto the resin
sheet 57. Although the reinforcement material 50a of the curved
first portion 50 is formed by a material that is less stretchable
than the second portion 59, it is capable of stretching in the
front-back direction Y into a linear shape or shrinking by
increasing its curvature, and forms a portion of the first portion
50. The first portion 50 suppresses the movement of the second side
edge portion 20B in the front-back direction Y, thereby preventing
the second eyelet H2 from moving with a small force in the
front-back direction Y, or controls the maximum amount by which the
second side edge portion 20B moves in the front-back direction.
Therefore, the second eyelet 112 more easily moves in the
circumference direction R than in the front-back direction Y.
[0163] The second portion 59 is stretchable both in the front-back
direction Y and the circumference direction R.
[0164] In FIG. 12, the first portion 50 and the second portion 59
of the stretchable portion 5 are more stretchable than the side
edge portions 20A and 20B and the main upper 2M and are arranged so
that the vicinity of the second side edge portion 20B in the
circumference direction, i.e., the second portion 59, is
stretchable in the circumference direction R of the foot and the
front-back direction Y when the foot is flexed and the first
portion 50 is stretchable in the front-back direction Y on the
front side Y1 and the rear side Y2 of the second side edge portion
20B, so that the second side edge portion 20B can move in the
circumference direction R of the foot (not shown) and in the front
direction Y1 and the rear direction Y2 with respect to the main
upper 2M when the foot is flexed.
[0165] It is not necessary to provide the reinforcement material
50a forming the first portion 50.
[0166] The configuration of the third embodiment is otherwise
similar to that of the first embodiment, and like elements to those
of the first embodiment are denoted by like reference numerals and
will not be further described below.
Fourth Embodiment
[0167] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference
to FIGS. 16 to 20.
[0168] In the fourth embodiment, the first eyelets H1 are provided
in the first side edge portion 20A of the main upper 2M, and the
second eyelet H2 is provided in the stretchable portion 5B on the
lateral side, of the stretchable portions 5A and 5B on the medial
side and lateral side.
[0169] The areas of the stretchable portions 5A and 5B are
dotted.
[0170] On the medial side of the foot of FIG. 18, the main upper 2M
excluding the stretchable portion 5A, i.e., the main upper 2M that
is less stretchable than the stretchable portions 5A and 5B, covers
the base B4113 and the head B41h of the metatarsal bone of the
first toe f1. On the other hand, the main upper 2M covers the
Lisfranc joint LJ of the fifth toe f5 and the metatarsal bone base
B4.sub.5b on the lateral side of the foot of FIG. 19.
[0171] As shown in FIG. 16, the stretchable portion 5A and the
stretchable portion 5B are arranged at positions diagonally across
from each other with the second opening P2 therebetween. The
stretchable portions 5A and 5B of FIGS. 17 and 18 extend across the
medial and lateral side surfaces of the upper 2.
[0172] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the first portion 50 is
provided at the upper end of the stretchable portions 5A and 5B.
The first portion 50 of the stretchable portion 5B allows and
controls the movement of the second side edge portion 20B in the
front-back direction Y and will unlikely prevent the movement of
the second side edge portion 20B in the circumference direction R
(not shown).
[0173] Thus, the second eyelet H2 moves more easily in the
circumference direction R than in the front-back direction Y.
[0174] The configuration of the fourth embodiment is otherwise
similar to that of the first embodiment, and like elements to those
of the first embodiment are denoted by like reference numerals and
will not be further described below.
[0175] Next, test results on test examples and a reference example
will be shown in order to make clear the advantages of the present
invention.
[0176] First, shoes of Test Examples 1 to 4 and the reference
example were provided.
Test Example 1
[0177] Shoes of Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 were produced as
Test Example 1.
Test Example 2
[0178] Shoes of Embodiment 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 were produced
as Test Example 2. In Test Example 2, a material having a
relatively low rigidity was employed for the side panel.
Test Example 3
[0179] Shoes of Embodiment 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 were produced
as Test Example 3. In Test Example 3, a material having a
relatively high rigidity and rubber elasticity was employed for the
side panel, and through holes were formed in a staggered pattern in
the side panel.
Test Example 4
[0180] Shoes of Embodiment 4 shown in FIGS. 16 to 20 were produced
as Test Example 4.
Reference Example
[0181] In Embodiment 3 shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the reverse surface
of the stretchable material in the area corresponding to the
stretchable portion was backed with an essentially non-stretching
woven fabric, and it was used as the reference example. In this
reference example, the area corresponding to the stretchable
portion is essentially non-stretching.
[0182] Markers were attached to the vicinity of the eyelets of the
shoes of the test examples and the reference example, and the shoes
were put on the foot as shown in FIG. 7 to measure the following
distances D.sub.1 to D.sub.6.
[0183] D.sub.1 is the distance between markers attached to the
vicinity of the first eyelets H1.sub.1 on the medial side and the
lateral side.
[0184] D.sub.2 is the distance between markers attached to the
vicinity of the first eyelets H1.sub.2 on the medial side and the
lateral side.
[0185] D.sub.3 is the distance between markers attached to the
vicinity of the second eyelets H2.sub.3 on the medial side and the
lateral side.
[0186] D.sub.4 is the distance between markers attached to the
vicinity of the first eyelets H1.sub.4 on the medial side and the
lateral side.
[0187] D.sub.5 is the distance between markers attached to the
vicinity of the first eyelets H1.sub.5 on the medial side and the
lateral side.
[0188] D.sub.6 is the distance between markers attached to the
vicinity of the first eyelets H1.sub.6 on the medial side and the
lateral side.
[0189] Then, the distance between markers was measured while
raising the heel by dorsally flexing the MP joint as shown in FIG.
8 from the state of FIG. 7 so as to obtain the distance D.sub.1
between markers for every 20 mm raise of the heel. This measurement
was performed for the test examples and the reference example.
[0190] For the samples, the amounts of change .DELTA.D.sub.1 to
.DELTA.D.sub.6 of D.sub.1 to D.sub.6 were calculated, and the
results are shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C and 22A and 22B for each
sample.
[0191] The results will be discussed below.
[0192] In the reference example of FIG. 22B, the amount of change
.DELTA.D.sub.3 in the distance between the second eyelets H2.sub.3
was over 2%. On the other hand, the .DELTA.D.sub.3 was about
.+-.0.5% or less in the test examples of FIGS. 21A to 21C and
22A.
[0193] It is believed that this is because the stretchable portion
stretched in accordance with the change in foot circumference which
occurred when the heel of FIG. 8 was raised.
[0194] The sum .SIGMA..DELTA.D of the amounts of change
.DELTA.D.sub.1 to .DELTA.D.sub.6 (the total amount of absolute
values of the amounts of change .DELTA.D.sub.i) of the reference
example is larger than those .SIGMA..DELTA.D of the test examples.
It is considered that this is because when the heel of the foot is
raised, the extensor hallucis longus muscle present in the area
corresponding to the distances D.sub.3 to D.sub.6, the navicular
bone, and the medial, middle, and lateral cuneiform bones project
forward from the instep, thereby extending the distances D.sub.3 to
D.sub.6, and shortening the distance D.sub.2 in the vicinity of the
MP joint due to the extension of the distances D.sub.3 to
D.sub.6.
[0195] On the other hand, in the reference example, the amount of
change when the heel is raised by 80 mm to 100 mm is largest for
the distance D.sub.3, among the amounts of change .DELTA.D.sub.1 to
.DELTA.D.sub.6. While the inter-eyelet distances D.sub.1 and
D.sub.2 on the front side of the second eyelet H2.sub.3 tend to
change in the negative direction, the inter-eyelet distances
D.sub.4 to D.sub.6 on the rear side of the second eyelet H2.sub.3
strongly tend to change in the positive direction. Thus, it is
presumed that the second eyelet H2 is most preferably provided in
the area of the second eyelet H2.sub.3 of FIG. 1, i.e., the area of
the shafts of the first to fifth metatarsal bones.
[0196] It can be seen that the sum .SIGMA..DELTA.D of the amounts
of change for Test Examples 1 to 3 shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C where
a stretchable portion is used in the pair of side panels is smaller
than that .SIGMA..DELTA.D of Test Example 4 of FIG. 22A where a
stretchable portion is used in the main upper of the upper. It can
be seen that this phenomenon is particularly pronounced for amounts
of heel raise H between 20 mm and 80 mm.
[0197] The reason for this will be discussed.
[0198] When the heel is raised as shown in FIG. 8 from the state of
FIG. 7, the central portion of the tongue 4 is pushed by the
instep, thereby urging the interval between the second eyelets
H2.sub.3 of FIG. 1 and the interval between the first eyelets
H1.sub.5 above to expand. Then, not only does the middle portion 55
of the side panel 51 (52) extend along the circumference direction
of the foot, but the tip portion 53 of the side panel 51 also moves
in the front-back direction Y. For example, the distances Dy1 and
Dy2 between the second eyelet 1-12 and the adjacent first eyelets
Hi of FIG. 7 both change after the flexion, as can be seen from the
comparison between FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. That is, Dy2 is shortened and
Dy1 is increased upon flexion.
[0199] Thus, as the tip portion 53 of the side panel moves in the
front-back direction Y, the distance from the second eyelet H2 of
FIG. 1 to the next first eyelet H1.sub.2 and the next first eyelet
H1.sub.4 changes. It is presumed that the change in the distance
D.sub.i between the first eyelets H1.sub.i is also decreased due to
the change in the distance in the front-back direction Y.
[0200] It is presumed that another reason why the sum
.SIGMA..DELTA.D of the amounts of change in Test Example 1, 2 or 3
is smaller than the sum .SIGMA..DELTA.D of amounts of change of
Test Example 4 is that the second eyelets are provided at two
locations in Test Examples 1 to 3 whereas the second eyelet is
provided at only one location in Test Example 4.
[0201] The sum .SIGMA..DELTA.D of amounts of change of Test Example
1 where the side panels are provided so as to be in contact with
the medial and lateral side surfaces of the foot is smaller than
the sum .SIGMA..DELTA.D of amounts of change of Test Examples 2 and
3 where the side panels are provided in the bags of the upper. It
is presumed that the reason is that the side panel of Test Example
1 more easily moves in the front-back direction than the side panel
in the bag of Test Example 2, and the side panel can immediately
deform in response to a change in the shape of the foot.
[0202] Next, tests conducted for the preferred number and positions
of the second eyelets will be shown.
[0203] First, Test Examples 11 to 17 to be shown below were
provided, which all use the athletic shoes shown in FIGS. 26A and
26B but are different from one another only in the shoelace. In the
shoe of FIG. 26A, the positions of the eyelets H3.sub.1 and
H3.sub.2 correspond to the positions of the first eyelets H1.sub.1
and H1.sub.2 of the shoe of FIG. 3, and the positions of the
eyelets H3.sub.5 and H3.sub.6 of FIG. 26A correspond to the
positions of the first eyelets H1.sub.4 and H1.sub.5 of FIG. 3. The
second eyelet H2.sub.3 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the position
between the eyelets H3.sub.3 and H3.sub.4 of FIG. 26A. The number
of eyelets was set to six so as to match with the aforementioned
tests.
[0204] FIGS. 23A to 23G are conceptual plan views showing shoelaces
used in Test Examples 11 to 17. In these plan views, the eyelets
H3.sub.1 to H3.sub.6 are all first eyelets, and each pair of the
eyelets H3.sub.1 to H3.sub.6 were fastened using an ordinary
non-stretchable shoelace 31 or a stretchable rubber-thread-like
stretchable shoelace 32. In the figure, a thick line denotes an
ordinary non-stretchable shoelace 31, and a thin line denotes a
rubber-thread-like stretchable shoelace 32.
[0205] For example, in Test Example 11, only the first eyelets
H3.sub.3 to H3.sub.3 were fastened with the stretchable shoelace
32, while the first eyelets H3.sub.1 to H3.sub.2 were fastened with
a non-stretchable shoelace and the first eyelets H3.sub.4 to
H3.sub.6 with another non-stretchable shoelace. The stretch of the
stretchable shoelace 32 was set to about 15% or less.
[0206] The stretchable shoelace 32 allows the gap between first
eyelets to expand, and it is therefore assumed that the area of
first eyelets connected together with the stretchable shoelace 32
will have a similar behavior to that where second eyelets are
provided. Based on such an assumption, the following tests were
conducted.
[0207] A sensual test was conducted, in which four test subjects
wore each of the shoes of Test Examples 11 to 17 to examine whether
the foot is stably held by the shoe when raising the heel of the
foot.
[0208] As the results of this sensual test, evaluation scores were
calculated for each of Test Examples 11 to 16 by the well-known
pairwise comparison (AHP) method. The calculation results are shown
in the bar graph of FIG. 24.
[0209] As can be seen from the graph of FIG. 24, the foot can be
stably held in Test Examples 11, 12 and 14 exhibiting high
evaluation scores, where the stretchable shoelace 32 is provided
only on the eyelets H3.sub.3 and/or H3.sub.4. The evaluation score
is higher when the stretchable shoelace 32 is provided on one of
the eyelets 3.sub.3 and 3.sub.4, as compared with a case where it
is provided on both of the eyelets 3.sub.3 and 3.sub.4. Thus, it
will be possible to more stably support the foot when one, rather
than two, of the second eyelets H.sub.2 is provided on each
side.
[0210] On the other hand, Test Examples 13, 15 and 16 where the
stretchable shoelace 32 is provided on the eyelets H3.sub.5 exhibit
lower scores, indicating that the foot cannot be held stably.
[0211] It can be seen that the holding of the foot is unstable
particularly when the stretchable shoelace 32 is provided across
the three eyelets H3.sub.3 to H3.sub.5.
[0212] Next, the distances D.sub.1 to D.sub.6 were measured as in
Test Examples 1 to 4 described above, while markers were attached
to the vicinity of the eyelets of the shoes of Test Examples 11,
12, 17 and 16 and the shoes were worn on feet. The results are
shown in FIGS. 25A to 25D.
[0213] The results will be discussed below.
[0214] As can be seen from the graphs of FIGS. 25A to 25D, Test
Examples 11 and 12 where the stretchable shoelace 32 was provided
on the eyelets H3.sub.3 or H3.sub.4 showed smaller changes in the
inter-eyelet distances D.sub.4 to D.sub.6 as compared with those of
Test Examples 17 and 16 where the stretchable shoelace 32 was
provided on the eyelets H3.sub.5.
[0215] Particularly, Test Example 11 where only the eyelets
H3.sub.3 were fastened with the stretchable shoelace 32 showed
small changes in the inter-eyelet distances D.sub.1 to D.sub.6.
[0216] Now, observing the positions, relative to the foot bone
structure, of the eyelets H3.sub.1 to H3.sub.6 of the upper 2 shown
in FIGS. 26A and 26B used in Test Examples 11 to 17 shows that the
eyelets H3.sub.3 and H3.sub.4 are arranged at positions posterior
Y2 to the metatarsal phalangeal joint MP1 of the first toe and
anterior Y1 to the base B4.sub.1B of the metatarsal bone of the
first toe on the medial side of the foot while being arranged at
positions posterior Y2 to the metatarsal phalangeal joint MP4 of
the fourth toe and anterior Y1 to the base B4.sub.4b of the
metatarsal bone of the fourth toe on the lateral side.
[0217] Therefore, it is presumed that the stable holding of the
foot and the fitness property in response to changes in the foot
circumference are maximized when the second eyelets H2 are provided
only in these areas.
[0218] On the other hand, with Test Example 16 where three eyelets
H3.sub.3 to H3.sub.5 are connected together by the stretchable
shoelace 32 as shown in FIG. 23F, the expansion of the inter-eyelet
distances D.sub.4 to D.sub.6 is significantly excessive and it is
not possible to stably hold the foot, as can be seen from FIGS. 24
and 25D. Therefore, in the sixth patent document (Nakano), it is
presumed that the function of stably holding the foot significantly
lowers when the side panel is formed by a rubber or a stretchable
fabric.
[0219] While preferred embodiments have been described above with
reference to the drawings, various obvious changes and
modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon
reading the present specification.
[0220] For example, the side panel may be provided along the outer
surface of the main upper. The stretchable portion of the side
panel may be provided only on one of the medial side surface and
the lateral side surface of the foot.
[0221] A pair of side panels may be provided, with the stretchable
portion provided only in one of the pair of side panels, and the
positions of the side panels may be arranged while being staggered
from each other in the front-back direction (diagonally opposing
each other).
[0222] A pair of side panels with no stretchable portion may be
provided, with stretchable portions provided in portions of the
upper other than the side panels. In such a case, not only do
second eyelets provided with stretchable portions move, but also
first eyelets provided in the side panels move in the front-back
direction.
[0223] The first portion may be formed by a material having rubber
elasticity, and in such a case it may be provided in a linear
pattern in the front-back direction. It is not always necessary to
provide the first portion.
[0224] Thus, such changes and modifications are deemed to fall
within the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the
appended claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0225] The present invention is applicable to a shoe having a
shoelace for fitting an upper of the shoe to the foot.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0226] 1: Sole [0227] 2: Upper [0228] 2M: Main upper [0229] 2t:
Tape material [0230] 20: Side edge portion [0231] 20A: First side
edge portion [0232] 20B: Second side edge portion [0233] 21: Medial
side surface [0234] 22: Lateral side surface [0235] 23: Front
surface material [0236] 24: Back surface material [0237] 25: Notch
[0238] 29: Housing [0239] 3: Shoelace [0240] 4: Tongue [0241] 5:
Stretchable portion [0242] 5A: Stretchable portion [0243] 5B:
Stretchable portion [0244] 50: First portion [0245] 50a:
Reinforcement material [0246] 59: Second portion [0247] 51: First
side panel [0248] 52: Second side panel [0249] 53: Tip portion (of
side panel) [0250] 53a: Eyelet member [0251] 53b: Eyelet member
[0252] 54: Bottom portion (of side panel) [0253] 55: Middle portion
(of side panel) [0254] 55h: Through hole [0255] B: Back surface
[0256] B4.sub.1: Metatarsal bone of first toe [0257] B4.sub.1h:
Head (of metatarsal bone of first toe) [0258] B4.sub.1b: Base (of
metatarsal bone of first toe) [0259] B4.sub.5: Metatarsal bone of
fifth toe [0260] B4.sub.5h: Head (of metatarsal bone of fifth toe)
[0261] B4.sub.5b: Base (of metatarsal bone of fifth toe) [0262] f1:
First toe [0263] f4: Fourth toe [0264] f5: Fifth toe [0265] H1:
First eyelet [0266] H2: Second eyelet [0267] IN: Medial side
direction [0268] Is: Instep [0269] OUT: Lateral side direction
[0270] P1: First opening (of upper) [0271] P2: Second opening (of
upper) [0272] Le: Leg [0273] LJ: Lisfranc joint [0274] MP: MP joint
[0275] R: Circumference direction [0276] S1: Medial side surface
(of foot) [0277] S2: Lateral side surface (of foot) [0278] T: Toe
[0279] Y: Front-back direction [0280] Y1: Front side [0281] Y2:
Rear side [0282] Z1: Upper side [0283] Z2: Lower side
* * * * *