JP2010046460A - Footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide footwear that gives proper tension to muscles constituting an Achiles tendon or the like, and related muscles (such as the calf muscles) as well as strengthening them without excessively tensing the Achiles tendon or the like, and in a natural posture roughly along the axis of the body trunk. <P>SOLUTION: The footwear includes a sole that inclines downward from the front end to the rear end and that has an upper surface nearly corresponding to the middle and rear foot section, wherein the front foot section is in non-contact with the upper surface of the sole and the weight of a user is supported by the middle and rear foot sections that are in contact with the upper surface and placed on the sole. The footwear includes a sole that inclines downward from the front end to the rear end, that has an upper surface nearly corresponding to the middle and rear foot section and that has an open space in front of the front part corresponding to the front foot section, wherein the front foot section is in non-contact with the upper surface of the sole and the weight of a user is supported by the middle and rear foot sections that are in contact with the upper surface and placed on the sole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to footwear such as shoes and sandals.

Various structures have been proposed for so-called healthy footwear (shoes, sandals, etc.) such as applying tension to the muscles of the foot. With regard to the bottom of the footwear, for example, a structure is disclosed in which a portion corresponding to the heel portion at the bottom is removed to enable toe standing (see the following document). However, in this structure, since the weight is supported only by the toe portion, the Achilles tendon is always strained more than necessary (in this case, excessive shortening of the Achilles tendon). In this case, the muscles (such as calf muscles) related to the Achilles tendon work excessively to compensate for this, causing a problem of causing strong tension on the back surface (rear surface) of the body.

Further, a bottom structure in which the toe portion is raised and the heel portion is lowered is known. In this structure, the bottom part is inclined downward from the front end part to the rear end part, and the weight placed on the lower part of the foot part placed on the bottom part bears a large weight. This is effective for raising the trunk, but the entire foot (back) is in contact with the bottom, making it difficult to adjust and move the toes, making the Achilles tendon more than necessary (in this case, excessive stretching of the Achilles tendon) Produce. In this case, too, the muscles (calf muscle, etc.) related to the Achilles tendon work excessively to make up for this, causing a strong tension on the back (rear) of the body. That is, in any structure, there is an inconvenience that an excessive tension is generated in the Achilles tendon and this causes a strong tension on the back surface (rear surface) of the body.
JP 2001-29106 A

Utility model document 1

Registered Utility Model No. 3108393

Utility model document 2

Utility Model Publication No. 5-68302

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, i.e., muscles constituting the Achilles tendon and the like in a natural posture substantially along the center line of the trunk without giving excessive tension to the Achilles tendon and the like. The present invention provides footwear capable of appropriately tensioning and strengthening muscles related to these (muscles such as calves).

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the footwear according to the present invention is a bottom portion that slopes downward from the front end portion to the rear end portion and has a top surface portion that substantially corresponds to the middle foot portion and the rear foot portion. While the part is not in contact with the upper surface part, the weight of the wearer is supported by the middle foot part and the rear foot part placed in contact with the upper surface part and placed on the bottom part.

In addition, it is a bottom portion that slopes downward from the front end portion to the rear end portion, is provided with an upper surface portion substantially corresponding to the middle foot portion and the rear foot portion, and has an open space corresponding to the front foot portion in front of the front end portion. The weight of the wearer is supported by the middle foot portion and the rear foot portion placed on the bottom portion in contact with the upper surface portion while the front foot portion is not in contact with the upper surface portion.

The upper surface portion inclined downward from the front end portion to the rear end portion is formed as a curved surface as a whole, and the upper surface portion of the bottom portion substantially corresponds to the portion of the Lisfranc joint from the rear foot portion. Furthermore, while the upper surface part of the bottom part was formed in the curved surface as a whole, the upper end part in the front-end | tip part of a bottom part respond | corresponded substantially to the Lisfranc joint of a foot | leg, and it was set as the rounded arcuate surface.

In addition, at the bottom portion provided with an open space in front of the front end, the front foot portion is movable in the open space via a Lisfranc joint. And the holding member which hold | maintains the foot | leg part mounted in the bottom part coat | covers the site | part corresponding to a substantially Lisfranc joint of the instep upper part.

In the footwear according to the present invention, the upper surface portion of the bottom portion corresponds to the middle foot portion and the rear foot portion of the foot portion, and the middle foot portion and the rear foot portion are in contact with the upper surface portion. Since the forefoot part does not contact the bottom part, the wearer can stand at the bottom part in a natural posture (that is, substantially perpendicular to the ground contact surface) substantially along the center line of the trunk. Since the middle foot (back) is in contact with the inclined upper surface, appropriate tension is applied to the muscles of the Achilles tendon and the middle foot and the rear foot placed on the bottom in contact with the upper surface. The weight of the wearer is supported by the portion. In this case, the weight presses the ground contact surface (the ground surface, the floor surface, etc.) substantially vertically around the rear foot (the heel). A force that pulls up the trunk in the opposite direction (upward) acts against this pressing, and imparts or strengthens appropriate tension to the muscles of the Achilles tendon while maintaining a natural posture.

Furthermore, since the whole or part of the forefoot can be arbitrarily moved in the open space in front of the front end of the bottom, muscles related to the forefoot (the toes and metatarsals) are strengthened. The foot placed on the bottom can greatly move the forefoot in the vertical direction via the Lisfranc joint.

As described above, the present invention is ideal for standing at the bottom in a natural posture substantially along the center line of the trunk where the foot is stably placed on the bottom, and maintaining the natural posture and stability. In such a state, muscles constituting the Achilles tendon and muscles related to the Achilles tendon (muscles such as calves) can be appropriately tensioned and strengthened.

From the anatomical point of view, the structure of the foot 10 is divided into a rear foot 1, a middle foot 2, and a front foot 3 with reference to the main joints Chopard 11 and Lisfranc joint 12. Further, the forefoot part 3 is divided into a toe part 5 and a metatarsal bone part 6 by a metatarsal joint joint 13. That is, in correspondence with footwear, the foot 10 is divided into four parts, a rear foot 1, a middle foot 2, and a forefoot 3, a metatarsal 5 and a toe 6. In general, the rear foot 1 substantially corresponds to the buttocks of the foot, the middle foot 2 corresponds to the arch, and the front foot 3 substantially corresponds to the toe. The metatarsal part 6 of the forefoot part 3 substantially corresponds to the part including the thumb ball part, and the toe part 5 corresponds to the toe part as it is. The structural features of the footwear 20 according to the present invention will be clarified with reference to such an anatomical viewpoint. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The bottom 21 of the footwear has a reduced thickness from the front end 22 (toe side, the left side in FIG. 1) to the rear end (the heel side, the right side in FIG. 1), and the upper surface 25 is the front end 22. It is an inclined surface which descends substantially from the rear end portion. The “rear end portion” of the bottom portion includes the rear portion 16 of the bottom portion, that is, the portion corresponding to the rear foot portion 1 (the heel portion) and the rear end portion 23. That is, the upper surface portion 25 is an inclined surface that descends toward the rear portion 16 or the end portion 23, and any of the inclined surfaces may be used. The upper surface portion 25 of the bottom portion is formed substantially corresponding to the rear foot portion 1 and the middle foot portion 2, and from an anatomical point of view, the upper surface portion 25 extends from the rear foot portion 1 of the foot portion 10 to substantially the Lisfranc joint 12. (See FIGS. 1 and 3). In this case, the upper surface portion 25 inclined downward from the front end portion 22 to the rear end portion is variously configured. First, the upper surface portion 25 can be formed as a substantially flat surface as a whole. As long as it is inclined substantially downward, the upper surface portion may partially include one or more flat surfaces, curved surfaces, horizontal surfaces, and the like (not shown). However, it is preferable that the upper surface portion 25 descending from the front end portion 22 to the rear end portion (rear portion or rear end portion) is formed in a substantially curved surface as a whole. This is because the middle foot portion 2 and the rear foot portion 1 (back surface) placed on the bottom portion 21 are easily in close contact with the upper surface portion 25. The degree of bay extreme, size, and curvature of the curved surface are appropriately set.

In this case, it is more preferable that the curved surface of the upper surface portion substantially matches the plantar skeleton line. That is, there is a plantar skeleton line in the front-rear direction at the foot, and basically there is an inner arch line X that connects A-C of the foot 10 and an outer arch line Y that connects B-C of the foot 10. . The medial arch line X connects the rib ridge C at the bottom of the buttocks and the first metatarsal head A, and the outside arch line Y connects the rib ridge C at the bottom of the buttocks and the fifth metatarsal head B (see FIG. 7, 8). Here, to make the curved surface substantially coincide with the plantar skeleton line is to form the curved surface (curved line) in an arch shape having the characteristics of the plantar skeleton line. The length of the arch, the curvature of the arch, etc. are arbitrary. By forming the curved surface in an arch shape, the foot portion 10 placed on the bottom portion 21 basically follows the plantar skeleton line. In addition, E of FIG. 7 is the center of the leg part 9 continuing to a foot part.

As described above, the upper surface portion 25 of the bottom portion substantially corresponds to the rear foot portion 1 to the Lisfranc joint 12. That is, the upper surface portion 25 of the bottom portion is formed in a substantially curved surface, and the upper end portion 26 in the distal end portion 22 substantially corresponds to the Lisfranc joint 12 and is a rounded arc-shaped surface. And the upper end part 26 of the front-end | tip part is a substantially uppermost end part of the upper surface part 25 which curves. Since the front end portion 22, specifically, the upper end portion 26 of the front end portion substantially corresponds to the Lisfranc joint 12, it is possible to move the forefoot portion 3 in the vertical direction via the Lisfranc joint 12 at the front end portion 22. it can. Further, the upper end portion 26 of the distal end portion is a rounded arc-shaped surface, and is substantially the uppermost end portion of the upper surface portion 25 that forms a curved surface, so that the movement of the front foot portion 12 at the distal end portion 22 is facilitated.

The bottom portion has a multilayer structure including an upper surface portion 25 and a lower surface portion 27. The bottom portion may have not only a two-layer structure including the upper surface portion 25 and the lower surface portion 27 but also a single layer structure or a structure of three or more layers. The lower surface 27 that contacts the ground contact surface 29 such as the ground or floor is formed of a hard material, while the upper surface 25 that contacts the foot is preferably formed of a soft material having appropriate elasticity and flexibility. . The lower surface portion 27 formed of a hard material gives appropriate rigidity to the bottom portion 21, and the upper surface portion 25 formed of a soft material partially eliminates an error between the curved surface (curved line) and the sole skeleton line. Absorbs and corrects the curved line when worn. Further, the middle foot portion 2 and the rear foot portion 1 (back surface) can be easily in close contact with the upper surface portion 25. A hard synthetic resin can be used as the hard material, and a soft synthetic resin can be used as the soft material, but there is no limitation on the specific material. Moreover, although the upper surface part which contacts a leg part is a smooth surface normally, it is not necessarily restricted to a smooth surface, such as having a small unevenness | corrugation and a groove-shaped part (not shown). A small protrusion having a massage effect can be provided, and other accessories can also be provided (not shown).

On the rear portion 16 of the bottom portion, the rear foot portion 1 (the heel portion) is placed. The rear end portion 23 is provided with a hook stop 15 integrally formed with the bottom portion 21 so that the rear foot portion 1 (back portion) on the bottom portion 21 does not move backward from a predetermined position. The heel stop 15 can be variously configured (not shown) depending on the type of footwear, the use, etc., such as the one surrounding the outer periphery (the whole or a part thereof) of the rear foot 1 (the heel). Further, it is possible to adopt a structure in which the bottom portion is not provided with a tack stop (not shown). The rear portion 16 may be a curved surface, a flat surface, an inclined surface, or a horizontal surface, but it is preferable that the rear foot portion 1 (the heel portion) is stably placed. When the footwear 20 is worn, the rear foot portion 1 and the middle foot portion 2 are in contact with the upper surface portion 25 of the bottom portion, and the front foot portion 3 is not in contact with the upper surface portion. This is because there is no upper surface portion corresponding to the forefoot portion 3 at the bottom portion 21.

The bottom is provided with an open space S at the front. That is, there is an open space S corresponding to the forefoot part 3 (toe part) in front of the front end part 22 of the bottom part, and the forefoot part 3 (toe part) that is not placed on the bottom part 21 can be arbitrarily moved in the open space S. it can. As described above, since the front end portion 22 of the upper surface portion substantially corresponds to the Lisfranc joint 12, the whole or part of the forefoot portion 3 can be moved via the Lisfranc joint 12. Thereby, not only the whole forefoot part but the muscles related to the toe part 5 and the metatarsal bone part 6 can be strengthened. In addition, by providing the open space S between the front foot 3 and the ground contact surface 29, even when the standing balance is lost, the front foot 3 is brought into contact with the ground contact surface 29 of the footwear such as the ground, the floor, You can avoid falls. Further, the bottom end face 22 is formed in a substantially vertical plane with the ground contact surface 29, and the foot placed on the bottom 21 can easily bring the front foot 3 into contact with the ground contact surface 29 from the upper end 26. Can do.

A holding member 17 is provided on the bottom portion 21, and the foot 10 placed on the bottom portion 21 is held by the holding member 17.
The wearer walks or runs while the foot 10 is held by the holding member 17. The holding member 17 is composed of a belt-shaped portion that covers the foot instep 7, and both ends 19 of the belt-shaped portion are fixed to both side surfaces of the bottom portion 21. The holding member 17 covers a portion of the foot upper 7 corresponding to the Lisfranc joint 12. Not only the front end 22 (particularly the upper end 26) of the bottom part substantially corresponds to the Lisfranc joint 12, but also the holding member 17 covers the corresponding part of the Lisfranc joint 12, so that the forefoot part 3 can be moved stably. it can. Therefore, it is preferable to have a structure that does not cover the instep instep 17 at a portion in front of the Lisfranc joint 12 (see FIG. 1). This is because the forefoot 3 can be moved largely in the vertical direction in the open space S. However, as long as the movement of the forefoot is not hindered, it does not prevent other members from being attached to the front part of the Lisfranc joint. There may be a plurality of holding members, and the holding member is not limited to the belt-shaped part. There is no restriction | limiting also about the fixing location, aspect, and arrangement | positioning of a holding member. Therefore, it is not hindered to arrange the holding member at a site that does not correspond to the saffron joint of the instep.

The footwear 20 includes well-known footwear such as a shoe type, a sandal type, a slipper type, and modified versions thereof. In the above description, “corresponding to the Lisfranc joint” indicating the positional relationship between the bottom front end 22 (particularly the upper end 26) and the holding member 17 and the Lisfranc joint 12 is the bottom front end 22 (the upper end 26. ) And the holding member 17 are not only “corresponding to the entire Lisfranc joint” but also “corresponding to at least one part of the Lisfranc joint”, It is also included at certain times (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 3).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention and illustrating a state in which a foot is held on a bottom. It is the footwear, Comprising: A holding | maintenance member is abbreviate | omitted, and it is a side view which shows the state by which the foot | leg part was mounted in the bottom part. It is the top view which shows the footwear explanatoryally with the outline of the frame | skeleton of a foot | leg part. It is the schematic explaining a foot | leg part. It is a side view which shows the state which was the bottom part of the footwear and the holding member was abbreviate | omitted. It is the footwear, Comprising: It is a top view which shows the state by which the foot | leg part is not hold | maintained. It is the schematic explaining a foot | leg part. It is a side view explaining a foot part with the outline of a skeleton.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rear foot part 2 Middle foot part 3 Forefoot part 5 Metatarsal bone part 6 Toe part 7 Instep part 9 Leg part 10 Foot part 11 Chopard joint 12 Lisfranc joint 13 Middle foot joint joint 15 heel part 16 Rear part 17 Holding member 19 End of holding member 20 Footwear 21 Bottom portion 22 Tip portion 23 End portion 25 Upper surface portion 26 Upper end portion 27 Lower surface portion 29 Grounding surface

Claims (9)

It is a bottom part that slopes downward from the front end part to the rear end part and has a top surface part that substantially corresponds to the middle foot part and the rear foot part. Footwear that supports the wearer's weight with the middle foot and the rear foot placed on the bottom. Inclined in a descending manner from the front end portion to the rear end portion, provided with an upper surface portion substantially corresponding to the middle foot portion and the rear foot portion, and provided with an open space corresponding to the front foot portion in front of the front end portion, Footwear that supports the weight of a wearer with a middle foot portion and a rear foot portion that are placed on the bottom portion in contact with the upper surface portion while the front foot portion is not in contact with the upper surface portion. The footwear according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an upper surface portion inclined downward from the front end portion to the rear end portion is formed as a substantially curved surface as a whole. The footwear according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the upper surface portion of the bottom portion substantially corresponds to the Lisfranc joint of the foot portion. The footwear according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the upper surface portion of the bottom portion is formed in a substantially curved surface, and the upper end portion at the front end portion of the bottom portion is an arcuate surface that substantially corresponds to the Lisfranc joint and is rounded. . The footwear according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the bottom portion has a multilayer structure including an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion, the upper surface portion is formed of a flexible material, and the lower surface portion is formed of a hard material. The footwear according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the front foot part is movable in the open space via the Lisfranc joint at the bottom part provided with an open space in front of the front end part. The front foot part movable in the open space in front of the front end part and having an open space between the front foot part and the ground contact surface is in contact with the ground contact surface of the footwear such as the ground and the floor surface. footwear. The footwear according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the holding member that holds the foot placed on the bottom covers a portion of the foot instep substantially corresponding to the Lisfranc joint.

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