JP4991222B2 - A cushioning member capable of highlighting the function display state and footwear to which the cushioning member is applied - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a shock absorbing structure that is preferably applied to sports shoes, and particularly relates to a shock absorbing member that facilitates visual confirmation of the shock absorbing action and capable of highlighting a function exhibiting state, and footwear to which the shock absorbing member is applied.

For example, footwear is required to have an improved cushioning function in a wide range from sports shoes for athletes to walking shoes to business shoes.
As means for meeting this demand, a buffer member such as a gel block part is incorporated in the sole portion to improve the buffer function.
And about such a function, the structure in which a part of buffer member can be visually observed from a sole part side surface, a bottom face, etc. is taken so that a user's satisfaction and reliability may be obtained visually.
However, such a structure merely indicates that a high-performance buffer member is incorporated, and does not reveal the state in which this actually exhibits a buffer function.

  Therefore, the present applicants molded the buffer function base material into a target shape to form a member main body, and provided an indication pattern that is distorted with deformation due to an external force applied to the member main body on the surface of the member main body. When the deformation is caused by an external force, the regularity of the arrangement of the pattern elements is broken by the distortion generated following the deformation, and the distortion has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

By the way, when looking at the actual deformation of the buffer member, it is generally preferable that the amount of deformation is larger when only the buffer function is emphasized. On the other hand, if the deformation is excessive, the kicking of the foot will be eaten by the deformation of the cushioning member, which will impede the desired movement, which is particularly fatal for athletes. End up.
For this reason, at present, the hardness of the buffer member suitable for the type of competition and the age of the athlete is selected and determined.
As a result, the cushioning member such as the selected gel-like block part is relatively hard, and if the measure proposed in Patent Document 1 is not applied, the amount of deformation is so small that it is almost visually. The reality is that deformation cannot be recognized.

However, it is indispensable for athletes to maintain a psychological sense of security and confidence in the equipment they use, and in the case of sports shoes, a sufficient cushioning function is demonstrated and useless to the foot. By recognizing that there is no burden, it is possible to increase concentration in the competition.
In cultivating a sense of confidence in the function of such sports shoes, it is extremely important in terms of the mental aspect of athletes who are competing in the competition to recognize and confirm this deformation even with a slight amount of deformation of the cushioning member. It is an important factor.
However, at present, no buffer structure that sufficiently satisfies such requirements has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-049959

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an attempt is made to propose a buffer member or the like that can highlight and display the function display state so that the user can obtain a sense of security and reliability visually. To do.

That is, the cushioning member capable of highlighting the function exhibiting state according to claim 1 is a member that is incorporated in a shock-requiring equipment and is elastically deformed to relieve an impact, and this member includes a main cushioning portion that absorbs the impact. And a confirmation support means for confirming the deformation state of the main buffer section, causing the image of the confirmation support means to appear in the exposed portion, and adding an optical effect to the image of the confirmation support means It comprises the optical element for this.
According to the present invention, since the deformation of the main buffer portion is clearly shown with an optical effect added as an image of the confirmation support means expressed in the exposed portion, the user can visually recognize the deformation state. Can do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buffer member capable of highlighting a function exhibiting state, wherein the optical element is a kind of lens or a plurality of lenses selected from a convex lens, a concave lens, a Furnell lens, and a prism lens. It is characterized by being an action body.
According to the present invention, the image of the confirmation support means expressed in the exposed portion can be clearly shown and can be clearly shown by being displaced from the actual deformation position.
In particular, when clearly enlarging, the user can visually recognize even the minute deformation of the main buffer portion.

Furthermore, in addition to the requirement of claim 1, the buffer member capable of highlighting the function exhibiting state according to claim 3 is formed by arranging a plurality of flexible protrusions on the base.
The flexible protrusion is in point contact with the confirmation support means when there is no load or light load, and is deformed and is in surface contact with the confirmation support means during heavy load. Reflected and the image of the confirmation support means is in a state where it does not appear in the exposed part on the back of the base
On the other hand, at the time of the surface contact, light is transmitted through the deformed flexible protrusion, and the image of the confirmation support means appears in the exposed portion.
According to this invention, since the image of the confirmation support means is expressed in the exposed portion only when the buffer member exhibits the buffer function, the user can clearly check the function display state.

Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the buffer member capable of highlighting the function display state according to claim 4 is characterized in that the optical element is integrally formed with the main buffer portion.
According to this invention, attenuation and diffuse reflection of light incident on the optical element can be suppressed, and the image of the confirmation support means can be clearly expressed, and the manufacturing cost of the buffer member can be suppressed.

Furthermore, the buffer structure capable of highlighting the function exhibiting state according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in addition to the above-described requirements, a bright introduction means for taking in external light is provided at a place other than the exposed portion. .
According to the present invention, it is possible to separately add decoration with light to the image of the confirmation support means that appears in the exposed portion.

Further, the footwear to which the cushioning structure capable of highlighting the function exhibiting state according to the sixth aspect is applied, characterized in that the cushioning member according to the first to fifth aspects is provided on the sole portion.
According to this invention, since it is possible to emphasize the state in which the buffer member exhibits the buffer function and express it in the exposed portion, the user of the footwear can visually obtain a sense of security and reliability, While improving the reliability of footwear products, the product value can be increased.
The above problems can be solved by using the configuration of the invention described in each of the claims as a means.

  According to the present invention, the state in which the buffer member is exhibiting the buffer function can be visually recognized as an image of the confirmation support means in which the function display state is emphasized. Therefore, the reliability of the product can be improved and the product value can be increased.

One of the best modes of the present invention “buffer member capable of highlighting a function display state and footwear to which the cushion member is applied” is as described in the following embodiments. The sports shoes S will be described.
It should be noted that these embodiments can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, what is indicated by a symbol S is a sports shoe that is an example of footwear that is a shock-requiring equipment, and the function exhibiting state of the present invention is provided at a required shock-absorbing portion such as a heel side or a side surface of the sole portion S1. The buffer member 1 that can be highlighted (hereinafter referred to as the buffer member 1) is partly exposed to the outside, and the confirmation support means 3 is assembled in a state that is visible from the outside.
In addition, the buffer member 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described sports shoes S, and can be a body protector, a helmet, or the like.

  First, the buffer member 1 will be described. The buffer member 1 includes a main buffer portion 2 that absorbs an impact, and confirmation support means 3 for confirming the deformation state of the main buffer portion 2. An image is developed in the exposure portion 50 and includes an optical element 5 for applying an optical effect to the image of the confirmation support means 3.

The main buffer portion 2 is made of styrene, urethane, silicon resin or silicone gel. In addition to these, as long as good buffer performance is ensured, an appropriate one can be used. Can be adopted.
The main buffer portion 2 formed of a styrene, urethane, or silicon resin has a high shape retaining property, so that the main buffer portion 2 formed of silicone gel has a shape retaining property. Since it is low, the shape is retained by a surface shell member made of a transparent resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane.
Further, the main buffer portion 2 is transparent or colored so as to maintain transparency.

Next, the confirmation support means 3 will be described. This is an example in which a marker 3b such as a character, symbol, pattern, or holograph is printed on a sheet 3a made of a resin such as polyethylene as an example. It is installed in close contact with the main buffer 2.
The marker 3b may be printed directly on the main buffer unit 2.

Next, the optical element 5 will be described. This is for adding an optical effect to the image of the confirmation support means 3 that is developed in the exposure section 50 described later.
The forms of the optical element 5 are roughly classified into those defined in claim 2 and those defined in claim 3, and will be described below for each form.

[Examples in which the optical element is a lens acting body]
First, an embodiment defined by claim 2 in which the optical element 5 is used as the lens action body 51 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the optical element 5 shown in this embodiment includes a convex lens 51a (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), a concave lens 51b (see FIGS. 4C and 4D), and a Fullel lens 51c (see FIG. 4). 4 (e) (f)) and a prism lens 51d (see FIGS. 4 (g) and (h)), or a type of lens or a plurality of lens acting bodies 51 is applied.
An example in which a plurality of lens acting bodies 51 are applied is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is obtained by combining the main buffer portion 2 with a prism lens 51d and a convex lens 51a, and a convex lens 51a. This surface is the exposed portion 50. Further, the confirmation support means 3 is in close contact with the bottom surface of the main buffer 2.
In this embodiment, the optical element 5 is integrally molded with the main buffer portion 2, but these may be molded separately and integrated as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 1, the buffer member 1 configured as described above is assembled at a heel side of the sole portion S1, or a required buffer portion such as a side surface, and the exposed portion 50 is exposed to the outside. The marker 3b is assembled while being visible from the outside.
That is, the image of the marker 3b located on the bottom surface is refracted by the action of the prism lens 51d to reach the convex lens 51a, and an enlarged image is developed on the exposed portion 50 which is the surface thereof.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, when the buffer member 1 is loaded and deformed, even the minute deformation of the main buffer portion 2 can be visually recognized as a change in the image of the marker 3b. It will be.

[Examples in which flexible projections are arranged on an optical element]
Next, an embodiment defined in claim 3 in which the optical element 5 has a plurality of flexible protrusions 52 arranged on a base 53 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the flexible protrusion 52 makes point contact with the confirmation support means 3 when there is no load or light load, and deforms during heavy load as shown in FIG. 5 (d). It is comprised so that a surface contact may be carried out.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the optical element 5 shown in this embodiment has a plurality of flexible protrusions 52 arranged so that one vertex 52a of the cube is the uppermost portion. The three sides gathering at the vertex 52a are called ridge lines 52b. The optical element 5 in which such flexible protrusions 52 are arranged is embedded in the bottom surface of the sole portion S1, as shown in FIG. A transparent protective sheet 52c is covered.

And at the time of point contact as shown in FIG.5 (c), as shown in FIG.5 (e), light will be totally reflected in the ridgeline 52b part, and it will be in the state which the image of the confirmation assistance means 3 does not express in the exposed part 50, On the other hand, at the time of surface contact as shown in FIG. 5D, the light is transmitted through the flexible protrusion 52 which is deformed and is in close contact with the confirmation support means 3 as shown in FIG. This is a state that appears in the exposed portion 50.
As a result, since the image of the confirmation support means 3 is expressed in the exposed portion 50 only when the buffer member 1 is exhibiting the buffer function, the user can clearly confirm the function display state.

[Embodiment provided with bright introduction means]
In the buffer member 1 described in the above-described embodiment, the external light that has entered the main buffer portion 2 from the exposure portion 50 is reflected by the confirmation support means 3, and after this reflected light passes through the optical element 5, the exposure portion 50. However, it is also possible to provide an external light incident location at a location other than the exposed portion 50.
Specifically, as shown in the horizontal sectional view of FIG. 7, a member having a refractive index higher than that of air, such as a light guide plate or an optical fiber, is applied as the bright introducing means 6, and these incident on the buffer member 1. Since the confirmation support means 3 is lit up by the outside light, the image of the confirmation support means 3 expressed in the exposed portion 50 can be more easily recognized.
In addition, a further decoration effect can also be show | played by coloring the brightness introduction means 6 suitably.

It is a perspective view which shows the shock absorbing member of this invention, and the sports shoes in which this was carried. It is the side view and perspective view which show a buffer member. It is a front view for demonstrating the state in which the buffer member is exhibiting the buffer function. It is the side view and front view which show the various examples which employ | adopted the lens action body as an optical element. It is the top view and vertical side view which show the example which employ | adopted the flexible protrusion as an optical element. It is a bottom view which shows a mode that the buffer member was installed in the sole bottom face. It is a horizontal sectional view which shows the Example which employ | adopted the brightness | luminance introduction means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Buffer member 2 Main buffer part 3 Confirmation support means 3a Sheet 3b Marker 5 Optical element 50 Exposure part 51 Lens action body 51a Convex lens 51b Concave lens 51c Furnell lens 51d Prism lens 52 Flexible protrusion 52a Vertex 52b Ridge line 52c Protective sheet 53 Base 6 Brightness introduction means S Sports shoes S1 Sole part

Claims (6)

  A member that is incorporated in the shock-absorbing equipment and is elastically deformed to relieve the shock, and this member includes a main buffer part that absorbs the shock and a confirmation support means for checking the deformation state of the main buffer part. Emphasizing the function performance state characterized in that the image of the confirmation support means is developed in the exposed portion, and an optical element for adding an optical effect to the image of the confirmation support means is provided. A cushioning member that can be displayed.   2. The buffer capable of highlighting a function display state according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a kind of lens selected from a convex lens, a concave lens, a Furnell lens, and a prism lens or a plurality of lens acting bodies. Element.   The optical element is formed by arranging a plurality of flexible protrusions on a base, and the flexible protrusions are in point contact with the confirmation support means when there is no load or light load, and are deformed and deformed during heavy load. It is in surface contact with the support means, and light is totally reflected at the flexible protrusion during the point contact, so that the image of the confirmation support means does not appear on the exposed portion on the back of the base, while deformation occurs during the surface contact. 2. The cushioning member capable of highlighting a function exhibiting state according to claim 1, wherein light is transmitted through the flexible protrusion and an image of the confirmation support means is developed in the exposed portion.   4. The cushioning member capable of highlighting a function exhibiting state according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the optical element is integrally molded with a main cushioning portion.   5. The shock absorbing member capable of highlighting the function exhibiting state according to claim 1, further comprising a bright introduction means for taking in outside light at a place other than the exposed portion.   Footwear to which a shock-absorbing member capable of highlighting a function display state is provided, wherein the shock-absorbing member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided on a sole portion.

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