JP7479653B1 - Moon-shaped core and footwear equipped with same - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide footwear and a moon-shaped core that can be put on smoothly while standing, without bending or sitting, and without using a shoehorn or hands, and that fits the foot and makes walking easy when worn. [Solution] The footwear has a heel, and a heel guide extending diagonally backward is provided above the heel, and a moon-shaped core is contained within the heel and heel guide, and the moon-shaped core has a core main body and a core ridge above it, and the core main body has a cross section cut horizontally to encase the heel, which is formed in a semicircular arc shape, and has a notch at the front end of the lower end that slopes linearly or curvedly from the lower end diagonally upward toward the front. [Selected Figure] Figure 11

Description

The present invention relates to a moon-shaped core and footwear equipped with the same.

When wearing footwear with a heel, if you press the heel of your foot against the heel of the shoe and walk with only the tip of your foot inside the shoe, you may damage the shoe. Also, when wearing footwear with a heel, you must be careful not to crush the heel. If the heel is crushed, the shoe will not fit well on your foot and will be uncomfortable to wear.

As a result, you need to use a shoehorn or your hands when putting on your shoes to avoid crushing your heels, but this requires bending and sitting down, which is tedious.

Therefore, footwear with a heel that can be worn while standing without bending or sitting has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). The footwear in Patent Document 1 has a protrusion that extends diagonally upward and backward from the upper end of the heel, and the protrusion has a crescent-shaped core extension that extends from the crescent-shaped core provided in the heel as a core.

JP 2022-139151 A

However, in the footwear of Patent Document 1, the crescent-shaped core is located directly above the sole, and its lower end extends to both front ends, so there is a risk that both ends of the lower end of the crescent-shaped core will dig into the sole and damage the sole. In addition, because this structure firmly fixes the crescent-shaped core and allows almost no movement, the heel area has no flexibility when walking, making it uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide footwear that can be put on while standing, without bending or sitting, without using a shoehorn or hands, that is easier to put on and take off than conventional footwear, that fits the foot when worn, and that is easy to walk in, as well as its moon-shaped core.

A moon-shaped core according to one aspect of the present invention is a moon-shaped core used in the heel part of footwear, and is formed as a single unit with a core body and a core ridge above it. The core body has a cross section cut horizontally so as to wrap around the heel, and is formed in a semicircular arc shape. At both front ends of the lower end, there are notches that slope diagonally upward from the lower end in a straight or curved manner. When viewed from the side, the front side of the moon-shaped core curves so as to bulge from above toward the front, then curves so as to recess toward the rear, and then curves forward again from there, sloping backward in a straight or curved manner from just above the lower end toward the lower end.

With this configuration, by equipping the footwear with this moon-shaped core, a heel guide section is provided above the heel section that extends diagonally backwards, improving ease of putting on the shoes, and the shoes can be put on while standing without using a shoehorn or hands. In addition, the moon-shaped core is contained within the heel section and heel guide section, which further improves ease of putting on while maintaining the shape of the heel section and heel guide section. In addition, the cross section of the core body section cut horizontally is formed into a semicircular arc shape so as to encase the heel, ensuring support of the heel.

In addition, the front end of the lower end of the core body has a notch that slopes from the lower end diagonally upward in a straight or curved manner, which reduces the risk of the front end of the lower end of the moon-shaped core digging into or making a dent in the sole. And because of this notch, when the foot lands on the ground while walking or running, the moon-shaped core is less likely to be pushed up by the repulsive force caused by the compression deformation of the sole, so the moon-shaped core is less likely to move upward after the foot lands on the ground. This makes it less likely that discomfort such as blisters will occur when landing, and the moon-shaped core can maintain a fit on the heel when landing.

In addition, due to the notch, when the foot lands on the ground and the sole is deformed by compression, etc., the upper side also has room to bend and deform toward the notch (the front of the shoe), improving the cushioning of the entire shoe and improving comfort. In addition, when viewed from the side, the front side of this moon-shaped core is curved so that it bulges from above toward the front, then curves from there to bend backward, and then curves forward again from there, and from slightly above the bottom end toward the bottom end, it is inclined linearly or curved backward. According to this configuration, there is no straight part on the front side of the moon-shaped core, and it is entirely curved in a curved shape, so there is no snag when wearing the shoe, making it comfortable to wear, and there is no sharp part, so there is little interference with the upper and damage can be prevented. It can also be made to wrap around the heel and ankle of the foot.

This moon-shaped core is also characterized in that the core body and the core ridge are integrally formed, and when viewed from the back, the core ridge extends upward from the core body and is narrower than the core body. Here, a core ridge that is narrower than the core body means that the maximum width of the core ridge is narrower than the maximum width of the core body when viewed from the back.

With this configuration, the moon-shaped core has a core body and a core ridge formed as one piece, which allows for a reduction in the number of parts compared to when the core body and the core ridge are formed separately. Also, the moon-shaped core can be easily contained within the heel section and heel guide section. Also, because the core ridge extends upward from the core body, which is narrower than the core body, the rigidity can be increased compared to when the core ridge is as wide as the core body, allowing the foot to be inserted smoothly.

The moon-shaped core is also characterized by being molded as a single piece from resin. This configuration makes it possible to obtain a moon-shaped core that is lightweight and highly durable.

In addition, when viewed from the back, the connecting portion between the core body and the core mountain portion of this moon-shaped core is recessed on both sides, and the upper part from the connecting portion bulges on both sides. With this configuration, since the core mountain portion bulges on both sides, it is easier to put on the foot and is less likely to get caught, making it safer, than if the width was gradually narrowed from the core body. Also, because the connecting portion between the core body and the core mountain portion is recessed on both sides, this portion has good flexibility, making it easier to put on the foot.

When viewed from the back, the upper end of the rear end of the core mountain section is generally straight or has a downwardly convex arc shape, with both sides rounded. This configuration makes it easier to put on and less likely to get caught, making it safer, than if the width gradually narrowed from the main core section.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the upper edge of the core mountain portion of this moon-shaped core is rounded, and the highest point of the upper edge is forward of the rear end of the core mountain portion. With this configuration, if the upper end of the core mountain portion is at the very rear end, there is a risk that the foot will easily get caught in the rear end portion, but with this configuration, the foot is less likely to get caught when putting on the shoe.

In addition, the upper part of this moon-shaped core, from the top of the core mountain part to the part that curves forward to bulge, is inclined more horizontally than vertically. With this configuration, since the upper part of the core mountain part is inclined horizontally, it is less likely to get caught when putting on shoes, making them easy to put on and safe. On the other hand, the moon-shaped core of Patent Document 1 extends in a straight line when standing close to vertical, making it difficult to put on and take off shoes when putting on or taking off shoes, and the heel stands up close to the back of the foot when walking, which may interfere with the foot and make it difficult to walk, but the above configuration can prevent these problems.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the front side of the moon-shaped core is formed in a substantially S-shape from the upper end to the lower most forward end.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the rear end side of the moon-shaped core is curved so as to be concave from above toward the front, and then curved so as to bulge backward from there. With this configuration, the moon-shaped core has a shape that fits more closely to the rear side of a person's heel, and can more reliably support the heel.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the rear end side of the moon-shaped core is curved so that it is concave from above toward the front, then curves so that it bulges backward from there, and then curves gently forward from there. With this configuration, the moon-shaped core conforms to the shape of the rear side of the heel and curves gently forward toward the bottom end, so compared to when this configuration is not present, the moon-shaped core has more flexibility in the front-to-back direction when walking, making it easier to walk.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the rear side of the moon-shaped core is formed into a substantially S-shape from the upper end to the lower end.

In addition, the frontmost end of this moon -shaped core is rounded when viewed from the side. With this configuration, when the moon-shaped core is attached to footwear, it does not get caught when the shoe is worn, making it comfortable to wear, and because the tip is not sharp, it interferes less with the upper and prevents damage.

In addition, the peripheral edge (240) of this moon-shaped core is inclined from the inside to the outside in the thickness direction. With this configuration, when the moon-shaped core is attached to footwear, it is more comfortable to wear and does not get caught when the shoe is worn, compared to when it is cut without any inclination, and there is less interference with the upper, preventing damage.

In addition, the inclination of the cutout portion of this moon-shaped core is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees or greater with respect to the horizontal plane. With this configuration, the inclination of the cutout portion is approximately 45 degrees or greater, so the tip is not sharp compared to angles smaller than 45 degrees. Therefore, when the moon-shaped core is attached to footwear, it does not get caught when the shoe is worn, is comfortable to wear, and there is little interference with the upper, preventing damage. Note that, when the inclination of the cutout portion is curved, the angle of the inclination of the cutout portion refers to the angle of the straight line connecting the tip of the bottom end and the tip part slightly above the bottom end.

In addition, this moon-shaped core has a semicircular cross section when cut horizontally, and the semicircular cross section of the core mountain is shallower than the semicircular cross section of the core body. With this configuration, the core body can hold the heel area, and by making the core mountain shallow, it can also be made to wrap around the ankle area.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the tangent line (TL) at the rear end of the moon-shaped core, in the curved portion that is recessed from the top toward the front, is inclined toward the horizontal at an angle of more than 60 degrees. The moon-shaped core of Patent Document 1 extends in a straight line when standing nearly vertically, so it is easy for the foot to get caught when putting on or taking off shoes, making it difficult to put on and take off, and the heel stands up close to the back of the foot when walking, which may interfere with the foot and make it difficult to walk. However, with the above configuration, the tangent line (TL) at the rear end of the core mountain part is inclined toward the horizontal at an angle of more than 60 degrees, making it easy to put on and take off, and interference with the foot when walking is suppressed, making it easy to walk.

In addition, when viewed from the side, the tangent line (TL) at the rear end of the portion of the moon-shaped core that curves downward from above toward the front is inclined toward the horizontal at an angle of more than 45 degrees to the horizontal. This configuration further reduces interference with the feet when putting on and taking off the shoes and when walking.

In addition, the dimension of this moon-shaped core from the rear end to the front end of the core body is at least twice the dimension of the rear end to the front end of the core mountain. With this configuration, the dimension from the rear end to the front of the core body is longer, improving the durability of the moon-shaped core against the load applied. Also, the core mountain is not too large and does not get in the way.

In addition, this moon-shaped core is formed such that the core body and the core mountain are integrally formed, and the width of the core body gradually narrows from the bottom to the top, with the core mountain extending wider from the top of the core body upward. With this configuration, the core mountain bulges on both sides, making it easier to put on and less likely to get caught on things, and safer, than if the width were gradually narrowed from the core body. Also, because the connecting parts between the core body and the core mountain are recessed on both sides, this part has good flexibility, making it easier to put on.

In addition, this moon-shaped core is configured such that the core body and the core mountain are integrally formed, a horizontal notch is formed on the back side between the core body and the core mountain, and when the core body is contained in the heel of the footwear, the core mountain is contained in the heel guide extending rearward and upward from the heel, allowing the heel guide to bend relative to the heel. With this configuration, a horizontal notch is formed on the back side between the core body and the core mountain, allowing the core mountain to bend rearward relative to the core body. This makes it easier for the heel guide to bend relative to the heel, allowing deformation of the heel guide to improve ease of wearing and comfort when walking.

This moon-shaped core is used in the heel of footwear, and is made up of a core body and an upper part
and a core mountain portion are formed separately, the core main body portion has a cross section cut horizontally in a semicircular arc shape so as to wrap around the heel, and has notches at both front ends of the lower end that slope linearly or curvedly upward from the lower end, and when the upper end of the core main body portion and the lower end of the core mountain portion are aligned, when viewed from the side, the front side curves so as to bulge from above toward the front, then curves so as to recess toward the rear, and then curves forward again from there, sloping linearly or curvedly backward from a point slightly above the lower end toward the lower end, and when the core main body portion is included in the heel portion of the footwear, the core mountain portion is included in the heel guide portion that extends rearward and upward from the heel portion, and the heel guide portion is configured to be bendable relative to the heel portion. According to this configuration, the core body portion is separately contained within the heel portion and the core mountain portion is separately contained within the heel guide portion, which allows the heel guide portion to bend relative to the heel portion, thereby allowing deformation of the heel guide portion and improving ease of putting on the shoe and comfort when walking.

Footwear according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a heel portion and a heel guide portion extending obliquely rearward above the heel portion, and is characterized in that the core body portion of the moon-shaped core described in any one of claims 1 to 22 is contained within the heel portion, and the core mountain portion is contained within the heel guide portion. With this configuration, footwear that exhibits the effects of the moon-shaped core described above can be made easy to put on and take off, and easy to walk in.

The footwear is also characterized in that the heel portion is covered with a reinforcing member made of resin. With this configuration, the heel portion is covered with a reinforcing member made of resin, so that the heel portion can be reinforced. In addition, because the reinforcing member is made of resin, it is possible to reduce the weight.

The footwear is also characterized by the inclusion of a sponge member around the periphery of the opening where the user's foot is inserted. This configuration allows the foot to be inserted smoothly into the shoe. The elasticity of the sponge member also improves the feel of the opening against the foot.

The footwear is also characterized in that the tip of the heel guide is lower than the front end of the opening. This configuration reduces the angle at which the toes need to be bent when putting on the footwear, making it easier for the user to put the foot on.

In addition, the upper end of the heel guide portion of the footwear is inclined toward the horizontal direction rather than the vertical direction.
According to this configuration, if the upper end of the heel guide is vertical, it may interfere with the foot when putting on the shoe, but by tilting the upper end of the heel guide in a substantially horizontal direction, it is possible to prevent interference with the foot. Also, if the upper end of the heel guide is horizontal, it is possible to reduce the bending angle of the toes when putting on the shoe, and the foot can be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

The moon-shaped core and footwear equipped with it of the present invention allow you to put on your shoes smoothly while standing, without bending over or sitting, and without using a shoehorn or your hands. They fit your feet well when worn, making it easy to walk.

1 is a side view of footwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a rear view and a cross-sectional view of a moon-shaped core. FIG. 2 is a side view of the footwear when worn. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a sponge member around the periphery of the opening. FIG. 13 is a side view of footwear showing a modified example of a moon-shaped core. 11A and 11B are a rear view and a cross-sectional view of a moon-shaped core according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side view of footwear according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a side view of footwear showing a modified example of a moon-shaped core. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a moon-shaped core according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the same moon-shaped core attached to footwear. 13A and 13B are a rear view and a cross-sectional view of a moon-shaped core according to another embodiment. 13A and 13B are a rear view and a cross-sectional view of a moon-shaped core according to another embodiment. 13A and 13B are a rear view and a cross-sectional view of a moon-shaped core according to another embodiment.

The following is a detailed description of footwear 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiment include those that are easily replaceable by a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the configuration can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

<First embodiment>

Figure 1 is a perspective view of footwear 1 according to this embodiment, seen from diagonally below, and Figure 2 is a rear view of footwear 1 seen from the back. Figure 3 shows the moon-shaped core 5 according to this embodiment, with Figure 3(a) being a rear view, (b) being an A-A cross-sectional view, and (c) being a B-B cross-sectional view.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, footwear 1 has a sole 3 that constitutes the sole of the shoe, and an upper 2 that covers the instep, with the upper 2 having a heel section 4 at its rear end that covers the heel area.

The sole 3 is made of a relatively hard rubber material or the like, and has a bottom surface formed with anti-slip projections (not shown). In this embodiment, the sole 3 is made of a rubber material, but it may be made of genuine leather or the like.

The upper 2 has an upper body 21 that covers the forefoot, part of the midfoot, and the heel of the user, and a tongue 22 that covers part of the midfoot. The tongue 22 is fixed to the upper body 21 by sewing.

The upper 2 has an opening 23 through which the foot is inserted, the forefoot is placed in the part in front of the opening 23, and the part behind the opening 23, i.e. the heel part 4, supports the heel of the person's foot.

The heel part 4 contains a moon-shaped core 5, so it does not easily break or collapse, and allows the foot to be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

The heel portion 4 is covered with a reinforcing member 6 made of resin. This allows the heel portion 4 to be reinforced. In addition, since the reinforcing member 6 is made of resin, it is possible to reduce the weight. In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 6 made of resin is covered, but it does not have to be covered. In addition, the reinforcing member 6 is made of resin, but is not limited to this.

Footwear 1 has a heel guide 7 formed above heel 4, which extends diagonally upward and backward. Heel guide 7 is part of upper 2 and extends diagonally upward and backward.

The heel guide 7 has a concave curved shape on the front side. As shown in FIG. 2, the heel guide 7 gradually narrows from bottom to top, and the width of the tip of the heel guide 7 is narrower than the width of the base.

The heel guide 7 contains a moon-shaped core 5, so it does not easily break or collapse, and allows the foot to be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tip height T1 of the heel guide 7 is lower than the front end height T2 of the opening 23. This allows the user to easily put on the shoes because the angle at which the toes are bent can be reduced.

Next, we will explain the moon-shaped core 5 shown in Figure 3. The moon-shaped core 5 consists of a main core body 51 and a core mountain 52 above it. When viewed from the side, the rear end of the moon-shaped core 5 is curved so that it is concave from above toward the front, then curves so that it bulges backward from there, and then curves further forward from there. This gives the moon-shaped core 5 a shape that fits along the rear side of a person's heel, allowing it to reliably support the heel.

In this embodiment, the angle from the rear end to the part that curves forward from the top is steeper than 45 degrees from the horizontal. This allows the foot to be smoothly inserted into the footwear without being damaged even if the foot steps on the moon-shaped core 5 when putting on the footwear.

The crescent-shaped core 5 may be inclined toward the horizontal at an angle of more than 45 degrees from the horizontal up to the part where the rear end is concave from above toward the front (see Figure 6), which reduces the bending angle of the toes when putting on the shoes and allows the foot to be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

Also, when viewed from the side, the front end of the moon-shaped core 5 curves so that it bulges from above toward the front, then curves so that it is recessed toward the rear, and then curves forward again from there, sloping linearly from slightly above the bottom end toward the rear lower end. Note that in this embodiment, the moon-shaped core 5 slopes linearly from slightly above the bottom end toward the rear lower end, but it may also slope in a curved manner.

The cross section of the moon-shaped core 5 cut at approximately the center in the width direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction is formed into a roughly S-shape. The core body 51 is roughly semicircular in rear view. The core body 51 narrows toward the top, and the cross section cut horizontally to wrap around the heel is formed into a semicircular arc shape.

The core body 51 has notches 53 at both front ends of the lower end that slope diagonally upward from the lower end in a straight line. In this embodiment, the lower end has notches 53 at both front ends, but it is also possible to have a notch 53 on only one side. Also, the notches 53 slope diagonally upward from the lower end in a straight line, but they may also slope in a curved line.

The core mountain portion 52 is generally rectangular in shape with a concave front side, and extends upward from the upper end at the middle position in the width direction of the core body portion 51, which protrudes forward and curves to correspond to the narrowing at the top of the rear heel.

The cross section of the core mountain portion 52 cut horizontally is formed in a semicircular arc shape, and the semicircular arc shape of the cross section of the core mountain portion 52 is shallower than the semicircular arc shape of the cross section of the core body portion 51. This allows the heel portion to be securely held in place.

The moon-shaped core 5 is made of a relatively hard resin and is enclosed in the heel portion 4 and heel guide portion 7. The resin may be a thermoplastic resin such as thermoplastic polyurethane, polyamide elastomer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, or ABS resin, or a thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin or unsaturated polyester resin. In this embodiment, the moon-shaped core 5 is made of resin, but it may also be made of thermoplastic rubber, or synthetic or natural leather.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the footwear 1 of this embodiment has a sponge member 8 enclosed around the periphery of the opening 23 through which the user's foot is inserted. This allows the foot to be inserted smoothly into the shoe. The elasticity of the sponge member 8 also improves the feel on the foot. Note that, although the sponge member 8 is enclosed around the periphery of the opening 23 in this embodiment, it is not limited to sponge as long as it is elastic.

The heel guide 7 may be laid in a generally horizontal position near its upper end as shown in FIG. 6, which prevents interference with the foot when putting on the shoe. Also, if the heel guide 7 is laid in a horizontal position near its upper end, the angle at which the toes of the foot are bent can be reduced when putting on the shoe, allowing the foot to be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

<Second embodiment>

Next, a second embodiment that differs from the above embodiment will be described. The main difference from the first embodiment is the structure of the moon-shaped core, so this will be mainly described. Figure 7 shows the moon-shaped core 100 according to the second embodiment, where (a) is a rear view, (b) is an A-A cross-sectional view, and (c) is a B-B cross-sectional view. Figure 8 is a side view of footwear 1 equipped with the moon-shaped core 100. Note that structures similar to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

When viewed from the side, the moon-shaped core 100 curves so that the rear end is recessed from above toward the front, then curves so that it bulges backward from there, and then curves further forward from there. The part of the rear end that curves so that it is recessed from above toward the front lies more horizontally than the moon-shaped core 5 of the first embodiment.

When viewed from the side, the moon-shaped core 100 curves so that the front end bulges from above toward the front, then curves so that it is recessed toward the rear, then curves forward again from there, and slopes linearly from just above the bottom end toward the rear lower end. And, the part where the front end curves so that it bulges from above toward the front, then curves so that it is recessed toward the rear, then curves forward again from there lies more horizontally than the moon-shaped core 5 of the first embodiment.

The moon-shaped core 100 comprises a core body 110 and a core mountain 120. The core body 110 has notches 130 at both front ends of the lower end, which slope linearly from the lower end diagonally upward toward the front. In this embodiment, the lower end has notches 130 at both front ends, but it is also possible to have a notch 130 at only one of them. Also, although the notches 130 slope linearly from the lower end diagonally upward toward the front, they may slope in a curved manner.

The upper part of the moon-shaped core 100, from the top of the core mountain 120 to the part that curves forward and bulges outwards, lies more horizontally than vertically. Figure 8 shows footwear 1 with the moon-shaped core 100 inside. This configuration prevents interference with the foot when putting on the shoe. Also, if the rear part of the heel is laid flat, the bending angle of the toes of the foot can be reduced when putting on the shoe, allowing the foot to be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

In addition, the dimension of the moon-shaped core 100 from the rear end to the front end of the core body 110 is at least twice the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core mountain 120. This increases the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core body 110, improving the durability of the moon-shaped core 100 against loads applied.

As shown in FIG. 9, the upper part of the moon-shaped core 100, i.e., the core mountain part 120, can also be configured as a core mountain part 121 that is slightly vertical.

<Third embodiment>

Next, a third embodiment, which differs from the above embodiments, will be described. The main difference from the first embodiment is the structure of the moon-shaped core, so this will be mainly described. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the moon-shaped core in the third embodiment. Figure 11 is a side view of the moon-shaped core. Figure 12 is a rear view of the moon-shaped core. Figure 13 is a top view of the moon-shaped core. Figure 14 is a side view of the moon-shaped core attached to footwear. Note that structures similar to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, the moon-shaped core 200 is formed integrally from resin with the core body 210 and the core mountain 220 above it. The core body 210 is formed with a semicircular arc shape in a horizontal cross section so as to encase the heel, and the core mountain 220 extends upward from the core body 210, with a semicircular arc shape in a horizontal cross section. As shown in Fig. 13, the semicircular arc shape of the core mountain 220 is formed with a shallower arc shape than the semicircular arc shape of the core body 210 (the semicircular arc shape on the rear side of the core mountain 220 has a larger radius of curvature than the semicircular arc shape on the rear side of the core body 210).

As shown in FIG. 11, when viewed from the side, the front side (the left side of FIG. 11) of the moon-shaped core 200 curves so that it bulges forward from above, then curves backward so that it is concave, then curves forward again from there, and slopes backward in a straight or curved manner from slightly above the bottom end toward the bottom end.

In other words, when viewed from the side, the moon-shaped core 200 has a roughly S-shaped front from the top end to the forward-most end, and both front ends of the lower end are provided with cutouts that slope in a curved shape from the bottom end diagonally upward toward the front. In this embodiment, the inclination of the cutout 230 portion is formed at approximately 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The forward-most end of the moon-shaped core 200 is rounded.

When viewed from the side, the rear end of the moon-shaped core 200 is curved so that it is concave from above toward the front, then curves so that it bulges backward from there, and then curves gently forward from there, forming a roughly S-shape from the top to the bottom.

In addition, the upper edge of the core mountain 220 of the moon-shaped core 200 is rounded when viewed from the side, and the highest point of the upper edge is forward of the rearmost position of the core mountain 220. In other words, the upper edge of the core mountain 220 is formed on a gentle arc that is convex upward. The upper part of the core mountain 220 from the top to the part that curves to bulge forward lies more horizontally than vertically. In this embodiment, the tangent line TL at the rearmost end of the part that curves to recess forward from the top of the rear end side of the core mountain 220 is formed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal.

When viewed from the back, the moon-shaped core 200 has a recess on both the left and right sides at the connection between the main core body 210 and the core mountain 220, and the upper part bulges out from the connection on both the left and right sides. In addition, the upper end of the rear end of the core mountain 220 in this embodiment is formed in a substantially straight line, and is formed with rounded left and right sides. The upper end of the rear end of the core mountain 220 may be formed in a downwardly convex arc shape.

Furthermore, the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the main core body 210 of the moon-shaped core 200 is more than twice the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core mountain 220, and the height dimension of the core mountain 220 is less than ⅓ of the overall height dimension of the moon-shaped core 200. Additionally, the peripheral portion 240 of the entire moon-shaped core 200 is formed to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the thickness direction.

Figure 14 shows the footwear with the moon-shaped core 200 attached. The footwear 1 of this embodiment includes an upper 2, a sole 3, a heel part 4, etc., and has a basic structure similar to that of the first embodiment. In addition, the moon-shaped core 200 is contained in the heel part 4 of the footwear 1, so it does not easily break or collapse, and the foot can be smoothly inserted into the footwear.

The heel portion 4 is covered with a reinforcing member 6 made of resin. This allows the heel portion 4 to be reinforced. In addition, since the reinforcing member 6 is made of resin, it is possible to reduce the weight. In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 6 made of resin is covered, but it does not have to be covered. In addition, the reinforcing member 6 is made of resin, but is not limited to this.

Footwear 1 has a heel guide 7 formed above heel 4, which extends diagonally backward. Heel guide 7 is configured as part of upper 2, and upper 2 as a whole has a shape in which the heel side extends diagonally upward and backward.

The heel section 4 and heel guide section 7 contain a moon-shaped core 200 so that the core body section 210 is located in the heel section 4 and the core mountain section 220 is located in the heel guide section 7. The heel guide section 7 has a concave curved shape on the front side.

The moon-shaped core 200 of this embodiment and the footwear equipped with it, which have the above configuration, have a heel guide section extending diagonally backward above the heel section, which improves ease of putting on, and allows the shoes to be put on while standing without using a shoehorn or hands.

In addition, by providing the moon-shaped core 200 with the notches 230 at both front ends, when the foot lands on the ground and the sole is deformed due to compression, etc., the upper side also has room to flex and deform in the direction of the notches (toward the front of the shoe), improving the cushioning of the entire shoe and improving comfort.

In addition, the notch 230 has an inclined portion formed at approximately 60 degrees to the horizontal plane, so the tip is not sharp compared to when it is formed at an acute angle, for example. Therefore, when the moon-shaped core 200 is attached to footwear, it does not get caught when the shoe is worn, providing a comfortable fit and preventing damage with minimal interference with the upper. Note that the inclination of the notch 230 is not limited to 60 degrees, and it is preferable that it be an angle of 45 degrees or greater.

In addition, when viewed from the back, the connection between the core body 210 and the core mountain 220 of this moon-shaped core 200 is recessed on both sides, and the core mountain 220 extending upward from there bulges on both sides, making it easier to put on and less likely to get caught on things, and safer, than if the width were gradually narrowed from the core body 210. Also, because the connection between the core body 210 and the core mountain 220 is recessed on both sides, this part has good flexibility, making it easier to put on.

In addition, the upper part of the moon-shaped core 200, from the top of the core mountain 220 to the part that curves forward to bulge, lies more horizontally than vertically, making it less likely to get caught when putting on, making it easy and safe to wear. Also, when walking, the heel guide part 7 containing the core mountain 220 is not located close to the back of the foot, so it is less likely to interfere with the foot and does not hinder walking.

In addition, the frontmost end of the moon-shaped core 200 is rounded when viewed from the side, so when the moon-shaped core 200 is attached to footwear, it does not get caught when the shoe is worn, making it comfortable to wear, and because the tip is not sharp, it interferes less with the upper, preventing damage.

In addition, since the peripheral edge 240 of this moon-shaped core 200 is inclined from the inside to the outside in the thickness direction, when the moon-shaped core is attached to footwear, it is more comfortable to wear and does not get caught when the shoe is worn, compared to when it is not inclined and is simply cut, and there is less interference with the upper, preventing damage.

In addition, the tangent line TL at the rear end of the upper part of the rear end side of the core mountain portion 220 of this moon-shaped core 200 is formed at approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal, so that it is easy to put on and take off, and there is little interference with the foot when walking. Note that it is preferable that this angle is more horizontal than the angle of approximately 60 degrees.

In addition, the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core body 210 of this moon-shaped core 200 is more than twice the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core mountain portion 220, so the dimension from the rear end to the front of the core body 210 is longer, improving the durability of the moon-shaped core 200 against loads and improving stability.

＜Other embodiments＞

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is of course not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the tip height T1 of the heel guide 7 is lower than the front end height T2 of the opening 23, but the tip height T1 of the heel guide 7 may be higher than the front end height T2 of the opening 23. This makes it difficult for the heel guide 7 to be stepped on by the foot when putting on the footwear, and allows the foot to be inserted smoothly into the footwear.

Figure 15 shows a moon-shaped core 300 according to another embodiment, with Figure 16 (a) being a rear view and (b) being a C-C cross-sectional view. As shown in Figure 16, the moon-shaped core 300 has a core body 310 and a core ridge 320 that are integrally formed, and the core body 310 gradually narrows from the bottom to the top, and the core ridge 320 may extend from the core body 310 so as to gradually narrow upward. This allows the foot to be smoothly guided into the footwear.

In the above embodiment, the moon-shaped core 5 is configured such that the core body 51 and the core ridge 52 are smoothly formed as one unit, but it can also be configured as a moon-shaped core 400 in which a horizontal cutout 430 is formed on the back side between the core body 410 and the core ridge 420 (see FIG. 16). In this way, the core body 410 is contained in the heel 4, and the core ridge 420 is contained in the heel guide 7, and the horizontal cutout 440 of the moon-shaped core 400 makes it easier for the heel guide 7 to bend relative to the heel 4, allowing deformation of the heel guide 7 and improving ease of putting on and comfort when walking.

In the above embodiment, the moon-shaped core 5 is formed integrally with the core body 51 and the core ridge 52, but the core body 510 and the core ridge 520 can also be formed as separate moon-shaped core 500. The core body 510 is contained in the heel 4, the core ridge 520 is contained in the heel guide 7, and the heel guide 7 is configured to be bendable relative to the heel 4 (see FIG. 17). As a result, the core body 510 is contained in the heel 4 and the core ridge 520 is contained in the heel guide 7 separately, making it easier for the heel guide 7 to bend relative to the heel 4, and allowing deformation of the heel guide 7 to improve ease of putting on and comfort when walking.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Footwear 2 Upper 21 Upper body 22 Tongue 23 Opening 3 Sole 4 Heel 5 Moon-shaped core 51 Core body 52 Core ridge 53 Cutout 6 Reinforcement member 7 Heel guide 8 Sponge member 100 Moon-shaped core 110 Core body 120 Core ridge 130 Cutout 200 Moon-shaped core 210 Core body 220 Core ridge 230 Cutout 300 Moon-shaped core 310 Core body 320 Core ridge 330 Cutout 400 Moon-shaped core 410 Core body 420 Core ridge 430 Cutout 440 Cutout 500 Moon-shaped core 510 Core body 520 Core ridge 530 Cutout

Claims (25)

A moon-shaped core used in the heel of footwear.
The core body and the upper core mountain are integrally formed.
The core body portion has a cross section cut horizontally in a semicircular arc shape so as to wrap around the heel, and has a cutout at both front ends of the lower end that is inclined linearly or curvedly from the lower end obliquely upward toward the front,
The core portion has a cross section cut in a horizontal direction that is formed in a semicircular arc shape,
When viewed from the side, the front of the moon-shaped core curves upwards and forwards, then curves backwards and concaves, then curves forwards again, and then slopes backwards in a straight or curved line from just above the bottom end to the bottom end .
The dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core body portion is at least twice as large as the dimension from the rear end to the front end of the core mountain portion.
Moon-shaped core. When viewed from the back, the core mountain portion extends upward from the core body portion and has a width narrower than that of the core body portion.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the back, the connecting portion between the core body portion and the core mountain portion is recessed on both the left and right sides, and the upper portion from the connecting portion bulges on both the left and right sides.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the back, the upper end of the rear end of the core portion is substantially linear or has a downwardly convex arc shape, and the left and right sides are rounded.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, the upper edge of the core portion is rounded, and the highest point of the upper edge is forward of the rear end of the core portion.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The upper portion of the core portion from the top to the curved portion that bulges forward is inclined toward the horizontal direction rather than the vertical direction.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, the front side of the moon-shaped core is formed in a roughly S-shape from the top end to the bottom most forward end.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, the rear end of the moon-shaped core curves downwards and then bulges backwards.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, the rear end of the moon-shaped core curves downward from above toward the front, then curves upward from there toward the rear, and then curves gently toward the front.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, the rear side of the moon-shaped core is formed into an approximately S-shape from the top to the bottom.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, the forward end of the moon-shaped core is rounded.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The peripheral edge (240) of the moon-shaped core is inclined from the inside to the outside in the thickness direction.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The inclination of the cutout portion is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees or greater with respect to the horizontal plane.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The core portion is
The semicircular arc shape of the cross section of the core mountain portion is shallower than the semicircular arc shape of the cross section of the core body portion.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, in the part of the rear end of the moon-shaped core that is curved so as to be concave from the top toward the front, the tangent line (TL) at the rear end is inclined toward the horizontal at an angle of more than 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . When viewed from the side, in the part of the rear end of the moon-shaped core that is curved so as to be concave from the top toward the front, the tangent line (TL) at the rear end is inclined toward the horizontal at an angle of more than 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The height dimension of the core mountain portion is 1/3 or less of the height dimension of the entire moon-shaped core.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The width of the core body portion gradually narrows from the bottom to the top, and the core ridge portion extends from the top of the core body portion to the top.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The core body portion and the core mountain portion are integrally molded from resin.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . A horizontal notch is formed on the rear side between the core body portion and the core mountain portion,
When the core body portion is contained in the heel portion of the footwear, the core mountain portion is contained in a heel guide portion extending rearward and upward from the heel portion, and is configured to allow the heel guide portion to bend relative to the heel portion.
The moon-shaped core according to claim 1 . The shoe has a heel portion and a heel guide portion extending obliquely rearward above the heel portion,
Footwear, characterized in that the core body portion of the moon-shaped core according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is contained within the heel portion, and the core ridge portion is contained within the heel guide portion. The heel portion is covered with a resin reinforcing member.
22. Footwear according to claim 21 . A sponge member is enclosed in the periphery of the opening into which the user's foot is inserted.
22. Footwear according to claim 21 . The tip height of the heel guide portion is located below the front end height of the opening.
22. Footwear according to claim 21 . The upper end of the heel guide is inclined toward the horizontal direction rather than the vertical direction.
22. Footwear according to claim 21 .

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