UPPER AND SHOE INCLUDING THE SAME
An upper includes an upper body covering the instep of a foot. At least a part of the upper body is an opening region disposed with an opening. In the opening region, a plurality of first members extending in one direction is disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. Both ends of the plurality of first member are fixed ends fixed to a portion of the upper body adjacent to the opening region. The order in which fixed ends on one end side of the plurality of first members are arranged is equal to the order in which fixed ends on the other end side of the plurality of first members are arranged.
The present invention relates to an upper and a shoe including the same.
BACKGROUNDConventionally, shoes including uppers are known. As disclosed in Patent Literature 1, for example, fibers, resins, and composites of fibers and resins are generally used as materials for uppers. In addition, it is common to produce a planar upper by forming materials for uppers in a linear shape and joining a plurality of linear materials to each other by knitting, weaving, braiding, welding, bonding, or the like.
CITATION LIST Patent Literature
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- Patent Literature 1: JP 2013-177736 A
However, if a plurality of linear materials is joined to each other over the entire region of an upper, the stiffness is increased in the entire region of the upper due to the joint of the linear materials. This causes, for example, deterioration in the followability of the upper with respect to bending and twisting of a foot during movement, fatigue failure of the materials during bending of a foot, and other problems.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a purpose of the present invention is to obtain an upper capable of reducing the stiffness of the upper.
Solution to ProblemIn order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, an upper includes an upper body covering the instep of a foot. At least a part of the upper body is an opening region disposed with an opening. In the opening region, a plurality of first members extending in one direction is disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. Both ends of the plurality of first member are fixed ends fixed to a portion of the upper body adjacent to the opening region. The order in which fixed ends on one end side of the plurality of first members are arranged is equal to the order in which fixed ends on the other end side of the plurality of first members are arranged.
Advantageous Effects of InventionAn upper according to the present invention has an effect of reducing the stiffness of the upper.
Hereinafter, embodiments of an upper according to the present invention and a shoe including the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments.
In the following embodiments, a direction in which a shoe center axis, which is a perpendicular line passing through a shoe center in a plan view of a shoe, extends is referred to as a front-rear direction, and a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction in a plan view of the shoe is referred to as a right-left direction.
In addition, of the front-rear direction, a direction directed from the end on the side where a portion of an upper covering the rearfoot of a foot is positioned toward the end on the side where a portion covering the forefoot of the foot is positioned is referred to as a front side, and of the front-rear direction, a direction directed from the end on the side where a portion of the upper covering the forefoot of the foot is positioned toward the end on the side where a portion of the upper covering the rearfoot of the foot is positioned is referred to as a rear side.
In addition, a median side of a foot in the anatomical position is referred to as a medial foot side, and the side opposite to the median side of the foot in the anatomical position is referred to as a lateral foot side. That is, the side closer to the median line in the anatomical position is referred to as the medial foot side, and the side farther from the median line in the anatomical position is referred to as the lateral foot side.
In addition, when a line along the right-left direction passing through a position corresponding to 25% to 50% of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the upper from the front end of the upper is defined as a first boundary line, and a line along the right-left direction passing through a position corresponding to 55% to 80% of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the upper from the front end of the upper is defined as a second boundary line, a portion positioned in front of the first boundary line is referred to as an upper forefoot portion, a portion sandwiched between the first boundary line and the second boundary line is referred to as an upper midfoot portion, and a portion positioned behind the second boundary line is referred to as an upper rearfoot portion.
The upper forefoot portion corresponds to a portion covering the forefoot of a foot of a wearer with a standard body shape, the upper midfoot portion corresponds to a portion covering the midfoot of a foot of a wearer with a standard body shape, and the upper rearfoot portion corresponds to a portion covering the rearfoot of a foot of a wearer with a standard body shape. In other words, the first boundary line is a line roughly along the MP joint of a wearer with a standard body shape, and the second boundary line is a line roughly along the Chopart joint of a wearer with a standard body shape.
Furthermore, a height direction means a direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the right-left direction unless otherwise specified, and a thickness means a dimension in the height direction unless otherwise specified.
First EmbodimentAs illustrated in
The upper body 20 mainly covers a part on the instep side of a foot. At the upper portion of the upper body 20, a foot insertion opening 20a for inserting a foot of a wearer and a throat portion 20b communicating with the foot insertion opening 20a and extending from the foot insertion opening 20a to the front side are disposed. At least a part of the upper body 20 is an opening region 4 disposed with an opening. In the opening region 4, a plurality of first members 5 extending in one direction are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. Details of the opening region 4 and the first members 5 are described later. Although the first members 5 are actually linear, in
The shoe tongue 21 is a member for protecting the instep of a wearer. The shoe tongue 21 covers the throat portion 20b inside the upper body 20. The shoe tongue 21 is fixed to the upper body 20 by stitching, welding, bonding, or a combination thereof. As the material of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21, woven fabric, knitted fabric, synthetic leather, or resin is used for example. In particular, in the shoe 1 required to have air permeability and lightweight property, a double raschel warp knitted fabric knitted with polyester yarn is preferably used as the material of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21. Note that the material of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 is not limited to those exemplified.
The shoelace 22 is a string-like member alternately hooked to the first members 5 disposed on both side edges of the throat portion 20b in the right-left direction, and is detachably attached to the upper body 20.
As illustrated in
Next, the structure of the upper body 20 is described in more detail with reference to
As illustrated in
The upper body 20 is disposed with the opening region 4 in which the first members 5 are disposed, and a joint region 6 to which the first members 5 are fixed. The opening region 4 is a region other than the throat portion 20b and the foot insertion opening 20a in the region opening to the upper body 20. The opening region 4 is disposed over the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, the upper rearfoot portion 25, and the upper sole portion 26. The opening region 4 is disposed in a portion of the upper body 20 other than the edge of the throat portion 20b, the edge of the foot insertion opening 20a, the lower edge of the upper forefoot portion 23, the lower edge of the upper midfoot portion 24 and the outer edge of the upper sole portion 26 excluding the boundary between the upper midfoot portion 24 and the upper sole portion 26, the lower edge of the upper rearfoot portion 25, and the end edge on the heel side.
The joint region 6 is a planar region disposed around the opening region 4. In other words, the opening region 4 is disposed in the region surrounded by the joint region 6. The structure of the joint region 6 is not particularly limited as long as the joint region 6 has higher stiffness than the opening region 4 in which the first members 5 are disposed. As the material of the joint region 6, for example, films, fibers, resins, and composites of fibers and resins, or the like is used. Fibers, resins, and composites of fibers and resins are joined by knitting, weaving, braiding, welding, bonding, or the like. The joint region 6 is disposed along the outline of the upper body 20 in the developed state.
The joint region 6 includes a first joint region 61 disposed at the lateral-foot-side lower edges of the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, and the upper rearfoot portion 25, a second joint region 62 disposed at the medial-foot-side lower edges of the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, and the upper rearfoot portion 25, and a third joint region 63 disposed at the heel-side end edge of the upper rearfoot portion 25. The joint region 6 further includes a fourth joint region 64 disposed at the front-side edge of the throat portion 20b, a fifth joint region 65 disposed at the lateral-foot-side edges of the throat portion 20b and the foot insertion opening 20a, and a sixth joint region 66 disposed at the medial-foot-side edges of the throat portion 20b and the foot insertion opening 20a. The joint region 6 further includes a seventh joint region 67 disposed at the lateral-foot-side edge of the upper sole portion 26, an eighth joint region 68 disposed at the medial-foot-side edge of the upper sole portion 26, and a ninth joint region 69 disposed at the heel-side end edge of the upper sole portion 26.
The first joint region 61 is not disposed in a part of the boundary between the upper midfoot portion 24 and the upper sole portion 26. The first joint region 61 and the second joint region 62 extend to be closer to a shoe center axis C from the rear side toward the front side. The front ends of the first joint region 61 and the second joint region 62 are connected to each other. The rear end of the first joint region 61 and the rear end of the second joint region 62 are connected to the lower end of the third joint region 63. The fifth joint region 65 and the sixth joint region 66 extend forward from the upper end of the third joint region 63 toward the fourth joint region 64. The front ends of the seventh joint region 67 and the eighth joint region 68 are connected to each other. The rear end of the seventh joint region 67 is connected to the first joint region 61. The lateral-foot-side end of the ninth joint region 69 is connected to the first joint region 61.
The first members 5 are linear members extending to cross the opening region 4 in the right-left direction or the height direction. The first members 5 are disposed with a space from each other in the front-rear direction. The first members 5 are disposed of a single material. Each of the first members 5 is, for example, a fiber, a thread obtained by bundling a plurality of fibers, or a resin disposed into a linear shape, and has flexibility. The first members 5 have elasticity in only one direction. The first members 5 are disposed on the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, the upper rearfoot portion 25, and the upper sole portion 26. The first members 5 on the upper forefoot portion 23 extend in the right-left direction between the first joint region 61 and the second joint region 62. The first members 5 positioned on the lateral foot side of the upper midfoot portion 24 extend from the fifth joint region 65 to the eighth joint region 68 through the boundary between the upper midfoot portion 24 and the upper sole portion 26. The first members 5 positioned on the medial foot side of the upper midfoot portion 24 extend in the height direction between the sixth joint region 66 and the second joint region 62. The first members 5 positioned on the lateral foot side of the upper rearfoot portion 25 extend in the height direction between the fifth joint region 65 and the first joint region 61. The first members 5 positioned on the medial foot side of the upper rearfoot portion 25 extend in the height direction between the sixth joint region 66 and the second joint region 62. The first members 5 positioned on the upper sole portion 26 extend in the right-left direction between the seventh joint region 67 and the eighth joint region 68, or extend in the right-left direction between the boundary between the upper midfoot portion 24 and the upper sole portion 26 and the eighth joint region 68.
Both ends of each of the first members 5 are fixed ends 50 fixed to the joint region 6 of the upper body 20 adjacent to the opening region 4. Hereinafter, when the fixed ends 50 at both ends of the first members 5 are distinguished, the fixed ends 50 on one end side of the first members 5 are referred to as fixed ends 51, and the fixed ends 50 on the other end side of the first members 5 are referred to as fixed ends 52. The fixed ends 51 on the one end side of the first members 5 are arranged in the front-rear direction. The fixed ends 52 on the other end side of the first members 5 are arranged in the front-rear direction. The order in which the fixed ends 51 on the one end side of the first members 5 are arranged is equal to the order in which the fixed ends 52 on the other end side of the first members 5 are arranged. The space between adjacent fixed ends 50 in the front-rear direction on the one end side may be different from that on the other end side, but the space on the one end side is the same as that on the other end side in the present embodiment. The first members 5 are disposed in parallel to each other. Note that the shoelace 22 is passed through a gap disposed between adjacent first members 5 and hooked to one of the first members 5.
Next, an effect of the upper 2 according to the present embodiment is described.
In the present embodiment, the upper 2 includes the upper body 20 that covers the instep of a foot as illustrated in
When the upper rearfoot portion 25 is contacted the ground while the upper forefoot portion 23 illustrated in
In the present embodiment, since the first members 5 are disposed at a part of a foot where the curvature in multiple directions is large as illustrated in
During movement, the skin of the midfoot of a foot mainly shrinks, twists, or distorts, and the upper midfoot portion 24 illustrated in
In the present embodiment, by hooking the shoelace 22 to the first members 5 as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the space between the adjacent fixed ends 50 on the one end side is the same as that on the other end side, and this makes it difficult for the first members 5 to intersect with each other. Accordingly, the first members 5 are easily sheared and deformed, and the first members 5 are more easily deformed following the strain of the skin of the foot during movement.
In the present embodiment, since the first members 5 illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the opening region 4A, a plurality of first members 5A extending in one direction is disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. The first members 5A are disposed on the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, and the upper sole portion 26. The first members 5A are bridged in portions of the joint region 6A that are positioned across the opening region 4A. With the present embodiment, it is also possible to achieve an effect similar to that of the first embodiment described above.
Third EmbodimentAs illustrated in
With the present embodiment, it is also possible to achieve an effect substantially similar to that of the first embodiment described above. That is, in the present embodiment, since the first members 5B are disposed on the upper midfoot portion 24, which causes the first members 5B to be easily deformed following the strain of the skin of a foot, it is possible to reduce wrinkles generated in the upper body 20B and fatigue failure of the materials of the upper body 20B. By reducing the fatigue failure of the materials of the upper body 20B, the strength required for the materials of the upper body 20B can be reduced, and it is possible to lead to weight reduction of the shoe 1B. In the present embodiment, by hooking a shoelace 22 to the first members 5B, the first members 5B serve as a substitute for eyelets, and the eyelets do not need to be disposed separately. Since the shoelace 22 is hooked on some of the first members 5B, a tightening force generated by tensioning the shoelace is applied to some of the first members 5B, and it is possible to locally tighten the upper body 20B. In the present embodiment, since the first members 5B extending in one direction are disposed in the opening region 4B in a state of not being coupled with each other, it is possible to improve air permeability between the inside and the outside of the upper body 20B and to reduce the weight of the shoe 1B.
Fourth EmbodimentAs illustrated in
With the present embodiment, it is also possible to achieve an effect substantially similar to that of the first embodiment described above. That is, in the present embodiment, since the first members 5C are disposed on the upper forefoot portion 23 where a bending point is generated, which causes the first members 5C to be easily deformed following the bending of a foot, it is possible to ease the contact of the upper body 20C with the foot and reduce fatigue failure of the materials of the upper body 20C. By reducing the fatigue failure of the materials of the upper body 20C, the strength required for the materials of the upper body 20C can be reduced, and it is possible to lead to weight reduction of the shoe 1C. In the present embodiment, since the first members 5C extending in one direction are disposed in the opening region 4C in a state of not being coupled with each other, it is possible to improve air permeability between the inside and the outside of the upper body 20C and to reduce the weight of the shoe 1C.
Fifth EmbodimentAs illustrated in
With the present embodiment, it is also possible to achieve an effect substantially similar to that of the first embodiment described above. That is, in the present embodiment, by hooking the shoelace 22 to the first members 5D, the first members 5D serve as a substitute for eyelets, and the eyelets do not need to be disposed separately. In addition, by hooking the shoelace 22 to some of the first members 5D, a tightening force generated by tensioning the shoelace 22 is applied to some of the first members 5D, and it is possible to locally tighten the upper body 20D. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the first members 5D extend to surround the foot insertion opening 20a, it is possible to locally tighten a portion around the foot insertion opening 20a of the upper body 20D. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the first members 5D extending in one direction are disposed in the opening region 4D in a state of not being coupled with each other, it is possible to improve air permeability between the inside and the outside of the upper body 20D and to reduce the weight of the shoe 1D.
Sixth EmbodimentAs illustrated in
The first members 5E include a first extendable member 53 and a second extendable member 54 having higher extensibility in one direction than the first extendable member 53. The opening region 4E includes a first region 41 in which a plurality of first extendable members 53 is arranged in the front-rear direction, and a second region 42 in which a plurality of second extendable members 54 is arranged in the front-rear direction. The first region 41 and the second region 42 are alternately disposed in the front-rear direction on the lateral foot side and the medial foot side of the throat portion 20b. In
As illustrated in
The front edge portion 20c is the front-side edge of the throat portion 20b. The front edge portion 20c extends in the right-left direction. The first side edge portion 20d is the lateral-foot-side edge of the throat portion 20b. The second side edge portion 20e is the medial-foot-side edge of the throat portion 20b. The first side edge portion 20d and the second side edge portion 20e extend in the front-rear direction.
Each first disposed portion 20f is a part of the second region 42 and protrudes from the first side edge portion 20d toward the second side edge portion 20e. The shape of each first disposed portion 20f in plan view is not particularly limited, but is a rectangle with rounded corners in the present embodiment. The shape of each first disposed portion 20f in plan view may be a polygon or a semicircle. The number of the first disposed portions 20f is not particularly limited, but is two in the present embodiment. The two first disposed portions 20f are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. Note that each first disposed portion 20f may be a part of one of the first region 41 and the second region 42.
Each second disposed portion 20g is a part of the second region 42 and protrudes from the second side edge portion 20e toward the first side edge portion 20d. The shape of each second disposed portion 20g in plan view is not particularly limited, but is a rectangle with rounded corners in the present embodiment. The shape of each second disposed portion 20g in plan view may be a polygon or a semicircle. The number of the second disposed portions 20g is not particularly limited, but is two in the present embodiment. The two second disposed portions 20g are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The first disposed portion 20f and the second disposed portion 20g are alternately disposed in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the second disposed portion 20g and the first disposed portion 20f are alternately disposed from the front side to the rear side in this order. Note that each second disposed portion 20g may be a part of one of the first region 41 and the second region 42.
One toe-side string passing portion 27c is disposed on the lateral foot side of the throat portion 20b. The toe-side string passing portion 27c is disposed in front of the lateral-foot-side string passing portion 27a. The toe-side string passing portion 27c is disposed in the vicinity of the boundary between the first side edge portion 20d and the front edge portion 20c.
The lateral-foot-side string passing portion 27a is constituted by a pair of one first string passing portion 27e disposed in the first disposed portion 20f and one second string passing portion 27f spaced apart on the lateral foot side from the first string passing portion 27e. The first string passing portion 27e is disposed in the second region 42. The second string passing portion 27f is disposed in the first region 41. The number of pairs of lateral-foot-side string passing portions 27a is not particularly limited, but is two in the present embodiment. The two pairs of lateral-foot-side string passing portions 27a are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The first string passing portion 27e and the second string passing portion 27f are disposed to be shifted in the front-rear direction and the right-left direction. In a pair of lateral-foot-side string passing portions 27a, the second string passing portion 27f is spaced apart on the lateral foot side and the rear side from the first string passing portion 27e. The second string passing portion 27f is positioned closer to the lateral foot side than the first side edge portion 20d. Note that each lateral-foot-side string passing portions 27a may be disposed in at least one of the first region 41 and the second region 42.
The medial-foot-side string passing portion 27b is constituted by a pair of one third string passing portion 27g disposed in the second disposed portion 20g and one fourth string passing portion 27h spaced apart on the medial foot side from the third string passing portion 27g. The third string passing portion 27g is disposed in the second region 42. The fourth string passing portion 27h is disposed in the first region 41. The number of pairs of medial-foot-side string passing portions 27b is not particularly limited, but is two in the present embodiment. The two pairs of medial-foot-side string passing portions 27b are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The third string passing portion 27g and the fourth string passing portion 27h are disposed to be shifted in the right-left direction and the front-rear direction. In a pair of medial-foot-side string passing portions 27b, the fourth string passing portion 27h is spaced apart on the medial foot side and the front side from the third string passing portion 27g. The fourth string passing portion 27h is positioned closer to the medial foot side than the second side edge portion 20e. The fourth string passing portion 27h, which is positioned at the foremost side among the two pairs of medial-foot-side string passing portions 27b, is disposed at a position right-left symmetrical to the toe-side string passing portion 27c across the throat portion 20b. In the present embodiment, the first string passing portion 27e is spaced apart on the lateral foot side and the rear side from the third string passing portion 27g, but the first string passing portion 27e and the third string passing portion 27g may be disposed side by side in the front-rear direction. Note that each medial-foot-side string passing portion 27b may be disposed in at least one of the first region 41 and the second region 42.
The heel-side string passing portion 27d is disposed behind the lateral-foot-side string passing portions 27a and the medial-foot-side string passing portions 27b. In the present embodiment, there are two heel-side string passing portions 27d; one is disposed on the lateral foot side of the throat portion 20b, and the other is disposed on the medial foot side. The two heel-side string passing portions 27d are disposed at right-left symmetrical positions across the throat portion 20b. The heel-side string passing portions 27d are disposed in the vicinity of the boundary between the edge of the throat portion 20b and the edge of the foot insertion opening 20a.
The shoelace 22 is passed through the toe-side string passing portion 27c, the lateral-foot-side string passing portions 27a, the medial-foot-side string passing portions 27b, and the heel-side string passing portions 27d. Although not illustrated, both ends of the shoelace 22 in the length direction are tied together with a bow knot or the like. The shoelace 22 includes a first portion 22a alternately passed through the second string passing portion 27f and the third string passing portion 27g, a second portion 22b alternately passed through the first string passing portion 27e and the fourth string passing portion 27h, and a third portion 22c extending between the toe-side string passing portion 27c and the fourth string passing portion 27h positioned at the foremost position and connecting the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b. The third portion 22c extends in the right-left direction across the throat portion 20b.
The first portion 22a extends obliquely rearward from the toe-side string passing portion 27c, is alternately passed through the third string passing portion 27g and the second string passing portion 27f, and is then passed through the heel-side string passing portion 27d on the lateral foot side. In a state before the shoelace 22 is pulled as illustrated in
The second portion 22b extends obliquely rearward from the fourth string passing portion 27h positioned at the foremost position, is alternately passed through the first string passing portion 27e and the fourth string passing portion 27h, and is then passed through the heel-side string passing portion 27d on the medial foot side. In a state before the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first string passing portion 27e and the fourth string passing portion 27h are disposed to be shifted in the front-rear direction and the right-left direction. Therefore, the second portion 22b alternately passed through the first string passing portion 27e and the fourth string passing portion 27h extends in a zigzag shape in the right-left direction from the front side to the rear side. In a state before the shoelace 22 is pulled, the first portion 22a and the second portion 22b do not intersect with each other. In a state before the shoelace 22 is pulled, a portion of the first portion 22a alternately passed through the second string passing portion 27f and the third string passing portion 27g and a portion of the second portion 22b alternately passed through the first string passing portion 27e and the fourth string passing portion 27h are parallel to each other.
As illustrated in
With the present embodiment, it is also possible to achieve an effect substantially similar to that of the first embodiment described above. That is, in the present embodiment, since the first members 5E extending in one direction are disposed in the opening region 4E in a state of not being coupled with each other, it is possible to improve air permeability between the inside and the outside of the upper body 20E and to reduce the weight of the shoe 1E.
In the present embodiment, in a state in which the shoelace 22 is pulled as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, since the first region 41 in which the first extendable members 53 are arranged and the second region 42 in which the second extendable members 54 are arranged are alternately disposed in the front-rear direction on the lateral foot side and the medial foot side of the throat portion 20b as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The first member 5F is a flexible tubular tube. The first member 5F has a cylindrical shape in the present embodiment, but may have a quadrangular cylindrical shape or the like. With the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve an effect similar to that of the first embodiment described above.
Eighth EmbodimentIn an opening region 4, a plurality of second members 7 extending in one direction is disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. The second members 7 are linear members extending to longitudinally cross the opening region 4 in the front-rear direction. The second members 7 are disposed with a space from each other in the right-left direction. The second members 7 are disposed of a single material. Each of the second members 7 is, for example, a fiber, a thread obtained by bundling a plurality of fibers, or a resin disposed into a linear shape, and has flexibility. The second members 7 have elasticity in only one direction. The second members 7 are disposed to overlap with first members 5. The second members 7 extend in a direction intersecting with the first members 5. The second members 7 are disposed over an upper forefoot portion 23, an upper midfoot portion 24, and an upper rearfoot portion 25. In each of the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, and the upper rearfoot portion 25, the number of the first members 5 is greater than the number of the second members 7. The first members 5 and the second members 7 are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. The second members 7 may be disposed by combining a plurality of materials.
The second members 7 are disposed on the lateral foot side and the medial foot side of a throat portion 20b and a foot insertion opening 20a. The second members 7 on the lateral foot side extend in the front-rear direction between a first joint region 61 and a third joint region 63 to longitudinally cross the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, and the upper rearfoot portion 25. The second members 7 on the medial foot side extend in the front-rear direction between a second joint region 62 and the third joint region 63 to longitudinally cross the upper forefoot portion 23, the upper midfoot portion 24, and the upper rearfoot portion 25. Both ends of each of the second members 7 are fixed ends 70 fixed to a joint region 6 of an upper body 20G adjacent to the opening region 4. Hereinafter, when the fixed ends 70 at both ends of the second members 7 are distinguished, the fixed ends 70 on one end side of the second members 7 are referred to as fixed ends 71, and the fixed ends 70 on the other end side of the second members 7 are referred to as fixed ends 72. The fixed ends 71 on the one end side of the second members 7 are arranged in the right-left direction. The fixed ends 72 on the other end side of the second members 7 are arranged in the right-left direction. The order in which the fixed ends 71 on the one end side of the second members 7 are arranged is equal to the order in which the fixed ends 72 on the other end side of the second members 7 are arranged. The space between adjacent fixed ends 70 in the right-left direction on the one end side may be different from that on the other end side, but the space on the one end side is the same as that on the other end side in the present embodiment. The second members 7 are disposed in parallel to each other.
With the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve an effect similar to that of the first embodiment described above. In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the second members 7 extending in the direction intersecting with the first members 5 are disposed in the opening region 4 in a state of not being coupled with each other, it is possible to reduce the damage of the first members 5 and to increase variations in the strength of stiffness of the upper body 20G, as compared with a portion in which only the first members 5 are disposed in the opening region 4. In addition, since the first members 5 and the second members 7 are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other and the number of the first members 5 is greater than the number of the second members 7, it is possible to control the excessive increase in the stiffness of the region where the second members 7 are disposed. The position at which the second members 7 are disposed is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be appropriately changed. In addition, the first members 5 and the second members 7 are only required to intersect with each other. For example, the first members 5 may be disposed to extend in the front-rear direction, and the second members 7 may be disposed to extend in the right-left direction.
Ninth EmbodimentIn an opening region 4, a plurality of second members 8 disposed to overlap a plurality of first members 5 is disposed. The second members 8 are flexible sheet-like members. The second members 8 are disposed of a single material. The material of the second members 8 is, for example, resin. The second members 8 are disposed on an upper midfoot portion 24. The number of second members 8 is not particularly limited, but is two in the present embodiment. One of the two second members 8 is disposed on the lateral foot side of a throat portion 20b and a foot insertion opening 20a, and the other is disposed on the medial foot side. The first members 5 and the second members 8 are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other. The second members 8 are fixed to a joint region 6 adjacent to the opening region 4. The second members 8 may be disposed by combining a plurality of materials.
With the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve an effect similar to that of the first embodiment described above. In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the second members 8 disposed to overlap the first members 5 are disposed in the opening region 4, it is possible to reduce the damage of the first members 5 and to increase variations in the strength of stiffness of the upper body 20H, as compared with a portion in which only the first members 5 are disposed in the opening region 4. In addition, since the first members 5 and the second members 8 are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other, it is possible to control the excessive increase in the stiffness of the region where the second members 8 are disposed. The position at which the second members 8 are disposed is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be appropriately changed.
The configurations described in the above embodiments merely show examples of the present invention and can be combined with another known technique, and a part of each configuration can be omitted or changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. The ranges of the opening regions 4 to 4E and the first members 5 to 5E are not limited to the examples illustrated in the above embodiments, and may be appropriately changed according to portions of the upper bodies 20 to 20E where stiffness is desired to be reduced.
The upper sole portion 26 may be omitted from each of the above embodiments. In each of the above embodiments, the first members 5 to 5F are disposed of a single material, but the first members 5 to 5F may be disposed by combining a plurality of materials. In addition, the first members 5 to 5F may be disposed in contact with each other or may be disposed with a space from each other as long as the first members 5 to 5F are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
-
- 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E SHOE
- 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H UPPER
- 3 SOLE
- 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E OPENING REGION
- 5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F FIRST MEMBER
- 6, 6A JOINT REGION
- 6B CENTER JOINT REGION
- 7, 8 SECOND MEMBER
- 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E UPPER BODY
- 20a FOOT INSERTION OPENING
- 20b THROAT PORTION
- 20c FRONT EDGE PORTION
- 20d FIRST SIDE EDGE PORTION
- 20e SECOND SIDE EDGE PORTION
- 20f FIRST DISPOSED PORTION
- 20g SECOND DISPOSED PORTION
- 21 SHOE TONGUE
- 22 SHOELACE
- 22a FIRST PORTION
- 22b SECOND PORTION
- 22c THIRD PORTION
- 23 UPPER FOREFOOT PORTION
- 24 UPPER MIDFOOT PORTION
- 25 UPPER REARFOOT PORTION
- 26 UPPER SOLE PORTION
- 27 STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27a LATERAL-FOOT-SIDE STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27b MEDIAL-FOOT-SIDE STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27c TOE-SIDE STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27d HEEL-SIDE STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27e FIRST STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27f SECOND STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27g THIRD STRING PASSING PORTION
- 27h FOURTH STRING PASSING PORTION
- 30 OUTSOLE
- 30a GROUND CONTACT SURFACE
- 31 MIDSOLE
- 41 FIRST REGION
- 42 SECOND REGION
- 50, 51, 52 FIXED END
- 53 FIRST EXTENDABLE MEMBER
- 54 SECOND EXTENDABLE MEMBER
- 61 FIRST JOINT REGION
- 62 SECOND JOINT REGION
- 63 THIRD JOINT REGION
- 64 FOURTH JOINT REGION
- 65 FIFTH JOINT REGION
- 66 SIXTH JOINT REGION
- 67 SEVENTH JOINT REGION
- 68 EIGHTH JOINT REGION
- 69 NINTH JOINT REGION
- 70, 71, 72 FIXED END
- C SHOE CENTER AXIS
Claims
1. An upper comprising
- an upper body covering an instep of a foot, wherein
- at least a part of the upper body is an opening region including an opening,
- a plurality of first members extending in one direction are arranged in the opening region in a state of not being coupled with each other,
- both ends of the plurality of first members are fixed ends fixed to a portion of the upper body adjacent to the opening region, and
- order in which fixed ends on one end side of the plurality of first members are arranged is equal to order in which fixed ends on the other end side of the plurality of first members are arranged.
2. The upper according to claim 1, wherein a space between adjacent fixed ends on the one end side is the same as a space between adjacent fixed ends on the other end side.
3. The upper according to claim 1, wherein
- the upper body includes an upper midfoot portion covering a midfoot of a foot, and
- the plurality of first members are disposed on the upper midfoot portion.
4. The upper according to claim 3, wherein
- the upper midfoot portion includes a foot insertion opening for inserting a foot, and a throat portion communicating with the foot insertion opening and extending forward from the foot insertion opening, and
- the plurality of first members extend from an edge of the throat portion toward a sole positioned below the upper body.
5. The upper according to claim 4, wherein
- the plurality of first members includes a first extendable member and a second extendable member having higher extensibility in the one direction than the first extendable member,
- the opening region includes a first region in which a plurality of the first extendable members is arranged, and a second region in which a plurality of the second extendable members is arranged, and
- the first region and the second region are alternately disposed in a front-rear direction.
6. The upper according to claim 5, wherein
- the first region and the second region are alternately disposed in the front-rear direction on a lateral foot side and a medial foot side of the throat portion,
- the upper body includes:
- a first side edge portion serving as a lateral-foot-side edge of the throat portion;
- a second side edge portion serving as a medial-foot-side edge of the throat portion;
- a first disposed portion protruding from the first side edge portion toward the second side edge portion;
- a second disposed portion protruding from the second side edge portion toward the first side edge portion;
- a lateral-foot-side string passing portion constituted by a pair of a first string passing portion disposed in the first disposed portion and a second string passing portion spaced apart on the lateral foot side from the first string passing portion, the lateral-foot-side string passing portion disposed in at least one of the first region and the second region;
- a medial-foot-side string passing portion constituted by a pair of a third string passing portion disposed in the second disposed portion and a fourth string passing portion spaced apart on the medial foot side from the third string passing portion, the medial-foot-side string passing portion disposed in at least one of the first region and the second region, the first disposed portion and the second disposed portion being alternately disposed in the front-rear direction; and
- a shoelace to be passed through the lateral-foot-side string passing portion and the medial-foot-side string passing portion, and
- the shoelace includes:
- a first portion to be alternately passed through the second string passing portion and the third string passing portion; and
- a second portion to be alternately passed through the first string passing portion and the fourth string passing portion.
7. The upper according to claim 1, wherein
- the upper body includes an upper midfoot portion covering a midfoot of a foot and an upper rearfoot portion covering a rearfoot of the foot,
- the upper midfoot portion includes a foot insertion opening for inserting a foot, and a throat portion communicating with the foot insertion opening and extending forward from the foot insertion opening, and
- the plurality of first members extends from an edge of the throat portion toward the upper rearfoot portion.
8. The upper according to claim 1, wherein
- the upper body includes an upper forefoot portion covering a forefoot of a foot, and
- the plurality of first members is disposed on the upper forefoot portion and extends in a right-left direction.
9. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first members has elasticity in only the one direction.
10. The upper according to claim 1, wherein
- the upper body includes a second member disposed to overlap the plurality of first members, and
- the plurality of first members and the second member are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other.
11. The upper according to claim 10, wherein
- a plurality of the second members is disposed and extends in a direction intersecting with the plurality of first members,
- the second members are disposed in a state of not being coupled with each other, and
- the number of the plurality of first members is greater than the number of the second members.
12. A shoe comprising:
- the upper according to claim 1; and
- a sole positioned below the upper.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 21, 2021
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2024
Inventor: Chihaya SUZUKI (Hyogo)
Application Number: 18/273,245