JP5486203B2 - footwear - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to footwear that achieves both breathability, openness and formality.

  The foot sole is where many sweat glands are distributed in the human body. In warm and tropical areas, footwear (hereinafter referred to as sandals) that secures the foot with a string or band without covering the instep Have been worn for a long time. However, in formal and face-to-face situations, sandals are taboo, and leather shoes are worn to withstand the discomfort caused by stuffy feet. For this reason, various improvements have been attempted in order to suppress discomfort caused by wearing the footwear with the instep covered with the upper for a long time. For example, there is known a structure in which a moisture-permeable and waterproof material is used as an upper member of footwear, or an outsole of a toe or arch is opened to take in outside air (Patent Document 1). In addition, an air pump or a blower device is provided in the heel part, and forcing the outside air to the toe part via a ventilation pipe (Patent Document 2), or a water path having both ends as drain holes is provided in the tip of the meat. A water-impermeable and water-vapor permeable membrane formed in the thick portion and connected to the outside of the shoe and the inside of the shoe respectively by a plurality of air guide holes and a plurality of through holes formed along the water channel Is provided at the opening of the through hole to the water channel to prevent rainwater from entering the shoe and to ensure air permeability in the shoe (FIGS. 1 and 3 of Patent Document 3).

  On the other hand, the footwear having a foot fixing means on the inside of the footwear has been proposed to suppress foot injury such as hallux valgus (Patent Document 4), but the foot tightening degree can be adjusted. There was nothing. Furthermore, there is no attempt to improve the breathability inside the footwear by providing a foot mounting means inside the footwear in order to prevent the occurrence of stuffiness and bad odor inside the footwear.

JP 7-327706 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-23802 JP 2001-37503 A JP 2002-165611 A

  Since footwear other than conventional sandals has the same instep and foot fixing means, in order to obtain walking stability, it is indispensable to bring the instep into close contact with the foot. For this reason, the interior of the footwear is often in a sealed state and in a high humidity state, causing unpleasant problems such as foot stuffiness and bad odor. In order to improve this, even if a vent hole connecting the inside and the outside of the shoe was provided, the air permeability and feeling of opening as wearing sandals could not be obtained. If you wear large shoes that dislike the feeling of discomfort such as stuffy feet or odors, there are side effects such as damage to the toes of the toes and easy removal of the shoes, which makes walking safer and more stable. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even if the footwear is covered with an instep, it has a comfortable feeling like a sandal, a formal outer shape design, a covering function of the foot, and high walking stability. It is an object to provide compatible footwear. Furthermore, a second problem is to provide a footwear having a comfortable function not found in conventional footwear by dynamically changing the tightening state of the foot according to the motion state of the foot.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the first feature of the footwear according to the present invention is that the footwear is located on the back side of the footwear, and the footwear is attached to the bottom of the footwear, and the footwear is not in close contact with the footwear. And an upper that covers the outside of the means, and the attachment means can adjust the degree of tightening of the foot relative to the attachment means that is covered with the upper and cannot directly adjust the degree of tightening of the foot. That is, the foot fixing function and the footwear outer shape / covering function were separated.

  According to this configuration, since the area where the footwear is in close contact with the foot is reduced, heat and sweat are easily dissipated. Furthermore, since a space can be provided between the foot and the upper, the air inside the footwear is easily ventilated without being influenced by the upper material. That is, it is possible to select the material of the upper material without being influenced by restrictions on the material, thickness, cost, and the like related to air permeability. At the same time, the foot mounting means can adjust the tightening degree of the foot without depending on the upper 7, so that high stability and safety can be obtained even during walking or running. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the foot tightening state appropriately according to individual differences in foot size and the size of the foot that changes within a day.

  In a further preferred aspect, the wearing means includes a foot fastening member having at least a part of a string-like or belt-like shape changing portion, and having at least one end fixed to the bottom of the footwear and / or the side of the upper. The shape variable portion is deformed to adjust the tightening condition of the foot. That is, the shape variable portion is deformed in the direction of the mouth different from the circumferential length (inner diameter) direction with respect to the foot to change the circumferential length, or the circumferential length itself is expanded and contracted. According to this configuration, since the inner diameter of the mounting means can be changed, it is possible to easily adjust the degree of foot tightening even inside the upper. That is, it is possible to provide footwear that is excellent in appearance without requiring a large space between the foot and the upper for adjusting the tightening degree.

  In a further preferred aspect, the wearing means includes an instep pad having a shape retaining property that covers a part of the instep of the foot that hardly deforms during walking. According to this configuration, since the tightening force by the tightening member is distributed and applied to the foot via the upper pad, it is difficult to cause pain in the foot and the holdability of the foot is improved. The upper pad may be one that can be partially bent by reducing the thickness of the material.

  In a further preferred aspect, the upper pad is configured to be removable from the mounting means. According to this configuration, the upper can be formed with the upper pad removed in the footwear manufacturing process, so that a conventional manufacturing method using a shoe mold can be applied and manufacturing is easy.

  In a further preferred aspect, the upper pad is provided with an adjusting mechanism for adjusting and holding the deformation amount of the shape variable portion. According to this configuration, the adjustment mechanism that requires strength and reliability can be configured regardless of the upper, so that it is not necessary to significantly change the conventional upper material and manufacturing method. Further, since the adjusting mechanism can be hidden by the upper, the adjusting mechanism can be configured without any restriction on the appearance.

  In a further preferred aspect, the adjustment mechanism includes entraining means for pulling the shape variable portion toward the footwear of the footwear, and locking means for locking the entrainment means to the upper pad. According to this configuration, the adjustment mechanism can be used with a small number of parts by using an instep pad formed of a shape-retaining material such as plastic, metal, wood material, and composite material having moderate flexibility. It can be configured with a score and sufficient strength. In addition, an adjustment mechanism can be disposed in a narrow space between the foot and the upper. Furthermore, since the tightening adjustment direction is only the length direction of the foot toward the mouth, it is possible to easily adjust the tightening condition with one hand while stepping on the foot.

  In a further preferred aspect, the entrainment means includes a string-like member, and the locking means is provided at the bulging portion having an outer diameter larger than at least the specific portion at the specific portion of the string-shaped member and the upper pad. And a locking portion that prevents the bulging portion from moving in the toe direction (= the anti-wearing mouth direction). For example, a hole penetrating from near the shape variable part to the mouth is provided in the upper pad, and a large hole through which the bulging part can pass and a small hole through which the bulging part can pass are connected to the opening shape of the through hole of the through hole. Structure. According to this configuration, by moving the string-like member from the large hole to the small hole, the bulging portion is prevented from moving by the small hole, so that the deformed state of the shape variable portion can be maintained at a desired place. Further, if the end on the side of the mouth of the string-like member is connected to the connecting point between the shape variable portion and the string-like member to make an annular shape, the tightening adjustment / release can be quickly and easily performed with one finger of one hand.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the upper pad has a plurality of holes or microstructures that allow ventilation. That is, a large number of holes and fine structures that allow ventilation and moisture release may be formed over the entire surface of the upper pad having shape retention. According to this structure, since heat and sweat emitted from the instep of the foot are prevented from being dissipated by the instep pad, comfort is improved.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the footwear has a ventilation structure that ventilates by providing a through hole that connects the inside and the outside of the footwear at least at the toe portion of the footwear. Specifically, a through hole is provided in the outsole or the upper. According to this structure, it is easy to introduce cool and low humidity outside air into the toe portion where there are many sweat glands and most likely to cause athlete's foot. In addition, the gap that can be surely made between the foot and the instep serves as a chimney, and natural ventilation is performed so that outside air always flows into the toes even when sitting without walking, so the toes are always comfortable It is kept and can prevent athlete's foot and odor.

  In another aspect, part or all of the shape variable portion is a polymer composite structure that can be electrically deformed. That is, a part or all of the tightening member is composed of a polymer composite structure that can be electrically expanded and contracted. According to this configuration, the fastening member itself electrically expands and contracts instantaneously at the level of 1 second, so even if the person does not directly adjust the foot tightening condition, the movement of the foot is automatically detected to make it dynamic. It can be adjusted or remotely controlled from a terminal at hand.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the polymer composite structure is deformed into a corrugated shape at least when tightened, and the length of the polymer composite structure is shortened to adjust the degree of foot tightening. That is, the polymer composite structure is formed by connecting a plurality of strip-shaped polymer elements in the longitudinal direction and alternately bending adjacent elements in the opposite direction, or by electrically bending each element in the same direction. Stretch the length of the entire device. At the time of tightening, the polymer composite structure and the foot are in contact with each other at the apex portion of the curve, so that it is possible to suppress a feeling of close contact and pressure. In addition, since the same is true for the facing relationship between the polymer composite structure and the upper, it is easy to secure a ventilation space.

  In another aspect, the footwear includes detection means for detecting a difference in walking speed including when sitting, from movement of the foot, and the mounting means is an electronic device that changes the degree of tightening of the foot based on a signal from the detection means. The control means is provided. The detection means detects the acceleration applied to the foot and the stress applied to the fastening band, and outputs an electrical output corresponding to the degree. The control means identifies the current state of foot movement from the magnitude of the output from the detection means and the frequency distribution per unit time, and based on the result, expands and contracts the polymer structure. Adjust automatically.

  According to this configuration, when the user starts walking, the foot tightening force is immediately increased to enhance the sense of unity between the foot and the footwear, and the stability of walking can be obtained. On the other hand, when you stop sitting and your feet stop moving, you can relax your feet and encourage your body temperature and sweat to relax. It goes without saying that the automatic adjustment method described here can be variously changed by software of the control means.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the footwear includes a bottom of the footwear, an attachment means that is on the instep side of the footwear and that closely contacts the foot with the bottom of the footwear, and an upper that covers the outside of the attachment means. The mounting means includes a polymer composite structure that can be electrically expanded and contracted, and energizing the polymer composite structure based on setting information from an operation unit or a remote controller provided in the footwear, thereby tightening a foot. And a control means for electrically adjusting. As a result, the degree to which the foot is tightened by the mounting means can be easily adjusted from the outside of the footwear.

It is side surface perspective drawing which shows the structure of the footwear of this invention concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a plane perspective view which shows the mounting means in the footwear of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a rear foot portion in the footwear of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a middle foot portion in the footwear of FIG. 2. It is a top view which shows the structure of the upper pad concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a plane perspective view concerning Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the adjustment jig | tool of the fastening band in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the slider type | mold adjustment part in FIG. It is a plane perspective view concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a side perspective view showing the configuration of the footwear of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the electrically extendable fastening band according to FIG. 9.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The form shown below shows one mode of the present invention, and is not limited to the present invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the present invention. Further, in the respective drawings shown below, the dimensions and ratios of the respective constituent elements are appropriately different from the actual ones so that the respective constituent elements can be recognized on the drawings. Further, in any of the drawings, a detailed portion is omitted as long as the contents of the present invention can be understood. In these drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view showing a configuration of footwear provided with foot mounting means of the present invention which is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan perspective view showing the main part of the mounting means provided inside the upper 2. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines AB and CD in FIG. 2, respectively.

  1-4, 200 shows the whole footwear, and the footwear 200 is roughly comprised from the outsole 1 (outsole), the insole 3, the upper (upper) 2, and the mounting | wearing means of a leg | foot. Yes. The foot mounting means includes the fastening bands 5, 6, 30, 31 and the shape variable members 8, 9, 10, the upper pad 7 and the traction members 12, 13 as main components. In the footwear of the present invention, the foot fixing function and the outer shape / covering function of the footwear are separated, and the upper 1 does not have the foot fixing function. In the following description, details of the present invention will be described focusing on leather men's business shoes, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The outsole 1 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin such as leather or polyurethane, or an elastic foam material. The upper 2 is made of a material such as leather, synthetic leather, or cloth, and the end of the upper 2 and the ends of the fastening bands 5, 6, 30, 31 are caught between the outsole 1 and the insole 3. Are bonded or sewn together and fixed to the outsole 1. The foot is fixed by the mounting means, the outsole 1 and the rear end 4 of the upper 2, but the rear end 4 is not essential.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the arch-shaped front fastening band 5 and the front fastening band 30 are connected by a shape variable member 8. The material of the fastening band and the shape variable member may be a material mainly used for a belt or string such as synthetic fiber or leather. FIG. 5 is a plan view seen from the upper surface of the upper pad 7. The upper pad 7 is formed of a shape-retaining material such as plastic, metal, wood material, and composite material having appropriate flexibility. The upper part of the upper pad 7 is suspended by hooking the shape variable member 8 on the hook-shaped protrusions 14 and 37.

  In order to adjust the tightening degree of the forefoot part and the middle foot part, the intermediate point part 11 of the hook-like protrusions 14 and 37 in the shape variable member 8 is pulled by the traction member 13 toward the wearing mouth 24 side. In order to maintain the tightening degree, a plurality of bulging portions 22 having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the original traction member 13 at the end of the traction member 13, and the bulging portions 22 provided on the upper pad 7. The movement of the traction member 13 is limited by providing a locking portion that prevents the movement of the traction member 13. For example, the upper pad 7 is provided with holes 19 and 18 that are connected from the vicinity of the middle point portion 11 of the variable shape member 8 to the vicinity of the wearer's mouth, and the bulging portion can pass through the opening shape of the hole 19 on the toe side among these holes. A small hole 18a (FIG. 5) through which the bulging part cannot pass through the opening shape of the hole 18 on the mouth side, and a large hole 18b (FIG. 5) through which the bulging part can pass. The structure is connected to each other at the contact points. And when holding the position of the traction member 13, the traction member 13 is moved to the small hole 18a side, and the movement of the bulging part 22 is prevented by contact | abutting of the bulging part 22 to the periphery of the small hole 18a. Conversely, when the pulling member 13 is put in and out, the pulling member 13 is moved to the large hole 18b side. The traction member 13 may be annular like the traction member 12, and in that case, the end can be connected back to the intermediate point portion 11.

  Similarly, the rear tightening band 6 and the rear tightening band 31 are connected by the shape variable members 9 and 10. The back of the upper pad 7 is suspended by hooking the variable shape members 9 and 10 on the hook-shaped protrusions 15, 35 and 16, 36, respectively. Then, the shape variable members 9 and 10 are gathered together at the midpoint portion 38 of the hook-shaped projections 15, 35 and 16 and 36, and pulled by the traction member 12 toward the wearing mouth 24, thereby adjusting the tightening degree of the rear foot portion. To do. Since the pulling member 12 is formed in an annular shape so as to return to the intermediate point portion 38, the tightening degree can be adjusted with one finger by hooking the finger on the annular pulling member 12.

  When the position of the pulling member 12 is maintained, the pulling member 12 is moved to the small hole side of the hole 17 in which the small hole 17a and the large hole 17b are connected at the contact point of the both in the same manner as the hole 18 and bulges in the hole 17 The movement of the part 21 is prevented. Conversely, when the traction member 12 is taken in and out, the traction member 12 is moved to the larger hole side.

  The bulging part is formed using hard plastic, metal, rubber or the like, but is formed integrally with the traction member, separately formed and attached to the traction member, or a combination thereof. Things can be considered. In the present invention, it may be formed by any method, but is preferably formed integrally with a pulling member exemplified below.

  In the first example, a string and a bulging portion are integrally molded using a resin having appropriate flexibility and tensile strength such as 11 nylon and polypropylene. A plurality of bulges are formed in advance at predetermined positions. In this case, the fastener at the end of the string in the engaging portion 38 in FIG. 2 can be integrally formed, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

  The second example is a stretchable structure in which the outer periphery of a rubber core is knitted and covered with a thread that is difficult to stretch, and the bulging part can be formed by partially changing the knitting method It is. In this composite rubber cord, the bulging portion shrinks according to the pulled force, and the bulging portion is formed if left untreated. If a rubber material having an appropriate elasticity is used for the core member as the pulling member of the present invention, the subtle adjustment of the tightening according to the movement of the foot and the change in the size of the foot will be naturally performed. Comfort is improved.

  Examples other than the above-described integral formation include (third example) a metal bead having a sandwiched structure with respect to a string and fixed to a predetermined part of the string, and (fourth example) two predetermined parts of the string. A fixed bulge portion is provided on the center, and a through hole is provided at the center, and a plurality of spherical bodies that can be moved through the string 13 in the through hole are provided in a rosary shape between the fixed bulge portions. The pulling member has a length of a string in which all the spherical bodies can move like the abacus between the fixed bulging portions so that the pulling member can move to a small hole between arbitrary spherical bodies. The string in this case is preferably made of a material that is difficult to expand and contract, such as polyester, nylon, and leather.

  3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines AB and CD in FIG. 2, respectively. In FIG. 3, cavities 53 and 54 are provided in the upper part of the upper pad 7, and in FIG. 4, a cavity part 55 is provided in the upper part of the upper pad 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the ends of the cavity 53 on the side of the wearing mouth 24 and the side of the anti-wearing mouth 24 are holes 17 and 20, respectively. The cavities 54, 55 communicate with each other, the end of the cavity 54 on the side of the mouth 24 is a hole 18, and the end of the cavity 55 on the side of the anti-wear 24 is a hole 19. Since the hollow portions 53 and 54 are located at the top inflection portion of the upper pad, the strength of the upper pad can be increased and the upper pad 7 can be made thinner and lighter.

  Further, the swelling of the upper pad 7 that forms the hollow portions 53 and 54 serves as a support for securing the space 52 between the upper 2 and the upper pad 7. The space 52 is formed between the upper surface of the foot portion ahead of the ankle in the footwear 200 and the inner surface of the upper 2 (FIGS. 3 and 4), and the space portion of the toe portion 25 in the footwear 200 (FIG. 1). Is connected to the foot opening portion 24 to provide a discharge path for guiding high-humidity air inside the footwear to the foot opening portion 24, and a buffer space that makes it difficult for the foot and the instep 2 to come into contact with each other. Although the footwear of the above-mentioned patent document 4 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2002-165611) expands the toe part space inside footwear and suggests about the space between the inner surface of the upper and the toe of the foot, It is not disclosed that a space in the foot range from the toes to the ankles, that is, a discharge path that guides high-humidity air in the toes to the mouth while being inserted.

  The traction members 12 and 13 pass through the cavities 53 and 54, respectively. The traction member 12 is connected to the intermediate point portion 38 through a space between the upper 2 and the suspension band 51 attached to the back side of the upper 2. As a result, the upper pad 7 has a structure suspended from the upper 2, so that the upper pad 7 can be prevented from being caught by the toes when the footwear is worn.

  Further, the inner portion of the upper pad 7 that is in contact with the foot may be attached with a knitted fabric or sponge material having good air permeability and high body pressure dispersion effect to improve the comfort. Further, a large number of holes and microstructures that allow ventilation and moisture release may be formed over the entire surface of the upper pad. With such a structure, heat and sweat emitted from the instep of the foot are transmitted through the instep pad and dissipated into the space 52, so comfort is improved and the instep pad is moist. It can prevent rubbing and aching.

  Furthermore, if a ventilation port connected to the outside is provided in the toe portion 25 of the footwear, the foot opening 24 is positioned higher than the ventilation port, so that a negative pressure acts on the ventilation port due to the chimney effect, and natural ventilation of air is performed. Done. Further, when walking, the bellows action that changes the spatial volume of the toe portion 25 due to the movement of the foot makes it easy to perform positive intake and exhaust through the ventilation port in addition to the ventilation through the space 52 described above. . As a result, fresh outside air is always introduced into the footwear, so that discomfort inside the footwear due to stuffiness is greatly reduced.

  In FIG. 4, the end portions of the fastening bands 5, 6, 30, and 31 are caught between the outsole 1, the insole 3, and the midsole 50 and bonded or sewn, and fixed to the outsole 1. Has been. Thereby, the inner diameter of the tightening band is reduced by pulling the towing members 12 and 13 toward the wearing mouth 24 side, the upper pad 7 is attracted to the outsole side and the rear end 4 side, and the foot is placed on the footwear. Fixed.

  The upper pad 7 shown in FIG. 5 is made by integrally molding a light and rigid material such as plastic, light metal, and composite material using a mold. For this reason, the structure which mounts the electronic device, components, etc. which are mounted in the footwear demonstrated in Embodiment 3 at the time of integral molding can be made easily.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 6 is a plan perspective view showing the configuration of footwear provided with foot mounting means according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing an adjusting jig for adjusting the tightening degree of the forefoot portion and the middle foot portion. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a slider-type adjusting unit that adjusts the tightening degree of the rear foot. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in adjusting means for adjusting and holding the deformation amount of the shape variable portion, and the description of the common parts is omitted.

  6 and 8, the upper pad 7 has a fish-bone shaped slider groove formed on the upper surface of the upper pad 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the slider groove includes one central groove 94 having an inverted T-shaped cross section extending in the front-rear direction, and left and right from the central groove 94 at a plurality of locations at regular intervals along the central groove 94. A plurality of branch grooves 97 projecting out. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8C, the slider 90 includes a plurality of inverted T-shaped protrusions 93 having a cross section that matches the cross section contour of the central groove 94. The slider 90 has a plurality of protrusions 93 inserted into the center groove 94 and slides in the front-rear direction by the guide of the center groove 94.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view, respectively, obtained by cutting the slider-type adjusting unit of FIG. 6 along the lines EF and GH. FIGS. 8C and 8D are a perspective view of the slider 90 as seen from the side of the upper pad body, and a perspective view showing the branch groove 97 and the central groove 94 as seen from the cut surface of the E-F line. The slider 90 moves along the central groove 94, but the inverted T-shaped projection 93 has a large cross-sectional shape at the tip, and is difficult to come off from the slider groove. When the inverted T-shaped protrusion 93 and the branch groove 97 are aligned, the slider 90 moves to the left or right along the branch groove 97 and fits with the branch groove 97 as shown in FIG. The position in the front-rear direction is fixed.

The slider 90 is provided with entraining grooves 91 and 92 through which intermediate portions of the shape variable members 9 and 10 are entrained together. An upper portion of the slider 90 is provided with a pulling leather 96 for facilitating the operation of the slider 90 with one hand. The pulling leather 96 is sewn with a slider 90 and a strong thread 98. In order to adjust the tightening degree of the foot, the end of the pulling leather 96 that is exposed to the wear mouth 24 is grasped with a fingertip and pulled out. When the right tightening position is reached, pull the pulling leather 96 left or right, align the position of the inverted T-shaped projection 93 of the slider 90 with the branch groove 97, and then move the slider 90 to the branch groove 97. The slider position can be held. The branch groove 97 and the inverted T-shaped protrusion 93 may be formed so as to draw an arc in the middle foot portion so that the slider 90 can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the branch groove 97.

  The E-shaped tightening adjustment jig 80 shown in FIG. 7A replaces the constituent elements related to the traction member 13 for adjusting the tightening degree of the front foot portion and the middle foot portion in the first embodiment. If the degree of tightening of the forefoot part and the middle foot part is adjusted when the footwear is first worn, little adjustment is required after that. Therefore, in order to adjust the length of the shape variable portion 8, a plurality of tightening adjustment jigs 80 having different lengths (usually W1 = W2) combined with the intervals W1 and W2 of the claws 81 shown in FIG. Prepare and choose a jig that suits the user of the footwear. As shown in FIG. 7B, the method of adjusting the tightening degree is adjusted by interlacing the tightening adjusting jig 80 between the hook-shaped protrusions 14 and 37 of the shape variable member 8. At this time, since the overlapping length in the left-right direction of the shape variable portion 8 varies depending on the width of the central claw 81 and W2, the tightening degree of the shape variable portion 8 can be adjusted by replacing the tightening adjustment jig 80.

  The tightening adjustment jig 80 is sandwiched between the shape variable member 8 and the upper pad 7 and never comes off. Needless to say, the tightening adjustment jig 80 shown in FIG. 7 can also be applied to the first embodiment.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 9 is a perspective plan view showing a configuration of footwear in which a part or all of the shape variable portion according to the third embodiment of the present invention is a polymer composite structure (electric deformation element) that can be electrically expanded and contracted. In the first and second embodiments, the entraining means (string or slider) and the user operation part of the entrainment means are arranged in the wearing mouth part using physical force, and the user operates the operation part. Then, the tightening amount of the shape variable portion that cannot be directly adjusted by the user is adjusted. Similarly, in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the lead wire 132, which is an electronic means, the control means 130, and the user operation unit 135 are arranged in the mouth portion, and the user operates the operation unit so that the user directly The tightening amount is adjusted by energizing and contracting the polymer composite structure of the variable shape portion that cannot be adjusted. The user operation unit 135 is exemplified by a button switch. The control unit 130 receives a signal from the user operation unit 135 and applies an electrical output digitally controlled by built-in software to the polymer composite structure via the conducting wire 132.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, it is easy to expand the function of the user operation unit 135, and the detection unit 134 and the remote controller 140 may be provided as auxiliary units for the user operation unit 135.
As the detection means 134, an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the foot is suitable. Some of the polymer composite structures generate voltage in response to external stress. Since the polymer composite structure generates a voltage corresponding to the force applied to the tightening band from the foot during walking when used in the tightening band, it can also be used as a detection means for identifying the walking state.

  According to this configuration, an effect that cannot be obtained in the first and second embodiments can be obtained. That is, in addition to the user adjusting the degree of tightening of the foot, a difference in walking speed including when sitting is detected from the movement of the foot to automatically adjust the degree of tightening dynamically, or the remote controller 140 at hand. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the tightening condition by sending control information to the control means 130 by radio or human body communication.

  The polymer composite structure refers to a material that expands or contracts due to electrochemical redox or the like found in conductive polymers such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, and acrylic ester compounds. In recent years, electroactive actuators have been developed that require almost no volume of the conversion portion when converting electrical energy into motion or deformation. For example, a dielectric elastomer or an electroactive polymer is used (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-149894).

  Among electroactive polymers, ion conductive actuators and conductive polymer actuators are flexible actuator elements in which polymers and metal electrodes are laminated, and can be bent and stretched quickly at a low voltage of about 2 to 5 V. Since the generated force is large and durable, and it is lightweight and has a high degree of freedom in shape forming, it is suitable as a shape-variable member or a fastening member of the present invention. In addition, polymer composite structures that have been dried using a solid electrolyte containing a normal temperature molten salt (gel-like) or a polymer electrode in which carbon fine particles or carbon nanotubes are mixed are backed with a metal electrode. It is more preferable that the resistance is lowered.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structural example of a polymer composite structure in the present invention. FIG. 11A shows a sheet-shaped conductive polymer 60 sandwiched between an electrode 61 and a counter electrode 62 as one element, and a plurality of elements are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sheet-shaped conductive polymer. The connected polymer composite structure is shown. FIG. 11B shows a curved polymer composite structure when a voltage is applied by connecting the electrodes so as to be alternately connected to FIG. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, each element is alternately bent in the opposite direction, so that the length of the polymer composite structure is reduced according to the applied voltage. The shape is maintained even when the voltage application is stopped. If reverse voltage is applied, it will return.

  FIG.11 (c) shows the case where the electrodes in the same surface of a sheet-like conductive polymer are connected and the voltage of the same polarity is applied to each element. When applied to the footwear of the present invention, the application method and the electrode shape of the electrode may be appropriately combined or modified according to the place where the footwear is applied. At the time of tightening, the polymer composite structure and the foot are in contact with each other at the apex portion of the curve, so that it is possible to suppress a feeling of close contact and pressure. In addition, since the same applies to the facing portion between the polymer composite structure and the upper, it is easy to secure a ventilation space. In particular, when the polymer composite structure itself expands and contracts, it is preferable to cover the polymer composite structure with a soft cover material having a mesh-like or corrugated surface with a small contact area with the foot.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the third embodiment, the shape variable members 8, 9, 10, 32, 33, and 34 shown in the first and second embodiments and the fastening bands 5, 6, 30, and 31 are electrically expanded and contracted. Possible polymer composite structures 122 and 123 serve as fastening members. The upper pad 128 is attached to the polymer composite structures 122 and 123 in a detachable and slidable manner by opposing hook-shaped protrusions 124, 125 and 126, 127 provided on the upper pad 128. Further, the upper pad 128 may be suspended by a suspension band attached to the upper 2 as in the first embodiment. In the polymer composite structures 122 and 123, it is not necessary that all the parts expand and contract at the same rate, and it is preferable that the portion on the upper pad 128 has the highest expansion and contraction rate. The expansion / contraction rate can be adjusted by changing the size of each element of the polymer composite structure or changing the applied voltage.

  9 and 10, the polymer composite structures 122 and 123 are configured such that the control voltage from the control means 130 is supplied from the thin battery 123 to the power supply wires 132 and 133 and the upper pad 128 via a connector (not shown). When the polymer composite structures 122 and 123 are connected, they are bent or stretched to change the degree of foot tightening. The battery 123 is a button-type primary battery or paper battery that is thin and lightweight, and is suitable for mounting. However, other types of primary batteries and secondary batteries, fuel cells, Peltier elements, and other power generators and power storage devices are combined. It may be a thing. The control means 130 identifies the walking state and the sitting time based on the signal from the detection means 134 that detects the movement of the foot, and dynamically adjusts the degree of tightening of the foot dynamically.

In addition, the control means 130 receives basic setting information for controlling the polymer composite structure and manual operation information for how to tighten the foot from the remote controller 140 using wireless or human body communication, and has a built-in (non-volatile) memory. And the polymer composite structures 122 and 123 are controlled. In communication, an antenna line may be embedded in the shoelace 141 or the instep pad 128. This makes it possible to remotely adjust the tightness of the foot without placing a finger on the footwear in a narrow seat such as a vehicle or a large hall or a conference seat. In addition, even in footwear that cannot sufficiently secure the foot, such as conventional boots, it is possible to remotely adjust the degree of tightening of the foot while wearing the boot, thereby improving walking stability.

  It should be noted that electronic components such as the control means 130, the detection means 134, and the battery 129 that require moisture resistance and reliability are preferably mounted so as to be protected by an upper pad 128 that is integrally formed of plastic or metal. That is, the storage space and wiring structure for the electronic parts are provided in the upper pad 128 so that the electronic parts are not easily affected by the use conditions of the footwear. Further, if the upper pad 128 and the electronic component are integrated into a module, the module can be manufactured in a separate process from the footwear main body, and the productivity is excellent.

  As mentioned above, although it demonstrated based on embodiment of the footwear provided with the mounting | wearing means of the foot which can adjust the tightening degree of the foot inside the footwear provided with the upper of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and combinations are possible. For example, the number and shape of the fastening bands in the wearing means may be changed as appropriate according to the use and design of the footwear. The fastening band and the shape variable portion may be integrally formed using a continuous material. As a means for locking the entrainment means, a known locking means operated with both hands may be used.

  As yet another modification, in Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention, the end portion of the fastening band is caught between the outsole 1 and the insole 3 and bonded or sewn, and fixed to the outsole 1. However, the end of the fastening band may be fixed to the inner side surface of the upper 2. That is, as long as the tightening degree of the wearing means provided in the footwear can be adjusted, and a space for exhausting the high-humidity air inside the footwear can be secured between the upper and the wearing means, any deformation may be made. .

  Furthermore, by making electronic control intelligent using microelectronic technology, more precise mounting control becomes possible. In addition, it becomes easy to equip functions other than mounting control by sharing the intelligent control unit. The mounting method of the present invention in which the electronic device is mounted on the upper pad shown in FIG. 9 is applicable when various electronic devices are mounted on the footwear to realize various useful functions and effects. Examples include a wireless communication function, a display function, a power generation / storage function, a health management / promotion function, and the like.

  The present invention is not only for footwear that requires formality and foot protection, such as business shoes and safety work shoes, but also for women's footwear and boots such as pumps and high heels that emphasize fashion, durability and weather resistance. Can be widely applied to footwear such as mountaineering shoes, walking shoes, and sports shoes, which are strongly demanded.

1 ... Outsole (outsole)
2 ... Upper (upper)
3 ... Insole 4 ... Rear end 5, 30, 122 ... Front fastening bands 6, 31, 123 ... Rear fastening bands 7, 128 ... Back pads 8, 9 10,... Shape variable parts 12, 13... Traction members 14, 15, 16, 35, 36, 37... Hook-shaped protrusions 124, 125, 126, 127. 18, 19, 20 ... hole 21, 22 ... bulging part 23 ... shoelace 24 ... wear mouth part 25 ... toe part 50 ... insole 51 ... suspension band 53 , 54, 55 ... Cavity 60 ... Sheet-like conductive polymer 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 ... Electrode 80 ... Tightening adjustment jig 90 ... Slider 94 ... Center groove 91 ... Entrainment groove 97 ... Branch groove 96 ... Leather 129 ... Battery 130 ... Control means 1 35 ... User operation unit 134 ... Detection means 140 ... Remote controller 200 ... Footwear

Claims (5)

The bottom of the footwear,
Wearing means on the back side of the footwear and tightening and sticking the foot to the bottom of the footwear;
An upper covering the outside of the mounting means ;
And a user operation unit disposed in the mouth part ,
The mounting means couples the left and right tightening bands and the left and right tightening bands, and changes the shape by adjusting the amount of entrainment toward the wearing mouth part by a user operation in the user operation part. Footwear comprising: a shape-variable portion that changes a tightening force of a foot by left and right fastening bands; and a bulging portion that protrudes toward the upper side and forms a predetermined gap space between the upper side and the upper side. . Said mounting means, footwear according to claim 1, characterized by including the instep pad that covers the instep of the foot assembled on the deformable portion. The instep pads, have a shape retention,
The bulge is formed on the upper pad,
The footwear according to claim 2, wherein the amount of entrainment of the shape variable portion is adjusted by an entrainment member that passes through the bulge portion . Have a ventilation structure for venting between the footwear inside and outside at least the toe portion of the footwear, the space and wearing mouth of the toe portion via the gap space formed between the mounting means and said instep footwear according to claim 2 or 3, wherein it is configured so as to communicate and. The bottom of the footwear,
Wearing means that includes an electrically deformable electric deformable element and is located on the back side of the footwear so that the foot closely contacts the bottom of the footwear;
Comprising a vamp capital covering the outside of said mounting means while forming a predetermined gap space between said mounting means,
The footwear is characterized in that the electric deformation element expands and contracts by a user operation from a remote controller or a user operation in a user operation unit disposed in a footwear part to adjust a foot tightening degree .

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