The present invention relates primarily to indoor shoes such as those for volleyball or basketball.

In recent years, with the change in the spiking form in volleyball, there is a significantly increased load on a side brake on the front foot during a jump (i.e., the foot that is placed in front of the body in the forward direction immediately before takeoff). Also in basketball, a violent direction-changing move referred to as "Eurostep" is becoming common.

With the conventional shoe structure, due to the insufficient rigidity of the upper, in practice, a phenomenon called "lateral bulging" may occur, where the foot laterally slides out of the sole, and the input position when vertically kicking the ground is likely to shift toward the ball of little toe as the heel supinates due to the shift of the lower limbs.

With the "lateral bulging" or the heel supination, the central position of the force of kicking the ground during a jump shifts toward the ball of little toe, and the supinated heel portion needs to be recovered, which may cause a loss of time during a direction-changing move or a spiking action.

First Patent Document: JP2005-152490A (Abstract)

It is an object of the present invention to improve performances in various sports, e.g., by suppressing the shifting of the input position when vertically kicking the ground toward the ball of little toe or by reducing the loss of time during a direction-changing move or a spiking action, by reducing the amount of "lateral bulging" or suppressing the supination of the heel.

The present invention includes:

• an interior member 1 in contact with a surface of a foot; and
• a loop-shaped wrap W covering a portion of an interior member 1 and formed by a material less stretchable than the interior member 1, wherein the wrap W includes:
  • a heel portion W1 continuously covering a medial side M, a back surface B and a lateral side L of a calcaneal bone BC;
  • a twisted portion W2 having a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped configuration continuous with a front end portion of the heel portion W1 on the medial side M of the heel portion W1, a twisted portion W2 extending while being twisted on the medial side M of the foot toward under a foot sole;
  • a medial bottom portion W3 continuous with a front end portion of the twisted portion W2, a medial bottom portion W3 extending along a medial side portion of the foot sole to a ball O1 of a big toe under the foot sole; and
  • a diagonal transverse portion W4 having a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped configuration continuous with a front end portion of the heel portion W1 on the lateral side L of the heel portion W1, a diagonal transverse portion W4 covering at least a portion of a cuboid bone BCu and/or at least a portion of a tuberosity (a rough surface) B5f of a fifth metatarsal bone B5, and further extending across an upper surface of an instep of the foot in a diagonally forward direction so as to cover a portion of an upper surface of the big toe and at least a portion of a side surface of the ball O1 of the big toe.

On the upper 6, this loop-shaped wrap W extends, on the medial side M, from the heel portion W1 via the twisted portion W2 into the medial bottom portion W3 reaching the ball O1 of the big toe under the foot sole, and extends, on the lateral side L, from the heel portion W1, covering the side surface and/or the upper surface of the area from the cuboid bone BCu to the tuberosity (the rough surface) B5f of the fifth metatarsal bone, and further extends over the instep in a diagonally forward direction, reaching the ball O1 of the big toe.

Now, during a jump or a direction-changing move, as a force in the vertical direction Z is input under the ball O1 of the big toe, the loop-shaped wrap W will pull the lateral side L of the heel toward the medial side M both from the medial side M and from the lateral side L, and pull the lateral side L of the instep toward the medial side M.

Thus, the "lateral bulging" or the supination of the heel will be less likely to occur. This will improve the performance of the wearer.

As used herein, "loop-shaped" refers not only to cases where the wrap W forms a complete loop (endless), but also to cases where the wrap W is locally discontinuous, e.g., in the area of the big toe. Even if it is locally discontinuous, the pulling effect of the wrap W will be realized as long as it is substantially loop-shaped.

As used herein "less-stretchable material" means a non-stretchable material such that the wrap W substantially or essentially does not stretch under a load that can be applied thereon during play. Therefore, a "less-stretchable material" is preferably less stretchable than a foamed resin of a midsole 5, and is more preferably less stretchable than a rubber outsole 4.

As used herein, "band-shaped" includes a belt, and includes a plurality of cords (strings) arranged generally parallel to one another (placed in a parallel arrangement).

The "medial bottom portion W3 extending along a medial side portion of the foot sole" means that a member separate from a sole may be arranged along the medial side portion of the upper surface of the sole or that the portion may be formed by the medial side portion itself of the sole extending along the medial side portion of the foot sole.

• FIG. 1 is a medial side view showing the principle of the present invention, showing a relationship between the foot bone structure and the wrap.
• FIG. 2 is a lateral side view showing the relationship.
• FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the relationship.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention, showing the athletic shoe as seen from the medial side, with the exterior member removed.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the athletic shoe as seen from the medial side.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the athletic shoe as seen from the lateral side.
• FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the athletic shoe.
• FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the athletic shoe, with the exterior member pulled open.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the athletic shoe, with the lateral-side exterior member pulled open.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic lateral cross section showing the athletic shoe taken along line X-X of FIG. 4.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic lateral cross section showing the athletic shoe taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 7, i.e., along the diagonal transverse portion.

Preferably, the diagonal transverse portion W4 includes a first portion W41 and a second portion W42 each having a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped configuration; and
the athletic shoe further includes a connecting structure J for detachably connecting together the first portion W41 and the second portion W42.

In such a case, the diagonal transverse portion W4 is provided with the connecting structure J for attaching/detaching between the first portion W41 and the second portion W42. Therefore, the wearer can easily switch between the fastened (tightened) state and the loosened state of the wrap W.

Preferably, the connecting structure J is such that: a tip portion of the second portion W42 has a through hole W40 defined therein, through which the first portion W41 is passed, and a tip portion of the first portion W41 is inserted through the through hole W40 and is folded back.

In such a case, it is possible to easily maintain the engagement between the first portion W41 and the second portion W42, and the wrap W is unlikely to stretch at the engaged portion.

Preferably, the athletic shoe further includes a shoelace 3 for fastening an upper 6 wrapping around the instep,
a shoelace 3 is engaged with the folded-back tip portion of the first portion W41.

In such a case, when one loosens the shoelace 3, the wrap W also loosens, which will make it easy to put a foot into the upper 6. On the other hand, if one fastens the medial and lateral side of the upper 6 with the shoelace 3, the wrap W will also tighten, which will make it easy to put the shoe on.

Preferably, the athletic shoe further includes an exterior member 2 covering at least a portion of the interior member 1; and
a portion of the diagonal transverse portion W4 is arranged between the interior member 1 and the exterior member 2.

In order to suppress the "lateral bulging" or the supination of the heel, the rigidity (stiffness or stiffer) of the upper 6 inevitably becomes large. However, even if the wrap W is arranged on the outer periphery of the upper 6 having a large rigidity, the pulling force from the wrap W will unlikely act on the foot.

If a portion of the diagonal transverse portion W4 is arranged between the interior member 1 and the exterior member 2, the pulling force of the wrap W acts directly on the foot via the interior member 1, which is more flexible than the exterior member 2. This will make it easy to suppress the "lateral bulging" or the supination of the heel.

Moreover, the wrap W is unlikely to be exposed over the exterior member 2, and the wrap W will not possibly hinder play.

Preferably, the interior member 1 includes a lateral-side interior member 10 in contact with a lateral side surface of the foot;
the exterior member 2 includes a lateral-side exterior member 20 covering the lateral-side interior member 10; and
a portion of the diagonal transverse portion W4 is arranged between the lateral-side interior member 10 and the lateral-side exterior member 20.

In such a case, on the lateral side of the foot, the wrap W is hidden between the interior member 1 and the exterior member 2, and the wrap W will not hinder other players during play.

Note that "interior member" includes a member, as a part of the tongue, arranged on the medial side M or the lateral side L of the foot.

Preferably, in at least a portion of an area of the lateral-side exterior member 20 that is covering the diagonal transverse portion W4 and at least a portion of an area of the lateral-side exterior member 20 that is anterior to the diagonal transverse portion W4, the lateral-side exterior member 20 is not attached to the lateral-side interior member 10; and
a plurality of engagement portions 27, with which the shoelace 3 for fastening an upper 6 wrapping around the instep, are provided in a non-attached portion 201 of the lateral-side exterior member 20 that is not attached to the lateral-side interior member 10.

In such a case, on the lateral side L of the foot, the lateral rigidity of the upper 6 is increased by the lateral-side interior member 10 and the lateral-side exterior member 20, while facilitating the dorsal flexion of the foot.

Preferably, between adjacent ones of the engagement portions 27, the lateral-side exterior member 20 has a cutout (notch) 29 extending downward from an upper end of the lateral-side exterior member 20.

In such a case, the cutout 29 further facilitates the dorsal flexion of the foot.

Preferably, the athletic shoe further includes an attached portion W10 where the lateral-side exterior member 20 is integrally attached to the lateral-side interior member 10 in the heel portion W1; and
a non-attached portion 201 where the lateral-side exterior member 20 is not attached to the lateral-side interior member 10 at least in an upper portion of a middle foot section,
wherein an area from a front end to a rear end of an upper portion of the non-attached portion 201 is set to be non-attached to the lateral-side interior member 10.

In such a case, the attached portion W10 having a high rigidity improves the heel holding property, while the movement of the middle foot portion is unlikely to be hindered because of the non-attached portion W11 having a low rigidity.

Preferably, the athletic shoe further includes:

• an outsole 4 having a tread surface;
• a midsole 5 of which a primary component is a foamed material (foam body) of a thermoplastic resin arranged on the outsole 4; and
• an upper 6 secured to the midsole 5 and wrapping around the instep,
• wherein the twisted portion W2 and the diagonal transverse portion W4 are formed by a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped (string-shaped) member that is less stretchable than the midsole 5.

In such a case, it is possible to suppress the stretching of the wrap.

Preferably, the athletic shoe further includes:

• a sole having a plurality of cleats of which a primary component is a leather or a non-foamed material (a non-foam body) of a synthetic resin; and
• an upper 6 secured to the sole and wrapping around the instep,
• wherein the medial bottom portion W3 is formed by at least a portion of the sole.

The cleats are formed by a non-foamed material of a synthetic resin or by a metal.

In such a case, the sole of a leather or a non-foamed material of a synthetic resin having a large rigidity may function as the medial bottom portion W3, and it may not be needed to separately provide a member for the medial bottom portion W3.

Preferably, an upper 6 wrapping around the instep includes the interior member 1 and an exterior member 2 that is less stretchable than the interior member 1;
a lower edge of the exterior member 2 extends along an inner surface of an upper edge of a sole; and
the lower edge of the exterior member 2 and a portion of the sole form at least a portion of the medial bottom portion W3.

In such a case, the lower edge of the exterior member 2 that is less stretchable and a portion of the sole form at least a portion of the medial bottom portion W3, which will allow for a lower cost as compared with a case where a non-stretchable material to be the medial bottom portion W3 is provided separately.

Preferably, the sole includes:

• an outsole 4 having a tread surface;
• a midsole 5 of which a primary component is a foamed material (a foam body) of a thermoplastic resin arranged on the outsole 4; and
• a reinforcement member 7 attached to the midsole 5 along an arch MA at least on the medial side M of the foot for preventing the arch of the foot from lowering,
• wherein the midsole 5 is reinforced by the reinforcement member 7, thereby reinforcing the medial bottom portion W3.

In such a case, the medial bottom portion W3 is reinforced by the reinforcement member, thus making it easy to suppress stretching or bending of the medial bottom portion W3.

Preferably, one end portion of the diagonal transverse portion W4 extends from a side surface of the ball O1 of the big toe so as to slip under the ball O1 of the big toe, and extends along an upper surface of the sole (shoe sole) so as to cover at least a portion of a bottom surface of the ball O1 of the big toe.

In such a case, with one end portion of the diagonal transverse portion W4 slipping under the ball O1 of the big toe, when a stepping force acts in a vertically downward direction at the ball O1, of the big toe, the wrap at the ball O1 of the big toe is stepped on by the ball O1 of the big toe while being sandwiched between the sole and the ball O1 of the big toe, thereby increasing the effect of suppressing the "lateral bulging" and the supination of the heel.

Preferably, the sole includes a roll-up portion 50 rolled up on a medial side of a middle foot section; and
the front end portion of the twisted portion W2 extends along an upper surface of the roll-up portion 50 so as to slip into (get into) between an arch MA on the medial side M of the foot sole and the roll-up portion.

In such a case, the front end portion of the twisted portion W2 is sandwiched between the arch of the medial side of the foot and the roll-up portion of the sole, and the front end of the twisted portion W2 of the wrap is held down by the arch on the medial side of the foot, thereby increasing the effect of suppressing the "lateral bulging", etc.

The expressions "along the upper surface of the sole" and "along the upper surface of the roll-up portion" include cases where one end portion of the diagonal transverse portion W4 or the front end portion of the twisted portion W2 is in direct contact with the upper surface, and also include cases where the exterior member 2, or the like, is interposed between the upper surface and the wrap. Thus, it will typically be a structure where a portion of the wrap is layered on the upper surface.

Preferably, the diagonal transverse portion W4 extends spirally and continuously along a surface of the instep along a path to a portion of the upper surface of the big toe starting from an area covering at least a portion of the cuboid bone BCu and/or at least a portion of the tuberosity (the rough surface) B5f of the fifth metatarsal bone B5.

Herein, the term "extend spirally" means that while the surface of the instep is a complicated curved surface, the diagonal transverse portion W4 extends along the curved surface so as to be diagonally wound around the curved surface. The term "extend continuously" means that where the diagonal transverse portion W4 is completely divided between the medial side and the lateral side and an ordinary shoelace connects together the medial side and the lateral side of the upper, the ordinary shoelace itself does not form the diagonal transverse portion W4.

If the medial side and the lateral side of the upper are connected together only with the shoelace itself, the effect of suppressing the "lateral bulging" or the supination of the heel will be significantly lowered because the shoelace is slack so as not to hinder the movement of the instep and because the line along which an ordinary shoelace passes is substantially different from the spiral line.

If the shoelace is an essentially or substantially non-stretchable shoelace and if the shoelace is arranged along the spiral pattern, that shoelace forms a part of the diagonal transverse portion W4.

Note that "along the surface of the instep" means that the diagonal transverse portion W4 is arranged over the surface of the instep at least with the interior member 1 interposed therebetween.

The present invention will be understood more clearly from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note however that the embodiments and the drawings are merely illustrative and should not be taken to define the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention shall be defined only by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals denote like components throughout the plurality of figures.

Before discussing an embodiment of the present invention, the path of the loop-shaped wrap of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, the wrap W includes the heel portion W1, the twisted portion W2, the medial bottom portion W3 and the diagonal transverse portion W4. Note that in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9, the wrap W is shaded with fine dots.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the heel portion W1 continuously covers the medial side M, the back surface B and the lateral side L of the calcaneal bone BC.

The twisted portion W2 of FIG. 1 has a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped configuration and is continuous with the front end portion of the heel portion W1 on the medial side M of the heel portion W1, extending toward under the foot sole while being twisted on the medial side M of the foot.

The medial bottom portion W3 is continuous with the front end portion of the twisted portion W2, extending along the medial foot portion of the sole to the ball O1 of the big toe under the foot sole.

That is, on the medial side M of the foot, the upper edge of the wrap W (the heel portion W1, the twisted portion W2 and the medial bottom portion W3) is located above the rear end of the calcaneal bone BC, and extends toward under the first metatarsal bone B1, passing through the side surface of a rear portion of the calcaneal bone BC. In other words, the upper edge of the wrap W slopes downward while extending in the forward direction, from a position above the rear end of the calcaneal bone BC.

On the lateral side L of the heel portion W1 of FIG. 2, the diagonal transverse portion W4 is continuous with the front end portion of the heel portion W1, and covers at least a portion of the cuboid bone BCu and/or at least a portion of the rough surface B5f of the fifth metatarsal bone B5. It has a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped configuration and further extends across the upper surface of the instep in a diagonally forward direction, covering a portion of the upper surface of the big toe and at least a portion of the side surface of the ball O1 of the big toe of FIG. 1.

That is, on the lateral side L of the foot, the upper edge of the wrap W (the heel portion W1 and the diagonal transverse portion W4) slopes downward while extending in the forward direction, passing through the side surface of a rear portion of the calcaneal bone BC, from a position above the rear end of the calcaneal bone BC. After extending to a position below a front portion of the calcaneal bone BC, it slopes upward while extending in the forward direction, passing through the side surface of a lower portion of the cuboid bone BCu. In other words, the wrap W extends, from a position above the rear end of the calcaneal bone BC, while first sloping downward and then sloping upward.

The diagonal transverse portion W4 of FIG. 2 spirally and continuously extends along the surface of the instep on the path starting from an area covering at least a portion of the cuboid bone BCu and/or a portion of the rough surface B5f of the fifth metatarsal bone B5 and reaching a portion of the upper surface of the big toe of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the diagonal transverse portion W4 extends in a diagonally forward direction from the lateral side L of the foot to the medial side M of the foot, passing through a portion of the base of the fourth metatarsal bone B4 over the upper surface of the instep, and passing through a portion of the shaft of the third metatarsal bone B3 and the head of the second metatarsal bone B2, and reaching the head (the ball O1 of the big toe) of the first metatarsal bone B1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the medial bottom portion W3 are connected to each other at a lower end portion W43 of the diagonal transverse portion W4 (the front end portion of the medial bottom portion W3) located under the ball O1 of the big toe.

Next, a specific embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 11.

Now, before describing the wrap W, the overall structure of the present embodiment will be described. The present embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 includes the sole 4A, the upper 6 and the shoelace 3.

In FIG. 4, the sole 4A includes the outsole 4, the midsole 5, the reinforcement member 7 and an insole 8 (FIG. 10), which are connected together as an integral part. Note that the upper 6 is secured to the midsole 5.

As shown in FIG. 10, the outsole 4 has a tread surface, and the main material thereof is a rubber, a urethane resin, or the like, in the present embodiment; the outsole 4 has a greater Young's modulus than the midsole 5 and is less stretchable. A tread surface 41 of the outsole 4 made of a rubber, or the like, generates a large frictional force against the floor surface in indoor sports.

The primary component of the midsole 5 may be a foamed material of a thermoplastic resin arranged on the outsole 4, e.g., a foamed material of EVA, and the midsole 5 may partially include another shock-absorbing member of a gel, or the like.

The reinforcement member 7 of FIG. 10 is made of a non-foamed material such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, for example; in the present embodiment, it is attached to the midsole 5 along the arch MA (FIG. 1) at least on the medial side M of the foot for preventing the arch MA of the foot from lowering. The reinforcement member 7 has a greater Young's modulus than the outsole 4 and the midsole 5, and does not substantially stretch under a load that can be applied thereon while being worn.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the midsole 5 and the reinforcement member 7 include roll-up portions 50 and 70 rolled up along the upper 6 both on the medial side M and on the lateral side L. Therefore, in these roll-up portions 50 and 70, the midsole 5 and/or the reinforcement member 7 are layered on the lower edge portion of the upper 6.

A sock liner (not shown) is placed on the insole 8 (FIG. 10 and FIG. 11).

In FIG. 5, the upper 6 includes the interior member 1 and the exterior member 2. The upper 6 wraps around the instep and defines a mouth 60 through which a foot is inserted. Note that the upper 6 is fastened by the shoelace 3.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the interior member 1 is in contact with the upper surface, the side surfaces or the back surface of the foot. The interior member 1 is formed by a material that easily stretches, such as a meshed material or a woven fabric, and it softly wraps around the foot and improves the wearability.

The interior member 1 of FIG. 10 includes a tongue-shaped interior member 1T, a medial-side interior member 1M and the lateral-side interior member 10. As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the tongue-shaped interior member 1T is arranged innermost of the interior member 1, and in the forefoot portion, it covers, and is in direct contact with, the medial side M, the upper surface and the lateral side L of the instep.

The medial-side interior member 1M and the lateral-side interior member 10 are arranged outside (around) the tongue-shaped interior member 1T, and are in indirect contact with the foot, with the tongue-shaped interior member 1T interposed therebetween, on the medial side surface and the lateral side surface of the foot, in an area from the forefoot portion to the middle foot portion where the tongue-shaped interior member 1T is present (provided).

On the other hand, the medial-side interior member 1M and the lateral-side interior member 10 are in direct contact with the foot on the medial side surface and the lateral side surface of the foot, in an area from the middle foot portion to the rearfoot portion where the tongue-shaped interior member 1T is absent (not provided).

The forefoot portion, the middle foot portion and the rearfoot portion refer to areas covering the forefoot section, the middle foot section and the rearfoot section of the foot, respectively. The forefoot section includes five metatarsal bones and fourteen phalanges. The middle foot section includes a navicular bone, a cuboid bone, and three cuneiform bones. The rearfoot section includes a talus bone and a calcaneal bone.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, the exterior member 2 includes a medial-side exterior member 2M and the lateral-side exterior member 20. The lateral-side exterior member 20 includes a first lateral-side exterior member 21 and a second lateral-side exterior member 22.

The material of the exterior member 2 may be a less stretchable or substantially non-stretchable material such as an artificial leather or a synthetic leather, for example. In order to increase the bendability, through holes may be provided in the exterior member, with a meshed material that is less stretchable than the interior member arranged in the through holes.

Note that in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, bonding or sewing between different members is denoted by multiple x's.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, an athletic shoe of the present embodiment includes:

• the attached portion W10 where the lateral-side exterior member 20 is integrally attached to the lateral-side interior member 10 in the heel portion W1; and the non-attached portion 201 where the first lateral-side exterior member 21 of the lateral-side exterior member 20 is not attached to the lateral-side interior member 10 at least in an upper portion of the middle foot portion.

The area from the front end to the rear end of an upper portion of the non-attached portion 201 is set to be non-attached to the lateral-side interior member 10.

Next, a relationship between the loop-shaped wrap W and the structure of the shoe will be described.

The wrap W covers a portion of the interior member 1, and is formed by a material less stretchable than the interior member 1, and is preferably formed by a material less stretchable than the outsole 4 and the midsole 5.

In FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the heel portion W1 includes a band-shaped non-stretchable member shaded with fine dots, and a heel counter 23 for holding (supporting) a lower portion of the heel. In the present example, the heel counter 23 is layered on the skin-surface side (inside) of a lower portion of the band-shaped heel portion W1.

Note that the heel counter 23 typically has a large rigidity, and therefore, if the heel portion W1 is arranged outside (around) the heel counter 23 as in the present example, the wrap W can pull the foot together with the heel counter 23.

The twisted portion W2 is continuous with the heel portion W1 on the medial side surface of the calcaneal bone BC of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, a front end portion W21 of the twisted portion W2 extends along the upper surface of the roll-up portion 50 rolled up on the medial side of the middle foot section, while extending so as to slip into (get into) between the arch MA of the medial side M of the foot sole and the roll-up portion.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the twisted portion W2 is inserted between the medial-side interior member 1M and the medial-side exterior member 2M, which are attached (bonded and/or sewn) to each other, and is attached to these members 1M and 2M.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an exterior member 28, which covers at least a portion of the calcaneal bone, is arranged while being partially layered on the heel portion W1. On the medial side of the foot, the upper edge of the exterior member 28 extends in parallel to the heel portion W1 and the twisted portion W2 while overlapping lower portions of the heel portion W1 (band-shaped member) and the twisted portion W2. That is, the upper edge of the exterior member 28 slopes downward while extending in the forward direction, and the lower portions of the heel portion W1 and the twisted portion W2 are arranged while being partially layered on the skin-surface side (inside) of the exterior member 28.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the lateral side of the foot, the upper edge of the exterior member 28 extends in parallel to the heel portion W1 (band-shaped member) while overlapping the lower portion of the heel portion W1. That is, the upper edge of the exterior member 28 slopes downward while extending in the forward direction, and the lower portion of the heel portion W1 is arranged while being partially layered on the skin-surface side (inside) of the exterior member 28.

As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, the diagonal transverse portion W4 includes the first portion W41 and the second portion W42 each having a band-shaped and/or cord-shaped configuration, and the connecting structure J. In the present embodiment, the diagonal transverse portion W4 is continuous with the heel portion W1 in a lower portion or below the lateral side surface of the calcaneal bone BC of FIG. 3. The connecting structure J will be described below.

The through hole W40, through which the first portion W41 is passed, is defined in the tip portion of the second portion W42 of FIG. 6.

The tip portion of the first portion W41 is inserted through the through hole W40 and folded back.

The shoelace 3 for fastening the upper 6 is engaged, via the cord (lace)-passing hole J0 (FIG. 7), with the folded-back tip portion of the first portion W41, thus exerting the fastening force of the wrap W.

Thus, in order to select between the non-worn state where the diagonal transverse portion W4 is loosened so that the instep can move through under the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the worn state where the diagonal transverse portion W4 fastens the instep, the connecting structure J detachably connects together the first portion W41 and the second portion W42 and maintains the fastening force exerted on the diagonal transverse portion W4.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the shoe is worn, the first portion W41 and the second portion W42 (the diagonal transverse portion W4) fasten the instep, via the folded-back portion of the first portion W41, by tightening the shoelace 3.

As shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, the majority of the second portion W42 is arranged between the first lateral-side exterior member 21 and an integral member including the lateral-side interior member 10 and the second lateral-side exterior member 22. In the present embodiment, the second portion W42 is attached to the outer surface of the lateral-side interior member 10 and the second lateral-side exterior member 22 attached to each other.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 11, the majority of the first portion W41 is arranged between an integral member including the tongue-shaped interior member IT and a cushioning member 1C attached together and an integral member including the medial-side interior member 1M and the medial-side exterior member 2M attached together. An upper portion of the first portion W41 is exposed through an opening in the upper 6 between the medial side and the lateral side.

Note that the first portion W41 shown in FIG. 4 may be intermittently sewn onto the cushioning member 1C.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 11, the lower end portion W43 of the first portion W41 extends along the upper surface of the midsole 5 and extends from the side surface of the ball O1 of the big toe so as to slip under the ball O1 of the big toe so that at least a portion of the reverse surface of the ball O1 of the big toe of FIG. 1 is covered.

That is, the lower end portion W43 is preferably arranged along the upper surface of the midsole 5 so that the stepping force from the ball O1 of the big toe acts upon the lower end portion W43 of the first portion W41.

In FIG. 4, the medial bottom portion W3 is formed by a part or whole of the sole 4A. In the present embodiment, the medial bottom portion W3 is formed by the midsole 5, the reinforcement member 7 for reinforcing the midsole 5, and the outsole 4. In such a case, with the midsole 5 reinforced by the reinforcement member 7, the medial bottom portion W3 is reinforced.

The lower end portion W43 and the reinforcement member 7 are connected together by the outsole 4 and the midsole 5, whereas the front end portion W21 and the reinforcement member 7 are connected together by the midsole 5. Therefore, the midsole 5 at these connecting portions (mainly the roll-up portion 50) may stretch slightly. However, during an action which may lead to the "lateral bulging", a strong compressive force acts upon the connecting portions, and therefore substantially no such stretching will occur.

As described above, a portion of the wrap W (the medial bottom portion W3) does not need to be formed by a non-stretchable material, but portions of the wrap W that are wrapped around the upper 6 (the heel portion W1, the twisted portion W2 and the diagonal transverse portion W4) are preferably formed by a non-stretchable material.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the lower edge of the medial-side exterior member 2M extends along the inner surface of the upper edge of the sole 4A, and the lower edge of the medial-side exterior member 2M and a portion of the sole 4A form at least a portion of the medial bottom portion W3.

Now, for a hard sole that includes a plurality of cleats and of which the primary component is a leather or a non-foamed material of a synthetic resin, rather than a sole for indoor sports, the medial bottom portion W3 is formed by at least a portion of the hard sole.

Next, the lateral-side exterior member 20 of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 will be described.

In at least a portion of an area of the lateral-side exterior member 20 that is covering the diagonal transverse portion W4 and at least a portion of an area of the lateral-side exterior member 20 that is anterior to the diagonal transverse portion W4, the first lateral-side exterior member 21 is not attached to the lateral-side interior member 10 and the second lateral-side exterior member 22.

A plurality of engagement portions (through holes) 27 with which the shoelace 3 engages are provided in the non-attached portion 201 of the first lateral-side exterior member 21 that is not attached to the lateral-side interior member 10 and the second lateral-side exterior member 22.

Between adjacent ones of the engagement portions 27, the first lateral-side exterior member 21 has a cutout 29 of a V-letter shape, a trapezoidal shape, or the like, extending downward from the upper end of the first lateral-side exterior member 21.

The wrap W arranged as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 fastens the foot as the shoelace 3 is inserted through the cord-passing hole J0 with the first portion W41 and the second portion W42 engaged with each other. In an indoor sport, if a substantial side brake acts on the medial side of FIG. 4, the lower end portion W43 of the first portion W41 and the front end portion W21 of the twisted portion W2 are sandwiched between the foot sole and the sole 4A on the medial side of the foot. Therefore, on the lateral side of the foot of FIG. 6, the loop-shaped wrap W suppresses the "lateral bulging", the supination of the heel portion, etc.

Incidentally, the connecting structure J may be a belt of which the male surface and the female surface engage with each other.

Although the wrap W is band-shaped except for the medial bottom portion W3 in the present embodiment, the wrap W may be formed by a plurality of cords arranged parallel to each other.

On the other hand, the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the twisted portion W2 may be inserted between the outsole 4 and the midsole 5. Where the forefoot portion or the mid-rearfoot portion of the midsole 5 has a two-layer structure, the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the twisted portion W2 may be inserted between the two layers of the midsole.

The lower end portion W43 of the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the front end portion W21 of the twisted portion W2 may be secured to the midsole by means of a fastening device such as a bolt and a tacker (stapler).

The lower end portion W43 of the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the front end portion W21 of the twisted portion W2 do not need to be slipping under the foot sole, and there may instead be provided an exterior member, at the lower end portion of the medial side surface of the upper 6, for connecting together the diagonal transverse portion W4 and the twisted portion W2.

The non-stretchable member of the wrap W may be a combination of a band and a plurality of cords, or may be a band whose width is partially widened or narrowed.

The diameter of the holes provided in the upper 6 for allowing the shoelace 3 to pass therethrough may be made smaller than the diameter of the shoelace 3. In such a case, the shoelace 3 can move less easily so that the fastened state of the connecting structure can be maintained more easily.

The structure of the present invention may be applied only to a shoe for the pivot foot (pivoting foot), or the structure of the present invention may be applied to both feet.

Thus, such changes and modifications are deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is applicable not only to indoor shoes for volleyball, handball, etc., but also to shoes for outdoor sports.

• 1: Interior member, 1C: Cushioning member, 1M: Medial-side interior member, 1T: Tongue-shaped interior member, 10: Lateral-side interior member
• 2: Exterior member, 2M: Medial-side exterior member, 20: Lateral-side exterior member, 21: First lateral-side exterior member, 22: Second lateral-side exterior member, 23: Heel counter
• 27: Engagement portion, 28: Exterior member, 29: Cutout
• 3: Shoelace
• 4: Outsole, 4A: Sole
• 5: Midsole, 50: Roll-up portion
• 6: Upper, 60: Mouth, 61: Opening
• 7: Reinforcement member, 70: Roll-up portion
• 8: Insole
• B: Back surface, B1 to B5: First to fifth metatarsal bones, B5f: Rough surface, BC: Calcaneal bone
• BCu: Cuboid bone
• J: Connecting structure, J0: Cord-passing hole
• M: Medial side, MA: Arch, L: Lateral side
• O1: Ball of big toe
• W: Wrap, W1: Heel portion, W2: Twisted portion, W3: Medial bottom portion, W4: Diagonal transverse portion
• W10: Attached portion, 201: Non-attached portion
• W40: Through hole, W41: First portion, W42: Second portion
• Z: Vertical direction, L: Lateral side, M: Medial side