The present invention relates to an upper of a shoe.

During a fake action in handball, during a side break in a spike action in volleyball, during a step-in for an open-stance stroke in tennis, etc., the forefoot portion is in many cases under a load toward the lateral side of the foot. Then, due to the insufficient rigidity of the upper, a phenomenon called "lateral bulging" likely occurs, where the foot laterally slides out of the sole inside the shoe.

• First Patent Document: JP 2009-254807A
• Second Patent Document: JP 2010-187887A
• Third Patent Document: JP 2011-087893A
• Fourth Patent Document: JP 2005-176859A
• Fifth Patent Document: JP 62-258601A

As a structure for suppressing "lateral bulging", one may think of using polyurethane, or the like, to increase the rigidity of the upper on the lateral side of the forefoot portion. However, with an upper having a high rigidity, buckling likely occurs, where the upper locally bends when the foot is dorsiflexed, thereby deteriorating the foot conformity (the synchronization with the foot).

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an upper of a shoe that can be used for various wearers and various activities, with which it is possible to achieve a good foot conformity while suppressing "lateral bulging".

An upper of the present invention includes:

• a first upper portion 1 covering a lateral side L of a toe;
• a second upper portion 2 for providing a support covering a side surface of a ball 05 of a little toe (a fifth toe) on a lateral-side surface;
• an overlap region α where the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 overlap each other (in two layers) on the lateral-side surface without constraining (restricting) each other in a standstill position (a stationary standing position) and a dorsiflexed state in which a foot is dorsiflexed; and
• a separation line L1 at which the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 are separated from each other so that as the foot dorsiflexes from the standstill position, a front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 displaces with respect to the first upper portion 1 so as to increase an area of the overlap region α,
• wherein a position of a lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in a front-rear direction Y of the foot is set to be anterior YF to a metatarsal phalangeal joint MP5 of the little toe and posterior YR to a tip of a fourth toe.

In the present invention, the separation line L1 is provided on the lateral side L of the forefoot portion. As the wearer of the present upper U transitions from the standstill position to the dorsiflexed state, the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 is displaced with respect to the first upper portion 1, increasing the area of the overlap region α. Therefore, the buckling of the upper U is unlikely to occur when the foot is dorsiflexed. Thus, one can expect an improvement in the foot conformity.

The position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of the foot is set to be posterior YR to the tip of the fourth toe. Since the buckling of the upper U occurs posterior R to the tip of the fourth toe, the second upper portion 2 of the upper U having the separation line is likely bent in conformity with the deformation of the foot when the foot is dorsiflexed. Thus, one can expect an improvement in the foot conformity.

On the other hand, the position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 is set to be anterior YF to the metatarsal phalangeal (MP) joint MP5 of the little toe. Therefore, the second upper portion 2 supports the MP joint of the little toe and areas anterior/posterior to the MP joint. Thus, "lateral bulging" is suppressed.

In the present invention, the separation line L1 is the rear end of the first upper portion 1 or the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 appearing (being displayed outside) as a line on the lateral side surface. The first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 are each formed by a plate or fabric material having a predetermined thickness, and the separation line L1 therefore refers to one side, along the surface of the material, of the rear end surface of the first upper portion 1 or the front end surface of the second upper portion 2. In the present invention, "the dorsiflexion of the foot" refers to the dorsiflexion of a joint in the foot, e.g., the metatarsal phalangeal joint, the interphalangeal joint, etc.

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from a lateral-posterior diagonal direction.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe as seen from a medial-anterior diagonal direction.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shoe, when dorsiflexed, as seen from a lateral-posterior diagonal direction.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shoe, when dorsiflexed, as seen from a medial-posterior diagonal direction.
• FIG. 5 is a plan view of the shoe.
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of the shoe, with second and third upper portions thereof pulled open.
• FIG. 7 is a lateral side view showing the relationship between the shoe and the foot bone structure.
• FIG. 8 is a lateral side view of the shoe, when dorsiflexed.
• FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the relationship between the shoe and the foot bone structure.
• FIG. 10A is a plan view showing the placement of a sensor together with the foot bone structure, and FIG. 10B is a plan view showing an array of analysis areas of the sensor.
• FIG. 11A is a bar chart representing forces exerted in different areas according to the embodiment, and FIG. 11B is an equivalent bar chart for a reference example.

Preferably, a position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of the foot is set to be anterior YF to a base of a proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe and posterior YR to the tip of the fourth toe.

In this case, the position of the separation line L1 is set to be anterior YF to the base of the proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe. Therefore, the second upper portion 2 supports, from the lateral side surface, both the ball 05 of the little toe and the base of the proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe on the lateral side of the foot. This will improve the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging".

Preferably, a position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of the foot is set to be anterior YF to a base of a proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe and posterior YR to a tip of a distal phalanx B14 of the fourth toe.

In this case, "lateral bulging" is suppressed as described above. Since the separation line L1 is set to be posterior YR to the distal end of the distal phalanx B14 of the fourth toe, one can expect a further improvement in the foot conformity.

Preferably, the overlap region α is set so that a front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 is got (slid, slipped) under (hides behind) the first upper portion 1 (on the inner side of the first upper portion 1) in the standstill position.

This will further improve the foot conformity, as will be described below.

Preferably, the upper further includes a guide mechanism (means) G for guiding an overlapping state between the two upper portions so that the two upper portions overlap each other in the overlap region α in a state where the second upper portion 2 is got (slid, slipped) under the first upper portion 1 (on the inner side of the first upper portion 1).

When the foot is dorsiflexed, the lateral side surface of the upper is also dorsiflexed. Then, the dorsiflexion of the MP joints of the anterior second to fourth toes becomes dominant over the dorsiflexion of the MP joint of the little toe, and the second upper portion 2 may be bent in conformity to the dorsiflexion until it touches the toes. In this bent position, the second upper portion 2 gives a greater compression (pressure) on the upper surface of the toes than in the standstill position. However, since the first upper portion 1 is placed over the second upper portion 2, the first upper portion 1 is unlikely bent, and it is unlikely to give a compression on the upper surface of the toes. As a result, the foot conformity will be further improved.

Preferably, the guide mechanism G includes the overlap region α being in a state where the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 is got (slid, slipped) under the first upper portion 1 in the standstill position.

In this case, in the standstill position, the rear edge portion of the first upper portion 1 is placed over (outside) the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2. The overlap region α increases when dorsiflexed, and this arrangement will be maintained even when dorsiflexed. Therefore, it will be possible to easily improve the foot conformity.

Preferably, the guide mechanism G further includes a shoelace 4 to be inserted through a plurality of lacing holes H1 and H2 of the upper U; and
a portion of the shoelace 4 is placed under (on the inner side of) the first upper portion 1 and over (on the outer side of) the second upper portion 2 between one of the plurality of holes H1 and H2 in the first upper portion 1 and one of the plurality of holes H1 and H2 in the second upper portion 2.

In this case, with the portion of the shoelace 4, the above arrangement of the portions is reliably maintained.

Preferably, the separation line L1 extends downwardly from an upper edge 1E of the first upper portion 1 to the lower end 11, and the separation line L1 is continuous with an opening 6 anterior to a wearing opening (a topline, an opening for wearing) 5 of the upper U and extends from the opening 6 to the lower end 11 toward the lateral side of the foot; and
the upper U further includes a lateral-side continuous portion 12, extending from the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 to an upper end S1 of soles Sm and So of a shoe, the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 being continuous with each other in the front-rear direction Y of the foot more firmly in the lateral-side continuous portion 12 than in the overlap region α.

In this case, the connection in the lateral continuous portion 12 is firmer than that in the overlap region α, and this will therefore improve the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging".

More preferably, the lateral-side continuous portion 12 is formed by the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 connected to each other.

In this case, the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 are connected (bonded, joined) together in the lateral continuous portion 12, and the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging" is more likely exerted.

Preferably, the upper further includes a third upper portion 3 for providing a support covering a side surface of a ball O1 of the big toe (the first toe) on a medial side surface,
wherein a flexural rigidity (stiffness or stiffer) of a member forming the first and second upper portions 1 and 2 is greater than that of a member forming the third upper portion 3.

In this case, the lateral side surface of the little toe is more easily supported by the first and second upper portions 1 and 2 having a greater flexural rigidity than the third upper portion 3. Therefore, the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging" is improved, while the dorsiflexing action of the medial side of the foot is unlikely hindered.

Preferably, the upper further includes a third upper portion 3 for providing a support covering a side surface of a ball O1 of the big toe on a medial side surface,
wherein the third upper portion 3 includes a medial-side continuous portion 32 continuously covering a medial side surface without being separated in the front-rear direction from a base of a proximal phalanx B31 of a big toe to the ball O1 of the big toe.

This enhances the support around the MP joint of the big toe.

Preferably, the upper further includes a guide mechanism G for guiding an overlapping state between the two upper portions so that the two upper portions overlap each other in the overlap region α in a state where the second upper portion 2 is got (slid, slipped) under the first upper portion 1,
wherein a position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of the foot is set to be anterior YF to a base of a proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe and posterior YR to a tip of a distal phalanx B14 of the fourth toe.

As described above, in this case, one can expect a further improvement in the foot conformity. Moreover, as described above, the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging" will be improved.

Preferably, the upper further includes a third upper portion 3 for providing a support covering a side surface of a ball O1 of the big toe on a medial side surface, wherein:

• a flexural rigidity of a member forming the first and second upper portions 1 and 2 is greater than that of a member forming the third upper portion 3; and
• a position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of the foot is set to be anterior YF to a base of a proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe and posterior YR to the tip of the distal phalanx B14 of the fourth toe.

As described above, in this case, the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging" is improved, while the dorsiflexing action of the medial side of the foot is unlikely hindered.

Preferably, the upper further includes a third upper portion 3 for providing a support covering a side surface of a ball O1 of the big toe on a medial side surface, wherein:

• a flexural rigidity of a member forming the first and second upper portions 1 and 2 is greater than that of a member forming the third upper portion 3; and
• the third upper portion 3 includes a medial-side continuous portion 32 continuously covering a medial side surface without being separated in the front-rear direction from a base of a proximal phalanx B35 of a big toe to the ball O1 of the big toe.

As described above, this will enhance the support around the lateral side surface of the little toe and the MP joint of the big toe. Therefore, the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging" is improved, while the flexible third upper portion 3 makes smooth the dorsiflexing action of the medial side of the foot.

Preferably, the upper further includes a third upper portion 3 for providing a support covering a side surface of a toe and a ball O1 of the big toe on a medial side surface, wherein:

• the separation line L1 extends downwardly from an upper edge 1E of the first upper portion 1 to the lower end 11, and the separation line L1 is continuous with an opening 6 anterior to a wearing opening 5 of the upper and extends from the opening 6 toward the lateral side of the foot;
• the first upper portion 1 defines a front end line L2 of the opening 6; and
• a connected (continuous) line L3 including the separation line L1 and the front end line L2 connected together extends in a foot width direction X so as to cross second to fourth phalanges B2 to B4 of the foot.

In this case, the connected line L3 including the separation line L1 and the front end line L2 connected together extends across a wide area including the second phalange B2 to the fourth phalange B4. Therefore, one can expect an improvement in the bendability of the entire toe area of the upper.

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.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 11B.

Before discussing main parts, the general structure of the present embodiment will be described. The present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a shoe for handball or volleyball, for example, and the shoe includes a sole and an upper U.

In FIG. 1, the sole includes an outsole So, a midsole Sm, a heel counter 7 and an insole (not shown), which are connected as an integral part. Note that in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, the midsole Sm is shaded with an irregular pattern of small dots. The upper U is secured to the midsole Sm of FIG. 7.

In FIG. 7, the outsole So has a tread surface, and the main material thereof is a rubber, a urethane resin, or the like, in the present embodiment; the outsole So has a greater Young's modulus than the midsole Sm and has a relatively high flexural rigidity. On the lateral side L of the foot (FIG. 9), the outsole So made of a rubber, or the like, includes a roll-up portion 80 that reinforces, from the lateral side surface, the support of the base of the proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe B5 and the ball 05 of the little toe.

Note that the base refers to a portion of each bone that is close to the posterior joint and that is slightly expanding to a greater thickness, and it is referred to also as the proximal head. On the other hand, the head refers to a portion of each bone that is close to the anterior joint and that is slightly expanding to a greater thickness, and it is referred to also as the distal head. The shaft refers to a portion between the base and the head, and the thickness thereof typically changes smoothly.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the upper U includes an interior member U1 and an exterior member U2 shaded with dots. The upper U wraps around the instep and defines a wearing opening 5 through which a foot is inserted. Note that the upper U is fastened by a shoelace 4.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the interior member U1 is in contact with the upper surface, the side surface or the back surface of the foot. The interior member U1 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 primary component of the midsole Sm of FIG. 1 may be a foamed material of a thermoplastic resin placed on the outsole So, e.g., a foamed material of EVA, and the midsole Sm may partially include another shock-absorbing member of a gel, or the like. On the lateral side L, the midsole Sm is sandwiched between the roll-up portion 80 of the outsole So and the upper U, and includes a roll-up portion 81 covering the lateral side surface of the base of the proximal phalanx B35 of FIG. 7 and the ball 05 of the little toe.

The roll-up portions 80 and 81 of FIG. 1 are rolled up along the upper U on the lateral side L. Therefore, in these roll-up portions 80 and 81, the midsole Sm and/or the outsole So are layered on the lower end portion of the upper U.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the exterior member U2 includes the first upper portion 1, the second upper portion 2 and the third upper portion 3.

The material of the exterior member U2 may be a less stretchable or substantially non-stretchable material such as an artificial leather, a synthetic leather or a non-foamed plate material of a thermoplastic resin, for example. In order to increase the bendability, through holes U0 may be provided in the exterior member U2, with the meshed material forming the interior member U1 exposed through the through holes U0.

A less stretchable material refers to a material that is less stretchable than the interior member U1, such as an artificial leather. On the other hand, a substantially non-stretchable material refers to a material, such as the plate material mentioned above, that does not substantially stretch during activities such as walking and running.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first and second upper portions 1 and 2 are shaded with small fine dots. In FIG. 7, the first upper portion 1 covers the lateral side L of the toe (tip toe). The second upper portion 2 provides a support covering the side surface of the ball 05 of the little toe around the roll-up portions 80 and 81 on the lateral side surface. That is, the interior member U1, the exterior member U2 (the second upper portion 2), the midsole Sm and the sole So of FIG. 1 are layered together over the side surface of the ball 05 of the little toe.

The first and second upper portions 1 and 2 are made of a non-foamed plate material (meshed and/or flat-plate-shaped) of a thermoplastic resin, for example. The flexural rigidity of the plate (sheet) material of the first and second upper portions 1 and 2 is greater than that of the third upper portion 3.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the third upper portion 3 having a relatively small flexural rigidity is shaded with large coarse dots. On the medial side surface, the third upper portion 3 of FIG. 9 provides a support covering the side surface of the toe and the ball O1 of the big toe.

In the present invention, it is preferred that the plate materials have flexural rigidities that are different from each other to such a degree that it is perceivable by human's five senses. Note that the "flexural rigidity" can be known from the angle of deflection or the magnitude of deformation under a load applied on the plate material in the normal direction thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the boundary between the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 appears as the separation line L1. In the present embodiment, the separation line L1 is defined by the rear end surface LF of the first upper portion 1. Note that the rear end surface LF is shown in solid black in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the standstill position and in the dorsiflexed state where the foot is dorsiflexed, the rear edge portion of the first upper portion 1 and the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 together form an overlap region α on the lateral side surface where these members overlap each other in two layers. In the present embodiment, a connected portion αC is continuous with the lower side of the overlap region α. Note that in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, the connected portion αC is hatched, and the overlap region α is shaded with dark dense dots.

The connected portion αC forms (composes) the lateral continuous portion 12, and is formed by connecting together the rear edge portion of the first upper portion 1 and the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 overlapping each other in two layers. Note that the connection is made by welding, bonding and/or sewing. Alternatively, the rear edge portion of the first upper portion 1 and the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 overlapping each other in two layers may be achieved by forming a slit in a single-sheet material and laying the opposing edges of the slit over each other.

The overlap region α is a free region where the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 are not constrained by each other. Therefore, the area of the overlap region α, i.e., the non-connected portion, increases as the foot is dorsiflexed from the standstill position of FIG. 7, thereby displacing the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 with respect to the first upper portion 1. The separation line L1 refers to a line that appears as the separation between the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 in the non-connected portion (the overlap region α).

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the position of the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of the foot is set, for example, to be anterior YF to the base of the proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe and posterior YR to the distal end of the distal phalanx B14 of the fourth toe.

In the present embodiment, the separation line L1 of FIG. 1 extends downward from the upper edges 1E and 2E of the exterior member U2 of the upper U on the lateral side surface to the lower end 11, is continuous with the opening 6 anterior to the wearing opening 5 of the exterior member U2 of the upper U, and extends from the opening 6 toward the lateral side of the foot to the lower end 11.

Note that the interior member U1 provided with a meshed pattern is exposed in the opening 6.

In FIG. 7, from the lower end 11 of the separation line L1 to the upper end S1 of the midsole Sm, the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 are more securely connected together in the front-rear direction Y of the foot than in the non-connected portion of the overlap region α, thereby forming the connected portion αC. This connected portion αC forms a part of the lateral continuous portion 12 where the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 are continuous with each other.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the first upper portion 1 covers the lateral side surface of the toe and the majority (more than half) of the upper surface thereof, and covers at least a part of the second phalange B2 and/or the third phalange B3 from the upper surface and the lateral side surface of FIG. 7. The first upper portion 1 of FIG. 2 is sewn to and continuous with the third upper portion 3 along the tip portion of the toe and the medial side surface.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the second upper portion 2 covers the majority of the lateral side surface, posterior to the separation line L1. The second upper portion 2 may at least cover the entire proximal phalanx

B35 and the entire metatarsal bone B45 of the little toe of FIG. 7.

In the present embodiment, the third upper portion 3 of FIG. 2 covers the majority (more than half) of the medial side surface. The third upper portion 3 does not cover the center of the upper surface of the toe. The third upper portion 3 of FIG. 1 may cover a part of the medial side surface and the back surface of the heel portion.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the third upper portion 3 includes the medial continuous portion 32 continuously covering the medial side surface from the base of the proximal phalanx B31 of the big toe to the ball O1 of the big toe without separation in the front-rear direction.

The first and third upper portions 1 and 3 defines the front end line L2 of the opening 6. The connected line L3 including the separation line L1 and the front end line L2 connected together extends in the foot width direction X so as to cross the second phalange B2 to the fourth phalange B4 of FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 6, the exterior member U2 is not attached to the interior member U1 in the vicinity of the opening 6, and is attached to the interior member U1 in the vicinity of the soles Sm and So, along the wearing opening 5 and around the heel. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the overlap region α between the second upper portion 2 and the first upper portion 1 can displace freely.

The overlap region α, i.e., the non-connected portion, can be defined by the separation line L1, the lower end 11 and a hidden line L11. In the present embodiment, the hidden line L11 is a part of the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2.

The shoe of the present embodiment of FIG. 1 includes a guide mechanism G. The guide mechanism G guides the overlapping state between the two upper portions so that the two upper portions overlap each other in the overlap region α in a state where the second upper portion 2 is got under the first upper portion 1 of FIG. 7.

For example, the guide mechanism G of FIG. 1 includes the overlap region α being in a state where the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 of FIG. 7 is got under the first upper portion 1 in the standstill position. That is, the guide mechanism G includes the non-connected portion in the standstill position.

The guide mechanism G of FIG. 1 may further include the shoelace 4 to be inserted through a plurality of lacing holes H1 and H2 of the upper U. A portion of the shoelace 4 is placed under the first upper portion 1 and over the second upper portion 2 between one of the plurality of holes H1 and H2 that is in a lateral and posterior area of the first upper portion 1 and another one of the plurality of holes H1 and H2 that is in a lateral and anterior area of the second upper portion 2.

Next, advantageous effects of the upper of the present embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 1, when the forefoot section of the foot is urged to move in the upper U toward the lateral side L, the movement is suppressed, around the metatarsal phalangeal joint MP5 of FIG. 7, by means of the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 having a large flexural rigidity, the lateral continuous portion 12 which is securely continuous in the front-rear direction, and the roll-up portions 80 and 81. Therefore, "lateral bulging" will be unlikely to occur.

A comparison test was conducted between a handball shoe of the present embodiment and another handball shoe on the market for the shift of the little toe in the foot width direction X during a side step, the results indicating that the shift in the foot width direction X was smaller with the shoe of the present embodiment than with the shoe on the marker. That is, the effect of suppressing "lateral bulging" was confirmed.

On the other hand, when the foot and the upper U are dorsiflexed as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, on the medial side of the foot, a crease is likely made near the ball O1 of the big toe (FIG. 9) or near the arch of the third upper portion 3 having a small flexural rigidity, and the third upper portion 3 is likely to bend in conformity with the dorsiflexion of the foot.

On the other hand, when dorsiflexed, on the lateral side of the foot, the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 is displaced so as to incline forward, in response to the dorsiflexion, about the lower end 11 of the separation line L1, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. That is, the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 is displaced with respect to the first upper portion 1 so as to increase the overlap region α (the non-connected portion). Therefore, even the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 having a high flexural rigidity are easily bent in conformity with the dorsiflexion of the foot.

Thus, when the foot is dorsiflexed, the upper portions 1 to 3 are easily bent both on the medial side and on the lateral side, resulting in the upper U having a good foot conformity.

Next, another example will be described.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 to FIG. 9, the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 is placed under the first upper portion 1. Conversely, the front edge portion 21 of the second upper portion 2 may be placed over the first upper portion 1. Then, the front end 20 of the second upper portion 2 appears as the separation line L1, whereas the rear end of the first upper portion 1 becomes the hidden line.

However, as will be described below, the vertical (inside-outside) positional relationship between the first upper portion 1 and the second upper portion 2 is preferably as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 to FIG. 9.

First, a shoe of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 (hereinafter, referred to as "Sample A") and a shoe illustrated in the other example described above (hereinafter, referred to as "Sample B") were made and provided.

On the other hand, a pressure-sensitive sensor S shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B was provided, and was placed so as to cover the third and fourth MP joints MP3 and MP4 of the subject, as shown in FIG. 10A.

Next, the subject dorsiflexed the foot with the shoe of Sample A on. The load on each of the virtual areas (Xi,Yi) of the sensor S of FIG. 10B was measured, while dorsiflexed. The measurement results are shown in FIG. 11A. Note that each area (Xi,Yi) of FIG. 10B was a square shape of which each side is 5 mm long.

Next, the subject dorsiflexed the foot with the shoe of Sample B on. The load on each of the virtual areas (Xi,Yi) of the sensor S of FIG. 10B was measured, while dorsiflexed. The measurement results are shown in FIG. 11B.

With Sample A, as can be seen from the bar chart of FIG. 11A, the load applied while dorsiflexed is generally small and the load distribution has no significant imbalances, but is uniform. With Sample B, on the other hand, as can be seen from the bar chart of FIG. 11B, the load applied is generally large and the load distribution has significant imbalances. That is, it can be seen that with Sample B, a sense of compression is felt in some parts of the toes.

Next, the reason for such load differences will be discussed.

Now, let us focus on the deformation of the second upper portion 2 around the front portion of the second upper portion 2, i.e., around the interphalangeal joint J or the front end of the proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe of FIG. 7, during the transition from the standstill position of FIG. 1 to the dorsiflexed posture of FIG. 3. As can be seen from FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the front portion of the second upper portion 2 is dorsiflexed as the foot is dorsiflexed.

If the second upper portion 2 is placed under the first upper portion 1, the toes will be under a compression resulting from the dorsiflexion of the second upper portion 2. However, the second upper portion 2, having its upper edge 2E abutting on the opening 6, is a flexible structure capable of deforming relatively freely as compared with the first upper portion 1. Therefore, as the front portion of the second upper portion 2 comes under the first upper portion 1, the second upper portion 2 conforms to the instep. It is inferred that for this reason, the compression applied on the toes due to the deformation of the second upper portion 2 is generally not large and is also locally not large.

On the other hand, when the second upper portion 2 is placed over the first upper portion 1, the first upper portion deforms in such a manner as to slightly reduce the height of the first upper, which is a stiffer (rigid) structure, while dorsiflexed, and the rear edge of the first upper portion 1 (an area corresponding to reference sign "L1") rubs against the surface of the toes while giving a compression on the toes. In addition to the compression resulting from the dorsiflexion of the second upper portion 2, another compression resulting from the front portion of the second upper portion 2 pressing the upper surface of the first upper portion 1, is applied on the toes. As shown in FIG. 5, the first upper portion 1 is continuous with the third upper portion 3 in the foot width direction X, and the upper U in the toe area forms a continuous dome shape. That is, three sides of the upper in the toe area are supported firmly by the soles Sm and So. Therefore, the first upper portion 1 is a stiffer structure not capable of free deformation. The first upper portion 1 also deforms upon deformation of the second upper portion 2, but the load relative to the amount of displacement of the first upper portion 1, which is a stiffer structure, will be generally larger than that of the second upper portion 2, which is a flexible structure, or will significantly increase locally.

Next, another example will be described. For example, the separation line L1 of FIG. 1 may extend up to the upper end of the midsole Sm, and the lateral continuous portion 12 may be absent (not provided). Another separation line may be provided on the medial side M of FIG. 2.

The position of the separation line L1 in the front-rear direction Y of FIG. 9 may be a position corresponding to the shaft of the proximal phalanx B35 of the little toe or a position between the distal phalanx and the proximal phalanx of the fourth toe.

The number of separation lines L1 is not limited to one, but may be two or more. For example, a second separation line may be provided along an attached portion 1C of FIG. 1 at which a front portion 1F and a rear portion 1B of the first upper portion 1 are attached together.

At the lower end portion, these separation lines L1 may be bent in a gentle or acute curve toward the front side or the rear side.

While preferred embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, various obvious changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the present specification.

For example, the shoelace does not need to form the guide mechanism G.

The first and second upper portions do not need to have as high a rigidity as that of the plate material of the embodiment described above, but they may be an artificial leather, for example, having the same rigidity as the third upper portion or a rigidity smaller than that of the third upper portion.

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

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

The present invention is applicable not only to shoes for court sports, such as handball and volleyball, but also to athletic shoes including shoes for indoor and outdoor sports or non-sport shoes, and is even applicable to safety shoes, etc.

• 1: First upper portion, 11: Lower end, 12: Lateral continuous portion
• 1B: Rear portion, 1C: Attached portion, 1E: Upper edge, 1F: Front portion
• 2: Second upper portion, 2E: Upper edge, 20: Front end, 21: Front edge portion
• 3: Third upper portion, 32: Medial continuous portion
• 4: Shoelace, 5: Wearing opening, 6: Opening
• 7: Heel counter
• 80, 81: Roll-up portion
• B2: Phalange, B4: Phalange, B14: Distal phalanx, B35: Proximal phalanx, B45: Metatarsal bone
• G: Guide mechanism, H1, H2: Hole
• L: Lateral side, M: Medial side
• L1: Separation line, L11: Hidden line, L2: Front end line, L3: Connected line
• LF: Rear end surface
• MP5: Metatarsal phalangeal joint, O1: Ball of big toe, O5: Ball of little toe
• α: Overlap region, αC: Connected portion
• S: Sensor, Sm, So: Sole, S1: Upper end
• U: Upper, U0: Through hole, U1: Interior member, U2: Exterior member
• X: Foot width direction
• Y: Front-rear direction, YF: Anterior, YR: Posterior