FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MAKING FOOTWEAR

Abstract

Footwear and a method of making footwear are provided, in which the upper side and the outsole side are easily coupled and separated using screws, and the bottom portion of the footwear is easily formed into a desired curved shape. Coupling screws 42 and screw receiving seats 41 arranged in outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are screwed together to separably integrate an outsole side constituent body OC and an upper side constituent body UC. A misalignment region in which positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and positions of the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are displaced from each other is provided to thereby form a curved shape on the shoe sole through screw coupling between the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC.

Claims

1. Footwear comprising at least an outsole side constituent body constituting an outsole side, an upper side constituent body constituting an upper side, screw receiving seats, and coupling screws screwed thereinto, wherein the outsole side constituent body has a plurality of outsole side mounting arrangement portions provided at predetermined intervals for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats or the coupling screws, the upper side constituent body has a plurality of upper side mounting arrangement portions provided at predetermined intervals, corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions, for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats or the coupling screws, the outsole side constituent body and the upper side constituent body are configured to be separably integrated by screwing together the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions and the upper side mounting arrangement portions, and a misalignment region in which positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions and positions of the upper side mounting arrangement portions are displaced from each other is provided to cause, in the case of screw-coupling the outsole side constituent body and the upper side constituent body, a curved shape to be formed in the misalignment region according to a displacement direction and a displacement dimension therein.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of an outsole in the outsole side constituent body, the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of an insole in the upper side constituent body, an upper in the upper side constituent body has seating holes provided at a bottom portion thereof corresponding to the upper side mounting arrangement portions, and the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions provided at the outsole and the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided at the insole are screwed together through the seating holes in the upper, whereby the outsole and the insole are separably integrated with the bottom portion of the upper sandwiched therebetween.

3. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein the insole and the upper in the upper side constituent body are not coupled to each other except for the screw coupling with the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats.

4. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein the insole and the upper in the upper side constituent body are coupled to each other with an adhesive, besides the screw coupling with the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats.

5. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of an outsole in the outsole side constituent body, the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of a bottom portion of an upper in the upper side constituent body, and the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions provided at the outsole and the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided at the upper are screwed together, whereby the outsole and the upper are separably integrated.

6. A method of making footwear including at least an outsole side constituent body constituting an outsole side, an upper side constituent body constituting an upper side, screw receiving seats, and coupling screws screwed thereinto, the method comprising: in the outsole side constituent body, providing a plurality of outsole side mounting arrangement portions at predetermined intervals for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats or the coupling screws; in the upper side constituent body, providing a plurality of upper side mounting arrangement portions at predetermined intervals, corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions, for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats or the coupling screws; screwing together the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions and the upper side mounting arrangement portions to separably integrate the outsole side constituent body and the upper side constituent body; and providing a misalignment region in which positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions and positions of the upper side mounting arrangement portions are displaced from each other to cause, in the case of screw-coupling the outsole side constituent body and the upper side constituent body, a curved shape to be formed in the misalignment region according to a displacement direction and a displacement dimension therein.

7. The footwear making method according to claim 6, wherein the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of an outsole in the outsole side constituent body, the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of an insole in the upper side constituent body, seating holes corresponding to the upper side mounting arrangement portions are provided at a bottom portion of an upper in the upper side constituent body, and the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions provided at the outsole and the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided at the insole are screwed together through the seating holes in the upper, to separably integrate the outsole and the insole with the bottom portion of the upper sandwiched therebetween.

8. The footwear making method according to claim 7, wherein the insole and the upper in the upper side constituent body are used without being coupled together except for the screw coupling with the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats.

9. The footwear making method according to claim 7, wherein the insole and the upper in the upper side constituent body are used while being coupled together in advance using an adhesive, prior to the screw coupling with the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats.

10. The footwear making method according to claim 6, wherein the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of an outsole in the outsole side constituent body, the upper side mounting arrangement portions provided corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions are disposed at a bottom portion of an upper itself in the upper side constituent body, and the coupling screws and the screw receiving seats mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions in the outsole and the upper side mounting arrangement portions in the upper are screwed together to separably integrate the outsole and the upper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating mounting and arrangement of screw receiving seats to an outsole in the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the back side of an upper used in the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an insole used in the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a screw receiving seat and a coupling screw used in the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part illustrating a tensile force applied to the insole and others in the worn state of the footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of footwear according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of footwear according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the positions of outsole side mounting arrangement portions and the positions of insole side mounting arrangement portions are made to be displaced from each other.

[0084] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0085] Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6, the footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least an outsole side constituent body OC, which constitutes an outsole 10 side, an upper side constituent body UC, which constitutes an upper 20 side, and screw receiving seats 41 and coupling screws 42 screwed thereinto, which serve as screw coupling means 40.

[0086] More specifically, a shoe, for example, can include an insole 30 and an inner lining 50 besides the outsole 10 and the upper 20. The outsole 10 can have a welt 60 with decorative stitching or the like, bonded or otherwise attached around the upper surface of the outsole 10.

[0087] The outsole side constituent body OC is a constituent body that constitutes the outsole 10 side when the footwear is separated by the screw coupling means 40 into two halves, the outsole 10 side as the lower half and the upper 20 side as the upper half. This outsole side constituent body OC is a concept that encompasses the outsole 10 as well as members that belong to the outsole 10 side and are separated together with the outsole 10.

[0088] The upper side constituent body UC is a constituent body that constitutes the upper 20 side when the footwear is separated by the screw coupling means 40 into two halves, the outsole 10 side as the lower half and the upper 20 side as the upper half. This upper side constituent body UC is a concept that encompasses the upper 20 as well as members that belong to the upper 20 side and are separated together with the upper 20.

[0089] The outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC includes a coupling means mounting body 11 in its upper layer, for mounting and arranging the screw coupling means 40, and a grounding body 12 in its lower layer, for grounding the outsole 10 to the ground.

[0090] The grounding body 12 is made of rubber, for example, and can be attached to the coupling means mounting body 11 by bonding or the like.

[0091] There is of course a case where the coupling means mounting body 11 also serves as the grounding body as it is.

[0092] The screw coupling means 40 are mounted and arranged on the coupling means mounting body 11.

[0093] In the present embodiment, the screw receiving seats 41 of the screw coupling means 40 are mounted and arranged on the coupling means mounting body 11.

[0094] In the case where the screw receiving seats 41 are mounted and arranged on the coupling means mounting body 11 of the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC, the coupling screws 42 to be paired are mounted and arranged on the upper side constituent body UC.

[0095] The screw receiving seats 41 are mounted and arranged at predetermined intervals along an outer periphery of the coupling means mounting body 11 of the outsole 10. In the case where the welt 60 is attached, the screw receiving seats 41 are mounted and arranged along the positions inside the welt 60.

[0096] A screw receiving seat 41 is composed of a cylindrical portion 41a with a female thread configured inside, and a seat portion 41b.

[0097] The screw receiving seat 41 is mounted and arranged in a planted state such that a portion of its cylindrical portion 41a protrudes from the upper surface of the coupling means mounting body 11 by a predetermined dimension.

[0098] For the seat portion 41b of the screw receiving seat 41, one have anti-slip prongs 41c formed thereon can be used.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 3, the coupling means mounting body 11 of the outsole 10 is composed of a main plate 11a and an auxiliary plate 11b.

[0100] On the main plate 11a, a plurality of outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 are provided at predetermined intervals along its outer periphery over the entire periphery, as screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a.

[0101] To a screw receiving seat mounting hole 80a, the cylindrical portion 41a of a screw receiving seat 41 is inserted from below to protrude therefrom, and the seat portion 41b of the screw receiving seat 41 is fitted on and fixed to the underside of the screw receiving seat mounting hole 80a by bonding or the like. This brings the seat portion 41b of the screw receiving seat 41 into a buried state.

[0102] Then, the auxiliary plate 11b is laid on the main plate 11a from below, and the plates are integrated together by bonding or the like. It should be noted that the auxiliary plate 11b does not necessarily have to be provided. In the case of providing no auxiliary plate 11b, the grounding body 12 is directly bonded or otherwise attached to the main plate 11a (coupling means mounting body 11).

[0103] The above completes a configuration of the outsole side constituent body OC in which a plurality of outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 (screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a) are disposed at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the outsole 10 and the screw receiving seats 41 are mounted and arranged on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 4, the upper 20 in the upper side constituent body UC has an inward flange portion, as a bottom portion 21, that is formed bent inward on an inner periphery of its lower end. The bottom portion 21 made up of the inward flange portion has seating holes 21a formed therein. In addition, the bottom portion 21 made up of the inward flange portion has slits 21b provided at least at its toe portion.

[0105] The seating holes 21a provided at the bottom portion 21 are disposed corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80. More specifically, they are disposed at positions corresponding to the screw receiving seats 41 mounted and arranged on the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80. Of course, the seating holes 21a also correspond to upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided at the insole 30, which will be described later.

[0106] The seating holes 21a are disposed to be fitted externally onto the protruding cylindrical portions 41a of the screw receiving seats 41.

[0107] The slits 21b are disposed at the toe portion of the bottom portion 21 made up of the inward flange portion, although the slits can also be disposed at the heel portion and other locations.

[0108] With provision of the slits 21b, distortion that occurs at the bottom portion 21 made up of the inward flange portion when the bottom portion 21 as the inward flange portion is squeezed from above and below can be reduced and released, preventing the distortion from being transmitted to the upper 20 side and creating wrinkles and the like. The toe region of the upper 20 having a small radius of curvature would likely suffer distortion due to screw coupling. The slits 21b provided can effectively prevent wrinkles and the like from occurring in the toe region of the upper 20.

[0109] Further, the slits 21b provided at the toe region of the bottom portion 21, made up of the inward flange portion, of the upper 20 can improve the flexibility of the toe region of the upper 20, facilitating the screwing work from the insole 30 side without being disturbed by the upper 20.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 5, the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC has a plurality of upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided at predetermined intervals along its outer periphery.

[0111] The upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are actually configured as coupling screw insertion holes 90b for mounting and arranging the coupling screws 42.

[0112] The coupling screw insertion holes 90b each have its top portion countersunk to prevent the head of the coupling screw 42 from protruding above the upper surface of the insole 30.

[0113] In addition, the upper surface of the insole 30 may be provided with a hook and loop fastener 34 to prevent movement of the inner lining 50 that is laid on top.

[0114] FIG. 7 shows a cross section in the short direction of the footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the central portion and the top of the upper 20 are shown cut away.

[0115] The outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC is arranged with the screw receiving seats 41 and the welt 60 attached.

[0116] The upper 20 in the upper side constituent body UC has its bottom portion 21 overlaid on the upper surface of the outsole 10 inside the welt 60.

[0117] Then, the coupling screws 42 are inserted from the coupling screw insertion holes 90b of the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided at the insole 30, through the seating holes 21a in the upper 20, and are screwed into the screw receiving seats 41 at the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80.

[0118] Coupling between the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41 makes the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC integrated together.

[0119] Decoupling the coupling screws 42 from the screw receiving seats 41 makes the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC separated from each other.

[0120] The inner lining 50 placed on the insole 30 imparts further cushioning and also conceals the coupling screws 42 below.

[0121] The seat portions 41b of the screw receiving seats 41 are provided with prongs 41c, further preventing unwanted fixation failure of the screw receiving seats 41.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the upper 20 and the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC can be configured not to be coupled to each other except for the screw coupling with the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41.

[0123] By making the upper 20 and the insole 30 not coupled except for the screw coupling means 40, when the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC are separated by releasing the screw coupling between the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41, the upper 20 and the insole 30 can further be separated from the upper side constituent body UC with great ease.

[0124] Further, in the above embodiment, the insole 30 and the upper 20 in the upper side constituent body UC can be coupled together with an adhesive in advance, besides the screw coupling with the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41. In this case, after the insole 30 and the upper 20 are bonded and attached together, the seating holes 21a to be provided at the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20 can be formed simultaneously and continuously with the coupling screw insertion holes 90b to be provided at the insole 30.

[0125] By bonding the insole 30 and the upper 20 in the upper side constituent body UC into one member in advance, the screw coupling between the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC becomes a one member to one member operation, so that the alignment work and the screw coupling work between the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC become simple operations on the two members. This results in great reduction and simplification of the work.

[0126] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in the state where the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC are screw-coupled together, a gap space 70 can be configured inwardly of the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20, composed of a step corresponding to the thickness of the bottom portion 21.

[0127] The functions and effects by provision of the gap space 70 are described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0128] Now, in the state where a person is wearing the footwear on his/her foot F, i.e. in the state where the foot F is placed on the insole 30, a pushing force P by the foot F is applied to the insole 30 via the inner lining 50. Then, the insole 30 suffers a force making it to sink downward into the gap space 70, which force acts as a tensile force S to let the periphery move toward the center. This tensile force S is also applied continuously to the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41 in the coupled state, via the insole 30, causing them to be held in a tense state (tensile state). This continuously prevents loosening of the screw coupling between the coupling screws 42 and their corresponding screw receiving seats 41.

[0129] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20 is configured as the inward flange portion, formed with the upper 20 bent inward from the inner periphery of its lower end, which is provided partially, not over the entire surface. However, assuming an upper 20 with a bottom, the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20 may be configured over the entire bottom surface of the upper 20 integrally or in a reinforced manner. Such a configuration also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0130] Further, in the above embodiment, it can be configured such that all the screw receiving seats 41 of the screw coupling means 40 are mounted and arranged on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 in the outsole side constituent body OC and all the coupling screws 42 are mounted and arranged on the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 in the upper side constituent body UC, to be screwed together.

[0131] However, conversely, all the screw receiving seats 41 can be mounted and arranged on the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 and all the coupling screws 42 can be mounted and arranged on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80, to be screwed together.

[0132] Still alternatively, some of the screw receiving seats 41 may be mounted and arranged on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the remaining screw receiving seats 41 may be mounted and arranged on the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90, and corresponding thereto, some of the coupling screws 42 may be mounted and arranged on the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 and the remaining coupling screws 42 may be mounted and arranged on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80, to be screwed together.

[0133] FIG. 9 shows a configuration in which the screw receiving seats 41 are mounted and arranged on the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC and the coupling screws 42 are mounted and arranged on the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC.

[0134] In this case, the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC is composed of a main plate 30a and an auxiliary plate 30b.

[0135] In the case of mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats 41 in the upper side constituent body UC, it can be configured such that screw receiving seat mounting holes 90a are provided at the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided on the main plate 30a of the insole 30, and the screw receiving seats 41 are mounted and arranged on these holes, and are backed by the auxiliary plate 30b. In the case of arranging the coupling screws 42 in the outsole side constituent body OC, it can be configured such that coupling screw insertion holes 80b are provided at the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 on the outsole 10, and the coupling screws 42 are inserted into the holes and screwed into the screw receiving seats 41 on the insole 30 side.

[0136] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided at the upper side constituent body UC may be provided, not on the insole 30, but on the upper 20.

[0137] The case of providing the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 on the upper 20 itself is described with reference to FIG. 10.

[0138] In this case, the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 are provided on the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC. On the other hand, the upper side mounting arrangements portion 90 are provided on the upper 20 itself in the upper side constituent body UC. Then, the two are separably screw-coupled using the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41.

[0139] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the screw receiving seat mounting holes 90a are provided at the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided on the upper 20, for mounting the screw receiving seats 41 thereon, and the coupling screw insertion holes 80b are provided at the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 provided on the outsole 10, for inserting the coupling screws 42 therein. Of course, the positional relationship between the screw receiving seats 41 and the coupling screws 42 can be reversed. In other words, the screw receiving seats 41 and the coupling screws 42 may be mounted on one and the other of the outsole 10 and the upper 20.

[0140] The insole 30 can be disposed on the upper 20.

[0141] The upper 20 may have its bottom portion 21 provided over the entire surface.

[0142] Furthermore, in the case where the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20 is thin in thickness or weak in strength, it may be reinforced with a reinforcing sheet or the like.

[0143] A further description will be made of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 (screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a) provided at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 (coupling screw insertion holes 90b) provided at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0144] The outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 are spaced at intervals of about 10 mm to about 70 mm, although they depend on the size and type of the footwear, and are arranged over the entire periphery at positions about 5 mm to about 20 mm inside from the outer periphery.

[0145] The intervals of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 can be made relatively longer in sandals, for example. For the footwear having a high dimension accuracy, such as leather shoes, the intervals are preferably 10 mm to 25 mm. If the intervals are too wide, the watertightness will deteriorate. On the other hand, if the intervals are too narrow, distortion due to the coupling will increase. The outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 are specifically configured as the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a. The diameter of the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a, although it depends on the screw diameter of the screw coupling means 40 to be used, is set to be about 4 mm to about 6 mm, for example, such that the cylindrical portion 41a of the screw receiving seat 41 to be used can penetrate therethrough.

[0146] The upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are provided at the positions corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80.

[0147] The upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are specifically configured as the coupling screw insertion holes 90b. The diameter of the coupling screw insertion holes 90b, although it depends on the screw diameter of the coupling screws 42 to be used, is set to be about 3 mm to about 5 mm, for example, such that the coupling screw 42 can penetrate therethrough. Of course, the coupling screw insertion hole 90b has its upper entrance area countersunk such that the head of the coupling screw 42 sinks therein.

[0148] The outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are provided in paired positions where screw coupling with a screw receiving seat 41 and a coupling screw 42 can be completed at each of them.

[0149] In the case of causing an integrated body of the outsole side constituent body OC (outsole 10) and the upper side constituent body UC (upper 20, insole 30) to have a flat bottom (bottom of the outsole 10), the positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the positions of their counterpart upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are configured to be simply aligned in the up-and-down directions at all the positions.

[0150] On the other hand, in the case where an integrated body of the outsole side constituent body OC (outsole 10) and the upper side constituent body UC (upper 20, insole 30) is desired to have its bottom (bottom of the outsole 10) curved into a predetermined shape, the positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the positions of their counterpart upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are configured to be displaced from each other by a predetermined dimension in a planned manner.

[0151] A specific example of having the bottom of the integrated body (bottom of the outsole 10) curved into a predetermined shape in a planned manner is further described using FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0152] The figures illustrate the state where the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC is overlaid on the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC.

[0153] The outsole 10 is provided with screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a as the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80, which are drawn in slightly larger circles.

[0154] The insole 30 is provided with coupling screw insertion holes 90b as the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90, which are drawn in slightly smaller circles.

[0155] A description is now made of a case in which, for example, the bottom of the footwear is configured to be curved into a valley fold in the forward region in the longitudinal direction, with its foot's arch region as the center, and to be curved into a mountain fold in the region behind the foot's arch region.

[0156] In this case, for example, the foot's arch region of each of the outsole 10 and the insole 30 is configured as a no-misalignment region A, in which the centers of the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a (six holes in the figures) in the outsole 10 and the centers of the coupling screw insertion holes 90b (six holes in the figures) in the insole 30 are configured to be perfectly aligned in the up-and-down directions.

[0157] On the other hand, the regions in front of and behind the no-misalignment region A in the longitudinal direction are set to be a misalignment region B1 and a misalignment region B2, respectively.

[0158] In the misalignment region B1, in order to make the bottom of the footwear curved into a valley fold, the positions of the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a in the outsole 10 are displaced to the plus side from the coupling screw insertion holes 90b in the insole 30. Here, the plus side is the direction in which the hole intervals become longer.

[0159] In the misalignment region B2, in order to make the bottom of the footwear curved into a mountain fold, the positions of the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a in the outsole 10 are displaced to the minus side from the coupling screw insertion holes 90b in the insole 30. Here, the minus side is the direction in which the hole intervals become shorter.

[0160] Referring to FIG. 12, the displacement is 0 in the no-misalignment region A.

[0161] In the misalignment region B1, the displacement dimension with respect to the no-misalignment region A gradually increases from +1 mm, +2 mm, and to +3 mm from the one closest to the no-misalignment region A. Therefore, in the misalignment region B1, by aligning the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a in the outsole 10 with the coupling screw insertion holes 90b in the insole 30 to do screw coupling, the footwear is first curved upward into a valley fold toward the front direction corresponding to the displacement of +1 mm, continuously curved upward corresponding to the next displacement of +1 mm (total displacement dimension of +2 mm from the no-misalignment region A), and further curved upward corresponding to the next displacement of +1 mm (total displacement dimension of +3 mm), to have the degree of curving gradually increased.

[0162] In the above, the degree of curving follows a radius of curvature that is determined according to the displacement dimension.

[0163] In the misalignment region B2, the displacement with respect to the no-misalignment region A is 2 mm, 0 mm (total displacement dimension of 2 mm), and 0 mm (total displacement dimension of 2 mm) from the one closest to the no-misalignment region A, so that the displacement is made only one time at the position close to the no-misalignment region A, with a large displacement dimension of 2 mm. Therefore, by aligning the screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a in the outsole with the coupling screw insertion holes 90b in the insole 30 to do screw coupling, the footwear can be curved one time into a mountain fold corresponding to 2 mm, toward its rear direction.

[0164] In the above-described manner, the bottom of the footwear can be made into a predetermined curved shape, without using a last (shoe mold), by designing the positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the positions of their counterpart upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 to be displaced from each other by predetermined dimensions.

[0165] In the above, the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 in the upper side constituent body UC are arranged on the insole 30. However, also in the case where the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 in the upper side constituent body UC are arranged on the upper 20, the bottom of the footwear (bottom of the outsole 10) can similarly be curved into a predetermined shape in a planned manner. Such a configuration also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0166] In the above description, for each of the outsole 10, the upper 20, and the insole 30, materials including leather, artificial leather, rubber, plastics such as EVA and PU, and sewn materials can be used alone or as a combination thereof.

[0167] Further, in the above, besides the shoes, any footwear that includes at least an outsole 10 and an upper 20, such as sandals, is the footwear of the present invention.

[0168] Furthermore, the upper 20 does not necessarily have to be in one piece. For example in the case of sandals, the upper is composed of two or more separated parts. Such an upper is also the upper according to the present invention.

[0169] A method of making footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

[0170] The footwear making method of the present invention relates to making of footwear that includes at least an outsole side constituent body OC constituting an outsole side, an upper side constituent body UC constituting an upper side, and screw coupling means 40 made up of screw receiving seats 41 and coupling screws 42 screwed thereinto.

[0171] In the outsole side constituent body OC, a plurality of outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 are provided at predetermined intervals for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats 41 or the coupling screws 42.

[0172] In the upper side constituent body UC, a plurality of upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are provided at predetermined intervals, corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80, for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats 41 or the coupling screws 42.

[0173] Then, the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41 mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are screwed together, to separably integrate the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC.

[0174] Further, misalignment regions B1, B2 are provided in which the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 and the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 are made to be displaced from each other.

[0175] Then, in screw-coupling the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper side constituent body UC, a curved shape is formed in each of the misalignment regions B1, B2, according to the displacement direction and the displacement dimension therein.

[0176] In the footwear making method described above, specifically, the plurality of outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 in the outsole side constituent body OC are disposed at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the outsole 10. On the other hand, the plurality of upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 in the upper side constituent body UC are disposed at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the insole 30.

[0177] The outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 have screw receiving seat mounting holes 80a formed for mounting and arranging the screw receiving seats 41. The upper side mounting arrangement portion 90 have coupling screw insertion holes 90b formed for inserting and mounting and arranging the coupling screws 42.

[0178] It should be noted that in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the screw receiving seats 41 are mounted on the screw receiving seat mounting holes 90a of the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided at the upper 20, and the coupling screws 42 are mounted and arranged in the coupling screw insertion holes 80b of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 provided at the outsole 10.

[0179] In the upper 20, an inward flange portion is provided as a bottom portion 21, which is formed bent inward on an inner periphery of its lower end. Then, seating holes 21a are formed in the bottom portion 21. In addition, in the bottom portion 21 made up of the inward flange portion, slits 21b are provided at least at its toe portion.

[0180] The outsole 10, the upper 20, and the insole 30 are prepared in the above-described manner.

[0181] Next, for integration, the upper 20 is first placed on the outsole 10, and the seating holes 21a at the bottom portion 21 are fitted to the screw receiving seats 41 mounted and arranged in the outsole 10. Next, the insole 30 is overlaid on the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20, and the coupling screws 42 are inserted from the coupling screw insertion holes 90b on the insole 30 side and screwed into the screw receiving seats 41 on the outsole 10 side. In this manner, the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC and the upper 20 and the insole 30 in the upper side constituent body UC are coupled into a three-component stacked state, and integrated together.

[0182] In addition, in the footwear making method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the positions of the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 provided at the outsole 10 and the positions of the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided at the insole 30 can be made to be displaced from each other. This allows footwear having a curved shape formed in each of the misalignment regions B1, B2 according to the displacement direction and the displacement dimension therein to be made through the screw coupling of the outsole 10, the upper 20, and the insole 30.

[0183] Besides, in the footwear making method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the footwear can be made such that, in the course of integrating the outsole 10 and the insole 30 stacked in the up-and-down directions with the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20 sandwiched therebetween through coupling of the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41, a gap space 70 composed of a step corresponding to the thickness of the bottom portion 21 made up of the inward flange portion is configured inwardly of the bottom portion 21 and beneath the insole 30.

[0184] Further, in the footwear making method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper 20 can have slits 23 provided at least at the toe region of its bottom portion 21 (inward flange portion).

[0185] Further, in the footwear making method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the insole 30 and the upper 20 in the upper side constituent body UC can be used without coupling them together, except for the screw coupling with the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41.

[0186] Furthermore, in the footwear making method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the insole 30 and the upper 20 in the upper side constituent body UC can be used by coupling them together with an adhesive in advance, prior to the screw coupling with the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 42.

[0187] Further, in the footwear making method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 can be disposed at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the outsole 10 in the outsole side constituent body OC, and the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 provided corresponding to the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 can be disposed at the bottom portion 21 of the upper 20 itself in the upper side constituent body UC. Then, the coupling screws 42 and the screw receiving seats 41 mounted and arranged in pairs on the outsole side mounting arrangement portions 80 in the outsole 10 and the upper side mounting arrangement portions 90 in the upper 20 may be screwed together, to separably integrate the outsole 10 and the upper 20.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0188] The present invention has industrial applicability as footwear and a method of making footwear.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0189] 10 outsole [0190] 11 coupling means mounting body [0191] 11a main plate [0192] 11b auxiliary plate [0193] 12 grounding body [0194] 20 upper [0195] 21 bottom portion [0196] 21a seating hole [0197] 21b slit [0198] 30 insole [0199] 30a main plate [0200] 30b auxiliary plate [0201] 34 hook and loop fastener [0202] 40 screw coupling means [0203] 41 screw receiving seat [0204] 41a cylindrical portion [0205] 41b seat portion [0206] 41c prong [0207] 42 coupling screw [0208] 50 inner lining [0209] 60 welt [0210] 70 gap space [0211] 80 outsole side mounting arrangement portion [0212] 80a screw receiving seat mounting hole [0213] 80b coupling screw insertion hole [0214] 90 upper side mounting arrangement portion [0215] 90a screw receiving seat mounting hole [0216] 90b coupling screw insertion hole [0217] OC outsole side constituent body [0218] UC upper side constituent body [0219] A no-misalignment region [0220] B1 misalignment region [0221] B2 misalignment region [0222] F foot [0223] P pushing force [0224] S tensile force