Shoes

Abstract

A shoe includes a sole, a shoe upper attached to the sole, and a string member disposed at the sole and the shoe upper such that the string member extends over an area from a forefoot to a hindfoot of a foot, the string member being movable relative to the sole and the shoe upper. The string member is configured such that when the foot is bent at metatarsophalangeal joints and an MP area of the sole is bent and warped in a vertical direction and stretched, a second extension portion is pulled toward a front portion by bending of a first extension portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole made of an elastic material and having a ground surface configured to contact ground;   a shoe upper attached to the sole and configured to cover a foot of a wearer; and   a string member disposed at the sole and the shoe upper such that the string member extends over an area from a forefoot to a hindfoot of the foot, the string member being movable relative to the sole and the shoe upper, wherein   the shoe upper has an ankle opening an edge portion of which is configured to cover a periphery of an ankle of the wearer,   the sole includes   a tiptoe area corresponding to a region located forward of metatarsophalangeal joints in the forefoot,   an MP area corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal joints in the forefoot, and   a heel area corresponding to a heel in the hindfoot,   the string member includes   a front portion held on the ground surface of the sole in the tiptoe area,   a first extension portion having a front end which is continuous with the front portion and extending rearward and substantially parallel to the ground surface of the sole in the MP area, and   a second extension portion having a front end which is continuous with a rear end of the first extension portion and extending rearward, in the heel area, from the ground surface of the sole to pass through both side portions and a rear portion of the shoe upper, and   when the metatarsophalangeal joints of the forefoot are bent and the MP area of the sole is bent and warped in a vertical direction and stretched, the second extension portion is pulled toward the front portion by bending of the first extension portion.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first extension portion is disposed more adjacent to the ground surface than a substantial middle of the sole in a thickness direction.   
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein
 the front portion includes a pair of left and right front portions which are spaced apart from each other in the foot width direction,   the string member includes a third extension portion which is continuous with the front portions and extends from the front portions in the longitudinal direction and substantially parallel to the ground surface of the sole, and   the third extension portion extends in the longitudinal direction and includes an intermediate portion which meanders between the tiptoe area and a portion located rearward of the MP area while making at least one turn.   
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein
 the sole is provided with a turnaround hook for holding a turning portion of the intermediate portion, of the third extension portion, that meanders.   
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein
 the shoe upper is provided with a throat opening which is continuous with the ankle opening and extends in the longitudinal direction, and a shoelace for adjusting a degree of opening of the throat opening, and   the string member is coupled to the shoelace with the third extension portion attached to the shoelace.   
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein
 the sole is provided with a holding member configured to hold the string member such that the string member extends along the ground surface.