Shoe Upper Structure and Shoe Having the Same

Abstract

A shoe upper structure includes an inner upper having a foot-dorsum top portion that covers at least a dorsum top region of a foot of a shoe wearer, an outer upper having a heel portion that covers at least a heel region of the foot of the shoe wearer, and a stretchable portion that generates a tensional force to the foot-dorsum top portion of the inner upper toward a lower end of the heel portion of the outer upper when the shoe is worn by the shoe wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe upper structure comprising:
 a first upper having a foot-dorsum top portion that is configured and adapted to cover at least a dorsum top region of a foot of a shoe wearer;   a second upper having a heel portion that is configured and adapted to cover at least a heel region of the foot of the shoe wearer; and   a stretchable portion that generates a tensional force at said foot-dorsum top portion of said first upper toward a lower end of said heel portion of said second upper when a shoe is worn by the shoe wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said stretchable portion includes a stretchable area that is disposed at least at a part of an area extending from a position of a Lisfranc's joint of the foot to a position of a calcaneus of the foot at least either on a medial side or on a lateral side of the foot. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said stretchable portion includes a stretchable area that is disposed intersecting a Chopart joint of the foot on a medial side and a lateral side of the foot. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said stretchable portion is disposed below said foot-dorsum top portion of said first upper, and an end of said stretchable portion is connected to said foot-dorsum top portion of said first upper and the other end of said stretchable portion extends to said lower end of said heel portion of said second upper. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first upper is disposed inside said second upper. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first upper is disposed outside said second upper. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first upper constitutes a tongue portion of said shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first upper includes said stretchable portion that is integrated with said first upper and that constitutes a part of said first upper, whereby an elasticity of said first upper is greater than an elasticity of said second upper, and wherein said first upper and said second upper are overlapped with one another and an overlapped area between said first upper and said second upper is separated from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe upper structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said second upper includes an access opening for entry of the foot into the shoe and a throat opening that extends longitudinally in connection with said access opening and said first upper includes a tongue portion disposed at said throat opening, and wherein said stretchable portion is disposed below said first upper and an end of said stretchable portion is connected to said first upper and the other end of said stretchable portion extends to said lower end of said heel portion of said second upper. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe comprising said shoe upper structure according to  claim 1  and a sole, wherein said upper structure includes a bottom portion that is fixedly attached to said sole.