Patent Description:
Open footwear such as zori and sandals, wherein an ankle and a portion lower thereto are left open, is typically configured by attaching a belt and a strap to a flat insole shaped like a foot sole. Additionally, so far, zori or sandals having features good for health, such as having their insoles provided with nubs to allow foot sole acupoints to be stimulated during walking and/or having the insoles inclined sideward to allow O-shaped legs or X-shaped legs to be corrected are widely used.

So far, this kind of techniques include a technique described in Patent Document <NUM>. Patent Document <NUM> discloses an acupressure sandal wherein positions at which to place a front hole for a strap are set at two locations in a manner of an index toe being interposed between a big toe and three toes, middle, ring, little toes in a ratio of <NUM> to <NUM> with the index toe in the middle, and wherein further an insole part on which to put the index toe is made to protrude by <NUM>~<NUM>.

<CIT> describes a sandal base plate, which is the main body of a sandal as footwear, and a sandal made using said sandal base plate, and in particular to a sandal base plate and sandals that encourage the wearer to actively use the five toes when walking, thereby correcting the posture of the entire body and thereby improving metabolism.

By the way, in these years, a low-priced footwear such as beach sandals is desired to have features good for health. Especially, in hope of preventing O-shaped legs from drawing attention while, on a seaside or the like, swimming wear being had on, a beach sandal having features of correcting O-shaped legs is desired to come out.

The present invention is, for its purpose, to meet such a request to provide footwear having features good for health.

A footwear according to the claimed invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

Footwear having a strap (e.g., strap <NUM>) comprising a front strap portion (e.g., front strap portion <NUM>) configured to be interposed between a big toe and an index toe of a user, and a side strap portion (e.g., side strap portion <NUM>) configured to be put on a top of a foot of said user, and a footbed (e.g., footbed <NUM>) which the strap is attached to and a foot of the user is intended to be mounted on, wherein said footbed has a vertical two-layer structure, wherein an upper layer (e.g., first layer <NUM>) which is one layer of the two-layer structure has a first removal portion (e.g., removal portion 51a) obtained by removing a site intended to be located opposed to a heel of the user, and a second removal portion (e.g., removal portion 51c) obtained by removing a site intended to be located closer to a little toe of the user as seen from said front strap portion while closer to toes of the user as seen from said first removal portion, wherein a lower layer (e.g., second layer <NUM>) which is another layer of said two-layer structure is made of material more flexible than said upper layer is, and is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while providing said lower layer with neither said first removal portion nor said second removal portion, wherein said second removal portion, in use, is opposed to at least a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, as well as an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, of the user, and wherein a level-difference part formed by an upper surface of said upper layer and an upper surface of said lower layer in said second removal portion is provided with a slant (e.g., slant 51d).

When a user walks with footwear according to the present invention on, an outside site closer to toes (a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, as well as an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, of the user) on a foot sole stays away from the ground, and therefore, weight of the user focuses on an inward side portion of a foot sole of the user. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer. In this way, footwear having features good for health is allowed to be provided.

According to the present invention in particular, either of an end portion closer to toes and an end portion closer to a heel on a reverse surface of a footbed is provided with a slant, and therefore, a slant on a reverse side of a toe portion abuts on the ground on an event of walking to allow a center of gravity to move smoothly on the event of walking so that a user can walk more easily. Advantageous Effect of Invention.

The present invention allows footwear having features good for health, to be provided.

As follows, examples are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a first example. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> show a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference, and has a heel portion 20a which a heel of a user is mounted on and a toe portion 20b which toes of the user are mounted on.

A strap <NUM> is made of fabric or synthetic resin and composed of a front strap portion <NUM> and a side strap portion <NUM>. The front strap portion <NUM> is a part extending upward from a plate surface of a footbed <NUM>, and interposed between a big toe of a user and an index toe thereof, and is placed on a toe portion 20b of the footbed <NUM>. The side strap portion <NUM> is composed of a string-like or belt-like member made of fabric or synthetic resin and is divided into an inside strap portion 32a having the front strap portion <NUM> as its proximal end and extending to a side portion (referred to as inward side portion) closer to a big toe on the footbed <NUM> and an outside strap portion 32b extending to a side portion (referred to as outward side portion) closer to a little toe thereon. A termination portion of the inside strap portion 32a and that of the outside strap portion 32b are fixed to each of both side portions of a foot arch region of the footbed <NUM>.

A footbed <NUM> further has a removal portion 20c on a side closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>. The removal portion 20c is formed by making a notch in a longitudinal direction of the footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the footbed <NUM>, passing it through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from the front strap portion <NUM>, and passing it through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to make a gentle arc-form cut as far as to an outward side portion of the footbed <NUM>.

As follows, a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM> is described.

Footwear <NUM> configured in this way can be put on by a user letting in his/her foot through a strap <NUM> and interposing a front strap portion <NUM> between a big toe of the user and an index toe thereof. On this occasion, an inside strap portion 32a passes by a big toe base of a user while an outside strap portion 32b passes by a top of foot of the user, and thereby, the footwear <NUM> is made to be less likely to slip off a foot of the user.

In a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM>, a removal portion 20c is opposed to at least a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user. That is, in the case where a foot sole is divided into two, a toe-side and a heel-side parts near an arch of foot and where the toe-side part is further divided into a big-toe-side (inside) and a little-toe-side (outside) parts, a toe-side outside moiety is at large opposed to the removal portion 20c.

Since this makes, in the case where a user walks with footwear <NUM>, an outside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole stay away from the ground, weight of the user focuses on an inward side portion of a foot sole of the user. Additionally, the user comes to be careful while standing upright or walking that outside part of the foot sole which a removal portion 20c is opposed to does not touch the ground. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer.

In this example, which is configured in this way, wearing by a user makes weight of the user focus on an inward side portion of a foot sole, which therefore, allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows a gap between knees of the user to be closer. This allows the user to walk, even in the case where he/she has changed into swimwear, at a beach without worrying about his/her O-shaped legs. Further, in this example, in the case where a speel plaster is attached to a corn which has occurred on a foot-sole outside, a site to which the speel plaster is attached is allowed, by footwear <NUM> being had on, to stay away from the ground, and therefore, an advantageous effect of making the speel plaster be less likely to be displaced or detached on the occasion of walking is also expected.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a modification of a first example. The footwear <NUM> according to a modification of a first example is one wherein a removal portion 20d obtained by removing a heel part is formed additionally in a footbed <NUM> of footwear <NUM> according to a first example shown in <FIG>. The removal portion 20d can be referred to as a heel removal portion.

In a modification of a first example, which is configured in this way, footwear <NUM> has a removal portion 20d and thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Additionally, the footwear <NUM> has a removal portion 20c and thereby, allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer, as described above.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a second example. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. A member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

Footwear <NUM> has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. The footwear <NUM> is different from footwear <NUM> according to a first example since it has a footbed <NUM> in place of a footbed <NUM> of a first example.

A footbed <NUM> is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>. The first layer <NUM> has a removal portion 26a. Additionally, although the first layer <NUM> is obtained by chamfering a toe edge portion of a footbed <NUM> of footwear <NUM> according to a first example, it remains, otherwise, to be in an identical shape or in a one different in thickness, and the removal portion 26a is formed on the same site as a removal portion 20c of the footbed <NUM> of footwear <NUM>.

A second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while having no removal portion 26a formed in a first layer <NUM>. A footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> to each other, and a level difference is caused on a removal portion 26a site.

Footwear <NUM> is achieved by attaching a strap <NUM> to an footbed <NUM>, like footwear <NUM> according to a first example.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, an outside part closer to toes on a foot sole of the user stays away, to the extent of a level difference caused by a removal portion 26a, from and is opposed to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM>.

Thus, in footwear <NUM> according to a second example, a user focuses weight of the user on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole, in the case where the user stands upright with the footwear <NUM> on, as in footwear <NUM> according to a first example. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer. Additionally, since a bottom side of a removal portion 26a is covered with a second layer <NUM>, beach sand is kept from directly touching a foot sole in the case where the footwear <NUM> is used on a sand beach.

Footwear <NUM> according to a second example may have, for its footbed <NUM>, a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM> made to vertically change over with each other to make the second layer <NUM> an upper layer and the first layer <NUM> a lower layer.

Even a modification of a second example, which is configured in this way, has such an effect as footwear <NUM> according to a second example does.

Additionally, footwear <NUM> according to a second example as well may have, in its footbed <NUM>, a heel site removed, as footwear <NUM> according to a modification of a first example. Thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Additionally, an example shown in <FIG> has its heel site removed in an arc shape but may have it removed linearly as shown in <FIG>.

Additionally, it may be also structured in two-layers by adhering, to a lower surface of footwear whose heel site has been removed in an arc shape as shown in <FIG> or linearly in <FIG>, a second layer <NUM> of footwear <NUM> according to a second example. This keeps beach sand from directly touching a foot sole.

In a second example and its modification, a footbed <NUM> is formed in two layers, but it may be formed in one layer (as a single plate) if it is obtained by forming, on a site which in the footbed, is opposed to an outside part of a foot sole of a user, a thin portion obtained by decreasing the plate in thickness.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a third example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference, and has a heel portion 40a which a heel of a user is mounted on and a toe portion 40b which toes of the user are mounted on.

A front strap portion <NUM> of a strap <NUM> is a part extending upward from a plate surface of a footbed <NUM>, and interposed between a big toe of a user and an index toe thereof, and is placed on a toe portion 40b of the footbed <NUM>. A side strap portion <NUM> is divided into an inside strap portion 32a having the front strap portion <NUM> as its proximal end and extending to a side portion (referred to as inward side portion) closer to a big toe on the footbed <NUM> and an outside strap portion 32b extending to a side portion (referred to as outward side portion) closer to a little toe thereon. A termination portion of the inside strap portion 32a and that of the outside strap portion 32b are fixed to each of both side portions of a foot arch region of the footbed <NUM>.

A footbed <NUM> has, on its reverse side, further a recess portion 40c on a side closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. A wall surface of a recess portion 40c goes in a longitudinal direction of the footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the footbed <NUM>, passes through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from the front strap portion <NUM>, and passes through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to extend in a form of a gentle arc as far as to an outward side portion of the footbed <NUM>. The recess portion 40c is opened on its periphery portion. In other words, footwear <NUM> according to a third example is configured by making, in footwear <NUM> according to a first example shown in <FIG>, a plate-like extension be present from an upper portion of a removal portion 20c to an outward side portion and have the extension cover the upper portion of a removal portion 20c. Since the recess portion 40c is small in thickness on its bottom portion, it has flexibility in its vertical direction.

In a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM>, a removal portion 40c is opposed to at least a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user. That is, in the case where a foot sole is divided into two, a toe-side and a heel-side parts near an arch of foot and where the toe-side part is further divided into a big-toe-side (inside) and a little-toe-side (outside) parts, a toe-side outside moiety is at large opposed to the recess portion 40c through a bottom portion of the recess portion 40c.

In the case where a user walks with footwear <NUM>, a reverse surface of an outside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole, that is, a bottom surface of a recess portion 40c, stays away from the ground. This makes it harder to walk steadily. The user comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole, in order to maintain walking balance. Additionally, the user comes to be careful while standing upright or walking that the bottom surface of a recess portion 40c does not touch the ground. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer.

In a third example configured in this way, such an advantageous effect as in a first example can be expected, and further, a foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

Footwear <NUM> is different from footwear <NUM> according to a first example since it has a footbed <NUM> in place of a footbed <NUM> of a first example.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>. The first layer <NUM> has a removal portion 51a obtained by removing a part corresponding to a heel of a user, a toe portion 51b which toes of the user are mounted on, and a removal portion 51c obtained by removing parts corresponding to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe, and their base parts, of the user, as well as vicinity thereof. Additionally, a slant 51d which is inclined downward is formed on a fringe portion of the removal portion 51c in the first layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>.

A removal portion 51c is formed by making a notch in a longitudinal direction of a footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on a first layer <NUM>, passing it through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, and passing it through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to make a gentle arc-form cut as far as to an outward side portion of a footbed <NUM>.

A second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference, as shown in <FIG>, while having neither removal portion 51a nor 51c formed in a first layer <NUM>. A footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> to each other, and a level difference by an upper surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> is caused on removal portion 51a, 51c sites. A slant 51d is formed on this level-difference part. The second layer <NUM> is made of more flexible material than the first layer <NUM> is.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel part on a foot sole of the user is opposed to a removal portion 51a, and a removal portion 51c is opposed to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user. A heel part and an outside part closer to toes, on a foot sole of the user stay away, to the extent of level differences caused by removal portions 51a, 51c, from and are opposed to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM>.

Footwear <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment configured in this way exhibits the same advantageous effect as footwear <NUM> according to a first example does. Further, it has a removal portion 51a and thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Additionally, a slant 51d which is inclined downward to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM> is formed on a fringe portion of a removal portion 51c. Thereby, on the occasion that impulse is applied to the user in a horizontal direction, for example, in the case of bumping into a person, a foot sole of the user abuts on the slant 51d. This makes it easier for the user to balance him/herself. Furthermore, since a second layer <NUM> is made of highly flexible material, the second layer <NUM> is elastically deformed to a great extent, in the case where a foot sole gets into contact with the second layer <NUM>. Since this makes the user less balanced, he/she, in order to keep balanced, comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole. Additionally, since at least a second layer <NUM> is interposed between the ground and a foot sole, the foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a fifth example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The first layer <NUM> has a removal portion 61a obtained by removing a part corresponding to a heel of a user, a toe portion 61b which toes of the user are mounted on, and a removal portion 61c obtained by removing parts corresponding to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe, and their base parts, of the user, as well as vicinity thereof. A slant 61d which is inclined downward is formed on a fringe portion of the removal portion 61c in the first layer <NUM>. Additionally, a slant 61e which is inclined upward to toes is formed on a reverse side of a toe portion on the first layer <NUM>.

A second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while having neither a removal portion 61a nor 61c formed in a first layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The second layer <NUM> is as rigid as the first layer <NUM>. A slant 62a which is inclined upward to toes is formed on a reverse side of a toe portion on the second layer <NUM>. The footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> to each other. This causes a level difference by an upper surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM>, on removal portion 61a, 61c sites. A slant 61d is formed on this level-difference part. Additionally, by a slant 61e site of the first layer <NUM> and a slant 62a site of the second layer <NUM> being superposed on each other, a slant which is inclined upward to toes is formed on a reverse side of a toe portion on the footbed <NUM>.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel part and an outside part closer to toes, on a foot sole of the user stay away, to the extent of level differences caused by removal portions 61a, 61c, from and are opposed to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM>. In other words, footwear <NUM> according to a fifth example is configured by forming, in footwear <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment, a slant which is inclined upward to toes on a reverse side of a toe portion while making a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM> identical members or members similar in hardness.

Footwear <NUM> according to a fifth example configured in this way exhibits the same advantageous effect as footwear <NUM> according to a fourth embodiment does. Further, since a slant is formed on a reverse side of a toe portion, a slant on the reverse side of a toe portion abuts on the ground on an event of walking to allow a center of gravity to move smoothly on the event of walking so that a user can walk more easily.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a sixth example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM>, a flexible bed <NUM>, and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference, and has a heel portion 70a which a heel of a user is mounted on and a toe portion 70b which toes of the user are mounted on.

A footbed <NUM> further has a removal portion 70c on a side closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. A removal portion 70c is formed by making a notch in a longitudinal direction of a footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the footbed <NUM>, passing it through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, and passing it through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to make a gentle arc-form cut as far as to an outward side portion of the footbed <NUM>.

A flexible bed <NUM> is made of a flexible member more flexible than a footbed <NUM>, and is placed on and fixed to a removal portion 70c of the footbed <NUM>. By the flexible bed <NUM> being fixed to the footbed <NUM>, one foot-form plate member is made. By the flexible bed <NUM> being placed on the removal portion 70c of a footbed <NUM>, a foot-form plate member is made.

Further, a flexible bed <NUM> is fixed to a removal portion 70c of a footbed <NUM>, a strap <NUM> is attached to the footbed <NUM> in the same manner as to a footbed <NUM> of footwear <NUM> according to a first example, and thereby, footwear <NUM> is configured.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a flexible bed <NUM> is opposed to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user, on a foot sole of the user.

In a sixth example configured in this way, a flexible bed <NUM> is greatly depressed when an outside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole treads on the flexible bed <NUM>, in the case where a user wears footwear <NUM> and walks. This makes it harder to walk steadily. The user comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole, in order to maintain walking balance. Additionally, the user comes to be careful while standing upright or walking that he/she does not tread on the flexible bed <NUM>. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer. Further, since the flexible bed <NUM> is fixed to a removal portion 70c, the foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a seventh example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference, and has a heel recess portion 80a which a heel of a user is opposed to, a toe portion 80b which toes of the user are mounted on, an outside recess portion 80c which a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, of a user are opposed to, and a slant 80d formed, as shown in <FIG>, on a reverse-surface front end portion.

A strap portion <NUM> is fixed to a toe portion 80b. A heel recess portion 80a, an outside recess portion 80c, and a slant 80d, of a footbed <NUM> are formed by cutting and processing one sheet of plate-like member.

As bottom surfaces of a heel recess portion 80a and an outside recess portion 80c are lower than an upper surface of a toe portion 80b, level-difference parts are formed between the upper surface of a toe portion 80b and the bottom surfaces of a heel recess portion 80a and an outside recess portion 80c. As shown in <FIG>, a wall surface of a heel recess portion 80a is formed in a form of an arc extended toward toes and the heel recess portion 80a is opened on its periphery portion. A wall surface of an outside recess portion 80c goes in a longitudinal direction of a footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the footbed <NUM>, passes through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, and passes through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to extend in a form of a gentle arc as far as to an outward side portion of the footbed <NUM>. The outside recess portion 80c is opened on its periphery portion. Additionally, as shown in <FIG>, a slant 80d is gently inclined from around a border between a toe portion 80b and an outside recess portion 80c to a part closer to a big toe of a user.

In a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM>, an outside recess portion 80c is opposed to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user. That is, in the case where a foot sole is divided into two, a toe-side and a heel-side parts near an arch of foot and where the toe-side part is further divided into a big-toe-side (inside) and a little-toe-side (outside) parts, a toe-side outside moiety is at large opposed to the outside recess portion 80c. Additionally, a heel of a user is opposed to a heel recess portion 80a.

In the case where a user walks with footwear <NUM>, a reverse surface of an outside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole, that is, a bottom surface of an outside recess portion 80c, stays away from the ground. This makes it harder to walk steadily. The user comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole, in order to maintain walking balance. Additionally, the user comes to be careful while standing upright or walking that the bottom surface of an outside recess portion 80c does not touch the ground. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer. Further, since a heel recess portion 80a is provided, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Additionally, since a slant 80d is formed, it is made easier, while a user is walking, for his/her big toe to be inclined inward, and therefore, a center of gravity of a leg of the user is allowed to be adjusted inward.

In a seventh example configured in this way, such an advantageous effect as in a first embodiment can be expected, and further, a foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects. Although a footbed <NUM> of the footwear <NUM> is made of one sheet of plate-like member, it may be structured in two layers as in footwear <NUM> according to a fifth example to form a level difference.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to an eighth example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference, and has, on its reverse surface, a recess portion 90a, as shown in <FIG>, on a site opposite to a region opposed to a big toe, a middle toe, and their base parts, of a user.

A strap <NUM> is fixed to a footbed <NUM> at a position similar to that in footwear <NUM> according to a first example shown in <FIG>. A recess portion 90a of the footbed <NUM> is formed by cutting and processing one sheet of plate-like member. An end portion of a front strap portion <NUM> is fixed to a region in which the recess portion 90a is formed.

As shown in <FIG>, a wall surface of a recess portion 90a goes in a longitudinal direction of a footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the footbed <NUM>, passes through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, and passes through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an inside strap portion 32a, to extend in a form of a gentle arc as far as to an inward side portion of the footbed <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the recess portion 90a is opened on its periphery portion. Since the recess portion 90a is smaller in thickness on its bottom portion, it has flexibility.

In a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM>, a big toe, an index toe and their base parts, as well as an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, of a user is opposed to a recess portion 90a through a bottom portion of the recess portion 90a. Since the recess portion 90a is smaller in thickness on its bottom portion, it has flexibility.

In the case where a user wears footwear <NUM> configured in this way and walks, a reverse surface of an inside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole, that is, a bottom surface of a recess portion 90a, stays away from the ground. Since a bottom portion on which the recess portion 90a is formed is smaller in thickness, it is more flexible than other sites. This makes it easier, while a user is walking, for his/her big toe and middle toe, and their base parts, to be inclined to an inward side portion. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a ninth example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a big-toe strap <NUM>, and an ankle strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>. The first layer <NUM> has a removal portion 101a obtained by removing a part corresponding to a heel of a user, a toe portion 101b which toes of the user are mounted on, and a removal portion 101c obtained by removing parts corresponding to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe, and their base parts, of the user.

A second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while having neither a removal portion 101a nor 101c formed in a first layer <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. A footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> to each other, and a level difference by an upper surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> is caused on removal portion 101a, 101c sites. The second layer <NUM> is made of more flexible material than the first layer <NUM> is. The footbed <NUM> is obtained through integration by superimposing the first layer <NUM> on the second layer <NUM> and fixing it thereon by adhesion or the like.

A big-toe strap <NUM> is made of a belt-like member as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and attached to a site at which a big toe of a user is positioned, in an arch-like shape, on a toe portion 101b of a first layer <NUM>. An ankle strap <NUM> is made of a belt-like member and has both of its end portions attached to both end portions closer to a heel, of the toe portion 101b of a first layer <NUM>. This makes the ankle strap <NUM> be attached to the footbed <NUM> in a manner like drawing an arch.

A user can wear footwear <NUM> by letting in a top of foot through an ankle strap <NUM> and letting in a big-toe through a big-toe strap <NUM>. Here, the ankle strap <NUM> is placed so as to surround an ankle. When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel part on a foot sole of the user stays away, to the extent of a level difference caused by a removal portion 101a, from and is opposed to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM>. Additionally, a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, as well as an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, of a user stay away, to the extent of a level difference caused by the removal portion 101c, from and to an upper surface of the second layer <NUM>.

Footwear <NUM> according to a ninth example configured in this way exhibits the same advantageous effect as footwear <NUM> according to a first example does. Further, it has a removal portion 101a and thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Furthermore, since a second layer <NUM> is made of highly flexible material, the second layer <NUM> is elastically deformed to a great extent, in the case where a foot sole gets into contact with the second layer <NUM>. Since this makes the user less balanced, he/she, in order to keep balanced, comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole. Additionally, since at least a second layer <NUM> is interposed between the ground and a foot sole, the foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects.

With regard to footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, of a user are opposed to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM> on a removal portion 101c, but they may include an index toe and its base part.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a tenth example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference, and has, on its reverse surface, a recess portion 110a on a site opposite to a heel of a user. Additionally, it has, on its reverse side, a recess portion 110b on a site opposite to a region opposed to a big toe, middle toe and their base parts, of the user.

A strap <NUM> is fixed to a footbed <NUM> at a position similar to that in footwear <NUM> according to a first example shown in <FIG>. Recess portions 110a, 110b of the footbed <NUM> are formed by cutting and processing one sheet of plate-like member. An end portion of a front strap portion <NUM> is fixed to a region in which the recess portion 110b is formed.

As shown in <FIG>, a wall surface of a recess portion 110b goes in a longitudinal direction of a footbed <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the footbed <NUM>, passes through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, and turns at a right angle near a point corresponding to an acupoint called "yongquan" on a foot sole, to extend in a form of L as far as to an inward side portion of the footbed <NUM>. The recess portion 110a and the recess portion 110b are opened on their periphery portions.

In a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel of a user is opposed to a recess portion 110a through a bottom portion of the recess portion 110a. Additionally, a big toe, an index toe and their base parts, as well as an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, of a user is opposed to a recess portion 110b through a bottom portion of the recess portion 110b. Since the recess portion 110b is smaller in thickness on its bottom portion, it has flexibility.

In the case where a user wears footwear <NUM> configured in this way and walks, a reverse surface of an inside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole, that is, a bottom surface of a recess portion 110b, stays away from the ground. Then, since a bottom portion on which the recess portion 110b is formed is smaller in thickness, it is flexible. This makes it easier, while a user is walking, for his/her big toe and middle toe, and their base parts, to be inclined inward. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer. Further, since a recess portion 110a is provided, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a 11th example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>. The first layer <NUM> has a heel portion 121a which a heel of a user is mounted on, and a toe portion 121b which toes of the user are mounted on, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>. The first layer <NUM> further has, on its reverse surface, a recess portion 121c on a side closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>. A wall surface of a recess portion 121c goes in a longitudinal direction of the first layer <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the first layer <NUM>, passes through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from the front strap portion <NUM>, and passes through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to extend in a form of a gentle arc as far as to an outward side portion of the first layer <NUM>. The recess portion 121c is opened on its periphery portion.

A second layer <NUM> is a flat plate member made by forming a foot circumference. A footbed <NUM> is obtained through integration by superimposing a first layer <NUM> on the second layer <NUM> and fixing it thereon by adhesion or the like. This makes a lower portion of a recess portion 121c be covered with an upper surface of the second layer <NUM>. In other words, the footbed <NUM> has, by the first layer <NUM> having a recess portion 121c, a gap formed between the first layer <NUM> and the second layer <NUM>.

A strap <NUM> is fixed, on a footbed <NUM>, at a position similar to that in footwear <NUM> according to a first example shown in <FIG>.

In a state wherein a user wears footwear <NUM>, a recess portion 121c is opposed to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user. That is, in the case where a foot sole is divided into two, a toe-side and a heel-side parts near an arch of foot and where the toe-side part is further divided into a big-toe-side (inside) and a little-toe-side (outside) parts, a toe-side outside moiety is at large opposed to the recess portion 121c.

In the case where a user walks with footwear <NUM>, a reverse surface of an outside moiety closer to toes on a foot sole, that is, a bottom surface of a recess portion 121c, stays away from an upper surface of a second layer <NUM>. This makes an upper portion of the recess portion 121c of a first layer <NUM> be smaller in thickness to be deflected upward and downward, which therefore, makes it harder to walk steadily. The user comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole, in order to maintain walking balance. Additionally, the user comes to be careful while standing upright or walking that the bottom surface of a recess portion 121c does not touch the upper surface of a second layer <NUM>. This allows a center of gravity of a leg of the user to be adjusted inward and allows, if the user has his/her legs O-shaped, a gap between knees of the user to be closer.

In an 11th example configured in this way, such an advantageous effect as in a first example can be expected, and further, a foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects. Although a footbed <NUM> of the footwear <NUM> is structured in two layers, it may be structured in three layers to form a removal portion in a middle layer and be thereby provided with a recess portion 121c on an outward side portion of the footbed <NUM>. Alternatively, it may be provided with the recess portion 121c on the outward side portion of the footbed <NUM>, by forming a notch through cutting and processing a center portion in a thickness direction of one sheet of plate which is considerably thick.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a 12th example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>. The first layer <NUM> is composed of a first block 131a on which a termination portion of an inside strap portion 32a and that of an outside strap portion 32b, of a strap <NUM> are fixed, and a second block 131b on which a front strap portion <NUM> of the strap <NUM> is fixed. The first block 131a is configured, by its part closer to a heel having been removed, so that a user has difficulty in mounting his/her heel thereon. The second block 131b is configured, by its outward part having been removed, so that while a big toe, an index toe and their base parts, of a user can be partially mounted thereon, a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, of the user cannot be mounted thereon.

A second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference. A footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of a first layer <NUM> and an upper layer of a second layer <NUM> to each other. While a first block 131a is fixed on a part closer to a heel, of a second layer <NUM>, a second block 131b is fixed on a part closer to toes, of the second layer <NUM>.

By a first layer <NUM> being fixed on a second layer <NUM>, a footbed <NUM> is made. On the footbed <NUM>, a recess portion 133a, which is in a form of L, is formed between a first block 131a and a second block 131b, and a recess portion 133b is formed on a part closer to a heel, of the second block 131b.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel part on a foot sole of the user is opposed to a recess portion 133a. Further, a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, and part of an arch of foot, of a user are opposed to a recess portion 133b. These parts stay away from, to the extent of level differences caused between themselves and upper surfaces of a first layer <NUM> and second layer <NUM> which are formed by the recess portions 133a, 133b, and they are opposed to an upper surface of the second layer <NUM>.

Footwear <NUM> according to a 12th example configured in this way exhibits the same advantageous effect as footwear <NUM> according to a first example does. Further, it has a recess portion 133a and thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Furthermore, since a second layer <NUM> is made of highly flexible material, the second layer <NUM> is elastically deformed to a great extent, in the case where a foot sole gets into contact with the second layer <NUM>. Since this makes the user less balanced, he/she, in order to keep balanced, comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole. Additionally, since at least a second layer <NUM> is interposed between the ground and a foot sole, the foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a 13th example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>. The first layer <NUM> has a removal portion 141a obtained by removing a part corresponding to a heel of a user, a toe portion 141b which toes of the user are mounted on, and a removal portion 141c obtained by removing parts corresponding to a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe, and their base parts, of the user, as well as vicinity thereof.

A removal portion 141c is formed by making a notch in a longitudinal direction of a first layer <NUM> from an end portion closer to toes on the first layer <NUM>, passing it through a site somewhat closer to a little toe as seen from a front strap portion <NUM>, and passing it through a site somewhat closer to toes as seen from a termination portion of an outside strap portion 32b, to make a gentle arc-form cut as far as to an outward side portion of a footbed <NUM>.

A second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while having neither a removal portion 141a nor 141c formed in a first layer <NUM>. A footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> to each other, and a level difference by an upper surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> is caused on removal portion 141a, 141c sites. The second layer <NUM> is made of more flexible material than the first layer <NUM> is. A slant 142a is formed closer to toes on a reverse surface of the second layer <NUM> whereas a slant 142b is formed closer to a heel thereon. The slant 142a is inclined upward so that the second layer <NUM> gets gradually smaller in thickness as closer to a toe side whereas the slant 142b is inclined upward so that the second layer <NUM> gets gradually smaller in thickness as closer to a heel side.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel part on a foot sole of the user is opposed to a removal portion 141a. Further, a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, and an arch-of-foot lateral part in flexor digitorum brevis muscles, of a user are opposed to a removal portion 141c. These parts stay away from, to the extent of a level difference caused by upper surfaces of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM> which are formed by the removal portions 141a, 141c, an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> while opposed thereto.

Footwear <NUM> according to a 13th example configured in this way exhibits the same advantageous effect as footwear <NUM> according to a first example does. Further, it has a removal portion 141a and thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks. Additionally, since a second layer <NUM> is made of highly flexible material, the second layer <NUM> is elastically deformed to a great extent, in the case where a foot sole gets into contact with the second layer <NUM> through removal portions 141a, 141c. Since this makes the user less balanced, he/she, in order to keep balanced, comes to focus weight on an inward side portion of his/her foot sole. In addition, since at least a second layer <NUM> is interposed between the ground and a foot sole, the foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects. Besides, by slants 142a, 142b being formed on a reverse side of the second layer <NUM>, the user is allowed to shift weight smoothly while walking. This allows footwear comfortable for walking, to be provided.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a 14th example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is a plate-like member made by forming a foot circumference. The footbed <NUM> has a removal portion 150a obtained by removing a part corresponding to a heel of a user.

Footwear <NUM> according to a 14th example configured in this way has a removal portion 150a, and thereby, a user gets into a posture like walking on tiptoe and is allowed through walking with the footwear <NUM> to be concomitantly trained for muscular strength from calves, through back thighs, to buttocks.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an appearance of footwear <NUM> according to a 15th example. <FIG> is a plan view showing a reverse side of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view obtained by seeing <FIG> from a side closer to a little toe. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. The footwear <NUM> is a so-called beach sandal, and has a footbed <NUM> and a strap <NUM>. <FIG> shows a footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot of a user, and since a footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot thereof is bilaterally symmetrical with the footwear <NUM> to wear on a left foot, detail description is left out for the footwear <NUM> to wear on a right foot. Additionally, a member identical to a member of footwear <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, or a member functionally identical thereto is made to be identical thereto for a symbol to be allocated, and has its detail description left out.

A footbed <NUM> is made of rubber material, EVA urethane material, or the like, and is structured in two layers of a first layer <NUM> and a second layer <NUM>. The first layer <NUM> has a removal portion 161a obtained by removing a part corresponding to a heel of a user. The second layer <NUM> is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while having no removal portion 161a formed in a first layer <NUM>. The second layer <NUM> is as rigid as the first layer <NUM>.

A slant 161b is formed on a reverse surface of a fringe portion closer to toes, of a first layer <NUM>. A slant 162a is formed on a reverse surface of a fringe portion closer to toes, of a second layer <NUM>. Both the slant 161b and the slant 162a are inclined upward to toes. This makes toe parts of the first layer <NUM> and the second layer <NUM> decrease gradually in sheet thickness.

A footbed <NUM> is made by adhering a lower surface of a first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of a second layer <NUM> to each other, and a recess portion (level difference) by an upper surface of the first layer <NUM> and an upper surface of the second layer <NUM> is caused on a removal portion 161a site. Additionally, by a slant 161b site of the first layer <NUM> and a slant 162a site of the second layer <NUM> being superposed on each other, a slant which is inclined upward to toes is formed on a reverse side of a toe portion on the footbed <NUM>.

When a user wears footwear <NUM>, a heel part on a foot sole of the user stays away, to the extent of a level difference caused by a removal portion 161a, from and is opposed to an upper surface of a second layer <NUM>.

Since footwear <NUM> according to a 15th example configured in this way has a slant formed on a reverse side of a toe portion, a slant on the reverse side of a toe portion abuts on the ground on an event of walking to allow a center of gravity to move smoothly on the event of walking so that a user can walk more easily. Additionally, since at least a second layer <NUM> is interposed between the ground and a foot sole, the foot sole can be prevented, when footwear <NUM> is used, from getting less clean and from treading directly on protruding objects.

Claim 1:
Footwear having a strap (<NUM>) comprising a front strap portion (<NUM>) configured to be interposed between a big toe and an index toe of a user, and a side strap portion (<NUM>) configured to be put on a top of a foot of said user, and a footbed (<NUM>) which the strap (<NUM>) is attached to and a foot of the user is intended to be mounted on,
wherein said footbed (<NUM>) has a vertical two-layer structure,
wherein an upper layer (<NUM>) which is one layer of the two-layer structure has a first removal portion (51a) obtained by removing a site intended to be located opposed to a heel of the user and a second removal portion (51c) obtained by removing a site intended to be located closer to a little toe of the user as seen from said front strap portion (<NUM>) while closer to toes of the user as seen from said first removal portion (51a),
wherein a lower layer (<NUM>) which is another layer of said two-layer structure is made of material more flexible than said upper layer (<NUM>) is, and is in a shape made by forming a foot circumference while providing said lower layer (<NUM>) with neither said first removal portion (51a) nor said second removal portion (51c),
wherein said second removal portion (51c), in use, is opposed to at least a middle toe, a ring toe, a little toe and their base parts, as well as an adductor hallucis transverse head part lying closer to a heel than the base parts do, of the user, and
wherein a level-difference part formed by an upper surface of said upper layer (<NUM>) and an upper surface of said lower layer (<NUM>) in said second removal portion (51c) is provided with a slant (51d).