Shoes

Abstract

Footwear includes an upper leather member and a shoe sole bonded at an upper portion thereof to the upper leather. The upper leather member is shaped to enclose the instep of a foot, and has a bottom opening rim closely corresponding to the outer shape of the sole of the foot. An insole is bonded to the front portion of the bottom opening rim of the upper leather member. The front portion of the upper leather member is configured in the shape of a bag to enclose a toe. In the insole, a shock absorber including a gel is provided.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . Footwear comprising: 
 an insole provided in a front portion of a surface of an outer sole of the footwear, the surface being arranged to contact with a sole of a foot; wherein    said insole is provided with a shock absorber that is arranged to contact with a front portion of the sole of the foot to absorb an impact.    
   
   
       9 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 an upper leather member and a shoe sole bonded at an upper portion thereof to the upper leather member, the upper leather member being shaped to enclose an instep of the foot and having a bottom opening rim closely corresponding to an outer shape of the sole of the foot; wherein    the insole is bonded to a front portion of the bottom opening rim of said upper leather member such that a front portion of the upper leather member is configured in the shape of a bag to enclose a toe, and said insole is provided with the shock absorber.    
   
   
       10 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein said shock absorber comprises a gel.  
   
   
       11 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the shock absorber has an Asker F hardness in the range of about 30 to about 90.  
   
   
       12 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the shock absorber has an Asker F hardness in the range of about 30 to about 90 and an Asker C hardness in the range of about 10 to about 25.  
   
   
       13 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the insole has a length and a width corresponding to those of a region of the sole of the foot from a tip of the toe to a front end of an arch.  
   
   
       14 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the shock absorber has a length and width corresponding to those of a region of the sole of the foot from a tip of the toe to a front end of an arch.  
   
   
       15 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , further comprising a heel attached to the outer sole at a rear portion thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , further comprising a half midsole defined by a sheet bonded to a rear portion of the surface of the outer sole.  
   
   
       17 . The footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the upper leather member includes an outer material portion and a lining portion disposed inwardly of the outer material portion.  
   
   
       18 . The footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the upper leather member is bonded to the outer sole via a bottom opening rim of the upper leather member that is folded inward.  
   
   
       19 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein said insole includes a gel that is sandwiched between two fabric members which are bonded together.  
   
   
       20 . The footwear according to  claim 19  wherein said two fabric members are made of a non-woven material.  
   
   
       21 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the gel is made of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon resins, polyurethane resins, acrylamide gels, thermoplastic elastomers, epoxy resins and starch-based gels.  
   
   
       22 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the gel includes a polyurethane resin including polyol and isocyanate.  
   
   
       23 . The footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the gel further includes a plasticizer.  
   
   
       24 . The footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the insole is about 5 mm thick.