Footwear as Mat-Socks

Abstract

The present invention relates to functional footwear of a new concept, which adapts itself to the shape of a foot and gives a soft feeling when walking. The footwear includes: an upper foot fixing section ( 1 ) for covering and fixing an upper portion of a foot; and a foot supporting section attached to the upper foot fixing section for supporting a lower portion of the foot. The foot supporting section includes a resilient mat ( 2 ) having a soft elastic body, which can be deformed according to the shape of the foot. The footwear has a simple structure and can give a feeling of walking barefoot on a sponge mat or on a lawn like a soft carpet to provide complete comfort to the wearer during walking.

1 . Footwear comprising:
 An upper foot fixing section for covering and fixing an upper portion of a foot; and   A foot supporting section attached to the upper foot fixing section for supporting a lower portion of the foot;   wherein the foot supporting section comprises a resilient mat having a soft elastic body which can be deformed according to the shape of the foot.   
   
   
       2 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot supporting section further comprises a shroud covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the resilient mat and fixing the resilient mat. 
   
   
       3 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot supporting section comprises a bottom portion formed on the outer surface of the shroud for preventing slide movement of the footwear when the footwear makes contact with the ground. 
   
   
       4 . Footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion is integrally formed with the shroud by forming the ground contact portion of the shroud thicker than the other portions. 
   
   
       5 . Footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion is formed by coating at least a portion of the ground contact portion of the shroud. 
   
   
       6 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the shroud is formed of a textile material. 
   
   
       7 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the shroud is formed of a latex material. 
   
   
       8 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein a portion for inserting and withdrawing the resilient mat is formed on the surface of the shroud. 
   
   
       9 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the shroud is detachably attached to the foot fixing section so that the foot supporting section can be attached to the foot fixing section. 
   
   
       10 . Footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot supporting section is attached to the foot fixing section by extending the upper end of the shroud so that the shroud can cover and fix at least a portion of an upper portion of the foot fixing section. 
   
   
       11 . Footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot supporting section is attached to the foot fixing section by engaging the upper end of the shroud with the foot fixing section using a slide fastener. 
   
   
       12 . Footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot supporting section is attached to the foot fixing section by engaging the shroud with the foot fixing section using a Velcro fastener. 
   
   
       13 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot supporting section is attached to the foot fixing section by bonding the upper end of the shroud to the lower end of the foot fixing section. 
   
   
       14 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the shroud comprises at least one chamber for receiving the elastic body. 
   
   
       15 . Footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the elastic body received in the chamber can be exchanged. 
   
   
       16 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic body forming the resilient mat is an opened elastic body which discharges air by applying a pressure and pressing the elastic body and can be refilled with air by decreasing the pressure. 
   
   
       17 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic body forming the resilient mat is a closed elastic body which does not discharge air by applying a pressure. 
   
   
       18 . Footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the closed elastic body is a filled body of which the inside is filled with a filling material and the filled body is provided with a valve so that the filling material in the inside of the filled body can be discharged or refilled. 
   
   
       19 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient mat has the shape of a sole of a shoe. 
   
   
       20 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient mat has the shape of a sole of a sports shoe. 
   
   
       21 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient mat has the shape of a sole of a sandal. 
   
   
       22 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient mat is divided into a plurality of divisions each of which comprises a elastic body. 
   
   
       23 . Footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of divisions comprises the resilient bodies have various properties of elasticity. 
   
   
       24 . Footwear according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the resilient bodies forming the divisions is an opened elastic body which discharges air by applying a pressure and pressing the elastic body and can be refilled with air by decreasing the pressure. 
   
   
       25 . Footwear according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the resilient bodies forming the divisions is a closed elastic body that does not discharge air by applying a pressure. 
   
   
       26 . Footwear according to  claim 25 , wherein the closed elastic body is a filled body of which the inside is filled with a filling material, and the filled body is provided with a valve so that the filling material in the inside of the filled body can be discharged or refilled. 
   
   
       27 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient mat is divided into an upper portion comprising at least one opened elastic body and a lower portion including at least one closed elastic body. 
   
   
       28 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic body forming the resilient mat comprises hard elastic particles inside thereof. 
   
   
       29 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the foot supporting section is variable in proportion to the weight of a wearer. 
   
   
       30 . Footwear according to  claim 29 , wherein the thickness of the foot supporting section is compressed in proportion to the weight of a wearer at a compression rate of fifty to ninety percent. 
   
   
       31 . Footwear according to  claim 29 , wherein the thickness of the foot supporting section is at least 0.5 mm from the ground contact surface in the case for children. 
   
   
       32 . Footwear according to  claim 29 , wherein the thickness of the foot supporting section is at least 1 cm from the ground contact surface. 
   
   
       33 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper foot fixing section has the shape of a shoe. 
   
   
       34 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper foot fixing section has the shape of a sandal. 
   
   
       35 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper foot fixing section is formed of a soft material and has the shape of a sock. 
   
   
       36 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper foot fixing section is formed of a textile material, has the shape of a sock, and is integrally formed with the shroud to be attached to the shroud at an upper end portion of the foot. 
   
   
       37 . Footwear according to  claim 36 , wherein a portion of the engagement portion of the upper foot fixing section and the shroud can be opened and closed. 
   
   
       38 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper foot fixing section has a plurality a ventilation holes. 
   
   
       39 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper foot fixing section has a plurality of transparent windows