WO1998004166A1 - Ballerina slipper with contoured sole - Google Patents

Ballerina slipper with contoured sole Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998004166A1
WO1998004166A1 PCT/US1996/018895 US9618895W WO9804166A1 WO 1998004166 A1 WO1998004166 A1 WO 1998004166A1 US 9618895 W US9618895 W US 9618895W WO 9804166 A1 WO9804166 A1 WO 9804166A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
heel
recess
toe
perimeter rim
ridge
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/018895
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael H. Ganon
Original Assignee
Totes Isotoner Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Totes Isotoner Corporation filed Critical Totes Isotoner Corporation
Publication of WO1998004166A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998004166A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/142—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/38—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
    • A43B13/40—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process with cushions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
    • A43B5/12—Dancing shoes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/1425—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/1435—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/144—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/1445—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/145—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges

Definitions

  • This invention relates to slippers, and more particularly, to slippers of a ballerina type having a novel sole.
  • Ballerina slippers have traditionally used flat padded soles having leather exteriors and an essentially flat supporting material inside the shoe, usually covered with a soft fabric. Thus, there is even and consistent cushioning throughout the sole of the conventional slipper. Such a construction is quite adequate for professional dancers since the well-conditioned feet of such individuals are strong and trained to deal with the essentially flat sole of the slipper.
  • the present invention overcomes the weaknesses of known slippers in that it, for the first time, enables the use of a formed sole for a ballerina slipper that, because of its design and material, absorbs the shock and provides support when the user is walking and running.
  • the slipper uses a soft resilient vamp secured to a sole member formed from a cushioning pad and having a contoured interior and an upstanding perimeter rim.
  • the interior has a plurality of projections to supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer and to form sole recesses that cooperatively receive the toes, foot ball recess, and heel.
  • the heel recess has a slightly raised heel platform resiliently positioned to absorb shock and provide support during use.
  • a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ballerina with molded sole having all of the advantages of prior art devices and more , and none of the disadvantages .
  • Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described wherein the contoured interior of the sole provides a toe recess, a foot ball recess, and a heel recess having a slightly raised heel platform.
  • Another objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described that can be formed from a single piece of cushioning material.
  • Yet still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described wherein the contoured sole can be easily and inexpensively fastened to the vamp to form the finished slipper.
  • Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described wherein some of the formed projections have holes or recesses to provide a spring-like or cushioning effect.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ballerina slipper with contoured sole forming the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective and exploded view of the slipper comprising the present invention wherein the sole has been displaced from the vamp.
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sole comprising a part of the present invention.
  • a ballerina slipper shown generally as 10 is formed from a soft resilient vamp 12 formed of leather, plastic, fabric or other suitable shoe top material and is joined to a sole member shown generally as 14.
  • Member 14 is preferably molded from a cushioning material having a contoured interior 16 and an upstanding perimeter rim 18 bordering the entire sole.
  • Interior 16 has a plurality of projections subsequently to be described which supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer to absorb the shock and provide support when the wearer is walking and running.
  • the projections include an arch projection 20, a toe crease ridge 22 and a deformable heel platform 24 shown in Fig. 2 as a raised grid.
  • the arch projection 20 and the heel platform 24 may be provided with a plurality of recesses or holes 23 to give a cushioning action when the weight of the foot is exerted on the perforated projection.
  • Three major recesses are formed in the sole first by, for example, the inner connection of the toe crease ridge 22 and the perimeter rim 18 to form a toe recess 26.
  • the toe crease ridge 22, the arch support 20, and a perimeter ridge 18 form the foot ball recess 28.
  • the perimeter rim 18, a resilient heel ridge 30 and the arch support 20 form heel recess 32 within which is positioned heel platform 24.
  • Slipper 10 is thereafter formed in a conventional manner with a light cushioning material inlaid over the surface of sole contoured interior 16 and thereafter covered with a dressing fabric which will directly engage the foot of the wearer.
  • the sole is then attached to the vamp 12 in a conventional manner, either by stitching directly the perimeter rim 18 of sole 14 to vamp 12 or by adhering it with glue or other bonding substances .
  • the vamp can be made of any number of materials and any decorative form.
  • a decorative bow or other ornamental device can be affixed to the front portion of the vamp as shown in Figs . 1 and 2.

Abstract

A ballerina slipper (10) having a contoured sole wherein a soft resilient vamp (12) is attached to a sole member (14) formed from a cushioning pad, the sole member (14) having a contoured interior (16) and an upstanding perimeter rim (18). The pad contoured interior (16) has a plurality of projections to supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer to absorb shock and provide support when the user is walking or running. Some of the projections have a plurality of holes or recesses (23) which gives a cushioning action when the shoe is being worn. The projections include an arch projection (20), a toe crease ridge (22), and a deformable heel platform (24) which functions in various combinations to form a toe recess (26), a foot ball recess (28), and a heel recess (32) with a heel platform (24) therein.

Description

BALLERINA SLIPPER WITH CONTOURED SOLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to slippers, and more particularly, to slippers of a ballerina type having a novel sole.
Description of the Prior Art
Ballerina slippers have traditionally used flat padded soles having leather exteriors and an essentially flat supporting material inside the shoe, usually covered with a soft fabric. Thus, there is even and consistent cushioning throughout the sole of the conventional slipper. Such a construction is quite adequate for professional dancers since the well-conditioned feet of such individuals are strong and trained to deal with the essentially flat sole of the slipper.
Unfortunately, many people who like to wear ballerina slippers as a casual item have weaker, less perfectly formed feet and consequently would benefit with some additional supporting structure, preferably one having a form that would support certain weaker areas of the foot . It is to this body of users that the present invention is directed. Summary and Objectives of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the weaknesses of known slippers in that it, for the first time, enables the use of a formed sole for a ballerina slipper that, because of its design and material, absorbs the shock and provides support when the user is walking and running. The slipper uses a soft resilient vamp secured to a sole member formed from a cushioning pad and having a contoured interior and an upstanding perimeter rim. The interior has a plurality of projections to supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer and to form sole recesses that cooperatively receive the toes, foot ball recess, and heel. The heel recess has a slightly raised heel platform resiliently positioned to absorb shock and provide support during use. Some of the projections, namely the arch and possibly the heel, have a plurality of holes that provide a cushioning action.
From the brief description given, it can be appreciated that a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ballerina with molded sole having all of the advantages of prior art devices and more , and none of the disadvantages .
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described wherein the contoured interior of the sole provides a toe recess, a foot ball recess, and a heel recess having a slightly raised heel platform. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described that can be formed from a single piece of cushioning material.
Yet still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described wherein the contoured sole can be easily and inexpensively fastened to the vamp to form the finished slipper.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper of the type described wherein some of the formed projections have holes or recesses to provide a spring-like or cushioning effect.
Thus, there has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are obviously additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details and construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings . The invention is capable of other embodiments now being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the concepts upon which this disclosure is based and that it may readily be utilized as a basis for designating other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
So that the manner in which the above-recited features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are obtained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of the specification and wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, as the invention may admit to additional equally effective embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ballerina slipper with contoured sole forming the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective and exploded view of the slipper comprising the present invention wherein the sole has been displaced from the vamp.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sole comprising a part of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, a ballerina slipper shown generally as 10 is formed from a soft resilient vamp 12 formed of leather, plastic, fabric or other suitable shoe top material and is joined to a sole member shown generally as 14. Member 14 is preferably molded from a cushioning material having a contoured interior 16 and an upstanding perimeter rim 18 bordering the entire sole. Interior 16 has a plurality of projections subsequently to be described which supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer to absorb the shock and provide support when the wearer is walking and running. The projections include an arch projection 20, a toe crease ridge 22 and a deformable heel platform 24 shown in Fig. 2 as a raised grid. The arch projection 20 and the heel platform 24 may be provided with a plurality of recesses or holes 23 to give a cushioning action when the weight of the foot is exerted on the perforated projection.
Three major recesses are formed in the sole first by, for example, the inner connection of the toe crease ridge 22 and the perimeter rim 18 to form a toe recess 26. In another configura ion, the toe crease ridge 22, the arch support 20, and a perimeter ridge 18 form the foot ball recess 28. Finally, the perimeter rim 18, a resilient heel ridge 30 and the arch support 20 form heel recess 32 within which is positioned heel platform 24.
Slipper 10 is thereafter formed in a conventional manner with a light cushioning material inlaid over the surface of sole contoured interior 16 and thereafter covered with a dressing fabric which will directly engage the foot of the wearer. The sole is then attached to the vamp 12 in a conventional manner, either by stitching directly the perimeter rim 18 of sole 14 to vamp 12 or by adhering it with glue or other bonding substances .
Thus, a ballerina slipper with a contoured sole is formed that will provide comfort and support to the non- professional wearer to a far greater extent than has been obtainable in prior art slippers. Obviously, the vamp can be made of any number of materials and any decorative form. A decorative bow or other ornamental device can be affixed to the front portion of the vamp as shown in Figs . 1 and 2.
It is conceivable that certain minor deviations of the construction illustrated in the preferred embodiment of this invention can be made to accommodate particular types of situations or intended styles. Hence, the invention is not intended to be limited specifically to the illustrative embodiment set forth, but only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures to those defined therein. What is claimed is:

Claims

Claims
1. A ballerina slipper and contoured sole comprising: a soft resilient vamp; and a sole member attached to the vamp formed from a cushioning pad having a contoured interior and an upstanding perimeter rim, the interior having a plurality of projections to supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer to absorb the shock and provide support when the user is walking and running .
2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the projections include an arch projection, a toe crease ridge, and a deformable heel.
3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the perimeter rim and the toe crease ridge form a toe recess.
4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the perimeter rim, the toe crease ridge and the arch support form a foot ball recess.
5. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the perimeter rim, the arch support, and the resilient heel ridge form a heel recess having a heel platform.
6. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the perimeter rim, the arch support and the toe crease ridge form a foot ball recess.
7. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the perimeter rim, the resilient heel ridge and the arch support form a heel recess having a heel platform.
8. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the perimeter rim, the toe crease ridge and the arch support form a foot ball recess.
9. A ballerina slipper and contoured sole comprising: a soft resilient vamp; and a sole member attached to the vamp formed from a cushioning pad having a contoured interior and an upstanding perimeter rim, the interior having a plurality of projections to supportingly engage the foot recesses of a wearer to absorb the shock and provide support when the user is walking and running wherein the projections include an arch projection, a toe crease ridge, and a deformable heel, the perimeter rim and the toe crease ridge form a toe recess, and the perimeter rim, the toe crease ridge and the arch support form a football recess.
10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the perimeter rim, the arch support, and the resilient heel ridge form a heel recess having a heel platform and one or more of the projections have a plurality of holes that provide a cushioning action.
PCT/US1996/018895 1996-07-26 1996-11-25 Ballerina slipper with contoured sole WO1998004166A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68831596A 1996-07-26 1996-07-26
US08/688,315 1996-07-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998004166A1 true WO1998004166A1 (en) 1998-02-05

Family

ID=24763941

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/018895 WO1998004166A1 (en) 1996-07-26 1996-11-25 Ballerina slipper with contoured sole

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1998004166A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2442293A (en) * 2006-09-27 2008-04-02 Julie Pelusi Footwear cushioning apparatus

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1689535A (en) * 1925-12-07 1928-10-30 Max I Rovick Ballet slipper
US3468040A (en) * 1967-12-13 1969-09-23 Tatuo Fukuoka Sandals
US4580356A (en) * 1982-07-23 1986-04-08 Loic David Removable insoles
US4689898A (en) * 1985-09-11 1987-09-01 Fahey Brian W Running shoe
US4756096A (en) * 1985-11-27 1988-07-12 Meyer Grant C Footwear insole
US4910886A (en) * 1983-02-28 1990-03-27 Sullivan James B Shock-absorbing innersole
US4955148A (en) * 1989-04-14 1990-09-11 Rigoberto Padilla Foot support assembly
US5068983A (en) * 1990-04-13 1991-12-03 Clint, Inc. Shoe insole

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1689535A (en) * 1925-12-07 1928-10-30 Max I Rovick Ballet slipper
US3468040A (en) * 1967-12-13 1969-09-23 Tatuo Fukuoka Sandals
US4580356A (en) * 1982-07-23 1986-04-08 Loic David Removable insoles
US4910886A (en) * 1983-02-28 1990-03-27 Sullivan James B Shock-absorbing innersole
US4910886B1 (en) * 1983-02-28 1995-05-09 Atlantic Thermoplastics Co Inc Shock-absorbing innersole
US4689898A (en) * 1985-09-11 1987-09-01 Fahey Brian W Running shoe
US4756096A (en) * 1985-11-27 1988-07-12 Meyer Grant C Footwear insole
US4955148A (en) * 1989-04-14 1990-09-11 Rigoberto Padilla Foot support assembly
US5068983A (en) * 1990-04-13 1991-12-03 Clint, Inc. Shoe insole

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2442293A (en) * 2006-09-27 2008-04-02 Julie Pelusi Footwear cushioning apparatus

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