CA2901453A1

CA2901453A1 - Footwear for problem feet

Info

Publication number: CA2901453A1
Application number: CA2901453A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ruth L. Samarin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-25
Filing date: 2015-08-25
Publication date: 2017-02-25

Abstract

Footwear for problem feet includes a sole and an upper structure for maintaining the sole connected to a foot. The sole includes a heel portion of a first size, selected from a standard A-E width system. The sole includes a mid-foot portion of a second size, one size larger than the first size on the standard A-E width system. The sole includes a toe portion of a third size, one size larger than the second size on the standard A-E width system. This progressive sizing provides relief to persons suffering from problem feet.

Description

TITLE
[0001] Footwear for Problem Feet FIELD

[0002] There is described footwear that is intended for use by persons with problem feet.
BACKGROUND

[0003] Footwear manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. use an A-E width system. These shoes are uncomfortable for a person with problem feet. In some cases, these shoes are a contributing factor to the person having problem feet in the first place.

[0004] The term "problem feet" is a term intended to encompass a number of physical ailments, including bunions, flat foot, and neuromas. Bunions are bony bumps that form on the side of the big toe joint or baby toe joint. Flat Foot is the pronation and collapsing of the medial (inside) longitudinal arch. Neuromas are a painful growth of tumor or nerve tissue.
SUMMARY

[0005] There is provided footwear for problem feet. The footwear includes a sole and an upper structure for maintaining the sole connected to a foot. The sole includes a heel portion of a first size, selected from a standard A-E width system. The sole includes a mid-foot portion of a second size, one size larger than the first size on the standard A-E width system.
The sole includes a toe portion of a third size, one size larger than the second size on the standard A-E width system.

[0006] There will hereinafter be illustrated and described two examples.
In a first example, the first size of the heel portion is B, the second size of the mid-foot portion is C/D
and the third size of the toe portion is E. In a second example, the first size of the heel portion is AA, the second size of the mid-foot portion is B and the third size of the toe portion is C/D.

[0007] This progressive sizing provides relief to persons suffering from problem feet, while still providing an adequate "fit" for intended daily use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of footwear.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of footwear.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top plan view providing a comparison in which a conventional A-E
width sole is overlaid on the first embodiment of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Footwear generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, footwear 10 includes a sole 12 and an upper structure 14 (shown in broken lines) for maintaining sole 12 connected to a foot (not shown).
Sole 12 includes a heel portion 16 of a first size, selected from a standard A-E width system.
Sole 12 includes a mid-foot portion 18 of a second size, one size larger than the first size on the standard A-E width system. Sole 12 includes a toe portion 20 of a third size, one size larger than the second size on the standard A-E width system.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment illustrates a practical application of the foregoing in which the first size of heel portion 16 is B, the second size of mid-foot portion 18 is CID and the third size of toe portion 20 is E.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, a second embodiment illustrates a practical application of the foregoing in which the first size of heel portion 16 is AA, the second size of mid-foot portion 18 is B and the third size of toe portion 20 is C/D.
Operation:

[0016] In order to best understand the teachings of the present invention, one must compare footwear 10 to the standard A-E width system. Referring to FIG. 3, a standard B
size, generally identified by reference numeral 50, has been superimposed in broken lines over footwear 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. It can be seen that the fit at heel portion 16 is the same, but that more room is provided for the foot at mid-foot portion 18 and toe portion 20. This progressive sizing configuration provides relief to persons suffering from problem feet, while still providing an adequate "fit" for intended daily use.
Variations:

[0017] It will be appreciated that the footwear may come in a variety of styles, including:
slipper/slide, flat shoe, casual/dress shoe with low heel, walking and/or athletic shoe, tall boot with flat sole, short boot with flat sole, short boot with low heel, sandal with flat sole, and sandal with low heel. It will be appreciated that the term "problem feet" may encompass foot ailments not expressly described herein.

[0018] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0019] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. Footwear for problem feet, the footwear comprising:
a sole;
an upper structure for maintaining the sole connected to a foot;
wherein the sole comprises:
a heel portion of a first size, selected from a standard A-E width system;
a mid-foot portion of a second size, one size larger than the first size on the standard A-E width system; and a toe portion of a third size, one size larger than the second size on the standard A-E width system.

2. The footwear of Claim 1, wherein the first size of the heel portion is B, the second size of the mid-foot portion is C/D and the third size of the toe portion is E.

3. The footwear of Claim 1, wherein the first size of the heel portion is AA, the second size of the mid-foot portion is B and the third size of the toe portion is C/D.