Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/18—Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
• • 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
  • A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
  • A43B1/14—Footwear characterised by the material made of plastics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
  • A43B13/10—Metal

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus.
• the invention relates to an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus including attached taps for tap dancing.
• tap dancing has many recognized moves or steps that combine to create a dance routine. These dance steps vary from being basic (shuffle, ball dog, heel drop), to more advanced moves that combine elements of basic and intermediate moves in quick succession. These moves require the dancer to make specific movements of the dancer's body, particularly using their legs and feet. Tap dancing differs in at least one essential aspect from most other forms of dancing, namely the tap sound. The principal object of tap dancing is to create sound with the action of the tap on the dancer's shoe against the dance floor as the dancer creates the visual aspect of the performance.
• Tap dancing can be compared to musical sound, where the dancer utilizes his or her shoes as the instrument to create the sound against the dance floor, similar to a drummer's drum sticks or a guitar player's guitar strings. How a tap dancer utilizes their shoes is an essential element to the way the dancer creates the "music" of tap dancing. For experienced tap dancers, the combination of their impact strength and speed of impact against the floor, as well as the location of the impact point on the shoe against the dance floor affects the type and intensity of sound created by the dancer's movement.
• tap dance shoes Although there are many types of tap dance shoes currently available, all tap shoes share the same general configuration, that being a shoe portion worn on the dancer's foot and a pair of taps on the bottom side of the shoe, one positioned at or near the toe section of the shoe and one at or near the heel section of the shoe.
• Tap dancing shoes are traditionally made of rigid soles so that the taps can be screwed into place on the sole of the shoe. This provides little shock absorption for the dancer who is performing high impact physical activity.
• the rigid sole also limits the range of movements that the dancer can undertake.
• the taps are metal plates that are attached to the bottom of the shoe with screws, rivets, adhesives or other types of connectors.
• a disadvantage to this design is that the screws often wear with time, and soles often have to be replaced to enable the screws to fit securely into the base of the hard shoe without loosening.
• tap shoes are manufactured in conventionally fixed sizes. Due to this, tap dancers with feet of intermediate size or of abnormal shape such as thin or wide feet are required to wear ill-fitting shoes that may potentially cause minor injury or aggravation to their feet or impact the quality of their tap dancing performance or their learning experience. Additionally, tap dancers requiring devices such as orthotic support are generally unable to wear these in their conventional tap shoe, and conventional tap shoes offer little additional support such as ankle or arch support for dancers with varying degrees of pronation.
• An over the shoe attachment is a significantly more cost effective solution, and also eliminates unnecessary economic wastage by removing the potential need for ill-fitting tap shoes to need to be exchanged, which may or may not be possible after the user has already worn the shoes.
• the present invention is an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus comprising:
• an elastomeric slipper for receiving a shoe wherein the slipper includes a longitudinal axis, an underside, a toe portion and a heel portion; at least two taps;
• removable fasteners for removably fastening each of the taps to the underside of the slipper
• a first tap of the at least two taps extends at least equal to a forward most point along the longitudinal axis of the toe portion of the slipper and a second tap of the at least two taps extends at least equal to a rearward most point along the longitudinal axis of the heel portion of the slipper.
• the apparatus includes a gripping means projecting from the underside of the slipper for preventing slipping.
• the slipper comprises cut-out regions.
• the intermediate layer comprises polyurethane.
• the slipper comprises silicon.
• the taps comprise metal.
• the removable fasteners are threaded screws.
• the present invention is an over-the- shoe dancing apparatus, comprising:
• an elastomeric slipper for receiving a shoe wherein the slipper includes a longitudinal axis, an underside, a toe portion and a heel portion; at least two taps attached to the underside of the slipper; and an intermediate layer positioned between at least one of the at least two taps and the underside of the slipper;
• a first tap of the at least two taps extends at least equal to a forward most point along the longitudinal axis of the toe portion of the slipper and a second tap of the at least two taps extends at least equal to a rearward most point along the longitudinal axis of the heel portion of the slipper.
• the apparatus further includes removable fasteners for removably fastening each of the taps to the underside of the slipper.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus in accordance with the invention
• FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the over-the-shoe dancing apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the over-the-shoe dancing apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the over-the-shoe dancing apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a back view of the over-the-shoe dancing apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the over-the-shoe dancing apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when fitted over a running shoe.
• One embodiment of the present invention comprises an over-the- shoe dancing apparatus comprising an elastomeric slipper as defined and described hereinbelow and tap dancing taps which are attached to the underside of the slipper.
• Elements of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings and photographic images, showing only those specific details that are necessary to understanding the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to clutter the disclosure with excessive detail that will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description.
• the present invention is defined as an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus.
• the apparatus comprises an elastomeric slipper for receiving a shoe.
• the slipper includes a longitudinal axis, an underside, a toe portion and a heel portion and at least two taps.
• the apparatus includes an intermediate layer positioned between at least one of the at least two taps and the underside of the slipper, and removable fasteners for removably fastening each of the taps to the underside of the slipper.
• a first tap of the at least two taps extends at least equal to a forward most point along the longitudinal axis of the toe portion of the slipper and a second tap of the at least two taps extends at least equal to a rearward most point along the longitudinal axis of the heel portion of the slipper.
• embodiments of the present invention provide an over-the-shoe dancing apparatus which, in use, more closely resembles a professional tap shoe and produces a richer, better spectrum of sound than other commercially available over-the-shoe dancing apparatus.
• embodiments of the present invention are strapless providing a lightweight design that is easy to slip on and off of a user's shoe.
• the user can use the attachment on shoes which have cushioning and shock absorbing features, such as running or sports shoes.
• embodiments of the present invention provide for an elastomeric property and cut-out regions to the extent that the present invention can be made in few sizes in order to adequately accommodate all user foot sizes and shapes.
• embodiments of the present invention provide a gripping means projecting from the underside of the slipper for preventing slipping and enriching the learning experience for a beginner dancer.
• FIG. 1 a diagram illustrates a side view of an over-the- shoe dancing apparatus comprising an elastomeric slipper 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
• the slipper 100 includes a first tap 101 which extends to at least a forward most point 105 of a toe portion 109 along a longitudinal axis of the slipper 100.
• a second tap 102 extends to at least a rearward most point 106 of a heel portion 1 10 along the longitudinal axis.
• the longitudinal axis extends along a line (not shown) connecting the forward most point 105 of a toe portion 109 and the rearward most point 106 of a heel portion 1 10.
• the intermediate layer 103 may comprise polyurethane or elastomeric materials.
• the additional polyurethane layer assists in providing a broader range of tap sounds and produces better sound resonance.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the elastomeric slipper 100.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the elastomeric slipper 100.
• the slipper 100 may further include tabs 1 12 for securely gripping a shoe (not shown) of a tap dancer.
• FIGs. 4-6 illustrate front, back and perspective views, respectively, of the elastomeric slipper 100.
• Fig. 7 illustrates the elastomeric slipper 100 when fitted over a standard running shoe. The forward most point 105 and the rearward most point 106 are clearly shown.
• advantages of some embodiments of the present invention include a strapless, lightweight design of an over-the-shoe apparatus that is substantially less expensive than conventional tap shoes and that is easily placed on and removed from a user's shoes.
• Other advantages include improved positioning and secure placement of the taps, which enables the taps to produce a more rich sound over a broad spectrum of sound.
• some embodiments of the present invention include cut-out regions that improve ventilation and enable the apparatus to stretch significantly over shoes.
• the underfoot-textured grip pad provides the dancer with enhanced foot control to prevent slipping.
• the ability to place the attachment on more supportive footwear provides the dancer with a range of enhancements for balance, stability and absorption.
• the flexible nature of the attachments allows the dancer to place the attachment on a flexible shoe which provides a broader range of foot movements.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=56542057

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (22)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2016
  • 2016-02-01 AU AU2016102449A patent/AU2016102449A4/en not_active Expired
  • 2016-02-01 WO PCT/AU2016/050055 patent/WO2016119025A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2016-02-01 AU AU2016212709A patent/AU2016212709A1/en active Pending
  • 2016-02-01 EP EP16742592.5A patent/EP3250074A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-02-01 JP JP2017558599A patent/JP2018509265A/ja active Pending
  • 2016-02-01 US US15/547,632 patent/US20180007998A1/en not_active Abandoned

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