GB2477286A

GB2477286A - Dance shoe fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2477286A
Application number: GB1001308A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard James Swift
Original assignee: DANCE SHOE CO Ltd
Current assignee: DANCE SHOE CO Ltd
Priority date: 2010-01-27
Filing date: 2010-01-27
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Also published as: GB201001308D0

Abstract

A fastener 10 for use in a dance shoe 18 is releasably secured to the inner surface of the sole 20. The sole presents a lining of loop type material 22 which compliments the hook type material 12 on the ribbon to provide a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement. The fastener 10, in the form of an elongate ribbon, is positioned laterally across the inner surface of the sole 20 such that its two distal ends are exposed directly opposite one another above the top line 24 thus allowing the free ends to be tied over the top of the foot in use. A sock-liner or insole may be placed over the ribbon 10 to provide added comfort to the wearer. In an alternate arrangement the fastener, in the form of an elongate band, has hook type material on its distal ends which engage with loop type material on the inner surfaces of the upper (see figure 5).

Description

Dance Shoe Fastener The present invention relates to a dance shoe fastener, and a dance shoe comprising the fastener. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, relevant to the field of ballet or pointe shoes and references throughout the specification to either type of shoe is to be understood to include both types unless the context suggests otherwise.

Ballet dancers wear specifically designed lightweight shoes having thin flexible soles and leather, satin or canvas uppers. A ballet dancer's movement causes the foot to exert considerable forces on the structure of a ballet shoe. Accordingly, in order to provide adequate support and comfort to the wearer whilst minimising the risk of injury, it is essential for ballet shoes to be properly secured to a dancer's foot. Typically, the fitting of ballet shoes involves strips or bands of elastic or elasticated material or satin ribbons of a predetermined length being secured at opposite sides of the shoe by sewing near the topline for subsequently securing around a dancer's ankle and/or over the dorsal surface of the foot. Such is the importance of correctly fitting ballet shoes, particularly for children, professional fitting services are often used to ensure correct positioning and attachment of the elastic or ribbon type fasteners.

It is known for ballet shoes to be supplied with one distal end of the fastener pre-sewn to an inside wall of the shoe at the time of manufacture, thus leaving the wearer to sew the opposite end to the opposite side wall according to their own requirements or preferences, e.g. taking into account their individual foot shape. However, there are a number of disadvantages associated with this practice. For example, incorrect placement of stitching of the free end of the fastener near the topline of the shoe can interfere with the drawstring thus making it difficult or impossible to properly tighten the opening of the shoe. Moreover, the fact that only end of the fastener can be positionally adjusted often results in an undesirable asymmetric attachment across the foot.

Indeed, significant interpersonal variability in terms of dorsal surface shape means that there can be no predefined correct position at which either end of the fastener is to be attached to the shoe. Optimum placement of the fastener can often only be achieved by removing the pre-sewn end and repositioning it according to individual requirements.

Obviously, this adds a difficult and unnecessary step to the fitting process thus negating the intended labour and time saving advantages associated with pre-sewing of one end.

In view of the above, a more established practice is for a pair of ballet shoes to simply be supplied with one or two separate lengths of fastener of predetermined length. The process of attaching the fastener lengths to each shoe requires scissors, needle, thread and a pencil. For example, the process for attaching satin ribbons involves the following general steps: (i) cut the ribbon to provide four equal lengths; (ii) fold down the heel of the ballet shoe until it meets the inside of the sole; (iii) draw two lines to indicate where the topline of the heel lies against the inside walls of the shoe; (iv) fold over the distal end of one ribbon -to prevent fraying -and place it on an inside wall of the shoe aligned with the pencil line; (v) optionally pin the ribbon in place temporarily to test for accurate alignment and adjust alignment if necessary; (vi) using a needle and thread, sew the ribbon along its peripheral edges onto the shoe whilst ensuring the ribbon remains properly aligned, and avoiding piercing all the way through the side wall to its exterior surface and/or interfering with the drawstring; (vii) repeat the above steps for the opposite side of the shoe, and on both sides of the other shoe; (viii) stitch the free ends of the ribbons to prevent fraying. The above process is rather laborious, requires a degree of skill, and requires precautions to be taken whilst handling sharp scissors and needles. Insofar as children are concerned, the fitting process may require parental or professional assistance.

Accordingly, there is a need for an alternative means of attaching fasteners to ballet shoes which overcomes the various problems discussed above whilst providing a secure and comfortable fit to a dancer's foot.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a releasable dance shoe fastener for mating with an inner surface of a dance shoe, wherein the fastener comprises an elongate band of flexible material provided with an area of fastener pile on one surface thereof for cooperation with a complementary pile provided on an inner surface of a dance shoe to be fastened.

Optionally, the fastener pile comprises an area of hook-type material.

Optionally, a single area of fastener pile is provided centrally lengthwise on the surface of the fastener remote from its distal ends.

Alternatively, two spaced areas of fastener pile are provided on the fastener at or proximate it's opposing distal ends.

Optionally, the area(s) of fastener pile is/are secured to the elongate band of material by stitching and/or gluing.

Optionally, the elongate band of material is a woven fabric ribbon.

Alternatively, the elongate band of material is an elasticated material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dance shoe comprising a fastener according to the first aspect, wherein the shoe is provided with a complementary pile on an inner surface for cooperation with the fastener pile of the shoe fastener.

Optionally, the complementary pile is provided on the inner surface of the quarter portions of the shoe upper.

Additionally or alternatively, the complementary pile is provided on the surface of the insole.

Optionally, the complementary pile comprises an area of loop-type material.

Optionally, the dance shoe is a ballet shoe.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art shoe fastening arrangement comprising a band of material attached by stitching to the inner surface of the quarter portion of a ballet shoe upper; Fig. 2 depicts a shoe fastener according to the present invention comprising a portion of fastener pile; Fig. 3 depicts an alternative shoe fastener according to the present invention comprising two spaced apart portions of fastener pile; Fig. 4 is a sectional schematic view of a shoe showing the shoe fastener of Fig. 2 in-situ wherein its fastener pile is releasably engaged to a complementary pile on the inner surface of the sole of a ballet shoe; and Fig. 5 is a sectional schematic view of a shoe showing the shoe fastener of Fig. 3 in-situ wherein its fastener pile is releasably engaged to a complementary pile on the inner surface of the quarter portion of a ballet shoe upper.

Fig. 1 illustrates the well established method by which an elongate band of flexible material is attached to a ballet shoe by stitching. The method of attachment to a ballet shoe has already been described in detail above and so is not repeated here.

Fig. 2 shows a releasable dance shoe fastener according to the present invention capable of mating with an inner surface of a dance shoe. The fastener comprises an elongate band 10 of flexible material in the form of a satin ribbon provided with an area of fastener pile 12 on one surface 14 thereof. The fastener pile 12 comprises an area of hook-type material and is co-operable with a complementary pile of loop-type material provided on an inner surface of a dance shoe as described in detail below. For reasons which are discussed further below, the area hook-type material 12 is positioned substantially centrally along the length of the band 10 such that its distal ends are free of any fastener pile. The hook-type material 12 is attached to the elongate band 10 by stitching 16 and/or gluing.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative releasable dance shoe fastener according to the present invention capable of mating with an inner surface of a dance shoe. The fastener comprises an elongate band 10 of flexible elasticised material wherein two spaced portions of hook-type material 12 are attached along its length to one of its surfaces at or proximate it's opposing distal ends.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a ballet shoe 18 showing the shoe fastener of Fig. 2 attached to the inner surface of its sole 20. The inner surface of the sole 20 presents a lining of loop-type material 22 which complements the hook-type material 12 on the elongate ribbon 10 to provide a releasable hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement. The hook-and-loop type fastener has a thin profile so as to avoid any pressure or discomfort to the wearer's foot. The elongate ribbon 10 is positioned laterally across the inner surface of the sole 20 such that its two distal ends are exposed directly opposite one another above the topline 24 thus facilitating tying together of the free ends over the dorsal surface of the foot and/or around the ankle. Optionally, a sock-liner or insole (not shown) may be placed over the elongate ribbon 10 to provide added comfort to the wearer.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a ballet shoe 18 showing the shoe fastener of Fig. 3 attached to the inner surfaces of the quarter portion 26 of its upper.

The inner surface of the quarter portion 26 presents a lining of loop-type material 22 which complements the hook-type material 12 at or proximate the distal ends of the elongate band 10 to provide a releasable hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement. Again, the hook-and-loop type fastener has a thin profile so as to avoid any pressure or discomfort to the wearer's foot. The elongate elasticised band 10 is positioned laterally across the opening of the ballet shoe 18 such that its central portion, which is free of any fastening pile 12, extends above the topline 24.

The arrangements described above provide several advantages over prior art dance shoe fasteners. For example, the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 obviates the need to cut the ribbon 10 for each shoe 18 into two pieces.

More importantly, the arrangements of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 each avoid the need for any sewing. A significant advantage associated with both arrangements is that they provide a very simple and quick means of re-positioning of the fastener 10 according to the wearer's unique requirements, ergonomic preferences and dorsal foot shape such that proper fitting can more conveniently be achieved on a trial and error basis.

Moreover, the engagement between the complementary hook-and-loop type materials 12 is adapted such that there is a sufficient degree of adherence between the fastener 10 and the inner surface(s) of the shoe 18 to cope with typical stretch/tensile forces exerted during dance routines.

Modifications and improvements may be made to foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention and defined by the accompanying claims. For example, aspects of the embodiments of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 may be combined to provide a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement across the entire inner surfaces of the sole and quarter portion of the upper. Such an arrangement would provide an increased surface area of connection and therefore increase the adherence of the fastener to the shoe. In an alternative modification, the embodiment of Fig. 5 could be adapted to provide the fastener as an endless loop of material wherein at least the portion lying above the topline of the shoe in use is free of any fastener pile.

References throughout the description to "hook" type material are to be interpreted broadly to include barbed elements. Similarly, references throughout the description to "loop" type material are to be interpreted broadly to include raised, brushed or fluffy material.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A releasable dance shoe fastener for mating with an inner surface of a dance shoe, wherein the fastener comprises an elongate band of flexible material provided with an area of fastener pile on one surface thereof for cooperation with a complementary pile provided on an inner surface of a dance shoe to be fastened.
2. A releasable dance shoe fastener according to claim 1, wherein the fastener pile comprises an area of hook-type material.
3. A releasable dance shoe fastener according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a single area of fastener pile is provided centrally lengthwise on the surface of the fastener remote from its distal ends.
4. A releasable dance shoe fastener according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two spaced areas of fastener pile are provided on the fastener at or proximate it's opposing distal ends.
5. A releasable dance shoe fastener according to any preceding claim, wherein the area(s) of fastener pile is/are secured to the elongate band of material by stitching and/or gluing.
6. A releasable dance shoe fastener according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate band of material is a woven fabric ribbon.
7. A releasable dance shoe fastener according to any of claims I to 5, wherein the elongate band of material is an elasticated material.
8. A dance shoe comprising a fastener according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the shoe is provided with a complementary pile on an inner surface for cooperation with the fastener pile of the shoe fastener.
9. A dance shoe according to claim 8, wherein the complementary pile is provided on the inner surface of the quarter portion of the shoe upper.
10. A dance shoe according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the complementary pile is provided on the surface of the insole.
11. A dance shoe according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the complementary pile comprises an area of loop-type material.
12. A dance shoe according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the dance shoe is a ballet shoe.