IES970644A2

IES970644A2 - Dance shoe

Info

Publication number: IES970644A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Craig Michael Coussins
Original assignee: Craig Michael Coussins
Priority date: 1996-08-29
Filing date: 1997-08-29
Publication date: 1998-04-08
Also published as: GB9617986D0; GB2316598A; GB9718000D0; CA2214220A1; IES79080B2; GB2316598B

Abstract

A dance shoe is disclosed which is provided with arch shaped stitching on either side of the arch portion of the shoe. The arch stitching has the advantage of holding the shoe in a comfortable position against the wearer's foot during use and preventing slipping of the foot. Optionally the dance shoe may also be provided with lug shaped cut-outs to allow for flexibility in the ball area of the wearer's foot and also eyelets at the heel portion of the shoe which allow for good heel retention within the shoe, thereby alleviating problems caused by achilles tendonitis and other such conditions.<Fig.1>

Description

DANCE SHOE This invention relates to a dance shoe. Particularly but not exclusively it relates to a dance shoe for country or Irish dancing or similar type of dancing.

In the field of dance shoes, it is common to have a soft shoe, for example made of leather, which is strapped to a dancer's foot by shoe strings or straps. Commonly known dance shoes are plain in design having a firm sole simply stitched to the leather upper.

However, these known dance shoes have the associated problem that they can easily slip around or be misplaced on a dancer's foot while dancing. This can be uncomfortable and distracting during a performance. This problem is compounded by the fact that the soft upper can stretch at certain points leading to an even poorer fitting shoe.

According to the present invention there is provided a dance shoe comprising a sole portion, an upper portion and shape retaining means, said sole portion being held in a substantially arched shape by the shape retaining means. “fe OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION I UNDER | SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL. No....\$35·......OF..? ΚΜ/Ατ«1μμφηΜ||ΜΜΜ·ΜΜ>*Μμ 9 7 0 6 4 4 The shoe of the invention has the advantage that the arch shape helps prevent unwanted stretching of the shoe, and helps support the wearer's foot and hold the shoe in position.

Preferably the shape retaining means is stitching; the stitching may be an arch stitch along one side of the upper portion of the shoe.

Preferably the shoe has stitching on both of its sides.

Preferably the shoe is provided with means for holding the heel of the shoe on to a wearer's foot; the means may be a lace through a graded eyelet on either side of the heel end of the shoe.

Further according to the present provided a dance shoe comprising sole portion, said upper portion therein to facilitate bending of reducing pressure on the foot. invention there is an upper portion and a having a recess a wearer's foot by Preferably two substantially U-shaped recesses are provided at the toe-end of the shoe.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a dance shoe comprising a sole portion and an upper portion, said sole portion being shorter than the length of the wearer's foot.

Preferably at least part of the sole portion is of a material that can absorb high degrees of impact but still allows for flexibility. The material may be poron or may be cleron.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be 5970644 described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a side view of a first shoe in accordance with the present invention; Fig 2 is a plan view of the shoe of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a view from below of the shoe of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a view from above of the inner sole area of the shoe of Fig 1; Fig 5 is a view from below of the sole pad of the shoe of Fig 1; Fig 5a is a side view of the sole pad of Fig 5; Fig 6 is a plan view of the heel pad of the shoe of Fig 1; Fig 6a is a side view of the heel pad of Fig 6; Figs 7a-g show various stages in manufacture of a dance shoe in accordance with the present invention; and Figs 8a and b are views from below of two different styles of sole attachment for the shoe of Fig 1.

Referring to the drawings, Fig 1 is a side view of a dance shoe 10 in accordance with the present invention. The shoe 10 has an upper portion 12 and a sole portion 14. The upper portion 12 is made from a main piece of soft leather held together and reinforced by stitching 16. 597 0 64 4«· An important feature of the shoe 10 is the arch stitch 18 in the upper portion 12 which is stitched into either side of the shoe 10 (as can be seen in Fig 3). The arch stitch 18 helps to stop the shoe from stretching in this area and in turn supports a wearer's foot arch (not shown). It also helps to reduce misplacement of the shoe during use.

The shoe 10 is further provided with a side eyelet 20 which is graded on either side of the shoe 10. A shoe string (not shown) may be threaded through this and other eyelets 22 (which could be replaced by loops in other embodiments) and tied to hold the shoe 10 onto the wearer's foot. This arrangement with eyelets 20 helps to avoid incorrect landing during dancing. Further, the arrangement supports the foot and alleviates or helps to avoid Achilles tendonitis. The shoe is also provided with a back loop 34, which extends into a back seam 36 to hold the shoe together. The back seam is covered by a leather strip 38.

The shape of heel portion 24 is adapted to be pocketlike so as to surround the wearer's foot firmly, in turn supporting the wearer's heel area.

As can be clearly seen in Fig 1, the shoe 10 is provided with an extreme arch shaped sole 26. This shaped sole 26 hugs the arch of the shoe 10 onto the wearer's foot.

As can be seen in Figs 1 and 2, the shoe is further provided with cut-out lug shaped portions 30 having a scooped vamp line at the toe portion. These portions 30 allow easier bending of the wearer's foot, for example in demi point stance, and help to stop the shoe 10 pressurising across the ball of the wearer's foot in 5970644’ use.

The shoe 10 as seen in Fig 2 has toe stitching 16. However, in other embodiments this stitching may be absent. In the embodiment of Fig 1, the toe portion of the shoe has a short vamp 32.

The sole portion 14 of the shoe 10 is comprised of various layers. From inside to outside, the front sole comprises a pad insert 40 which can be seen separately in Fig 5, and an outer sole unit 42 which can be seen clearly in Fig 3.

As well as the front sole insert 40, there is provided in the sole portion a heel pad 44. In this embodiment, both the sole pad 40 and the heel pad 44 are made substantially of poron or cleron material. This material can absorb large degrees of impact but still allows for lightness and flexibility, and thus comfort.

Figs 5 and 5a show in some more detail the sole pad 40 which consists of an outer pad 50 and a smaller pad 52 for increased comfort and durability. The heel pad 44 has a pad section 54 and a cover 56 as can be seen most clearly in Fig 6a.

Referring now to Figs 7a-g of the drawings, these show various stages of manufacture of a dance shoe 100 in accordance with the present invention.

Fig 7b shows a main piece 101 of leather which is precut into a suitable pattern. The leather is finished and strengthened by stitching 116 and is also provided with the important arch stitch 118 on either side of the main piece 101. The main piece 101 is then 5970644 folded around a sole portion (not shown) and stitched in a back seam which is covered by a leather strip 138. The sole pad 140 of the shoe is visible in Figs 7a and 7f which are views prior to the fitting of the outer sole 142. (As can be seen in Figs 8a and 8b the outer sole 142 may be attached to the shoe either with or without stitching. The view in Fig 8a is without stitching, and may be by gluing, for example. The view in Fig 8b is with stitching 102.) In use, the shoe of Figs 7a-g is laced up through eyelets 120, 122 and loops 103 in much the same way as the shoe of the first embodiment and has the advantages described above in providing increased comfort, protection and stability for the end user.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dance shoe comprising a sole portion, an upper portion and shape retaining means, said sole portion being held in a substantially arched shape by the shape retaining means.

2. A dance shoe as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shape retaining means is stitching.

3. A dance shoe as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the stitching is an arch stitch along one side of the upper portion of the shoe.

4. A dance shoe as claimed in either one of Claims 2 or 3, wherein the shoe has stitching on both of its sides.

5. A dance shoe as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the shoe is provided with means for holding the heel of the shoe onto a wearer's foot.

6. A dance shoe as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the means for holding the heel is a lace through a graded eyelet on either side of the heel end of the shoe.

7. A dance shoe comprising an upper portion and a sole portion, said upper portion having a recess therein to facilitate bending of a wearer's foot by reducing pressure on the foot.

8. A dance shoe as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein two substantially U-shaped recesses are provided at the toe end of the shoe. 5970644

9. A dance shoe comprising a sole portion and an upper portion, said sole portion being shorter than the length of the wearer's foot.

10. A dance shoe as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least part of the sole portion is of a material which can absorb high degrees of impact but still allow for flexibility.

11. A dance shoe as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .