Classifications

• • 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
  • A43B13/41—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process combined with heel stiffener, toe stiffener, or shank stiffener
• • 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
  • A43B7/16—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with elevated heel parts inside
• • 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
• • 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
  • A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
  • A43B21/24—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by the constructive form
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B23/00—Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
  • A43B23/22—Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers
• • 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
• • 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
  • A43B7/141—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 having an anatomical or curved form
• • 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
  • 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
  • A43B7/144—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
  • A43B7/22—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like
  • A43B7/223—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like characterised by the constructive form

Definitions

• the present invention relates, in general, to footwear, and more particularly to a footwear construction for walking and other active use.
• the invention has particular utility in connection with high heel shoes, and will be particularly described in connection with such utility, although other utilities are contemplated.
• Prior art high heel shoes in current use have a reputation of being extremely uncomfortable and there is survey information indicating that as many as 20% of the users of such shoes experience foot pain related to the shoes immediately and the majority of users experience such pain after as little as four hours of use. This discomfort results primarily from the wearer's foot sliding forwards in the shoe with the consequence that the wearer's toes are jammed in the toe portion of the shoe.
• the foot structure comprises the heel bones 10 (also known as tarsus), including the talus and calcaneous, the arch including the cuneiform 11 and the metatarsus 12, and the toe bones or phalanges 13.
• the heel bones 10 are supported by the heel seat 19, while the arch extends over the shank- reinforced midsole region 15 of the shoe to the ball of the foot 16 where the metatarsus joins the base of the phalanges 13.
• the ball of the foot underlying the heads of the metatarsals, forming the metatarsus, and the phalanges are supported by the toe region 9 of the shoe.
• the shoe illustrated in Figure 1 has a heel height of approximately 2 inches.
• the particular shoe illustrated is based on a U.S. standard ladies' shoe size 7.
• the shoe is shown on a ground plane 18 from which the heel height " ⁇ " to the heel seat 19 is measured.
• the heel seat 19 is inclined upwardly at an angle of approximately 12-15 degrees relative to the ground plane. This angle is referenced “x” in Figures 1 and 3.
• the shank-reinforced midsole region 15 is angled downwardly and forwardly of the shoe from the heel seat at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to the ground plane. This angle is referenced “y” in Figures 1 and 3.
• the great toe is essentially parallel to the ground plane, but may be inclined upwardly and forwardly by the upward and forward inclination of the toe region at an angle of 2-3 degrees relatively to the ground plane 18.
• This angle is referenced “z" in Figures 1 and 3.
• a conventional high heel shoe such as shown in Fig. 1 places the wearer's foot essentially on an inclined plane, whereupon the foot is urged forward into the toe box in standing or walking. This results in pressure on the ball or forefoot regions and toe jamming which often gives rise to a burning sensation in these areas of the foot, as well as fatigue and discomfort.
• shoes have been made with either one of two basic techniques, slip lasting or board lasting.
• an upper In slip lasting, an upper typically is stitched together and then either glued or sewn onto a mid-sole and/or outsole. In board lasting, the upper is either stitched or glued onto a flat or pre-shaped board, which in turn is attached to a sole and/or outsole.
• a reinforcement known as a shank, typically made of metal, wood, leather, fiberboard or plastic, is cemented and/or stitched between the midsole and/or insole board and an outsole.
• cushioning the foot in the shoe may provide an initial perception of comfort
• cushioning actually compromises biomechanical properties of the shoe and does little to stabilize the foot in the shoe or support the foot in an anatomically correct position.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe construction method which provides a shoe construction which is comfortable to wear, but which also supports the wearer's foot in the shoe in an anatomically correct position.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means for altering the angle of inclination of the heel in relation to the ground plane.
• Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe construction which supports the longitudinal axis of the foot but permits flexibility in the oblique axis orientation. This would be applicable in the design, e.g. of golf shoes where flexibility during swing motion could be permitted but collapse of the longitudinal arch of the foot during walking prevented. In such application, the area underlying the medial longitudinal arch of the foot would be either thinned down or completely removed to permit for raising and lowering of the arch of the foot during the swing motion while the central portion would retain its rigid construction to prevent long axis breakdown.
• the present invention in one aspect accomplishes the foregoing and other objects, by providing a shoe construction in which a rigid shaped orthotic device comprising a heel cup and an anatomically shaped appliance running distally to just proximal to the metatarsal heads, is rigidly affixed as a structural element to the top surface of the last/insole board.
• the shaped device includes a deep conformal heel cup, and runs from the heel of the shoe to the point just behind the metatarsal head area, and is molded and/or machined to conform to the underside of the foot whereby to cause the foot to assume an anatomically correct position within the shoe.
• the shaped device of the present invention is similar to a conventional foot orthotic device; however, unlike conventional foot orthotic devices, the shaped device of the present invention comprises an integral structural element of the shoe, whereby to better stabilize the wearer's foot in the shoe, and preferably eliminate the need for a separate shank, and thus may serve a dual purpose.
• the rigid shaped device includes a heel seat having a slightly downwardly inclined angle (relative to the shoe's imaginary shank plane), and an arch support extending forward from the heel seat and having a first portion which supports the head of the navicular of the wearer.
• the shoe also includes a last/insole board extending downwardly and forwardly from the first portion of the arch support, and a toe support region which extends at an inclination upwardly and forwardly from the last/insole board whereupon the first metatarsal of the wearer is buttressed by the phalanges of the wearer to prevent forward sliding of the foot of the wearer relative to the shoe, thereby preventing jamming of the human digits into the toe portion of the shoe, while an increase of about 16% or more of the wearer's weight is borne by the heel seat, as compared to standard high heel dress shoes.
• Fig. 1 is diagrammatic cross sectional view of a conventional high heel shoe made in accordance with the prior art
• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a high heel shoe made in accordance with the present invention
• Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation showing a comparison of relevant angles to the ground plane of a shoe made according to the present invention such as that shown in Fig. 2, and a conventional high heel shoe having similar heel heights, i.e. such as shown in Fig.
• Figures 4-7 are views, similar to Figure 2, of high heel shoes made in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the application of the invention to shoes with varying heel heights;
• Fig 8 is a side elevational view, in partial cross-section, of a shoe made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the shoe of Fig. 8;
• Fig. 10 is a perspective view, in partial cross-section, of the shoe of Fig. 8;
• Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an element of the shoe of Fig. 8;
• Fig. 12 is a view, similar to Fig. 8, and showing an alternative embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 of Fig. 12; and
• Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 of Fig. 12; and Fig.
• FIG. 14 is a side elevational view showing placement and support of the left foot by the present invention.
• Figure 2 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• the shoe shown in Figure 2 has a heel height of approximately two inches.
• An arch support 22 extends forward from the forward edge of the heel seat 20 to underlie the arch of the foot of the wearer, at least in part.
• Arch support 22 has a contour with a high point 23 which forms a barrier which prevents forward sliding of the calcaneus of the wearer forward in the shoe.
• the arch support 22 then curves downwardly from the high point 23 to join the shank 24 which then runs to the toe region 26 of the shoe.
• Maintaining the aforesaid relationships of "M" and "H" relative to heel height is critical to the present invention in order to prevent excessive height at point 23 which would be uncomfortable to the wearer.
• altering the M/H relationship as heel height oc increases results in a shift of the weight of the wearer onto the heel seat, thus preventing forwarding sliding in the shoe, but without creating a painful stress point under the arch of the wearer.
• the toe region of the shoe is inclined upwardly and forwardly by the upward and forward inclination at an angle 'T" of approximately 2-3° plus/minus 1° relative to the ground plane.
• the line in ghost illustrates the heel seat angle H, the inclination M of the first metatarsal and of the great toe T in the toe region relative to the ground plane 18 of a high heel shoe made in accordance with the present invention.
• Dimension oc represents the heel height.
• the solid line in Figure 3 represents the corresponding set of angles and inclination for currently available high heel shoes having similar heel heights such as shown in Figure 1 to that of the present invention.
• the inclination of the heel seat is upward towards the rear of the shoe at an angle x of approximately 8 degrees
• the inclination of the first metatarsal downwardly and forward is at an angle y of about 27 degrees
• the great toe is inclined upwardly and forwardly at an angle z of approximately 1 V. degrees.
• the foot is capable of functioning in two separate mechanical fashions so as to support the body above. Primarily, the foot functions as a beam and supports the body by bending strain. This mechanism of support is effective when the force in acting on the arch (arch flattening force) is relatively low. This occurs at such times in the step when the center of body weight falls posterior (behind) the ankle joint. As the center of weight passes ahead of the ankle joint, as occurs in a normal step forward, the forces present begin to cause arch flattening.
• the foot initiates a basic change in the mechanism of support to a truss form of support and is then capable of supporting via compression strain. Since the bones of the foot have been shown to be extremely strong in terms of compression strength, the greater the compression strain, the better the arch support ability.
• the metatarsals In order for the foot to achieve this change in support mechanism, the metatarsals must be buttressed by the bending of the toes. This buttress effect prevents the metatarsals from sliding forward and thus permits the switch from bending to compression support. It is the combination of this effect and the shape and inclination of the heel seat and arch support in the shoe design of the present invention that provides the advantages of the present invention.
• a buttress effect is initiated in a more effective fashion preventing the forward sliding of the metatarsal bones and, as a result, eliminating the subsequent jamming of the toes into the pointed front of the shoes.
• Increasing the angle of bending, dorsiflexion of the toes in the shoes can be accomplished in one of two ways. The tip of the shoes may be lifted upwards creating a "genie" type shoe. Although this would be effective, it would not be particularly stylish.
• a more effective mechanism entails increasing the angle at which the metatarsals themselves approach the sole of the shoe. This has the effect of increasing the bending of the toes without creating a "genie" type shoe.
• This increase in the angle of the metatarsals relative to the ground plane is accomplished by the change in the rear construction of the shoe, specifically the angle of the heel seat, and by extending the arch support under the navicular of the wearer as previously discussed. Since the foot is jointed in a variety of locations, the plane that the heel bone (calcaneus) takes with the ground will be compensated for by the pitch of the metatarsals as they approach the ball of the foot. This angular relationship is inversely proportional. The closer the calcaneous comes to parallel with the ground (provided there is adequate heel height present), the closer the metatarsals approach a perpendicular attitude.
• the heel seat is maintained downwardly inclined with respect to the shank irrespective of the heel height, and the navicular of the wearer is supported by an arch support extending forward from the heel seat.
• the higher the heel of the shoe the closer the heel seat angle approaches the shank angle.
• This relative relationship in prior art shoe designs created an inclined platform of the foot toward the floor. This increased angle in turn forced the foot to slide forward and be pinched in the toe portion of the shoes.
• the present invention creates a shoe in which the heel seat is downwardly inclined relative to the shank regardless of heel height, and provides an arch support which underlies and supports the navicular of the wearer, thereby creating a surface which causes a greater percentage of the wearer's weight is carried by the heel seat.
• the metatarsal angle (corresponding to the shank of the shoe) increases proportionally to the heel height, e.g. the higher the heel, the greater the metatarsal angle to the floor.
• the advantage is not of increased metatarsal inclination, but rather the resulting biomechanical change in metatarsal inclination due to the maintenance of heel seat more closely aligned to parallel to the ground plane.
• the invention is specifically designed to be applicable to the whole usual range of U.S. standard ladies' shoe sizes and particularly to those in the range having from size 5 to size 10, and having various heel heights and particularly to those heel heights that range from 1 to 3 inches.
• the metatarsal inclination will vary within the range of about 18 - 22 degrees in the case of a 1 inch heel height to about 33 - 36 degrees in the case of a 3 inch heel height.
• Figures 2 and 4-7 and the following Table I illustrate high heel shoes made in accordance with the present invention, and having heel heights of 1 inch (Figure 4), 1 ⁇ inches (Figure 5), 2 inches ( Figure 2), 2 Vi inches (Figure 6), and 3 inches (Figure 7.)
• H Heel Height Inclination
• M Toe Angle CT
• the shoe comprises a last/insole board 100 formed of a dimensionally stable, flexible material such as leather, fiberboard, a non-woven material, or the like.
• a last/insole board 100 formed of a dimensionally stable, flexible material such as leather, fiberboard, a non-woven material, or the like.
• an outsole 112 is Located above the last board 110 is a rigid device 116 comprising an heel cup 118 and an anatomically shaped arch appliance 120 extending forwardly from the heel cup 118 to just behind the metatarsal head area 122.
• Device 116 is molded and/or machined to conform to the underside of the foot whereby to locate and stabilize the heel of the wearer in the shoe, and is racked downwardly from the heel cup 16, i.e. at about 5-10°, depending on the heel height, so as to cause the foot to assume an anatomically correct position in the shoe, while the heel of the wearer is retained in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane, whereby to buttress the phalanges of the wearer to prevent forward sliding of the foot of the wearer relative to the shoe, i.e. as described in detail above.
• Device 116 is adhesively and/or mechanically, e.g. riveted or fixed to last/insole board 110.
• Device 116 can be formed of a lightweight, rigid material compatible with shoe construction.
• molded device 116 preferably is formed of ABS plastic; however, device 116 may be formed of other rigid plastic molding materials or a composite material such as a fiber reinforced plastic or a metal such as foamed aluminum.
• Device 116 serves the dual purpose of locating and stabilizing the wearer's foot in the shoe, whereby to support the foot in an anatomically correct position and provide torsional stability, and also serves to stiffen the shoe from the heel forward to just behind the metatarsal head area, and support the weight of the user.
• the requirement for a separate reinforcing shank may be eliminated.
• the shoe also may incorporate a reinforcing shank, if desired.
• device 116 is an integral part of the shoe, its exact location in the shoe, and thus the location of the wearer's foot in the shoe is assured.
• Completing the shoe is an insole or sock 124 which is placed over molded device 116, and a shoe upper indicated generally at 126.
• Heel 114 is attached to the outsole 112 by means of adhesive and/or mechanical fasteners in known manner, while upper 126 is affixed to the bottom of last/insole board 110 and outsole 112 by means of stitching, adhesives, staples, rivets, or combinations thereof using one of several well known shoe construction techniques.
• the invention is susceptible to modification.
• outsole 112 and heel 114 may be formed as a single unit, as shown in Fig. 9.
• the device 116 advantageously may be employed in a low heel shoe 130 or boot.
• device 116 will be raked only slightly downwardly from the heel cup 116 so as to accommodate the lower heel height, while the heel is retained in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane.
• device 116 could be adjusted for different user applications, e.g. golf shoes, so as to provide the desired degree of torsional stability as well as anatomically holding the foot in position, while maintaining shoe structural integrity.
• the area 132 underlying the medial longitudinal arch of the foot may be thinned so as to permit for raising and lowering of the arch of the foot during the swing motion, while the central portion would retain its rigid construction to prevent long axis breakdown.
• Device 116 also advantageously may be employed in men's, women's and children's walking and running shoes, tennis shoes, hiking boots, cross-training shoes, sandals and other active footwear in which torsional stability is desired.
• a cut-out area 140 may be removed from device 116 underlying approximately the distal 1/3 of the first metatarsal head. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Priority Applications (11)

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• 1997
  • 1997-09-30 CN CNA2004100027890A patent/CN1520761A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-09-30 EP EP97945398A patent/EP0991333A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-09-30 NZ NZ334835A patent/NZ334835A/xx unknown
  • 1997-09-30 EP EP04101303A patent/EP1433396A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-09-30 WO PCT/US1997/017652 patent/WO1998014083A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-09-30 CN CNB971985200A patent/CN1163166C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-09-30 TR TR1999/00736T patent/TR199900736T2/xx unknown
  • 1997-09-30 RO ROA200201255A patent/RO118559B1/ro unknown
  • 1997-09-30 BR BR9711834-6A patent/BR9711834A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-09-30 JP JP51681398A patent/JP2001523981A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1997-09-30 KR KR10-1999-7002821A patent/KR100380261B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-09-30 ID IDW990151A patent/ID21233A/id unknown
  • 1997-09-30 TR TR2000/03757T patent/TR200003757T2/xx unknown
  • 1997-09-30 IL IL12927797A patent/IL129277A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-09-30 PL PL97332645A patent/PL185994B1/pl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-09-30 RO RO99-00355A patent/RO118110B1/ro unknown
  • 1997-09-30 CA CA002267241A patent/CA2267241A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-09-30 AU AU46612/97A patent/AU732593B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-09-30 YU YU17799A patent/YU17799A/sh unknown
• 1999
  • 1999-04-02 BG BG103304A patent/BG63449B1/bg unknown
• 2001
  • 2001-09-21 BG BG105934/2001A patent/BG105934A/bg unknown

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