WO2022094669A1

WO2022094669A1 - Hybrid shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2022094669A1
Application number: PCT/AU2021/051311
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Ioannou
Original assignee: Earthling 3.0 Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-05
Filing date: 2021-11-05
Publication date: 2022-05-12

Abstract

A hybrid shoe, including a hybrid sole, the sole comprising a front section, which is made of a first material wherein the first material is not rigid such that the front section allows a tactile sense of the ground.

Description

Hybrid Shoe

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present disclosure generally relates to a hybrid shoe which comprises a hybrid sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Toes of human beings extend naturally from the sole to dispersal direction when shoes are not worn. Toes are a sensory part of the foot that explore the terrain. However, in shoes the toes of generally enclosed in a narrow cavity which is formed from the rubber sole and the toe box of the shoes. Consequently, the profile of the toes is squeezed to a narrower width than it would normally be. Conventional rubber sole shoes limit toe movement within a relative small space for quite a long time, which causes the distortion of toes, especially occurring at the contact areas around the big or little toes.

[003] Moreover, being confined in narrow shoes results in people feeling uncomfortable and taking the shoes off, which results in users experiencing relief.

[004] Rubber sole shoes also create a lot of dysfunctions in the foot wherein people get bunions, joint problems, etc.

[005] There are footwear having independently articulable toe portions. Typically they include a sole, an upper, and a securement arrangement configured to secure the footwear to the foot of a wearer, where the sole and the upper delimit individual toe portions configured to receive, retain, and allow independent articulation of corresponding individual toes of a foot inserted in the footwear, and where the sole includes contouring and curvature which intimately corresponds to the shape of the foot. There are some defects in this articulable toe footwear. In order to offer a perfect tactile sense, articulable toe footwear always has consistent thickness that is relatively thin, which means it cannot provide sufficient protection for the upper side and instep of feet. Further, others can figure out the specific footprint or shape of the wearer's foot from the articulable toe footwear, which may result in wearers having concerns about the exposure of their feet.

[006] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[007] The present invention provides a hybrid shoe, including a hybrid sole, the sole comprising; a front section, which is made of a first material; wherein the first material is not rigid such that the front section allows a tactile sense of the ground.

[008] Preferably the first material is fabric.

[009] Preferably the first material is puncture proof fabric.

[010] Preferably the first material is electrically conductive.

[Oil] Preferably the front section is formed through the following steps: making an aperture at the toe area in the rubber sole; and attaching fabric material to make up the aperture by adhesion or suture.

[012] Preferably the thickness of the front section is around 1 - 2 millimetres.

[013] Preferably the second portion gradually goes down to the first portion.

[014] Preferably the sole includes a conductive bottom layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[015] Some embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[016] Figure 1A is a view of a pair of feet with natural toes;

[017] Figure IB is a view of a pair of regular shoes ;

[018] Figure 1C is a view of a pair of feet when they are in a shoe;

[019] Figure 2 is a side schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[020] Figure 3 is a inclined top schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[021] Figure 4 is a inclined top schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid shoe worn on a foot according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[022] Figure 5 is a bottom schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [023] Figure 6 is a bottom schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid shoe showing the human footprint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[024] Described herein is a hybrid shoe which provides the for movement space for toes and sufficient protection for feet being different to normal shoes. The hybrid shoe is designed to address the problem in that it lacks a comprehensive shoe, but effectively looks the same as a regular shoe and has the important feature of the minimalist shoe.

[025] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a top schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid shoe 10 comprises a regular cover 60, a hybrid sole 20 and a continuous peripheral attachment 40 which connects the hybrid sole 20 and the cover 60. The hybrid sole 20 comprises a front section 22 which is made of a first material and the rest portion 24 of the sole which is made of a second material. The first material is not rigid such that the front section 22 allows a tactile sense of the ground. The second material is rigid so that the rest portion 24 will provide support and protection for the foot except for the toes. The hybrid sole 20 provided by the present invention is formed in a gradual step up which means that the rest portion 24 gradually reduce in thickness down to the first portion 22.

[026] Figure 4 illustrates the hybrid shoe 10 when worn according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid shoe 10 has a regular shoe's appearance in terms of its whole shape and configuration. The design features a thin layer material at the front section of the hybrid sole 20 so a wearer can feel the ground with their toes. The toes effectively sit inside the hybrid shoe 10, so they can move freely in this front section.

[027] In some embodiments, the first material for the front section is fabric, preferably a puncture proof fabric. The second material for the rest portion 24 of the sole 10 is rubber. The thickness of the front section is around 1 - 2 millimetres.

[028] Furthermore, in some embodiments the first material is electrically conductive which affords grounding. It also may compose a carbon layer to effect conductivity of electricity from the foot to the ground.

[029] In a preferred embodiment, the front section 22 offers a wider space than a normal shoe, further allowing free movements of the toes within the hybrid shoe 10. The movements include shifting, wiggling, or any other toe movements. [030] Referring to Figure 5, the bottom view shows the front section of the hybrid shoe 10 can be made from a normal structured rubber sole through firstly making an aperture (as shown in Figure 5) at the toe area of the rubber sole that determines the location and shape of the front section 22 of the hybrid sole 20, and then attaching fabric material to make up the aperture. The specific attachment approach could be adhesion or suture. The toes' footprint 222 of a wearer is exemplarily shown in Figure 6. However, there are other methods to form the front section 22 of the hybrid sole 20, which should not confine the scope of the present invention.

[031] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the hybrid sole 20 enhance the toes' haptic response. Meanwhile, the toes can function as they might function naturally inside the hybrid shoe 10. In addition, the hybrid shoe 10 also provides the mostly necessary protection for other parts of feet and has effectively the same look as a regular shoe.

[032] The reader will now appreciate the embodiments of the present invention. It provides a hybrid protective shoe with a tactile sense sole for toes.

[033] Thus the present invention seeks to provide a shoe that offers both comfort and function. Current shoes cause the heel to strike the ground first, and whilst this is viewed as being comfortable cushioning, this is not the case.

[034] When toes are encased in rubber it impacts the foot's and the body to sense where the ground is. It also comprises the ability to know what the surface of the ground is composed of. This leads the body to walk and run in a protective fashion, which in most cases causes heel striking.

[035] There are minimalistic shoes in the market but feedback from runners is that it takes time for adjust to wearing such shoes. This is because the foot still tries to heel strike in minimalistic shoes as the toes are wrapped in rubber. It is only painful heel striking in thin rubber soles that forces the runner into a compromised midfoot landing.

[036] The present invention is for a hybrid shoe that allows full comfort and full toe and midfoot dexterity. Further, there is no adjustment period required.

[037] By providing sensory feedback from the toes as well as protection of the toes, this invention provides a new design of a shoe that results in the wearer avoiding hell striking. LIST OF COMPONENTS

[038] The drawings include the following integers:

10 a hybrid shoe 20 a hybrid sole

22 a front section

222 toes' footprint

24 rest portion

40 a continuous peripheral attachment

60 a cover

[039] References in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not and should not be taken as acknowledgment, admission, or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[040] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[041] In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims

6 CLAIMS

1. A hybrid sole, comprising: a front section which is made of a first material; wherein the first material is not rigid such that the front section allows a tactile sense of the ground.

2. The hybrid sole of claim 1, wherein the first material is fabric.

3. The hybrid sole of claim 2, wherein the first material is puncture proof fabric.

4. The hybrid sole of claim 1, wherein the first material is electrically conductive.

5. The hybrid sole of claims 1 - 4, wherein the front section is formed through the following steps: making an aperture at the toe area in the rubber sole; attaching fabric material to make up the aperture by adhesion or suture.

6. The hybrid sole of claims 1 - 5, wherein the thickness of the front section is around 1 - 2 millimetres.

7. The hybrid sole of claim 1-5, wherein the second portion gradually goes down to the first portion.

8. A hybrid shoe, wherein comprising the hybrid sole of any claim of claims 1 - 7.

9. A hybrid sole including a conductive bottom layer.

10. A shoe comprising a hybrid sole as defined in any one of the above claims.