Shoe and last

• US 20040168351A1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nancy C. Frye
• Original Assignee: Nancy C. Frye
• Inventors: Frye, Nancy C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/25R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/143 provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/148 Wedged end portions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/163 specially adapted for health or hygienic purposes, e.g. comprising electrically conductive material allowing the discharge of electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/18 Devices for holding overshoes in position
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/20 Heel-less overshoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1435 situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/021 for orthopaedic footwear

Abstract

A footwear exercising device for use by a wearer in improving various aspects of the wearer'"'"'s physical condition, health and overall appearance. The footwear exercising device of the present invention includes a reverse wedge for wear below the sole of a wearer'"'"'s foot, and may be worn with a wide variety of fashion. Prolonged use of the device of the present invention has been shown to improve the tone of the muscle groups of a wearer'"'"'s body which have to do with the wearer'"'"'s posture. Prolonged use of the instant invention has also been shown to improve the blood circulation in a wearer'"'"'s legs and to strengthen significantly the muscles supporting a wearer'"'"'s knees. The design of the device is such that prolonged wear of the invention is neither strenuous nor taxing.

Claims

1. A shoe, comprising:

an upper;

a sole affixed to the upper, the sole operable to place a wearer'"'"'s foot in a position where the wearer'"'"'s heel is closer to a walking surface than the wearer'"'"'s toes during normal wearing conditions.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein an acute angle is formed between the wearer'"'"'s foot and the wearer'"'"'s lower leg bones.

3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole has a substantially planar upper surface supporting a wearer'"'"'s foot, the sole having a lower surface separated into a rear heel section and a forward toe section, the forward toe section having a substantially constant thickness from a forward periphery edge of the shoe to the rear heel section, the rear heel section having a decreasing thickness from the forward toe section to a rear periphery edge of the shoe.

4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the rear heel section and the forward toe section meet at a point substantially halfway with respect to the upper surface.

5. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the rear heel section and the forward toe section have a same thickness at the point where the rear heel section and the forward toe section meet.

6. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the forward toe section and the rear heel section are separated by a cavity.

7. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the forward toe section extends short of a forward periphery edge of the shoe.

8. The shoe of claim 3, further comprising:

one or more midsoles separating the wearer'"'"'s foot from the substantially upper surface of the sole.

9. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the midsoles allow the wearer'"'"'s heel to be closer to the walking surface than the wearer'"'"'s toes.

10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole places the wearer'"'"'s foot in a negative heel position.

11. A shoe, comprising:

an upper;

a sole under the upper, the sole operable to place a wearer'"'"'s foot in a dorsiflexion position.

12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the sole has a substantially planar first surface and a second surface with a constantly thick forward section and a decreasingly thick rear section.

13. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the sole is an insole for the shoe.

14. The shoe of claim 13, further comprising:

an outsole beneath the sole.

15. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the sole is an outsole for the shoe.

16. A shoe, comprising:

an upper;

an insole enclosed by the upper, the insole operable to place a wearer'"'"'s foot in a position where the wearer'"'"'s heel is closer to a walking surface than the wearer'"'"'s toes during normal wearing conditions;

an outsole supporting the insole.

17. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the insole has a rear heel section and a forward toe section, the forward toe section having a substantially constant thickness from a forward periphery edge of the shoe to the rear heel section, the rear heel section having a decreasing thickness from the forward toe section to a rear periphery edge of the shoe.

18. The shoe of claim 17, wherein the rear heel section and the forward toe section meet at a point substantially halfway with respect to the outsole.

19. The shoe of claim 17, wherein the rear heel section and the forward toe section have a same thickness at the point where the rear heel section and the forward toe section meet.

20. The shoe of claim 16, further comprising:

a midsole separating the outsole from the insole.