Shoe Accessory
First Claim
1. A shoe accessory configured for temporary mounting to a shoe, the shoe accessory comprising:
- a rigid, unitary platform having a top side for supporting a sole of the shoe, a bottom side opposite said top side, a toe portion and a heel portion;
a protruding ridge disposed on said bottom side of said platform, said ridge providing a non-planar base of said shoe accessory, said ridge extending longitudinally of said platform and continuously from said heel portion to said toe portion, said ridge comprising;
a rearward portion extending from said heel portion to a ball portion of said platform intermediate said heel portion and said toe portion, said rearward portion being uniform in transverse cross-section and having an outer surface that is convex in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction; and
a forward portion extending from said ball portion to said toe portion, said forward portion being tapered to have a progressively decreasing transverse cross-sectional area from said ball portion to said toe portion;
a strap attached to said platform, said strap being capable of securing said shoe accessory to the shoe; and
a heel retainer joined to said platform, said heel retainer extending above said top surface of said platform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The shoe accessory includes a platform for supporting a conventional shoe. The shoe accessory'"'"'s base has a convex or other non-planar surface that causes the shoe accessory to be stable in a longitudinal (heel-toe) direction, and unstable in a lateral (medial/lateral) direction. The non-planar surface may be defined by a ridge segment on the platform'"'"'s bottom side. One or more straps are provided to temporarily secure the wearer'"'"'s conventional shoe to the platform in a non-destructive manner. A generally U-shaped heel retainer may be provided adjacent a rear portion of the platform for receiving the heel of the shoe. The shoe accessory makes a flat-soled shoe laterally unstable while allowing for longitudinal stability and a naturalistic gait, and thus facilitates exercise of leg and foot muscles during normal walking, etc.
5 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A shoe accessory configured for temporary mounting to a shoe, the shoe accessory comprising:
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a rigid, unitary platform having a top side for supporting a sole of the shoe, a bottom side opposite said top side, a toe portion and a heel portion; a protruding ridge disposed on said bottom side of said platform, said ridge providing a non-planar base of said shoe accessory, said ridge extending longitudinally of said platform and continuously from said heel portion to said toe portion, said ridge comprising; a rearward portion extending from said heel portion to a ball portion of said platform intermediate said heel portion and said toe portion, said rearward portion being uniform in transverse cross-section and having an outer surface that is convex in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction; and a forward portion extending from said ball portion to said toe portion, said forward portion being tapered to have a progressively decreasing transverse cross-sectional area from said ball portion to said toe portion; a strap attached to said platform, said strap being capable of securing said shoe accessory to the shoe; and a heel retainer joined to said platform, said heel retainer extending above said top surface of said platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An exercise kit comprising:
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a pair of shoe accessories, each shoe accessory comprising; a rigid, unitary platform having a top side for supporting a sole of the shoe, a bottom side opposite said top side, a toe portion and a heel portion; a protruding ridge disposed on said bottom side of said platform, said ridge providing a non-planar base of said shoe accessory, said ridge extending longitudinally of said platform and continuously from said heel portion to said toe portion, said ridge comprising; a rearward portion extending from said heel portion to a ball portion of said platform intermediate said heel portion and said toe portion, said rearward portion being uniform in transverse cross-section and having an outer surface that is convex in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction; and a forward portion extending from said ball portion to said toe portion, said forward portion being tapered to have a progressively decreasing transverse cross-sectional area from said ball portion to said toe portion; a strap attached to said platform, said strap being capable of securing said shoe accessory to the shoe; and a heel retainer joined to said platform, said heel retainer extending above said top surface of said platform. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification