Exercise-enhancing walking shoe

• US 4,934,073 A
• Filed: 07/13/1989
• Issued: 06/19/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred M. Robinson
• Original Assignee: Fred M. Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, Fred M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US07/379,206
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 36/110, 36/25 R, 36/99, 36/7.3, 36/8.4, 36/91, 36/108, 36/103, 36/28, 36/88, 36/112, 36/116, 36/81, 272/96, 272/119, 128/83, 128/83.5, 128/613
• US Class Current: 36/91
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• 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 7/143 situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
• 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

Abstract

A walking shoe is provided between its outer and inner soles, and substantially hidden by the ramp at the instep and toe, with a reverse wedge, i.e., one which increases in thickness in the forward direction. The reverse wedge terminates forwards of the shoe heel. The reverse wedge and the sole of which it forms a part remain flexible. The objective is the provision of a shoe which enhances the amount of exercise provided to the wearer'"'"'s foot and leg muscles while walking.

Claims

1. An exercise-enhancing walking shoe comprising:

an outsole having a substantially planar bottom, but which turns up under tips of a wearer'"'"'s toes;

an insole having a front portion to underlie the wearer'"'"'s toes and a ball of the wearer'"'"'s foot, a middle portion to underlie a wearer'"'"'s arch behind the ball of the wearer'"'"'s foot, and forwardly of the wearer'"'"'s heel, and a rear portion to underlie a wearer'"'"'s heel;

a reverse wedge having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge including a rear portion, the reverse wedge increasing forwardly in thickness and decreasing rearwardly in thickness, so as to taper to extinction at said rear portion of said outer edge, at a location arranged to under lie the wearer'"'"'s foot to the rear of the ball of the wearer'"'"'s foot, but forwardly of the wearer'"'"'s heel, and so as to achieve a maximum thickness substantially under the ball of the wearer'"'"'s foot, and forwardly tapering to a lesser thickness under the wearer'"'"'s toe tips;

said insole, reverse wedge and outsole being connected together, sandwich fashion, to provide a composite sole, with said reverse wedge being substantially completely absent from between said rear portion of said insole and said outsole;

said composite sole being resilient and flexible; and

a shoe upper including a toe box, an instep and rear quarters;

said shoe upper having a perimetrically extending lower edge portion secured to an outer peripheral edge of said composite sole so as to provide an upwardly-opening enclosure for receiving the wearer'"'"'s foot;

said composite sole being of such thickness, that when said shoe is worn by a person standing on level horizontal ground, the person'"'"'s heel is located at a level substantially below the ball of the person'"'"'s foot.

2. The exercise-enhancing walking shoe of claim 1, wherein:

said peripheral edge of said shoe upper laps over said composite sole sufficiently to hide from view externally of the shoe all but a band of said outer peripheral edge that is substantially constant in thickness along said shoe from toe to heel.

3. The exercise-enhancing walking shoe of claim 2, wherein:

said reverse wedge is made of sponge rubber.