CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT/US2022/078476 filed Oct. 21, 2022, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/262,816 for an “Anatomically Fitted Shoe” filed on Oct. 21, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of footwear. More particularly, this disclosure relates to an improved shoe for better comfort and for preventing slipping of a foot within the shoe.

BACKGROUND

Sliding of the foot within a shoe may cause pain in a foot of the wearer of the shoe. For example, forefoot pain may result from elevating a back of the foot relative to the front, which may be caused by deformity of certain digits of the foot (such as the fourth and fifth digits of the foot). This is commonly referred to as “Hammertoe” and may occur more frequently for women than men, such as due to shoes that have higher heels. Other issues such as Hallux Valgus, Claw Toe, and Mallet Toe may also be caused by wearing shoes where the foot may slide within the shoe. Issues related to comfort of the foot can result not only from shoes where the heel is higher than a forward portion of the shoe, but also in flatter shoes such as running shoes or flats.

Runners may suffer from a condition called “runner's toes.” This may be caused by poor shoe fitting. When an athlete runs, their feet may slide or shift within the shoes on each step, thereby contacting the naïve highly vascular nail bed against portions of the shoes, such as the top of the shoes. With repeated micro-trauma, tissue under the nail may bleed and create a painful condition called “subungal hematoma.”

Problems related to ill-fitting shoes or slippage of the foot within the shoe may, although seemingly insignificant, create substantial problems such as preventing runners from completing a marathon. Other athletes such as soccer players may have similar issues, and other issues related to ill-fitting shoes.

Referring to FIG. 1A, existing shoes typically include areas “A” that do not contact a wearer's foot with an inner sole of the shoe. Area “B” is an area of the calcaneus (heel bone) that contacts a sole of the shoe. The calcaneus is a rounded “cup-like” structure at the heel. Area “A” and Area “B” are areas of typical shoes that do not contact or support a wearer of a shoe.

Attempts have been made to alleviate these issues. For example, various insoles may be available that may be inserted into a shoe. However, adding or replacing an insole in a shoe may take up additional space inside the shoe, and insoles are typically not formed for a particular shoe. Conventional shoes are not formed to address these issues, and the addition of an insole or other modification of the shoe may lead to further discomfort or may not adequately address issues related to comfort of the wearer of the shoe.

Plastazole insoles may be used for diabetic patients that are capable of molding to a particular anatomical shape of a wearer's foot. However, such insoles are typically bulky and are limited in use to extra-depth sneakers or dress shoes. Further problems may relate to a material of the sole not being durable and must be changed frequently.

What is needed, therefore, is a shoe that is anatomically fitted to increase comfort of the shoe to the wearer and to prevent issues such as sliding of the foot within the shoe.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anatomically fitted shoe including: a midsole surface located along a bottom of an interior of the shoe, the midsole surface including a peripheral area located towards a front of the shoe; a crescent pad located on the peripheral area of the midsole surface, the crescent pad located across the peripheral area of the midsole surface and extending from a first longitudinal end located towards an inner side of the shoe to a second longitudinal end located towards an outer side of the shoe, the crescent pad having a width that tapers from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein the crescent pad is shaped to conform to a sulcus of a foot of a wearer of a shoe; a wing support located along a side of the midsole surface, the wing support extending laterally from the midsole surface towards an inside of the shoe, the wing support shaped to support a navicular bone of a wearer of the shoe at an apex of an arch of a foot; and a concave shaped portion located towards a back of the shoe, the concave shaped portion contoured to fit with a calcaneus of a foot of a wearer of the shoe.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the crescent pad has a thickness that tapers from a thicker portion at the first longitudinal end of the crescent pad to a thinner portion at the second longitudinal end of the crescent pad.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the crescent pad has a width that tapers from a wider portion at the first longitudinal end to a narrower portion at the second longitudinal end.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein a first side of the crescent pad has a first radius and a second side of the crescent pad has a second radius such that the first radius contours to a portion of the sulcus at distal phalanges of a foot of a wearer while the second radius contours to a portion of the sulcus towards proximal phalanges of a foot of a wearer.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the crescent pad extends across a width of the shoe such that the crescent pad is beneath a foot of a wearer of the shoe when the shoe is worn by the wearer between a second toe and a fifth toe of the foot of the wearer of the shoe.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the crescent pad is embedded within the midsole surface such that the crescent pad creates a bump corresponding to a shape of the crescent pad on an upper surface of the midsole surface.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, further including a wing support located on the midsole surface of the shoe such that the wing support is shaped to support a navicular bone of a wearer of the shoe at an apex of the arch of the foot.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the wing support extends laterally from an inner side of the midsole surface.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein an outer edge of the wing support is rounded to conform to the foot of the wearer of the shoe when the shoe is worn.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the crescent pad and the wing support are integrally formed on the midsole surface.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, further including a metatarsal bar located on the peripheral area of the midsole surface.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the metatarsal bar has a thickness that is greater towards a front of the metatarsal bar and wherein the thickness tapers to a thinner portion at a back of the metatarsal bar.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, the metatarsal bar further including an extension portion located towards the front of the metatarsal bar, wherein the extension is located proximate to a first metatarsal head of a foot of a wearer of the shoe when the shoe is worn.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the shoe is one of a running shoe or a flat shoe.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anatomically fitted shoe including: a midsole surface located along a bottom of the shoe, the midsole surface including a peripheral area located towards a front of the shoe; a crescent pad located on the peripheral area of the midsole surface, the crescent pad located across the peripheral area of the midsole surface and extending from a first longitudinal end located towards an inner side of the shoe to a second longitudinal end located towards an outer side of the shoe, the crescent pad having a width that tapers from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein the crescent pad is shaped to conform to a sulcus of a foot of a wearer of a shoe, the crescent pad having a thickness that tapers from a thicker portion at the first longitudinal end of the crescent pad to a thinner portion at the second longitudinal end of the crescent pad, and wherein the crescent pad has a width that tapers from a wider portion at the first longitudinal end to a narrower portion at the second longitudinal end; and a concave shaped portion located towards a back of the shoe, the concave shaped portion contoured to fit with a calcaneus of a foot of a wearer of the shoe.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, further including a wing support located along a side of the sole inner liner, the wing support extending laterally from the midsole surface towards an inside of the shoe, the wing support shaped to support a navicular bone of a wearer of the shoe at an apex of an arch of a foot.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the crescent pad and the wing support are integrally formed on the midsole surface.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anatomically fitted shoe including: a midsole surface located along a bottom of the shoe, the sole inner liner including a peripheral area located towards a front of the shoe; a crescent pad located on the peripheral area of the midsole surface, the crescent pad located across the peripheral area of the midsole surface and extending from a first longitudinal end located towards an inner side of the shoe to a second longitudinal end located towards an outer side of the shoe, the crescent pad having a width that tapers from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein the crescent pad is shaped to conform to a sulcus of a foot of a wearer of a shoe, the crescent pad having a thickness that tapers from a thicker portion at the first longitudinal end of the crescent pad to a thinner portion at the second longitudinal end of the crescent pad, and wherein the crescent pad has a width that tapers from a wider portion at the first longitudinal end to a narrower portion at the second longitudinal end; a concave shaped portion located towards a back of the shoe, the concave shaped portion contoured to fit with a calcaneus of a foot of a wearer of the shoe; and a metatarsal bar located on the peripheral area of the midsole surface.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, wherein the metatarsal bar has a thickness that is greater towards a front of the metatarsal bar and wherein the thickness tapers to a thinner portion at a back of the metatarsal bar.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shoe, the metatarsal bar further including an extension portion located towards the front of the metatarsal bar, wherein the extension is located proximate to a first metatarsal head of a foot of a wearer of the shoe when the shoe is worn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a cross-sectional side view of a conventional shoe and an anatomically fitted shoe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an inner sole liner of an anatomically fitted shoe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a wing of an anatomically fitted shoe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a side-by-side comparison of a metatarsal bar to a metatarsal pad according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show top views of an anatomically fitted shoe having a crescent pad according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A-6D show a side view of a crescent pad of an anatomically fitted shoe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows a sulcus shape according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a bottom view of a foot according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9 and 10 shows a top view of a foot according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show side view of a foot according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of a foot and a crescent pad according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of an anatomically fitted shoe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a side view of a foot in an anatomically fitted shoe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 shows a bottom view of a various feet and a crescent pad according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 16 shows a view of a foot and crescent pad according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings. Some of these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. The definitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words being defined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If the definition of any term below diverges from the commonly understood and/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions below control.

An anatomically fitted shoe 10 is shown in FIG. 1B. Aspects of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 advantageously provide a shoe having elements that adapt the shoe to a foot of a wearer of the shoe to improve comfort of the shoe, reduce movement of the foot within the shoe, and otherwise alleviate discomfort for a wearer of the shoe. The anatomically fitted shoe 10 may include a concave shaped portion 12 in the sole on the shoe where the calcaneus of a foot of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 contacts the shoe. The anatomically fitted shoe 10 further includes a crescent pad 14 located on the anatomically fitted shoe 10, such as on an inner liner of the shoe. The crescent pad 14 may be located towards a front of the shoe such that the crescent pad 14 fits under a sulcus of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 as described in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 shows an underside of a midsole surface 16. The midsole surface 16 may be, for example, a surface of the midsole of the anatomically fitted shoe 10. The midsole surface 16 may be formed as an integral part of the midsole of the anatomically fitted shoe 10, or may be formed on an upper portion of the midsole of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 such that if an insole is used with the anatomically fitted shoe 10 the insole is located on top of the midsole surface 16. Rather than incorporating the components of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 described herein on an insole, aspects of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 include the disclosed features as an integral part of the anatomically fitted shoe 10.

The crescent pad 14 may be located on the shoe such as on an underside of or within midsole surface 16 towards a forefoot of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10. The crescent pad 14 may have a thickness such that the crescent pad 14 creates a corresponding rise or bump on an upper surface of the midsole surface 16 to substantially support the sulcus of the wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10. For example, the crescent pad 14 may be embedded within the midsole of the anatomically fitted shoe 10.

The shape and location of the crescent pad 14 is based on a length of the shoe, width of the shoe, and angle of the wearer's foot within the shoe. The shape of the crescent pad 14 is such that the crescent pad fits within a sulcus of the foot. The crescent pad 14 may be located at a peripheral area 20 of the shoe, as shown in FIG. 5B. The peripheral area 20 of the shoe may be towards the front of the shoe, such as towards a toe box of the shoe. The crescent pad 14 is located within the shoe based on a location of the part of the foot referred to as the “sulcus.” The sulcus may refer to a furrow or groove, as shown in FIG. 7. With respect to an anatomy of a forefoot of a wearer of the shoe, the sulcus may refer to a space formed as a collection of digitoplanar grooves on the first through the fifth metatarsal digits, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIG. 9 shows an X-ray image of a skin line 17 matching along with a proximal border of the sulcus.

The crescent pad 14 may be formed according to the crest pad described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,721,996. The crescent pad 14 may be embedded within or located on the midsole of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 rather than being located on an insole or other removable portion of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,721,996. Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the crescent pad 14 may include a first longitudinal end 13 and 23 and a second longitudinal end 14 and 24. The crescent pad 14 includes a middle part L1 and L2. The crescent pad 14 includes a first width FW, a second width SW, a first height FH and a second height SH, as shown in FIG. 6C. The crescent pad 14 may be shaped such that the first height FH is greater than the second height SH such that the crescent pad 14 tapers in thickness across a width of the crescent pad 14 from a thicker portion at the first longitudinal end 13 to a thinner portion at the second longitudinal end 24, as shown in FIG. 6C.

The shape of the crescent pad 14 may be such that the crescent pad 14 fits within the sulcus such that a wider and thicker portion of the crescent pad 14 at the first longitudinal end 13 corresponds to a shape of the sulcus at the second toe of a foot of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 while the narrower and thinner portion of the crescent pad 14 at the second longitudinal end 24 corresponds to a shape of the sulcus at the fifth toe of a foot of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10, as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show a side view of the bony structure of the foot as described above. Because the middle phalanx is absent in the anatomy of the first toe, the first toe is generally less convexly curled than the second through the fifth toes, thereby leaving very little empty space at the sulcus. The crescent pad 14 is placed to fill the largest empty space created by the second toe to the fifth toe as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, although it is understood that the crescent pad 14 could also occupy the entire area of the sulcus including underneath the big toc.

As shown in FIG. 6D, the crescent pad 14 further includes a first radius R1 and a second radius R2. The crescent pad 14 may be shaped such that the first radius R1 is greater than the second radius R2, as shown in FIG. 6D, when sides of the crescent pad 14 are curved. The first radius R1 and the second radius R2 may be such that the first radius R1 contours to a portion of the sulcus at the distal phalanges of a foot of a wearer while the second radius R2 contours to a portion of the sulcus towards the proximal phalanges of a foot of a wearer. For example, the first radius R1 may be on a first side of the crescent pad 14 that is towards a toe of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 and the second radius R2 may be on a second side of the crescent pad 14 that is inward from the first side on the anatomically fitted shoe 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, the anatomically fitted shoe 10 further includes a wing support 18. The wing support 18 may be formed as part of the midsole surface 16 or a shank board of the shoe. The wing support 18 is shaped to support a navicular bone of a wearer of the shoe which is located at an apex of the arch of the foot. The wing support 18 supports a medial arch of the foot and increases comfort by tracing a curved structure of the foot towards an inner side of the foot or by following a more natural anatomical foot contour. The wing support 18 may be located along a side of the midsole surface 16 and may extend laterally and otherwise extend from the midsole surface 16 towards an inner foot portion of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 to support the arch of the foot. The wing support 18 may extend laterally from a side of the midsole surface 16 and have a rounded outer edge extending from the midsole surface 16, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a basic bony anatomy of a foot. A foot includes a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a rear food portion. The forefoot includes five metatarsal bones, 14 phalanges, and two sesamoid bones. Each of the second through fifth toes includes distal phalanges, middle phalanges, and proximal phalanges. The first toe includes only two phalanges, the distal and proximal phalanges. The middle phalanx is absent in the first toe. Each of the first toe through the fifth toe includes metatarsal bones. The big toe includes a tibial sesamoid bone and a fibular sesamoid bone.

The crescent pad 14 is located on the midsole surface 16 such that the crescent pad 14 does not raise an entire structure of the forefoot, thereby preventing raising of the forefoot to contact an upper part of the shoe as shown in FIG. 14A. This is particularly an issue with small toe-box shoes. The crescent pad 14 is placed at a location of the sulcus, such that the crescent pad 14 fits within the empty space defined by the sulcus without lifting the forefoot as shown in FIG. 14B. This placement of the crescent pad 14 at the sulcus also prevents the foot from sliding forward in the anatomically fitted shoe 10.

The shape of the crescent pad 14 described herein advantageously allows the crescent pad 14 to fit a variety of foot shapes. For example, referring to FIG. 15, the crescent pad 14 may fit feet having varying length toes and varying widths of the foot. FIG. 16 shows a top view of a foot including placement of the crescent pad 14 relative to the foot.

The anatomically fitted shoe 10 may further include a metatarsal bar 15 located on the midsole surface 16 to support a transverse arch of the foot and maintain the foot in an anatomically correct position. The metatarsal bar further may reduce pressure at the balls of the foot during a propulsive/pushoff stage of a gait cycle. The metatarsal bar 15 may further prevent forward slippage of the foot, particularly when used in conjunction with the crescent pad 14. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the metatarsal bar 15 may reduce pressure on the first through fifth metatarsals. In contrast, a traditional metatarsal pad shown in FIG. 4B may only reduce pressure on the second and fourth metatarsals. The metatarsal bar 15 advantageously reduces pressure on all of the metatarsals, and in particular the first and second metatarsal bones which are the largest of the metatarsals and the primary metatarsals loaded during walking and standing.

The metatarsal bar 15 may include a thicker portion located towards a front of the metatarsal bar. The metatarsal bar 15 may have a thickness that tapers from the front of the metatarsal bar 15 to a thinner portion at a back portion of the metatarsal bar 15. As shown in FIG. 4A, the metatarsal bar 15 may be wider towards a front of the metatarsal bar 15 such that the metatarsal bar 15 supports all metatarsals of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10, and in particular a first metatarsal head and a second metatarsal head of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10. The metatarsal bar 15 may include an extension that is located proximate to the first metatarsal head and the second metatarsal head of the foot of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10 when the anatomically fitted shoe 10 is worn to substantially reduce pressure on the first metatarsal bone and the second metatarsal bone of the foot of a wearer of the anatomically fitted shoe 10. The extension may be located towards the front of the metatarsal bar 15 and extent towards an inner side of the shoe such that the extension is positioned proximate to the first metatarsal head, as shown in FIG. 4A.

The anatomically fitted shoe 10 described herein advantageously provides comfort to a wearer of the shoe and may prevent toes of a wearer of the shoe from sliding forward within the shoe. The crescent pad 14, located at the sulcus, acts as a stop to prevent sliding of the foot forward within the shoe. The crescent pad 14 further prevents toes from curling and causing bony and dermal deformities. The concave shaped portion 12 or heel cup, together with the crescent pad 14, metatarsal bar 15, and wing support 18 act to “sink” the foot within the footbed or midsole surface 16 the shoe, thereby stabilizing the foot during walking or running. Advantages further include supporting the metatarsals of the foot and the foot as a whole to decrease pain, straighten toes, and otherwise improve comfort of a shoe. The anatomically fitted shoe may provide these advantage not only in high-heeled shoes but also sneakers, flat shoes, and open sandal shoes.

Further, the anatomically fitted shoe 10 provides the above and other benefits without requiring use of a thicker insole or other mechanism added to the shoe, thereby preventing crowding of the foot within the shoe as a result of adding an insole or otherwise significantly changing an interior volume of the shoe.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the precise form(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.