Shoe sole to improve walking, sensory response of the toes, and help develop leg muscles

Abstract

An improvement in the design of a shoe wherein a flexible material is placed inside the shoe sole at the level over the insole and below the toes of the foot and either above or also in line with the midsole, so that the wearer's toes rest along the flexible material when the wearer's foot is inserted into the shoe. The flexible material also extends to the area at the base of the big toe and behind the ball of the foot behind the big toe under the 1 st metatarso-phalange joint base of the big toe. In a variation of the present invention, the flexible material only extends under the toes and does not extend behind the big toe. Therefore, in addition to all five toes resting on the flexible material, the ball of the foot area at the base of the big toe also rests on the flexible material. By filling the frontal section of the shoe sole with the flexible material, the flexible material permits the toes to curl downward when walking. The flexible material can be any type of-gel, deformable liquid or gel containing pack, polyurethane gel, silicone, soft rubber, foam, memory soft material, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene, polyurethane and any type of natural or synthetic soft flexible material to simulate walking on sand.

1 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole and having a front area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a non-leaking deformable gel formed within the front area of the sole and aligned with the insole so that the gel is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the gel and the base of the big toe right below the 1st metatarso-phalangeal joint also rests on the gel;    b. whereby the non-leaking deformable gel permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         2 . The invention in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said gel is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         3 . The invention in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said gel is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         4 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole and having a front area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a deformable padding formed within the front area of the sole and aligned with the insole so that the deformable padding is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the deformable padding and the base of the big toe rests right below the 1 st  metatarso-phalangeal joint and also rests on the deformable padding; and    b. the deformable padding is selected from the group consisting of a deformable liquid gel pack, a deformable liquid, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft memory type flexible material, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane;    c. whereby, the deformable padding permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         5 . The invention in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said deformable padding is at least 6 mm in depth.  
     
     
         6 . The invention in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said deformable padding is also aligned with a portion of the midsole in addition to being aligned with the insole.  
     
     
         7 . The invention in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising a cavity formed into the front portion of the shoe to receive the deformable padding.  
     
     
         8 . The invention in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said deformable padding is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         9 . The invention in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said deformable padding is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         10 . A foot wearing item to be worn on a foot, the foot wearing item including an insole against which the foot rests and having a front area over which the toes of the foot rest when the foot wearing item is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a flexible and deformable material formed within the front area of the foot wearing item and aligned with the insole so that the flexible material is located beneath the toes of the foot when the foot wearing item is worn so that all five toes rest on the flexible material and the base of the big toe right below the 1st metatarso-phalangeal joint also rests on the flexible material;    b. whereby the flexible material permits the toes to curl downward when a wearer of the wearing apparel is walking.    
     
     
         11 . The invention in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the flexible material is selected from the group comprising non-leaking semi-solid gel filled padding, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane.  
     
     
         12 . The invention in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the foot wearing item is selected from the group comprising shoes, sandals, flip-flops or athletic shoes.  
     
     
         13 . The invention in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is covered with a covering material.  
     
     
         14 . The invention in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         15 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole having a cavity in the front area of the shoe sole, the cavity aligned with the outsole and located in the area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a non-leaking deformable gel connected to an elongated strip so that the non-leaking deformable gel fits into said cavity and the strip rests on the insole so that the non-leaking deformable gel is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the gel and the base of the big toe right below the 1st metatarso-phalangeal joint also rests on the non-leaking deformable gel;    b. whereby the non-leaking deformable gel permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         16 . The invention in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said gel is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         17 . The invention in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said gel is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         18 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole having a cavity in the front area of the shoe sole, an insole having a cavity in the front area of the shoe sole, the cavities aligned with the outsole and located in the area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a non-leaking deformable gel connected to an elongated strip so that the non-leaking deformable gel fits into said cavities aligned with the insole and the midsole and the strip rests on the insole so that the gel is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the gel and the base of the big toe right below the 1 st  metatarso-phalangeal joint also rests on the non-leaking deformable gel;    b. whereby the non-leaking deformable gel permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         19 . The invention in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said non-leaking deformable gel is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         20 . The invention in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said non-leaking deformable gel is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         21 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole, a cavity in the front area of the shoe over which the toes of the foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a deformable padding connected to an elongated strip so that the deformable padding fits into said cavity and the strip rests on the insole so the deformable padding is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the deformable padding and the base of the big toe below the 1 st  metatarso-phalangeal joint also rests on the deformable padding;    b. the deformable padding is selected from the group consisting of a deformable liquid gel pack, a deformable liquid, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft memory type flexible material, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane;    c. whereby, the deformable padding permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         22 . The invention in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said cavity is aligned with the insole and the deformable padding is aligned with the insole.  
     
     
         23 . The invention in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said cavity is aligned with the insole and the midsole and the deformable padding is aligned with the insole and the midsole.  
     
     
         24 . The invention in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said cavity is at least 6 mm and said deformable padding is at least 6 mm.  
     
     
         25 . The invention in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said deformable padding is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         26 . The invention in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said deformable padding is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         27 . A foot wearing item to be worn on a foot, the foot wearing item including an insole, and having a cavity in the front area of the insole over which the toes of the foot rest when the foot wearing item is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a flexible and deformable material connected to an elongated strip so that the flexible and deformable material fits into said cavity and the strip rests on the insole so that the flexible and deformable material is located beneath the toes of the foot when the foot wearing item is worn, so that all five toes rest on the flexible and deformable material and the base of the big toe right below the 1st metatarso-phalangeal joint also rests on the flexible and deformable material;    b. whereby the flexible material permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the wearing apparel is walking.    
     
     
         28 . The invention in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the flexible and deformable material is selected from the group comprising non-leaking semi-solid gel filled padding, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane.  
     
     
         29 . The invention in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the foot wearing item is selected from the group comprising shoes, sandals, flip-flops or athletic shoes.  
     
     
         30 . The invention in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is covered with a covering material.  
     
     
         31 . The invention in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         32 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole and having a front area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 c. a non-leaking deformable gel formed within the front area of the sole and aligned with the insole so that the gel is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the gel;    d. whereby the non-leaking deformable gel permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         33 . The invention in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said gel is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         34 . The invention in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said gel is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         35 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole and having a front area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a deformable padding formed within the front area of the sole and aligned with the insole so that the deformable padding is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the deformable padding; and    b. the deformable padding is selected from the group consisting of a deformable liquid gel pack, a deformable liquid, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft memory type flexible material, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane;    c. whereby, the deformable padding permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         36 . The invention in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said deformable padding is at least 6 mm in depth.  
     
     
         37 . The invention in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said deformable padding is also aligned with a portion of the midsole in addition to being aligned with the insole.  
     
     
         38 . The invention in accordance with  claim 35 , further comprising a cavity formed into the front portion of the shoe to receive the deformable padding.  
     
     
         39 . The invention in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said deformable padding is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         40 . The invention in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said deformable padding is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         41 . A foot wearing item to be worn on a foot, the foot wearing item including an insole against which the foot rests and having a front area over which the toes of the foot rest when the foot wearing item is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a flexible and deformable material formed within the front area of the foot wearing item and aligned with the insole so that the flexible material is located beneath the toes of the foot when the foot wearing item is worn so that all five toes rest on the flexible material;    b. whereby the flexible material permits the toes to curl downward when a wearer of the wearing apparel is walking.    
     
     
         42 . The invention in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein the flexible material is selected from the group comprising non-leaking semi-solid gel filled padding, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane.  
     
     
         43 . The invention in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein the foot wearing item is selected from the group comprising shoes, sandals, flip-flops or athletic shoes.  
     
     
         44 . The invention in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is covered with a covering material.  
     
     
         45 . The invention in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         46 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole having a cavity in the front area of the shoe sole, the cavity aligned with the outsole and located in the area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a non-leaking deformable gel connected to an elongated strip so that the non-leaking deformable gel fits into said cavity and the strip rests on the insole so that the non-leaking deformable gel is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the gel;    b. whereby the non-leaking deformable gel permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         47 . The invention in accordance with  claim 46 , wherein said gel is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         48 . The invention in accordance with  claim 46 , wherein said gel is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         49 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole having a cavity in the front area of the shoe sole, an insole having a cavity in the front area of the shoe sole, the cavities aligned with the outsole and located in the area over which the toes of a foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a non-leaking deformable gel connected to an elongated strip so that the non-leaking deformable gel fits into said cavities aligned with the insole and the midsole and the strip rests on the insole so that the gel is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the gel;    b. whereby the non-leaking deformable gel permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         50 . The invention in accordance with  claim 49 , wherein said non-leaking deformable gel is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         51 . The invention in accordance with  claim 49 , wherein said non-leaking deformable gel is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         52 . A shoe having a shoe sole including an outsole, a midsole, an insole, a cavity in the front area of the shoe over which the toes of the foot rest when the shoe is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a deformable padding connected to an elongated strip so that the deformable padding fits into said cavity and the strip rests on the insole so the deformable padding is located beneath the toes of the foot when the shoe is worn, so that all five toes rest on the deformable padding;    b. the deformable padding is selected from the group consisting of a deformable liquid gel pack, a deformable liquid, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft memory type flexible material, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane;    c. whereby, the deformable padding permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the shoe is walking.    
     
     
         53 . The invention in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said cavity is aligned with the insole and the deformable padding is aligned with the insole.  
     
     
         54 . The invention in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said cavity is aligned with the insole and the midsole and the deformable padding is aligned with the insole and the midsole.  
     
     
         55 . The invention in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said cavity is at least 6 mm and said deformable padding is at least 6 mm.  
     
     
         56 . The invention in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said deformable padding is covered with a stretch material.  
     
     
         57 . The invention in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said deformable padding is treated with a fungicide.  
     
     
         58 . A foot wearing item to be worn on a foot, the foot wearing item including an insole, and having a cavity in the front area of the insole over which the toes of the foot rest when the foot wearing item is worn, the improvement comprising: 
 a. a flexible and deformable material connected to an elongated strip so that the flexible and deformable material fits into said cavity and the strip rests on the insole so that the flexible and deformable material is located beneath the toes of the foot when the foot wearing item is worn, so that all five toes rest on the flexible and deformable material;    b. whereby the flexible material permits the toes to curl, flex, bend or grasp downward when a wearer of the wearing apparel is walking.    
     
     
         59 . The invention in accordance with  claim 58 , wherein the flexible and deformable material is selected from the group comprising non-leaking semi-solid gel filled padding, silicone, foam, memory foam, soft rubber, soft synthetic plastic, a gel pack encased in a stretch Lycra® fabric, polyurethane gel, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene or polyurethane.  
     
     
         60 . The invention in accordance with  claim 58 , wherein the foot wearing item is selected from the group comprising shoes, sandals, flip-flops or athletic shoes.  
     
     
         61 . The invention in accordance with  claim 58 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is covered with a covering material.  
     
     
         62 . The invention in accordance with  claim 58 , wherein said flexible and deformable material is treated with a fungicide.