Dorsiflexion shoe

Abstract

A high performance dorsiflexion shoe has a sole and a constraining device above the metatarsal-phalangeal joint. The sole has a ground-contacting surface, a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel portion. The forefoot region is made of a high density material, and has a thickness, measured in a direction perpendicular to the ground-contacting surface of the sole, greater than the thickness of the heel portion, thereby defining a characteristic angle of declination from the forefoot region to the heel portion. The constraining device substantially constrains a wearer's metatarsal-phalangeal joints from movement when exercising. The forefoot region has a curved form defined so as to further minimize flexion of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint.

1 . A high performance dorsiflexion shoe for enveloping a foot ( 40 ) of a wearer, including the wearer's metatarsal-phalangeal joint ( 20 ), the shoe comprising 
 (a) a sole portion ( 24 ) having a ground-contacting surface ( 26 ), a forefoot region ( 30 ), a midfoot region ( 32 ) and a heel portion ( 34 ), and    (b) a constraining device ( 16 ) above the metatarsal-phalangeal joint;    wherein the forefoot region is made of a high density material, and has a thickness, measured in a direction perpendicular to the ground-contacting surface of the sole portion, greater than the thickness of the heel portion, thereby defining a dorsiflexion shoe having a characteristic angle (a) of declination from the forefoot region to the heel portion;    wherein the constraining device substantially constrains a wearer's metatarsal-phalangeal joints from movement when exercising, and    wherein the forefoot region has a curved form defined so as to further minimize flexion of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint during walking or running.    
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion ( 24 ) is a component of a shell ( 12 ) which includes sidewall portions ( 22 ) extending upwardly from the sole portion to a circumferential edge ( 13 ) which surrounds the wearer's foot ( 40 ).  
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the circumferential edge ( 13 ) is higher in the heel region ( 34 ) than in the forefoot region ( 30 ), thus giving the outward appearance of a plantarflex shoe.  
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot region ( 30 ) includes at least one hard, high density insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) formed to follow the curvature of the sole portion ( 24 ).  
   
   
       5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) includes reinforcing ribs ( 90 ).  
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) includes slits ( 200 ) for defining the bending moment of inertia of the insert.  
   
   
       7 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ) extends from the forefoot region ( 30 ) to the midfoot region ( 32 ).  
   
   
       8 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ) extends from the forefoot region ( 30 ) to an area adjacent the cuniform bones of the wearer.  
   
   
       9 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one insert ( 184 ,  186 ,  190 ) extends from the forefoot region ( 30 ) to the heel portion ( 34 ).  
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the ribs ( 90 ) pass through a softer endo layer ( 92 ) and thus, present an exposed surface ( 91 ).  
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) is molded of a color different from the sole, so as to prominently expose the form of the ribs ( 90 ) on an outside surface ( 91 ) of the shoe ( 10 ).  
   
   
       12 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the angle (a) of declination is within the range of 1 degree to 15 degrees, preferably 5 degrees.  
   
   
       13 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the forefoot region ( 30 ) includes a reinforced, padded toe portion ( 64 ).  
   
   
       14 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the heel portion ( 34 ) is substantially comprised of a low density, viscous-like material.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the forefoot region ( 30 ) has a varying thickness defining a ground contact surface ( 26 ) of a curved form which mimics the function of natural metatarsal-phalangeal flexion.  
   
   
       16 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the curved form includes a straight portion, extending approximately from the heel portion ( 34 ) to the forefoot region ( 30 ), and a curved portion ( 28 ), substantially tangentially extending from the straight portion, and then curving upward about the toe.  
   
   
       17 . An adaptable shoe assembly wherein the assembly includes: 
 a shoe having a sole portion ( 24 ) of a pre-determined angle of inclination, adapted to receive an interchangeable insole ( 104 ,  104 ′); and    at least one insole which inserts into the shoe, the assembly changing the posture of a wearer's foot ( 40 ) from one angle in a range between dorsiflexion and plantarflexion to another angle in the range resulting in a shoe defined by an angle of declination different from the pre-determined angle.    
   
   
       18 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the sole portion ( 24 ) is a component of a shell ( 12 ) which includes sidewall portions ( 22 ) extending upwardly from the sole portion to a circumferential edge ( 13 ) which surrounds the wearer's foot.  
   
   
       19 . The shoe of  claim 18 , wherein the circumferential edge ( 13 ) is higher in the heel region ( 34 ) than in the forefoot region ( 30 ), thus giving the outward appearance of a plantarflex shoe.  
   
   
       20 . The shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the insole ( 104 ,  104 ′) includes three dimensional structures ( 120 ) which interface with a mating surface on the sole so as to lock the insole and the sole together, thus minimizing relative motion therebetween.  
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shoe is of a substantially normal plantarflexion form in which the metatarsal-phalangeal restraining device ( 16 ) is adjustable over the metatarsal-phalangeal joints ( 20 ) of the wearer with or without an insole ( 104 ,  104 ′) installed, and the foot-contacting portion ( 26 ) of the sole portion ( 24 ) of the shoe is of a form which suitably interfaces with the foot ( 40 ) so that, when the insole is not installed, the shoe functions as a conventional plantarflexion shoe.  
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one insole ( 104 ) has a weight ( 106 ) selected to provide a particular level of energy consumption during use.  
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the assembly is adapted to receive one of at least two insoles ( 104 ,  104 ′) which alternatively insert into the shoe, providing the wearer with the ability to select the angle (α) of declination, and thus the degree of dorsiflexion.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the insoles ( 104 ,  104 ′) are of a thickness selected in the range of between 2.5 mm and 15 mm, representing approximately 0 to 6 degree changes in dorsiflexion.  
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the assembly is adapted to receive at least two insoles ( 104 ″), stacked one on the other, a first-installed insole having a lower surface which conforms to the form of the shell, and an upper surface formed to adapt to a wear's foot, and the second-installed insole formed to conform to the top surface of the first-installed insole, itself having a top surface that conforms to a wearer's foot, thus providing the wearer with the ability to select the angle (β) of declination, and thus the degree of dorsiflexion.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the insoles ( 104 ,  104 ′) are of a thickness selected in the range of between 2.5 mm and 15 mm, representing approximately 0 to 6 degree changes in dorsiflexion.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the assembly includes at least two insoles ( 104 ) of substantially differing weights, which alternatively insert into the shoe, providing the wearer with the ability to select a weight ( 106 ) to provide a particular level of energy consumption during use.  
   
   
       28 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the forefoot region ( 30 ) includes at least one hard, high density insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) formed to follow the curvature of the sole portion ( 24 ).  
   
   
       29 . The shoe of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) includes reinforcing ribs ( 90 ).  
   
   
       30 . The shoe of  claim 29 , wherein the ribs ( 90 ) pass through a softer endo layer ( 92 ) and thus, present an exposed surface ( 91 ).  
   
   
       31 . The shoe of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) is molded of a color different from the sole portion ( 24 ), so as to prominently expose the form of the ribs ( 90 ) on an outside surface of the shoe.  
   
   
       32 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) includes slits ( 200 ) for defining the bending moment of inertia of the insert.  
   
   
       33 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one insert ( 66 ,  162 ) extends from the forefoot region to the midfoot region.  
   
   
       34 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one insert ( 180 ) extends from the forefoot region to an area adjacent the cuniform bones of the wearer.  
   
   
       35 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one insert ( 182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 )extends from the forefoot region to the heel portion.  
   
   
       36 . A high performance dorsiflexion shoe for enveloping a wearer's foot, the shoe comprising a sole portion ( 24 ) having a ground-contacting surface ( 26 ), a forefoot region ( 30 ), a midfoot region ( 32 ) and a heel portion ( 34 ), wherein the forefoot region includes a hard, high density insert ( 66 ,  162 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186 ,  190 ) formed to follow the curvature of the sole portion, wherein the heel portion is made substantially of a soft, viscous-like material, the overall thickness of the sole portion being such that the angle (α) on declination is at most 0 degrees, and wherein the differences in deformation of the hard and the soft materials are defined so as to enable the sole portion to deform during exercise in a manner that creates the effect of a dorsiflexion shoe.