Shoe

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe, and in particular but not exclusively a dance or performing arts shoe, comprising a separate shank portion ( 2 ) which engages with a separate toe box portion ( 3 ) to form a unitary part. The invention also relates to methods of construction of said shoe.

1 . A shoe comprising a shank portion which is engageable with a separate toe box portion and wherein, in use, the shank portion and toe box portion form a unitary part, characterised in that the shoe additionally comprises flexing means which comprise a first part and a second part, which is connected or connectable to said first part. 
   
   
       2 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the shank portion comprises flexing means which, in use, is configured to:
 (a) allow the shank portion to bend from a substantially extended state to a substantially curved state during an upward movement;   (b) allow the shank portion to unbend from a substantially curved state to a substantially extended state during a downward movement; and   (c) limit downward movement of the shank portion from a substantially extended state.   
   
   
       3 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first part comprises a plurality of interconnected first elements, and the second part comprises a plurality of interconnected second elements. 
   
   
       4 . A shoe as defined in  claim 3  wherein a first side surface of said second element and a second side surface of an adjacent second element form an interspace such that said first part is connected or connectable to said second part when the first elements are received in the interspaces formed between the side surfaces of the second elements. 
   
   
       5 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1  wherein the second part comprises at least one stopping surface. 
   
   
       6 . A shoe as defined in  claim 5  wherein the stopping surface is a side surface of a second element and is angled or curved towards an adjacent second element. 
   
   
       7 . A shoe as defined in  claim 5  wherein the stopping surface is a trapezoid shaped interspace formed between adjacent second elements, such that the interspace comprises a narrow end and a wide end. 
   
   
       8 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1  wherein the flexing means are present at the position where the shank portion engages with the toe box portion. 
   
   
       9 . A shoe as defined in  claim 3  wherein the first part, comprising the plurality of first elements, is present on the shank portion and interconnect with the second part, comprising the plurality of second elements, present on the toe box portion. 
   
   
       10 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexing means are constructed from a nylon material. 
   
   
       11 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shank portion is detachably engageable with the toe box portion. 
   
   
       12 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the rigidity of the shank decreases along its length towards the heel. 
   
   
       13 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the toe box portion comprises a toe housing portion and a first shock absorbing portion attached or moulded to the exterior surface thereof and said toe housing portion comprises a toe moulding portion attached or moulded to the interior surface thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shank has a second shock absorbing portion attached or moulded to a heel region. 
   
   
       15 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the shank portion in contact with the user's foot is lined with a soft, resilient coating selected from one of the group consisting of a foam comprising a polyurethane, a cross-linked polyethylene, a polyvinylchloride and nitrile rubber blend or an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer. 
   
   
       16 . A shoe as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the soft, resilient coating additionally comprises odour controlling means. 
   
   
       17 . A shoe as defined in  claim 1 , which comprises a detachable outer covering configured to engage with and cover both the toe box portion and the shank portion. 
   
   
       18 . A shoe as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the outer covering is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a man-made wick like material or microfibre material which retains a satin like appearance. 
   
   
       19 . A shoe as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the outer covering comprises one or more attachment means which allow engagement of the outer covering with a toe box portion and a shank portion of a shoe either before or after engaging the shank portion and toe box portion to form a unitary part. 
   
   
       20 . A shoe as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the attachment means comprise an elasticized portion, an integral pocket feature at the base of the outer covering configured to accommodate the shank portion or at least one portion of Velcro™ or like material. 
   
   
       21 . A shoe as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the outer covering comprises a slip-resistant portion. 
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a shoe as defined in  claim 1 , which comprises the steps of:
 (a) moulding a shank portion from a thermoplastic polymeric material; and   (b) moulding a separate toe box portion from a thermoplastic polymeric material;   (c) engaging the shank portion and toe box portion to form a unitary part; and optionally thereafter;   (d) bonding the shank portion to the toe box portion with an adhesive or weld joint,   such that said shank portion and toe box portion are configured to be engageable and characterised in that the shoe additionally comprises flexing means which comprise a first part and a second part, which is connected or connectable to said first part.   
   
   
       23 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from one of the group consisting of an ionomer resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer and a polyurethane. 
   
   
       24 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said thermoplastic material has a softening point of between roughly 49° C. (120° F.) and 104° C. (220° F.). 
   
   
       25 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said toe box portion is moulded from a thermoplastic polymeric material having greater rigidity than the shank portion. 
   
   
       26 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , which additionally comprises the step of:
 applying a soft, resilient coating to the surface of the shank portion in contact with the user's foot.   
   
   
       27 . A method as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the soft, resilient coating is an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer. 
   
   
       28 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , which additionally comprises the step of:
 applying an outer covering to the shank and toe box portions either before or after engaging the shank portion and toe box portion to form a unitary part.   
   
   
       29 . A shank portion as defined in  claim 1  configured to be engageable with the corresponding separate toe box portion. 
   
   
       30 . A toe box portion as defined in  claim 1 , configured to be engageable with the corresponding separate shank portion. 
   
   
       31 . An detachable outer covering as defined in  claim 1 , configured to be engageable with the shoe either before or after engaging the shank portion and toe box portion to form a unitary part. 
   
   
       32 . A kit comprising at least one toe box portion, at least one shank portion and optionally at least one detachable outer covering.