Open-toe footwear base member system

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an open-toe footwear system including a base member, toe post, and strap member. The toe post is coupled to the base member at a region corresponding to a location between the user's big toe and adjacent toe. The base member includes a forefoot member and a hindfoot member having different densities. The hindfoot member is denser and/or stiffer than the forefoot member. The base member may further include a top and bottom member between which the forefoot and hindfoot members are disposed. The forefoot member and hindfoot member may be intercoupled and respectively positioned to be under the respective forefoot and hindfoot regions of a user's foot. The forefoot member may be shaped to anatomically correspond to the phalanx and metatarsal regions of the user's foot. The hindfoot member may be shaped to anatomically correspond to the heel and arch regions of the user's foot.

1 . An open-toe footwear system comprising:
 a base member;   a toe post coupled to the base member;   a strap member intercoupled between the toe post and two lateral foot coupling regions on the base member; and   wherein, the base member includes a forefoot member and a hindfoot member, and wherein the composition of the forefoot member is less dense than the composition of the hindfoot member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base member further includes a top member and a bottom member, and wherein the forefoot member and the hindfoot member are disposed between the top member and the bottom member. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the top member and bottom member include ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot member is shaped to anatomically correspond to the shape of the metatarsal and phalanx regions of a user's foot. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot member is shaped such that a lateral side is longer than the medial side. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the density of the hindfoot corresponds to substantially supporting the weight of an average user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative densities of the forefoot member and the hindfoot member are configured to support a rear portion of a user's foot elevationally higher than the front portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative densities of the forefoot member and the hindfoot member are configured to assist in initiating a dorsiflexion walking motion. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hindfoot member is shaped to include a region anatomically corresponding to the arch of the user's foot. 
     
     
         10 . An open-toe footwear system comprising:
 a base member;   a toe post coupled to the base member;   a strap member intercoupled between the toe post and two lateral foot coupling regions on the base member; and   wherein, the base member includes a forefoot member and a hindfoot member, and wherein the composition of the forefoot member is less dense than the composition of the hindfoot member, wherein the base member further includes a top member and a bottom member, and wherein the forefoot member and the hindfoot member are disposed between the top member and the bottom member.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the top member and bottom member are chemically adhered to the forefoot member and the hindfoot member. 
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing an open-toe footwear system to support the anatomy of a user's foot and assist in initiating a walking motion, comprising the acts of:
 providing a forefoot member having a lower density than a hindfoot member;   coupling the forefoot member and the hindfoot member to create a base member;   coupling a toe post coupled to the base member; and   coupling a strap member between the toe post and two lateral foot coupling regions on the base member.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of providing a forefoot member having a lower density than a hindfoot member includes shaping the forefoot member to anatomically correspond to the shape of the metatarsal and phalanx regions of a user's foot. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of providing a forefoot member having a lower density than a hindfoot member includes shaping the forefoot member such that a lateral side is longer than the medial side. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of providing a forefoot member having a lower density than a hindfoot member includes configuring the relative densities of the forefoot member and the hindfoot member to support a rear portion of a user's foot elevationally higher than the front portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of providing a forefoot member having a lower density than a hindfoot member includes shaping the hindfoot member to include a region anatomically corresponding to the arch of the user's foot. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of coupling the forefoot member and the hindfoot member to create a base member further includes disposing the forefoot member and the hindfoot member between a top member and a bottom member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of coupling the forefoot member and the hindfoot member to create a base member further includes positioning the forefoot member to correspond to the metatarsal and phalanx bones of a user's foot. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of coupling the forefoot member and the hindfoot member to create a base member further includes chemically adhering the forefoot member and the hindfoot member between a top and bottom member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the top and bottom member comprise ethylene vinyl acetate.