Minimal Footwear

Abstract

Minimalist footwear is provided including a resilient yet flexible sole attached to the upper with a stitch and turn construction method. In a valuable embodiment the upper has a collar around the circumference of the foot access aperture to increase the seal around the foot and preventing intrusion of foreign objects while maintaining the strength and integrity of the foot access aperture. The upper is fabricated of a flexible and durable material that comfortably encapsulates the foot. Integral to the upper are a series of bands that span from the medial edge of the sole to the lateral edge of the sole over the foot. Said bands are separated by a predetermined gap. The bands are flexible but somewhat less stretchable than the balance of the upper thereby reducing the lateral flexion of the shoe while permitting ample flex from front to back as the foot flexes naturally during ambulation. The materials used for the sole and the upper allow for contoured molding to the wearer's foot shape when warmed by the body heat of the wearer. High top, low top, full toe and split toe varieties are also provided.

1 . Footwear comprised of an upper assembly and a sole assembly;
 Said sole assembly formed of a durable, impermeable and flexible material;   Said sole assembly having a first sole surface, a second sole surface and a periphery edge further comprised of a lateral edge, a toe edge, a heel edge and a medial edge;   Said first sole surface having an integral molded tread pattern;   Said upper assembly further comprising an upper and a plurality of structural bands;   Said upper further having an inside surface, an outside surface and a periphery further comprised of a lateral edge, a toe edge, a heel edge and a medial edge;   Said upper formed of a durable, semi-permeable and stretchable material;   Said structural bands formed of a durable, flexible material that is significantly less stretchable than the material forming said upper;   Said structural bands are permanently affixed to said outside surface of said upper spanning from the medial edge of said upper to said lateral edge of said upper and each of said structural bands being substantially parallel to each other;   Said upper assembly affixed to said sole assembly by stitch and turn method having a seam uniting the toe edge of the upper with the toe edge of the sole, the lateral edge of the upper with the lateral edge of the sole, the heel edge of the upper with the heel edge of the sole and the medial edge of the upper with the medial edge of the sole thereby resulting in a margin of upper and sole about said periphery of said sole which forms a raised edge about the periphery of the second sole surface.   
     
     
         2 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that a split toe is provided between said toe edge of said upper and said toe edge of said sole resulting in a pocket that separates a wearer's big toe from the other toes. 
     
     
         3 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that there are between two and ten structural bands. 
     
     
         4 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said upper material stretches omni-directionally. 
     
     
         5 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said upper material stretches bi-directionally. 
     
     
         6 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said upper assembly is extended about a collar thereby allowing the upper assembly to cover the wearer's ankle. 
     
     
         7 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said sole is constructed of ethylene vinyl acetate, said structural bands are constructed of a urethane and said upper is constructed of elastane. 
     
     
         8 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said sole assembly is constructed from any individual or combination of the group including: rubber, EVA, phylons or fabrics coated with any of ground rubber, Teflon, stone, glass or plastics particles. 
     
     
         9 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said upper assembly is constructed from any individual or combination of the group including: mesh, stretch mesh, leather, neoprene, woven fabric, knit fabric or felt. 
     
     
         10 . Footwear as disclosed in  claim 1 , further characterized in that said structural bands are constructed from any individual or combination of the group including: fabric adhesive paints, elastic fabrics, rubber, plastics or ethelanes.