Pointe Shoe for Practising Classical Dance

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe adapted for the practice of classical dance and particularly intended for dancers in dancing schools or professional dancers for performing pointes, that comprises a sole generally made of leather to which is attached a fitting upper ( 2 ), particularly made of satin, as well as a tip made of a hard shell or box ( 4 ) that surrounds the toes and has an extension in the form of a stiffening shank ( 5 ) at the lower portion of the foot, characterised in that the shank ( 5 ) is formed on the lower surface thereof with at least two transverse cuts ( 7 ) approximately at mid-depth for ensuring its rigidity in one direction and for imparting to the shoe a certain degree of flexibility in the opposite direction.

1 . Dance shoe for the practice of classical dance and for performing pointes, comprising a sole generally made of leather to which is attached a flexible upper as well as a hard shell that surrounds the toes and a rigid shank that extends beneath the arch of the foot of a wearer along the sole of the foot, the shank being made of a synthetic resin and extending from the shell and being affixable thereto and cooperating therewith so as together to define a stiffening assembly, the shank having a substantially constant rigidity alone its length, the shank being provided on its lower face in the region of the pads on the soles of the feet with at least two transverse slits located at approximately the middle of the sole and designed to open when a dancer rolls through her feet as she walks and to close when she moves her feet to the flat or en pointe positions. 
     
     
         2 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the shank portion of the stiffening assembly is pierced with small, evenly spaced holes to allow perspiration to pass through. 
     
     
         3 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the flexible upper is made of satin. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the synthetic resin is one of a polyacetal, poly amide polypropylene or polyimide material. 
     
     
         6 . Shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the synthetic resin is reinforced by one of a synthetic fibre or a natural fibre. 
     
     
         7 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the shank is separate from the shell and can be affixed to the shell by elastically deformable hooks. 
     
     
         8 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the inner portion of the shell is lined, in the region of the toes of the dancer, by one of an elastomeric material, open-pored foam, or sphagnum for allowing perspiration to pass through. 
     
     
         9 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the outer portion of the shell is covered by an anti-noise pad beneath the shell and in the region of the shoe surface in contact with the ground when the dancer is en pointe. 
     
     
         10 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the rear portion of the flexible upper is provided, in the region of the heel, of the dancer, with a pre-formed, non-extendible hand.