Shoe with comfort features

Abstract

A woman's shoe is disclosed. The shoe includes a vamp, portions of which include a three layer structure of an outer layer, an interior layer and an intermediate layer. The interior layer and the outer layer are formed of leather, and each leather layer includes opening structures selected from the group consisting of holes, slits and goring. The intermediate layer is formed of a stretch fabric between the outer leather layer and the interior leather layer.

1 . A woman's shoe comprising:
 a vamp, portions of which include a three layer structure of an outer layer, an interior layer and an intermediate layer;   said interior layer and said outer layer being formed of leather;   said interior and said outer layer each including opening structures selected from the group consisting of holes, slits and goring; and   said intermediate layer being formed of a stretch fabric between said outer leather layer and said interior leather layer.   
     
     
         2 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 1  further comprising a high heel. 
     
     
         3 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said stretch fabric comprises spandex. 
     
     
         4 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 1  further comprising an insole. 
     
     
         5 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 4  wherein said insole further comprises additional padding at the ball position to ease pressure at the metatarsal area of the wearer and help alleviate discomfort. 
     
     
         6 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said openings in said outer leather layer and said interior leather layer comprise goring, and said goring extends along left and right side portions of the vamp. 
     
     
         7 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 6  wherein the center portion of the vamp is solid leather without openings. 
     
     
         8 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 6  wherein said shoe includes left and right quarter portions that together with the vamp define a throat opening. 
     
     
         9 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 8  wherein said goring extends from said vamp towards said quarter portions and along said throat. 
     
     
         10 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said vamp is free of any seaming that crosses the metatarsophalangeal joint of a wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A woman's shoe according to  claim 8  wherein the border between said throat and said vamp is positioned sufficiently along said quarter portions for the throat edge defined by the vamp to cover the metatarsophalangeal joint rather than crossing the metatarsophalangeal joint. 
     
     
         12 . A kit comprising:
 a left shoe and a right shoe;   each of said shoes comprising   a vamp, portions of which include a three layer structure of an outer layer, an interior layer and an intermediate layer;   said interior layer and said outer layer being formed of leather;   said interior and said outer layer each including opening structures selected from the group consisting of holes, slits and goring; and   said intermediate layer being formed of a stretch fabric between said outer leather layer and said interior leather layer.   
     
     
         13 . A kit according to  claim 12  wherein each said shoe further comprises:
 an insole; and 
 additional padding at the ball position of said insole to ease pressure at the metatarsal area of the wearer and help alleviate discomfort. 
 
     
     
         14 . A kit according to  claim 12  wherein:
 the center portion of said vamp of each said shoe is solid leather without openings; and 
 each said shoe includes left and right quarter portions that together with the vamp define a throat opening. 
 
     
     
         15 . A kit according to  claim 12  wherein said openings in said leather layers extend from said vamp towards said quarter portions and along said throat. 
     
     
         16 . A kit according to  claim 12  wherein each said vamp is free of any seaming that crosses the metatarsophalangeal joint of a wearer. 
     
     
         17 . A method of relieving the symptoms of bunion pain and discomfort comprising:
 positioning the metatarsophalangeal joint of a bunion patient in a shoe and adjacent portions of the shoe that include a three layer structure formed of a layer of stretch fabric positioned between respective layers of opened leather.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the three layer structure adjacent the metatarsophalangeal joint comprises a layer of spandex between two layers of gored leather. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  comprising positioning the foot with the border between the throat and the vamp sufficiently above the metatarsophalangeal joint so that the border between the vamp and the throat opening covers the metatarsophalangeal joint and the patient's bunion rather than crossing the metatarsophalangeal joint and the patient's bunion. 
     
     
         20 . In a method of constructing a shoe on a last, the improvement comprising constructing the shoe on a last that provides more space than a conventional last in the targeted area of the metatarsophalangeal joint.