Open Styled Footwear and Components Therefor

Abstract

Open styled footwear that includes a sole member, and a strap fixed relative to the sole member is disclosed. An interdigit toe piece is disposed between an upper portion of the strap and the sole member, whereby the footwear is retained to a foot, at least in part, by the upper portion of the strap extending over the foot and the interdigit toe piece is disposed between the first and second toes. In one form, the interdigit toe piece includes a body having opposing concave side surfaces configured, in use, to separate and cradle the first and second toes. An inlay for open styled footwear and foot cushion is also disclosed.

1 . An article of open styled footwear comprising a sole member, a strap fixed relative to the sole member, and an interdigit toe piece disposed between an upper portion of the strap and the sole member, whereby the footwear is retained to a foot, at least in part, by the upper portion of the strap extending over the foot and the interdigit toe piece being disposed between the first and second toes, the interdigit toe piece comprising a body having opposing concave side surfaces configured, in use, to separate and cradle the first and second toes. 
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe piece body includes an aperture in an upper surface that receives a lower portion of the strap. 
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 2 , wherein the aperture extends through the toe piece body and the lower portion of the strap is secured to the sole member underlying the toe piece. 
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the aperture in the toe piece body is aligned with an aperture in the sole member and the lower portion of the strap extends through the toe piece and the sole member and is retained to an underside of the sole member. 
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposing concave side surfaces are anatomically contoured with respect to the first and second toes. 
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein a rear surface of the body is configured, in use, to receive an interdigit web disposed between the first and second toes. 
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the toe piece is fixed to, or integrally formed with, the sole member. 
     
     
         8 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe piece may be fixed to, or integrally formed with, the strap. 
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 8 , wherein the toe piece is disposed between the upper and lower portions of the strap. 
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 9 , wherein the lower portion is fixed to, or integrally formed with, the sole member. 
     
     
         11 . The article according to  claim 9 , wherein the lower portion of the strap extends through an aperture in the sole member. 
     
     
         12 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe piece is integrally formed with an inlay which in turn forms part of the sole member. 
     
     
         13 . The article according to  claim 12 , wherein the inlay provides support for the foot. 
     
     
         14 . The article according to  claim 12 , wherein the inlay includes forward and rear bulbous portions that are generally shaped to conform with respective pressure regions of the ball and heel of the foot. 
     
     
         15 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein the footbed inlay may be formed from a cushioning material to provide additional comfort in said regions. 
     
     
         16 . A footbed inlay for an article of open styled footwear comprising a sole member, a strap fixed relative to the sole member, whereby the footwear is retained to a foot, at least in part, by an upper portion of the strap extending over the foot, the foot bed inlay comprising a body having a forward bulbous portion interconnected with a rear bulbous portion by an isthmus-shaped section, and a interdigit toe piece upwardly extending from the forward bulbous portion, wherein in use the inlay body forms part of the sole member and the interdigit toe piece is disposed between the upper portion of the strap and the sole member and is arranged to be disposed between the first and second toes. 
     
     
         17 . The footbed inlay according to  claim 16 , wherein the footbed inlay is configured to be received in a complementary shaped recess in the sole member. 
     
     
         18 . The footbed inlay according to  claim 16 , wherein the interdigit toe piece is integrally formed with the inlay body. 
     
     
         19 . An article of open styled footwear incorporating the footbed inlay according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         20 . The article according to  claim 1 , further comprises a cushion having a midsole portion and a heel portion disposed with and extending between respective midsole and heel regions of the sole member, wherein the midsole portion comprises an arched cushion portion contoured to support a medial longitudinal arch of the foot and the heel portion contoured to provide medial-varus heel support to the foot. 
     
     
         21 . The article according to  claim 20 , wherein the arched cushion portion comprises an arch cookie. 
     
     
         22 . The article according to  claim 20 , wherein the heel portion is laterally curved. 
     
     
         23 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel portion provides the sole member with an inward lateral camber in a heel region thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The article according to  claim 23 , wherein the inward lateral camber may be between about 4-6 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The article according to  claim 21 , wherein the heel portion is laterally curved.