Shoe with Divided Ground Contact Surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe and method for making a shoe with divided ground contact surfaces including a toe area covered in part by a toe material; the toe material for contacting a ground; a heel area covered in part by a heel material; wherein the heel material is for contacting the ground. The shoe also has a flex member between the toe and heel areas; the flex member extends both in lateral and longitudinal directions for spreading the toe and heel materials toward a periphery of the shoe and for reducing friction between the ground and the toe and heel materials; and wherein the flex member is contoured for facilitating flexing of the shoe.

1 . A shoe with divided ground contact surfaces, comprising:
 a. A toe area covered in part by a toe material;   b. Said toe material for contacting a ground;   c. A heel area covered in part by a heel material;   d. Said heel material for contacting the ground;   e. A flex member between the toe and heel material;   f. Said flex member extends both in lateral and longitudinal directions for spreading said toe and heel materials toward a periphery of the shoe and for reducing friction between the ground and said toe and heel materials; and   g. Said flex member is contoured for facilitating flexing of the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member follows a contour of a user's toes for facilitating flexing of the shoe in the area of the toes. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member is recessed and spaced apart from the ground for reducing friction. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second flex member extending around a recessed area, wherein said recessed area is spaced apart from the ground. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member includes a general shape selected from the group consisting of a V shape, a U shape, a Y shape, a W shape, an X shape, a circular shape, a triangular shape, a saw tooth shape, a polygonal shape, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member extends in a generally diagonal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member bisects said toe material for facilitating flexing about an axis passing longitudinally through said flex member. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member bisects said heel material for facilitating flexing about an axis passing longitudinally through said flex member. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said flex member includes a spring selected from the group consisting of a leaf spring, a coil spring, a molded memory material spring, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe with divided ground contact surfaces, comprising:
 a. A toe area covered in part by a toe material;   b. Said toe material for contacting a ground;   c. A heel area covered in part by a heel material;   d. Said heel material for contacting the ground;   e. A first flex member placed between the toe and heel areas;   f. Said first flex member extending in an arcuate direction for spreading said toe material towards a periphery of the shoe and for reducing friction between the ground and said toe material;   g. A second flex member extending longitudinally through the heel material for dividing the heel material;   h. Said second flex member extending around a recessed area, wherein said recessed area is spaced apart from the ground for reducing friction; and   i. Said first and second flex members are spaced apart from the ground for reducing friction.   
     
     
         11 . The shoe according to  claim 10 , wherein said toe material is located on one side of said first flex member. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe according to  claim 10 , wherein said flex member extends from a periphery of said toe material to a periphery of said heel material for bisecting said toe and heel materials. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe according to  claim 10 , wherein said flex member includes a general shape selected from the group consisting of a V shape, a U shape, a Y shape, a W shape, an X shape, a circular shape, a triangular shape, a saw tooth shape, a polygonal shape, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing a shoe with divided ground contact surfaces, comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a toe area;   b. Covering a part of the toe area with a toe material;   c. Providing a heel area;   d. Covering a part of the heel area with a heel material;   e. Placing a first flex member between the toe and heel areas;   f. Extending the first flex member in an arcuate direction;   g. Spreading the toe material towards a periphery of the shoe for reducing friction between the ground and said toe material;   h. Extending a second flex member longitudinally through the heel material;   i. Dividing the heel material;   j. Extending the second flex member around a recessed area;   k. Spacing the recessed area apart from the ground for reducing friction; and   l. Spacing the first and second flex members apart from the ground for reducing friction.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of locating the toe material on one side of said first flex member. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of extending the first flex member from a periphery of the toe material to a periphery of the heel material for bisecting the toe and heel materials. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of selecting a general shape of the flex member from the group consisting of a V shape, a U shape, a Y shape, a W shape, an X shape, a circular shape, a triangular shape, a saw tooth shape, a polygonal shape, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of bisecting the toe material with the first flex member for facilitating flexing about an axis passing longitudinally through the first flex member. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of bisecting the heel material with the second flex member for facilitating flexing about an axis passing longitudinally through the second flex member. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of using a spring as the flex member.