Barefoot shoe

Abstract

A barefoot shoe with bottom and upper, and with fasteners for fastening the barefoot shoe on the foot of a person wearing the barefoot shoe, has a bottom consisting entirely or at least almost exclusively of ring structures. Preferably, the upper also consists entirely of ring structures, or the upper has areas consisting at least almost exclusively of ring structures. A barefoot shoe is thus created by which the feet of a person wearing the barefoot shoe are, in quick succession, kept wet, dry, cold, warm, etc., without there being any danger of injury and without there being any danger of annoying foreign bodies entering the shoe. The barefoot shoe also has good static friction properties, even on irregular ground surfaces. The barefoot shoe can be quickly cleaned and has sufficient hygiene properties. The barefoot shoe is also light and flexible and can be given an attractive appearance.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A barefoot shoe, comprising:
 a bottom, and   an upper, and   fasteners for fastening the barefoot shoe to a foot of a person wearing the barefoot shoe,   said bottom being configured in one of two ways, a first way in which the bottom is made entirely of ring structures and the fasteners are provided at least partially in areas of the upper located in an area of the arch of the foot when the shoe is worn, a second way in which the bottom includes areas composed in part of ring structures.   
     
     
         22 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the ring structures are formed so as to be at least partially open. 
     
     
         23 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the barefoot shoe and the ring structures are constructed such that environmental influences can have a direct effect on the foot of the person wearing the barefoot shoe. 
     
     
         24 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the upper is composed entirely of ring structures or has areas that at least in part exclusively composed of ring structures. 
     
     
         25 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 24 , wherein the areas of the bottom and the areas of the upper composed of ring structures are constructed so as to continuously transition into each other. 
     
     
         26 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 25 , wherein rings of the ring structures at least in partial areas of the bottom or the upper, or both, comprise at least one of different materials, different sizes and different cross-sectional profiles. 
     
     
         27 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 25 , wherein rings of the ring structures have identical sizes or are made of identical materials, or both. 
     
     
         28 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 25 , wherein rings of the ring structures are made of at least one material selected from metal, plastic and a composite material. 
     
     
         29 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the ring structures of the bottom comprise grip-enhancing surface structures providing enhanced gripping properties in comparison with gripping properties of the ring structures. 
     
     
         30 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the ring structures of the bottom comprise surface structures made of natural or synthetic rubber and having a shape of a sole or a shape of a section of a sole are introduced into or applied onto the ring structures, with the surface structures completely or partially covering the bottom area. 
     
     
         31 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the ring structures of the bottom comprise in at least one of a toe area and the heel area of the barefoot shoe surface structures made of natural or synthetic rubber and introduced into or applied onto the ring structures. 
     
     
         32 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein partial areas of the ring structures comprise additional individual rings which each enclose an overlap region of two interconnected rings and which have an identical or shorter circumference than the interconnected rings. 
     
     
         33 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 24 , wherein the ring structures of at least one of the bottom and the upper comprise at least in partial regions a second ring structure layer, wherein the second ring structure layer is connected with the ring structures by way of additional individual rings. 
     
     
         34 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 24 , wherein the ring structures of at least one of the bottom and the upper are connected with at least one additional woven layer having crossed threads that extend coplanar with the ring structures, for increasing dimensional stability of the ring structures. 
     
     
         35 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 24 , wherein at least one flexible rail made of metal or plastic and having a shape fitting the foot or a leg of the person wearing the shoe is disposed in an area of the ring structures of the upper. 
     
     
         36 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one flexible rail comprises a ring structure cuff arranged in an end region and extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the flexible rail in a position of use. 
     
     
         37 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the fasteners comprise at least one fastener selected from a spring-biased fastening hook, leather, textile, plastics, shoelaces, a strap, a zipper, a stretch material, a Velcro closure, a reinforcement disposed on soles, side areas, heels, tips, arch of the foot and made in part or entirely of metal, plastic, natural rubber and synthetic rubber, a buckle and a snap fastener. 
     
     
         38 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the bottom is completely or partially formed of a closed material in at least one of an area of the toe, an area of the bunion of the big toe and an area of the heel, whereas at least one adjacent area of the bottom comprises ring structures. 
     
     
         39 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the bottom is completely or partially formed of ring structures in at least one of an area of the toe, an area of the bunion of the big toe and an area of the heel, whereas at least one adjacent area of the bottom is formed of a closed material. 
     
     
         40 . The barefoot shoe of  claim 21 , further comprising a sock disposed inside the barefoot shoe, wherein the sock is completely closed in an area of the foot or has one or more openings in at least one of a toe area, a midfoot area, an area of the arch of the foot and a heel area.