Shoe with therapeutic microbeads

Abstract

A shoe for massaging and supporting a wearer's foot, the shoe having a sole, a foot bed, at least one strap, and a plurality of microbeads. The foot bed and strap each include at least one layer of flexible covering that enclose the microbeads therein for massaging and supporting the wearer's foot.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A shoe for massaging and supporting the foot, the shoe comprising:
 a sole;   a foot bed attached to the sole and including at least one layer of flexible covering;   at least one strap for securing a wearer's foot to the foot bed, the strap including at least one layer of flexible covering; and   a plurality of microbeads for supporting and massaging the wearer's foot, wherein the foot bed encloses at least some of the microbeads within the at least one layer of flexible covering of the foot bed for supporting and massaging the bottom of the wearer's foot and the strap encloses at least some of the microbeads within the at least one layer of flexible covering of the strap for massaging additional areas of the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is a narrow thong that is attached to the shoe between and below first and second toe positions, passes upward between the wearer's first and second toes when worn, gradually widens as the strap extends over the instep, and is attached to the shoe on opposite sides of the instep. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap includes a plurality of straps that extend across the wearer's foot and secure the wearer's foot to the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is a single wide band that extends across the instep leaving the wearer's toes and heel exposed, the strap being attached to the shoe at opposite sides of the instep. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is a vamp that covers the wearer's toes and instep leaving the wearer's heel exposed. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the microbeads have a diameter of between 0.3 and 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the microbeads are treated with an antistatic coating. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the microbeads are composed of polystyrene. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of flexible covering is 4-way stretchable. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the band is composed of at least two parts adjustably attachable to each other by a fastening device. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the fastening device is at least one buckle. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the fastening device is at least one Velcro strip. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the fastening device is elastic. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one gore fixed to the vamp edge. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is attached to the foot bed via an adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is attached to the foot bed via stitching. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the foot bed is removable. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the foot bed is washable. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a decoration. 
     
     
         20 . A shoe for massaging and supporting the foot, the shoe comprising:
 a sole;   a foot bed attached to the sole, the foot bed including at least one layer of flexible covering;   at least one strap for securing a wearer's foot to the foot bed, the at least one strap including at least one layer of flexible covering; and   a plurality of polystyrene microbeads for supporting and massaging the wearer's foot, wherein the at least one layer of flexible covering of the foot bed encloses some of the microbeads therein for supporting and massaging the bottom of the wearer's foot, and wherein the at least one layer of flexible covering of the at least one strap encloses some of the microbeads therein for massaging other areas of the wearer's foot.