High-heel shank and high-heeled shoes using same

Abstract

A modified shoe shank for a high-heeled shoe is described herein. The shoe shank comprises an arch support configured to provide support to a user's foot arch, a heel support connected to a rear portion of the arch support to provide support to the user's foot heel, and a front support connected to a front portion of the arch support to provide support to the ball of the user's foot. The arch support and the heel support form a rear curve having a negative curvature, and the arch support and the front support form a front curve having a positive curvature. A spring portion may be disposed proximate to the heel support wherein the spring portion is designed to reduce the impact forces communicated from the user's heel to the heel support of the shoe shank. Also disclosed is a high-heeled shoe incorporating the modified shoe shank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe shank for use in a high-heeled shoe, the shoe shank comprising:
 an arch support that is configured to provide support to a user's foot arch and that extends at an upward angle with respect to the ground when the shoe shank is used in a high-heeled shoe, the arch support having a longitudinally asymmetrical shape that approximates the shape of the user's foot, wherein the arch support includes an inner arch support portion and an outer arch support portion, the inner arch support portion being raised higher than the outer arch support portion;   a heel support connected to a rear portion of the arch support to provide support to the heel of the user's foot, wherein the heel support and the arch support form a rear curve having a negative curvature; and   a front support connected to a front portion of the arch support to provide support to the ball of the user's foot, wherein the front support and the arch support form a front curve having a positive curvature.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe shank of  claim 1 , wherein the front support is substantially horizontal with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe shank of  claim 1 , wherein the front support, the heel support or both are substantially horizontal with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe shank of  claim 1 , wherein the arch support further comprises a fluted portion extending along the length of the shoe shank. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe shank of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe shank is made by using at least one of the materials selected from a group of ballistic grade plastics, high carbon steel materials, or carbon fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe shank of  claim 1 , wherein a spring portion disposed proximate to the heel support, wherein the spring portion is designed to reduce the impact forces communicated from the user's heel to the heel support of the shoe shank. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe shank of  claim 6 , wherein the spring portion is formed integral with the heel support and a dampening force is provided by a combination of: the shape of the heel support, the thickness of the heel support, and the material used in the heel support. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe shank of  claim 2 , wherein the radius of the negative curvature formed by the heel support and the arch support is not so small as to create a new pressure point between the user's arch and heel. 
     
     
         9 . A high-heeled shoe comprising:
 a sole having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a heel proximate the rear of the sole; and   a shoe shank positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the sole, the shoe shank comprising:   an arch support that is configured to provide support to a user's foot arch and that extends at an upward angle with respect to the ground, the arch support having a longitudinally asymmetrical shape that approximates the shape of the user's foot, wherein the arch support includes an inner arch support portion and an outer arch support portion, the inner arch support portion being raised higher than the outer arch support portion;   a heel support connected to a rear portion of the arch support to provide support to the user's foot heel, wherein the heel support and the arch support form a rear curve having a negative curvature;   a front support connected to a front portion of the arch support to provide support to the ball of the user's foot, wherein the front support and the arch support form a front curve having a positive curvature.   
     
     
         10 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the front support is substantially horizontal with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the front support, the heel support or both are substantially horizontal with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the arch support further comprises a fluted portion extending along the length of the shoe shank. 
     
     
         13 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the shoe shank is made by using at least one of the materials selected from a group of ballistic grade plastics, high carbon steel materials, or carbon fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , further comprising a dampening member disposed proximate to the heel support, wherein the dampening member is designed to reduce the impact forces communicated from the user's heel to the heel support of the shoe shank. 
     
     
         15 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the dampening member comprises a spring formed integral with the heel support and a dampening force is provided by a combination of: the shape of the heel support, the thickness of the heel support, and the material used in the heel support. 
     
     
         16 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising a gel material that covers the spring. 
     
     
         17 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the gel material comprises silicone gel. 
     
     
         18 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the dampening member comprises a layer of gel material disposed in the sole above the heel support. 
     
     
         19 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the heel measures between 2 to 5 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the radius of the negative curvature formed by the heel support and the arch support is not so small as to create a new pressure point between the user's arch and heel. 
     
     
         21 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 9 , wherein when the user is in a standing position, the amount of weight placed on the ball of the user's foot is reduced by at least 5% compared to the same high-heeled shoe implementing a conventional high-heeled shoe shank. 
     
     
         22 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the amount of weight placed on the ball of the user's foot is reduced by at least 10%. 
     
     
         23 . The high-heeled shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the amount of weight placed on the ball of the user's foot is reduced by at least 20%.