Sliding-shoe sole

Abstract

The sliding-shoe sole is a device that is permanently attached or removably positioned on fitness shoes or the like. The sliding-shoe sole is fabricated from materials that reduce the degree of factional contact between the sole and a contacting sur -face. The sliding-shoe sole may encompass a portion or the entire bottom of the fitness shoe and portions of the heel, toe and side areas of the shoe. This arrangement enables the wearer to participate more fully in exercises and/or dances that require the foot to not only slide and/or glide along the dance floor or exercise surface along the shoe bottom, but also along the shoe heel, toe and side.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A sneaker for dancing or exercising comprising:
 an upper body having a heel region, a toe region, an opening for a foot, and features for securing the sneaker to a wearer's foot; and   a sliding bottom sole spanning an entire bottom region of the sneaker that extends to and wraps around at least 5-25% of the toe region, a pair of side regions and the heel region of the upper body of the sneaker, wherein the sliding bottom sole is removably attached to the upper body;   further wherein the sliding bottom sole is formed of a single molded piece with a substantially smooth planar contoured surface to facilitate sliding in any direction across a range of selected surfaces comprising: a wooden floor, carpet, asphalt, concrete, grass or tile;   and wherein the sliding bottom sole is entirely fabricated from a substantially non-stretchable rigid material having a coefficient of friction of 0.5 or less when contacting selected surfaces.   
     
     
         19 . The sneaker of claim  1 , wherein the sliding bottom sole has a thickness of at least 0.5 inches throughout a length of the sole. 
     
     
         20 . The sneaker of claim  1 , wherein at least portions of the sliding bottom sole rise at least 0.5 inches to cover at least portions of the toe region, the heel region, and the side regions. 
     
     
         21 . A shoe-sole for a convertible fitness shoe, the convertible fitness shoe comprises an upper body having a heel region, a toe region, an opening for a foot, and features for securing the sneaker to a wearer's foot, the shoe-sole comprising:
 a bottom portion spanning an entire bottom region of the convertible fitness shoe, wherein the substantially smooth planar contoured surface; and   a heel portion, a toe portion and a side portion together to wrap around at least 5-25% of the toe region, a pair of side regions and the heel region of the upper body of the sneaker;   wherein the shoe-sole is formed of a single molded piece and is entirely fabricated from a substantially non-stretchable rigid material having a coefficient of friction of 0.5 or less when contacting a range of selected surfaces comprising: a wooden floor, carpet, asphalt, concrete, grass or tile;   and wherein the shoe-sole is removably attached to the upper body of the convertible fitness shoe thereby allowing the convertible fitness shoe to slide over the selected surfaces in any direction or at contacting angles.   
     
     
         22 . The shoe-sole of claim  4 , wherein the multiple contacting angles comprise a vertical angle when the toe portion or heel portion contacts a selected surface. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe-sole of claim  4 , wherein the shoe-sole has a thickness of at least 0.5 inches throughout a length of the sole. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe-sole of claim  4 , wherein the convertible fitness shoe has a separate shoe-sole, wherein the separate shoe-sole is formed of a material having a different coefficient of friction.