Footwear and last

Abstract

A footwear last ( 1 ) comprising a hind foot section and a forefoot section joined by a midfoot section. The forefoot section is defined by a three reference points which define a reference point circumference ( 9, FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The hind foot section is equivalent to a predetermined shoe ( 20 ) size ( 37 ) while the forefoot section is equivalent to a shoe ( 20 ) size ( 37 ) between 2 and 3 sizes larger than said predetermined shoe ( 20 ) size ( 37 ) using the Paris point system. An article of footwear made using said last ( 1 ) comprises an upper ( 22 ), a midsole ( 30, FIG. 6 ) and an outer sole ( 40 ). The upper ( 22 ) has an outer layer ( 21 ) and an inner layer, which inner layer comprises an elastic panel ( 25 ) arranged to cover the first and/or fifth metatarsophalangeal joint of a user. The midsole ( 30 ) has a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is arranged to line the footbed of the shoe ( 20 ) and the second layer is arranged to provide a shock absorbing layer. The outer sole ( 40 ) is secured to the upper ( 22 ) on assembly to complete the article of footwear. FIG. 3 A footwear last ( 1 ) comprising a hind foot section and a forefoot section joined by a midfoot section. The forefoot section is defined by a three reference points which define a reference point circumference ( 9, FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The hind foot section is equivalent to a predetermined shoe ( 20 ) size ( 37 ) while the forefoot section is equivalent to a shoe ( 20 ) size ( 37 ) between 2 and 3 sizes larger than said predetermined shoe ( 20 ) size ( 37 ) using the Paris point system. An article of footwear made using said last ( 1 ) comprises an upper ( 22 ), a midsole ( 30, FIG. 6 ) and an outer sole ( 40 ). The upper ( 22 ) has an outer layer ( 21 ) and an inner layer, which inner layer comprises an elastic panel ( 25 ) arranged to cover the first and/or fifth metatarsophalangeal joint of a user. The midsole ( 30 ) has a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is arranged to line the footbed of the shoe ( 20 ) and the second layer is arranged to provide a shock absorbing layer. The outer sole ( 40 ) is secured to the upper ( 22 ) on assembly to complete the article of footwear.

1 . An article of footwear for a hallux valgus sufferer, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper having an outer layer and an inner layer, the inner layer comprising an elastic panel arranged to cover the first and/or fifth metatarsophalangeal joint of a user;   a midsole comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is arranged to line the footbed of the shoe and the second layer is arranged to provide a shock absorbing layer; and   an outer sole arranged to engage the ground, the outer sole being secured to the upper on assembly to complete the article of footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic modulus of the elastic panel is between two and three orders of magnitude lower than the elastic modulus of a material of the outer layer. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic panel is made from a layer of polychloroprene. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the polychloroprene is foamed polychloroprene. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third layer located between the first and second layers, which third layer is arranged to provide additional support for a ball of a foot. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , the midsole further comprising an anti-pronation element. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein the anti-pronation element is made from polyurethane memory foam. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the first, second and third layers are made from urethane memory foam. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the first layer is made of a urethane memory foam having higher compression force deflection properties and resilience properties than the compression force deflection properties and resilience properties of the urethane memory foam of the second layer. 
     
     
         10 . An The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the third layer is made of a urethane memory foam harder than the urethane memory foam of the first layer and higher resilience properties than the urethane memory foam of the second layer. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising an insole having a lining arranged to accommodate a foot. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shock resistant heel-piece. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said article of footwear is a slingback, a court shoe, a boot, a peep toe shoe or a ballerina flat. 
     
     
         14 . A footwear last comprising a hind foot section and a forefoot section joined by a midfoot section; the forefoot section is defined by first, second and third reference points having a reference point circumference; wherein the hind foot section is equivalent to a predetermined shoe size determined by using the Paris point footwear sizing system and the forefoot section has a reference point circumference equivalent to a shoe size between 2 and 3 sizes determined by using the Paris point footwear sizing system larger than said predetermined shoe size. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear last according to  claim 14 , wherein the reference point circumference of a European size 37 as determined by using the Paris point footwear sizing system last measures between 217 mm and 260 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear last according to  claim 14 , wherein the reference point circumference of the last measures between 9 mm and 20 mm more than the reference point circumference of a standard last. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear last according to  claim 16 , wherein the reference point circumference the last measures between 9 mm and 16 mm more than the reference point circumference of a standard last. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear last according to  claim 14 , wherein a European size 37 as determined by using the Paris point footwear sizing system has a reference point circumference of between 230 mm and 235 mm and reference point circumference increases or decreases by 2 mm to 2.5 mm per half size. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear last according to  claim 14 , wherein the footwear last comprises a tread surface, which tread surface measures between 79 mm and 85 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear last according to  claim 19 , wherein the tread surface measures between 79 mm and 82.5 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The footwear last according to  claim 14 , wherein the footwear last has a toe depth of between 20 mm and 25 mm.