Pointe shoe

Abstract

When dancing en pointe, the wearer's weight is typically supported by their toes. Pointe shoes, including a shank and a toe box, are worn to support the wearer's toes. However, the wearer's weight is mainly supported by their toes when dancing en pointe. A pointe shoe ( 100 ) is provided including a two-part fastener ( 110, 210 ) for adhering the wearer's heel and/or arch region of their foot to the shank ( 130 ) of the pointe shoe. In this way, when dancing en pointe, at least some of the wearer's weight is transferred to the toe box via the two-part fastener and the shank, such that pressure on their toes ( 320 ) is reduced.

1 . A pointe shoe comprising an insole, the insole having an upper surface and a first part of a two-part fastener positioned on the upper surface; wherein the first part of the two-part fastener is positioned in a heel and/or arch region of the upper surface of the insole such that, in use, the fastener is adjacent to the heel and/or arch of a wearer's foot, the first part of the two-part fastener being releasably attachable to a second part of the two-part fastener, the second part of the two-part fastener being adhered to the wearer's foot by means of adhesive, wherein the first and second parts of the two-part fastener are co-operable, in use, to releasably adhere the insole of the pointe shoe to the wearer's heel and/or arch region, to thereby prevent the foot slipping down the shoe away from the heel region, when used en point. 
     
     
         2 . The pointe shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the two-part fastener is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The pointe shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the first part of the two-part fastener is a hook portion of the hook and loop fastener, and the second part of the two-part fastener is a loop portion of the hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The pointe shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the two-part fastener has a fastening area of at least 1500 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A foot patch for use with the pointe shoe of  claim 1 , the foot patch for attaching to the heel and/or arch region of a wearer, the foot patch comprising the second part of the two-part fastener, wherein the foot patch is attachable, in use, to the sole of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         6 . The foot patch of  claim 5 , comprising a web. 
     
     
         7 . The foot patch of  claim 6 , wherein the web comprises hypoallergenic tape. 
     
     
         8 . The foot patch of  claim 6 , wherein the second part of the two-part fastener is attachable to the web. 
     
     
         9 . The foot patch of  claim 8 , wherein the second part of the two-part fastener is stitched to the web. 
     
     
         10 . The foot patch of  claim 9 , wherein the foot patch comprises two opposed wings arrangeable to extend up each side of the wearer's foot when attached thereto, in use. 
     
     
         11 . The foot patch of  claim 10 , wherein a first of the two wings is configured to extend away from a first edge of the second part of the two-part fastener, and a second of the two wings is configured to extend away from a second edge of the second part of the two-part fastener, wherein the second edge of the two-part fastener is opposite to the first edge of the two-part fastener, and the second part of the two-part fastener is stitched to the web via two lines of stitching, wherein a first of the two lines of stitching runs substantially parallel to the first edge of the second part of the two-part fastener, and a second of the two lines of stitching runs substantially parallel to the second edge of the second part of the two-part fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The foot patch of  claim 10 , wherein each wing has a curved perimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The foot patch of  claim 11 , wherein each wing extends from the second part of the two-part fastener by between 20 mm and 40 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A pointe shoe system including the pointe shoe of  claim 1  and the foot patch of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing a wearer's foot from slipping relative to a pointe shoe when en pointe, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a pointe shoe having an insole;   providing one of a first or second part of a two-part fastener; and   attaching the one of the first or second part of the two-part fastener to an upper surface of the insole.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of trimming the one of the first or second part of the two-part fastener such that a section of its perimeter substantially corresponds to a section of a perimeter of the upper surface of the insole, before attaching it to the upper surface of the insole of the pointe shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of a lining material from the upper surface of the insole of the pointe shoe, before attaching the one of the first or second part of the two-part fastener to the upper surface of the insole of the pointe shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a foot patch comprising the other of the first or second part of the two-part fastener;   attaching the foot patch to the heel and/or arch region of the wearer's foot; and   releasably attaching the first and second parts of the two-part fastener together to thereby retain the location of the wearer's heel and/or arch region relative to the insole of the pointe shoe.