Shock-absorbing dance shoe assembly

Abstract

Low-profile dance shoes and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a dance shoe that includes an integrated heel member that provides increased support, stability, and shock-absorption for the dancer. The dance shoe can further include a support member configured to provide lateral support to the foot and/or ankle, and a shock-absorption member.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A dance shoe assembly, comprising:
 an flexible shoe body including a forefoot portion, a heel portion opposite the forefoot portion, and a midfoot portion between the heel portion and the forefoot portion; and   an integrated heel member positioned at the heel portion of the flexible shoe body, the heel member including—
 a support member having—
 a bottom region; 
 a top region extending upwardly from the bottom region, wherein the top region has—
 a rear wall defining a rear portion of the support member; and 
 lateral sidewalls extending forwardly the rear wall; and 
 
 
 a shock-absorbing member positioned on the bottom region of the support member, wherein a top portion of the shock-absorbing member is softer than a bottom portion of the shock-absorbing member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a second shock-absorbing layer on the first shock-absorbing layer, wherein the second shock absorbing layer is softer than the first shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the shock-absorbing member further includes a third shock-absorbing layer on the second shock-absorbing layer, wherein the third shock absorbing layer is softer than the second shock-absorbing layer. 
     
     
         4 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first thickness; and 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second thickness different than the first thickness, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         5 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first thickness; 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second thickness different than the first thickness, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a third shock-absorbing layer having a third thickness different than at least one of the first thickness and the second thickness, wherein the third shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the second shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         6 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first indentation force deflection (IFD) value; and 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second IFD value different than the first IFD value, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         7 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first indentation force deflection (IFD) value; 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second IFD value different than the first IFD value, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a third shock-absorbing layer having a third IFD value different than at least one of the first IFD value and the second IFD value, wherein the third shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the second shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         8 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further including a front traction pad positioned at the forefoot portion of the flexible shoe body. 
     
     
         9 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a front traction pad positioned at the forefoot portion of the flexible shoe body, wherein the front traction pad has a front section and a rear section. 
     
     
         10 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further including a rear traction pad positioned at the heel portion of the flexible shoe body. 
     
     
         11 . A heel member for use with a dance shoe, comprising:
 a support member having—
 a bottom region; 
 a top region extending upwardly from the bottom region, wherein the top region has—
 a rear wall defining a rear portion of the support member; and 
 lateral sidewalls extending forwardly the rear wall; and 
 
   a shock-absorbing member positioned on the bottom region of the support member, wherein a top portion of the shock-absorbing member is softer than a bottom portion of the shock-absorbing member.   
     
     
         12 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 11  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a second shock-absorbing layer on the first shock-absorbing layer, wherein the second shock absorbing layer is softer than the first shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         13 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the shock-absorbing member further includes a third shock-absorbing layer on the second shock-absorbing layer, wherein the third shock absorbing layer is softer than the second shock-absorbing layer. 
     
     
         14 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 11  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first thickness; and 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second thickness different than the first thickness, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         15 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 11  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first thickness; 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second thickness different than the first thickness, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a third shock-absorbing layer having a third thickness different than at least one of the first thickness and the second thickness, wherein the third shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the second shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         16 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 11  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first indentation force deflection (IFD) value; and 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second IFD value different than the first IFD value, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         17 . The dance shoe assembly of  claim 11  wherein the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer having a first indentation force deflection (IFD) value; 
 a second shock-absorbing layer having a second IFD value different than the first IFD value, wherein the second shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a third shock-absorbing layer having a third IFD value different than at least one of the first IFD value and the second IFD value, wherein the third shock-absorbing layer is positioned on the second shock-absorbing layer. 
 
     
     
         18 . A dance shoe assembly, comprising:
 an flexible shoe body including a forefoot portion, a heel portion opposite the forefoot portion, and a midfoot portion between the heel portion and the forefoot portion; and   a front traction pad positioned at the forefoot portion of the flexible shoe body, wherein the front traction pad has a front section and a rear section;   a rear traction pad positioned at the heel portion of the flexible shoe body; and   a metatarsal pad positioned at an interior portion of the forefoot portion of the flexible shoe body and aligned with at least one of the front section and/or rear section;   an integrated heel member positioned at the heel portion of the flexible shoe body, the heel member including—
 a support member having—
 a bottom region; 
 a top region extending upwardly from the bottom region, wherein the top region has—
 a rear wall defining a rear portion of the support member; and 
 lateral sidewalls extending forwardly the rear wall; and 
 
 
 a shock-absorbing member positioned on the bottom region of the support member, the shock-absorbing member includes—
 a first shock-absorbing layer; 
 a second shock-absorbing layer on the first shock-absorbing layer, wherein the second shock absorbing layer is softer than the first shock-absorbing layer; and 
 a third shock-absorbing layer on the second shock-absorbing layer, wherein the third shock absorbing layer is softer than the second shock-absorbing layer.