Ergonomic heeled shoes

Abstract

Ergonomic high-heeled shoes that are described. Such high-heeled shoes can include a support surface for receiving an external front part of a foot. The support surface is configured to reduce stress concentration on first and second metatarsal heads, as well as reduce other deforming forces placed on the forefoot. Additionally, the support surface may be configured to counteract the anterior force vector experienced with increasing heel height to further reduce deforming forces placed on the forefoot.

1 . A heeled shoe comprising:
 a support surface for receiving a forefoot of a user, wherein metatarsal heads of the user are supported in space relative to a natural cascading anatomy of the metatarsal heads.   
     
     
         2 . The heeled shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section with one axis vertically oriented parallel with gravity and a second axis generally oriented to pass through approximate load points of the metatarsal heads would tend to have support levels under each metatarsal head at varying heights relative to one another, whereby:
 the level of support for the head of metatarsal two would be the relative base of the metatarsals;   the level of support for the head of metatarsal one would be at, above, or slightly below the level of support for the head of metatarsal two;   the level of support for the head of metatarsal three would be at, above, or slightly below the level of support for the head of metatarsal two;   the level of support for the head of metatarsal four would be above the level of support for the head of metatarsal three; and   the level of support for the head of metatarsal five would be above the level of support for the head of metatarsal four.   
     
     
         3 . The heeled shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the relative height of metatarsal supports are a function of normal foot anatomy and relative difference between heel height and height of metatarsal support. 
     
     
         4 . A heeled shoe comprising: a support surface for receiving a forefoot of a user, wherein metatarsal heads of the user are supported in space with a weight bearing surface having a component of inclination in a posterior-anterior direction forming an angle with a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         5 . The heeled shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the inclination of the weight bearing surface is a function of heel height. 
     
     
         6 . The heeled shoe of  claim 4 , further comprising: a medial post at a level equal to a first metatarsal head of the user thereby preventing medial migration of the forefoot relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The heeled shoe of  claim 4 , further comprising a toe box and wherein toes of the user are supported in space relative to natural cascading anatomy of the toes. 
     
     
         8 . The heeled shoe of  claim 7 , wherein a cross-section with one axis vertically oriented parallel with gravity and a second axis generally oriented in a medial-lateral direction would tend to have support levels under each one of a distal aspect of five phalanges of the user at varying heights relative to one another whereby:
 the level of support for a first phalange would be at, above, or below the level of support for a second phalange;   the level of support for the second phalange would be at, below, or above the level of support for the first phalange;   the level of support for a third phalange would be at, below, or above the level of support for the second phalange;   the level of support for a fourth phalange would be at, below, or above the level of support for the third phalange; and   the level of support for a fifth phalange would be at, or above the level of support for the fourth phalange.   
     
     
         9 . The heeled shoe of  claim 8 , wherein there is a horizontal to general declination of the cross-section from medial to lateral. 
     
     
         10 . The heeled shoe of  claim 7 , wherein there is increased space for lesser toes of the user in the toe box. 
     
     
         11 . The heeled shoe of  claim 7 , wherein there is a horizontal to slight incline posterior to anterior for the support under the first phalange. 
     
     
         12 . The heeled shoe of  claim 7 , wherein there is a horizontal to slight incline posterior to anterior for the support under the second phalange. 
     
     
         13 . The heeled shoe of  claim 7 , wherein there is a horizontal to slight decline posterior to anterior for the support under the third, fourth, and fifth phalanges.