Patent ID: 11889886
Assignee: FOX INVESTMENTS LIMITED
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 9:
10. A dance shoe having an upper and underfoot portion, the underfoot portion including a sole shank comprising:
a stiff structure, extending longitudinally in the shoe over at least a forefoot portion of the shoe and the least partially over a midfoot portion,
a plurality of hinges, each with a unidirectional stop being disposed widthwise in the sole shank in a least the forefoot portion so that a forefoot portion of the sole shank locks by the unidirectional stops to support plantar flexioin and hinges to facilitate dorsiflexion of the foot and follow dorsiflexion of an intended warer's forefoot,
wherein each hinge comprises a pair of opposing walls that are separated from each other in a neutral position and that converge toward abutment in plantar flexion,
wherein a portion of the sole shank in a midfoot position is conformable to an arch of the intended wearer's foot in plantar flexion, the sole shank being coupled to a rigid distal part of the shoe, and
wherein a depth of a first living hinge differs from a depth of a second living hinge.