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

Claim 8:
9. A dance shoe, comprising:
a distal part having a rigid toe box for encasing at least a portion of a forefoot of an intended wearer and supporting a foot of the intended wearer;
an intermediate part coupled to the distal part and configured for receiving at least a portion of a midfoot of the intended wearer;
a proximal part coupled to the intermediate part and configured for receiving at least a rearfoot portion of the intended wearer; and
a sole unit comprising a sole shank extending longitudinally from the distal part to the proximal part, wherein the sole shank has at least a plurality of hinges each with a unidirectional stop disposed widthwise in the sole shank in at least a forefoot portion that locks by the unidirectional stops to support plantar flexion and hinges to facilitate dorsiflexion of the forefoot portion and follow dorsiflexion of an intended wearer's forefoot, and wherein an arch portion of the sole shank in a midfoot position has a curved shape in an unstressed condition that mimics an arch of the intended wearer's foot in plantar flexion, the shank under the stress of a foot position other than plantar flexion resiliently returning to the curved shape when unstressed.