Patent ID: 8739434
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. Footwear for wellness comprising: a sole including a front foot portion; a securing upper arranged with the sole and configured to securely hold a foot of a user on a footbed of the sole so as to substantially prevent lateral movement of the foot with respect to the footbed and allow one or more of a big toe and remaining toes of the user to be at least partially uncovered and exposed; and a toe aligner structure arranged between the securing upper and the sole at the front foot portion thereof and configured to extend between the big toe and remaining toes of the user so as to direct a force against the big toe in a direction away from the remaining toes during standing, walking, running, swimming, and other movements when muscles of the foot are in use; wherein the securing upper includes a strap assembly, the strap assembly including off-center strapping including a first anchoring strap configured to hold the foot of the user on a lateral side thereof and a second anchoring strap configured to wrap around the foot of the user on a medial side thereof, wherein first ends of the first and second anchoring straps are joined and secured to the toe aligner structure, the first anchoring strap having a second end secured to a top portion of the footbed at a location rearward of the front foot portion of the sole and the second anchoring strap having a second end secured to a side portion of the sole at a location rearward of the front foot portion thereof.