Patent ID: 6014824
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: A43D

Abstract:
Footwear for reducing the binding and unnatural pressures placed on a foot by conventional footwear comprising;a compliant and generally hollow body for receiving a human foot including an upper and a sole attached to the upper, the sole having a contoured bottom surface with a toe region and a heel region and comprising:an inner longitudinal arch formed on the sole surface and extending from the heel region to the toe region on an inner side of the sole surface;an outer longitudinal arch formed on the sole surface and extending from the heel region to the toe region on an outer side of the sole surface;a first transverse arch formed on the sole surface proximate the toe region of the sole surface;a second transverse arch formed on the sole surface forward of the heel region;the upper transitioning to the smooth sole surface in a continuous curve free from a sharply angled bottom featheredge;said longitudinal and transverse arches collectively defining a horizontal cross-sectional area of the footwear body projected downwardly onto a horizontal ground plane, the inner longitudinal arch having a maximum vertical height above the ground plane;a parting line defining a maximum cumulative horizontal cross-sectional area of the footwear body projected to the ground plane;the footwear further characterized wherein:the cumulative cross-sectional area projected downwardly onto said ground plane by said footwear body from a height above the ground plane of approximately 2.5% of the maximum arch height is approximately in the range of 10% to 20% of said maximum cumulative cross-sectional area; andthe cumulative cross-sectional area projected downwardly onto said ground plane by said footwear body from a height above the ground plane of approximately 5% of the maximum arch height is approximately in the range of 20% to 35% of said maximum cumulative cross-sectional area;the cumulative cross-sectional area projected downwardly onto said ground plane by said foot body from a height above the ground plane of approximately 10% of the maximum arch height is approximately in the range of 50% to 60% of said maximum comulative cross-sectional area;whereby the footwear generally cooperates with the human foot and reduces binding and unnatural pressures to the foot when worn.