Abstract:
An improved athletic or therapeutic footwear device having a group of two ridges separated by an arch in the sole there between. The footwear has either of two configurations: a staggered or partial sole cavity config or a uniform or transverse configuration. The staggered or partial sole configuration has cavities in alternating sides of the shoe sole down the ridge group. The uniform or transverse configuration has a proximal cavity near each ridge that passes from one side to another of all ridges thereby permitting maximum loading of weights or dummy plugs therein. A closing device ensures that weights or dummy plugs won&#39;t accidentally exit the cavities.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to athletic or everyday footwear structured to provide not only comfortable support for the soles of the feet and the rest of this lower extremity but also exercise and training characteristics. More particularly, the invention is directed to weighted shoes that are used in physical therapy developing a foots musculature as well as a legs&#39; thereby acting to strengthen, tone and exercise the aforementioned. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Footwear 
       [0002]    There are various types of footwear or shoes that give support and comfort to one&#39;s feet. Amongst these are athletic, boot, dress and casual men&#39;s and women&#39;s, unisex, dance, orthopedic and more. Additionally, there are various niche types of shoes intended for fashion or extremely specific arenas such as skiing or mountaineering. All of these are typically constructed from basic materials such as leather, canvas, rubber, plastics, petro-chemically derived materials and even wood. Whilst these have a diverse set of materials in order to construct one, the typical shoe still comes in a specific typical group of elements. 
         [0003]    These are the sole, the insole, the outsole, the midsole, the heel, the upper, the vamp, the medial and the toe box. The sole comes in a group of three elements: the insole, the outsole and the midsole. The insole falls underneath the foot whilst the outsole is that part of the sole that makes contact with the ground. The midsole falls between the insole and the outsole and provides shock absorption characteristics. The heel as its name implies supports the lower back of the foot whilst the upper helps hold the foot in the shoe. Starting at the toe box that covers the toes, the vamp starts thereafter starting behind the toe, extending around the eyelets and tongue and towards back part of the shoe. The medial is of course the part that is in the center part of the shoe whilst the tongue is an optional component that helps keep the laces braced with the eyelets or hooks. All of these are well known components that are each optional depending on the type of shoe one is constructing. 
       Athletic Footwear 
       [0004]    Further, proper materials and design provide for various types of athletic footwear. Shoes for tennis, running, golf, football, soccer, bowling and various other sports have been designed with the end user in mind. Many improvements in runners&#39; shoes have given todays athlete untold comfort. Novelties such as rubber waffle soles, breathable uppers made from materials such as nylon, and shock absorbing cushioning in the mid-sole and heel have taken shoes into the space era. Finally, several decades ago medical professionals were enlisted in assisting to design shoes that would be based upon the most up to date knowledge of physiology. Thus, podiatrists help create features that were based upon their knowledge of how feet react to specific movements. They did this by studying a foot&#39;s response to typical actions such as running, jumping, or side-to-side movements. 
         [0005]    Their input led to a well rounded ergonomic shoe design that provided both support and comfort to wearers. Specific sports were also studied for the reaction of feet to adverse conditions unique to the events therein; in this fashion shoes were developed that directly targeted the unique needs of the sports therein. For example, the needs of soccer would be different to that of golf and so forth. In exercising the muscles of the leg for training, a weighted type of shoe was developed whereby the entire bottom of the sole of the shoe was made from a heavy material so as to help an athlete exercise. 
         [0006]    Whilst this type of shoe assists users in training and exercising the muscles of the lower extremities it has deficiencies. In particular, the sole being a single solid piece is too rigid to support the variable nature of a moving foot that contracts, expands, slides forwards, backwards and side to side. This has the unfortunate effect of tiring one&#39;s foot. Additionally, since the sole is a flat piece it can not adhere well to any surface thereby providing little if any traction to the ground surface and possibly encouraging a fall. This can not be something that an athlete in training or a patient in rehabilitation would want to happen. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the cited deficiencies and provide a user with a safe, athletically robust and aesthetically pleasing novel footwear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing an improved footwear device. 
         [0009]    An athletic footwear comprising:
       a shoe having side material and front and back materials integrated along edges thereof with   a sole such that the sole has
           a set of two groups of ridges wherein each ridge in a group is separated from another ridge in the group by a depression there between and   
           a ridge has a proximal cavity.       
 
         [0014]    In another aspect, wherein the ridge&#39;s proximal cavity perforates from one side of the sole to the other side of the sole. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, wherein the ridge&#39;s proximal cavity has an opening on only one side of the ridge. 
         [0016]    In another aspect, wherein the ridge&#39;s proximal cavity has two openings one on a side of the sole and another on another side of the sole. 
         [0017]    In another aspect, wherein the ridge extends from one side of the shoe to another side of the shoe. 
         [0018]    In another aspect, wherein the ridge extends from one side of the shoe to a midpoint of the shoe. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, a slab of weight for insertion in a proximal cavity of the ridge such that the slab is completely enclosed inside the proximal cavity thereof. 
         [0020]    In another aspect, a slab of dummy material for insertion in a proximal cavity of the ridge such that the slab is completely enclosed inside the cavity thereof. 
         [0021]    In another aspect, wherein the set of two ridges are further subdivided by being broken in the midpoint of the sole thereby forming a right and a left pair of forward ridges and a right and left pair of backward ridges. 
         [0022]    In another aspect, wherein the ridges each have a proximal cavity nearby. 
         [0023]    In another aspect, wherein only some of the ridges have a proximal cavity nearby. 
         [0024]    In another aspect, a cavity closing device attached to the shoe. 
         [0025]    An exercise shoe comprising:
       a shoe having side material and front and back materials integrated along edges thereof with   a sole such that the sole has
           a set of two groups of ridges wherein each ridge in a group is separated from another ridge in the group by a depression there between and   
           each of the two groups of ridges is further subdivided by a right and left set of ridges thereby forming a total of four ridge sub-groups having a proximal cavity near at least one ridge thereof.       
 
         [0030]    In another aspect, a proximal cavity each near staggered ridges left to right. 
         [0031]    In another aspect, a proximal cavity each near staggered ridges right to left. 
         [0032]    An article of clothing comprising:
       a shoe having side material and front and back materials integrated along edges thereof with   a sole such that the sole has
           a set of two groups of ridges wherein each ridge in a group is separated from another ridge in the group by a depression there between and wherein each ridge has a cavity therein.   
               
 
         [0036]    These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1A  presents a side view of an embodiment of the improved shoe taught herein.  FIG. 1B  presents a bottom view of the pattern of a sole of an embodiment of the improved shoe taught herein.  FIG. 1C  presents a bottom view of the pattern of a sole of another embodiment of the improved shoe taught herein. 
           [0039]      FIG. 2A  presents a front view of the closing device that protects the weight slabs comprising steel bars or dummies from unexpectedly exiting the cavities thereof.  FIG. 2B  present a cross section view of the covering of the cavities using the closing device. 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a transverse sole shoe showing how the treads comprise a forward set of treads and a rearward set of treads. 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  presents a bottom view of a partial sole shoe showing how the tread comprise a forward set of treads and a rearward set of treads. 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded closeup perspective view of the insertion of a weighted slab, steel bar or dummy slab into a cavity in a shoe. 
       
    
    
       [0043]    Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in each figure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
       Weighted Shoe General Concept 
       [0045]      FIG. 1A  presents a side view of an embodiment of the improved shoe taught herein. An improved shoe  1  is shown having an athletic wear shape with laces  6  in the front, a rubber sole  7  and athletic styling; there are also additional features of an improved weight system as discussed below in two embodiments. A series of square or rectangular shaped cavities  2  perforate the sole  7  in two different fashions depending upon the type of effect the user wants to obtain. The first of these provides a staggered weight disposition to promote an effective running tread. The second of these has a uniform weighting disposition that evenly distributes weight across the surface of the show. These will be discussed later with reference to  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C . 
         [0046]    The shoe  1  has two sets of gripping surfaces integrated with the sole  7  separated by a curved arch  8  there between. In order to form working treads for the Weighted Shoe taught herein, their are surfaces formed by a set of ridges and valleys that provide gripping action for the user. It should be apparent that the sole  7  of the shoe  1  culminates in a series of ridges that alternates between a ridge  4  and a valley  5  and so on thereby providing an excellent gripping surface between succeeding ridges  4 . In order to facilitate rigorous muscle training and or exercise, a weight  3  is placed within one or more of the cavities  2 . A dummy weight (not shown) comprising a rectangular or square longitudinal piece of durable rigid plastic is optionally placed in cavities  2  in the event that one does not want to use a given cavity  2 . 
       Partial Sole Shoe 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0047]    In particular, if a user wants to receive a staggered running assistant or training distribution of weight then he or she opts for the staggered or partial sole type of shoe embodiment. In this embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1B , weight is distributed partially across the sole in a partial tread beginning from one side of the shoe to the almost the midpoint of the shoe; a user selectively inserts weights in cavities on either side of the shoe and down the length of the shoe thereby providing therapeutic and resistance training characteristics. As an example, the first weight  10  and cavity  12  is on the left side in the figure, then a little further back along the shoe&#39;s length the next weight  11  and cavity  12  is on the right side, then a little further back along the shoe&#39;s length the next weight  10  and cavity  12  is located on the left side and so on. In this manner, as one proceeds longitudinally down the shoe whether forwards or backwards thereon, the cavities containing the weight alternate between being on the right then on the left, or the left then on the right side depending on where you start. 
         [0048]    It should also be apparent that this has created a series of staggered ridges or treads running approximately halfway transversely across the bottom of the shoe from either side and staggered in right to left and back again fashion. These ridges have nearby hollowed out portions or cavities  12  in the sole for insertion of the weights  10 ,  11 . A broader version of this embodiment shown in connection with  FIG. 4  has a dual sequence or couple of partial treads that extend in two sets of treads only a portion of the way across the underside of the shoe. Each couple of treads has a tread extending from a side of the shoe to almost the midpoint of the shoe and then a corresponding tread from the other side of the shoe to almost the midpoint of the shoe opposite the first tread. Each of the partial treads so constructed is alternatively filled with rubber or similar material or forms a cavity for insertion of weighted material such as ‘steel bars’ or dummy bars. 
       Transverse Shoe 
     Another Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0049]    In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1C , weight is distributed evenly longitudinally from one side of the shoe to another. Thus, the cavity  2  has an opening on one side of the shoe as it perforates the entire sole  7  and emerges at another opening of the other side of the shoe. An oblong flat rectangular slab of weighted material is inserted within each cavity or only in those so desired by the user; these slabs are ‘steel bars’ in an exemplary embodiment. An optional embodiment has each cavity where a weight is not in place filled with a similarly shape rigid plastic to provide sufficient structural support to the shoe ridges for proper use with more or less weights. 
         [0050]    Finally, four closing devices  9 , two to a side are utilized by the user to encase the weight(s) and or dummy(s) therein for use during running or similar exercise. These closing devices have arrowhead ends  14  that are formed at either end of the closing device. The arrowheads  14  are designed to be placed within a small cavity or notch  15  shown in  FIG. 2  within the first cavity and last cavity of the front and back sets of cavities on either side. 
       Weight Securing Mechanism 
       [0051]      FIG. 2A  shows the front of the rectangular closing device having three notches at the top.  FIG. 2B  shows how the arrowhead  14  shape at either end of each closing device  9  fits into a small notch  15  within the sides edges that form the first and last cavity at either end of a set of cavities whether forward or at the back of the shoe shown in the drawing figure. Now it is time to discuss the various configurations possible with regards to the novelties taught herein. 
       Types of Weighted Shoes 
       [0052]    Thus, there are two basic types of Weighted Shoes taught herein; namely, a shoe having weights that extend across the entire sole of the shoe, otherwise known as a ‘Transverse Sole’ weight shoe, and a shoe having weights distributed on two sides of the shoe distributed only through a part of the sole, otherwise known as a ‘Partial Sole’ shoe. The Weighted Shoe as taught herein admits several different versions each of a transverse sole and of partial sole type of shoe as described below. 
       Transverse Sole Shoe—General 
       [0053]    First, in the Transverse Sole a user can select between a first version having cavities distributed through the shoe and a version with weights distributed in only a some of the proposed cavities of the first version of the shoe. In this latter type, the other cavities where weights are not situated would be filled with material identical to the sole material, typically a rubber or similar substance. The particular choice of which cavity is filled with rubber and which is open for insertion of a steel weight is based on the choice of the implementation at manufacture.  FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a transverse sole shoe showing how the five treads  16  comprise a forward set of treads and the five treads  17  comprise a rearward set of treads. The particular number of treads and their unique fascia are unique to the implementation. Each of the treads so disposed extend across the bottom of the shoe from one side to another of the shoe thereby forming transverse treads having nearby cavities for insertion of a weighted slab  3  such as a steel bar. Of course, in the transverse type having only some of the treads having nearby cavities for insertion of steel bars only a portion of the treads have cavities nearby. 
       Partial Sole Shoe—General 
       [0054]    Next, in the Partial Sole a user can select between a first version having cavities distributed throughout both sides of the shoe and a version with cavities for weights distributed in only some of the proposed cavities of the first version of the partial sole shoe. In this latter type, the other cavities where weights are not situated would be filled with material identical to the sole material, typically a rubber or similar substance. The particular choice of which cavity is filled with rubber and which is open for insertion of a steel weight is based on the choice of the implementation at manufacture.  FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of a partial sole shoe showing how the five treads  18 ,  20  comprise forward sets of treads and the five treads  19 ,  21  comprise a rearward set of treads. The particular number of treads and their unique fascia are unique to the implementation. Each of the treads so disposed extend across a portion of the shoe bottom from one side of the shoe to almost the center of the bottom of the shoe thereby forming partial treads having cavities nearby each for insertion of a weighted slab  3  such as a steel bar. Of course, in the partial type having only some of the treads having nearby cavities for insertion of steel bars only some of the treads have cavities. 
         [0055]    In order to understand the differences between the partial sole and transverse sole weight distribution possibilities, one must understand the following. First, the partial sole version of the shoe presents the user a unique ability to create a counter balancing type of distribution to help the user keep balance whilst in motion. In this counter balancing distribution, the user either selects to insert steel bars into some of the cavities and unweighted dummy slabs in the other ones. Alternatively, the partial sole shoe is manufactured with some of the treads having nearby cavities and other treads not having nearby cavities; an alternating sequence of cavity and filled in cavity is a typical implementation. Thus, in this implementation a given alternating cavity represents a completely filled portion that has the surface shape of a cavity for cosmetic purposes but is filled in with rubber or similar material that the sole is made from; for example tread  22  is filled with solid rubber and does not have a nearby cavity. Thus, a user can not at first glance tell the difference between them as it looks similar to the uniform distribution cavity. The other cavity on the other side of the shoe would be empty and prepared for insertion of a weighted steel bar or slab of material; for example tread  23  on the opposite side from tread  22  would have a nearby cavity for insertion of a steel bar or weighted slab of material. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded closeup perspective view of the insertion of a weighted slab, steel bar or dummy slab into a cavity in a shoe. 
         [0057]    Final Considerations: 
         [0058]    The shoes herein are manufactured using any type of sole but are preferably manufactured using soles using rubber or petroleum base products that appear to have the best characteristics for a shoe of this kind. Also, the partial sole or staggered configuration of weights  10 ,  11  having cavities  12  do not perforate an entire shoe sole or tread depending on the implementation; that is the cavity has only one opening on the side of the shoe and the ridge is closed at the other side thereof; in other words, almost at the midpoint of the sole. If in an alternative implementation, the cavity is above the ridge/treads in the sole, then the other end of the cavity in the midsole is sealed by the material of the sole therein. 
         [0059]    Further, it should be apparent from the drawings that the cavities are located above the tread region; alternatively, they are located within the treads themselves or partially between these two; that is, directly in the tread (ridge), above the tread (ridge) in the sole or partially there between the two locations; in this context inventor defines the word proximal to mean any of the aforementioned optional locations for the cavities. Further, any of the embodiments described herein is configurable in all of the ridge/tread cavity location variations as discussed above. 
         [0060]    Thus has been described a solution that overcomes the prior art deficiencies described previously. Further, numerous variations could be made to the teachings herein disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts that are delineated by the accompanying claims.