Abstract:
The present invention is an anatomical toepiece that is adapted for insertion into the footbed of a footwear article to provide increased comfort and control. The toepiece has a molded core comprising an anchoring flange for embedded attachment within the footbed of the footwear article. Additionally, the molded core further has an inter-toe engagement portion which extends upwardly from the anchoring flange for engagement between the great toe and the adjacent digit, and a wing which caps the inter-toe engagement portion and extends outwardly in both directions over a portion of the upper forefoot. The inter-toe engagement portion has arcuate curved sidewalls and an arcuate curved back wall to contour to the curvature of an engage foot thereby providing comfort and dexterity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of footwear devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel anatomical footwear toepiece that is adapted for integration with an article of footwear for providing stability, comfort and control to a wearer. 
     2. Discussion of Background Information 
     Footwear manufacturers continually strive to improve comfort, fashion and functionality of footwear items. Because wearers select footwear based on appearance, comfort and function, footwear apparel must address several criteria such as aesthetics, balance, comfort and control during walking, skating, and other ambulatory-related activities. 
     The sole and footbed are target areas for innovation, especially concerning footwear articles having limited upper sections and ankle support such as strappy sandals and flip flops having only a V-shaped band element extending atop the wearer&#39;s foot. Footwear items having limited upper elements especially lack support elements for cushioning a foot and/or enabling sufficient control. Without proper support, a foot may pronate or supinate, causing the arch to flatten upon impact and that may lead to knee pain and back pain. Additionally, articles of footwear lacking complete uppers fail to restrain a foot sufficiently enough to prevent forward and lateral sliding, which may lead to stubbed toes and/or broken sandal straps. 
     Some shoe manufactures address balance, comfort and support criteria by adding support to the outsole or between the outsole and footbed. Running sneakers, for example, commonly incorporate gel cushions, springs or air pockets into the heel of the sole for softening the blow when a wearer&#39;s foot strikes a solid surface. Too much cushioning, however, may lead to pronation, and manufactures often add interior arch supports to compensate for this. Arch supports in the interior of the footwear article are typically positioned beneath the footbed or are incorporated as an integral part of the footbed. These arch supports therefore occupy substantial volume within the article of footwear. This may lead to wearer discomfort because the reduced interior space causes the top of the foot to abut the shoe upper, restricting circulation and proper flexing of the metatarsals and cuneiform bones positioned in the middle of the foot. 
     Some sandal and flip flop manufacturers attempt to add cushioning by incorporating soft, formable materials, such as cork and formable gels, into the footbed. These materials indent under pressure from a wearer&#39;s foot, forming groves particularly in and around the heel and metatarsals for receiving the foot into a particular position after a sufficient amount of repeated use. Such cushioning materials fail to support a pronating or supinating foot, however, and they also fail to prevent a foot from sliding too far forward or to either side. Sandal wearers often stub toes because of such slippage or step out of their footwear apparel altogether. Some sandal devices incorporate a toe loop for receiving the big toe to prevent the sandal from inadvertently falling off a wearer&#39;s foot. Other sandals incorporate ankle straps that wrap around a wearer&#39;s ankle, thereby securing the footwear item by a safety strap. These improvements, however, fail to prevent significant lateral movement, and these lose fitting footwear items thus may cause a wearer to trip and/or roll an ankle inward or outward because of an inherent lack of control. 
     One inexpensive, easily manufactured footwear cushioning and anti-slip device comprises a cushioning gel insert with an adhesive on its underside for securing the device to the footbed. Adhesive backed cushions applied in the metatarsal region may help to prevent forward slippage, but they fail to provide adequate structure for controlling the footwear and preventing injury associate with such lack of control. 
     A need therefore exists for an easily manufactured device that adds comfort and control to articles of footwear so that a user may balance properly and avoid any injury. Furthermore a need exists for such a device adapted for incorporation particularly within articles of footwear lacking significant structure, such as sandals substantially lacking upper support elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an anatomical toepiece that is adapted for insertion into the footbed of a footwear article. One embodiment of the toepiece comprises a core comprising an anchoring flange for embedded attachment within the footbed of the footwear article. Additionally, the core comprises an inter-toe engagement portion which extends upwardly from the anchoring flange for engagement between the great toe and the adjacent digit, and a wing which caps the inter-toe engagement portion and extends outwardly in both directions over a portion of the upper forefoot. 
     The present invention also is directed to a method of manufacturing an anatomical toepiece that is adapted for insertion into the footbed of a footwear article. One embodiment of the method comprises forming a core comprising an anchoring flange for embedded attachment within the footbed of the footwear article. Additionally, the core comprises an inter-toe engagement portion which extends upwardly from the anchoring flange for engagement between the great toe and the adjacent digit, and a wing which caps the inter-toe engagement portion and extends outwardly in both directions over a portion of the upper forefoot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a footwear article incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a footwear article incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3C  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3D  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a footwear article incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of a footwear article incorporating another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of a footwear article incorporating another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention resolves the stated deficiencies of footwear apparel. Various features and advantages of the present invention are described below with reference to preferred embodiments and variations thereof. Those skilled in the art, however, will understand that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the scope and principles of the described invention. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict an exemplary footwear article  100  incorporating an embodiment of the anatomical toepiece  200  of the present invention. The footwear article  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a flip flop or thong type article having a strap  105  that comprises the upper element and that anchors in two locations, astride the heel portion of the sole and near the toe portion of the sole  125 . More particularly, the strap  105  of the footwear article  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  anchors to the anatomical toepiece  200  in the depicted embodiment. 
       FIGS. 3A through 3D  show the anatomical toepiece in greater detail. The anatomical toepiece  200  comprises three primary portions: (1) a flange portion  205 , (2) an intertoe engagement portion  210  and (3) a wing portion  215 . These portions may be manufactured as part of a unitary device or as separate and distinct portions adapted for integration with one another and with an article of footwear. For example, each element may be manufactured from distinct materials better suited for comfortable contact with certain portions of a foot. The distinct elements may then be assembled, for example using press fit termini or mechanical fasteners, to form a secure structure suited for reliable use. 
     In one embodiment, the anatomical toepiece  200  and components thereof may be manufactured from one or more rigid or semi-rigid materials comprised of one or more plastic substrates. For example, the anatomical toepiece  200  may be extruded or molded from one or more plastic substrates such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), nylon, propionate, copolyester, PC/ABS, CROSLITE and other engineered plastic blends suitable for use in footwear devices. In one embodiment, the rigid or semi rigid anatomical toepiece  200  is adapted for receiving a comfort coating layer of lower durometer relative to that of the anatomical toepiece  200 , and the comfort coating layer at least covers portions of the anatomical toepiece  200  which extend above the footbed  110  for contacting a foot. In one embodiment, perforations in one or more portions of the anatomical toepiece  200  enable the comfort coating layer to penetrate through and around the core for secured attachment. In yet another embodiment, the anatomical toepiece  200  may be made entirely of the comfort coating material. One skilled in the art will recognize than any number of materials are suitable for manufacturing a durable anatomical toepiece having the characteristics herein described. 
     Turning now to a description of the elements of a preferred embodiment of the anatomical toepiece  200 , the flange portion  205  integrates with the footbed  110  of the footwear article  100  as  FIGS. 1 and 4  depict. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the anatomical toepiece  200  is separate and distinct from any optionally added cushion insert  115  adapted for placement beneath the arch and heel of a foot. The footbed  110  has a shaped cutout  112  therein for receiving the flange portion  205  of the anatomical toepiece  200 . In this embodiment of the present invention, a bottom surface of the anatomical toepiece  200  rests against a midsole  120  of the footwear article  100 , just above the outsole  125 . In alternate embodiments, the flange portion  205  may attach to the footwear article  100  by any known fastening means or combination of fastening means compatible with footwear, such as adhesives or mechanical fasteners engaged with any of the footbed  110 , midsole  120  and outsole  125 . 
     As  FIGS. 3A through 3D  show, the flange portion  205  may comprise an upper rim  206  and a lower rim  208  with a recess  207  therebetween. This embodiment of the flange portion  205  is adapted for receiving the footbed  100  into the recesss  207  such that the upper rim  206  is flush with or just above the upper surface of the footbed  110  and the lower rim  208  is flush with or just beneath the lower surface of the footbed  110 . In alternate embodiments, the flange portion  205  may comprise only a lower rim  208  that extends outward about part or all of the lower perimeter of the flange portion  205  for sufficient retention of the flange portion  205  between the footbed  110  and the midsole  120  and/or outsole  125 . 
     Just as the flange portion  205  attaches to the footbed  110  of the footwear article  100 , the wing portion  215  is adapted for integration with an upper portion of the footwear article  100 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the upper portion is the strap  105  of a sandal. In alternate embodiments, the upper portion attaching to the wing portion  215  may be a tongue or any portion of a footwear upper, such as, for example, a sneaker upper, a scuba fin upper, or a skate upper. The strap  105  of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  is generally V-shaped such that the point of the V attaches to the wing portion  215  and the legs of the V anchor to the footbed  110  and midsole  120 . The method for attaching the strap  105  to the wing portion  215  may be via any conventionally known manufacturing technique, such as stitching, riveting, or adhering with adhesives. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3D , the wing portion  215  comprises a lip  217  extending therefrom for integration with the upper portion of the footwear article  100 . The lip portion  217  may be integrally formed with the wing portion  215  or may be attached via some fastening means, such as adhesives or mechanical fasteners, for example, rivets, staples or nails. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A through 3D , the lip  217  is thinner than the wing portion  215  and aligned with the lower surface of the wing portion  215  such that attachment to a footwear upper portion enables alignment of the upper surface of the wing portion  215  with the upper surface of the upper portion. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, the lip  217  attaches to the underside of the point of the V formed by the strap  105 . The upper surface of the wing portion  215  therefore aligns with the upper surface of the attached strap  105  so as to produce the appearance a continuous upper surface of the footwear article  100 . 
     Turning back to the elements of the anatomical toepiece  200 , the wing portion  215  connects to the flange portion  205  by the intertoe engagement portion  210 . The intertoe engagement portion  210  rises upward from the flange portion  205  integrated with the footbed  110  of the footwear article  100  and terminates at the wing portion  215  designed to rest atop a foot. In one embodiment, the base of the intertoe engagement portion  210  extends the width of the flange portion  205  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3C . In another embodiment, the base of the intertoe engagement portion  210  may extend only partially across the upper surface of the flange portion  205 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In every embodiment, the intertoe engagement portion  210  is sufficiently narrow to fit comfortably between one or more toes, for example, between the outermost big toe (referred to herein as the great toe) and the adjacent, second toe. 
     The base of the embodiment of the intertoe engagement portion  210  shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3D  extends across the width of the flange portion  210  such that I-beam-like structural strain and stress resistance characteristics apply. This design provides strength in the front to back direction as well as in a lateral direction. The sizeable and sturdy intertoe engagement portion  210  rests against a foot fully inserted into the footwear article  100  and provides sufficient structural strength to prevent the foot from sliding forward on the footbed  110  and disrupting a wearer&#39;s balance. Additionally, the substantial surface area contact between the foot and the intertoe engagement portion  210  enables a foot to remain engaged and control the footwear article  100  with substantial dexterity. As described above with regard to materials of manufacture, the intertoe engagement portion  210  may be manufactured from any number of resilient, footwear appropriate materials, including plastic materials or rubber materials, which inherently have favorable coefficients of friction. The surface forces induced by the shape of the intertoe engagement portion  210  engaging with one or more toes and the degree of friction provided by the materials of manufacture combine to create a secure attachment with a foot and improve balance such that a foot is less likely to pronate or supinate. 
     Other characteristics of an embodiment of the anatomical footwear toepiece  200  add to wearer comfort and reliable engagement with a foot. Each of the three portions of the anatomical toepiece  200  comprises structural characteristics adapted for accommodating the anatomical features of a foot, and those features provide increased comfort and dexterity. As described above, one embodiment of the intertoe engagement portion  210  is structured substantially like an I-beam and resists lateral and front to back stresses applied by an engaged foot. Additionally, the embodiment the intertoe engagement portion  210  shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3D  provides anatomical contours that mimic the contours of a foot for a precise engagement. As the embodiment of  FIG. 3B  clearly shows, the instep sidewall  211  and outer sidewall  212  of the intertoe engagement portion  210  are curved in an approximately semi-circular fashion from top to bottom to accommodate the curvature of adjacent toes. Additionally, the instep sidewall  211  is curved to form a wider arc between the flange portion  205  and the wing portion  215  than that of the outer sidewall  212 . Accordingly, the wing portion  215 , which extends from the intertoe engagement portion  210 , tilts from a perfectly horizontal position thereby also accommodating the curvature of the top of a foot and the uneven thickness of a foot. This non-symmetrical configuration mimics the non-symmetrical shape of a foot and ensures a secure and comfortable fit with an engaged foot. 
     Just as the instep sidewall  211  and outer sidewall  212  are curved from top to bottom, the back surface  213  of the intertoe engagement portion  210  is also curved. As  FIG. 3C  depicts, the back surface  213  of the intertoe engagement portion  210  is curved in a slanted arc so that the bottom of the arc is closer to the front of the anatomical toepiece  200  than the top of the arc. This back surface  213  therefore mimics the curvature of a foot for a secure, contoured fit. Optionally, the top surface  214  of the intertoe engagement portion  210  may be similarly contoured to create and aesthetically pleasing appearance. This curvature of the back surface  213  enables the wing portion  215  extending from the intertoe engagement portion  210  to rest atop the engaged foot. The distance between the wing portion  215  and the footbed  110  may be sized according to standard foot thickness measurements so that a wearer&#39;s foot securely and comfortably engages between the footbed  110  and the wing portion  215 . The retention force provided by this dimensioning adds to the footwear control capabilities imparted by the anatomical toepiece  200 . The contoured engagement and secure fit between the anatomical toepiece  200  and a foot enables a wearer to remain balanced and securely in control of the footwear article during use. 
     In addition to the contours of the intertoe engagement portion  210  and the wing portion  215 , the flange portion  205  also provides anatomical support. The flange portion extends laterally across the footbed  110  in a configuration designed to receive and support the toes and forward foot joints. As the top view of the embodiment of the anatomical toepiece  200  in  FIG. 3D  clearly depicts, the flange portion  205  may extend from the intersection with the intertoe engagement portion  210  in a curvilinear manner so as to form a crescent shape beneath the toes of a foot. The flange portion  205  thereby aligns with and supports the non-linear distribution of the toes and metatarsal joints of a foot for accurate support. Additionally, the flange portion  205  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A through 3D  is distributed unevenly about the intersection with the intertoe engagement portion  210  and extends precisely beneath only the great toe on one side and the other four toes on the other side of the intertoe engagement portion  210 . One skilled in the art will note that such precise shaping and elongation are a matter of both form and function and that alternate configurations of the flange portion  205  are conceivable. For example, the flange portion  205  may be a simple rectangle or make extend the length of the footbed or may be formed as a unitary piece with the footbed and/or upper portions, as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
     Additionally, in one embodiment, the flange portion  205  comprises a support ridge positioned above the footbed and extending across the anchoring flange and optionally extending across the inter-toe engagement portion in other embodiments. The support ridge is adapted for proper sizing and positioning on the flange portion so as to support the toes. In one embodiment, the support ridge supports the middle phalanges of the toes other than the great toe, and the interphalangeal joint of the great toe. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3D , the support ridge comprises a series of anatomically contoured toe indentations  209 . In other embodiments, the support ridge may be a single raised ridge extending laterally across the flange portion  205  to enable gripping. The support ridge or contoured toe indentations  209  may be formed directly on the flange portion  205  or within the overmold material provided for added comfort in those embodiments having an overmold. For example,  FIGS. 3A  though  3 D depict an embodiment made entirely of a single plastics material having the toe indentations  209  formed therein. In contrast,  FIG. 5  depicts an anatomical toepiece  500  formed integrally with a footbed  510  and upper strap  505  and having an overmold insert  515  thereon bearing toe support ridges  520  formed preferably from a cushioning material of lower durometer than the anatomical toepiece  500 . 
     The embodiments of the anatomical toepiece  200  therefore incorporate several critical elements for fitted support that improves wearer comfort in addition to improving balance and control of the footwear article. The anatomical toepiece  200  further is adapted for proper anatomical engagement with each foot, the left and the right. Additionally, the anatomical toepiece  200  may be sized to fit different sized feet and the curvatures may be altered to compensate for feet with higher or lower rises and greater or lesser thicknesses. These considerations address differences between male and female bone structure, and adult and child anatomical differences. 
     It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; Rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.