Patent AU-2012270390-A1 (AU)
Title: Functional shoe having a body weight supporter
Inventor: PARK DONG-JIN
IPC: A43B5/00
Filed: 2012-06-11
Abstract: The present functional shoe was conceived to become a momentum against force, by forming portions that can support the instep and the base of the toes on the shoe itself so as to enable the base of the toes which are capable of exerting force from the foot of a person to be applied to the force imparted by the shoe, as when the toes are inserted between parts of furniture in order to perform sit-ups using the supporting force of the toes, as described above. Accordingly, the force exerted by the instep and the base of the toes within the shoe may be further applied by the wearer. For example, when a batter impacts a ball while batting in a baseball game, the batter can brace his own toe bases and insteps against a body weight supporter formed in the shoe so as to further apply his body weight against the ball upon impact; and when a golfer makes a tee shot in a golf game, the golfer can brace his own toe bases and instep against a body weight supporter formed in the golf shoe during impact to realize a gain in distance from the supporting force of his instep and toe bases. Also, a supporter may be applied to a golf shoe that is focused on allowing the wearer to maintain good balance in a finishing posture of a golf swing, or the supporter may be applied to a functional shoe such as a rock climbing shoe or a military boot designed to allow the wearer to maintain good balance on inclined surfaces. The functional shoe is characterized by having a body weight supporter (21) installed thereon which is configured with a body weight support and an auxiliary support. For example, when the supporter of the present disclosure is applied to a golf shoe, the structure is such that there is no interference with a supporting shape of the foot that is naturally formed with the toes raised in order to provide support using the ligaments of the instep and toes so as to maintain balance when the body tends to sway backward in a finishing posture of a golf swing, and is one that conforms to the shape of the supporting foot. Primarily, by assisting the body in achieving balance in a finishing posture, by maintaining the shape of the toes that are raised in the planted foot so as to maintain balance in the body swaying backward in the finishing posture, and by supporting the body weight supporter forming an instep portion through the instep including a toe base portion (a), secondarily, balance can be achieved, and the effect of improving the golf game of the wearer can be realized through the golf shoe having the function of maintaining good balance in the body when in a finishing posture, which is important in a golf swing. In another example, when the supporter of the present disclosure is applied to a rock climbing shoe or a military boot, the body can be balanced upright when the body weight is swaying backward on a slightly uphill surface by bracing the body weight supporter with the instep including the toe base portions; and when a rope or wire is grasped with the arms on a steeply inclined surface, the body weight supporter formed on the instep portion is supported by the instep including the toe base portions so as to function as a lever and to support the body weight, in order to alleviate the load on the arms.