Patent Publication Number: US-2018027925-A1

Title: High heel shoe

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/369,588, filed Dec. 5, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,781,973, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US16/47106, filed Aug. 15, 2016, which claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 15/236,478, filed Aug. 14, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,510,647, and from the following provisional patent applications, all of which are incorporated by reference: Application Nos. 62/205,459; 62/205,575; 62/205,578; 62/205,581; 62/205,584; and 62/205,587, all filed Aug. 14, 2015. 
    
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     This disclosure relates to high heel shoes, their methods of manufacture and structural components. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     High heel shoes are very popular for their aesthetic appeal. However, high heel shoes are typically not very comfortable and can cause pain in a wearer&#39;s foot when worn for prolonged periods of time. The use of high heel shoes and the elevation of the wearer&#39;s heel shifts the balance of the coronal plane of a body from back to front. Due to the shift of the coronal plane from back to front, the center of gravity of the body shifts towards the ball of the foot. This change of balance demands compensation in posture by other parts of the body causing the knees to bend slightly forward and pushing the hips and spinal cord out of alignment. This results in an increased amount of pressure on the ball of the foot rather than the heel bone. The change of the center of coronal balance pushes the weight of the body uncomfortably onto the metatarsals, sesamoids or floating bones of the foot instead of a natural distribution of force onto the heel bone. 
     Various methods for enhancing the comfort level of high heeled shoes have been attempted, such as inserts. However, inserts do not fit all shoe types and attempt to compensate for a poorly shaped shoe rather than correct the shoe itself. 
     Shoes typically are referenced with front, rear, top and bottom, which are all taken from the frame of reference of the wearer. Typical high heel shoes have three primary components, uppers, heel and sole. The uppers are at the top of the shoe and help hold the shoe onto the foot. The sole is between the foot and the ground. The heel provides lift and supports the heel of the foot. 
     The sole of a high heel shoe typically has an outsole, an insole which may include cushioning and a shank which is between the outsole and insole and which bridges the outsole to the heel. The outsole is the exposed part of the sole that is contact with the ground. The outsole provides grip with the ground and durability. The sole often includes an insole which is disposed above the outsole and provides a platform upon which the foot can operate. Where the ball of the foot sits on the sole is called the toe box. The shank supports the foot and the weight of the wearer. The shank is what provides the structural support, and strength between the heel and the ground, allowing the shoe to create the ‘lift’ of a high heel. The shank is akin to a support beam in architecture. It supports the foot and weight of the wearer at the angled position of the shoe. 
     The heel raises the rear of the shoe in relation to the front. The heel includes a seat where the heel of the wearer&#39;s foot sits in the shoe. The distance the wearer&#39;s heel is raised is called the heel height, and heel height is defined as the distance from the top of the toe box (where the ball of the foot rests) to the top of the seat. Heel height typically is between 20 mm to 140 mm, though higher heel heights can be accomplished with an accompanying platform under the toe bed section of the shoe. A top piece of the heel is where the heel comes in contact with the ground. The heel breast describes front face of the heel. A thin high heel is called a stiletto. The pitch is the angle between the toe bed (where the forefoot rests) and the heel seat (where the heel rests). In traditional heels, the incline, between the toe bed and the heel seat is a flat, angled plane, due to the flatness of the steel shank inside the sole. The lift is the total increase in a wearer&#39;s height while wearing the shoe. The bottom of the heel which comes in contact with the ground is referred to as the heel tip or top piece. 
     Shoes are open, closed or partially open, based upon whether the top of the foot is covered by the upper. If open or partially open, the upper includes straps, such as at the front (toe), mid, ankle or rear (heel). 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the main structural components of a first high heel shoe. 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away view of the first shoe. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the main structural components of a second high heel shoe. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the second high heel shoe from above. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the second high heel shoe from below. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second high heel shoe fully assembled. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shank and a heel as alternatives to those of the second high heel shoe. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a shank. 
     
    
    
     Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-or four-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit of a three-digit number and the most significant two digits of a four-digit number is/are the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The functional components of the shoes described herein have a variety of specifications. These specifications include dimensions, shapes, thicknesses, strength, rigidity and flexibility, including variations of these throughout the component. The specifications of many of the components are related such that changes to one component suggest or require a change to other components. These specifications are selected based upon the intended wearer or range of wearers, such as ranges of weight and shoe size. Furthermore, intended use of the shoe, including useful life, may guide performance and tolerance requirements, which then impact specifications of the components. In the following description, a number of relative terms are used with respect to various shoe components. In practice, these relative terms serve as guides to how to achieve specific dimensions for a desired shoe. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the main structural components of a high heel shoe  100  include a toe bed  110 , a shank  120  and a heel  130 . The shank  120 , the toe bed  110  and the heel  130  are strong and rigid enough to maintain structural integrity and support the wearer during the intended use of the shoe  100 . Through a composite, interlocking structure of these three structural components of the high heel shoe  100 , forces imparted by the wearer are more evenly absorbed and distributed to provide a more comfortable experience. 
     The components  110 ,  120 ,  130  have geometric details to create an interlocking mechanism for assembly. The toe bed  110  attaches to the front of the shank  120  and the heel  130  attaches to the rear. The components  110 ,  120 ,  130  include joints (not shown) which ‘click and lock’ into place, such as with a one quarter turn. The interlocking mechanism creates structural continuity between the toe bed  110 , shank  120  heel and  130 , working to distribute loading between the components and avoiding the weak joints where standard shoes traditionally break, such where the heel joins the body of the shoe. 
     The toe bed  110  includes a composition of layered materials which when combined work to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking. 
     Unlike a conventional shank which is merely flat, stamped spring steel, the shank  120  extends from the wearer&#39;s toe area to heel area, and across the foot from left to right, is not flat but has varying thicknesses and varying outer dimensions. Unlike a conventional shank, which is a flat piece of spring steel and begins at the heel and ends where the shoe connects to the ground, the shank  120  has a precision sculpted geometry of varying thickness and varying dimensions. Think of it like a ski slope—on the traditional shoe, the wearer&#39;s weight comes down the flat incline of the steel shank and crashes down onto the floor hard. With the custom curved geometry of the shanks disclosed herein which match the underside geometry of the human foot, the slope is softer, and the ‘skier’ or ‘load’ does not crash hard into the ground but rather goes down in a more controlled way. These improved shanks provide arch support via the asymmetry in the part&#39;s left and right side (in one shank, not referred to the left and right side shoes). Each shank has increased height toward the inside of the foot, to again match the geometry of the underside of the foot. Since the wearer&#39;s arches create a higher ‘ceiling’ on the inside of the foot, these improved shanks are designed with a higher curve on the inside. Thus, the contact between the foot and the sole unit is maximized. This provides arch support which shifts weight off of the toe bed and back towards the heel, and improving load distribution. Furthermore, there is an increase the overall amount of surface area connecting the foot and sole, providing for superior load distribution. Traditional heels put a majority of the load on the toe bed area, but the improved shank changes this. 
     The shank  120  may have an outer profile which matches that of the toe bed  110 , including a taper down as the combination extends from heel  130  to the ground below the toe bed  110  for the aesthetic effect of slimming the outline of the shoe  100 . This aesthetic aspect may be provided in whole or in part by a welt (not shown). 
     The form of the toe bed  110  provides a slightly wider base than is provided by corresponding structures in conventional high heel shoes and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10 degree angle). This works to mitigate rotation in the ball of the wearer&#39;s foot and allows for natural positioning. The toe bed  110  may have a bottom surface  125  having a coating of a base layer of urethane tread (Shore 90) to provide traction with the ground to reduce slipping. The toe bed geometry is minimizes the displacement of the big toe. Traditional high heel shoes tend to push the big toe aggressively toward the other toes, which causes discomfort, foot damage and difficulty walking for some users. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a cutaway side view of the shoe  100 . An insole cushion  250  is disposed at the top surface of the shank  120 . The insole cushion  250  forms an internal support structure of the shoe  100  functioning as a flexible, padded barrier and intermediary between the rigidity of the shank  120  and the softness of the uppers (not shown). The insole cushion  250  represents an intricate approach to nuanced geometries, and may be made of foam materials which have a broad range of compression states which can gently conform and support a greater variation of foot shapes. The insole cushion  250  may be made of a combination of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, commonly referred to as memory foam, and sorbothane, a viscoelastic polymer, in Shore durometers ranging from 30 to 50. The viscosity of memory foam allows the material to resist shear stress and strain when under pressure, while the elasticity provides a spring back property to provide support, holding the foot in compression. Together these properties provide comfort through gentle support optimized for a wider variety of foot shapes. 
     At the toe bed  110 , the insole cushion  250  rises from the underside of the foot to the back of the foot to spherically support the rounded structure of the ball of the foot, reducing movement of the foot inside the shoe  100  during walking. It also runs under the pads of the foot and continues around the outer sides of the toe bed  110 . 
     At the wearer&#39;s arch, the insole cushion  250  provides a gentle rise under the midsection of the foot. The goal is to not provide specialized rigid arch support like that of an orthotic shoe insert (which would be uncomfortable if not customized), but to provide a gentle soft compression support across the midsection of the shoe, holding the foot in place during walking. 
     The insole cushion  250  may be created through a combination of sheet foam (for flat 2D areas) and cast foam (for 3D structures) of both Sorbothane® and memory foam. Sheet foam, in the form of sheet stock, may be cut to size using a CNC knife. 3D components of the insole cushion  250  may be fabricated through reaction injection molding (RIM). The 3D components are modeled and the 3D model is inverted to create a 3D model of the mold. To mold memory foam, the two chemicals used to make the foam (isocyanate and polyol) are heated, mixed together and shot into the mold. Once in the mold the reaction of the hot mixture causes it to expand until it reaches the wall of the mold. When the hot mixture touches the relatively cold wall of the mold a foam skin forms. Depending on the geometries, the 2D and 3D components of the insole cushion  250  may be laminated together and applied to the shank  220  using a foam fast spray adhesive (such as Claire Mist, Camie 373 or 3M 77) where necessary. 
     A downwardly-projecting heel pin  231  rigidly fastened to the shank  120  extends down into a similarly-sized cavity formed in the heel  130 . The heel pin  231  fits closely into the cavity and is secured therein, such as with adhesive, a friction-fit, and/or threads. The heel pin  231  may be metal or other strong, rigid material. 
     A rib  222  commences generally at the rear edge of the toe bed  110  and extends rearward to the heel  130 . The rib  222  is an elongated central section of the shank  120  which projects below its bottom surface but not necessarily to the sides. The rib  222  provides longitudinal rigidity to the shoe  100  and essentially replaces the strength function of metal shanks that have previously been used in the production of high heel shoes. 
     Assembly of the shoe  100  may start with forming the shank  120  through a two part overmolding process. The toe bed  110  and the shank  120  may be made from a layered blend of polyether copolymer based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), sorbothane (Shore 50), and silicone gel (Shore 20), forming a multi-material composite that works to absorb some of the shock moving from the feet to hips, thus reducing the impact from heel to toe strike during walking. Other internal geometries of the layers within the shank  120  and the toe bed  110  may be included, such as honeycomb structures which enhance shock absorption while increasing support and stability. 
     For aesthetic benefit, the toe bed  110  and shank  120  may be enclosed and hidden in uppers (not shown). The uppers may include fabric, leather or bioleather, enclosures plus adornments (e.g., buckles, laces and decorative metal and fabric elements). The uppers may entirely encase the height of the toe bed  110 , shank  120  and heel  130 , creating a continuous surface from top of the foot to the ground. The uppers may be made in conventional processes from leather or other common fabric materials and function to encase the insole cushion  250  by wrapping and securing the foam elements in place through sewing and adhesive techniques. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a second high heel shoe  300 . Like the shoe  100 , the high heel shoe  300  includes a toe bed  310 , a shank  320  (mostly hidden), a heel  330  and an insole cushion  350 . Whereas the toe bed  110  and the shank  120  of the shoe  100  twist, click and lock, in the shoe  300  the toe bed  310  and the shank  320  snap and lock together. While left and right side views may look the same, the left and right parts are different. In typical high heel shoes, the shank and heel are the same for the left and the right side. In the shoe  300 , the left and right toe beds, shanks and heels are specific to each side. That is, the structural components of the left shoe and the right shoe are each tuned to provide lateral stability and comfort for the wearer. 
     The toe bed  310  provides a wide base and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10° angle). 
     The shank  320  is shaped to distribute weight for increased comfort. The shape of the shank  320  provides load balancing under often punishing conditions during use of the shoe  300 . The shank  320  is made of a material such as nylon that when cured is relatively rigid and has sufficient strength to support the user&#39;s weight on the high heel shoe  300 . The shape of the shank  320  is contoured to the geometry of the foot. The contoured shape along with the increased surface area compared to a conventional shank allow the forces of walking or standing to be more easily distributed through the shoe avoiding pressure points at the ball of the foot which cause pain and injury. Pitch is also improved. 
     There is generally a relationship between lift, stability and comfort of a shoe. The toe bed  310  and the shank  320  together provide at least 2 inches of lift, with 2-4 inches providing a good compromise between a desire for increased height and a desire for comfort and stability. This is based upon body geometry of a range of people and a standard configuration of the shoe  300  of component size, shape and behavior to accommodate that range. For a given person&#39;s body, there is generally a range where increasing lift has only a small impact on comfort and stability. Eventually, increased lift has increasing impact on comfort and stability. Furthermore, comfort and stability may vary independently, and an improvement in one may result in a decline in the other. 
     The heel  330  tapers downward from a relatively large upper end to a narrow lower end having a greater lateral dimension than a longitudinal dimension. This provides enhanced stability to the shoe  300  while maintaining a relatively thin and elegant profile from the side. The heel  330  therefore presents a generally conventional appearance with several functional variances which enhance comfort and/or stability. In this regard, the heel may taper from top to bottom  335  with maximized surface area of the bottom  335  at the point of strike with the ground while retaining a minimal and aesthetically appealing silhouette from the side view. This is achieved through the base shape of an oval or lozenged rectangle whose long dimension is at the heel breast  336  and provides up to triple the amount of striking surface of traditional stilettos. This increased surface area helps mitigate strain from foot strike and provides further balance support in the lateral direction, critical for walking in any areas of irregular or rough terrain. The heel  330  is further contoured in gentle curves in both the side and back views, furthering the appearance of an elegant minimal aesthetic similar to that of a traditional stiletto. The heel  330  may be made of a thermoplastic polyamide blend substrate, such as glass filled nylon, mixed to create maximum structural support while retaining impact absorption crucial for heel strike. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  there is shown an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the high heel shoe  300  from above. 
     The insole cushion  350  is shown separated from the shank  320  but they may be unitary and co-molded. The insole cushion  350  may cover the entire upper surface of the shank  320 , with a plurality of through holes  452  in the rear (heel) portion that correspond with through holes  422  in the shank  320 . All but central through holes  422   a,    552   a  align with threaded bores  432  opening upward in the heel  330 . 
     To strengthen the junction of the shank  320  and heel  330 , there may be a shaft  431  made of strong, rigid material which extends down into a central through bore  432   a  in the heel  330 . The shaft  431  includes an upper reinforced end  431   a.  The shaft  431  may be tubular for lower weight, and may have a cross section of constant or varying shape and width, and may taper from the end  431   a  toward its bottom, like a dental implant. The bore  432   a  has a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the shaft  431  to achieve a snug fit. A friction fit and/or adhesive provided within the through bore  432   a  in the heel  430  may secure the shaft  431  therein. The shaft  431  may extend down to the bottom end of the through bore  432   a,  or a lower cap (not shown) may be inserted therein to cover any recesses. 
     The shank  320  has a central body that extends to both toe and heel ends and to the lateral sides of the shoe, and an upper raised area  425  thereform which is relatively shallow compared to an outer edge  427  of the shank  320 , which is itself thin to minimize weight but thick enough to provide sufficient support. The upper raised area  425  extends from the toe bed rearward to the heel area and fits into a similarly-shaped cavity  352  on the underside of the insole cushion  350  (see  FIG. 5 ). The upper raised area  425  and the outer edge  427  generally conform to the contours of the wearer&#39;s foot, except for a plurality of forward lobes  423  in the upper raised area  425 . The lobes  423  may be somewhat bulbous shaped. In the second high heel shoe  300  there are four lobes  423  and they are splayed outward in a pattern that resembles a gecko&#39;s foot. The gecko&#39;s foot shape mitigates the structural loading within the shank  320  by distributing forces within the shank  320  and passing them through to the outsole of the shoe  300 . At least two lobes are necessary, and more than eight lobes generally less beneficial. A central channel  424  extends from a forward end of the upper raised area  425  and provides lateral flexibility to the shank  320 . In  FIG. 8 , the central channel  424  is more visible.  FIG. 8  also shows a curvature of the central spine of the shank  320  as designated by broken line  820 . 
     The toe bed  410  has three parts, a middle rigid portion  415  sandwiched between a soft lower layer  418  and a number of soft cushions  413 . These three layers  413 ,  415 ,  418  are of different materials which combine to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking. The lower layer  418  and soft cushions  413  may be formed through co-molding with the rigid portion  415  to form a unit. The rigid portion  415  includes a cavity  412  surrounded by a number of through holes  416  and cells  414  provided between cell walls  417 . The soft cushions  413  fill the cells  414 . Some of the cells  414 , such as the two middle cells, may be left without cushions to provide some flexibility in the toe area and enhance comfort thereto. The rigid portion  415  may be made of nylon or other such rigid polymer, while the lower layer  418  and cushions  413  may be formed of a soft polymer such as TPU. An outsole (not shown) is secured to the underside of the lower layer  418  and to a portion of the underside of the shank  320 . 
     Though the toe bed  310 , the shank  320  and the heel  330  are formed respectively as units or parts which snap securely together, their joints may be enhanced. The shank  420  has through holes  426  in the toe region which line up with those  416  in the rigid portion  415 . The through holes  416  in the rigid portion  415  may be threaded to receive fasteners  455  which pass through the through holes  426  to secure the toe bed  310  and the shank  320  together. Fasteners  453  may be installed through the holes  452 ,  422 ,  432  respectively in the insole cushion  350 , the shank  320  and the heel  330 . Fasteners  455  may be installed through the holes  456 ,  426 ,  416  respectively in the insole cushion  350 , the shank  320  and the toe bed  310 . These fasteners  452 ,  455  secure the respective parts. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  there is shown an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the high heel shoe  300  from below. 
     The upper reinforced end  431   a  of the shaft  431  fits closely into a recess  521   a  in the underside of the shank  320  concentric with the central through hole  422   a  ( FIG. 4 ). The recess  521   a  and the end  431   a  have complementary shapes and dimensions to permit a close fit. Adhesives may be used to reinforce the connection. 
     The upper raised area  425  fits closely much like a puzzle piece into the similarly-shaped cavity  352  on the underside of the insole cushion  350 . 
     A lower raised area  522  from the central body of the shank  320  has a plurality of forward lobes  523  which together mimic a gecko&#39;s foot. The lower raised area  522  extends rearward from the rear edge of the toe portion of the shank  320  and gradually diminishes prior to reaching the heel region of the shank  320 , providing rigidity to the shank  320  much like the rib  222  in the shank  120  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The lower raised area  522  is relatively thicker than the upper raised area  422  ( FIG. 4 ) and fits snugly much like a puzzle piece into the similarly-shaped cavity  412  ( FIG. 4 ) in the toe bed  310 . The lobes  523  provide increased surface area for great contact between the shank  320  and the toe bed  310 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6  there is shown a perspective view of the high heel shoe  300  fully assembled. In this view, components of an upper can be seen, including an insole  660 , a counter  680  attached to one or more heel straps  682 , and an arch strap  690 . 
     The insole  660  is secured on top of the insole cushion  350  and covers the holes  452 ,  456  and top ends of the fasteners  453 ,  455  ( FIG. 4 ). The heel straps  682  may be affixed below the insole  660 , such as to the shank  320  or sandwiched between the shank  320  and toe bed  310 . The arch strap  690  spans across the shoe  300  and may be affixed like the heel straps  682 . 
     The counter  680 , heel straps  682 , arch strap  690  and other parts of the upper may include material (not shown) akin to that of the insole cushion  350 . For example, the counter  680  may include two narrow channels of foam running longitudinally along the sides of the heel  330 , holding the tendon of the back of the ankle in gentle compression. This provides structural support to hold the foot in place during walking without attempting to grip at the top of the heel  330 , an area which generally gathers blisters from repeated rubbing. 
     The combination of toe bed  310 , the shank  320  and the heel  330  provide a platform suitable to a limitless variety of aesthetic upper designs. One or more straps running across the top of the foot provide support during walking, especially during the lifting of the foot. The straps may be aligned with cushions to provide padding and compression which serves to hold the foot in place inside the shoe and increases stability during stepping. The straps may be disposed midway between the toe bed  310  and the ankle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7  there is shown a perspective view of a shank  720  and a heel  730  as alternatives to those  320 ,  330  of the second high heel shoe  300 . To strengthen the junction of the shank  720  and heel  730 , a non-circular reinforcing member  724  formed in the shank  720  extends down into a cavity  734  in the heel  730 . The reinforcing member  724  fits snugly into the cavity  734  and provides a non-rotatable coupling. The member  724  and cavity  734  may both be hexagonal, or may have different but compatible shapes and dimensions. As in  FIG. 4 , one of the fasteners  453  extends downward through a bore  725  in the reinforcing member  724  and secures into the cavity  734 . Adhesive may also be provided between the reinforcing member  724  and the cavity  724  for added strength, and also between an upper surface  738  of the heel  730  and a contacting lower surface  728  of the shank  720 . 
     Closing Comments 
     Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments. 
     As used herein, “plurality” means two or more. As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items. As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.