Patent Publication Number: US-2012023774-A1

Title: Athletic Shoe Systems

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/368,549 entitled “Golf/Athletic Balance Shoe”, filed Jul. 28, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to athletic shoes, and more specifically, to athletic shoe systems to assist an athlete in maintaining proper posture, balance, and weight distribution. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When swinging a golf club, a golfer strives to drive the ball along a straight, intended path. A common problem that may arise due to improper balance is the tendency for the golfer&#39;s weight to shift or rock to the toe or heel areas during a swing, possibly causing the golfer to miss-hit the golf ball. When a golfer&#39;s weight shifts due to improper balance during a swing, a hook, slice or other undesirable path of the ball will likely result. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide an athletic shoe system comprising a substantially flat mid-sole portion extending from a metatarsal joint area to a mid-heel arch area and a toe portion tapering upwardly from the metatarsal joint area to a front edge of the system at a first angle of 25-35 degrees and tapering upwardly widthwise from the metatarsal joint area to an area along an outer edge of the toe portion at a second angle of 29-31 degrees. The athletic shoe system may further comprise a heel portion tapering upwardly from the mid-heel arch area to a rear edge of the system at an angle of 25-35 degrees. The substantially flat mid-sole portion may contact a surface when the system is in a stationary position. The substantially flat mid-sole portion may have a thickness of approximately 1 inch, and the thickness of the substantially flat mid-sole portion may be substantially uniform. The mid-sole portion may have cleats. 
     Other embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an athletic shoe system having a length and a width comprising a toe portion tapering longitudinally at a first angle of 25-35 degrees and tapering across the toe portion at a second angle of 29-31 degrees, a heel portion tapering longitudinally at an angle of 25-35 degrees, and a substantially flat mid-sole portion connecting the toe portion and the heel portion. The toe portion may taper from a metatarsal joint area to a front edge of the system at the first angle. The toe portion may taper from the metatarsal joint area to an area along an outer edge of the toe portion at the second angle. The heel portion may taper from a mid-heel arch area to a back edge of the system. The toe portion and the heel portion may have uniform curvature along a longitudinal axis of the system. The substantially flat mid-sole portion may extend from a metatarsal joint area to a mid-heel arch area. The substantially flat mid-sole portion may contact a surface when the system is in a stationary position. The substantially flat mid-sole portion may have a thickness of approximately 1 inch and may have a substantially uniform thickness. The mid-sole portion also may have cleats. 
     Further embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a golf shoe comprising a substantially flat mid-sole portion extending from a metatarsal joint area to a mid-heel arch area, a toe portion tapering from the metatarsal joint area to a front edge of the golf shoe at a first angle of 25-35 degrees and tapering from the metatarsal joint area to an outer edge of the toe portion at a second angle of 29-31 degrees, and a heel portion tapering from the mid-heel arch area to a back edge of the golf shoe at an angle of 25-35 degrees. The substantially flat mid-sole portion may have a substantially uniform thickness, and the mid-sole portion may have cleats. The toe portion and the heel portion may have substantially uniform curvature along a longitudinal axis of the golf shoe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an athletic shoe system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a rear elevational view of the athletic shoe system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front elevational view of the athletic shoe system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a left side elevational view of the athletic shoe system of  FIG. 1 , wherein the athletic shoe system is turned to depict the inner edge of the toe portion; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a right side elevational view of the athletic shoe system of  FIG. 1 , wherein the athletic shoe system is turned to depict the outer edge of the toe portion; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a bottom plan view of the sole area of the athletic shoe system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  depicts a bottom plan view of the sole area of the athletic shoe system of  FIG. 1 , wherein the sole area includes optional cleats and/or spikes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A golfer&#39;s weight needs to be in proper balance so that he/she does not lean too far backward or forward at address and when swinging a golf club. By being in balance and having proper posture, the golfer may be more likely to have a consistent and accurate swing. At the end of a golf swing, a golfer&#39;s posture should be such that he/she is looking in the direction of his/her target, with his/her breast and pelvis facing the target, while his/her left foot (if the golfer is right-handed) remains standing in its original position. The left foot should be crosswise to the finishing line but clearly bent over in the direction of the target. The outer edge of the golfer&#39;s left foot should point toward the ground, and the inner edge of the golfer&#39;s left foot should lift off, while the golfer&#39;s right foot should pivot in the direction of his/her target with the heel lifted high up from the ground. For a left-handed player, the roles of the golfer&#39;s left and right foot, respectively, are reversed so that the left foot is bent over and the right heel is lifted off the ground. 
     In order to accomplish such movement during and at completion of a golf swing, a golfer needs to maintain proper weight distribution on his/her feet, and accordingly proper posture and balance. During a golf swing, proper balance may be achieved when approximately 40% of the golfer&#39;s weight is on the heel of the golfer&#39;s shoe and approximately 60% of the golfer&#39;s weight is forward of the heel, on the ball of the foot area. While shoes and other shoe implements have been developed to help a golfer maintain a proper stance and distribution, they have not produced a desired weight distribution before and during a golf swing. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide athletic shoe systems that may be employed to maintain and/or improve the posture and balance of an athlete, such as a golfer, when performing a sport, such as golf. Athletic shoe systems may provide proper weight distribution for an athlete to perform sports where balance and proper posture may be needed, while being comfortable enough for an athlete to walk in, such as when walking a golf course. 
     Athletic shoe systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a sole extending lengthwise from a rear edge to a front edge and extending widthwise from an inner edge to an outer edge over the bottom of the athletic shoe system. The sole may include a substantially flat mid-sole portion of substantially uniform thickness extending from the mid-heel arch area to the metatarsal joint area. This substantially flat mid-sole portion may contact the surface of the ground when a golfer or other athlete is in a stationary position. The substantially uniform thickness of this substantially flat mid-sole portion for a given athletic shoe system may be determined based on various factors, including the physical characteristics of the user. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mid-sole portion typically may have a thickness of approximately 1 inch. Inclusion of such a substantially flat mid-sole portion in athletic shoe systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure may assist a golfer in maintaining proper balance at address and throughout his/her golf swing, helping the golfer to avoid having his/her weight shifted too far forward or backward. 
     Athletic shoe systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure also may include a heel portion as well as a toe portion, each substantially uniformly tapering upwardly lengthwise to the rear and front edges of the athletic shoe system respectively. The angle of tapering for the heel and toe portions may range from approximately 25-35 degrees. There may be a second tapering widthwise across the toe portion of the sole from approximately the metatarsal joint area of the big toe to the outer edge of the toe portion. Such a second tapering may provide an angle of approximately 29-31 degrees. The heel portion does not include this second tapering. It should be appreciated that the angles of curvature or tapering in the toe and/or heel portions may be modified, for example, depending on the thickness of the sole of the athletic shoe system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Rounding or tapering the athletic shoe system at the heel portion may prevent a golfer from sitting down too much on the heel of his/her shoe. If the outside of the golfer&#39;s shoe remains substantially flat, when the backswing stabilizes, the golfer may be more likely to pivot and generate more power in his/her swing. While use of an athletic shoe system according to embodiments of the present disclosure may bring such benefits, a golfer also may comfortably and naturally walk a golf course between swings while wearing such an athletic shoe system despite the curvature of the heel and toe portions. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a representative athletic shoe system  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Athletic shoe system  100  may generally be subdivided into three portions of sole  150 : heel portion  102 , mid-sole portion  104  and toe portion  106 . Heel portion  102  may extend from approximately back edge  101  to mid-heel arch area  103 . Heel portion  102  may taper upwardly starting at approximately mid-heel arch area  103  to back edge  101  at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees. Mid-sole portion  104  may begin at approximately mid-heel arch area  103  and extend to approximately metatarsal joint area  105 . Mid-sole portion  104  may be formed as a substantially uniform or substantially flat surface. 
     Toe portion  106  of athletic shoe system  100  may begin at approximately metatarsal joint area  105  and extend to front edge  107 . Toe portion may taper upwardly starting at approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to front edge  107  at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees. Toe portion  106  also may taper upwardly from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  across to outer edge  108  of toe portion  106  at an angle between 29-31 degrees. Accordingly, toe portion  106  may be tapered or angled both longitudinally as well as across toe portion  106 . 
     When a golfer wearing athletic shoe system  100  addresses the ball, the substantially flat surface of mid-sole portion  104  and the tapering of toe portion  106  and heel portion  102  may balance the golfer&#39;s weight distribution. The design of athletic shoe system  100  may encourage the golfer&#39;s weight to be over the center of his/her feet between the balls of the feet and the mid-heel area. By using athletic shoe system  100 , the golfer may naturally transition and pivot on front edge  107  of athletic shoe system  100  in the backswing, while providing firm balance in heel portion  102  of athletic shoe system  100 . Accordingly, the golfer may maintain proper posture and weight distribution before and during the golf swing. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a rear elevational view of athletic shoe system  100  of  FIG. 1 . Heel portion  102  may extend approximately from back edge  101  to mid-heel arch area  103 . Heel portion  102  may taper starting at approximately mid-heel arch area  103  up to back edge  101  at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a front elevational view of athletic shoe system  100  of  FIG. 1 . Toe portion  106  may extend from approximately front edge  107  to metatarsal joint area  105 . Toe portion  106  may taper starting at metatarsal joint area  105  up to front edge  107  at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees. Toe portion  106  also may taper at a second angle from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to the outer edge of toe portion  106  at an angle of approximately 29-31 degrees. Accordingly, toe portion  106  may be tapered or angled starting from metatarsal joint area  105  both longitudinally as well as across toe portion  106 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a left side elevational view of athletic shoe system  100  of  FIG. 1 , wherein athletic shoe system  100  is turned to depict the inner edge of toe portion  106 .  FIG. 4  depicts the three portions of athletic shoe system  100 —mid-sole portion  104 , toe portion  106  and heel portion  102 . Mid-sole portion  104  may be substantially flat with substantially uniform thickness extending from metatarsal joint area  105  to mid-heel arch area  103 . Similar to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  FIG. 4  depicts the tapering of heel portion  102 . However, only the tapering of toe portion  106  from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to front edge  107  is depicted; the tapering across toe portion  106  from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to the outer edge of toe portion  106  is not visible in FIG.  4 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a right side elevational view of athletic shoe system  100  of  FIG. 1 , wherein athletic shoe system  100  is turned to depict outer edge  108  of toe portion  106 . Like  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  depicts the three portions of athletic shoe system  100 —mid-sole portion  104 , heel portion  102  and toe portion  106 . Like  FIG. 1-4 ,  FIG. 5  depicts the tapering of heel portion  102  as well as the tapering of toe portion  106  from metatarsal joint area  105  to front edge  107 . However, the angling across toe portion  106  from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to outer edge  108  of toe portion  106  also is depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a bottom plan view of sole  150  of athletic shoe system  100  of  FIG. 1 . As in  FIGS. 1-5 ,  FIG. 6  depicts toe portion  106 , mid-sole portion  104  and heel portion  102 . As previously described, toe portion  106  may taper upwardly in a substantially uniform manner longitudinally from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to front edge  107  at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees. Athletic shoe system  100  also may be tapered upwardly across toe portion  106  at an angle of 29-31 degrees starting from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to outer edge  108  of toe portion  106  at angle  607 . 
     As previously described, mid-sole portion  104  may be substantially flat with a substantially uniform thickness extending longitudinally across athletic shoe system  100  from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to mid-heel arch area  103 . However, it should be appreciated that mid-sole portion  104  may extend beyond metatarsal joint area  105  and/or mid-heel arch area  103  into toe portion  106  and heel portion  102  without departing from the present disclosure. 
     As previously described, heel portion  102  may extend from approximately mid-heel arch area  103  to back edge  101 . Heel portion  102  may taper at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees in a substantially uniform manner starting from approximately mid-heel arch area  103  up to back edge  101 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a bottom plan view of sole  150  of athletic shoe system  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  differs from  FIG. 6  insofar as the sole area of athletic shoe system  100  may optionally include cleats  700  and/or spikes  705 . While  FIG. 7  depicts a certain pattern of cleats  700  and/or spikes  705 , it should be appreciated that other patterns or different numbers of cleats  700  and/or spikes  705  may be incorporated into athletic shoe system  100  according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, such cleats  700  and/or spikes  705  may be metal or non-metal according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Similar to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  depicts toe portion  106 , mid-sole portion  104  and heel portion  102 . Toe portion  106  may taper or angle upwardly in a substantially uniform manner from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to front edge  107  at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees. Athletic shoe system  100  also may be tapered upwardly across toe portion  106  at an angle of approximately 29-31 degrees starting from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to outer edge  108  of toe portion  106  at angle  707 . 
     Mid-sole portion  104  may be substantially uniformly flat starting extending from approximately metatarsal joint area  105  to mid-heel arch area  103 . However, it should be appreciated that mid-sole portion  104  may extend beyond metatarsal joint area  105  and/or mid-heel arch area  103  into toe portion  106  and heel portion  102  without departing from the present disclosure. 
     Heel portion  102  may extend from approximately mid-heel arch area  103  to back edge  101 . Heel portion  102  may taper at an angle of approximately 25-35 degrees in a substantially uniform manner starting from approximately mid-heel arch area  103  upwardly to back edge  101 . 
     When a golfer employs an athletic shoe system according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the substantially flat surface of the mid-sole portion as well as the tapering of the heel and toe portions may balance the golfer&#39;s weight distribution by encourage the golfer&#39;s weight to be over the center of his/her foot, allowing for proper posture and weight distribution throughout the golf swing. Use of athletic shoe systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure may allow a golfer to generate more power and energy transfer, both in his/her backward swing as well as in his/her forward swing, from the ability to push off the toe portion of the rear shoe while maintaining proper balance as a result of the firm outer sole of his/her front shoe. Additionally, an athletic shoe system according to embodiments of the present disclosure may allow a golfer to naturally transition and pivot on his/her front foot in the toe portion in the backswing, while providing a firm balanced back foot. 
     It should be appreciated that athletic shoe systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified for use in training for a sport and/or as a teaching aid. For example, the substantially flat mid-sole portion of an athletic shoe system may be made thicker to increase the curvature of the toe and heel portions of the athletic shoe system and make the angles/tapering more dramatically experienced by a golfer during practice swings. 
     While athletic shoe systems formed according to embodiments of the present disclosure have been described largely with respect to their use in golf, it should be appreciated that athletic shoe systems may be modified for use in other athletic activities according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, athletic shoe systems according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in other athletic activities where it may be important for the participant to stay on the balls of his/her feet, such as in baseball or tennis. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.