Abstract:
A high heel shoe has an insole, an outsole, and a shank embedded between the insole and outsole, the shank comprising a heel portion with a depression to accommodate a user&#39;s heel, and a lateral ridge element in front of the heel portion that exerts pressure against the forward movement of a user&#39;s heel when worn. The shank further comprises a front portion sloping downward from the lateral ridge along the arch of the insole, which optionally is padded.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to high heel shoes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventionally, high heel shoes are constructed such that the user&#39;s weight is shifted primarily onto the ball of the foot and the toes. This can cause a large amount of pressure to be placed on a small area of the foot, rather than distributed more evenly throughout the entire foot and heel. As a result, the user&#39;s weight is shifted unnaturally forward, which can cause the user to compromise her posture. This change in posture can create pressure in the lower back, tension and curvature in the shoulders, joint pain, muscle tightness and general discomfort. Additionally, excess weight in the toes and ball of the foot can cause foot cramping, arch compression, and pronation, as well as bunions and Morton&#39;s neuromas. In addition to causing discomfort to the user, conventional high heels can cause injury, either permanent or temporary, particularly after repeated or prolonged use. 
         [0004]    Many shoe companies create high heels with features intended to reduce foot pain, such as lower heels, more padding, and wider areas in the toes and ball of foot. However, while these features may reduce pain, they do not fundamentally impact the posture of the wearer. 
         [0005]    The present invention enables the user to retain a more natural posture and weight distribution, thereby reducing, eliminating, or counteracting the typical ill effects of wearing high heels. These and other features of the invention will be fully understood from the following description. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Accordingly, provided is a high heel shoe having an insole, an outsole, and a shank embedded between the insole and outsole, the shank comprising a heel portion with a depression to accommodate a user&#39;s heel, and a lateral ridge element in front of the heel portion that exerts pressure against the forward movement of a user&#39;s heel when worn. The shank further comprises a front portion sloping downward from the lateral ridge along the arch of the insole, which optionally is padded. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding things. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross section perspective view of an embodiment of a high heel shoe according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the top of a shank component of an embodiment of a high heel shoe according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bottom of a shank component of an embodiment of a high heel shoe according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-section of an embodiment of a high heel shoe according to the present invention, with a user&#39;s foot shown in dashed lines. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a high heel shoe  10  having an upper  12 , an outsole  14 , an insole  16 , a high heel  18 , and a shank  20 , depicted in dotted lines. The shank  20  is embedded between the insole  16  and the outsole  14 . The shank  20  extends generally along a longitudinal direction through the shoe  10  from the heel area to approximately the beginning of the ball of the foot. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shank  20  has a heel portion  22  and a front portion  26 . Immediately in front of the heel portion  22  is a lateral ridge  24 , which extends across the shank  20  in an area that would be just in front of a user&#39;s heel. A depression  28  is disposed generally centrally within the heel portion  22  of the shank  20 . The depression  28  is configured to receive the user&#39;s heel. The depression  28  and the lateral ridge  24  prevent the user&#39;s foot from sliding forward in the shoe  10 . The front portion  26  of the shank  20  descends from the lateral ridge  24  toward the front of the shoe  10 . The embodiment seen in  FIG. 2  is shown with an attachment mechanism  30  to secure the shank  20  to the sole structure of the shoe. The attachment shown is a set of holes disposed near the front end of the shank  20  adapted to receive studs or screws. However, in other embodiments the shank can be secured within the shoe by any means known in the art, and at any location along the shank  20 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows the bottom view of the shank  20  of  FIG. 2 , from a high heel shoe embodiment according to the present invention. The shank  20  embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  has a generally uniform width along the entirety of the component. In other embodiments, the shank  20  can vary in width, for example, having a narrowing in part or all of the front portion  26 . The shank can be composed of metal, plastic, or any rigid material or combination of materials as known in the art. 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a side cross-section of an embodiment of a high heel shoe according to the present invention. A user&#39;s foot is shown in dashed lines to illustrate how the foot sits within the shoe  10 . The depression  28  receives the user&#39;s heel, and the lateral ridge  24  is located just in front of the user&#39;s heel and helps prevent the heel from sliding forward. By holding the user&#39;s heel in place, the heel does not drop toward the ball of the foot, compressing the foot and causing cramping. Rather, the foot is permitted to stretch out comfortably within the shoe, without unnecessary stress on the toes and ball of foot. 
         [0016]    The depression  28  allows the user to settle more weight into the heel than in a conventional high heel shoe. In a conventional shoe, the user&#39;s weight is shifted forward, and the leg extends upward from the shoe at a forward tilted angle. In contrast, by settling the heel into the depression  28 , the user can stand comfortably upright, with the ankle and calf extending generally straight up from the shoe, as depicted in  FIG. 4 . This encourages a more natural posture in the user. 
         [0017]    By allowing the user to stand more upright, the high heel of the present invention helps to improve the user&#39;s posture, correct lower back problems, and can be worn for extended periods of time without pain and longer term injury to the feet or body. The user can comfortably stand taller and walk straighter than in conventional high heels. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , padding  32  is disposed along the midsole of the shoe, generally where a user&#39;s foot arch would fall. The padding  32  allows the user&#39;s mid-foot to maintain contact with the shoe and provides support to the user&#39;s arch. This allows more complete weight distribution along the entirety of the foot, rather than only at the front foot and heel, which can cause strain and painful pressure to the foot. The padding  32  can be of any appropriate resilient cushioning material, such as foam or memory foam. 
         [0019]    It should be understood that the dimensions of the different components may vary. However, it has been found that an embodiment of the high heel shoe functions as described where the components have dimensions as follows, where all measurements are in centimeters: (a) high heel—the height from the center of the ground to the center rear of the high heel at the highest point is approximately 10 cm; (b) heel portion of the shank—the longitudinal length is approximately 4.5 cm, with a lateral width of approximately 4 cm; (c) depression—at the lowest point, the depression is approximately 1 cm below the heel portion of the shank; (d) lateral ridge—at its highest point the lateral ridge is approximately 0.5 cm above the heel portion of the shank and extends across the lateral width of the shank, the width of the lateral ridge is approximately 1.2 cm; (e) front portion of the shank—the longitudinal length extends approximately 9 cm from the lateral ridge, and the lateral width is approximately 4 cm, slightly narrowing to approximately 3.5 cm generally in the center where a user&#39;s foot arch would fall. 
         [0020]    Also shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  is a platform  34  which raises the height of the front of the shoe, decreasing the angle of the midsole of the shoe while maintaining heel height. It should be appreciated that other embodiments of the present invention do not contain a platform  34  feature. Moreover, it should be appreciated that although the embodiments shown in the figures are in the form of high heel pump style shoes, all styles and heights of high heel shoes are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention, including, for example, high heel boots and sandals. 
         [0021]    It should be understood that the dimensions of the high heel shoe, shank and all components will vary depending on the foot and shoe size of the user, the style of shoe, and the height of the heel. For example, in larger shoe sizes, the length of the shank will be adjusted correspondingly to be longer and/or wider as necessary. 
         [0022]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise additional features such as additional insole cushion layers, or other features as known in the art. The shoe may be made of any suitable materials, such as leather, fabric, plastic, cork, felt, and/or rubber, without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.