HIGH-HEELED FOOT APPAREL
Devices, methods, and systems discussed herein relate to a high-heeled shoe; and more particularly, for providing improved comfort and/or to alleviate foot pain related to the wearing of a high-heeled shoe. For example, a high-heeled shoe may include an insole or a top outer layer and a bottom rigid structure. The bottom rigid structure may include a front portion, a mid portion, and an end portion. The front portion of the bottom rigid structure may include a cavity or cut-out portion for insertion of an encapsulated gel. When the shoe is worn, the encapsulated gel may expand laterally in response to an introduction of pressure on a top surface of the encapsulated gel thereby dispersing pressure on the balls of the foot.
1 . A high-heeled shoe comprising:
a bottom rigid, non-flexible structure having a ball portion located on a first geometric plane having a first slope, a mid portion located on a second geometric plane having a second slope greater than the first slope, and a heel portion located on a third geometric plane having a slope between the first slope and the second slope, the bottom rigid structure defining a cavity in the ball portion, the ball portion having a bottom surface for contacting a ground surface;
a heel attached to the heel portion of the bottom rigid structure;
an encapsulated gel located in the cavity of the ball portion; and
a top layer covering the encapsulated gel and for contacting and supporting a foot of a human.
2 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated gel comprises an enlarged bottom surface with a continuous flange, and wherein the high heeled shoe further comprises a foam layer between a top surface of the cavity and the enlarged bottom surface of the encapsulated gel.
3 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 2 , wherein a surface area of the top surface of the encapsulated gel is smaller than a surface area of the enlarged bottom surface of the encapsulated gel.
4 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 1 , wherein each wall forming the cavity of the ball portion is rigid.
5 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated gel further includes an indented divider.
6 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 2 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel is at least one-eighth of an inch wide.
7 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 6 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel is substantially flat and has a uniform thickness about the entire perimeter of the continuous flange.
8 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 7 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel creates a gap between a top surface of the encapsulated gel and each wall forming the cavity.
9 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 1 , wherein a rigid border surrounding the perimeter of the encapsulated gel is at least three-sixteenth of an inch thick.
10 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated gel is filled with a viscous fluid.
11 . A high-heeled shoe comprising:
a top rigid structure having a ball portion located on a first geometric plane having a first slope, a mid portion located on a second geometric plane having a second slope greater than the first slope, and a heel portion located on a third geometric plane having a slope between the first slope and the second slope, the top rigid structure for contacting and supporting a foot of a human, the top rigid structure further having an embedded cavity in the ball portion;
a bottom structure coupled to the top rigid layer, the bottom structure having a flexible membrane and an attached heel stake; and
an encapsulated gel located in the cavity of the ball portion of the top rigid structure.
12 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 11 , wherein the encapsulated gel comprises an enlarged bottom surface with a continuous flange, and wherein each wall forming the cavity of the front portion of the top rigid structure is non-compliant.
13 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 12 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel is at least one-eighth of an inch wide.
14 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 13 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel is substantially flat and has a uniform thickness about the entire perimeter of the continuous flange.
15 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 14 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel creates a gap between a top surface of the encapsulated gel and each wall forming the cavity.
16 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 11 , wherein a rigid border surrounding the perimeter of the encapsulated gel is at least three-sixteenth of an inch thick.
17 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 11 , wherein the encapsulated gel is filled with a viscous fluid.
18 . A high-heeled boot comprising:
a bottom rigid base having a ball portion located on a first geometric plane having a first slope, a mid portion located on a second geometric plane having a second slope greater than the first slope, and a heel portion located on a third geometric plane, the bottom rigid base defining a cavity in the ball portion, the ball portion having a bottom surface for contacting a ground surface;
a heel attached to the heel portion of the bottom rigid structure, the heel being at least one and a half inches in length;
an encapsulated gel located in the cavity of the ball portion; and
a top flexible membrane spanning at least the ball portion and the mid portion, the top flexible membrane for contacting and supporting a foot of a human; and
a memory foam coupled to the top flexible membrane, the memory foam for cushioning the foot of the human.
19 . The high-heeled boot of claim 18 , wherein the encapsulated gel includes a continuous flange, and further wherein a surface area of the top surface of the encapsulated gel is smaller than a surface area of the enlarged bottom surface of the encapsulated gel.
20 . The high-heeled shoe of claim 18 , wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel is substantially flat and has a uniform thickness about the entire perimeter of the continuous flange and further wherein the continuous flange of the encapsulated gel creates a gap between a top surface of the encapsulated gel and each of the one or more side walls forming the cavity.