Split-Sole Footwear
A shoe comprising an upper forming an interior portion for a foot, the interior portion including toe and heel cavities, is provided. The shoe further comprises a midsole having toe and heel ends and inner and outer sides. The midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion. Heel and toe outsole patches are respectively stitched onto the midsole. An insole is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion. A spacing between the heel and toe outsole patches extends from the inner to the outer side and occupies a position intermediate the toe and heel ends thereby permitting the shoe to fold about an axis running through the spacing. The shoe folds between an extended state, in which the shoe is worn, and a folded state in which a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity.
1 . A shoe comprising:
an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;
a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is affixed to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion;
a heel outsole patch affixed to a heel portion of a first face of the midsole; and
an insole that is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion; wherein
a side of the heel outsole patch is visible from at least a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn and is on the horizontal, and
the heel outsole patch is at least 3/32 of an inch thick.
2 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the midsole is made out of leather.
3 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the interior portion further comprises a foam inlay and wherein the insole is affixed by glue to the foam inlay.
4 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion further comprises a cushion insert that is glued to the heel portion of a second face of the midsole.
5 . The shoe of claim 3 , wherein the midsole comprises a second face having a heel portion and a toe portion and wherein
the interior portion further comprises a cushion insert that is glued to the heel portion of a second face of the midsole, and
the foam inlay is glued to (i) cushion insert and (ii) the toe portion of the second face of the midsole.
6 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the cushion insert is characterized by a first end and a second end, wherein
the first end of the cushion insert is glued to a first part of the heel portion and the second end of the cushion insert is glued to a second part of the heel portion, wherein the first part of the heel portion is closer to the toe portion of the second face of the midsole than the second part of the heel portion, and
the first end of the cushion insert has a thickness that is less than the second end of the cushion insert.
7 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the cushion insert has a thickness that increases along the insert as a function of a distance away from the toe portion of the second face of the midsole so that a portion of the cushion insert that is closest to the toe portion of the midsole is thinner than a portion of the cushion insert that is farthest away from the toe portion of the midsole.
8 . The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate or polyurethane type material.
9 . The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert has a Shore A hardness of between 45 and 70.
10 - 12 . (canceled)
13 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein
a first groove having a depth of at least 3/64 of an inch is formed proximate to a perimeter of the heel outsole patch and wherein the heel outsole patch is stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole with a first thread that occupies the first groove.
14 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein the upper is formed as a single piece having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are united by a second seam at the heel cavity.
15 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein
the upper is formed as a single piece having (i) a first end, (ii) a second end, (iii) a first edge, and (iv) a second edge,
the first end and the second end are united by a second seam at the heel cavity,
the first edge is stitched to the perimeter of the midsole thereby forming the bottom to the interior portion,
a first portion of the second edge is characterized by an elastic restriction, wherein the portion of the second edge does not extend to the heel cavity.
16 . The shoe of claim 15 wherein a second portion of the second edge is characterized by an Achilles cushion that provides an upper boundary to the heel cavity.
17 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein
the upper is formed as a single piece having a first end and a second end,
the first end and the second end are united by a second seam at the heel cavity, and
a half moon piece covers a lower portion of the second seam.
18 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein the heel outsole patch has a durability coefficient of between 0.8 and 1.5.
27 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein the heel outsole patch has a durability coefficient of between 1.0 and 1.3.
28 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein the heel outsole patch is at least 3/32 of an inch thick.
29 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each about 5/32 of an inch thick.
30 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, wherein the spacing is between 4/8 of an inch and 6/8 of an inch.
31 . The shoe of claim 30 wherein the spacing is about ⅝ of an inch.
32 . (canceled)
33 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and
wherein a side of the toe outsole patch is visible at least at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn on a woman's foot who is standing on the horizontal.
34 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.40 kilogram-force/inch and 0.70 kilogram-force/inch.
35 . The shoe of claim 1 wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.
36 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein a region of the shoe defined by the toe outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.40 kilogram-force/inch and 0.70 kilogram-force/inch.
37 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein a region of the shoe defined by the toe outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.
38 - 40 . (canceled)
41 . A shoe comprising:
an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;
a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;
a heel outsole patch affixed to a heel portion of a first face of the midsole;
a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; wherein
there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end,
a side of the heel outsole patch or a side of the toe outsole patch is visible from at least a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn and is on the horizontal,
a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.
42 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein
(i) the insole is not stitched to the upper or midsole, and
(ii) the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each made out of an elastomer.
48 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the insole is not stitched to the upper or midsole.
49 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each made out of an elastomer.
50 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the insole is affixed by glue to the bottom of the interior portion.
51 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming the bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam.
52 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the heel outsole patch is stitched onto the heal portion of the first face of the midsole.
53 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the toe outsole patch is stitched onto the heal portion of the first face of the midsole.
54 . The shoe of claim 41 , wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.
55 . The shoe of claim 41 , wherein the toe outsole patch or the heel outsole patch has a durability coefficient of between 0.8 and 1.5.
56 . A shoe comprising:
an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;
a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;
a heel outsole patch affixed to a heel portion of a first face of the midsole; and
a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; wherein
there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end,
a side of the heel outsole patch is visible from at least a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn and is on the horizontal
a side of the toe outsole patch is visible from at least a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn and is on the horizontal, and
the toe outsole patch or the heel outsole patch has a durability coefficient of between 0.8 and 1.5.
57 . A shoe comprising:
an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;
a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;
a heel outsole patch affixed to a heel portion of a first face of the midsole; and
a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; wherein
there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end,
a side of the heel outsole patch is visible from at least a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn and is on the horizontal,
a side of the toe outsole patch is visible from at least a 45 degree angle from the horizontal when the shoe is worn and is on the horizontal, and
the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each at least 3/32 of an inch thick.
58 . The shoe of claim 57 wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each about 5/32 of an inch thick.
59 . A shoe comprising:
an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;
a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;
a heel outsole patch affixed to a heel portion of a first face of the midsole; and
a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; wherein
there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end,
the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each at least 3/32 of an inch thick,
a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam, and
a front corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
60 . The shoe of claim 59 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within 3/16 of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
61 . The shoe of claim 59 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
62 . A shoe comprising:
an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;
a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;
a heel outsole patch affixed to a heel portion of a first face of the midsole; and
a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; and
an insole that is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion; wherein,
there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch affixed to the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch affixed to the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end,
a region of the shoe defined by the toe outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.40 kilogram-force/inch and 0.70 kilogram-force/inch
a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch,
a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam, and
a front corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
63 . The shoe of claim 62 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within 3/16 of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
64 . The shoe of claim 62 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
65 . The shoe of claim 51 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
66 . The shoe of claim 51 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within 3/16 of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
67 . The shoe of claim 51 further comprising a toe outsole patch affixed to a toe portion of the first face of the midsole and wherein a front corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
68 . The shoe of claim 51 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within 3/16 of an inch of a portion of the first seam.
69 . The shoe of claim 51 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within ¼ of an inch of a portion of the first seam.