IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,895,694
Granted Patent B2
US 6,895,694 · App. 10/299,554 · Granted May 24, 2005

Toe shoe

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,895,694
App. No.
10/299,554
Granted
May 24, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toe shoe capable of providing support to a ballet dancer's foot while dancing en pointe. The toe shoe preferably includes a toe box in the toe of the toe shoe, an upper, and an outer sole. Support structure within the toe shoe includes a longitudinal support member, a foot encirculating tubular sleeve, and/or a toe ridge. In a first preferred embodiment, the support structure includes the longitudinal support member, foot encirculating tubular sleeve, and toe ridge. In a second preferred embodiment, the support structure includes the longitudinal support member and foot encirculating tubular sleeve. In a third preferred embodiment, the support structure is the longitudinal support member and toe ridge.

Claims (112)

1. A toe shoe, said toe shoe comprising:

(a) a toe box;

(b) a shank;

(c) said shank connected to said toe box and extending rearward from said toe box;

(d) an adjustable foot-encirculating tubular sleeve, said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve incorporated in said toe shoe and positioned rearward from said toe box;

(e) an upper;

(f) said toe box, said shank, and said tubular sleeve enclosed within said upper;

(g) an outer sole; and

(h) said outer sole extending at least partially alone said upper.

2. The toe shoe of claim 1 , said toe box being an adjustable toe box and said toe shoe further comprising:

(a) an upper;

(b) said toe box, said shank, and said foot encirculating tubular sleeve enclosed within said upper;

(c) an outer sole; and

(d) said outer sole extending at least partially along said upper.

3. The toe shoe of claim 1 , wherein said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve is a sling, said sling is:

(a) a closed sling;

(b) a coupler sling; or

(c) a toe box sling.

4. The toe shoe of claim 3 , said toe shoe further comprising:

(a) an upper;

(b) said toe box, said shank, and said sling enclosed within said upper;

(c) an outer sole; and

(d) said outer sole extending at least partially along said upper.

5. A toe shoe, said toe shoe comprising:

(a) a toe box;

(b) a shank;

(c) said shank connected to said toe box and extending rearward from said toe box;

(d) a toe ridge;

(e) an outer sole;

(f) said toe ridge attached between said shank and said outer sole, and located rearward from said toe box; and

(g) an adjustable foot-encirculating tubular sleeve, said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve incorporated in said toe shoe and positioned rearward from said toe box and said toe ridge.

6. The toe shoe of claim 5 , said toe shoe further comprising:

(a) an upper;

(b) said toe box, said shank, and said toe ridge enclosed within said upper; and

(c) said outer sole attached to the bottom of said upper.

7. The toe shoe of claim 5 , said toe box being an adjustable toe box.

8. The toe shoe of claim 7 , said toe shoe further comprising:

(a) an upper;

(b) said adjustable toe box, said shank, and said toe ridge enclosed within said upper; and

(c) said outer sole attached to the bottom of said upper.

9. A structure for providing support to a ballet dancer's foot while dancing, said structure comprising:

(a) a toe shoe;

(b) said toe shoe having a toe end and a heel end;

(c) said toe end having a toe box incorporated therein;

(d) an adjustable foot-encirculating tubular sleeve, said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve incorporated in said toe shoe and located between said toe and said heel end of said toe shoe.

10. The structure of claim 9 , said structure further comprising:

(a) an upper;

(b) said toe box and said foot encirculating tubular member enclosed within said upper;

(c) an outer sole;

(d) said outer sole extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end;

(e) at least one ribbon; and

(f) said at least one ribbon being connected to said upper.

11. The structure of claim 9 , said support structure further comprising a longitudinal support member, said longitudinal support member and extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end of said toe shoe.

12. The structure of claim 11 , said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve comprising:

(a) a first and a second flap;

(b) said first and said second flap transverse to said longitudinal support member; and

(c) said first flap and said second flap being connected together to form a tubular opening.

13. The structure of claim 12 , said support structure further comprising a toe ridge, said toe ridge located between said toe end and said foot encirculating tubular sleeve.

14. The structure of claim 13 , said structure further comprising:

(a) an upper;

(b) said toe box and said foot encirculating tubular member enclosed within said upper;

(c) an outer sole;

(d) said outer sole extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end;

(e) at least one ribbon; and

(f) said at least one ribbon being connected to said upper.

15. The structure of claim 9 , wherein said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve is a sling.

16. The structure of claim 15 , said sling being integrally connected to and extending rearward from said toe box.

17. The structure of claim 15 , further comprising a coupler, said coupler located between and connecting said toe box and said sling.

18. The structure of claim 17 , said toe box relieved to fay with said coupler.

19. A support structure for providing support to a dancer's foot during en pointe dancing, said support structure for use within a toe shoe having a toe end and a heel end, said toe end having a toe box incorporated therein, said support structure comprising:

(a) a longitudinal support member;

(b) said longitudinal support member extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end;

(c) an adjustable foot-encirculating tubular sleeve, said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve incorporated in said toe shoe;

(d) said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve connectable to said longitudinal support member between said toe end and said heel end; and

(e) said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve being positioned along said longitudinal support member so that during en pointe dancing, said dancer's foot is at least partially supported by said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve and said longitudinal support member.

20. The support structure of claim 19 , wherein said longitudinal support member is a shank and said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve is a sling.

21. The support structure of claim 20 , further comprising a toe ridge attached to said shank.

22. The support structure of claim 19 , wherein said longitudinal support member is a coupler and said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve is a sling.

23. The support structure of claim 19 , wherein said longitudinal support member is a combination of a coupler and a shank and said tubular sleeve is a sling.

24. The support structure of claim 19 , wherein said longitudinal support member and said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve divert forces acting directly on said dancer's toes, feet, and ankles.

25. Support structure for providing support to a dancer's foot while dancing en pointe, said support structure for use with a toe shoe having a toe end and a heel end, said toe end having a toe box incorporated therein, said support structure comprising:

(a) a longitudinal support member;

(b) said longitudinal support member extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end;

(c) a toe ridge;

(d) said toe ridge attached to said longitudinal support member between said toe end and said heel end;

(e) said toe ridge being positioned along said longitudinal support member so that, while dancing en pointe, said dancer's foot is given purchase;

(f) an adjustable foot-encirculating tubular sleeve, said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve incorporated in said toe shoe and positioned rearward from said toe ridge.

26. A toe shoe, said toe shoe comprising:

(a) an adjustable toe box;

(b) a shank;

(c) said shank connected to said toe box and extending rearward from said toe;

(d) a toe ridge;

(e) an outer sole;

(f) said toe ridge attached between said shank and said outer sole, and located rearward from said toe box;

(g) an upper;

(h) said adjustable toe box, said shank, and said toe ridge enclosed within said upper; and

(i) said outer sole attached to the bottom of said upper.

27. A structure for providing support to a ballet dancer's foot while dancing, said structure comprising:

(a) a toe shoe;

(b) said toe shoe having a toe end and a heel end;

(c) said toe end having a toe box incorporated therein;

(d) a foot-encirculating tubular sleeve;

(e) said foot-encirculating tubular sleeve located between said toe and said heel end of said toe shoe;

(f) a longitudinal support member, said longitudinal support member extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end of said toe shoe;

(g) said foot encirculating tubular sleeve comprising a first and second flap, said first and second flap transverse to a longitudinal support member and connected together to form a tubular opening;

(h) a toe ridge, said toe ridge located between said toe end and said foot encirculating tubular sleeve;

(i) an upper;

(j) said toe box and said foot encirculating tubular member enclosed within said upper;

(k) an outer sole;

(l) said outer sole extending at least partially between said toe end and said heel end;

(m) at least one ribbon; and

(n) said at least one ribbon being connected to said upper.

Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040093761A1 · May 20, 2004