Closed Toe Shoe Cushion

Abstract

The closed toe shoe cushion is a uniquely formulated soft polymer that is placed in the front toebox of a closed toe higher heel shoe to mitigate and compensate for the forward sliding motion effects of gravity's force to push feet forward and downward causing the problem of heel gap and heel slippage experienced by wearers of higher heel shoes.

The closed toe shoe cushion is made of a polymer that makes the closed toe shoe cushion stay in place inside the toebox of a closed toe shoe and requires no added adhesive. This unique property gives the closed toe shoe cushion the ability to be re-used numerous times in multiple shoes.

The closed Toes Shoe Cushion is durable, does not tear easily and will retain its original form without distortion after each use.

Claims

1. The closed toe shoe cushion is comprised of polymers has a durometer on the Shore Scale that is below A-0

2. The closed toe shoe cushion shaped with an apex top and concave base.

Description

DRAWING SPECIFICATION

[0016] FIG. 1

[0017] 1. Depicts the top view

[0018] 2. Depicts the length dimension

[0019] 3. Depicts the width dimension

[0020] 4. Depicts a side view

[0021] 5. Depicts the depth dimension

[0022] 6. Depicts the concave shape at the base

[0023] 7. Depicts the shape at the apex

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0024] The closed toe shoe cushion relates generally to the field of shoe inserts and methods of use thereof. More specifically, the closed toe shoe cushion relates to a polymer-based shoe spacer insert that mitigates the effects of gravity on a shoe wearer causing heel gap and heel slippage in higher heeled shoes. The closed toe shoe cushion is self-encompassing such that a shoe wearer needs to only place the place the closed toe shoe cushion inside the toe box of a closed toe higher heeled shoe and wear. The closed toe shoe cushion stays in place, retains it shape after use and is soft to the touch. The closed toe shoe cushion positions the foot of a shoe wearer in better alignment to ensure mitigate the forward movement effects of gravity on a shoe wearer causing heel gap and heel slippage.

[0025] TECHNICAL PROBLEM:

[0026] Shoe wearers and shoe makers are at cross purposes with each other due to shoe wearers having unique sized feet and feet characteristics and shoe makers' attempt to manufacture standard shoe sizes to closely fit the greatest number of shoe wearers. In addition, the effects of gravity impact the way a shoe wearer experiences shoe fit in higher heeled shoes when walking at their normal gait.

[0027] For the millions of feet, no two feet are exactly the same, even on the same person. For shoe makers, creating a line shoes that will fit most people is more of art than science. Consider that the more popular shoes measurements are based upon generalized shoe size measurements and conversions for both men and women shoes.

[0028] Typically, the US, European, and UK shoe measurements are used as standards, however, other systems of shoe measurements exist for Mexico, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Korea shoe manufacturers. Generally, centimeters and inches provide the rough guidelines for the length of the sole of a shoe.

[0029] These measurements provide a prospective shoe buyer and shoe wearer with only general indication about how any given shoe made by any given shoe manufacturer, within any given system for measurements might fit their unique feet. Consider that some conversion charts depict for example that a size 5 woman's shoe in the US is 9 in length. Other conversion charts depict the same size 5 woman's shoe as an 8.5 in length. As feet go, a half of an inch is significant and can literally mean the difference between which size shoes a wearer will purchase from a specific shoe maker due to the fit of the shoes on a wearer's feet that might be experienced.

[0030] In addition, shoe styles and shoe maker creativity to compete for a shoe buyer's purchase influence shoe makers' shoe designs with sometimes subtle differences to attract a buyer. The height of heels, the shape of heels, and of the shape of the toe box in the front of the shoe are few basic factors that attract a shoe buyer to a pair shoes among other personal preferences. In 2013, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association, US-based consumers bot 7.5 pairs of shoes per capita each year. Regardless of the number of styles that shoe makers design, shoes typically conform to a limited number of sizes. For women shoes, most shoe makers are confined to 12 sizes and if they include half sizes then they are confined to make 24 size variations for any given pair of shoes. This is likewise the case among other international shoe makers.

[0031] At the time that shoe buyer or shoe wearer puts on a pair of shoes, the issue regarding shoe fit are complicated by an individual's unique feet characteristics and actual feet size measurements since most people rarely have an exact foot measurement that is exactly the same inches in length as the shoe size they are seeking to buy or wear. For example, a person seeking wear a size 5 woman's shoe may likely experience that a size 5 typically provides closest fit to the actual size of their foot. Albeit not exact, since a person's foot is typically not exactly 8.5 or 9 inches long for a size 5 woman's shoe. This results in shoe wearers' experimentation to try different size shoes manufactured by a variety of shoe makers in an attempt to determine which shoe maker's production size specifications most closely match their unique feet.

[0032] Heel gaps and subsequent heels slippage is a result of an individuals' foot or feet not matching the exact size of the shoe maker's products. Additionally, other unique feet factors determine which size shoes will closely fit an individual's unique feet. For example, the contours or lack thereof in the arch of the foot, the narrowness or width overall of the heel, the size and length of toes, and foot problems like hammer toes, bunions, and the corns on the knuckle of toes all factor into how a standard sized shoe will come close to fitting their feet. These factors contribute to wearers to experiment via purchasing shoes of different shoe makers to most closely align the fit of a pair of shoes to the uniqueness in the shape and unique characteristics of the individual's feet.

[0033] The effects of gravity impact how shoes fit is experienced when a shoe wearer wears a pair of shoes and walks in their normal gait. A shoe wearer can better assess the actual fit of shoes and determine whether heel gap results in heels slipping out from the back of the shoe or shoes once walking in their shoes.

[0034] The fit of shoes experienced by individuals wearing shoes are impacted by several factors beyond their control which determine how the fit of a shoe is ultimately experienced in a wearer. Factors such as the individual's height, weight, walking gait, and the forces of gravity determine whether the shoe will fit as intended when walking.

[0035] The fit of shoes experienced by individuals is impacted by the height of heels, the incline or slope of the sole of the shoe which impacts the forefront of the shoe. Couple this with the size and shape of the closed toe front of the shoe and it becomes obvious that the fit experienced by a wearer is a complex set of factors that when combined impact the true fit and experience wearing shoes. Even when shoe makers add fitting implements likes straps, buckles, and laces the way a shoe fit is experienced by a wearer is still impacted by the forces of gravity which thrusts the feet in a forward and downward motion when walking.

[0036] closed toe heeled shoes of any height from the lowest kitten heel to the highest macro heel present a unique challenge for shoe wearers to accurately determine and select the correct sized shoe that will provide the best fit for a wearer due to their unique foot characteristics and any shoe-makers' varied style when manufacturing shoes.

[0037] Most shoe makers use standard foot measurements to size shoes, and this is typically determined by measuring a foot on a flat and firm surface. Shoes of all types are manufactured and labeled with these standard sizes to conform to the flat foot size measurements. When a shoe wearer wears shoes that have a heel is higher than 0.25 (a quarter of inch) from a flat surface, the effects of gravity pushes a shoe wearer's foot forward and downward with each stride. The effects of gravity to push a foot forward and downward is typically not a consideration when a shoe maker manufacturers and labels shoes. This would be impossible for a shoe maker because the effects of gravity on a shoe wearers' feet inside a standard shoe are influenced by factors beyond a shoe maker's control. Factors that influence and impact the fit of a shoe on a wearers foot include, the person's height, weight, gait (speed at which they walk). In addition, the incline of a shoe, the material that a shoe is manufactured, along with unique shoe-maker's shoe designs together combine with the forces of gravity and impacts the amount of foot forward placement inside a shoe when walking.

[0038] As a result of the factors of gravity, an individual's foot and body characteristics, and any shoe manufacturers shoe style and design, shoe wears experience that one of both feet inside certain shoes will experience heel gaps and heels slippage when walking. In addition, the resulting space in the heel gap in the heel area of the higher heeled shoe becomes equivalent to the forward movement gravitational pull of the individual wearer and the amount of space inside the toe box that foot presses into when walking.

[0039] The challenge is that simply buying a smaller size for a higher heeled shoe does not resolve this problem. In fact, buying shoes that are too small to resolve this issue of a heel gap in higher heeled shoes results in a number of podiatric problems, like bunions, calluses, hammer toe and the like.

[0040] Typical shoe pads attempt to fix shoe fit with shoe inserts and shoe pads that go under the midsole, arch, and metatarsal areas, or shoe pads that tape to the inside back of the heel in shoes. Neither of these types of shoe pads and shoe inserts mitigate or counter the effects of gravity's forward and downward pull on a shoe wearers foot. In addition, midsole, arch, and metatarsal areas shoe inserts and shoe pads focus on foot comfort and are not attempting to solve heel slippage and heel gaps. Many shoe inserts and shoe pads makers focus on pain elimination or management for a higher heel shoe wearer instead of the problem of heel slippage and heel gaps experienced by wearers when wearing higher heeled shoes.

[0041] Other types of shoe pads function as insoles in an attempt to make a shoe fit slightly tighter on a wearer. Shoe insoles like metatarsal pad and heel pads are ineffective and incapable of mitigating heel gap and heel slippage because the as a shoe wearer walks, the effects of gravity continue to place forward motion and downward pressure on the shoe wearers foot. Shoe inserts and shoe pads in the marketplace do not focus on mitigating the gravitational impact combined with shoe wearers' unique body, weight, walking gait, and feet and toes characteristics.

[0042] There are also shoe inserts that are designed for the front toe box and require a shoe wearer to select their preferred size for the insert and cut along predetermined lines to trim the insert the desired sized. This action poses a problem for a shoe wearer because a wearer must guess to approximate where the cut should be made.

[0043] When a user places this type of insert inside the closed toe shoe, the wearer cannot visually see how much of the insert should be cut to provide the desired fit. Should a shoe wearer make an inaccurate cut, the insert would be insufficient to provide the benefit it claims.

[0044] The shape of the closed toe shoe cushion has a concave base (FIG. 1) comprised a unique polymer that makes is soft yet dense to ensure that the closed toe shoe cushion conforms to the shape of the toes and inside edge of a closed toe higher heel shoe and does not require a wearer to manually alter the insert to obtain the benefit of a more customized fit.

[0045] The closed toe shoe cushion is reusable and be interchanged into other shoes. Typical shoe inserts and shoe pads usually has an adhesive backing that when peeled to stick inside the shoe stays with the specific shoe and is not reusable. Should a wearer remove the adhesive backed shoe insert or shoe pad, a sticky residue or fabric is left inside the shoe after removing the shoe insert or shoe pad.

Solution to Problem

[0046] This invention is unique because it solves the specific problems of heel gap and subsequent heel slippage when walking in closed toe dress shoes, pumps, or similar types of shoes regardless of heel height.

[0047] The closed toe shoe cushion is a soft polymer-based insert that provides a new method to prevent heel gaps and heel slippage when walking in closed toe heeled shoes of any height, thereby providing a more custom fit for feet inside closed toe heeled shoes.

[0048] The closed toe shoe cushion creates a more custom fit for feet inside standard size shoes because it mitigates the effects of gravity to push feet forward and downward in higher heeled shoes when walking. This closed toe shoe cushion functions as a spacer device that is inserted into the shoe toe box of a closed toe shoe (the front of the shoe) in a higher heel, and provides a wearer better positioning of their feet inside the shoes. Because the closed toe shoe cushion takes up the space in the front of the shoe, called the toe box, the foot is aligned and positioned better inside the shoe, thus preventing heel gaps and ultimately heel slippage when walking at a normal gait.

[0049] This invention is unique as it focuses on the direct relationship between the toe box in a heeled shoe and the gravitational pull and pressure of a shoe wearers' feet and toes forward and downward movement when higher heeled shoes are worn.

[0050] The dimensions of the closed toe shoe cushion along with the density of the polymer creates a more customized shoe fit for a shoe wearers' feet to fit fits securely inside the toe box of the shoe because The closed toe shoe cushion fills the space where toes slip into when walking at their normal gait. Because the closed toe shoe cushion is designed to fit inside the toe box of a closed shoe, when a shoe wearer's foot is inside of the shoe, the closed toe shoe cushion is located between their toes and the front edge of the toe box as their feet and toes depress against the soft silicone polymer material.

[0051] The closed toe shoe cushion is made of a silicone polymer or other viscoelastic gel that has a durometer or material hardness on the Shore Scale that is below A-0 to indicate a softness that has an ability to recover back to its original concave base shape (FIG. 1) after the pressure of the foot and toes are no longer depressed against it.

[0052] The polymers based closed toe shoe cushion is pliable such that it conforms to the shape of the toe box whether the shoe's toe box is rounded or pointed on the shorter end of the toe box the apex of the shape (FIG. 1), and also conforms to the shape of a shoe wearer's toes or phalanges as they are depressed against the longer segment, the base of the shape, (FIG. 1) of the closed toe shoe cushion .

[0053] The closed toe shoe cushion aids in a better fitting shoe and helps to keep a shoe wearer's foot in the proper position within the shoe and keeps the heel of the foot properly positioned within the heel of the closed toe shoe. The soft polymer is small enough to provide a higher heeled shoe wearer with a more customized fit and allows the foot's proper placement to fill the heel gap due multitude of gravitational forces and body composition factors that cause the foot to slide forward in shoes that have heels. The closed toe shoe cushion compensates for the heel gap and the subsequent heel slippage when walking that is created when a foot slides forward due to gravitational pull.

[0054] The closed toe shoe cushion is located in the foremost portion of a closed-toe shoe permitting the foot to slide into naturally while pushing the toe and shoe cushion into the toe box to conform with the shape of the toes and the contour of the shoe simultaneously.

[0055] The dimensions of the closed toe shoe cushion is at least 1 wide by 1.5 tall and 0.5 deep.

[0056] This invention mitigates heel gaps and heel slippage in kitten heels, low heels of at least 1 inch and higher up to stiletto and macro-heel heights. Heel gaps and heel slippage in closed toe shoes with heels that range from kitten heel height through stiletto and macro-heel heights is caused by the factors of a person's height, weight, shoe incline, shoe height, the gait of their walk, and the unavoidable forces of gravity.

[0057] The custom silicone polymer is soft enough to conform to a shoe wearers unique toes when pressed against the silicone polymer inside the closed toe shoe. The silicone polymer is uniquely dense to provide a firm fit inside the toe box of the closed toe shoe and thereby provides closed toe shoe wearers with a custom fit inside closed toe heeled shoes mitigating the effects of heel gaps and heel slippage experienced by the factors of gravity, shoe height, incline of sole, shape of feet and toes inside closed toe heeled shoes.

[0058] The closed toe shoe cushion helps ensure a secure fit of the foot inside of a closed toe heeled shoe and because shoes will fit more securely, it also decreases the possibility for the heel of the foot to come out of the shoe while walking causing a person to trip, stumble, or fall.

[0059] The closed toe shoe cushion solves the problem of the heel of foot slipping out of the shoe when walking because as the phalanges (toes) depress against the closed toe shoe cushion the gap that would be experienced due to gravitational pull of the body's weight is mitigated.

[0060] The closed toe shoe cushion is an insert to be placed into the toe box of a closed toe high heel shoe.

[0061] The closed toe shoe cushion is pliable and conforms to the shape of the toe box while allowing the toes (phalanges) to press the base of the closed toe shoe cushion to create a custom fit of the high heel shoe.

[0062] The closed toe shoe cushion conforms its shape in the front of the shoe, the toe box, and compensates for any extra space created when the foot is forced downward and forward as gravity pulls the weight of the foot forward creating a gap between the heel of the foot and the heel of the shoe.

[0063] The closed toe shoe cushion is made of a polymer that makes the closed toe shoe cushion stay in place inside the toe box of a closed toe shoe and requires no added adhesive. This unique property gives the closed toe shoe cushion the ability to be re-used numerous times in multiple shoes.

[0064] The closed toes shoe cushion is durable, does not tear easily and will retain its original form without distortion after each use. The soft polymer material returns to its original shape (FIG. 1). The closed toe shoe cushion compensates for any extra space created at the back of the heel of a shoe when the foot is forced downward and forward as gravity pulls the weight of the foot forward creating a gap between the heel of the foot and the heel portion of a shoe.

[0065] The closed toe shoe cushion mitigates heel slippage to provide feet inside higher heeled closed toe shoes a more a secure and custom fit.

[0066] The closed toe shoe cushion is reusable so that it can be interchanged in another higher heeled closed toe shoe when needed by a shoe wearer.