Dance Shoe Support Attachment Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching a dance shoe support to a dance shoe. The apparatus including a flexible substrate having a support side and a shoe side. The support side has a first adhesive material creating a first adhesion layer on the shoe support side. The shoe side has a second adhesive material creating a second adhesion layer on the shoe side. The support side is affixed to the dance shoe support and the shoe side is affixed to an inner surface of the dance shoe. The flexible substrate may further include a plurality of measurement indicators to allow for adjustment to the length of the flexible substrate prior to being affixed to the dance shoe support.

Claims

1. An apparatus for attaching a dance shoe support to a dance shoe, the apparatus comprising: a flexible substrate having a support side and a shoe side, the support side having a first adhesive material creating a first adhesion layer on the support side, the shoe side having a second adhesive material creating a second adhesion layer on the shoe side, whereby, the support side is affixed to the dance shoe support and the shoe side is affixed to an inner surface of the dance shoe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material are the same material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive material and/or the second adhesive material is a temporary adhesive allowing for the dance shoe support to be removably secured to the dance shoe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate further comprises: a plurality of measurement indicators to allow for adjustment to the length of the flexible substrate prior to being affixed to the dance shoe support.

5. A pointe shoe ribbon apparatus for attachment to a pointe shoe, the apparatus comprising: a pointe shoe ribbon having an outer side and an inner side; and a flexible substrate having a ribbon side and a shoe side, the ribbon side of the flexible substrate being secured to the outer side of the pointe shoe ribbon proximate an end of the pointe shoe ribbon, the shoe side of the flexible substrate having a shoe adhesive material creating a shoe adhesion layer, whereby, the shoe side of the flexible substrate is affixed to an inner surface of the pointe shoe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shoe adhesive material is a temporary adhesive allowing for the pointe shoe ribbon apparatus to be removably secured to the pointe shoe.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flexible substrate further comprises: a plurality of measurement indicators to allow for adjustment to the length of the pointe shoe ribbon apparatus prior to being affixed to the pointe shoe.

8. A method for attaching a dance shoe support to a dance shoe utilizing a dance shoe support apparatus having a flexible substrate having a support side and a shoe side, the support side having a first adhesive material creating a first adhesion layer on the shoe support side, the shoe side having a second adhesive material creating a second adhesion layer on the shoe side, the method comprising the steps of: affixing the support side to the dance shoe support; and affixing the shoe side to an inner surface of the dance shoe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0018] In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art dance shoe.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention being affixed to a dance shoe.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a side cross section view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a shoe side view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a shoe side view of an additional embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a shoe view of the embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention of FIG. 5 in operation.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a prior art ballet pointe shoe 10 is disclosed. Pointe shoe 10 is secured to a dancer's foot and ankle 14 by a pointe shoe ribbon 12. While this embodiment is directed toward a pointe shoe 10 and a pointe shoe ribbon 12, such is not limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus of the present invention may be utilized with other types of dance shoes that require support being attached thereto, and those dance shoe supports, are within the scope of the present invention.

[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, an embodiment of an apparatus 20 for attaching a pointe shoe ribbon 12 to a pointe shoe 10. Apparatus 20 includes a flexible substrate 22 having a support side 26 and a shoe side 24. The support side 26 has a first adhesive material 27 creating a first adhesion layer 30 on the support side 26. First adhesion layer 30 allows support side 26 to be affixed to one side of pointe shoe ribbon 12. The shoe side 24 has a second adhesive material 29 creating a second adhesion layer 28 on the shoe side 24. Substrate 22 may be constructed of any flexible material that is capable of having adhesive adhere thereto, such as plastics based and paper based materials.

[0029] Second adhesion layer 28 allows shoe side 24 to be affixed to an inside surface 18 of pointe shoe 10. Substrate 20 may be affixed from the insole 17 to the top 19 of the inside surface. By affixing pointe shoe ribbon 12 to pointe shoe 10 with the adhesive layered substrate 20, the dancer is able to secure the pointe shoe ribbon 12 in a more efficient and effective manner, without the need to learn any sewing techniques.

[0030] In some embodiments, first adhesive material 27 and second adhesive material 29 are composed of adhesive material sufficient to adhere flexible substrate 20 a pointe shoe. In some embodiments, first adhesive material 27 and second adhesive material 29 are composed of the same adhesion material. However, in other embodiments, as the adhesion requirements for securing substrate 20 to pointe shoe ribbon 12 may differ from the adhesion requirements for securing substrate 20 to pointe shoe 10, first adhesive material 27 and second adhesive material 29 may be different adhesion materials. Once such situation may be when it is desirable to remove pointe shoe ribbon 12 from pointe shoe 10, while keeping substrate 20 affixed to pointe shoe ribbon 12. In such situation, first adhesive material 27 may be a permanent adhesive composition, while second adhesive material 29 may be a temporary adhesive composition.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first adhesive layer 28 is not quite flush with shoe side 24. This is illustrative and not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize the both adhesive layers 28, 30 may be extended to the full extent of their respective shoe side 24 and support 26.

[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, an additional embodiment of flexible substrate 50 is disclosed. In this embodiment, substrate 50 includes a support side and a shoe side 52, along a first adhesion layer and a second adhesion layer, as set out above. Flexible substrate 50 further includes a plurality of tabs 60 to allow for the adjustment to the length of the flexible substrate 50 and pointe shoe ribbon 62 prior to being affixed to a pointe shoe. Tab 60 is a measurement indicator and allows for the dancer to adjust the length of substrate 50 prior to being affixed to pointe shoe ribbon 62 and/or after being affixed to pointe shoe ribbon 62 but before being affixed to a pointe shoe. For example, the dancer may cut the substrate along line AA, as illustrated in FIG. 7. These adjustments allow the dancer to adjust the length of pointe shoe ribbon 62 in order to provide sufficient support for the dancer as well as to provide an aesthetic look to the pointe shoes and pointe shoe ribbons 62.

[0033] In some embodiments, a pointe shoe ribbon may be provided have a substrate as set out above with a pointe shoe adhesion layer for affixing to an inner surface of a pointe shoe.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a method 100 for attaching a pointe shoe ribbon to a pointe shoe utilizing an apparatus disclosed above is disclosed. Method 100 includes affixing the support side to the dance shoe support at step 110 and affixing the shoe side to an inner surface of the dance shoe at step 120.

[0035] While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein.

[0036] Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.