Footwear with Metatarsal Offloading

Abstract

A high heeled shoe and shoe sole insert are provided that are configured to provide relief from the forces on the foot created by walking in high heels. The shoe comprises a layered sole having an outsole, a midsole, and an insole. The midsole of the shoe comprises a cutout that is positioned over the metatarsal pressure point of the user's foot when positioned within the shoe. The cutout is filled with a shock absorbing material, such as Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, and includes a layer of paperboard for further cushioning. The shoe sole insert similarly includes a metatarsal padded region and a medial longitudinal arch pad to provide a layer of cushioning above the midsole of a user's footwear. The present invention provides relief while wearing high heels by cushioning the user's foot in high pressure zones, thereby relieving the pressure and reducing injuries or soreness.

Claims

1. A high heeled shoe, consisting of: a sole comprising an outsole, a midsole, an insole, a forward toe portion, a metatarsal head region and a rear heel portion; the forward toe portion configured to correspond in position to a toe region of a wearer's foot; the metatarsal head region configured to correspond in position to a metatarsal region of the wearer's foot; whereby the midsole is covered by a coextensive layer of material disposed between the midsole and the insole; the midsole and the coextensive layer of material comprising a single cutout positioned at the metatarsal head region, the single cutout contained entirely within the metatarsal head region; the single cutout having a depth less than a depth of the midsole, wherein the single cutout extends through more than one layer of the sole; a shock absorbing material positioned within and enclosed by the single cutout, the shock absorbing material disposed between the insole and a lower surface of the single cutout; whereby the shock absorbing material is adapted for attenuating forces in the metatarsal region of the wearer's foot while walking.

2. A high heeled shoe, consisting of: a sole comprising an outsole, a midsole, an insole, a forward toe portion, a metatarsal head region, and a rear heel portion; the forward toe portion configured to correspond in position to a toe region of a wearer's foot; the metatarsal head region configured to correspond in position to a metatarsal region of the wearer's foot; whereby the midsole is covered by a coextensive layer of material disposed between the midsole and the insole; the midsole and the coextensive layer of material comprising a single cutout positioned at the metatarsal head region, the single cutout contained entirely within the metatarsal head region; the single cutout having an upper edge and an opposing lower edge, wherein the upper edge and the lower edge are disposed entirely on distinct planes parallel to one another each plane traversing an outermost lateral edge of the sole to an outermost medial edge of the sole; wherein the single cutout extends entirely from the outermost lateral edge of the sole to the outermost medial edge of the sole; a shock absorbing material positioned within and enclosed by the single cutout, the shock absorbing material disposed between the insole and a lower surface of the single cutout; whereby the shock absorbing material is adapted for attenuating forces in the metatarsal region of the wearer's foot while walking.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

[0023] FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of the shoe and insert design of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the shoe with metatarsal head and medial longitudinal padded inserts.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an overhead view of the padded inserts within the sole of the shoe.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a user's foot within the shoe of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the sole insert. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing relief for a person wearing high heeled shoes. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a cross-sectional view of the high heel shoe of the present invention, whereby the shoe includes a padded insert that is configured for shock absorption and includes a metatarsal head cutout 35 therein for additional padding. The sole of the high heel shoe 10 includes a modified design, comprises an insole 20, a midsole 25, and an outsole 30 section vertically disposed therethrough and adapted to alleviate pain while walking therein. From front to back, the sole comprises a forward toe portion 11, a metatarsal head region 12 and a rear heel portion 13.

[0029] The midsole cutout 35 is a cavity within the midsole 25 that is filled with a shock absorbing material 40. The shock absorbing material 40 provides cushioning to the metatarsal head region of the user's foot when positioned therein, which helps to offload the pressure that would otherwise be exerted onto the metatarsal head region of the user when walking and standing. The shock absorbing material 40 is preferably comprised of Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, also known as expanded rubber or rubber foam. Shape of the shoe and the relative heights of the forward toe portion 11, a metatarsal head region 12 and a rear heel portion 13 are configured to position the metatarsal head region of the user's foot over the cutout 35, which creates a posterior shift the wearer's center of gravity and positions the cutout 35 in the optimum location to absorb energy. The shape of the shoe also lessens the pelvic tilt of the wearer, thereby lessening the degree to which the wearer leans backwards to maintain balance. The posterior shift also reduces strain on the knees, hips, and lower back.

[0030] A layer of paperboard 22 is positioned above the midsole 25 to further dissipate the forces of impact while a user is walking or standing. The paperboard 22 may include an open portion adapted to accept therethrough the shock absorbing material 40 of the midsole 25 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) or the paperboard 22 may be coextensive with the midsole 25 and be positioned over the shock absorbing material 40 thereof. The insole 20, which comprises either a uniform foam padding material or a composite design, is positioned over the paperboard 22 layer. The combination of the insole layers serves to provide a cushioning layer configured for dissipating the forces that act on the foot of a user during use of high heels.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1B, there is shown a cross-sectional view of the high heel shoe 10, whereby the insole 20 of the shoe includes multiple padded regions that are configured for shock absorption. The insole 20 shown in FIG. 1B is a composite design having a defined a forward toe portion 11, a metatarsal padding region 42, a medial longitudinal arch pad 45, and a rear heel portion 12. The metatarsal padding region 42 comprises a foam padded region forward for the longitudinal arch pad 45 along the insert, while the medial longitudinal arch pad 45 thereof is orthopedically shaped to follow the curve of the user's medial longitudinal arch to provide support thereto. This insole 20 design provides support to the medial arch, helps to control excessive pronation or foot flattening, and prevents foot, leg and lower back fatigue. The metatarsal padding region 42 is positioned over the cutout 35 in the midsole 25, which provides support to the metatarsal region of the foot and offloads pressure that is concentrated on the ball of the foot. The combination of the metatarsal shock absorbing material 40 of the midsole, the metatarsal padding region 42 thereover, and the longitudinal arch padding 45, the assembly provides considerable foot pain relief while wearing the shoe 10.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an overhead view of the composite padded insert 20 adapted to be positioned within the sole of a high heeled shoe and above the midsole. The composite padded insert 20 comprises a forward toe portion 11, a metatarsal padding region 42, a medial longitudinal arch pad 45, and a rear heel portion 12. The metatarsal padding region 42 extends laterally across the insert, while the medial longitudinal arch pad 45 is n arch-shaped pad aft of the metatarsal padding region 42. The metatarsal padding region 42 and the longitudinal pads 45 are preferably comprised of a shock absorbing foam, such as EVA, for shock absorption and energy attenuation received directly from the bottom of a user's foot. The metatarsal padding region 40 is adapted to be placed over the padded cutout of the midsole and the medial longitudinal arch pad 45 contours to the user's arch, wherein both are padded and retain their position along the interior of the shoe by way of the shape of the insert. The shape of the insert is the same as the shape of the shoe and is coextensive therewith, which comprises a rear heel portion, a metatarsal head region and a toe portion.

[0033] The medial longitudinal arch pad 45 comprises a contoured layer of shock absorbing material that includes a first thickness region 46 and a second thickness region 47. The thickness of the first region 46 is preferably less than the thickness of the second region 47. The medial longitudinal arch pad 45 contours to the natural lines of a user's arch and provides a pad thereunder to fill the natural gap between the user's arch and the insole, or to support an otherwise pronating arch of a user while walking.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a user's foot within the shoe of the present invention, wherein the uniform insole 20 is shown. A paperboard layer 22 is positioned between the midsole 25 and the padded insole 20, where in the paperboard layer 22 covers the padded cutout 35 thereof. The paperboard 22 absorbs the pressure exerted on the sole of the shoe below the insole, and provides a springboard effect in the metatarsal region of the foot. As the weight of the wearer transfers to the metatarsal region, it compresses the paperboard 22 and shock absorbing material 40 within the cutout 35, which distributes the forces that would otherwise be transferred from the shoe and into the foot. The paperboard 22 and shock absorbing material 40 compress, dissipate the force, and spring back to their original position.

[0035] The depth and positioning of the metatarsal region cutout can be adapted to ensure proper posterior shift of the wearer's center of gravity is achieved. Additionally, the location of the medial longitudinal arch pad 45 and metatarsal padding region 42 can be tailored within the padded insole 20 to ensure proper offloading occurs. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention can include a cutout aperture in the paperboard 22 that aligns with the metatarsal region. The aperture creates an opening for the inclusion of EVA foam to support the metatarsal region in place of conventional paperboard. This provides additional offloading in the metatarsal region.

[0036] It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0037] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.