Abstract: A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed protective pieces in ball and heel areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and heel portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. An elastic band extends in a figure eight configuration from the front of the cover, beneath the arch of the foot where the band overlaps, and around the heel to provide arch support and to hold the cover on the foot.

Abstract: A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.

Abstract: A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.

Abstract: A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed protective pieces in ball and heel areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and heel portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. An elastic band extends in a figure eight configuration from the front of the cover, beneath the arch of the foot where the band overlaps, and around the heel to provide arch support and to hold the cover on the foot.

Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe upper made of flexible material, the shoe upper including a toe region, a heel region, a foot opening at the heel region, and an arch region extending between the toe region and the heel region. A split sole is secured to a bottom of the shoe upper, the split sole including a front sole under the toe region of the shoe upper and a rear sole under the heel region of the shoe upper, the front and rear soles being spaced from one another for defining a gap between the front and rear soles that extends along the bottom of the shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe upper made of flexible material, the shoe upper including a toe region, a heel region, a foot opening at the heel region, and an arch region extending between the toe region and the heel region. A split sole is secured to a bottom of the shoe upper, the split sole including a front sole under the toe region of the shoe upper and a rear sole under the heel region of the shoe upper, the front and rear soles being spaced from one another for defining a gap between the front and rear soles that extends along the bottom of the shoe upper.

Abstract: A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.

Abstract: A ballet shoe that includes a front shoe upper which defines a front portion of the shoe, a rear shoe upper which defines a rear portion of the shoe, and a gusset located at the underfoot and between the front portion of the shoe and the rear portion of the shoe to define a central portion of the underfoot of the shoe. The gusset has a generally diamond shape with an apex toward the front portion and an apex toward the rear portion. The front and rear portions of the shoe are complementary shaped to the shape of the gusset. The gusset extends completely across the central underside portion of the shoe, so that there is no seam extending longitudinally under the central portion of the shoe.

Abstract: A ballet shoe that includes a front shoe upper which defines a front portion of the shoe, a rear shoe upper which defines a rear portion of the shoe, and a gusset located at the underfoot and between the front portion of the shoe and the rear portion of the shoe to define a central portion of the underfoot of the shoe. The gusset has a generally diamond shape with an apex toward the front portion and an apex toward the rear portion. The front and rear portions of the shoe are complementary shaped to the shape of the gusset. The gusset extends completely across the central underside portion of the shoe, so that there is no seam extending longitudinally under the central portion of the shoe.

Abstract: A shoe for dance or athletics. The shoe includes a shoe upper having a respective toe portion, a ball portion and a heel portion. A split sole beneath the shoe upper. The split sole includes a front sole under the toe portion of the shoe upper, a middle sole under the ball portion of the shoe upper and a rear sole under the heel portion of the shoe upper. A mid-flex portion between the middle sole and the rear sole and a front-flex portion between the front sole and the middle sole enables the shoe to bend easily at the flex portions.

Abstract: A shoe, e.g. for dance or athletics, having a split sole, with a front portion at the front of the foot, a rear portion beneath the rear of the foot and no sole beneath the mid-section of the shoe upper at the mid-section of the foot, beneath the arch. To help support the foot and prevent sag of the mid-section of the shoe upper, a band of flexible, but non-stretchable, fabric is stitched inside the shoe upper to extend from the bottom of the shoe upper, up the sides of the shoe upper, to the top of the shoe upper. The stitched in material supports the mid-section of the bottom of the shoe upper against sagging, while permitting the foot to be flexed. If the shoe has a split top side of the upper and is closed or laced, the closing of the top of the shoe upper pulls up on the band.

Abstract: A shoe primarily for dance including separate front and rear portions connected at their respective undersides by a narrow width elastic strip extending between the opposing edges of the shoe portions. A strap toward the top of the uppers connects the front and rear portions also. A sole beneath the front portion and a heel beneath the rear portion.

Abstract: A dancer's shoe, slipper or the like having a stiff sole comprised of split front and rear soles separated at the arch. To enable the dancer to stand on pointe, the front sole is "cup" shaped with a generally "C" shaped cross-section. The upstanding wall of the front sole is attached to the sides and may extend up the front of the shoe box. This enables the front sole to bend upward around an axis across the foot when the foot bends but prevents the front sole from bending downward around such an axis which enables the dancer to stand on pointe on the tip of the shoe. The wall may be notched to facilitate bending at a particular location. There may be a rear sole spaced from the front sole behind the arch. To stiffen the shoe body, a toe box is provided in the front portion of the shoe upper.

Abstract: A ballet dancer's shoe that reduces noise occurring when a ballet dancer bangs a toe portion of the shoe against the floor. The shoe comprises a shank and a shoe upper comprising a plurality of fabric layers. A foam pad is located between two of the layers of the upper. The pad extends down in front of the toe portion and underneath the front of the shank, and also wraps along the sides of the toe portion. The foam pad absorbs impact when the padded front end or padded bottom beneath the front of the shank of the ballet shoe are banged against the floor to reduce noise normally generated.

Abstract: A ballet dancer's toe dancing ballet shoe is designed and manufactured more simply than conventional ballet toe shoes. A sole supporting shank of the toe shoe has a tip flap at the front thereof which may be folded up to define the front panel of the completed ballet toe shoe. The shank is applied to a male mold member which is inserted into a female mold member cavity and resin is inserted into the space between the mold members for defining a toe box support frame in which the inserted portion of the shank and tip flap are embedded. The shank is comprised of a leather-like material. The completed combination of the shank and toe box support frame are removed from the mold members. A ballet toe shoe upper is fastened to the shank and over the exterior and in the interior, as well, of the toe box support frame.

Abstract: A ballet dancer's toe dancing ballet shoe is designed and manufactured more simply than conventional ballet toe shoes. A sole supporting shank of the toe shoe has a tip flap at the front thereof which may be folded up to define the front panel of the completed ballet toe shoe. The shank is applied to a male mold member which is inserted into a female mold member cavity and resin is inserted into the space between the mold members for defining a toe box support frame in which the inserted portion of the shank and tip flap are embedded. The shank is comprised of a leather-like material. The completed combination of the shank and toe box support frame are removed from the mold members. A ballet toe shoe upper is fastened to the shank and over the exterior and in the interior, as well, of the toe box support frame.