False heel training shoe component

Abstract

A footwear component is disclosed for the purpose of adding athletic and muscle-toning benefit to virtually any shoe type by way of manufacturing in a false heel. The false heel is comprised of a pliable yet durable material that covers and hides a gap that is created by the lack of midsole support under the heel portion of the boot for the purpose of engaging leg muscles that are normally at rest when the heel is supported. The gap is defined by the heel portion of a full, ground-contacting outsole and the heel portion of the boot. By covering this gap, the wearer is afforded a normal shoe appearance while getting a gradual all day muscle-toning workout. In more athletic embodiments of the present invention, the shoe can convert to a better-performing configuration by drawing up and securing the heel portion of the outsole via a hidden or not hidden strap or straps and a pivot point designed into the outsole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application makes specific reference to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/699,632 which has a USPTO Filing Date of Jul. 18, 2005.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to footwear that provide athletic benefit through a frontal platform design that supports only the forefoot leaving the heel unsupported thereby employing and stimulating leg muscles that positively influence athletic movements such as running and jumping. In many cases, the method of training called, ‘plyometrics’ is referred to because the shoes are designed specifically for athletic training. The present invention adds a new component to such shoes that allows them to be designed to look like normal, everyday shoes of any type; athletic, casual, dress, etc. By shifting the aesthetic dynamic of frontal platform shoes, or, similarly, altering the midsole composition of normal, everyday shoes of any and all kinds, a normal-looking, all-day training and muscle-toning shoe results. The challenge for the field of athletic enhancement footwear has always been that they look different and therefore, are only worn during workouts in practice. The present invention allows for the normalization of shoes in this field or, more simply, allows for the manufactured altering of normal, everyday shoes of virtually all types to become non-apparent, all-day athletic training and/or muscle-toning shoes.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention is most simply understood as a design modification to any type of everyday footwear as opposed to an added component to the field of prior art known as frontal platform (plyometric) athletic training shoes. In either case, the present invention relates to the prior art of the latter as opposed to the former. There are primarily four patents that cover the related scope of prior art as shoes that capitalize on the frontal platform design for athletic benefit. First, Cox (U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,500) discloses a full-shoe version of the frontal platform training shoe. Then Kim (U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,799) discloses an attachment that allows the user to simply attach the frontal platform element of the Cox invention to one's own athletic footwear. Lombardino (U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,322) then discloses athletic footwear that converts to the frontal platform design by way of a removable heel portion of the shoe for when the user is ready to train plyometrically. Hayes (U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,361) discloses materials that decrease the vertical deflection or surface resistance within the frontal platform portion itself to intensify the plyometric workout just as running or jumping in the deep sand of a beach would intensify any pedal workout. In all four cases, the shoes, when in athletic training configuration, accomplish non-support of the heel by having nothing there. The present invention improves the art of each of these designs by accomplishing non-support of the heel by adding a ‘false heel’.

The use of an entire outsole in a plyometric shoe configuration is new to this field. This element serves to define a gap or vacancy that becomes the false heel. The false heel serves to normalize the look of the footwear, broaden the types of footwear that can be manufactured as frontal platform shoes, and provides alternatives to intense, sometimes harmful, plyometric workouts. The present invention opens the door to gradual, all-day workouts that are accomplished by simply putting on shoes that have the false heel component and going about one's day normally. Activities like shopping, walking to class, standing in line, etc. become gradual, low-intensity workouts where the user's appearance and outfit can be whatever it would normally be for that day. Additionally, the present invention does disclose a simple conversion device for when workouts do intensify to plyometric-oriented movements for shoe types that would allow such activity safely.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The False Heel Training Shoe Component is most simply understood as a modification to virtually any shoe type that has a midsole or elevation-oriented outsole. Whatever raises the foot off the ground in a given footwear design is simply eliminated from only the heel portion of the shoe. What remains, in simplest terms, is the boot of the shoe, the forefoot portion of the midsole, and the entire ground-contacting outsole; this is a primary point of distinction. Employing a full outsole serves to define the bottom portion of the gap or vacancy under the heel. When covered, this gap becomes the false heel. The False Heel Training Shoe Component covers this gap through a number of material and design options thereby normalizing the shoe aesthetically and broadening its applications. Low intensity movements now provide athletic and muscle-toning benefit by employing the muscles of the leg that are normally at rest when the heels bear one's body weight. If the shoe design is even slightly athletic in design, the user may want to intensify athletic movements to speed-walking, jogging, running, or plyometric movements. For such applications the present invention allows for the rearward portion of the false heel to be drawn up so that the outsole is raised to meet the boot at the very back of the shoe. This conversion sacrifices the normal look of the footwear for better feel and performance during more intense athletic movements. A pivot-point is designed into the outsole and a hidden or non-hidden strap is used at the rear-most portion of the shoe that originates at the outsole, runs through or outside the false heel, upward through a block or the top of the heel of the boot, and secures by hook and loop or other means in either position.

The false heel is constructed by conjoining the heel portion of the boot to that of the outsole with any number of durable yet pliable materials. Functionally, the material must collapse when compressed, essentially providing no resistance to one's bodyweight. Additionally, it is best if the material does not stretch because its second job is to keep the outsole connected to the boot at the heel especially when the shoe lifts off the ground. Aesthetically, the material can be chosen to replicate the look of the midsole that exists in the forward portion of the shoe but there are many shoe designs that intentionally differ the looks of the forward and rearward midsoles. Typically, the chosen material is sewn into both the boot and the outsole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing how and where the major components of a shoe that incorporates The False Heel Training Shoe Component would conjoin upon construction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the constructed False Heel Training Shoe Component in its un-raised position that presents the shoe as normal footwear.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the constructed False Heel Training Shoe Component in its raised position that sacrifices the shoe's normal look for better feel and performance during athletic movements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows how and where the major components of a shoe that incorporates The False Heel Training Shoe Component would conjoin upon construction. Notice first how Outsole 1 is full length. It does not end where Half Midsole 2 ends at a point that corresponds to the rear-most portion of the ball of the foot as it would in a known frontal platform shoe configuration. Rather, Outsole 1 extends underneath the full length of Boot 3. Pliable Material 4 is shown between the heel portions of both Outsole 1 and Boot 3. Upon construction, the preferred embodiment of the invention calls for Pliable Material 4 to be sewn into Boot 1 along its outer curved edge and correspondingly into Outsole 1. Pliable Material 4 must give freely under the wearer's body weight as a canvas or tight netting material would. It must also be strong and wear-resistant to maintain a consistent connection between Outsole 1 and Boot 3 when the shoe is lifted during walking, running, and jumping. This construction defines a gap or vacancy under the wearer's heel where there is no midsole support. Notice how Half Midsole 2 would only support the wearer's forefoot upon construction into the front of Outsole 1 and underneath the forefoot portion of Boot 3. All of the components can be manufactured according to standard practices for each. For example, injection molding of Outsole 1 and Half Midsole 2, and sewing of materials for Boot 3. The resulting constructed embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of The False Heel Training Shoe Component in its normal, everyday shoe configuration where the heel portion of Outsole 1 is fully extended downward from the heel portion of Boot 3. The appearance of the shoe is normal and the application may be walking to class or shopping. Any type of pedal movement requires both a ground contact phase (foot on the ground supporting body weight) and a non-ground contact phase (foot is off the ground, not supporting bodyweight) The present invention requires the wearer to bear their bodyweight on their forefoot (ball of foot and toes) which automatically engages muscles of the lower leg that are otherwise at rest when bodyweight is supported by the heels. Naturally, the heel will sink down into the gap beneath it during initial ground contact simply because there is nothing supporting the heel in the present invention. Pliable Material 4 is the only thing between Outsole 1 and Boot 3 and it is designed to give freely during ground contact yet maintain connection during the non-ground contact phase of pedal movements.

FIG. 3 depicts the same embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 but in its training configuration. This is where Outsole 1 is drawn up tightly to Boot 3 fully compressing Pliable Material 4 between. Heel Strap 5 makes this configuration possible. Heel Strap 5 is secured to the rearmost portion of Outsole 1 by either being sewn into it just as Pliable Material 4, or, it can run through a slot that is designed into the mold of Outsole 1. Heel Strap 5 runs upward and through Block 6 which is positioned near the outer, top heel portion of Boot 3 as shown. This configuration is achieved simply by pulling Heel Strap 5 to get Outsole 1 into position. Pivot Point 7 facilitates this conversion from the normal, everyday configuration to that of the training configuration. Pivot Point 7 is located at a point on Outsole 1 that is just past where Half Midsole 2 ends as shown. Designed into the mold of Outsole 1 are serrations that run horizontally across Outsole 1; these serrations comprise Pivot Point 7 and allow the rearward half of outsole one to remain as flat as possible in the training configuration. Pivot Point 7 can also be created as an actual hinge if so desired. This configuration provides for a more connected feel between the heel portions of Outsole 1 and Boot 3 during running and bounding movements that are typical of plyometric training; this enhances the athletic performance of the shoe as a whole. Additional straps can be incorporated thereby further stabilizing the connection between Outsole 1 and Boot 3 in both configurations of the present invention.

Additionally, Heel Strap 5 can be hidden in Boot 3 by simply connecting and extending it inside Pliable Material 4 and Boot 3. This is done by sewing Heel Strap 5 into Outsole 1 inside of Pliable Material 4 and then creating a slot in the rear-bottom of Boot 3 that continues upward running vertically within the heel portion of Boot 3 and exiting at a position that correlates precisely to that of Block 6 and functioning as Block 6.

Both configurations of the preferred embodiment of the invention allow the wearer to put the heel down to rest and/or stretch their leg muscles. By employing a full outsole as Outsole 1, a ground-contacting medium is inherent at the heel despite the gap that is needed by all frontal platform designs. The present invention is designed with a lower profile and therefore allows for heel-resting even while walking.

Claims

1. A false heel shoe component that provides aesthetic and functional improvement to the known frontal platform training shoe designs that afford athletic benefit through their use, the false heel shoe component comprising;

a complete outsole that defines a gap between itself and the unsupported heel portion of the shoe's boot when incorporated into a known frontal platform training shoe configuration;

a durable, pliable material that has specific functional properties that allow it to collapse without resistance under bodyweight yet keep said outsole and said boot conjoined when said shoe is lifted;

a strap or a plurality of straps for alternatively raising and securing heel portion of said complete outsole for better feel and performance during specifically athletic movements;

wherein said durable, pliable material covers said gap by conjoining said boot with said heel along the outer edge of each thereby disguising said shoe as a normal shoe for all day wearing and gradual athletic benefit from low impact everyday activities.

2. The false heel shoe component of claim 1 that provides aesthetic and functional improvement to the known frontal platform training shoe designs that afford athletic benefit through their use, wherein said complete outsole is designed with a pivot/flex point comprised of serrations that run horizontally across said complete outsole at a position that correlates to the rearward ball of the foot.

3. The false heel shoe component of claim 1 that provides aesthetic and functional improvement to the known frontal platform training shoe designs that afford athletic benefit through their use, wherein said durable, pliable material simulates the appearance of the material that would normally support the heel of the wearer for that particular shoe type and design be it casual, athletic, dress, or other thereby normalizing the appearance of the shoe.

4. The false heel shoe component of claim 1 that provides aesthetic and functional improvement to the known frontal platform training shoe designs that afford athletic benefit through their use, wherein said strap or plurality of straps for alternatively raising and securing, heel portion of said complete outsole can be hidden in the heel portion of said boot originating and attached to the top heel portion of said outsole extending and adjustably securing over the top portion of the heel of said boot.

5. The false heel shoe component of claim 1 that provides aesthetic and functional improvement to the known frontal platform training shoe designs that afford athletic benefit through their use, wherein said strap or plurality of straps for alternatively raising and securing heel portion of said complete outsole is not hidden and can be seen as a feature originating and attached to the outer heel portion of said outsole extending through blocks and adjustably securing over the top block positioned at the top of the heel of said boot.