Open-toe footwear base member system

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an open-toe footwear system including a base member, toe post, and strap member. The toe post is coupled to the base member at a region corresponding to a location between the user's big toe and adjacent toe. The base member includes a forefoot member and a hindfoot member having different densities. The hindfoot member is denser and / or stiffer than the forefoot member. The base member may further include a top and bottom member between which the forefoot and hindfoot members are disposed. The forefoot member and hindfoot member may be intercoupled and respectively positioned to be under the respective forefoot and hindfoot regions of a user's foot. The forefoot member may be shaped to anatomically correspond to the phalanx and metatarsal regions of the user's foot. The hindfoot member may be shaped to anatomically correspond to the heel and arch regions of the user's foot.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention generally relates to open-toe footwear. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved base member system for an open-toe footwear system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Open-toe footwear comprises various footwear systems that include a supportive base member disposed under the sole of the foot, along with a retaining system to hold the foot on the base member. One particular type of open-toe footwear is a sandal or flip-flop that includes a specific triangular foot retaining system. The foot retaining system of a flip-flop commonly includes a toe post and two lateral foot posts intercoupled via a strap member. The toe post and lateral foot posts are coupled to the base member. The toe post is positioned on the base member so as to align with the region of the foot between the first and second toes. The lateral foot posts are positioned on the base member on either side of the user's foot with respect to the toe post. The stra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Embodiments of the present invention represent a significant advance in the field of open-toe footwear. Open-toe footwear systems such as sandals, flip flops, Zori, etc. are generally associated with a lack of sole support and therefore an increased impact force upon a user's foot. Prior art improved open-toe footwear has attempted to address this problem via a cushioned base member. However, a uniformly soft / cushioned base member fails to overcome the problem of impact force without simultaneously introducing other problems. For example, a uniformly cushioned base member either incorporates force absorption or support characteristics depending on the density / stiffness of the cushioning. A cushioned base member with a low density / stiffness improves force absorption but decreases support performance. Likewise, a cushioned based member with a relative high density / stiffness improves support but decreases force absorption performance. Embodiments of the present invention overcome these failures by utilizing a base member comprising a separate forefoot member and hindfoot member having different densities. The forefoot member is less dense / stiff, thereby optimizing force-absorption at the anatomical impact region. As a user's foot articulates or rolls from heel to toe during the walking motion, the forefoot member provides a smooth transition to the forefoot. The hindfoot member is more dense / stiff, thereby optimizing support by elevating / supporting a user's heel and arch regions. The stiffer hindfoot member also optimizes shock absorption during heel strike to mitigate the higher impact force between the heel region and the ground.

Problems solved by technology

However, a uniformly soft / cushioned base member fails to overcome the problem of impact force without simultaneously introducing other problems.

A cushioned base member with a low density / stiffness improves force absorption but decreases support performance.

Likewise, a cushioned based member with a relative high density / stiffness improves support but decreases force absorption performance.

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