Dance footwear

Abstract

A dance sock including features and materials to increase horizontal friction and decrease pivot friction between the sock and a surface.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 825,415, filed May 20, 2013 and titled DANCE FOOTWEAR, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to footwear for dancers or other athletes that perform barefoot exercises on hard surfaces. In particular, the present invention relates to a sock having a sole that comprises a fabric having a nap configured to provide the wearer with traction, yet permits the wearer to twist and pivot their foot relative to the floor without displacing or bunching the sock.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music. It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in spiritual or performance settings, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story.[0004]Dancers generally combine th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In summary, the present invention is dance footwear comprising a sock that can be worn with or without dance shoes. The sock generally comprises a tube of fabric having a closed end and an open end. The sock further comprises a sole having a heal end and a toe end. In some implementations, the sole includes a pad comprising a material that increases lateral or horizontal friction between the sock and a hard surface (such as a hardwood floor), while reducing pivot friction between the sock and the hard surface. As such, the material allows the wearer to twist or pivot on the pad, yet prevents undesired slippage between the sock and the hard surface when the wearer is walking, running or performing other lateral or horizontal movements. When worn with dance shoes, the pad material prevents slippage between the wearer's foot and the insole of the shoe.

Problems solved by technology

These movements are difficult to perform and taxing to the dancer's feet.

This specialized footwear is expensive and therefore dancers limit the use and wearing of this footwear as much as possible.

Barefoot dancing provides the dancer with sufficient traction, yet limits the dancer's ability to twist and pivot without injuring the dancer's soles.

Thus, barefoot dancing is arduous and often results in injuries to the dancer's feet.

Further still, some products provide protection to the dancer's feet yet interfere with foot traction.

Thus, while techniques and products currently exist to assist and protect a dancer's feet while dancing barefoot, challenges still exist.

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