Footwear having surface-detecting protrusions

Abstract

A piece of footwear including an upper portion operably configured to at least partially surround a user's foot, a sole having an outsole and an insole, and at least one surface-detecting protrusion spanning through the sole. The insole and the upper portion define a foot placement zone. The at least one surface-detecting protrusion includes a proximal end defining a foot contact surface disposed within the foot placement zone. The proximal end is in a spaced relationship away from the insole. The at least one surface-detecting protrusion also includes a distal end, opposite the proximal end. The distal end defines an outer contact surface disposed in a spaced relationship away from the outsole. The foot contact surface is operably configured to translate when the outer contact surface is subjected to a compression force.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 105,940 filed on Jan. 21, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly, relates to footwear having a sole and a plurality of surface-detecting protrusions spanning through the sole.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The human foot contains numerous nerve receptors that provide sensory feedback to the brain. The sensory information provided by the feet informs the brain of the type of environment underneath the feet. The brain utilizes this feedback of information to produce many varied adaptive movements of the body. These adaptive movements may serve the purpose of protecting the feet from harmful surfaces, maintaining balance, and ensuring coordinated movement. While driving, the brain processes sensory information from the feet that also serves ada...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a piece of footwear with a sole that has multiple surface-detecting protrusions spanning through it. These protrusions provide the footwear with the ability to detect and locate the user's foot within the footwear. The protrusions can be made of different materials and can be fixedly or removably coupled to the sole. The technical effects of this invention include improved fit, comfort, and improved performance.

Problems solved by technology

If sensory feedback from the foot to the brain is compromised during a task such as driving, the results can be catastrophic.

A number of medical complications, including diabetes, can impair the body's ability to provide appropriate sensory feedback.

Compromised haptic sense and proprioception can become particularly problematic in real world tasks.

For example, individuals having diabetic neuropathy of the feet, often have difficulty sensing where the gas and brake pedals are while driving.

Compromised sense of touch in the feet may also result in problems in sustaining adequate pressure on the gas or brake pedals.

This condition is especially problematic, if not dangerous and even life-threatening, when the driver so impaired fails to maintain adequate pressure on the brake at a red light or in stop-and-go traffic.

This is especially true in cases where proprioception has been compromised such that there is marked difficulty and consequential delays when shifting to and from the gas and brake pedals.

Numerous other examples may be cited of how reduced sensory feedback, as a result of diabetes or other conditions, may adversely affect an individual.

Diminished sensory feedback may lead to toe scuffing which can present its own special challenges to individuals with diabetes in terms of healing.

Diminished sensory feedback may also lead to a greater risk of tripping and falling which carry with them their own great risk for harm and injury.

Unfortunately, the typical design of a diabetic shoe has nothing at all to do with enhancing haptics, proprioception or sensory feedback in general.

However, known footwear supplied for these, as well as all other known industries and recreational and other applications, provides the wearer with neither the added benefit of enhanced sensory feedback from the surface touched by the footwear, nor enhancement of the wearer's proprioception or haptic sense.

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