Internal shank for footwear having independent toe platforms

Abstract

An article of footwear for increased athleticism utilizing independently articulating toe platforms. The footwear includes a first toe platform and a second toe platform disposed in a toe portion of the footwear that are either physically separated from one another via a cut in the toe portion or a flexible segment extending through the toe portion. A toe post is configured to engage between a first toe of a user's foot and a second toe of the user's foot. The first toe is configured to contact the first toe platform and the second toe is configured to contact the second toe platform. Additional toe platforms and/or toe posts may be utilized. The footwear may include a topsole, a midsole and an outsole. A stiffening agent may be disposed between the midsole and the outsole for resisting bending of the footwear and/or for helping protect the user's foot from external objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shank for footwear comprising:
 a base having a heel end and a toe end, the base configured to be coupled within a sole of the footwear and having
 a first planar element positioned at the toe end of the base and 
 a second planar element positioned at the toe end of the base, the second planar element adjacent to the first planar element 
   wherein the first planar element and the second planar element are configured to independently move with respect to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The shank of  claim 1  wherein the base, the first planar element and the second planar element are configured to be formed from a single shank material. 
     
     
         3 . The shank of  claim 2  wherein the shank material forming the base, the first planar element and the second planar element is a thermoplastic compound. 
     
     
         4 . The shank of  claim 2  wherein the shank material forming the base, the first planar element and the second planar element is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, steel and graphite. 
     
     
         5 . The shank of  claim 1  further comprising a first protrusion positioned on the first planar element and a second protrusion positioned on the second planar element, the first and second protrusions configured to extend through a sole of the footwear for indicating wear-down and/or traction performance of the sole of the footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The shank of  claim 5  further comprising a third protrusion positioned on the heel end of the base and configured to extend through the sole of the footwear for indicating wear-down of the sole of the footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The shank of  claim 1  further comprising an indented portion in the base formed between the heel end of the base and the toe end of the base, the indented portion configured to receive a fastening component for coupling with a toe post of the footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The shank of  claim 7  wherein the indented portion in the base is formed by compressing the indented portion of the base. 
     
     
         9 . An internal shank for an article of footwear comprising:
 a base having a heel portion and a toe portion, the base adapted to be molded within a sole of the article of footwear;   a first cut disposed through the toe portion of the base and extending along a first axis, the first cut separating a first platform and a second platform of the base;   a second cut disposed through the toe portion of the base adjacent to the first cut and extending along a second axis, the second cut separating a third platform of the base from the second platform of the base;   a third cut disposed through the toe portion of the base adjacent to the second cut and extending along a third axis, the third cut separating a fourth platform of the base from the third platform of the base; and   a fourth cut disposed through the toe portion of the base adjacent to the third cut and extending along a fourth axis, the fourth cut separating a fifth platform of the base from the fourth platform of the base.   
     
     
         10 . The internal shank of  claim 9  wherein the heel portion of the base includes an opening for providing a spring effect to a user of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The internal shank of  claim 10  wherein the opening is in the shape of a central circle with a plurality of extensions extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The internal shank of  claim 9  wherein the base has a compressed portion between the toe portion and the heel portion, the compressed portion defining a plurality of slots for receiving a corresponding plurality of toe posts of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The internal shank of  claim 12  further comprising a fastening component received by the compressed portion for securing the plurality of toe posts. 
     
     
         14 . The internal shank of  claim 9  wherein the base has a plurality of slits disposed between the heel portion and the toe portion for increasing the flexibility of the base at the locations of the plurality of slits. 
     
     
         15 . The internal shank of  claim 9  wherein the base has at least one notch extending from an outer edge of the base for providing reduced resistance to bending at the location of the at least one notch. 
     
     
         16 . An internal stiffening member for an athletic sandal having a midsole and an outsole with independently articulating toe platforms, the stiffening member comprising:
 a base coupled between the midsole and the outsole of the sandal, the base having a first platform and a second platform separated from the first platform via a cut in the base;   a first protrusion disposed on the first platform extending through the outsole; and   a second protrusion disposed on the second platform extending through the outsole.   
     
     
         17 . The internal stiffening member of  claim 16  wherein the base is less than 2.5 mm thick. 
     
     
         18 . The internal stiffening member of  claim 16  wherein the base includes a third platform separated from the second platform via a second cut in the base, a fourth platform separated from the third platform via a third cut in the base and a fifth platform separated from the fourth platform via a fourth cut in the base, and
 wherein each of the first platform, the second platform, the third platform, the fourth platform and the fifth platform may independently articulate with respect to one another. 
 
     
     
         19 . The internal stiffening member of  claim 18  wherein the base includes an opening configured to provide a spring effect if a force is exerted on the base in a location of the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The internal stiffening member of  claim 19  wherein the base is configured to engage with at least one toe strap of the sandal, the at least one toe strap extending through the midsole.