Shoe sole

Abstract

A shoe sole is coupled with an upper to define a foot compartment characterized by a fore-foot portion associable with metatarsals and phalanges, a mid-foot portion associable with the arch, and a hind-foot portion associable with the heel. A flexure plate, underlying the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal-phalangeal joints of a foot when enclosed within the foot compartment, is disposed within the fore-foot portion between the foot compartment and the outer surface of the sole. During bipedal locomotion, the flexure plate deforms in response to the transfer of a wearer's weight from the mid-foot portion through the fore-foot portion, and rebounds in response to the transfer of the wearer's weight off the fore-foot portion. The deforming and rebounding of the flexure plate enables controlled transfer of the wearer's weight from the mid-foot portion sequentially to the little toe, the big toe, and the three middle toes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe ( 10 ) comprising:
 a sole ( 14 ), including an outer surface ( 22 ) communicable with a supporting surface upon which the shoe ( 10 ) and a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) are supportable;   an upper ( 12 ) coupled with the sole ( 14 ) to cooperatively define afoot compartment ( 26 ) characterized by a fore-foot portion ( 16 ), a mid-foot portion ( 18 ), and a hind-foot portion ( 20 ), the fore-foot portion ( 16 ) associable with the metatarsals and phalanges of a foot ( 50 ); and   a flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ) disposed within the fore-foot portion ( 16 ) between the foot compartment ( 26 ) and the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ) to underlie the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  metatarsal-phalangeal joints of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 );   whereby during bipedal locomotion, the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ) is deformable in response to the transfer of a weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) from the mid-foot portion ( 18 ) through the fore-foot portion ( 16 ), and is reboundable in response to the transfer of a weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) off the fore-foot portion ( 16 ); and   whereby during bipedal locomotion, a weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) is transferable from the mid-foot portion ( 18 ) sequentially to the little toe ( 44 ), the big toe ( 36 ), and the three middle toes ( 38 ,  40 ,  42 ) by the deforming and rebounding of the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ).   
     
     
         2 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the deforming and rebounding of the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ) varies as a weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) is transferred from the mid-foot portion ( 18 ) through and off the fore-foot portion ( 16 ). 
     
     
         3 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the deforming and rebounding of the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ) is a function of at least one of a weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ), the width of the fore-foot portion ( 16 ) of the shoe ( 10 ), the modulus of elasticity of the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ), the rebound length and width of the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ), the curvature of the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ), and the flexibility of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         4 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 1 , and further comprising an inner sole wherein the flexure plate ( 24 ,  54 ) is disposed between the inner sole and the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         5 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the flexure plate  24   54  is curved in the direction of the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         6 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with claim I wherein the flexure plate  24 .  54  is curved in the direction of the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a portion of the sole ( 14 ) underlies the fore-foot portion ( 16 ), and comprises a medial fore-foot bed ( 28 ) and a lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ). 
     
     
         8 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the medial fare-foot bed ( 28 ) underlies the phalanges of the big toe ( 36 ) and at least a portion of the 1 st  metatarsal of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 ). 
     
     
         9 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ) underlies the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th  phalanges and at least a portion of the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th  metatarsals of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 ). 
     
     
         10 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 7  wherein a hardness of the medial fore-foot bed ( 28 ) is greater than a. hardness of the lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ). 
     
     
         11 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the hardness of the medial fore-foot bed. ( 28 ) differs from the hardness of the lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ) by between 5 and 20 durorneter. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe ( 10 ) comprising.
 a sole ( 14 ), including an outer surface ( 22 ) communicable with a supporting surface upon which the shoe ( 10 ) and a. wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) are supportable; and   an upper ( 12 ) coupled with the sole ( 14 ) to cooperatively define a foot compartment ( 26 ) characterized by a fore-foot portion ( 16 ), a mid-foot portion ( 18 ), and a hind-foot portion ( 20 ), the fore-foot portion ( 16 ) associable with metatarsals and phalanges of a foot ( 50 );   wherein the sole ( 14 ) is characterized by a flexure plate ( 54 ) disposed within the fore-foot portion ( 16 ) between the foot compartment ( 26 ) and the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ) to underlie the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  metatarsal-phalangeal joints of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 ); and   whereby, during bipedal locomotion, the flexure plate ( 54 ) facilitates flexing of the sole ( 14 ) and splaying of the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  metatarsals and phalanges of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 ).   
     
     
         13 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the flexure plate ( 54 ) is intersected by the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         14 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the flexure of the sole ( 14 ) facilitated by the deforming of the plate ( 54 ) varies as the weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ) is transferred from the mid-foot portion ( 18 ) through and off the fore-foot portion ( 16 ). 
     
     
         15 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the flexure of the sole ( 14 ) is a function of at least one of a weight of a wearer of the shoe ( 10 ), a width of the flexure plate ( 54 ), a depth of the flexure plate ( 54 ) in the sole ( 14 ), and the flexibility of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         16 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 12 , and further comprising an inner sole wherein the flexure plate ( 54 ) is disposed between the inner sole and the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         17 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the flexure plate ( 54 ) is concave in the direction of the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         18 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the flexure plate ( 54 ) is concave in the direction of the outer surface ( 22 ) of the sole ( 14 ). 
     
     
         19 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 12  wherein a portion of the sole ( 14 ) underlies the fore-foot portion ( 16 ), and comprises a medial fore-foot bed ( 28 ) and a lateral fore-foot. bed ( 30 ). 
     
     
         20 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the medial fore-foot bed ( 28 ) underlies the phalanges of the big toe ( 36 ) and at least a portion of the l metatarsal of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 ). 
     
     
         21 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ) underlies the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th  phalanges and at least a portion of the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th  metatarsals of a foot ( 50 ) when enclosed within the foot compartment ( 26 ). 
     
     
         22 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 19  wherein a hardness of the medial fore-foot bed ( 28 ) is greater than a hardness of the lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ). 
     
     
         23 . A shoe ( 10 ) in accordance with  claim 22  wherein the hardness of the medial fore-foot bed ( 28 ) differs from the hardness of the lateral fore-foot bed ( 30 ) by between 5 and 20 durometer.