Patent · US Expired

Footwear for physical exercise

US4615126A · kind A · utility

91Cited by
13References
19Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1984
Grant dateOct 7, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA43B13/141
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Improved footwear for physical exercise, such as running or jogging, in which a segment of the shoe extending beneath the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal-phalangeal joints on the lateral side of the shoe is comprised of a crepe or spongy rubber material, which is substantially more flexible than the material which comprises the remainder of the solepiece. This configuration reduces the resistance of the solepieces to the flexure of the foot along the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal-phalangeal joints, thereby reducing the stress on the corresponding foot muscles and allowing the stronger foot muscles which operate the first and second metatarsal-phalangeal joints on the medial side of the foot to do most of the work in flexing the foot during the running motion. As a result, the weaker muscles in the lateral side of the foot are not overly stressed and the direction of motion of the foot at the toe lift-off is substantially in the desired direction of running. In another aspect of the invention, an orthodic piece which is custom fit to the individual runner is provided to counteract foot problems, such as, for example, over-pronation, supination and high arch. The orthodic pie…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.