Fulcrum athletic shoe

Abstract

This embodiment relates to athletic footwear devices, more particularly, athletic footwear, soles, insoles, inserts and slip-ons. They incorporate the use of natural or manmade materials therein, that are strategically produced for height, length and severe drop off shape (FIGS. 10, 10a). They are strategically placed at areas of the foot which will avail the user of the ability to enhance the Second-Class Lever of the feet. By engaging this lever, the fulcrum and the phalanges will increase their ability to walk or run faster, and jump higher. As another embodiment (FIGS. 12, 13a) the device is provided as an independent insert that is produced at the strategic height, length and shape and can be inserted into an existing footwear device. (FIGS. 14, 15a) An additional embodiment is directed to the form of a slip-on footwear device (FIG. 16).

Description

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Non-applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Non-applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The subject embodiment relates to athletic footwear, soles, Insoles, inserts and slip-ons. More particularly to athletic footwear, soles, insoles, inserts and slip-ons that interact with a foots Second-Class Lever and engages with the Fulcrum and Phalanges in an effective amount to increase the propulsion position and ability of the Second-Class Lever.

2. Description of Related Art

A great amount of available footwear has increased in popularity over the years. But the prior art does not achieve or promote engaging a foots fulcrum from its most natural, powerful propulsion position. Others such as Nike, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,257,470 and 5,253,435 have inflatable/deflatable bladder systems that focus on the metatarsal, arch and ankle portion for comfort. They do not inflate/deflate the insole in the ball of foot, pad of toe area to engage the fulcrum. Inflatable shoes U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,389 Pearson and U.S. Pat. No. 2,365,807 contour the inflation around the ankles for fit and don't perform the function necessary to engage the phalanges. Inflatable soles, U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,180 B2 raises or lowers the entire heel, arch and toe pad area in unison which does not move the fulcrum forward which is key to propulsion. Orthotic inserts U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,611,413, 4,610,101, 7,062,865B1, 6,195,917 raise arches and form fit. They miss the mark in that the foot must be specifically manipulated to get it to the position of increasing phalange propulsion. The prior art does not move the fulcrum forward and engage the phalanges in the right amount on push off. As a result users of footwear don't get the full explosive movements and propulsion out of their feet.

The following represents a listing of related art pertaining to athletic footwear products:

• U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,768 issued to Gregory L. Pryor on Dec. 5, 1995;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,188 issued to David F. Hersh et al. on Oct. 7, 1986;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,249 issued to James L. Thorneburg on Mar. 25, 1980;
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,782,643 issued to Dennis N. Brown on Aug. 31, 2004;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,945 issued to Jean DeBettignies on Sep. 26, 1989;
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,470 issued to Perry W. Auger et al. on Nov. 2, 1993;
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,865 issued to William E. Nordt III on Jun. 20, 2006;
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,917 B1 issued to Wayne R. Diekhaus on Mar. 6, 2001;
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,791 issued to Cheng K. Lain on Jan. 19, 1993;
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,911 issued to Ing Jing Huang on Jun. 1, 1999;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,101 issued to Dennis N. Brown on Sep. 9, 1986;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,413 issued to Dennis N. Brown on Sep. 16, 1986;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,157 issued to Benjamin B. Dunbar on May 17, 1988;
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,252 issued to William T. Wilkerson on Apr. 12, 2005;
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,909 issued to Paul J. Van Doren et at. on Nov. 15, 1988;
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,916 issued to Dennis J. Conner on Aug. 13, 1999;
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,857 issued to Barrlean Clifton on Nov. 30, 1990;
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,435 issued to Perry Auger on Oct. 19 1993;
• U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,389 issued to Pearson in July, 1937;
• U.S. Pat. No. 2,365,807 issued to Dialymas in Dec., 1944;
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,180 b2 issued to Frederick J. Dojan et Al. Aug. 8, 2006;
• U.S. Pat. No 4,934,073 Fred M. Robinson on June 19, 1990;
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,159,342 b2 Bernard F. Grisoni, Richard T. Avent, Laura J. Crane on Jan. 9, 2007;
• U.S. Pat. No. US 2005/0086838 A1 Carlos A. Khantzis on Apr. 28, 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This embodiment is directed toward satisfying the need for walking and running faster, and jumping higher. One third of Americans walk for exercise and many more play sports who want to run faster and jump higher. It is a scientific fact that walking faster allows people to burn more calories quicker and lose weight faster. This embodiment will increase the propulsion capacity of the foots fulcrum by engaging and putting the foots phalanges in a more powerful position to produce enhanced propulsion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following represents brief descriptions of the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the bottom of a typical foot and its parts.

FIG. 2 is a view of a foot pushing off a surface.

FIG. 3 represents the bottom of a typical foot and its parts.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a foot on a normal insole and sole with with upper.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a normal foot delineating The Ball of The Foot.

FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of a detached preferred embodiment Athletic footwear showing various drop off ranges.

FIG. 10 a shows a side view of preferred athletic footwear embodiment detailing drop off dimensions.

FIG. 12 is a top view of second preferred embodiment Insole insert.

FIG. 13 a is a side view of FIG. 12, second preferred.

FIG. 14 is a side view of typical athletic footwear.

FIG. 15 a side view of FIG. 13a inserted into footwear FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view of a third preferred embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a third embodiment without upper.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a fourth embodiment slip on with a preferred insole.

FIG. 19 is a typical athletic footwear.

FIG. 20 is a side view of FIG. 16 put on users foot and is Inserted into a typical athletic footwear, FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a side view of FIG. 18 put on users foot and is Inserted into a typical footwear FIG. 21.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A Description FIGS. 1-21

A Second-Class Lever in the human body is when the heel of the foot is raised from the ground but the toes are still on the ground. In this instance the weight now lies between the force and the fulcrum. Calf muscles become the force, the heel becomes the lever and the toes are the fulcrum. The term preferred embodiment in this application only refers to the designed drop off under various regions under the foot that would allow the phalanges to straighten out enough to increase propulsion no matter what device the method is attached to in any embodiments forms.

Detailed Description of the First Embodiment

A Description—FIGS. 1-21 section

Before turning to a description of the subject embodiment, discussion of the following background is in order. The disclosed and claimed invention is particularly directed to having all parts of athletic footwear working in conjunction with each other to culminate with the footwear interacting with the various regions underneath the feet so that the fulcrum of the feet are more productive and propels the user more efficiently. The embodiments engagement of the Second-Class Lever will enhance the fulcrums productivity by allowing the phalanges to be more productive while propelling the user. If the users fulcrum is located at varying distances before the ball of the foot, then the embodiment will be matched to the unique position per user.

Turning now to a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 is a top view, further shown, 400 shows an abrupt drop off of the insole and its possible ranges 401 is a serrated cut shape that fits under, preferably, the top ⅓ of the ball of the foot. FIG. 10, see 402 is a continuation of the insole that lies under the pads of the toes. FIG. 10a with 420 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment with abrupt drop offs of varying degrees. FIG. 10a, is a side view of a first preferred combination arrangement of the present embodiment. FIG. 10a side view with upper 600 and 640 made out of pliable materials. 610 is the sole made out of natural or manmade materials and 620 is the insole. In preferred methods of manufacturing such first preferred embodiment the insoles, are stamped out with a “cookie cutter type process” (e.g. via a die and press arrangement) or cut (e.g. via a blade, scissors or laser) from flat sheets of natural or manmade materials, although in practice the method

of manufacture is not limited to such method. In a preferred embodiment the thickness of the insoles should be in the range of 3/16 to 1 inch, with ¼- 6/16 inch being preferable, although in practice the thickness is not limited to the same. A preferred embodiment length from heel to the insole drop off edge, FIG. 10, see 401, is determined by statistics, probabilities and heel to ball of foot ratios, although in practice the length is not limited to such method. The insoles are constructed with a sharp drop off of varying descending angles under the regions of the ball of the foot, although in practice users Second-Class Levers are of different lengths from one another and their Fulcrums are in a range of different spots, so the positioning of the drop off is not limited to such location. The insole FIG. 10 is attached to the sole FIG. 10a side view 610, or to another layer of supporting sole by at least one of an adhesive, sewing, melting, electrostatic welding and molding process, although in practice the methodof attachment is not limited to such methods. Athletic shoes are generally divided into two parts: an upper and a sole, and they have insoles attached for comfort. The insole is attached to the sole and the sole is attached to the bottom of the upper.

The preferred embodiment is a device that is strategically cut to have a severe drop off underneath regions of the ball of the foot. This device interacts this way with the foot for walking, running and jumping. The severe drop off under certain regions of the ball of the foot interact and engage the Second-Class Lever of the feet and the phalanges, in an amount that effectively increases the fulcrum propulsion productivity.

The Theory of this embodiments operation must first be viewed through a humans bio-mechanics. Our muscles engage force, bones become levers and joints are our fulcrums that work together in order to move a body part. Lever systems in the human body give up mechanical gains for varying range of movement.

The middle of the toes are normally curved FIG. 1. When pushing off the middle of the toes (phalanges) are not engaged, straightened or flattened enough to fully utilize the propelling ability of the fulcrum, FIG. 2 see 100a. The pad of the toes and the ball of the foot FIG. 3 see 110, 120, are utilized most while pushing off currently, which makes us slower in walking, running, and jumping. The prior art does not have a solution to giving users the ability to increase fulcrum production on push

off. The preferred embodiment fully utilizes and increases the productivity of the Second-Class Lever at push off by moving the fulcrum of the lever forward thus fully engaging the phalanges. The strategic placement of a serrated edge under the upper ⅓ of the ball of the foot and a varying in length, severe drop off insole FIG. 10, under certain regions of the balls of the foot, allows the phalanges to become more engaged from a better position and this in turn increases the fulcrums propulsion capability. The pads of the toes are supported by the insole ridge in FIG. 10, 402 and this further allows the phalanges to be put in their most explosive propulsive position.

Detailed Description of 2^nd Embodiment

Turning now to a further detailed description of another embodiment, FIG. 12 is a top view see 700 which is a serrated shape that goes under, preferably, the upper ⅓ of the ball of the foot. 705 is varying degrees of a severe drop off. FIG. 13a is a side view of the 2^nd preferred embodiment. FIG. 14 is a side view of a typical athletic shoe with sole, insole, upper but without the 2^nd embodiment. FIG. 15a is a side view of the athletic shoe FIG. 14 with the inserted insoles FIGS. 12 and 13a. In preferred methods of manufacturing such preferred embodiment, the insoles are stamped out with a “cookie cutter” type process (e.g. via die and press arrangement) or cut (e.g. via a blade, scissors or lasers) from sheets of natural or manmade materials, although in practice the method of manufacture is not limited to such methods. The 2^nd preferred embodiment has a thickness that varies, FIG. 13a from 3/16 to 1 inch, with ¼- 6/16 inch being preferable, although in practice the thickness is not limited to such. The length would go from the heel to preferably the upper 3^rd of the ball of the foot

FIG. 6, see 200, although in practice because users have different fulcrum points, the exact location under the ball of the foot is not limited to such. Determining the exact location for placing the embodiments drop off is determined by statistics, probabilities and heel to ball of foot ratios, although in practice placement determinations are not limited to such methods. The inserts bottom side can use enhanced, non-slip treatment to strengthen the grip of the insert to the insole to cut down movement, although in practice traction methods for secure grips are not limited to such methods.

Detailed Description of 3^rd & 4^th Embodiment

In an alternate embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 16, it is a slip-on consisting of an upper FIG. 16 see 75 and a sole/insole FIG. 16 see 80. The sole/insole will have a varying descending range at its tip FIG. 16 see 90. FIG. 18 is a slip on with FIG. 10 inside and attached as a 4^th preferred embodiment. The alternative embodiments upper, FIG. 16 and FIG. 18 can be worn and used independently or put on the foot first and then put the foot into another existing athletic shoe FIG. 19 and would be used in combination as in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21. In preferred methods of manufacturing the alternative embodiment, the upper and sole/insoles are stamped out with a “cookie cutter” type process (e.g. via die and press arrangement) or cut (e.g. via a blade, scissors or laser) from sheets of natural or manmade materials, although in practice the method of manufacture is Not limited to such methods. The thickness of the sole/insole varies from 3/16 to 1 inch with ¼- 6/16 inch being preferable, although in practice the thickness of the embodiment is not limited to such thickness. The length would range from the heel FIG. 6 to the upper 3^rd of the ball of the foot of the user, although the length would be determined by statistics, probabilities and heel to ball of foot ratios, in practice the embodiments length is not limited to such methods. The sole/insole is attached by at least one of an adhesive, sewing melting, electrostatic welding and molding process, although in practice the method of attachment is not limited to such methods.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS & SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly the reader will see that at least one of the embodiments illustrated provides the user the ability to change the fulcrum of the foot and the phalanges angle of launch point and increase its ability to propel said user. The scope of the invention should be determined not by the four embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to four of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be clear to the reader that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention. More particularly, reasonable variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or

arrangements which affect the Second-Class Lever, the Fulcrum Point and the Phalanges productivity. All of which fall within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. For e.g. the following represents a non-exhaustive list of modifications which might readily be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention is directed:

• • 1. An athletic device could be constructed that has no insole and the sole itself could be formed to interact or engage with the balls of the foot and phalanges to increase the fulcrums propelling ability.
  • 2. An athletic device that can adjust the pad of the toes and ball of the feet area to be rigid or collapse when desired by raising or lowering it with an inflatable system located in the shoe.
  • 3. An athletic device that could have a spongy or collapsible area with snap back ability per step, under the pad of toes and/or under the balls of the foot.
  • 4. An athletic device that has means in the uppers toe area that forces the toes down on push off into a rigid but collapsible under toe area (ball of toe, phalange, ball of foot area) or an already built recess of this area.
  • 5. An athletic device that manipulates the heel, sole or parts of the upper to ultimately move the fulcrum forward and engage the phalanges for more propulsion.
  • 6. An athletic device with straps that can be put on the foot and used independently or is then inserted into an existing athletic footwear. This device could force the top of the toes down or remain dormant while the device manipulates the balls of the foot and phalanges to move the fulcrum forward.

Claims

1. A method for increasing walking and running speed of humans comprising the placement of footwear under such humans foot in a location effective to allow the foot to descend and flatten toes in an amount effective to increase their rate of speed.