Patent Application
20110154687
Ballet technique is essential to develop other dance styles, yet dance shoes for each other style limit the presence of ballet by not providing the dancer with the tools needed to perform several classical ballet moves. A bifunctional shoe allows the dancer to develop a higher level of technique by not being limited to one specific style.
A classical ballet shoe doesn't provide the dancer with enough flexibility versatility to perform dance moves from various other dance styles. A character or ballroom shoe doesn't provide the dancer enough strength to stand on the toes and perform moves from classical ballet. A bifunctional shoe with a specially designed split sole combines strength and flexibility and allows the dancer to perform more than one dance style at once.
Most dancers start their training background in classical ballet as they develop other techniques from various dance styles in order to be able to perform at a professional level. There has never been a shoe that specifically allows the dancer to integrate moves from classical ballet into modern styles in their performances.
Performances at a professional level are more demanding nowadays, in regard to level of technique and appearance. A classic pointe shoe does not provide the sophisticated feminine look that today's shows require. Ballroom and character shoes don't allow for a high level of classical technique.
A bifunctional dance shoe with a specially designed sole that allows a fully functional toe box and a high heel to be integrated into the same shoe is a significant advance in technology, not existing in odor art
In brief summary, the dance shoe of the present invention is a bifunctional shoe with a specially designed split sole that combines a ballet toe box with a high heel. It provides flexibility and strength to allow the dancer to go from standing on the heel to an en pointe position. Its unique construction allows the dancer to combine moves from multiple dance styles with ballet.
The shoe is composed of a hard front toe box, a half front shank attached to the front box that thins out in the middle of the foot, a partial metal shank that extends from the back of the shoe into the arch, a plastic high heel, a leather outer sole, and a closed satin and fabric body with an adjustable elastic thread on me top of the foot.
The toe box (10) is a fully functional rigid box that covers the toes and ball of the foot. While being rigid enough to allow the dancer to stand on the toes, it is separated from the partial metal shank in order to allow the dancer to flex the foot.
The partial metal shank (30) is a rigid half shank that offers strength to stand on the high heel. It extends forward from a back of the shoe above a face of the heel and further extending forward over the arch in a middle portion of the shoe and terminating more or less where the arch of the foot ends. While it offers support on the heel it allows movement of the foot from a flexed to a pointed position. This shank is usually made of metal, but it could also be made of a choice of various other non-metal materials, as long as it provides the strength and support needed.
The heel (20) is made of hard plastic and covered by satin and fabric. It varies in height between two and four inches.
The outer sole (40) is a continuous layer of leather spanning the length of the shoe. It connects the heel, half shank and front toe box. This outer sole is flexible and allows movement of the foot.
The shoe upper (50) is a closed satin shoe body shaped for receiving the dancer's foot, said shoe upper covers the front toe box, and comprises an adjustable elastic that hugs around the back of the heel extending towards the top of the front of the foot. This shoe upper is soft and flexible to provide the dancer comfort and flexibility, and allows easy movement of the foot. A spandex material can be added in the form of a heel cup, or can be used to replace satin fabric around the heel area, to adjust the fit.
Additional inner sole (not shown) is optional in different soft materials to provide extra comfort and cushion the foot, as well as a spandex heel cup above the back of the shank (30) and top of the heel (20), for extra support and for tighter fit. Cushioning for the toes inside the toe box can be added as well in different types of materials for various levels of comfort.
Accessories like elastic, ribbons, or straps (not shown) can be added to the satin upper of the shoe (50), as it is standard for ballet dancers to add some of these in toe shoes to keep them secured to the foot and to provide ankle support. Such accessories can be placed in different areas, depending on the dancer's personal preference or needs.
Additional attachments to the outer sole (40) such as rubber or other non-slip materials can be added for safety. These additions are optional, based on the needs for a dancer's performance and/or training, the material of the surface where such performance and/or training will take place, or a dancer's personal preference.
It will be understood by those skilled in shoe making that the mentioned optional additions, as well as other aspects of the shoe that have been omitted for clarity, would be obvious to a practitioner building the shoe from these specifications.
It will be understood that other natural or artificial non-leather materials, such as, but not limited to, vinyl plastic, could be used to replace the leather outer sole.
It will be also understood that the specifications above, even though they are detailed in description and illustration of the apparatus, are not meant to limit the invention to a specific exact construction. It is to be understood that the descriptions above illustrate the principles of the invention, and various other modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art. It is not intended to limit the invention to the construction described or illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
