Patent Application
20090083999
The invention relates to the field of shoes and footwear accessories. Preferred aspects of the invention employ a shoe sole that allows for the reversed appearance of shoes.
Shoes have long been designated as either being a ‘right foot’ or a ‘left foot’ shoe, due to the asymmetrical shape of the human foot. Because there is an opposite curvature of the right foot versus the left foot, it is the standard practice in the art that a right foot shoe will be designed to appear in a shape that is the mirror opposite of a left foot shoe (and vice versa), in order to provide the most comfortable fit for the wearer of the shoes. Similarly, as a means to provide further comfort to the wearer of the shoes, it is also the standard practice in the art that the sole of a right foot shoe will be designed with a raised arch support that is the mirror opposite of the sole of a left foot shoe (and vice versa).
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully set forth. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described. Exemplarly embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
As described herein, the inventor has designed shoes and shoe soles that enable the wearer to create the illusion of having reversed shoes. In other words, to an outside observer, the shoe that appears to normally be worn on the right foot is seen on the left foot, and vice versa.
As further described herein, in order to create the reversed appearance of shoes, the shoe soles contain a raised arch support that has been placed on the opposite side of the shoe, as compared to the side where they are customarily placed. Contrary to common custom, the present invention contains shoe soles that, while having a raised arch support located on the inner side of the foot, is located on the opposite side of the inner curve of the outside appearance of the shoes, thus giving the illusion that that wearer has reversed shoes. In other words, a shoe sole for a right foot contains a surface adapted to interact with a remainder of a shoe that externally appears to be suitable for a left foot, and a raised arch support configured to mechanically interact with a right foot insole. Similarly, for a left foot, the shoe sole would contain a surface adapted to interact with a remainder of a shoe that externally appears to be suitable for a right foot, and a raised arch support configured to mechanically interact with a left foot. As used herein, the “remainder” of a shoe refers to the elements of a shoe other than the sole.
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In one embodiment, the present invention provides a shoe sole 100 for a left foot 103 by providing a surface adapted to interact with a remainder of a shoe 102 that externally appears suitable for a right foot, and a raised arch support 101 configured to mechanically interact with a left foot insole. In another embodiment (not shown), the present invention provides a shoe sole for a right foot by providing a surface adapted to interact with a remainder of a shoe that externally appears suitable for a left foot, and a raised arch support configured to mechanically interact with a right foot insole.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a shoe for a left foot that externally appears suitable for a right foot by providing a shoe 102 comprising a shoe sole 100 for a left foot 103, further comprising a surface adapted to interact with a remainder of the shoe 102, wherein said shoe 102 externally appears suitable for a right foot, and a raised arch support 101 configured to mechanically interact with a left foot insole. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a shoe for a right foot that externally appears suitable for a left foot by providing a shoe 102 comprising a shoe sole 100 for a right foot (not shown), further comprising a surface adapted to interact with a remainder of the shoe 102, wherein said shoe 102 externally appears suitable for a left foot, and a raised arch support 101 configured to mechanically interact with a right foot insole. In another embodiment, the shoe sole 100 is configured to fit the contours of a human foot.
It will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of footwear and footwear accessories and should not be limited to just shoes. Additional examples of embodiments include sandals, boots, slippers, sneakers, etc.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to people of ordinary skill in the art that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
