# US 11,432,614 B2 · Foot covering with divided sole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,614 B2 - Document ID: US11432614B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/038,885 - Filed: 2020-09-30 - Published: 2021-01-14 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-07 - Assignees: Pointe Noir Pty Ltd. - Applicants: Pointe Noir Pty Ltd. - Inventors: David Fox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432614B2 ## CPC - A43B 5/12: Dancing shoes - A43B 1/0018: {made at least partially of flexible, bellow-like shaped material} - A43B 3/0031: {provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card} - A43B 3/0036: {characterised by a special shape or design} - A43B 3/108: {characterised by the sole} - A43B 7/141: {having an anatomical or curved form} - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B 13/16: Pieced soles (with several layers of different material A43B13/12) - A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole} - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 23/028: {Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract In one possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a foot covering, comprising: a thin, flexible compartment for receiving a foot. The compartment has a forefoot section, a midfoot section, and a rearfoot section of selected rigidity. The compartment has a top surface for securing the foot and a ground-facing surface having a sole divided into at least two portions comprising (1) a forefoot portion and midfoot portion and/or (2) a midfoot portion and a rearfoot portion. At least one sole portion comprises a midfoot portion disposed between a forefoot portion and/or a rearfoot portion. In the foot covering, each pair of sole portions is divided along a flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot. The sole portions and flexural line(s), in combination with the flexible compartment, have a material construction and are arranged so as to facilitate the close conforming of the foot covering to the foot of an intended user through plantar flexion to dorsiflexion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foot covering, comprising: a thin, flexible compartment for receiving a foot of an intended user, the compartment having a forefoot section, a mid-section, and a heel section; the compartment having a top surface for securing the foot and a ground-facing surface having a sole divided into at least two portions comprising at least a midfoot portion and a paired forefoot portion divided therefrom; wherein the forefoot sole portion has a coverage area extending from a proximal edge configured to extend just proximally to at least four of the five metatarsal heads of the foot of the intended user, at least one metatarsal head being the first metatarsal to a distal edge configured to extend at about the second proximal row of phalanges; wherein each pair of sole portions is divided along a flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot covering, and wherein the sole portions and flexural line, in combination with the flexible compartment, have a material construction and are arranged so as to facilitate a close conforming of the foot covering to the foot of the intended user through plantar flexion to dorsiflexion foot movements; wherein the compartment comprises a ground-facing surface provided with flat pleats around at least the forefoot section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, further comprising a rearfoot sole portion divided from the midfoot portion along a second flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot covering. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The foot covering of claim 2, wherein the rearfoot portion of the sole has a substantially kidney-like shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The foot covering of claim 2, wherein the distal edge of the rearfoot portion comprises a concave intermediate section and the proximal edge of the rearfoot portion comprises a convex intermediate section, wherein the concavity of the distal edge shallows out at the lateral portions of the distal edge to become convexly curving at the lateral portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1 wherein the forefoot sole portion has a shape that is wider than it is long; corresponding approximately to the width of the foot of the intended user and configured to cover approximately the first to the fifth metatarsal heads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, wherein the ground-facing surface is mainly free of stiffening material at the forefoot and/or mid-section of the covering. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, wherein the forefoot sole portion has a substantially kidney-like shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, wherein the compartment is formed of a substantially single ply material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, wherein the compartment further comprises a binding and/or an over-the-arch strap system to hold the covering on the foot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, wherein the midfoot sole portion has a width that tapers inwardly from a proximal end and a distal end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1 further comprising a rigidifier that is disposed over at least over a midfoot section of the ground-facing surface, the rigidifier configured in the ground-facing surface so as to cause resistance against the arch of the foot and help the covering mirror the arch of the foot for better fit against the arch in plantar flexions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The foot covering of claim 11 wherein the rigidifier is removably disposed in a pocket formed in the ground-facing surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The foot covering of claim 12 wherein the pocket is disposed between the midfoot sole portion and the foot compartment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The foot covering of claim 12 further comprising one or more additional rigidifiers configured for the pocket, each rigidifier varying in rigidity from another rigidifier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The foot covering of claim 11 wherein the rigidifier has varying width along its length and thereby a corresponding varying rigidity along its length. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The foot covering of claim 1, wherein the midfoot sole portion extends from a distal edge closely adjacent to the proximal edge of the forefoot section and spaced therefrom by the flexural line, and is configured to extend over at least a portion of the arch of the foot of the intended user. ### Claim 17 A foot covering, comprising: a thin, flexible compartment for receiving a foot of an intended user, the compartment having a forefoot section, a mid-section, and a heel section; the compartment having a top surface for securing the foot and a ground-facing surface having a sole divided into at least two portions comprising at least a midfoot portion and a paired forefoot portion divided therefrom; wherein the forefoot sole portion has a coverage area extending from a proximal edge configured to extend just proximally to at least four of the five metatarsal heads of the foot of the intended user, at least one metatarsal head being the first metatarsal to a distal edge configured to extend at about the second proximal row of phalanges; wherein each pair of sole portions is divided along a flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot covering, and wherein the sole portions and flexural line, in combination with the flexible compartment, have a material construction and are arranged so as to facilitate a close conforming of the foot covering to the foot of the intended user through plantar flexion to dorsiflexion foot movements; and a rigidifier that is disposed over at least over a midfoot section of the ground-facing surface, the rigidifier configured in the ground-facing surface so as to cause resistance against the arch of the foot and help the covering mirror the arch of the foot of the intended wearer for better fit against the arch in plantar flexions.