Tuned sole shank component for dance footwear

A dance shoe, comprising:

• a distal part having a rigid toe box for encasing at least a portion of a forefoot of an intended wearer and supporting a foot of the intended wearer;
• an intermediate part coupled to the distal part and configured for receiving at least a portion of a midfoot of the intended wearer;
• a proximal part coupled to the intermediate part and configured for receiving at least a rearfoot portion of the intended wearer;
• and
• a sole unit comprising a sole shank extending longitudinally from the distal part to the proximal part, wherein the sole shank has at least a plurality of hinges each with a unidirectional stop disposed widthwise in the sole shank in at least a forefoot portion that locks by the unidirectional stops to support plantar flexion and hinges to facilitate dorsiflexion of the forefoot portion and follow dorsiflexion of an intended wearer's forefoot, and wherein an arch portion of the sole shank in a midfoot position has a curved shape in an unstressed condition that mimics an arch of the intended wearer's foot in plantar flexion, the shank under the stress of a foot position other than plantar flexion resiliently returning to the curved shape when unstressed.

A dance shoe having an upper and underfoot portion, the underfoot portion including a sole shank comprising:

• a stiff structure, extending longitudinally in the shoe over at least a forefoot portion of the shoe and the least partially over a midfoot portion,
• a plurality of hinges, each with a unidirectional stop being disposed widthwise in the sole shank in a least the forefoot portion so that a forefoot portion of the sole shank locks by the unidirectional stops to support plantar flexioin and hinges to facilitate dorsiflexion of the foot and follow dorsiflexion of an intended warer's forefoot,
• wherein each hinge comprises a pair of opposing walls that are separated from each other in a neutral position and that converge toward abutment in plantar flexion,
• wherein a portion of the sole shank in a midfoot position is conformable to an arch of the intended wearer's foot in plantar flexion, the sole shank being coupled to a rigid distal part of the shoe, and
• wherein a depth of a first living hinge differs from a depth of a second living hinge.

A dance shoe having an upper and underfoot portion, the underfoot portion including a sole shank comprising:

• a stiff structure, extending longitudinally in the shoe over at least a forefoot portion of the shoe and the least partially over a midfoot portion,
• a plurality of hinges, each with a unidirectional stop being disposed widthwise in the sole shank in a least the forefoot portion so that a forefoot portion of the sole shank locks by the unidirectional stops to support plantar flexioin and hinges to facilitate dorsiflexion of the foot and follow dorsiflexion of an intended warer's forefoot,
• wherein each hinge comprises a pair of opposing walls that are separated from each other in a neutral position and that converge toward abutment in plantar flexion,
• wherein a portion of the sole shank in a midfoot position is conformable to an arch of the intended wearer's foot in plantar flexion, the sole shank being coupled to a rigid distal part of the shoe, and
• wherein a depth of a first living hinge varies across the first living hinge.

A dance shoe having an upper and an underfoot portion, the underfoot portion including a sole shank, comprising:

• a stiff structure, extending longitudinally in the shoe over at least a forefoot portion of the shoe and at least partially over a midfoot portion,
• a plurality of hinges, each with a curving, undulating form and a unidirectional stop being disposed widthwise in the sole shank in at least the forefoot portion so that a forefoot portion of the sole shank locks by the unidirectional stops to support plantar flexion and hinges to facilitate dorsiflexion of the foot and follow dorsiflexion of an intended wearer's forefoot,
• wherein each hinge comprises a pair of opposing walls that are separated from each other in a neutral position and that converge toward abutment in plantar flexion, and
• wherein a portion of the sole shank in a midfoot position is conformable to an arch of the intended wearer's foot in plantar flexion, the sole shank being coupled to a rigid distal part of the shoe.