# US 2023/0053583 A1 · Pointe shoes and other footwear for dance performance and dance training

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- Number: US 2023/0053583 A1
- Document ID: US20230053583A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/045,441
- Filed: 2022-10-10
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-01
- Assignees: Emily Jane Sackett
- Inventors: Emily Jane Sackett
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053583A1

## CPC

- A43B 3/36: with light sources
- A43B 5/12: Dancing shoes
- F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00)
- F21V 23/0435: {activated by remote control means}
- F21V 23/045: {the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller}
- F21V 23/0485: {the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor}
- F21V 23/0492: {the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch}
- G09B 19/0015: {Dancing}
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

Disclosed are systems, kits and methods for smart footwear for dance performances, as well as computer-implemented methods to train performers using the smart footwear. An example method for improving a dance technique or a dance performance by a performer, comprises receiving, using a radio frequency (RF) transceiver on a wireless device, a signal from an RF transmitter on a pointe shoe, determining, based on the signal, an activation status of each of a plurality of pressure sensors on the pointe shoe, and providing, based on the activation status, an indication of an accuracy or efficacy of the performer standing en pointe during the dance technique or dance performance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A kit for enhancing a pointe shoe for improving a dance technique or a dance performance by a performer, the kit comprising:
a pointe shoe cover comprising:
a body portion made from a material including at least polyester and configured to envelop the pointe shoe, the body portion comprising:
a toe portion made from a first material including at least canvas and configured to align with a front end of a rigid portion of the pointe shoe that encases and supports toes of the performer, wherein the front end is flattened to form a platform upon which the performer can balance when standing en pointe, and
a sole portion made from a second material including at least canvas and configured to align with a sole of the pointe shoe;
a light-emitting diode (LED) ribbon, affixed to the body portion, affixed to at least a vamp or a binding of the pointe shoe cover;
one or more membrane switches, affixed to the toe portion, configured to activate when the performer stands en pointe during the dance performance, wherein standing en pointe comprises the performer standing on the platform on the tips of their toes;
a toggle switch configured to switch between (a) the LED ribbon remaining off, (b) the LED remaining on, and (c) the LED ribbon being activated as a function of the one or more membrane switches;
a button cell affixed to an external side portion of the body portion that is below the binding of the pointe shoe cover and toward a back of the pointe shoe cover; and
at least one wire connecting the button cell to the LED ribbon, the toggle switch, and the one or more membrane switches.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The kit of claim 1, wherein the LED ribbon is an LED strand.

### Claim 3

A kit for enhancing a pointe shoe for improving a dance technique or a dance performance by a performer, the kit comprising:
a pointe shoe cover comprising:
a body portion configured to envelop the pointe shoe, comprising:
a toe portion configured to align with a front end of a rigid portion of the pointe shoe that encases and supports toes of the performer, wherein the front end is flattened to form a platform upon which the performer can balance when standing en pointe, and
a sole portion configured to align with a sole of the pointe shoe;
a light-emitting diode (LED) ribbon, affixed to the body portion, affixed to at least a vamp or a binding of the pointe shoe cover;
one or more pressure sensors, affixed to the toe portion, configured to activate when the performer stands en pointe during the dance performance, wherein standing en pointe comprises the performer standing on the platform on the tips of their toes;
a toggle switch configured to switch between (a) the LED ribbon remaining off, (b) the LED remaining on, and (c) the LED ribbon being activated as a function of the one or more pressure sensors;
a battery affixed to an external side portion of the body portion that is below the binding of the pointe shoe cover and toward a back of the pointe shoe cover; and
at least one wire connecting the battery to the LED ribbon, the toggle switch, and the one or more pressure sensors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the body portion is made from lycra spandex, nylon spandex, cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, acrylic, spandex, silk, cashmere, mohair, or olefins.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the toe portion is made from satin, stretch satin, dance rubber, suede leather, canvas, leather, or suede.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the sole portion is made from dance rubber, suede leather, canvas, leather, or suede.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the pointe shoe cover further comprises:
a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, operatively connected to the one or more pressure sensors and the battery, configured to be activated when (a) at least one of the one or more pressure sensors is activated or (b) the LED ribbon remains on, and
wherein the kit further comprises a wireless device comprising:
a processor, and
an RF transceiver,
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, using the RF transceiver, a signal from the RF transmitter,
determine, based on the signal, an activation status of each of the one or more pressure sensors, and
provide, based on the activation status, an indication of an accuracy or efficacy of the performer standing en pointe during the dance technique or dance performance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The kit of claim 7, wherein the RF transmitter and the RF transceiver use a low-rate and low-latency wireless communication protocol.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The kit of claim 7, wherein the pointe shoe cover further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
extract, from the signal, accelerometer data; and
track, based on the accelerometer data, one or more movements of the performer during the dance performance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The kit of claim 7, wherein the activation status is determined further based on a calibration process that is configured using an age or a weight of the performer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the battery is a button cell or a coin cell.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more pressure sensors comprises either a capacitive layer or a membrane switch.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the pointe shoe cover further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the toggle switch is configured to switch between the LED ribbon being activated as a function of the accelerometer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the pointe shoe cover further comprises elastic straps or ribbons configured to traverse a front of the performer's ankle and a top of an arch of the performer's foot.

### Claim 15 (depends on 3)

The kit of claim 3, wherein the LED ribbon is an LED strand.