Ballet slipper and method of manufacturing a ballet slipper
OwnerElizabeth H. Gaynorinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ballet slipper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The slipper has an integral shank and toe box molded from a flexible thermoplastic polymeric material which can be adjusted by the dancer to conform to her foot. The toe box has a platform at its forward end which is connected by a curved radius to the shank. A layer of resilient polymeric material lines the interior of the upper portion of the toe box and extends backwardly from the edges of the toe box. A layer of shock absorbing material covers the upper and lower surfaces of the shank, and the platform and curved radius of the toe box. An outer covering fits over the integral shank and toe box and has an elasticized throat and a panel formed from a durable non-slip material to cover the platform and curved radius toe box.
Claims32
A ballet slipper comprising:
- an integral shank and toe box molded from a thermoplastic polymeric material, said toe box including a platform at its forward end and a curved radius joining said platform and said shank;
- a soft resilient polymeric material lining the interior of the upper portion of said toe box and extending backwardly from the edges of said toe box;
- and
- a resilient shock absorbing polymeric material covering the exterior surface of said curved radius and said platform.
A ballet slipper comprising:
- an integral shank and toe box molded from a thermoplastic polymeric material having a softening point between about 120.degree. F. to about 220.degree. F., said toe box including a platform at its forward end and a curved radius joining said platform and said shank;
- a layer of resilient polymeric material lining the upper portion of said toe box and extending backwardly from the edges of said toe box;
- a first layer of resilient shock absorbing polymeric material covering at least a portion of the upper surface of said shank;
- a second layer of resilient shock absorbing polymeric material covering at least a portion of the lower surface of said shank and said curved radius and platform;
- a stiffener mounted on said shank;
- and
- an outer sole formed from a flexible polymeric shock absorbing material adjacent to the underside of said shank.
A method of manufacturing a ballet slipper, comprising the steps of:
- molding an integral shank and toe box from a thermoplastic polymeric material, said toe box having a platform at its forward end and a curved radius connecting said platform with said shank;
- lining the interior of the upper portion of said toe box with a resilient material sized to extend backwardly from the edge of said toe box;
- and
- attaching a resilient shock absorbing material to the upper and lower surfaces of said shank and to said curved radius and platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.