Anatomical footwear toepiece and method of manufacturing the same
AssigneeAdvanced Manufacturing Group, Ltd.
InventorJonathan Bobbett
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Abstract
The present invention is an anatomical toepiece that is adapted for insertion into the footbed of a footwear article to provide increased comfort and control. The toepiece has a molded core comprising an anchoring flange for embedded attachment within the footbed of the footwear article. Additionally, the molded core further has an inter-toe engagement portion which extends upwardly from the anchoring flange for engagement between the great toe and the adjacent digit, and a wing which caps the inter-toe engagement portion and extends outwardly in both directions over a portion of the upper forefoot. The inter-toe engagement portion has arcuate curved sidewalls and an arcuate curved back wall to contour to the curvature of an engage foot thereby providing comfort and dexterity.
Claims24
An anatomical toepiece for insertion into the footbed of a footwear article, the toepiece comprising:
- a) a molded core comprising:
- i) an anchoring flange for embedded attachment within the footbed of the footwear article;
- ii) an inter-toe engagement portion which extends upwardly from the anchoring flange for engagement between the great toe and the adjacent digit;
- and
- iii) a wing which caps the inter-toe engagement portion, wherein
- II) the inter-toe engagement portion has an instep sidewall curved in an arc from top to bottom to mimic the contour of the digit adjacent the great toe and an outer sidewall curved in an arc from top to bottom to mimic the curved contour of the great toe, and
- III) a back surface curved to contour to the curvature of a foot and forming a slanted arc such that the bottom of the arc is adjacent the front of the foot wear article and the wing portion capping the inter-toe engagement portion rests atop the foot, extending outwardly in both directions over a portion of the upper forefoot.
A method of manufacturing an anatomical toepiece for insertion into the footbed of a footwear article, the toepiece comprising:
- a) forming a molded core comprising:
- iv) an anchoring flange for embedded attachment within the footbed of the footwear article;
- v) an inter-toe engagement portion which extends upwardly from the anchoring flange for engagement between the great toe and the adjacent digit;
- and
- vi) a wing which caps the inter-toe engagement portion, wherein
- II) the inter-toe engagement portion has an instep sidewall curved in an arc from top to bottom to mimic the contour of the digit adjacent the great toe and an outer sidewall curved in an arc from top to bottom to mimic the curved contour of the great toe, and
- III) a back surface curved to contour to the curvature of a foot and forming a slanted arc such that the bottom of the arc is adjacent the front of the foot wear article and the wing portion capping the inter-toe engagement portion rests atop the foot, extending outwardly in both directions over a portion of the upper forefoot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.