U.S. patent application number 12/315892 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for ballet pointe shoe.
Invention is credited to Alan Tate Nettles, Harper Grace Niedermeyer.
Application Number | 20090151200 12/315892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40751367 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090151200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Niedermeyer; Harper Grace ;
et al. |
June 18, 2009 |
Ballet pointe shoe
Abstract
A ballet pointe shoe for supporting a dancer. The shoe has a
shank with fibers of various orientation to provide a stiffness
characteristics desired by the dancer. The stiffness of the shank
is varied to meet the performance needs of the dancer. In one
embodiment the stiffness of the shoe at the arch is greater than
the stiffness of the shoe at the ball of the foot.
Inventors: |
Niedermeyer; Harper Grace;
(Huntsville, AL) ; Nettles; Alan Tate;
(Huntsville, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Curtis W. Dodd
2803 Bentley Street
Hunsville
AL
35801
US
|
Family ID: |
40751367 |
Appl. No.: |
12/315892 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61005690 |
Dec 8, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/88 ; 36/108;
36/8.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/026 20130101;
A43B 13/41 20130101; A43B 23/081 20130101; A43B 13/12 20130101;
A43B 5/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/88 ; 36/108;
36/8.3 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/14 20060101
A43B007/14; A43B 23/00 20060101 A43B023/00; A43B 5/12 20060101
A43B005/12 |
Claims
1. A support structure for ballet pointe shoe, the support
structure comprising: a toebox, and a shank having a connection
strip for coupling to the toebox, the shank having a first set of
layers comprised of one or more sheets with longitudinal fibers and
one or more sheets with orthogonal fibers, the shank further having
a second set of layers comprised of one or more sheets of having
longitudinal fibers and one or more sheets having orthogonal
fibers.
2. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the first set of
layers extends into an area of the shoe that would engage the ball
of a foot.
3. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the first set of
layers and the second set of layers overlap in an area of the shoe
that would engage the arch of a foot.
4. A shank for a ballet shoe comprising: a first set of layers
having fiber sheets, wherein the fiber sheets are placed in a first
alignment; and a second set of layers of fiber sheets with second
alignment and the second set of layers is combined with the first
set of layers.
5. The shank of claim 4, wherein the combined layers are coupled to
a connector strip.
6. The shank of claim 5 wherein, the shank is shaped to adapt to
the foot of a ballet dancer.
7. The shank of claim 6 wherein the fiber sheets are made of woven
or unidirectional fibers and the sheets are impregnated with a
polymer resin.
8. A support structure for ballet pointe shoe, the support
structure comprising: a toebox; and a shank having a connection
strip for coupling to the toebox, the shank having a first set of
layers comprising one or more sheets with first oriented fibers and
one or more sheets with second oriented fibers, the shank further
having a second set of layers comprising one or more sheets with
third oriented fibers and one or more sheets with fourth oriented
fibers.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/005,690, entitled "Ballet Pointe Shoe," and
filed on Dec. 8, 2007, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of
dance shoes, and particularly to ballet pointe shoes.
BACKGROUND
[0003] `Pointe shoes`, also referred to as toe shoes, are a special
type of shoe used by ballet dancers for pointework. The shoes were
developed from the desire to have a dancer to appear weightless
onstage and have evolved to allow extended periods of movement on
the tips of the toes (en pointe).
[0004] In general, the pointe shoe is made with a toebox platform
at the tip of the shoe that provides a firm flat surface on which
the dancer balances. Such a shoe often causes serious injuries that
are created by the fact that the toe line of the individual is
seldom straight or regular or perpendicular to the ideal vertical
line along the dancer's leg. In addition to serious injuries,
dancers wearing pointe shoes get minor, though often uncomfortable,
injuries caused by the structure of the shoe. In addition to the
injuries, pointe shoes are generally not used until the shoes have
been broken-in. The process of breaking-in a new shoe, often effort
intensive, includes a variety of actions such as bending and
twisting the shoe until it has the characteristics desired by the
dancer. After the shoe has been used for practice and performing
for several weeks (dependent on the intensity) the shoe no longer
has the desired performance characteristics and is usually
discarded. Hence, the cost of ballet pointe shoes is generally
considered a significant expense for dancers.
[0005] It is desirable that ballet pointe shoes have a reduced
break-in effort and have a life in excess of the several weeks of
conventional shoes. Further, it is desirable that such a shoe have
consistent performance during the life of the shoe.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Generally, the present disclosure describes embodiments of
an improved structure for a ballet pointe shoe.
[0007] In one embodiment of the disclosure, a ballet pointe shoe is
comprised of toebox coupled to a shank, where the shank is
comprised of layers (plies) of fiber reinforced polymers. The shank
has a first portion having a first number of layers of fiber and a
second portion having a second number of layers of fiber. The
number of layers of fiber, and the direction the fibers are aligned
in each layer, for the portions of the shank determines the
stiffness of the corresponding portion of the shank. The number and
directions (orientations) of layers of fiber is varied to meet the
stiffness requirements requested by a dancer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The disclosure can be better understood with reference to
the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not
necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.
Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a shoe of the present
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a portion of the shoe
of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of layers of material for
the shank of the shoe of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts the forming and curing process for the shank
of the shoe of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts a side view of the shank and sole of the shoe
of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 6 depicts the stress versus strain characteristics of
the shank as the number and direction of material layers is
varied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present disclosure generally pertains to a support
structure for a ballet pointe shoe and methods for manufacturing
the support structure. Examples of materials comprising the support
structure are also disclosed. Although the structure as described
is particularly valuable for a ballet pointe shoe, the structure
may be useful for other shoes to provide a desired shoe
stiffness.
[0016] The ballet pointe shoe 100 as depicted to FIG. 1 has a
platform 102 located on the toe of the shoe. The platform 102 is
flat and functions as contact surface to the floor as the dancer
stands on her toes to perform certain ballet dance movements. The
ballet pointe shoe top material 104 covers and encloses the
dancer's foot as depicted in the FIG. 1. The shoe 100 has an outer
sole 106 and an insole (not shown). A shank 120 is located between
the outer sole and the inner sole and provides support for the
dancer when the platform 102 is in contact with the floor. The
shank 120 is coupled to a toe box 108 such that the toe box and
shank combine to serve as a support structure for the dancer's
foot. During dancing movements, the shoe 100 experiences a variety
of stresses that could render the shoe unusable and possibly injure
the dancer. Hence, it is import that all parts of the shoe,
particularly the shank 120 and the toe box 108, be durable and not
wear out from the stress associated with dancing.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the present disclosure
comprising the toe box 108, the shank 120 and a connector strip
122. The x-direction, as shown, goes from the heel to the toe of
the shoe 100. The height of the shoe 100 is measured in the
z-direction and the width of the shoe in the y-direction. The shank
120 of an embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled to a
portion of the connector strip 122 that couples the shank to the
toe box and other portions of the shoe 100. The toe box 108 is
coupled to the front portion of the outer sole 106 and to the shank
120. The shank 120 is comprised of layers of shaped fiber sheets,
such as fiber glass sheets or resin impregnated carbon fiber
sheets, wherein the fibers in each sheet (layer) are approximately
parallel. The fiber sheets are essentially a rectangular shape,
though in other embodiments other shapes are possible. The shank
120 has a ball section 124 (for the ball of a foot), an arch
section 126 (for the arch of the foot) and a heel section 128.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a shank 120 for ballet shoe
100. The shank 120 is comprised of layers of a fiber material
having the fibers in the layers with various orientations.
Longitudinal fibers are fibers that are approximately parallel to
an axis that goes from the heel of the ballet shoe 100 to the toe
of the ballet shoe, i.e., in the x-direction. Orthogonal fibers go
in the y-direction and are thereby approximately perpendicular to
the longitudinal fibers. In other embodiments other directions of
fibers in any of the layers are possible as is using woven fiber in
some, or all, layers. The layers have a length measured in the
x-direction, a width measured in the y-direction and a thickness
measured in the z-direction. The width and length of the layers are
such that each layer (or sheet) will fit on the outer sole of the
ballet shoe 100 without extending into the top material 104 of the
shoe 100. The thickness of each layer is variable, but generally
around a millimeter or less.
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts the shank 120 with a first set of layers 130
and a second set of layers 140. The first set of layers 130 has a
first sheet 132 with longitudinal fibers and a second sheet 134
with orthogonal fibers. The second set of layers has two first
sheets 142 with longitudinal fibers and two second sheets 144 with
orthogonal fibers. The orientation of the fibers alternates as the
sheets are stacked together. The fibers forming the shank are then
placed on the connector strip 122. During the manufacturing process
of the shank 120, the sheets of fiber are impregnated with resin or
pre-impregnated fiber sheets may be used. The shank is then shaped,
for example by a mold, and as the resin is cured the shank takes
the shape provided by the mold. Other methods of manufacturing are
possible for other embodiments. The connecter strip 122 couples the
shank 120 to the toe box 108 and to the heel of the shoe. In some
embodiments the shank and toe box are coupled together and can be
cured at the same time, or co-cured.
[0020] FIG. 4 depicts a shank resting on a shaping mold 160. In
other embodiments other molds are used and such molds would fall
within the scope of the present disclosure. The thickness of the
layers, as earlier indicated, is not to scale. However, since it is
usually desirable for the shank 120 to have greater stiffness near
the arch of the shoe 100, the shank has more layers in the arch
portion of the shank. The arch portion is the portion of the shank
that is near the heel of the shoe and is provides arch support when
a dancer is on pointe. FIG. 5 depicts a cross section of the shank
for an embodiment that has six sheets (layers) of material. Three
of the sheets have longitudinal fibers and the other three sheets
have orthogonal fibers. In other embodiments other numbers and
orientations of fiber sheets is possible. In general, the greater
the number of longitudinal sheets, the greater the stiffness of the
shoe.
[0021] FIG. 6 depicts ranges of values for shank stiffnesses. The
graph 200 depicting stiffnesses has a stress axis and a strain
axis. The example illustrates the concept of more layers of
longitudinal fiber sheets providing greater stiffness. When the
number of sheets is N.sub.A, the stiffness of the shank 120 is
shown by curve 210. When the number of sheets is N.sub.b, the
stiffness of the shank 120 is shown by curve 220 and when the
number of sheets is N.sub.C, the stiffness of the shank 120 is
shown by curve 230. For the chart 200 depicting stiffness N.sub.A
is greater than N.sub.B and N.sub.B is greater than N.sub.C. For
the shank structure of the present disclosure the stiffness is
adjusted by selecting materials with other physical parameters.
[0022] In a comparative test the shoe 100 having the shank 120 had
deflection characteristics corresponding to a shank of medium
stiffness shoes of from several known manufacturers. By reducing
the number of longitudinal layers, shoe 100 is softer (less stiff)
and by increasing the number of longitudinal layers shoe 100 is
stiffer. The ballet shoe 100 is adaptable to meet the stiffness
requirement of a dancer and does not require a breaking in period.
In addition the shoe 100 of the present disclosure is not subject
to the short lifetime (several weeks) of conventional ballet pointe
shoes.
* * * * *