U.S. patent application number 12/679841 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for pointe shoe for practicing classical dance.
Invention is credited to Andre Cayol, Bernadette Cayol.
Application Number | 20100281715 12/679841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39473880 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100281715 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cayol; Andre ; et
al. |
November 11, 2010 |
POINTE SHOE FOR PRACTICING CLASSICAL DANCE
Abstract
The invention relates to a shoe adapted for the practice of
classical dance and particularly intended for dancers in dancing
schools or professional dancers for performing pointes, that
comprises a sole generally made of leather to which is attached a
fitting upper (2), particularly made of satin, as well as a tip
made of a hard shell or box (4) that surrounds the toes and has an
extension in the form of a stiffening shank (5) at the lower
portion of the foot, characterised in that the shank (5) is formed
on the lower surface thereof with at least two transverse cuts (7)
approximately at mid-depth for ensuring its rigidity in one
direction and for imparting to the shoe a certain degree of
flexibility in the opposite direction.
Inventors: |
Cayol; Andre; (Paris,
FR) ; Cayol; Bernadette; (Paris, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH;ATTN: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
ONE LOGAN SQUARE, SUITE 2000
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-6996
US
|
Family ID: |
39473880 |
Appl. No.: |
12/679841 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 25, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR08/51707 |
371 Date: |
May 5, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3R ;
36/8.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/12 20130101; A43B
7/084 20130101; A43B 13/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/3.R ;
36/8.3 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06; A43B 5/12 20060101 A43B005/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2007 |
FR |
0757857 |
Claims
1.-7. (canceled)
8. Dance shoe for the practice of classical dance and for
performing pointes, comprising a sole generally made of leather to
which is attached a flexible upper as well as a hard shell that
surrounds the toes and a shank that extends beneath the arch of the
foot of a wearer along the sole of the foot, the shank extending
from the shell and being integral therewith so as to define a
stiffening assembly, the shank being provided on its lower face in
the region of the pads on the soles of the feet with at least two
transverse cuts designed to open when a dancer rolls through her
feet as she walks and to close when she moves her feet to the flat
or en pointe positions.
9. Shoe according to claim 8, characterised in that the stiffening
assembly is pierced with small, evenly spaced holes to allow
perspiration to pass through.
10. Shoe according to claim 8, characterized in that the flexible
upper is made of satin.
11. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the shank is made of a
synthetic resin.
12. Shoe according to claim 11, characterised in that the synthetic
resin is one of a polyacetal, polyamide, polypropylene or polyimide
material.
13. Shoe according to claim 12, wherein the synthetic resin is
reinforced by one of a synthetic fibre or a natural fibre.
14. Shoe according to claim 8, characterised in that the shank is
separate fro the shell can be clipped to it.
15. Shoe according to claim 8, characterised in that the inner
portion of the shell is lined, in the region of the toes of the
dancer, by one of an elastomeric material, open-pored foam, or
sphagnum for allowing perspiration to pass through.
16. Shoe according to claim 8, characterised in that the outer
portion of the shell is covered by an anti-noise pad beneath the
shell and in the region of the shoe surface in contact with the
ground when the dancer is en pointe.
17. Shoe according to claim 8, characterised in that the rear
portion of the flexible upper is provided, in the region of the
heel of the dancer, with a pre-formed, non-extendible band.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe adapted for the
practice of classical dance and particularly intended for dancers
in dancing schools or professional dancers for performing
pointes.
[0002] Classical dance steps on pointes are very graceful for
spectators, but can only be performed following extremely
restricting and particularly painful training causing deformation
to the front of the foot such as the "dancer's bunion" and can
sometimes even lead to osteoligamentary or musculotendinous
pathologies.
[0003] In fact, when performing pointes, all the ground-borne load,
which may be very high, is absorbed by the front of the foot
(particularly the toes) of the dancer, who must not lean forwards,
backwards or sideways, which requires very firm support in the
region of the phalanges.
[0004] Ballet dancers are therefore very demanding as to the
quality of their shoes which are their working tool and for
generations have been accustomed themselves to adapting them to
shape them to their morphology, in order to reduce the pain induced
or at least the discomfort experienced when practising their art,
without compromising the quality of foot support or their
safety.
[0005] Traditionally, the shoes used by ballet dancers basically
comprise a sole, generally made of leather to which a flexible
upper is attached, in particular made of satin, as well as a tip
consisting of a hard shell or box surrounding the toes and
extending via a stiffening shank at the lower portion of the foot
to beneath the arch of the foot.
[0006] It should be noted that in this description, the terms
lower, upper, front, rear etc. refer to a shoe worn by a dancer who
is standing upright and with the feet flat.
[0007] Conventional classical dance shoes have a number of
drawbacks including the difficulty experienced when walking or
changing from pointe to demi-pointe due to the particularly hard
nature of the shanks which prevents dancers from rolling through
their feet normally.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to overcome this
drawback.
[0009] The present invention therefore relates to a shoe of the
above-mentioned type suitable for practising classical dance
characterised in that the shank is provided on its lower face, in
other words on the side nearest the ground, with at least two
transverse cuts, to a depth of about half its thickness; this type
of cut is usually situated in the region of the padded areas of the
sole of the foot and is normally closed when the foot is flat or en
pointe and opens when the foot rolls to walk or run. The shank is
usually pierced by small, evenly spaced holes to allow perspiration
to pass through.
[0010] The cuts guarantee the rigidity of the shank in one
direction, but give the shoe a degree of flexibility in the other
direction in that they have the characteristic of opening when the
dancer rolls through her feet as she walks and closing when she
moves her feet to the flat and en pointe positions.
[0011] The shoe according to the invention thus has the advantage
of providing a degree of flexibility when walking or when the
dancer descends from pointe to demi-pointe, a flexibility which
traditional pointes do not have.
[0012] However, this flexibility does not cause any difficulty when
the dancer rises en pointe in that the cuts automatically close in
these circumstances to allow the shank to regain its full rigidity
and resist the bending of the foot.
[0013] The shape of the shank, its piercing and length, and the
position and number of grooves on the dance shoe according to the
invention are of course adapted to the morphology of the dancer for
whom the shoe is intended.
[0014] According to another characteristic of the dance shoe
according to the invention, the shank is made of a resin such as
polyacetal, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, etc. reinforced if
necessary with synthetic or natural fibres (flax, hemp, Kevlar,
etc.).
[0015] Indeed, these materials are found to be preferable to the
fibres generally used in composite materials (carbon or glass
fibre) which, in the event of breakage, have the drawback of
risking injury to the dancer.
[0016] According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of
the dance shoe according to the invention, the lower portion of the
box and the shank consist of two parts which can be separated, and
preferably clipped together, both possibly being made of a
synthetic material.
[0017] The dancer can therefore easily separate the box and shank
of her shoes and thus select, adjust or replace them depending on
her morphology, in particular her shoe size, the pressure points,
the arch of her foot or her strength.
[0018] The shank of the dance shoe according to the invention may
also be glued in order to positively connect it to the box and may
be made of a traditional material (a composite of natural fibres
bonded by adhesives).
[0019] According to another characteristic of the dance shoe
according to the invention, the inner portion of the box is lined,
in the region of the toes of the dancer when in the en pointe
position, with an elastomer material, an open-pored foam or
sphagnum to absorb impact, and to collect perspiration and allow it
to pass through.
[0020] It should be noted that the box of a classical dance shoe
does not have a uniform stiffness over its entire surface; in fact
it is particularly hard at its front end, in the region of the
platform, in other words the surface in contact with the ground
when the dancer is en pointe, whereas it becomes thinner and more
flexible in the region of the lateral edges or wings and the upper
portion of the vamp where the flexibility of the toe zone must be
respected.
[0021] Consequently, the density or nature of the material of the
inner portion of the box should preferably vary to respect these
constraints.
[0022] This material should in particular be very resistant to
pressure in the region of the platform so as not to interfere with
the balance of the dancer and allow her to feel the points of
pressure.
[0023] Providing the inner portion of the box of the dance shoe
according to the invention with wads made of a viscoelastic
material may also be considered in order to spread the pressure in
zones where the pressure points are greater and tend to produce
skin irritation which causes corns or blisters.
[0024] However, it is essential that these wads, placed in the
painful places, do not impede the elimination of perspiration. They
should for example be microperforated if materials made of
open-pored foams are not chosen.
[0025] The box may also advantageously be microperforated.
[0026] It should also be noted that when the "skeleton" of the box
of the dance shoe according to the invention is made of a synthetic
material, it is preferably covered and reinforced with satin lined
with a resilient fabric then glued to this structure so as to
obtain a pleasing aesthetic appearance and avoid folds in the
satin.
[0027] In this case, the box is made of a resin with a softening
point of less than 100.degree. C. and if possible of 40.degree.
C.
[0028] Because of the presence of the "skeleton" made of a
synthetic material with a low softening point, the dancer can adapt
the box of her shoes perfectly to her morphology, precisely
moulding it to the shape of her feet by warming it in an oven, with
a hair dryer or in a microwave.
[0029] Another drawback of traditional dance shoes concerns the
noise made when they strike a surface such as a stage which may be
very annoying during performances.
[0030] These noises are caused more particularly by the box
knocking on the floor when the dancers run (with their feet flat),
but also when leaping on pointes.
[0031] Another object of the present invention is to overcome this
drawback.
[0032] Therefore, and according to another characteristic of the
dance shoe according to the invention, the outer portion of the box
is covered by an anti-noise pad, notably in the space between the
leather sole and the underside of the platform (the portion where
the folds are located). This pad is made of elastomer or foam; a
pad of this type, which is inserted between the box and the
material covering the shoe (satin, leather, synthetic, etc.) to a
great extent reduces the noise made by the box striking the wooden
floor on which the dancers are performing.
[0033] Another drawback of traditional dance shoes concerns the
risk of injury to the tendons in the region of the heel, caused by
the presence of a lace at the rear portion of the upper, contained
within a casing.
[0034] Another object of the present invention is to overcome this
drawback.
[0035] Therefore, and according to another characteristic of the
dance shoe according to the invention, the rear portion of the
upper, in the region of the heel of the dancer, is provided with a
preformed band which spreads the stress over a wider portion of the
heel.
[0036] A band of this type, which must be very strong and
non-resilient, is usually specially woven and comprises very strong
and non-resilient fibres, such as Kevlar.
[0037] The lace traditionally present inside the border of the
upper in the region of the heel, which presses very hard on the
rear portion of the heel and may cause tendonitis, may therefore be
dispensed with and replaced by the band which is wide enough for
any lesions to affect only the least stressed zones.
[0038] According to the invention, to avoid the risk of slipping,
particularly where perspiration is present when the dancer rises en
pointe, sewing a covering made of a material with a coefficient of
friction that remains unchanged on contact with water to the outer
portion of the platform may also be envisaged; the dancer may
therefore turn on the spot, not on the satin, but on this material,
thus avoiding slips.
[0039] The characteristics of the dance shoe according to the
invention will be described in more detail with reference to the
accompanying non-limiting drawings in which:
[0040] FIG. 1 is a view from below of a dance shoe according to the
invention,
[0041] FIG. 2 is a section of FIG. 1 along the axis II II,
[0042] FIG. 3 is a view from below of the tip (box and shank
assembled) of a dance shoe according to the invention,
[0043] FIG. 4 is a section of the tip illustrated in FIG. 3 along
the axis IV IV.
[0044] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dance shoe according to the
invention consists basically of a sole 1 and an upper 2 together
with a tip 3 (box and shank assembled) which is illustrated more
precisely in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0045] The sole 1 is made of leather of greater or lesser
thickness.
[0046] The upper 2 is made of a flexible material such as satin,
leather or Alcantara; it covers the front of the foot of the dancer
and extends on either side of the instep until it passes round the
heel.
[0047] The front of the upper 2 is stiffened by the tip 3 which is
made of a synthetic material.
[0048] According to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tip 3 consists of two
separate parts clipped together, specifically a box 4 which encases
the toes of the dancer and a stiffening shank 5 extending said box;
the shank 5 is situated at the lower portion of the foot of the
dancer above the sole 1 (FIG. 2).
[0049] According to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the shank 5 is provided at
its front end with elastically deformable hooks 6 engaging in
corresponding recesses of the box 4, to allow said shank to be
locked onto the box 4.
[0050] According to FIG. 4, the shank 5 is provided on its lower
face with two transverse cuts at about mid-depth 7 which ensure its
rigidity in one direction but give it a degree of flexibility in
the other direction to make it easier for the dancer to walk.
[0051] According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the lower portion of the box 4
is covered, in the region of the toes of the dancer in the en
pointe position, with an open-pored foam 8 or an elastomer
perforated with small holes covered with fabric to allow
perspiration to pass through.
[0052] The outer portion of the box is covered with an anti-noise
pad 9.
[0053] According to FIG. 1, the rear portion of the upper 2 is
provided with a preformed band 10 the function of which is to avoid
the risk of lesions in the region of the heel of the dancer.
* * * * *