Footwear For Sloped Surfaces

Abstract

Footwear for running, jogging and / or walking on a sloped surface, such as a roadway or a circular track that is not flat, for example. The footwear includes a left shoe and a right shoe. Each of the left shoe and the right shoe includes an upper member and a sole body, which is formed by one or more sole members, attached thereto. The sole bodies of each shoe are of uniformly varying thickness from the lateral side to the medial side of the shoe. The sole body of the left shoe is of a different average thickness than is the average thickness of the right shoe. The sole bodies and / or the sole members of the shoes may be reversibly connectable, such as to allow flexibility in customizing the shoes to be used on a variety of underlying surfaces, including substantially flat surfaces, for example.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to footwear. More particularly, the present invention relates to footwear that may be worn on a sloped surface, such as a roadway or a circular track that is not flat, for example, such as for running, jogging, and / or walking thereon. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to footwear having sloped soles that enable a person wearing the shoes to be level when that person is on a surface substantially orthogonally in relation to the direction the person is moving.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Running, jogging and walking are probably the most popular fitness activities. While some prefer to undertake such activities on a flat surface, such as a flat running track, there are many individuals who prefer to run, jog or walk on a sloped surface, such as a roadway. Indeed, some individuals consistently log one hundred miles or more each week traveling by foot along th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is an object of the present invention to provide footwear that may be used to keep a person level while the person is traveling by foot on a sloped surface, such as a roadway, a circular track that is not flat, or some beach surfaces, for example, particularly a person traveling in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the slope. The footwear of the present invention includes a pair of shoes, specifically a left shoe and a right shoe. Each shoe includes an upper member for holding a person's foot therein and a sole body, which includes one or more sole members, connectable or integral to the upper member. The sole body of each shoe is sloped such that its medial side is of a different thickness than its lateral side, and the average thickness of the sole body of one shoe is different than the average thickness of the other shoe. This arrangement allows a wearer of the footwear to remain level while traveling by foot on a sloped surface. Further, although the degree of slope of the sole body of one shoe of a particular pair of shoes is the same as that of the other shoe of that pair, this degree of slope may be varied between pairs of shoes, such that the sole bodies of left and right shoes of one pair of shoes may be sloped differently than the sole bodies of left and right shoes of another pair of shoes. For this reason, the footwear of the present invention may be specifically designed to be used on a surface having a particular slope. For example, the footwear may be designed specifically to facilitate travel by foot on the left side of a roadway or it may be designed specifically to facilitate travel by foot on the right side of a roadway. The footwear also may be designed specifically to be used on a roadway of a particular design.

[0010]The details of one or more examples related to the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Problems solved by technology

Despite their popularity, however, running, jogging and walking on a roadway can be frustrating and even hazardous.

The frustration and hazard of traveling by foot on a roadway is partially owed to the design of most roadways.

Unfortunately, sloped surfaces are not conducive to travel by foot.

Having to consciously be aware of this needed change in gait and having to actually make this change in gait is annoying and physically burdensome.

Worse, over time, this unnatural movement can cause injury, such as to the spine or to a hip or knee, for example.

While footwear having sloped soles do exist, none are conducive for travel on sloped surfaces.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,701 issued to Smith describes an orthopedic device that is meant to be used to help correct pre-existing orthopedic conditions and is not meant for prevention of such conditions, Further, this device, which is a shoe having a plurality of sloped wedges connected to the bottom thereof, would not be useful for recreational running or jogging, and in fact probably would be dangerous when used for those activities.

Anyone running or jogging while wearing the Smith device therefore would be prone to slipping, especially when on a roadway surface that is wet or covered with debris, such as sand, for example.

Due to this unevenness, the person therefore would have to alter his / her normal gait while walking on the slope.

As mentioned, this would be problematic to most wearers.

Further, the Smith device is also limited for this same reason, as the wedges of its left shoe are no different than the wedges of its right shoe.

Like the footwear of Darby and Smith, none of these shoes address the difference in the position of the feet when moving in a direction that is orthogonal to the slope of the underlying surface.

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