| 摘要 |
Systems and methods for toning footwear include a combination of a support ring, an insole with a cushioning material configured to contact a user's foot, and an outsole with one or more convex regions to create instability in the footwear. The support ring or stiffener band can be coupled to the outsole between the insole on one side and the forefoot and heel toning convexities on the other side. In some embodiments, the stiffener band can be formed of a material different from and stiffer than the material of the outsole. In accordance with various embodiments, when a user wears the toning footwear while walking, an increase in both the toning and strengthening of the calves, hamstrings and/or glutes results. |
| 主权项 |
1. A shoe for toning, the shoe comprising:
an outsole formed of a first material, the outsole having an outer perimeter and comprising a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion located between the forefoot portion and heel portion, wherein when the outsole is set upon a flat ground surface, the outsole contacts the flat ground surface at a forefoot contact area of the forefoot portion and at a heel contact area of the heel portion;
wherein the forefoot portion, other than the forefoot contact area, defines a second forefoot area, the second forefoot area being separated from the flat ground surface by a first distance that is perpendicular to the flat ground surface, and wherein a magnitude of the first distance increases from the forefoot contact area toward the outer perimeter along both directions of a first line in a first transverse plane intersecting the forefoot contact area;wherein the heel portion, other than the heel contact area, defines a second heel area, the second heel area being separated from the flat ground surface by a second distance that is perpendicular to the flat ground surface, and wherein a magnitude of the second distance increases from the heel contact area toward the outer perimeter along both directions of a second line in a second transverse plane intersecting the heel contact area;wherein the outsole, other than the forefoot contact area and heel contact area, defines a second outsole area, the second outsole area being separated from the flat ground surface by a third distance that is perpendicular to the flat ground surface, and wherein a magnitude of the third distance, along a third line in a longitudinal plane that intersects the forefoot contact area and the heel contact area and is orthogonal to both the first and second transverse planes, decreases from a front end of the outer perimeter toward the forefoot contact area, increases from the forefoot contact area toward the midfoot portion, decreases from the midfoot portion toward the heel contact area, and increases from the heel contact area toward a back end of the outer perimeter; and a support band coupled to the outsole, the support band formed of a second material different from and stiffer than the first material, the support band at least partially surrounding one or more of the heel portion, the forefoot portion, and the midfoot portion, and the support band being positioned further from the flat ground surface than any portion of the second forefoot area, the second heel area, and the second outsole area. |
