SHOE WITH TWO-PIECE HINGED SOLE AND DETACHABLE HEEL

摘要

A shoe (10) including a detachable heel (26) and two rigid sole sections (14 and 20) hinged together along a hinge line (30) that runs directly under the front of the first and fifth metatarsal heads of the foot of the wearer. The rear sole section (20) of the shoe (10) is flat and includes two downwardly projecting studs (68) that engage two corresponding sockets (70 and 72) in the detachable heel (26). Heels of varying heights can be attached to the shoe (10). The shoe upper (16) associated with the front sole section (14) and the shoe upper (22) associated with the rear sole section (20) do not make contact throughout the normal range of motion of the shoe (10) when worn by the wearer. The shoe (10) has sufficient torsional stiffness such that all flexing of the shoe (10) and foot is confined exclusively in the direction defined by the hinge (24).