Description

The present invention concerns the footwear sector and in particular it concerns a new shoe with toe separator. The new shoe with incorporated big toe separator has been designed in order to provide a corrective action for the big toe and is particularly suitable for persons who tend to develop a "hallux valgus" deformity. The big toe, owing to the presence of the toe separator incorporated in the shoe, remains aligned in its natural position and does not cross over the second toe.

A shoe conceived in this way furthermore contributes to reducing the pain caused by the "hallux valgus". It consists of:

^■ an arch support made of latex foam and organic fabric (cotton, maize fibre, bamboo, etc.),

^■ a midsole in natural cork (optional),

^■ a sole made of natural rubber or a biodegradable material,

^■ a separator for the big toe made of natural latex or a biodegradabile material, " an upper made of natural latex, natural rubber or a biodegradabile material.

The characteristics of the new shoe will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate a non-limiting example of a practical embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows a general view of the new shoe.

The arch support, as shown in Table 3, Figure 3 and in Table 4, Figure 6, consists of 100 % natural latex foam with thickness varying from 6 to 16 mm, and is provided with a plurality of holes with 2 mm diameter to favour transpiration; this material, which today is widely used for making mattresses, adapts perfectly to the shape of the foot sole and ensures a very comfortable fit. The arch support is glued to the midsole in natural cork or directly to the sole by means of a water glue.

The midsole, illustrated in Table 4, Figure 7, is made of natural cork with thickness varying from 1 to 10 mm. The structure consisting of arch support and midsole, hereinafter referred to as "insole", is covered by a layer of organic fabric, such as cotton, maize fibre, bamboo, etc. - Table 3, Figure 4 - which completely covers the latex foam arch support and ends in the midsole, to which it is glued. In the cases where the midsole is not present, the organic fabric that covers the arch support ends at the base of the arch support itself. The sole shown in Table 2, Figure 2, is made of natural rubber or a biodegradable material with thickness varying from 2 to 16 mm and is glued to the insole or the arch support by means of a water glue. The insole and the sole are provided with at least 3 holes, made using suitable punches, as shown in Table 3, Figure 5 and in Table 4, Figure 8; one of said holes, in the front part, is suitable for the insertion of the big toe separator, while the other two holes in the rear part are used to insert the upper or the strap. Around the holes at the base of the sole there are some cuts, 1 or 2 mm thick, whose size corresponds to the shape of the lower ends of the toe separator and of the upper; these cuts allow the lower ends of the toe separator and of the upper to be inserted through them down to the bottom of the sole and form a single base together with it. If needlework is used for making the shoe, the holes are provided only in the insole and no cuts are made in the sole.

The toe separator is made of 100% natural latex or a biodegradable material and assumes the shape of an ellipsoidal body, as shown in Table 5, Figure 9, with height varying from 20 to 40 mm, width varying from 18 to 30 mm and depth varying between 3 and 12 mm.

The lower end of the toe separator can have various geometric or non geometric shapes, has thickness varying between 1 and 2 mm and is placed at the base of the sole through the front hole provided in the insole and sole. If needlework is used for making the shoe, the lower end is placed at the base of the insole through the front hole provided in the latter, as shown in Table 6, Figure 10. Its minimum width and minimum length are 30 mm. The upper end of the toe separator can have various geometric or non geometric shapes, depending on the aesthetical needs of the designer, has a thickness varying between 2 and 10 mm and is placed at the top of the insole through the front hole provided in the insole and the sole as shown in Table 6, Figure 10, while in the case of needlework the front hole is present only in the insole). Its minimum width and minimum length are 30 mm. The toe separator, as shown in Table 6, Figure 11, is empty and inside it there are 3 or 4 latex elements that keep the side walls of the ellipsoidal body together in order to guarantee greater flexibility and softness of the structure.

The upper in natural latex, natural rubber or a biodegradable material, see Table 6, Figure 12, can have various shapes according to the aesthetical needs of the designer.

Its two lower ends, as clearly shown in Table 2, Figure 2 and in Table 6, Figure 10, are placed at the base of the sole through the two rear holes that pass through the insole and the sole, see Table 3, Figure 5 and Table 4, Figure 8. When needlework is used for making the shoe, the two holes pass only through the insole. Their thickness varies from 1 to 2 mm, while their minimum length and width are 12 mm. In Table 7, Figures 13, 14, 15, 16 show some preferred cross sections suited to guarantee the correct functionality of the toe separator. These are the schematic characteristics that are sufficient to carry out the invention for a person skilled in the art, consequently upon construction changes may be made that do not affect the substance of the innovative concept disclosed herein.

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.