Toe and foot supporter and ballet-shoe form-retainer

Application filed October 16, 1929. Serial No. 400,111.

This invention relates to a novel and improved toe and foot supporter and balletshoe form-retainer.

One of the chief objects of this invention Sis to provide means or a device to be attached to a toe-dancing shoe or ballet shoe, for supporting the foot as well as the toes, and also to properly retain the form of the shoe and protect it from wear. Another object is to 1·. provide such a device or attachment which is sufficiently wide at the bottom portion and which has properly curved upstanding portions, to furnish a broad and complete support for the foot at the toe-joint, that is, at **the part of the foot where the strain on the dancer’s foot and toes is the greatest. A further object is to provide such a device or attachment which will prevent the ballet shoe from breaking-out at the sides and from * spreading out of shape. A still further object is to provide such a device or attachment which has all parts integral and unitary, to aid in economy, including a bottom portion to provide a broad and complete support for the foot at the part of greatest strain, also a dished toe portion for snugly embracing the rounded toe part of the shoe, and upwardly curved side portions for supporting the foot at the toe-joints, where the strain is great** est during toe-dancing; by which construction the foot is held in a correct strainless position.

These objects and other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as ^w will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig· 1 is a side elevational view of a toe dancing shoe with my invention mounted in ^w position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my improved toe and foot supporter and ballet-shoe formretainer.

. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevational view of this improved device.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 5—5 of Fig. 3.

. In the drawings my invention is shown in its preferred form of construction, compris ing a bottom member or plate 7, which is substantially flat or straight and is relatively broad, to fit beneath.the front part 8 of the bottom member or sole 9 of the ballet shoe or toe dancing shoe 10. Openings 11 are 55 provided in the rear part of said plate, for receiving brads or nails 12 to secure the plate beneath the sole 9.

The bottom member or plate is provided at its front end with a dished.or bowl-shaped eo portion 13, for correctly fitting and embracing the toe part 14 of the shoe. Said portion 13 is preferably formed integral with the plate, said plate merging with its front end into the upwardly curved and dished toe 65 portion. Openings 15 and grooves 16 extending therefrom are provided in said toe portion, for receiving stitchings 17 to secure said toe portion to the toe part 14 of the shoe. ₇₀

The plate 7 is provided at the intermediate part of each side with an upwardly curved projection or lip 18, which is preferably made integral with the plate, and which is located at the. toe-joint part 19 of the shoe; that is, 75 said lips are positioned on the plate to embrace the side parts of the shoe at the particular points where the toes join the foot within the shoe; which is the portion of the dancer’s foot where the strain is the greatest so during toe dancing. Holes 20 and grooves 21 extending therefrom are provided in the upper parts of said lips, for receiving stitchings 22 to secure the lips to said toe-joint part of the shoe. 85

This device is preferablv constructed to have all parts integral, and is preferably made of metal, as aluminum, or also of a rigid compressed fibre.

This disclosed construction provides complete support for the foot, at the toe-joints, where the strain is the greatest, and prevents spreading of the foot at said joints; and furthermore prevents spreading out of the shoe, to become out of shape, and the frequent rip- 83 ping and tearing thereof at the toe portion.