Before getting to the design of the titular Shoe, let's talk about "lower legs". Keep in mind that, long long ago, when fish first started crawling onto land, they featured a particular physical "leg" structure that has been pretty- much retained (in terms of key bones) ever since. But different evolutionary paths did different things.

As a simple example, look at the hind leg of a dog. There is a "thigh" section, a "calf" section, and a LONG "foot section"; the dog actually walks on the equivalent of "tip- toe". The hind legs of most 4-legged mammals are similar. Humans are unusual in this regard almost certainly because we are bipeds; we need to have that whole "foot section" on the ground almost all the time, for stability (and also less effort expended while standing).

Now look at a different biped, a bird's leg. The thigh section is practically invisible under the feathers (see link). The calf section and foot section are similar to that of the dog, but the tip-toe portion has become practically a foot-section all by itself, with widely splayed toes for stability and less effort expended while standing.

As it happens, birds are directly descended from the "therapod" family of dinosaurs; they survived the Extinction of their larger cousins such as T.Rex and velociraptor. It should be noted that various fictional works have tended to exaggerate the size of velociraptors; they were typically not much bigger than a human 5-year old (not counting the tail) (see link). However, one of the other ancient bird-cousins, "deinonychus", was perhaps as big as a 12-year-old (not counting the tail) (see link) --and rather more dangerous. It is not impossible that the two species have simply been confused in those fictional works.

Now let's look at a particular type of existing stilts, known as "drywall stilts" (linked). These have adjustable height (but no more than a meter total). The key thing to note here is that, unlike a more-common stilt design, these strap to the calf-section of the leg, which frees the user's hands for various other things.

Let us therefore start with the calf-strap for this Idea's stilts. The frame of the stilt descends to where the FOOT can be strapped in place, also. This place needs to be as comfortable as a shoe, of course. There is either a very solid and strong angle-piece here, or a limited-range hinge, between the metal that goes up to the calf-strap, and the metal that goes under the foot.

The metal that goes under the foot keeps on going. What we are doing here is simulating that long "foot section" described above for a dog. So, if you stand straight from foot-straps, your foot must be at an angle so that that metal foot-section can have only its end touch the ground. Likely anyone who was ever comfortable wearing high- heel shoes will know about the angle I'm describing here.

Alternately, if you bend your knee, then your foot need not be at a high-heel-shoe angle, because the calf-section of your leg will no longer be vertical. This will also make it easier to get your center-of-mass over the parts of the stilts that actually touch the ground (the tip-toe section).

Meanwhile, because we recognize it could be tiring to try to walk around with the knees bent all the time, we could consider a solid extension of the stilt from the calf-strap up-at-an angle (angling away from the calf and behind you, not along the calf's length). This solid section of the stilt could end in a cushioned support for one buttock. And since you are wearing two stilts, you can sit both your buttocks somewhat comfortably even while your knees are bent and, technically, you are still standing on the tip-toe sections of the stilts.

Now for the final touch. Like a bird or velociraptor, we want anyone wearing these stilts to have stability. So we add the equivalent of splayed toes at the bottom of the stilt. One of those toes, of course, can end in a huge "terrible claw" capable of disemboweling anyone who doesn't "look up to you" properly.... That's why these are called "Deinonychus Stilt-Shoes", of course!
-- Vernon, Oct 07 2013

Bird legs and other stuff https://en.wikipedi...g/wiki/Bird_anatomy
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, Oct 07 2013]

About velociraptors https://en.wikipedi...g/wiki/Velociraptor
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, Oct 07 2013]

Drywall Stilts http://www.homedepo...645164#.UlIwsNK-rwo
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, Oct 07 2013]

Deinonychus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychus
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, Oct 07 2013]

Big therapods... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus
Deinonychus? Try Deinocheirus. [neutrinos_shadow, Oct 07 2013]

30 shoes very different. http://www.youtube....watch?v=sXrxMiGalSw
Wich is the closest match to your idea? [popbottle, Oct 08 2013]

I first came up with and sketched basically this very idea about 15 years ago. My differences:
1: A shock absorber between the "boot" and the "calf" sections to help your ankle
2: The toes of your foot rest on a plate that is connected to the stilt "foot", giving you control of the "foot" angle (leverage details to be worked out...)
3: The "claws" are free to pivot, but with a "counterpoint" underneath the middle of the "foot", so they always grab, regardless of the angle/bumps on the ground.
I'll do a drawing when I find the time.
-- neutrinos_shadow, Oct 07 2013


Without knowing the proper spelling I read this as `Dionysis Stilt-Shoes`.

Totally different thing...
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 08 2013



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