(57) A split-sole shoe (40) has a front outer sole (15) with an outwardly facing recessed
section (18) and a heel member (30) with an inwardly facing recessed section (35),
the outwardly facing recessed section (35) being connected to the inwardly facing
recessed section (35) in an overlapping configuration so as to form an interior relief
groove exposing a portion of the inwardly facing recessed section (35) and an exterior
relief groove exposing a portion of the outwardly facing recessed section (18), thereby
increasing the flexibility of the shoe in the region which flexes while taking a heel-to-toe
step. A toe cap portion (11, 12, 13, 14) is formed together with the front outer sole
(15) so as to provide a smooth and continuous transition from the top of the toe cap
to the bottom of the front outer sole, thereby enabling an infant or child to drag
the toe cap portion (11, 12, 13, 14) of the shoe without stumbling or tripping on
a protuberance in the transition region. The bottom surface (17) of the front outer
sole (10) is made from a material having a coefficient of friction which is lower
than that of the material on the bottom surface (32) of the heel member (30).
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