Protection devices for use in shoes or other products
First Claim
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole having a first surface configured to support a wearer'"'"'s foot and a second surface configured to contact a ground area;
an upper affixed to the sole, the upper including an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the interior surface and the first surface of the sole defining a receptacle for receiving the wearer'"'"'s foot;
an external protection device incorporated along the exterior surface of the upper, the external protection device being positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer'"'"'s foot; and
a toe cap extending along a toe region of the upper, the toe cap being integral with the external protection device,wherein the external protection device is formed of a first layer of material adjacent to the interior surface of the upper and a second layer of material disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the upper, andwherein one end of the toe cap is sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of devices for protecting a user'"'"'s foot from injury are disclosed. In one instance, the device is an external metatarsal protection device for a shoe or boot, having a sole with a first surface for supporting a wearer'"'"'s foot and a second surface for contacting a ground area, an upper affixed to the sole, and an integral toe cap. An interior surface of the upper and the first surface of the sole define a receptacle for receiving the wearer'"'"'s foot. The external protection device is incorporated along an exterior surface of the upper and is positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer'"'"'s foot. In an instance, the external protection device has injection-molded first and second layers of material, with the cushioning elements formed on a surface of the first layer and a plurality of grooves defined on a surface of the second layer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:
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a sole having a first surface configured to support a wearer'"'"'s foot and a second surface configured to contact a ground area; an upper affixed to the sole, the upper including an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the interior surface and the first surface of the sole defining a receptacle for receiving the wearer'"'"'s foot; an external protection device incorporated along the exterior surface of the upper, the external protection device being positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer'"'"'s foot; and a toe cap extending along a toe region of the upper, the toe cap being integral with the external protection device, wherein the external protection device is formed of a first layer of material adjacent to the interior surface of the upper and a second layer of material disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the upper, and wherein one end of the toe cap is sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An article of apparel, comprising:
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a housing sized to retain a protection device, the housing being arranged for placement adjacent to a portion of a body of a user during wear; and a protection device positioned within the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis, the protection device comprising; a first layer of material having first and second opposing surfaces and a series of cushioning elements formed along at least one of the first and second surfaces; and a second layer of material attached to the first layer, the second layer having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface of the second layer abutting the first surface of the first layer, the first surface of the second layer having a plurality of grooves defined thereon, the first layer being shaped to conform to the portion of the user'"'"'s body, such that the protection device is arranged to provide protection for the portion of the user'"'"'s body against injurious events, wherein the first and second layers are injection-molded layers, wherein a first distance between two ones adjacent of the plurality of grooves proximal to a first end of the protection device is smaller than a second distance between two adjacent of the plurality of grooves distal to the first end of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An article of apparel, comprising:
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a housing sized to retain a protection device, the housing being arranged for placement adjacent to a portion of a body of a user during wear; and a protection device positioned within the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis, the protection device comprising; a first layer of material having first and second opposing surfaces and a series of cushioning elements formed along at least one of the first and second surfaces; and a second layer of material attached to the first layer, the second layer having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface of the second layer abutting the first surface of the first layer, the first surface of the second layer having a plurality of grooves defined thereon, the first layer being shaped to conform to the portion of the user'"'"'s body, such that the protection device is arranged to provide protection for the portion of the user'"'"'s body against injurious events, wherein the first and second layers are injection-molded layers, wherein distances between two adjacent ones of the plurality of grooves increase along the longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An article of apparel, comprising:
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a housing sized to retain a protection device, the housing being arranged for placement adjacent to a portion of a body of a user during wear; and a protection device positioned within the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis, the protection device comprising; a first layer of material having first and second opposing surfaces and a series of cushioning elements formed along at least one of the first and second surfaces; and a second layer of material attached to the first layer, the second layer having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface of the second layer abutting the first surface of the first layer, the first surface of the second layer having a plurality of grooves defined thereon, the first layer being shaped to conform to the portion of the user'"'"'s body, such that the protection device is arranged to provide protection for the portion of the user'"'"'s body against injurious events, wherein the first and second layers are injection-molded layers, wherein a depth of each of the plurality of grooves increases along the longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An article of apparel, comprising:
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a housing sized to retain a protection device, the housing being arranged for placement adjacent to a portion of a body of a user during wear; a protection device positioned within the housing, the protection device comprising a first injection-molded layer of a first material abutting a second injection-molded layer of a second material, wherein the second layer of material includes first and second opposing surfaces, the first layer of material being shaped to conform to the portion of the user'"'"'s body to provide protection against injurious events; and an injection molded toe cap extending from at least one of the first and second layers, wherein one end of the toe cap is sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification