Padded shoe

• US 20040045196A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ringstar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ringstar, Inc.
• Inventors: Shepherd, Steven H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,971,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/114
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear

Abstract

A padded shoe includes a flexible, resilient sole having a substantially outer surface. A shoe upper is adjoined to the sole, the shoe upper having closed-cell foam padding disposed therein. The shoe upper includes a padded tongue including an inner tongue portion and an outer padded tongue portion. Fastening structure retains the shoe on the foot of a wearer. Engagement structure is included for securing the outer padded tongue to cover the inner tongue portion. The outer padded tongue portion substantially covers the engagement structure. The wearer can strike a target with the shoe, and the target and the wearer are protected from injury caused by direct impact with the fastening structure and the engagement structure.

Claims

16-1. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole has a substantially smooth lower surface.

17-2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sole has a surface pattern thereon.

18-3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the sole is chamfered.