ATHLETIC SHOE

• US 20110010965A1
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ringstar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ringstar, Inc.
• Inventors: SHEPHERD, STEVEN H., McCabe, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US12/837,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010965A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/114
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/047 the gusset being elastic
• 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 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet

Abstract

An athletic shoe is disclosed that is lightweight and padded for use in mixed martial arts and other related activities. The shoe includes a soft, flexible sole, and a shoe upper adjoined to the flexible sole. Padding is attached to the shoe upper and the sole such that the padding extends substantially completely around the foot of a wearer. At least two resilient sole pads are attached to the flexible sole, the resilient sole pads being positioned at least under the heel and ball of the foot of a wearer, wherein no resilient sole pad is provided under the toes of a wearer.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe, comprising:

a soft, flexible sole;

a shoe upper adjoined to the flexible sole;

padding attached to the shoe upper and the sole such that the padding extends substantially completely around the foot of a wearer; and

at least two resilient sole pads attached to the flexible sole, the resilient sole pads being positioned at least under the heel and ball of the foot of a wearer, wherein no resilient sole pad is provided under the toes of a wearer.

2. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the resilient sole pads do not extend across the full width of the flexible sole.

3. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the resilient sole pad positioned under the heel of the foot of a wearer does not extend to a rear heel edge of the flexible sole.

4. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the padding in the shoe upper comprises closed cell foam padding extending around a heel area of the wearer.

5. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the padding in the shoe upper is thicker over forward lateral areas of the dorsum of the foot of a wearer.

6. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe upper has a throat, with elastic material provided across the throat.

7. The athletic shoe of claim 6, further comprising a padded tongue disposed under the throat.

8. The athletic shoe of claim 6, wherein the padded tongue has closed-cell padding disposed therein.

9. The athletic shoe of claim 6, further comprising an outer flap extending over the elastic material, the outer flap substantially covering the elastic material.

10. The athletic shoe of claim 9, wherein the outer flap includes a thin layer of closed-cell foam padding.

11. The athletic shoe of claim 10, wherein the thin layer of padding in the outer flap has a thickness of less than approximately 0.5 cm.

12. The athletic shoe of claim 9, wherein the outer flap and the shoe upper include complementary hook and loop fastener material such that the outer flap can be secured to the shoe upper.

13. The athletic shoe of claim 1, where the resilient sole pads are formed from a material having a shore durometer reading between about 40 and about 50.

14. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein at least some of the padding in the shoe upper has a durometer of approximately 0.253.

15. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein at least some of the padding in the shoe upper has a density of between approximately 1.5 pcf and approximately 4.5 pcf.

16. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein at least some of the padding in the shoe upper has a compression strength of between approximately 3 psi and approximately 23 psi at approximately 25% deflection and a compression strength of between approximately 9 psi and approximately 42 psi at approximately 50% deflection.

17. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the padding in the shoe upper extending over the sides of the dorsum of the wearer'"'"'s foot has a thickness between approximately 1 cm and approximately 2.5 cm.

18. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the padding around a heel area of the shoe upper has a thickness between approximately 1 cm and approximately 2 cm.

19. The athletic shoe of claim 1, further comprising an elastic wrapping strap designed to be wrapped around the shoe.

20. The athletic shoe of claim 19, wherein the elastic wrapping strap is secured to the shoe at the heel thereof

21. The athletic shoe of claim 19, wherein the elastic wrapping strap is dimensioned to pass between the sole pads when it is wrapped around the shoe.