PROTECTION DEVICES FOR USE IN SHOES OR OTHER PRODUCTS
First Claim
1. A shoe comprising:
- an upper having top and bottom layers of material or a flap having an internal pocket; and
a device for protecting the metatarsal region of a user'"'"'s foot, the device being situated between the top and bottom layers of the upper or within the internal pocket, wherein the device comprises;
a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces and a series of cones formed into at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, the series of cones including individual cones of varying depth and width; and
a second layer of material overlying the first layer and having a rigidity that is higher than a rigidity of the first layer, the first layer being shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user'"'"'s foot, such that the device is configured to provide protection for the metatarsal region against injurious events.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of devices for protecting a user'"'"'s foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user'"'"'s foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.)
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A shoe comprising:
-
an upper having top and bottom layers of material or a flap having an internal pocket; and a device for protecting the metatarsal region of a user'"'"'s foot, the device being situated between the top and bottom layers of the upper or within the internal pocket, wherein the device comprises; a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces and a series of cones formed into at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, the series of cones including individual cones of varying depth and width; and a second layer of material overlying the first layer and having a rigidity that is higher than a rigidity of the first layer, the first layer being shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user'"'"'s foot, such that the device is configured to provide protection for the metatarsal region against injurious events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A shoe comprising:
-
an upper having top and bottom layers of material or a flap having an internal pocket; and a device for protecting the metatarsal region of a user'"'"'s foot, the device being situated between the top and bottom layers of the upper or within the internal pocket, wherein the device comprises; a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, at least one of the top and bottom surfaces including a first pattern of hexagons formed thereon; and a second layer of material overlying the first layer and having a rigidity that is greater than a rigidity of the first layer, the first layer being shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user'"'"'s foot, such that the device is configured to provide protection for the metatarsal region against injurious events. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification