Gymnastic shoe with cushioning and shock absorbing insert

• US 4,541,186 A
• Filed: 04/06/1983
• Issued: 09/17/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Mulvihill, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US06/482,581
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 36/43, 36/44, 36/71, 36/25 R, 36/30 R, 36/68, 36/69, 36/114, 36/91, 36/92, 128/614, 128/615, 128/617, 128/621
• US Class Current: 36/114
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00

Abstract

A lightweight, flexible gymnastic shoe is disclosed. The shoe includes an upper formed of a lightweight synthetic fabric. A relatively broad closure strap has a first end fixed to a medial inside surface of the upper in the area of the arch and a second free end for detachable attachment to the medial outside of the upper. A hook and pile fastener selectively fastens the second end of the closure strap to the upper. A sole is attached to an outer bottom surface of the upper, and is formed of a relatively thin resilient material located only below the toe, ball and heel areas. A liner is located inside the upper and extends along substantially the entire length of the inside top surface of the upper. The liner is formed of a relatively low density cushioning material. A metatarsal pad is located along the liner only in the area of the first and second metatarsal heads of a wearer'"'"'s foot, and a heel pad is located along the liner in the heel area. The pads are formed of a shock-absorbing material different from and having a higher density than the material of the liner. An arch support is formed of a built up area of material positioned below the medial arch area.

Claims

1. A lightweight, flexible gymnastic shoe comprising:

an upper formed of a lightweight synthetic fabric, said upper having an opening and a throat for the insertion of a foot into the shoe, and including toe, ball, arch and heel area corresponding to the respective portions of a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a sole formed of a relatively thin resilient material and being attached to at least a portion of an outer bottom surface of said upper;

a liner located inside said upper and extending along substantially the entire length of the inside top surface of said upper, said liner being formed of a relatively low density cushioning material, said liner including a tapered portion which gradually becomes thinner from the back to the front of the toe area and a heel cup portion in which the liner extends upward around the sides and back of the heel area;

a metatarsal pad located along the liner only in the area of the first and second metatarsal heads of a wearer'"'"'s foot, and a heel pad located along the liner in the heel area, said pads being formed of a shock-absorbing material different from and having a higher shock absorbing capability than the material of said liner; and

an arch support formed of a built up area of material positioned below the medial arch area.

2. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 1 wherein said liner material is comprised of a synthetic foam material.

3. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 1 wherein said heel cup portion has a height of approximately one-quarter inch.

4. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 1 including combined closure and support means for securely holding said upper on the foot and for adding support to the anterior capsule of the foot.

5. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 1 wherein said metatarsal pad and said heel pad are attached to said liner in respective notches on the bottom side of said liner.

6. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 1 wherein said liner is removable from said shoe.

7. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 3 wherein said liner includes a layer of fabric attached to its upper surface.

8. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 1 wherein said sole is located only in the toe, ball and heel areas of the foot.

9. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 4 wherein said combined closure and support means comprises a strap covering a substantial part of the top surface of the midfoot attached to one side of said upper and fastening means for fastening said strap to the other side of said upper.

10. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 9 wherein said fastening means comprises a hook and pile fastener.

11. A lightweight, flexible gymnastic shoe comprising:

an upper formed of a lightweight synthetic fabric, said upper having an opening and a throat for the insertion of a foot into the shoe, and including toe, ball, arch and heel areas corresponding to the respective portions of a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a relatively broad closure strap having a first end fixed to the medial inside of said upper in the area of the arch and a second free end for detachable attachment to the medial outside of said upper;

fastener means for selectively fastening said second end of said closure strap to said upper;

a sole attached to an outer bottom surface of said upper, said sole being formed of a relatively thin resilient material and being located only below the toe, ball and heel areas;

a liner located inside said upper and extending along substantially the entire length of the inside top surface of said upper, said liner being formed of a relatively low density cushioning material, said liner including a tapered portion which gradually becomes thinner from the back to the front of the toe area and a heel cup portion in which the liner extends upward around the sides and back of the heel area;

a metatarsal pad located along the liner only in the area of the first and second metatarsal heads of a wearer'"'"'s foot, and a heel pad located along the liner in the heel area, said pads being formed of a shock-absorbing material different from and having a higher density than the material of said liner; and

an arch support formed of a built up area of material positioned below the medial arch area.

12. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 11 wherein said liner material is comprised of a synthetic foam material.

13. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 11 wherein said heel cup portion has a height of approximately one-quarter inch.

14. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 11 wherein said closure strap is approximately one to two inches wide.

15. A gymnastic shoe according to claim 14 wherein said closure strap is comprised of an elastic band.