Apparatus, system, and method for engaging toes in footwear
DCFirst Claim
1. A toe engaging apparatus for an interior of a footwear item, the apparatus comprising a panel configured to extend at least partially across an interior of a toebox of the interior of the footwear item, the panel being coupled directly to an interior of the footwear item such that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to continually engage an upper forward edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes while the footwear is being worn by the user, said panel being spaced from a forward and upper portion of the toebox at a panel mid portion absent the wearer'"'"'s toes forcing said portion into contact with the toebox.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses, a system, and a method for engaging a wearer'"'"'s toes within an interior of a footwear item are provided. A panel is configured to extend at least partially across a toebox of the interior of the footwear item. An attachment mechanism is configured to position the panel in the interior of the footwear item so that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to engage an edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes. The panel includes a flexible or stretchable material such as neoprene. The attachment mechanism includes at least one of stitching, adhesive bonding, and thermal welding. The attachment mechanism joins the panel to the interior of the footwear item at a plurality of points along at least one of a lower edge of the panel and side edges of the panel, such as by joining the panel to an insole.
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Citations
44 Claims
- 1. A toe engaging apparatus for an interior of a footwear item, the apparatus comprising a panel configured to extend at least partially across an interior of a toebox of the interior of the footwear item, the panel being coupled directly to an interior of the footwear item such that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to continually engage an upper forward edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes while the footwear is being worn by the user, said panel being spaced from a forward and upper portion of the toebox at a panel mid portion absent the wearer'"'"'s toes forcing said portion into contact with the toebox.
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10. A toe engaging apparatus for an interior of a footwear item, the apparatus comprising:
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a panel configured to extend at least partially across an interior of a toebox of the interior of the footwear item; and an attachment mechanism configured to position the panel in the interior of the footwear item so that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to continually engage an upper forward edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes, said panel being spaced from a portion of the toebox in front of the users toes at a panel mid portion absent the wearer'"'"'s toes forcing said portion into contact with the toebox. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A footwear lining apparatus comprising:
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a liner configured to line an interior of a footwear item such that an interior of the liner generally receives a foot of a wearer and an exterior of the liner engages an interior of the footwear item; and a panel configured to extend at least partially across a toebox of the liner, the panel being coupled to the interior of the liner such that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to continually engage an upper forward edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes, said panel being spaced from the toebox at a panel mid portion in front of the users toes absent the wearer'"'"'s toes forcing said portion into contact with the toebox. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A footwear system comprising:
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an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper being configured such that toes of the wearer can be at least partially moved without contacting an interior of the upper; an outersole fixably mounted to the upper; and a panel configured to extend at least partially across an interior of a toebox of the upper, the panel being coupled to the interior of the upper such that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to continually engage an upper forward edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes, said panel being spaced from the toebox at a panel mid portion behind an upper forward portion of the toebox absent the wearer'"'"'s toes forcing said portion into contact with the toebox. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for engaging toes of a wearer in an interior of a footwear item, the method comprising:
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forming a panel configured to extend at least partially across a toebox interior of the footwear item; positioning the panel at a location inside the toebox of the interior of the footwear item so that the panel is positioned inside the toebox to continually engage an upper forward edge of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s toes, said panel being spaced from the toebox at a panel mid portion behind an upper forward portion of the toebox absent the wearer'"'"'s toes forcing said portion into contact with the toebox; and securing the panel directly to the toebox. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification