Apparatus for use in footwear and the like

• US 7,971,374 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Hernandez
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Hernandez
• Inventors: Hernandez, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/789,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20080263893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 36/94, 36/67.R, 361/34, 36126-129
• US Class Current: 36/94
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/26 with toe-spacers or toe-spreaders

Abstract

An apparatus for use in footwear and the like, the apparatus having a primary body adapted to be mounted on a work object operable to perform a task; and at least two secondary bodies mounted on the primary body and adapted selectively to be moved by the work object in the performance of the task.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in footwear and the like, the apparatus comprising a shoe body having a sole, an upper portion and a forward portion and adapted to be worn on the foot of a user having movable toes and a ball of the foot on the underside of the foot adjacent to said movable toes;

a first housing on the forward portion of the shoe body dimensioned to receive one of said movable toes, said first housing being an extension of said forward portion of the shoe body and said sole;

a second housing mounted on the forward portion of the shoe body dimensioned to receive the remainder of said movable toes, the second housing being an extension of said forward portion of the shoe body and said sole, and the first housing and the second housing being separated from each other by a channel so that the first housing and second housing are movable relative to each other and the shoe body; and

spikes mounted on the underside of said sole of said first housing and said second housing on opposite sides of the channel and a plurality of spikes mounted on the underside of said sole beneath said ball of the foot and wherein the sole beneath said first housing and said second housing is of less thickness than the thickness of the remainder of said sole to facilitate movement of the first housing and the second housing permitting the user to move the first housing and said second housing independently of each other and said plurality of plurality of spikes mounted on the underside of said sole beneath said ball of the foot under the impetus of the movable toes of the users foot therein to control the grip thereof and the application of said spikes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said channel between the first housing and second housing terminates in a rounded configuration whereby movement of the first housing and second housing relative to each other is facilitated.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spikes are removable so as to adapt the apparatus for a variety of usages.