Wrestling shoe with textile on toe cap

Abstract

An article of footwear has a toe cap having fibers on the surface to provide a slip region of reduced friction. The toe cap may be formed integrally with an outsole. The fibers may be in the form of a mesh, e.g., an open spacer mesh. Optionally, the toe cap may be made from an elastomeric material which is impregnated into the mesh and is cured around fibers in the mesh. A method for making a toe cap, optionally with an outsole formed integrally therewith, includes molding an elastomeric material into a toe cap having an outer surface and adhering fiber to the toe cap outer surface to provide the slip region. Pressing the fibers against the elastomeric material may be done under sufficient temperature and pressure to cure the elastomeric material around a portion of the fibers. An article of footwear features a toe cap as described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.