Athletic shoe
AssigneeReturn on Investment Corporation
InventorCarl W. Hilton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An athletic shoe is disclosed which is primarily adapted for use in rapid start-stop sports, such as tennis, racquetball, handball and the like. The athletic shoe includes a sole, an upper secured to the sole and a toe cap which is secured to the sole and the upper. The toe cap defines a plurality of narrow slits which extend generally longitudinally of the sole. The narrow slits increase the flexibility of the toe cap and provide room for the toes of the user during rapid stops primarily to prevent bruising of the big toe.
Claims12
An athletic shoe adapted for use in playing tennis, racquetball, handball and the like, said shoe comprising:
- a sole;
- an upper secured to the sole;
- and
- a toe cap secured to the sole and to the upper, said toe cap including a plurality of narrow slit means therein which extend generally longitudinally of said sole for causing said toe cap to spread apart transversely of said sole, provide increased toe room and reduce the chance of injury during sudden stops without an adverse decrease in lateral stability of the shoe.
In an athletic shoe used in playing tennis, racquetball, handball and the like, the shoe being of the type including a sole defining a gripping surface, an upper secured to the sole, a toe cap secured to the sole and upper, and a tongue extending rearwardly from said toe cap, wherein the improvement comprises:
- said toe cap defining a plurality of elongated strap areas which extend generally from a front end of the toe cap towards the upper, said toe cap including separating means inbetween said strap areas for permitting said strap areas to separate transversely to provide increased toe room and flexibility to reduce the chance of injury during sudden stops without an adverse decrease in lateral stability of the shoe.
A method of modifying an athletic shoe to limit damage to the big toe during sudden stops, the shoe being of the type including a sole, an upper secured to the sole and a toe cap secured to the sole and upper, said method comprising the step of:
- cutting the toe cap to form a plurality of elongated, transversely spaced slits which extend rearwardly from a point adjacent a forward portion of the sole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.