Molded athletic footwear

An ice skate comprising:

• a molded, substantially rigid, lower shell portion adapted to receive and substantially encase the sole, heel and toe of a foot of a wearer, said lower shell portion having an enclosed heel, toe and bottom and an open instep area to permit access to the interior of the shell portion;
• an ice skate blade secured to the exterior of the bottom of said shell portion by at least front and rear couplers;
• a molded, semi-rigid, tongue integral with said shell portion at said instep area, said tongue having an elongated center instep support portion and at least one pair of complimentary center wing portions extending outwardly from an approximate central location along the length of said center instep support, said complimentary center wing portions adapted to wrap around said shell portion between said shell portion and said ice skate blade;
• and
• a pair of complimentary securing devices provided at the outer ends of said center wing portions, said securing devices being adapted to secure said center wing portions together to thereby secure said tongue to said shell portion.

An ice skate having footwear coupled integral with ice skate hardware, said ice skate comprising:

• a molded, substantially rigid lower shell portion adapted to receive and substantially encase the foot of a wearer, said lower shell portion having substantially enclosed toe, heel and bottom portions for supporting the foot of a wearer and an open instep portion for permitting access to said toe, heel and bottom portions;
• ice skate hardware including a skate blade and skate blade retaining and coupling members for securing said ice skate hardware to the exterior of the bottom of said shell portions;
• and
• a molded, semi-rigid tongue integral with said shell portion at an instep area, said tongue having an elongated center instep support portion and at least one pair of complimentary wing portions extending from an approximate central location along the length of said center instep support, said wing portions adapted to wrap around a portion of said bottom portion of said shell portion for securing said tongue at least over said open instep portion for securing the foot of said wearer in said footwear.

A molded shoe comprising:

• a molded, substantially rigid, lower shell portion adapted to receive and substantially encase the sole and heel of a wearer, said lower shell portion having an enclosed heel, toe and sole and an open instep area to permit access to the interior of the shell portion;
• a sole portion secured to the bottom of said shell portion, said sole portion including at least one lateral cut-out portion extending through the thickness thereof;
• a molded, substantially rigid, tongue integral with said shell portion at said instep area, said tongue having a center instep support portion, and being semi-rigid at said instep area, and at least one pair of complimentary center wing portions extending outwardly from said center instep support, said complimentary center wing portions adapted to wrap around said shell portion through said lateral cut-out portion in said sole portion;
• and
• a pair of matable securing devices provided at the outer ends of each of said center wing portions respectively, said securing devices being adapted to couple together and secure said center wing portions together to thereby secure said tongue to said shell portion.