Sporting footwear

A sports shoe, of the type generally worn in football, rugby and soccer style sports, comprising an upper, the tipper comprising a toe region, the upper comprising an instep comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ridges, the ridges comprising front ends disposed behind said toe region and rear ends disposed behind said front ends, said upper further comprising, behind said toe region, front surfaces that have respective upper peaks, said toe region being disposed ahead of said front surfaces, said toe region having a reduced height lower than a height of said ridges, said reduced height facilitating flexibility of said shoe in said toe region, wherein said ridges comprise a single component adapted to overlie said upper, wherein in said component said ridges are integrally joined above said upper, the shoe further comprising fastening means such that said single component is releasably attachable to said upper.

A sports shoe, of the type generally worn in football, rugby and soccer style sports, comprising an upper, the upper comprising a toe region, the upper comprising an instep comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ridges, the ridges comprising front ends disposed behind said toe region and rear ends disposed behind said front ends, said toe region being disposed ahead of said front ends, said toe region having a reduced height lower than a height of said ridges, said reduced height facilitating flexibility of said shoe in said toe region, wherein said ridges axe of substantially constant height between said front ends and said rear ends, and wherein said roe region is concave and comprises a transversely curved cross-section configured to cup a ball.

A sports shoe, of the type generally worn in football, rugby and soccer style sports, comprising an upper, the upper comprising a toe region, the upper comprising an instep comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ridges, the ridges comprising front ends disposed behind said toe region and rear ends disposed behind said front ends, said toe region being disposed ahead of said front ends, said toe region having a reduced height lower than a height of said ridges, said reduced height facilitating flexibility of said shoe in said toe region, wherein said toe region is concave and comprises a transversely curved cross-section configured to cup a ball.

A sports shoe, of the type generally worn in football, rugby and soccer style sports, comprising an upper, the upper comprising a roe region, the upper comprising an instep comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ridges, the ridges comprising front ends disposed behind said toe region and rear ends disposed behind said front ends, said toe region being disposed ahead of said front ends, said toe region having a reduced height lower than a height of said ridges, said reduced height facilitating flexibility of said shoe in said toe region, wherein said ridges comprise concave side surfaces, each comprising a curved cross-section configured to cup a ball.

A sports shoe, of the type generally worn in football, rugby and soccer style sports, comprising an upper, the upper comprising a toe region, the upper comprising an instep comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ridges, the ridges comprising front ends disposed behind said toe region and rear ends disposed behind said front ends, said toe region being disposed ahead of said front ends, said toe region having a reduced height lower than a height of said ridges, said reduced height facilitating flexibility of said shoe in said toe region, wherein said toe region is concave and comprises a transversely curved cross-section configured to cup a ball.