Kicking aid for a shoe and method therefor

Abstract

A kicking aid for a shoe and method therefor, comprising a sleeve adapted to be fitted over an arch area of a shoe to provide a wearer with larger, stronger and more even kicking surfaces to enable a player to kick a ball with more power and accuracy.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/131,019, filed Oct. 16, 2000, in the name of the Applicant, to which priority is claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to shoes and, more specifically, to a kicking aid for a shoe comprising a sleeve adapted to fit over an arch area of a shoe and dimensioned to provide larger kicking surfaces to enable a wearer to kick a ball with more power and accuracy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A shoe is used to make contact with a ball in soccer, rugby, football and other sports. Soccer, or football as it is referred to in most countries outside of the United States, is the most popular sport worldwide. During a game of soccer, players mostly use their feet to control and manipulate a soccer ball. When passing from one player to another, generally a soccer player will use either an inner portion of his shoe when passing across his body and an outer portion of his shoe when passing away from his body. When either shooting on goal or kicking the ball for distance, generally a soccer player will make contact with an upper portion of the shoe. In football and rugby, a player also uses both the upper portion of his shoe (when punting a football or rugby ball for example) and the inner portion of a shoe (during a kickoff in football for example).

[0004] It is often the case, however, that soccer shoes and other sports shoes do not provide a sufficiently large enough and strong enough kicking surface on either the inner, outer or upper surfaces of the shoe. Shoelaces, due to the uneven way in which they lay across the upper portion of a shoe, can also interfere with the accuracy and power of a kick.

[0005] A need therefore existed for a kicking aid capable of being fitted over a shoe to provide larger, stronger and more even kicking surfaces to an inner portion, an outer portion and an upper portion of a shoe, thus enabling a player to kick a ball with more power and accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a kicking aid capable of providing a larger and stronger kicking surface to an inner, outer and upper portion of a shoe.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a kicking aid capable of providing a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion of a shoe to cover a shoe's shoelaces in order to provide more accuracy and power when kicking a ball from the raised kicking surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a kicking aid is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a sleeve having an open front portion and an open rear portion and adapted to be fitted over an arch area of a shoe so that the front portion is proximate a toe end of the shoe and the rear portion is proximate a foot entry portion of the shoe, and a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion of the sleeve, wherein the raised kicking surface ascends from proximate the front portion of the sleeve to proximate the rear portion of the sleeve.

[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for kicking a ball is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a sleeve having an open front portion and an open rear portion and a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion of the sleeve, the raised kicking surface ascends from proximate the front portion of the sleeve to proximate the rear portion of the sleeve, fitting the sleeve over an arch area of a shoe so that the front portion is proximate a toe end of the shoe and the rear portion is proximate a foot entry portion of the shoe, and kicking a ball with a portion of the sleeve.

[0010] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the kicking aid of the present invention, showing the sleeve fitted over an arch area of a shoe.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the kicking aid of FIG. 1, showing a sample logo on the raised kicking surface.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the kicking aid of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, reference number 10 refers generally to the preferred embodiment of the kicking aid of the present invention. The kicking aid 10 comprises a sleeve 12 having an open front portion 14 and an open rear portion 16. The sleeve 12 is adapted to be fitted over an arch area 18 (shown in FIG. 1) of a shoe 20 (shown in FIG. 1) so that the front portion 14 is proximate a toe end 22 (shown in FIG. 1) of the shoe 20 and the rear portion 16 is proximate a foot entry portion 24 (shown in FIG. 1) of the shoe 20. The bottom portion of the sleeve 12 should be dimensioned so as to fit over the non-cleated underside of a cleated shoe, between the front and rear sets of cleats—as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0015] The sleeve 12 further comprises a raised kicking surface 26 located on an upper portion of the sleeve 12. The raised kicking surface 26 ascends from proximate the front portion 14 of the sleeve 12 to proximate the rear portion 16 of the sleeve 12. Preferably, the raised kicking surface has a thickness in the range of approximately one-eighth of one inch at its lowest point, and approximately three-fourths of one inch at its highest point, although these dimensions could be departed from in either direction. Preferably, the sleeve 12 is comprised of a rubber-type material, although plastic, leather, or other materials could also be used.

[0016] The raised kicking surface 26 serves several purposes. It increases the size of the kicking surface when a ball is kicked with either the inside or outside of the shoe, making for greater accuracy. When the ball is kicked from the top of the shoe, the raised kicking surface 26 creates greater kicking power and, by covering the laces and provide a uniform, smooth surface, potentially greater accuracy.

[0017] There are other benefits associated with the kicking aid 10. The raised kicking surface 26 can protect the foot of the wearer when another player wearing a cleated shoe steps on the wearer's foot. In such instance, the raised kicking surface 26 will act to protect the top of the wearer's foot from the other player's cleats. Moreover, in children's soccer in particular, it is not uncommon for one player to inadvertently kick another player in the face or head. In such instance, the raised kicking surface 26, particularly where it is manufactured from rubber or some other compressible material, will be less hard than the top of the wearer's foot and will therefore impact less severely on the body of the child who has been kicked.

[0018] The raised kicking surface 26 and sleeve 12 can be manufactured as a one-part assembly. Alternatively, the sleeve 12 could define a hollow receptacle at the top portion thereof, into which the raised kicking surface 26 may be inserted and secured in an appropriate manner. Still further, it would be possible to provide the raised kicking surface 26 as a permanent part of a shoe 20.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, indicia 28 (shown in FIG. 2) are located on the sleeve 12. The indicia 28 could be in the form of a logo, a name, an advertisement, a picture or some other kind of marking that may make the kicking aid 10 more stylish or commercially marketable.

[0020] Still referring to FIGS. 1-3, the sleeve 12 preferably defines an upper aperture 30 and a lower aperture 32 on each side of the raised kicking surface 26 proximate the rear portion of the sleeve. The apertures 30 are dimensioned to permit the passage of shoelace ends (not shown) from the shoe up through the apertures 30. The shoelace ends may then be passed downward through the apertures 32. The shoelaces are then tied and, optionally, may be tucked under the raised kicking surface 26—preventing the shoelaces from becoming untied or from contacting the ball during kicking.

[0021] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A kicking aid for a shoe comprising:

a sleeve having an open front portion and an open rear portion and adapted to be fitted over an arch area of a shoe so that said front portion is proximate a toe end of said shoe and said rear portion is proximate a foot entry portion of said shoe; and

a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion of said sleeve;

wherein said raised kicking surface ascends from proximate said front portion of said sleeve to proximate said rear portion of said sleeve.

2. The kicking aid of claim 1 further comprising indicia located on said sleeve.

3. The kicking aid of claim 1 wherein said raised kicking surface defines at least on aperture on each side of said raised kicking surface proximate said rear portion of said sleeve and wherein each said aperture is dimensioned to permit the passage of a shoelace therethrough.

4. The kicking aid of claim 3 wherein said upper portion of said sleeve defines at least one aperture on each said side of said upper portion proximate said at least one aperture on each side of said raised kicking surface and wherein each said aperture is dimensioned to permit the passage of a shoe lace therethrough.

5. The kicking aid of claim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises a rubber-type material.

6. The kicking aid of claim 1 wherein said raised kicking surface has a thickness of approximately one-eighth of one inch proximate said front portion of said sleeve and a thickness of approximately three-quarters of one inch proximate said rear portion of said sleeve.

7. A method for kicking a ball comprising, in combination, the steps of:

providing a sleeve having an open front portion and an open rear portion and a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion of said sleeve, said raised kicking surface ascends from proximate said front portion of said sleeve to proximate said rear portion of said sleeve;

fitting said sleeve over an arch area of a shoe so that said front portion is proximate a toe end of said shoe and said rear portion is proximate a foot entry portion of said shoe; and

kicking a ball with a portion of said sleeve.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing indicia located on said sleeve.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said raised kicking surface defines at least on aperture on each side of said raised kicking surface proximate said rear portion of said sleeve and wherein each said aperture is dimensioned to permit the passage of a shoelace therethrough.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said upper portion of said sleeve defines at least one aperture on each said side of said upper portion proximate said at least one aperture on each side of said raised kicking surface and wherein each said aperture is dimensioned to permit the passage of a shoe lace therethrough.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said sleeve comprises a rubber-type material.