Insert for preventing wrinkling of athletic shoes

Abstract

The insert for preventing wrinkling of athletic shoes includes a toe cap having a contoured front wall curving rearwardly into an upper wall and curving on opposite sides into opposed side walls. The toe cap is made from a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer and may be fiber reinforced. A layer formed from a gel or other cushioning material is disposed over at lease an inner surface of the toe cap. The insert can be positioned beneath or within the toe portion of the shoe upper to prevent wrinkling of the toe end of the shoe upper.

Description

This application is based on a provisional Patent application No. 60/615969, filed on Oct. 6, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. File of the Invention

The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly, to a shoe insert configured for positioning in a shoe, and particularly an athletic shoe, in order to prevent wrinkling of the toe end of the shoe.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional athletic shoes are generally designed to provide a greater degree of comfort and support to the feet of the wearer than shoes intended for general wear. As such, athletic shoes are typically made from flexible materials such as foam, plastic, and rubber. Partly because of the materials used to make an athletic shoe and partly because of the type of activities for which the athletic shoe is used, the shoe upper in an athletic shoe is susceptible to wrinkling and cracking. While shoe devices have been introduce in the past that, for example, fill extra space in a shoe that is large than the foot of the wearer or that protects the toes of a wearer; there has not been a device which protects the shoe upper of an athletic shoe from wrinkling or cracking. Further, toe caps are sometimes uncomfortable and chafe the foot of the wearer, particularly in a shoe having a sole as flexible as the sole of an athletic shoe. Thus, an insert for preventing wrinkling of athletic shoes solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The insert for preventing wrinkling of athletic shoes includes a toe cap having a contoured front wall curving rearwardly into an upper wall and curving on opposite sides into opposed sidewalls. The toe cap is made from a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer and may be fiber reinforced. A layer formed from gel or other cushioning material is disposed over at lease an inner surface of the toe cap. The insert can be positioned beneath or within the toe portion of the shoe upper to prevent wrinkling of the toe end of the shoe upper. These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, side view of an athletic shoe having an insert for preventing wrinkling of athleti shoes, according to the present invention disposed therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insert for preventing wrinkling of athletic shoes according to the present invention as seen from the rear.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2. Similar reference character denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to an insert for preventing wrinkling of athletic shoes, generally designated as 10 in the drawings. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the insert 10 is sized and shaped for fitting in the toe portion T of the shoe upper U in an athletic shoe S.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the insert 10 comprises a toe cap 12 having a curved or contoured front wall 14 curving rearwardly into an upper wall 16 and curving on opposite sides into opposed side walls 18. The front wall 14, the upper wall 16, and the opposing side walls 18 are jointed together by smooth continuous curves.

The insert 10 can be made from a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer, which may be fiber reinforced, or other suitable material. Suitable Plastic and thermoplastic materials include, but are not limited to polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene, and ABS.

A cushioning material 20, such as a gel, fabric, rubber, foam or plastic material forms at least one layer disposed over an inner surface of the insert 10, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3. The cushioning material helps to provide additional comfort to the foot of a wearer to relieve pressure or chafing. The cushioning material 20 may be co-extensive with the entire inner surface area of the insert 10, or may be recessed from the edges. The layer of cushioning material 20 may be adhesively attached to the toe cap 12. The shoe insert 10 can be positioned within the cavity of the shoe proximate the toe portion T and attached to the shoe upper U in any suitable manner. Alternatively, however, the insert 10 can be embedded within the shoe upper U.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An insert for preventing wrinkling of an athletic shoe, comprising:

a toe cap having a contoured front wall, and upper wall extending rearwardly from said front wall, and opposed side walls extending from opposite sides of said upper wall, the toe cap defining an inner surface; and

a layer of cushioning material disposed on an inner surface of said toe cap;

whereby the insert may be positioned in the athletic shoe to prevent the toe from wrinkling.

2. The insert according to claim 1, wherein said toe cap is made from a plastic material.

3. The insert according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning material is a gel material.

4. An athletic shoe in combination with an insert for preventing wrinkling the athletic shoe, comprising:

an athletic shoe having a sole and an upper joined to the sole and forming a toe of the shoe;

a toe cap having a contoured front wall, an upper wall extending rearwardly from said front wall, and opposed side wall extending from opposite sides of said upper wall, the toe cap defining an inner surface; and

a layer of cushioning material disposed on an inner surface of said cap;

whereby the insert may be positioned in the athletic shoe to prevent the toe from wrinkling.