ATHLETIC SHOE

Abstract

An athletic shoe is comprised of: (a) a toe area that includes a toe box partially surrounded by a toe box frame that is higher in elevation than the toe box, (b) a medial side that includes an inside stall partially surrounded by a border and a medial strip that includes a series of apertures for laces, (c) a lateral side that includes a lateral body and a lateral strip that includes a series of apertures for laces, (d) a tongue including at least one tongue loop, (e) an ankle area including a low rim, and (f) a sole that may include a ridge below the inside stall to prevent a footbag or ball from rolling of the shoe. The toe box and inside stall are comprised of a material thin enough to allow the user to feel and control the footbag or ball when in contact with the shoe.

Description

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of provisional application Ser. No. 61/327,654, filed Apr. 24, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to athletic shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to an athletic shoe that may be used for freestyle footbag, footbag sports, and other sports that involve the control of a ball or other object by a player's feet.

BACKGROUND

HACKY SACK® is a trademarked name of a specific type of ball or footbag invented in 1972. The name HACKY SACK® has become a genericized trademark and can refer to either the footbag or a footbag game. For many, the terms footbag and HACKY SACK® have thus become interchangeable. A footbag is a small, round bag that is filled with small beans, sand, plastic pellets, or other material, and it is used in sports and games that require it being kept aloft with the feet. A footbag is used like a ball in a number of sports and games. A footbag is typically controlled by a players' feet, but in some sports other parts of the body except the hands and arms may also be used.

Originally, this sport was played by two or more people in a circle most commonly maneuvering the ball by kicking it into the air and passing it to other players without dropping it. Throughout the years, the game evolved into a sport where combinations of more intricate movements of the body (such as spinning & jumping) were incorporated. Despite new combinations of moves and increasing degrees of difficulty, a player's goal was still to refrain from using their hands and keep the ball in the air for as long as possible without dropping it. This sport is similar to juggling and shuttlecock using primarily the feet. Today, the sport is now called “freestyle footbag,” and players use an assortment of balls including a footbag or a soccer ball to practice the moves of the sport.

A variety of shoes are currently utilized for footbag sports and freestyle soccer, but such shoes are not specifically adapted for use with footbag sports and thus require heavy modifications by the user. Most players buy regular athletic shoes that are not designed or adapted for use with footbag sports or freestyle soccer, and then must modify them for freestyle footbag. Oftentimes, users remove extra material by cutting out certain areas of the shoe and replacing such areas with a variety of fabrics of their choice. The drawbacks with modifying existing shoes on the market is that such shoes are often expensive and having to modify, cut, sew, and essentially redesign one's own shoes may be labor intensive and time consuming. Not only does the user end up expending more money, time, and labor to modify an existing shoe for use with footbag sports, but the user runs the risk of wearing shoes that were inadequately patched together which may adversely affect their performance in the sport or may even cause injury if the shoe breaks apart. Modifying an existing shoe often results in an inadequate shoe since removing portions of the shoe decreases the integrity of the shoe.

Additionally, the shoe products currently available on the market provide areas that obstruct the ball from effective catching and launching. The shoes consist of multiple curvatures instead of flat areas which make it very difficult for the user to minimize rolling of the footbag during a variety of movements. These curves on shoes cause the ball to be easily dropped, thus ending the game for the player who is expected to pass the ball to the next available player to perform a combination of moves.

While many players have their preference as to where on a shoe they catch the ball, there are no shoes available on the market which clearly defines target landing spots for use with footbag sports. The available shoes on the market also utilize inadequate materials that make it difficult for the user to sense where the ball is located as it lands or leaves the shoe. Lacking sufficient ball orientation, improvement in skill becomes an increasing challenge. Moreover, minimal sensory input and poorly defined target landing zones may contribute to a user's tendency to guess at trajectories and chase the ball in response. As a result, use of inadequate shoes may lead to a higher probability to perform with improper body mechanics and overtime, can lead to injuries.

Furthermore, there are no footbag-related training aides available that are either built into the shoe or that are an attachable and removable component of a shoe. Such training aides may be manufactured as part of the shoe or permanently affixed to a shoe after it is manufactured, or they may be a separate and optional component that is added to an existing shoe to prevent the footbag or ball from easily rolling off the user's foot. Optional attachment rails or elevated obstructions are needed to assist the user to train range of motion and flexibility in response to the varied athletic capabilities. Training aides manufactured in different heights and angles provides the user with added supports to help keep the ball in place as it lands on the user's shoe.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an athletic shoe that is: specially adapted for use with footbag sports and other related sports that involve the control of a ball by a player's feet; includes designed areas for effective catching, launching and control of a footbag or ball; includes defined target landing spots for the footbag or ball; allows a user to sense orientation of a footbag or ball; and trains a user the proper technique and body mechanics for the various moves of footbag sports and other related sports. A shoe that addresses the above drawbacks in the art would certainly be more effective in improving the skill and performance of players, enable more people including newcomers to the sport to perform various footbag maneuvers, and reduce the frustration of many novice players. Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the ensuing description of the present invention.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an athletic shoe that is adapted for use with footbag sports and other sports that involve the control of a ball by a player's feet, addresses the above-mentioned drawbacks in the art, and optimizes the user's ability to improve footbag or ball control and body mechanics. The present invention allows the user to: sense and feel the ball since it utilizes thinner material in defined target landing areas; catch the ball since it utilizes layers of materials that are elevated to help encase the ball in place; and control the ball as it lands or leaves the shoe since features of the present invention's design allows for improved tactile feedback and purposeful movements in response. The present invention thus allows the user to train and improve skill and be more precise with movements, and it provides the user with awareness of form and proper body mechanics. The shoe provides feedback as it forces the user to be more precise with movements. The ball drops to the ground easily if ankle flexion is not maximized and maintained. As the user gets accustomed to proper form, the user develops supporting muscles and within time, muscle memory will lead to more consistent movements with training.

To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, the present invention is directed to an athletic shoe that generally comprises: (a) a toe area that includes a toe box partially surrounded by a toe box frame that is higher in elevation than the toe box wherein the toe box is comprised of a thinner material than the toe box frame, and the toe box frame may be comprised of a first side edge, a second side edge, and a top edge; (b) a medial side (that runs along the inner side of the user's foot) comprised of an inside stall (that is positioned along the inside arch of the user's foot and allows the catching the footbag on the inside of the user's foot), a border that partially surrounds the inside stall wherein the inside stall is comprised of a thinner material than the border, and a medial strip that includes a first series of apertures for shoelaces; (c) a lateral side (that runs along the outer side of the user's foot) comprised of a lateral body and a lateral strip that includes a second series of apertures for shoelaces, (d) a tongue that includes at least one tongue loop through which laces are threaded through to secure the tongue and to keep the toe box taught; (e) an ankle area that is comprised of a low rim (as opposed to a high rim found in “high-top” shoes) to provide sufficient distance between the user's ankle bones to maximize pedal flexion and range of motion in all directions; and (f) a sole that may include a plurality of pivot points, a multitude of deep treads, and one or more line breaks near the balls of the toes; and in certain embodiments of the invention, the sole may include a ridge that runs along the bottom of the inside stall to prevent a ball or footbag from rolling off the shoe.

The toe box frame being higher in elevation than the toe box helps the user catch and retain the ball or footbag and provides additional user control by minimizing unintended movement such as ball roll off. The toe box and inside stall are comprised of a material thin enough (such as a loosely woven material, mesh, or webbing) that allows the user to feel the footbag or ball when in contact with the shoe thereby providing increased user control to maneuver the footbag or ball. The toe box frame that frames the sides and top of the toe box in certain embodiments of the invention and the inside stall border that frames the sides and top of the inside stall are both made of a material that is thicker or more rigid than the toe box and inside stall material. The toe box frame and inside stall boarder help provide support, shape, and form to the toe box and inside stall respectively.

The above description sets forth a summary of embodiments of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There may be, of course, other features of the invention that will be described below and may form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a top plan view of an athletic shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the medial side of an athletic shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts the lateral side view of an athletic shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of an athletic shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A depicts a top plan view of an athletic shoe that includes an alternate toe area in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B depicts a top plan view of an athletic shoe that includes an alternate toe area in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A depicts a perspective view of the medial side of an athletic shoe that includes an alternate sole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B depicts a front elevational view of the athletic shoe shown in FIG. 6A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a front elevational view of an athletic shoe that includes an alternate sole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A depicts the lateral side view of an athletic shoe that includes an alternate sole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B depicts the lateral side view of an athletic shoe that includes an alternate sole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, certain embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Athletic Shoe

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of an athletic shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1 (as well as in FIGS. 5A-5B), the athletic shoe of the present invention is generally comprised of a toe area 100, a medial side 200 (that runs along the inner side of the user's foot), a lateral side 300 (that runs along the outer side of the user's foot), a tongue 400, an ankle area 500, and sole 600 (see also FIGS. 2,3, 5A, and 5B). Toe area 100 includes a toe box 150 that is surrounded by a toe box frame comprised of a first side edge 171, a second side edge 172, and a top edge 175. Toe area 100 further includes a toe reinforcement 190 positioned along top edge 175 that partially runs along medial side 200 and lateral side 300. Tongue 400 includes at least one tongue loop 410. As shown in FIG. 2 which depicts a perspective view of the medial side of the athletic shoe of the present invention, medial side 200 includes an inside stall 250, a border 260 that partially surrounds inside stall 250, and a medial strip 270 that includes a series of apertures through which laces may be tied through. As seen in FIG. 3 which depicts the lateral side view of the present invention, lateral side 300 includes a lateral body 350 that covers the outer side of a user's foot and a lateral strip 370 that includes a series of apertures through which laces may be tied through.

Toe Area (Toe Box and Toe Box Frame)

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, toe box 150 is comprised of a material sufficiently thin enough for the user to be able to feel the location of the ball when it lands on toe area 100 of the user's shoe. Suitable materials for toe box 150 may include thin or loosely woven or knitted fabrics such as a mesh or webbing comprised of cotton, polyester, synthetic materials, any suitable combinations thereof, or any other material or textile known in the art that is sufficiently thin enough to provide user tactile sensory of the ball when in contact with the user's shoe, but is durable enough to be suitable for use with a shoe. Since toe box 150 is a common point of contact for a ball or footbag, being comprised of a thin material enhances the ability for the user to direct a ball or footbag towards different directions. Additionally, a thin material allows for body heat to dissipate easily thereby minimizing moisture inside the shoe while keeping the user's feet cool.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, toe box 150 is partially framed by a toe box frame comprised of first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175. First side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 are comprised of a more durable or more rigid material than toe box 150 which helps toe box 150 maintain its form and shape thereby preserving the structure and integrity of toe box 150 for easier user maneuverability such as stalling. First side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 also act as additional reinforcements to prevent toe box 150 from tearing at its attachment points to the shoe as a result of constant bending of the shoe. Suitable materials for first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 may include dense, heavy, closely woven fabrics such as canvas, synthetic materials (e.g., vinyl, neoprene, or rubber), various cording made of natural and/or synthetic fibers, leather, or any suitable combination thereof. First side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 may be comprised of the same material or in alternate embodiments, they may be comprised of different materials so long as the materials used for first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 are more rigid than the material used for toe box 150.

The difference in density and/or rigidity of the material used for toe box 150 and the material used for first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 (i.e., toe box frame) creates a variation in elevation wherein toe box 150 is lower in elevation than first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 as shown in FIG. 3 which shows top edge 175 higher in elevation than toe box 150. Although this variation in elevation between top edge 175 and toe box 150 may appear slight to the naked eye, the variation in elevation is sufficient to create a wall effect which helps the user to catch the ball and provide additional ball control by minimizing movement such as ball roll off wherein the ball rolls off the user's shoe. The elevation or wall effect created by first side edge 171 and second side edge 172 also serves as a guide for the user to direct the ball from his or her foot in a straight manner. (Any unintentional curvatures in movement may cause the ball to hit these elevations or walls inadvertently causing obstructed pathway.)

The wall effect is created since toe box 150 is not planar to first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 since first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 are each higher in elevation than toe box 150. First side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 may be planar to one another. However, first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 are not required to be planar or leveled to each other. For example, in one variation of the invention, first side edge 171 may be of the same elevation to second side edge 172, but top edge 175 may be of a lower elevation than both first side edge 171 and second side edge 172. In such variations, first side edge 171 and second side edge 172 may be stitched, glued, or otherwise attached over (or on top of) top edge 175. Alternatively, first side edge 171 may be of the same elevation to second side edge 172, but top edge 175 may be of a higher elevation than both first edge 171 and second edge 172. In such variations, top edge 175 may be stitched, glued, or otherwise attached over or on top of both first side edge 171 and second side edge 172. The variance in elevation between toe box 150 and first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 of the toe box frame can be created by attaching (e.g., by stitching, gluing, or by any other suitable method known in the art) first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175 on top of toe box 150 so that toe box 150 is recessed therein.

Toe area 100 also may include toe reinforcement 190 which may be comprised of one or more layers of durable material (e.g., dense, heavy, closely woven fabrics such as canvas, synthetic materials such as vinyl or rubber, various cording made of natural and/or synthetic fibers, leather, or any suitable combination thereof) to prevent wear and tear of the shoe caused by, for instance, the impact of toes and/or toe nails ripping or penetrating through toe area 100. Toe reinforcement 190 may be of various dimensions and in one embodiment, toe reinforcement may also run along portions of medial side 200 and lateral side 300 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Additionally, the stitching or edge of toe reinforcement 190 that runs along top edge 175 may also serve as another structure that creates a wall-effect for the user to better catch and control the ball and to prevent unintended ball roll off.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict alternate embodiments of the invention that include a variation of toe area 100. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, toe area 100 is comprised of toe box 150 partially surrounded by a toe box frame comprised of first side edge 171, second side edge 172, and top edge 175. Toe reinforcement 190 runs along top edge 175. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5A, toe box 150 is wider (wherein first side edge 171 and second side edge 172 extend more into lateral side 300 and medial side 200 respectively) and top edge 175 is narrower providing a larger surface area for point of contact for a ball or footbag in comparison with the toe box 150 shown in FIG. 1. Users who prefer toe box 150 to have a larger surface area for more freedom to catch and maneuver the ball or footbag may prefer such variations as shown in FIG. 5A.

On the other hand, FIG. 5B depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention that includes a more confined toe box 150. In this variation shown in FIG. 5A, the surface area of toe box 150 is smaller, providing less surface area for point of contact for a ball or footbag. In such variations, first side edge 171 and second side edge 172 may be cut short at the lateral and medial sides of toe reinforcement 190 instead of running towards the center of toe reinforcement 190 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, top edge 175 of the toe box frame is shaped like an upside down “U” which further encloses and limits the surface area of toe box 150. Also, in some variations, medial strip 270 and lateral strip 370 may extend more into toe area 100 (in comparison to toe area 100 shown in FIG. 1) thereby cutting into the surface area of toe box 150 Users who prefer smaller or more confined surface areas for more control to catch and control the ball or footbag may prefer such variations as show in FIG. 5B.

Medial Side (Inside Stall)

As seen in FIG. 1, medial side 200 is the side of the shoe that aligns with the inner side of the user's foot. Medial side 200 is the area where a ball or footbag is caught on the side of the user's foot during various maneuvers. FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view showing medial side 200 of the shoe of the present invention. Medial side 200 includes an inside stall 250, a border 260 that partially surrounds inside stall 250, and a medial strip 270 that includes a series of apertures through which laces may be tied through. The front end of medial strip 270 ends at or near toe area 100 and the back end of medial strip 270 ends at or near ankle area 500. In the variation of the invention shown in FIG. 2, border 250 surrounds the top and partially the sides of inside stall 250, sole 600 runs along the bottom of inside stall 250, and the medial end of toe reinforcement 190 partially abuts a portion of one side of install stall 250.

Still referring to FIG. 2, inside stall 250 is a defined area of medial side 200 and like toe box 150, inside stall 250 is a typical point of contact between the user's shoe and ball or footbag. Inside stall 250 is defined by a material that is thinner than the material used for border 260 and may be defined by a particular shape. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, inside stall 250 is trapezoid-like although in other variations of the invention, inside stall may be comprised of a rectangle, semi-circle, square, oval, hexagon, octagon, or any other shape that can run along the inner side or medial side of a user's foot and provide sufficient surface area as a point of contact for the ball or footbag to allow user maneuverability, catching, and/or control of the ball or footbag. Alternatively, inside stall 250 may run the entire length of medial side 200 of the shoe (in any shape); or inside stall 250 may take up the entire surface of medial side 200 (offering the maximum surface area as point of contact for the ball or footbag) or the majority of the surface of medial side 200.

Since inside stall 250 is comprised of a thin material, the user can feel the location of the ball or footbag when it lands on the user's shoe. The material of inside stall 250 may be comprised of a thin or loosely woven fabrics such as a mesh or webbing comprising cotton, polyester, synthetic materials, any suitable combinations thereof, or any other material or textile known in the art that is sufficiently thin enough to provide user tactile sensory of the ball when in contact with the user's shoe, but is durable enough for use with a shoe. Inside stall 250 being comprised of a thin material enhances the ability for the user to direct a ball or footbag towards different directions. A thin material also allows for body heat to dissipate easily thereby minimizing moisture inside the shoe while keeping the user's feet cool. Furthermore, a thin material is pliable and resilient so when a ball or footbag lands on it, it stretches slightly in a way to create a basket or cup effect to better catch the ball or footbag and then easily returns to its original shape after the ball or footbag is maneuvered off the shoe.

Additionally, the material of inside stall 250 may comprise of mesh (or any other suitable thin or loosely-woven fabric as mentioned above) and may further include nonslip textures to provide slight friction to minimize excessive ball rolling as it lands. In alternate embodiments of the invention, inside stall 250 (and/or toe box 150) may further include a nonslip element to provide friction such as a thin rubber coating applied to parts of the surface of inside stall 250. The nonslip element (e.g., rubber material) provides sufficient frictional properties that would allow the user to easily catch and retain the ball or footbag thereby providing more user control. Although the nonslip element may be a rubber material, it will be readily appreciated to those skilled in the art that the nonslip element may be composed of a variety of elements such as any polymer compound exhibiting a desired coefficient of friction that provides sufficient frictional force to prevent inadvertent slippage of the ball or footbag. Other examples of materials that may be used for the nonslip element may include, but are not limited to, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, latex rubber, plastic material that is tacky, and combinations thereof and such materials may be applied in any suitable pattern and amount to certain portions of inside stall 250 or to the entire surface of inside stall 250.

Yet, in another variation of the invention, inside stall 250 (and/or toe box 150) may be comprised of a sufficiently thin rubber or plastic material (instead of a thin or loosely woven fabric with or without a nonslip element) that allows user tactile sensory of the ball or footbag. In such variations, inside stall may be solid or may include holes like a loosely-woven fabric or mesh to allow body heat to easily dissipate thereby minimizing moisture inside the shoe while keeping the user's feet cool.

Still referring to FIG. 2, border 260 may be made of a thicker or more rigid material than inside stall 250. Border 260 may be comprised of a dense, heavy, closely woven fabric such as canvas, synthetic materials (e.g., vinyl, neoprene, or rubber), natural and/or synthetic fibers, leather, or any suitable combination thereof. Since border 260 is comprised of a more rigid material than inside stall 250 (which is made of a thin and resilient material) and since border 260 surrounds the sides and the top of inside stall 250, border 260 acts like a frame to help inside stall 250 maintain its shape, form and integrity.

Medial strip 270 runs along the top of medial side 200. Medial strip 270 (along with lateral strip 270 that runs along the top of lateral side 300 as seen in FIG. 3) includes multiple apertures through which laces may be tied through. Medial strip 270 may be continuous with second side edge 172 of the toe box frame as in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2. In alternate embodiments of the invention as depicted in FIG. 5B, medial strip 270 may be a separate and distinct structure from second side edge 172 of the toe box frame as medial strip 270 does not need to run along the direction of second side edge 172 since medial strip 270 may end at a distinct point (via stitching or other structure) before second side edge 172 begins Also, medial strip 270 need to be connected or adjacent to second side edge 172 in other embodiments of the invention.

Lateral Side

Lateral side 300 is the area where the ball or footbag is caught on the outside of the user's foot. As shown in FIG. 3 which illustrates the lateral side view of the present invention, lateral side 300 includes lateral body 350 and lateral strip 370 that runs along the top edge of lateral side 300. The front end of lateral strip 370 ends at or near toe area 100 and the back end of lateral strip 370 ends at or near ankle area 500 (see also FIG. 1). Lateral strip 370 (along with medial strip 270 that runs along the top of medial side 200) includes multiple apertures through which laces may be tied through. Lateral strip 370 may be continuous with first side edge 171 of the toe box frame as in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3. In alternate embodiments of the invention as shown in FIG. 5B, lateral strip 370 may be a separate and distinct structure from first side edge 171 of the toe box frame since lateral strip 370 does not need to run along the direction of first side edge 171 since lateral strip 370 may end at distinct point (via stitching or other structure) before first side edge 171 begins. Also, lateral strip 370 need to be connected or adjacent to first side edge 171 in alternate embodiments of the invention.

Lateral body 350 may be comprised of a durable, dense, heavy, closely woven fabric such as canvas, synthetic materials (e.g., vinyl, neoprene, or rubber), natural and/or synthetic fibers, leather, or any suitable combination thereof. Lateral body 350 may be comprised of one type or multiple types of different fabrics, may be comprised of a single layer of material, and may also be reinforced with one or more additional layers of the material. The reinforcement layer(s) may be of any suitable dimension and may extend within any portion of the shoe. For example, in one variation of the invention, the reinforcement layer(s) may extend from one third to two thirds the length of the shoe which minimizes wear and tear during lateral or side-to-side movements.

In embodiments of the invention wherein lateral body 350 is comprised of canvas, cotton, or any other absorbent material that can be painted or drawn on, the user may personalize their own shoe by applying artistic paint and/or ink designs to lateral body 350. Additionally, lateral body 350 may be comprised of the same or different material than the material used for certain structures of the shoe of the present invention (e.g., border 260 that surrounds inside stall 250 of medial side 200 as shown in FIG. 2). For example, in some variations of the invention, lateral body 350 is comprised of a different material than lateral strip 370 and toe reinforcement 190. Yet in other variations, lateral body 350 may be comprised of the same material of lateral strip 370 and toe reinforcement 190, and said structures are distinguished via boundaries created by stitching and/or the edges of lateral strip 270 and toe reinforcement 190 which are attached to lateral body 350 via glue, stitching, and/or other methods.

Tongue & Ankle Area

As depicted in FIGS. 1-2, tongue 400 includes at least one tongue loop 410 through which laces can be threaded through to secure the tongue and to minimize any movement of tongue 400. This allows toe box 150 to remain taught as minimizing the gathering of the material of toe box 150 helps prevent the ball or footbag from being deflected to an undesired direction. The at least one tongue loop 410 assists to maintain a flatter surface which is optimal for the user to feel and control the ball. Tongue loops can be located on any part of tongue 400 (such is the midline and/or outer edges of tongue 400) and can be comprised of any suitable textile such as a rubber or nylon material. Tongue loops can also be comprised of holes, reinforced by thread embroidered around the perimeter or circular plastic or metal materials such as grommets.

In various embodiments of the invention, toe box 150 may extend towards a portion of tongue 400 to create a larger surface area for toe box 150. For example, in one embodiment, the thin mesh-like material of toe box 150 extends all the way up to the second apertures of medial strip 270 and lateral strip 370 (wherein the first apertures of medial strip 270 and lateral strip 370 are closest to the user's toe). If a user desires toe box 150 to have a larger surface area to be able to perform certain maneuvers (or as a general preference), the user can then re-lace the shoe starting from the second apertures of medial strip 270 and lateral strip 370 to expose this additional area and thereby increase the surface area of toe box 150. In other embodiments, toe box 150 may extend further up along tongue 400 to provide even greater surface area. Thus, such embodiments provide the user with adjustability and options to accommodate a variety of users and to accommodate a variety of maneuvers.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate ankle area 500 of the present invention. When a ball or footbag is caught on the inside curvature of the foot, a higher rim of a shoe such as those found in “high-top” shoes oftentimes pushes against the inside ankle bone which limits movement. In the present invention, ankle area 500 is comprised of a low rim so there is ample distance between ankle bones of the user and the rim of ankle area 500 which provides clearance in such a way to maximize pedal flexion and range of foot and ankle motion in all directions to better control and maneuver the ball or footbag.

Shoe Sole

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively illustrate a perspective view and a profile view of sole 600. FIG. 4 depicts the bottom view of the shoe of the present invention and thereby depicts the various structures of sole 600. As illustrated in FIG. 4, sole 600 includes a plurality of pivot points, deep treads 620, and at least one line break 630. The plurality of pivot points help reduce friction with the floor during certain movements such as turning and spinning maneuvers. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of pivot points is comprised of a first pivot point 611, a second pivot point 612, and a third pivot point 613. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the plurality of pivot points may be comprised of two, four, five, six, or any other desired amount of pivot points. Sole 600 can be made of rubber, plastic, combinations thereof, or any suitable material known in the art that provides sufficient traction, flexibility, support and absorption qualities.

Deep treads 620 help absorb impact, allow for better grip or traction of varied surfaces, and prolongs wear and tear from the rigors of the sport. Line break 630 is positioned towards the balls of the user's toes to relieve tension when the user's foot is in the flexed position allowing increased foot flexibility. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, sole 600 may also include additional shock absorption elements 660 to evenly distribute shock absorption to help protect the user's knees and joints. Yet in other embodiments, sole 600 may also include lateral grips 680 that provide extra friction stability when moving sideways, thus reducing the risk of slipping.

As seen in FIG. 2, sole 600 may include a slight incline 640 on medial side 200. Incline 640 is positioned within the inside of a user's foot curvature, encouraging the ball to roll off if the user does not flex the ankle enough to create a flatter surface area. However, some users such as novice footbag players may prefer not to have incline 640 exposed as they may fear that they may not be able to retain or control the ball or footbag or that the ball or footbag may easily roll off the shoe. Therefore, in other embodiments of the invention, the inside of foot curvature can be adjusted on sole 600 to support a flat ninety degree angle to help minimize ball roll off. In various embodiments, incline 640 of sole 600 may be increased, decreased, or eliminated to accommodate user preference, ability, and foot anatomy (e.g., flat feet, highly arched feet, etc.). Such adjustments of the inside of the foot curvature can be made via optional and detachable attachments that create additional barriers to sole 600 or via permanent structures built into sole 600 to help the user retain the ball or footbag.

For example, in an alternate embodiment, sole 600 may include a ridge-like or ledge-like structure that runs along the inside of the user's foot curvature and functions as a barrier to minimize ball or footbag roll off. For example, FIG. 6A depicts a perspective view of the medial side of an athletic shoe wherein sole 600 includes ridge 690. Ridge 690 is produced as part of sole 600 and permanently integrated into sole 600, and the bottom surface of ridge 690 is planar to the bottom surface of sole 600. Ridge 690 is positioned so that it runs along the bottom length of inside stall 250 (or along the arch of the user's foot). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, the top surface of ridge 690 forms a 90 degree angle with the vertical surface of sole 600 that is beneath inside stall 250. This 90 degree angle allows the user to better retain the ball or footbag and prevent the ball or footbag from rolling off the shoe. FIG. 6B depicts a front elevational view of the shoe shown in FIG. 6A and shows how ridge 690 of sole 600 projects at a 90 degree angle in relation to the vertical surface of sole 600. The width of ridge 690 (i.e., horizontal distance between the outer edge of ridge 690 and sole 600) depicted in FIG. 6B is intended to illustrate the 90 degree angle in relation to the vertical surface of sole 600. However, in other embodiments, the width of ridge 690 is less than the width shown in FIG. 6B so long as the width of ridge 690 is sufficient to prevent a ball or footbag from rolling off the shoe.

FIG. 7 depicts a front elevational view of a shoe of an alternate embodiment wherein the top surface of ridge 690 slightly slopes upward in relation to the exposed vertical surface of sole 600 that is beneath inside stall 250. In other words, the top surface of ridge 690 forms an angle less than 90 degrees in relation to the exposed vertical surface of sole 600 that lies under inside stall 250. As discussed above, the width of ridge 690 that is shown in FIG. 7 is intended to illustrate the slight upward sloping of ridge 690 in relation to the exposed vertical surface of sole 600 that lies beneath inside stall 250; and in other embodiments of the invention, the width of ridge 690 is less than the width shown in FIG. 7, so long as the width of ridge 690 is sufficient to prevent a ball or footbag from rolling off the shoe.

In alternate embodiments of the invention, the thickness of sole 600 may vary depending on user preference. For instance, some users who engage in numerous jumping maneuvers may prefer thicker soles for extra shock absorption and support, while other users may prefer thinner soles to allow better flexibility of the foot to better perform certain footbag maneuvers and tricks. The thickness of sole 600 may be uniform throughout the sole, or in alternate embodiments of the invention, the thickness of sole 600 may vary at different positions within the sole. For example, in one variation of the invention, the front portion of sole 600 may be thinner than the rest of the sole as seen in FIG. 3. Having thinner areas of the sole may provide better foot flexibility and better user control of the footbag or ball. In other variations, sole 600 may be comprised of thicker regions in certain spots that may require additional support, shock absorption, and/or durability from wear and tear. For instance, as seen in FIG. 3, in one variation of the invention, the heel portion of sole 600 may be thicker than the remainder of the sole which may be ideal for users who tend to do a lot of running or walking in their shoes in addition to using the shoes for footbag sports. Thicker heel areas may be ideal for running and walking since these activities involve a heel to toe motion.

In another variation as shown in FIG. 8A, entire length of sole 600 may be of consistent thickness wherein the sole under the toe area is of the same thickness as the sole under the heel area. Yet, in another variation of the invention as shown in FIG. 8B, the portion of sole 600 that lies beneath the balls of the toe area may be slightly thicker than the sole of the heel portion given that the point of first and primary contact with the floor is at the balls of the toes in footbag sports and related activity. As seen in FIG. 8B, the sole under the toe area is slightly thicker than the heel area and the sole thickness gradually decreases when the foot curvature begins so that the heel sole is slightly thinner in comparison to the sole under the toe area. Such embodiments may provide added support since the toe area sole oftentimes bears the player's weight and wear and tear often occurs in the toe area sole. The toe is usually the first area of impact as it touches the ground in footbag-related sports as opposed to sports/activities such as running during which the heel impacts the ground first creating a heel to toe motion. Thus, wear and tear of the sole will be most prominent from the toes to the balls of the toes for footbag players, and certain embodiments of the invention may address this by providing soles with thicker areas at the balls of the toe. Of course, variations in thickness of sole 600 may occur in any desired and suitable location of sole 600 to accommodate the user and/or specific use.

Optional Attachments

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to footbag-related training aides that are either built into the shoe or permanently affixed to a shoe as a permanent feature or that are optional, attachable, and removable components of the shoe. Such training aides may be manufactured as part of the shoe or later permanently affixed to the shoe, or they may be a separate and optional component that is added to an existing shoe to enhance the shoe as for example, to prevent a footbag or ball from easily rolling off the user's foot thereby providing additional player control of the footbag. For instance, optional attachment rails or elevated obstructions may assist the user to train range of motion and flexibility in response to the varied athletic capabilities. Training aides comprised of various dimensions, heights, and angles provide the user with added supports to help keep the ball in place as it lands on the user's shoe.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shoe may further include a clipper attachment that attaches to the inside stall. In one variation, the clipper attachment may attach under the inside stall area (as for example on the rubber area which forms the beginning are of sole). The clipper attachment includes a rail structure with various heights and lengths to minimize or prevent a ball from rolling off from the shoe, and it functions similar to that of ridge 690 of sole 600 as seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7. The clipper attachment can be created with different angles to help user minimize ball roll off with varying degrees of ankle flexibility. Additionally, the clipper attachment may be either permanent in which it is manufactured as part of the shoe as in the embodiments that include ridge 690 and depicted in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, or it may later be permanently affixed to the shoe after the shoe is manufactured. In other variations of the invention, the clipper attachment may be a separate and optional component that is removeably attachable to an existing shoe.

In another embodiment of the invention, the shoe may further include an insole comprised of dense foam or memory foam to provide user with additional arch support. In one example, the insole area towards the balls of the user's toes can be thicker or denser and more durable to help absorb impact during aerobic activity. Thickness in the insoles will assist with prolonging wear and tear as the user lands repeatedly on the balls of the toes. In other variations, the sole may include areas of higher elevations to accommodate users with certain foot arches or may include areas of lower elevations to accommodate user's with flatter feet. The insole may be manufactured as part of the shoe or may later be permanently affixed to the shoe after the shoe is manufactured. Alternatively, the insole may be a separate and optional component that is removeably inserted into an existing shoe of the present invention.

Yet, in a further embodiment, the shoe may further include a heal attachment comprised of a rail structure or elevated material on the heel of the shoe which can assist in minimizing ball roll off as the ball lands in this area. The heal attachment may be comprised of cylindrical shapes or any other suitable shape and may be of varied elevations comprising of canvas, rubber, plastic, combinations thereof, or any other suitable material. Additionally, the heal attachment may be either permanent wherein it is manufactured as part of the shoe or is later permanently affixed to the shoe after the shoe is manufactured; or the heal attachment may be a separate and optional component that is removeably attachable to an existing shoe.

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

Although the present invention has been described above in considerable detail with reference to certain versions thereof, other versions are possible. As discussed above, many of the structural components of the invention (e.g., toe box, toe box frame, inside stall, inside stall border, inside stall attachment, heal attachment, etc.) may be comprised of any suitable material, shape, size, and/or configuration and may further include structures not described hereinabove. Additionally, certain structures such as the one or more tongue loops and the sole structures (e.g., pivot points, deep treads line breaks, shock absorption elements, lateral grips, etc.) may be of any suitable number, shape, size, and/or configuration and may be positioned at alternate suitable locations within the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The attached figures depicting various embodiments of the invention are primarily intended to convey the basic principles embodied in the present invention. Thus, the present invention may further include additional structures and features including enhancements such as higher elevated toe box frames to better retain a ball or footbag or aesthetically pleasing features such as various finishes and designs. Furthermore, various structures of the present invention such as the sole incline, the size and shape of the inside stall, and the toe box surface area may be customized to accommodate a particular user's skill level, preference, or foot anatomy.

The application of the present invention is not limited to freestyle footbag or footbag-related games, but it is also applicable to any other sports or activities that utilize a user's feet to control a ball or any other object. Alternate embodiments of the present invention could also be adapted for use with soccer training and kickball applications. Furthermore, the present invention may be used in other contexts such as mixed martial arts training for kickboxing, karate, taekwondo etc. in which the user may want to practice and become accustomed to the tactile sensation of various types and intensities of repeated foot impact while preserving and preventing injury to the user's feet. Thus, depending on the application, the thinner or loosely woven material regions (such as those found within the toe box and inside stall) of the shoe may be reconfigured and repositioned to accommodate various applications of the present invention.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe comprising:

(a) a toe area comprised of a toe box and a toe box frame that partially surrounds the toe box wherein the toe box frame is higher in elevation than the toe box and the toe box is made of a thinner material than the toe box frame;

(b) a medial side comprised of an inside stall, a border that partially surrounds the inside stall wherein the inside stall is made of a thinner material than the border, and a medial strip that includes a first series of shoelace apertures;

(c) a lateral side comprised of a lateral body and a lateral strip that includes a second series of shoelace apertures;

(d) a tongue that includes at least one tongue loop;

(e) an ankle area comprised of a low rim; and

(f) a sole.

2. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein the toe box and the inside stall are comprised of mesh.

3. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein the toe box frame is comprised of a first side edge, a second side edge, and a top edge.

4. The athletic shoe of claim 3 wherein the toe area further comprises a toe reinforcement that runs along the top edge of the toe box frame.

5. The athletic shoe of claim 4 wherein the toe reinforcement runs partly along both the medial side and the lateral side.

6. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein the sole includes (i) a plurality of pivot points, (ii) a multitude of deep treads, and (iii) at least one line break near the balls of the user's toes.

7. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein the sole further comprises a ridge that runs along the bottom of the inside stall.

8. The athletic shoe of claim 7 wherein the ridge is detachable.

9. The athletic shoe of claim 7 wherein the top surface of the ridge forms a 90 degree angle with a vertical surface of the sole.

10. An athletic shoe comprising:

(a) a toe area comprised of a toe box, a toe box frame comprised of a first side edge, a second side edge, and a top edge wherein the toe box frame partially surrounds the toe box and the toe box frame is higher in elevation than the toe box, and a toe reinforcement that runs along the top edge of the toe box frame;

(b) a medial side comprised of an inside stall that is positioned along the inside arch of the user's foot, a border that partially surrounds the inside stall, and a medial strip that includes a first series of shoelace apertures;

(c) a lateral side comprised of a lateral body and a lateral strip that includes a second series of shoelace apertures;

(d) a tongue that includes at least one tongue loop;

(e) an ankle area comprised of a low rim; and

(f) a sole, wherein the toe box and the inside stall are comprised of a thin material.

11. The athletic shoe of claim 10 wherein the thin material is comprised of mesh.

12. The athletic shoe of claim 10 wherein the thin material is comprised of a loosely woven fabric.

13. The athletic shoe of claim 10 wherein the thin material of the toe box extends towards the tongue loop and past the front ends of the medial strip and the lateral strip.

14. The athletic shoe of claim 13 wherein the surface area of the toe box can be adjusted by threading a shoelace through user selected apertures of the first series of shoelace apertures and the second series of shoelace apertures.

15. The athletic shoe of claim 10 wherein the sole further comprises a ridge that runs along the bottom of the inside stall.

16. The athletic shoe of claim 15 wherein the ridge is detachable.

17. An athletic shoe for use with footbag sports comprising:

(a) a toe area comprised of a toe box for catching a footbag on a user's toes and a toe box frame that partially surrounds the toe box wherein the toe box frame is higher in elevation than the toe box and the toe box is made of a thinner material than the toe box frame;

(b) a medial side comprised of an inside stall for catching the footbag on the inside of the user's foot, a border that partially surrounds the inside stall wherein the inside stall is made of a thinner material than the border, and a medial strip that includes a first series of shoelace apertures;

(c) a lateral side comprised of a lateral body and a lateral strip that includes a second series of shoelace apertures;

(d) a tongue that includes at least one tongue loop through which a shoelace is threaded through to secure the tongue and to keep the toe box taught;

(e) an ankle area comprised of a low rim to permit user foot motion in all directions; and

(f) a sole comprised of rubber.

18. The athletic shoe of claim 17 wherein the toe box and the inside stall are comprised of a loosely woven fabric.

19. The athletic shoe of claim 17 wherein the toe box and the inside stall are comprised of mesh.

20. The athletic shoe of claim 17 wherein the sole further comprises a ridge that runs along the bottom of the inside stall wherein the ridge helps prevent the footbag from rolling off the athletic shoe.