Athletic Shoe

Abstract

A shoe having a toe box that is capable of being opened during exercise. The shoe also allows the remaining structure of the shoe to stay intact for adequate support and foot control during exercise. The athletic shoe includes a flap disposed along the toe box. The flap begins between the end of the laces and the front of the shoe and extends around the toe box to a similar point on the opposite side of the shoe. In the open position, the flap is provided with a fastener for holding it against the tongue. In the closed position, the flap is provided with a fastener such as a zipper for attaching the edge of the flap to the adjacent material of the toe box.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear and specifically to a running style athletic shoe designed such that the toe box can be opened and held open during exercise activities.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

During jogging or running a large percentage of the population uses the extensor muscles of the toes to cause dorsiflexion of the foot during the swing phase. This movement is in contrast to using the tarsal muscles. During this movement, the toes are traumatically forced into the upper inside surface of the toe box of the shoe. This impact results in constant irritation to the dorsal surface of the toe which may result in an injury commonly referred to as “runners toe.” Accordingly, there is a need for an athletic shoe that opens in the toe box section to eliminate the impact between the digits and the toe box.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention meets the above described need by providing a shoe that allows the toe box to be opened and held open during exercise. In order to function properly, the shoe must also allow the remaining structure of the shoe to stay intact for adequate support and foot control during running. The athletic shoe of the present invention includes a flap having an edge disposed in the toe box section of the shoe. The flap begins at a point on a first side of the shoe near the front and extends around the toe box to a similar point on the opposite side of the shoe. In the open position, the flap is provided with a fastener or the like for holding it against the tongue. In the closed position, the flap is provided with a fastener such as a zipper for attaching the edge of the flap to the adjacent material of the toe box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the athletic shoe of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the athletic shoe of the present invention with the top of the shoe shown in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an athletic shoe 10 of the present invention has an outsole 13 connected to an upper section 16. The outsole 13 is connected to the upper section 16 in a conventional manner as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. The upper section 16 includes a toe box 19 at the front 29, a heel counter 22 at the rear of the shoe 10, and an ankle collar 23. The upper section 16 also includes a tongue 25. A first eye stay 28 extends along the upper section 16 along one side of the tongue 25. A second eye stay 29 (shown in FIG. 2) is disposed on the other side of the tongue 25 on the opposite side of the upper section 16. The eye stays 28, 29 have a plurality of eyelets 31. The eye stays 28, 29 may be separate or may be formed by a unitary U-shaped member. A shoe lace 34 is inserted through the eyelets 31 to secure the upper section 16 over the top of the wearer's foot. A retractable flap 37 is disposed across a portion of the toe box 19. The flap 37 may be provided with a curved edge 40 that extends from one side of the upper section 16 to the opposite side. The edge 40 of the flap 37 may be attached to adjacent material inside the toe box 19 by means of a fastening device such as a zipper 43. Other fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, or the like may also be suitable. The edge 40 of the flap 37 may extend from a first position 42 on the left hand side near the front 29 of the shoe 10. The first position 42 may be located between the eyelets 31 on the first stay 28 and the front 29 of the shoe 10.

The top surface 44 of the flap 37 may be provided with a hook and loop fastening material 46. The hook and loop fastening material 46 may engage with a mating hook and loop fastening material 49 disposed on a tongue holder 52. The tongue holder 52 is a loop formed in the top surface of the tongue 25 for receiving the laces 34 to hold the tongue 25 in place. As an alternative, the hook and loop fastening material 46 may be disposed on the flap 37 and not on the tongue holder 52. In this arrangement, the hook and loop fastening material 46 may engage directly with the laces 34 or other materials on the upper section 16.

Turning to FIG. 2, the shoe 10 is shown with the flap 37 in the retracted position to expose the foot 55 of the wearer. A pull tab 58 for the zipper 43 is shown. The pull tab 58 has been moved to the left side of the shoe where it releases the flap 37 from the remainder of the toe box 19. The flap 37 has been folded upwarded onto the tongue 25, and the flap 37 is attached to either the laces 34 or to a cooperating hook and loop fastener material 49 disposed on the top surface of the tongue holder 52. The inside surface 59 of the flap 37 is exposed in the open configuration. The insole 61 is visible through the opening formed in part by the ankle collar 23.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe, comprising:

an outsole;

an upper section supported at least in part by the outsole, the upper section including a toe box, a tongue, a first eye stay disposed along a first side of the tongue, and a second eye stay disposed along a second side of the tongue, a plurality of eyelets disposed in each of the first and second eye stays;

a flap having an edge, the edge extending from a point on a first side of the shoe disposed near the front of the shoe to a point on a second side of the shoe disposed near the front of the shoe, the edge being removably attached to a corresponding edge of the toe box by a fastener, the flap having a top surface;

wherein the shoe is capable of being disposed in a closed configuration where the flap is attached to the toe box by the fastener and the shoe is capable of being disposed in an open configuration where the flap is folded back and secured to the upper section of the shoe such that an opening is created in the toe box.

2. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the fastener for removably attaching the flap to the toe box is a zipper.

3. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the flap is provided with one of a hook and loop fastener.

4. The athletic shoe of claim 3, wherein the tongue further comprises a tongue holder having one of a hook and loop fastener disposed thereon.

5. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the edge of the flap has zipper teeth disposed thereon.

6. The athletic shoe of claim 5, wherein the edge of the toe box adjacent the flap has zipper teeth disposed thereon.

7. The athletic shoe of claim 1, further comprising a shoelace disposed through the eyelets on opposite sides of the tongue.

8. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the flap extends along an arc at the front of the shoe.

9. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the edge of the flap extends along the top surface of the shoe, the top surface disposed in spaced apart relation to the front of the shoe.

10. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the edge of the flap extends from a point on a first side of the shoe disposed between the eyelets on the first stay and the front of the shoe.

11. An athletic shoe, comprising:

an outsole;

an upper section supported at least in part by the outsole, the upper section including a toe box, a tongue, a first eye stay disposed along a first side of the tongue, and a second eye stay disposed along a second side of the tongue, a plurality of eyelets disposed in each of the first and second eye stays;

a flap having an edge, the edge extending from a point on a first side of the shoe disposed near the front of the shoe to a point on a second side of the shoe disposed near the front of the shoe, the edge of the flap extending to a top surface of the toe box that is disposed in spaced apart relation to the front of the shoe, the edge of the flap being removably attached to a corresponding edge of the toe box by a zipper, the flap having a top surface;

wherein the shoe is capable of being disposed in a closed configuration where the flap is attached to the toe box by the zipper and the shoe is capable of being disposed in an open configuration where the flap is folded back and the top surface of the flap is secured to the upper section of the shoe such that an opening is created in the toe box.

12. The athletic shoe of claim 11, wherein the top surface of the flap has one of a hook and loop fastener disposed thereon.

13. The athletic shoe of claim 11, wherein the edge of the flap extends from a point on a first side of the shoe disposed between the eyelets on the first stay and the front of the shoe.