FOOT PROTECTING DEVICES
Foot protecting devices including a shell including a top surface and a bottom surface spaced from the top surface and substantially aligned with the top surface, and a cushioning layer proximate the bottom surface, wherein the shell is configured to mount within a user's shoe between a shoe tongue and a shoe's laces, the cushioning layer is positioned proximate the tongue and the shell is positioned proximate the laces. In some examples the foot protecting device includes a plurality of apertures, channels, and retaining elements on the top surface of the shell. In some further examples the foot protecting device includes a selectively removable cushioning layer.
The present disclosure relates generally to foot protecting devices. In particular, foot protecting devices configured to be selectively inserted between a shoe's tongue and laces are described.
Running and walking are popular forms of exercise. Running and walking can lead to foot discomfort and injury. The top portions, or metatarsal areas, of runners' (and walkers′) feet are particularly susceptible to pain and discomfort from shoe lace pressure. Additionally, constant shoe lace pressure during sustained exercise often leads to bruised, inflamed, or raw metatarsal areas, which force runners and walkers to limit or discontinue exercise activities.
Known foot protecting devices are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing foot protecting devices are bulky. Existing foot protecting devices are configured to protect feet from blunt force trauma. For example, steel-toe boots protect feet from potential crushing by heavy objects or steel shanks in hiking boots protect feet from piercing objects below the boot. Bulky existing foot protecting devices are not suitable for sustained running or walking; bulky existing foot protecting devices are often the cause of foot discomfort.
Protecting feet from blunt force trauma requires specialty footwear to accommodate existing bulky foot protecting devices. Existing bulky foot protecting devices are permanently integrated within bulky work boots or hiking boots. Rather than decreasing user fatigue, existing bulky specialty footwear actually increases user fatigue and is not suitable for sustained exercise activities.
In addition, conventional foot protecting devices are prohibitively heavy. Often, existing foot protecting devices are comprised of heavy material like steel or thick plastic. Heavy conventional foot protecting devices increase user fatigue and are not suitable for sustained running or walking.
Moreover, conventional foot protecting devices protect user's toes or sole, but fail to protect users' metatarsals. Metatarsal bones are particularly susceptible to fatigue and injury during sustained exercise activities. However, conventional foot protecting devices fail to protect users' metatarsal bones from fatigue and injury.
Thus, there exists a need for foot protecting devices that improve upon and advance the design of known foot protecting devices. Examples of new and useful foot protecting devices relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure is directed to foot protecting devices including a shell including a top surface and a bottom surface spaced from the top surface and substantially aligned with the top surface, and a cushioning layer proximate the bottom surface, wherein the shell is configured to mount within a user's shoe between a shoe's tongue and a shoe's laces, the cushioning layer is positioned proximate the tongue and the shell is positioned proximate the laces. In some examples the foot protecting device includes a plurality of apertures, channels, and retaining elements on the top surface of the shell. In some further examples the foot protecting device includes a selectively removable cushioning layer.
The disclosed foot protecting devices will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various foot protecting devices are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
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Inserting foot protecting device 100 within users' shoes between the shoe tongue and laces solves one deficiency of conventional foot protecting devices. Foot protecting device 100 protects users' metatarsal bones from fatigue and injury without the need for bulky or heavy specialty footwear.
Moreover, foot protecting device 100 can be used to decrease foot fatigue during long-distance running and walking or sustained exercise activities. Foot protecting device 100 is light weight, low bulk, and fits easily within users' existing footwear.
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Alternatively, the top surface may be configured in any shape that facilitates or allows the foot protecting device to removably insert between a shoe tongue and laces and accommodate a user's foot. Example top surface configurations include, but are not limited to, planar, edged-planar, curved, and pyramidal.
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Alternatively, the bottom surface may be configured in any shape that facilitates or allows the foot protecting device to removably insert between a shoe tongue and laces and accommodate a user's foot. Example bottom surface configurations include, but are not limited to, planar, edged-planar, curved, and pyramidal.
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Alternatively, the cushioning layer may be positioned proximate a user's foot if the foot protecting device is placed under the shoe tongue and the cushioning layer is positioned over the user's metatarsals.
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Alternatively, the anti-slip elements may be comprised of any now known or later developed compound that facilitates or allows the anti-slip element to limit or reduce slipping of the foot protecting device within the shoe. Examples of acceptable anti-slip elements include, but are not limited to rubberized dots or strips, silicon elements, hook-and-pile elements, and stays.
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Foot protecting device 200 includes additional features to facilitate or allow placing and retaining foot protecting device 200 within a user's shoe. Whereas foot protecting device 100 can be inserted between a shoes laces and tongue then subsequently removed with ease, foot protecting device 200 includes channels 222 and retaining elements 250 to securely retain foot protecting device 200 within the shoe. A user must at least partially unlace the shoe to remove foot protecting device 200.
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Moreover, shell 310 includes a top surface 320 and a bottom surface 330 spaced from and substantially aligned with top surface 320. Further, shell 310 includes a top edge 322 connecting top surface 320 and bottom surface 330. Shell 310 also includes a bottom edge 324 opposite top edge 322 and connecting top surface 320 and bottom surface 330. Apertures 360 connect top surface 320 and bottom surface 330.
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Additionally or alternatively, the shell and cushioning layer may be removably attached by any now known or later developed means. Acceptable attaching mechanisms include, but are not limited to, buttons, snaps, clips, slots, and reusable adhesives.
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The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
Claims
1. A foot protecting device including:
- a shell including a top surface and a bottom surface spaced from the top surface and substantially aligned with the top surface; and
- a cushioning layer proximate the bottom surface;
- wherein the shell is configured to mount within a user's shoe between a shoe tongue and a shoe's laces, the cushioning layer positioned proximate the tongue and the shell positioned proximate the laces.
2. The foot protecting device of claim 1, further comprising retaining elements removably attached to the top surface for retaining the top surface proximate the laces.
3. The foot protecting device of claim 1, wherein the cushioning layer is removably attached to the bottom surface.
4. The foot protecting device of claim 3, wherein the cushioning layer further includes a shell-engaging surface proximate the bottom surface of the shell, a tongue-engaging surface distal the bottom surface of the shell opposite the shell-engaging surface, and the tongue-engaging surface includes anti-slip elements.
5. The foot protecting device of claim 1, wherein the cushioning layer is anti-microbial and anti-fungal.
6. The foot protecting device of claim 1, wherein the shell is anatomically molded to accommodate a top instep portion of a user's foot.
7. The foot protecting device of claim 6, wherein the shell is latitudinally convex on the top surface and latitudinally concave on the bottom surface.
8. The foot protecting device of claim 7, wherein the shell includes a plurality of apertures for ventilation.
9. The foot protecting device of claim 7, wherein the tongue-engaging surface of the cushioning layer includes a plurality of longitudinal channels for ventilation and moisture channeling.
10. The foot protecting device of claim 7, wherein the top surface of the shell includes channels configured to accommodate the laces of the shoe.
11. A foot protecting device including:
- a shell including a longitudinally convex top surface configured to accommodate shoe laces and a longitudinally concave bottom surface spaced from the top surface and substantially aligned with the top surface; and
- an anti-microbial cushioning layer fixedly secured to the bottom surface;
- wherein the shell is configured to be inserted in a user's shoe between a shoe tongue and shoe laces, the cushioning layer positioned proximate the tongue and the shell positioned proximate the laces.
12. The foot protecting device of claim 11, wherein the cushioning layer includes anti-odor elements.
13. The foot protecting device of claim 11, wherein the shell and the cushioning layer include heat-dissipating elements.
14. The foot protecting device of claim 11, wherein the heat-dissipating elements are comprised of a plurality of apertures.
15. A foot protecting device including:
- a shell including a top surface, a bottom surface spaced from the top surface and substantially aligned with the top surface, a top edge connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge and connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; and
- an anti-microbial cushioning layer including a shell-engaging surface and a shoe-tongue-engaging surface opposite the shell-engaging surface, the cushioning layer removably secured to the bottom surface of the shell;
- wherein the shell defines a plurality of apertures and the cushioning layer defines a plurality of apertures and a plurality of longitudinal channels on the shoe-tongue-engaging surface, the apertures of the cushioning layer substantially aligned with the apertures of the shell.
16. The foot protecting device of claim 15, wherein the top edge and the bottom edge are configured to accommodate a user's foot.
17. The foot protecting device of claim 16, wherein the top edge and the bottom edge are concave.
18. The foot protecting device of claim 17, wherein the cushioning layer is removably secured to the bottom surface of the shell with hook-and-pile securing elements.
19. The foot protecting device of claim 15, wherein the top surface includes safety elements.
20. The foot protecting device of claim 19, wherein the safety elements reflect light.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 5, 2015
Inventor: Scott McCulloch (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 14/015,412
International Classification: A43B 7/14 (20060101); A43B 7/32 (20060101);