Boots – shoes – and leggings – Protectors
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-20
2001-01-09
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Protectors
C036S07700R, C036S126000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170174
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a shock absorbing liner to be worn inside a baseball shoe. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoe liner which may be attached to the inside of a baseball shoe for protecting the toe and upper portion of the foot without significantly restricting the normal movement of the foot. Further, the invention relates to a shock absorbing liner comprising a plurality of rigid protective shell members joined by bendable elements so as to allow it to flex with the baseball shoe as it bends.
Many baseball players injure their front batting foot when a foul tipped ball or a wild pitch strikes their foot. Accordingly, various references uncovered in the prior art provide devices that are adapted to fit over the forward part of a baseball shoe to protect the wearer's foot from foul tipped balls are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,493 to Mues discloses a two piece protective cover attachable to the shoe of a baseball player to protect the foot from foul tipped balls, wherein a lower piece is secured to the toe of a conventional baseball shoe, and an upper piece is detachably held to the lower piece in a raised position above the top of the shoe. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,055 to Herman discloses a baseball shoe safety protector comprising a hollow member made of flexible plastic material which is adapted to fit over the forward part of a baseball shoe, wherein the hollow member is provided with inturned portions for engaging with the sole of the shoe and a resilient stretchable web for engaging spikes on the bottom of the shoe.
Most of these prior art devices must be worn over the baseball shoe. These devices often employ a one-piece protective structure that is relatively rigid and sufficiently large to cover the entire upper area of the foot. Wearing such a protective structure outside the shoe is undesirable not only because it can rip and tear the outside of the shoe but also because it can hinder quick movements of the athlete. For instance, in the protective cover disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,493 to Mues, the upper piece which is attached to the top of the baseball shoe during baseball swing, must be manually detached from the shoe by the wearer just prior to base running. Therefore, there is still a further need to provide an improved shock absorbing liner for a baseball shoe. Such a shock absorbing liner should afford the necessary protection to the wearer's foot when worn inside a baseball shoe so as to minimize the danger of injury precipitated by foul tipped balls. Moreover, such a shock absorbing liner should utilize a plurality of rigid protective shell members joined by bendable elements so as to allow the shock absorbing liner freedom to flex along with the wearer's foot while still effectively shielding the foot against external impact forces.
While these units mentioned above may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a shock absorbing liner which is simple in construction so as to minimize manufacturing cost, and yet helps protect the toes and upper portion of the foot from injury such as bone bruises that can occur during baseball batting.
It is another object of the invention to provide a shock absorbing liner which utilizes a plurality of rigid protective shell members joined by bendable elements so as to allow the shock absorbing liner freedom to flex along with the wearer's foot while shielding the foot against external impact forces.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a shock absorbing liner which utilizes a plurality of rigid protective shell members which are light in weight and possess sufficient shock absorbing capability to resist a wide range of dynamic impact forces that may be applied to the shoe by a foul tipped ball striking the shoe.
The invention is a shock absorbing liner to be attached to the interior of a baseball shoe to help protect the toes and upper portion of wearer's foot from injury that can occur during baseball batting. The shock absorbing liner includes a plurality of rigid protective shell members constructed of a hard plastic material that possess sufficient shock absorbing capability to resist a wide range of dynamic impact forces that may be applied to the baseball shoe by a foul tipped ball striking the shoe. The rigid protective shell members are shaped and arranged to cover and protect essentially the entire upper foot region including the toes. The rigid protective shell members are joined by bendable elements so as to allow the shock absorbing liner freedom to flex with the baseball shoe while affording foot protection.
To the accomplishment of the above, and related objects, the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 860024 (1907-07-01), Golden
patent: 2864180 (1958-12-01), Montgomery
patent: 3243901 (1966-04-01), Clarizio
patent: 3325922 (1967-06-01), Bray
patent: 3481055 (1969-12-01), Herman
patent: 4342159 (1982-08-01), Edwards
patent: 4656761 (1987-04-01), Lord
patent: 4967493 (1990-11-01), Mues
patent: 5566476 (1996-10-01), Bertrand et al.
patent: 5711092 (1998-01-01), Despres et al.
Goldstein & Canino
Mohandesi J.
Sewell Paul T.
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