Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Patent
1993-02-16
1995-08-01
Sewell, Paul T.
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
36133, A43B 502, A43B 500
Patent
active
054371120
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a football boot and also to a kit for modifying a conventional football boot. The term `football boot` as used herein means a boot which is used not only as a boot for playing football but for any sport which involves a player kicking a ball.
With a conventional football boot, in common with most other kinds of footwear, the front upper portion of the boot which covers the bridge and toes of a wearer's foot is convex-shaped to conform to the shape of the foot. In order for a player to effect a more controlled kick, shot, or hard pass, the ball ideally must be in contact with one of a number of `a sweet spots`, the main one being a central area on the upper portion of the boot. With conventional football boots, it is difficult precisely to locate the optimum part of the ball surface on this area, and success therefore depends to some extent on chance or ability.
Also, heretofore football boots have been provided with leather, plastic or like material surfaces on which a ball tends to slip, especially in wet conditions, thereby reducing a player's ability to control the ball.
By using this invention these disadvantages are somewhat lessened by the provision of a football boot having an upper formed with a ball contact surface which is resilient at least in part. The resilient part of the ball contact surface may be in the form of a pad which may be formed of cellular material including gas or air filled voids. Preferably the ball contact surface is generally flat and/or concave in shape and is provided with a plurality of formations formed of an elastomeric material, wherein the ball contact surface and/or formations are deformable upon contact with a ball. In addition to or instead of being generally flat and/or concave, the ball contact surface may be relatively thin in comparison with a relatively thicker boundary region.
The invention also provides a kit for modifying a conventional football boot which comprises a moulding having a ball contact surface which is resilient, and means for securing the moulding to the upper of a football boot. Preferably, the ball contact surface is formed of a non-slip material such as rubber and has formations which are arranged to grip and cushion a ball which comes into contact with the surface. The formations may take the shape of parallel extending ribs or nipples having malleable upper edges that can deform to grip the ball, or, alternatively, projections with sharp edges that can bite into the ball. The ball contact surface may be tacky in nature instead of, or in addition to, being provided with formations.
The ball contact surface may be partly concave and partly flat but in general is shaped to allow as much surface contact as possible with the surface of the ball at any one time. An upwardly facing ball contact surface and a sidewardly facing ball contact surface may be provided at the top and sides of the boot upper, respectively. The flat or concave sidewardly facing ball contact surface or surfaces are curved to conform to the outline of the wearer's foot.
In particular, the upwardly facing ball contact surface may be generally parallel to the sole beneath, while at the sides and at the toe the upper may be generally perpendicular to the sole, forming a wall which terminates in a distinct and comparatively less yielding upper edge bounding the upwardly facing contact surface.
Preferably, the upper edge is a raised lip on the front and on one or both sides. The sidewardly facing ball contact surface is bounded by such an upper lip, and a lower lip may be provided at the bottom of the boot where the side joins the sole. The material of the boot in the region of the lip or lips may be thicker than the material elsewhere. Alternatively, the height of the ribs or projections may be greater in the region of the lip or lips than elsewhere.
The raised lips may be formed integrally with the respective front and side portions of the boot and it is preferred that the whole football boot be injection moulded from a single material. In the case of
REFERENCES:
patent: 3525165 (1970-08-01), Randall, Jr.
patent: 3650051 (1972-03-01), Sass
patent: 4442615 (1984-04-01), Danks
patent: 4447971 (1984-05-01), Bente
patent: 4882858 (1989-11-01), Signori
Cicconi BethAnne
Sewell Paul T.
Zermatt Holdings Ltd.
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