U.S. patent application number 12/384646 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-07 for shoe having rear impact guard.
Invention is credited to Suzeanne L. Marsh.
Application Number | 20100251573 12/384646 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42824976 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100251573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marsh; Suzeanne L. |
October 7, 2010 |
Shoe having rear impact guard
Abstract
A shoe having a guard device disposed at or near the second end
of the shoe to prevent injury to the back of the wearer's foot from
an impact force against the second end of the shoe. Preferably, the
guard device has a body member that extends substantially from the
bottom of the shoe to the top of the shoe at the second end thereof
to protect against an impact anywhere between the sole and the top
of the shoe. The body member of the guard device can be made out of
metal, hard plastic or rigid composites and be rod-like, a
rectangular plate or curved to conform to the shape of the heel.
The guard device can be embedded inside the shoe body or be affixed
to the outer surface of the shoe body. The shoe can be configured
as a conventional shoe, safety shoe or boot.
Inventors: |
Marsh; Suzeanne L.; (Merced,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHARD A. RYAN;ATTORNEY AT LAW
8497 N. MILLBROOK AVENUE, SUITE 101
FRESNO
CA
93720
US
|
Family ID: |
42824976 |
Appl. No.: |
12/384646 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/105 ; 36/69;
36/72B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 23/088
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/105 ; 36/69;
36/72.B |
International
Class: |
A43B 21/00 20060101
A43B021/00; A43B 23/08 20060101 A43B023/08 |
Claims
1. A shoe, comprising: a shoe body having a first end defining a
toe section and a second end defining a heel section; and a guard
device at or near said second end of said shoe body, said guard
device having a body member sized and configured to protect the
user against impact forces at said second end of said shoe.
2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said guard device is
embedded inside said shoe body.
3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said guard device is
affixed to an outer surface of said shoe body.
4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said body member has a
first end disposed at or near a top end of said shoe body at said
second end thereof and a second end disposed at or near a bottom
end of said shoe body at said second end thereof.
5. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said body member is a
rod.
6. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein said rod has a round
cross-sectional shape and a diameter of approximately 0.15 to 0.30
inches.
7. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said body member is
rectangularly shaped.
8. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said body member is
shaped and configured to substantially conform to the shape and
configuration of the heel section of said shoe.
9. The shoe according to claim 8, wherein said body member
comprises at least one wing member extending generally outward from
said second end of said shoe toward said first end of said
shoe.
10. The shoe according to claim 9, wherein said body member
comprises a pair of wing members on opposing sides thereof.
11. A shoe, comprising: a shoe body having a first end defining a
toe section and a second end defining a heel section, said second
end having a top end and a bottom end; and a guard device embedded
inside said shoe body at or near said second end of said shoe body,
said guard device having a body member sized and configured to
protect the user against impact forces at said second end of said
shoe, said body member having a first end disposed at or near said
top end and a second end disposed at or near said bottom end.
12. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein said body member is a
rod.
13. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein said body member is
rectangularly shaped.
14. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein said body member is
shaped and configured to substantially conform to the shape and
configuration of the heel section of said shoe.
15. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein said body member
comprises at least one wing member extending generally outward from
said second end of said shoe toward said first end of said
shoe.
16. A shoe, comprising: a shoe body having a first end defining a
toe section and a second end defining a heel section, said second
end having a top end and a bottom end; and a guard device affixed
to an outer surface of said shoe body at or near said second end of
said shoe body, said guard device having a body member sized and
configured to protect the user against impact forces at said second
end of said shoe, said body member having a first end disposed at
or near said top end and a second end disposed at or near said
bottom end.
17. The shoe according to claim 16, wherein said body member is a
rod.
18. The shoe according to claim 16, wherein said body member is
rectangularly shaped.
19. The shoe according to claim 16, wherein said body member is
shaped and configured to substantially conform to the shape and
configuration of the heel section of said shoe.
20. The shoe according to claim 19, wherein said body member
comprises at least one wing member extending generally outward from
said second end of said shoe toward said first end of said shoe.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A. Field of the Invention
[0004] The field of the present invention relates generally to
footwear having a safety component to protect part of the wearer's
foot. In particular, the present invention relates to such footwear
that is configured to protect part of the foot from an impact
force. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to
such footwear that protects the heel area of the wearer's foot from
an impact that could otherwise injure the Achilles tendon and
surrounding area of the foot.
[0005] B. Background
[0006] The use of devices in footwear to protect a portion of the
wearer's foot from injury is well known in the art. For instance,
many shoes, boots and other footwear have a sole on the bottom of
the footwear that is configured to protect the bottom of the
wearer's foot from impact forces that result from walking or
running over rough terrain or from sharp objects, such as sticks,
broken glass, pins, rods and the like, that would otherwise
puncture the bottom of the shoe and cause injury to the bottom of
the foot. Typically, hiking boots and the like also include a shoe
body that substantially envelopes the foot which is made out of
materials that are selected to protect the wearer's foot from
abrasions and the like which would result from contact against
rocks, trees or other objects that could injure the sides or top of
the foot. Generally, the devices and materials which are utilized
in common footwear to protect the bottom and sides of the foot are
primarily designed to achieve certain comfort and/or aesthetic
objectives and have only a limited ability to protect the wearer's
foot against more severe impact forces.
[0007] Many occupations place the worker at risk of injury to his
or her foot, including harm that could result from objects that may
drop or fall on the worker's foot, objects which could puncture the
bottom of the foot and objects which may run over or hit against
the foot. To reduce the risk of injury to the worker's foot, most
companies require the workers who work in areas where foot injuries
are possible to wear safety shoes or boots. The typical safety shoe
(which includes boots) comprises a steel or other metal rigid or
semi-rigid plate incorporated into the sole or insole of the shoe
to provide puncture resistence for the underside of the shoe so as
to prevent injury to the bottom of the wearer's foot. Because the
plate usually extends over the entire sole or insole portion of the
shoe, it can add significantly to the weight of the shoe and reduce
the shoe's flexibility, which can result in discomfort for the
wearer. The typical safety shoe also includes a safety toe
component that is configured to protect the forward, toe area of
the wearer's foot. As with the plate, the conventional safety toe
is made from steel and is at least semi-rigid, most often quite
rigid. The typical safety toe component is configured to
substantially envelope the wearer's toes to protect the toes from
objects that may fall on top of the shoe or hit against the front
and/or sides of the toes. Generally, the weight and stiffness at
the toe area of the safety shoe adds to the weight of the shoe and
makes the shoe somewhat uncomfortable to wear for long periods of
time. To reduce the weight and discomfort of the safety plate
and/or toe components, some safety shoe manufacturers have
developed safety shoe components that are made out of hardened
plastic, composites and/or other relatively lightweight but strong
materials.
[0008] In addition to the typical foot related injuries that can
result from an object puncturing the bottom of the shoe or an
object falling on or running over the toe area of the shoe, many
people are exposed to potential injury to the heel area of their
foot. A person's heel area can be injured as a result of a cart,
Gurney, bicycle or other apparatus, typically wheeled or on a
wheeled object (such as a hand cart or forklift) running into the
rear of their foot. As many people are aware, an impact against the
rear of the foot can be very painful and result in difficulty in
running, walking or even laying or sitting down with any pressure
on the heel. Naturally, this can result in the inability for a
person to comfortably work and/or perform other day-to-day
activities. The rear portion of a human foot comprises the heel
bone (the calcaneus), which sits below the ankle bone (talus) and
behind the bones at the middle of the foot (the cuneiforms and
cuboid), and the Achilles tendon (also known as the calcaneal
tendon or tendo calcaneus), which extends behind the back of the
ankle to connect the calf (gastrocnemius) and soleus muscles to the
heel bone. Depending on the severity of an impact against the rear
of a person's foot, the Achilles tendon and/or the heel bone can be
damaged. In severe impact events against the rear of the foot, the
Achilles tendon can be severed and/or the heel bone can be
fractured, both of which cause significant pain, typically need
surgery to repair and require extensive time for recovery. Work
related injuries of this type typically result in significant loss
of employee availability and cost to the employer.
[0009] Although potential foot injuries from an object puncturing
the bottom of the shoe or an object falling on or running over the
toe portion of the foot have been generally well addressed in the
prior art, injuries to the rear of the foot from impact events have
not been addressed or have not been adequately addressed. As a
result, there continues to be work and non-work related injuries to
the rear of the foot that cause people significant pain, sometimes
nearly debilitating pain, and which result in loss of income and
require medical expenses. What is needed, therefore, is an improved
shoe that includes a device to protect against impact injuries to
the rear portion of a person's foot. The preferred shoe should
prevent injury to the wearer's heel bone and/or Achilles tendon
from an impact directed against the back of the shoe. Preferably,
the shoe having a device to protect against injuries to the rear of
the foot can be configured as a standard shoe, safety shoe or boot.
The shoe should be comfortable to wear and relatively inexpensive
to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The shoe having rear impact guard of the present invention
solves the problems and provides the benefits identified above.
That is to say, the present invention discloses a shoe, which may
be configured as a standard or work shoe or a boot, having a guard
device at the rear of the shoe to protect the rear of the wearer's
foot from injury as a result of an impact against the rear of the
shoe. As such, the shoe of the present invention protects against
impact events that can harm the heel bone, Achilles tendon or other
areas of the back of the wearer's foot. In a preferred embodiment,
the impact guard device is at the back of the shoe and extends from
at or near the bottom of the shoe (above the sole) to at or near
the top of the shoe to protect the entire heel area of the wearer's
foot. The impact guard device can be made out of metal, hard
plastic, various composites or other materials that are or can be
made sufficiently rigid so as to prevent an impact against the back
of the shoe from injuring the wearer's heel area. In one
embodiment, the impact guard device is incorporated into the body
of the shoe. In another embodiment, the impact guard device is
disposed on the exterior of the shoe. In either embodiment, the
shoe can be manufactured in a manner that does not make the shoe
uncomfortable to wear and/or expensive to manufacture.
[0011] In a primary embodiment of the present invention, the shoe
having rear impact guard generally comprises a generally rigid
guard device at or near the second or back end of the shoe to
prevent any impact force from injuring the back of the wearer's
foot. The guard device has a body member with first end and a
second end. In a preferred embodiment, the first end of the body
member is at or near the top end of the back of the shoe and the
second end of the body member is at or near the bottom end of the
back of the shoe. The guard device can be made out of metal, hard
plastic, composites and a variety of other rigid or at least
substantially rigid materials. In the preferred embodiment, the
guard device is embedded inside the body of the shoe at or near its
second end, which defines the heel section of the shoe.
Alternatively, the guard member can be affixed to the outer surface
of the shoe body at the second end of the shoe. In one embodiment,
the body member of the guard device is an elongated rod having a
round, square, rectangular, oval or other cross-section. In another
embodiment, the guard device is a rectangular plate. In yet another
embodiment, the guard device has a curved shaped that generally
conforms to the shape of the heel section of the shoe so it can
also protect the sides of the user's heel from injury due to an
impact force. In this embodiment, the body member comprises a pair
of wing members that extend in the shoe's heel section generally
outward from the second end of the shoe toward the first end of the
shoe. The shoe of the present invention can also include the prior
art plate at or near the sole of the shoe and the prior art safety
toe to provide substantial protection for the wearer's foot.
[0012] Accordingly, the primary aspect of the present invention is
to provide a shoe with a rear impact guard that has the advantages
discussed above and overcomes the disadvantages and limitations
associated with presently available shoes and safety shoes.
[0013] It is an important aspect of the present invention to
provide a shoe having rear impact guard that is configured to
protect the heel area of a wearer's foot from an impact force
against the rear of the shoe. More specifically, it is an important
aspect of the present invention to provide a shoe having rear
impact guard that substantially protects the rear or heel area of
the wearer's foot from impact forces which would otherwise injure
the heel bone and/or Achilles tendon, resulting in pain, loss of
work and medical expenses.
[0014] It is also an important aspect of the present invention to
provide a shoe having rear impact guard that is adaptable for use
with a variety of different sizes and types of footwear, including
shoes, safety shoes and boots.
[0015] Another important aspect of the present invention is to
provide a shoe having rear impact guard that does not make the shoe
uncomfortable to wear or expensive to manufacture.
[0016] The above and other aspects and advantages of the present
invention are explained in greater detail by reference to the
attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment
which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides
in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and
combination of the above presently described and understood by the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments
and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the
present invention:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe having a rear impact guard
that is configured according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention showing use of a relatively narrow, elongated rod
as the guard device;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the shoe of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a back view of the guard device utilized in the
shoe of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the
shoe having a rear impact guard of the present invention showing
use of a generally rectangular guard device positioned on the
outside of the rear of the shoe;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the guard device
utilized with the shoe of FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of
the shoe having a rear impact guard of the present invention
showing use of a shaped guard device at the back of the boot to
protect the back and sides of the heel portion of the wearer's
foot;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the shoe of FIG. 6;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a back view of the guard device utilized with the
shoe of FIGS. 6 and 7; and
[0026] FIG. 9 is a top view of the guard device of FIG. 8 showing
the device curving outward towards the bottom thereof to generally
conform to the shape of the typical heel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] With reference to the figures where like elements have been
given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's
understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments
of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed text and
drawings are merely illustrative of one or more preferred
embodiments and, as such, disclose one or more different ways of
configuring the present invention. Although specific components,
materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be
understood that a number of variations to the components and to the
configuration of those components described herein and in the
accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and
function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although
the figures and description provided herein show certain
configurations for the shoe and the guard device utilized with the
shoe, those skilled in the art will readily understand that this is
merely for purposes of simplifying the present disclosure and that
the present invention is not so limited.
[0028] A shoe that is configured pursuant to a preferred embodiment
of the present invention is identified generally as 10 in FIGS. 1,
2, 4, 6 and 7. The shoe 10 is configured to be worn by a person to
protect the rear of the wearer's foot, specifically the area around
the heel bone and the Achilles tendon, from an impact force that
could otherwise injure the person. As with a standard shoe, the
shoe 10 of the present invention has a shoe body 12 with a first
end 14 that defines the toe section 16 of the shoe 10 and a second
end 18 that defines the heel section 20 thereof. The shoe 10 of the
present invention has a sole 22 at the bottom of the shoe that
supports the wearer's foot as he or she walks across the ground or
other surfaces. As set forth above, conventional safety shoes can
include a plate, typically made out of metal and at least
semi-rigid, that protects the bottom of the wearer's foot from
objects that puncture the sole 22 and a toe guard, also typically
made out of a rigid metal, that protects the wearer's foot from
objects that fall on or run over toe section 16. Although FIGS. 1,
2 and 4 illustrate a typical shoe and FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a
typical boot, which for the present disclosure are both referred to
as a "shoe," persons skilled in the art will readily recognize that
the present invention is not limited to these types of shoes and
that the principles of the present invention can be incorporated
into a wide variety of different configurations and types of shoes.
Although not shown in the figures, those skilled in the art will
also readily understand that the shoe 10 of the present invention
can include the prior art plates at or near the sole 22 of the shoe
10 and the prior art toe guards at the toe section 16 of the shoe
10.
[0029] To achieve the desired protection against injury to the foot
resulting from an impact force against the back of shoe 10, the
shoe 10 of the present invention comprises a guard device 24
beneficially positioned in heel section 20 of shoe 10. Various
sizes and configurations for guard device 24 can be utilized with
the shoe 10 of the present invention. In each such embodiment,
however, the guard device 24 should be sized and configured to
protect the wearer's heel, including the heel bone and Achilles
tendon, from an impact against the second end 18 of shoe 10. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the guard device 24 has a body
member 26 that is an elongated rod having a first end 28 and a
second end 30. In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the
rod-shaped body member 26 is sized such that its first end 28 is
substantially at or near the top end 32 of the second end 18 of
shoe 10 and its second end 30 is substantially at or near the
bottom end 34 of the second end 18 of shoe 10, which is at or near
where the top of the sole 22, as best shown in FIG. 2. The body
member 26 is a rigid or substantially rigid member that can be
manufactured out of metal, hard plastic, various composites or
other materials that will provide a rigid barrier against any
impact force that hits the second end 18 of shoe 10. As best shown
in FIG. 1, the body member 26 should be shaped to substantially
conform to the shape of the second end 18 of shoe 10 so that it
does not interfere with the use of shoe 10. In this embodiment, the
guard device 24 is disposed inside shoe body 12 at the heel section
20. Preferably, the shoe 10 is manufactured such that the user
thereof will not feel or otherwise notice the placement of the
guard device 24 inside the heel section 20 of shoe 10. FIG. 3 shows
guard device 24 separate from shoe 10. As will be understood by
those skilled in the art, the rod-like body member 26 of guard
device 24 can have a cross-sectional shape that is round, square,
rectangle, oval or a variety of other shapes. In one embodiment,
the body member 26 has a round cross-section approximately 0.15 to
0.30 inches in diameter. If desired, the first end 28 can be below
the top end 32 of the second end 18 of shoe 10 and the second end
30 can be above the bottom end 34 of the second end 18 of shoe
10.
[0030] In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the guard device 24 is a
generally rectangular plate and disposed on the outer surface 36 of
shoe body 12. Preferably, this embodiment is utilized when the
second end 18 of shoe 10 is sufficiently wide that the body member
26 of guard device 24 will not extend beyond the outer edges of the
shoe body 12. If desired, the rectangular shaped guard device 24
can be disposed inside shoe body 10 (as with the rod shaped
embodiment) and, likewise, the rod shaped guard device 24 can be
disposed on the outer surface 36 of shoe body 12. In an alternative
embodiment, the guard device 24 can be disposed inside shoe 10,
although this is likely not a preferred embodiment as the guard
device 24 could possibly rub against the user's foot and make shoe
10 uncomfortable to wear. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the
guard device 24 can be affixed to the outer surface 36 utilizing an
adhesive or various attachment devices suitable for the materials
of shoe 10 and guard device 24. In one configuration of this
embodiment, the rectangular shaped guard device 24 has a body
member 26 that is approximately 0.75 to 1.20 inches wide and 0.15
to 0.35 inches thick. Preferably, the height of body member 26 is
selected so as to substantially extend between the top end 32 and
bottom end 34 of the second end 18 of shoe 10, as shown in FIG.
4.
[0031] In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 through 9, the body member 26
of guard device 24 is shaped to at least generally conform to the
shape of shoe body 12 at the heel section 20 of shoe 10. In this
embodiment, the body member 26 comprises a pair of wing members,
such as first wing member 38 and second wing member 40 shown on
FIG. 8, that extend outwardly relative to the main portion of body
member 26 to at least partially wrap around the sides of heel
section 20 at the second end 18 of shoe 10. As best shown in the
side view of FIG. 6 (with the opposite side being a mirror image
thereof) and the top view of FIG. 9, the body member 26 is curved
such that the wing sections 38/40 extend from the second end 18
towards the first end 14 of shoe 10, though still remaining within
the heel section 20 of shoe 10. Preferably, the curvature of body
member 26 is substantially in conformity with the shape of the shoe
body 12 at the second end 18 of shoe 10. Generally, this will
result in body member 26 being narrower near the first end 28 and
wider near the second end 30, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The
benefit of the wing members 38/40 of this embodiment is to provide
some protection to the sides of the wearer's foot at the heel
section 20 of shoe 10 from an impact force at this location. In the
configuration of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the guard
device 24 is embedded inside the shoe body 12 (as with the
embodiment of FIG. 1). Alternatively, the guard device 24 of this
embodiment can be affixed to the outer surface 36 of shoe body 12,
as shown with regard to the embodiment of FIG. 4. As with the other
embodiments, the body member 26 should be made out of a rigid
material, such as metal, hard plastic and certain composites.
Preferably, the material chosen for the body member 26 is
relatively lightweight and inexpensive to produce so as to maintain
the comfort and control the cost of shoe 10. As with the previous
embodiments, it is preferred that the body member 26 substantially
extend from at or near the top end 32 of shoe body 12 at the second
end 18 of shoe 10 to at or near its bottom end 34, as best shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0032] As stated above, in the preferred embodiment, the guard
device 24 is embedded inside shoe body 12 at the heel section 20 of
shoe 10, preferably at the time shoe 10 is manufactured.
Alternatively, the guard device 24 can be affixed to the outer
surface 36 of shoe body 12, which can be installed after the
manufacture of shoe 10. In the latter embodiment, the guard device
24 can be sold as an after-market product that is installed by the
user on an existing shoe, including a shoe 10 that is configured as
a safety shoe with a plate at or near the sole 22 of shoe 10 and/or
a safety toe device at the toe section 16 of shoe 10. An improved
safety shoe would incorporate the guard device 10 of the present
invention to provide a shoe 10 with protection against punctures
through the bottom of the shoe 10, injury to toes from an object
falling on or running over the toe section 16 of shoe 10 and injury
to the heel area from an impact force against the second end 18 of
shoe 10. In use, the user would wear shoe 10 in the same manner as
he or she would wear any other shoe, just with the added benefit of
guard device 24 protecting against impact forces against the second
end 18 of shoe 10, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury to the
heel bone or Achilles tendon of the user's foot.
[0033] While there are shown and described herein specific forms of
the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to
various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In
particular, it should be noted that the present invention is
subject to various modification with regard to any dimensional
relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly,
materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there are numerous
components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent
functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present
invention.
* * * * *