US 12,167,775 B1
Flexible forefoot protection for insoles and shoes
Jeffrey Brian Downard, Flagstaff, AZ (US)
Filed by Jeffrey Brian Downard, Flagstaff, AZ (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/209,066.
Application 17/209,066 is a continuation of application No. 15/997,656, filed on Jun. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,952,493.
Application 15/997,656 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/433,255, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, granted, now 9,986,784, issued on Jun. 5, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/465,973, filed on Mar. 28, 2011.
Int. Cl. A43B 23/00 (2006.01); A43B 5/00 (2022.01); A43B 7/14 (2022.01); A43B 7/145 (2022.01); A43B 7/1464 (2022.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/38 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 7/145 (2013.01) [A43B 7/1464 (2022.01); A43B 13/186 (2013.01); A43B 5/002 (2013.01); A43B 13/38 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shoe comprising;
a) an outsole, wherein the outsole has a plurality of lugs and lug grooves located between the lugs for improved traction, wherein the lug grooves are thinner than the lugs;
b) an upper coupled to the outsole and extending over the outsole;
c) an insert configured for placement within the shoe and comprising:
i) a protective plate, said protective plate comprising:
a forefoot protective plate over a forefoot portion of said shoe and comprising:
a ball section consisting of hard plastic;
a middle section consisting of hard plastic; and
a lateral section consisting of hard plastic;
wherein the middle section is located between the ball section and the lateral section;
wherein the forefoot protective plate is a single piece of material and comprises a thinner portion between the ball section and middle section;
wherein the forefoot protective plate comprises a thinner portion between the middle section and lateral section; and
d) an insole comprising a cushioning foam layer, wherein the forefoot protective plate is configured between the outsole and the insole,
wherein the outsole has a lug groove between the ball section and middle section of the forefoot protective plate.