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Protective footwear and method of forming the sameRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, StockingsProtective footwear and method of forming the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060107444, Protective footwear and method of forming the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present disclosure relates to protective footwear for use in dance and other athletic activities. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The need for protective and functional footwear intended for specific applications is well-known. Just as sports such as basketball and football place different demands on the human foot and thus require specialized footwear, different forms of dance and athletics also require specialized footwear. For example, ballet requires specially designed toe shoes, jazz-style dance requires specially-designed character shoes, and tap dance requires specially modified tap shoes. [0003] Unlike many more traditional forms of dance, modern dance requires rapid, abrupt and often complex shifts in body position, center of gravity, directional momentum and weight distribution. Included in these movements are forceful turns, spins and other such movements that can cause friction burns, tearing, slivers, blisters and other foot problems. In addition, modern dancers--like other dancers--risk serious injury if their foot should slip on the dance floor or if they should turn their ankle. However, given the aesthetic requirements of their art, most modern dancers currently opt to dance barefoot and tolerate the damage done to their feet. [0004] Earlier, unsuccessful attempts at providing such footwear range from the use of thongs that were wrapped around the foot to dancers cutting up nylon stockings and tying them to their feet before each performance. Footwear currently available for use in modern dance includes a "sole" that is secured to the foot by an ankle strap and toe loops. Other footwear products cover only the ball of the foot and do not have an ankle strap. Such products attach to the foot with toe loops and an elastic band that crosses over the bridge of the foot. However, these known footwear products are not securely bound to the foot, and thus have a tendency to cause tearing of the skin, particularly between the great and index toes. For this reason, most modern dancers do not use this type of footwear. A major drawback of all the above approaches is that such footwear does not provide all of the necessary protective and safety benefits, not are they durable and minimally disruptive to a dancer's performance. [0005] Accordingly, there is a need for dance footwear that protects feet from friction burns, tearing, slivers, blisters and other foot problems commonly associated with dance movements, while also providing beneficial traction, maneuverability and an inconspicuous appearance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Formfitting footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a stretchable sleeve to be worn on a human foot, the sleeve having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. Toe openings are disposed at the first end of the elastic sleeve. A footpad is disposed at the first end of the elastic sleeve adjacent the toe openings, the footpad comprising an inner layer of at least one of a shock absorbing material and a cushioning material and an outer layer that contacts a ground surface. [0007] In at least one embodiment of the invention, an elastic piece is disposed around the second end of the sleeve. [0008] In at least one embodiment of the invention, the footpad further includes a moisture-absorbing layer. [0009] A method of forming formfitting footwear according to an embodiment of the invention includes providing a sheet of stretchable material, the sheet having a first longitudinal end portion, a second longitudinal end portion, a first lateral end portion and a second lateral end portion. Toe openings are formed at the first longitudinal end portion of the sheet. A footpad is attached to the first longitudinal end portion of the sheet adjacent to the toe openings. The sheet is folded such that the first lateral end portion overlaps the second lateral end portion with the footpad disposed between the first and second lateral end portions. The first lateral end portion is permanently attached to the second lateral end portion so as to form a sleeve with the footpad disposed within the sleeve. The sleeve is turned inside out such that the footpad is disposed outside the sleeve. [0010] These and other features of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] Various exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: [0012] FIG. 1 shows protective footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention placed on a wearer's feet; [0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing various components of the protective footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention with the sleeve in a spread-out configuration; [0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing various components of the protective footwear according to an another exemplary embodiment of the invention with the sleeve in a spread-out configuration; [0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing various components of the protective footwear according to an another exemplary embodiment of the invention with the sleeve in a spread-out configuration; [0016] FIG. 5 shows the sleeve of FIG. 4 spread out and patterned to include a second cut-out portion; [0017] FIG. 6 shows protective footwear according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention; [0018] FIG. 7 shows a step of a method of forming formfitting footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and [0019] FIG. 8 shows another step of a method of forming formfitting footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 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