Reinforced toe

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe having an outsole with a bottom surface, an upper, a front surface, a reinforcer extending from the bottom surface along the front surface and to the upper, and where the reinforcer is made of a wear resistant material.

1 . A shoe, comprising: 
 an outsole having a bottom surface;    an upper;    a front surface;    a reinforcer extending from said bottom surface along said front surface and to said upper; and    said reinforcer being made of a wear resistant material.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said outsole has a side surface and said reinforcer extends from said bottom surface, along said side surface, along said front surface, and to said upper.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcers where each reinforcer is interchangeable with a next reinforcer.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 3 , wherein each reinforcer has a different frictional characteristic than a next reinforcer.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcer extends laterally across an entire width of the shoe.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcer includes a plurality of bumps for reducing surface area in contact with a walking surface.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforce is integrally formed with the shoe.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcer includes a plurality of bumps for increasing friction between the shoe and a walking surface.  
     
     
         9 . The shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein said reinforcer includes a plurality of raised portions on a bump for enhancing friction.  
     
     
         10 . A method for providing a shoe, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an outsole having a bottom surface;    providing an upper;    providing a front surface;    providing a reinforcer made of a wear resistant material; and    extending a reinforcer from the bottom surface along the front surface and to the upper.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a side surface and extending the reinforcer from the bottom surface, along the side surface, along the front surface, and to the upper.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of interchanging a reinforcer with a next reinforcer to vary a frictional characteristic from the reinforcer to the next reinforcer.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of laterally extending the reinforcer across an entire width of the shoe.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of placing a plurality of bumps for reducing surface area in contact with a walking surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of placing a plurality of bumps for increasing friction between the shoe and a walking surface.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of placing a plurality of raised portions on a bump for enhancing friction.