Athletic shoe with integrated aerodynamic components

Abstract

The invention provides an aerodynamic athletic shoe, more particularly an aerodynamic shoe with an integrated shoe cover and an optional aerodynamic heel element.

1 . An aerodynamic shoe, comprising:
 a shoe having a heel aft element; and   a shoe cover having first and second portions, the shoe cover positioned about the shoe, wherein the first portion is removably attached to the heel aft element.   
     
     
         2 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is one of removably attached to one of the heel aft element of the shoe or permanently attached to the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are removably attached to one or both of the shoe and the heel aft element. 
     
     
         4 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe further comprises a sole attached to an upper to form a toe box, medial and lateral vamp sides, medial and lateral quarter sides, a heel, a throat and an interior cavity, wherein some of the second portion is permanently attached to the shoe at about one or more of the upper, medial vamp side, lateral vamp side, about the medial vamp side from about the heel to about the toe box, and the sole by one or more of stitching, welding, adhesive joining, laminating, mechanical joining, and molding. 
     
     
         5 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the heel aft element is one of permanently or removably attached to the shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the heel aft element is one of removably attached to the shoe mechanically or permanently attached to the shoe by one or more of stitching, welding, adhesive joining, laminating, mechanical joining, and molding. 
     
     
         7 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a stretchable and/or elastomeric material, wherein the cover has one or both of a two-way and a four-way stretch. 
     
     
         8 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has elastomeric and/or stretch properties both within a horizontal plane defined by the textile material and to a plane vertical to the textile material. 
     
     
         9 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the cover material is selected from the group of stretchable and/or elastomeric materials consisting of polyurethane-polyurea copolymers, polyesters, aramids, nylons, polyurethanes, spandexes, elastanes, olefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an elastane, and wherein the elastane has a polyurethane coating, and wherein the polyurethane coating has a substantially smooth surface. 
     
     
         11 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the cover has a four-way stretch. 
     
     
         12 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has more texture in a stretched condition, compared to an un-stretched condition. 
     
     
         13 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is removably joined by a hook and pile system to one or both of the shoe and the heel aft element. 
     
     
         14 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the heel aft element has a shape substantially resembling one of a triangular, a wedge, a pyramidal, an arcuate, or a bow shape. 
     
     
         15 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the heel aft element has an apex, wherein the toe box and the heel, respectively, have apexes, and wherein the heel aft element apex is offset from a line bisecting the toe box and heel apexes by an angle of from about −45 degrees to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the angle is from about −5 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the heel aft element is removably attached to the shoe and has a shape resembling a bow, wherein the first and second portions are removably attached to the heel aft element. 
     
     
         18 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the heel aft element comprises one of a man-made polymeric material, a light-weight metal, a rigid plastic, a rigid foam, a natural polymeric material, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . An aerodynamic shoe, comprising:
 a shoe having a removable heel aft element having an apex; and   a cover comprising a stretchable and/or elastomeric material, the cover has first and second portions, wherein the first portion is removably attached to the shoe about the heel aft element by a hook and pile system.   
     
     
         20 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the second portion is removably attached to the shoe by a hook and pile system. 
     
     
         21 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the second portion is permanently attached to the shoe by one or more of stitching, welding, adhesive joining, laminating, mechanical joining, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the stretchable and/or elastomeric material has at least one of a two-way or a four-way stretch and wherein the cover has a substantially smooth surface devoid of any surface texture. 
     
     
         23 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the cover material is selected from the group of stretchable and/or elastomeric materials selected form the group of stretchable and/or elastic materials consisting of polyurethane-polyurea copolymers, polyesters, aramids, nylons, polyurethanes, spandexes, elastanes, olefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the cover comprises a polyurethane coated elastane. 
     
     
         25 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 20 , wherein the cover has a four-way stretch. 
     
     
         26 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 20 , wherein the heel aft element has a shape resembling one of a wedge, a pyramid, a triangle, a arcuate, or a bow shape and has an apex, wherein the shoe further has a toe box and a heel, wherein the toe box and heel, respectively, have apexes, and wherein the heel aft element apex is offset from a line bisecting the toe box and heel apexes by angle of from about −45 degrees to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         27 . The aerodynamic shoe of  claim 26 , wherein the angle is about 0 degrees. 
     
     
         28 . A method of using an aerodynamic shoe, comprising:
 inserting a user's foot into a shoe having a shoe closure system and a heel aft element;   engaging the shoe closure system to secure the shoe to the user's foot; and   positioning a cover having first and second portions on the shoe, the positioning includes attaching the first portion to the heel aft element.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the positioning further includes attaching the second portion about one or both of the shoe and the heel aft element. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the positioning of the shoe cover includes applying a stress to the cover to stretch the cover over the shoe. 
     
     
         31 . A heel aft element for an athletic shoe, comprising:
 a leg element having an arcuate shape for marrying with a heel element of the athletic shoe and a heel aft apex extending from the leg element, and   an arm element extending from the leg element, the arm element having one or engagement elements for attaching the heel aft element to a sole of the athletic shoe, one or more gaiting assist components and one or more screw receiving elements.