Shoe guard for preventing discomfort and injury

Abstract

A shoe insert or guard to improve comfort and to limit and prevent traumatic injury to a wearer's foot. The shoe guard includes an anterior superior portion, a toe portion, an anterior sole portion, a posterior sole portion, and a rear portion. The shoe guard protects against foot injuries caused by downward impact on the anterior sole portion of the foot during ambulation, forward movement of the foot during ambulation, and abrasions to the foot secondary to movement of the foot within the shoe during ambulation.

1 . A shoe guard adapted to provide protection to a wearer's foot, comprising:
 an anterior superior portion adapted to overlie the front of the wearer's foot extending from the surface of the front foot the length of the wearer's foot to the wearer's toes;   a toe portion adjacent to the anterior superior portion extending in front of and around the toes of the wearer;   an anterior sole portion adjacent to the toe portion extending beneath the anterior sole of the wearer's foot to the arch of the wearer's foot;   a posterior sole portion adjacent to the anterior sole portion extending under the arch and bottom heel of the wearer's foot; and   a rear portion adjacent to the posterior sole portion extending vertically along the wearer's Achilles tendon.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe guard according to  claim 1 , wherein the anterior sole portion comprises an elevated contour beneath the metatarsal phalangeal joint and proximal toes of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe guard according to  claim 2 , wherein the elevated contour follows the natural curvature of the wearer's proximal toes and foot. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe guard according to  claim 3 , wherein the height of the elevated contour is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe guard of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe guard comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe comprising the shoe guard of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A sock comprising the shoe guard of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A stocking comprising the shoe guard of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The shoe guard of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the anterior superior portion, toe portion, anterior sole portion, posterior sole portion, and the rear portion of the shoe guard are detachable. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe guard adapted to provide protection to a wearer's foot, comprising:
 an anterior superior portion adapted to overlie the front of the wearer's foot extending from the surface of the front foot the length of the wearer's foot to the wearer's toes wherein the anterior superior portion is adapted to extend along a section of a shoe's superior anterior rim;   a toe portion adjacent to the anterior superior portion extending in front of and around the toes of the wearer;   an anterior sole portion adjacent to the toe portion extending beneath the anterior sole of the wearer's foot to the arch of the wearer's foot;   a posterior sole portion adjacent to the anterior sole portion extending under the arch and bottom heel of the wearer's foot; and   a rear portion adjacent to the posterior sole portion extending vertically along the wearer's Achilles tendon wherein the rear portion is adapted to extend along a section of a shoe's posterior interior rim.