Toe protection insert for an athletic shoe

Abstract

A toe protection insert for an athletic shoe surrounds the big toe and laces up to protect the toe from injury. The laces of the insert are designed to pull through the shoelace holes of the athletic shoe, to enable the user to position the toe as desired. Specialized socks are also provided, which separate the big toe from the other toes.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A toe protection insert for an athletic shoe comprising an insert, a toe sleeve, said toe sleeve being affixed to the top of said insert in the big toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         2 . The toe protection insert of  claim 1  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         3 . The toe protection insert of  claim 1  wherein said toe sleeve is composed of two parts and adjustably tensioned by laces. 
     
     
         4 . The toe protection insert of  claim 1  wherein said insert is covered by a fabric sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The toe protection insert of  claim 1  wherein said insert is filled by a cushion bubble layer. 
     
     
         6 . The toe protection insert of  claim 3  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         7 . The toe protection insert of  claim 4  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         8 . The toe protection insert of  claim 5  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         9 . The toe protection insert of  claim 4  wherein said toe sleeve is composed of two parts and adjustably tensioned by laces. 
     
     
         10 . The toe protection insert of  claim 5  wherein said toe sleeve is composed of two parts and adjustably tensioned by laces. 
     
     
         11 . The toe protection insert of  claim 5  wherein said insert is covered by a fabric sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The toe protection insert of  claim 9  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         13 . The toe protection insert of  claim 10  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         14 . The toe protection insert of  claim 11  further comprising a strap, said strap being removably affixed to the top of said insert in the lesser toe position of said insert. 
     
     
         15 . The toe protection insert of  claim 12  wherein said insert is filled by a cushion bubble layer. 
     
     
         16 . A method of use of the toe protection insert of  claim 3  comprising tightening said laces as desired, threading the laces through the shoelaces of an athletic shoe in which said insert is installed, adjusting the position of said toe sleeve as desired, and tying said laces on the exterior of said athletic shoe in which said insert is installed. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of use of the toe protection insert of  claim 6  comprising tightening said laces as desired, threading the laces through the shoelaces of an athletic shoe in which said insert is installed, adjusting the position of said toe sleeve as desired, and tying said laces on the exterior of said athletic shoe in which said insert is installed. 
     
     
         18 . A method of use of the toe protection insert of  claim 9  comprising tightening said laces as desired, threading the laces through the shoelaces of an athletic shoe in which said insert is installed, adjusting the position of said toe sleeve as desired, and tying said laces on the exterior of said athletic shoe in which said insert is installed. 
     
     
         19 . A method of use of the toe protection insert of  claim 10  comprising tightening said laces as desired, threading the laces through the shoelaces of an athletic shoe in which said insert is installed, adjusting the position of said toe sleeve as desired, and tying said laces on the exterior of said athletic shoe in which said insert is installed. 
     
     
         20 . A method of use of the toe protection insert of  claim 15  comprising tightening said laces as desired, threading the laces through the shoelaces of an athletic shoe in which said insert is installed, adjusting the position of said toe sleeve as desired, and tying said laces on the exterior of said athletic shoe in which said insert is installed.