Wrestling shoe with textile on toe cap

Abstract

An article of footwear has a toe cap having fibers on the surface to provide a slip region of reduced friction. The toe cap may be formed integrally with an outsole. The fibers may be in the form of a mesh, e.g., an open spacer mesh. Optionally, the toe cap may be made from an elastomeric material which is impregnated into the mesh and is cured around fibers in the mesh. A method for making a toe cap, optionally with an outsole formed integrally therewith, includes molding an elastomeric material into a toe cap having an outer surface and adhering fiber to the toe cap outer surface to provide the slip region. Pressing the fibers against the elastomeric material may be done under sufficient temperature and pressure to cure the elastomeric material around a portion of the fibers. An article of footwear features a toe cap as described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe sole comprising:
 an outsole and a toe cap formed integrally therewith, the toe cap having an outer surface; and   a plurality of fibers adhered to the toe cap and exposed at the toe cap outer surface to provide a slip region of reduced surface friction on the toe cap outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe sole of  claim 1  wherein the fibers comprise a mesh. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe sole of  claim 3  wherein toe cap comprises an elastomeric material which is impregnated into the mesh and is cured around fibers in the mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe sole of  claim 2  wherein the mesh is an open spacer mesh. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe sole of  claim 4  wherein toe cap comprises an elastomeric material which is impregnated into the mesh and is cured around fibers in the mesh. 
     
     
         6 . A method for making a toe cap for a shoe, comprising:
 molding an elastomeric material into a toe cap, the toe cap having an outer surface; and   adhering a plurality of fibers to the toe cap with fibers exposed at the toe cap outer surface to provide a slip region of reduced surface friction on the toe cap outer surface.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the toe cap is made from an elastomeric material, the method further comprising pressing the fibers against the elastomeric material under sufficient temperature and pressure to cure the elastomeric material around a portion of the fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the toe cap is formed integrally with an outsole and the toe cap and outsole are made from an elastomeric material, the method further comprising pressing the fibers against the toe cap outer surface under sufficient temperature and pressure to cure the elastomeric material around a portion of the fibers. 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole secured to the upper; and   a toe cap secured to the upper in contiguous relation to the outsole, the toe cap having an outer surface, and   a plurality of fibers adhered to the toe cap and exposed at the toe cap outer surface to provide a slip region of reduced surface friction on the toe cap outer surface.   
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the fibers comprise a mesh. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10  wherein toe cap comprises an elastomeric material which is impregnated into the mesh and is cured around fibers in the mesh. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the mesh is an open spacer mesh. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12  wherein toe cap comprises an elastomeric material which is impregnated into the mesh and is cured around fibers in the mesh. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the toe cap and the outsole are formed integrally with each other.