Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve

Abstract

The invention provides an entirely new form of protective gear to protect baseball/softball player's feet, while batting. This foot guard slides over and wraps around the entire shoe, like a sleeve, creating the feeling that it is one with the shoe. The foot guard sleeve is comprised of a thin layer of Kevlar, or other aramid material, fastened to a thin layer of neoprene, all sewn into and enveloped by a negligibly thin outer mesh/spandex sleeve, and altogether measuring ⅛″ to ¼″ in thickness. These thin, flexible, malleable, and lightweight materials allow for the full mobility and flexion of the player's foot, greatly reducing any hindrance caused by the gear, while still providing ample protection against serious injury caused by accidental/incidental impact resulting from foul balls hit directly from the bat to the foot. Two distinct versions would be available for spikes/cleats and tennis shoes, respectively.

1 . In the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve, two distinct and similarly, if not equally, symmetrical, pliable, flexible, and malleable protective layers—the top layer made of Kevlar, or other effective aramid material, for protection against direct impact, and the bottom layer made of neoprene, for slight cushioning—fastened together into one protective unit and sewn into and enveloped by a negligibly thin outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve which slides on and wraps around the entire shoe, altogether measuring between a ⅛″ and ¼″ in thickness so as to create a flush and form fit attachment to the shoe;
 “lips” (excess outer mesh, spandex, or even rubber, molded or fastened to the underside of the rest of the outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve) contoured to the shape of the front and back of the spikes/cleats and reaching the underside of the spikes/cleats, featuring custom cutouts for the spikes/cleats to slide through to create a firm, balanced, and secure hold (for the primary version of the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve to be used with spikes/cleats); 
 “lips” (excess pieces of slip-resistant rubber molded or fastened to the underside of the outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve) contoured to the shape of the front and back of the tennis shoe and reaching over the underside, and cupping the underside, of the front and back of the tennis shoe to create a firm, balanced, and secure hold to the tennis shoe as well as to help grip the concrete floors of the batting cages (for the supplementary version of the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve to be used with tennis shoes); 
 outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve ending in two symmetrical flaps, at the back of the shoe, with the bottom flap being assembled with the male half of a Velcro attachment and the male half of a clasping button and the overlaying flap being assembled with the female half of the Velcro attachment and female half of the clasping button to create a flush, balanced, and secure hold to the spikes/cleats (for the primary version of the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve to be used with spikes/cleats); 
 outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve ending in well positioned elastic bands located at the back of the foot guard sleeve, fastened from one side of the foot guard sleeve to the other, stretching out and over the back of the tennis shoe, to create a flush, balanced, and secure hold to the tennis shoe (for the supplementary version of the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve to be used with tennis shoes). 
 
     
     
         2 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 1 , wherein the protective layers, sewn into and enveloped by the negligibly thin outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve, cover from the tongue of the shoe extending downward and completely over the toes, and bilaterally from the top of shoe down to the bottom of both sides of the shoe providing complete coverage and protection of the entire front half of the foot (the top of the foot, the instep, metatarsal area, and toes). 
     
     
         3 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 1 , whereby, because Kevlar has a strength to weight ratio five times stronger than that of steel, the protective unit of the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve more than amply deflects the blunt impact as well as more than amply dissipates the force/momentum of the impact from foul balls hit directly from the baseball/softball player's bat to the foot, and thereby provides more than ample protection, for baseball and softball players, from serious injury resulting from said foul balls hit directly from the bat to the foot. 
     
     
         4 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 1 , whereby the pliability, flexibility, and malleability of Kevlar, or other aramid material, layer, the neoprene layer, and the outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve, along with the elasticity of the outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve, allow for the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve to slide over and wrap around the entire shoe ensuring the baseball/softball player that no matter how forceful the movement, or how forceful the impact, endured by the protective gear, the foot guard sleeve will remain in place as if it were an integral part of the player's shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 1 , whereby the ability for Kevlar, or other aramid material, and neoprene to repel water, along with the ability of the mesh, or spandex, composing the outer sleeve of the guard, to wick away water quickly and effectively allow the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve to function properly and effectively during rainy conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 1 , whereby the sleekness, malleability, flexibility, and negligible light weight of the Kevlar, or other aramid material, and neoprene protective layers, as well as of the negligibly thin outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve, allow for complete and natural range and freedom of motion and flexion of the baseball/softball player's foot. 
     
     
         7 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claims 1  and  3 , whereby, because Kevlar has a strength to weight ratio five times as strong as that of steel and, along with the neoprene layer and outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve, all exhibit high levels of malleability and flexibility, the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve provides more than ample protection from serious injury resulting from accidental/incidental impact from foul balls hit directly from the bat to the foot and, simultaneously, allows for the complete and natural range and freedom of motion and flexion of the baseball/softball player's foot. 
     
     
         8 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 6 , whereby allowance for the complete and natural range and freedom of motion and flexion of the baseball/softball player's foot provides freedom of any hindrance, thus allowing for a seamless transition, for the batter, from swing to sprint. 
     
     
         9 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 6 , whereby the allowance for complete and natural range and freedom of motion and flexion of the baseball/softball player's foot, along with the flush and secure attachment of the foot guard sleeve to the shoe provided by the elasticity of the outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve keeping the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve firmly in place, provide the freedom of any hindrance, or distraction, with regard to the baseball/softball player's sense of timing and “feel” while batting, thus, allowing for more precise calculations and reactions than the current protective gear available, due to the lack of obstruction, hindrance, and distraction. 
     
     
         10 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claim 1 , whereby a baseball/softball player can have the option of using the same protective gear for their feet during practice as they use during the games with the supplementary version of the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve, assembled with contoured pieces of slip-resistant rubber molded, or fastened, to the underside of the outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve that reach over the underside of, and cup the underside of, the front and back of the tennis shoe in order to create a firm, balanced, and secure attachment of the foot guard sleeve to the shoe, and also, specifically, to help grip the concrete floors of the batting cages for the baseball/softball player who prefers to maintain consistency in regimen, process, and “feel” between their practice and their games. 
     
     
         11 . The foot guard sleeve defined in  claims 3 ,  4 , and  6 , whereby allowance for the complete and natural range and freedom of motion and flexion of the baseball/softball player's foot, through its flexibility, malleability, elasticity, and negligible light weight provides freedom of any obstruction, hindrance, and distraction with regard to the baseball/softball player's movements, timing, “feel”, calculations, and reactions, allowing the batter to feel as though the Modernized Baseball/Softball Foot Guard Sleeve is an integral part of the player's shoe and, thusly, as though nothing is attached to their shoe until they are hit with a foul ball.