Soccer Shoe Component or Insert Made of One Material and/or a Composite and/or Laminate of One or More Materials for Enhancing the Performance of the Soccer Shoe

Abstract

A soccer shoe absorbs and stores energy from the foot at foot-strike and return some of this energy to the object being struck. The shoe may also cushion the foot, leg and body; provide foot stability and motion control; reduce fatigue; extend the float time of a runner and increase the jump height of the wearer. The shoe is intended to absorb, store and return energy to the object struck, which would otherwise be lost using the existing shoe components and inserts. The shoe has a vertical component that extends around the periphery of the front of the shoe and another component (horizontal) that extends longitudinally from the front of the shoe towards the back of the shoe, at least to about the middle of the shoe, and preferably proximate the heel of the shoe.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . An athletic shoe, comprising:
 a) a shoe body having a shoe upper and a sole secured to the upper so that a wearer's foot can be positioned within the upper and above the sole, the sole having a lower surface with cleats and an upper surface, the shoe having a front with a toe box and a periphery that extends at the front around the toe box, a middle, a back, and a heel;   b) a horizontal component located within the sole in between the cleats and the sole upper surface, said horizontal component extending longitudinally all or part of the distance between the front and the heel, wherein said horizontal component is at least partially constructed of a material from the group consisting of graphite, carbon, Kevlar, fiberglass, titanium, metal, metal alloy, composite, laminate, 1, 2-polybutadiene, 1, 4-polybutadiene, synthetic isoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyisoprene, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, ethylenepropylene diene modified rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and plastics such as polystyrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations thereof; and   c) wherein the horizontal component stiffens the shoe and stabilizes the foot within the shoe.   
     
     
         50 . The shoe of  claim 49 , wherein the component is made of only one type of material. 
     
     
         51 . The shoe of  claim 49 , wherein the component is made of a composite of one or more types of material. 
     
     
         52 . The shoe of  claim 49 , wherein the component is made of a laminate of one or more types of material. 
     
     
         53 . The shoe of  claim 49  wherein the component is made primarily of carbon fiber material. 
     
     
         54 . The shoe of  claim 49 , wherein the component is made primarily of a natural or synthetic rubber material. 
     
     
         55 . An athletic shoe, comprising:
 a) a shoe body having a shoe upper and a sole secured to the upper so that a wearer's foot can be positioned within the upper and above the sole, the sole having a lower surface with cleats and an upper surface, the shoe having a front with a toe box and a periphery that extends at the front around the toe box, a middle, a back, and a heel;   b) a horizontal component embedded in the sole and that extends longitudinally all or part of the distance between the front and the heel and is at least partially constructed of a material from the group consisting of graphite, carbon, Kevlar, fiberglass, titanium, metal, metal alloy, composite, laminate, 1, 2-polybutadiene, 1, 4-polybutadiene, synthetic isoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyisoprene, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, ethylenepropylene diene modified rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and plastics such as polystyrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations thereof;   c) a vertical component connected to and extending up from the horizontal component;   d) the horizontal and vertical components stiffening the shoe and stabilizing the foot within the shoe.   
     
     
         56 . The shoe of  claim 55 , wherein the horizontal component is made of only one type of material. 
     
     
         57 . The shoe of  claim 55 , wherein the horizontal component is made of a composite of one or more types of material. 
     
     
         58 . The shoe of  claim 55 , wherein the horizontal component is made of a laminate of one or more types of material. 
     
     
         59 . The shoe of  claim 55  wherein the horizontal component is made primarily of carbon fiber material. 
     
     
         60 . The shoe of  claim 55  further comprising a vertical component made primarily of a material from a natural or synthetic rubber compound. 
     
     
         61 . An athletic shoe, comprising:
 a) a shoe body having a shoe upper and a sole secured to the upper so that a wearer's foot can be positioned within the upper and above the sole, the sole having a lower surface with cleats and an upper surface, the shoe having a front with a toe box, a middle, and a heel;   b) a horizontal component contained within the sole, said horizontal component extending longitudinally all or part of the distance between the front and the heel of the shoe body;   c) a vertical component that is connected to and that extends up from the horizontal component, said vertical component extending to the toe box; and   d) the horizontal and vertical components stiffening the shoe and stabilizing the foot within the shoe.   
     
     
         62 . The shoe of  claim 61 , wherein the horizontal component is made of only one type of material. 
     
     
         63 . The shoe of  claim 61 , wherein the horizontal component is made of a composite of one or more types of material. 
     
     
         64 . The shoe of  claim 61 , wherein the horizontal component is made of a laminate of one or more types of material. 
     
     
         65 . The shoe of  claim 61 , wherein the horizontal component is at least partially constructed of a material from the group consisting of graphite, carbon, Kevlar, fiberglass, titanium, metal, metal alloy, composite, laminate, 1, 2-polybutadiene, 1, 4-polybutadiene, synthetic isoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyisoprene, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, ethylenepropylene diene modified rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and plastics such as polystyrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         66 . The shoe of  claim 61  wherein the horizontal component is made primarily of carbon fiber material. 
     
     
         67 . The shoe of  claim 61  wherein the sole has an outsole and a midsole and the horizontal component is embedded in the midsole. 
     
     
         68 . The shoe of  claim 61  wherein the sole has an outsole and a midsole and the horizontal component is embedded in the outsole.