Midsole Protection Device

Abstract

A midsole protection device is provided. The device includes a closed loop elastomeric sidewall band. In a fully relaxed state, the sidewall approximates the outer shape of a sneaker and cooperates with the sneaker to substantially cover and protect its midsole while leaving the upper substantially exposed. The device grips the sneaker between an upper edge and a bottom flange. The upper edge and flange structures cooperate to retain the device in a fixed position on the sneaker. The midsole protection device may also include one or more iridescent colors, a camouflage or other pattern, or a logo such as a logo of a favorite sports team or a logo of a sneaker manufacturer.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: 
     
         1 . A midsole protection device, comprising:
 a sidewall defining a closed loop formed according to a size and shape of a midsole of a predetermined sneaker;   a bottom retaining flange extending perpendicularly inward from a tangent line of the sidewall by a length between ¼ inch and ⅛ inch, wherein the bottom retaining flange defines a bottom opening;   a toe section of the sidewall having a curvature indicated by an angle θ, between 35° and 55°, where angle θ is the angle between a vertical tangent line through a point midway up the toe section from a bottom edge of the sidewall, and an oblique tangent line through a point at a top edge of the sidewall; and   a heel section of the sidewall having an inward tilt indicated by an angle φ, between 25° and 45°, where angle φ is the angle between a vertical tangent line through a point on the heel section and a line parallel to the heel section of the sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The midsole protection device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the top edge of the sidewall and the bottom edge of the sidewall varies about a circumference of the sidewall according to the size and shape of the midsole of the predetermined sneaker. 
     
     
         3 . The midsole protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom opening comprises greater than 50% of a bottom of the midsole protection device. 
     
     
         4 . The midsole protection device of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom opening comprises greater than 90% of a bottom of the midsole protection device. 
     
     
         5 . The midsole protection device of  claim 1 , wherein angle θ of the toe section of the sidewall is between 40° and 50°. 
     
     
         6 . The midsole protection device of  claim 1 , wherein angle φ of the heel section of the sidewall is between 30° and 40°. 
     
     
         7 . The midsole protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole protection device comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . The midsole protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall, the bottom retaining flange, the toe section, and the heel section are a unitary molded part. 
     
     
         9 . A midsole protection device, comprising:
 a sidewall defining a closed loop formed according to a size and shape of a midsole of a predetermined sneaker, wherein a distance between the top edge of the sidewall and the bottom edge of the sidewall varies about a circumference of the sidewall according to the size and shape of the midsole of the predetermined sneaker;   a bottom retaining flange extending perpendicularly inward from a tangent line of the sidewall by a length between ¼ inch and ⅛ inch, wherein the bottom retaining flange defines a bottom opening, wherein the bottom opening comprises greater than 90% of a bottom of the midsole protection device;   a toe section of the sidewall having a curvature indicated by an angle θ, of between 40° and 50°, where angle θ is the angle between a vertical tangent line through a point midway up the toe section from a bottom edge of the sidewall, and an oblique tangent line through a point at a top edge of the sidewall; and   a heel section of the sidewall having an inward tilt indicated by an angle φ, of between 30° and 40°, where angle φ is the angle between a vertical tangent line through a point on the heel section and a line parallel to the heel section of the sidewall, wherein the midsole protection device comprises an elastomer.   
     
     
         10 . The midsole protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the sidewall, the bottom retaining flange, the toe section, and the heel section are a unitary molded part. 
     
     
         11 . The midsole protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the sidewall further comprises one or more of an iridescent color, a camouflage pattern, or a logo.