Metatarsal protective arch for item of footwear

Abstract

A metatarsal protective arch comprising a pad body. A shielding arch member is on a top surface of the pad body. The shielding arch member has a greater hardness than the pad body. The pad body and the shielding arch member concurrently form an arch configured to straddle at least part of a metatarsal region of a foot. The metatarsal protective arch is configured to be positioned in a foot-receiving cavity of an upper of an item of footwear.

1 . A metatarsal protective arch comprising:
 a pad body; and   at least one shielding arch member connected to the pad body;   wherein the shielding arch member has a greater hardness than the pad body;   wherein the pad body and the at least one shielding arch member concurrently form an arch configured to straddle at least part of a metatarsal region of a foot; and   wherein the metatarsal protective arch is configured to be positioned in a foot-receiving cavity of an upper of an item of footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad body is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane has a density of 0.45±0.05 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         4 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad body has a hardness of Shore A 35-40. 
     
     
         5 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , wherein the shielding arch member is made of a TPU, Pebax®, nylon, polypropylene or polycarbonate. 
     
     
         6 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad body and the shielding arch member have different densities. 
     
     
         7 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , including vent holes extend through the metatarsal protective arch. 
     
     
         8 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , including at least two of the shielding arch member, separated by a hinge portion. 
     
     
         9 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 8 , wherein the shielding arc member and the hinge portion are made of a monoblock body. 
     
     
         10 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 8 , wherein the hinge portion is a narrowing in the pad body between adjacent ones of the shielding arch member. 
     
     
         11 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , including attachment means for attachment of the metatarsal protective arch to an item of footwear such that the metatarsal protective arch is suspended. 
     
     
         12 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 11 , wherein the attachment means are straps. 
     
     
         13 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shielding arch member is on a top surface of the pad body. 
     
     
         14 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one shielding arch member is overmolded with the pad body. 
     
     
         15 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 , wherein ends of one or more of the at least one shielding arch member are configured to contact a floor of the item of footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 15 , wherein the ends of the the at least one shielding arch member flare toward the floor of the item of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . An item of footwear comprising:
 an upper mounted to a sole, the upper and the sole forming a foot-receiving cavity; and   the metatarsal protective arch according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         18 . The item of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the metatarsal protective arch is located in the foot receiving cavity.