Variable weight athletic shoe with magnetic inserts

Abstract

A variable weight athletic shoe is described is removably fitted with training weights of varying heaviness or the weights may be left off entirely without damaging the aesthetic appeal or functional aspects of the shoe. The weights are of various sizes and are quickly and securely coupled to the rear portion of the heel-enclosing section of the shoe with several types of attachment clips and latches. The weights also include magnetic inserts provided for health-enhancing reasons. In other variants of the invention, shoe weights are removably attached within cavities in the heel or arch sections of the shoe sole. Weights may also be attached across the instep of the athletic shoe. The shoe weights may be covered in various protective and decorative coverings and may contain lightening holes to achieve the desired weight in a given size.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention pertains to field of athletic shoes. More particularly, the invention relates to athletic shoes designed to accept a variable amount of additional weight for purposes of training and exercise. The weights for these athletic shoes further include magnetic inserts for health enhancing reasons.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Various shoe designs have been developed which include weights for purposes of providing additional exercise or weight training to the wearer of the shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,776 issued to Wagner incorporates a plurality of small metallic spheres entrapped in a lattice grid matrix molded to the sole. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,638,613 and 4,709,921 issued to Williams and Valuikas et al., respectively, utilize flattened weights integrated into the soles of shoes, as does U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,245, issued to R. P. Glynn. More advanced shoes have included various means to add varying amounts of weight to the shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,743...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]In use, the weight is inserted into the weight cavity, thereby compressing the second compression spring. The elongated member is pressed downwardly toward the top surface of the weight, and the elongated member is then released. This permits the elongated member to spring upwardly and the projecting finger to engage the detent opening in the weight cavity thus r...

Problems solved by technology

Prior art designs for weighted shoes either do not provide a capability to remove or vary the weight attached to the shoe or provide only a limited capacity to vary the weight.

Some of the designs include external weight pockets t...

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