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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 282,435, filed on Jul. 30, 2015, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates generally to athletic protective gear for the feet. More specifically, the present invention relates to athletic protective gear for a baseball / softball player's foot while batting.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]After extensive research, it has become clear that about half of the professional baseball players use one of the two prevalent forms of protective gear for their feet while batting. Both forms are very rigid and made of plastic or a combination of plastic and gel padding. The potential for serious injury resulting from impact fr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve is an alternative form of protective gear for the foot that bridges the gap in player safety, which currently exists for a significant number of elite baseball / softball players while batting (at all levels of the game). These players consistently forego using protective gear for their feet because the current guards available to them, although very effective against impact and injury, are very rigid, restrictive, and shift easily out of place causing the athletes to lose some of their “feel”, sense of timing, and overall comfort and peace of mind while batting. Many elite baseball / softball players would rather compromise their safety and health for the sake of comfort and success on the field.

[0011]Instead of being made of rigid and / or semi-rigid plastic molds, the Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve is comprised of two protective layers fastened together to form a singular protective unit. The top layer is to be made of Kevlar, or other effective aramid material. The bottom layer is to made of neoprene. This protective unit, comprised of the two distinct and fastened layers, is sewn into and enveloped by a negligibly thin outer mesh, or spandex, sleeve that holds the guard flush and securely to the shoe. This outer sleeve / mold may be constructed of mesh and / or spandex. Both mesh and spandex expand and conform back to their original size. These materials are ideal to create a firm and snug fit over the player's shoe without impeding the foot's normal motion, flexion, and function. Both mesh and spandex are also ideal materials for wicking away moisture / water. A pertinent attribute of both Kevlar and neoprene is that they repel water. All three of the materials that compose the Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve allow the gear to function properly and effectively in rainy conditions. Altogether, with the two protective layers fastened together and sewn into the negligibly thin mesh / spandex outer sleeve / mold, the Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve would measure between ⅛″ and ¼″ in thickness. This new guard slides over and wraps around the entire shoe like a sleeve to create a firm and balanced hold and, along with the flexibility and sleekness of the Kevlar layer, neoprene layer, and mesh / spandex outer sleeve / mold, creates the feeling that the foot guard sleeve is actually an integral part of the shoe. There would, therefore, be no concerns of the guard shifting out of place or position with any forceful motion and even with any forceful blow to the foot. The Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve is a new way to protect baseball and softball players' feet, while batting, by providing a very thin, very flexible, very malleable, and negligibly lightweight form of protection that allows for complete range and freedom of motion and flexion of the player's foot while still being more than amply effective against serious injury (Kevlar being five times stronger than steel in strength to weight ratio) resulting from accidental / incidental impact from foul balls hit directly from the bat to the foot.

[0014]The version of the Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve for use with tennis shoes (practice / batting cages) is held in place with well positioned elastic bands located at the back of the guard, fastened from one side of the guard to the other, that stretch out and over the back of the shoe to create a firm and balanced hold. This version for tennis shoes will also be assembled with slip resistant pieces of rubber contoured to the front and back of the shoe and molded, or fastened, to the underside of the outer mesh / spandex sleeve of the guard, reaching over the underside of, and cupping the front and back of, the shoe to, again, create a firm and balanced hold, as well as to help grip the concrete floors of the batting cages. By providing both versions of the Modernized Baseball / Softball Foot Guard Sleeve, a primary version for use with spikes / cleats (games / on-field) and a supplementary version for use with tennis shoes (practice / batting cages), baseball and softball players who want to maintain consistency of regimen, process, and “feel” between their practice and games will have no issues and can be assured that their feet will be protected without their results being affected.

Problems solved by technology

These players consistently forego using protective gear for their feet because the current guards available to them, although very effective against impact and injury, are very rigid, restrictive, and shift easily out of place causing the athletes to lose some of their “feel”, sense of timing, and overall comfort and peace of mind while batting.

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