Protective footwear

Abstract

A thin, flexible item of protective footwear that is particularly suited for ballet and modern dance, generally. The footwear could also be used in exercise or athletic applications. The covering includes: a body portion having an elastic upper and a sole compliably conforming to a foot of a wearer; a plurality of open-ended toe sleeves extending from the body portion and each adapted to receive and extend over a single toe of a wearer, one of the toe sleeves having an elongated portion covering at least a portion of the big toe. The sleeves may have variable lengths. The covering may include a plurality of comfort zones integrated with the sole.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The foot covering of  claim 26  further comprising a fastener at the proximal end oriented transversely to the foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The foot covering of  claim 5  wherein the fastener comprises an elastic band. 
     
     
         7 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The foot covering of  claim 22  further comprising a plurality of comfort zones disposed below the ball of the foot, in the transition zone below the ball of the foot and the toes, and/or below the big toe. 
     
     
         15 . The foot covering of  claim 14  wherein at least one comfort zone comprises a gripping material. 
     
     
         16 . A foot covering comprising:
 a body portion having an elastic upper and a sole compliably conforming to a foot of a wearer;   a plurality of open-ended toe sleeves extending from the body portion and each adapted to receive and extend over a single toe of a wearer, one of the toe sleeves having an elongated portion covering the big toe around its distal phalanx while having an open end for exposing a distal tip portion of the big toe, the first toe sleeve having a padded portion disposed on its ground-engaging side;   a plurality of comfort zones integrated with the sole; and   a layer of gripping material disposed on portions of a ground-engaging surface of the sole.   
     
     
         17 . The foot covering of  claim 16  wherein at least one comfort zone is disposed below the ball of the foot. 
     
     
         18 . The foot covering of  claim 16  wherein at least one comfort zone is disposed in the transition zone below the ball of the foot and the toes. 
     
     
         19 . The foot covering of  claim 16  wherein at least one comfort zone is disposed below the big toe. 
     
     
         20 . The foot covering of  claim 16  wherein at least one comfort zone is disposed below the heel of the foot. 
     
     
         21 . The foot covering of  claim 16  wherein at least one of the comfort zones comprises a layer of the gripping material. 
     
     
         22 . A foot covering, comprising:
 a flexible body portion having a proximal end adapted generally positioned at about and surrounding a midfoot region of the foot of an intended wearer, the body portion having an elastic upper portion and relatively inelastic sole portion;   a first toe sleeve extending from the body portion and configured for snugly receiving a big toe of the wearer and covering the big toe around its distal phalanx while having an open end for exposing a distal tip portion of the big toe, the first toe sleeve having a padded portion disposed on its ground-engaging side;   a plurality of additional open-ended toe sleeves extending from the body portion, each additional toe sleeve configured to receive one or more of the second to fifth toes, each additional toe sleeve extending from the body so as to cover at least the creases at the base of the toes (i.e., the joint of the metatarsal heads and the base of the proximal phalanges).   
     
     
         23 . The foot covering of  claim 22  wherein the length of the first and additional toe sleeves decreases from a medial side to a lateral side of the foot covering. 
     
     
         24 . The foot covering of  claim 22  wherein the additional toes sleeves leave the nails of the toes exposed. 
     
     
         25 . The foot covering of  claim 22  wherein there is separate toe sleeve for each of the second to fifth toes and the length of the first and the length of additional toe sleeves decreases from a medial side to a lateral side of the foot covering. 
     
     
         26 . The foot covering of  claim 25  wherein the additional toes sleeves leave the nails of the second to fifth toes exposed. 
     
     
         27 . The foot covering of  claim 26  wherein the upper of the body portion has a V-shaped configuration, with the base of the V facing distally. 
     
     
         28 . The foot covering of  claim 26  wherein the sole portion of the body portion comprises multiple plies of a thin, flexible but relatively inelastic material and the upper portion is a single ply of a relatively elastic material. 
     
     
         29 . The foot covering of  claim 26  wherein the sole portion comprises a wear resistant material and the sole portion includes one or more distinct comfort zones, each comfort zone comprising a portion of the sole that has more cushioning material relative to surrounding or adjacent areas. 
     
     
         30 . The foot covering of  claim 29  wherein the covering includes a comfort zone corresponding to one or more of (i) an area of the ball of the foot, (ii) an area along and around the creases of the toes, and (iii) an area underneath the sleeve for the big toe. 
     
     
         31 . The foot covering of  claim 30  wherein the covering includes at least two of comfort zones (i)-(iii). 
     
     
         32 . The foot covering of  claim 31  wherein the covering includes comfort zones (i)-(iii).