Bone-shaped stone guard and shoe incorporating same

Abstract

A running shoe includes an upper, an outsole, a midsole and a stone guard. The stone guard includes a unitary plate member including an aft section and a fore section, wherein the fore section includes a first plurality of portions corresponding in size and location to bones of a human foot including a plurality of phalange portions individually cantilevered relative to the aft section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stone guard for use in a shoe, the stone guard comprising:
 a unitary plate member including an aft section and a fore section;   wherein the fore section includes a first plurality of portions corresponding in size and location to bones of a human foot including a plurality of phalange portions individually cantilevered relative to the aft section.   
     
     
         2 . The stone guard of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary plate member is formed of a material exhibiting a Shore A Durometer hardness of approximately 60 to approximately 80. 
     
     
         3 . The stone guard of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of phalange portions comprises a distal phalange portion and a proximal phalange portion. 
     
     
         4 . The stone guard of  claim 3 , wherein at least some of the plurality of phalange portions comprises middle phalange portions. 
     
     
         5 . The stone guard of  claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of phalange portions further comprises a plurality of metatarsal portions. 
     
     
         6 . The stone guard of  claim 4 , wherein the aft section includes a second plurality of portions corresponding in shape and size to bones of a human foot including at least one of a calcaneus portion, a talus portion, a cuboid portion, a navicular portion, a lateral cuneiform portion, an intermediate cuneiform portion and a medial cuneiform portion. 
     
     
         7 . The stone guard of  claim 6 , wherein at least one opening is formed in at least one of the second plurality of portions. 
     
     
         8 . The stone guard of  claim 4 , wherein the aft section includes a second plurality of portions corresponding in shape and size to bones of a human foot including a calcaneus portion, a talus portion, a cuboid portion, a navicular portion, a lateral cuneiform portion, an intermediate cuneiform portion and a medial cuneiform portion. 
     
     
         9 . The stone guard of  claim 4 , wherein at least one opening is formed in at least one of the first plurality of portions. 
     
     
         10 . The stone guard of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one opening is formed in at least one of the metatarsal portions. 
     
     
         11 . A running shoe, comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole;   a midsole; and   a stone guard comprising a unitary plate member comprising, including an aft section and a fore section, wherein the fore section includes a first plurality of portions corresponding in size and location to bones of a human foot including a plurality of phalange portions individually cantilevered relative to the aft section.   
     
     
         12 . The running shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the stone guard is co-molded with the midsole. 
     
     
         13 . The running shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the stone guard is located on an upper surface of the midsole. 
     
     
         14 . The running shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the unitary plate member is formed of a material exhibiting a Shore A Durometer hardness of approximately 60 to approximately 80. 
     
     
         15 . The running shoe of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of phalange portions include a distal phalange portion and a proximal phalange portion; and
 wherein at least some of the plurality of phalange portions include middle phalange portions.   
     
     
         16 . The running shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of portions further include a plurality of metatarsal portions. 
     
     
         17 . The running shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of metatarsal portions are at least partially cantilevered relative to the aft section. 
     
     
         18 . The running shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the aft section includes a second plurality of portions corresponding in shape and size to bones of a human foot including at least one of a calcaneus portion, a talus portion, a cuboid portion, a navicular portion, a lateral cuneiform portion, an intermediate cuneiform portion and a medial cuneiform portion. 
     
     
         19 . The running shoe of  claim 18 , wherein at least one opening is formed in at least one of the first plurality of portions or at least one of the second plurality of portions. 
     
     
         20 . A running shoe, comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole;   a midsole; and   a stone guard disposed on an upper portion of the midsole and comprising a unitary plate member exhibiting a Shore A Durometer hardness of approximately 60 to approximately 80, the unitary plate comprising an aft section and a fore section, wherein the fore section includes a first plurality of portions corresponding in size and position to bones of a human foot including:   a plurality of phalange portions individually cantilevered relative to the aft section, each of the plurality of phalange portions including a distal phalange portion and a proximal phalange portion, at least some of the plurality of phalange portions including a middle phalange portion;   a plurality of metatarsal portions at least partially cantilevered relative to the aft section;   wherein the aft section includes a second plurality of portions including a calcaneus portion, a talus portion, a cuboid portion, a navicular portion, a lateral cuneiform portion, an intermediate cuneiform portion and a medial cuneiform portion.