Cycling shoe with lateral metatarsal expansion zone

Abstract

A cycling shoe comprises a sole defining an undersurface of the cycling shoe, the sole having connection holes configured for connection of a pedal cleat to the sole. An upper is connected to the sole and defining with the sole a foot-receiving cavity. An expansion zone is located in a lateral or medial subportion of a metatarsal portion and/or toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of at least a fifth metatarsal of a wearer of the cycling shoe, the expansion zone being entirely surrounded by a window of structural upper paneling and defined by at least one panel having a greater stretching characteristics than the structural upper paneling of the window.

1 . A cycling shoe comprising:
 a sole defining an undersurface of the cycling shoe, the sole having connection holes configured for connection of a pedal cleat to the sole; and   an upper connected to the sole and defining with the sole a foot-receiving cavity, at least one expansion zone located in a lateral subportion of a metatarsal portion and/or toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of at least a fifth metatarsal of a wearer of the cycling shoe, and/or located in a medial subportion of a metatarsal portion and/or toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of at least a first metatarsal of a wearer of the cycling shoe, the at least one expansion zone being entirely surrounded by a window of structural upper paneling and/or sole and defined by at least one panel having a greater stretching characteristics than the structural upper paneling of the window.   
     
     
         2 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel comprises a layer of stretchable fabric or material. 
     
     
         3 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel comprises a layer of elastomer forming an exposed surface of the at least one panel. 
     
     
         4 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 3 , wherein the layer of elastomer is a layer of silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 3 , further comprising a layer of stretchable fabric laminated to the layer of elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel has a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         7 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel is laminated to the structural upper paneling. 
     
     
         8 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel is stitched to the structural upper paneling. 
     
     
         9 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein a periphery of the at least one panel is sandwiched between layers of the structural upper paneling. 
     
     
         10 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural upper paneling has an exterior layer of polyurethane with microfibers. 
     
     
         11 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural upper paneling has an interior structural mesh layer. 
     
     
         12 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel is made of an undulated panel. 
     
     
         13 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel is made of a perforated outer layer of the structural upper paneling, with a window cutout in the structural upper paneling under the perforated outer layer. 
     
     
         14 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole is a rigid plastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one expansion zone is located in the lateral subportion of the metatarsal portion and of the toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of the fifth metatarsal and a portion of the fifth proximal phalanx of the wearer of the cycling shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion zone is located in the medial subportion of the metatarsal portion and of the toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of the first metatarsal and a portion of the first proximal phalanx of the wearer of the cycling shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one expansion zone is entirely located in the lateral subportion of the metatarsal portion of the cycling shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The cycling shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one expansion zone is entirely located in the medial subportion of the metatarsal portion of the cycling shoe.