Weightlifting shoe

Abstract

A weightlifting shoe includes a sole defining a heel-to-toe drop of at least ten millimeters, the sole including an outsole and a midsole disposed above at least a portion of the outsole, and one or more panels attached to the sole to define an enclosure for a person's foot. The weightlifting shoe may further include a carbon fiber plate disposed within the sole (e.g., between the outsole and the midsole) in a forefoot portion of the sole. The carbon fiber plate may define a cutout for increased flexibility.

1 . A weightlifting shoe comprising:
 a sole defining a heel-to-toe drop of at least ten millimeters, the sole including an outsole and a midsole disposed above at least a portion of the outsole;   one or more panels attached to the sole to define an enclosure for a person's foot; and   a carbon fiber plate disposed within the sole between the outsole and the midsole, the carbon fiber plate defining a cutout, wherein a ratio of an area of the cutout to an area of the carbon fiber plate outside the cutout is between 0.1 and 0.5.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter of the carbon fiber plate is shaped like an oval. 
     
     
         4 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 3 , wherein an edge of the cutout defines an inner perimeter of the carbon fiber plate that is shaped like an oval. 
     
     
         5 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sole further includes a wooden heel. 
     
     
         6 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole comprises thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). 
     
     
         7 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the midsole defines a sidewall on an external surface of the weightlifting shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 7 , further comprising chrome plating on the sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . A weightlifting shoe comprising:
 a sole defining a heel-to-toe drop of at least ten millimeters, the sole including an outsole and a midsole disposed above at least a portion of the outsole;   one or more panels attached to the sole to define an enclosure for a person's foot; and   a carbon fiber plate disposed within a forefoot portion of the sole, the carbon fiber plate defining a cutout, wherein a ratio of an area of the cutout to an area of the carbon fiber plate outside the cutout is between 0.1 and 0.5.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 9 , wherein an outer perimeter of the carbon fiber plate is shaped like an oval. 
     
     
         12 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 11 , wherein an edge of the cutout defines an inner perimeter of the carbon fiber plate that is shaped like an oval. 
     
     
         13 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the sole further includes a wooden heel. 
     
     
         14 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the midsole comprises thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). 
     
     
         15 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the midsole defines a sidewall on an external surface of the weightlifting shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 15 , further comprising chrome plating on the sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . A weightlifting shoe comprising:
 a sole defining a heel-to-toe drop of at least ten millimeters, the sole including an outsole, a midsole disposed above at least a portion of the outsole, and a wooden heel;   one or more panels attached to the sole to define an enclosure for a person's foot; and   a carbon fiber plate disposed within the sole, the carbon fiber plate defining a cutout, wherein a ratio of an area of the cutout to an area of the carbon fiber plate outside the cutout is between 0.1 and 0.5.   
     
     
         18 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the midsole comprises thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). 
     
     
         19 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 18 , wherein the midsole defines a sidewall on an external surface of the weightlifting shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 19 , further comprising chrome plating on the sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the area of the cutout to the area of the carbon fiber plate outside the cutout is between 0.2 and 0.5. 
     
     
         22 . The weightlifting shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the area of the cutout to the area of the carbon fiber plate outside the cutout is between 0.2 and 0.5.