Shoe with improved construction
The invention relates to a shoe for providing enhanced comfort and protection to a user's foot having a sole with a top surface, an upper placed above the top surface, an optional arch made of a single unit of malleable material and placed between the top surface and upper, and an optional metatarsal guard made of a single unit of malleable material and placed between the top surface and upper. A bootie having a bottom is removably attached to the top surface by a securing mechanism placed between the top surface and bottom of bootie. The invention also includes a method for making the shoe.
1. A shoe providing enhanced comfort and protection for a user's foot, comprising:
a sole having a top surface;
an upper placed above said top surface;
an arch made of a single unit of malleable material and being removably attached to said sole;
a lining secured to an underside of said upper;
a metatarsal guard made of a single unit of malleable material and placed between said lining and said underside of said upper, wherein said lining holds said metatarsal guard in place and provides comfort;
a bootie having a bottom, said bootie is removably attached to said top surface by a securing mechanism placed between said top surface and said bottom of said bootie;
said metatarsal guard is removably attached to said underside of said upper.
2. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said arch is made of gel.
3. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said metatarsal guard is made of gel.
4. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said arch is foam.
5. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said bootie is made of waterproof material.
6. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said bootie is made of insulating material.
7. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said securing mechanism is a hook and loop fastener.
8. The shoe according to claim 1 , further comprising a socklining having a gel layer placed between said upper and said bootie.
9. A method for providing a shoe with enhanced comfort and protection for a user's foot, comprising:
providing a sole with a top surface;
placing an upper above the top surface;
removably attaching an arch made of a single unit of malleable material to the sole;
securing a lining to an underside of the upper;
holding a metatarsal guard made of a single unit of malleable material between the lining and the underside of the upper by removably attaching the metatarsal guard to the underside of the upper; and
removably attaching a bootie to the top surface by placing a securing mechanism between the top surface and a bottom of the bootie.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of using gel as a material for the arch.
11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of using foam as a material for the arch.
12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of using foam as a material for the metatarsal guard.
13. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of removably attaching the bootie, arch, and guard with a securing mechanism selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener, adhesive, and combinations thereof.
14. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein said bootie, arch, and guard are removably attached using a securing mechanism selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener, adhesive, and combinations thereof.