Children's shoe
An article of infant footwear comprising an upper sock portion attached to a lower sole portion. The lower sole portion comprises a toe region and a heel region. A toe region, comprising a lip portion and a toe-cap, rises up from the front of the lower sole portion to surround and protect the toes of an infant's foot. The heel region comprises a heel member to protect the heel and surrounding tendons of an infant. The lower sole portion has an underside, a protruding layer, and stud protrusions providing traction, protection, and balance for an infant wearing the article of infant footwear.
1. An article of children's footwear for walking infants, comprising:
an upper sock portion sized to fit the foot of a walking infant, said sock portion formed of a fabric material,
a lower sole portion formed of a rubber material attached to said upper sock portion, said lower sole portion comprising an underside, two side portions, a heel region and a toe region;
said toe region of said lower sole portion including a lip portion which rises from a front of the underside of said lower sole portion and structured and arranged to cover the front of all of the toes of a foot of a walking infant and a toe-cap extending from said lip portion structured and arranged to cover the top of all of the toes of a foot of a walking infant, and
wherein said lip portion and toe-cap are structured and arranged to surround and protect all of the toes of a foot of a walking infant and,
wherein said lower sole portion provides traction against and protection from the ground and balance for a walking infant wearing said article of footwear, wherein said underside comprises a protruding layer having the same shape of the lower sole portion, and being smaller in size than said lower sole portion, to stabilize a walking infant wearing said article of footwear.
2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said lip portion and toe-cap are joined to said upper sock portion to form a closed end.
3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said toe-cap is structured and arranged to cover the top of the Distal, Middle, and Proximal Phalange bones of a walking infant.
4. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said heel region comprises a heel portion rising from the rear of said lower sole member.
5. The article of footwear according to claim 4 , wherein said heel portion is structured and arranged to cover the Calcaneus bone and the start of the Calcaneus (Achilles) Tendon of a walking infant.
6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion comprises a stretchable fabric.
7. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said two side portions of said lower sole portion connect said toe region with said heel region.
8. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion comprises an open end.
9. The article of footwear according to claim 8 , wherein said of said open end is structured and arranged to receive the foot of a walking infant.
10. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion comprises a rim and a sleeve.
11. The article of footwear according to claim 10 , wherein said rim has a diameter less than that of said sleeve to receive and grip the ankle region of a walking infant.
12. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion further comprises printed graphics to mimic the appearance of a shoe.
13. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion is stitched to said lower sole portion.
14. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion is attached to said lower sole portion with glue.
15. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said upper sock portion is integrally molded to said lower sole portion.
16. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein said lower sole portion further comprises a plurality of spaced-apart stud protrusions covering the entirety of said lower sole portion.
17. The article of footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said stud protrusions are made of rubber to provide traction against the ground.
18. The article of footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said stud protrusions on said underside are spaced-apart from each other at a smaller distance than said stud protrusions located on the remainder of said lower sole portion, providing greater traction and stability.
19. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , further comprising an insole positioned inside said article of footwear, said insole having the shape of the inside of said article of footwear.