Abstract:
The present disclosure generally relates to high top golf shoes. The high top golf shoes may include an upper portion that limits angle rotation in a first direction different than in a second direction. The high top golf shoes may include an upper portion that includes material which flexes when in compression and that resists stretching when a tensile force is applied. The high top golf shoes may include an upper portion having different material than a mid-portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to high top golf shoes. In particular, the present disclosure relates to high top golf shoes that allow a user to swing a golf club without ankle rotation related limitation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Typically, when a person swings a golf club, a corresponding swing motion requires rotation of the person&#39;s ankles with respect to a respective foot. Generally, a person&#39;s right ankle will rotate with respect to her right foot differently than the person&#39;s left ankle rotates relative to her left foot throughout an associated golf club swing motion. 
         [0003]    Ankle weakness and/or ankle injury often requires some sort of brace that limits rotation of an ankle relative to a foot. Limiting a person&#39;s ankle rotation may also limit the person&#39;s golf club swing motion. 
         [0004]    A high top golf shoe is needed that limits a person&#39;s ankle rotation relative to a respective foot without limiting his golf club swing motion. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A pair of high top golf shoes are provided. The pair of high top golf shoes includes a right shoe including a right sole, a right mid-portion and a right upper portion, wherein the right upper portion includes first right material on a right inner side and a second right material on a right outer side. The first right material on the right inner side limits right ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second right material on the outer right side limits right ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle is different than the second angle. The pair of high top golf shoes further includes a left shoe including a left sole, a left mid-portion and a left upper portion, wherein the left upper portion includes first left material on a left inner side and a second left material on a left outer side. The first left material on the left inner side limits left ankle rotation in a third direction to less than a third angle and the second left material on the outer left side limits left ankle rotation in a forth direction to less than a forth angle, wherein the third angle is different than the forth angle. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a high top golf shoe is provided. The high top golf shoe includes a sole, a mid-portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion includes first material on an inner side and a second material on an outer side. The first material on the inner side limits ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side limits ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle is different than the second angle. 
         [0007]    In a further embodiment, a high top golf shoe includes a mid-portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion includes first material on an inner side and a second material on an outer side. The first material on the inner side limits ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side limits ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle allow a user to swing a golf club without ankle rotation limitation. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  depicts a front plan view of a person at a beginning of a golf club swing motion; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  depicts a front plan view of a person during a backswing of a golf club swing motion; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1C  depicts a front plan view of a person at a top of a golf club swing motion; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1D  depicts a front plan view of a person at a beginning of a downswing of a golf club swing motion; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1E  depicts a front plan view of a person at a follow through of a golf club swing motion; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  illustrate a front plan view of an ankle rotation relative to a foot; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  illustrate a front plan view of an ankle rotation relative to a foot; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  depicts a right-side profile view of an example right high top golf shoe; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  depicts a bottom plan view of an example right high top golf shoe sole; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  depicts a bottom, right-side, perspective view of an example right high top golf shoe; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3D  depicts a bottom plan view of an example right high top golf shoe sole; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3E  depicts a bottom plan view of an example right high top golf shoe sole; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts a right-side, front, perspective view of another example right high top golf shoe; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5A  depicts a perspective view of an example left high top golf shoe; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5B  depicts a perspective view of an example left high top golf shoe; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  depicts a rear profile view of a replaceable upper portion for an example left high top golf shoe; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  depicts a rear profile view of a replaceable upper portion for an example right high top golf shoe; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6C  depicts a perspective view of an example left high top golf shoe; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of another example left high top golf shoe; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  depicts a left-side profile view of another example left high top golf shoe; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9A  depicts a top profile view of another right high top golf shoe; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9B  depicts a rear profile view of another right high top golf shoe; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9C  depicts a top, front, right-side perspective view of another right high top golf shoe; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10A  depicts a perspective view of a left high top golf shoe; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 10B  depicts a perspective view of a left high top golf shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0035]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or may only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. 
         [0036]    A pair of high top golf shoes is provided that may limit a person&#39;s ankle rotation relative to a respective foot without limiting her golf club swing motion. A right golf shoe may be provided that allows a person&#39;s right ankle to rotate with respect to her right foot and a left golf shoe may be provided that allows the person&#39;s left ankle to rotate with respect to her left foot differently than the person&#39;s right ankle rotates relative to her right foot throughout an associated golf club swing motion. 
         [0037]    Turning to  FIG. 1A , a front profile view of a person  125   a  beginning a golf club  130   a  swing motion  100   a  is depicted. As will be illustrated with additional reference to  FIGS. 1B-1D , the a right ankle of the person  125   a  will rotate relative to a right foot  105   a  by a first angle  115   a  and a left ankle of the person  125   a  will rotate relative to a left foot  110   a  by a second angle  120   a  through the golf club  130   a  swing motion  100   a - 100   d.    
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 1B , a front profile view of a person  125   b  approximately half way through a golf club  130   b  back swing motion  100   b  is depicted. Relative to a position of the person  125   a , while the left ankle angle  120   b  has not changed relative the left foot  110   b , the left foot angle  121   b  has increased relative to the ground. The right ankle angle  115   b  has not changed relative the right foot  105   b.    
         [0039]    Turning to  FIG. 1C , a front profile view of a person  125   c  approximately at a top of a golf club  130   c  swing motion  100   c  is depicted. Relative to a position of the person  125   b , the left ankle angle  120   c  has increased relative the left foot  110   c  and the left foot angle  121   c  has increased relative to the ground. The right ankle angle  115   c  has not changed relative the right foot  105   c.    
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 1D , a front profile view of a person  125   c  approximately half way through a golf club  130   c  down swing motion  100   c  is depicted. Relative to a position of the person  125   c , the left ankle angle  120   d  has decreased relative the left foot  110   c  and the left foot angle has decreased relative to the ground. The right ankle angle  115   d  has increased relative the right foot  105   d.    
         [0041]    Turning to  FIG. 1E , a front profile view of a person  125   e  beginning into a follow through portion of a golf club  130   e  swing motion  100   e  is depicted. Relative to a position of the person  125   d , the left ankle angle  120   e  has increased relative the left foot  110   e  and the left foot angle has not changed relative to the ground. The right ankle angle  115   e  has increased relative the right foot  105   e  and a right foot angle  116   e  has increased relative to the ground. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 2A , a front profile view  200   a  is depicted of a person&#39;s right foot within a right high top golf shoe  205   a . The profile view  200   a  may illustrate an exploded view of a right foot similar to the right foot  105   a - 105   e  of  FIGS. 1A-1E . The right high top golf shoe  205   a  is depicted as being rotated at an ankle angle  215   a  and a golf shoe angle  216   a  with a side of the golf shoe  205   a  off the ground by a distance  217   a.    
         [0043]    Turning to  FIG. 2B , a front profile view  200   b  is depicted of a person&#39;s right foot within a right high top golf shoe  205   b . The profile view  200   b  may illustrate an exploded view of a right foot similar to the right foot  105   a - 105   e  of  FIGS. 1A-1E . The right golf shoe  205   b  is depicted as being rotated at an ankle angle  215   b ,  216   b.    
         [0044]    While only a right high top golf shoe  205   a ,  205   b  is depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , respectively, it should be understood that a left high top golf shoe may be paired with the right high top golf shoe to define a pair of high top golf shoes. The pair of high top golf shoes may include a right shoe including a right sole, a right mid-portion and a right upper portion, wherein the right upper portion may include first right material on a right inner side and a second right material on a right outer side. The first right material on the right inner side may limit right ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second right material on the outer right side may limit right ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. The pair of high top golf shoes may further include a left shoe including a left sole, a left mid-portion and a left upper portion, wherein the left upper portion includes first left material on a left inner side and a second left material on a left outer side. The first left material on the left inner side may limit left ankle rotation in a third direction to less than a third angle and the second left material on the outer left side may limit left ankle rotation in a forth direction to less than a forth angle, wherein the third angle may be different than the forth angle. For example, at least one of a first right material, a second right material, a first left material or a second left material may flex when compressive forces are applied linearly along the respective material. Optionally, or additionally, at least one of a first right material, a second right material, a first left material or a second left material may substantially resist stretching when tensile forces are applied linearly along the respective material. 
         [0045]    A sole, a mid portion and/or an upper portion may include leather. For example, leather may be processed and then added to the exterior of the shoe to create a stretch-free, tight-fitting waterproof shoe. Leather may be in a saddle for design to stabilize the surface of the shoe and may be breathable. Optionally, or additionally, a sole, a mid portion and/or an upper portion may include rubber, plastic, Goretex, a woven material, wool, nonporous polyester and/or any combination or sub-combination thereof. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 3A , a right-side profile view of a right high top golf shoe  300   a  is depicted. The right high top golf shoe  300   a  may include a right sole  310   a , a mid portion  305   a  and an upper portion  315   a . The upper portion  315   a  may define a rear golf shoe angle  306   a . The upper portion  315   a  may include a first material on an inner side and a second material on an outer side. The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0047]    Turning to  FIG. 3B , a bottom profile view  300   b  is depicted of a right sole  310   b . The right sole  310   b  may be incorporated within a right high top golf shoe (e.g., right high top golf shoe  300   a  of  FIG. 3A ). The right sole  310   b  may include vertical treads  311   b , horizontal treads  312   b  and a logo  301   b . The vertical treads  311   b  and horizontal treads  312   b  may limit linear and/or angular movement of the right sole  310   b  relative to an associated surface (e.g., the ground). 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIG. 3C , a bottom, right-side, perspective view of a right high top golf shoe  300   c  is depicted. The right high top golf shoe  300   c  may be similar to the right high top golf shoe  300   a  of  FIG. 3A . The right high top golf shoe  300   c  may include a right sole  310   c , a mid portion  305   c  and an upper portion  315   c . The right sole  310   c  may include a logo  301   c , treads  311   c  and spikes  313   c . The treads  311   c  and the spikes  313   c  may limit linear and/or angular movement of the right sole  310   c  relative to an associated surface (e.g., the ground). 
         [0049]    Turning to  FIG. 3D , a bottom profile view  300   d  is depicted of a right sole  310   d . The right sole  310   d  may be incorporated within a right high top golf shoe (e.g., right high top golf shoe  300   a  of  FIG. 3A ). The right sole  310   d  may include a logo  301   d  and spikes  313   d . The spikes  313   d  may limit linear and/or angular movement of the right sole  310   d  relative to an associated surface (e.g., the ground). 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 3E , a bottom profile view  300   e  is depicted of a right sole  310   e . The right sole  310   e  may be incorporated within a right high top golf shoe (e.g., right high top golf shoe  300   a  of  FIG. 3A ). The right sole  310   e  may include first treads  311   e , second treads  312   e  and a logo  301   e . The first treads  311   e  and second treads  312   e  may limit linear and/or angular movement of the right sole  310   e  relative to an associated surface (e.g., the ground). 
         [0051]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , a front, right-side, top, perspective view of a right high top golf shoe  400  is depicted. The right high top golf shoe  400  may include a right sole  410 , a mid portion  405  and an upper portion  415 . The right high top golf shoe  400  may further include laces  420  configured to secure the right high top golf shoe  400  to a person&#39;s right foot (e.g., right foot  105   a  of  FIG. 1A ). The upper portion  415  may include a first material on an inner side and a second material on an outer side. The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 5A , a front, left-side, top, perspective view of a left high top golf shoe  500   a  is depicted. The left high top golf shoe may include a left sole  510   a , a left mid portion  505   a  and a left upper portion  515   a . The left mid portion  505   a  may include a tong  506   a  configured to secure the left high top golf shoe  500   a  to a person&#39;s left foot (e.g., left foot  110   a  of  FIG. 1A ). The left upper portion  515   a  may include a first strap  516   a  and a second strap  517   a  configured to secure the upper portion  515   a  to a person&#39;s lower leg above her ankle. The upper portion  515   a  may include a first material on an inner side and a second material on an outer side. The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0053]    Turning to  FIG. 5B , a front, left-side, top, perspective view of a left high top golf shoe  500   b  is depicted. The left high top golf shoe may include a left sole  510   b , a left mid portion  505   b  and a left upper portion  515   b . The left mid portion  505   b  may include a tong  506   b  configured to secure the left high top golf shoe  500   b  to a person&#39;s left foot (e.g., left foot  110   a  of  FIG. 1A ). The left upper portion  515   b  may include a first strap  516   b  and a second strap  517   b  configured to secure the upper portion  515   b  to a person&#39;s lower leg above her ankle. 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIG. 6A , a front, left-side, top, perspective view of a left high top golf shoe  600   a  is depicted. The left high top golf shoe  600   a  may include a left sole  610   a , a left mid portion  605   a  and a removable left upper portion  615   a . The removable left upper portion  615   a  may be removably secured to the left mid portion  605   a  via laces  620   a  and/or Velcro. The left mid portion  605   a  may include laces  620   a  configured to secure the left high top golf shoe  600   a  to a person&#39;s left foot (e.g., left foot  110   a  of  FIG. 1A ). The removable left upper portion  615   a  may include a first strap  616   a  and a second strap  617   a  configured to secure the removable left upper portion  615   a  to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. 
         [0055]    Turning to  FIG. 6B , a rear profile view  600   b  is depicted of a removable left upper portion  615   b . The removable left upper portion  615   b  may include a first strap  616   b  and a second strap  617   b  configured to secure the removable left upper portion  615   b  to a person&#39;s lower left leg above his ankle. The upper portion  615   b  may include a first material on an inner side  616   b  and a second material on an outer side  617   b . The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0056]    With reference to  FIG. 6C , a rear profile view  600   c  is depicted of a removable right upper portion  615   c . The removable left upper portion  615   c  may include a first strap  616   c  and a second strap  617   c  configured to secure the removable right upper portion  615   c  to a person&#39;s lower right leg above his ankle. The upper portion  615   c  may include a first material on an inner side  617   c  and a second material on an outer side  616   c . The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0057]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , a front, left-side, top, perspective view of a left high top golf shoe  700  is depicted. The left high top golf shoe  700  may include a left sole  710 , a left mid portion  705  and a left upper portion  700 . The mid portion  705  may include a tong  725 . The left upper portion  700  may be secured to the left mid portion  705  via laces  720  and/or Velcro. The left mid portion  705  may include laces  720  configured to secure the left high top golf shoe  700  to a person&#39;s left foot (e.g., left foot  110   a  of  FIG. 1A ). The left upper portion  715  may include a first strap  716  and a second strap  717  configured to secure the left upper portion  715  to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , a left-side profile view of a left high top golf shoe  800  is depicted. The left high top golf shoe  800  may include a left sole  810 , a left mid portion  805  and a left upper portion  800 . The left upper portion  800  may be secured to the left mid portion  805  via laces and/or Velcro  818 . The left mid portion  805  may include a flap  806  configured to secure the left high top golf shoe  800  to a person&#39;s left foot (e.g., left foot  110   a  of  FIG. 1A ). The left upper portion  815  may include a first strap  816  and a Velcro connector  817  configured to secure the left upper portion  815  to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. 
         [0059]    Turning to  FIG. 9A , a top profile view is depicted of a high top golf shoe  900   a . The high top golf shoe  900   a  may include a mid portion  905   a , laces  920   a , a tong  925   a  and an upper portion  915   a  having a first strap  916   a  and a second strap  917   a  configured to secure the upper portion  915   a  to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. The upper portion  915   a  may include a first material on an inner side  916   a  and a second material on an outer side  917   a . The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle may allow a user to swing a golf club without ankle rotation limitation. 
         [0060]    With reference to  FIG. 9B , a rear profile view is depicted of a high top golf shoe  900   b  including a sole  910   b , a mid outer portion  905   b  and a mid inner portion  907   b . The mid outer portion  905   b  may include a first material and the mid inner portion  907   b  may include a second material. The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0061]    Turning to  FIG. 9C , a right-side, top, front perspective view is depicted of a high top golf shoe  900   c  including a sole  910   c  having spikes  911   c , a mid portion  905   c  having laces  920   c  and a tong  925   c , and an upper portion  915   c . The upper portion  915   c  may include a first strap  916   c  and a second strap  917   c  configured to secure the upper portion  915   c  to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. The upper portion  915   c  may include a first material on an inner side  917   c  and a second material on an outer side  916   c . The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0062]    With reference to  FIG. 10A , a left-side, top, front perspective view is depicted of a high top golf shoe  1000   a  including a sole  1010   a  having spikes  1011   a , a mid portion  1005   a  having laces  1020   a , and an upper portion  1015   a . The upper portion  1015   a  may include first removable inserts  1016   a  and second removable inserts  1017   a  configured to limit movement of the upper portion  1015   a  relative to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. The upper portion  1015   a  may include a first material on an inner side  1018   a  and a second material on an opposite outer side. The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0063]    Turning to  FIG. 10B , a left-side, top, front perspective view is depicted of a high top golf shoe  1000   b  including a sole  1010   b  having spikes  1011   b , a mid portion  1005   b  having laces  1020   b , and an upper portion  1015   b . The upper portion  1015   b  may include a first removable insert  1016   b  and strap  1017   b  configured to limit movement of the upper portion  1015   b  relative to a person&#39;s lower leg above his ankle. The upper portion  1015   b  may include a first material on an outer side  1017   b  and a second material on an opposite inner side. The first material on the inner side may limit ankle rotation in a first direction to less than a first angle and the second material on the outer side may limit ankle rotation in a second direction to less than a second angle, wherein the first angle may be different than the second angle. 
         [0064]    This detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this application.