Patent ID: 7328526

Claim:
Footwear comprising a sole, a toe cap, and an upper having a unitary one piece molded metatarsal guard therein for transmitting a load to the sole, said metatarsal guard comprising: a convex arch portion over a wearer's instep, the convex arch portion having only a single unfolded thickness of material overlying the wearer's instep and defining right and left sides; a single concave integrally molded right support leg extending downwardly from the right side of the arch portion on the right side of a wearer's foot and in contact with the sole; and a single concave integrally molded left support leg extending downwardly from the left side of the arch portion on the left side of a wearer's foot and in contact with the sole; the convex arch portion between the right and left support legs comprising a single layer including an integrally molded lip overlying the toe cap and an integrally molded section rearward of the right and left support legs; the support legs bearing against the sole and the lip and rearward sections of the convex arch portion not bearing against the sole when a load is applied to the metatarsal guard.