Patent ID: 8245418

Claim:
An article capable of receiving at least a portion of an inserted foot or orthotic brace, the article comprising: a base member at least partially coupled to or integrated with an upper member; the upper member comprising a first side and a second side, wherein a cavity capable of receiving at least a portion of the inserted foot or orthotic brace is formed by at least a front portion of the base member and front portions of the first and second sides of the upper member, wherein the front portion of the first side of the upper member and the front portion of the second side of the upper member define, at least in part, one or more openings that extend into the cavity; a top flap comprising a first side, a second side, a lower end, and a top end, wherein the lower end of the top flap is at least partially coupled to a hinge, wherein the hinge is at least partially coupled to the upper member near or at the front of the cavity; a first strap attached or coupled to the first side of the top flap; a second strap attached or coupled to the second side of the top flap; a protective material attached at or near a top rim of the front portion of the upper member and continuously extending from the first side to the second side of the upper member; at least one loop attached or coupled to the protective material; a plurality of hooks attached or coupled to the upper member; a spring slide; and lace which, when pulled through the at least one loop and the plurality of hooks and secured by the spring slide, is capable of securing the protective material, wherein at least one of the protective material and the top flap are capable of extending upward at least sixty-seven degrees relative to the base member.