GB2322534A

GB2322534A - Mud-repellent sports footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2322534A
Application number: GB9714396A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Michael Sansom; Sharon Bassey; Emma Bassey; Anthony Michael Bassey; Sara Bassey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-27
Filing date: 1997-07-08
Publication date: 1998-09-02
Also published as: GB9714396D0; GB9704075D0

Abstract

A mud repellant device for attachment to the underside of a sports boot 1 comprises a flexible sheet 4 having a plurality of raised portions 6. The device is attached to the underside of the sports boot 1 by means of removable studs 2 which pass through washers 7 and through apertures 5 in the flexible sheet 4 and the raised portions 6. The flexible sheet 4 is mounted under tension, and the arrangement enables the flexible sheet 4 to flex as the boot is moved, thereby repelling mud adhering to the underside of the flexible sheet 4. In an alternative arrangement, the studs which may be formed integrally with the sports boot, are profiled so as to engage the apertures of the flexible sheet. In this case, the device is attached to the underside of the sports boot by stretching the apertures over the studs to that point of the profile where engagement occurs.

Description

SPORTS FOOTWEAR The present invention relates to sports footwear, and in particular to sports boots.

A problem arising from the use of conventional sports boots, such as football and rugby boots, is that mud collects on the underneath of boots, and the accumulation of such mud results in extra weight being carried by the player. This problem is particularly acute with studded boots, wherein mud tends to collect around the studs and spreads to the other areas on the underside of the boots.

It would be desirable to provide an arrangement which would overcome, or at least mitigate, such a problem.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mud repellant device for a sports boot, the device comprising a flexible sheet and attachment means permitting the sheet to be attached to the underside of the sports boot such that the sheet is able to flex in relation to the boot, the arrangement being such that movement of the boot causes the sheet so to flex, thereby to repel mud adhering thereto.

This aspect of the invention extends to a sports boot fitted with such a mud repellant device.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is a sports boot comprising a mud repellant device in the form of a flexible sheet mounted on the underside of the boot, the arrangement being such that movement of the boot causes the sheet to flex thereby to repel mud adhering thereto.

The invention extends to a stud for such a sports boot, the stud having a profile for engaging the flexible sheet.

The upper surface of the sheet is desirably provided with a plurality of raised portions, which may be either in the form of discrete pads or formed integrally with the sheet. The raised portions are desirably formed on both faces of the flexible sheet so that each sheet is suitable for both left and right boots. The sheet and/or the pads are preferably made from latex.

When used with a studded sports boot, the sheet, and any pads, are desirably provided with apertures so that the sheet may be attached to the underside of the sports boot by engaging the removable studs in the apertures. In this case, it is desirable to incorporate washers between the under surface of the flexible sheet and the removable studs, such washers being desirably made from a plastics material.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of an exploded diagrammatic representation of a sports boot incorporating the device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device; Figures 3(a), (b) and (c) represent embodiments of the present invention employing a single flexible sheet which is attached to the underside of a sports boot provided with projections; Figures 4(a) and (b) illustrate a detail of a sports boot provided on its underside with projections respectively without and with a flexible sheet attached thereto; Figures 5(a), (b), (c) and (d) illustrate embodiments of the present invention incorporating two or more flexible sheets; and Figures 6(a) and (b) illustrate studs profiled in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, a sports boot, such as a football or rugby boot 1 is provided with removable studs 2 which are arranged to be screwed into corresponding apertures 3 provided on the underside of the boot 1. The mud repellant device is in the form of a flexible sheet 4 provided with corresponding apertures 5. Around each aperture 5 there is attached, on the upper surface of the flexible sheet 4, a pad 6 which serves as a spacer causing the flexible sheet 4 to be spaced from the boot 1. By attaching the pads 6 to the flexible sheet 4, the pads 6 additionally serve to prevent the apertures 5 in the flexible sheet 4 from stretching when the sheet 4 is placed under tension on mounting the sheet 4 to the boot 1. For this purpose, the thickness and/or the material of the pads 6 are desirably selected so that the pads 6 stretch to a lesser extent than the flexible sheet 4 when placed under tension. A washer 7 is provided on the underside of the flexible sheet 4 for engagement by the removable stud 2.

The flexible sheet 4 is thus attached to the underside of the boot 1 by means of the removable studs 2 passing through respective washers 7, apertures 5 in the flexible sheet 4 and the apertures in the pads 6 and into the apertures 3 on the underside of the boot 1. The flexibility of the sheet 4 causes the sheet to flex when the boot 1 is moved, thereby causing mud adhering to the underside of the flexible sheet 4 to be repelled or shed therefrom. This is assisted by attaching the sheet under tension.

In Figure 1, the pads 6 are shown as separate discrete components. In this case, the pads 6 are attached to the flexible sheet 4 using a suitable adhesive such as a rubber solution adhesive. However, in an alternative embodiment, these are provided integrally with the sheet 4, as shown in Figure 2. In this case, the thickness of the pads 6 is preferably greater than that of the flexible sheet 4, so that the pads 6 stretch to a lesser extent than the flexible sheet 4 when placed under tension.

The shape of the flexible sheet 4 can take many forms, as shown in Figures 3(a), (b) and (c), depending on the shape of the sports boot 1. As can be seen from these Figures, the pads 6 attached to the front part of the boot (as shown uppermost in the Figures) are elongate, whereas the other pads 6 are circular. This provides additional support for the front of the flexible sheet 4 which will not be under tension in the arrangement shown. Furthermore, the underside of the boot is provided with lugs, each formed by making cuts in the sole of the boot, which engage corresponding slits in the flexible sheet 4. The lugs provide additional support for the flexible sheet 4 and preferably do not project beyond the plane of the sole of the boot. This feature is illustrated in Figures 4(a) and (b). The area of the flexible sheet 4 immediately surrounding each slit is advantageously provided with a raised portion to reduce the amount of stretching of the flexible sheet in these areas.

Further embodiments are shown in Figures 5(a), (b), (c) and (d), wherein two or more flexible sheets 4 are shown attached to the underside of a sports boot 1.

The flexible sheet 4 is made from one half millimetre thickness latex, and the pads 6 on the upper surface of the sheet have a thickness of about one millimetre. The washers 7 are made from low-friction plastics material and serve to inhibit twisting of the flexible sheet 4 as the removable studs 2 are screwed into the sports boot 1.

In an alternative arrangement, the studs of the football boot are profiled, as shown in Figures 6(a) or (b). In Figure 6(a), a recess 10 is formed in the stud 2, into which the flexible sheet 4 is engaged by pushing the sheet 4 onto the stud 2. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6(b), the stud 2 is formed with one or more projections 11 which, in combination with the taper of the stud 2, cause the flexible sheet 4 to be engaged. However, in the absence of a taper on the stud, the upper surface of the flexible sheet may be maintained at a position spaced from the sole of the boot by virtue of the raised portions on the flexible sheet.

In such an arrangement, the raised portions 6 on the flexible sheet 4 are not necessary, although they can be provided, if desired, for additional support. A particularly useful application of this arrangement is in sports boots in which the studs are formed integrally with the boot such that it is not possible to engage a flexible sheet by locating the threaded position of the studs in the apertures in the flexible sheet.

In all the above arrangements, it is advantageous for the flexible sheet to be located substantially wholly within the region of the underside of the boot and not to extend beyond any plane tangential to a given stud and the side of the boot nearest to that stud. This will reduce the wear on the flexible sheet when the sides of the boot inevitably come into contact with the ground during use.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to the skilled reader that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims below. For example, whereas the shape of the pads has been described as being elongate or circular, the shape can of course be selected in accordance with the shape of the boot.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mud repellant device for a sports boot, the device comprising a flexible sheet and attachment means permitting the sheet to be attached to the underside of the sports boot such that the sheet is able to flex in relation to the boot, the arrangement being such that movement of the boot causes the sheet so to flex, thereby to repel mud adhering thereto.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of raised portions on the upper surface of the sheet, thereby permitting the sheet to flex in the regions between the raised portions.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the attachment means further comprises a corresponding plurality of raised portions on the lower surface of the sheet in the same positions within the sheet as those on the upper surface thereof, thereby rendering the device suitable for both left and right boots.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the thickness of the raised portions is greater than the thickness of the flexible sheet.

5. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the plurality of raised portions comprise discrete pads.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the pads are attached to the sheet.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the pads are made from latex.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the plurality of raised portions are formed integrally with the sheet.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, for a sports boot provided with removable studs, wherein the sheet is provided with a plurality of apertures for engagement by the removable studs.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the plurality of raised portions are provided with apertures for engagement by the removable studs.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, further comprising a plurality of washers for engagement on the under surface of the sheet by the removable studs.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the washers are made from a plastics material.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet is made from latex.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, having one or more slits formed along the edge of the flexible sheet for engagement with corresponding projections in a said sports boot.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a raised portion surrounding the or each slit.

16. A sports boot fitted with a mud repellant device as claimed in any preceding claim.

17. A sports boot comprising a mud repellant device in the form of a flexible sheet mounted on the underside of the boot, the arrangement being such that movement of the boot causes the sheet to flex thereby to repel mud adhering thereto.

18. A sports boot as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the device comprises a plurality of such flexible sheets.

19. A sports boot as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 18, wherein the flexible sheet or sheets is mounted under tension.

20. A sports boot provided with one or more lugs formed in the peripheral region of the underside thereof for supporting the one or more slits respectively of the flexible sheet of a device as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16.

21. A sports boot as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the or each lug is in the form of cuts in the sole of the boot.

22. A sports boot as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 21, wherein the flexible sheet does not extend substantially beyond the area of the underside of the boot.

23. A sports boot as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 22, wherein the flexible sheet does not extend substantially beyond any plane tangential to a given stud and the side of the boot nearest to that stud.

24. A stud for a sports boot as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 23, the stud having a profile for engaging the flexible sheet at a position spaced from the sole of the boot.

25. A stud as claimed in Claim 24, wherein the profile comprises a projection for engaging the lower surface of the flexible sheet.

26. A stud as claimed in Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the profile comprises a recess.

27. A sports boot comprising one or more studs as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 26.

28. A sports boot as claimed in Claim 27, wherein the studs are formed integrally with the boot.

29. A mud repellant device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30. A sports boot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. A stud for a sports boot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.