AU2559397A

AU2559397A - Detachable football stud

Info

Publication number: AU2559397A
Application number: AU25593/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter James Moutoudis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-19
Filing date: 1997-06-19
Publication date: 1998-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-19
Also published as: AU709894B2

Description

VAF

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT I)ETACHABLE FOOTBALL

STUD)

r The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 7ETfCyIc t- JOOTCUALL S-t This invention relates to improvements in detachable (screw-in) sport shoe studs, with particular reference to detachable football shoe studs.

Football shoe studs made from resilient material are currently available only in non-detachable moulded shoe-sole form, with all detachable (screw-in) stud versions comprising entirely of hard inflexible materials such as steel/aluminium or hard plastic/ nylon. Only resilient (non-detachable) studs find acceptance among all football codes, rugby federations, for example, outlaw hard plastic/nylon versions, and soccer federations outlaw steel/ aluminium versions, each federation (conversely) arguing that outlawed stud versions have higher propensity for causing stud related injuries. Research shows that all hard inflexible stud versions suffer similar problems of safety, each having strong propensity toward abrasive burring, sliding and jarring on hard surfaces, and causing impact fractures to others.

These problems are largely overcome by the present invention 'which provides a stud for an article of footwear, which stud comprises an attachment section and a ground engaging boss, the attachment section being made of a material that is relatively hard and inflexible and the boss being squarely moulded on to the attachment section of a material that is more flexible and resilient, the attachment section comprising an externally screw threaded spigot, for engagement with a complimentary screw-thread in or on the undersole of an article of footwear, and the body presenting means for engagement by a tool for assisting in screwing and unscrewing the stud into the socket.

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2 The stud cannot be made as a complete moulding of resilient material because such material is not of sufficient hardness Sto properly secure spigot/spigot connection. The attachment section is designed to perform this task, being made from material which is suitably hard enough to safely secure the spigot and support screw thread connection; a material such as polyurethane shore D-65 has been found to provide the approximate minium level of hardness required to perform this task.

The ground engaging boss, the studs' performance section, is designed for non abrasive wearing, frictional grip, and cushion effect, as well as surface penetration, and is thus made from material which is suitably flexible and resilient but nonetheless strong and durable. The degree of resilience of boss section may vary in accordance with individual athlete preference; a material such as polyurethane shore A-90 has been found to provide the approximate minimum level of hardness required for studs' intended use.

The body of the attachment section of the stud preferably ri!! includes an outwardly directed annular flange for engagement with the underside of an article of footwear or with an end of a socket in an article of footwear or with both, dispersing stud pressures over larger contact area with shoe undersole.

j and further reinforcing screw-thread connection against angular forces.

Preferably the attachment section and the ground engaging boss are made from materials of contrasting colours in order to highlight stage of wear. For reasons of safety and performance, stud should be replaced before wear reaches upper level of attachment section otherwise problems associated with inflexible stud versions will re-apply, and stud length will not be sufficient for effective penetration. Research shows that stud actually i wears longer than inflexible stud versions which have tendency to rapidly shave away on hard surfaces.

./3 I In one form of the invention, stud preferably includes body shaping which is predominately round in girth. This design Sprovides high levels of .stud safety.

In another form of the invention, stud preferably includes body shaping which is predominately hexagonal in girth. This design increases stud potential for obtaining "wedge-effect" i |upon surface penetration.

Stud body outer preferably includes inward taper to provide increase in stud spanner accessibility and improve stud penetrability.

Stud end-face preferably includes well rounded rim edge, for reasons of safety and performance.

:TO assist with understanding the invention reference will now I be made to the accompanying drawings which show two examples of the invention and method of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1. is a side view of the first stud, Figure 2. is a sectional side view of the first stud, Figure 3. is a plan view of the first stud, Figure 4. is a bottom view of the first stud, Figure 5. is a side view of the connecting spigot, Figure 6. is a bottom view of connecting spigot, Figure 7. is a sectional side view of mould die used in method of manufacture of first stud, and Figure 8. is a model view of the second stud.

The two studs illustrated are intended for use as football studs. With reference to figures 1 to 4, in the manufacture of the first stud an attachment section 1 is initially made, and a boss 2 is subsequently moulded on to it. The attachment section 1 is made as a moulding of a material that is relatively inflexible and tough; a polyurethane shore D-65 has been found to be suitable. The attachment section 1 includes an externally screw threaded bolt 3 by means of which the stud can be secured in an internally threaded socket in a football shoe.

/4 *4 The remainder of the attachment section constitutes a body.

The body includes an outwardly directed annular flange 6 co-axial with spigot 3 which in use abuts the sole of the football shoe around the socket or abuts the rim of the socket, or abuts both. Flange 6 provides circumferential buttressing of attachment section base which enlargens contact region with shoe undersole and helps reinforce stud and stud/shoe connection.

At point where flange 6 meets stud body 7 begins area of attachment section body designed to accept tool or spanner (of known forms) for easy tightening and removal of stud by 1 way of six similar flats 8 and/or recesses 9 disposed uniformly and symetrically. Attachment section solidity ensures direct transmission of torque from stud body to spigot is achieved during such tightening and loosening procedures.

It may be observed that the underside of attachment section (area for engagement with shoe undersole) is not completely flat, instead containing a very shallow co-axial moat 4 which serves to lessen potential for dirt particles and shoe undersole incrongruence preventing outer rim edge of attachment section base 5 from resting flush with shoe undersole.

The ground engaging boss 2 is moulded squarely on to the attachment section 10 and is made from material which does i offer some flexibility and resilience but is nonetheless S: strong and durable. A polyurethane shore A-90 has been found to be a suitable material. This material provides suitable levels of frictional grip, cushioning capacity and non-abrasiveness, I which minimises stud.-propensity toward sliding and jarring on hard surfaces, and causing impact fractures and lacerations to others.

The boss 2 includes a body, the shaping of which is predominately round in girth. This design presents the least amount cf edged regions and has been found to be the safest stud body shape.

It may be observed that stud body shape is not plain cylindrical but rather includes a slight inward taper 13 which is intended to increase stud-spanner accessibility and stud penetrability.

It may also be observed that the stud end-face 11 portion designed for initial contact with ground, is not plain flat but appears rather convex due to outer rim edge 12 being well rounded. This stud end-face design minimises stud potential for causing impact related injuries to others, and assists surface penetration.

Attachment section 1 and ground engaging boss 2 should be of contrasting colours in order to highlight stage of wear. For reasons of safety and performance, stud should be replaced before wear reaches upper level of attachment section 10. At such stage problems associated with inflexible stud versions will re-apply, and stud length willnot be sufficient for effective penetration.

Standard stud has as its widest dimension a 19mm diameter attachment section base 14. Rejion of attachment section designed to accept stud spanner 8 is 13mm in diameter Attachment section 1 is 8mm in length 16, and ground engaging S boss 2 is 8mm in length 17. Overall stud length 18 is 22mm, including 6mm protruding spigot 19.

With reference to figures 5 and 6, connecting bolt 3 is made from steel/aluminium and has an overall length 20 of 14mm comprising a 2-5mm thick and 7mm wide square head 21&22, and a stem 23 extending 12mm in length with a thickness 24 of and a 32tpi thread 25. Square shaping of bolt head serves to prevent separation and counter axial twisting between bolt and stud.

Due to vast differences between playing surfaces, conditions and individuall athlete requirements, it is desirable that stud be also available in varying sizes, tapers and degrees of hardness, providing greater stud specialisation.

/6 6 r6 With reference to figure 7, in the simplest known method of manufacture of the stud, the connecting bolt 3 is firstly inserted perpendicular into a hole 26 of suitable depth situated in the base section of the mould die 27 before body section of mould die 28 is positioned squarely upon die base 26 in manner such that protruding section of bolt is in position at centre of body mould die chamber 29 to become an axial spine through the yet to be poured attachment section 1. (it is recommended that mould die be pretreated with a suitable release agent) The attachment section 1 is next poured through an opening centre roof of mould die The ground engaging boss 2 is then poured through the same opening at centre roof of mould die It is important that pour for ground engaging boss(step be completed within approximately five minutes from pouring the initial attachment section (step Being made from homogenous (polyurethane) substances, maximum bonding will occur between attachment section and boss providing no significant hardening Sof substance occurs between pours. This procedure eliminates S any need for chemical bonding agents or constructing multiple mouldings as would be required if non-homogenous substances or interconnecting structural joining techniques were used.

With reference to figure 8, all information with regard to the first stud also applies to the second version with exception relating only to shape of body outer, which instead of including body shaping which is predo-.inantly round in girth, includes body shaping whigh is predominately hexagonal in girth 31. Flat body walls ensure that stud, upon surface penetration, is less likely to tear through groundand more likely to attain wedgeeffect. This design provides slight increase in surface area and material volume, offering improvements in areas of wear and absorbtion.

Claims

4. I I The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A stud for an article of footwear, which stud comprises an attachment section and a ground engaging boss, the attachment section being made of a material that is relatively hard and inflexible and the boss being squarely moulded on to the attachment section of a material that is more flexible and resilient, the attachment section comprising an externally screw threaded spigot, for engage- ment with a complementary screw-thread in or on the undersole of an article of footwear, and the body presenting means for engagement by a tool for assisting in screwing and unscrewing the stud into the socket. 2. A stud according to claim 1 wherein the base section includes an outward directed flange for engagement with the underside of an article of footwear in an article of footwear or with both. 3. A stud according to claim 1 fgn laim 2 includes shaping which is predominately 4. A stud according to claim 1 and claim 2 includes shaping which is predominately A stud according to any one of claims 1 end-face includes rounded rim edge.
6. A stud according to any one of claims 1 stud is made from polyurethane. or with a socket wherein the body round in girth. wherein the bod_ hexagonal in girth. to 4 wherein the to 5 wherein the
7. A stud for an article of footwear substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. An article of footwear in association with a stud according to any one of claims 1 to 7 the article comprising at least one internally screw-threaded socket and the spigot of the stud being suitable for engagement in the socket. PETER JAMES MOUTOUDIS 18 JUNE 1997 'r IJ71