CA2532705A1 - Footwear outsole and reversible attachment therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment for an item of footwear having an outsole, the attachment comprising a body having first and second body surfaces, the body being releasably co-operable with the outsole in a first position in which the first body surface is disposable away from the outsole and in a second position in which the second body surface is disposable away from the outsole; an attaching portion which is associated with the body and which includes an inter-engageable formation for releasably attaching the attachment in the first and second positions; and a detaching portion which is associated with the body, the detaching portion having an edge portion moveable with respect to the body to allow the body to be released from the item of footwear. The invention also includes an outsole and an item of footwear to which the attachment can be releasably attached.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

FOOTWEAR OUTSOLE AND REVERSIBLE ATTACHMENT THEREFOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to attachments for footwear and more specifically, the present invention is concerned with a footwear outsole provided with an attachment which can be flipped upside down to present a first or a second type of ground engaging means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Although the present invention will be described by reference to embodiments adapted for improving traction on surfaces, namely slippery or icy surfaces, it shall be deemed applicable to other applications wherein modification of engaging properties with the ground or floor may be desirable.
For example, an embodiment of the invention may enable bowling players to change their shoes from a degree of friction to another. Also, the invention may enable tap dancers to turn taps on or off as desired.

[0003] Many types of shoes or boots have been provided with spikes, studs, cleats or other types of grounds engaging elements in order to improve traction and provide anti-skid properties. These are used in different sporting shoes (football, golf, etc.) and in boots e.g. for hiking or simply to improve safety when walking on slippery grounds. However, while it is desirable to improve traction in some situations, there are many circumstances wherein such engaging elements should be disabled as when the footwear is used on a hard surface or on a delicate surface like most interior floors (ex. wood or linoleum floor) that could be damaged by such engaging elements and that do not present risks of ~ 'L.

slipping nor necessitate improved traction. Actually, hard spikes used on a hard surface such as concrete or ceramics would even cause friction to be reduced, leading to hazardous situations. Therefore, it is often desirable to somehow disable the traction elements at will for certain periods of time and thereafter reactivate them as needed. Similarly, it would be advantageous that other types of ground engaging elements, such as taps in dancing shoes, could be set ON
or OFF according to different situations.

[0004] Accordingly, many solutions have been provided in the prior art to selectively engage or disengage ground engaging elements used in footwear.
For example, complex systems providing user activated stud retraction mechanisms are taught in many patents, but are not found on the market given their generally pour overall performance and elevated manufacturing cost.
However, more practical systems have been provided. In US patent No 6,675,504 granted to Biancucci in June 2004, a shoe sole is provided with spikes mounted on a support means being movable between a first position in which the support is fully received in a first recess provided in the ground contacting side of said sole, with the spikes projecting out, and a second position in which the support is fully received in a second recess with the spikes extending into said second recess. This type of structure, using one such means in the heel portion and a second one in a portion of the sole near the head of the metatarsal bones of the foot, is relatively simple and cheap to manufacture but using two different recesses is subject to make the conversion difficult when the second recess has been filled with soil, snow, ice, and different debris while walking with the spike supporting means in the first position, or vice versa. Moreover, this concept contemplating flipping from a first to a second recess limits the possible working surface of the cleated means. International publication No W02004041016-A1 (May 2004) from the same inventor presents a slightly different structure providing an improved cleatable surface but with similar drawbacks due to the use of two recesses.
Us patent No 6,360,455 entitled "Pack Boot with Retractable Crampons" issued to A
/~ L

Seo on March 26, 2002 was already teaching such a dual cavity flip concept with traction devices of still smaller effective surface than the first Biancucci concept.

[0005] In the older US patent No 4,745,692 granted to Liao on May 24, 1988, a foldable anti-slip device was disclosed. The slip-proof member received in a recess is pivotable about a pin so to selectively expose its working side outwardly for effecting the purpose or flip it so that the working side is received in the same recess in a retracted position when not needed. Although the use of a single recess could be considered as an advantage over the aforementioned solutions, the pivoting mechanism is quite complex and the open design of the device could not successfully prevent accumulation of dirt, snow or ice in the single recess and in the mechanism, which could cause jamming of the device and render operation difficult or impossible.

[0006] A still older footwear construction disclosed by Giuntini in US patent No 2,776,499 of Jan. 8, 1957 provides a reversible cleated plate which is hinged to the underside of the sole under the arch and is swingable about a transverse axis to either of two positions, namely, one position in which the plate overlies the front part of the sole with the non-skid elements exposed and a second position in which the plate overlies the heel with the non-skid elements preferably recessed within the heel also provided with non-skid elements. Although this concept enables a large portion of the outsole surface to be provided with non-skid elements, the conversion mechanism is again subject to be affected by contamination from ground matters. Namely, the hinge portion and the nesting of the cleated side of the plate in the cleated heel portion appear as the most problematic aspects of this structure.

[0007] It would therefore be a significant advance in the art of footwear attachments to provide a simple structure of contaminant resistant reversible outsole attachment presenting a large ground engaging area which can be , /j~

converted from one type of ground engaging characteristic to another by flipping of the attachment in a single substantially conforming recessed cavity.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a footwear outsole and reversible attachment assembly obviating the limitations and drawbacks of the prior art devices. Features such as large efficient areas, unexposed (hided) cavities and self-cleaning are contemplated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a footwear outsole and reversible attachment assembly comprising an outsole having at least one recess disposed entirely in a ground-contacting side thereof, and at least one reversible attachment having a plate portion comprising a first efficient surface and a second opposite efficient surface, said plate portion substantially conforming to said recess and being receivable therein in a first position wherein said first efficient surface is exposed and provides a first ground-contacting characteristic and in a second reversed position wherein said second efficient surface is exposed and provides a second ground-contacting characteristic.

[0010] There is further provided footwear outsole and reversible attachment assembly wherein said outsole further comprises first and second sole fastening elements respectively located at a first and a second extremity of said recess, and wherein said reversible attachment further comprises a first fastening element at a first en thereof for connecting to said first sole fastening element and a second fastening element at a second end for connecting to said second sole fastening element, whereby said attachment may be ;1.~' reversed from said first position to said second position by detaching said first and second fastening elements, pulling it out from the recess, flipping it upside down, reinserting it in the recess and reattaching said first and second fastening elements to said first and second sole fastening elements.

[0011] There is further provided a footwear outsole and reversible attachment assembly wherein said at least one recess comprises a first recess in a heel portion of said outsole for receiving a first reversible attachment and a second recess in a fore portion of said outsole for receiving a second reversible attachment.

[0012] There is further provided a footwear outsole and reversible attachment assembly wherein said first efficient surface comprises anti-skid spikes.

[0013] There is further provided a reversible attachment for mounting on a footwear outsole, said attachment comprising a center plate having a first efficient surface presenting a first ground-engaging characteristic and a second opposite efficient surface presenting a second different ground-contacting characteristic, a first end comprising a connecting wing having a first fastening element, and a second end having a second fastening element, whereby said attachment can be mounted on an outsole in a first position in which said first surface is exposed and in a second position in which said second surface is exposed.

[0014] There is further provided a reversible attachment for mounting on a footwear outsole wherein said wing comprises a resilient and stretchable member.

[0015] There is further provided a reversible attachment for mounting on a footwear outsole wherein said second end comprises a second wing.

[0016] There is further provided a reversible attachment for mounting on a footwear outsole wherein said second wing comprises a resilient and stretchable member and a fastening element.

[0017] There is further provided a reversible attachment for mounting on a footwear outsole wherein said second fastening element comprises a wedge shaped tab.

[0018] There is further provided a reversible attachment for mounting on a footwear outsole wherein said first efficient surface comprises anti-skid spikes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the appended drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a footwear outsole provided with transversal non-skid reversible attachments according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2a is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 2b is a transversal sectional view as viewed from line A-A of Figure 2a;

[0023] Figure 3a is an isometric view of an embodiment of a reversible non-skid attachment as attached to the heel portion of the sole in the embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 1 and 2;

[0024] Figure 3b is a plan view of the attachment of Figure 3a;

[0025] Figure 3c is a side elevation view of the attachment of Figure 3a;

[0026] Figure 4a is an isometric view of an embodiment of a reversible non-skid attachment as attached to the metatarsal portion of the sole in the embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 1 and 2;

[0027] Figure 4b is a plan view of the attachment of Figure 4a;

[0028] Figure 4c is a side elevation view of the attachment of Figure 4a;

[0029] Figure 5a is an isometric view of a footwear outsole provided with longitudinal non-skid reversible attachments according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5b is an isometric view of the embodiment of Figure 5a, showing the attachments partly removed from the sole.

[0031] Figure 6a is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5a;

[0032] Figure 6b is a longitudinal sectional view as viewed from line A-A of Figure 6a;

[0033] Figure 7a is an isometric view of an embodiment of a reversible non-skid attachment as attached to the metatarsal portion of the sole in the embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 5a and 5b;

[0034] Figure 7b is a plan view of the attachment of Figure 7a;

f;~

[0035] Figure 7c is a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment of Figure 7b, as viewed from line A-A;

[0036] Figure Ba is an isometric view of an embodiment of a reversible non-skid attachment as attached to the heel portion of the sole in the embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 5a and 5b;

[0037] Figure 8b is a plan view of the attachment of Figure 8a;

[0038] Figure 8c is a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment of Figure 8b as viewed from line A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] A first set of embodiments of the invention will now be described in details referring to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 shows a general view of the invention I representing an outsole 2 provided with a transversal reversible heel attachment 3 and a transversal reversible metatarsal attachment 4. The outsole 2 is meant to be normally assembled (by stitching or adhesive) to footwear such as a boot or a shoe (not shown). The metatarsal attachment 4 is thus positioned near the front end of the sole 2, approximately below the position of the heads of the metatarsal bones of a foot wearing the footwear.
Attachments 3 and 4 are totally removable from the sole 2 and can be selectively positioned in one of two positions. This will become more evident from the following description of their structure.

[0040] Figure 3 shows heel attachment 3 in a relaxed position, disassembled from sole 2. Attachment 3 is naturally a generally two-dimensional device comprising i) a centre plate 5 having a first efficient face 6 provided with metal studs such as 7 (6 shown) and ii) resilient wings 8a and 8b respectively provided with tapering openings 9a and 9b. These perforated wings constitute a part of a fastening system used to selectively mount the attachment 3 on the sole 2 in one of two possible positions. The opposite face (not shown) of plate 5 may comprise a second type of efficient surface (ex.
rubber cleats) or merely a substantially flat and inoperative surface.
Therefore attachment 3 provides two efficient faces, on of which (face 6) is intended to provide the sole 2 with improved anti-skid characteristics when necessary and the other to provide a soft surface to prevent damaging of delicate floors and surfaces when improved traction is not required. Obviously, this concept may accommodate other types of efficient faces in plate 5 such as taps on one side and normal walking sole surface on the opposite side, or taps with different sounding or surfaces with different degree of friction as may be desirable for bowling shoes. It should be noted that the opening 10 implemented in the shown embodiment of the attachment 3 has no functional justification other than saving on material and could thus be replaced by material to increase the efficient surfaces (ex 6) of plate 5 according to the intended application.

[0041] Although it can be made from solid resilient material such as rubber or neoprene, attachment 3 is preferably made from a semi-rigid core covered by a layer of resilient material. The core may provide some rigidity as needed for the plate portion 5 while the wings 8a, 8b may be entirely made from the resilient material to enable easy bending thereof. Indeed, mounting of attachment 3 on sole 2 is accomplished by first nesting the plate portion 5 in a recessed cavity 12 provided in the ground engaging surface of the heel portion 11 and then bending and slightly stretching wings 8a and 8b to catch their respective mating hook 13a and 13b acting as the second part of the mounting fastening system. This is best seen from the transversal sectional view of Figure 2b. Obviously, given the symmetrical design and resilience of attachment 3, it can be positioned with the studs 7 facing outwardly as shown or extending inwardly into cavities (not shown) accordingly provided in recess 12, leaving the opposite face of plate 5 exposed as part of the ground :tr~.

engaging face of sole 2, thus providing an alternate floor engaging characteristic. Also, it should be pointed out that the opening and hook type of assembly of the wings 8a, 8b to the sole 2 could be replaced by equivalent sets of fasteners. For instance, openings 9a and 9b can be round instead of rectangular and hooks 13 could be shaped as a mushroom headed pin as shown in Figure 5b.

[0042] The structure of attachment 4 provided at the metatarsal portion of sole 2 is typically identical to that of the reversible heel attachment 3 and serves the same function at a given point in time, except that its physical dimensions have been adapted to fit that larger location. It is shown in details in Figures 4a to 4c. It comprises similar parts identified by the same numerals as attachment 3. A slight variation has been introduced through the addition of a rippled portion 14a and 14b in wings 8a and 8b to show that such a bellow shape may be implemented in the molding of the wings of the reversible attachments 3 and/or 4 in order to obtain the desired bending flexibility and stretching properties of the wings. Accordingly, sole 2 comprises a mating recess 12' at its metatarsal portion to receive plate 5 of attachment 4, and hooks 13'a and 13'b to catch openings 8a and 8b of wings of reversible attachment 4.

[0043] Turning now to Figures 5 to 8, it is shown that the invention 1 can be implemented in an alternate embodiment wherein reversible heel attachment 103 and metatarsal attachment 104 may be positioned along the longitudinal axis of the sole 102 as opposed to the transversal implementation of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 described above. In this specific embodiment, reversible attachments 103 and 104 are adapted to this longitudinal mounting mode by having only one resilient and stretchable perforated wing 108 for connection to a mating hook 113 at the periphery of sole 102, attachment 103 connecting to the rear of the heel portion 111 and attachment 104 connecting to the front end of the sole. Note that as for the previously described embodiments, hooks 113 are embedded into a recessed cavity so that the exposed major face of the wings does not projects beyond the peripheral wall of the sole, to present a neat and safe aspect.

[0044] In reversible attachments 103 and 104, the extremity opposed to wing 108 is provided with a wedge shaped tab 119 destined to be caught in a mating groove (notch) 120 (120') provided below the end of recessed cavities 112 and 112' facing the arch portion 121 in sole 102. As shown in Figure 5b, attachments 103 and 104 can be easily mounted on sole 102 by first inserting the wedge shaped tab 119 in the corresponding notch 120 or 120' and then pulling on the free end of the resilient wing 108 to insert its round opening about the mushroom headed pin (hook) 113 while creating a stretching yielding a tensile force holding both ends of the attachment firmly anchored and the plate 105 properly nested and stable in sole cavity 112 or 112'. As for attachments 3 and 4 in the transversal embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, center opening 110 could be reduced or eliminated according to the needs of the envisaged application, as long as in this longitudinal embodiment a window is provided to preserve the functionality of the wedge shaped extremity of tab 119 and the reversibility of the attachment. Obviously, should such a modification be implemented, cavities 112 and 112' should have their shape adapted accordingly without affecting the performance of the invention other than by increasing the areas of the efficient surfaces of the working reversible attachments.

[0045] Although the present invention has been described by reference to a pair of reversible working attachments, one mounted on the heel portion of the sole and the second one mounted on the fore portion thereof, it should be considered that a further alternate embodiment could as well contemplate providing a single attachment mounted to either portion of the sole as directed by the needs of the envisaged application. Therefore, the invention I enables a user to conveniently convert worn boots or shoes from a first functionality to ~'1L.

a second functionality by removing the attachments from the sole and replacing the same in a flipped reversed symmetrical position to expose their reverse efficient surface and enable the second functionality anytime. It is further worth pointing out that each attachment occupies exactly the same space in either position in its closely mating (conforming) single recessed cavity such that introduction of ice, snow and/or debris in the cavities are prevented. Moreover, removal of an attachment provides self-cleaning of the cavities, hooks and notches surroundings, which ensures ease of repositioning of the attachments.

[0046] One can thus easily appreciate that the above described embodiments of the footwear outsole assembly and reversible attachment therefor according to the present invention obviates the limitations and drawbacks of the prior art devices, namely by improving efficient surface area, reliability, durability, clearing of cavities and production costs, thus enabling safe and convenient use in a wide range of applications.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

.~
.'I

i~ ......õ. ... . . . _ " _. ~ L ~'/A~V=(A"

INVENTOR

b ~ l, r

Claims (3)

1. An attachment for an item of footwear having an outsole, the attachment comprising:
a body having first and second body surfaces, the body being releasably co-operable with the outsole in a first position in which the first body surface is disposable away from the outsole and in a second position in which the second body surface is disposable away from the outsole;
an attaching portion which is associated with the body and which includes an inter-engageable formation for releasably attaching the attachment in the first and second positions; and a detaching portion which is associated with the body, the detaching portion having an edge portion moveable with respect to the body to allow the attachment to be released from the item of footwear.

2. An outsole for an item of footwear, the outsole comprising an inter-engageable formation for releasably attaching an attachment according to claim 1.

3. An item of footwear including an outsole according to claim 2.