Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
  • A43C15/00—Non-skid devices or attachments
  • A43C15/16—Studs or cleats for football or like boots
  • A43C15/162—Studs or cleats for football or like boots characterised by the shape
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/02—Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B13/22—Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
  • A43B13/223—Profiled soles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/0036—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design
  • A43B3/0042—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design with circular or circle shaped parts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
  • A43C15/00—Non-skid devices or attachments
  • A43C15/02—Non-skid devices or attachments attached to the sole

Definitions

• This invention is related generally to athletic shoes of the type having cleats for penetrating ground engagement and, more specifically, to athletic shoes with cleats facilitating pivoting movement.
• the resistance of many prior art cleating arrangements to turning movements can create stresses within the leg when unwanted torque or force is applied to the athlete, particularly to the athlete's leg. Injuries, particularly knee and ankle injuries, can result if a twisting movement is forcibly applied to a leg at a time when the cleats are firmly planted in the turf and release is difficult or impossible.
• cleated soles for athletic shoes including those disclosed in the patents noted above, relate to the degree and ease of penetration of cleats. Ease of penetration has a significant effect on how well a shoe functions. If there is insufficient ground penetration or if ground penetration is difficult, there may be less traction than is desirable and less contact with the turf than is needed for the best possible fixed-position pivoting.
• the total area of the cleat ends that is, the total area of the distal surface(s) of the cleat or cleats.
• the greater the total end area bearing on the ground the more difficult it may be for a cleat to penetrate the ground; the smaller the total end area bearing on the ground, the easier it may be for a cleat to penetrate. This effect is accentuated when the ground is hard.
• Sharpening the distal end(s) of cleat(s) tends to reduce the total area of cleat distal surface. However, it may also cause concern about injury from player contact with such sharp edges. This latter concern particularly arises in the cases of hard plastic or metal cleats.
• the design of the sole can and should address such condition.
• traction may depend in part on the extent of rubber "grab” on the ground and in part on the extent of "tangle” which is possible with the grass.
• rubber "grab” is minimized and "tangle" becomes more important to an athlete's traction.
• the athlete does not wish to sacrifice pivotability under these conditions any more than he does under other turf conditions.
• Another important consideration relates to the degree to which the underlying turf is destroyed when played upon by wearers of cleated shoes.
• This is not only harmful to the ground, but in itself causes a loss of foot traction.
• With an annular cleat ground destruction is minimized, thus enhancing foot traction.
• the sole of the foot includes four portions. These are, in order from back to front: the heel portion; the arch portion; the ball-of-the-foot portion; and the toe portion.
• the heel and ball-of-the-foot portions are those portions which share most if not all of the player's weight when the player is in a normal standing position with feet generally flat on the ground. In such position, the arch portion and toe portion bear little if any weight.
• Another object of this invention is to overcome some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, including those mentioned above. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved athletic shoe sole.
• Another object of this invention is to provide an athletic shoe having both improved pivotability and excellent traction.
• Another object of this invention is to provide an improved athletic shoe which tends to reduce the risk of certain common injuries of athletes, particularly knee and ankle injuries. Another object is to provide an improved athletic shoe of the type having annular cleating.
• Another object of this invention is to provide an improved annular-cleated athletic shoe with enhanced ground penetration.
• Still another object is to provide an athletic shoe sole exhibiting both good traction and pivoting characteristics on grass-covered hard earth, particularly when such grass is wet.
• Another object of this invention is to provide an athletic shoe with annular cleating which nevertheless exhibits good "tangle" traction with turf.
• Yet another object is to provide an improved annular-cleated shoe having both excellent "grab” traction and excellent “tangle” traction.
• Another object of this invention is to provide improved ground penetration in an annular-cleated shoe without sharpening the distal edge of annular cleating.
• Another object is to provide an cleated athletic shoe combining certain benefits of standard cleating with certain benefits of annular cleating.
• Another object is to provide an athletic shoe with improved ground penetrability which avoids or minimizes turf destruction and the resulting traction loss.
• Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cleated shoe with wide cleat profile to avoid unnecessary through-ground sliding, thus enhancing stopping and starting traction.
• Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cleated athletic shoe exhibiting excellent sole comfort.
• This invention is an improved athletic shoe sole for field sports providing excellent controlled pivotability and traction in a commercially desirable form.
• the invention is an improvement in athletic shoe soles of the type having annular cleating.
• the invention provides enhanced ground penetration, and resulting improvements in traction and pivotability.
• the sole of this invention also provides both good traction and pivoting characteristics on grass-covered hard earth, with significant improvement provided even when such grass is wet. Improved "tangle" and “grab” traction are provided in a sole of the type having annular cleating. Improved traction is provided without sharpening the distal edge of annular cleating. The soles of this invention minimize turf destruction even while providing excellent traction characteristics.
• the soles of this invention while having excellent pivoting characteristics, also provide what some perceive to be a desirable degree of initial resistance to pivoting. This gives an even greater feeling of control to some athletes.
• the cleating arrangement of this invention provide a wide cleat profile and thus avoid through-ground sliding. This enhances traction, particularly stopping and starting traction.
• the soles of this invention are comfortable to wear, substantially avoiding any feeling of individual cleats as can occur with certain shoes of the prior art.
• the annular cleating of this invention also has excellent strength and resistance to bending and breakage. This is due in part to wide base dimensions.
• the inventive sole has an annular cleat set which projects from the main sole surface and is disposed along a substantially circular path which encompassing a major area of the toe and ball-of-the-foot portions.
• the annular cleat set has a plurality of cleat nodes, each of which is arranged in a substantially abutting relationship to at least one adjacent cleat node.
• Each of the cleat nodes has a distal end spaced from the main sole surface and first and second edges on opposite sides of the distal end. The edges having proximal ends which terminate substantially on the circular path.
• first and second edges function to cut into the turf, thereby reducing initial resistance to penetration by the cleats.
• the inventive sole thereby exhibits excellent initial penetration as well as traction and pivotability.
• adjacent pairs of cleat nodes are arranged to be in substantial abutment at the base portion of the nodes, that is, where the cleat nodes join the main sole surface.
• cleats abut at the shoulder, that is, at a region generally midway between the base portion and the distal end (or "tip") of the cleat.
• This second embodiment is somewhat more "aggressive" than the first embodiment in its ability to maximize traction. Nevertheless, its configuration exhibits substantially the same advantages as described above with respect to the first embodiment.
• cleat nodes abut at their distal ends tips.
• substantially abutting relationship means any one of the foregoing relationships.
• the term also describes the relationship of cleat nodes which may be slightly spaced from one another at their base portions, or any combination of the foregoing.
• a preferred feature of the second embodiment is that the cleat nodes located on the circular path in a position adjacent to the arch portion of the sole are in abutment at their base portions rather than at the shoulder portions, as with the other cleat nodes of such embodiment.
• the resulting V-shaped spaces between cleat nodes in this area extend from the cleat tips to the sole surface and help prevent the sole from adhering to the turf by suction, as might otherwise occur on a muddy field. Such spaces allow air venting to help prevent the "clapping" sound which can result from trapped air, particularly when a player is running backwards.
• All non-cleated areas of that portion of the sole area enclosed by the circular path are preferably coincident with the main sole surface; that is, such surfaces are not built up. This allows full turf penetration by the cleats.
• Each of the cleat nodes has a base portion joined to the main sole surface.
• the base portion of each cleat node has a length measured generally along the circular path of the cleat set and a thickness measured generally radially to such path. The length is substantially greater than the thickness, thus providing excellent pivotability of the sole with good resistance to forces urging the sole laterally or longitudinally.
• cleat which presents a relatively small frontal area when the sole is being pivoted, thereby reducing pivoting effort.
• the circumferential profile of the cleat nodes is quite large, thereby providing a high degree of stability and traction.
• the cleat nodes are tapered to blunt, rather than pointed, distal ends. This configuration optimally resolves the conflicting concerns relating to ease of penetration on the one hand and avoidance of player "spiking" injuries on the other.
• each cleat node has multiple planar surfaces and leading and trailing edges each formed by the acute-angle intersections of pairs of such planar surfaces.
• the leading and trailing edges are substantially coincident with a projection of the circular path and form acute angles with the main sole surface.
• the resulting cleat node edges facilitate initial ground penetration.
• these edges slice rather than "punch” through the turf as the sole is pivoted. Because of the abutting relationship of the cleat nodes and the angular arrangement of the edges, some highly desirable results are accomplished.
• resistance to initial penetration increases gradually rather than instantaneously as the cleat node first contacts and then penetrates the turf.
• Second, only slight pivoting rotation of the sole causes a trailing cleat node to enter and follow a path cut by a leading cleat node; therefore, there is a reduction in resistance to pivoting movement following slight initial resistance during initial rotation.
• the unique design of the inventive sole tends to preserve rather than destroy turf.
• the structural integrity of the earth beneath the sole tends to be preserved and good traction is maintained rather than reduced.
• the outer surface of at least one of the cleat nodes is generally coincident with the lateral side portion of the sole.
• An outer surface of at least one other cleat node is generally coincident with the medial side portion of the sole.
• the cleat nodes on the medial side and lateral side portions of the soles preferably have maximum spacing therebetween. This helps reduce the possibility or the severity of ankle-twist injuries.
• each adjacent pair of abutting, tapered cleat nodes defines a generally V-shaped space between them.
• the annular cleat set includes a plurality of opposed pairs of such spaces forming a plurality of cross-sole breaks in the annular cleat set.
• the configuration of the inventive athletic shoe sole and of the cleat nodes forming a part of the sole may be readily adapted to accommodate specific requirements.
• the angles of taper of leading and trailing edges may be changed, the degree of sharpness of such edges may be modified and/or the cleat tip may be more or less blunted or pointed.
• the cleat set of this invention forms a substantially continuous ring despite the characteristics of the cleat nodes therealong.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the sole of FIGURE 1, with cleat sets removed, showing the heel, arch, ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole.
• FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of a cleat node.
• FIGURE 4 is an end elevation view of the cleat node of FIGURE 3, taken along the viewing axis 4 of FIGURE 3.
• FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the cleat node of FIGURE 3, taken along the viewing axis 6 of FIGURE 3.
• FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the cleat node of FIGURE 3, taken along the viewing axis 6 of FIGURE 3.
• FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of cleat nodes arranged in an abutting relationship at their distal ends as used in a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1 The figures illustrate a preferred athletic shoe sole 10 in accordance with this invention.
• the sole 10 has four portions which are defined by the portions of the foot adjacent to them. These sole portions are: the heel portion 11; the arch portion 13; the ball-of-the-foot portion 15; and the toe portion 17. The upper portions of the shoe are not illustrated.
• the lower surface of the sole 10, which contacts the surface of the playing field, includes a main sole surface 19 which is a generally flat, even surface from which an annular cleat set 21 projects.
• the cleat set 21 has a number of cleat nodes 23 which are integrally formed with the main sole surface 19 in a molding process of well-known type.
• the sole 10 is made of material which is tough and wear resistant but which can flex in the normal manner depending upon how weight is applied to it.
• the sole 10 is preferably formed of polyurethane or rubber.
• a plurality of cleat nodes 23 project from the main sole surface 19 and are disposed along a substantially circular path 25.
• This path 25 encompasses a major area of toe and ball-of-the-foot portions 17 and 15, respectively, and is centered on the juncture of such portions.
• Each cleat node 23 is arranged in a substantially abutting relationship to at least one adjacent cleat node 23 for providing improved engagement between the sole 10 and an earthen surface such as turf. Improved engagement results because of the relatively large number of cleat nodes 23 projecting from the sole 10, among other things.
• the arrangement of the cleat nodes 23 is selected to maximize the lateral stability of the shoe.
• an outer surface 27 of at least one of the cleat nodes 23 is generally coincident with the lateral side portion 29 of the sole 10.
• An outer surface 27 of at least another one of the cleat nodes 23 is generally coincident with the medial side portion 31 of the sole 10.
• the sole 10 exhibit a high degree of cross-sole flexibility, particularly at and near the junction of toe and ball-of-the-foot portions, 17 and 15, respectively. Accordingly and in the first and second embodiments, shown in FIGURES 1 and 7 respectively, a first opposed pair of V-shaped spaces 33 defines one break (or flexing line or region) and a second opposed pair of V-shaped spaces 35 defines another break located forward of the first. The flexibility of the sole 10 is thereby preserved while yet maintaining an excellent traction capability.
• a preferred cleat node 23 is shown to include a base portion 37, a distal end or tip 39 and a shoulder 41 located generally midway between the base portion 37 and the tip 39.
• Each cleat node 23 includes multiple planar surfaces 43 and edges 45 at the intersections of pairs of such planar surfaces 43.
• a cleat node 23 includes a first edge 45a and a second edge 45b, each formed by the intersection of two planar surfaces 43 having an acute included angle between them.
• the proximal ends 47 of the first edge 45a and second edge 45b terminate on the path 25 and each of the edges 45a, 45b cooperates with the main sole surface 19 to likewise define an acute included angle "A" between them.
• the tip 39 is a flat surface which is diamond-shaped as shown in FIGURE 3. This surface may be smooth or, preferably, cross hatched to a shallow depth for improved traction.
• a highly preferred cleat node 23 is tapered in two dimensions Dl, D2.
• a first dimension Dl is measured along the base portion 37 generally parallel to the path 25. It will be appreciated that if measurement is taken in a plane parallel to the path 25 and at progressive points along the first and second edges 45a, 45b, where the edges 45a, 45b intersect with the plane the dimension Dl between points on those edges 45a, 45b diminishes as the points of measurement move upward from the base portion 37 to the tip 39.
• cleat node thickness may be similarly measured generally radially to the path 25 and it will be noted that the thickness of the cleat node 23 also diminishes as the points of measurement are moved upward from the base portion 37 to the tip 39.
• cleat node 23 having the described configuration.
• the tip 39 has a relatively small surface area. As the tip 39 first makes contact with the turf, it tends to readily penetrate the turf, especially soft turf. Penetration is aided by the fact that the first and second edges 45a, 45b progressively slice the turf as the depth of penetration increases. This combination of a tip surface with a relatively small area and of first and second edges 45a, 45b exhibiting wedge-like or knife-like characteristics results in good penetration characteristics. Pivoting movement causes the annular cleat set 21 to move about a center cleat 49 which is located at or near the center of the circular path 25.
• the profile of a cleat node 23 as seen spanning the circular path 25 of the annular cleat set 21 is relatively small and this fact also aids in the ability of the cleat node 23 to more easily advance through the turf as the sole 10 is pivoted.
• a preferred sole 10 not only facilitates pivoting movement without the imposition of undue stress on the athlete's leg but also provides stability and traction for foot movements not involving pivoting.
• the profile area of a side of the cleat node 23 is relatively large and this provides a substantial surface to resist slipping during stopping, starting, and cutting.
• Still another benefit of the described cleat node 23 configuration may be attributed to its tapered shape. That is, its base portion 37 has an area which is significantly larger than that of the surface of. the tip 39.
• This "broad shouldered" configuration makes the cleat node 23 highly resistive to forces which may bend, twist or otherwise deform the cleat node 23 and impair traction.
• a second embodiment of the athletic shoe sole 10 includes cleat nodes 23 arranged in a substantially abutting relationship to at least one adjacent cleat node 23. In the second embodiment and for all but one of the cleat nodes 23, the abutting relationship occurs at the shoulder portion 41 rather than at the base portion 37.
• one cleat node 23a preferably located at the rear part of the circular path 25, is arranged to abut adjacent cleat nodes 23b at the base portion 37 or to be slightly spaced therefrom. This arrangement provides a plurality of air passages to prevent air entrapment.
• a sole 10 configured for use on artificial turf may employ concentric rings of cleat nodes 23 at the forefoot, and perhaps also on the heel.
• Still another variation may involve the use of cleat nodes 23 of slightly different size and/or physical arrangement.
• cleat nodes 23 may be sized and arranged to define a pair of spaces adjacent the lateral sole portion 29 but only a single space adjacent the medial sole portion 31. The resulting spaces would provide for sole flexibility by defining a "V", the ends of which are at the lateral sole portion 29 and the apex of which is at the medial sole portion 31.
• a third embodiment involves arranging cleat nodes 23 in an abutting relationship at the tip 39 or distal end.
• this third embodiment maximizes the area which initially contacts the turf and the area forming the bearing surface during pivoting movement. Therefore, this third embodiment has the least resistance to pivoting effort.
• the presence of its multiple edges 45 in engagement with the turf, including wet grass, provides improved traction over earlier shoe soles.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Control Of Driving Devices And Active Controlling Of Vehicle (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

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ID=23613876

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (2)

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• 1990
  • 1990-09-14 AT AT90913948T patent/ATE111313T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1990-09-14 EP EP90913948A patent/EP0491805B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1990-09-14 AU AU64059/90A patent/AU642667B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1990-09-14 JP JP90513078A patent/JPH05505532A/ja active Pending
  • 1990-09-14 CA CA002065289A patent/CA2065289A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-09-14 ES ES90913948T patent/ES2063980T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1990-09-14 KR KR1019920700581A patent/KR920702947A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-09-14 DE DE69012577T patent/DE69012577T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1990-09-14 WO PCT/US1990/005232 patent/WO1991003960A1/en active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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