The present invention relates to a shoe sole which is
particularly but not exclusively useful in the practice of
soccer and rugby, in track-and-field sports and golf, or in
other sports or recreational activities in which studs or
spikes are required.
It is known that in some sports, such as soccer, rugby
and other similar sports, the soles of shoes must be
provided with studs.
Nowadays there is a plurality of models of studded
soles in which the number, shape and size of the studs aim
to provide the highest possible effectiveness in grip and
anchoring to the ground.
Athletic actions in fact often require sudden changes
in the direction of motion of the body or in any case
impulsive movements which require considerable grip on the
ground even when said ground intrinsically has poor grip,
for example in the presence of mud or very wet grass.
However, the shoe as a whole must be particularly
comfortable, and it is known that said comfort is, to a
large extent, determined by the sole.
For example on particularly hard ground, in fact,
studded soles must in any case ensure that the foot has a
rather wide resting base, so as to avoid concentrations of
the discharge of body weight which are particularly harmful
and so as to avoid consequent pain for the foot sole.
It is also known that although different people wear
the same shoe size, they would require different
distributions of the studs indeed because of the specific
build of their body.
Ideally, therefore, each shoe should be adapted to the
physical characteristics of the wearer, also taking into
account the environmental and ground characteristics in
which said shoe will be used.
In order to further adapt the shoe to often contrasting
environmental and body parameters, shoes which have movable
or interchangeable studs have been provided.
Said soles provided with movable or interchangeable
studs, despite solving many of the above drawbacks, do not
in any case provide a complete and fully satisfactory answer
to the above-described problems.
A principal aim of the present invention is to provide
a sole with studs for soccer, rugby or the like which solves
the above-described drawbacks of conventional models,
particularly providing very high flexibility in relation to
the differences in the build of the athlete's body and to
the environmental conditions in which it must work.
In relation to this aim, an object of the present
invention is to provide a sole whose various configurations
can be provided by the user simply and quickly without
requiring particular technical expertise.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
strong and durable sole.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
sole which can be adapted to the various sports and
recreational activities in general.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a sole whose costs are competitive with respect to
conventional soles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
sole which can be manufactured with conventional
technologies.
This aim, these objects and others which will become
apparent hereinafter are achieved by a studded sole for
soccer, rugby or the like, characterized in that it
comprises one or more orientatable studs whose transverse
cross-section has asymmetries with respect to one or more
preferential orientation axes, each stud having an axial
portion for coupling to said sole which has, in various
angular positions, locator elements which are complementary
with respect to similar locator elements provided in the
sole, said locator elements allowing said stud to assume a
plurality of stable active positions, each position forcing
a specific orientation of the stud, means for anchoring said
stud to said sole being provided.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the description of two
embodiments thereof and of corresponding different
embodiments, illustrated only by way of non-limitative
example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is an axonometric view of part of a sole
according to the invention, in a first embodiment; figure 2 is an exploded view of part of the sole of
figure 1; figure 3 is an orthographic projection view of the sole
of figure 1; figure 4 is an orthographic projection view of the sole
of figure 1 during use; figure 5 is a sectional view of a detail of the sole of
figure 1; figure 6 is an axonometric view of a detail of a sole
according to the invention, in a second embodiment; figure 7 is an axonometric view of a different
embodiment of the detail of figure 6; figure 8 is an axonometric sectional view of a stud in
a different embodiment; figure 9 is a sectional orthographic projection view of
the stud of figure 8; figure 10 is a sectional axonometric view of a stud
according to the invention, in another embodiment; figure 11 is a sectional orthographic projection view
of the stud of figure 10; figure 12 is a projection view of a sole with the studs
of figure 10.
With particular reference to figures 1 to 5, a sole
with studs, for soccer, rugby or the like, according to the
invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral
10.
In this case, the sole 10 is associated with an upper
which is particularly suitable for soccer, which is shown
only partially and is designated by the reference numeral
11.
The sole 10 comprises, again in this case, six
orientatable studs, each designated by the reference numeral
12; four of said studs are arranged substantially in a
quadrilateral configuration in the front part of the foot,
whilst two are located at the heel.
In this embodiment, all the studs 12 of the sole 10 can
be orientated; however, in other embodiments it is possible
to provide for the presence of one or more orientatable
studs 12, whilst the other studs can be normal or fixed,
movable or interchangeable.
Each one of the orientatable studs 12, in this
embodiment, has a shape which is transversely oblong in a
preset direction; however, if required by the needs of a
specific sport, the shape of the cross-section of the stud
can be the most disparate and can be studied according to
the specific criteria and experience of a given activity.
In this case, each one of the orientatable studs 12 is,
as a whole, substantially shaped like a truncated cone, with
a free end which has a smaller cross-section than the end
that faces the tread of the sole 10, which is designated by
the reference numeral 13.
Each one of the studs 12 has a tang 14 which is shaped
so as to be octagonal in this case and can be inserted in a
complementarily shaped (octagonal) recess 15 which is
therefore likewise octogonal and is formed in the tread 13.
Thanks to its polygonal geometry, said recess 15 allows
the corresponding tang 14 and therefore the corresponding
stud 12 to have a plurality of stable active positions, each
of which forces a specific orientation of the stud 12.
Orientation of the stud 12 arises not only from the
environmental conditions of the ground but also from the
experience of the athlete in relation to his own physical
build and athletic characteristics.
Each stud 12 is associated with the sole 10 through
anchoring means, which in this case are constituted by a
threaded element 16 which can be inserted axially in a
through hole 17 formed in said stud 12 and in the
corresponding tang 14.
The threaded element 16 is associated by screw-and-nut
coupling with a threaded hole 18a formed in a plate 18 which
is embedded in the sole 10 at the bottom of a corresponding
recess 15.
The threaded element 16 of each one of the studs 12 is
in any case, in this first embodiment, independent and locks
the corresponding stud 12 by means of its head 19.
With particular reference to figure 6, a sole for
soccer, rugby or the like with studs, according to the
invention, in a second embodiment does not differ
essentially from the one described above, except for the
stud or studs, each of which is designated by the reference
numeral 100.
Each stud 100 has, in this case, an octagonal (but more
generally polygonal) tang 101 which can be inserted in a
corresponding recess, not shown, which is also octagonal.
Each one of the studs 100 is associated with the sole
through anchoring means which in this case are constituted,
for each one of said studs 100, by a corresponding built-in
threaded element 102.
The threaded element 102 protrudes partially at its
head 103 and at its free end 104, which engages a
corresponding threaded hole formed in a plate which is fully
similar to the plate 18 and is embedded at the bottom of the
recess.
In this second embodiment, the sole is sold together
with an accessory tool which in this case is constituted by
a rod-shaped element 105 suitable to screw and unscrew the
head 103 of the threaded element 102.
The rod-shaped element 105 can be inserted in blind
holes 106 formed laterally, at a preset distance, at the
head 103 of the threaded element 102.
With particular reference to figure 7, a different
embodiment of the stud related to the second embodiment is
generally designated by the reference numeral 200.
The different embodiment 200 differs from the sole stud
100 in that it comprises a threaded element 201 which is
built into the corresponding stud body 202 at the region
thereof that faces the tread.
It should be noted that the sole according to the
invention allows, through the possibility to orientate the
studs or at least part thereof, to gradually adjust the grip
of the shoe according to the different physical build and
athletic characteristics of the person and to the
environmental characteristics, especially those of the
ground.
In particular, it should be noted that the sole
according to the invention improves significantly the
optimization of forces, tractions and rotations, which are
particularly important in all sports and especially in
soccer and rugby.
It should also be noted that the sole according to the
invention can be adapted both to the hardest grounds and to
the softest and most slippery grounds.
It should also be noted that adaptation to the various
configurations is particularly easy and quick even for users
who do not have particular technical expertise.
The basic structural simplicity of the sole according
to the invention should also be noted; the costs of said
sole are accordingly competitive with respect to
conventional soles.
The structural flexibility of the sole should also be
noted: said sole can adapt to the most disparate and
specific requirements of the various activities.
With particular reference to figures 8 and 9, an
orientatable stud, in a different embodiment, is generally
designated by the reference numeral 310.
The stud 310, in this case, is applied to a composite
sole 311 comprising a layer that constitutes the tread 312,
made for example of a material known commercially by the
name Nylon, and an insole 313 which in this case is made of
a material known commercially by the name Texon.
The stud 310 is associated with the sole 311 together
with similar studs, although it is not illustrated in the
figures.
In this case, the stud 310 furthermore comprises a body
314 which is substantially frustum-shaped, with an
advantageously asymmetrical plan shape; a threaded pin 316
is fixed axially to said body at the orientation surface,
designated by the reference numeral 315, which is to be
placed in abutment against the tread 312.
The stud 310 comprises a base 317 for anchoring to the
sole 311 which has a flanged head 318 with a hexagonal
socket 319, to be placed in abutment against the inner
surface of the insole 313, and a stem 320 with a female
thread 321 which passes through the sole 311 in a suitable
through hole 322 formed thereon, and is suitable to
reversibly connect to the threaded pin 316 by screw-and-nut
coupling.
The flanged head 318 and the orientation surface 315
are suitable to anchor the stud 310 by sandwich-like packing
together with the sole 311.
In particular, in this case, the orientation surface
315 is provided with raised orientation portions 323.
In particular, in this case the raised orientation
portions 323 are radial and suitable to couple to
complementarily shaped recesses 324 formed on the tread 312
at the abutment surface of the stud 310.
Rotation-preventing means are also associated with the
flanged head 318 and are constituted by points 325 that
protrude below it and are suitable to penetrate the insole
313, perforating it partially.
In practice, operation and application of the stud 310
are as follows.
The user inserts the base 317 from the inside of the
shoe, making the stem 320 protrude at the tread.
In particular, the head 318 is moved into abutment
against the inner surface of the insole 313.
Likewise, the threaded pin 316 is coupled to the female
thread 321.
At this point the user, by means of an Allen key, which
is not shown and normally commercially available, locks the
head 318 and by fitting it inside the recessed hexagonal
socket 319.
In this manner, the user can effectively screw in the
base 317, making the raised orientation portions 323 mate
with the recesses 324 in the preset orientation and fixing
the stud 310 finally to the sole 311.
With particular reference to figures 10 to 12, a stud
according to the invention is generally designated by the
reference numeral 410 in another embodiment.
In a manner which is fully similar to the stud 310, the
stud 410 is applied to a sole 411 and comprises a body 412,
which in this case is substantially shaped like a truncated
cone with an advantageously asymmetrical plan shape, has an
orientation surface 413, and is axially associated with a
threaded pin 414 which can be coupled by screw-and-nut
coupling to a base 415 which is described hereinafter.
Actually, the stud 410 differs from the stud 310 in
that the base 415, in this second embodiment, is composite
and constituted by an external element 416, with a flanged
head 417 and a cylindrical stem 418, in which a through hole
419 is formed axially; said hole is formed by a surface
which is shaped like a truncated cone at the head 417 and is
cylindrical at the stem 418.
The base 415 also comprises an inner element 420 which
is shaped complementarily and inserted in the hole 419 and
is provided with a head 421 with a hexagonal socket 422 and
a stem 423 with a female thread 424 which is suitable to
couple to the pin 414.
In this case, too, the orientation surface 413 is
provided with radial raised portions 425 which are suitable
to couple to corresponding recesses 426 formed in the
regions where the stud 410 abuts against the sole 411.
In this case, rotation-preventing means are also
associated with the head 417 and are constituted by points
427 which protrude below it and are suitable to penetrate
the insole of the sole 411 and partially perforate it.
Application of the stud 410 does not differ
substantially from the application of the stud 310, except
that in this case the Allen key, designated by the reference
numeral 428 here, acts on the inner element 422, which in
turn closes the stud 410 by means of the interposition of
the outer element 416.
In practice it has been observed that the present
invention has achieved its intended aim and objects.
The present invention is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the
scope of the inventive concept.
All the details may also be replaced with other
technically equivalent elements.
The materials and the dimensions may be any according
to requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are
followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been
included for the sole purpose of increasing the
intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such
reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the
interpretation of each element identified by way of example
by such reference signs.