GB2088196A

GB2088196A - Studs for footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2088196A
Application number: GB8038503A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: KNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: KNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1980-12-01
Filing date: 1980-12-01
Publication date: 1982-06-09

Abstract

A sole (10) of a sports shoe, particularly a golf shoe is provided with a moulded blind socket (12) having internal threads cooperating with external threads on an annular boss member (13) which has an external flange (14) on the bottom surface (15) of the sole (10). A stud (17) extends through the boss member (13) and is trapped by means of its head (18) between the member (13) and the bottom of the hole (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to sporting footwear This invention is concerned with studded sporting footwear and in particular with golf shoes.

Golf shoes, as is well known, are provided with studs on the soles thereof to ensure a secure footing as the golfer plays. To avoid damage to the greens the studs are in the form of thin spikes, but such spikes even though customarily made of metal do wear considerably as a golfer will normally have to walk on concrete or similar hard surfaces at least in the vicinity of the clubhouse.

For this reason the studs require to be replaced from time to time but in this connection problems arise because of corrosion caused by the conditions of use of the shoes and accentuated by the chemical dressings put on greens.

Probably the most common used type of golf shoe stud uses a metal stud screwed into a threaded metal socket secured in the sole of the shoe. This involves metal to metal contact between the stud and the socket so that rust and corrosion tend to bond together the stud and the socket. Any attempt then to unscrew the stud tends to detach or unseat the socket from the sole which damages the sole and/or renders it virtually impossible to unscrew the stud.

Several attempts have been made to overcome these problems. In one arrangement the assembled stud and socket are moulded into the sole during manufacture of the shoe, the moulding operation providing a seal which largely avoids the corrosion problem. Thus there is little difficulty in replacing the studs the first time but inevitably the first replacement breaks the seal and renders it subsequently ineffective.

Another arrangement attempts to avoid the whole problem of stud wear by using tungsten spikes moulded into the sole. This approach is successful in that the shoes wear out before the studs but very considerably problems reiating to the anchorage of the studs arise during production, which problems are generally thought to outweigh the advantages of the approach.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stud arrangement which does not cause problems during manufacture and which allows for easy replacement of worn studs.

The present invention is a sole, in or for sporting footwear, having located therein several blind sockets having internal threads, each of said sockets being formed of corrosion-proof material and containing an annular member having an external threaded surface engaged with the internal threads of the socket and a stud which projects through the annular member beyond the bottom surface of the sole, the stud being provided with a head which is trapped between the annular member and the bottom of the socket.

Preferably the annular member is provided with a flange in engagement with the bottom surface of the sole and said flange is provided with indentations for engagement by a tool when the annular member is to be screwed into or out of the socket.

The annular member and the sole may be moulded from the same plastics material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a cross section through the sole of a golf shoe and a stud therein.

Referring now to the drawing, a sole 10 of a golf shoe has moulded therein during manufacture several blind sockets such as the socket 12 illustrated having internal threads. Located in the socket 12 is an annular boss member 13 provided with external threads which engage the internal threads of the socket and secure the boss in position. The boss member 13 is also provided with an external flange 1 4 which is in engagement with the bottom surface 1 5 of the sole 10. The flange 14 is provided on its exposed bottom surface with conventional indentations (not illustrated) designed to be engaged by a tool for screwing the member into and out of the socket.

A metal stud 1 7 projects through the boss member 13 beyond the surface 1 5 of the sole and has a head 1 8 which is trapped between the member 13 and the bottom of the socket 12 to secure the stud 1 7 in position.

The manufacture of the sole described above uses only well established moulding techniques but it can be seen that as the socket is moulded in a rust and corrosion proof material, typically a plastics material, there is no tendency for the member 13 to become bonded to the threads of the socket. In point of fact it is preferred in any event to make the member 13 also of a plastics material. In this way, when a stud is to be replaced it is not difficult to unscrew the member 13, replace the worn stud, and screw the member 13 back into the socket without in any way damaging the socket.

While the embodiment described has the socket 12 moulded into the sole during the manufacture thereof it would also be possible to preform the socket of corrosion-proof material and subsequently locate it in position in the sole.

1. A sole, in or for sporting footwear, having located therein several blind sockets having internal threads, each of said sockets being formed of corrosion-proof material and containing an annular member having an external threaded surface engaged with the internal threads of the socket and a stud which projects through the annular member beyond the bottom surface of the sole, the stud being provided with a head which is trapped between the annular member and the bottom surface of the socket.

2. A sole as claimed in claim 1, in which the annular member is provided with a flange in engagement with the bottom surface of the sole and said flange is provided with indentations for engagement by a tool when the annular member

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to sporting footwear This invention is concerned with studded sporting footwear and in particular with golf shoes. Golf shoes, as is well known, are provided with studs on the soles thereof to ensure a secure footing as the golfer plays. To avoid damage to the greens the studs are in the form of thin spikes, but such spikes even though customarily made of metal do wear considerably as a golfer will normally have to walk on concrete or similar hard surfaces at least in the vicinity of the clubhouse. For this reason the studs require to be replaced from time to time but in this connection problems arise because of corrosion caused by the conditions of use of the shoes and accentuated by the chemical dressings put on greens. Probably the most common used type of golf shoe stud uses a metal stud screwed into a threaded metal socket secured in the sole of the shoe. This involves metal to metal contact between the stud and the socket so that rust and corrosion tend to bond together the stud and the socket. Any attempt then to unscrew the stud tends to detach or unseat the socket from the sole which damages the sole and/or renders it virtually impossible to unscrew the stud. Several attempts have been made to overcome these problems. In one arrangement the assembled stud and socket are moulded into the sole during manufacture of the shoe, the moulding operation providing a seal which largely avoids the corrosion problem. Thus there is little difficulty in replacing the studs the first time but inevitably the first replacement breaks the seal and renders it subsequently ineffective. Another arrangement attempts to avoid the whole problem of stud wear by using tungsten spikes moulded into the sole. This approach is successful in that the shoes wear out before the studs but very considerably problems reiating to the anchorage of the studs arise during production, which problems are generally thought to outweigh the advantages of the approach. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stud arrangement which does not cause problems during manufacture and which allows for easy replacement of worn studs. The present invention is a sole, in or for sporting footwear, having located therein several blind sockets having internal threads, each of said sockets being formed of corrosion-proof material and containing an annular member having an external threaded surface engaged with the internal threads of the socket and a stud which projects through the annular member beyond the bottom surface of the sole, the stud being provided with a head which is trapped between the annular member and the bottom of the socket. Preferably the annular member is provided with a flange in engagement with the bottom surface of the sole and said flange is provided with indentations for engagement by a tool when the annular member is to be screwed into or out of the socket. The annular member and the sole may be moulded from the same plastics material. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a cross section through the sole of a golf shoe and a stud therein. Referring now to the drawing, a sole 10 of a golf shoe has moulded therein during manufacture several blind sockets such as the socket 12 illustrated having internal threads. Located in the socket 12 is an annular boss member 13 provided with external threads which engage the internal threads of the socket and secure the boss in position. The boss member 13 is also provided with an external flange 1 4 which is in engagement with the bottom surface 1 5 of the sole 10. The flange 14 is provided on its exposed bottom surface with conventional indentations (not illustrated) designed to be engaged by a tool for screwing the member into and out of the socket. A metal stud 1 7 projects through the boss member 13 beyond the surface 1 5 of the sole and has a head 1 8 which is trapped between the member 13 and the bottom of the socket 12 to secure the stud 1 7 in position. The manufacture of the sole described above uses only well established moulding techniques but it can be seen that as the socket is moulded in a rust and corrosion proof material, typically a plastics material, there is no tendency for the member 13 to become bonded to the threads of the socket. In point of fact it is preferred in any event to make the member 13 also of a plastics material. In this way, when a stud is to be replaced it is not difficult to unscrew the member 13, replace the worn stud, and screw the member 13 back into the socket without in any way damaging the socket. While the embodiment described has the socket 12 moulded into the sole during the manufacture thereof it would also be possible to preform the socket of corrosion-proof material and subsequently locate it in position in the sole. CLAIMS

2. A sole as claimed in claim 1, in which the annular member is provided with a flange in engagement with the bottom surface of the sole and said flange is provided with indentations for engagement by a tool when the annular member is to be screwed into or out of the socket.

3. A sole as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the annular member and the sole are moulded from the same plastics material.

4. A sole, in or for sporting footwear, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.