GB2103069A - Sporting overshoes - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible sole 1 has ground engaging spikes 3 and is securable over a normal shoe by lace 13 threaded through flaps 7. Fig. 4 shows spike flanges 8 glued between sole layers 2 and 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A shoe sole This invention relates to improvements in and relating to footwear.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a spiked sole which can be secured to the foot or normal non-golfing footwear of a golfer. Other uses of the invention wherever an improved foot hold may be required will be readily apparent.

To the present time it has been known to provide especially made golfing shoes having a sole which is spiked so as to facilitate a golfer's foot hold on the golf course.

However such golfing shoes have generally been expensive and by their very nature would not be used outside the golf course.

It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a detachable spiked sole which enables a golfer's non-golfing footwear to be worn when playing golf thus doing away with the need for especially made golfing shoes to be bought.

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is thus provided a sole having a plurality of downwardly depending spikes protruding from a surface thereof, attachment means provided about the periphery of said sole and adapted to be securable about a person's foot or shoe.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 shows, diagrammatically, an underneath perspective view of a sole according to one embodiment of the invention attached to the wearer's shoe; FIGURE2 shows, diagrammatically, a plan view, from above, of the sole of Figure 1; FIGURE3 shows, diagrammatically, a plan view, from below, of the sole of Figure 1 when opened out; FIGURE4 shows, diagrammatically, a view along arrows IV-lV of Figure 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings a sole according to one embodiment of the invention is referenced generally by arrow 1.

The sole 1 is shown having a bottom surface 2 having a plurality of protruding spikes 3.

Referring to Figure 4 each spike 3 is shown having a head 8 trapped between the bottom sole surface 2 and a top sole surface 4, the surfaces 2 and 4 being secured together suitably by adhesive 5 and/or stitching (not shown).

Each spike 3 is shown of a substantially frustoconical cross-sectional shape ending in a narrow flat top surface 6.

The spikes 3 may suitably be formed from a metal such as steel or aluminium, and the sole surfaces 2 and 4 may suitably be strips of leather, plastics or the like with the bottom sole surface 2 having apertures formed or provided therein to accommodate a respective spike 3.

In an alternative embodiment the sole 1 may be formed in one piece, for example moulded from a suitable plastics material, with the spikes 3 formed integrally therewith.

The bottom sole surface 2 however in the embodiments shown is seen to have a plurality of flaps 7 extending outwardly therefrom about Its periphery.

Thus in Figures 2 and 3 particularly the sole 1 is shown having a front flap 7A, front side flaps 7B, central side flaps 7C, rear side flaps 7D and rear flaps 7E, each of the flaps being shown provided with an eyelet or the like 9. The rear flaps 7E are shown connected with the bottom sole 2 by a neck 10 which in use as seen in Figure 1 will extend upwardly behind the heel 11 of a golfer's normal shoe 12.

A single lace or the like 13 is shown threaded through the respective eyelets 9 of the flaps 7 such that when the free ends 1 3A are brought together, tensioned and tied the flaps 7 will extend upwardly around the shoe 12 to thus be firmly secured thereagainst to avoid any sliding movement between the sole 1 and the shoe 1 2.

This is facilitated particularly by the upwardly directed neck portion 10 at the rear of the sole 1 and the upwardly directed front flap 7A. One or more 'S' shaped clips (not shown) could if required be engaged between extra eyelets 9 (not shown) on the flap(s) 7E and the rear of the shoe 1 2 so as to enhance its securement with the sole 1.

The lace 1 3 (more than one lace could of course be used if required) is shown threaded so as to cross over the shoe 1 2 between respective eyelets and in extending from the rear flaps 7E to respective rear side flaps 7D will bring these two flaps together, as shown particularly in Figure 1, to thus snugly accommodate the rear of the shoe 12.

The lace 1 3 as it passes around and through the eyelet in the front flap 7A is shown provided with a knot 1 3B to thus prevent the lace 1 3 being pulled through.

To assist in holding the sole 1 about the shoe or, particularly in hot countries, the wearer's foot, the rear neck portion 10 extending into the rear flaps 7E may as shown be of greater width than the side and front flaps 7.

Also whilst a composite structure using a substantially non-elastic material such as leather may in one embodiment be used, in an alternative embodiment it is envisaged that a substantially resilient material such as rubber may be used such that its elasticity may assist in the sole 1 being held about the wearer's shoe or foot.

Also in a further embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that the sole 1 could be provided in one or more portions, for example a sole and heel portion, which could if necessary have separate attachment means for securement about the wearer's foot or shoe. In this latter regard it is envisaged that the heel/shoe spiked portions may be provided for simply glueing and/or nailing onto an existing shoe.

Where in the aforegoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A sole having a plurality of downwardly depending spikes protruding from a surface thereof, attachment means provided about the periphery of said sole and adapted to be securable about a person's foot or shoe.

2. A sole as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of flaps spaced apart about the periphery of said surface.

3. A sole as claimed in Claim 2 wherein each flap includes an eyelet through which a lace can be passed, in use, to extend over the person's foot or shoe prior to being tightened and tied whereby the flaps extend upwardly about the said foot or shoe.

4. A sole as claimed in Claim 3 wherein a pair of rear flaps are connected together and to the said surface by a neck portion which in use extends upwardly behind the heel of the said foot or shoe.

5. A sole as claimed in Claim 4 wherein a rear side flap is provided on each side of said surface and positioned such that in use each of said rear flaps is brought into engagement with a respective rear side flap to provide an enclosure within which the rear of the foot or shoe can be accommodated.

6. A sole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and formed from a pair of strips of material secured together.

7. A sole as claimed in Claim 6 wherein each spike protrudes through a respective aperture in a bottom one of said strips of material and a head portion of each of said spikes is accommodated between said strips of material upon securement thereof.

8. A sole as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein at least said surface and said downwardly depending spikes are integrally formed.

9. A sole as claimed in Claim 8 moulded from a plastics material.

10. A sole as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 when dependent on any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein each of said flaps is formed integrally with a bottom one of said strips of said flexible material.

10. A sole as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 when dependent on any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein each of said flaps is formed integrally with a bottom one of said strips of material.

1 A sole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including one or more clips to connect a wearer's shoe with said attachment means.

12. A sole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each of said spikes is of a substantially frusto-conical cross-sectional shape.

13: A sole substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 10th Now. 1981 Superseded claims 1, 6, 7, 10 New or amended claims:

1. A sole formed from a flexible material and having a plurality of downwardly depending spikes protruding from a surface thereof, attachment means provided about the periphery of said sole and adapted to be securable about a person's foot or shoe.

6. A sole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and formed from a pair of strips of said flexible material secured together.

7. A sole as claimed in Claim 6 wherein each spike protrudes through a respective aperture in a bottom one of said strips of said flexible material and a head portion of each of said spikes is accommodated between said strips of material upon securement thereof.