US20070251128A1

US20070251128A1 - Spike-adjustable spiked shoe

Info

Publication number: US20070251128A1
Application number: US11/411,087
Authority: US
Inventors: Li-Hua Yen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-26
Filing date: 2006-04-26
Publication date: 2007-11-01

Abstract

A spike-adjustable spiked shoe includes a plurality of anchored walls on an outsole, each having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface. A positioning unit has an abutment head and a guided end respectively facing toward a bearing wall in the outsole and the inner concave surface, and a tapped bore segment. The abutment head is depressed when it abuts against the bearing wall, thereby generating a sufficient friction force therebetween for holding the positioning unit against the anchored wall. An adjustable spike unit includes a spike body having a tightening surface, and a tightening member secured to the spike body and having a threaded shank that is threadedly engageable with the tapped bore segment such that the spike body can be retained in a normal or adjusted position relative to the outsole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a spiked shoe, more particularly to a spike-adjustable spiked shoe.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional spiked shoe generally includes an outsole, a plurality of spike locking members mounted in the outsole, and a plurality of spikes threadedly connected to the locking members, respectively. Each locking member has a plate portion secured in the outsole, and a tubular portion extending downwardly from the plate portion and having a screw hole such that the respective spike is engaged threadedly with the screw hole.
A variety of athletic spiked shoes are used for different sports, such as soccer, football, baseball, etc., and the players need different spiked shoes with different spike arrangements. For example, a left forward football player needs shoes with spikes slanting leftwards, while a right forward football player needs shoes with spikes slanting rightwards. Thus, it is desirable to have spiked shoes with spikes of different slanting angles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a spike-adjustable spiked shoe which has a plurality of spikes that can be adjustably mounted to an outsole of the shoe in a convenient manner so as to satisfy different requirements of users.
According to this invention, the spike-adjustable spiked shoe includes an outsole having a plurality of anchored walls, each of which has an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface opposite to each other in an upright direction. The outsole has a plurality of accommodation chambers, each extending from the respective inner concave surface to terminate at a bearing wall. The outer convex surface has an access opening which extends along a centerline and through the inner concave surface to be communicated with the respective accommodation chamber. Each of a plurality of positioning units has an abutment head and a guided end which are opposite to each other along an axis that is aligned with the centerline when the respective positioning unit is in a normal position, and that forms an angle with the centerline when the respective positioning unit is in an adjusted position, and which face toward the bearing wall and the inner concave surface, respectively. The abutment head is depressed when the abutment head abuts against the bearing wall such that a sufficient friction force is generated therebetween for holding the respective positioning unit in one of the normal and adjusted positions. Each positioning unit has a tapped bore segment extending from the guided end along the axis towards the abutment head. Each of a plurality of adjustable spike units includes a spike body and a tightening member. The spike body has a bottom surface for treading on a ground surface, and a tightening surface opposite to the bottom surface along the axis. The tightening member has a connecting end secured to the spike body, and a threaded shank that extends from the tightening surface along the axis, and that terminates at a forcing end. The threaded shank is configured to threadedly engage the tapped bore segment such that once the forcing end is brought to abut against the abutment head after the threaded shank is extended through the access opening to place the spike body in one of the normal and adjusted positions, the tightening surface is brought to move towards the outer convex surface, thereby ensuring generation of the sufficient frictional force between the abutment head and the bearing wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly exploded and sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a spike-adjustable spiked shoe according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an anchoring member and a spike unit shown in FIG. 2, taken along lines 3-3 thereof;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the spike unit in an adjusted position; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the spike-adjustable spiked shoe according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a spike-adjustable spiked shoe according to the present invention is shown to comprise an upper 1, a sole member 10, a plurality of positioning units, a plurality of adjustable spike units 50, and a plurality of anchoring members 60.
The sole member 10 has an insole 2 disposed underneath the upper 1, and an outsole 11 opposite to the insole 2 in an upright direction. The outsole 11 includes a plurality of anchored walls 12, each of which has a hemispherical wall portion 14 that extends downwardly of a bottom surface 111 of the outsole 11 and that includes an outer convex surface 142 and an inner concave surface 141 opposite to the outer convex surface 142 in the upright direction. The outsole 11 has a plurality of accommodation chambers 13, each extending from a respective one of the inner concave surfaces 141 towards the insole 2 to terminate at a bearing wall 22. The outer convex surface 142 has an access opening 15 which extends along a centerline (L1) and through the inner concave surface 141 to be communicated with the respective accommodation chamber 13. In this embodiment, the outsole 11 and the anchored walls 12 are integrally formed and are made from a plastic material. The bearing wall 22 is made from a metal material (a first material) that is more rigid than that of the outsole 11, and has a flat underside surface 221. A guiding member 21 is integrally formed with the respective bearing wall 22 by means of soldering, and is disposed in the respective accommodation chambers 13. The guiding member 21 has a convex attachment surface 211 which is attached to the inner concave surface 141, a concave guiding surface 212 opposite to the convex attachment surface 211 in the upright direction, and a penetrating hole 213 extending through the convex attachment surface 211 and the concave guiding surface 212. The bearing wall 22 and the guiding member 21 are mounted in the accommodation chamber 13 before the anchored wall 12 is formed.
Each positioning unit includes a shiftable body 30 and a deformable abutment head 40 which are opposite to each other along an axis (L2) that is aligned with the centerline (L1) when the positioning unit is in a normal position (as shown in FIG. 2), and that forms an angle with the centerline (L2) when the positioning unit is in an adjusted position (as shown in FIG. 4). The positioning unit is placed on the respective guiding member 21 before the bearing wall 22 is welded to the guiding member 21.
Specifically, the shiftable body 30 has a guided end 311 facing the inner concave surface 141 and in the form of a convex sliding surface to matingly and slidably engage the concave guiding surface 212, and a seat end 322 which is opposite to the guided end 311 along the axis (L2). The shiftable body 30 has a tapped bore segment 321 which extends from the guided end 311 along the axis (L2) towards the abutment head 40, and an insert bore 324 that extends from the tapped bore segment 321 through the seat end 322.
The abutment head 40 is made from a deformable material, such as a soft plastic, rubber material, etc., and includes an abutment portion 41 facing toward the bearing wall 22, and an insert portion 42 which is opposite to the abutment portion 41 along the axis (L2) and which is disposed in the insert bore 324. The abutment portion 41 is depressed when it abuts against the underside surface 221 of the bearing wall 22, thereby generating a sufficient friction force therebetween to hold the positioning unit in one of the normal and adjusted positions.
Each spike unit 50 includes a spike body 52 and a tightening member 51. The spike body 52 has a bottom surface 523 for treading on the ground, and a concave tightening surface 521 opposite to the bottom surface 523 along the axis (L2). The tightening member 51 has a connecting end 511 secured to the spike body 52, and a threaded shank 512 which is opposite to the connecting end 511, which extends upwardly of the tightening surface 521 along the axis (L2), and which terminates at a forcing end 513. The threaded shank 512 is configured to be threadedly engageable with the tapped bore segment 321.
Each anchoring member 60 is made from a plastic material (a second material) that is more rigid than that of the outsole 11, and includes a concave engaging major surface 61 and a convex tightened major surface 62 which is opposite to the engaging major surface 61, and which has a through hole 63 extending through the engaging major surface 61. A plurality of engaging pointed ends 611 are disposed on and extend from the engaging major surface 61 to penetrate the outer convex surface 142 when the tightening surface 521 abuts against the tightened major surface 62.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when it is desired to assemble each spike unit 50 to the outsole 11, due to the frictional force generated between the abutment head 40 and the bearing wall 22, the threaded shank 512 is brought to pass through the through hole 63, the access opening 15 and the through hole 213, and is threadedly engaged with the tapped bore segment 321. Subsequently, when the forcing end 513 of the tightening member 51 is brought to abut against the insert portion 42 of the abutment head 40 to place the spike body 52 in one of the normal and adjusted positions, the tightening surface 521 is brought to abut against the tightened major surface 62 so as to force the engaging major surface 61 to be anchored on the outer convex surface 142. The pointed ends 611 can penetrate the outer convex surface 142 for an enhanced retaining effect.
Moreover, there are provided a plurality of restraining mechanisms 621, 522, each of which is disposed between the tightened major surface 62 and the tightening surface 521. Each restraining mechanism 621, 522 includes an engaging tooth 621 which is disposed on and which extends from the tightened major surface 62, and a uni-directional tooth 522 which is disposed on and which extends from the tightening surface 521. Hence, when the tightening surface 521 is brought into contact with the tightened major surface 62 by virtue of screw-in movement of the threaded shank 512 into the tapped bore segment 321 in a first rotational direction (I), the uni-directional tooth 522 is permitted to pass over the engaging tooth 621. The uni-directional tooth 522 is blocked by the engaging tooth 621 once the threaded shank 512 is turned in an opposite second rotational direction (II). Thus, the restraining mechanism 621, 522 permits a continuous screw-in movement while guarding against a screw-out rotation of the threaded shank 512 relative to the tapped bore segment 321.
FIG. 2 shows the spike unit 50 in the normal position, where the axis (L2) is aligned with the centerline (L1), i.e., the spike unit 50 is positioned in the upright direction. When the spike unit 50 is required to be placed in the adjusted position as shown in FIG. 4, the operator can move the spike unit 50 relative to the outsole 11 by sliding the guiding member 21 to a desired angular position before bringing the tightening surface 521 and the engaging major surface 61 into a tight engagement with the tightened major surface 62 and the outer convex surface 142, respectively. The threaded shank 512 is then screwed into the tapped bore segment 321 to tightly retain the spike unit 50 on the outsole 11 in the aforesaid manner. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the bearing wall 22 can serve as a limit to the sliding movement of the guided end 311.
Referring to FIG. 5, another preferred embodiment of a spike-adjustable spiked shoe according to this invention is similar to the above embodiment in construction, except that the abutment portion 41 of the abutment head 40 and the bearing wall 22 respectively have a convex surface and a concave surface for mating with each other so as to generate a good retaining effect.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A spike-adjustable spiked shoe, comprising:

an upper;

a sole member having an insole disposed underneath said upper, and an outsole opposite to said insole in an upright direction, said outsole including a plurality of anchored walls, each of said anchored walls having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface opposite to said outer convex surface in the upright direction, said outsole having a plurality of accommodation chambers, each extending from a respective one of said inner concave surfaces towards said insole to terminate at a bearing wall, said outer convex surface having an access opening which extends along a centerline and through said inner concave surface to be communicated with a respective one of said accommodation chambers;

a plurality of positioning units, each having an abutment head and a guided end which are opposite to each other along an axis that is aligned with the centerline when a respective one of said positioning units is in a normal position, and that forms an angle with the centerline when the respective one of said positioning units is in an adjusted position, and which face toward said bearing wall and said inner concave surface, respectively, said abutment head being depressed when said abutment head abuts against said bearing wall such that a sufficient friction force is generated therebetween to hold a respective one of said positioning units in one of the normal and adjusted positions, each of said positioning units having a tapped bore segment which extends from said guided end along the axis towards said abutment head; and

a plurality of adjustable spike units, each including

a spike body which has a bottom surface for treading on a ground surface, and a tightening surface opposite to said bottom surface along the axis, and

a tightening member having a connecting end secured to said spike body, and a threaded shank that is opposite to said connecting end, that extends from said tightening surface along the axis, and that terminates at a forcing end, said threaded shank being configured to threadedly engage with said tapped bore segment such that once said forcing end is brought to abut against said abutment head after said threaded shank is extended through said access opening so as to place said spike body in one of the normal and adjusted positions, said tightening surface is brought to move towards said outer convex surface, thereby ensuring the generation of the sufficient frictional force between said abutment head and said bearing wall.

2. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 1, wherein said bearing wall is made from a first material that is more rigid than that of said outsole, and wherein each of said positioning units includes

a shiftable body having a seat end and said guided end, said seat end and said guided end being opposite to each other along the axis, said shiftable body having an insert bore that extends from said tapped bore segment through said seat end, and

said abutment head being made from a deformable material, said abutment head including an insert portion disposed in said insert bore, and said abutment portion, which is opposite to said insert portion along the axis, and which is configured such that said abutment portion is depressed and deformed when said abutment portion abuts against said bearing wall so as to generate the sufficient friction force therebetween for holding said shiftable body in one of the normal and adjusted positions.

3. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of anchoring members, each of which is made from a second material more rigid than that of said outsole, and each of which includes an engaging major surface and a tightened major surface that is opposite to said engaging major surface, and that has a through hole extending through said engaging major surface such that once said forcing end of said tightening member is brought to abut against said insert portion after said threaded shank is extended through said through hole and said access opening so as to place said spike body in one of the normal and adjusted positions, said tightening surface is brought to abut against said tightened major surface so as to force said engaging major surface to be anchored onto said outer convex surface, thereby ensuring the generation of the sufficient frictional force between said abutment portion and said bearing wall.

4. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 3, wherein each of said anchoring members has a plurality of engaging pointed ends which are disposed on and which extend from said engaging major surface to penetrate said outer convex surface when said tightening surface abuts against said tightened major surface.

5. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of restraining mechanisms, each of which is disposed between said tightened major surface and said tightening surface such that once said tightening surface is brought into contact with said tightened major surface by virtue of screw-in movement of said threaded shank into said tapped bore segment, said restraining mechanism permits a continuous screw-in movement of said threaded shank while guarding against a screw-out rotation of said threaded shank relative to said tapped bore segment.

6. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of guiding members, each of which is disposed in a respective one of said accommodation chambers, and each of which is made from the first material, each of said guiding members having a convex attachment surface which is attached to said inner concave surface, and a concave guiding surface which is opposite to said convex attachment surface in the upright direction and which is configured to matingly engage said guided end so as to guide movement of said spike unit relative to said outsole between the normal and adjusted positions.

7. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 6, wherein said bearing wall is integrally formed with said guiding member so as to enable said bearing wall to serve as a limit to a sliding movement of said guided end.

8. The spike-adjustable spiked shoe of claim 1, wherein said abutment portion and said bearing wall respectively have a convex surface and a concave surface for mating with each other.