US3543420A - Sport shoe - Google Patents

Description

US. Cl. 362.5 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A heelless track shoe has a sole with a resilient run ning surface which has substantially the same roughness and is made of the same material as the cover layer of a racing track or playing field to be used by the wearer of the shoe.

The invention relates to a sport shoe and particularly to a track shoe to be used on racing tracks and playing fields which are covered with a layer of a synthetic plastic material having a resilient rough surface.

Track shoes with spikes on the sole are known. Shoes of this kind are suitable for cinder covered tracks and playing fields as were heretofore in general use for sport competitions.

Recently, racing tracks and playing fields which are covered with a layer of a synthetic plastic material with a resilient rough surface have become popular. There are now widely used tracks and playing fields covered with a synthetic resin material known and marketed under the trademark Tartan (Trademark 767,385 of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company).

Conventional track shoes with spikes are not suitable for use on racing tracks and playing fields covered with such resilient Tartan layer. When a track athlete races on a Tartan layer the spikes of his shoes will more or less deeply penetrate into the cover layer. Penetration and withdrawal of the spikes at each step require an eifort which appreciably atfects the performance of the athlete.

Accordingly, it has been found desirable to provide a track shoe which is specially adapted for use on tracks and playing fields covered with a resilient layer as above referred to in that the shoe permits putting down and raising of the foot without requiring the additional efiort required for pulling out the spikes at each step and which also prevents skidding or slipping of the runner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved track shoe which does not require an increased effort on the part of the athlete and which counteracts skidding or slipping on a track or playing field covered with a resilient layer as hereinbefore referred to.

The aforepointed out objects, features and advantages and other objects, features and advantages which will be pointed out hereinafter are obtained by providing a track shoe the sole of which has substantially the same degree of surface roughness as the resilient surface of the layer covering the racing track or the playing field.

nted States Pate Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Preferably, the sole of the shoe is made of the same synthetic plastic material such as a resilient synthetic resin material as the cover layer on the track or playing field.

A track shoe according to the invention has the advantage that spikes as heretofore have been considered to be necessary, are no longer required. The additional eifort needed at each step of the runner for pressing the spikes into the track and the subsequent retraction of the spikes is eliminated. Tests have shown that as a result, the capability of the runner is substantially increased. A further advantage is that protection against skidding or slipping is the same as was heretofore obtainable only by the use of spikes. The roughness of the sole of the shoe and the substantially equal roughness of the layer on which the athlete runs, produce a high degree of friction and thus prevention of skidding or slipping as the feet of the runner can safely roll off on the ground with full force.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a track shoe according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line IIII of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the figures more in detail, the exemplified track shoe is constructed in a substantially conventional fashion, that is, the shoe comprises an upper a, an outer running sole b, an inner sole 0 and a filler sole d filling the gap left by the turned-in part of the u per.

Running sole [1 has a roughened surface as is indicated, and if the racing track or the playing field on which a sport competition is to take place is covered with a resilient Tartan layer the sole b is also made of this material and is given approximately the same roughness as the layer.

What is claimed is:

1. A track shoe in coordination with an athletic track covered with a layer of resilient synthetic resin material having a roughened running surface, comprises a sole made of the same resilient synthetic resin material as said layer and a running surface of substantially the same roughness, the running surfaces of the track and the sole being mutually engageable with a frictional grip and yielding in response to mutual pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,782 6/1952 Gillis 36-25 2,620,574 12/ 1952 Pepperman 36--28 X 3,052,046 9/1962 Kramer 36--9 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

asrarza Dec. E,

. DASSLER 3,543,420

SPORT SHOE Filed Sept. 6. 1968 KNVE BY \dmm my QTTo

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