Boots – shoes – and leggings – Antislipping devices – String type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-08-21
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Antislipping devices
String type
C036S05900D, C036S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276073
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to dynamic traction elements that are integrally molded within a shoe sole, becoming permanent, non-replaceable ground engaging traction elements.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Athletic shoe spikes used primarily in the sport of golfing have traditionally had a single ground engaging spike which extended downward from the spike base flange about 8 mm. Recently most golf courses have prohibited the use of these traditional golf spikes due to the damage they cause to golf courses and more particularly damage to golf course greens.
The response of golf spike manufacturers to the prohibition of traditional spikes has been to substitute the single 8 mm ground engaging spike with a series of small, approximately 2 mm high protrusions, positioned in typically circular patterns around a traditional spike base flange. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,129). This method provides little ground engaging ability particularly on wet surfaces.
U.S Pat. No. 4,375,728 seems to show at first glance, dynamic traction elements. However, these are used to do away with foam type cushioning midsoles. The patent teaches that the plurality of flexible nubs are used for cushioning purposes as well as for support. There are several flaws with this patent. First, if these flexible nubs were used on a delicate surface such as a golf green there is no cavity for which the flexible nubs can flex into and thus not case a waffling pattern on the green. Second, it appears as illustrated that the design cannot be put into practice as there would be an undercut for each grouping of flexible nubs and therefore impossible to mold as a unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,738 is one of many patents that claim advantages over prior art in the shape or configuration of fixed nubs or patterns on an outsole surface claiming improved traction. The disadvantage to this invention and others like it is in the fact that the traction elements are not dynamic, thus susceptible to the drawbacks mentioned in this application.
(For the sake of simplicity, throughout this text I will refer to all types of fixed static protrusions on alternative spikes whether they are rings, dimples or nubs as “nubs.” Dynamic protrusions that have the ability to flex both up and down will be referred to as “traction elements.”)
Furthermore, traditionally, these spikes are threaded into a receptacle in the shoe outsole. With the introduction of these various types of non-penetrating spikes with nubbed or dynamic elements, there is a greater tendency for these types of spikes to back out of threaded receptacles than is the case for the penetrating spike designs. It is the plurality of nubs placed along the perimeter of the flange like disk which causes these spikes to be susceptible to the rotational forces or “reverse torque” which acts on the spike during a sports activity such as a golf swing.
During a typical golf swing a golfer will pivot both golf shoes while swinging. This pivoting action applies a common type of force to the spikes know as lateral shear. With one single spike per flange as was the case with traditional metal spikes, this lateral shear had little affect on the tensile stress locking means, which is the bases of all threaded devices. The newer type of spikes have a plurality of smaller nubs spaced away from the center axis of the threads. Lateral shear force acting on the nubs in this configuration, applies a torque effect on the spike. If the torque effect is to back the spike out of the threads, we refer to this action as reverse torque. By tensile stress locking we mean that once a thread is tightened it stretches the thread post slightly. This puts both the spike thread and receptacle thread under tensile stress. A combination of tensile stress and friction prevents the thread from backing out. Actually, the design of the traditional spike is an efficient design in terms of shedding torsional loads. The further out the placement of the nubs or traction elements are from the center axis of the spike and the increase in plurality of nubs, the more susceptible the spike is to the aforementioned lateral shear, known as torque or reverse torque. This is further demonstrated by the typical and long used means for applying torque to tighten traditional as well as alternative spikes. This method uses two pins on a spike wrench which grab the spike flange or nub disk close to the outside perimeter of the flange or disk, allowing the user to apply torque to tighten the spike. In the case of the traditional single spike designs, the amount of torque applied usually was sufficient to exceed the reverse torque forces encountered during use. In the case of the newer alternative spike designs, not enough torque can be applied to maintain the tensile stress locking of the spike into the threaded receptacles. Sooner or later the reverse torque acting on the spike during use will exceed the torque used to tighten the spike, eventually loosening the spike. Spikes directly under the pivot area of an outsole will usually loosen before spikes not located in the typical pivot areas on an outsole.
Additionally, these non-penetrating spikes have lower profiles and are suitably shaped to allow them to be molded out of the same material as a rubber outsole.
In response to the aforementioned problem of loose spikes and the suitability for the small nubs to be directly molded into rubber outsoles, manufacturers of golf footwear have been moving towards what is referred to as permanent spikes. This means that the ground engaging elements, usually small nubs on the bottom of a golf shoe outsole are molded directly onto the outsole surface and are not replaceable. The downside to permanent spikes is that once abrasion, which results from ground friction, wears down the permanent nubs, the golf shoe becomes useless as it will loose its traction characteristics.
An additional advantage for the shoe manufacturer of using only permanent spikes rather than replaceable spikes is the ability to do away with receptacles. This reduces costs and allows for more options in the design and material choices of midsoles. Furthermore, golf outsoles without receptacles generally weigh less than outsoles with receptacles.
There are at this time, numerous permanent alternative spike shoes on the market, along with numerous versions of shoes with a combination of permanent spikes and replaceable spikes. These golf shoes with numerous permanent spikes sometimes leave behind, particularly on wet greens, marks referred to as waffle patterns. These waffle patterns are disruptive to golfers as they can redirect the trajectory of putted golf balls.
In summary, first there were for many years traditional 8 mm long single post metal spikes. Each time these spikes penetrated a golf green they would compact the turf, immediately around the hole that the spike made. During a normal week of golf, millions of holes were made in every green. This caused serious compaction problems and resulted in increased maintenance costs. Additionally, the spike marks also reduced the ability to have true trajectories for golf balls rolling on greens.
Then came the typical alternative spike which eliminated the compaction problems of greens and also significantly reduced the problems of spike mark altered ball trajectories. With this change came the problems of loose spikes caused by the aforementioned design criteria. Furthermore, because of the poor abrasion characteristics of molded thermal plastics, which most alternative fixed nubbed spikes are made from, and along with the size and location of the nubs, premature wear caused by typically encountered friction has become a serious problem for golfers.
The current trend to solving these problems is to use numerous permanent alternative type spike nubs molded directly to the outsole or a combination of permanent and a reduced number of replaceable alternative spikes. These solution have reduced the amount of spike loss simply by reducing the amount of replaceable spikes used. Traction has improved as well due
Bourque & Associates P.A.
Patterson M. D.
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