Patent ID: 9565890
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: A43B

Claim:
1. An apparatus comprising: a retaining device; and a plurality of flexible spike devices, which have memory of form so that each of the plurality of flexible spike devices is adapted to be flexed by a flexing force to change from a rest state into a deformed state, and when the flexing force is removed, each of the plurality of flexible spike devices returns to a rest state; wherein the retaining device is adapted to be temporarily attached to a shoe; wherein the retaining device is adapted so that the plurality of spike devices is adapted to be attached or detached from the retaining device, while the retaining device is temporarily attached to the shoe; wherein the retaining device has a toe end and a heel end; wherein the retaining device has a plurality of first chambers and second chambers; wherein each of the plurality of first chambers leads to a corresponding one of the plurality of second chambers; wherein each of the plurality of first chambers is substantially smaller than each of the plurality of second chambers; wherein the retaining device is adapted to be temporarily attached to the shoe so that each of the plurality of second chambers lies between the shoe and one of the plurality of first chambers; wherein each of the plurality of flexible spike devices includes a top portion, a middle portion, and a base portion; wherein in a non compressed state, each of the top portions of each of the flexible spike devices has an area substantially larger than each of the plurality of first chambers; wherein in a compressed state, each of the top portions of each of the flexible spike devices has an area which is less than or equal to each of the plurality of first chambers so that each of the top portions is adapted to be inserted into and through each of the plurality of first chambers; wherein each of the flexible spike devices is adapted to be inserted into the retaining device so that each of the top portions sits within one of the plurality of second chambers while simultaneously each of the middle portions sits within one of the plurality of first chambers; wherein the retaining device comes in contact with a sole of the shoe at a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions immediately adjacent one of the plurality of second chambers, when the retaining device is temporarily attached to the shoe without any of the flexible spike devices being inserted into the retaining device; and wherein the retaining device comes in contact with the sole of the shoe at the plurality of regions, when the retaining device is temporarily attached to the shoe, and with the flexible spike devices inserted into the retaining device, so that each of the top portions sits within one of the plurality of second chambers while simultaneously each of the middle portions sits within one of the plurality of first chambers.