Patent ID: 6076283
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A shoe sole defining a shoe outsole surface for gripping engagement upon a wet walking surface, said shoe outsole surface comprising:channels separating the shoe outsole surface into a plurality of discrete outsole regions, said channels being recessed, relative to the walking surface, from a plane of the shoe outsole surface, thereby to permit flow, from beneath said shoe outsole surface, of water displaced from the wet walking surface by engagement of the shoe outsole surface thereupon,said plurality of discrete outsole regions comprising:a first outsole region comprising a structural characteristic having a ridged region, said ridged region having a multiplicity of spaced, generally parallel ridges defining opposed, sharp, generally elongated gripping edges disposed generally in said plane of said shoe outsole surface for gripping engagement with the wet walking surface,a second outsole region comprising a structural characteristic having a ridged region, said ridged region having a multiplicity of spaced, generally parallel ridges defining opposed, sharp, generally elongated gripping edges disposed generally in said plane of said shoe outsole surface for gripping engagement with the wet walking surface,a third outsole region comprising a structural characteristic having a stippling region, said stippling region having a multiplicity of spaced apart protrusions extending from a base surface toward the walking surface, each said protrusion defining a circumferential, walking-surface-engaging edge in said plane of said shoe outsole surface, disposed for gripping engagement with the wet walking surface during walking motion of the shoe upon the wet walking surface, said base surface of said stippling region being recessed, relative to the walking surface, from said plane of said shoe outsole surface, said third outsole region having a barrier extending there around and upstanding from the base surface to extend toward said plane of said shoe outsole surface, one of said channels and extending about said barrier, anda fourth outsole region comprising a structural characteristic having a flat surface region, said flat surface region having a relatively smooth, flat surface disposed generally in said plane of said shoe outsole surface for engagement with the wet walking surface during walking motion of the shoe upon the wet walking surface, andsaid first outsole region and said second outsole region of a common structural characteristic being separated by at least one of said plurality of discrete outsole regions having a different structural characteristic.