Patent ID: 6058627
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A43C

Abstract:
An article of footwear comprising:a sole having a front end, a back end, a bottom surface, a cavity formed therein, a hole extending from said cavity to said bottom surface, a first channel extending from said cavity to said front end and a second channel extending from said cavity to said back end;a traction improving spike having a first end and a second end, said spike being disposed in said hole and translatable along its longitudinal axis between an extended position wherein said first end protrudes from said bottom surface of said sole and a retracted position wherein said first end does not protrude from said bottom surface of said sole; anda slide member slidably disposed in said cavity and having a first surface oriented towards said spike, said slide member having a recess formed in said first surface and being translatable in a lengthwise direction with respect to said sole between a first position wherein said recess is aligned with said spike so that said spike assumes its retracted position and a second position wherein said recess is not aligned with said spike so that said spike assumes its extended position, said slide member further having a front tab received in said first channel and a back tab received in said second channel, wherein said front tab protrudes from said front end and said back tab does not protrude from said back end when said slide member is in one of its first and second positions and said back tab protrudes from said back end and said front tab does not protrude from said front end when said slide member is in the other of its first and second positions.