Patent ID: 6701645
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
In a shoe that includes a sole having a bottom surface, the improvement comprising:a circular cavity in the shoe sole bottom surface; a circular traction pad located within said cavity; said traction pad having a central axis; and means for rotatably mounting said traction pad in said cavity, whereby the pad is rotatable around said central axis; said circular cavity having a roof surface and a cylindrical side surface extending from said roof surface to the sole bottom surface; said traction pad comprising a rigid flat circular plate having a circular edge in close clearance relation to the cavity side surface, and a rigid circular post extending axially from said plate; said post having a free end located in close proximity to the cavity roof surface; said mounting means comprising an annular bearing housing bonded to the cavity side surface, an annular anti-friction bearing interposed between said housing and said traction pad, and a retainer releasably secured to said circular post near the post free end for preventing axial play of the traction pad toward or away from the cavity roof surface; said housing having an axial thickness dimension that is a significant percentage of the distance from the cavity roof to the sole bottom surface, whereby the bond between the housing and the cavity side surface has a substantial surface area.