Athletic shoe with retractable spikes

A spiked athletic shoe includes a shoe upper and an outsole housing connected to the shoe upper. The outsole housing includes a bottom having a plurality of spike openings. Spaced-apart rear and front spike plates are positioned within the outsole housing and include a plurality of spikes attached for movement between a spike-extended position through the spike openings and a spike-retracted position. Springs engage the rear and front spike plates for normally urging the rear and front spike plates and attached spikes upwardly into the spike-retracted position. A mechanically-actuated slide overlies the rear and front spike plates for controlling movement of the spike plates between the spike-retracted position and the spike-extended position.

The invention relates to an athletic shoe with retractable spikes, and is
 most applicable for use by golfers, although other application to sports
 and activities using spiked shoes is foreseeable. For example, the shoe
 may be used for baseball, football, hiking, logging, and the like. The
 invention includes means readily operable by the wearer for lifting the
 spikes into a retracted position within the shoe outsole, and for lowering
 the spikes into an extended position. When wearing the shoes on hard
 surfaces or easily damaged surfaces, such as parking lots, sidewalks, wood
 floors, or clubhouse floors, it is generally desirable to position the
 spikes in the retracted position.
 Conventional spiked golf shoes suffer from drawbacks and limitations. Since
 the spikes are secured in a fixed condition directly to the bottom surface
 of the shoe outsole, they remain in constant contact with the ground
 surface during wear. In addition to damage caused by these shoes to hard
 floor surfaces, the spikes can also damage the putting greens of the golf
 course. As a result, there exists a need for a spiked athletic shoe
 wherein the spikes can be quickly and easily moved and retained in a
 retracted position within the shoe during wear.
 The present invention addresses this need by providing a golf shoe with
 retractable spikes. The spikes are fully retractable within the outsole of
 the shoe, and remain in this position during wear until actuated by the
 wearer into the extended position.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic
 shoe wherein the spikes are easily movable by the wearer between a
 spike-extended position and a retracted position within an outsole of the
 shoe.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which will not damage golf greens or club house floors during shoe wear.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which can be worn on hard surfaces without substantial risk of accidents
 and injury.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which uses permanent, wear-resistant spikes.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which is flexible and comfortable to wear.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which will not collect dirt and debris inside the shoe during wear.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which resembles a conventional golf shoe.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which includes a relatively thin outsole compared to other athletic shoes
 having retractable spikes.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spiked athletic shoe
 which includes at least one moveable spike plate.
 These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the
 preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a spiked athletic shoe
 which includes a shoe upper and an outsole housing connected to the shoe
 upper. The outsole housing includes a bottom having a plurality of spike
 openings. Spaced-apart rear and front spike plates are positioned within
 the outsole housing and include a plurality of attached spikes for
 movement between a spike-extended position, wherein the plurality of
 spikes project outwardly from the bottom of the outsole housing, and a
 spike-retracted position, wherein the plurality of spikes are retracted
 within the outsole housing. Biasing means engage the rear and front spike
 plates for normally urging the rear and front spike plates and attached
 spikes upwardly into the spike-retracted position.
 A mechanically-actuated slide overlies the rear and front spike plates for
 controlling movement of the spike plates between the spike-retracted
 position and the spike-extended position. The slide includes a plurality
 outwardly projecting detents. The rear and front spike plates include a
 corresponding plurality of complementary detent-receiving plate openings.
 The plurality of detents and plate openings cooperate upon movement of the
 slide such that upon mating alignment of the detents and plate openings,
 whereby the detents extend entirely through the openings, the biasing
 means moves the rear and front spike plates and attached spikes upwardly
 into the spike-retracted position away from the bottom of the outsole
 housing. Upon offsetting the detents and plate openings, the rear and
 front spike plates and attached spikes move downwardly towards the bottom
 of the outsole housing into the spike-extended position, and remain locked
 in the spike-extended position during shoe wear.
 According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a support cap is
 placed over the outsole housing and includes front and rear flanges for
 supporting the foot of a wearer above the slide and spike plates, and for
 defining a space for movement of the spike plates within the outsole
 housing between the spike-retracted position and the spike-extended
 position.
 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a manual crank
 is attached to the slide and includes an arm section extending outside of
 the outsole housing for being manually actuated by the wearer to move the
 slide within the outsole between a toe end and a heel end of the shoe.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the slide
 includes a center bearing secured to an underside of the slide for
 receiving a center-bearing section of the crank.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the support
 cap includes laterally spaced, stationary side bearings for receiving
 respective side-bearing sections of the crank on opposite sides of the
 slide.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the support
 cap includes a laterally extending flex groove to allow flexing of the
 support cap with the shoe during wear.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the front
 spike plate includes a laterally extending flex groove to allow flexing of
 the front spike plate with the shoe during wear.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the biasing
 means are springs located between the bottom of the outsole housing and
 the rear and front spike plates for normally urging the rear and front
 spike plates and attached spikes upwardly into the spike-retracted
 position.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the springs
 are conical to minimize their height when fully compressed.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each spike
 includes a cylindrical, straight shank portion.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each spike
 includes a ceramic tip.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, respective
 seals are located at the spike openings of the outsole housing to prevent
 entry of dirt and debris inside the shoe.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the seals
 are rubber collars each having top and bottom annular flanges. The
 respective flanges prevent the seals from being dislodged from the outsole
 housing during movement of the spikes between the extended and retracted
 positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
 Referring now specifically to the drawings, a spiked athletic shoe
 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown
 generally at reference numeral 10. The spiked shoe 10 is intended
 primarily for use by golfers, although designs embodying the invention for
 other applications are foreseeable. The spiked shoe 10 includes an outsole
 housing 11 and a shoe upper 12. The shoe upper 12 is attached to the
 outsole housing 11 in a conventional manner and is constructed of any
 suitable material, such as leather.
 The outsole housing 11 and internal components of the spiked shoe 10 are
 best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The outsole housing 11 is preferably
 formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane material, and includes a recessed
 bottom 14 and integrally-formed upstanding sides 15. The bottom 14 is
 relatively thin and includes a number of spike openings 16. The thickness
 of the bottom 14 is preferably about 0.20 inches. The sides 15 are
 relatively narrow along the rear and front portions of the outsole housing
 11, and curve inwardly at a center portion of the outsole housing 11 to
 define laterally spaced mid-sections 18 and 19 of wider dimension.
 Front and rear spike plates 21 and 22 formed of a rigid material, such as
 carbon reinforced plastic, reside within the outsole housing 11 between
 the sides 15 and include outwardly projecting spikes 23. The front spike
 plate 21 preferably includes a laterally-extending flex groove 25 to allow
 flexing of the front plate 21 with the shoe 10 during wear. As described
 further below, the spike plates 21 and 22 are readily movable by the
 wearer between a spike-extended position and a spike-retracted position,
 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, respectively. The thickness of each spike plate 21
 and 22 is about 0.10 inches.
 Conical springs 28, or other biasing means, such as leaf springs or
 resilient foam inserts, are located between the bottom 14 of the outsole
 housing 11 and the spike plates 21 and 22 for normally urging the spike
 plates 21, 22 and attached spikes 23 upwardly into the spike-retracted
 position shown in FIG. 4.
 A flexible slide 30 is positioned in overlying relation to the spike plates
 21 and 22, and includes a number of protruding, solid detents 32 for being
 selectively aligned with and offset from corresponding plate openings 34
 formed in the spike plates 21 and 22. The slide 30 and detents 32 are
 preferably integrally molded of a carbon reinforced plastic material. The
 thickness of the slide 30 is about 0.035 inches, and the height of the
 detents 32 about 0.250 inches.
 When the detents 32 and openings 34 are in vertical mating alignment, as
 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the springs 28 force the spike plates 21, 22 and
 attached spikes 23 upwardly away from the bottom 14 of the outsole housing
 11 and into the spike-retracted position. The detents 32 preferably extend
 entirely through the plate openings 34. When offset from the plate
 openings 34, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the detents 32 of the slide 30
 force the spike plates 21 and 22 downwardly against the bottom 14 of the
 outsole housing 11 to move the spikes 23 into the spike-extended position.
 As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a center bearing 36 is molded to the
 underside of the slide 30 and cooperates with a manual steel crank 38 used
 to move the slide 30 in a lengthwise direction between the heel end and
 toe end of the shoe 10. The center bearing 36 includes a locking channel
 36A which receives an elongate center-bearing section 38A of the crank 38.
 The locking channel 36A allows rotation of the crank 38 in the bearing 36
 and provides a convenient snap attachment for securing the crank 38 to the
 slide 30.
 Opposed, stationary side bearings 42 and 44, shown in FIG. 2, are molded
 with a support cap 46 and include respective locking channels 42A and 44A
 adapted for receiving side-bearing sections 38B and 38C of the crank 38 on
 opposite sides of the slide 30. The support cap 46 includes a rigid top 48
 and molded front, middle, and rear flanges 52, 54, and 56 which cooperate
 to support the foot of the wearer above the slide 30 and spike plates 21
 and 22, and to define a space for movement of the spike plates 21 and 22
 within the outsole housing 11 between the spike-retracted position and the
 spike-extended position. The middle and rear flanges 54 and 56 include
 respective inwardly-turned ends 54A, 54B and 56A, 56B for providing
 reinforced support. The front of the support cap 46 preferably includes a
 flex groove 58 extending laterally across the cap 46 between adjacent ends
 of the front and middle flanges 52 and 54. The flex groove 58 allows
 flexing of the support cap 46 with the shoe 10 during wear.
 The support cap 46 fits over the outsole housing 11 to position the side
 bearings 42 and 44 in respective cut-outs 62 and 64 (See FIG. 3) formed in
 mid-sections 18 and 19 of the outsole housing 11, and to snap attach the
 locking channels 42A and 44A onto the crank 38. The side-bearing sections
 38B and 38C of the crank 38 are coaxial and extend generally parallel to
 the integrally formed center-bearing section 38A. An angled, integrally
 formed arm section 38D of the crank 38 passes through a hole 66 in the
 outsole housing 11 and extends outside of the housing 11 generally
 perpendicular to the side-bearing section 38C for being manually actuated
 by the wearer to move the slide 30 within the shoe 10, as described below.
 FIGS. 4-7, illustrate operation of the slide 30 and movement of the front
 and rear spike plates 21 and 22 from the spike-retracted position to the
 spike-extended position. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the detents 32 of the
 slide 30 and openings 34 of the front and rear spike plates 21 and 22 are
 in substantial vertical alignment. Springs 28 urge the spike plates 21, 22
 and attached spikes 23 upwardly into the spike-retracted position. To move
 the spike plates 21, 22 downwardly into the spike-extended position, the
 wearer manually pivots the arm section 38D of the crank 38 in a
 counterclockwise direction indicated in FIG. 5.
 The crank 38 and center bearing 36 attached to the slide 30 cooperate to
 shift the slide 30 towards the toe end of the shoe 10. As the detents 32
 slide out of the openings 34 and engage the spike plates 21 and 22, the
 slide 30 bears against an inside surface of the top 48 of the support cap
 46. The detents 32 force the spike plates 21 and 22 downwardly against the
 biasing force of the springs 28. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, The detents 32
 of the slide 30 are entirely offset from the plate openings 34, and act to
 maintain the spike plates 21, 22 and attached spikes 23 in the
 spike-extended position during shoe wear. The conical springs 28 are fully
 compressed.
 To return the spike plates 21 and 22 to the spike-retracted position, the
 wearer pivots the crank 38 substantially 180.degree. in a reverse,
 clockwise direction. The slide 30 shifts towards the heel end of the shoe
 10, and the detents 32 realign with the openings 34 of the spike plates 21
 and 22. The springs 28 again urge the spike plates 21, 22 and attached
 spikes 23 upwardly away from the bottom 14 of the outsole housing 11 and
 into their fully retracted position.
 Preferably, the attached spikes 23 of the spike plates 21 and 22 are
 permanent, wear-resistant, straight-shank metal spikes with ceramic tips
 which do not require repair or replacement during the life of the shoe.
 The length of each spike 23 is preferably about 0.50 inches, and its
 diameter about 0.15 inches.
 As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in order to prevent dirt and debris from
 entering the shoe 10 through the bottom 14 of the outsole housing 11,
 rubber collars 70 are preferably molded with the outsole housing 11 at the
 spike openings 16. The rubber collars 70 have a diameter substantially
 equal to the diameter of the spikes 23, such that the spikes 23 cooperate
 with the collars 70 to form a seal against entry of dirt and debris in
 both the extended and retracted positions. Each collar 70 further includes
 integrally formed top and bottom flanges 72 and 74 which prevent the
 collar 70 from being dislodged from the spike opening 16 as the spike 23
 is moved between the extended and retracted position.
 A spiked athletic shoe is described above. Various details of the invention
 may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the
 foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the
 best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of
 illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation--the invention
 being defined by the claims.