Abstract:
This disclosure relates to a method of using a traction-enhancing device to enhance the traction between a sole of a shoe and a hard court athletic surface. The method includes rolling an adhesive roll of the traction-enhancing device against the sole of the shoe. The rolling process encourages the transfer of particulates from portions of the sole to the adhesive roll, where enough particulates are removed with a few back and forth rolls of the adhesive roll to at least slightly enhance the traction between the shoe sole and the athletic surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/521,859, filed Jul. 13, 2004. This provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This disclosure generally relates to a device for enhancing the traction on a footwear sole, such as the sole of an athletic shoe.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In many athletic activities played on a hard playing surface, such as a basketball, tennis or volleyball court, the players are often required to quickly stop, pivot, or reverse direction. Sport courts, however, are prone to collect clothing fibers, dust, and many other forms of micro-debris from a variety of places, including the players, the fans, or even the entertainers (e.g., cheerleaders). The micro-debris can and often does accumulate on the sole of a player&#39;s shoe, and may eventually lead to a reduction or loss of traction between the player&#39;s shoe sole and the court surface.  
         [0006]     One debris-removing device for shoes is a fixed-mounted brush for cleaning dirt and grass from, for example, the cleats of a golf shoe. Yet another debris-removing device for shoes is a tacky mat placed at an entryway of an operating (e.g., sterile) room to remove micro-debris and/or dirt from the shoes worn by surgeons, nurses, and/or other hospital staff members.  
         [0007]     Finally, another type of debris-removing device for shoes is a tacky mat called the FASTBRAKE® Sports Mat, which is made by JTC Services, Inc. of Minnesota &lt;http://www.fast-brake.com&gt;. The FASTBRAKE® Sports Mat includes a number of tacky sheets, approximately twenty to forty, stacked on a base having an integrated handle for transporting the base. The FASTBRAKE® Sports Mat comes in sizes of 6″×14″, 15″×18″, and 26″×26″. A similar system is called the SLIPP-NOTT® traction system, which comprises a base and a mat, and is manufactured by Slipp-Nott Corporation of California. The base includes a rubber backing that protects the floor and holds the base in place. The mat comprises a replaceable set of tacky sheets supported on the base. Used sheets are peeled off from the mat to expose a new, clean sheet.  
         [0008]     One drawback of the aforementioned mats is the difficulty associated with locating and/or positioning the mats in a readily accessible, but non-crowded area. Further, once the mats are placed on the floor, they are susceptible to being stepped on by people other than the players. During high traffic conditions, the tacky sheets comprising the mat become quickly used and must be replenished often.  
         [0009]     Although the above debris-removing devices are available for removing micro-debris and/or dirt from shoes, there remains a need for a robust, easily maneuverable device that has a small footprint and can be used by a player while courtside to clean the soles of the players&#39; shoes and thus enhance the traction between the soles and the athletic playing surface.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     This invention relates to methods of using a traction-enhancing device to enhance the traction between a sole of a shoe and an athletic playing surface. The method includes rolling an adhesive roll of the traction-enhancing device against the sole of the shoe. The rolling process encourages the transfer of particulates from portions of the sole to the adhesive roll, where enough particulates are removed with a few back and forth rolls of the adhesive roll to at least slightly enhance the traction between the shoe sole and the athletic surface.  
         [0011]     In one aspect, a method for enhancing traction between a shoe sole and an athletic surface includes placing a portion of an adhesive roll into contact with the shoe sole. The adhesive roll includes a plurality of removable adhesive sheets and is configured to roll in response to movement of the shoe sole. The contact between the adhesive roll and the shoe sole causes at least some particulates to be transferred from portions of the shoe sole to the adhesive roll to at least slightly enhance the traction between the shoe sole and the athletic surface.  
         [0012]     The present invention is also directed toward devices and systems for improving the traction between the shoe and the athletic surface. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a shoe and a traction-enhancing device according to one illustrated embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the traction-enhancing device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a traction-enhancing device according to another illustrated embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a handle of the traction-enhancing device of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a cover for the traction-enhancing device of  FIG. 3 , according to one illustrated embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the traction-enhancing device of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an exploded isometric view of a traction-enhancing device according to yet another illustrated embodiment.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the traction-enhancing device of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is an exploded isometric view of a traction-enhancing device according to still another illustrated embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with shoes and the assembly thereof have not necessarily been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments of the invention.  
         [0024]     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.” 
         [0025]     The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.  
         [0026]     The following description relates generally to a device for cleaning the sole of an athletic shoe and enhancing the traction between the sole and an athletic playing surface such as a basketball court, tennis court, volleyball court, or the like.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows one particular embodiment of a traction-enhancing device  10  and an athletic shoe  12  having a sole  14 . The shoe  12  is depicted as a basketball shoe  12 , but it is understood that the shoe  12  may be any suitable type of shoe. The sole  14  is typically made from a rubber or rubber-like material and generally has a fairly non-aggressive tread pattern (e.g., generally smooth with only small ridges and bumps to achieve a large amount of surface area).  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows the traction-enhancing device  10  having a handle  16 , a frame  18 , and a roller  20  rotationally coupleable to the frame. The handle  16  can be made from a soft, over-molded thermoplastic elastomer such as SANTOPRENE®, available from the Monsanto Corporation, or TEKBOND®, available from the Teknor Apex Corporation, or other suitable materials. The durometer range of the illustrated handle  16  is about 20-100 shore A, and preferably in the range of about 40-60 shore A. This range permits the handle  16  to have some amount of resiliency and be easily gripped.  
         [0029]     The handle  16  can have a number of recessed regions  22 , each being adjacent to a raised region  24 , and these regions can be configured to make the handle generally conform to a human hand. In addition, the recessed and raised regions  22 ,  24  can help keep the handle  16  from slipping in the user&#39;s hand while being held or used.  
         [0030]     The frame  18  can include a first portion, or shaft,  26  extending according to the illustrated embodiment. The handle  16  can be molded around the first portion  26 . Second portions  28 , or a yoke, can extend from the first portion  26 , and can generally form a V-shape region  30 . An arm  32  can extend from each of the respective second portions  28  in a direction that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis  33  of the first portion  26 . The second portions  28  and the arms  32  can be oppositely and biasly cantilevered from the first portion  26 . The illustrated arms  32  are configured to naturally be in a first position  34 , in which the arms  32  are generally parallel to one another. However, because the illustrated arms  32  are cantilevered from the first portion  26 , the arms  32  can be forcibly moved apart from each other to allow the user to insert and/or remove the roller  20 . Each of the arms  32  can include a spindle  36  that extends from a first surface  38  of the arm in a direction generally toward the opposing arm  32 . The frame  18  can be a monolithic and/or molded part made from a hard plastic material according to the illustrated embodiment.  
         [0031]     The roller  20  comprises a plurality of tacky sheets  40  arranged on an inner cylinder  42  having an inner diameter  44 . The tacky sheets  40  can have both a tacky surface and a non-tacky surface. The tacky surface faces radially outward with respect to the inner cylinder  42 . A single, radial cut  46  extending through at least a majority of the sheets  40  determines the length of each tacky sheet  40 . The width of each tacky sheet approximately corresponds to a longitudinal length “L” of the inner cylinder  42 .  
         [0032]     Hubs  48  can be used to rotationally couple the roller  20  to the arms  32  of the frame  18 . The illustrated hubs  48  have a first diameter  50  sized to be closely received by the inner diameter  44  of the inner cylinder  42 , and an opening  54  sized to be closely received by the respective spindles  36  protruding from the arms  32  of the frame  18 . In one embodiment, rotation of the roller  20  with respect to the arms  32  takes place between the spindles  36  and the openings  54 . In another embodiment, the rotation takes place between the surface  52  of the hubs  48  and the inner diameter  44  of the inner cylinder  42 .  
         [0033]     In one exemplary operation of the traction-enhancing device  10 , the players of a basketball team use the device  10  to keep the soles  14  of their shoes  12  substantially free of debris, which in turn allows more surface area of the soles  14  to contact the playing surface of the basketball court. Micro-debris on the sole  14  of a shoe  12  decreases the coefficient of friction between the sole  14 , as a whole, and the playing surface, making it easier for a player to slip on the playing surface.  
         [0034]     The traction-enhancing device  10  can be kept under a chair or elsewhere that does not take up any floor space. When a player wants to clean the soles  14  of his/her shoes  12 , the player can grab the traction-enhancing device  10  and place the roller  18  of the device  10  into contact with the shoe sole. A quick, easy back and forth motion from the heel to the toe, and if desired, then from the toe to the heel of the shoe  14  causes the roller  20  to roll and remove a substantial amount of micro-debris. Depending on how coated the sole  14  of the shoe is with micro-debris, a number of back and forth motions may be needed to sufficiently clean the sole  14  of the shoe  12 . It is understood and appreciated that the tacky surface of the roller  20  is sufficiently tacky to remove micro-debris and may or may not leave a tacky residue on the shoe sole  14 . However, it is appreciated that tackier sheets  40  could be used, if desired, that would actually transfer some amount of adhesive to the soles  14 . It is further understood that the roller  20  may not make contact with the entire surface of the sole  14  because of the tread pattern on the sole  14 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a traction-enhancing device  100  according to another illustrated embodiment. Similar to the previous embodiment, the traction-enhancing device  100  includes a handle  102 , a frame  104 , and a roller  106 . Instead of the intermediate hubs described above, the roller  106  is directly coupled to a pair of arms  108 . Each arm  108  includes a large spindle  110  ( FIG. 4 ) that is sized to be received by an inner cylinder of the roller  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fit between the spindles  110  and the roller  106  is such that the rotation of the roller takes place between the inner cylinder of the roller and the large spindles. Further, the large spindles  110  can be integrally formed with the arms  108  or can be separately attached thereto. In one embodiment, the inner cylinder of the roller  106  is made from a hard plastic material so that the inner cylinder can be easily rotated with respect to the large spindles  110 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows one particular cover  200  for covering the roller of the traction-enhancing device. The cover  200  helps prevent unwanted airborne or other particulates from accumulating on the tacky surface of the roller when the traction-enhancing device is not in use. The cover  200  has a slot  202  sized to fit over the arms of the frame, and has an opening  204  sized to fit over the roller. The cover further includes protuberances  206  that permit the cover  200  to be detachably, but securely coupled with the frame of the traction-enhancing device. A region  208  on the cover  200  can be used for the placement of a brand name, a team logo, or other text and/or graphic elements.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show a floor-supported traction-enhancing device  300  having a frame  302 , hubs  304 , and rollers  306 . The hubs  304  and the rollers  306  are similar to the respective hubs and rollers described above.  
         [0038]     The illustrated frame  302  has a bottom section  308  having a thickness “T.” The thickness T can be uniform or can be variable over the width of the device  300 . In one embodiment, the thickness T varies to make the bottom section  308  a ramp, such that the first surface  310  of the bottom section  308  is at an angle with respect to the court surface when the device  300  is placed on the court surface.  
         [0039]     A pair of vertical extension members  312  extend from the bottom section  308 . The vertical extension members  312  each include spindles  314  to rotationally couple the rollers  306  to the frame  302 . In addition, the vertical extension members  312  can be biasly cantilevered from the bottom section  308  so that the members  312  can be forcibly moved apart from each other to insert and/or remove the rollers  306 .  
         [0040]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a traction-enhancing device  400  having a frame  402 , an axle  404 , and a roller  406 . The roller  406  is similar to the roller described in the first embodiment and in the interest of brevity will not be described in any further detail.  
         [0041]     The frame  402  includes two opposing brackets  407 , each bracket having a base  408  and a vertical flange  410 . The base  408  is dimensioned to make the device  400  sufficiently stable in operation, for example when the force of a shoe is applied to the roller  406 . One or more rods  412  can be disposed between the respective brackets  407 . Each end region  414  of each rod  412  can be received in an opening  416  in each respective base  408 . The illustrated rods  412  are closely received by the openings  416  and may require some amount of force to be inserted into the openings  416 . However in one embodiment, the rods  412  are separable from the bases  408  during disassembly of the device  400 .  
         [0042]     The axle  404  extends through a passage  418  in the roller  406 . The axle  404  can be pin-connected to the vertical flanges  410  of the brackets  407 . The illustrated pins  420  are inserted through an opening  422  in the vertical flanges  410  and further inserted into a respective end region  424  of the axle  404 . In one embodiment, the rotation of the roller  406  relative to the frame  402  occurs between the pins  420  and the vertical flanges  410  of the frame  420 . In this embodiment, bushings (not shown) may be inserted into the openings  422  of the vertical flanges  410 . In another embodiment, the rotation of the roller  406  relative to the frame  402  occurs between the pins  420  and the axle  404 . Likewise, bushings (not shown) may be inserted into the end regions  424  of the axle  404 .  
         [0043]     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above U.S. patents, patent applications and publications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects can be modified, if necessary, to employ devices, features, and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.  
         [0044]     These and other changes can be made in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all types of adhesive roller devices that operate in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.