Patent Publication Number: US-7913425-B2

Title: Convertible traction shoes

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/768,062 filed on Jun. 25, 2007 and entitled “CONVERTIBLE TRACTION SHOES” which in turn is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/053,590 filed on Feb. 7, 2005 and entitled “CONVERTIBLE TRACTION SHOES”. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a shoe that is provided with traction enhancing elements that can be extended and retracted to adapt the shoe to different support surfaces. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Traction devices as contemplated for the present invention are often referred to generically as cleats. A cleated football shoe has different types of cleats that provide improved traction on different kinds of turf. A golf shoe has cleats that provide stability for a golfer when swinging a golf club. Not as common but considered to be as desirable are cleated shoes for walking on ice-laden walks and so on. 
     The problem with such cleated shoes is that the cleats are not desirable on surfaces that either are impenetrable to the cleats or have surface finishes that can be damaged by the cleats (e.g., inside floors of homes, restaurants, club houses and the like). 
     This dilemma has not gone unnoticed and there are numerous patents that have issued that purport to solve the problem via retractable cleats. Typically, holes are provided in the sole and/or heel of the shoe and different means enable the extension and retraction of cleats through the holes. 
     Whereas these concepts have been in existence for years, none are considered feasible and none have found acceptability in the marketplace. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a shoe having the retractable cleats that adds the desired feasibility. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides novelty and feasibility in the manner of constructing the shoe bottom. Between an inner and outer layer (of a shoe sole or shoe heel) there is a continuous enclosed channel. The channel is designed to receive pressurized air. Overlying the channel at the outer layer is a sequence or pattern of cleats that may be integral with the material of the outer layer. When air is extracted from the channel, i.e., not pressurized, the resilience provided to the material causes the material of the outer layer to retract into the channel and in doing so, retracts the cleats so as to not engage a support surface supporting a person wearing the shoe. When the channel is pressurized, the channel expands to force the resiliently retracted material including the cleats into engagement with the supporting surface. 
     Providing the pressurized air to the channel and then release of the air from the channel can be accomplished in various ways as will be explained in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially sectional side view of a cleated shoe in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of a sole portion of the shoe of  FIG. 1  as seen from view lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the sole portion of  FIG. 2  taken on view lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are retracted and expanded views respectively of the sole portion of  FIGS. 2 and 3  as seen from view lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 5A to 5H  illustrate variations of expandable cleats for the cleated shoe; and 
         FIGS. 6-8  are views similar to  FIGS. 1-3  showing an alternate air pressure source. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 1-4  which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1  is shown a shoe having an upper body portion  10 . The upper body portion can take any of a wide variety of forms but typically such a shoe would be of the type worn for sporting events such as golf, football, soccer and the like, i.e., sports played on turf, or of the type worn for outdoor and indoor use and in particularly in northern communities where outdoor use can involve walking or running on ice. 
     The upper body portion  10  will typically have a foot wrap  12  for the sides and upper foot and an upper sole portion  14  of semi-flexible/semi-stiff leather or molded rubber that is shaped to the contour of a wearer&#39;s foot bottom. 
     The portion of the shoe in which the features of the present invention are incorporated is the lower sole portion  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower sole portion  16  is provided with a groove or channel  18  that substantially circumscribes the foot bottom. At spaced locations along the channel  18  there is provided a sequence of strategically placed pockets  20 . (See also  FIG. 4A .) Affixed to the apex of the pocket, as particularly seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , is a protrusion  22  which can be of the same material as the sole portion  16 , e.g., a hard rubber protrusion, or of a different material, e.g., a metal spike or cleat protrusion securely affixed to the sole portion  16 . 
     It will be observed that the pockets  20  effectively provide hinge portions  24  that are designed to resiliently withdraw the protrusions  22  into the pockets  20  as viewed in  FIG. 4A . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be appreciated that upper and lower sole portions are intended to be securely bonded together, except not in the area defined by the channel  18 . Also provided in the bottom sole portion  16  is an inlet/outlet valve  26 . It is shown at an intermediate position, i.e., between the toe and heel of the shoe, but the location is primarily one of personal choice. Inlet/outlet valve  26  enables the introduction of pressurized air into the channel  18  and the release of the air from the channel  18 . 
     With the channel  18  pressurized, the resiliency of the hinge portion  24  is overcome and the pockets  20  are reconfigured to force the protrusions  22  from the retracted position of  FIG. 4A  to the extended position of  FIG. 4B . 
     The reader will appreciate that the shoe having the protrusions withdrawn as seen in  FIG. 4A  can be worn to walk on hard surfaces, e.g. typically used for indoor flooring. When the shoe is to be used, e.g., on icy sidewalks or for sports play on a turf and the like, the user can simply introduce air pressure, e.g. from a bicycle pump, CO2 container or any of a number of other air pressure sources which will cause the protrusions  22  to be extended as viewed in  FIG. 4B  and thereby enhance traction. 
     Whereas the illustrated embodiment utilizes an air channel, pockets, protrusions and an exterior air pressure source, there are many variations that will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Reference is made to  FIGS. 5A to 5H  which illustrate variations in the configuration of the protrusions  22 , i.e.,  22   a - 22   d  shown in retracted and extended conditions. The valve  26  can be designed to accept a tire pump valve, and the valve may be provided with a valve stem which can be pressed inwardly to release the air pressure, e.g. in the same manner as a bicycle. A small hand pump or replaceable CO2 cartridge may be embedded in the heel portion of the bottom sole, e.g. see  FIGS. 6-8 . A CO2 cartridge  30  is provided with a three-way valve  32  that can be actuated by hand to insert and release air into and from the channel  18 . 
     Still further, the channel  18  may be incorporated into the upper sole portion or the entire combination of upper and lower sole portion may be molded as a single layer with air channel  18 , e.g. in the form of a collapsible tube embedded in the mold. 
     Still further, the protrusion  22  can be a single rib that extends the length of the channel and extends from a continuous elongated pocket formed in the bottom surface of the bottom sole portion. 
     At least one aspect of the present invention is considered to be the provision of a continuous air channel overlying a sequence of pockets or a continuous linear pocket separated from the more rigid sole portion  16  by a flexible resilient hinge, and a protrusion or protrusions carried by the hinge(s). The hinge inherently draws the protrusions into the pocket in a non-pressurized state and the protrusions are extended from the shoe bottom with the channel pressurized. 
     In consideration of the above disclosure and statements, the claims appended hereto are intended to be interpreted in a broad sense with the terms used in the claims broadly interpreted in accordance with the meanings as commonly used in the trade.