Patent Publication Number: US-11388947-B1

Title: Friction-adjustable rotary sole athletic shoe

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to footwear. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to athletic footwear equipped with a rotational positioning mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In outdoor field sports like soccer and football, participants are required to accelerate and decelerate quickly, placing strains on the knees. Sudden changes in direction, or the application of force, by participants, place stresses on both the ankle and the knee. Not infrequently, an injury, such as a strain or tear to a ligament or tendon occurs. 
     For decades, prior art in football and soccer cleated shoes (“cleats”) has focused upon a fixed, molded plastic or nylon sole. While a great amount of effort has been directed at the appearance and styling of the upper shoe, little effort or ingenuity has been applied to improve the inherent safety problems associated with wearing the cleated sole, regarding to injuries to the ankle, knee and hip. Cleats were invented more than a century ago to anchor an athlete&#39;s foot to the ground and prevent slipping on a grass or dirt field. When anchored to the ground by a cleat or stud, however, the wearer&#39;s ankle, knee and/or hip can be forced by that athlete&#39;s weight and motion to torque or bend beyond his or her inherent flexibility, leading to injuries to tendons and cartilage. Importantly, such injuries may never fully heal and can become life-long impairments. Additionally, once a player&#39;s shoe cleat has penetrated the ground, it remains locked in that position, until the next step. Should an opposing player strike the anchored leg or foot, the athlete will take a blow that can easily force the ankle, knee or hip to flex in a dangerously un-natural direction. The number of joint-related injuries at every age-level of football is testimony to this phenomenon. Fixed athletic cleats then, have an inherent flaw—the same functionality that anchors them to the ground impedes the wearer&#39;s body from pivoting in the direction of an applied force to absorb a lateral blow and, potentially, avoid injury. 
     There has, however, been some activity in the field of cleat design. Athletic shoes with rotatable cleat plates or turntables have been previously disclosed. Such disclosures include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,354,561 and 3,739,497 to Cameron; U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,332 to Arnold; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,047 to Nedwick, which patents are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Therein is disclosed, inter alia, adoption of circular, rotating plates beneath the metatarsal region (the ball of the foot), that allow a player to plant and immediately pivot, thereby removing a great deal of the torsion imposed on the ankle, knee and/or hip. Said rotation then, permits a player&#39;s leg to adjust to a position nearer to is natural state and mitigate joint-stressing forces that are inherent in the quick, directional changes of football and soccer. These prior art shoes suffer from several disadvantages including weight and complexity, and, very importantly, free rotation; that is, upon a player&#39;s change in direction, the shoe&#39;s rotating element freely rotates without any significant resistance to rotation. Such free rotation can, in fact, be detrimental, as over rotation can itself produce a much larger amount of torque on the player&#39;s joints than is desired and therefore result in injury. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,689 to Walker et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,413 to Anderson, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, attempt to deal with the issue of free rotation. The means of rotational resistance disclosed therein, magnetic force in Anderson and an angle-activated braking member in Walker et al., however, are not entirely satisfactory. In Chinese Patent No. CN200950850Y to Wu (“Wu”), a substantially flat-soled shoe having a rotary control mechanism utilizing a turntable system with at least two small, rolling balls that run in smooth grooves, in conjunction with torsion springs attached to two internal plates, is disclosed. Importantly, in the shoe disclosed in Wu, a torsion spring limits the degree of rotation of the rotating apparatus. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention generally include an athletic shoe comprising a cooperating rotor assembly and torque-dampening system. In one embodiment, the rotor assembly comprises a substantially round rotor equipped with a plurality of cleat members, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of teeth about the outer circumference thereof. In one embodiment, the torque-dampening system comprises a compressible device configured and adapted to interact with the rotor teeth. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention are also provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an athletic shoe of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an athletic shoe of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotor of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of an embodiment of a rotor of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a bottom perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of an athletic shoe of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a rotor and rotor attachment mechanism of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a close-up view of the sole section of an embodiment of an athletic shoe of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a close-up view of the sole section depicted in  FIG. 5A  having been rotated. 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up view of the sole section of an embodiment of an athletic shoe of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The exemplary embodiments are best understood by referring to the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. In the following description of embodiments, orientation indicators such as “top,” “bottom,” “up,’ “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” etc. are used for illustration purposes only; the invention, however, is not so limited, and other possible orientations are contemplated. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an athletic shoe  100  is depicted. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , an athletic shoe  100  comprises an outsole  2 , and an upper section  3 , wherein the upper section  3  comprises a toe guard section  4 , a fastening mechanism  7 , and a lateral support wall  6 . In various embodiments, the upper  3  is constructed of a first material which may be leather, a faux leather, a heavy or woven fabric, a molded carbon fiber, a polyurethane (PU), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or other useful material. In one embodiment, the toe guard  4  covers the toe box area (not separately labeled) and is reinforced with multiple layers of the first material. In one embodiment, the toe guard  4  may comprise a thin layer of plastic or rubber or other wear-resistant material for added protection. The fastening mechanism  7 , which assists in maintaining the athletic shoe  100  on the wearer&#39;s foot, may comprise, straps, buckles, shoelaces with eyelets, or any standard shoe-fastening mechanism, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the fastening mechanism  7  comprises a Velcro® mechanism utilizing straps comprising hooks (not separately labeled) and an exterior shoe surface comprising hoops (not visible in  FIG. 1 ). Although the athletic shoe  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  (at least in the portion of the shoe shown in  FIG. 1 ) generally represents a standard football or soccer cleated shoe, the invention is not so limited, and in various other embodiments (not shown), an athletic shoe  100  of the present invention may comprise any athletic shoe, including, but not limited to, a cleated shoe for baseball, softball, lacrosse, rugby, golf, or track. In other embodiments (not shown), an athletic shoe  100  of the present invention may comprise a non-cleated shoe, including, but not limited to, a shoe for basketball, volleyball, tennis, track, walking, hiking or dancing. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a bottom  10  of an embodiment of an athletic shoe  100  is depicted. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the athletic shoe  100  comprises one or more cleats (protrusions on the sole of a shoe)  8  within of proximate a heel area  9 . In other embodiments (not shown), a heel area  9  of an athletic shoe  100  may not comprise any cleats. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the heel cleats  8  are immovably affixed to the bottom  10  of the athletic shoe  100 , although the invention is not so limited and one or more heel cleats  8  may be integral to athletic shoe  100  bottom  10  and/or rotatable or otherwise capable of movement independent of the rest of athletic shoe  100 . In one embodiment, bottom  10  cleats  8  may be reversibly affixed thereto by means of screws or other attachment means, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. 
     Still referring to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , an athletic shoe  100  bottom  10  is equipped with a torque-dampened rotational system  11  positioned at least partially within a forward portion  5  thereof. In one embodiment, rotational system  11  comprises a rotor assembly  12  (shown in additional detail with respect to  FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4B , below), and a torque-dampening apparatus  13 . In one embodiment, rotor assembly  12  comprises a rotor  14 , one or more cleats  8 , and an attachment apparatus  15 . In one embodiment, a rotor  14  may comprise a sprocket-like geometry having a plurality of teeth (cogs)  16  spaced about the perimeter of rotor  14 . In such an embodiment, there exist a plurality of spaces  17  between adjacent teeth  16 . Although the teeth  16  are depicted in  FIG. 2  as being rounded and substantially evenly spaced apart, the invention is not so limited and other geometries and/or spacing may be employed. In one aspect, such as depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 6  described below, teeth  16  may be have a substantially triangular geometry. In addition, while the teeth  16  shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  are substantially identical in size, shape and spacing, the invention is not so limited and other relative sizing, shape and/or spacing relationships of and/or between teeth  16  may be employed, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. In other embodiments (not shown), at least a portion of a circumferential edge  41  of a rotor  14  may comprise other types of protrusions (rather than teeth  16 ), such as, but not limited to, elongated members. 
     In the  FIG. 2  embodiment, the attachment apparatus  15  (a portion of which is visible in  FIG. 2 ) comprises a reversibly attachable component  27 , such as a screw, that comprises a threading (male or female) that is engaged with a complementary male or female threaded attachment component  29  (see  FIG. 4B ). In one aspect, such reversible attachment allows for removal and/or replacement of a rotor assembly  12 . In other embodiments (not shown), a rotor assembly  12  may be irreversibly attached to or integral with a shoe bottom  10 . In various embodiments, an attachment apparatus  15  may comprise a single component or it may comprise a plurality of components. In one aspect, an attachment apparatus  15  and rotor  14  are adapted and configured such that rotor assembly  12  can rotate about the longitudinal axis (labeled A-A in  FIG. 4A ) of attachment apparatus  15 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , during rotation of rotor assembly  12 , attachment apparatus  15  does not itself rotate; however, the invention is no so limited and in other embodiments (not shown) an attachment apparatus  15  and rotor assembly  12  are adapted and configured such that at least a portion of the attachment apparatus  15  rotates when rotor assembly  12  rotates. Although the embodiment of  FIG. 2  depicts attachment apparatus  15  as protruding from an upper surface  24  of rotor  14 , the invention is not so limited, and in other embodiments a top surface  31  of an attachment apparatus  15  may be substantially co-planar with upper surface  24 ; i.e., attachment apparatus  15  may be countersunk with respect to upper surface  24 . 
     Also depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  is a torque-dampening apparatus  13 . Although the embodiment of an athletic shoe  100  depicted in  FIG. 2  shows a single torque-dampening apparatus  13 , in other embodiments (not shown), an athletic shoe  100  may comprise a plurality of torque-dampening apparatuses  13 . In one aspect, a torque-dampening apparatus  13  functions to provide resistance to the rotation of rotor assembly  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , torque-dampening apparatus  13  is positioned on shoe bottom  10  between rotor assembly  12  and heel area  9 ; however, the invention is not so limited and the one or more torque-dampening apparatuses  13  may be positioned anywhere useful along, or at least partially embedded within, shoe bottom  10 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , torque-dampening apparatus  13 , which is described in greater detail below with regard to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , is at least partially disposed within a pocket  19 . In one aspect, a pocket  19  may be adapted and confiture to provide protection to at least a portion of a torque-dampening apparatus  13 . In one embodiment, a pocket  19  may be configured and positioned such that at least a portion of a bottom surface  20  thereof is substantially co-planar with portion of a surface  21  of shoe bottom  10  proximate thereto. In one aspect, a pocket  19  may comprise any shape and/or dimensions useful in housing or partially housing a torque-dampening apparatus  13 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , an embodiment of a rotor assembly  12  is depicted from a perspective view and a side view, respectively. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , in one embodiment a rotor assembly  12  comprises a rotor  14  and cleats  8 , wherein rotor assembly  12  comprises a central opening  22  extending therethrough. In one embodiment, a rotor assembly  12  may comprise a recessed area  23  in a rotor  14  upper surface  24  that is positioned circumferentially about central opening  22 . In another embodiment (not shown), a rotor assembly  12  may comprise a recessed area in a rotor  14  bottom surface that is positioned circumferentially about central opening  22 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , rotor  14  comprises a plurality of teeth  16  and spaces  17  therebetween. 
     In various embodiments (not shown), a rotor assembly  12  does not comprise cleats. In one aspect, in such an embodiment a rotor assembly  12  may comprise a high-friction rotor  14  upper surface  24 . Such an embodiment may be useful for employment in indoor sports, such as basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, or the like, where traction is helpful, but protection of the playing surface (or some other factor) dictates that cleats cannot be worn. In other such embodiments, a rotor assembly  12  may comprise a low-friction rotor  14  upper surface  24 . Such an embodiment may be useful for employment in indoor activities such as dancing, where the pivoting capabilities of an athletic shoe  100  are desired for certain wearer movements wherein traction relative to shoe bottom  10  forward portion  5  is not desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4A , the bottom  10  of an embodiment of an athletic shoe  100  wherein the rotor assembly  12  is not installed is depicted. In one embodiment, shoe bottom  10  comprises a rotor assembly socket (hollow)  25  that is configured and adapted to at least partially house a rotor assembly  12 . In one embodiment, centralized within rotor assembly socket  25  is a rotor assembly attachment member (hub)  26 . In one embodiment, a hub  26  may provide an attachment mechanism for reversibly or irreversibly affixing a rotor assembly  12  to shoe bottom  10 . In one embodiment, a hub  26  length L is substantially equal to a heel area  9  height H. 
       FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of an embodiment a rotor assembly  12  and means for attaching the rotor assembly  12  to shoe bottom  10 . In various embodiment, such attachment means comprise an attachment apparatus  15  (not separately labeled in  FIG. 4B ). In one embodiment, such attachment apparatus  15  may include one or more of a connection component  27 , a pressure distribution member  28 , and a hub receptacle  29 . In one embodiment, a connection component  27  may comprise external threading (not separately labeled), e.g., a screw or bolt. In one embodiment, a pressure distribution member  28  may comprise one or more washers. In one embodiment, a pressure distribution member  28  to be at least partially inserted into a recessed area  23 . In one embodiment, a hub receptacle  29  may be affixable to, or integral with, hub  26 . In one embodiment, a hub receptacle  29  may comprise internal threading (not shown) that allows for screwed engagement of an externally threaded connection component  27  therewith. 
     In one embodiment (not shown), an attachment apparatus  15  comprises a push-type retainer clip. In one such embodiment, a connection component  27  comprises a push-type retainer clip (such as, but not limited to, the type of clip commonly used to secure vehicle engine component covers) which is reversibly insertable at least partially into rotor assembly  12  central opening  22 . In one embodiment, the push-type retainer clip is adapted and configured to engage a hub receptacle  29 , however, the invention is not so limited and other means for reversible engagement of the push-type retainer clip with shoe bottom  10  may be employed, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. 
     Utilizing the shoe bottom  10  features shown in  FIG. 4A  and the attachment means depicted in  FIG. 4B , a rotor assembly  12  can be attached to a cleated athletic shoe  100 . Importantly, as would be understood by one skilled in the art, various attachment items/systems may be utilized to attach, reversibly or irreversibly, a rotor assembly  12  to a cleated athletic shoe  100 . In other embodiments (not shown), a rotor assembly  12  (or portions thereof) may be integral to a cleated athletic shoe  100 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4A , an athletic shoe  100  bottom  10  may comprise a parabolic arch depression  32 . In one aspect, employment of a parabolic arch depression  32  allows for provision of an athletic shoe  100  comprising a thinner outsole  2 , which may improve shoe flexibility. In one embodiment, an athletic shoe  100  bottom  10  may comprise a beveled portion  33  forward of heel area  9 . In one aspect, employment of a beveled portion  33  may improve shoe flexibility and facilitate heel implantation during backward movements of the wearer. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5A , a close-up view of an embodiment of an installed rotor assembly  12  in operational cooperation with a torque-dampening apparatus  13  is depicted. In one aspect, a torque-dampening apparatus  13  comprises any mechanism for partially impeding (i.e., “braking”) rotation of rotor  14 . In one embodiment, a torque-dampening apparatus  13  comprises a compression mechanism (not separately labeled) that allows an engagement section  34  of torque-dampening apparatus  13  to be compressed when subjected to a contacting force. In one such embodiment, a torque-dampening apparatus  13  may comprise a device such as, but not limited to, a ball plunger. In one embodiment, a ball plunger  13  comprises a cylindrical section  35 , a spherical component (ball)  36  (a portion of which comprises engagement section  34 ), and a compressible member (not visible) positioned longitudinally within cylindrical section  35 , as would be understood by one skilled in the art. In one embodiment, such a compressible member may comprise a coiled spring, although the invention is not so limited and the compressible member may comprise any elastic element that stores mechanical energy, such as, but not limited to, a rubber or elastomeric material. In one embodiment, the elastic element may comprise a compressible fluid. In one aspect, the compressible member may bias the ball  36  toward the rotor  14 . In certain embodiments, the compression resistance of a compressible member may be between about 0.5 pounds and about 20 pounds. In other embodiments (not shown), wherein a torque-dampening apparatus  13  does not comprise a ball plunger, any suitable device for “braking” rotation of rotor  14  may be employed. (See, e.g.,  FIG. 6 , described below). 
     As is generally known, in a standard ball plunger  13  the ball  36  is maintained only partially within cylindrical section  35 , and the ball  36  is also maintained in biased contact with the compressible member (not visible) positioned longitudinally within cylindrical section  35 . When a force is applied to any portion of the ball  36  that is disposed outside of cylindrical section  35 , such the force transferred via the ball  36  begins to compress the compressible member, an additional portion of ball  36  is provided into cylindrical section  35 , thereby decreasing the volume of ball  36  that is disposed outside of cylindrical section  35 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5A , when the rest of athletic shoe  100  is rotated in a clockwise direction (and the rotor assembly  12  is held stationary, such as by the cleat(s)  8  being engaged with a playing surface), a portion of the indicated tooth  16  contacts the ball  36 . If the rotational force of the ball  36  against the tooth  16  is sufficient, the ball  36  compresses the compressible member (not visible) and a portion of the ball  36  retracts into the cylindrical section  35  such that the athletic shoe  100  is able to continue its clockwise rotation, as depicted in  FIG. 5B . Further clockwise rotation of the rest of the athletic shoe  100  (not shown) will result in the engagement portion  34  of ball  36  being lined up with the space  17  indicated in  FIG. 5B , whereby the compressible member will force ball  36  at least partially into that space  17 . In one aspect, in this manner the torque-dampening apparatus  13  acts to restrict rotation of the athletic shoe  100  to any pivoting movement that provides sufficient force for one or more teeth  16  to engage and compress the compressible member (via the ball) enough for the ball  36  to retract into the cylindrical section  35  such that the engagement portion  34  rotates beyond the tooth/teeth. In various embodiments (not shown), a torque-dampening apparatus  13  may be adjustable, whereby the compression strength (biasing force) of the compressible member may be varied so as to change the amount of force that is necessary to compress the compressible member sufficiently to allow rotation of the rotor in relation to the torque-dampening apparatus  13 . In one embodiment, an athletic shoe  100  of the present invention is adapted and configured such that the rotation of a rotor  14  is not limited; i.e., as long as the wearer of the athletic shoe  100  supplies sufficient rotational force to allow the rest of the athletic shoe  100  to rotate, the rest of athletic shoe  100  will continue to rotationally pivot. In one exemplary aspect, this allows the wearer to pirouette, if desired. 
     In various embodiments (not shown), a torque-dampening rotational system  11  is adapted and configured such that complete rotation (i.e., 360° rotation) of athletic shoe  100  with respect to rotor  14  can be prevented. In one such embodiment, one or more teeth  16  (or other protrusion expending outward from rotor  14  circumferential edge  41 ) extends outward from circumferential edge  41  farther than the other teeth  16  (or other protrusions). In one such embodiment, when a portion of such a farther extending tooth/protrusion contracts engagement portion  34 , it contacts the ball  36  in a manner that does not actuate the ball plunger  13  (i.e., the ball  36  does not compress the compressible member), and rotation of rotor  14  relative to the rest of athletic shoe  100  stops. In another such embodiment, the ball plunger  13  is configured such that contact between a portion of such a farther extending tooth/protrusion contracts engagement portion  34  in such a manner that does actuate the ball plunger  13  (i.e., the ball  36  does compress the compressible member), and the relative rotation of the rotor  14  in relation to the rest of the athletic shoe  100  continues until the farther extending tooth/protrusion contacts a stop member. In one such embodiment, one or more stop members are affixed to (reversibly or irreversibly), or are integral with, shoe bottom  10  peripherally to socket  25 . In one such embodiment a stop member may comprise a protrusion extending outward from shoe bottom  10  surface  21 . In one embodiment, such a stop member may comprise an actuatable component, such as, but not limited to, a “push-button” component that can be toggled to extend outward from surface  21  (to act a stop) or retract at least partially beneath surface  21  (to not act as a stop and allow rotor  14  rotation there past). As would be understood b one skilled in the art, such embodiments of a stop member are only exemplary and other geometries, orientations and/or configurations may be employed. 
     In other embodiments of a torque-dampened rotational system  11  (not shown), at least a portion of the torque-dampening force may be provided by frictional interaction between at least a portion of rotor  14  circumferential edge  41  and at least a portion of torque-dampening apparatus  13  engagement portion  34 . In such an embodiment, at least a portion of circumferential edge  41  and/or engagement portion  34  comprises a surface or surface feature that promotes frictional interaction therebetween. In such an embodiment, a circumferential edge  41  may or may not comprise protrusions or other surface irregularities. In one such embodiment, the torque-dampening frictional interaction may be provided by a Velcro® mechanism, wherein circumferential edge  41  comprises hooks and engagement portion  34  comprises hoops, or vice versa. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a close-up view of an embodiment of an installed rotor assembly  12  in operational cooperation with a torque-dampening apparatus  13 ′. In this embodiment, the torque-dampening apparatus  13 ′ (shown partially in phantom) comprises a torque-dampening unit  37 , which comprises a central member  38  and a plurality of paddles  38 , at least one of which is positioned at least partially outside of a torque-dampening unit  37  enclosure  40 . In other embodiments (not shown), an enclosure  40  may be configured and positioned such that the paddles  39  are maintained there within. In one embodiment, torque-dampening unit  37  is adapted and configured such that rotation of athletic shoe  100  causes at least a portion of a tooth  16  to engage a paddle  39  that is disposed at least partially outside of enclosure  40 , such that all paddles  39 , including the engaged paddle  39 , which are affixed to, or integral with, central member  38 , rotate thereabout. In one embodiment, a torque-dampening unit  37  may be configured such that an athletic shoe  100  rotation that causes a paddle  39  to advance to a position within enclosure  40  results in another paddle  39  being positioned between two teeth  16 . In one aspect, central member  38  functions to provide resistance to rotational movement of paddles  39  thereabout. 
     In one embodiment (not shown), a torque-dampening unit  37  may comprise a single paddle  39 . In one such embodiment, the paddle  39  may be affixed to, or integral with, a stationary central member  38 , but the invention is not so limited and the paddle  39  may be alternatively affixed to, or integral with, a torque-dampening unit  37 . In such embodiments, when rotation of athletic shoe  100  effectuates engagement of a paddle  39  with a tooth  16 , the paddle  39  deflects away therefrom, and when sufficient deflection has occurred such that the paddle  39  is able to move past the engaged tooth  16 , the paddle  39  “swings” back into its initial orientation, and can engage either the adjacent tooth  16  (if the rest of athletic shoe  100  rotation continues in the same direction) or the opposite side of the same tooth  16  (if the rest of the athletic shoe  100  begins to rotate in the reverse direction). 
     In various embodiments (not shown), resistance to rotation is provided by a plurality of protrusions (or other frictional, resistance-causing features) extending radially outward from rotor  14  circumferential edge  41  and/or a plurality of protrusions (or other frictional, resistance-causing features) extending outward from engagement portion  34  of torque-dampening apparatus  13 . In other embodiments (not shown), a plurality of protrusions (or other frictional, resistance-causing features) may extend outward from a circumferential socket  25  inner surface  42  (identified in  FIG. 4A ), wherein the rotor  14  circumferential edge  41  may engage therewith. In other embodiments (not shown), the torque-dampening mechanism may be at least partially housed beneath the rotor  14 . In such an embodiment, a plurality of protrusions (or other frictional, resistance-causing features) may be at least partially housed within shoe bottom  10  socket  25 , such as, but not limited to, attached to or integral with a surface  43  of socket  25  (identified in  FIG. 4A ). In such an embodiment, a plurality of protrusions (or other frictional, resistance-causing features) may be disposed on a bottom surface of rotor  14  (not visible in  FIG. 4B ). In such embodiments, the engaging protrusions (or other frictional, resistance-causing features) may be disposed, oriented, configured and adapted such that when sufficient rotational force is applied by the athletic shoe  100  wearer, the engaging “members” may overcome the frictional forces of engagement and allow the rest of the athletic shoe  100  to rotate relative to the rotor assembly  12  (which in some embodiments with be indicated by a “clicking” of engaging members), which if/once the rotational force applied by the athletic shoe  100  wearer is not sufficient, the rest of the athletic shoe  100  will not rotate relative to the rotor assembly  12 . 
     In other embodiments (not shown), a torque-dampening apparatus is located beneath the rotor assembly  12 , and is disposed at least partially within socket  25 . In one such embodiment, the torque-dampening apparatus comprises a compressible component, such as, but not limited to, a coil spring. In one embodiment, the coil spring is positioned annularly about a hub (such as, but not limited to, a hub  26 ), and is compressingly sandwiched between socket  25  surface  43  and a bottom surface of rotor  14 . In such an embodiment, the compressive force applied by biasing of the coil spring against the bottom surface of rotor  14  can provide the torque-dampening effect on the rotor assembly  12 . In one such embodiment, the rotor assembly  12  is attached to shoe bottom  10  utilizing a connective component  27 , such as, but not limited to, a screw, and, optionally, a pressure distribution member  28 , such as, but not limited to, a washer. In one aspect, the screw may be tightened or loosened as desired, wherein the screw  27  may be tightened sufficiently so that the rotor assembly  12  is essentially locked in place and cannot rotate in relation to the rest of the athletic shoe  100 , the screw  27  may be only nominally tightened such that the torque-dampening system provides an insignificant level of braking (i.e., the rotor assembly  12  can freely rotate in relation to the rest of the athletic shoe  100 ), or the screw  27  may be tightened to any degree in between these extremes. Thus, the wearer can adjust the degree of tightening of the screw  27  to set the level of torque-dampening effect. In one embodiment, the torque-dampening effect may be supplied solely by the frictional interaction of the coil spring with the bottom surface of the rotor  14 , however the invention is not so limited and other/additional torque-dampening means may be employed. For example, in one embodiment at least a portion of the circumferential inner surface  42  of socket  25  may be beveled whereby as rotor  14  is advancingly tightened toward the surface  43  of socket  25  at least a portion of the circumferential edge  41  of rotor  14  engages at least a portion of the circumferential inner surface  42 , thereby providing a torque-dampening effect. 
     In other embodiments (not shown), torque-dampening may be provided from above upper surface  24  of rotor  14 . In one such embodiment, one or more lip components, which may be affixed to or integral with shoe bottom  10  proximate, but outside of, socket  25  are provided. In one such embodiment, at least on such lip component extends at least partially over (above) rotor  14  surface  24 . In such an embodiment, a lip component may comprise one or more protrusions that extend downward toward surface  24 . In one aspect, the protrusions may contact a portion of surface  24 , which may be substantially planar or comprise irregular surface geometry, and when the rotor assembly turns in relation to the rest of the athletic shoe  100  these protrusions serve to provide braking to such relative rotation consistent with the teachings disclosed herein. In one such embodiment, the lip component comprises an orifice, which may be internally threaded, wherein a lip component screw may be cooperatively engaged with the internal threading such that the screw can be controllably advanced toward and away from surface  24 , whereby the degree to which the screw is advance through the lip orifice controls the amount of pressure the screw tip applies against surface  24 , thereby controlling magnitude of torque-dampening. In one such embodiment, the screw may be countersunk into an upper surface of the lip. In one embodiment, at least the tip of such a screw may comprise a material having a Shore scale hardness greater than that of the portion of the rotor  14  surface  24  with which the screw contacts. 
     In another embodiment (not shown), which combines a torque-dampening apparatus located beneath the rotor assembly  12  with one or more lip component extending at least partially over (above) rotor  14  surface  24 , the lip component screw(s) may be utilized to provide a compressing force (through rotor  14 ) to a compressible component, such as, but not limited to, a coil spring compressingly sandwiched between socket  25  surface  43  and a bottom surface of rotor  14 . In such an embodiment, instead of a centrally disposed screw  27 , the lip screw(s) provide the controllable force to create and adjust the torque-dampening effect, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. 
     In an alternatively configured embodiment (not shown), the torque-dampened rotational system  11  comprises a rotor  14  comprising a circumferential edge  41  comprising a plurality of deflectable elongate members (paddles) extending radially outward therefrom, and the torque-dampening apparatus  13  comprises a positionally stable engagement portion  34 . In such an embodiment, the paddle is on the rotor and during engagement thereof with the engagement portion  34  deflection of the paddle can occur, and when sufficient deflection has occurred such that the torque-dampening apparatus  13  is able to move past the paddle, the paddle “swings” back into its initial orientation, and the engagement portion  34  can engage either the adjacent tooth paddle (if the rest of athletic shoe  100  rotation continues in the same direction) or the opposite side of the same paddle (if the rest of the athletic shoe  100  begins to rotate in the reverse direction). 
     Operation 
     Generally, an embodiment of an athletic shoe  100  of the present invention that comprises an embodiment of a torque-dampened rotational system  11  may be utilized to provide the wearer with a means of reducing stress on his/her lower body when locomotive movement requires a sudden change in direction. In one embodiment, the wearer&#39;s shoe can be equipped with a torque-dampening apparatus  13  and/or  13 ′, wherein the force required to rotationally advance the torque-dampening apparatus  13  and/or  13 ′ relative to the rotor  14  when the wearer, placing weight on the metatarsal region of the foot, changes direction is set at a specific level. In one embodiment, the force setting of a torque-dampening apparatus  13 , for example, (which depends at least on the geometry and orientation of the teeth  16  and the compression strength of the torque-dampening apparatus  13  compressible member) may be customized. In one aspect, such force setting customization may take into account one or more of the sport/activity in which the wearer is to be participating, the surface on which the shoe will be worn, the wearers height and/or weight, and the traction component(s) of the rotor assembly  12  (i.e., cleats, studs, frictional surface, etc.). This allows the wearer to control which rotational movements will effectuate a rotation of the rest of athletic shoe  100  relative to rotor  14  and which rotational movements will not effectuate such a rotation. 
     In one embodiment, a person desiring to wear a pair of athletic shoes  100  will select the shoe type required for his/her sport/activity, wherein the shoes have been configured and adapted to house a torque-dampened rotational system  11 , and equip the shoes therewith. In another embodiment, an athletic shoes  100  may be provided to the wearer already equipped with a torque-dampened rotational system  11 . In either embodiment, the wearer will place the athletic shoes  100  on his/her feet and wear them to participate in the sport/activity. In either of these embodiments, the exchangeability of the torque-dampened rotational system  11  (including, independently, the rotor assembly  12  and the torque dampening apparatus  13 ,  13 ′) of an athletic shoe  100  allows for changes in functionality thereof as may be desired by the wearer. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, which comprises use of athletic shoes  100  to participate in a sport/activity that takes place on a turf (natural or artificial) surface, during movement the wearer may implant one or more of the rotor assembly  12  cleats  8  into the turf. If the wearer pivots (changes direction of movement), the rest of athletic shoe  100  will turn in relation to the rotator assembly  12 , whereby the ball  36  will engage one or more teeth  16  (depending on the degree of pivoting) such that the tooth/teeth  16  will rapidly engage with and disengage from the ball  36  of the ball plunger  13 . In one aspect, the all of the engaging/disengaging tooth advancements that occur during a single pivoting movement can take place in period of time it takes the wearer to accomplish the pivot. As the ball  36  engages each tooth  16 , the ball  36  will begin to depress the compressible member of the ball plunger  13 . If the depressing force causes the ball  36  to relocate a sufficient distance away from the rotor  14 , the ball plunger  13  will rotationally advance beyond that tooth. As the ball plunger  13  advances beyond each tooth  16 , the ball plunger  13  will experience several retract-and-release “clicks” of the ball  36 . The force dissipation through each “click” will progressively dampen the remaining force of the pivot, and thereby provide a “braking effect.” Such a braking effect protects the wearer&#39;s muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc. from extreme forces and allows for a more controlled, natural rotation of the rest of the athletic shoe  100 , and therefore, the wearer&#39;s foot, independent of the cleat(s)  8  imbedded in the turf. 
     As disclosed above, the amount of force required to actuate the torque-dampening apparatus  13  or  13 ′ can be varied to suit the shoe wearer&#39;s needs, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. Accordingly, an athletic shoe  100  can be customized for each wearer. In addition, as the torque-dampened rotational system  11  of an athletic shoe  100  can be readily removed and replaced, an athletic shoe  100  can be further customized for the wearer during his/her participation in a particular sport/activity. For example, if the surface condition of the turf changes (e.g., it starts to rain), the torque-dampened rotational system  11  can be exchanged with another one that has a torque-dampening capability more suited to the wet turf condition. 
     Method 
     An exemplary method of utilizing an embodiment of an athletic shoe  100  of the present invention comprises 
     A Shoe Provision Step, comprising putting on at least one athletic shoe, such as an athletic shoe  100 , which comprises a torque-dampened rotational system, such as a torque-dampened rotational system  11 , that comprises a torque-dampening apparatus, such as a torque-dampening apparatus  13 ; and 
     A Pivoting Movement Step, comprising locomoting by foot on a surface so as to change direction, wherein such a change in direction actuates the torque-dampened rotational system such that a rotor assembly thereof remains stationarily in contract with the surface while the rest of the athletic shoe pivots in the direction of the change in direction as long as the engagement force of the torque-dampening apparatus against the rotor assembly actuates the torque-dampening apparatus, and once the engagement force diminishes such that the engagement force no longer actuates the torque-dampening apparatus, the athletic shoe does not rotate relative to the rotor assembly. 
     The foregoing method is merely exemplary, and additional embodiments of a method of utilizing an embodiment of an athletic shoe of the present invention consistent with the teachings herein may be employed. In addition, in other embodiments, one or more of these steps may be subdivided, performed concurrently, combined, repeated, re-ordered, or deleted, and/or additional steps may be added. 
     The foregoing description of the invention illustrates exemplary embodiments thereof. Various changes may be made in the details of the illustrated construction and process within the scope of the appended claims by one skilled in the art without departing from the teachings of the invention. Disclosure of existing patents, publications, and/or known art incorporated herein by reference is to the extent required to provide details and understanding of the disclosure herein set forth. The present invention should only be limited by the claims and their equivalents.