Abstract:
A multipurpose traction device comprises a stud having a circular base portion, and an inverted frustro-conical upper portion mounted atop the circular base portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/349,221, filed Jan. 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Inventiion  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a traction enhancing devices, in particular, to a traction enhancing device for foot platforms, including sportsboards.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    The typical sportsboard, such as a snowboard or mountainboard, has two bindings that secure the rider to the board. When the rider needs to propel himself along flat terrain it is necessary to remove one foot from its binding and use that foot for propulsion. For short distances it is preferable to have a rest area on the board other than on the binding in order to rest the propulsion foot.  
           [0006]    There are existing traction devices for the rest area, such as rubber mats known as stomp pads in a variety of designs, but none of these devices offer the same secure grip, in the same way as that provided by the traction device of the present invention. With regard to snowboards, the existing traction devices also tend to accumulate snow, thereby decreasing their efficiency This detrimental accumulation of snow is avoided by the novel design of the present invention.  
           [0007]    Traction enhancing devices of differing degrees of effectiveness are old and well known in various fields of art for various purposes. The following discussion provides a summary of devices of interest.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,908, issued to Vladimir S. Makarenko on Jan. 10, 1989, is a ski binding device that comprises rest pins attached to ski boots and corresponding holes on the ski for mating with the rest pins, and a lock for restraining the vertical movement of the boot. The device is designed for easily shifting the position of a ski boot on a ski. The differences between the ski binding device and the present invention include, among others, in that the present invention does not require a lock, nor does it restrain vertical movement. A restraint on vertical movement would be detrimental to the functionality of the current invention as a traction assistance device.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,091, issued to Michael H. Cook on Nov. 17, 1998, discloses cleats embedded in a flexible base for traction enhancement, especially on ice and snow. The cleats disclosed in the &#39;091 patent differ from the current invention in that the studs of the current invention are frustro-conical in shape. This design would be detrimental to the functionality of the&gt;091 patent in its effort to gain traction on ice and snow. Also, the current invention is designed to attach to a substantially inflexible base, whereas the&gt;091 invention is designed to be attached to a flexible base.  
           [0010]    European Pat. No. 152,017, published for Sartor Mariano on Aug. 21, 1985, discloses a heelplate structure for ski boots having a mushroom-shaped element being receivable into a depression. This European Application differs from the present invention in that the studs of the present invention are not mushroom shaped, and the present invention does not have a heelplate.  
           [0011]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The multipurpose traction device is a device for enhancing traction between a person&#39;s footwear and the surface the person is standing upon, such as a platform or a sportsboard rider=s boot upon a sportsboard. With regard to the sportsboard application, a sportsboard typically has a top and bottom surface, and two bindings attached to the top surface. The multipurpose traction device typically consists of a plurality of studs attached to the top surface of a sportsboard between the two bindings. The studs have an inverted frustro-conical upper portion and a base portion.  
           [0013]    When a sportsboard rider positions his boot on top of a stud or group of studs, the stud or studs interact with the sole of the boot. Lateral movements of the boot act to draw the boot closer to the base of the stud and the attached sportsboard. This gives the sportsboard rider greater control of the board. These effects are seen where the multipurpose traction device is applied to other platforms, such as a ladder rung, or bicycle pedal.  
           [0014]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide improved traction between a sportsboard and the sole of a boot.  
           [0015]    It is another object of the invention to increase traction as forces parallel to the plane of the sportsboard increase.  
           [0016]    It is a further object to disclose a device for improving the traction of footwear upon a variety of slick surfaces, including ice, snow, mud, concrete, and metallic and non-metallic surfaces.  
           [0017]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0018]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a side view of an individual gripping stud of a multipurpose traction device.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a top view of an individual gripping stud of a multipurpose traction device.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a top view of the multipurpose traction device attached to a snowboard according to the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is an environmental side view of a boot sole interacting with an individual gripping stud of a multipurpose traction device.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a top view of the multipurpose traction device attached to a snowboard according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0024]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    The present invention is a multipurpose traction device comprised of a single or plurality of studs  20  which, as seen in FIG. 1, have an inverted frustro-conical upper section  22  attached to a circular base section  24 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a side view of an individual gripping stud of a multipurpose traction device. The angle â between upper section  22  and base section  24  is preferably about 86E. The angle â between the top wall and side wall of the base section  24  is preferably about 96E. The angle ã between the top of the stud  20  and the side wall of the upper section  22  is preferably about 80E. The studs  20  may be composed of any sufficiently rigid and durable material including plastic, metal or rubber. In this embodiment the preferred material is aluminum  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a top view of an individual gripping stud of a multipurpose traction device. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the relative dimensions and orientation of the frustro-conical upper section  22  and the base section  24 . The dashed circle  26  represents the diameter of the upper section  22  where it connects with the base section  24 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a top view of the multipurpose traction device attached to a snowboard according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of a snowboard  30  with the multipurpose traction device  38  attached. Typically, the base section  24  of each stud  20  will be attached to the top surface of a snowboard. The studs  20  may be attached with a peel and stick type adhesive, with metal fasteners, or with screws. The studs  20  will be positioned between the bindings ( 32 ,  34 ), preferably closer to the binding  34  nearest the tail  36  of the snowboard  30 . In this embodiment, the studs  20  are arranged in two parallel rows to define the multipurpose traction device  38 , with the spacing between the individual studs  20  being sufficient to resist the accumulation of snow on the snowboard between the studs  20  and sufficient to permit effective interaction between the multipurpose traction device  38  and the wearer&#39;s boot.  
         [0029]    The snowboard traction device  38  is typically used by a snowboarder who is riding short distances, when the snowboarder=s back boot is not secured in the back binding  34 . For example, when moving to board or exit a chair lift. At these times the snowboarder will position his back boot on the snowboard on top of the multipurpose traction device just ahead of the back binding. The spacing of the studs  20  prevents the excessive accumulation of snow on the snowboard between the studs  20 . As pictured in FIG. 4 the individual studs  20  will interact with the sole of a boot  44  to convert lateral forces  40  into downward forces  42 , as the tread of the boot  44  slides downward and inward to conform to the shape of the side of the upper section  22  of the stud  20 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a top view of the multipurpose traction device attached to a snowboard, according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3, with a slight variation. The plurality of studs  20  are affixed to a pad  46 . The pad  46  is a portable array of a plurality of studs  20  that is transferable between different platforms. The pad may be attached to the snowboard  30  via screws, adhesive, or hook and loop material. Using hook and loop material enables the snowboard rider to instantly adjust the pad  46  to the most comfortable or effective position. With hook and loop material, the range of adjustment is virtually limitless. The studs  20  and pad  46  may be made as a single unit, or the studs  20  may be attached to the pad  46  in a pattern to meet the rider&#39;s particular requirements. Thus, a multipurpose traction device  38  may be added to a platform without the risk of compromising the platform&#39;s structural integrity.  
         [0031]    Although the multipurpose traction device  38  has been described with reference to a snowboard, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the multipurpose traction device  38  may be used with any surface where improved traction is desired, e.g., mountainboards, snow skates, snow decks, ladder rungs, bike pedals, surfboards, and other foot platforms by adhering the base sections  24  of a plurality of gripping studs  20  to the surface.  
         [0032]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.