Patent Description:
The invention has been developed primarily for use in playing football in one or more of various codes whether soccer, Australian Rules, Rugby or Grid Iron and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application.

Sporting footwear generally is dependent on the purpose and the surface upon which it is to be used. The surfaces can be categorized into three groups being: · An indoor or outdoor flat sport surface such as a stadium floor having smooth even wooden, concrete, carpet or rubber for basketball, indoor cricket, volleyball, table tennis, squash and a range of other indoor sports, ball sports such as tennis; This type of surface needs flat soled shoes that allow grip.

It can be seen therefore that sporting footwear comprises: i) flat soles; ii) football or outdoor boots having stops over the entire sole and heel to provide an anti-slip or friction control system; and iii) sharp spikes located to penetrate specialist surfaces and provide substantially forward only progress.

In sports nowadays, there is a substantial difference in playing football or the like than from <NUM> years ago. In particular there is a lot more running, but there is a lot more deviation running, rather than merely to run in forward directions, with substantial lateral deviations to provide a path through circuitous or crowded pack or scrum locations requiring quick and effective change of directions. If normal football boots with stops all over the underneath is used then there is little chance of changing direction and a substantial increased risk of damaged feet, ankles, hamstrings or knees.

However such known sports footwear systems do not provide sufficient support and control such that there is provided for use on a natural or synthetic grass playing field a sporting wear that allows any one or more of the following:.

There has been progression from using hard spikes in golf shoes to what is referred to as "soft spikes" that are softer compression plastic friction elements rather than long sharp metal spikes. This is so the grip is still there but that penetration and wear and tear on the golf course fairways and greens are minimised. However still the idea is to provide stability when teeing off or playing fairway shots and therefore the soft spikes are located evenly all over a substantially flat continuous planar sole and heel that includes the soft spikes in a general even pattern throughout.

However still there is not shown an approach in football boots that allows ready movement in directions other than directly forward.

The present invention seeks to provide football boots, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

It can be seen that the invention of a football boot provides the benefit of allowing improved mobility while still retaining grip.

It can be seen that the invention of football boot provides the benefit of lateral movement.

The football boot includes an improved primary front foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control.

The football boot has an improved pivot front foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control.

The football boot includes stops on the front sole and wherein the improved footwear includes no stops or substantial protrusions on the rear sole relative to the front sole.

The improved pivot front foot support can be integral with the front or be attachable to the front sole.

In one form a football boot can have the improved pivot front foot support formed integral with the front sole by a moulded sole integral with moulded stops.

In another form the football boot can have a front sole plate with a plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop providing the primary front frictional support sole.

Preferably the football boot has at least some of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop form substantially opposing lines near lateral edges of the sole plate.

A majority of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop can be located at the rear of the front sole plate form substantially opposing lines near lateral edges of the sole plate.

At least one of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop can be locatable in a central position of the front sole plate spaced from other stops to form a rotating pivot point.

Preferably the football boot is flexible to angle the heel relative to the front sole.

The football boot has a front sole and heel with the front sole having a primary frictional support and the heel having a secondary frictional support which has substantially less frictional support than the primary frictional support, stops and cleats projecting from the front sole and heel of the footwear, wherein the stops are only on the front sole forming part of the primary frictional support and not on the heel having a secondary frictional support; and wherein the cleats are smaller projections than the stops; and the sole having the primary frictional support at an angle to the heel such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control.

The cleats are shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear wherein the cleats are generally a triangular pyramidal shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear with inward leaning rear and side faces.

The cleats are generally a triangular pyramidal shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear with inward leaning rear and side faces; the cleats are arranged on the front sole to have the broader rear of the shaped projections facing forward on the footwear so as to aid stopping actions by the primary frictional support, and the cleats are arranged on the rear heel to have the narrower front of the shaped projections facing forward on the footwear so as to aid frontwards sliding motion by the secondary frictional support.

The inward leaning rear and side faces are shaped and located on the sole or heel such that the outer leaning wall leans less inwardly than the inner leaning wall; and the inward leaning rear and side faces are shaped and located on the sole or heel such that if the cleat is centrally located on the sole or heel the outer leaning wall leans substantially equally to the inner leaning wall.

In light of the above the football boot can be substantially assembled with improving structure including any one or more of the following:.

The claimed invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

Referring to <FIG> there is shown a football boot <NUM><NUM> according to the invention having an upper <NUM> extending from a toe portion to a heel portion closeable by laces in a top section. In the under surface there is a sole <NUM> extending from a front sole <NUM> extending to a middle instep or arch support area <NUM> to a rear heel section <NUM>.

In this form of the embodiment of the invention the football boot <NUM><NUM> has a front sole <NUM> and rear heel <NUM> with the sole having a primary frictional support and the heel having a secondary frictional support which has substantially less frictional support than the primary frictional support.

A plurality of frusto-conical stops <NUM> and shaped cleats <NUM> projecting from the sole and heel of the footwear. It is the variation of the number and density of the stops <NUM> and cleats <NUM>, the relative sizing of the projections on the sole and heel, the shaping of the shaped cleats <NUM>, the relative location of the cleats and the orientation of the cleats that provide a variation of the primary frictional surface of the front sole <NUM> to the secondary frictional surface of the heel <NUM>.

It can be seen in <FIG> that the stops are only on the sole forming part of the primary frictional support and not on the heel having the secondary frictional support and the cleats smaller projections than the stops.

Referring to <FIG> the front sole has the primary frictional support at an angle Z to the heel such that only the front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> the cleats are shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear. This shaping allows a general sliding direction in line with the leading front while the broader rear is more of an anti-slide aspect in that direction. The cleats are formed as a triangular pyramidal shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear with inward leaning rear and side faces. Therefore the cleats in this form of triangular pyramidal shaped projections have three substantially planar sides forming a leading front and a broader rear with inward leaning rear and side faces.

The shaping of the cleats changes according to their location on the front sole or heel. If the cleats are arranged on the front sole to have the broader rear of the shaped projections facing forward on the footwear so as to aid stopping actions by the primary frictional support. If the cleats are arranged on the rear heel to have the narrower front of the shaped projections facing forward on the footwear so as to aid frontwards sliding motion by the secondary frictional support.

If the cleat <NUM> is centrally located on the sole or heel the inward leaning rear and side faces are shaped and located on the sole or heel such that the outer leaning wall leans substantially equally to the inner leaning wall as shown in <FIG>.

However if the cleat <NUM> is located on periphery or off-centre on the sole <NUM> or heel <NUM>, the inward leaning rear and side faces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are shaped and located on the sole or heel such that the outer leaning wall <NUM> leans less inwardly than the inner leaning wall <NUM>. This provides more of an anti-slide such as shown by AS1 and AS2 in <FIG>.

Variations of the relative lean of all of the inward leaning rear and side faces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are shown in <FIG> and will be further explained.

Referring to the drawings of <FIG>, there is shown a further form of an example of a football boot <NUM> having an upper <NUM> extending from a toe portion <NUM> to a heel portion <NUM> closeable by laces <NUM> in a top section. In the under surface there is a front sole plate <NUM> extending to a middle instep or arch support area <NUM> and to a rear heel section <NUM>.

In the front sole plate <NUM><NUM> there are a plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop <NUM> providing the primary front frictional support sole.

In a form a football boot having improved primary front foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control. This can be achieved in which a football boot has a rear heel <NUM> design with roll or stability characteristics but not with frictional characteristics such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control while rear of boot is aiding correct movement whether laterally or longitudinally.

The football boot <NUM><NUM><NUM> has improved primary front foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control. The front sole plate <NUM> has a plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop <NUM> providing the primary front frictional support sole.

However to more particularly improve lateral movement the football boot has at least some of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop form substantially opposing lines near lateral edges of the sole plate and form substantially opposing lines <NUM>, <NUM> near lateral edges of the sole plate <NUM>.

In order to provide superior stoppability and control a majority of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop are located at the rear <NUM> of the front sole plate <NUM>.

To more particularly improve pivotability on the front of the boot the rear heel has no protrusions and therefore no friction with the ground. Further at least one of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop is locatable in a central position <NUM> of the front sole plate <NUM> spaced from other stops to form a rotating pivot point.

The football boot <NUM><NUM><NUM> has rear heel design <NUM> with roll or stability characteristics but not with frictional characteristics such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control while rear of boot is aiding correct movement laterally or longitudinally. The heel <NUM> is a moulded continuous heel. The heel has little or no protrusions. More particularly the boot <NUM><NUM><NUM> is flexible to angle the heel <NUM> relative to the front sole <NUM>. In this way a football boot requires only a primary front sole frictional support by use of stops or the like.

It can be seen that there are a number of elements that separately and together in various combinations provide:.

A football boot has a sole and heel with the sole having a primary frictional support and the heel having a secondary frictional support which has substantially less frictional support than the primary frictional support.

A football boot having improved primary front foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control is disclosed.

The front emphasis of primary frictional support is achieved through use of one or more of:.

The football boot shown in <FIG> has stops and cleats projecting from the sole and heel of the footwear. However the stops are only on the sole forming part of the primary frictional support and not on the heel having a secondary frictional support wherein the stops are receivable in receiving screw in slots.

A football boot can have improved pivot front foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control. An improved pivot front foot support includes stops on the front sole.

The sole having the primary frictional support is at an angle to the heel having the secondary frictional support which has substantially less frictional support than the primary frictional support such that only front of foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control. The normal non flexed angle of the heel with the secondary frictional support to the sole with the primary frictional support is about <NUM>° to <NUM>°. The angle of the heel with the secondary frictional support to the sole with the primary frictional support flexes between about <NUM>° to about the non-flexed angle. The angle of the heel with the secondary frictional support to the sole with the primary frictional support resiliently flexes back to the non-flexed angle.

The lesser emphasis of secondary frictional support on the heel rather than the front sole of the footwear can be achieved by combination of one or more of:.

It can be seen that an important part of the design is the relative frictional support. By relative frictional support it is understood that this is related to the provision of anti-slip or lessening slip when the footwear hits the ground. Generally you wish to have control when playing sporting games with control of when and what to slip and when and what to not to slip (anti-slip).

The benefit of this lesser emphasis of secondary frictional support is that the heel is generally spaced from the front sole by the inner step or archway that is generally not ground engaging as it is a bridge following the inner arch of the wearer's foot. This results in a spacing and prior art footwear generally had a range of similar frictional support on both the spaced heel and sole. If a person lands prior art footwear at an angle to the straight ahead direction they will be stopped on that angle due to the similar frictional support and this will likely cause strain and stress on the wearer's leg and foot and ankle and knee at strange angels dramatically increasing chances of injury.

However with present invention the front emphasis of primary frictional support and the lesser emphasis of secondary frictional support means that the normal pivoting or front control of the foot is able to be used in the field of football and related sports.

It can be seen that if a wearer lands the improved footwear they will not have their foot twisted by the spaced frictional support but will have the primary frictional support undertaken by the sole and the secondary support providing secondary assistance.

That secondary assistance can then be focussed into the times you have both front sole and heel being ground engaging such as providing a solid base of the supporting leg to the ground while the other leg is swung above the ground to contact and kick the football. Thereby the stability and lateral anti-slide characteristics of both the primary frictional support of the front sole and the secondary frictional support of the heel become important.

The cleats have a range of important elements and the cleats of the proposed invention can be any one or more of: a) Relative sizing to the stops; b) Mouldable protrusions; c) Shaped protrusions; d) Location of cleats; e) Direction of shaped cleats; and/or f) Relative width, length and/or height of cleats;.

The cleats <NUM> are shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear. In <FIG> there is shown a triangular prismatic shaped projections having a leading front and a broader rear with inward leaning rear and side faces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The cleats project about less than <NUM>% of the projection of the stops to form smaller projections than the stops. However more preferably the cleats project about <NUM>% of the projection of the stops to form smaller projections than the stops. In one example the cleats project about <NUM> millimetres while the stops project about <NUM> millimetres.

The cleats are arranged on the front sole to have the broader rear of the shaped projections facing forward on the footwear so as to aid stopping actions by the primary frictional support. Therefore the primary frictional surface is improved by the directional arrangement of the cleat with the rear plane <NUM> of the cleat facing forward. This cleat rear wall <NUM> can be inclined higher towards a <NUM>° plane by shortening the length S2 and lengthening S1 for a particular length L of shaped cleat. Preferably the cleat rear wall is partially inclined so as to not instantly catch the ground but to provide a controlled element of slide then grip. The incline and particularly the triangular pyramidal shape provides a flow over of the ground and a directional control of the slide in line with the vertex of the two inward leaning side planes <NUM>, <NUM>.

The cleats on or near the circumference of the heel are generally arranged the rear heel to have the narrower front of the shaped projections facing forwardly towards a region or point on the instep on the football boot. The cleats are arranged on the front sole to have the narrower front of the shaped projections facing rearwardly towards a region or point on the instep on the footwear.

This arrangement of the direction of the rear plane <NUM> of the cleat thereby provides a definable support of the football boot so that the heel provides a backwards anti- slide so that the foot will not slide backwards when the wearer is kicking with the other foot. Also this arrangement of the direction of the rear plane <NUM> of the cleat on the front sole thereby provides a definable support of the football boot so that the front sole provides a frontwards anti-slide or controlled slide to stop so that the foot will not continue to slide forwards when the wearer is trying to stop.

However other alterations to this cleat design can apply such as to increase the angle such as shown in <FIG> where the entire length L of the cleat is increased relative to the width W.

The inward leaning rear and side faces are substantially planar. In order to minimise contact injuries with other players the intersection of the inward leaning side faces are rounded or the intersection of the inward leaning side faces are beaded. Another option is to have the intersection of the inward leaning side faces are chamfered.

Referring to <FIG> another adjustment is the relative leaning of the outer cleat wall <NUM> to the inner cleat wall <NUM>. The inward leaning rear and side faces are shaped and located on the sole or heel such that the outer leaning wall leans less inwardly than the inner leaning wall. That is the outer leaning wall <NUM> is closer to <NUM>° rather than the inner leaning wall <NUM>. When there is to be a balance then the inward leaning rear and side faces <NUM>, <NUM> are shaped and located on the sole or heel such that if the cleat is centrally located on the sole or heel the outer leaning wall leans substantially equally to the inner leaning wall.

The stop arrangement can provide a number of benefits.

The first benefit is that by only having stops on the front sole of the and not on the heel then there is a direct emphasis of frictional importance to the front of the football boot. Further the density and relative protrusion to any other protrusion on.

For the benefit of pivoting a football boot includes stops on the front sole and includes no stops on the heel.

This pivot can be further emphasised by having a primary stop in a central portion of the front sole. This can be provided by at least one of the plurality of sockets for receiving a protrudable stop being locatable in a central position of the front sole plate spaced from other stops to form a rotating pivot point. However the pivot stop could be moulded to the sole plate.

Also preferably at least some of the plurality of stops are in location in substantially opposing lines near lateral edges of the sole. Still further a majority of the plurality of sockets each for receiving a protrudable stop are located at the rear of the front sole.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Terminology.

Claim 1:
A football boot (<NUM>) for use in grass having front sole (<NUM>) and a heel (<NUM>) with the front sole having a primary frictional support and the heel (<NUM>) having a secondary frictional support wherein the primary frictional support is angled to the secondary frictional support in a non-flexed condition such that only the front sole of the boot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control;
a plurality of broad frustoconical protrusions forming stops (<NUM>) projecting from the front sole of the football boot (<NUM>) and a plurality of triangular pyramidal shaped projections forming cleats (<NUM>) projecting from the front sole (<NUM>) and the heel (<NUM>) of the football boot (<NUM>), wherein the cleats (<NUM>) project away from the front sole (<NUM>) of the football boot (<NUM>) a smaller distance than the stops (<NUM>);
and wherein the stops (<NUM>) are only on the front sole (<NUM>) and not on the heel (<NUM>), the stops (<NUM>) and cleats (<NUM>) on the front sole (<NUM>) forming the primary frictional support and the heel (<NUM>) has only cleats (<NUM>) forming the secondary frictional support, the secondary frictional supports having less frictional support compared to the primary frictional support;
wherein the cleats (<NUM>) are triangular pyramidal shaped projections having three substantially planar sides forming a leading end and a broader end opposite the leading end with inward leaning faces on each substantially planar side;
wherein the orientation of the cleats (<NUM>) changes according to their location on the front sole (<NUM>) or the heel (<NUM>) whereby the cleats (<NUM>) being arranged on the front sole (<NUM>) to have the leading end facing rearward on the football boot (<NUM>) so as to aid stopping actions by the primary frictional support, and wherein the cleats (<NUM>) are arranged on the heel (<NUM>) to have the leading end facing forward on the football boot (<NUM>) to aid frontwards sliding motion by the secondary frictional support;
and wherein the football boot (<NUM>) has improved primary front of foot support with improved longitudinal and lateral control with the front sole (<NUM>) having the primary frictional support being at an angle to the heel (<NUM>) such that only a front of a foot is primarily ground engaging to provide frictional control.