U.S. patent application number 10/258108 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-11 for football boot.
Invention is credited to Davis, Iain.
Application Number | 20030167658 10/258108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9890053 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030167658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis, Iain |
September 11, 2003 |
Football boot
Abstract
A football boot (1) has a ball controlling surface which
comprises an elasticated frictional surface. Conveniently the
elasticated frictional surface may be provided in the form of a
plurality of pieces of frictional material (11a, 11b, 11c, . . . )
fixed to an elasticated surface (12). Alternatively the elastic
material may be provided between adjacent pieces of frictional
material. The surface may equally be provided in the form of a
material which inherently has both elasticated and frictional
properties. Optionally the ball controlling surface is provided
with an additional layer (13) of confined fluid substance located
beneath the elasticated surface (12).
Inventors: |
Davis, Iain; (West Sussex,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAHIVE & COCKFIELD
28 STATE STREET
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
9890053 |
Appl. No.: |
10/258108 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
April 17, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB01/01708 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/025 20130101;
A43C 13/14 20130101; A43B 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/128 |
International
Class: |
A43B 005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2000 |
GB |
0009429.2 |
Claims
1. A football boot having a ball controlling surface which
comprises an elasticated frictional surface having affixed thereto
a plurality of pieces of frictional material and a layer of
confined fluid beneath the elasticated surface.
2. A football boot as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pieces of
frictional material are substantially diamond shaped.
3. A football boot as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the
frictional surface is provided by a rubber or rubber like material
having a grooved, castellated or otherwise roughened surface.
4. A football boot as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the
elasticated material incorporates Lycra.TM. or Elastane.TM..
5. A football boot as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the
confined layer of fluid comprises a gel.
6. A football boot as claimed in claim 5 wherein the gel comprises
silicone.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to sports shoes and in particular
sports shoes used in sports where the feet are used to control a
ball. Examples of suitable applications for the invention are in
soccer boots and rugby football boots.
[0002] Football boots are well known and have a tough upper surface
suitable for handling the impact of a travelling ball or the force
behind the wearer kicking the ball. Often the heel of the boot will
also be of a toughened material to cope with impacts in back
passing the ball. In some football boots, for example that known as
the ADIDAS.RTM. PREDATOR.TM., the upper surface of the boot is
provided with a ridged, relatively high friction surface. This
added friction causes a ball approaching the surface of the boot
from an oblique angle to slow down on contact with the surface
giving the wearer greater opportunity to turn and direct the ball
before passing it to another player. It may also make it easier for
the wearer to stop a moving ball with his foot.
[0003] The present invention aims to provide a boot which gives
further control to the wearer in manoeuvring a ball.
[0004] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a
football boot having a ball controlling surface which comprises an
elasticated frictional surface.
[0005] Conveniently the elasticated frictional surface may be
provided in the form of a plurality of pieces of frictional
material fixed to an elasticated surface. Alternatively the elastic
material may be provided between adjacent pieces of frictional
material. The surface may equally be provided in the form of a
material which inherently has both elasticated and frictional
properties.
[0006] As a ball hits the elasticated frictional surface the
frictional material provides grip, thereby slowing the ball. At the
same time the elasticated portion gives a little, travelling with
the ball and once the ball has slowed sufficiently, pulls the ball
back towards the position at which it first impacted the shoe. This
assists the wearer in the slowing and holding of the ball as he
receives it, giving him better opportunity than in the prior art
boots to control and redirect the ball.
[0007] The frictional material is preferably a rubber or rubber
like material having a grooved, castellated or otherwise roughened
surface. Where provided as a plurality of pieces, the pieces may be
of any shape but are suitably square, rectangular or diamond
shaped. The pieces may be fixed to an elasticated material
substrate by any suitable means such as stitching or chemical
bonding. Different pieces may, optionally, be provided with
different types of frictional surface, for example, some may be
grooved, others castellated. Optionally, the frictional surface may
comprise raised figures or alphanumeric characters which may, for
example, be indicative of the brand name of the shoe or the
manufacture providing the shoe.
[0008] Suitable elastic materials include rubbers, or any fabrics
incorporating an elastic material such as Lycra.TM. or
Elastane.TM.. Preferable the material is durable and wear
resistant.
[0009] Preferably, the ball controlling surface will further
comprise a layer of confined fluid beneath the elasticated layer.
This fluid layer may conveniently be provided in the form of a gel
such as a silicone gel. On impact by a ball, this fluid layer will
give, absorbing some kinetic energy from the moving ball, again
permitting the ball to be slowed down more quickly and effectively
than with the prior art boots.
[0010] The ball controlling surface may be provided on the toe and
upper front surface of the boot or the rear heel portion of the
boot. Optionally both surfaces my be provide with a ball
controlling surface according to the present invention.
[0011] In a further aspect the invention provides a method for
manufacturing a football boot comprising;
[0012] providing a football boot having a studded sole and a lace
up upper surface,
[0013] applying to the toe and/or heel portion of the upper surface
a layered composite comprising a lower fluid layer, an intermediate
elasticated layer and an upper layer comprising a plurality of
pieces of frictional material.
[0014] The invention will now be further described with reference
to the following Figures in which;
[0015] FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of one embodiment of
the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a section through
part of the ball controlling surface to illustrate its layered
structure.
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically how the embodiment of FIGS.
1 and 2 may be manufactured.
[0018] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the basic shape of the boot 1
resembles that of known football boots. It has a sole 2 carrying a
plurality of studs 3a, 3b, 3c . . . and an upper surface 4
comprising a tongue 5, a foot encapsulating portion 6 and laces 7
threaded through holes 8a, 8b, 8c, . . . provided either side of a
slashed opening 9 provided in the foot encapsulating portion 6. The
toe portion 10 of the foot encapsulating portion 6 is provided with
a ball controlling surface in accordance with the present
invention. The upper surface of the ball controlling portion is
provided with a plurality of diamond shaped pieces of rubber 11a,
11b, 11c, . . . affixed to underlying elasticated layer 12. Each
piece of rubber 11a, 11b, 11c, . . . has a grooved surface to
provide additional friction. It is to be noted that the pieces of
rubber 11a, 11b, 11c, . . . are slightly raised from elasticated
layer 12 and are spaced slightly apart from each other, this in
itself provides a frictional property to the ball controlling
surface.
[0019] From FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen that between the foot
encapsulating portion 6 of the shoe and the elasticated layer 12 is
provided a fluid layer 13, in this case made up of a globular
gel-like substance. The heel portion 14 of the foot encapsulating
portion 6 may also optionally be provided with a ball controlling
surface in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 3, the
letters A, B and C represent sequential steps in the manufacture of
the embodiment illustrated.
[0020] It is to be understood that the foregoing represents just
one embodiment of the invention and is not intended to detract from
the true scope of the invention as claimed in the appended
claims.
* * * * *