U.S. patent application number 10/336042 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for article of footwear for gripping and kicking a ball.
This patent application is currently assigned to Reebok International Ltd.. Invention is credited to Johnston, Craig.
Application Number | 20040088888 10/336042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24749672 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040088888 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnston, Craig |
May 13, 2004 |
Article of footwear for gripping and kicking a ball
Abstract
An article of footwear for use in playing soccer or other
activities that require kicking and/or handling of a ball by a
player's feet. The article of footwear has a ball control region
comprised of a series of raised geometric protrusions which give
the player grip and purchase on the ball. The ball control region
is formed of three interrelated layers. Each layer is formed of a
separate material with a distinct function. The outer layer is
comprised of a material which deforms easily and acts to attract
and slow the ball during handling by the player. The inner middle
layer is comprised of a material that deforms but is harder and
more resilient than the outer layer to enhance or over-emphasize a
particular effect a player is trying to achieve with the ball. The
core layer is comprised of a high tensile metal or plastic to
provide a player with extra power and energy during power kicks.
Further, the three layers of the ball control region act in unison
to allow the player to achieve a variety of desired effects on the
ball.
Inventors: |
Johnston, Craig; (Lane End,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX PLLC
1100 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Reebok International Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
24749672 |
Appl. No.: |
10/336042 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10336042 |
Jan 3, 2003 |
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09684811 |
Oct 10, 2000 |
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6523282 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/133 ;
36/128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/025 20130101;
A43B 5/18 20130101; A43B 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/133 ;
036/128 |
International
Class: |
A43B 005/02; A43B
005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article of footwear to provide grip and purchase on a ball
comprising: a sole; an upper disposed on said sole and having an
outer surface; and a ball control region attached to said outer
surface of said upper comprised of a plurality of interrelated
layers, wherein one of said layers includes a material of a
different hardness than another of said layers.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said ball control
region covers a substantial portion of said upper.
3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said ball control
region comprises a series of geometric protrusions.
4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the geometric
protrusions are generally conical.
5. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the geometric
protrusions are generally pyramidal.
6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein each of the
pyramidal geometric protrusions are of substantially equal
dimensions.
7. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the conical
geometric protrusions are of varying dimension.
8. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the pyramidal
geometric protrusions are spaced equidistant apart and formed in
rows.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said plurality of
interrelated layers of said ball control region further comprises:
an outer layer that contacts the ball; a core layer that is
disposed on said outer surface of the upper; and an inner middle
layer sandwiched between said outer layer and said core layer.
10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein said outer layer
comprises a soft rubber that deforms easily, said core layer
comprises a high tensile metal or plastic, and said inner middle
layer comprises a harder rubber than said outer layer.
11. An article of footwear to provide grip and purchase on a ball
comprising: a sole; an upper disposed on said sole and having an
outer surface; and a ball control surface attached to said outer
surface of said upper comprised of a throat region, a medial region
and a lateral region, wherein one of said throat, medial or lateral
regions includes a material of a different hardness than another of
said regions.
12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein said ball control
surface covers a substantial portion of said upper.
13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein said ball control
surface comprises a series of geometric protrusions arranged to
form a plurality of ball pockets.
14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein said geometric
protrusions are generally conical.
15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein said conical
geometric protrusions are of varying dimension such that said
conical geometric protrusions which are adjacent said ball pockets
are smaller in area than said conical geometric protrusions about a
remainder of said ball control surface.
16. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein said ball control
surface comprises a series of geometric protrusions.
17. The article of footwear of claim, 16, wherein said geometric
protrusions in said throat region are formed from rubber with a
Shore hardness of about 50 A .
18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein said geometric
protrusions in said medial and lateral regions are formed of rubber
with a Shore hardness of about 62 A.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to athletic
footwear. More particularly, this invention relates to athletic
footwear used in soccer or other sports which require kicking
and/or dribbling of a ball with the wearer's feet.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Soccer shoes are used by a wearer to dribble, kick and pass
a ball. In each function, it is beneficial for the wearer to be
able to handle and control the ball easily and effectively with the
soccer shoe. It is also beneficial to have a soccer shoe that
enables the wearer to impart spin and increase power to the ball as
it is kicked. Further, a soccer shoe that improves a wearer's
ability to control and kick the ball as environmental conditions
become adverse, such as when it is cold, wet and/or muddy, is
crucial to a wearer's consistent performance.
[0005] In light of the above, numerous attempts have been made over
the years to incorporate into a soccer shoe some type of ball
handling surface attached to the shoe upper that provides a wearer
with better grip and purchase of a ball. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,321
to Brutting, rubber projections were inserted through holes in the
toe portion and medial and lateral vamp portions of the soccer shoe
upper to form a ball control surface. This arrangement attempted to
address problems of prior shoes of this type i.e., unsatisfactory
shape of projections, construction and method of securing the
projections to the upper. Whereas the rubber projections of the
shoe of U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,321 are such as to perhaps improve ball
contact and control, they may have the adverse effect of dampening
a wearer's power kick due to the compressibility of the material
contacting the ball.
[0006] The design of the soccer shoe in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,112 to
Johnston includes rubber formations applied over flat and/or
concave ball contact areas. The effectiveness of the ball contact
areas of U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,112 is premised on the "squaring-off"
of the toe box so that the shoe has increased surface area on the
inner medial and lateral shoe vamp. The rubber formations on the
ball control surface are comprised of either thinner, flexible
rubber to provide flexibility and feel to the wearer for improved
dribbling and ball control or of rubber of sufficient thickness to
remain stable for power kicking. In order to get both effects in
one shoe, it is necessary for a wearer to secure a harder, thicker
kicking attachment to a "dribbling" shoe. Thus, the design of the
shoe does not readily accommodate a soccer player's need for a
soccer shoe that will aid the wearer in dribbling and controlling
the ball as well as power kicking and passing the ball.
[0007] Accordingly, what is needed is a soccer shoe which
incorporates a ball control system that includes a means to provide
adequate dribbling and controlling features to the wearer and means
of applying or increasing power or influence over the ball during
kicking and passing. In addition, the ball control system must be
integrated into the soccer shoe in such a manner as to not impede a
player's speed by being too heavy or cumbersome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in
accordance with the purposes of the present invention as embodied
and broadly described herein, the article of footwear of the
present invention comprises a ball control and influence system.
The system of the present invention includes a ball control region
that is comprised of three interrelated materials serving three
different functions that is disposed on an outer surface of a
soccer shoe upper.
[0009] The soccer shoe of the present invention enables the wearer
to control the ball while dribbling and to achieve rapid control of
the ball upon receipt of a pass. The soccer shoe also provides
means of applying or increasing power and influence over the ball
while power kicking and passing. Due to the relative movement
between the ball control region and the outer surface of the upper
upon contact with a ball and the composition of the ball control
region, the soccer shoe allows the wearer to impart spin or other
forms of induced movement of the ball so as to selectively vary the
flight of the ball.
[0010] The soccer shoe of the present invention includes a ball
control region attached to an outer surface of the upper. The ball
control region is comprised of a series of raised geometric
protrusions constructed of three layers of interrelated materials.
The material of each layer is chosen to perform a specific function
so that in unison the three layers allow a wearer to impart a
variety of desired effects on the ball.
[0011] The outer layer is comprised of a soft and pliable rubber
that deforms easily and provides grip when in contact with a ball.
The gripping nature of the outer layer acts like tentacles to both
attract and slow down the ball when receiving it and then keeping
it steady when preparing to shoot. The outer layer is tactile so
that the wearer is able to feel the ball to effectively dribble and
carry it down the field under any environmental condition.
[0012] The inner middle layer is comprised of a harder, more
resilient rubber compound than that of the outer layer. The inner
middle layer in conjunction with the outer layer deforms around the
outer surface of a ball to enhance or over-emphasize the particular
effect that the wearer wants to achieve with the ball. Thus, a
wearer can more effectively make short passes and/or maneuver about
other players by applying greater force between the ball control
region and the ball surface and deforming the inner middle layer of
material.
[0013] The core layer is comprised of a very thin layer of high
tensile metal or plastic. This area provides a wearer with the
means of applying and/or increasing power and influence to the
ball. A wearer is able to achieve an extra belt of power and effect
when the three layers of the ball control region are deformed in
unison during hard contact with the ball.
[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, a soccer
shoe is made with a ball control surface that is comprised of a
series of raised geometric protrusions of various sizes that are
arranged on the soccer shoe upper in a manner that allows the
wearer to impart a variety of desired effects on the ball, such as
more spin and/or power to the ball. The ball control region is
divided into a throat region which surrounds the laces of the
soccer shoe upper and medial and lateral regions. The geometric
protrusions of each region are formed from a single rubber
compound. However, the type of rubber compound used for the
geometric protrusions of the throat, medial and lateral regions may
vary. Thus, the rubber material selected for the geometric
protrusions of the throat region of the upper may have a different
density/hardness than the rubber material selected for the
geometric protrusions which cover the lateral and medial regions of
the ball control surface.
[0015] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as
well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the
present invention, are described in detail below with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form part of the specification, illustrate the present invention
and together with the description further serve to explain the
principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the
pertinent art to make and use the invention.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a lateral side view of one embodiment of an
article of footwear in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a geometric protrusion of FIG.
1.
[0019] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2A-2A of
FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a series of geometric
protrusions of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3A-3A of
FIG. 3.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a series of geometric
protrusions of FIG. 1 in a relaxed state.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a series of geometric
protrusions of FIG. 1 wherein an outer layer is deformed under soft
contact with a ball.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a series of geometric
protrusions of FIG. 1 wherein an outer layer and an inner middle
layer are deformed under hard contact with a ball.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a medial side view of a second embodiment of an
article of footwear in accordance with the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a lateral side view of the article of footwear of
FIG. 7.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a top view of the article of footwear of FIG.
7.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the ball control region of
FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now
described with reference to the figures where like reference
numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Also
in the figures, the left most digit of each reference number
corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is first
used. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed,
it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes
only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that
other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to
a person skilled in the relevant art that this invention can also
be employed in a variety of other applications.
[0030] A lateral side view of soccer shoe 100 in accordance with
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Soccer shoe 100 has upper
102 and sole 104 provided with studs 106. Upper 102 may be made of
leather. In another embodiment of the present invention, upper 102
may be made of any suitable synthetic material, including a
combination of fabric and plastic. Sole 104 and studs 106 are
integrally formed of plastic in an injection molding process. In
another embodiment, sole 104 and studs 106 may be formed separately
and attached one to the other in any means apparent to a person
skilled in the relevant art given the present description and
application.
[0031] Ball control region 108 is attached to upper 102 and is
comprised of a series of geometric protrusion 110 formed in rows.
In another embodiment of the present invention, ball control region
108 may be formed integrally with upper 102. Each geometric
protrusion 110 is generally pyramidal and of substantially equal
dimensions. The geometry and size of geometric protrusion 110
provides multidirectional performance for the wearer. Ball control
region 108 wraps around the outer surface of upper 102 below
fastening portion 112 such that a ball may be controlled about this
entire region. In another embodiment of the present invention,
geometric protrusions may be of various shapes and dimensions and
formed about the ball control region in any suitable arrangement in
keeping with the present description and application.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2, 2A, 3 and 4, ball control region 108
may be formed of three distinct and interrelated layers. Outer
layer 202 is formed of a soft and pliable rubber that deforms
easily and has the property of acting like tentacles to both
attract and slow the ball down when receiving it and then keeping
it steady when preparing to shoot. (It is very desirable for
accuracy of the kick that the ball stays on the foot for as long as
possible, the outer layer has properties to make this possible.)
One preferred material is a rubber compound having a Shore hardness
of between 60A and 64A. Inner middle layer 204 is formed of a much
harder and more resilient rubber compound than outer layer 202. One
suitable material is a rubber compound having a Shore hardness of
between 49A and 53A. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, inner middle layer
204 acts in conjunction with outer layer 202 to deform around the
surface of ball 502 to enhance or over-emphasize the particular
effect that the wearer wants to put on the ball. Core layer 206 is
formed of a very thin high tensile metal or plastic. Core layer 206
creates the real energy and resiliency of ball control region 108
that during a kick gives a belt of extra power and effect while
imparting spin on the ball.
[0033] Although the above-described embodiment suggests the use of
three separate materials for geometric protrusions 110, it may be
possible to use a single material with a density that varies from a
less dense outer region to a denser inner region. It is also
envisioned that for some applications, two materials may be used to
accomplish some of the same goals as the three layer geometric
protrusion of ball control region 108. Similarly, the ball control
region can be tailored for particular functionality by utilizing a
fourth material or more.
[0034] FIGS. 7 through 10 show an alternate embodiment of the
present invention. Soccer shoe 700 has upper 702 and sole 704
provided with studs 706. Ball control surface 708 is attached to an
outer surface of upper 702 and is comprised of geometric
protrusions 710 that are generally conical. Conical protrusions 710
vary in height from approximately 3 mm to 7 mm and in base diameter
from approximately 3 mm to 6 mm.
[0035] Ball control surface 708 is arranged such that it defines
ball pockets 712 on the outer surface of upper 702. Shorter conical
protrusions 710 are arranged directly adjacent ball pockets 712
with taller conical protrusions 710 positioned in step fashion
about ball control surface 708 such that a curved surface of the
ball is accommodated within ball pockets 712. In a further
embodiment of the present invention, the shorter conical
protrusions about the ball pockets are made from a rubber compound
that is harder than the rubber compound used to form the taller
conical protrusions on the remainder of the ball control
surface.
[0036] Conical protrusions 710 of ball control surface 708 are each
formed of a single rubber compound. However, the properties of the
rubber compound used to produce the conical protrusions varies
according to which region of ball control surface 708 the conical
protrusions are to be placed on soccer shoe upper 702. As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10, ball control surface 708 is comprised of a throat
region 714, a medial region 716 and a lateral region 718, wherein
the rubber compound used to form the conical protrusions thereon
varies from region to region. Particularly, the rubber used for the
"U-shaped" throat region 714 of ball control surface 708 is of a
harder rubber material, such as PGM 44 with a Shore hardness of 50
A, to allow the wearer to increase the power and influence over the
ball when the ball is kicked from within this region of the shoe.
In contrast, medial and lateral regions 716 and 718 of ball control
surface 708 are made of a softer rubber material, such as PGM 50
with a Shore hardness of 62 A, which slightly deforms around the
surface of a ball to allow the wearer to enhance or over-emphasize
the particular effect that the wearer wants to achieve with the
ball, by keeping the ball on the wearer's foot longer.
[0037] Ball control region 108 may also be removable from the upper
to allow ball control regions having different characteristics to
be interchanged on a single upper. For example, the ball control
region could be attached with snaps, a hook and pile fastener or in
any other convenient manner. Individual geometric protrusions might
also be replaceable so that an individual soccer player may tailor
his/her ball control region to suit his/her individual needs or
desires.
[0038] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be
apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various
changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the present
invention should not be limited by any of the above-described
exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance
with the following claims and their equivalents. All cited patent
documents and publications in the above description are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *