U.S. patent application number 11/856329 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for felt sole with improved traction.
Invention is credited to Derek Fergus.
Application Number | 20090071040 11/856329 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40452972 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090071040 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fergus; Derek |
March 19, 2009 |
FELT SOLE WITH IMPROVED TRACTION
Abstract
An improved traction felt sole for footwear. The felt sole
having integral downwardly extending protrusions located over the
bottom surface of the felt sole. The downwardly extending
protrusions may all have the same shape or they may have different
shapes arranged in a desired pattern upon the bottom surface of the
sole.
Inventors: |
Fergus; Derek; (Salem,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bruce E. Harang
PO BOX 872735
VANCOUVER
WA
98687-2735
US
|
Family ID: |
40452972 |
Appl. No.: |
11/856329 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/25R ;
36/59C |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/223 20130101;
A43B 13/02 20130101; A43B 13/026 20130101; A43B 13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/25.R ;
36/59.C |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/14 20060101
A43B013/14; A43B 13/00 20060101 A43B013/00; A43C 15/00 20060101
A43C015/00 |
Claims
1. A sole comprising: a relatively hard fiber felt sole body having
a top surface adapted to be affixed to a mid-sole, said sole body
also having a bottom surface, a plurality of downwardly extending,
spaced apart protrusions being formed as an integral part of said
relatively hard felt sole bottom surface.
2. The sole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions are formed by molding.
3. The sole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions all have substantially the same shape.
4. The sole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions comprise protrusions having at least two different
shapes.
5. The sole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions comprise an associated group of at least two different
shaped protrusion members.
6. A sole comprising: a relatively hard polymeric fiber felt sole
body having a top surface adapted to be affixed to a mid-sole, said
sole body also having a bottom surface, a plurality of downwardly
extending, spaced apart protrusions being formed as an integral
part of said relatively hard felt sole bottom surface.
7. The sole as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions are formed by molding.
8. The sole as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions all have substantially the same shape.
9. The sole as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions comprise protrusions having at least two different
shapes.
10. The sole as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spaced apart
protrusions comprise an associated group of at least two different
shaped protrusion members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to felt footwear
soles having improved traction and more particularly to felt soles
having improved traction for use on wading footwear.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] It has been a long-standing problem that shoes and boots
need to have the best grip possible so that the user can travel
over rough and or slippery surfaces without loosing footing. One of
the areas in which this has been most necessary is for fishermen,
who are often stepping on submerged rocks, which have been made
smooth by the flow of water and have been made additionally hard to
stand on due to a layer of algae or slime that can form upon the
such objects within a stream as well as the rock portions of the
streambed itself.
[0005] Various methods have been employed to enhance the traction
of boots, shoes, and sandals, especially for purposes of fishing
and other water sports. The fishing footwear referred to can be
fishing waders, which comprise boots attached to pants that
typically extend to mid-thigh or chest. Other fishing boots are
approximately ankle high boots that are worn on the outside of
waterproof stocking foot waders. Likewise, fishing sandals can be
worn over these stocking foot sandals. The water proof waders can
extend to mid-thigh, waist, or chest. Additionally, these types of
wading footwear can be worn along without waders. Footwear for
fishing has attempted to increase the traction for the user by
having a sole made of flat surfaced felt. The felt has many fibrous
connections which are thought to be the basis for the greatly
increased the traction on slippery surfaces.
[0006] Another traction type sole is a polymeric sole having a high
traction imprinted or molded pattern on the surface of the sole of
the footwear. This can be in the form of ridges, grooves,
protruding nubbins or blocks, or any number of surface textures
built into the bottom of the sole of the footwear. Also known are
polymeric materials for forming soles having gripping
characteristics of rock climber shoes with a traction pattern
imprinted on them. All of these attempts to improve the traction of
the wading footwear are useful, but further increase in traction is
needed.
[0007] Still another attempt at increasing the traction of footwear
is to have a material that is harder than the footwear sole surface
protruding from the footwear. This can be by screw-in metal studs
or by metal protrusions that attach to the sole in some way. Metal
protrusions or studs can increase traction in situations, but in
other situations actually reduces traction. A better all around
traction providing sole is still needed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides advantages and alternatives
over the prior art by providing a sole for water sport footwear,
particularly wading footwear, and the like which is especially
useful for walking on slippery surfaces without the need for studs
or special formulation polymeric sole compositions.
[0009] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a felt footwear sole having a traction pattern for
improving traction without the need of sewing multiple pieces to
form a complete sole.
[0010] According to yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a felt footwear sole having a traction pattern
for improving traction that may be attached to footwear using
standard felt sole attaching means.
[0011] According to still another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a felt footwear sole having a traction pattern
molded into the felt for improving traction that may be attached to
footwear using standard felt sole attaching means.
[0012] The present invention thus advantageously provides a one
piece felt traction sole for attaching to footwear using known felt
sole attachment technology and which further may be attached to a
flat mid-sole or attached to a mid-sole having a heel
elevation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the bottom traction patterned
surface of a felt traction sole, where all of the protrusions have
the same shape, of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the bottom traction patterned
surface of a felt traction sole, where the protrusions comprise a
pattern of two different shapes, of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a show a plan side view of a felt traction sole
of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a wading boot having a flat mid-sole surface
with the felt traction sole of the present invention mounted
thereto.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a wading boot having a heel elevation mid-sole
surface with the felt traction sole of the present invention
mounted thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein to the
extent possible like reference numerals are utilized to designate
like components throughout the various views. Referring to FIG. 1,
which presents a felt traction sole 10 of the present invention
having sole bottom surface 1 into which a plurality of downwardly
extending, spaced apart protrusions 2 are formed as an integral
part of said felt traction sole 10 bottom. Protrusions 2 are
illustrated as having a desired pattern of larger protrusion
members 3 each having associated with it a pair of smaller
protrusion members 4. It is to be understood that the design of the
traction pattern protrusions may comprise single protrusions or
groupings of at least two associated protrusion members. The
protrusions 2 are most preferably formed by molding them into the
felt sole blank.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a felt traction sole
10 of the present invention having a sole bottom surface 1 into
which a plurality of downwardly extending spaced apart first set of
protrusions 2 are formed as an integral part of said felt traction
sole 10 bottom. The presently preferred method of forming said
protrusions is by molding using heat and pressure in a forming
mold. Protrusions 2 are illustrated as having a desired pattern of
larger protrusion members 3 each having associated with it a pair
of smaller protrusion members 4. In addition, there is illustrated
the use of a second set of protrusions 5 having a different shape
forming a second desired pattern overlaid on the first desired
pattern of protrusions 2 and also formed as an integral part of
said felt traction sole 10 bottom.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a side view of the felt
traction sole 10 showing the sole bottom surface 1 having
downwardly extending protrusions 2 as well as sole top surface
6.
[0021] Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown FIG. 4 a
conventional wading boot 20 having an upper 21, a mid-sole 22, and
the felt traction sole 10 of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a
conventional wading boot having a heel platform 23 attached to a
mid-sole 22 which in turn is attached to a wading boot upper 21 of
a conventional wading boot 20 with the felt traction sole 10 of the
present invention attached to the mid-sole and heel platform. The
construction of the wading boot upper 21, the mid-sole 22, and the
heel platform are of materials and by processes well known in this
art.
[0022] The presently preferred manufacturing processes by which the
soles of this invention are made will now be described. A flat felt
sheet is introduced into a hot press mold having the desired
traction pattern, in reverse, on one interior surface of the mold.
The hot press mold is closed and sufficient pressure and heat are
applied to mold form the desired pattern in one surface of the flat
felt sheet. Presently preferred temperatures are about 150.degree.
C. at about 9 psi. The traction patterned felt is then removed from
the hot press mold and cut into the desired shape and size to
attach to a footwear mid-sole using convention attaching
techniques. It is to be understood that the hot press mold can be
designed to make a single improved traction felt sole at one time,
or preferably, a sheet of improved traction felt that can be cut
into at least one sole. The presently preferred felt material is
high density felt, most preferably polyester base high density felt
having a thickness of from about 6 mm to about 20 mm.
[0023] It is also to be understood that other known methods of
creating the traction pattern in one surface of the flat felt sheet
may be used. These include, for example, cutting or laser burning
the pattern into one surface of the flat felt sheet.
[0024] One particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention provides an improved traction felt sole for use on
footwear having a traction pattern comprised of a single traction
protrusion shape.
[0025] Another particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention provides an improved traction felt sole for use on
footwear having a traction pattern comprised of at least two
different protrusion shapes in a desired pattern arrangement.
[0026] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
has been disclosed, various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended claims.
* * * * *