U.S. patent application number 12/287214 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-08 for golf shoe outsole with longitudinally extending bend line.
This patent application is currently assigned to Etonic Worldwide LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel E. Norton.
Application Number | 20100083539 12/287214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42074632 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100083539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Norton; Daniel E. |
April 8, 2010 |
Golf shoe outsole with longitudinally extending bend line
Abstract
An outsole for a golf shoe having a plurality of lateral and
medial cleats spaced apart longitudinally adjacent the perimeter on
each of the lateral and medial sides of the foresole region, and
least one cleat adjacent the perimeter on each of the lateral and
medial sides of the heel region, with a groove running
longitudinally through the foresole region between the medial and
lateral cleats, in substantially vertical registry with a region of
the foot defined by the center phalange and the lateral and medial
phalanges adjacent the center phalange. Preferably another groove
extends between the lateral and media sides of the foresole region,
having an inverted "V" shape with the apex of the "V" directed
forwardly and intersecting the longitudinal groove, in
substantially vertical registry with all of the five phalange
joints lying midway between the toes and the arches of the foot. In
a further preference, a raised pad is provided at the medial side
of the arch region.
Inventors: |
Norton; Daniel E.; (El Paso,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALIX YALE & RISTAS LLP
750 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1400
HARTFORD
CT
06103
US
|
Assignee: |
Etonic Worldwide LLC
Waltham
MA
|
Family ID: |
42074632 |
Appl. No.: |
12/287214 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/127 ; 36/25R;
36/59R; 36/67A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/141 20130101;
A43B 5/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/127 ; 36/25.R;
36/67.A; 36/59.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00; A43B 13/00 20060101 A43B013/00; A43C 15/00 20060101
A43C015/00 |
Claims
1. An outsole for an athletic shoe comprising: an elongated
perimeter outlining a substantially planar foresole region, a
substantially planar heel region, and an arch region recessed from
the foresole and heel regions, each of said regions having medial
and lateral sides; a plurality of lateral and medial cleats spaced
apart longitudinally adjacent the perimeter on each of the lateral
and medial sides of the foresole region, respectively, and rising
above the plane of the foresole region; at least one cleat adjacent
the perimeter on each of the lateral and medial sides of the heel
region and rising above the plane of the heel region; a first
groove running longitudinally through the foresole region between
all of the medial and lateral cleats; and a second groove extending
transversely between the lateral and media sides of the foresole
region, having an inverted "V" shape with the apex of the "V"
directed forwardly and intersecting the first groove.
2. The outsole of claim 1, wherein the first groove has a
substantially continuous curvature.
3. The outsole of claim 1, wherein the first groove has a
substantially continuous convex curvature between the cleats as
viewed from the medial cleats.
4. The outsole of claim 1, including a raised pad at the medial
side of the arch region.
5. The outsole of claim 4, wherein the foresole region, heel
region, and pad are substantially coplanar.
6. The outsole of claim 1, wherein the first groove has a front end
at a longitudinally front point of the foresole perimeter.
7. The outsole of claim 6, including a raised pad at the medial
side of the arch region, said pad having a substantially flat,
textured surface lying in a plane at or above the plane of the heel
region.
8. The outsole of claim 1, wherein the first groove is defined by
sidewalls and an uninterrupted straight line can be extended within
the sidewalls between all of the medial and lateral cleats in the
foresole region.
9. The outsole of claim 8, wherein the first groove lies midway
between or closer to the lateral side of the foresole region,
relative to the medial side of the foresole region.
10. A golf shoe outsole comprising: an elongated perimeter
outlining a substantially planar foresole region, a substantially
planar heel region, and an arch region recessed from the foresole
and heel regions, each of said regions having medial and lateral
sides; a plurality of lateral and medial cleats spaced apart
longitudinally adjacent the perimeter on each of the lateral and
medial sides of the foresole region, respectively, and rising above
the plane of the foresole region; at least one cleat adjacent the
perimeter on each of the lateral and medial sides of the heel
region and rising above the plane of the heel region; a groove
running longitudinally through the foresole region between at least
some of the medial and lateral cleats; and a raised pad at the
medial side of the arch region.
11. The outsole of claim 10, wherein the raised pad has a
substantially flat, textured surface lying in a plane at or above
the plane of the heel region.
12. The outsole of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the
groove between the cleats has a convex curvature as viewed from the
medial cleats.
13. The outsole of claim 12, wherein the groove extends between all
the lateral and medial cleats in the foresole region.
14. The outsole of claim 13, wherein the groove has a front end at
a longitudinally front point of the foresole perimeter.
15. An outsole for a golf shoe, having a perimeter outlining a
wearer's foot of given size, an inner surface providing a foot bed
and an outer surface having cleats for engaging the ground, wherein
said foot includes a heel, a lateral arch, a medial arch, two
lateral phalanges, a center phalange, and two medial phalanges, and
said outsole comprises: a substantially planar outer foresole
region, a substantially planar outer heel region, and an outer arch
region recessed from said foresole and heel regions, each of said
regions having medial and lateral sides; a plurality of lateral and
medial cleats spaced apart longitudinally adjacent the perimeter on
each of the lateral and medial sides of said outer foresole region,
respectively, and rising above the plane of the foresole region; at
least one cleat adjacent the perimeter on each of the lateral and
medial sides of said outer heel region and rising above the plane
of said heel region; a groove running longitudinally through the
outer foresole region between medial and lateral cleats, in
substantially vertical registry with a region of the foot defined
by the center phalange and the lateral and medial phalanges
adjacent the center phalange.
16. The outsole of claim 15, wherein the groove extends from the
toes to the arches of the rear most part of the phalanges.
17. The outsole of claim 15, wherein the groove is in substantially
vertical registry with a region of the foot defined by the center
phalange and the lateral phalange adjacent the center phalange.
18. The outsole of claim 15 wherein the groove is in substantially
vertical registry with the center phalange from the toes to the
arches of the rear most part of the phalanges.
19. The outsole of claim 15, including another groove extending
between the lateral and media sides of the outer foresole region,
having an inverted "V" shape with the apex of the "V" directed
forwardly and intersecting said longitudinal groove, wherein the
other groove lies in substantially vertical registry with all of
the five phalange joints lying midway between the toes and the
arches of the foot.
20. The outsole of claim 15, including a raised pad at the medial
side of the outer arch region.
21. The outsole of claim 19, including a raised pad at the medial
side of the outer arch region.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to athletic shoes, and
particularly to outsoles for golf shoes.
[0002] In many sports or athletic games, the player wears
specialized shoes having a construction, especially an outsole,
which is adapted to support the player in the particular movement
characteristic of that sport or game. For the game of golf, the
shoes should remain in contact with the ground throughout the
swinging of the club, but during such swing, the weight
distribution shifts dramatically, and portions of the shoe lift off
the ground. A well designed and well fitting golf shoe not only
conforms to the shape of the foot, but also supports the regions of
the foot that remain grounded during the swing.
[0003] For many years, the outsoles of golf shoes have included
projecting spikes or cleats to prevent slippage during the swing.
More recently, the foresole, arch and heel regions have been
partially decoupled, to improve the flexure of the shoe during the
swing. Grooves or channels in the foresole further enhance
flexibility.
[0004] Such efforts to improve flexibility have focused on the
shoe, without regard to the detailed anatomy of the foot.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention is directed to an outsole having
features that more closely integrate the support and flexure of the
shoe with the dynamic anatomical characteristics of the foot during
athletic movements.
[0006] One embodiment is directed to an outsole for a golf shoe,
having a perimeter outlining a wearer's foot of given size, an
inner surface providing a foot bed and an outer surface having
cleats for engaging the ground. A normal foot has a heel, a medial
arch, a lateral arch, two medial phalanges (#1 and #2), a center
phalange (#3), and two lateral phalanges (#4 and #5). The outsole
comprises a substantially planar outer foresole region, a
substantially planar outer heel region, and an outer arch region
recessed from the foresole and heel regions, each of these regions
having medial and lateral sides. A plurality of lateral and medial
cleats are spaced apart longitudinally adjacent the perimeter on
each of the lateral and medial sides of the outer foresole region,
respectively, and project from the plane of the foresole region. At
least one cleat is situated adjacent the perimeter on each of the
lateral and medial sides of the outer heel region and project from
the plane of the heel region. According to one feature of the
present disclosure, a flex groove runs longitudinally through the
outer foresole region between medial and lateral cleats, in a
substantially vertical registry with a region of the foot defined
by the center phalange (#3) and the medial and lateral phalanges
(#2 and #4) adjacent the center phalange.
[0007] Preferably, the groove is in substantially vertical registry
with a region of the foot defined between the medial phalange (#2)
and the closer lateral phalange (#4), from the toes to the lateral
arch of the foot. Ideally, the groove is in a substantially
vertical registry with a region of the foot defined by the center
phalange (#3) and the #4 lateral phalange, from the toes to the
arch of the foot.
[0008] Many golf instructors believe that during the most important
parts of the golf swing, the golfer's weight should be supported in
the medial regions of the foot. During the back swing, the weight
shifts from a substantially even 50-50 per cent distribution on the
front and back feet, to an 80-20 per cent distribution on the back
foot. At the top of the backswing and during the transition to the
downswing, the 80 per cent on the back foot is split 80-20 per cent
favoring the medial side of the back foot. After impact and during
release of the club, the weight shifts to an 80-20 per cent
distribution on the front foot, with the 80 per cent on the front
split 80-20 per cent favoring the medial side of the front
foot.
[0009] The natural bend line of the foot for implementing this
movement extends longitudinally from the junction of the medial and
lateral arch, forwardly between the medial phalange (#2) and the
closer lateral phalange (#4). A corresponding longitudinal groove
in the outsole reduces a lever angle effect and promotes a
substantially flat contact with the ground on the medial side while
the lateral side can lift off the ground. In practice, the groove
on the outer foresole can still be more effective than conventional
grooves, even if not perfectly aligned between the medial (#2)
phalange and the closer lateral phalange (#4)
[0010] In a further preference, another, transverse groove extends
between the lateral and media sides of the outer foresole region,
having an inverted "V" shape with the apex of the "V" directed
forwardly and intersecting the longitudinal groove. The transverse
groove should ideally lie in substantially vertical registry with
all of the five phalange joints that lie midway between the toes
and the arches of the foot, at the natural flex points of the foot
(i.e., the metatarsal heads).
[0011] This V groove provides improved front/back flexure, in a
synergistic combination with the lateral bend line provided by the
longitudinal groove.
[0012] In yet another feature, the outsole includes a raised pad at
the medial side of the outer arch region. During the critical parts
of the swing when weight is shifting from the medial side of the
back foot to the medial side of the front foot, only about half of
the foresole and heel on the outsole support the weight shift.
Conventionally, the arch is not a weight bearing region. Locating a
raised, textured pad in the medial arch increases the contact area
with the ground and thus increases the margin to slippage.
Furthermore, the pad in the arch can provide an unaccustomed
sensation felt through the shoe to the arch of the foot, indicating
that the weight has been properly shifted to the medial sides from
the top of the backswing through release after impact.
[0013] Although the longitudinal groove and the arch pad provide
distinct advantages, they are best employed together. The
longitudinal groove enhances the lateral bend, whereby more weight
can be shifted with confidence to the medial side of the outsole,
and the raised pad in the medial arch region improves the player's
confidence that the shoe will remain in stable, supportive contact
with the ground during the further weight shift toward the front
foot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Various embodiments will be described in greater detail
below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the outsole of a golf shoe for the
right foot, embodying the longitudinal flex groove and the arch pad
features of the present disclosure;
[0016] FIGS. 2-4 are more realistic views corresponding to FIG. 1,
showing the additional feature of the transverse flex groove;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the human foot as would be seen
looking upward through the outsole of a shoe according to the
present disclosure, such as shown in FIGS. 1-4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an outsole 10 having an elongated perimeter 12
corresponding to the shape of a right foot of given size, outlining
a substantially planar foresole region 14, a substantially planar
heel region 16, and an arch region 18 recessed from the foresole
and heel regions, each of the regions having medial M and lateral L
sides. A plurality of lateral and medial cleats 20, 22 are spaced
apart longitudinally adjacent the perimeter on each of the lateral
and medial sides of the foresole region, respectively, and project
above the plane of the foresole region. At least one cleat 24, 26
is adjacent the perimeter on each of the lateral and medial sides
of the heel region 16, and project above the plane of the heel
region. A first groove 28 runs longitudinally through the foresole
region 14 between all of the medial and lateral cleats 20, 22.
[0019] In FIG. 1, the groove 28 is defined by sidewalls 30, 32,
which are shown as straight in FIG. 1 but which may provide a
continuous convex curvature between the cleats 20, 22 of the
foresole region 14, as viewed from the medial cleats 22. The groove
28 preferably has a front end at a longitudinally front point of
the foresole region. In essence, a straight line 34 can be extended
within the sidewalls 30, 32, between all of the medial and lateral
cleats in the foresole region. This span is indicated by the dashed
line 36. The groove 28, and in particular the straight line 34,
lies about midway between or preferably closer to the lateral side
L of the foresole region 14, relative to the medial side M of the
foresole region.
[0020] In FIG. 2, the outsole 100 has a foresole region 102 having
a longitudinal groove 104 that is similar to the groove 28 of FIG.
1, except that two cross grooves 106, 108 are provided. Each
resembles a broad "V", with the apex intersecting the longitudinal
groove 104. The apex of the more forward groove 106 points
rearward, whereas the apex of the more rearward groove 108 points
forward.
[0021] In FIG. 3, the outsole 200 has a slightly "S" shaped
longitudinal groove 204. However, between the forward most cleat
and the rearmost cleat in the foresole region 202, a straight line
can be drawn within the walls of the groove. This embodiment also
has the two transverse or cross grooves 206, 208. The apex of
transverse groove 208 intersects the longitudinal groove 104,
slightly on the medial side of the straight line through groove
204.
[0022] In FIG. 4, the outsole 300 has longitudinal groove 304 in
the foresole region 302, with a continuous convex curvature between
the cleats of the foresole region, as viewed from the medial
cleats. This embodiment also has the two cross grooves 306,
308.
[0023] In FIG. 5, the medial M and lateral L sides of the foot 400
are evident, along with the medial arch 402, medial phalanges (#1
and #2) 404, 406, the center phalange (#3) 408, the lateral arch
410 and lateral phalanges (#4 and #5) 412, 414. The phalanges
extend from toes such as 416 rearward to the junction 418 with the
respective arch bones. Line B1 indicates the anatomical bend line
of the foot when the person moves from side to side (lateral bend
line) and line B2 indicates the anatomical bend line of the foot
when a person moves forward, such as in walking.
[0024] According to one feature of the present disclosure, the
longitudinal groove 28, 104, 204 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 runs through
the outer foresole region between medial and lateral cleats, in
substantially vertical registry with a region of the foot defined
by the center phalange 408 and the lateral and medial phalanges 412
and 406 adjacent the center phalange from the toes to the arch of
the foot. This region is indicated by 420 in FIG. 5.
[0025] Preferably, the groove such as 28, 104, 204 is in
substantially vertical registry with a region of the foot defined
by the center phalange 408 and the adjacent lateral phalange 412.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the straight line 34 within the
longitudinal groove 28 in the foresole region is vertically aligned
with the anatomical bend line B1.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 24, optionally but preferably, a
transverse groove 108, 208, 308 extends between the lateral and
media sides of the outer foresole region, having an inverted "V"
shape with the apex of the "V" directed forwardly and intersecting
the longitudinal groove 104, 204, 304. The transverse groove should
ideally lie in substantially vertical registry with all of the five
phalange joints such as 420', 420'' lying midway between the toes
416 and the intersection 418 with the arch.
[0027] This V groove provides improved front/back flexure, in a
synergistic combination with the lateral bend line provided by the
longitudinal groove.
[0028] In yet another optional but preferred feature, the outsole
10, 100, 200, 300 includes a raised pad 38, 110, 210, 310 at the
medial side of the arch region. The pad such as 38 can have texture
surface, for example inwardly (laterally) directed pyramids, wedges
or cones 40 that will engage the ground and help stabilize the
medial side of the shoe during weight transfer in the swing. For
example, this height can be at or above the plane of the foresole
and the heel, and approximately the same as the height of the base
portion of the cleats. This stabilization, coupled with the greater
flexibility for lateral bending about bend line B1, should improve
the pivot action of the golf swing.
* * * * *