U.S. patent application number 12/983052 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-22 for traction adjustment band for shoe.
Invention is credited to Katherine Hughes.
Application Number | 20110225844 12/983052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44646061 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110225844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hughes; Katherine |
September 22, 2011 |
TRACTION ADJUSTMENT BAND FOR SHOE
Abstract
Disclosed is a traction adjustment band for emplacement on a
shoe, comprising: an upper band; a sole band; a first attachment
interface connecting one end of the upper band to one end of the
sole band; and a second attachment interface connecting another end
of the upper band to another end of the sole band so as to form a
unitary band.
Inventors: |
Hughes; Katherine; (East
Brunswick, NJ) |
Family ID: |
44646061 |
Appl. No.: |
12/983052 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61314158 |
Mar 16, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/62 ;
12/142R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 15/02 20130101;
A43B 1/0081 20130101; A43B 5/18 20130101; A43C 15/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/62 ;
12/142.R |
International
Class: |
A43C 15/02 20060101
A43C015/02; A43D 8/00 20060101 A43D008/00 |
Claims
1. A method of adapting a shoe configured for a first physical
activity into a modified shoe suitable for a second physical
activity on a floor, the method comprising the steps of: providing
a traction adjustment band, said traction adjustment band including
an upper band and a sole band; placing the traction adjustment band
around the shoe such that said upper band is disposed on an upper
portion of the shoe and said sole band is disposed across a sole of
the shoe; and adjusting placement of said sole band on said shoe
sole so as to produce the modified shoe, the modified shoe thus
having a desired coefficient of friction with the floor, the
desired coefficient of friction being substantially equivalent to a
coefficient of friction with the floor that is provided by an
activity shoe that is configured for the second physical
activity.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired coefficient of
friction for said modified shoe is less than a coefficient of
friction of the unmodified shoe with the floor.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired coefficient of
friction for the modified shoe is increased by repositioning said
traction adjustment band along said sole of said sole of the shoe,
from under the ball of the foot of a user toward the arch of the
foot of the user.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said sole band covers a
predetermined area of said sole of the shoe, said predetermined
area having a width of from approximately 0.25 inch to
approximately three inches.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the elasticity of said upper band
is less than the elasticity of said sole band.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said upper band comprises a
hook-and-loop fastener pair.
7. A traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe,
the traction adjustment band comprising: an upper band; a sole
band; a first attachment interface connecting a first end of said
upper band to a first end of said sole band; and a second
attachment interface connecting a second end of said upper band to
a second end of said sole band so as to form a unitary band
assembly configured to enclose the upper and the sole of the
shoe.
8. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said upper band
comprises a substantially non-elastic fabric material.
9. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said upper band
comprises a grosgrain ribbon.
10. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein an outer
surface of said upper band comprises a printing of at least one of
a message, an advertisement, a logo, and a promotional
material.
11. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said lower band
comprises a substantially elastic fabric material.
12. The traction adjustment band of claim 11 wherein said
substantially elastic fabric material comprises a plastic-embedded
woven material.
13. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 further comprising a
second sole band attached to said first end of said upper band and
to said second end of said upper band.
14. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 further comprising a
second upper band attached to said first end of said sole band and
to said second end of said sole band.
15. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein the width of
said lower band is approximately 0.25 inch to approximately three
inches.
16. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said upper band
comprises a first upper segment and a second upper segment, said
first upper segment removably secured to said second upper segment
by a hook-and-loop fastener pair.
17. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said first
attachment interface comprises at least one of stitching, adhesion,
and thermal bonding.
18. A traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe,
the traction adjustment band comprising: an upper band including a
first upper segment, a second upper segment, and a hook-and-loop
fastener pair, said hook-and-loop fastener pair removably securing
said first upper segment to said second upper segment; a sole band;
a first attachment interface connecting one end of said upper band
to one end of said sole band; and a second attachment interface
connecting another end of said upper band to another end of said
sole band so as to form a unitary band.
19. The traction adjustment band of claim 18 wherein the width of
said upper band is different from the width of said sole band.
20. The traction adjustment band of claim 18 wherein said sole band
comprises a woven material having plastic embedded therein to
provide the shoe with a lower coefficient of friction with a
support surface.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present Application is related to Provisional Patent
Application entitled "Traction Adjustment Band for Shoe" filed 16
Mar. 2010 and assigned Ser. No. 61/314,158, incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates broadly to footwear, and more
specifically to devices for adjusting the traction of a shoe on a
particular supporting surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Dance moves often involve pivoting on the ball of the foot.
When a dancer attempts to dance while wearing standard aerobics
shoes, she may find that certain dance moves are difficult to
execute. As a consequence, the dancer may incur knee injuries
because the treads on her aerobic shoes, which are designed to
minimize slipping between the shoe and the floor surface, are not
suitable for performing the dance moves. Thus, when the dancer
twists her hips, her aerobic shoes may resist the pivoting motion,
her knee may be inadvertently twisted, and an injury may result.
There has been a rise in these types of injuries as dance/aerobics
programs gain popularity in mainstream gyms. Often, a casual
participant in the dance/aerobic program owns a pair of shoes
designed for aerobic movements but does not wish to incur the
additional cost of purchasing a second pair of shoes designed for
dance movements.
[0004] The present invention addresses the above problems by
providing to the user a traction adjustment band for adjusting the
aggregate coefficient of friction between the user's shoes and a
surface used for physical movements and activities.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a method of adapting
a shoe configured for a first physical activity into a modified
shoe suitable for a second physical activity on a floor comprises:
providing a traction adjustment band, the traction adjustment band
including an upper band and a sole band; placing the traction
adjustment band around the shoe such that the upper band is
disposed on an upper portion of the shoe and the sole band is
disposed across a sole of the shoe; and adjusting placement of the
sole band on the shoe sole so as to produce the modified shoe, the
modified shoe thus having a desired coefficient of friction with
the floor, the desired coefficient of friction being substantially
equivalent to a coefficient of friction with the floor that is
provided by an activity shoe that is configured for the second
physical activity.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a traction
adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe comprises: an
upper band; a sole band; a first attachment interface connecting a
first end of the upper band to a first end of the sole band; and a
second attachment interface connecting a second end of the upper
band to a second end of the sole band so as to form a unitary band
assembly configured to enclose the upper and the sole of the
shoe.
[0007] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a traction
adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe comprises: an
upper band including a first upper segment, a second upper segment,
and a hook-and-loop fastener pair, the hook-and-loop fastener pair
removably securing the first upper segment to the second upper
segment; a sole band; a first attachment interface connecting one
end of the upper band to one end of the sole band; and a second
attachment interface connecting another end of the upper band to
another end of the sole band so as to form a unitary band. .
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a traction adjustment band
having an upper band attached to a lower band, in accordance with
an aspect of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the traction adjustment band of
FIG. 1 showing typical placement on aerobic shoes;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an illustration of different shoe soles, two soles
showing different emplacements of the traction adjustment band of
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of traction adjustment
band of FIG. 1, showing a section of woven elastic and a section of
plastic embedded woven elastic;
[0012] FIG. 5 is another alternative embodiment of traction
adjustment band of FIG. 1, showing a loop of elastic partially
enclosed in a non-elastic material sleeve;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an illustration of alternate embodiments of the
traction adjustment band of FIG. 1 showing upper bands having
different widths from sole bands;
[0014] FIG. 7 is an illustration of two of the traction adjustment
band of FIG. 1 adapted for use on a single shoe;
[0015] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of traction adjustment
band of FIG. 4, showing a shorter section of woven elastic and a
longer section of plastic embedded woven elastic; and
[0016] FIG. 9 shows alternative embodiments of traction adjustment
band of FIG. 1, showing one embodiment using two loops used in
place of a single upper band and another embodiment using two loops
in place of a single sole band.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
[0018] The disclosed traction adjustment band may function to
selectively reduce the traction, or coefficient of friction,
between the wearer's shoe on a particular floor or other support
surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the traction adjustment band
may reduce the shoe-to-floor traction so that a wearer of standard
walking or running shoes may be able to execute dance moves with a
reduced risk of injury to the knees. In an alternative exemplary
embodiment, traction adjustment bands may function to selectively
increase the traction between a wearer's dance shoes on a surface
such that the wearer may be able to perform aerobic and similar
exercise movements without slippage. Advantageously, the traction
adjustment band allows the wearer to customize the amount of
traction, or the coefficient of friction, provided between the shoe
and the floor surface. The amount of "grip" obtainable is thus a
function of the traction adjustment band properties and the surface
attributes of the particular floor.
[0019] The traction adjustment band may be worn comfortably without
shifting during vigorous physical activity. The traction adjustment
band is configured to stay in place during an entire dance routine,
for example. The traction adjustment band also serves to allow for
an increased range of motion in the wearer's hips when the wearer
is dancing or otherwise moving in shoes with the band, as compared
to when the wearer may be moving in shoes without the traction
adjustment band. As a result, the traction adjustment band wearer
needs to exert less force to as his or her feet twist or slide on
the floor. Moreover, as hip movement is less restricted because of
the reduced aggregate friction between the shoe and the floor, the
wearer will find it easier to swing the hips.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the invention comprises a
traction adjustment band 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprising an upper
band 12 secured to a sole band 14 at a first attachment interface
16 and a second attachment interface 18 to form a unitary band
assembly or loop. The attachment interfaces 14 and 18 may comprise:
(i) stitching of the upper band 12 to the sole band 14, (ii) using
an adhesive to produce a permanent adhesion of the upper band 12 to
the sole band 14, (iii) applying heat to produce a thermal bond
between the upper band 12 and the sole band 14, or (iv) any
combination of stitching, adhesive, and thermal bonding.
[0021] The total circumference of the traction adjustment band 10,
and the individual lengths of the upper band 12 and the sole band
14, may be varied according to the particular shoe size for which
the traction adjustment band 10 is fabricated. The width of the
upper band 12 and the width of the sole band 14 may range from
about 0.25 inches to about three inches. It should be understood
that the width of the upper band 12 need not be the same as the
width of the sole band 14, as described in greater detail
below.
[0022] The traction adjustment band 10 is configured to be worn
transversely around the outside of a shoe 20, with the sole band 14
positioned under the arch or ball of the wearer's foot on the sole
22 of the shoe 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In an exemplary
embodiment, the sole band 14 passing under the shoe may comprise a
woven elastic material, whereas the upper band 12 may comprise a
less elastic material or a non-elastic material. By so emplacing
the woven elastic material over a portion of the shoe sole 22, this
may serve to reduce the aggregate coefficient of friction of the
shoe sole 22 with a smooth surface, such as a tile floor or a
wooden floor. This reduced coefficient of friction is thus less
than the typical coefficient of friction between a rubber shoe sole
(not shown) and the same floor surface, and provides the sought-for
benefit to the wearer, as explained above.
[0023] For certain styles of shoe soles, such as an aerobic shoe 30
shown in FIG. 3, the sole band 14 may have the property of being
sufficient flexible or elastic so as to partially extend into one
or more grooves 34 found between treads 36 on the edges of and in
the bottom surface of a shoe sole 32, as best seen in FIG. 3. Under
such conditions, this flexing of the sole band 14 may
advantageously serve to assist in holding the traction adjustment
band 10 in place, even during vigorous physical activity by the
wearer.
[0024] This holding feature of the traction adjustment band 10
allows for selective placement of the traction adjustment band 10
on the shoe sole 32. See, for example, the position of the traction
adjustment band 10 near the ball of the wearer's foot to cover more
of the weight-bearing region of the shoe sole 32 to provide "less
grip" (indicated in the center shoe 30). Note also the position of
the traction adjustment band 10 near the arch of the wearer's foot
to expose more of the weight-bearing shoe sole 32 to provide "more
grip" (indicated in the shoe 30 on the right).
[0025] It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the
user or wearer can use two or more traction adjustment bands 40 or
42 of relatively thin widths, such as 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch wide, in
place of a single traction adjustment band of a larger width, such
as one inch wide, as shown in FIG. 4. The larger the number of
relatively thin traction adjustment bands 40, the less the treads
of the shoe would touch the floor, and the less traction the wearer
would feel as the effective coefficient of friction between the
shoe and the floor is thereby decreased. The wearer could adjust
the number of thin traction adjustment bands 40 on the shoe to
obtain the desired reduction in traction. In this way, the wearer
could selectively modify the traction by the placement of the bands
40 and 42, and the width or area of the material under the
sole.
[0026] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the upper band
12 may comprise a fabric consisting of a non-elastic material
suitable for maintaining tension in the traction adjustment band
10, such as grosgrain ribbon. This provides the wearer with an
attractive band of color on the upper portion of the shoe 20. A
grosgrain ribbon, or similar material, may also provide a surface
that can be used for marketing, with a screen printed or
embroidered message, advertisement, logo, or promotional material
printed on the outer surface of the grosgrain ribbon. A non-elastic
material may be used for the upper band so that the markings can be
screen printed or embroidered. With a non-elastic upper band, there
is no need to heat treat the screen print ink, and no concern for
stretching of the logo.
[0027] In another exemplary embodiment, a hook-and-loop fastener
pair 44, shown on the modified traction adjustment band 42 in FIG.
4, the comprising a two-piece upper band 46 and a single-piece sole
band 48. The hook-and-loop fastener pair 44 may comprise
commercially-available Velcro.RTM. to provide circumferential
adjustment at the upper band 46 to accommodate the different size
footwear that an individual user might have for physical activity.
Such adjustment can insure that the more-elastic sole band 48 is
secure, yet comfortable to the wearer. With a hook-and-loop
material, the wearer can change the diameter or circumference of
the traction adjustment band 42, to tighten or to loosen the
traction adjustment band 42 about the shoe of the user.
[0028] Depending on the shoe that the traction adjustment band 42
is placed over, for example, tennis shoes or dance shoes, the
wearer may need to tighten the hook-and-loop fastener pair 44 on
the upper band 46, to provide adequate tension in the traction
adjustment band 42 so as to ensure that the sole band 48 stays in
place. This can be accomplished because a first upper segment 45 is
removably fastened to a second upper segment 47 with the
hook-and-loop fastener pair 44. In most applications, such tension
adjustment may be provided automatically by the elasticity of the
sole band. But, for more substantial changes in diameter, the
hook-and-loop fastener pair 44 can be used to accomplish this
purpose. Likewise, a similar hook-and-loop pair (not shown) may be
used at the first attachment interface 16 to secure the upper band
12 to the lower band 14, in FIG. 1, as is known in the relevant
art.
[0029] In still another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, a
woven elastic material may be used to form the sole band 52 of a
traction adjustment band 50. The sole band 52 may be attached to a
woven lacy elastic material that forms an upper band 54 that
extends across the top of a shoe (not shown). The sole band 52 may
comprise an approximately two-inch length of plastic-embedded woven
elastic or elastic material. That is, the sole band 52 is of a
sufficient length to extend across most or all of the sole of a
shoe, and be positioned under or near the ball of the foot of the
wearer. The weave configuration provides for some degree of
elasticity, and the infusion of plastic into the material serves to
extend the wearable lifetime of the sole band 52. Advantageously,
washable materials can be used in any of the embodiments disclosed
herein, such that the traction adjustment band can be easily
cleaned.
[0030] In yet another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, a
traction adjustment band 60 comprises a sole band 62 passing under
a shoe that may be attached to a ventilation mesh that extends over
the top of the shoe (not shown) to form an upper band 64. It should
be understood that the lengths of the sole band 62 and the upper
band 64 may be varied as desired by the designer of the traction
adjustment band 60.
[0031] In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a traction
adjustment band 70 may comprise a continuous elastic band 72 of
sufficient length to completely encircle the shoe, where the
elastic band 72 may be encased in a non-elastic material sleeve 74
that would provide the marketing surface, as described above. The
non-elastic material sleeve 74 may extend for only a portion of the
length of the continuous elastic band 72, as shown, or
alternatively, may extend for the entire length of the continuous
elastic band 72.
[0032] In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, a traction
adjustment band may comprise a relatively narrow upper band 82
connected to a wider sole band 84. Alternatively, the traction
adjustment band may comprise a relatively wider upper band 86
connected to a more narrow sole band 88. It can be appreciated by
one skilled in the art that either the sole band 84, or the upper
band 86 may alternatively comprise a shape having tapered ends in
place of the rectangular shape, as shown.
[0033] In still other exemplary embodiments, shown in FIG. 9, a
traction adjustment band may comprise a pair of relatively narrow
upper bands 92 connected to a single, wider sole band 94, or may
comprise a single, relatively wider upper band 96 connected to a
pair of narrow sole bands 98.
[0034] Many of the specific details of certain embodiments of the
invention are set forth in the above description and related
drawings to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments.
One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the present
invention may be practiced without several of the details described
in the above description. Moreover, in the description, it is
understood that the figures related to the various embodiments are
not to be interpreted as conveying any specific or relative
physical dimension.
* * * * *