U.S. patent application number 16/903643 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-01 for traction elements for athletic shoes and methods of manufacture thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC. Invention is credited to John Robert Burt, Lee Shuttleworth.
Application Number | 20200305556 16/903643 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004916587 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-01 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200305556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burt; John Robert ; et
al. |
October 1, 2020 |
TRACTION ELEMENTS FOR ATHLETIC SHOES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
THEREOF
Abstract
Various embodiments for a traction element used with athletic
shoes having a stud body with a metal insert that extends axially
from the stud body and methods for manufacturing such traction
elements are disclosed.
Inventors: |
Burt; John Robert;
(Brentwood, TN) ; Shuttleworth; Lee; (Brentwood,
TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC |
Brentwood |
TN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Pride Manufacturing Company,
LLC
Brentwood
TN
|
Family ID: |
1000004916587 |
Appl. No.: |
16/903643 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16290460 |
Mar 1, 2019 |
|
|
|
16903643 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 15/161 20130101;
A43C 15/167 20130101; A43B 5/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43C 15/16 20060101
A43C015/16; A43B 5/02 20060101 A43B005/02 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a traction element comprising: casting
a stud body, the stud body having a distal head portion and a
proximal end portion; coring out the proximal end portion of the
stud body to form an interior cavity; driving a metal insert into
the interior cavity of the stud body such that the metal insert
cuts into an interior surface of the interior cavity to securely
engage the metal insert with the stud body; and inserting a
stabilizer disc into the interior cavity of the stud body such that
an aperture formed by the stabilizer disc engages the metal
insert.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal insert comprises a
distal head portion, a proximal threaded portion and a plurality of
drive grippers extending radially outward from the proximal
threaded portion adjacent the distal head portion.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein driving the metal insert into the
interior cavity comprises engaging the plurality of drive grippers
with a driving tool and rotating the metal insert into the interior
cavity.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of drive grippers
comprises a plurality of radially extending arms.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the distal head portion forms a
standard or reverse thread head configured for cutting into a
surface of the stud body when engaging the metal insert with the
stud body.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer disc is inserted
into the proximal end of the interior cavity such that an exterior
surface of the stabilizer disc contacts a surface of the interior
cavity in a press-fit engagement.
7. A traction element comprising; a cored out stud body defining an
interior cavity, a distal head portion, and a proximal end portion,
the stud body configured to be attached to a sole of a shoe; and
the interior cavity of the cored out stud body comprising a light
weight filler material; a metal insert coupled to the stud body,
the metal insert extending axially from the stud body; and a
stabilizer disc engaged with the metal insert and disposed within a
proximal end portion of the interior cavity such that an exterior
surface of the stabilizer disc contacts a surface of the interior
cavity in a press-fit engagement.
8. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the stabilizer disc
comprises a ring-shaped body defining an exterior surface and an
interior surface forming an aperture, wherein the metal insert is
disposed through the aperture of the stabilizer disc such that the
stabilizer disc is pushed into the interior cavity of the stud body
causing the exterior surface of the stabilizer disc to contact the
surface of the interior cavity in a press-fit engagement.
9. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the stud body is
thimble shaped, the thimble shaped configured to provide traction
and gripping strength along a ground surface.
10. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the metal insert is
configured to mechanically couple the traction element to the sole
of the shoe.
11. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the proximal end
portion of the stud body tapers away from the distal head portion
and forms a peripheral flange that defines an opening in
communication with an interior cavity formed within the stud
body.
12. The traction element of claim 6, wherein the metal insert
comprises at least a steel or aluminum material.
13. The traction element of claim 7, wherein a plurality of
cutaways may be formed axially along an outer surface of the stud
body, the plurality of cutaways collectively configured to receive
a driving tool.
14. The traction element of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality
of cutaways define an elongated slot configuration forming a base
proximate to a peripheral flange of the stud body.
15. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the plurality of
cutaways define at least one of a triangularly-shaped slot, a
rectangular shaped slot, a symmetrically shaped slot, an
asymmetrically shaped slot, and a circular shaped slot.
16. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the metal insert is
cast to the stud body.
17. The traction element of claim 7, wherein the metal insert is
mechanically coupled to the stud body.
Description
CROSS REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application that claims
benefit to U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/290,460
filed on Mar. 1, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to traction
elements for shoes, and in particular to traction elements for
athletic shoes having a reduced weight and methods of manufacturing
such traction elements.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Traction elements for athletic shoes are used to provide a
gripping surface that produces traction between the sole of the
shoe and the athletic surface, such as a grass field. Typically,
traction elements for athletic shoes used in sports, such as rugby,
use metal studs made of a metallic material to accommodate the high
shear forces applied to the metal studs during play. However, there
is a desire for a traction element that also reduces the weight of
the traction element while still meeting all of the performance,
shape specifications and material requirements required by various
official sports authorities.
[0004] It is with these observations in mind, among others, that
various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and
developed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a
traction element showing the stud body and metal insert;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the traction element of
FIG. 1 showing the metal insert extending from the interior cavity
of the stud body;
[0007] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the traction element of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side view of the traction element of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a top view of the traction element of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the traction element of FIG. 1;
and
[0011] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the traction element
taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second traction
element showing a metal insert engaged within an interior cavity of
a stud body;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a side view of the metal insert of FIG. 8;
[0014] FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of the metal insert
of FIG. 8;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a second traction
element showing a metal insert engaged within an interior cavity of
a stud body;
[0016] FIG. 12 is a side view of the metal insert of FIG. 11;
[0017] FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views of the metal insert
of FIG. 11;
[0018] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a second traction
element showing a metal insert engaged within an interior cavity of
a stud body;
[0019] FIG. 15 is a side view of the metal insert of FIG. 14;
and
[0020] FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views of the metal insert
of FIG. 14.
[0021] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the
figures do not limit the scope of the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Various embodiments for traction elements used for athletic
shoes are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the traction
elements have reduced weight while still meeting existing industry
performance standards for athletic shoes. In some embodiments, the
traction element includes a stud body defining an interior cavity
with a metal insert that is cast to the stud body and extends
outwardly from the interior cavity and a stabilizer disc engaged
with the metal insert and within the internal cavity. In some
embodiments, the traction element includes a stud body defining an
interior cavity and a metal insert that is mechanically coupled
within the stud body and extends outwardly from the interior
cavity. In some embodiments, the metal insert of the traction
element is configured to be coupled to the sole of an athletic shoe
for providing traction. In some embodiments, the stabilizer disc is
provided that is engaged within the interior cavity of the stud
body and the metal insert such that the metal insert is stabilized
against laterally directed forces by the stabilizer disc. In some
embodiments, a method of manufacturing the traction element such
that the metal insert is either cast to the stud body or
mechanically coupled to the stud body prior to being engaged to the
sole of an athletic shoe is disclosed. In one aspect, the traction
element meets the current standards required of official governing
sports bodies, such as the ROC, which governs international rugby
regarding the performance, shape and material requirements set for
athletic equipment, such as rugby studs used in athletic shoes
including the traction element described herein. Referring to the
drawings, various embodiments of a traction element used with
athletic shoes are illustrated and generally indicated as 100 in
FIGS. 1-7 and 200 in FIGS. 8-16.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a first embodiment of the traction
element, designed 100, is illustrated. In some embodiments, the
traction element 100 includes a stud body 102 having a generally
thimble-shaped body configured to provide traction and gripping
strength along a ground surface when attached to the sole of an
athletic shoe. In some embodiments, the stud body 102 includes a
metal insert 104 that is cast to the stud body 102 during
manufacture and is aligned along the longitudinal axis A of the
stud body 102. The metal insert 104 is configured to mechanically
couple the traction element 100 to the sole of an athletic shoe
(not shown). The traction element 100 further includes a stabilizer
disc 106 for engagement with the stud body 102 and the metal insert
104 to provide stability to the metal insert 104 within the stud
body 102. Referring specifically to FIGS. 2-4 and 6 and 7, the stud
body 102 defines a distal head portion 110 and a proximal end
portion 112. In some embodiments, the proximal end portion 112 of
the stud body 102 gradually tapers away from the distal head
portion 110 and forms a peripheral flange 122 that defines an
opening 118 in communication with an interior cavity 120 formed
within the stud body 102 during manufacture. As further shown, the
distal head portion 110 defines a top end 116 of the traction
element 100 that is configured to provide a traction surface along
the sole of an athletic shoe (not shown) when the traction element
100 engages the ground or other athletic surface.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 7, in some embodiments the metal insert
104 is made of steel and/or aluminum that forms an elongated body
125 defining a distal head portion 130, which is cast to the stud
body 102 during manufacture. In addition, the distal head portion
130 communicates with a shaft portion 131 of the metal insert 104
that extends between the distal cap portion 130 and a proximal
threaded portion 132 of the metal insert 104. As shown, the
proximal threaded portion 130 defines external threads 135
configured to couple with internal threads (not shown) formed
within each respective threaded engagement point defined along the
sole of an athletic shoe (not shown).
[0025] In some embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the stabilizer
disc 106 may be made of steel and/or aluminum that forms a first
surface 136A, a second surface 136B, an exterior surface 135, and
an internal surface 134 which circumferentially defines an aperture
133. The stabilizer disc 106 is configured to provide stability to
the metal insert 104 within the interior cavity 120 of the stud
body 102 when engaged with the metal insert 104 and pressed into
opening 118 of the stud body 102. During manufacture, the
stabilizer disc 106 is engaged with the shaft portion 131 of the
metal insert 104 by inserting the stabilizer disc 106 within the
opening 118 of the stud body 102 such that the proximal threaded
portion 132 of the metal insert 104 is inserted through the
aperture 133. The stabilizer disc 106 becomes engaged within the
interior cavity 120 of the stud body 102 by inserting the proximal
threaded portion 132 of the metal insert 104 through the aperture
133 of the stabilizer disc 106 such that the stabilizer disc 106 is
pushed into the opening 118 of the stud body 102 causing the
exterior surface 135 of the stabilizer disc 106 to contact the
surface of the interior cavity 120 in a press-fit engagement. When
fully engaged, the aperture 133 of the stabilizer disc 106 is
located distal to the proximal threaded portion 132 of the shaft
portion 131 of the metal insert 104 and the exterior surface 135
comes into contact with the surface of the interior cavity 120 of
the stud body 102 and is held in place by friction. In operation,
the stabilizer disc 106 serves to prevent the metal insert 104 from
bending or becoming otherwise misaligned within the interior cavity
120 of the stud body 102, especially when exterior forces are
applied to the stud body 102.
[0026] As shown specifically in FIGS. 4 and 5, in some embodiments
a plurality of cutaways 114 may be formed axially along the outer
surface of the stud body 102. The plurality of cutaways 114 may be
collectively configured to receive a driving tool (not shown), such
as a cleat wrench, that engages each respective cutaway 114 such
that rotation of the cleat wrench causes the stud body 102 to be
manually rotated as the metal insert 104 becomes fully engaged to
the threaded engagement point along the sole of the athletic shoe.
Referring specifically to FIG. 5, in some embodiments the stud body
102 may define three respective cutaways, 114A, 114B and 114C that
each extend a distance axially along the surface of proximal end
portion 112 of the stud body 102 and are spaced equidistantly
relative to each other at a 120 degree angle. In other embodiments,
two or more cutaways 114 may be formed to engage the cleat wrench
when securing the traction element 100 to the sole of the athletic
shoe. In some embodiments, each cutaway 114 forms an elongated slot
configuration forming a base proximate the peripheral flange 122 of
the stud body 102 that extends the length of the proximal end
portion 112 and gradually tapers to an apex formed at the top of
each cutaway 114. In other embodiments, the plurality of cutaways
114 may define a triangularly-shaped slot, a rectangular-shaped
slot, a symmetrically-shaped slot, an asymmetrically-shaped slot, a
circular-shaped slot, or a combination thereof.
[0027] In one method of manufacturing the traction element 100, the
stud body 102 may be first cast from a metallic material, such as
aluminum, in which the metal insert 104 is directly cast to the
stud body 102 such that the proximal threaded portion 132 of the
metal insert 104 extends partially outward from the cast of the
stud body 102. The interior cavity 120 is formed inside the stud
body 102 by coring out the interior portion of the stud body 102
around the metal insert 104 to form the interior cavity 120 and
opening 118. In some embodiments, the plurality of cutaways 114 are
formed when the stud body 102 is cast within a mold, or in the
alterative, the plurality of cutaways 114 may be machined out along
the surface of the proximal end portion 112 after the cast of the
stud body 102 is allowed to sufficiently cool. The method of
manufacturing the traction element 100 as disclosed herein provides
a strong structural connection between the stud body 102 and the
metal insert 104 such that shear forces applied to the traction
element 100 during use do not cause the metal insert 104 to break,
bend or twist relative to the stud body 102.
[0028] In one aspect, the coring out of stud body 102 to form the
interior cavity 120 during manufacture reduces the overall weight
of the traction element 100 while still allowing the traction
element 100 to meet all performance, shape specifications and
material requirements required of a conventional traction
element.
[0029] In some embodiments, the traction element 100 may be
manufactured with the following dimensions used during manufacture.
Referring to FIG. 4, the stud body 102 may have an overall length
400 of 20.8 mm and a width 402 of 19.4 mm. As further shown, the
distal head portion 110 of the stud body 102 may have a width 404
of 11.9 mm and a length 406 of 4 mm, while the proximal end portion
112 of the stud body 102 may have a length 408 of 16.8 mm and a
width 402 of 20.8 mm. Referring back to FIG. 7, the interior cavity
120 of the stud body 102 may have a length 410 of 14.6 mm and the
opening 118 of the interior cavity 120 may have a length 414 of 9.0
mm. After the metal insert 104 is cast with the stud body 102, the
proximal threaded portion 132 of the metal insert 104 is centered
along the longitudinal axis A of the stud body 102 and extends
outwardly from the opening 118 of the stud body 102 at a distance
412 of 6.0 mm. The present disclosure contemplates that the
dimensions of the stud body 102 and the metal insert 104 may vary
to accommodate different shapes and sizes of traction elements used
for different types of athletic shoes.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 8-16, a traction element 200 is
illustrated having a variety of lengths. In particular, FIGS. 8-10
show traction element 200A having a length of 15 mm, FIGS. 11-13B
show traction element 200B having a length of 18 mm, and FIGS.
14-16B show traction element 200C having a length of 21 mm, however
the traction element 100/200 is not limited to these lengths.
Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the traction element 200A
includes a stud body 202A having a generally thimble-shaped body
configured to provide traction and gripping strength along a ground
surface when attached to the sole of an athletic shoe. In some
embodiments, the stud body 202A is engaged with a metal insert 204A
that is aligned along the longitudinal axis A of the stud body
202A. The metal insert 204A is configured to mechanically couple
the traction element 200A to the sole of an athletic shoe (not
shown). The stud body 202A defines a distal head portion 210 and a
proximal end portion 212. In some embodiments, the proximal end
portion 212 of the stud body 202A gradually tapers away from the
distal head portion 210 and forms a peripheral flange 222 that
defines an opening 218 in communication with an interior cavity 220
formed within the stud body 202A during manufacture. As further
shown, the distal head portion 210 defines a top end 216 of the
traction element 200 that is configured to provide a traction
surface along the sole of an athletic shoe (not shown) when the
traction element 100 engages the ground or other athletic
surface.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, in some embodiments the metal
insert 204A is made of steel and/or aluminum that forms an
elongated body 225 defining a distal head portion 230 and a
proximal threaded portion 232. In addition, the distal head portion
230 communicates with a shaft portion 231A of the metal insert 204A
that extends between the distal head portion 230 and the proximal
threaded portion 232 of the metal insert 204A. As shown, the metal
insert 204A includes a shoulder 240 which is seated within the stud
body 202A of the traction element 200A. As shown, the proximal
threaded portion 232 defines external threads 235 configured to
couple with internal threads (not shown) formed within each
respective threaded engagement point defined along the sole of an
athletic shoe (not shown). The distal head portion 230 includes a
plurality of ridges 242 to prevent rotation of the metal insert
204A within the stud body 202A.
[0032] Similarly, FIGS. 11 and 14 show respective traction elements
200B and 200C having elongated stud bodies 202A and 202B. As shown
in FIGS. 11-12B, the traction element 200B is similar to traction
element 200A (FIG. 8) with the exception that the stud body 202B is
lengthened in comparison to the stud body 202A. In addition, a
metal insert 204B having an elongated shaft portion 231B of is also
lengthened in comparison to the shaft portion 231A of traction
element 204A.
[0033] FIGS. 14-16 also illustrate the traction element 200C having
an elongated stud body 202C and a metal insert 204C having an
elongated shaft portion 231C. The stud body 202C and shaft portion
231C of the traction element 200C are lengthened in comparison to
that of the traction elements 200A and 200B.
[0034] Overall, the traction elements 100 and 200 have been shown
in to provide a 20% weight savings over the same class of
traditional traction elements, such as rugby studs. In addition,
the traction elements 100 and 200 meet or exceed all IRB
specifications required for official approval and qualification for
use in events while weighing 20% less than traditional traction
elements.
[0035] The manufacturing of the traction elements 100 and 200 in
the correct shape and materials have been made for over 50 years
with the same approach and same resulting weight. The traction
elements 100 and 200 meet all of the IRB requirement of shape,
materials, strength, design, and delivers everything at 20% less
weight. These characteristics of traction elements 100 and 200
provide performance benefits for the athletes by having lighter
weight athletic having the traction elements 100 and 200.
[0036] It should be understood from the foregoing that, while
particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various
modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in
the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and
teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *