Traction Device

Abstract

A device for improving the traction of fishing shoes has several channel elements in a zig-zag shape disposed on a member having a relatively flat surface. The elements grip a surface such as a rock. The member can be the heel or the sole of the shoes or can be a separate member that is attachable to them.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to traction improving devices, and more particularly, to such devices that are used on fishing boots.

A fisherman usually likes to fish where the most fish are to be found. Typically this is in some remote spot where he must stand on a reverbed or a rock that is slippery due to moss or water covering it. This obviously greatly reduces the amount of traction between his shoes or boots and enhances the probability that he will fall and injure himself. To overcome this, the prior art featured various devices to improve traction. Among such devices were woven felt, link chain, and grid link sandles that attached to the boot. However, while improving the traction, these devices all have drawbacks. Frequently they have an insufficient number of gripping edges so that the traction is still too low, they "rock" when standing on an irregularly shaped rock, they are sometimes heavy, and wear out fast.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to reducing the number of falling accidents due to slippage between a shoe or boot and a low friction surface.

It is another object to improve the traction of a fishing boot with respect to a slippery rock.

It is a still further object to provide a traction device that does not rock when gripping an irregularly shaped surface.

It is still another object to provide a traction device that does not easily wear out.

It is yet another object to provide a traction device that is relatively light.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the following drawing in which:

The sole figure is an isometric figure of the invention.

In this figure is shown member or backing 10 having two sections 12 and 14. Although two sections 12 and 14 are shown it will be appreciated that they could be formed as one section as indicated by the break away edges 16 and 18 respectively. Backing 10 is preferably made of indoor-outdoor carpeting, such as sold under the trademark "Ozite." This material is very strong and is lighter than materials such as rubber. Sections 12 and 14 have substantially planar outer surfaces 20 and 22 respectively, as well as similar inner surfaces (not shown) for attachment to a shoe (not shown). Because of its small size, the heel section 14 has several tabs 15 so as to permit a more secure attachment to the shoe. Secured to the backing 10 are a plurality of substantially retangular in cross-section zig-zag shaped channel elements 24. As all of these are identical only one will be described. The elements 24 are preferably made from semi-hard aluminum channel stock. This degree of hardness is preferred becuase it does not wear too fast, yet can be bent without cracking or breaking. The stock is alternately slit along its sides at 26, and then holes (not shown) are drilled and it is bent into the zig-zag shape as shown in the drawing. The use of channel stock enables the device to have more gripping edges 28 than would otherwise be possible, and the zig-zag shape has the advantage that the gripping edges 28 can better hold onto an irregularly shaped object, such as a rock. The channel elements 24 are secured to the member 10 preferably using blind rivots 30. This type of rivot requires access to only one side of the member 10. Heel 14 also has channel members 32 which enclosed the zig-zag shaped member 24.

The entire member 10 is then cemented to the shoe or boot with a rubber cement, such as Goodyear "Plyobond" to ensure a firm waterproof mount. This results in a shoe or boot than can supply a large amount of traction becuase of the zig-zag shape and will cut into and grip matter such as moss and slime. The device is light in weight because of the use of carpeting and aluminum and will not easily wear out.

It will be appreciated that although the invention has been described with respect to one embodiment numerous variations are possible. For example, the channel elements 24 and 32 can be mounted directly on the shoe. Tabs could be supplied on the sole section 12. Also, straps could be used to secure the device 10 to the shoe instead of cement.

Claims

I claim:

1. A device for improving the traction of a shoe comprising a member adapted to be mounted on the bottom of said shoe and having a substantially planar surface, a plurality of zig-zag shaped semi-hard aluminum channel elements attached to said surface adapted to engage and firmly grip an external object, whereby the traction between the shoe and the object is greatly increased.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is attached to said shoe with rubber cement.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises the bottom of said shoe.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises carpeting.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising blind rivots disposed through said elements and said member for securing them thereto.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said channel elements having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second plurality of channel elements attached to said surface in a substantially closed configuration encircling said first plurality of elements.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a sole shaped portion and a heel shaped portion each having a plurality of said members attached thereto.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said portions are integral with respect to each other.

10. A device for inproving the traction of a shoe comprising a carpeting member adapted to be mounted on the bottom of said shoe and having a substantially planar surface, and a plurality of zig-zag shaped channel elements attached to said surface adapted to engage and firmly grip an external object, Whereby the traction between the shoe and the object is greatly increased.

11. A device for imprving the traction of a shoe comprising a member adapted to be mounted on the bottom of said shoe and having a substantially planar surface, a plurality of zig-zag shaped channel elements attached to said surface adapted to engage and firmly grip an external object, and a plurality of blind rivots disposed through said elements and said member for securing them thereto whereby the traction between the shoe and the object is greatly increased.

12. A device for improving the traction of a shoe comprising a member adapted to be mounted on the bottom of said shoe and having a substantially planar surface, a first plurality of zig-zag shaped channel elements attached to said surface adapted to engage and firmly grip an external object, and a second plurality of channel elements attached to said surace in a substantially closed configuration encircling said first plurality of elements whereby the traction between the shoe and the object is greatly increased.