Sport Shoe With Interchangeable Gripping Elements

Abstract

An athletic shoe is described in which the gripping elements or spikes are releasably fastened in recesses in the sole by locking pins extending through holes in the base portions of such spikes along lateral passageways provided across the interior of the sole between such recesses.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to athletic shoes with interchangeable gripping elements or spikes. On known athletic shoes i.e. track shoes, turned or pressed steel spikes are used, in general and are fastened by screw threads to the sole plate of such shoes. Steel spikes are comprised, generally, of a hardened point or needle and a softer (not hardened) threaded insert piece. There are, however, types of steel spikes known which are fastened to a synthetic plastic thread insert. Further, spikes made entirely of synthetic plastic with a thread are known. Also, these metal or synthetic spikes have been injected or cast into the sole of track shoes and are, thus, not interchangable but are inseparably combined with the sole.

Whether the spikes are steel or synthetic there are several disadvantages to all known interchangeable spikes. To change the spikes it is always necessary to have a special tool (spike key) with which the spikes must be screwed in or out of the recesses in the sole.

These special tools (spike keys) are relatively small and are, therefore, quickly lost. Under conditions of continuous, intensive stress on the track shoes with such spikes it may happen tht the thread insert becomes misformed and, hence, the spike is clamped in. In removing this spike it is clear that one can encounter difficulties. A further disadvantage of these known spikes is that a pattern of uneven wear occurs meaning that these worn spikes are thrown away after a certain degree of wear, because they have become ineffective. Moreover, changing spikes in track shoes according to the known method requires a relatively large amount of time.

In track shoes in which the spikes are inseparably combined with the shoe, the entire shoe becomes unusable and, after a certain degree of wear, must be discarded.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide an improved athletic shoe with interchangeable gripping elements or spikes which overcome the above described disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an athletic shoe in which the interchangeable gripping elements are not threaded but are fastened to the sole by removable pins.

It is a further object of this invention to construct to a track shoe with interchangeable spikes which allows a quick, sure changing of the spikes without a special tool.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved spike plate for holding such gripping elements or spikes by means of such pins.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved gripping elements or spikes which are fastened to such spike plate by such pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and from the attached drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a top-view of a track shoe sole with the spikes in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view along the line A--A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top-view of a spike in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side-view of the spike of FIG. 3 and

FIG. 5 a plan view of a lock-pin shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 the gripping elements or spikes 1 are inserted into recesses in the track shoe member or spike plate sole 2 and are held securely in the track shoe sole 2 by means of the lock pin 3. The track shoe sole 2 is prepared with lateral drillings or passageway 4 into which the lock pins 3 are inserted except for an enlarged pin head 5. Before insertion of the pins, however, the base portions 6 of spikes 1 which are of a polygon cross section and may be four-sided, preferably quadratic bases 6 are inserted into the corresponding four-sided recesses 7 in the track shoe sole 2. The recesses extend completely through the sole and are arranged in lateral rows with each row aligned with a different one of the pin passageways 4 and such passageway extending through and between the recesses 7 of its row. The spikes are each provided with a point portion 8 extending downward from the base portion and having a blunt point or edge similar to the edge of a normal screw driver. The spike edge 8 of adjacent spikes in a row are arranged on the sole alternatively left and right at an angle of 45.degree. from the running direction. This assures maximum adherence to the running surface.

If the spike base 6 with the quadratic cross-section is, as shown, provided with two holes 9 going completely through the base 6 and intersecting at right angles to one another. When the locking pin 3 is inserted through one of these holes 9 it fastens the running sole 2 and the spikes 1 into a solid unit which, however, can be disassembled at any time. The locking pins 3 have a knurled head (5) which facilitates their manual manipulation (insertion, turning and extraction). In order to prevent the locking pin (3) from being displaced or falling out, the locking pins 3 are provided with a threaded end 10 or some other suitable profile surface which engages the pin passageway in the sole 2.

The track shoe soles 2 and the spikes 1 particular to the invention are made of high-grade, wear-resistant synthetic material and the locking pin 3 whose length is determined according to the respective width of the track shoe sole 2, is made of steel. Other suitable materials, however, could be used in producing these three parts. It is also possible to make the locking pin (3) without the knurled head (5). In this case, the locking pin 3 can be pushed into the lateral hole with a minimum amount of effort. Using a threaded end 10 or some other profile surface, whose function is to prevent a displacement of the inserted locking pin 3, is possible in spite of the fact that the profile surface has a somewhat larger diameter than the locking pin 3 since the pin passageway in the running sole material 2 has a certain elasticity, thus, is somewhat yielding. To change the spikes the runner need do nothing more than push the locking pin 3 out of the sole on the end opposite the profiled end by means of a reserve locking pin 3.

In addition to this advantage which makes a quick and easy spike change possible, the spikes can be re-inserted at an angle of 90.degree. or 180.degree. from the original position after having been worn down on one side. The spikes, thus, can be fully used and, therefore, their effective life is substantially increased. For reasons of simplicity the inventor has described and shown here only one spike form whose point 8 has been schematically drawn as the screwdriver-shaped. It is, however, definitely possible in the framework of the invention to use the base 6 of the spikes with its quadratic cross-section in combination with other known spikes with other forms. By this means it is possible for the runner to insert the most suitable gripping elements including plastic gripping elements or metal spikes into different locations in the running sole 2 of the invention according to type and condition of the running surface.

It will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that many changes may be made in the details of the above-described preferred embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should only be determined by the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An athletic shoe with interchangeable gripping elements, in which the improvement comprises:

an outer sole member provided with a plurality of recesses in its lower surface;

a plurality of gripping elements each having a base portion extending into one of said recesses and a point portion projecting downward from said base portion; and

a plurality of locking pins releasably secured in passageways extending across the interior of said sole member between said recesses, said pins extending through holes in said base portions of the gripping elements to hold said elements in said recesses.

2. An athletic shoe in accordance with claim 1 in which the base portions of said elements and said recesses are of a similar polygon cross section.

3. An athletic shoes in accordance with claim 2 in which the base portions and the recesses are of a four sided cross section.

4. An athletic shoe in accordance with claim 1 in which the recesses go completely through the sole member.

5. An athletic shoe in accordance with claim 3 in which said base portions are each provided with two holes intersecting at right angles to one another extending completely through the base portion.

6. An athletic shoe in accordance with claim 1 in which the sole member is made of synthetic plastic and the pin passageways are drilled holes at right angles to the axis of the gripping elements.

7. An athletic shoe in accordance with claim 1 in which the locking pins have a thread on their head ends which holds said pins in said passageways.

8. An athletic shoe in accordance with claim 3 in which the point portion of the gripping element includes a blunt edge extending diagonally across the base portion.

9. A track shoe in accordance with claim 1 in which at least some of the gripping elements are metal spikes.

10. A track shoe in accordance with claim 9 in which some of the gripping elements are made of synthetic plastic material.

11. A sole device for an athletic shoe having interchangeable gripping elements, in which the improvement comprises:

a sole member having a plurality of recesses in its lower surface for receiving the gripping elements;

a plurality of passageways extending across the interior of said sole member between said recesses; and

means for inserting locking pins into said passageways so that said pins can extend through holes provided in the gripping elements to hold said elements in said recesses.

12. A sole device in accordance with claim 11 in which the recesses are arranged in rows with each row of recesses being aligned with the passageway of one pin.

13. A sole device in accordance with claim 11 in which the recesses are of polygon cross section.

14. A sole device in accordance with claim 11 in which the sole member is made of synthetic plastic and the regions of the sole member immediately surrounding such recesses are of a greater thickness than other regions of said sole member.

15. A sole device in accordance with claim 13 in which the recesses are of a four sided polygon cross section.

16. A gripping element for releasable attachment to an athletic shoe sole, in which the improvement comprises:

a base portion of said gripping element adapted to be inserted into a recess in said sole;

a point portion extending from said base portion and adapted to engage the ground; and

holding means including at least one hole in said base portion for engagement with a pin to releasably hold said gripping element in said recess.

17. A gripping element in accordance with claim 16 in which the point portion has a flange of larger cross section than said base portion so that said flange engages the lower surface of said sole around said recess.

18. A gripping element in accordance with claim 16 in which the base portion is of a four sided polygon cross section.

19. A gripping element in accordance with claim 18 in which the point portion includes an edge extending diagonally to said base portion.

20. A gripping element in accordance with claim 18 in which the holding means includes two holes intersecting at right angles and extending completely through said base portion.