WO1987003176A1

WO1987003176A1 - Athlectic shoe with improved pivot cleating

Info

Publication number: WO1987003176A1
Application number: PCT/US1985/002327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael L. Tanel
Original assignee: Tanel Michael L
Priority date: 1983-12-27
Filing date: 1985-11-22
Publication date: 1987-06-04
Also published as: EP0247039A4; DE3578784D1; EP0247039A1; US4577422A; EP0247039B1; ATE54547T1

Abstract

An athletic shoe (10) for field sports having a circular cleat (26) formed on the sole in forward position substantially encompassing the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole (14), extending substantially across the width of the sole, and enclosing a surface coincident with the main surface (16) of the sole. The shoe (10) provides improved pivotability while also providing good traction, and can reduce the frequency of certain common leg injuries.

Description

ATHLETIC SHOE WITH IMPROVED PIVOT CLEATING

This invention is related generally to cleated athletic shoes for field sports and, more specifically, to athletic shoes with cleating to accommodate pivoting movements.

Background of the Invention

Most athletic shoes used for field sports, such as football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, baseball and softball, have a number of tapered or blade-like cleats or projections for the purpose of increasing traction. Cleats dig into the turf to prevent slipping during starting, stopping, and cutting maneuvers.

Such cleats, however, in addition to providing desirable traction, typically provide very undesirable resistance to pivoting actions. This can be a disadvantage in two ways. When pivoting is inhibited, the maneuverability of an athlete is limited. His performance is less than it could be. Enhancing the ability of a player to pivot can greatly increase his effectiveness on the field.

In addition to inhibiting certain athletic pivoting actions, cleats of the prior art tend to resist tension- relieving pivoting when unwanted torque or force is applied to the athlete, particularly to a leg. If a leg is forcibly twisted when the cleats have penetrated into the turf, and the foot is held firmly on the turf, the cleats can prevent pivoting and thereby lead to injuries, particularly common knee injuries.

Attempts have been made in the past to make a cleated shoe which would accommodate pivoting movements and reduce the aforesaid injury problems. A variety of pivoting shoes have been produced which have problems, are impractical, or fail to function properly for one reason or another.

Some athletic shoes of the prior art have attempted to improve pivoting by providing a rotatable cleat. This approach presents a problem in that the rigors of field sports will easily damage such constructions. Furthermore, mud tends to clog such devices and can make them fail prematurely. This approach, therefore, is deemed impractical in most cases.

Some other shoes of the prior art have separate spikes, in some cases arced spikes, arranged in widely-spaced fashion along an annular line. Such separate spikes or edges tend to resist pivoting, and fail to provide the desired level of pivotability.

Some other prior art disclosures have included fixed annular cleats. This invention relates generally to constructions of this latter type.

Shoes of the prior art which have included annular cleats have failed to provide adequate gripping action and/or have failed to provide adequate pivoting action for several specific reasons. Such shoes have not been accepted by athletes and have not been in wide use. Overcoming the problems of such shoes of the prior art is a principal objective of this invention.

The deficiencies of the prior art and the unique characteristics and advantages of this invention can most easily be described with reference to the foot of the athlete. The sole of the foot includes four basic portions. These are, in order back to front: the heel portion; the arch portion; the ball-of-the-foot portion; and the toe portion.

The heel portion and the ball-of-the-foot portion are those portions which share most if not all of the player's weight when the player is in a normal standing position with his feet generally flat on the ground. In such position, the arch portion bears little if any weight, and the toe portion bears little if any weight.

When a player is "on his toes" in a "ready" position, virtually all of the player's weight is normally shared by the toe portion and the ball-of-the-foot portion. The same is usually true when a player is "digging" in a running action. Indeed, when a player is in the ready position the juncture of the phalanges (toe bones) and the metatarsles is the center of weight-bearing. In other words, the center of weight-bearing in the forward portions of the foot actually moves forward when a player shifts to the ready position.

The sole of an athletic shoe has portions immediately below such four foot portions which may be designated, and herein are designated, by the same terms.

Prior art shoes having annular cleating fail to function properly at least in part because of grossly improper placement of an annular cleat — centered much too far back from the juncture of the toe and ball-of-the-foot portions where weight is centered in the ready position. Indeed, in the ready position, normally the only position in which pivoting is important, such prior shoes may not pivot much better than shoes with the standard blade-like or tapered cleats.

Further affecting the performance of at least some of such prior art shoes with annular cleats is the fact that a raised sole portion is enclosed by the annular cleat, thus preventing significant penetration of the turf and limiting the available traction. Another drawback of the prior art is the small width of such annular cleats, which in prior art cleating arrangements gives less than desirable pivoting and gripping.

Without further elaboration on the shortcomings of prior athletic shoes, it can be said that prior shoes have failed to provide a combination of good traction and good pivotability. Therefore, the standard cleated soles have continued in use, with the risks and occurrences of knee injuries and other injuries due to improper pivoting continuing substantially unabated. For years there has been a strong, unsatisfied need for an improved athletic shoe for field sports.

Brief Summary of the Invention

This invention is an. improved athletic shoe for field sports providing good pivotabiity without sacrificing traction. This invention is a practical pivoting shoe construction which overcomes the problems of pivoting shoes of the prior art and provides greatly improved pivotability.

The sole of the shoe of this invention includes a substantially continuous annular cleat, having a generally circular distal edge, which encompasses most of the ball-of- the-foot and toe portions of such sole. Such circular cleat is centered on the juncture of the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole, right beneath the juncture of the phalanges and the metatarcles of the foot.

The annular cleat of this invention extends substan¬ tially across the width of the sole. Furthermore, such circular cleat encloses a sole area which is coincident with the main sole surface; that is, the enclosed sole surface is not built up from the main sole surface which would interfere with penetration of the surface of the playing field.

In certain preferred embodiments, the circular cleat is the forward ost cleat on the shoe. In some embodiments, a central cleat, preferably of the standard tapered frusto- conical shape, is disposed concentrically within the circular cleat. In some other embodiments, one or more circular cleats are disposed concentrically within the principal circular cleat.

The circular cleat preferably has a radially outward lateral surface projecting at substantially right angles from the main sole surface and a radially inward surface flaring outwardly from the main sole surface to converge with the outward surface. This angling of the annular cleat tends to provide superior traction.

Certain embodiments of this invention are intended for use on artificial turf. The sole of such embodiments includes at least three substantially concentric annular projections or cleats, each terminating in a circular edge. One of these projections, referred to as a first projection, is in the same position as the annular cleats of the embodiment previously described, extending across the width of the sole and centered on the juncture of the ball-of-the- foot and toe portions.

In addition to the first annular projection, there are at least two additional annular projections, which are spaced inwardly at successively shorter radii, all around the same center point. There are preferably more than two additional annular projections and most preferably six or more additional annular projections. The annular projections are preferably spaced at equal radial intervals in a pattern covering the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole.

Some versions of the artificial turf embodiment of this invention will include at least one and preferably two or more truncated-circle projections which are concentric with the first projection but are spaced at greater radial locations. Such truncated-circle projections will be at the forwardmost end of the toe portion and near the arch portion of the sole.

The larger number of cleats or projections which characterize the artificial turf versions of this invention are helpful in providing the traction which is necessary for good pivotability. The annular cleats or projections of the artificial turf versions of this invention are shorter than the annular cleat or cleats used in versions intended for use on natural turf. The height of such annular cleats for the artificial turf version are usually from about 3 to about 8 mm, and most preferably from about 5 to about 7 mm.

In certain preferred embodiments of this invention there are one or more breaks along the distal edge of the continuous annular cleat or cleats. The breaks are minor interruptions or discontinuities such that the cleats remain substantially continuous. Such breaks serve to provide control of pivotability and/or in some cases to increase the bending flexibility of the sole.

The breaks may be in various shapes, including notches, slots and slits of various kinds. Notches are V-shaped cutouts which are widest at the distal edge of the annular cleat. Slots are breaks having parallel walls which are preferably normal to the main sole surface. Thin slots or slits are one preferred form of breaks. In a particularly preferred form, the breaks extend from the distal edge of the annular cleat substantially to the main sole surface.

A pair of breaks in an annular cleat, one at each intersection of the cleat with a chord line extending across the sole, will facilitate bending of the sole along such line. In some cases, there may be two or three pairs of such breaks along two or three chord lines across the sole.

Each of the embodiments of this invention has excellent traction and significantly improved pivotability. The improved pivoting is demonstrated dramatically in certain common athletic moves, such as evasive spinning movements in body contact sports. A wide variety of "moves" in many field sports are greatly facilitated and/or accelerated by the shoe of this invention, and innovative playing techniques are made possible.

As previously suggested, it is believed that the frequency of certain common leg injuries can be significantly reduced by use of this invention. The pivotability made possible by the shoe of this invention allows the turning release which can eliminate common knee injuries and other leg injuries.

Objects of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved athletic shoe for field sports which will reduce the possibility of injuries, particularly knee injuries.

Another object of this invention is to provide an athletic shoe giving improved pivotability without sacrificing traction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an athletic shoe of the type specifically designed for pivoting which allows easy pivoting when the foot is in the ready position, that is, with weight being borne by the toe and ball-of-the-foot portions of the sole.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pivoting athletic shoe which is comfortable and provides the athlete a secure feeling of traction on the field.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following descriptions including the drawings, wherein:

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIGURE 1 is a sole-up perspective view of a preferred athletic shoe in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cleatleεs schematic plan view of an athletic shoe sole, illustrating the portions thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a sole-down sectional view, taken along section 4-4 as shown in FIGURE 2, including a player's foot.

FIGURE 5 is another sectional view as in FIGURE 4, but illustrating the shoe and foot in the "ready" position.

FIGURE 6 is a sole-up perspective view, as in FIGURE 1, illustrating another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention, prepared especially for use on artificial turf. FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along section 8-8 as shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a magnified view of a portion of FIGURE 8.

FIGURES 10 and 11 are plan views of the soles of two additional embodiments of this invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 5 show an athletic shoe 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention. FIGURE 6 shows another shoe 50 in accordance with this invention. FIGURES 7-9 show a shoe 100 of this invention adapted for use on artificial turf. FIGURES 10 and 11 show two additional shoes 200 and 202, respectively, which are other preferred embodiments.

Shoe 10 has an upper 12 and a sole 14 affixed to upper 12 in the normal way. Upper 12 may be made of conventional materials such as leather and canvas; the makeup of upper 12 is not of importance in this invention. Sole 14 is formed of a tough material which can flex in the normal manner depending on how weight is applied thereto. Any of several materials used for tough cleated shoe soles can be used in this invention. Rubber and polyurethane are preferred.

The surface of a sole 14 which contacts the playing surface includes a main sole surface 16 and a number of cleats which protrude therefrom. The cleats are preferably integrally formed with main sole surface 16 in a molding process as is common in sole manufacturing.

As illustrated in schematic FIGURE 3 and in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, which are aligned in the drawing with schematic FIGURE 3, sole 14 has four areas or portions which are defined by the portions of the foot adjacent to them. These include: a heel portion 18, immediately below the player's heel; an arch portion 20, below the arch of the player's foot; a ball-of-the-foot portion 22, below the ball of the player's foot; and a toe portion 24, below the player's toes.

As previously noted, the ball of the foot is that portion which together with the heel bears weight when the player is standing in a flat-footed stance (FIGURE 4) , while the toe and ball-of-the-foot portions bear weight when the player is in the ready position (FIGURE 5) .

Circular cleat 26 protrudes from main sole surface 16 near the forward end 27 of sole 14. Circular cleat 26 is centered on the juncture of ball-of-the-foot and toe portions 22 and 24. Circular cleat 26 substantially encompasses ball-of-the-foot and toe portions 22 and 24 of sole 14, and extends across the width of sole 14 at that point. Annular cleat 26 encloses a sole area 28 having a surface which is coincident with main sole surface 16.

Circular cleat 26 has a radially outward lateral surface 30 which is normal (that is, perpendicular) to main sole surface 16 and a radially inward lateral surface 32 which is concentric with outward surface 30 and is flared outwardly to converge with outward surface 30. The angle of outward and inward surfaces 30 and 32 with respect to main sole surface 16 can vary, although the configuration described above is highly preferred for good traction.

Outward and inward surfaces 30 and 32 converge to a sharp circular distal edge 34, that is, an edge with little or no "flat." The distal edge of the annular cleat can be sharp or blunt. In some cases, the distal edge can be "cut off" or flattened to a greater or lesser degree. Just how sharp the circular cleat should be is dependent on the kind of playing surface on which the shoe will be used, sharper circular cleats are appropriate for relatively hard playing surfaces, while blunter circular cleats may be acceptable on softer surfaces.

Likewise, the depth of the cleats (that is, the distance from the main sole surface to the distal edge of the annular cleat) may be chosen to accommodate the type of playing surface. For example, deeper (longer) cleats are preferred on natural turf, while shallower (shorter) cleats are better for most artificial turfs.

The line of distal edge 34 is preferably in one plane and continuous, but it can have some undulations, minor discontinuities, or other irregularities such as would not significantly retard pivoting. Small breaks of various kinds along the distal edge of the annular cleat can add a desirable degree of control to the pivotability of the shoe, and can tend to increase the bending flexibility of the sole. Embodiments with such breaks will be described herein.

Annular cleat 26 is preferably circular. However, a slightly oval shape or other off-round shape would be within the scope of this invention as long as pivoting is facilitated.

Annular cleat 26 preferably extends completely across the width of sole 14. However, the circular cleat can be located slightly away from the edge of sole 14. In some cases, it may be desirable to make minor changes in the width of the sole to accommodate wider circular cleats.

Circular cleat 26 is flexible to the extent that it will not significantly interfere with the normal sole flexing during running or other foot movement. This provides a. comfortable feeling and also helps to keep mud from collec¬ ting on main sole surface 16 in the^' area 28 encompassed by cleat 26.

Located concentrically within circular cleat 26 is a standard f usto-conical tapered cleat 38. Cleat 38 serves to provide increased traction, and because of its location will not interfere at all with pivoting. Indeed, cleat 38 may help define a center point for pivoting.

To the rear of circular cleat 26, in and/or near heel portion 18, are several standard tapered cleats 36. These are positioned so as not to interfere with pivoting when the foot and sole are in the ready (on toes) position. Instead of tapered cleats, bladed cleats, another circular cleat, or some other kinds of cleats could be used in the heel portion.

FIGURE 6 illustrates another shoe 50 of this invention, including a second circular cleat 40 concentric with first circular cleat 26 and having a smaller radius. A multipli¬ city of circular cleats may be desirable in certain cases, such as on artificial turf, and will not retard the ability to pivot. An artificial turf version of the shoe will be described in greater detail herein.

It is usually preferred that circular cleat 26 be the forwardmost cleat. In some cases, however, a small cleat of a shape not retarding rotation can be placed forward of the circular cleat at the very tip of the toe portion. Any such cleat would have sharp lateral ends so as not to signifi¬ cantly retard pivoting and preferably would be concentric with the circular cleat. As long as the location of the annular cleat (or concentric annular cleats, as the case may be) remains in the position described herein, it is possible to have more than one (for example, two or even three) very small cleats at the tip of the toe portion, particularly for shoes intended for use on certain artificial turfs, as will now be described.

Artificial turf shoe 100 in accordance with this invention, shown in FIGURES 7-9, has an upper 104 and a sole^* 106 affixed together in the normal way. The lower surface of sole 106, which contacts the artificial turf playing surface, includes a main sole surface 108 which is a generally flat even surface, and a number of cleats or projections 110 extending from main sole surface 108. Projections 110 are preferably integrally formed with main sole surface 108.

Among the projections 110 are a series of seven concentric continuous full-circle annular projections 112. Annular projections 112 are centered at the juncture of the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole. The concentric annular projections 112 include a first annular projection 114, which has the largest radius of the full-circle annular projections 112, and six additional smaller annular projections 116, spaced at successively shorter radial locations.

First annular projection 114 substantially encompasses the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions 22 and 24 and extends substantially across the width of sole 106. The six additional annular projections 116 are spaced at equal radial intervals at successively shorter radial locations at positions toward the mid-line of the sole., It is preferred to have more than two of such additional annular projections 116 and most preferred to have six or more.

Also on sole 106 are truncated-circle projections 118 and 120. Truncated-circle projections 118 and 120 are along part of circles which are concentric with annular projections 112, but on greater radii. A forward portion 122 of truncated-circle projection 118 is spaced just beyond first annular projection 114 near the forward end of sole 106. A rearward portion 124 of truncated-circle projection 118 is spaced just beyond first annular projection 114 near arch portion 20 of sole 106. Rearward portion 124 itself has two segments along arch portion 20. Similarly, truncated-circle projection 120 has a forward portion 126 at the tip of the toe.

To the rear of the ball-of-the-foot portion are a series of additional projections which do not play an important role in providing the pivotability which is characteristic of the shoe of this invention. Among these are a series of annular projections on heel portion 18 of sole 106. While the heel cleats are shown as annular projections centered on heel portion 18, other forms of gripping projections may be used in the heel area.

Annular projections 112 have radially outward annular surfaces 130 and radially inward annular surfaces 132 which converge together in distal edges 134. See FIGURE 9. Distal edges 134 of annular projections 112 are circular and relatively sharp. That is, the distal edges have very little flatness. Their sharpness makes turf penetration easier.

Distal edges 134 are evenly spaced from main sole sur¬ face 108. Distal edges 134 are preferably spaced from main sole surface 108 by from about 3 to abut 8 mm. In the most preferred embodiments, such spacing is from about 5 to 7 mm. Thus, annular projections 112 are more than merely a tread design; they are a series of short cleats having a signifi¬ cant effect on shoe performance. They provide a superb combination of pivotability and traction to the athlete. The edges of the truncated-circle projections 118 and 120 have the same spacing from main sole surface 108 as do distal edges 134 of annular projections 112.

The radially outward annular surfaces 130 of annular projections 112 are preferably normal (that is, perpendi¬ cular) to main sole surface 108. However, other angular configurations are acceptable. It is desirable to make annular projections 112 of sufficient width at their points of attachment to main sole surface 108, and sufficiently blunt near distal edges 134 such that they will wear well and not tend to break off.

As noted above, annular projections 112 and truncated- circle projections 118 and 120 are preferably of the same flexible material as the main portion of sole 106. This allows good flexing of sole 106 during running action.

Annular projections 112 are the only projections from the main sole surface 108 in the area which they cover. That is, the sole portion enclosed by first annular projection 114 is substantially coincident with main sole surface 108, except of course for the additional annular projections 116.

The cross-sectional shapes of annular projections 112 and truncated-circle projections 118 and 120 are substan¬ tially congruent at all points along their lengths.

As previously mentioned, it is sometimes desirable to include small breaks along the distal edges of the annular cleats of this invention. Shoes 200 and 202, in FIGURES 10 and 11, illustrate such embodiments of the invention.

Shoe 200 has an upper 208 and a sole 210 affixed together in the normal manner. A substantially continuous annular cleat 214 projects from main sole surface 212. Annular cleat 214 is centered on the juncture of the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of sole 210 and extends across the width of sole 210.

Along the distal edge 224 are two breaks 228. Breaks 228 are in the form of notches having closely spaced parallel walls 230. Each of the breaks 230 extends from distal edge 224 to main sole surface 212. Walls 230 are substantially normal to main sole surface 212. The two breaks 228 are at the intersection of a chord line (not shown) with annular cleat 214. Such breaks 228 facilitate bending of sole 210 along such chord line. Breaks 228 are located on annular cleat 214 at a position where bending of sole 210 may not in some cases be desirable, although it is recognized that the main line of bending is at the juncture of arch portion and ball-of-the-foot portion, which is located at the edge of annular cleat 214.

Athletic shoe 202, shown in FIGURE 11, has three pairs of breaks 232, or a total of six breaks along its annular cleat 234. Each of these pairs of breaks are on a separate chord line extending across the sole of the shoe. This adds bending flexibility along three lines across annular cleat 234. Breaks 232 each have parallel walls 236. Parallel walls 236 are aligned parallel to parallel wall lines extending across the shoe. This alignment of breaks 232 tends to maximize the addition of flexibility to the shoe.

The breaks along the distal edges of the annular cleats of such embodiments may be in various forms, including V-shaped cutouts or notches, narrow parallel-walled breaks, or even very narrow breaks which could be described as slits. The width and configuration of the breaks will determine the extent of control which they impose on pivotability. Extremely narrow breaks will do little to control pivotability, while wider breaks will have greater controlling effect. However, the breaks of this invention are all quite narrow, such that the annular cleats in which they are formed remain substantially continuous and provide the pivotability advantages previously described.

In some preferred embodiments, the breaks extend from the distal edge of the annular cleat to the main sole surface. Such breaks tend to add bending flexibility to the sole.

As can be seen, there are many variations of this invention which are possible. Appropriate shoe designs embracing the principles of this invention will differ due to the nature of the playing surface, the type of performance desired, and many other factors.

While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In an athletic shoe of the type having a sole with a main sole surface and cleats extending therefrom to provide traction, such sole having heel, arch, ball-of-the-foot, and toe portions, the improvement comprising:

— a substantially continuous annular cleat terminating in a substantially circular distal edge, centered substantially on the juncture of the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole, and extending across width of the sole;

— said cleat being flexible to allow flexing of the sole; and

— said cleat enclosing a sole area the non-cleat portions of which are substantially coincident with said main sole surface.

2. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein said annular cleat is the forwardmost cleat.

3. The athletic shoe of claim 1 further including a central cleat disposed concentrically within said annular cleat.

4. The athletic shoe of claim 1 further including at least one additional annular cleat located concentrically within the first-mentioned annular cleat.

5. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein the annular cleat has a radially outward annular surface which is substantially normal to said main sole surface.

6. The athletic shoe of claim 5 wherein the annular cleat has a radially inward annular surface converging with the outward annular surface such that said distal edge is sharp.

7. The athletic shoe of claim 1 including at least one break in the annular cleat along the distal edge.

8. The athletic shoe of claim 7 wherein the break extends from the distal edge substantially to the main sole surface.

9. The athletic shoe of claim 8 having a pair of breaks in the annular cleat at the intersections of the cleat with a chord line across the sole, whereby bending of the sole along such chord line is facilitated.

10. The athletic shoe of claim 9 having more than one pair of said breaks.

11. The athletic shoe of claim 1 further including at least two additional annular cleats having substantially circular distal edges, said additional annular cleats being located concentrically within the first-mentioned cleat ' spaced at successively shorter radial locations.

12. The athletic shoe of claim 11 having more than two of said additional annular cleats.

13. The athletic shoe of claim 12 having at least six of said additional annular cleats.

14. The athletic shoe of claim 11 further including at least one truncated-circle cleat concentric with the first-mentioned annular cleat and at a greater radial location.

15. In an athletic shoe of the type having a sole with a main sole surface and cleats extending therefrom to provide traction, such sole having heel, arch, ball-of-the-foot, and toe portions, the improvement comprising:

— a substantially continuous annular cleat terminating in a substantially circular distal edge, said annular cleat encompassing most of the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole, and extending across width of the sole;

— said cleat being flexible to allow flexing of the sole; and