Footwear with retractable spikes

Abstract

An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting spikes includes spike actuating assemblies mounted to, and cooperating between, a first plate and a first slider frame, and a second plate and a second slider frame, pivotally mounted to the first plate and first slider frame respectively. Each spike actuating assembly contains a spike. The first slider frame is translatable to actuate the spike actuating assemblies to thereby extend and retract the spikes from the spike actuating assemblies. A cyclically alternating positioner is mounted on the first plate for moving the first and second slider frames relative to the first and second plates. The positioner has only a single actuating button adjacent the heel. Depressing the actuating button a first time causes the positioner to move the slider frames to extend the spikes. Depressing the actuating button a second time causes the positioner to move the slider frames to retract the spikes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to footwear in general and to a method and apparatus for providing footwear with selectively extendable spikes in particular.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Traction is necessary for proper performance in many endeavors including those involving sports and recreation, professions and trades including fire fighting and policing, in the military and in particular infantry, to name just a few. For example, in the sport of golf, proper traction is required during full swing shots such as the tee shot and many fairway shots. Due to the grass covered surfaces on which golf is played, however, proper traction may be difficult. It is well known that the addition of spikes to the bottom of footwear for golf shoes helps to provide the necessary traction on such a surface. Such spikes were traditionally made of sharpened elongate metal projections.[0003]Traditional metal spikes, however, suffered from the disadvantage of being damaging...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The first plate has heel, center and ball portions sized to extend over so as to cover respectively the heel, center and ball sections of the sole when the first plate is mounted on the sole. The first slider frame is elongate and longitudinally translatable mounted flush on the first plate. The first slider frame has heel, center and ball sub-frames covering respectively the heel, center and ball portions of the first plate. The first slider frame is translatable between first and second positions. The first slider frame is operable to actuate the spike actuating assemblies to thereby extend the spikes from the spike actuating assemblies at the first position and to retract the spikes at the second position.

Problems solved by technology

Due to the grass covered surfaces on which golf is played, however, proper traction may be difficult.

Traditional metal spikes, however, suffered from the disadvantage of being damaging to some surfaces.

In particular, the putting greens surfaces which have a significantly shorter grass length have been found to be damaged by metal spikes.

Such metal spikes have been known to cause significant damage to putting greens by leaving holes and ridges in the ground as well as damaging the more delicate putting green grasses.

However, soft spikes have also reduced the traction provided to the golfer during full swing shots such as the tee shot.

The use of metal spikes for professional golf tournaments results in a significant amount of damage to the putting greens which is both costly to repair as well as obstructive to the play of later players.

Soft spikes have also not completely eliminated the damage occurring to golf course greens.

As developers of soft spikes have attempted to increase the traction provided by soft spikes, the amount of damage these spikes inflict on putting greens increases.

In particular, it is known that metal spikes and newer designs of soft spikes results in damage to the structure of the grass making these grasses more susceptible to disease and other difficulties.

However, such devices have not been suitable as for example in some there are separated controls to extend or retract the spikes.

Several of these controls are located in the toe of the sole where they may cause tripping while climbing or in inclined terrain or be prone to actuation for example during the follow-through of a golf swing, etcetera.

Other designs in the prior art are inferior in that relatively large pieces of actuating structure are exposed outwardly of the sole making damage to the structure or the intrusion of water, dirt, snow, etcetera more likely.

Such devices have not been acceptable due to the need to bend down to extend or retract the spikes which may be difficult for some users and time consuming.

Images