WADING CRAMPON

• US 20130014409A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patagonia Incorporated (Lost Arrow Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Patagonia Incorporated (Lost Arrow Corporation)
• Inventors: Chouinard, Yvon
• Granted Patent: US 9,918,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/59.R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/08 Bathing shoes ; Aquatic sports shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/10 Non-skid attachments made of wire, chain, or other meshed material

Abstract

A non-cleated, soft metal traction device reduces or eliminates slippage on wet and hard surfaces, such as mossy rocks beneath the water surface of a body of water. The traction device includes at least one external metal shank, plate or bar attachable to a footwear item with a desired binding system. The shank is preferably made from a soft metal material, such as a non-heat-treated aluminum alloy, so it is soft enough to grip and elastically conform to moist, wet or otherwise slippery rock and shale. The contact surface of the shank may include grooves, ribs, spaced apart ridges, or other small surface variations to improve the traction of the device in transition environments.

Claims

1. A traction device for a footwear item, the device comprising:

a shank attachable to the footwear item;

a malleable, soft-metal plate fixed to the shank; and

an adjustable binding system coupled to the shank, the binding system configured to secure the shank to the footwear item.

2. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the plate is a bar.

3. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the shank includes at least one opening.

4. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the shank is a heel shank.

5. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the shank is a toe shank.

6. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the shank is made from a harder material than the soft-metal plate.

7. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a recessed portion.

8. The traction device of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion is arranged to increase traction of the footwear item.

9. The traction device of claim 2, further comprising another malleable, soft-metal bar fixed to the shank.

24. The traction device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the shank is made from a plastic material.

10. A traction device for a footwear item, the device comprising:

a first malleable, soft-metal shank having opposing surfaces, the first opposing surface in contact with a sole of the footwear item, the second opposing surface being substantially continuous from front-to-back and from side-to-side; and

a binding system coupled to the shank, the binding system adjustably securable to the footwear item.

11. The traction device of claim 10, further comprising at least one bracket coupled to the shank.

12. The traction device of claim 11, wherein the bracket is an L-shaped bracket.

13. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the shank is a heel shank.

14. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the shank is a toe shank.

15. The traction device of claim 10, further comprising:

a second malleable, soft-metal shank; and

an arch plate configured to secure the shanks to each other.

16. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the shank is configured to operate in a linear elastic range.

17. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the binding system is a step-in binding system.

18. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the binding system is a hybrid binding system.

19. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the binding system is a strap binding system.

20. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the shank is made from a non-heat treated material.

21. The traction device of claim 20, wherein the non-heat treated material is an aluminum alloy.

22. The traction device of claim 10, wherein the shank is made from a rubber material embedded with soft metal particulate.

23. The traction device of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the shank is made from a copper alloy material.

25. A traction device for a sole of a footwear item, the device comprising:

a first bar having a first surface in contact with the sole and a second, opposing surface made from a malleable, soft-metal material;

a second bar having a first surface in contact with the sole and a second, opposing surface made from a malleable, soft-metal material; and

fastening devices securable to the first and second bars and to the sole of the footwear item.

26. The traction device of claim 25, wherein the first and second bars are made entirely from the malleable, soft-metal material.

27. The traction device of claim 25, wherein the first and second bars are removably securable to the sole of the footwear item.