GRIPPER ELEMENTS FOR SPORTS SHOES

• US 3,859,739 A
• Filed: 05/16/1973
• Issued: 01/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adidas Sportschuhfabriken ADI Dassler KG (Adidas AG), HENKEL, ALBERT DR. KONIGSALLEE 36 IN 4000 DUSSELDORF 1, ATTORNEY IN FACT
• Original Assignee: Adolf Dassler
• Inventors: Dassler, Adolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/360,815
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 36/67,59,2.5AM
• US Class Current: 36/67.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/165 pointed or conical, e.g. calks, spikes, pins

Abstract

Gripper element for sports shoes especially for track shoes for use on plastics tracks, in which the element is provided with a body having one or more sharp penetrating surfaces adjacent the free end of the element and one or more support surfaces at a greater angle to the axis of the element, the support surface or surfaces preventing undue penetration of the element into a plastics track. A preferred construction comprises a body having the shape of a half barrel in which are formed a plurality of grooves the depth of the grooves increasing gradually from the free end of the element to a point approximately at the centre of the length of the element and then gradually decreasing, the grooves forming the penetrating surfaces and the support surfaces.

Claims

1. A gripper element for a sports shoe, such as a shoe for use on plastic tracks, said gripper element comprising a body having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis exteNding between said ends, said second end being adapted to be secured to the outsole of a sports shoe, a conical outer surface to said body whereby said body is narrower at said first end than at said second end, further comprising means defining longitudinally extending grooves, circumferentially spaced around said body, the depth of said grooves increasing gradually from said first end to a point approximately centrally of said first and second ends, and then gradually decreasing, and further comprising a flat end surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at said first end, whereby the ends of said grooves adjacent said first end form gripper edges with said end surfaces and the ends of said grooves nearer said second end form support surfaces.

2. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein three grooves are provided, each having a domed inner surface.

3. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising an axial spike, of short axial length compared to the length of said body, extending from said first end.

4. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising means defining a recess in said flat end surface.