Shoe spike
First Claim
1. In combination with a shoe having a downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface, an anti-fouling shoe spike structure carried by said shoe and having an elongate vertical earth-engaging spike depending from the earth-engaging surface of the shoe, said spike having upper and lower portions, and a soil repelling barrier being located thereon adjacent said upper portion are joined, with the lower portion free of barrier material, said barrier having a diametrical width transverse to said spike less than the length of said spike structure;
- means for constraining said barrier to remain adjacent said upper portion with said lower portion remaining bare at all times during use,said barrier being structured to permit substantially free movement of earth upwardly relative to said earth-engaging surface and said spike and circumferentially and radially about the spike, said barrier resisting retention of damp earth on and about said spike.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-cleaning, or anti-fouling, shoe spike structure is provided that includes an elongate normally vertical earth-engaging spike with upper and lower ends, means securing the upper end of the spike on a shoe with said spike depending from a normally downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface of the shoe and self-cleaning means comprising an annular debris-repellant barrier positioned about the upper end of the spike. The barrier may be in the form of a movable washer that projects outwardly from the spike and underlies the shoe surface. Or it may be in the form of a stationary non-wetting member surrounding the spike. The barrier operates to allow for substantially free movement of soil and other debris about the upper end of the spike and the portion of shoe surface about the spike thereby preventing accumulation and compaction of soil or other debris on the bottom of the shoe about the spike.
32 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. In combination with a shoe having a downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface, an anti-fouling shoe spike structure carried by said shoe and having an elongate vertical earth-engaging spike depending from the earth-engaging surface of the shoe, said spike having upper and lower portions, and a soil repelling barrier being located thereon adjacent said upper portion are joined, with the lower portion free of barrier material, said barrier having a diametrical width transverse to said spike less than the length of said spike structure;
-
means for constraining said barrier to remain adjacent said upper portion with said lower portion remaining bare at all times during use, said barrier being structured to permit substantially free movement of earth upwardly relative to said earth-engaging surface and said spike and circumferentially and radially about the spike, said barrier resisting retention of damp earth on and about said spike. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An anti-fouling spike structure for mounting on a shoe having a downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface, said anti-fouling spike structure comprising an elongate vertical earth-engaging spike at the lower end thereof, said spike having upper and lower portions, means at the upper portion thereof for attachment of the spike to said shoe, and a soil-repelling barrier being located thereon adjacent said upper portion, said barrier having a diametrical width transverse to said spike less than the length of said spike structure;
-
means for constraining said barrier to remain entirely between said upper portion with said lower portion remaining bare at all times during use, said barrier being constructed to permit substantially free movement of earth that is urged upwardly relative to said spike on and about said lower portion out of contact with said barrier until it reaches said upper portion where it engages said barrier as said spike presses into the earth when attached to said shoe both circumferentially and radially about the spike, said barrier resisting retention of earth and debris on said barrier and about said spike. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification