Outsole for athletic shoe

• US 4,392,312 A
• Filed: 10/14/1981
• Issued: 07/12/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crowley, Kevin J., Souther, Channing
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US06/311,484
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 36/126, 36/128, 36/134, 36/32 R, 36/59 R, 36/59 A, 36/67 A, 36/67 C, 36/67 D, 36/67 R, 36/59 B, 36/59 C, D 2/317, D 2/320
• US Class Current: 36/67.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface

Abstract

A molded outsole for an athletic shoe including molded, non-metallic studs or cleats includes a plurality of first substantially identical studs and a plurality of second substantially identical studs. The first studs have a shape characterized by three partially-overlapping frustoconical shapes, blended together to present an outline which does not retain dirt, in a triangular pattern, and produce a stud shorter than a second stud. The second studs have a shape characterized by a large frustoconical portion bounded by two partially-overlapping smaller frustoconical portions, of equal height, arranged to define a generally arcuate shape presenting a concave face and a convex face, the large frustoconical portion and the two small frustoconical portions being appropriately filleted to produce a smooth surface which does not retain dirt. These second studs may be oriented to support traction primarily in a predetermined direction, and to allow pivoting. The smaller studs may be oriented appropriately to provide lateral traction and to prevent an edge of the outsole from digging in. The disclosed outsole is useful without modification for the sports of baseball and football, and similar sports, and may be easily modified, by the removal of a stud, to be appropriate for the sport of soccer.

Claims

1. An outsole for an athletic shoe, comprising:

a substantially planar outsole member having a plurality of projections therefrom;

said projections including a pluralty of first projections and a plurality of second projections, said second projections being longer than said first projections;

each said first projection having a shape characterized by three identical partially-overlapping frustoconical bodies, each having a major axis, said major axes being parallel to each other, said major axes defining the apexes of an equilateral triangle, said shape including fillet portions connecting the sides of said identical frustoconical bodies;

each said second projection having a shape characterized by three partially-overlapping frustoconical bodies of equal height and unequal volume, two said bodies being smaller than a third said body, said third body being disposed between said smaller bodies, each said body having a major axes, said major axes defining points on an arc, said shape including fillet portions interconnecting the sides of said frustoconical bodies, said shape defining a convex side and a concave side.

2. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said second projections are disposed on a first area of said outsole member, said first area being a metatarsal head area, said concave sides of said second projections being disposed to face inwardly towards a central portion of said first area.

3. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 2, wherein:

a plurality of said first projections are disposed adjacent a lateral instep edge portion of said outsole member.

4. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 3, wherein:

at least two said second projections are disposed on said heel portion, one said second projection being disposed adjacent a medial edge of said heel portion, said concave face of said projection being disposed towards a lateral edge of said heel portion;

a second one said second projection being disposed adjacent said lateral edge of said heel portion, said concave face of said projection being disposed towards said medial edge of said heel portion.

5. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 4, wherein:

at least one said second projection disposed adjacent a rear edge of said heel portion.

6. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 5, wherein:

at least one said second projection is disposed adjacent a toe portion of said outsole member, said concave side of said second projection being disposed towards a heel portion of said outsole member.

7. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:

said outsole member and said first projections and said second projections are integrally molded from a plastic material.

8. An outsole for an athletic shoe according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:

said outsole member is molded from a plastic material, and said first and said second projections are molded from a plastic material and fastened to said outsole member.