Footwear with mountain goat traction elements

• US 6,018,889 A
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Friton, Michael Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US09/259,271
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/31, 36/59 A, 36/59 C, 36/29, 36/32 R, 36/11.5, 36/25 R
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface

Abstract

Footwear intended primarily for outdoor use, wherein a variety of ground conditions are likely to be encountered, has a sole with traction elements inspired by the hoof of a mountain goat. In several embodiments, an interior region of the sole is provided with a plurality of pairs of relatively soft protruding pods, while a perimetric region surrounding the interior region includes a plurality of relatively hard lugs provided on opposite sides of the pod pairs. The pods extend downwardly below the lugs such that they will make initial ground contact and compress. The compression cushions initial impact and increases the area of ground contact to improve traction on firm smooth surfaces. The compression also brings the lugs into ground engagement, following initial contact, to improve stability and traction on irregular and soft ground surfaces. Other embodiments of the invention implement similar principles, in soles having a more conventional (less goat hoof-like) appearance. In one embodiment, relatively soft rubber outsole lugs take the place of the pods. In another embodiment, the sole includes combination lugs including relatively hard and soft portions of differing height. In a further embodiment, an interior region of a water sandal sole includes relatively soft traction elements in the form of relatively large soft regions of the midsole covered with a thin layer of rubber outsole material; the interior region is surrounded by a perimeter of hard lugs.

Claims

1. Footwear comprising an upper and a cushioning sole attached to said upper, said sole having a ground engaging surface including a group of relatively soft compliant traction elements and a group of relatively hard lugs, stiffer in compression than said traction elements, adjacent said group of traction elements, said traction elements extending downwardly below said lugs such that, in use, a bottom surface of said traction elements will make initial ground contact and partially compress to cushion impact of ground engagement and increase ground contact, and such that a bottom surface of said lugs is brought into ground contact after said initial ground contact, wherein said lugs limit compression of said traction elements and serve as a relatively rigid catch for irregular and soft ground surfaces;

said group of traction elements comprising a plurality of said traction elements, each said traction element being located adjacent a corresponding said lug; and

each traction element and corresponding adjacent lug being integrally formed, respectively, as first and second portions of a single lug, said first portion including a cushioning element covered with a relatively thin layer of wear resistant material, said second portion comprising a solid block of rubber outsole material.

2. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning element comprises a core of relatively soft resilient foam material.

3. Footwear comprising an upper and a cushioning sole attached to said upper, said sole having a ground engaging surface including a group of relatively soft compliant traction elements and a group of relatively hard lugs, stiffer in compression than said traction elements, adjacent said group of traction elements, said traction elements extending downwardly below said lugs such that, in use, a bottom surface of said traction elements will make initial ground contact and partially compress to cushion impact of ground engagement and increase ground contact, and such that a bottom surface of said lugs is brought into ground contact after said initial ground contact, wherein said lugs limit compression of said traction elements and serve as a relatively rigid catch for irregular and soft ground surfaces;

wherein

said ground engaging surface comprises an outer perimetric border region and an interior region surrounded by said border region, said group of relatively soft traction elements being located within said interior region, said group of relatively hard lugs being located within said border region; and

said relatively soft traction elements are formed as pods including a cushioning element, said pods comprising adjacent pairs of pods in both a rear foot region and a forefoot region, the pods within each pair being spaced laterally from each other, with only two abreast, to create laterally spaced pairs of initial contact areas in the rearfoot and forefoot regions, at least one of said pairs of pods having pods of generally triangular shape defining therebetween a generally wedge-shaped gap.

4. Footwear according to claim 3, wherein said cushioning element comprises a core of relatively soft resilient foam material.

5. Footwear according to claim 3, wherein each pod of a pair of said pods has a raised rim of hard rubber wrapped around a leading edge of the pod.

6. Footwear according to claim 3, wherein each pod comprises a relatively thin layer of wear resistant material.