Winter golf shoe spikes

• US 6,354,021 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1993
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Softspikes Incorporated (Medalist Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Softspikes Incorporated (Medalist Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Deacon, Ernie L., Mc Mullin, Faris W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US08/149,193
• Time in Patent Office: 3,046 Days
• Field of Search: 36/59.R, 36/67.R, 36/67.A, 36/67.B, 36/67.D, 361/27, 361/34, 36/59.A, 36/59.B, 36/67.C, 361/26, 361/28, 36/25.R, 36/59.C, 36/59.D, 36/39, 36/34.R, 36/34.A, 36/76, 36/77, D 2/951, D 2/960, D 2/962
• US Class Current: 36/127
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape

Abstract

The invention is a replaceable golf shoe cleat or spike 10 for use in place of a standard metal spike 4. Winter golf shoe spike 10 preferably has a main cleat body 11 molded from a durable plastic type material in single unitary fashion. A threaded stud 13 is formed on the upper surface of generally concavo-convex flange 12 and protrudes axially therefrom. A plurality of traction ribs 15 are formed on the bottom traction surface of concavo-convex flange 12. While the ribs 15 may be present in a variety of configurations, they are preferably triangular ridges arranged in a radial fashion emanating from the center of concavo-convex flange 12.

Claims

1. A removable golf shoe cleat for use in a golf shoe having a sole, said sole having a plurality of sole attachment means for attachment of removable cleats, said removable golf shoe cleat comprising:

(a) a flange having an upper surface and an opposing bottom surface that distributes the weight of a wearer of said cleat over turf being walked on;

(b) flange attachment means extending from said upper surface of said flange for removably attaching said cleat to one of said sole attachment means of said sole of said shoe;

(c) a plurality of traction ribs extending from the opposing bottom surface of said flange, said flange distributing said weight over turf being walked on while said traction ribs provide traction against said turf; and

(d) said flange and said traction ribs having a combined profile of at most about 0.25 inch as measured from said upper surface of said flange to a bottom portion of a most downwardly extending portion of said traction ribs;

wherein;

said cleat provides traction against the ground without doing damage to the turf surface being walked on.

2. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 1 wherein said ribs comprise a resilient material.

3. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 1 wherein said ribs comprise a durable plastic material.

4. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 3 wherein said durable plastic material comprises polyether block urethane.

5. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 1 wherein:

said flange attachment means comprises a threaded stud extending from said upper surface of said flange of said cleat.

6. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 5 wherein said flange, said stud and said ribs are a single unitary body.

7. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 1 wherein said opposing bottom surface of said flange has a convex shape.

8. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 1 wherein each of said ribs has a maximum height between about 0.03125 inch and about 0.125 inch.

9. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 8 wherein each of said ribs has a length and a series of cross sections taken at different points along said length, each of said cross sections having a respective height, said respective heights varying along said length of said rib.

10. A removable golf shoe cleat for use in a golf shoe having a sole, said sole having a plurality of sole attachment means for attachment of removable cleats, said removable golf shoe cleat comprising:

(a) a substantially circular flange having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface that distributes the weight of a wearer of said cleat over turf being walked on;

(b) flange attachment means extending from said upper surface of said flange for removably attaching said cleat to one of said sole attachment means of said sole of said shoe; and

(c) a plurality of ribs on said opposing lower surface of said flange;

said flange distributing said weight over turf being walked on while said traction ribs provide traction against said turf;

wherein;

said ribs are so dimensioned to provide traction against the ground without doing damage to the turf surface being walked on and without puncturing golf turf.

11. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 10 wherein:

said upper surface has a concave shape and said opposing lower surface has a convex shape;

each of said ribs has a height, said height being between about 0.03125 inch and about 0.125 inch; and

said flange and said ribs have a combined profile of at most about 0.25 inch measured from said upper surface of said flange to a bottom portion of a most downwardly extending portion of said ribs.

12. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 10 wherein:

said upper surface has a concave shape and said opposing lower surface has a convex shape;

each of said ribs has a length and a series of cross sections taken at different points along said length, each of said cross sections having a respective height, said respective heights varying along said length of said rib between a minimum height and a maximum height, said maximum height being between about 0.03125 inch and about 0.125 inch; and

said flange and said ribs have a combined profile of at most about 0.25 inch measured from said upper surface of said flange to a bottom portion of a most downwardly extending portion of said ribs.

13. The removable golf shoe cleat of claim 10 wherein:

each of said upper surface and said opposing lower surface is substantially flat;

each of said ribs has a dimension along said flange and a series of cross sections taken at different points along said dimension, each of said cross sections having a respective height, said respective heights varying along said dimension of said rib between a minimum height and a maximum height, said maximum height being between about 0.03125 inch and about 0.125 inch; and

said flange and said ribs have a combined profile of at most about 0.25 inch measured from said upper surface of said flange to a bottom portion of a most downwardly extending portion of said ribs.