EP0223700B1 - Sports shoe with retractable studs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a studded sports shoe and in particular a golf shoe.

Known golf shoes have studs protruding under the outsole and intended to penetrate the "green" of the golf course to allow the player to stabilize his support on the ground so that the shot can be delivered with extreme precision , knowing that in a fixed position and during the throw, the feet of the player cling to the ground from the inside to the outside for one and vice versa for the other and must not slip. It is therefore necessary that the studs are securely attached to the shoe and have the most suitable penetration power for the "green".

As long as the player is on the "green" and the "rough", the shoes seem comfortable and walking is easy. On the other hand, when it takes routes on harder floors, such as those of alleys, parking lots, meeting rooms ..., the walking is relatively painful and awkward, the crampons wear abnormally and the coating of these soils very quickly lose their appearance of freshness and deteriorate very quickly.

Document DE-A-2313646 describes a sports shoe having retractable pencils against the action of an elastic member.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks without the player having to take off his shoes or equip his shoes with special protections.

To this end, the invention applies retractable studs against the action of at least one elastic member. According to the invention, the elastic member (s) of all the studs are tared to yield to the push of the foot on hard ground and resist the reaction of a relatively soft ground such as the "green" of a golf course and, in the areas where the retractable studs are arranged, protrusions, such as mini-studs, bars or the like, are formed under the outsole to at least the level reached by the studs in the fully retracted position.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, each retractable clamp has a base threaded mounted through the outsole, fixed to it and delimiting a housing through which intervenes at least one elastic member, the threaded base cooperating with a threaded plug having a screw collar accessible from the outside and constituting a guide in translation for the crampon proper which is provided, opposite its head, with a projecting foot located in the aforementioned housing and bearing on the elastic member or bodies considered.

According to a first embodiment, the threaded base is blind so that the housing is closed and contains the elastic member or parts, each elastic member being an elastomer part which can be either a part of revolution having a cruciform section, a ball, a preferably cylindrical pellet, a cylindrical, frustoconical tube, in diabolo focused on the crampon, and / or a spring which can be indifferently a frustoconical helical wire, a frustoconical washer, a star washer ...

According to a second embodiment, the threaded and open base to open opposite a foam midsole forming the above-mentioned elastic member; the elastic foam of the midsole can form a stud penetrating into the housing, an axially movable plate being preferably interposed between the stud and the foot of the stud to divide the pressure applied by the latter.

So, as long as the player is playing on the golf course, the studs protrude completely and cling perfectly to the ground. On the other hand, when the player circulates on hard ground, the crampons retract and the shoes bear on the ground by the protuberances of the soles, thus not risking damaging the crampons and the coating of the ground.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

An embodiment of the subject of the invention and embodiments are shown, by way of examples not restrictive, in the attached drawing.

On this drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing from below an embodiment of the sole of a golf shoe according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation taken along line II-II of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section taken on a larger scale along the line III-III of FIG. 1 and illustrating a first embodiment of a retractable crampon,

FIGS. 4 to 7 are views similar to FIG. 3 showing variants,

FIG. 8 is a section similar to that of FIG. 3, illustrating a second embodiment of the retractable crampon,

- Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 8 showing variants.

As is clear from Figures 1 and 2, the outsole 1 of the golf shoe is equipped, on the periphery of the forefoot 2, with five retractable cleats 3 and, on the periphery of the heel 4 of four retractable crampons 3. This sole projecting between the crampons 3 of the forefoot, protrusions 5 and between the crampons 3 of the heel, protrusions 6. In the example shown, the protrusions 5 are frustoconical mini-crampons and the protrusions 6, relatively elongated pyramidal bars. Furthermore, in the central part of the forefoot 2 delimited by the studs 3 and protuberances 5, an extended protuberance 7 is formed projecting which, in the example shown, is a wavy surface.

The height of the protrusions 5, 6 and 7 corresponds to at least that of the studs 3 when they are fully retracted; in addition, the number, the shape and the distribution of said protrusions are determined so that the shoes are suitable for walking on various relatively hard terrains, the retracted crampons being at the same level as the protrusions, and support normally the wear that may result.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first particular embodiment of one of these retractable studs 3.

This crampon comprises a base 8 having a tapped tubular skirt 9 integral with a bottom 10 which is extended towards the periphery by a support and anchoring element 11 situated on the side of the inner face of the sole 1. In the example shown, this element is an annular crown provided with claws 12 intended to penetrate into the outsole 1; but it is obvious that the element 11 can be constituted differently, in particular by a spider or the like so that its maintenance can be obtained by overmolding.

The crampon 3 also includes a threaded plug 13 capable of cooperating with the threaded skirt 9 of the base 8, this plug having a protruding screw flange 14 provided with holes 15 for taking a claw wrench. When the plug 13 is screwed by means of the latter into the base 8, the flange 14 is applied against the external surface of the sole 1, while the anchoring element 11 is situated against the internal surface or in the mass of said sole.

The plug 13 delimits a bore 16 for the precise guiding in translation of a cylindrical body 17 of the stud itself 18. This body 17 projects from the plug so that its frustoconical end head 19 can prick itself into the ground. Opposite its head, the body 17 has a prominent foot 20 located in a housing 21 delimited in the base 8 between its bottom 10 and the opposite end 22 of the plug 13. In the example illustrated by the figure 3, the foot 20 is an end piece having a bearing shoulder 23 abutting, when the clamp 18 is in a completely projecting position, against the end 22 of the plug.

To improve the positioning of the spike 18 and its resistance in the projecting position, it may be advantageous, as can be seen from FIG. 4, that the foot 20 of this spike has a frustoconical bearing 24 intended to come into abutment against a conjugate frustoconical seat 25 of the plug 13.

The housing 21 contains an independent elastic member designated by the general reference 26 (Figures 3 to 7). The elastic members of the retractable crampons of the same shoe are tared:

- to yield to the push of the foot on hard ground, the sole 1 then bearing on the ground by its protuberances 5 to 7 and its retracted crampons,

- And to resist the reaction of a relatively soft soil such as the "green", the studs remaining protruding to penetrate and cling to this soil.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6, the elastic member 26 is made of an elastomeric material (rubber, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, etc.) of appropriate density, a material which, depending on the shape to be obtained, is molded, cut or other.

Figure 3 shows that the elastic member 26 is a part of revolution 27 having a cruciform section so that it bears against the bottom 10 and the foot 20 by annular surfaces ending with flattenable suction cups.

Figure 4 shows that this member is a cylindrical tube 28 or frustoconical 29 which may or may not be filled with foam.

FIG. 5 shows that said member is a tube shaped as a diabolo 30 which may or may not also be filled with foam, the annular section of this diabolo preferably increasing from the narrowed medium towards the enlarged ends.

FIG. 6 shows that the elastic member is a ball 31 or a cylindrical tablet 32.

An example of sizing is given below. The housing 21 measures, when the spike 18 protrudes, a height of 4 mm for a diameter of 8 mm, the travel of the spike is 3mm and the height of the housing when the spike is retracted is 1mm.

In this case, the ball 31 (Figure 6) must have a diameter of 4.6 mm; the cylindrical tube 28 (Figure 4) must have an outside diameter of 6 mm, an inside diameter of 4.7 mm and a height of 4.5 mm. These digital data show that after mounting the retractable stud 3 on a sole 1, the ball 31 and the cylindrical tube 38 are prestressed, which allows them to keep the stud 18 proper in the projecting position towards the outside.

As shown in Figure 7, the elastic member 26 is a preferably metallic spring. It consists of a stack of frustoconical washers 33 known under the name of "Belleville" washers; but it is obvious that the spring can be of another type and for example constituted by at least one star washer, at least one frustoconical or other helical wire.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a second embodiment of one of the retractable studs 3 mounted in the sole 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this second embodiment, all of the components of the stud which have already been described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference. Only the differences are set out in the following. The skirt 9 of the base 8 no longer has a bottom 10, but opens out through an opening 34 above the outsole 1. In fact, this sole 1 is connected by means of a midsole 35 foam to the first mounting sole 36 and it is the foam of said midsole 35 which must constitute an elastic member 37 acting on the foot 20 of the spike 18 proper.

If the thickness of the midsole 35 is sufficient and if facing the retractable spike 3 the stiffness of this foam is suitable for the retraction force required, the foot 20 of the spike 18 may be located substantially in the same plane as the protruding element 11 of the base 8. This arrangement is shown in phantom in Figure 8; it increases the guide length of the clamp 18 in the plug 13.

But it may be beneficial to increase the active thickness of the midsole 35 and / or the useful retraction stroke of the crampon 18. In this case and as is apparent from the representation in solid lines in FIG. 8, the midsole 35 has a stud 38 coming from molding projecting lower to enter the housing 21 of the base 8, this stud constituting until the first mounting 36 the elastic member 37 above.

In addition, if the stiffness of the midsole 35, whether or not it is provided with pins 37, is insufficient to keep the studs 18 projecting from the "green", it may be advantageous to divide the pressure applied to the foam by the foot 20 of each clamp 18, in other words to multiply the restoring force applied by said foam on said foot. To this end, and as is apparent from FIG. 9, a plate 39, axially movable in the housing 21 of the base 8, is interposed between the aforementioned foot 20 and the foam of the midsole 35 or of the corresponding stud 37 , this foam forming the above-mentioned elastic member 37; the surface of this plate is greater than that of the foot 20.

FIG. 10 illustrates a third embodiment of one of the retractable studs 3 mounted in the sole 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The retractable clamp 3 of this third embodiment is similar to that of the second shown in Figure 9 and therefore its constituent bodies are designated by the same references.

The only difference lies in the constitution of the elastic member 40 which acts on the crampon 18. In fact, according to this third embodiment, the elastic member 40 is the combination of the elastic members 26 and 37. The plate 39 separates then the foam of the midsole 35 (or of a nipple 38), of the stack of "Belleville" washers 33 (or of any of the other elastic members 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32) disposed in the housing 21 against the foot 20 of the stud 18.

Whatever the mode of execution chosen, the mounting retractable studs 3 is very easy and adapts to all manufacturing methods currently in practice. Some examples are given in the following.

According to a first example, during the molding of the outsole 1, positioning holes for the retractable studs are provided. The shoe is mounted by fixing the upper on the first and this assembly on the outsole 1. The sole assembly thus formed is pierced to unblock the aforementioned holes inside the shoe. Then the bases 8 are fitted from the inside into the holes in the sole assembly and the elastic members 26 are deposited in the housings 21 of these bases, while the plugs 13 fitted with studs 18 are screwed from the outside of the sole of wear 1 in said bases, then locked by means of a claw wrench to compress said elastic members.

According to a second example, the outsole 1, after molding, is fitted with retractable studs while at another station, the upper is mounted on the first. Then simply weld the outsole fitted with studs under the assembly formed by the upper and the first. Of course, the anchoring elements 11 can take place in countersinks of the outsole so that they are flush with the inner surface of the latter and do not form extra thicknesses under the first.

According to a third example deriving from the second, the bases 8 of the studs are placed in a mold and the material constituting the sole 1 is injected therein, which has the effect of overmolding said bases. The sole thus obtained is then welded as in the previous example. However, it may be advantageous for the injection molding to be carried out directly on the upper. In this third example, the shape of the element 11 of the bases can be different to promote anchoring; thus, element 11 can be shaped like a Maltese cross. For the same purpose and as shown in FIG. 9, the base can take the form of a coil whose skirt 9 is integral, not only with an upper element 11, but also with a lower element 41, elements which, instead of being circular, can be polygonal.

According to a fourth example, the sole 1 is manufactured, as in the second and third examples, to form a body with the threaded bases 8. This sole is then welded to the upper by techniques of placing a micro-cellular material . Therefore, the upper and its first are connected to the outsole 1 via a foam midsole 35, constituting the elastic members.

Claims (9)

1. Sport shoe with spikes and in particular golf shoe, the spikes (3) of which are retractable against the action of at least one elastic element, characterised in that the elastic element(s) (26, 37, 40) of all the spikes are calibrated in order to yield to the thrust of the foot on hard ground and to resist the reaction of relatively soft ground such as the green of a golf course, and in that, in the regions (2, 4) where the retractable spikes (3) are arranged, protuberances, such as mini-spikes (5), cleats (6, 7) or other, are formed to project from under the outsole (1) at least as far as the level reached by the spikes (3) in fully retracted position.
2. Shoe according to Claim 1, characterised in that each retractable spike (3) comprises a tapped seat (8) which is mounted through the outsole (1), fixed to the latter and delimits a housing (21), through which at least one elastic element (26) acts, the tapped seat interacting with a threaded plug (13) which has a screwing flange (14), accessible from the outside, and constitutes a guide (16) for the translational movement of the spike itself (18) which is provided, at the end opposite its head (19), with a projecting foot (20) which is situated in the abovementioned housing and rests on the elastic element(s) (26, 37, 40) concerned.
3. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the tapped seat (8) is blind in order that the housing (21) is closed (10) and contains the elastic element(s) (26), each elastic element being a piece of elastomer which can be equally a piece of revolution (27) of cruciform cross-section, a ball, a preferably cylindrical tablet, a tube which is cylindrical (28), tapered (29), or diabolo-shaped (30), centred on the spike, and so on, and/or a spring (33) which can be equally a tapered helical wire, a tapered washer (33), a star-shaped washer, and so on.
4. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the tapped seat (8) is open (34) in order to open towards an intermediate sole (35) made of foam, which forms the abovementioned elastic element (37).
5. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the elastic foam of the intermediate sole (35) forms a stud (38) which penetrates into the housing (21), a small axially mobile plate (39) preferably being interposed between the stud (38) and the foot (20) of the spike (18) in order to divide up the pressure applied by the latter.
6. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the foot (20) of each spike (18) is an endpiece with a shoulder (23) for support against the plug.
7. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the foot (20) of each spike (18) is an endpiece with a tapered section (24) for support against a complementary receiver (25) of the plug.
8. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the seat has, in particular when it is intended to be mounted by interlocking, a tubular skirt (9) which has, in the form of a projection on the internal side of the outsole, a support and anchorage element (11), such as a ring with claws, a cross-piece and so on.
9. Shoe according to Claim 2, characterised in that the seat (8) has, in particular when it is intended to be positioned by overmoulding, the form of a bobbin (9, 11, 41).

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